Lake Worth's Best Local Newspaper! Friday, April 24, 2015
The Lake Worth Tribune
W o e rth k a L Domine, ut videam FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015
Vol. 1 • Issue 14 Published in Lake Worth, FL
Gulfstream Hotel Cited for Graffiti, Trash, Peeling Paint
Coming Up Saturday, April 25 *Earth Day Celebration* from 12 noon to 10 p.m. in the Cultural Plaza Saturday, April 25
Tree Giveaway!
By Margaret Menge
The city will be giving away free trees to Lake Worth residents starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 28 Final Meeting of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Committee at 6 p.m. at City Hall The members of the committee will discuss the answers to several questions posed to the two remaining proposers and will decide whether to make a recommendation to the City Commission.
Publix Ranked #2 Supermarket By Margaret Menge
In the annual Consumer Reports ‘supermarket survey,’ Publix ranked second in the nation. Publix earned a score of 87 out of a 100 – the second highest score after grocery store chain Wegman’s, which earned a 90. The survey was based on 62,917 responses to the annual survey, reflecting readers’111.208 trips to stores between March 2013 and July 2014. A total of 68 supermarket chains were surveyed. Publix got the equivalent of an ‘A’ for bakery quality, store-prepared food quality, staff courtesy and store cleanliness, with most respondents marking that they were “completely satisfied.” It was rated the equivalent of a ‘B’ for the other two categories – produce quality and meats/poultry quality – meaning most respondents said they were “very satisfied” with the store in these areas. Publix is based in Lakeland, Florida, and is famous for its slogan: “Where shopping is a pleasure.” The company was founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida, by George Jenkins. There are now more than 1000 stores in Florida, George, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Trader Joe’s came in third on the ‘supermarket survey,’ with the same overall score as Publix, but lower rankings for bakery quality and meats/ poultry quality. Costco was sixth on the list, Aldi was 14th, Whole Foods Market was 15th, and Winn-Dixie was 55th.
One of the five ficus trees in the Cultural Plaza that the city is nominating as ‘historic.’ This one is thought to be a ficus altissima, or ‘council tree’ though a tree expert told the Tribune earlier this year that he thought it was a Philippine Banyan. (photo by Margaret Menge)
City Names 100-Year-Old Ficus Trees “Historic”
The city sent a letter to Hudson Holdings this week notifying the company of numerous code violations on the Gulfstream Hotel property. “The structure needs to be brought up to current building codes or demolished,” writes the code compliance officer, Yolanda Robinson. The complaint originated with a March 30 email from City Manager Michael Bornstein to William Waters and Mark Woods, the head of the Code Compliance Department. “There is general neglect of the site. Graffiti, dead plants and trash and debris,” Bornstein wrote. Robinson went out to inspect that same day. The city cited Hudson Holdings for a total of six violations of city code, including graffiti and trash and debris on the property and right-of way. Robinson wrote in her report that besides removing “trash, debris, junk and garbage,” the owner must “scrape and paint the entire structure.” “The structure needs to be brought up to current build-
Hearing to be Held Next Month on Official Designation Banyans? Or Council Trees? By Margaret Menge
Designating the trees as historic, she wrote, may enable the city to apply for grants that would help cover the costs of maintaining the trees. Dave McGrew, the city’s horticulturist, told the City Commission this week that many years ago the trees were incorrectly pruned, to increase their height, but that the city has learned to prune the trees correctly, and that this is done on a regular basis. The trees were originally identified by the city as Philippine Banyans, ficus benghalensis, but the four have now been preliminarily identified as ficus altissima. Leaves are being sent to the University of Florida Herbarium to be analyzed, so that they city can be sure of the species of ficus. Ficus are known for their aerial prop roots, which over time can become trunks and spread over a large territory, creating their own forest. Some of the most famous of these are in India. A public hearing will be held on May 5 on designating the trees as “historic.”
ing codes or demolished. Apply for and obtain permits,” she wrote. The Gulfstream Hotel is Lake Worth’s most prominent historic building, standing watch over the city from the foot of the Lake Worth Bridge. Hudson Holdings bought the hotel in 2014 for $7.2 million. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
Neighbors complained about the condition of the property to Steve Michael, one of two principals of Hudson Holdings, at a Bryant Park Neighborhood Association meeting last month. Tina Thomsen, owner of one of the Gulfstream Condominiums, asked Michael why a security guard was
TRIOLO: I Didn’t Know Anything About Proposal for Convention Center
But What Are They??
The city nominated five large ficus trees in the Cultural Plaza this week as “historic.” “This should have happened long ago,” said Commissioner Andy Amoroso, saying a past commission many years ago wanted to take the trees down. The five ficus trees line the north end of the Cultural Plaza, along Lucerne Avenue. Four have been identified by the city as ficus altissima, known as a “council tree.” Three of these are 45 feet tall, and one is 55 feet tall. The tree closest to the Lake Worth Library has been identified as ficus aurea, or strangler fig. The strangler fig is a native species. Ficus altissima is a non-native species, native to Southeast Asia. All five trees are more than 100 years old. Helen Greene, whose family helped settle Lake Worth, contacted the city earlier this year about designating two of the trees as historic, writing that her mother-in-law was friends with a woman named Bertha Gainer who planted the two trees in 1914.
Neighbor: ‘I’m so disappointed’ Code Compliance: Bring it up to code or demolish it!
Mayor Pam Triolo By Margaret Menge
Mayor Insists She Never Talked to Hudson Holdings About the Beach
Mayor Pam Triolo told the Tribune this week that she has never talked to Hudson Holdings about the Lake Worth beach, or any plans to build anything there. “Never, no no,” she said emphatically when asked this
week whether she ever talked with the developer about the Lake Worth beach. “I didn’t know Hudson Holdings before they bought The Gulfstream Hotel,” she said. In their proposal to the ITN Committee to build a
Man Set on Fire Two men were arrested on Tuesday night for setting another man on fire in front of Tony’s Latin Market at 301 North Dixie Hwy., just two blocks north of City Hall. The victim, 32-year-old Conor Geary, was walking through the store’s parking lot at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday when one man opened a door in the fence and poured lighter fluid on him, and the other threw what appeared to be a road flare, according to a witness. The witness told police that Geary was screaming for help, and running, while on fire, and that the two men who’d set him on fire were laughing. Another witness told po-
lice that the men appeared to be waiting for Geary, and that they had gotten into a fight with Geary and another man a few days before, and appeared to be retaliating. A deputy on the scene was interviewing witnesses when someone shouted, “That’s him!” and pointed. Erbin Miranda Hernandez, age 22, was identified as the man who lit Geary on fire. He was read his rights and arrested. A second man, Guillermo Alonso, also 22, was arrested at his residence on the 300 block of North H Street. He had a bruise and a swollen lip, and said he’d been in a fight two days before at Continued on Page 2...
