The Lake Worth Tribune by Lake Worth Tribune

Lake Worth's Best Local Newspaper!Friday, March 20, 2015

The Lake Worth Tribune

W o e rth k a L Domine, ut videam FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015

Coming Up Saturday, March 21 POSTPONED: 1 p.m. Public Meeting on Financing Infrastructure in Lake Worth: ‘The Road Ahead’ -- An open discussion on financing options to resolve Lake Worth’s infrastructure needs. POSTPONED to a later date, to be determined, by notice of the City Clerk. Tuesday, March 24 City Commission Meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall On the agenda: Board Appointments, Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council update Sunday, March 28

Vol. 1 • Issue 10 Published in Lake Worth, FL

Abandoned at Birth Near Lake Worth By Margaret Menge

A young woman named Mary Katherine Erskine (Katey) is looking for her biological family, and pleading with people from the Lake Worth area to help. On July 18, 1984, she was abandoned as a newborn and found by two golfers among the pine trees in a paper bag, still covered in her mother’s fluids. She was found in what is now Palm Springs, reports the Palm

Beach Post, in an area just west of Congress Avenue, between Lake Worth Road and 10th Avenue North. A DNA test revealed that Erskine has Finnish roots, and a DNA specialist told her that her parents or grandparents were likely immigrants from Finland. Lake Worth is home to a large Finnish population. Erskine’s post on her Facebook page shows her holding

a cardboard sign asking for help in solving the mystery of her life, and saying she would love to meet her biological parents. After she was found in 1984, she was adopted and grew up in Michigan. She now has children of her own. Anyone with information about the baby abandoned

Commissioner Szerdi’s Parting Shots:

Voters Were ‘Gullible’ My Opponent was Deceitful and The Trib Contributed to my Defeat!

PrideFest Parade Starting at 11 a.m. on Lake Avenue.

Hudson Holdings to Talk to Bryant Park on Monday By Margaret Menge

A representative from Hudson Holdings will be in Lake Worth on Monday night to give a presentation on plans for the Gulfstream Hotel to the Bryant Park Neighborhood Association. June Evans, president of the neighborhood association, says the developer was originally booked for the association’s October meeting, but had to cancel. This month’s meeting, she says, was the first one since October that worked for both parties. All residents of Lake Worth are invited to the meeting, to begin at 7 p.m. on Monday at The Beach Club at the Lake Worth Golf Course. A presentation on The Cottages of Lake Worth will precede the presentation by a representative from Hudson Holdings. Hudson Holdings told the city last year that they were planning to re-open the Gulfstream Hotel by the end of 2015, but the company has still not submitted drawings showing what it intends to build on the property. In a meeting with Gulfstream Condominium owners on Feb. 25, Steve Michael of Hudson Holdings said work has slowed down on the Gulfstream Hotel because they are waiting to hear whether their plan for a business conference center and private beach club at the Lake Worth Beach

on July 18, 1984 should call The Lake Worth Tribune at (561) 586-6643.

By Margaret Menge

John Szerdi, flanked by Commissioner Andy Amoroso and attorney Christy Goddeau, delivers an unusual last speech at City Hall on March 16, referencing a Bob Marley song, quoting from the Bible, and saying voters were fooled. He walked out before the victor, Ryan Maier, could be sworn in to office. See Page 7 for the full text of his speech.

Outgoing City Commissioner John Szerdi took the opportunity of his last commission meeting on Monday evening to rail against the voters, whom he said were fooled into voting for his opponent, and said he “really didn’t realize how gullible people can be.” He complained that a small minority of people turned out to vote, and that

the voters had voted based on ‘words’ and not ‘deeds.’ But the voters weren’t the only ones who took hits from the one-term District 4 commissioner, who was defeated by first-time candidate Ryan Maier on March 10 by 57-37 percent. Szerdi, after congratulating Maier and Commis-

Analysis: Szerdi Lost All but Two Precincts By Margaret Menge

A close look at the precinct-by-precinct results of the March 10 election show that first-candidate Ryan Maier won every precinct in the city except two – South Palm Park and the precinct south of 12th Avenue South and west of Federal Highway. Amazingly, Maier won both John Szerdi’s own Bry-

Lost 2-to-1 in Mayor Pam Triolo’s Precinct Numbers Show Widespread Support for Maier Door-to-Door Won It? ant Park/Parrot Cove precinct and Mayor Pam Triolo’s precinct in College Park by more than 2-to-1. Maier won the Lake Osborne neighborhood (precinct 3078) by almost 3-to-1, with 134 votes for Maier compared to 48 voters for Szerdi.

The results show widespread support for Maier in the city, and do not appear to indicate that coverage of the race in the Tribune was a deciding factor, as Szerdi had hinted in his March 16 speech from the dais, as he lost even in precincts where the news-

paper is not distributed. The results also do not appear to point to candidate forums as a deciding factor, as Maier won easily even in neighborhoods that didn’t host forums this year. The race, it appears, was won on the ground, or by some other factor or combination of factors. Maier told the Tribune the weekend before the election

Elvis the Alligator Spotted at Lake Worth Golf Course Orphaned Baby Gator Seen Sunning Himself on Rock in Recent Days By Margaret Menge

The young alligator who lives at the Lake Worth Golf Course, nicknamed ‘Elvis,’ has reappeared recently and has been seen sunbathing on a warm rock on the edge of a pond next to The Beach Club, to the delight of golfers and diners. “He don’t bother nobody,” said Mike, one of the employees at the golf course. “He don’t even bother the ducks.” Elvis appeared relaxed as a lady golfer stood on a

that he had been knocking on doors in every area of the city starting on Jan. 1, and that he had gone doorto-door amost every evening during the week and every Saturday and Sunday. Szerdi, meanwhile, got a later start, going door-todoor in the closing weeks. It appears it was not enough. He lost the election on March 10 by 57-37 percent. The final vote count was 1434 votes for Maier; 935 votes for Szerdi and 132 votes for Craig Frost, who was on the ballot but had not campaigned. A total of 2501 people voted for District 4 commissioner on March 10, compared to 2,973 who voted for mayor on Nov. 8, 2011, in the last election in Lake Worth in which only local candidates were on the ballot. Mayor Pam Triolo was elected in that election with 1585 votes, just 151 more than Maier got on March 10. See Page 7 for precinct results.

