Mayor Betty Resch wants you to Vote YES on ballot initiatives

Because the City can't maintain itself, so let's give it away to developers for 100 years.

Mayor Betty Resch supports the Ballot initiatives

"As your mayor, I walk our streets and see two different versions of Lake Worth Beach. I see the city we all love — rich in history, character and diversity.

But I also see the physical toll that decades of delayed maintenance and an outdated city charter have taken on our most precious assets. On March 10, we face a defining moment. We can choose to cling to the no-to-everything mentality that wants no change, or we can choose to provide a better future for Lake Worth Beach.

Our city is at a critical point, both physically and fiscally. Our 100-year-old municipal golf course needs major renovations and updating; the clubhouse needs some loving care. The historic city hall annex — a major historic contributor to our downtown — now sits empty but could once again be functional. At the beach, our empty pool is a sad example of decades of neglect. Our current charter lease limits make public-private investment nearly impossible.

The hard truth is that clinging to the past and fearing the future cannot fix leaking roofs or flooding greens. We are facing a looming financial crisis that we cannot ignore."

Now the City is deathly afraid of what might happen in the Florida Legislature that would collapse their general fund because they can't ever save a dime.

"The Florida Legislature is considering two bills that could devastate our city’s budget: one that could cut nearly $8.5 million from our property taxes and another that would slash over $16.2 million from our general fund. This is a potential $24.7 million hit to the services you rely on every day. Cities all over Florida are facing this devastating legislation. There are no provisions to replace those funding sources. Ballot questions 2 and 3 are the keys to our revitalization," she says.

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In November 2016, Lake Worth voters approved a $40 million, 30-year bond specifically to address deteriorating, crumbling roads throughout the city. How about an update on the funds still available as we have to pay for 20 more years and some of the roads still need repairs that are constant. Now the city is into affordable housing again and recently received an $850,000 grant which doesn't cover our expenses.

Thanks to Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill, in 2013 we had a Charter Amendment that passed--placed on the ballot and approved by voters on March 12, 2013, solidifying the 45-foot and 35-foot height limits, with exceptions for existing buildings and previously approved permits.

Money comes and money goes as quickly as we get it. So, we are supposed to vote in 99 year leases for our entire city? A 'no' keeps the rule that voters must approve those leases by referendum..

Development in the Ag reserve

(Suzanne) Mulvehill Nursery, west of Delray Beach, is one of the many plant nurseries in the Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve. (Bruce R. Bennett / The Palm Beach Post)

Read about it.... Palm Beach County rules have restricted development in the Ag Reserve by requiring builders to set aside 60 acres for every 40 acres they want to develop. Land set aside for preservation must be in the Ag Reserve.

But along comes the greedy developer, GL Homes, that wants to change that rule. "After getting approval to build 3,900 homes on 4,900 acres it owns in the Loxahatchee area, the developer has floated a plan to preserve that acreage in exchange for permission to build on land it owns in the Ag Reserve.

Environmentalists and residents fear the proposal could put an end to a unique area in South Florida intended to limit suburban sprawl and preserve one of the nation’s most productive farming areas east of the Mississippi River." The biggest opponents to restricting development are the nurseries.

Suzanne Mulvehill

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Former Lake Worth commissioner and member of the best commission ever, Suzanne Mulvehill, president of sales at her family owned business in Delray Beach, is in the news again.  This time she is pushing  Palm Beach County to widen Atlantic Avenue between the Delray Marketplace and U.S. Highway 441. And she has been told that her request is on the radar. Involving herself in issues is in her blood.

Read about Suzanne.

Former Lake Worth City Commissioner has article featured in the Palm Beach Post

Letters to the Editor
Palm Beach Post
July 25, 2015
Op Ed Piece
Agricultural Reserve a misnomer with so few farms now

Whether you are for or against development, the Palm Beach County Agricultural Reserve doesn’t exist anymore. Long gone are most vegetable crops, farmland and all the flower farms. In the 1950s, Delray Beach was the “Gladiolus Capital of the World” and a major center for growing vegetables and flowers.