convention center and private beach club at Lake Worth’s beachfront, Hudson Holdings references conversations with the mayor and “several” commissioners. “If given this unique opportunity, we also feel it will give The Gulfstream Hotel the best chance for long term success,” they wrote in the introduction to their proposal. “Based on our conversations with Mayor Triolo, several commissioners and senior city staff, we share your belief in Lake Worth’s future and the role that the Gulfstream and the Lake Worth Casino play in that future.” Commissioner Christopher McVoy said he was not included in any conversations with Hudson Holdings. Mayor Pam Triolo told the Tribune on Tuesday night that conversations with the developer about Lake Worth were general. “I never talked to them about the beach,” she said. Triolo said she hasn’t read anything about the developer’s proposal to build a
Page 2
The Lake Worth Tribune
Friday, April 24, 2015
City Made $1.5 Million from Parking at the Beach in 2013-2014 By Margaret Menge
The city brought in $1.47 million in parking revenues from the beach in fiscal year 20132014, according to numbers released this week to the Lake Worth Tribune. “I think that definitely reflects the popularity and success of the beach,” said City Manager Michael Bornstein. This bulk of the $1.47 million, more than $1.2 million of it, came from the parking meters, and $110,838 came from parking fines. The city brought in $57,426 from parking permits in the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, 2013 and ended Sept. 30, 2014. Locals pay $42.40 for an annual beach parking decal. Seasonal decals are $63.60.
Soccer coach Anderson Denson with his team, American Samoa. In front row (left to right): Daniel Andrade, Iker Morales. In back row: Sarai Denson, Elijah Wheelus and Edrian Syla. The team is part of the S.T. Soccer League, which stands for ‘Story Time Soccer.’ The league is run by Nick Rasek. It began in 2013, taking over from the Lake Worth Soccer League. The league has both volunteer parent coaches and paid staff, including high school and college soccer players and former semi-pro players. (photo contributed)
“Man Set on Fire” PRESERVATION. Aimee Sunny, the city’s point person for historic preservation, told the Parrot Cove Neighborhood Association on April 20 that the city is changing its policy on window replacements on homes in historic districts. ‘In general, aluminum windows is what will be approved and not vinyl,’ she said. Sunny said she encourages homeowners to keep historic windows if at all possible.
MONDAY, APRIL 13
Stolen Tag: A man reported to police that the license plate had been stolen off of his white Ford pickup while it was parked in front of his home on the 1200 block of South L Street the day before. Burglary: A deputy on bike patrol on the 100 block of South C Street rode through an alley behind a vacant house and saw a man and woman, Edwin Latalladi and Malorie Hyppolite nearby. He watched them for several minutes and saw them go in the back door of a nearby house and saw Latalladi come back out carrying chords and a remote control. He detained him, and other deputies who responded found televisions and numerous other items in the vacant house that had been taken from the other house. Latalladi was arrested. Attempted Burglary From Vehicle: A man living on the 400 block of South F Street said he’d parked his rental car on the north side of South F Street the night before, and that in the morning he found the passenger-side door bent out of the door frame. Nothing was taken. Burglary From Vehicle: A woman told police she’d parked her car in the parking lot of the Subway on the 200 block of South Dixie Hwy., and that when she returned to it 10 minutes later, the glove compartment was open and her vehicle registration and insurance card were missing. Disturbance: A deputy went to the gas station on the corner of South Dixie Hwy. and 6th Avenue South for a report of a disturbance. A Hispanic man said he got into an argument with his girlfriend, who is black. He said he found out she had just been released from jail, and tried to break up with her as he did not want to be in a relationship with someone who had a criminal past. But when he tried to break up, she’d slapped him. Burglary: A man who keeps a vacation home on the 400 block of South Palmway but lives in Maryland told police his parents were at his home to do some repairs and found that it had been broken into. The suspects broke in through the rear jalousie windows. Several signed baseballs had been taken. A few days later, the owner of the home called police back to tell them that he’d been walking through the neighborhood and spotted a unique wooden box of his in the apartment nearby on the 200 block of 4th Avenue South. Police got consent to search the apartment, and found several items that had been stolen from the home on South Palmway, including a handmade wooden truck, a microwave, wooden bowls, framed pictures and silverware. All of it had been put to use in the apartment. The resident, Frederick Michael Biduk, said he had been letting a homeless man stay with him, and that he’d found the items in his backyard. He says he knows he should have called police rather than keeping them. He was read his rights and arrested.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Stolen Tag: A woman told police that the license plate had been stolen off of her father’s blue Toyota Corolla while it was parked on the street in front of his home on the 1800 block of North A Street the day before. Assault: Two Hispanic told deputies that while the one was parking his pickup truck in front of their home on the 200 block of South E Street, a black man approached and threw a blunt object against the windshield of the truck. The man then ran down 3rd Avenue South, heading west. The Hispanic man who had been driving the truck was taken to JFK Medical Center to remove glass particles from his left eye. Attempted Burglary: A woman living on the 800 block of North M Street said she was lying in bed when her bedroom window opened. She said she jumped out of bed, but could not describe who was at her window. The deputy who responded noticed a yellow fluid trail outside the woman’s bedroom window, going down the side of the house, where it was pooled in the dirt. He took a DNA sample of the fluid and attempted to lift fingerprints from the window. Burglary: A man living on the 200 block of South E Street told police that he’d left the house at 9 a.m. and returned home at 11 a.m. to find the home burglarized. Among items stolen were a Sanyo television and a Sony Playstation 3. Someone had broken in through a rear window by removing the panes of glass. Fingerprints were recovered. Bicycle Theft: A man locked up his bike outside of the Publix
Burger King. Witnesses said he was the one who poured the fluid on Geary. In an interview following his arrest, Alonso admitted to holding a Gatorade bottle
on the 200 block of North Dixie Hwy., and when he returned, he found the lock cut and the bike gone. Theft: A man told police that his girlfriend saw a black man, about 19-20 years old, take two weed-eaters from an overhang on the north side of his house, where he stores his lawn equipment. The man ran toward the alley. The girlfriend of the homeowner ran after him, but was unable to stop him. Fraud: A woman told police that when she went to do her taxes with Turbo Tax, she was notified that her Social Security number had already been used to file a return. She was informed that her refund had been sent out, but was not able to find out where it was sent and to whom.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