Elvis, one of the names given to the juvenile alligator, on his favorite rock on Tuesday afternoon at the edge of the pond south of The Beach Club. (photo by Margaret Menge)

rock not more than seven feet from him and snapped a photo with her tablet. “He was there when we got there,” says Beach Club

manager Mitch Reale, “but has become an attraction to the diners along with all the great wildlife we have!” On Tuesday afternoon,

at the same time Elvis was getting some sun, a raccoon walked quickly across the parking lot, and disappeared into the dumpster enclosure,

and a baby raccoon, appearing to be orphaned, was seen crawling around on the

Page 2

The Lake Worth Tribune

Friday, March 20, 2015

State Hears Case for Lake Worth Classical Academy Overrules School District on Curriculum – Affirms Phonics, Classical Curriculum School District Sends Team of 5 to Tallahassee The state’s Charter School Appeal Commission met in Tallahassee on Monday, March 16, for a hearing on the appeal of the Lake Worth Classical Academy, proposed to open in Lake Worth in August of this year with 72 children in Kindergarten through third grade. The appeal was presented by Margaret Menge, editor and publisher of The Lake Worth Tribune, on behalf of the school founders, accompanied by accountant Gary Scott of School Financial Services. Appeal Commission members present included two charter school representatives and two representatives of school districts. The board was chaired by Lois Tepper, assistant general counsel for the Florida Department of Education, representing the state’s Commissioner of Education, Pam Stewart. Menge began by telling the board of the 74 percent of 10th graders not reading at grade level at Lake Worth High School, and the need for a model of academic excellence in the city of Lake Worth. She went on to describe the city as a historic,

seaside town where families know one another, but where, when children reach school age, they are scattered, with many middle class families commuting to schools in other cities and children building their lives in other communities. She pointed out the case of two new classical charter schools – Mason Classical Academy in Naples, Fla. and Savannah Classical Academy in Savannah, Ga., which use the same curriculum proposed for the Lake Worth Classical Academy – with intensive phonics used to teach reading, a focus on classic literature and history, and the teaching of Latin. Both schools have long waiting lists for limited available spaces for the 2015-2016 school year. The School District of Palm Beach County, in its defense of the denial of the application for the Lake Worth Classical Academy, talked of recent closures of charter schools that had been turned down by the school district, but that had appealed and whose appeals were successful. The application for the

Lake Worth Classical Academy, submitted in August of 2014, was 158 pages in length with more than 30 additional pages of budget spreadsheets and 40 pages of other attachments, including letters of support from Charter School Capital, promising to provide working capital, and School Financial Services, agreeing to provide accounting services pro bono during the entire start-up period and throug h the school’s first year. Also included was a letter from the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 1415 North K Street, expressing support for leasing the church’s educational building to the school, with a credit given for half the capital improvements to the building. At its November 2014 meeting, the Palm Beach County School Board voted to deny all new charter schools for 2015. The district had received 22 applications for new schools: All but six withdrew after receiving notice that district staff would recommend denial of their applications. The six applications that were submitted to the School Board were

The “Sunshine Law” In recognition of “Sunshine Week,” the Tribune is printing the meat of the state’s “Sunshine Law” Chapter 286 of the Florida States, section .011: 286.011 Public meetings and records; public inspection; criminal and civil penalties.— (1) All meetings of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or of any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, at which official acts are to be taken are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times, and no resolution, rule, or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at such meeting. The board or commission must provide reasonable notice of all such meetings. (2) The minutes of a meeting of any such board or commission of any such state agency or authority shall be promptly recorded, and such records shall be open to public inspection. The circuit courts of this state shall have jurisdiction to issue injunctions to enforce the purposes of this section upon application by any citizen of this state. (3)(a) Any public officer who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a noncriminal infraction, punishable by fine not exceeding $500. (b) Any person who is a member of a board or commission or of any state agen-

cy or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision who knowingly violates the provisions of this section by attending a meeting not held in accordance with the provisions hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (c) Conduct which occurs outside the state which would constitute a knowing violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. (4) Whenever an action has been filed against any board or commission of any state agency or authority or any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision to enforce the provisions of this section or to invalidate the actions of any such board, commission, agency, or authority, which action was taken in violation of this section, and the court determines that the defendant or defendants to such action acted in violation of this section, the court shall assess a reasonable attorney’s fee against such agency, and may assess a reasonable attorney’s fee against the individual filing such an action if the court finds it was filed

in bad faith or was frivolous. Any fees so assessed may be assessed against the individual member or members of such board or commission; provided, that in any case where the board or commission seeks the advice of its attorney and such advice is followed, no such fees shall be assessed against the individual member or members of the board or commission. However, this subsection shall not apply to a state attorney or his or her duly authorized assistants or any officer charged with enforcing the provisions of this section. (5) Whenever any board or commission of any state agency or authority or any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision appeals any court order which has found said board, commission, agency, or authority to have violated this section, and such order is affirmed, the court shall assess a reasonable attorney’s fee for the appeal against such board, commission, agency, or authority. Any fees so assessed may be assessed against the individual member or members of such board or commission; provided, that in any case where the board or commission seeks the advice of

