THIS WEEK IN PALM BEACH
The News Palm Beachers Need to Know 
December 16, 2016
Civic Association's Annual Holiday Party Attracts Capacity Crowd
By: Christina Wood, Special to the Civic Association
Holiday Party 2016
The annual affair at The Breakers traditionally
kicks off the Season.
The Palm Beach Civic Association held its annual Holiday Party on Monday, Dec. 12, in the magnificent Circle Ballroom at The Breakers, where a festive crowd enjoyed cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and holiday cheer.
FLAGLER BRIDGE
Flagler Bridge to Close to All Traffic on Friday, 12/16 at 9:00 PM
  In preparation to switch from the old Flagler Bridge to the new Flagler Bridge, the old bridge will be closed to all traffic on Friday, December 16th at 9 p.m., with the new bridge opening on Monday, December 19th at 6 a.m.
Civic Association
ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON
FAA advisory suggests Trump spending Friday, Christmas in Palm Beach
Trump Plane
The Federal Aviation Administration late Thursday night issued a temporary flight restriction for the airspace over Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's part-time Palm Beach home, which further indicates that the president-elect will spend Christmas on the island.
TOWN of PALM BEACH
Council Gives New Direction for Palm Beach Recreation Center
Rec Center entry on Seaview
Plans for the Palm Beach Recreation Center are headed in a new direction - one with more support from town officials and residents. Friends of Recreation, the group helping raise money for a new center, asked Tuesday for the Town Council's support to build a one-story, 15,000-square-foot center instead of a two-story, 23,000-square-foot center.
Council Approves Bethesda, Neighbors Accord on Parking
The Town Council gave its blessing Tuesday to a parking compromise reached between The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea and neighboring residents.
Tenants Admire Results of Royal Poinciana Plaza Makeover in Palm Beach
After nine months of construction, residents and visitors are starting to use the Royal Poinciana Plaza for what its designers intended. 
Town Board to Study Construction Season in Palm Beach
Palm Beach could have a shorter construction season next year. The Town Council directed its Ordinances, Rules and Standards Committee on Tuesday to study the months, days and times that crews can work on the island.   
Palm Beach Delays Decision on Changing General Employee Pensions
Town hall

Palm Beach Delays Decision on Changing General Employee Pensions
Proposed improvements to pension benefits for general employees stalled this week when some Town Council members questioned the need for the changes and the cost. The panel punted the issue until its Jan. 10 meeting.
Renewal of Residential Parking Permits Expiring on December 31, 2016
Parking by Permit Only


Applications for the Arlington Plan (permit term 1/1/17-12/31/17) are now being accepted.  All permits must be renewed by January 15th.   
Crosswalk timers approved for North County
crosswalk timer

The debate about crosswalk signals outside the Palm Beach Synagogue ended Tuesday when the Town Council opted to install countdown timers that synagogue officials have argued against.
New World War II Plaque Revealed at Palm Beach Veterans Celebration
war memorial plaque
Courtesy Palm Beach Rotary Club
The Memorial Fountain is not the only landmark to be restored at Memorial Park. During a veterans' celebration Tuesday, the town unveiled a new bronze plaque to honor veterans who served during World War II.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
DIRECTORS IN THE NEWS
'Jailhouse Rock' Themed Police Foundation Ball Celebrates Police Officers
Jeff Greene

During the event, the 11th annual Palm Tree Award will be presented to Palm Beach philanthropist, real estate investor and entrepreneur Jeff Greene, a Civic Association director.
Read More (Sun Sentinel)
ZIKA VIRUS
Florida Has Officially Been Declared Zika-Free
Zika Mosquito
Public health officials say Florida is now officially Zika-free, but are stressing that the mosquito-borne virus may rear its head again down the line. The CDC is still urging caution.
Read More (Fortune)

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Monday, December 19, 4:00 PM
Healthcare Committee MEETING CANCELLED
Civic Association Community Room
 
Tuesday, December 20, 9:30 AM
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, December 21, 9:30 AM
Executive Committee
Civic Association Community Room
 