Stolen Car: A woman told police that she had a number of friends over to her apartment on the 1700 block of 2nd Avenue North, and that when she woke up the next day, her rental car was gone, along with the keys. She said she made contact with one of the people who’d been at her house, and that he’d told her that he’d taken the car and wasn’t going to bring it back. Burglary: Deputies responded to the 100 block of South K Street for a call reporting a burglary in process. When they arrived, they saw the man, Sean Vanorsdale, had been detained by the boyfriend of the complainant. Vanorsdale reached into his waistband several times after being told to show his hands. He refused to walk to the patrol car, dragging his feet. On the way to the car, he kicked one of the deputies twice, and began screaming while he was being placed into the car. Deputies put Vanorsdale on the ground and put a hobble on him. He also had a spit guard put over his mouth as he was spitting at the deputies. He was charged with burglary to an occupied dwelling, three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, with criminal mischief and resisting arrest with violence. Fire: A woman left her home on the 500 block of 24th Avenue North only to get a call from her neighbor a short time later saying her house was on fire. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded, and two cats were removed from the home. Attempts to revive them using CPR were not successful. Theft: A woman told police that someone took a blouse that she had hung on her fence to dry, along with other items of clothing. Domestic: A woman told police that she got into an argument with her boyfriend, Albert Vasquez, and that he became violent and punched her in the face several times. He left the scene, and she was picked up by a friend. She reported the assault two hours later, but refused to be checked by EMS and would not complete a written statement, saying she was worried about Vasquez’s children if got arrested. The woman’s friend persuaded her to let a deputy take pictures of her face, which had many lacerations.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
Stolen Tag: A woman told police that the license plate had been stolen off of the van belonging to her employer, Ambassador Rent a Car, Inc. while it was parked on the 900 block of 10th Avenue North the day before. Stolen Tag: A man told police that the license plate was stolen off his vehicle while it was parked in front of his home on the 100 block of South D Street. Burglary: The owner of Auto Expertz at 1401 North Dixie told police that when he arrived at work that morning, he saw the fence around the business had been cut and four tire rims stolen. Bicycle Theft: A metallic orange 3-speed beach cruiser was taken from outside the labor hall on the 1800 block of 7th Avenue North. Landlord Trouble: A woman living on the 200 block of North B Street said she was told to move out of her home to avoid being evicted. She said she left to do her laundry one day, and when she came back, the locks had been changed and a FOR RENT sign placed outside. She could not get back into the house to get her wallet, containing her Social Security card, her debit card and her driver’s license.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Stolen Car: A man said he bought a Chevrolet Cavalier from another man and drove it home and went to bed. When he woke up in the morning, it was gone. He found the stolen car on the west side of the railroad tracks on 7th Avenue North and North G Street. A temporary tag was on the car.
filled with fluid, but said he didn’t know what was in it, and that it was Hernandez who’d lit the match. Both Hernandez and Alonso were charged with at-
tempted first-degree murder. The victim, Conor Geary, was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center for treatment of second and third-degree burns.
Bad Car Deal: A man told police that he’d given a cashier’s check for $18,768 to a man he knew to purchase three vehicles on his behalf as he knew the man had a motor vehicle auction license. He said he received one car, a Nissan, but without the title. He never received the other two vehicles: a Mercedes and a Chevy truck.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Stolen Tag: A man told police that the license plate had been stolen off his car. His wife had been pulled over while driving the car, and informed that the plate was stolen. Stolen Tag: A man told police that the auto repair shop that was servicing his car informed him that his license plate had been stolen off his car while it was parked at the shop at 908 South Dixie Hwy. Stolen Tag: A man told police that the license plate had been stolen off of his Chevy truck while it was parked in front of his home on the 800 block of South F Street. Burglary From Vehicle: A woman told police she was at the Farmer’s Market in Lake Worth with her husband, and that she’d locked her purse in the trunk of her car. She returned about two hours later to find that her phone was missing from the purse, as well as her HSBC card and $40 in cash. $100 had also been taken from her husband’s wallet, which was inside of her purse. It is unknown how someone gained entry to the vehicle as there were no pry marks. Assault: A man told police that he was riding his bike north on North Federal Hwy. when four men in a bronze car drove past him and one of them threw something out the window at him. He did not see the object, but believed it hit him. He said he thought they were angry that they hadn’t been able to pass him on the Lake Worth Bridge. Domestic: A woman living on the 600 block of North Federal Hwy. told police that when her boyfriend, the father of her two children, came home from work, they got into an argument and he told her he had a new girlfriend and didn’t love her anymore. The woman said she told the boyfriend to leave the residence, and that he’d collected his belongings and went to leave. But before she could close and lock the door after him, he turned toward her and punched her in the face with his fist, then grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the ground. He then kicked her and left the apartment. The woman called her parents before calling police, and said they were on their way down to remove her from the area. She was treated on the scene by PBC Fire Rescue.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
Stolen Tag: A woman told police that the license plate was stolen off her vehicle while it was being repaired at a shop on the 1200 block of Wingfield Street. Burglary From Vehicle: A man living on the 1400 block of North Lakeside Drive said he returned home from dinner with his girlfriend and parked his pick-up truck in the driveway of his home the night before. The next morning, he went outside to find that the truck had been burglarized. His 9 MM Springfield pistol had been stolen, as well as an I-Pod and a camouflage backpack containing medical supplies. There were no signs of forced entry. Burglary From Vehicle: A man told police that his car was broken into while it was parked at the Lake Worth Beach, and that money had been taken from the pocket of his shorts that were in the car. There were pry marks on the driver’s side front door. Burglary From Vehicle: A woman told police that she’d parked her PT Cruiser in the parking lot of 1845 Lake Worth Road, and that when she returned, there were scratches on the car and she could see someone had been in it. There were pry marks on the driver’s side door, showing someone had used a pry tool to get into it. Bicycle Theft: A man left his bike unattended for a minute outside the Kwik Mart at 1602 North Dixie Hwy. to go inside and buy scratch-off tickets, and saw a black or Hispanic male get on the bike and take off up Dixie Hwy. to 18th Avenue North. He ran after him until he lost sight of him. Graffiti: A deputy on a suspicious person call observed gang-related graffiti on a City of Lake Worth dumpster behind 630 South Dixie Hwy. The graffiti included MS13, ZONA, EVIL, $50, DEAX and the Pitchfork symbol for folk nation. It was done in both green and white spray paint. The deputy noted that two brothers who are members of MS13, Jose Natividad-Diaz and Jose Riquema-Diaz, live at 701 South H Street, #1, just two blocks east of the graffiti.