Do you realize that, today, no gladiolus or flowers are grown here, and only 1 percent of the vegetables grown in Palm Beach County are grown in the Agricultural Reserve?
Palm Beach County modeled its Agricultural Reserve after Maryland’s Montgomery County Ag Reserve, with one major difference: Palm Beach County allowed development. So the few remaining farmers are now forced to farm next to schools, houses of worship, shopping centers, a hospital, supermarkets, new roads and housing developments.

Like it or not, today’s Agricultural Reserve is a flourishing new residential community with 5,000 new homes and 5,000 more being built. Schools include Somerset Academy and the soon-to-be-built Happy Hollow Charter School.

Nursery owners: Fighting unfair rules or ‘a little greedy’?

St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church is just one of the churches being built. The Delray Marketplace and Canyon Town Center, two major shopping centers, are new and thriving destinations.
Bethesda West Hospital, with a 400-bed capacity, was also approved and built on former farmland — to serve the emerging community in the Agricultural Reserve.

Commercial, industrial, institutional and residential developments; conservation areas; and county-owned property occupy 87 percent of the land in the reserve. The remaining farmers are unfairly restricted by the outdated policies in the Agricultural Reserve.

Forced to Farm is a political action committee to assist private property owners who have been unduly burdened by property restrictions. We advocate that Palm Beach County government treat the private property owners in the Agricultural Reserve equally to private property owners throughout the county.

The agriculture of the past has been lost to development in the Agricultural Reserve. Let’s adjust our policies to the 21st century and allow remaining parcels to serve our community.

SUZANNE MULVEHILL, DELRAY BEACH

Editor’s note: Suzanne Mulvehill, chairwoman of Forced to Farm, is a resident and landowner in the Agricultural Reserve.

The Blame Game always and erroneously being played in Lake Worth

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It's no wonder that we don't trust politicians.

This is a blast from the past but the Vice Mayor, Scott Maxwell,  STILL, to this day, likes to blame all the wrong people for the state of affairs of this city. And during the break at Tuesday's meeting, he even told us that no one has addressed the roads here in over 100 years...this will be a detriment to attracting people to live and work in our city he says. The Pioneers came to Lake Worth and settled here all for the fine roads, right?  He knows very well that our street maintenance budget was $1 million a year until this commission, his commission, reduced the budget.

Street Maintenance Actuals have been as follows:

FY 2009-2010: $1,027,719
FY 2010-2011: $ 850,688
FY 2011-2012: $ 523,186
FY 2012-2013: $ 550,145
FY 2013-2014: $ 511,016

Tuesday night during the break from the commission meeting where the Vice Mayor nearly had a stroke, he was blaming a "former Lake Worth Commission" for  money that went missing to the tune of $8 to $12 million dollars. His  implication  was that it all happened during the Stanton regime.  UNTRUE. When I asked why the internal auditor was never commissioned to find the missing money, he pointed out that Stanton fired him. We were without an IA for a few years because of austerity. He forgets that this country was in a depression/recession and Lake Worth was hit hard. Stanton cut back and got the city back in the black. So, I asked, where is the internal auditor now--what is he working on?

Commissioner John Szerdi mentioned the missing $$$ in 2012 in the very first political speech he gave after being sworn in. The Lake Worth Herald continued to mention Reserves and wrote that Suzanne Mulvehill gave praise in her final speech to those "who nearly bankrupted the city" and that "we don't need them in office ever again." Another UNTRUE attribution to a commission that had nothing to do with missing money. If a news-person writes a story at least the facts should be correct.

What I wrote back then: We concur. We don't need them nor do we want them in office. This was all during the Paul Boyer and Bob Baldwin regimes. The people who were in power then and the biggest culprits to this were Jeff Clemens, Dave Vespo and Retha Lowe. They had the majority vote and it was they who either allowed the then city managers to dip heavily into reserves and/or voted Reserves away. During Vespo's term, $60 million in Consent Agenda items were approved. We expect politicians to twist or eliminate facts to their advantage (that is why most are held in low esteem and honest ones are subject to annihilation--think Allen West) but we don't expect that of the Press. Over the last four years, however, we have witnessed a biased press.

