THIS WEEK IN PALM BEACH
The News Palm Beachers Need to Know 
August 26, 2016
HURRICANE
8-26-16 8AM UPDATE: Tropical Weather
Outlook for Palm Beach  
It's too soon to completely write off 99L as a threat to Florida, as it still has at least 48 hours to organize before reaching our area. The wave remains a potentially significant threat to the Gulf of Mexico coast next week. Up to now, a substantial amount of vertical wind shear has helped to displace the upper- and lower-level portions of 99L, while also driving large amounts of dry air into the wave.
ZIKA VIRUS
What We Know - and Might Not Know -
About the Zika Virus 
Zika Mosquito
A 24-year-old Lake Worth woman was confirmed Tuesday as the second Palm Beach County resident to acquire the Zika virus after being bitten by a local mosquito.

The woman said she began having abdominal pain Aug. 10 and quickly began showing classic signs of Zika illness including fever, rash and joint pain. She spent three days in a hospital and underwent a slew of tests before her diagnosis was confirmed by county health officials. 
Zika Virus Fast Facts for Palm Beachers
Protect Yourself
Zika prevent mosquito bites
* First discovered in 1947 in Africa, Zika is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.
* Zika is usually present in the blood of an infected person for a few days during which a mosquito may acquire the infection by bite and possibly transmit the virus by biting another person.
TOWN of PALM BEACH
Town Council Meeting Actions
 
To view the summary of actions taken at this month's Town Council meeting, please click on the applicable link below.
Palm Beach to Save Millions by
Refinancing Bond
After months of watching the bond market and interest rates, the town decided last week to refinance one of its bonds, which will save millions over the next 24 years. The Town Council had considered the option at previous meetings but finally pulled the trigger Tuesday based on a recommendation from the town's financial adviser PFM Group.
Settlement: Farmworkers Can March on Palm Beach Streets
Protesters
The town and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers signed an agreement Friday stipulating rules for future marches on the island. The two sides had been debating traffic laws vs. protesters' rights since the group's March 12 demonstration. 
Palm Beach to Market Okeechobee Blvd.
Parcel in West Palm
5976 Okeechobee Blvd
Town Council members declared the 5.9-acre parcel that faces the street at 5976 Okeechobee Blvd. as "surplus property" during Tuesday's meeting and directed staff to market the property. They also gave staff permission to negotiate with real estate firms that have submitted offers in recent months.
Safety a Concern: Lake Trail Access Points
To be Studied
Hedges limit visibility at some access areas, particularly at the northernmost point, at Reef Road, north of the Sailfish Club. Reef Road leads onto busy North Lake Way. Over the years, residents have told Public Works Director Paul Brazil - whose department maintains town-owned property - that they've witnessed close calls as people on bicycles, roller blades and skateboards leave the trail and find themselves in traffic.
Palm Beach Council to Lawmakers: Speed up Plan for Lake O Reservoirs
Lake Okeechobee flyover
Town Council members agreed last week to adopt a resolution urging federal and state officials to spend more money on and speed up work to store, treat and move clean water to and from Lake Okeechobee.
Neighbors Prevail: Architectural Drawings to be Posted Online
For the first time, drawings and plans for proposed houses and other construction projects under consideration by the Architectural Commission are being posted on the town's website so that the public can see them more easily.
Palm Beach to Pay $47,000 to Paint Decorative Street Light Poles
Each year the town spends thousands to keep decorative light poles in an "acceptable appearance" for Palm Beach. Town Council members awarded a $47,000 contract Tuesday to Roof Painting by Hartzel for this year's work.
TRAFFIC
Flagler Bridge project in Palm Beach spans replacement and new bridge
Construction continues on the replacement Flagler Memorial Bridge , which is expected to open this fall with two driving lanes in each direction. At the same time, the new bridge is taking shape. Traffic is scheduled to shift to the new lanes in the Fall.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
Construction Traffic Report for the Week of August 22
Download a copy of the construction traffic report for the week of August 22 by clicking on the link below. 
Read More (Town of Palm Beach)