Friday, April 24, 2015
The Lake Worth Tribune
Page 3
ITN Committee Meets April 28 to Decide on Beach Recommendation
By Margaret Menge
The public is invited to attend the last meeting of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Committee on April 28 as the committee members discuss the final replies to their questions about two proposals for the beach and decide what recommendation, if any, to make to the City Commission. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall on Tuesday, April 28. There will not be an opportunity for public comment. The committee will discuss two proposals. The first is from Anderson & Carr, representing Oceanside Bar & Grill, which is proposing to rent the second floor of the Casino building for a restaurant. In its proposal, Oceanside Bar & Grill promises to use only local businesses, purveyors, manufacturers and contractors. The two partners involved are Falah “Phil” Bahr and George Nasser, both from Michigan. Bahr is the managing partner of the Online Café Bar and Grill in the Detroit Metropolitan Air-
port and previously owned and operated a convenience store. Nasser worked for Ford Motor Company on quality control, was a wholesale meat purveyor, helped conceive of the idea for the Online Café Bar and Grill, and “has been investing in other business opportunities,” according to the information submitted to the ITN Committee. The second proposal on the table is from Hudson Holdings, which is proposing to construct a 50,000-squarefoot convention center and beach club at the Lake Worth Beach, along with a three-story parking garage that would add a net of 200 new parking spaces to the beach. The two principals of Hudson Holdings are Steve Michael, a former hedge fund manager originally from Chicago, and Andrew “Avi” Greenbaum, a former securities and futures trader who headed Hudson Capital, a Miami real estate development company before starting Hudson Holdings with Steve Michael.
Hudson Holdings is based in Delray Beach. In addition to building a 50,000-sqare-foot building for a convention center and “fee-based” beach club, Hudson Holdings is also proposing to lease the second floor of the Casino building, including the second-floor restaurant space and the ballroom, and to “lease, manage and operate” the entire Casino complex for a management fee of 5 percent. “This project we feel not only enhances the beach front venue but also brings an enormous economic impact to the City of Lake Worth,” Hudson Holdings wrote in its responses to the last round of questions from the ITN Committee. “This will promote future development into the city. We can do this with virtually no investment from the city. This is an opportunity that does not happen often.” The city had asked the developer for references to verify its “financial stability.” Hudson Holdings replied: “We have numerous lend-
The ‘Lake Worth Convention Center and Beach Club’ as proposed by Hudson Holdings, showing the west side of the building and the three-story parking garage to be built to add 200 parking spaces.
ers and private funds which both entities have worked with, and that can be contacted if needed,” and went on to say that because “both entities” are now involved in over a billion dollars worth of projects across the country, the request will have to be handled in a “private manor (sic) which will not interfere or jeopardize work in other areas.” There was a third proposal being considered for a company called Wave House, which was proposing to build wave machines at the beach. Wave House was withdrawn from consideration after they asked for extension of a deadline to submit information to the committee, and were turned down. “Our intent was to create an objective process that negotiated hard on behalf of the city,” City Manager Michael Bornstein told the Tribune on Tuesday after a long City Commission meeting during which a number of residents spoke out in opposition to the Hudson Holdings plan to build at the beach. “I don’t
“Our intent was to create an objective process that negotiated hard on behalf of the city.” —City Manager Michael Bornstein think there was ever an intent to present something that would be detrimental to the beach.” He said in the last couple of years, a number of people have come to him and proposed various things for the Lake Worth beach, including a surf museum and a putt putt golf course. “We told people who were coming around: ‘We’re going to have a process here.’” At the April 21 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Christopher McVoy asked if some provision could be made for the public to speak on April 28,
City Manager Michael Bornstein
either at the meeting, or afterwards, in a second meeting. Commissioner Andy Amoroso said it wouldn’t be fair to keep women with children at City Hall until midnight, and Mayor Pam Triolo showed impatience, saying she’d already agreed to one meeting, a workshop meeting, where the public can speak about the beach proposals and at which no vote will be taken. This meeting has not yet been scheduled.
Hudson Holdings Backed Out of Offers to Buy Downtown Buildings Business owners on Lake Avenue were talking about it last summer. Hudson Holdings was buying several buildings in our downtown, a sign of their interest in the city and their willingness to invest in it while working to re-open The Gulfstream Hotel. “He went to me and four
other people to buy our buildings,” said former art gallery owner Robert Pardo, speaking of Steve Michael of Hudson Holdings. “He signed offers and put us in touch with his lawyer. He went through the whole process, and then we waited for him to put the first penny down, and it never hap-
pened.” Pardo had taken his building at 805 Lake Avenue off the market, after Michael made the offer, and spent $1000 on a lawyer. “We waited for 60 days and he never delivered the first penny. Unbelievable,” Pardo told the Tribune this week. “If this company is
The building on the corner of Lake Avenue and J Street, one of several buildings downtown that Hudson Holdings had made offers to buy, or expressed interest in buying. (photo by Margaret Menge)
so rich and so gung-ho, why would you do this?” The offer from Michael, said Pardo, was for $325,000. Pardo ended up selling the building in February for $340,000 to a man who plans to open an Italian restaurant there. Hudson Holdings made a similar offer on the large building on the northeast corner of Lake and J Street that for many years was home to Island Water Sports, and was left empty after the surf shop moved to the 500 block of Lake Avenue. The building is owned by Tom Cimaglia of Pompano Beach. Pardo says Michael also backed out of that offer. Fred Chalker of Carousel Antiques Center at 813 Lake Avenue said representatives of Hudson Holdings stopped in last year and asked about his two-story building, which has had a For Sale sign on it for some time. “They showed some interest,” he said. But didn’t make an offer. Besides the Gulfstream
Steve Michael put an offer on Robert Pardo’s building at 805 Lake Avenue, but never put down any money.
Hotel, Hudson Holdings owns at least six buildings on South Federal Hwy. in Lake Worth, most of them apartment buildings. The addresses are: 914 South
Federal Hwy., 928 Federal Hwy., 1425 Federal Hwy., 1503 Federal Hwy., 1618 Federal Hwy., and South Federal Hwy.