Now we have a new newspaper in the city, the Lake Worth Tribune.  It has taken some knocks from the politicos who don't like truth or facts to emerge with some even going into establishments and asking, "Why do you have that newspaper here?"

Read here... to get the facts on the missing money.

Blast From the Past - The Rest of the Story

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Back in the Fall of 2010, Scott Maxwell was giving a series of city town hall meetings in order to "educate" the voters on the high cost of our electricity, or so he said.  Not only was he "educating" the people, he was also promoting his favored candidates for city office by distributing a brochure to all attendees. It said, "You can exercise your power by helping me gain the two supporting votes from the commission that are necessary to lower the amount of your utility bills."

Not only did he take advantage of Calvary United Methodist Church but also those who attended the forum where he used city staff for supposed "education" on our electric utility. But the real reason wasn't coming from power from a utility pole.  It was to knock McVoy and Mulvehill out of power.  As such, Susan Stanton, former city manager,  said "no staff will attend Maxwell's future community meetings including two planned right before the election."

This put the icing on the political Maxwell grudge and like an elephant that never forgets, when he got the opportunity he fired reformer Susan Stanton as city manager.

And that's the rest of the story.

Submerged Land in Lake Worth - Proposed Nature Preserve

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The City of Lake Worth owns 13 acres of submerged land in the Intracoastal Waterway that has been referred to as the Steinhardt property although the Steinhardts never owned it.  They leased it from the City in 1967 and were given a 99 year lease in order to develop it.  Steinhardt wanted to build five, 10 story condos on three man-made islands. The city even applied for the permits on his behalf in order to push it along. And although the developer crowd still exists in Lake Worth today, this is one project that didn't get off the ground...errr, water. 

Nothing was done as they never could get the permits they desired.  There was a lot of hassle from government agencies. So, back in 2011, former commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill met with Palm Beach County officials to see about a grant-funded nature center. She put the bug in their ear and that's what's on the table today.

In June 2012, the corporation finally gave up its lease and said it wanted the property to be used as a conservation area. It was anticipated that Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management would restore and manage the property with us waiving all fees and keep it as a passive park. We will take care of Public Safety.  Before anything is restored or constructed on the property, the County will submit plans and get approval from the City. The property will be opened to the public and the city will be responsible for the opening and closing of the preserve. The $1 dollar a year, 99 year lease agreement provides that the upland area will be reserved for future public amenities, including parking. Nothing is said in the Lease about revenue that could be generated from parking (land is across from the beach property) or admission.

The most ridiculous request and made a part of this proposed lease is that the Steinhardt family wants the property acknowledged with their name.  They never owned it.
The suggestion is to call it Steinhardt Cove.

Now, on Tuesday night under New Business C, the city will present this latest scheme that has been obviously under discussion for quite some time. This has to be voted upon by the residents and the city/county has devised another plan by allowing this lease for the first ten years and then going out on a Referendum that they must do by City law for any lease of Public property that is more than 20 years. By that time, the citizenry will be used to the nature preserve and vote it in. Also, the voters might have more trust in the local government regarding  elections in general.

Previous blog on this submerged property

Jamie Titcomb in the News

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Palm Beach County "It's almost like we're 

an incubator for things to happen"

Jamie Titcomb is back in the news today as the new Workforce Alliance chair whose primary goal is to put people back to work.

If you recall, Mr. Titcomb was one of the two finalists along with Michael Bornstein to be our city manager after Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso fired Susan Stanton. A motion was made by Suzanne Mulvehill and seconded by Christopher McVoy for Titcomb. It came as a big surprise when Maxwell did not support him as he had served as the Executive Director of the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Maxwell had been the City of Lake Worth's  liaison to the League. In May of this year, Maxwell was voted in as the president of the PB County League of Cities.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The national coalition against domestic violence says, “One in three women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. We can change those numbers dramatically if we all take action,” says Rita Smith, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we are thrilled to be announcing our partnership with Valeant in the battle to end domestic violence. Together NCADV and Valeant will make a difference.”