together under one listing on the consent agenda for the board’s Nov. 5 meeting. The board voted unanimously, with one vote, to reject all of them. The state’s charter school law requires that school districts approve all charter applications that meet the requirements of the law. Menge filed the appeal in mid December. The school district had 30 days to file a response. Representing the school district in Tallahassee on Monday was Laura Pincus, the district’s deputy counsel; Bruce Harris, the district’s senior counsel; Jim Pegg, the director of the charter schools office for the district; Heather Knust, the district’s budget director; and a second budget staffer. The first vote was to determine whether the applicant was denied due process under the law. The Charter School Appeal Commission its attorney and such advice is followed, no such fees shall be assessed against the individual member or members of the board or commission. (6) All persons subject to subsection (1) are prohibited from holding meetings at any facility or location which discriminates on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, origin, or economic status or which operates in such a manner as to unreasonably restrict public access to such a facility. (7) Whenever any member of any board or commission of any state agency or authority or any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision is charged with a violation of this section and is subsequently acquitted, the board or commission is authorized to reimburse said member for any portion of his or her reasonable attorney’s fees. (8) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), any board or commission of any state agency or authority or any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, and the chief administrative or executive officer of the governmental entity, may meet in private with the entity’s attorney to discuss pending litigation to which the entity is presently a party before a court or administrative agency, provided that the following conditions are met: (a) The entity’s attorney shall advise the entity at a public meeting that he or she desires advice concerning the litigation. (b) The subject matter of the meeting shall be confined

voted that the applicant was not denied due process. The next vote was on the issue of whether the school district erred in denying the school based on the curriculum section of the application. The commission sided with the school, voting 3-2 after hearing an impassioned defense of the language arts program proposed to be used, The Riggs Institute’s “The Writing and Spelling Road to Reading and Thinking” and a strong argument for using intensive phonics to teach reading, as recommended by the 1985 federal synthesis of reading research, “Becoming a Nation of Readers.” The third vote was on the issue of whether the district erred in denying the application based on the management section, where the district had said the applicant underestimated the percentage of ESE (special needs) students and the staffing that would be required to serve

them. Again, the commission sided with the school, this time unanimously, saying the school had correctly estimated the percentage of ESE students and had budgeted sufficient staff. On the last issue, the budget, the applicant explained that because of the district’s denial of the application, the school had not been able to apply for the Charter School Growth Fund grant identified as the seed money needed to open. She said that with a denial, it had not been possible to raise capital. The commission voted unanimously with the district, thus deciding to affirm the district’s denial of the school based on the budget section alone and to recommend to the State Board of Education that the district’s denial of the school’s application be upheld. The school founders have the option to resubmit the application this year to open the school in 2016.

Classical School to Open on C Street All interested parents and families are invited to attend an informational session on Friday, March 27 for a new private Christian school opening in Lake Worth in August. The school, called the Classical Christian Academy of the Palm Beaches, will open in a classroom building belonging to the First Church of the Nazarene at 128 North C Street. The information session will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 27 in the worship hall of the church, at 1401 Second Avenue North. The founder of the Classical Christian Academy of the Palm Beaches is Bonnie Fanelli, a former science teacher at The Paideia School of Tampa Bay. The school will follow a classical curriculum, with learning divided into three stages: the grammar stage (K-4), the logic stage (5-8), and the rhetoric stage (9-12). Children in third, fourth and fifth grades will study Latin three times a week, while sixth graders will have a daily Latin class. Classes will be limited to 16 students. For more information about the school, go to www. ccapb.com or call (561) 469-9470. to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. (c) The entire session shall be recorded by a certified court reporter. The reporter shall record the times of commencement and termination of the session, all discussion and proceedings, the names of all persons present at any time, and the names of all persons speaking. No portion of the session shall be off the record. The court reporter’s notes shall be fully transcribed and filed with the entity’s clerk within a reasonable time after the meeting. (d) The entity shall give reasonable public notice of the time and date of the attorney-client session and the names of persons who

will be attending the session. The session shall commence at an open meeting at which the persons chairing the meeting shall announce the commencement and estimated length of the attorney-client session and the names of the persons attending. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the meeting shall be reopened, and the person chairing the meeting shall announce the termination of the session. (e) The transcript shall be made part of the public record upon conclusion of the litigation. History.—s. 1, ch. 67-356; s. 159, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 78-365; s. 6, ch. 85-301; s. 33, ch. 91-224; s. 1, ch. 93232; s. 210, ch. 95-148; s. 1, ch. 95-353.

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Lake Worth Tribune

Page 3

Lake Worth’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

By Margaret Menge

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Lake Worth this year had something for everyone – miniature ponies! Elvis on a motorcycle! Men in kilts! Politicians! Antique cars! A beauty queen! Honey buns! And it had heart, too. The parade was a fundraiser for Wheels for Kids, a nonprofit that provides customized wheelchairs and scooters to disabled children. The parade went from east to west on Lake Avenue, starting in front of Toojay’s and ending on South J Street at Common Grounds Coffee Bar. The parade was led by the Boynton Beach American Legion color guard, followed by mayor Pam Triolo on the back of a convertible, and outgoing City Commissioner John Szerdi, smiling broadly and waving from the back of another convertible, with

Commissioner Scott Maxwell sitting aloft on a third convertible, followed by City Manager Michael Bornstein in a kilt on a motorcycle. Wheels for Kids had a walking group, with children holding a banner in front and several kids in wheelchairs and on scooters, moving down the street with their parents. The crowd cheered loudest for them. Flowers Baking Company threw out Honey Buns from the back of a truck, and Irish dancers in twos dancing all the way down the street to Irish folk music. A beauty queen, Ms. Renaissance 2014, added some class, and the Shamrock Club of Palm Beach County added some Irish, with an older gentleman singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” into a microphone on the back of a pick-up truck.