South South South South 1630
Reporters Wanted
Looking for local news hounds to work as freelance reporters for The Lake Worth Tribune. Must have courage and curiosity, along with a college degree. Must also be able to pass a writing/ editing test. Weekend and evening availability a plus! Please send your resume and a cover letter to: mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com.
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The Lake Worth Tribune
Friday, April 24, 2015
“Gulfstream Hotel Cited for Graffiti, Trash, Peeling Paint”
Jennifer Tsugranes, Tina Thomsen and Patrick Robertson outside the Gulfstream Hotel on Wednesday, talking about the poor condition of the building. (photo by Margaret Menge)
A makeshift bed on the front porch of the Gulfstream Hotel.
Graffiti on one of the outbuildings.
not guarding the property, saying people had been seen climbing in the second-floor windows with bed rolls. Michael replied that there was no need for a security guard to guard an empty building. On Tuesday evening, a man was asleep on the front porch of the hotel, facing Lake Avenue, and on Wednesday morning, at least three differ-
Hudson Holdings bought the hotel in 2014 for $7.2 million, and put a fence around the property, covered with banners.
ent makeshift beds had been left there, with cardboard laid out for mattresses, and blue blankets left crumpled in a few corners. In a pile off to one side were beer cans, soda cans and food wrappers – evidence of a meal or snacks from the nights or days before. On the east side of the building there was a bro-
ken window on the first floor, as though a baseball had smashed through it, and several balustrades along the porch were crumbling. There was graffiti on a door and an empty liquor bottle and a pair of men’s underwear on the ground. “I’m so disappointed,” said Thomsen this week, looking over the building.
A door on the west side of the hotel, with its bottom bent up to make a hole large enough for an adult to crawl through.
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She walked around it, pointing out garbage. Two other neighbors came by, and pointed out more debris and damage to the building. “Why is the city OK with an owner doing this?” said Patrick Robertson, asking why the city was considering a proposal by Hudson Holdings to build a convention center at the beach given the condition of the hotel. On the west side of the building, the bottom of a door had been bent upwards enough for a grown man to slide under, and there was broken glass in the alleyway. Other buildings on the property also showed signs of recent vandalism. The back doors on the art deco four-plex at 14 South Lakeside, which is part of The Gulfstream property, were both ajar on Wednesday morning, and an awning window open, seeming to indicate that squatters are, or have been, living there. A one-story building behind it had black graffiti scrawled on it. “It’s rare that we see anybody doing anything over there,” said Jennifer Tsugranes, who lives in an apartment on South Lakeside Drive that looks out on the
A broken window on the first floor on the east side.
Back doors open on the first and second floor of the historic art deco building on the property, at 14 South Lakeside
Gulfstream property. “Once Hudson Holdings bought, it the security guard left and they put the fence up. And that’s pretty much it.” Someone did come out and fix the fence last month, she said, after neighbors complained that it was falling down. In March, Steve Michael of Hudson Holdings told the Bryant Park Neighborhood Association that it would likely be eight months before they begin work on renovating the hotel. Mark Woods, head of the city’s Code Compliance Department, said notice of the violations was sent to Hudson Holdings on April 21,
and that the developer has until May 4 to take care of them. If they don’t, the case will be set for a hearing before the Special Magistrate on June 25. The letter from the city was sent to Andrew Greenbaum of Hudson Holdings, to the company’s offices at 310 SE 1st Street, Suite 2 in Delray Beach. Greenbaum and Steve Michael are the two principals in the firm. The issue of homeless people sleeping on the front porch is not part of the complaint. “There’s nothing that code can do to prevent that,” Woods told the Tribune, calling it “unfortunate.”
Pool Open Thursday through Sunday The Lake Worth Municipal Pool is open on Thursday, Friday and Monday mornings from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and Saturday and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Swimming lanes are available for those wanting to swim laps. Seasonal passes are available. The pool is at the Casino building at 10 South Ocean Boulevard.
Call 585-6858 during hours of operation for more information.
“TRIOLO: I Didn't Know Anything About...” convention center and private beach club at our beach and hasn’t listened to any of the recordings of the ITN Committee because the ITN Committee’s recommendation has not yet come to the City Commission. “I would like to be fair in the process and not be bi-
ased,” she said. Triolo spoke with the Tribune during a break during the City Commission meeting on Tuesday. The mayor had just railed against the paper from the dais for running what she said was a misleading headline on the front page of the
paper – “Mayor’s Pick on ITN Committee Saves the Day for Developers.” The article explained that Sherry Schmidt was appointed by the mayor to the city’s Finance Advisory Board, and from that board was picked to serve on the ITN Committee.
Friday, April 24, 2015
The Lake Worth Tribune
Page 5
EVENTS CALENDAR FRIDAY, APRIL 24
Lake Avenue. Part of the Lake Worth Playhouse ‘Black Box Series.’ Call the Box Office for tickets at (561) 586-6410.
“Cabaret” at 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse at 713 Lake Avenue. Tickets start at $23. Call the Box Office at (561) 586-6410.
SUNDAY, MAY 3 Tribute to Pete and Toshi Seeger from 2-6 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, with Mel & Vinnie and many other musicians. After-party at 6 p.m. at the Gray Mockingbird Community Garden at 2000 North D Street. Concert, potluck, video are all to benefit the restoration of the sloop ‘Woodie Guthrie.’ Bring instruments, stories and songs. $5 at the door. Children under 12 are free. “Kimberly Akimo” at 2 p.m. at the Stonzek Theatre at 709 Lake Avenue. Part of the Lake Worth Playhouse ‘Black Box Series.’ Call the Box Office for tickets at (561) 586-6410. FREE Comic Day and ‘Empire Striketh Back’ Performance at Excelsior Comics at 16 South J Street. Interactive audience performance is from 3:30-8 p.m. Raffle holders will get free BBQ.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25 Lake Worth Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Old Bridge Park, on the east side of the Lake Worth Bridge off Ocean Avenue. Fresh produce, baked goods, crafts, farmfresh eggs, Florida honey, and music. Earth Day Celebration from 12 noon to 10 p.m. in the Culural Plaza. Kids’ music circle with Noam Brown, folk dancing, Mel & Vinnie, storytelling and lawn games. Tree Giveaway to Lake Worth residents starting at 10 a.m. Food and other vendors. Free Organic Gardening Seminar from 2-5 p.m. at Common Grounds Coffee Bar at 12 South J Street. Also, Free movie: “Dirt” and raw food sampling. RSVP to guerreroantonio16@gmail.com. “Cabaret” at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse at 713 Lake Avenue. Tickets start at $23. Call the Box Office at (561) 586-6410.