On Tuesday night, Mayor Pam Triolo announced that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Former Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill, an advocate of awareness and a victim herself, highlighted this pervasive problem in virtually all countries, cultures, classes and income groups during her tenure. Mayor Triolo, also a victim of violence, is continuing this important educational awareness. It is a complex and multifaceted problem with individual solutions that are appropriate for different women in different socio-cultural contexts.

Friday night, October 4, the city will be shining a light on domestic violence and the purple lights will be turned on at the Cultural Plaza to increase the awareness of domestic violence issues and it’s affect upon children and families and provide education on building healthy relationships.

Bozos, get on the bus! - Lake Worth downtown heights

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Have you gotten on the bus yet? These are a few of the photos in the latest Code Analysis of February 2013. If you notice, they resemble the graphics suggested by former commissioner, Suzanne Mulvehill, on how our downtown could look with taller buildings and who has been torn to shreds for this that or the next thing and for similar graphics she showed prior to the height petition process.

Do these photos look familiar? Similar? 

Oh, and don't forget--the NO people lost this vote.

The negative NO are only involving themselves in reading depositions that were taken several years after the flim flam man was kicked off our beach for non-performance.  Honing in on depositions and denigrating former commissioners is to justify, in some sick and perverse way, why this commission paid Willard (Greater Bay) $1.6  million bucks. They want to blame everything on former commissioners--slum, blight, crime and illegals and every crazy law suit imaginable. There is no justification for settling with a scam artist but there are some in our city who "get off" on it and who continue to give a distorted message of fact.

Clearing up Lake Worth Political Myths

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Most of us believe in giving credit where it is due. But some play the blame game or just simply do not understand the facts when it comes to the subject of  robbing our Reserves to the tune of $9 to $12 million, attributing it to "the previous commission." This is a totally false declaration.

Those who say this tell the tale that it was this last commission that totally screwed up our city, meaning Suzanne Mulvehill and Jo-Ann Golden, and even if the allegation was remotely true, which it is not, they are only two votes. It takes three votes to royally screw up and make a difference. Now the story is that this present commission is cleaning it all up.

Well, I have news for you. If you want to put the blame on a commission, which I think is unfair to begin with because the commission must rely on the city manager and city attorney giving them the facts and guiding them correctly, then the blame goes to the Commission elected in March 2006 and the majority commissioners who were on the dais at that time:  Vespo, Burns and Lowe. Their first huge and costly mistake in 2006 was later that year, signing over our beach property to a flim flam artist (who NEVER performed and a company that they NEVER vetted) because Lowe (who signed the deal) and the rest of the majority were tired of kicking the football on the beach for another 30 years and wanted something finally done.

In the Fall of 2006, the budget for 2007 was formulated and agreed. We broke even in 2007. The following budget year, 2008, we spent more than we took in but all the plans and contracts were formulated and laid for the future.  At that time we had a city manager, Bob Baldwin, who made a bundle and was never here--he didn't even live in the city. This was against our Charter but was allowed by the Commission with Retha saying he was a "great guy."  In the 2008/2009 budget year, we had spent 9 million more than we brought in and dipped (big-time) into reserves.  Our Union costs were out of control--still are. The Utility was called the "black-hole" as revenue and expenses never could be tracked. Line items were moved, erased or disappeared. Money was gone too. Mark Bates was then the finance director.  In those days there was usually 10 to 14 items on Consent Agenda. At least you were allowed to pull them for discussion. We are now reverting to the same practice of putting everything possible on Consent.

We then hired a new city manager, Susan Stanton, in April 2009 and during her first year, she cleaned house. The city, once again, got in the black with a surplus of $843,000 after her first year. The next year was even better than that. The trend continued with budget cuts and delaying some capital improvements and at the end of the 2012 budget cycle, we had $3.8 million to the good. In 2013 we are back in the Red and the projection for 2014 is Red.