Photos by Margaret Menge

Page 4

The Lake Worth Tribune

Friday, March 20, 2015

“Commissioner Szerdi's Parting Shots”

As the photographer came within six feet of Elvis, he opened his eyes. One step closer and he slipped into the water, with his snout and eyes poking out. (photo by Margaret Menge)

“Elvis the Alligator Spotted...” grass near the 11th hole. But Elvis gets the most attention. All good. “People have told me that gators don’t eat people,” says Mike, a Canadian. “They find ‘em too salty.” Bartender Riley Andrews says Elvis disappeared for a while, but that with the warm weather in the last few weeks, he’s returned to his pond, or resurfaced, anyway. But where did he come from? “I heard theories that the last bad storm we had, he

got washed up,” says The Beach Club’s assistant manager, Rex Rus. He says the restaurant looked into relocating him, but that they were told he’s too small. Elvis is thought to be about 3 ½ feet long, nose to tip of tail. Employees say he appears to be a bit bigger than last year, when they used to see him. There’s no sign of any other family members. “The theory is that there is a 10-foot gator over there,” says Riley Andrews, point-

ing to the shoreline. American alligators live in freshwater, and sometimes in brackish water, a mixture of salt and fresh water. They are only found in the Southeastern United States, with the largest number of them found in Florida and Louisiana. Female alligators, on average, are around eight feet in length while males reach an average size of about 11 feet, according to The Smithsonian Institution. Alligators typically grow about a foot a year.

sioner Christopher McVoy, who was re-elected with 64 percent of the vote last week, quickly moved into blame mode, saying: “I have to admit, though, having a newspaper up there the way it popped up there before an election was very effective” and saying “scaring of people” that the beach was going to be privatized also worked against him. For a moment, it appeared as though Szerdi, an architect and contractor, was going to turn introspective, saying at 62 years of age, he was not too old to learn from his mistakes. But he took a different direction altogether: “I learned that well-timed deceitfulness can be leveraged to divide our city,” said Szerdi, reading from written remarks. “I do take solace in the fact that there’s no true satisfaction in learning by deceit. But I will always have faith that the truth will prevail.” More than 80 people had come to the City Commission chambers for the special meeting on Monday night, and many were forced into the hallway and the conference room next door, as three rows in the chambers had been reserved on the left side for Szerdi supporters

“Hudson Holdings to Talk...”

and three rows reserved on the right side for supporters of both Maier and McVoy, and these all quickly filled. Szerdi smiled often while reading his speech, and got laughs from the audience when his cell phone rang in the middle of it. He checked the number, and then continued: “I really didn’t realize how gullible people can be,” he said. “It does remind me of a Bob Marley song: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all of the time.” A decrescendo whistle was heard in the audience after the “gullible” comment and someone murmured “Can you believe this?” after the reference to the Bob Marley song. Szerdi went on to say that “some people” have “spoken and written whatever it takes” at the expense of his reputation. In wrapping up, he sounded as though he was still campaigning, talking about being “part of the concerted effort” to bring investment into the city, and his support for more than 50 local ordinances to help support the city’s effort to clean up abandoned properties.

“I’m a founding member of the cottages of Lake Worth,” he continued, “which is to promote one of the city’s most valuable and charming resources we have. This in itself will continue to fill the city with more residents to patronize our businesses and create jobs.” But the parting shots continued after this, with the Bible used as quiver. “In closing, please indulge my reference to Proverbs 29:8,” he said. “People who make fun of wisdom cause trouble in the city. But wise people calm anger down.” “So I hope that the actions of the past few years are perceived as wise,” he said, “and that the continued elevation of the city’s financial resources through private investment and new projects, and that our existing homes and businesses will quiet the anger that I heard during the election. This is why our city will not go backwards.” With that, he pledged to stay involved in the city, using his “experience and expertise,” thanked his supporters, and said “God Bless, Lake Worth.” He rose from the dais after his speech, and walked out of the chamber before Maier and McVoy took the oath of office.

is approved by the city’s Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) Committee. That plan includes a 40,000-square-foot addition to the Casino complex, Michael told The Palm Beach Post, to include a 20,000-square-foot business conference center and a “fee-based” club. Michael said at the Feb. 25 meeting that he expected an answer from the city “by the end of March.” “Once we are past the ITN, we will move very fast,” he said. Hudson Holdings plans to spend $30 million on the business conference center and beach club, he said, and $90 million on The Gulfst-

ream Hotel. He referred to a “second hotel” that would be built on the site that would be 65 feet tall, with a three-story parking garage on South Lakeside Drive, between Lake Avenue and First Avenue South. The only plan that has been submitted to city staff is a conceptual site plan that shows the basic placement of new structures on the property, with a coffee shop on the corner of Lake Avenue and South Lakeside, a restaurant and gym to the south of it on South Lakeside Drive, and retail shops on Lake Avenue, on the street level of the new 104,800-square-foot hotel building.

Like to Sell?

Advertising Salesperson Needed

The conceptual site plan submitted to the City of Lake Worth in late 2014. Conceptual drawings must be submitted before the developer can apply to demolish the art deco building on the property at 14 South Lakeside.

Seeking high-quality individual to sell newspaper ads. Work locally, get to know our local business owners, and help their businesses succeed. Previous newspaper ad sales experience or Yellow Pages ad experience a plus. Please send your resume and cover letter to: mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com

CLASSIFIEDS

5000 copies of the paper distributed every week to homes and businesses in Lake Worth! Call (561) 586-6643 $12 For up to 22 Words ($1 Each Additional Word) Ad must be Pre-paid by Wednesday at Noon. Boxed Classified: $9.20 Per Column Inch.

For Sale!

Sale/Rent Houses

Call (561) 586-6643 to submit your classified ad for ITEMS TO SELL.

Call (561) 586-6643 to submit your classified ad for HOUSES for RENT/SALE.