Send information about your events to The Lake Worth Tribune for publication on the EVENTS Calendar! Email mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com or bring information to the newspaper’s offices at:
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
129 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 200A.
Studio Art Walk from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the corner of Lucerne Ave. and F Street. A tour of the Urban Art Lofts. Fine arts, photography, dance and live music. “Cabaret” Final Show at 2 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse at 713 Lake Avenue. Tickets start at $23. Call the Box Office at (561) 586-6410.
Summer Sports Camp for Kids
FRIDAY, MAY 1 Evening on the Avenue from 6-10 p.m. in the Cultural Plaza downtown, with music by The Legendary Bobby Nathan Band and an intermission spotlight by Cassidy Diana. Food trucks, crafts, specialty items for sale. Mayor’s Prayer Dinner from 6-8 p.m. in the Casino Ballroom at 10 South Ocean Boulevard. “Kimberly Akimo” at 8 p.m. at the Stonzek Theatre at 709 Lake Avene. Part of the Lake Worth Playhouse ‘Black Box Series.’ Call the Box Office for tickets at (561) 586-6410.
SATURDAY, MAY 2 Family Bike Safety Event from 1-4 p.m. in the Cultural Plaza. Free.
Swimming Lessons at the Pool Sally Welsh-Chapela will resume teaching regular swimming lessons at the Lake Worth Municipal Pool on Saturday, May 2. The swimming class for the beginner level for children ages 5 and up will be at 9 a.m. The swimming class for parents and babies/toddlers is at 10:30 a.m. At 12 noon, she will teach a beginning swimming lesson for adults and teenagers. Children who are taking swimming lessons without a parent in the water must by comfortable getting their faces wet and must be able to float on their front and back. Noodles and water wings can be used to assist learning. There will also be a mer-
Excelsior Comics at 16 South J Street is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Saturday, May 2, FREE comic day. Pick out up to five free comics. On Sunday, May 3, see an interactive performance of ‘The Empire Striketh Back’ from 3:30-8 p.m.
FREE Comic Day and one-year birthday celebration at Excelsior Comics at 16 South J Street. Choose up to five free comics. Raffle holders will get free BBQ. Derby Day Party from 4:30-7 p.m. at South Shores Tavern and Patio Bar. The public is invited to attend this Bryant Park Neighborhood Association annual event, with hot and cold buffet, contests and door prizes. Watch the Kentucky Derby on large-screen TVs to cheer on your favorite horse. Prizes for most beautiful, funniest and creative hats and for the loudest men’s shirt. $15 at the door. “Kimberly Akimo” at 8 p.m. at the Stonzek Theatre at 709
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maid class at 11 a.m., and one at 11:30 a.m. for little mermaids and their parents. Outfits and tails can be purchased or borrowed. The class will focus on teaching tail dancing, floating, spin-
ning, diving and porpoise swimming, with synchronized swimming movements. Skills taught include controlling the breath and building core strength. Boys are welcome to join
to class to learn dolphin or shark swimming. All those interested in mermaid lessons or swimming lessons can call Sally Welsh-Chapela at (561) 281-5086.
The City of Lake Worth is now accepting registration for its Summer Sports Camp for children ages 6-15. The camp will be held at the Norman J. Wimbley Gymnasium at 1515 Wingfield Street. The camp is Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 15 to August 7. The cost is $450 per child. Register at the Osborne Community Center or the Norman J. Wimbley Gymnasium, 1515 Wingfield Street from 3:308:30 p.m. Registration will end when all slots are filled. Download a registration form at www.lakeworth.org. For more information, call Coach Osborne at 721-5319 or gym staff at 540-5133.
Flamingo Clay Studio Wins $18K Grant Flamingo Clay Studio, the non-profit parent organization of Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, has been awarded a grant of $18,000 by Impact 100. Impact 100 Palm Beach County is a women’s charitable organization funding local nonprofit initiatives. It is comprised of a growing number of women (320 members last year) who donate $1,000 annually, pool their funds and vote to award multiple $100,000 grants to local nonprofits in southern Palm Beach County. The organization gives grants in five areas: arts & culture, education, environment, family, and health & wellness. This year, Impact 100 awarded four $100,000 grants and two $18,000 grants. Flamingo Clay Studio is the grateful recipient of one of the $18,000 grants. This funding will allow them to continue to develop their new studio at 216 South F Street in Lake Worth. This studio is designed for use by 3-D artists with facilities to create works in clay, fused glass and small metals. The studio has already received a $51,000 grant as scholarship funding for 10 low-income senior citizen artists. This was awarded by the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Flamingo Clay Studio will continue its partnership with the arts department of Lake Worth High School. Next month, art teachers Brent Bludworth and Jennifer Gironda will be presenting an end-of-the-year exhibit of their works at the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery.
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Page 6
The Lake Worth Tribune
Friday, April 24, 2015
OPINION House Editorial
Anyone Better Out There?
Something has to change. For the fourth or fifth City Commission meeting in a row, Commissioner Scott Maxwell reamed the private citizens who were in the audience, with so much venom spewing from his mouth that if anybody had lit a match, the room would have blown. One word spoken from the audience in meager defense, and the mayor barked: “Quiet in the Chambers!” Three members of law enforcement – Capt. Rolando Silva and two deputies – sat on the back bench. They should have taken Maxwell out and charged him with domestic abuse. It’s our house, after all, City Hall. On Tuesday night, Maxwell railed against those opposed to plans for a Hudson Holdings-built convention center at our beach, accusing them of lies. They said they’d listened to the tapes
of the ITN Committee meetings. He said from the dais he hadn’t. But he still accused them of lying about what was on them. You really can’t take him seriously anymore. The name-calling, the screaming. But it doesn’t make it any more acceptable. I’m not sure why he holds elected office here, or why anyone would vote for him. You wouldn’t if you saw him in action. Lake Worth needs better representation. Let’s set politics aside. At a minimum, we need representatives who understand that they are public servants. We need people who will listen to us, and respect our wishes -- on the beach, on the bond, on heights. You don’t have to be the perfect candidate. You don’t have to be connected. You just have to be willing to listen.
Abroad in Lake Worth With Sudsysez
Laura Jacobs, Joyce Brown with Tico Tico, and AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt on April 19. (photo contributed)
menu featuring jerk chicken and pork in ginger sauce or an Island burger. After all this frivolity we were sore and had to go visit our basketball-playing chiropractor, Dr. Ron Gold, who is next door to Studio Dance on the 300 block of Lake Avenue.