The bottom line here, we are as good as the management team we hire. Commissioners will always have their personal agendas but commissions have to get all the correct facts and must be guided. They need to read and understand everything that comes before them and question everything. City managers must stay out of politics. We must have an excellent internal auditor watching over the entire enterprise. We can't continue to spend more money than we bring in. Trust but verify.

Note:  If anyone has something that does not agree with my timeline of events, get in touch.

Suzanne Mulvehill

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Suzanne in Italy

Former Lake Worth Commissioner, Suzanne Mulvehill, is on her life journey.  At the moment, she is in Romania.

Read more on her blog--Suzanne Mulvehill

Suzanne in New Zealand

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Former city commissioner, Suzanne Mulvehill has been out of the country for sometime now. This is her latest photo from New Zealand. While we worry about politics here in Lake Worth, New Zealanders worry about nothing but flatworms. As Suzanne is into composting, this is a good thing.

New Zealand is a small country, similar in size to Great Britain or Japan. With a population of only four million people it’s also gloriously uncrowded unlike our city that is one of the most dense around..

Giving all of the Facts -- Lake Worth Reserves

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There has been much said of late about a "former Lake Worth Commission" that went through our Reserves (our savings) to the tune of $8 to $12 million dollars. Commissioner John Szerdi mentioned it in the very first political speech he gave after being sworn in. The Lake Worth Herald continues to mention Reserves and writes that Suzanne Mulvehill gave praise in her final speech to those "who nearly bankrupted the city" and that "we don't need them in office ever again."

We concur. We don't need them nor do we want them in office. This was all during the Paul Boyer and Bob Baldwin regimes. The people who were in power then and the biggest culprits to this were Jeff Clemens, Dave Vespo and Retha Lowe. They had the majority vote and it was they who either allowed the then city managers to dip heavily into reserves and/or voted Reserves away. During Vespo's term, $60 million in Consent Agenda items were approved. We expect politicians to twist or eliminate facts to their advantage (that is why most are held in low esteem and honest ones are subject to annihilation--think Allen West) but we don't expect that of the Press. Over the last four years, however, we have witnessed a biased press.

It is unfortunate that neither one (Commissioner Szerdi or the Lake Worth Herald) identified the commission that was in power at the time reserves were squandered. The reason?  Some of them, to this day, are their friends. By leaving out that important information, it is meant for the listener or reader to jump to false conclusions and blame their political enemies, Cara Jennings and Suzanne Mulvehill.

Mulvehill was elected well after the money was allocated and the Budget set. Soon after, Susan Stanton was hired in April 2009. At that time she stopped the bleed and the robbing of Reserves. Past managers did not take the proper measures and did not address the imbalance between the estimated cost of city services and the projected revenue needed to pay for those services.

We all became aware of the city depleting Reserves in 2006. The City's failure to address this fundamental problem and not implement long term solutions, nearly depleted the unreserved general fund balance. Three years later, Stanton had us headed towards a healthier Lake Worth when she ended the robbing of our Reserves.  She was fired because she was a tough administrator, not because she failed at her job. When you make the hard decisions, you get a lot of folks angry, the Unions for one.

Even though these problems were pointed out over and over again, that commission majority voted to keep one ineffectual manager in place and our money kept disappearing. Retha even said, "I like him." He finally left after finding a job closer to his residence.

Suzanne Mulvehill's final Speech

Good evening-

I first would like to congratulate Commissioner McVoy on his re-election. In the two years we have been colleagues on the commission, I have found him to be very much as the PBP described him: cool-headed and analytical. I would also add that he is very genuine and transparent in his decision-making. We are fortunate to have him and I am grateful that our voters thought so as well. Congratulations Commissioner McVoy!

As I prepared my final remarks, on my time in office I thought of the day I took this seat for the very first time; the hope and joyful anticipation I felt from those who gathered here; the promise of a new vision from a new commission majority who would honor our independent spirit and the will of the people.

