August 2011 Blog Posts (104)

What’s in a name? New definitions of tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings

What’s in a name?

New definitions of tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings, as of 2010:

Hurricane Watch: An announcement that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible within the specified coastal area. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.

Hurricane… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Cities to study joint emergency response center

South County’s three largest cities have agreed to jointly fund a study to determine the feasibility and benefits of combining police, fire-rescue and emergency 911 calls into a single dispatch center.

Boynton Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach have each agreed to pay one-third of the total cost — $18,000 each — to determine whether consolidation of dispatch services would improve service to residents of their three cities as well as reduce costs.

The six-month study will be… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 3:04pm — No Comments

Municipal mergers more talked about than acted on

By Thomas R. Collins

Barrier island towns, each trudging through their individual budget nightmares, have been batting around ideas for saving money that involve more than the usual cutting of library hours or eliminating a job or two.

The towns have been discussing bolder measures that involve closer interaction with other towns: possibly sharing more services with each other or annexing neighboring areas.

The discussions raise the possibility of a more…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 3:02pm — No Comments

Editorial: Successful change requires open discussion

At every budget workshop along the barrier island, there is a call for looking beyond this year’s spreadsheet to explore how each town might prepare itself for a continuing drop in real estate value — the primary source of revenue for our coastal towns — and a rising cost in services provided by the larger governing bodies to the west.

How we move our towns forward with sustainable local economies is an exercise being discussed throughout America. Since these challenges are not unique… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:50pm — No Comments

Local Voices: 9/11 anniversary a time for reflection, a reminder of need for Real ID

September is a transitional month for Americans. We celebrate Labor Day, enjoy the start of autumn, and football season begins. In Florida, September is also viewed with caution as it’s the peak month of hurricane season.

For all of us, the events that occurred on 9/11 10 years ago gave September an entirely different meaning.

Most people remember exactly where they were the moment we learned that American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:37pm — No Comments

Along the Avenues: 30 years ago, ‘Body Heat’ sizzled with scenes from Lake Worth

By Thom Smith

“You’re not very smart, are you? . . . I like that in a man.”

That’s the appraisal Kathleen Turner made of William Hurt in Body Heat. Hard to believe the film that made Lake…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:32pm — No Comments

Coastal Star: Activist for a polio-free world gets a shock — Delray Beach

By Linda Haase

Betsy Owen has a powerful message: “As long as one child in the world has polio, every child in the world is at risk.”

Owen, a 70-year-old coastal Delray Beach resident, is a polio survivor — and she’s passionate about helping others avoid the disease. Her efforts are worldwide —… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Coasting Along: At this ‘private club,’ the crowd’s a gas

Missy, age 22, hangs out with the gang in front of Gulf Stream Texaco. Photos by Tim Stepien

By Ron Hayes

Palm Beach has the Everglades Club. Ocean Ridge has its Ocean Club. Gulf Stream has a classy Little Club,…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Delray Beach: Reclaimed water project

Workers put the finishing touches on the almost $1.2 million reclaimed water project along Andrews Avenue in Delray Beach. According to city officials, the project is anticipated to reduce demand on the potable water system, limit watering restrictions for residents and lower water rates for city customers. … Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:13pm — No Comments

Delray Beach: New restaurant parking requirements back on the table

By Margie Plunkett

Delray Beach commissioners revived the discussion of downtown restaurant parking, voting 3-2 to reconsider whether to remove incentives once designed to attract restaurants. The ordinance will be heard on first reading Sept. 6.

Early in August, the panel had voted down the measure, noting that more information was needed before making the change — which would entail doubling the required parking for restaurants downtown on Atlantic Avenue. The move also boosts… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:10pm — 1 Comment

Delray Beach: City may increase beach parking, marina fees

By Margie Plunkett

Beachgoers may pay a quarter more an hour for parking in Delray Beach in the next budget year, which would raise about $193,000 in new fees for the city.

The parking increase was one of several proposed fee increases presented at the City Commission’s Aug. 30 workshop meeting.

Others were slips at the city marina, beach parking permits for seniors (in exchange for added parking privileges) and for several programs under Parks and Recreation.