Apartments

Call (561) 586-6643 to submit your classified ad for APARTMENTS for RENT.

Community Please call (561) 586-6643 to submit your ad for a COMMUNITY EVENT.

Dating Call (561) 586-6643 to submit your classified ad for DATING and get results!

Services! Repair of all major appliances! Competitive rates — $45 service charge for local calls. Call for details. TNG Appliance. 30+ years of experience! (561) 469-9280. Call (561) 586-6643 to submit your classified ad for SERVICES OFFERED.

Jobs! Part-time BARTENDER needed. Send a resume to: F. Kelley, 3599 23rd Avenue South, Suite #11, Lake Worth, FL 33461. Call (561) 586-6643 to submit your classified ad for JOBS! Post it here and get results today!

Door-to-door newspaper delivery in Lake Worth every Friday 9-3. Approx. $10 an hour. Must live locally and have transportation. Call (561) 586-6643.

FREE! Tile-top dining table with four chairs. Call Julie at (561) 215-5152.

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Lake Worth Tribune

Page 5

EVENTS CALENDAR Shall we dance?

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 Evening on the Avenue from 6-10 p.m. in the Cultural Plaza, featuring the Jon Zeeman Band (jazz/blues) with an intermission spotlight by John Brosius. Food trucks and vendors, wine and beer garden, specialty items. Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery ‘Birthday Party’ from 6-10 p.m. at the gallery at 15 South J Street, featuring sculpture by JoAnn Nava. Wine, cheese and music. “Send in the Queens” drag show fundraiser at 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Tickets $35. All proceeds to benefit the Playhouse. Call 586-6410.

PEEPS Show from 6-10 p.m. at the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery at 15 South J Street, featuring art using the classic marshmallow Easter candy, PEEPS. Bob Born, the inventor of PEEPS, is one of this year’s judges.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 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, farm-fresh eggs, Florida honey, and music. Teen Open Mic Night at 6:30 p.m. at Common Grounds Coffee Bar at 12 South J Street. Showcase your talent: music, spoken work, comedy. Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m. Wizard of Oz Sing-A-Long at 7 p.m. at The Lake Worth Playhouse. Sing along to iconic songs like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as Dorothy is whisked off to the land of Oz in a tornado. Tickets - adults $12; children $8.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 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, farm-fresh eggs, Florida honey, and music. Lake Worth Cottages Bicycle Tour at 3 p.m. to tour homes built 1912-1935. Styles include bungalow, frame vernacular, Spanish colonial revival and art deco. Call 4800160 for reservations. FLOLFING Tournament, sponsored by the Downtown Jewel Neighborhood Association. Nine-hole-course home & garden tour with a DJNA twist! Tee off is between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.-ISH. FLOLFERS pay $20 each. Beverages and snacks provided. First hole is at 207 South M Street. For more information go to downtownjewelneighborhood@ gmail.com. “Send in the Queens” drag show fundraiser at 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse. Tickets $35. All proceeds to benefit the Playhouse. Call 586-6410.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3 Good Friday Passion Pageant from 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. in the Cultural Plaza. Free. Evening on the Avenue from 6-10 p.m. in the Cultural Plaza, featuring Wonderama (pop) with an intermission spotlight by Cassidy Diana. Food trucks and vendors, wine and beer garden, specialty items.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

Studio Dance is inviting everyone in Lake Worth to join them for an Ocean View Charity Gala on Friday, March 27, to be held in the Lake Worth Casino Ballroom, from 6-11 p.m. Live music, dinner and dancing performed by Studio Dance. To benefit the Organization for Family Improvement. Tickets are $50 per person. Call (561) 577-1793 for more information.

SUNDAY, MARCH 22 Run Walk Four Paws at 8 a.m., hosted by Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue . Registration begins at 6 a.m. for this 5K run/walk with dogs. Awards ceremony to follow in Bryant Park starting at 8:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt starting at 12:30 p.m. To register go to http://www.active.com/lake-worth-fl/ running/distance-running-races/run-walk-four-paws-2015 or call (561) 684-1010. Romancing the Great American Songbook at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 100 North Palmway. Performance by the Dave Gibble Quartet with Dave Gibble on trumpet, Mark Marineau on piano, Dave Tomasello on bass, Karl Ott on drums with vocalist Lisanne Lyons. Tickets $20. Includes punch and nibbles.

vorite songs from the Las Vegas Strip, by the Rat Pack, Tony Orlando, Bobby Darrin, Tom Jones, Lou Rawls, Neil Diamond and Elvis. Tickets $29-$35. Call 586-6410.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

Bryant Park Neighborhood Association Play Date in the Park from 4 p.m. to sundown, featuring a hula hoop dance party. Refreshments will be provided. Free event open to all. “Las Vegas Legends” at 8 p.m. at the Lake Worth Playhouse. A musical tour through Jimmy Mazz’s all-time fa-

Ocean View Charity Gala from 6-11 p.m. at the Lake Worth Casino Ballroom, hosted by Studio Dance of Lake Ave. To benefit the Organization for Family Improvement. Live music, dinner and dancing, with a ballroom show performed by Studio Dance dancers. Tickets $50 per person. Call (561) 577-1793.

Car Clinic Auto Services & Tires 7001 Norton Avenue, W.P.B

(aproximately 1.5 miles from our current location)

N S

Norton Ave.

South Dixie Hwy.

We are moving to a new location Feb. 2 . nd

Maddock St. Barnett St.

Don Ramon’s

New place, same great service! (561) 547-4700 Open: Monday through Friday from 8a.m. to 5:30p.m. Saturday from 8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. Closed on Sundays. www.CarClinicLakeWorth.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 5 EASTER – check next week’s paper for church services

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:

129 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 200A.

Got News? Don't wait!