Wednesday, December 21, 9:30 AM
Landmarks Preservation Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Friday, December 23 - Monday, December 26
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
Town Hall Closed
Civic Association Closed
 
Wednesday, December 28, 9:00 AM
Architectural Commission (ARCOM) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Friday, December 30
NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY
Town Hall Closed
Civic Association Closed
 
Tuesday, January 3, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Town of Palm Beach Caucus
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, January 4, 9:00 AM
Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
Corporate Members Offering Discounts!
Palm Beach Civic Association corporate members are offering discounts to our members when you show your membership card. We will continue to post new membership offerings in This Week in Palm Beach below.  Should you have any questions, please call 561-655-0820
Civic Association Board of Directors Luncheon

Kirk Blouin, George Cohon,
Michele Kessler
Mary Alice Pappas,
Bob Wright
Terry Allen Kramer, Pepe Fanjul Jr., Pauline Pitt
The Board of Directors met at the Sailfish Club on Thursday, elected new directors, and featured Kirk Blouin as the keynote speaker.
SHORE PROTECTION
Town Beaches Retaining Most Sand from Nourishments, Expert Says
Reach 2
Town beaches are holding most of the sand placed on them through the town's coastal program, a town consultant said Wednesday, but erosion still a problem at the Clarke Avenue Beach, South End and Reach 2.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
Sea Turtle Nesting Key to Beach Project Monitoring
Sea Turtle Nest
When the Palm Beach Island Beach Management Agreement was established three years ago, it included a requirement that sea-turtle nesting be monitored to better learn how beach fills affect the endangered marine animals.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
Friends of
Palm Beach -
Keeping our Beaches Clean
DATE:     December 17th
TIME:     9:00 am - 11:00 am
 
SIGN IN LOCATION
North Ocean Way and overflow to Arabian Road and Caribbean.
 
CONTACT
Diane Buhler
917-371-3028
 
diane@friendsofpalmbeach.com
Blame La Niña for South Florida's Balmy Weather, Lack of Cold Fronts
Jet stream winter 2016
Typical autumn cold snaps that blast arctic-chilled air through the Sunshine State have yet to make forays into South Florida as La Niña takes control of the upper atmosphere.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
TAXES & FINANCE
Palm Beach County School Board Expands Size of Panel Overseeing New Sales Tax
Palm Beach School district
The Palm Beach County School Board on Wednesday agreed to expand a committee, already set to be the largest in the school system, that will monitor spending of a new sales tax.
Read More (Sun Sentinel)
Lakefront Palm Beachers Donate Thousands for Lagoon Dredge Project 
After three years of planning and permitting, a project to dredge channels from the Intracoastal Waterway to Palm Beachers' docks is finally nearing construction.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
Poverty Still Prevalent in Palm Beach County, United Way Members Learn
In Palm Beach County, one in four children under age 6 lives in poverty, as does 15 percent of the overall county population.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
SCRIPPS FLORIDA
Scripps Florida Scientists Create Innovative Drug Design Strategy to Improve Breast Cancer Treatment
Kendall Nettles
Kendall Nettles
While there have been advances in the treatment of hormone-driven breast cancer, resistance to these therapies remains a significant problem.  
Read More (Scripps Florida)
EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
Toxic Lake: The Untold Story of Lake Okeechobee
Okeechobee Algae Bloom
For months during 2016, plumes of toxic algae turned South Florida's emerald waters the color of coffee and smothered its inlets under a fetid blanket of guacamole-green goop that killed off fish, suffocated oyster beds and triggered a ferocious outcry from coastal residents.
The Perfect Weekend in
Palm Beach 
The 16-mile long island of Palm Beach has been one of America's toniest hideaways since the Gilded Age, after Rockefeller crony Henry Flagler turned a swampy backwater in Florida into his winter home with the help of whimsy-prone architect Addison Mizner.
Palm Beach Recreation Department
To Visit
Recreation 
Department
Site
French Wine Ad
7-2016 ad
Palm Beach Civic Association | 561-655-0820 | mikebrown@palmbeachcivic.org | http://www.palmbeachcivic.org

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