I had aspiring goals for us and recalled speaking of “uniting the opposites” believing that our political differences could be bridged by our common goal. I saw that we all really wanted the same thing – a better Lake Worth. What I learned is that our political “sides” exist in how we accomplish this goal. And in my opinion, it is where we lack continuity and postpone achieving our potential. As an example, I served in the majority and minority in just four years. I watched projects be put together and taken apart. I worked with 6 commissioners, 4 mayors and 4 city managers, both permanent and interim, and I have served as mayor, vice mayor and commissioner.

As I leave office, our city is poised to vote on another charter amendment, the height restriction ballot item. It is an issue that I feel strongly about. While it may have been legal to move this ballot item to a special election, it was, in my opinion, morally and ethically wrong. When we use our power as elected officials to slow or suppress the democratic process, it is a “misuse” of power. That said, I believe the voters will speak decisively on the issue of height limits, when they are finally “allowed” to vote on the issue in March. “Ordinary people can indeed make sound judgments on major political issues,” said Thomas Paine back in 1776. And that ideal, a foundation of our country, holds true today.

I want to thank our staff and employees for all their hard work to move Lake Worth through some very difficult times, and especially our former city manager Susan Stanton for her leadership.

It has been an honor to serve the residents of Lake Worth, to serve with my colleagues both present and past, and especially Commissioners Cara Jennings and Jo-Ann Golden. I leave you with this quote because I believe it is how Lake Worth will achieve its potential -

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing. ~Walter H. Judd

 Please vote and be an informed citizen. For YOU are the future of Lake Worth!

The City of Lake Worth Free Lunch

Everything IS political in Lake Worth but the fact that Commissioner Mulvehill raised the question regarding the amount of spending on conferences and travel was not. This was a sound comment--don't spend too much from your budget on any one trip thus avoiding excess spending. After all, the fiscal year has just begun.

Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell used one of his famous bombastic exaggerations by accusing the minority commissioners of being poitical by saying, "We're all born again fiscal conservatives three weeks before election day" when it was only the majority trio that twisted the facts to suit their political mumbo jumbo. Why can't there ever just be debate without the nastiness? Commissioners should set an example of cordiality that would then trickle down to those in the chamber who know if their commissioner is a wise guy then they can be as well...and they are and they're allowed to get away with it, free speech and all.

We just started our new fiscal budget on October 1 and now after much discussion, the commission agreed to limit spending to $1,700 per elected official per trip. The only dissenter to the vote was Amoroso. I guess he believes, along with the mayor, that you should be able to spend your budget in any manner you choose...remember New York. The overall yearly budget for all 5 commissioners is $15,000, or $3,000 a piece. 

With Maxwell, Triolo and Amoroso attending the League of Cities convention in historical Boston, one of the oldest and expensive cities in the world for travel, this will deplete the yearly travel budget by a little over 1/3rd.  Just the cost of each commissioner to attend the convention is $570. Factor in air travel, 5 days of food and 4 nights in expensive Boston with room rates from the very low end at $129 a night on up to $265 a night--what sort of a final cost do you think this will be? The five-day conference, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2012, will bring thousands of local elected officials together from across the country to share ideas on how to screw its citizens. And of course,  Party Time! There will be 11 more months of travel and conferences to go.

If each commissioner wants to spend his yearly allotment on one trip, then he should be allowed to do so but don't dare come back and get any more money for anything relative to this line item or borrow from another commissioner's allotment. And we want a full report from each commissioner plus all attendance records. :) And last but not least, please don't break any Sunshine Laws.

End Domesatic Violence

Dear Friends,

I would like to invite you and your friends to join me for the End Domestic Violence Walk tomorrow. Ms. Ruby Pertee, one of the mothers of the triple homicide victims, will be joining us.

The 5th Annual Walk, "Step Out to Stop Violence Against Women and Girls," will be held at Okeeheelee Park, Micanopy Pavilion, 7500 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Walk Begins at 8:15 a.m. Donation of $15 for Adults, $10 for Students.

Please invite anyone who may be interested to walk with us. We could walk as the Lake Worth End Domestic Violence Team.