And speaking of dance, there will be an upcoming event in May at Don Ramon hosted by Argentine Tango instructor Aidana B. The grand opening of the Social House on Friday night is the social event of the week. Erik and Laura are hosting under a tent with the
most glorious catered foods, and Miss J, their house pastry chef’s cakes are divine. Just ask local broker Robert Bryson. In the meantime, Mrs. Sudsy, Asst. Sudsy, and Modine are all going to visit Laura at the M.L. Salon to be beautified for the coming week.
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“Modine! Modine! Where is my coffee?” Mrs. Sudsy tells me that our personal assistant is off auditioning for a role at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Is she in Cabaret, dancing? This wonderful production runs until April 26. Dylan Driscoll, age 7, tells me he wants to sign up for the Playhouse Summer Camp so he can be in Shreck, the musical, junior version. Why I asked? So I can paint me green. That is the best reason yet. His friends will be green with envy! Laura Ann Jacobs, significant other of uber art dealer Robert Pardo, hosted an all-girls art party and mahjong weekend. We saw AnnaMaria Windisch-Hunt, gallerist Joyce Brown (who was teaching Tico Tico, the cockatoo, to sing) and the ever-fabulous Mona Romero down from St. Pete. She told me how the city based its arts district revival on Lake Worth. Mona had on a black vintage Dior sheath that Mrs. Sudsy was eyeing. We made a date to go to Rustico for timbale and maybe carbonara a la Capri. Is life a drag? Not if you go on Wednesday night to the Island at 921 Lake Ave. Starting at 9:30 p.m. there’s the Shore Girls Revue hosted by Miss Velvet Lenore with special guests such as Diva, Erica Norell, and Melissa St. John. There’s a DJ and you can enjoy a mango mimosa or “naked pirate” from the bar or you can order from the extensive
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Letters to the Editor Peter Timm wore tape over his mouth during the full workshop meeting of the City Commission on April 14 to protest the public being shut out of the discussions about building at the beach.
Letters Policy Write us a Letter
The Lake Worth Tribune welcomes Letters to the Editor. • Letters should be no more than 250 words* and should pertain to something that has been published in the paper. • Letters should include the name, address and phone number of the letter writer. (Addresses and phone numbers are for verification purposes only, not for publication.) • Letters may be edited for space. Letters should be sent to: mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com or mailed to The Lake Worth Tribune, P.O. Box 85, Lake Worth, FL 33460 * Those wishing to write a longer piece for the paper on a particular topic related to Lake Worth may call the newspaper offices at (561) 586-6643 to inquire about writing an Op-Ed.
Editor and Publisher / Margaret Menge mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com
Creative Director and Prepress / Nancy Pobiak P.O. Box 85 • Lake Worth, FL 33460 Published in Lake Worth, Florida at the offices of The Lake Worth Tribune. 129 North Federal Highway • Suite 200A • Lake Worth, FL 33460 Phone: (561) 586-6643
To the Editor: Re: Hudson Holdings and their plans for Lake Worth…Their plan reminds me of the old saying,”Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” The gift was a Trojan Horse and you know the rest of the story. -Roger Kowalsky North O Street To the Editor: I have had a change of heart. We should all welcome Hudson Holdings from the bottom of our hearts. They have nothing but the best intentions for me and you. Let us express our gratitude. Give Hudson our beach. Give them their own pools. Give them Bryant Park. Give them the golf course while we’re at it. Give Hudson whatever they want. They know best. Why not change the name of Lake Worth to Hudson? Uh, oh, there is already another Hudson, Florida. OK, let’s call ourselves Hudson Holdings, 33460. Put a banner on top of City Hall. Property and management of Hudson Holdings -- Our Town, Not Yours. It has a ring to it, n’est ce pas? I mean, how has Lake
Worth survived so far without Hudson Holdings? They are here to save the day from ourselves. Welcome, thousands of conventioneer refugees. Mi casa es tu casa. I will ask this question once again: Are you people nuts? Potter isn’t selling. He’s buying. Goodbye Bailey Building and Loan. Goodbye, paradise. Goodbye, Lake Worth. -Dan Vasone South Lakeside Drive Dear Ms. M. Menge, I was appalled to read the front page of your newspaper published on Friday, April 10, 2015. Our Lake Worth seems to be being bought and sold, with the voice of the Tribune the only one cueing us in. As a resident of Lake Worth, and having been raised in the south end of West Palm since 1952 I have seen so many changes, some good, no more white and colored drinking fountains on Clematis Street, I once scuba dived in a raw sewage outfall off South Palm (what were all those white shreds covering the reef ? Oh no!); some not so good: development run amok, animals displaced
and sleeping in the road, our visitor “season” denoted by the changing color of the license plates, and the extreme pressure on the land and our ocean. Speaking of which, having gone to dances during high school at the Lake Worth Casino, going to my 50th Forest Hill High School reunion there last year, and my general love of our ocean, beaches, reefs and ocean; these few rhymes popped into my mind. Use them as you see fit, edit as you wish, and thank you for attempting to be the voice of reason.
IMAGINE: LAKE WORTH BEACH Imagine the Casino pool gone, it’s not too hard -without even much of a try. Just a filled-in hole, with a three-story parking monster nearby. Imagine all the people, one thousand more daily on the beach, A few returning to their private beach club, to us many -- so far out of reach. Imagine “that little house left in the middle of Manhattan,” surrounded by towers, oh so stark!