Call 801-NEWS

or email mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com

RE/MAX “ON

Prestige Realty

” THE AVENUE One of the Top 100 Offices in the North American Continent ®

Offices in 95 Countries for International Representation

Havana’s

Forest Hill Blvd.

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, farm-fresh eggs, Florida honey, and music. Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet Parade from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Bryant Park, sponsored by the City of Lake Worth. Cost is $1. Bring your own Easter basket to collect eggs!

Complimentary Market Analysis Foreclosure Lists Available Residential or Commercial

JAINE VISCOME Real Estate Consultant

Graduate Realtors Institute Accredited Buyer’s Representive

Certified Negotiation Expert Certified Distressed Property Expert

(561) 301-3303

*All Offices Independently Owned and Operated.

Pool Open Thursday through Sunday The Lake Worth Municipal Pool is open through the winter, on Thursday and Friday 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.

Lake Worth Library Calendar TUESDAY, MARCH 24 ►Munchkins Storytime for children ages 2-4 from 11 a.m.-12 noon in the City Hall Annex meeting room. The letter “V.” Vase craft. Book will be “Tweet, Oompa, Bumpety-Boom!” With children’s librarian Cindy Ansell. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 ►Bookworms Storytime for children 5-12 from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Annex meeting room. Craft: Yarn butterfly. Book: “Monarch Butterfly of Aster Way, Buzz, Buzz, Buzz Went Bumblebee.” Call Miss Ruth or Miss Cindy to sign up at 533-7354.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 ►Munchkins Storytime for children ages 2-4 from 11 a.m.-12 noon in the City Hall Annex meeting room. Letter “V.” Vase craft. Book will be “Tweet, Oompa, Bumpety-Boom!” With children’s librarian. With children’s librarian Cindy Ansell. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free.

The Lake Worth Public Library Located at:

15 North M Street in Lake Worth For additional information, please call:

(561) 533-7354

Tour the Birthday Cake Castle The Birthday Cake Castle, which has been transformed into an American Red Cross Designers’ Show House, is open for tours through April 4. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sundays from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or $25 per person if arriving in a group of 10 or more. Cash, check, and all major credit cards accepted at the door.

Page 6

The Lake Worth Tribune

Friday, March 20, 2015

OPINION House Editorial

Letters to the Editor

Living in the Light Sunshine Week is usually about the state’s Sunshine Law, which is Chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes. But I spend more time with Florida’s other Open Government law, Chapter 119, the Public Records Law. I pull it up and read a bit of it almost every week. Because that’s about how often the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office tries to violate it. And that’s about how often I have to quote it to get records that are public. Last Tuesday, someone said something to me about a woman jumping off a building downtown. I hadn’t heard anything about it, and I was skeptical. But someone else mentioned something about it later in the day, and I decided to follow up and find out what happened. I sent a public records request to Teri Barbera, the PBSO media relations person, by email late Tuesday night requesting offense reports for this incident, of a woman jumping or falling off a building, and the incident involving the man who was hit and killed by the train. I wanted to get a better idea of what happened in both of these cases, so I could pass that information along to you, my readers. “Both of these incidents are open,” came the reply early Wednesday morning. Now, either the sheriff’s office doesn’t know that Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes makes it really, really clear that even when a case is open, basic information about what happened, to whom, when and where is not exempt from disclosure, or they do know and they think I don’t. I replied: “Ok, but basic information about what happened to whom, where and when is never exempt under 119 F.S. So if you could just give me the basic facts... Thanks, Margaret Menge The Lake Worth Tribune” This had no effect. “No release was put out on the suicide,” Barbera re-

plied. “Don’t need a release,” I wrote back. “I need something that says what happened, to whom, where, when... This cannot be withheld under Chapter 119 F.S. Not in any other state, either. “If you could just send the brief account from the Crime Matrix as soon as possible... Thanks, Margaret Menge The Lake Worth Tribune” “I’m not withholding it. I don’t have it,” Barbera told me right after this on the phone. Oh, boy. The afternoon was wearing on, so I sent a formal information request by email, adding: “Please be advised that Chapter 119 FS specifies that ‘criminal intelligence information’ DOES NOT include the ‘time, date, location and nature of a reported crime’ or ‘incident’ and CAN NOT therefore be exempted from disclosure. And then I cited the section of the law -- 119.011 -- that makes this explicitly clear. I got the information later that day, and put it on the front page last week. It’s a sad story. But one we all had a right to know about. The information was ours. Not theirs. I’ll always do everything I can to get information that is public that I think you’ll want to know about. But the press has no special privilege, you should know. You, too, can go after public information, and cite the law to show why they have to give it to you. I think we’re all frustrated with the murkier situation of the Casino complex and the ITN that asked for proposals to build at our beach. I don’t think it could have been written, and issued, without the mayor and at least one other commissioner deciding to do it. That deciding should have happened at a public meeting, as required by Chapter 286 of the Florida Statutes. Why didn’t it?

The Lake Worth Tribune welcomes Letters to the Editor.

