200 Fights breakout at South Florida Fair

'Don't come to the fair and try to cause trouble,' leader warns after 200 in fights

Fairgoers must be accompanied by adult if under 18

The one adult arrested was Thivendra Naidoo, 37, of Lake Worth Beach, (well known to PBSO) who is facing misdemeanor charges of trespassing without a warning and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence after returning to the fairgrounds.

Around 8:30 p.m., he had been kicked off the property, according to the arrest report. While resisting arrest, Naidoo landed on his back and the deputy on top of him.

He was taken to Wellington Regional Hospital for treatment and then to the county jail. During his first appearance Sunday, he was ordered released on his own recognizance with arraignment set for 9:45 a.m. Feb. 23.

WPTV

South Florida Fair

Maryann Polizzi Furth far right

A new Miss South Florida Fair and a Miss Palm Beach County were crowned Saturday night

Fourteen women competed in the scholarship competition at the South Florida Fair Saturday night. Annie McGrath won Miss South Florida Fair and Caroline Smith won Miss Palm Beach County.

The competition included an interview process with the judges, a talent performance and a red-carpet segment.

The winners will compete in the Miss Florida competition in June. [PBPost]

One of the judges was Maryann Polizzi Furth who once lived in Lake Worth and was a candidate for Commissioner District 4.

South Florida Fair

South Florida Fair will be replaced by 'Mini' Fair

This will be the first time in decades that I will not be attending the South Florida Fair, an event that I really love. I just can't see attending an outside event wearing a mask and worrying about Covid while I social distance.

The fair, set for Jan. 15-31, will have no big rides or indoor events, but organizers think area residents will be eager to attend a scaled-back event.

They have put measures in place:
Mandatory mask wearing by everyone
Safety protocols for all vendors
A revamped site layout to accommodate more distancing
Hand sanitizing stations throughout the fairgrounds

Read about our Fair

And a reminder, Lake Worth's Street Painting festival has been canceled.

South Florida Fair

The plan was to go to the South Florida Fair today but look at that weather! I was looking forward to the Highwaymen Art Exhibit at Yesteryear Village Bink Glisson Museum. I own four of their paintings.

I love everything about the fair from the arts and crafts, the animals, the midway, the shows and especially the people. I always look forward to seeing Dennis Lee.

"For 60 years Floridians have embraced a legendary group of African American artists known as The Highwaymen. The Highwaymen developed a rapid style of painting that captured a romantic vision of Florida. Highwaymen Alfred Hair met Ft. Pierce landscape artist A.E. Backus while he was in high school. Backus welcomed him into his studio and gave the aspiring painter lessons. Other artists of this group followed Backus' example and started painting. The innovative Highwaymen approach to painting was no less than the path they found around the limitations imposed on them by radical segregation. Highwaymen Art Specialists recognizes the many achievements of this group and are supportive of their efforts.It will be open for one more week."

I plan to get out there before the Fair ends.

Think BIG! Creative Thinking by Greg Rice

Click to enlarge

I saw the pipe bomb suspect, Cesar Sayoc, in 2016

It's been reported that Cesar Sayoc, the whack job who sent pipe bombs to Democrats, was at the Trump Rally in October 2016 that was held at the South Florida Fairgrounds.

Since I attended that rally, I looked through my photos as I had taken a dozen or so that long day. And there he was--Cesar Sayoc. He was standing in the long line in order to enter the arena. He caught my attention because Channel 29 was interviewing him and I thought perhaps he was some sort of celebrity. Little did I know how that would turn out.

He was talking about the Seminole Indian Tribe as he said he was a member/leader of the tribe and talked about the Hard Rock Casino and building a new one in North Carolina. Of course now we learn that the Seminole Indian Tribe disclaims his assertion. He is not, nor was he ever, a member of the Seminole Nation. And what we do know now (and he seemed perfectly normal at that encounter in 2016), Sayoc is a very disturbed man who will go to prison for a very long time.

South Florida Fair

Off to the Fair--see ya later.