Sincerely,
Suzanne Mulvehill

Setting the Record Straight,

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as our local newspaper likes to say from time to time. Just received my newspaper today---always a treat and it never disappoints with political snipes and jabs.

Today's best one:
Commish Mulvehill finished with regular meetings...says good bye with I speech...a fine self pat on the back, I must say...half her friends lined up to say goodbye during commish meeting.

FACT
Commisisoner Suzanne Mulevhill won her last two elections with a big majority.

2008...1,763 votes or 58.79%
2010...2,525 votes or 53.37%

It is obvious that her "friends" were growing in this town every election...not down to 4 as our local "news" editor likes to suggest. But what do Pelicans know anyway?

Lake Worth Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill, a remarkable woman

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Last night was Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill's last regular meeting as an elected official as she made the decision not to seek a third term in order to pursue her career. She invited some of her close friends to a coffee and cake party in the conference room prior to the city commission meeting. A slide show was presented depicting major achievements for which she was involved over the last four years.

If it weren't for Suzanne, our casino would have been built down by A1A or demolished. She sprearheaded the new casino, allowing it to be built in the same location it has been since 1922 and a structure that will be our pride. Mulligan's restaurant will be serving today and opening to the public tomorrow with the rest of the tenants opening later this year. Our reverse Osmosis plant was built, saving the city $15 million dollars. We exited FMPA and soon we will have a new energy provider. These are some of the multi-million dollar decisions but there were many others that helped and will make our city better.

On October 20, Suzanne Mulvehill will be honored for her work in domestic violence and will be the recipient of the East Florida Chapter of the United States National Committee for UN Women's First End Domestic Violence Community Appreciation Award.

Suzanne Mulvehill started violence awareness when she first took office nearly four years ago. She established the City of Lake Worth’s First Comprehensive Zero Tolerance Domestic Violence Policy in 2011, making it the first city in Florida to set such a policy.  She will courageously and publicly share her story of being in and getting out of a domestically violent relationship, to encourage and help others in similar situations.

Despite overcoming many obstacles, affiliated with domestic abuse, Ms. Mulvehill, became a community leader, authored two books, became an international business consultant and guest lecturer at universities in both the United States and Europe. She still found time to single-handedly educate two children, earn her masters degree, and run for public office. In addition, she won the Point of Light Award, was the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Champion Award and the SBA's Women Advocate of the Year Award.

If you want to attend the Walk beginning at 8:15 on Saturday followed by the Award ceremony, please go to www.unwomen-usnc.org/eastflevents or call Luz at 561-685-1308.

Flowers from Tricia and Annabeth

Proclamations at Lake Worth City Chamber

Last night there were two Proclamations: the first one was a gathering of those in support of Against Domestic Violence. All who attended were given a purple ribbon. Due to the rain, the gathering moved inside to the main chamber. Commissioner Mulvehill first introduced Domestic Awareness four years ago when she first became commissioner. She and Mayor Triolo are both victims of domestic violence and both spoke to the subject. The Mayor read the proclamation naming October 2012 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Ms. Ruby Pertee and Ms. Dishune Moore

 mothers of two 2009 Triple Homicide domestic violence victims.

Mrs. Pertee spoke and gave the sad facts about the loss of their children to domestic violence and thanked Commissioner Mulvehill for all she has done to bring awareness. Several spoke including Donald Cavanaugh for the GLBT community as well as Penny Darling, Anti-Stalking Victim Advocate.

Domestic violence and abuse is not limited to obvious physical violence. Domestic violence can also mean endangerment, criminal coercion, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, trespassing, harassment, stalking and even cyber attacks. Cyber stalking and attacks are growing abuses and it is estimated that at least one-third of all abusers have some type of mental illness. I emphasized that for the few who constantly come over here with their vile hit and run comments.

The next proclamation was a happier one and it was for our Lake Worth Playhouse declaring October 5, 2012 as Lake Worth Playhouse Day.

Two from the cast of the King and I which starts Thursday, October 4, and runs through October 21.