Hi Margaret: I have been reading the Tribune from cover to cover and love the way it gives the block-by-block local news. We are all very interested in the development plans that are not being made public. A truly local newspaper that operates without fear or favor is a great asset to Lake Worth. I know, perhaps more than most people, how much time and money putting out a newspaper takes. I’ve been a designer on different publications for most of my work life, just one part of the team effort that is needed to get things out on deadline. That’s why I would really like to support the Tribune by subscribing. However, I find the only option to pay

for a subscription is to mail a check. Have you considered PayPal as an option? I know they will take a percentage but perhaps worth it in the long run if you can make it easier for people to support the paper. Of course, no matter how easy you make it, some people won’t pay for anything they can get for free -- the kind of folks who don’t see why they should tip on takeout food! I wish you the best and am looking forward to the next issue. � Joss Maclennan North K Street Editor’s Note: I appreciate the suggestion, and will work to find a way to get a website up that allows readers to subscribe with a credit card, per-

haps through PayPal. To the Editor: I find it utterly comical a group of people in the city of Lake Worth continue to impose a moniker on members of the voting majority of our society. The label is anarchist, from anarchy, [A state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority]. The classification is a misnomer, unless of course those delivering it suggest there are those who aspire to live under authoritarian rule [Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom]. On Tuesday, March 10, 2015, our municipal election was held, utilizing the

voting standard mandated by the State of Florida Constitution. The majority rule vote carried; McVoy and Maier are in. It seems to me we the majority are not anarchists, rather those who cared enough about our city to, in an orderly fashion, get out and vote. We are citizens who have voted for a true Democracy [A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives]. With our new better balanced board we look forward to our future in Lake Worth, where all of our elected officials truly represent we the people. � Dina Clingman-Bell North Palmway

The mayor and commissioners cut the ribbon on the newly paved 10th Avenue South on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The project, which included paving what was previously a gravel road and building sidewalks with curbing and gutters from F Street to A Street, was funded by a Community Development Block Grant through Palm Beach County. 9th Avenue South was also paved, from F Street to B Street. (photo by Margaret Menge)

Letters Policy Write us a Letter

• 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 / Nancy Pobiak

Don’t Miss Out on the Biggest Stories of 2015!

1 Year Subscription: Only $39! Delivered to your home every Friday / 52 Weeks a Year

Special Subscription Deal for Newspaper’s First 60 Days! Complete this form below, enclose a check made payable to: The Lake Worth Tribune Inc., and mail to: Lake Worth Tribune, Inc. • P. O. Box 85 Lake Worth, FL 33460 Name: Address: City:

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

Phone: Email:

State:

Zip:

Maier Takes the Oath of Office

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Lake Worth Tribune

Page 7

Opening Speech: Let the Sunshine In, Respect the Will of the People, Keep the Beach Public Following is the full text of Ryan Maier’s speech upon taking the oath of office in the Commission Chambers at City Hall on March 16. Mayor, commissioners and staff, thank you. I am proud to serve by your side. Thank you to my family and to my team who sacrificed in their own lives to support my campaign, and to the people of Lake Worth

who chose me by a large majority to be their voice in this forum. I would like to honor Commissioner Szerdi. He served this city and he ran a fair campaign. This could not have been easy for him. Yesterday marked the beginning of what the media has dubbed “Sunshine Week.” Not a celebration of our sunny weather, but rather a national nod to the importance of open trans-

parent government. To quote the Palm Beach Post yesterday: “If inconvenience is the price of an open society, we celebrate that inconvenience and call for more.” Serendipitous that this event should mark the beginning of my term, as transparency was the heart of my platform. I address this subject today, not to malign the past, but to set the tone as we

make vital decisions about the city’s future. Mayor and commissioners, the people of Lake Worth have sent us a clear message: They want their government out in the open; They want their beach pub-

lic � and that means the entire property, not just the sand; They want their public votes recorded, respected, and defended by their commissioners; And they want to be treated like the most valuable resource that

the city has. Surely they are. I am excited to be here. I am humbled by the landslide support. And I am honored to serve the people of Lake Worth as your new District 4 commissioner.

Full Text of Speech by Outgoing Commissioner John Szerdi March 16, 2015 - City Commission Chambers, City Hall I first want to congratulate Chris and Ryan. I know how much walking and talking it takes during a campaign. I have to admit, though, having a newspaper up there the way it popped up there before an election was very effective. Also, was the scaring of people that the beach was going to be private, was also very effective. Saying that I have an ethical violation was also very effective, but I think that actually crossed the line of political tactics. I’m still pursuing all my legal recourses there. That being said, I am proud to say I based a campaign based on facts and honesty and truth. The same as I’ve been your commissioner. Those of you who know me for the past ten years at Bryant Park, and those of you who’ve known me for the over 50 years, I have some close friends, know that I always have spoken truthfully. And I challenge those of you who don’t know me to challenge any evidence to the contrary. At 62 years of age, though, I still can learn from my mistakes. I learned that well-timed deceitfulness can be leveraged to divide our city. I learned that,… I do take solace in the fact that there’s no true satisfaction in learning by deceit. But I will always have faith that the truth will prevail. I thought long and carefully about what I wanted to say this evening, but, you know, what do you say about two and a half years of your life. I spent most of,..the better part of it with my wife Jamie and my three amazing children, as an architect, as a contractor, as a professor and as a community volunteer. I only say that being part of this commission, though, really has been a very rewarding experience. I’ve made some really great friends. Some really, really great friends, and I appreciate you being here this evening. Some of you have actually called me the Zen commissioner. Now….I know you don’t need a title to keep providing leadership in the city. Just because you don’t need a title, that automatically means you are a leader. I hope you can try and help the city find a truly true balance -- one that balances

our diversity and our preferences. For, we have a great need for financial and environmental sustainability in the city. That’s really true sustainability. Some things like my education and years of experience may not have mattered to some. But I do think these are skills that can guide important and complex decisions. And I find comfort in the fact that my actions were always in the best interests of the city. I care for everyone’s health, welfare and safety. I’m sorry I’m not a really a politician. A pure politician really would do anything to get elected. It’s all about the win. And some people have spoken and written whatever it takes, even at the expense of my reputation, which was offensive and hurtful to my wife and my family and my kids and my friends. I have and always will care about everyone in the city, even those who spoke ill of me. I want to thank our city manager, our city attorney and directors and all our hard-working staff that’s been really a pleasure to work with. I want to especially thank the mayor, and the rest of the commissioners up here for working so well together to move the city forward for the past two and a half years, because we’ve voted unanimously over 90 percent of the time. I hope that that continues, because it’s resulted in real, quantifiable results. It confirms that deeds are more powerful than words, although that doesn’t seem very obvious here during a campaign….I really didn’t realize how gullible people can be. It does remind me of a Bob Marley song: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all of the time. I was very disappointed that the turnout was so low, which allowed less than 5 percent of our residents to determine the final vote -- on words, not on deeds. Let me reflect on a few things that I’ve done, and some things that I haven’t done. I worked on zoning and building codes that protect our neighborhoods, which was not addressed in the referendum. Confus-