Is it really left behind? Or is it Central Park!? She says, “What is wrong with you people?” Yes, that is you and me! You make me twitch. Imagine the real question: What is wrong with you stewards? Why are you the lobby puppets of the rich? Imagine where this is headed? Commissioner’s questions on the details, please, Sir Developer, just a few little scraps. Are you all bought and sold, not interested in halting this -- right in its tracks? The developers with their “vision” here today only for the purse. To some no such thing as too much money; it will only continue to get worse. Imagine all the people, yes, that’s still me and you, knowing what to do. Sit yourself down at your letter writer, you do know what to do. Our priceless beach sold for thirty pieces, selling our kids legacy for a song. Imagine, Lake Worth voters, how could this not be wrong? -Michael Alexander Cypress Lake Drive (unincorporated)
Friday, April 24, 2015
The Lake Worth Tribune
Page 7
Emails Show Szerdi Helped Hudson Holdings Build Support for Beach Convention Center By Margaret Menge
Emails obtained through a public records request show that former Commissioner John Szerdi helped Hudson Holdings win support for the beach project while he was a city commissioner, elected to represent residents in District 4. On Oct. 6, Lee Lipton, the owner of Benny’s on the Beach, sent an e-mail to Szerdi thanking him for introducing him to Steven Michael of Hudson Holdings and forwarding a letter of support for the beach project that Michael outlined at that meeting. The next day Szerdi sent an email to the city manager, Michael Bornstein, asking why the deadline for proposals for beach projects through the ITN process was pushed back from October 7 to the end of October. “To accommodate Lee Lipton’s numerous questions,” Bornstein responded. “Which questions? Can you forward them to me?” Szerdi writes. Bornstein replies that he will forward Lipton’s questions to Szerdi. Szerdi writes back: “I know by (sic) was that enough to postpone the efforts put in by the rest of the interested parties? What is happening with the wave company? I looked them up and am not sure about their financial capacity to accomplish their idea?” Szerdi, who is the architect for Hudson Holdings on the Sandy House development
in Delray Beach, told the Tribune earlier this year that he’d been offered the job of renovating the Gulfstream Hotel for Hudson Holdings, but had turned it down to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. On Oct. 24, he sent an email to Juan Ruiz, the head of the city’s Leisure Services Department, which oversees the Casino building, The Letter to the Editor from Jim Tebbe, beach and pool, sayshowing changes made by Steve Michael ing he understands of Hudson Holdings, changing ‘convention that a public meeting center’ to ‘business conference center.’ of the ITN Committee was set for Nov. 4, Election mittee was posted, but it was Day. “I certainly would like not a public meeting, and to have known about this only members of the ITN and tried to make arrange- Committee and representaments to attend and listen,” tives of the proposers were he wrote. He then suggests allowed to attend. that the meeting be videoCorinne Elliot, the city’s taped, and says he wants to controller and a member of be kept in the loop. “Please the ITN Committee, says let me know in the future of Wes Blackman did not sit the process events/meetings in on any ITN Committee the Beach ITN is taking,” he meetings, nor did anyone wrote. else who was not on the ITN Szerdi later wrote to the Committee, and that they Commission’s secretary, were not videotaped. Silvina Donaldson: “SilviSzerdi also worked to help na…never mind since Wes Hudson Holdings with damtold me he was planning age control after news about on videoing the meeting. the developer’s beach plans Thanks,” referring, appar- made it onto the front page ently, to Wes Blackman, of the Tribune not long beSeri’s campaign manager fore the March 10 election. and the chair of the city’s Emails show that Jim Historic Resources Preser- Tube, the president of the vation Board, who writes a Gulfstream Condominium blog and videotapes many association, sent his Letter to public meetings. the Editor that ran in the TriA public notice of the Nov. bune on March 6 to Szerdi 4 meeting of the ITN Com- and Steve Michael of Hud-
John Szerdi riding in on a car in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Lake Avenue less than a week after he was defeated 57-37 percent in his re-election campaign for City Commission. (photo by Margaret Menge)
son Holdings before sending it to the newspaper. Michael returned it to Szerdi with “my changes” in the subject line. The letter shows a strikethrough of the word “convention” in “convention center” and the words “business conference” inserted to change “convention center” to “business conference center.” This is how it was stated in the letter Tebbe sent to the Tribune. The Hudson Holdings proposal to the city of Lake Worth is for a convention center. The conceptual draw-
ings submitted by Hudson Holdings are labeled “Lake Worth Convention Center and Beach Club.” Szerdi also sent an email to City Manager Michael Bornstein asking for a special City Commission meeting to take place on Thursday, March 5. “My concern is that the ITN process may have been compromised by Commissioner McCoy’s actions,” he wrote. “I would like the record to be set straight so our electorate can have the truth about the ITN’s intentions. Please let me know first thing Monday
morning so the proper advertising can be arranged,” he wrote. The Commission did not have a special meeting on March 5, but on March 9, the day before the election, Mayor Pam Tricolor held an afternoon press conference at City Hall to defend the ITN process. The Tribune was not notified or invited, nor was Commissioner Christopher McVoy. Emails and calls to John Szerdi this week were not returned.
Free Trees to Be Given Away to Residents on Saturday The city’s volunteer Tree Board will be overseeing the Tree Giveaway at the 2015 Lake Worth Earth Day Festival taking place on Saturday April 25 in the Cultural Plaza. The 65-70 trees to be given away will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis starting at 10 a.m. Certified arborists will be on hand starting at 9 a.m. for residents interested in information about the trees to be given away. Only residents, homeowners and property owners within the city limits of Lake Worth will eligible for the Tree Giveaway. This includes everyone living in the zip code 33460 and sections of 33461. At 1 p.m., Mayor Pam Triolo will dedicate the Gumbo Limbo tree that was planted in the Plaza on April 16, near the City Hall Annex, replacing the large ficus that was cut down there more than two years ago. The Lake Worth City Tree Board, whose members are volunteers appointed by city commissioners and the mayor, is one of a number of advisory boards which provide assistance to the City Commission. The Tree Board meets the second Thursday of each month: Members of the public are encouraged to attend. For more information please contact David McGrew at (561) 719-5067 or dmcgrew@lakeworth.org.
Got News? Don't wait! Call 801-NEWS
Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery Celebrates 6th Anniversary
Finally! A new tree was planted to take the place of the ficus that was cut down in the Cultural Plaza at the end of 2012 – a gumbo limbo. (photo by Margaret Menge)
On Friday, May 1, the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery will celebrate its 6th anniversary with a party from 6-9 p.m. at 15 South J Street. The first 100 visitors will get a butterfly. Performers Kat Mahoney, Mel & Vinnie and Gin Blische will perform out front on the sidewalk. Over the past six years, more than 100 artists have shown their work in the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery. When it opened in 2009, it was one of the first artist cooperatives in Palm Beach County, and the only one to exhibit only 3-D art, which includes sculpture, pottery, wood turnings, stone carvings and jewelry. The Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery has also spawned a cooperative 3-D artist studio at 216 South F Street. Over the last year, artists have begun to produce at the studio many of the works now showing in the gallery. Over the last five years, members of the gallery have initiated and participated in a series of community-based fund-raisers that have helped improve the quality of life for children in local elementary schools. They have also been successful in helping the children of Jacmel Haiti through the Haitian Empty Bowl fund-raisers. The Flamingo Clay Studio is now working on raising funds for a partnership program with art students at Lake Worth High School.
Page 8
The Lake Worth Tribune
erful Wond orth W Lake
Friday, April 24, 2015
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