The fee… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:09pm — No Comments

Delray Beach: Grant provides receptacles for cigarette butts

Delray Beach has placed five receptacles for cigarette butts in beach locations in the vicinity of Atlantic Avenue and A1A, thanks to a $1,000 grant from Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful.

Mary Renaud, president of the Beach Property Owners Association, said cigarette butt litter is a problem on the beach. “The beach is covered with them.” She said she couldn’t comment on the receptacles, because she had not seen them, and did not know whether they would help the problem, adding… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:07pm — No Comments

Gulf Stream: Improvements, cameras for Place Au Soleil entranceway

By Steve Plunkett

Place Au Soleil homeowners will install four security cameras to track comings and goings while they widen the entrance road to their community across the street from the Walmart being built in Boynton Beach.

“I think that’s all part of a message to the outsiders: This is a class town, and beware!’’ homeowner association representative Ned McDonald said.

Town commissioners at their August meeting agreed to act as a “bank of Gulf Stream’’ and lend the…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:05pm — No Comments

Delray Beach: Alperin fills commission seat on interim basis

By Paula Detwiller

Former Delray Beach Mayor Jay Alperin has been appointed to fill the City Commission seat left vacant by the early departure of Commissioner Fred Fetzer, who resigned effective Aug. 1 for personal and health reasons.

Alperin, a local dentist, was one of 11 applicants for the position. He… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 2:03pm — No Comments

Ocean Ridge: Guard camps on island for post-disaster training

Twenty-eight National Guardsmen set up in a vacant lot across from Ocean Ridge Town Hall to test their ability to assist in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Photos by Jerry Lower

By Ron Hayes

On Aug. 22, while Hurricane Irene was still making up its mind…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 1:59pm — No Comments

Ocean Ridge: Town seeks budget cuts to avoid tapping reserves

By Margie Plunkett

and Mary Kate Leming

Ocean Ridge employees will forgo cost-of-living increases this year and the town will continue to make do with a part-time maintenance worker as commissioners push for cuts that will help prevent spending from reserves in the $5.3 million budget.

“We can’t continue to drink champagne on a beer budget,” Commissioner Zoanne Hennigan said, speaking of town employees’ salaries and benefits.

Commissioners also agreed to accept $30,500 in… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 1:53pm — No Comments

Manalapan: Beach house size goes to zoning commission

By Tim O’Meilia



How big should a Manalapan beach house be?

    Until now, the answer has been: not big enough to live in, sleep in, cook in or rent out.

Certainly not big enough to be seen from State Road A1A, so lush landscaping is a must.

    By town law, just big enough to have a pair of changing rooms and a small common area: 750 square feet.

    But Manalapan town commissioners voted Aug. 23 to ask the zoning commission to consider whether to allow larger… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 1:50pm — No Comments

Manalapan: Police hope tweets will discourage youthful drinkers

By Tim O’Meilia

    Hooligans in England used Facebook, Twitter and other social media as an almost instantaneous call to riot in London, Birmingham and other British cities.

    Manalapan Police Chief Clay Walker hopes electronic communication will have the opposite effect in policing the Boynton Inlet.

    Police made half a dozen arrests for underage drinking on the north side of the inlet in the past month and Walker figures word may spread as fast as a tweet can be… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 1:45pm — No Comments

South Palm Beach: Town sets budget workshop

The South Palm Beach Town Council has scheduled a budget workshop at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 12 to discuss suggestions made by residents during the first public hearing on the budget, at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 6.

    The second and final public hearing is set for 6:45 p.m. Sept. 20, before the monthly council meeting.

    The council has set a preliminary tax rate for 2012 at $4.32 for each $1,000 of taxable property value, the same rate is this year.

                            — Tim… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Meet Your Neighbor: Vince Canning — Delray Beach

Tall and lanky with a firm handshake, 81-year-old Vince Canning of coastal Delray Beach seems like a no-nonsense fellow. And he certainly is, when it comes to serving his community. But he’s got a whimsical side, too, evidenced by his Mickey Mouse wristwatch.

“I’ve always worn a fun watch,” Canning says. “When I… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on August 31, 2011 at 1:26pm — No Comments