THIS WEEK IN PALM BEACH
May 5, 2017 Edition - The News Palm Beachers Need to Know 
REAL ESTATE
Tommy Hilfiger Pays $34 Million for Seaside House in Palm Beach
Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has snapped up an oceanfront house on the near North End of Palm Beach for as much as $34 million, according to sources familiar with the deal.
He was the keynote speaker at this season's Civic Association Annual Awards Luncheon. 
CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Civic Association Welcomes
Incoming Directors

2017 board meeting
Louis Pryor, Bob Wright - CEO Civic Association, Ralph DelDeo, George Michel
More than 300 members and friends of the Palm Beach Civic Association turned out to meet the new directors and close out the season at the organization's annual meeting and reception.
Civic Association Director Hillie Mahoney Discusses Her Book at Visionary Leader Luncheon
Tom Peterffy, PBCA Director, Hillie Mahoney PBCA Director, Bob Wright, CEO Civic Association
By Michele Dargan, Special for the Civic Association
Hildegarde "Hillie" Ercklentz Mahoney remembers when she was preparing to celebrate her eighth birthday with her family in Japan on June 22, 1941. 
Civic Association Tours Opportunity Early Childhood Education & 
Family Center
Jill and David Gilmour, the founder of Fiji Water and a Civic Association Director, invited the Civic Association to tour the Opportunity Early Childhood Center and see the future plans for the Erin H. Gilmour Early Learning Center in the Westgate area of West Palm Beach. 
Surprise Going Away Party Held for Susan Keenan
Ned Barnes, PBCA President, Susan Keenan, PBCA VP, Bob Wright PBCA CEO address the crowd
"I had no idea," said Susan Keenan, VP Membership and Marketing for the Civic Association. "It was a total surprise."
TOWN of PALM BEACH
Wireless Law Won't Affect Town
5g cell tower
Town Manager Tom Bradford said Tuesday that Palm Beach and some other coastal communities have been exempted from legislation that would limit local control on the installation of 5G transmission equipment.
Notice to Residents and Commercial Businesses Regarding Containerized Garbage Collection
sanitation recycling
Please be advised that garbage placed out for collection must be done so utilizing a container designed for this purpose.
Town Hires Firm for 
Bradley Park Re-Do
Bradley Park
Work can begin in two weeks on the much-anticipated Bradley Park makeover. The Town Council last week approved a $2 million contract with Burkhardt Construction to manage the project.
STATE LEGISLATION
Everglades Reservoir Bill 
Heads to Governor
Everglades
An ambitious plan to build a massive reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee was approved by the Florida Legislature on Tuesday.
PORT of PALM BEACH
Miami to Glades U.S. 27 Rail, 
Road Project Back on the Table
FEC
Tired of sitting in traffic as a 200-car freight train rolls by? A project aimed at helping to solve that problem, as well congestion at South Florida's ports and other issues, by utilizing the U.S. 27 corridor from Miami to western Palm Beach County is being revived. 
Are More Cruise Ships on the Way? Port of Palm Beach OKs $4M Project
Port of Palm Beach
The Port of Palm Beach and Tropical Shipping have taken the next step toward a $4 million project that, if all goes well, will result in the demolishing of an office building to provide Tropical with an additional 3 acres for an expanded refrigerated cargo storage area.
PRESIDENTIAL VISITS
Palm Beach Police Chief has Trump Advice for Bedminster
Kirk Blouin
Kirk Blouin
If the increasingly hot weather and lighter traffic wasn't enough to clue you in that the season is officially over, then you can use the newest Palm Beach litmus test: President Donald Trump won't be here this weekend.
U.S. Budget Deal Gives County Shot at Trump Security Reimbursement
Mar-a-Lago
Palm Beach County taxpayers stand to get reimbursed by the federal government for helping protect President Donald Trump when he visits Mar-a-Lago under a bipartisan congressional budget deal reached Sunday night.
Climate Protesters March to Edge of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago
An estimated 500 people marched to the edge of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club Saturday, hoping to turn up the heat on a president they say has turned his back on the threat of climate change.
ZIKA VIRUS
As Zika Season Approaches, States Step up Efforts to Combat Virus
mosquito
The warm weather that is arriving in the U.S. is bringing mosquitos and, following last year's outbreak of Zika, states hard hit by the virus are stepping up their efforts to prevent the spread of the bug-borne illness even as the future of federal funding to combat it remains in jeopardy.
CIVIC ASSOCIATION 
DIRECTORS IN THE NEWS
VIDEO: George Cohon Celebrates Birthday at Ronald McDonald House 40th Anniversary
This wasn't your usual birthday party at McDonald's. Though Birdie and the Hamburglar were MIA, McDonald's Canada founder George Cohon celebrated his 80th birthday Monday with his Ronald McDonald House family. However, he said the bigger milestone will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of McHappy Day on Wednesday.
Jeff Greene: Almost-New Units at the Whitney Will Rent Cheaper than Other Downtown Apartments
Jeff Greene
Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene said he paid $24.75 million for 139 units at the Whitney condo in downtown West Palm Beach because they were a good value, "way below replacement costs."

