THIS WEEK IN PALM BEACH
July 28, 2017 Edition - The News Palm Beachers Need to Know 
FLAGLER BRIDGE
Flagler [North] Bridge Closing this Weekend
- Grand Opening Monday -
Flagler Bridge Aerial June 2017

Grand opening of the new bridge will be on Monday, July 31, with four lanes of traffic and a new at-grade intersection with Flagler Drive.

A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Monday with local officials on the bridge to commemorate the event. 

In preperation, the Flagler Memorial Bridge will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday, July 28, to 6 a.m. Monday, July 31. While the bridge is closed, all eastbound and westbound traffic will be detoured to the Royal Park Bridge to cross the Intracoastal Waterway.

UNDERGROUNDING
Resident Drops Lawsuit Challenging Utilities Referendum
Resident Carol Kosberg has dropped her lawsuit challenging the town's plan to pay for burying all overhead utilities on the island.  Kosberg, a South End condo owner, sued the town last year, alleging it used misleading ballot language in a March 2016 referendum in which voters narrowly approved up to $90 million in bonds to finance the undergrounding project.
Will Palm Beach 'Future Proof' with Fiber-Optic Network?
fiber optic cable
With the first phase of town-wide utility undergrounding starting this summer, the town soon must decide whether to install extra conduit to hold a future fiber-optic communication network.
TESTA'S
Testa's Auction
"Almost Everything Sold"
Testas Auction
Pieces of Palm Beach history were sold Monday to locals and visitors alike. "This is the end of Testa's. We're sorry," auction house owner Harry Stampler said. "We're knocking down the building and progress is happening, so raise your hands and wave your paddles."
TOWN of PALM BEACH
Judge: Palm Beach Recreation Center Opponents Can Amend Lawsuit
Residents suing the town to stop construction of a new Palm Beach recreation center have about a week to file an amended petition addressing the town's claim that they lack standing.
Get a Peek at Plans for Remodeled Cucina in Palm Beach
Cucina
Cucina likely will have a more polished look and more space when it reopens this fall on Palm Beach's historic Main Street. Restaurant operators provided a first look at their remodeling plans in an application to the Architectural Commission.
BRIGHTLINE
Brightline's Orlando Leg Delayed to 2020; Focus Now on Local Commuters
Brightline
All Aboard Florida's Brightline is on the verge of launching its passenger train service between West Palm Beach and Miami on Henry Flagler's historic railroad corridor, but officials say it could be three years before the company starts shuttling passengers north to Orlando.
ENVIRONMENT
Algae Blooms Detected on Lake Okeechobee [Video]
Okeechobee Algae Bloom
Last Year's Algae Bloom
How do you know there's an algae bloom on Lake Okeechobee?  Look at the calendar. Those familiar with the area will tell you that if it's summer, there's a good chance there's an algae bloom somewhere on the Big O.
You might not see it - at 40 miles across, it's a big lake - but algae is part of the lake's natural ecosystem, and hot weather causes it to bloom.
PRESIDENTIAL VISITS
Trump's Helicopter Commutes Yet to Fly at Mar-a-Lago
Allowing helicopter commutes for President Donald Trump may not deliver the traffic relief once expected during his Palm Beach visits. While the president routinely uses a helicopter when visiting his New Jersey estate, that hasn't been the case during his trips to Palm Beach.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION 
DIRECTORS IN THE NEWS
The Making of El Clasico in Miami: How Barcelona-Real Madrid in ICC Came to Be
Miami Herald
Steve Ross & team - Courtesy Miami Herald
Steve Ross, a Civic Association Director, capitalized on the interest in soccer in the United States, despite never being involved in soccer at any level before. "He literally saw the changing face of Miami," said soccer promoter Charlie Stillitano of that 2011 game at Sun Life, which drew 70,080. "He wasn't getting that for the Dolphins!"

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Tuesday, August 1, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Underground Utilities Task Force (UUTF) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Monday, August 7, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Ordinances, Rules, and Standards Committee Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, August 9, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Regular Business and Development Review
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, August 15, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, August 16, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, August 17, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Code Enforcement Board Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Friday, August 18, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Retirement Board Meeting
Town Council Chambers
WEST PALM DEVELOPS
Waterfront Tower Plan Gets Hearing
One Flagler
City staff pressed its plan to rewrite downtown zoning to accommodate Related Cos.' proposal for a 25-story tower at the First Church of Christ, Scientist site.
Read More (Civic Association News)
LEGALIZED MARIJUANA
First Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Coming to Lake Worth [Video]
It's a done deal. Licensed pot producers will set up shop in Palm Beach County.  Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton will not allow medical marijuana dispensaries -- at least not yet. But that's not the case in Lake Worth.
Read More (WPTV)
TAX & FINANCE
Flood Insurance Reforms Loom
Flood Zone
Florida wades deeper into hurricane season as the debate heightens over what to do with the deeply indebted National Flood Insurance Program and its coverage of properties prone to repeated flooding.
Read More (Orlando Sentinel)
Area Schools Get Ugrades Thanks to One-Cent Sales Tax
palm beach county school district
Thanks to the one-cent sales tax increase that went into effect Jan. 1, the Palm Beach County School District has been able to get started on $1.3 billion worth of improvement projects - including new roofs, lighting upgrades, paving and water intrusion prevention.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
ZIKA VIRUS
Zika Cases Continue to Increase in Florida
Florida Zika Virus
Florida has reported six additional cases of the Zika virus during the past week, bringing the total to 113 in 2017, according to numbers posted Monday on the state Department of Health website. 
Read More (Orlando Weekly)
REAL ESTATE
South Florida Home Prices Closing in on Previous Peaks
Home prices increased across South Florida in June and are inching ever closer to the peaks achieved before the market meltdown a decade ago.
TRAFFIC
Construction Traffic Report for the Week of July 24
traffic 7-24-17
Click on the link below to download a copy of the Construction and Traffic Report for the upcoming week.
Read More (Town of Palm Beach)
Palm Beach Recreation Department
To Visit
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Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce 
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Chamber Events 
Palm Beach Civic Association | 561-655-0820 | [email protected] | http://www.palmbeachcivic.org

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