ing regulations and a poor reputation with our building department was a major reason that good investment just was non-existent in our city. We’ve had nearly $100 million invested in our city – privately -- since last summer. This is not even including the Gulfstream Hotel. I can’t imagine why anybody would be against bringing one of our city’s icons back to its full glory. I’m proud to have been part of the concerted effort here to bring much-needed investment into our city, and I’ll continue to do so. I supported putting over 50 plus ordinances, code ordiancnes, to clean up many of our abandoned and derelict homes. I’ve always supported our neighborhood associations, and our city events. I’ve been the champion for compatibility really

on all levels. I’m a founding member of the cottages of Lake Worth, which is to promote one of the city’s most valuable and charming resources we have. This in itself will continue to fill the city with more residents to patronize our businesses and create jobs. This is what I didn’t do. I did not,..I didn’t even think about selling the golf course. I didn’t even think about privatizing our beach. Both of these cannot, and will not happen. Here’s what I still believe though. I believe our city has regained the recognition and respect of our sister cities all around us. I believe people are coming together more than ever at neighborhood clean-ups, parades, city events, and in our downtown, because they feel more pride in Lake Worth. I be-

lieve our diligent planning and designs will result in acquiring state grants and legislative funding for our sorely needed infrastructure repairs. And I believe our codes and regulations will protect our neighborhoods, so we don’t have to fight off five-story condominiums like I had to do when I first moved here. I firmly believe with all my heart that we no longer have to talk about some day reaching our potential. Cause clearly, we already are on our way. In closing, please indulge my reference to Proverbs 29:8. “People who make fun of wisdom cause trouble in the city. But wise people calm anger down.” So I hope that the actions of the past few years are perceived as wise, and that the continued elevation of

the city’s financial resources through private investment and new projects, and that our existing homes and businesses will quiet the anger that I heard during the election. This is why our city will not go backwards. Having lived in South Florida since 1963, I know the value of what the city has. I do pledge to continue to support the amazing city here, with all my experience and expertise to ensure that all, I mean everybody, will prosper. In a self-sufficient diverse community, which is not dependent on electric rates, but on the true value of Lake Worth as an affordable beach-front city in the heart of the Palm Beaches. What could be better than that? Thank you, and I’ll see you around town. And God bless Lake Worth.

March 10th Municipal Election – District 4 City Commission AREA OF LAKE WORTH West of I-95, north of 10th Ave. N West of A St., north of 10th Ave N. Dixie to A St., north of 10th Ave. N. Federal to Dixie, north of 10th Ave. N East of Federal, north of 10th Ave. N West of I-95, north of Lake Worth Rd. A St. to I-95, 6th Ave. S to 10th Ave. N Dixie to A St., 6th Ave. S. to 10th Ave. N Federal to Dixie, Lucerne to 10th Ave. N Federal to Dixie, Lucerne to 6th Ave. S Bryant Park/Parrot Cove Lake Osborne Lake Osborne Federal to I-95, 6th Ave. S to 12th Ave. S West of Federal, South of 12th Ave. S East of Federal – South Palm Park TOTAL

PRECINCT # absentee 3034 precinct 3034 absentee 3036 precinct 3036 absentee 3038 precinct 3038 absentee 3040 precinct 3040 absentee 3042 precinct 3042 Provis. 3042 absentee 3052 precinct 3052 3058 absentee 3060 precinct 3060 absentee 3062 precinct 3062 Prov. 3062 absentee 3064 precinct 3064 absentee 3066 precinct 3066 Provis. 3066 absentee 3068 precinct 3068 Provis. 3068 absentee 3076 precinct 3076 absentee 3078 precinct 3078 absentee 7160 precinct 7160 Provis. 7160 absentee 7162 precinct 7162 absentee 7164 precinct 7164

Frost

Maier Szerdi

0 3 1 3 26 5 0 8 5 5 47 40 2 17 9 7 69 46 2 19 20 6 141 60 3 29 35 5 212 186 0 3 0 1 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 10 2 3 25 13 13 101 69 1 1 1 1 9 7 4 84 42 1 15 4 1 63 47 0 0 1 2 18 13 5 189 81 1 3 0 2 0 3 1 5 1 9 20 16 14 114+1 32 4 17 10 17 65 57 0 1 0 2 10 5 16 28 42 0 14 14 1 59 61 132 1434 935

Page 8

The Lake Worth Tribune

erful Wond orth W Lake

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Lake Worth Tribune recommends to our readers these outstanding Lake Worth businesses found on the map below, chosen by the staff of the newspaper to participate as charter advertisers owing to their high level of customer satisfaction.

Special, Super Sized...

Brunch Buffet $23.95

Wond Lake erful Wort h

Love News? Reporters Wanted ke Worth La Domine, ut videam

Reservations suggested, though not required.

the Open to ! Public

Got News? Don't wait!

Call 801-NEWS or email mmenge@ lakeworthtribunecom

(Located at the Lake Worth Golf Course)

One 7th Avenue North â&#x20AC;˘ Lake Worth, FL

Call: (561) 585.8976 or visit: BeachClubLakeWorth.com

Join Us for the Buffet...April 5th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.!

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! Send resume and cover letter to: mmenge@lakeworthtribune.com.