Lake Worth has booth at South Florida Fair

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The theme for this year's South Florida Fair is Discover the Palm Beaches.

Does anyone get excited about Lake Worth's booth and its colors they are using to advertise our city?

The only booth that was manned while I was there was the City of Boynton Beach where I won a Pirate Fest mug. The gal manning the booth is a former employee of Lake Worth, Patsy Grissom, and worked in the Utility Department.

South Florida Fair

Off to our fabulous South Florida Fair...back later.

Commercial filmed in Lake Worth for South Florida Fair

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We all know that we have a lot going on in our downtown especially on holidays.  Halloween was unbelievable! But from time to time there are things happening of which we are unaware...take yesterday--

A commercial was being filmed at the French House in Lake Worth by Levatas, headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens. Levatas is a privately-held, full-service communications agency and offers a full range of video production. They were producing a commercial for the South Florida Fair that will air beginning in December. Our own local celebrity, Greg Rice, was on the scene and behind the camera.

If I understand it correctly, the theme of the 30 second spot that took all day to shoot, takes place in a coffee shop with all sorts of interesting looking people (I heard that the racing pigs were even there) in various "get-ups" (Elvis was there). However, there is something unusual going on--they look up from their coffee cup and finally realize that they are the South Florida Fair.

By the time I arrived, many of the actors had already been filmed and had left. Luckily Miss South Florida Fair, Anisa Kornegay of Loxahatchee, was there looking beautiful.

2015 South Florida Fair

Yesterday was about the worse day to go to the Fair--windy, cold and the dark menacing clouds opened up a few times spitting at us just long enough to ruin the moment. We never got to the Midway and stayed inside most of the time.  The Fair is about walking and looking and visiting all the outside events but you almost needed your ear muffs and wooly jacket. Las Vegas on Ice is worth more than the cost of the ticket and was fantastic as always.   Below are a few photos, pathetic as they are. Try and plan your fair visit before February 1 on a sunny day.

SB 374 Growth Managment - Florida

The law is now tighter than ever. What about Charter Amendments?
Some Trivia: In Section 23.1-3 in our Code of ordinances, the Purpose of the LDR's is--

c. Preserve the basic subdivision, design and layout of the city by its forefathers.

e. Preserve residential properties to assure that future development will be in conformity with the foregoing distinctive character, with respect to type, intensity, design and appearance.

SB 374: Growth Management

GENERAL BILL by Detert

Growth Management; Revising restrictions on an initiative or referendum process with regard to local comprehensive plan amendments and map amendments, etc.

Effective Date: June 20, 2014 Upon becoming a law
Last Action: 6/20/2014 - Chapter No. 2014-178
Location: Became Law
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF

South Florida Fair 2014

Monday, January 27. Great day for the fair.

The Ice Show, "New York on Ice"  was held at the Ford Theater and is at the Fair every day. At the Coca Cola Stage at 2pm was the Country Gold Tour, a 2 hour show of fabulous country music with Leroy Van Dyke, T. G. Sheppard, Lynn Anderson and Country Hall of Famer, Bobby Bare. The popular Dennis Lee will be appearing through the end of the Fair. We were there for 6 hours--not enough time to see it all...need another day.

Day at the Antiques Fair, South Florida Fairgrounds

The Phalaenopsis orchid is a super popular orchid because of its big, colorful and long-lasting flowers.

Went to the Antiques Festival at the South Florida Fairgrounds yesterday (held monthly--fair continues through today)...tickets are $7 general admission and $6 for Seniors. They also offer a $1 coupon on-line for general admission attendees. One of my purchases was the above orchid. As you entered the fair, a vendor was selling all sizes of orchid pots but the one above was priced at 4 for $20.

All of our purchases were anything but antiques:  a necklace for me, a newspaper subscription to the  Palm Beach Post for one, and two in the group will get estimates on accordion storm shutters this week.  To tell you the truth, none of us knew the difference in an antique or someone's piece of junk.

Cake Walk at South Florida Fair

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Barbara Jean Weber won the cake walk yesterday at the South Florida Fair.