Town: Avoid County Rd. Use Bradley Place or Cocoanut Row for North/South Travel
Construction in the area of North County Way between Barton Ave and Wells Road has closed a portion of the outer roadway to single lane travel.
Read More (Civic Association News)
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Palm Beach County Keeps Setting Tourism Records Despite Zika, Algae
A record-breaking 3.9 million people visited Palm Beach County during the first half of the year, marking the highest tourism count ever recorded from January to June, Discover The Palm Beaches, the county's official tourism organization, announced Tuesday.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)$

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Tuesday, August 30, 7 AM - 7 PM
Primary Election
 
Monday, September 5, All Day
Labor Day
 
Tuesday September 6, 9:00 AM
Underground Utilities Task Force (UUTF) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, September 7, 9:00 AM
Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, September 8, 9:30 AM
Ordinances, Rules, and Standards (ORS) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, September 13, 9:30 AM
Town Council Meeting
Town Council Chambers

VOTE ON TUESDAY!
 
August 30 Primary
Election Set in
Palm Beach
Candidates for the U.S. Senate and Florida Senate as well as key Palm Beach County offices, including county commissioner, supervisor of elections, sheriff and public defender are among the races on the ballot for the primary election August 30.
Read More (Civic Association News)
2016 Primary Voters guide  
The Civic Association Voters Guide has been delivered to Civic Association members in the mail.
Click Here to Download an online version [PDF]

Absentee Ballot
Deadline to request an Absentee Ballot for the Primary Election was August 24. If you have an absentee ballot already, your voted and signed ballot must be received at the Main Office of the Supervisor of Elections by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.
UNDERGROUNDING
Palm Beach: Resident 'Out of time' to Fight Utilities Ballot Language
utility box transformer
The Town of Palm Beach has responded to a lawsuit filed by a resident who challenged the validity of the March 15 referendum.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
TAX & FINANCE
Value Adjustment Board (VAB)
Palm Beach County Clerk
September 16, 2016, is the deadline to file a petition with the Value Adjustment Board to challenge the market value of your property or to seek an exemption or classification if you missed the March 1 application deadline.
Property Appraiser Sends Out 'Truth in Tax Rate' Notices
proposed property taxes
Sometime this week, you should get an idea of what you'll be paying in property taxes in 2016-2017. On Monday, the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser mailed its annual "Truth in Millage" notice to 654,930 property owners. Millage means property tax rate.
Hearing Begins on West Palm Fight Against Extension of State Road 7 Next to Palm Beach 
Water Supply 
West Palm Beach took its fight against the extension of State Road 7 before an administrative law judge Tuesday, arguing that the project - backed by the state Department of Transportation - would threaten its primary source of drinking water, Grassy Waters Preserve.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)$
SCRIPPS FLORIDA
Scripps Florida Study Finds 'Missing Evolutionary Link' of a Widely Used Natural Drug Source
Ben Shen, Jeffrey Rudolf and Liao-Bin Dong
Ben Shen, Jeffrey Rudolf & Liao-Bin Dong
A well-known family of natural compounds, called "terpenoids," have a curious evolutionary origin. In particular, one question relevant to future drug discovery has puzzled scientists: exactly how does Nature make these molecules?  
EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
Florida's Natural Filter: Everglades National Park
Inside of The Everglades National Park  - deep into the Gumbo Limbo Trail - the namesake trees are jokingly referred to as "tourist trees" because the Gumbo Limbo is red and has peeling bark, like a sunburn on tourist. 
Palm Beach Recreation Department
To Visit
Recreation 
Department
Site
Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce 
To See 
Chamber Events 
Click HERE
Palm Beach Civic Association | 561-655-0820 | mikebrown@palmbeachcivic.org | http://www.palmbeachcivic.org

Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.