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Friday, May 5, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Public Works Committee Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Monday, May 8, 2017, 10:00 AM
County Budget Task Force Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Regular Business
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Development Review
Town Council Chambers

Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, May 18, 2017, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Code Enforcement Board Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Friday, May 19, 2017, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Retirement Board Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Friday, May 19, 2017, 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Investment Advisory Committee Meeting
Town Council Chambers

Monday, May 22, 2017 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Public Discussion About Our Traffic
Palm Beach County Convention Center
 
Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Architectural Commission (ARCOM) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Monday, May 29, 2017, All Day
Memorial Day
Town and Civic Association Offices Closed
TRAFFIC
Traffic Forum
Join Us for a Public Discussion About Our Traffic
Flagler Bridge Traffic
Monday, May 22nd 
Palm Beach County Convention Center
7:30 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Hosted by: 
Town of Palm Beach Mayor
Gail Coniglio
  
West Palm Beach City Commissioner  
Shanon Materio
  
 Palm Beach County Commissioner  
Mack Bernard
  
Construction Traffic Report for the Week of May 1
The summer construction season begins on May 1.  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)
SunFest to Create Some Traffic Woes for Palm Beach
Sunfest 2017
No, President Donald Trump isn't coming to town this weekend but residents can still expect some traffic woes as the annual SunFest music festival kicks off Wednesday.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
Mechanical Issues Causing Flagler Memorial Bridge Closures
Flagler Bridge 4-17
Mechanical problems on the Flagler Memorial Bridge have been causing traffic woes for Palm Beach commuters.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
TAX & FINANCE
Palm Beach County Considers Raising Sales Tax
Palm Beach County's sales tax could go up again, this time to help pay for firefighters and other emergency services.
Read More (Sun Sentinel)
House OKs Homestead Exemption Hike Vote; Palm Beach County Board Angry
property
Legislation that could lead to the expansion of Florida's homestead exemption could blow a $29 million hole in Palm Beach County's budget, county officials warn.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
HURRICANE
SFWMD Prepares for Hurricane Season
SFWMD.gov
The start to hurricane season is five weeks away and officials are already preparing for any scenario.
Florida Area Businesses Gearing up for Hurricane Season
Predicting when or where a hurricane will strike in 2017 is virtually impossible. In the event that one strikes the west coast of Florida, businesses and their employees should have a plan ready.
BEACHES
Is Midtown Beach Eligible for Federal Aid? $3M Study to Find Out
reach 3
The town is asking the federal government to help shoulder the cost of future Midtown Beach sand fills.
SCRIPPS FLORIDA
Scientists Unravel How Protein Impacts Intellectual Disability
Brock Grill
Brock Grill
Your brain needs just the right balance between excitatory "on" signals and inhibitory "calm down" signals. Now scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have shown that a protein helps balance nerve cell communication.
Read More (Scripps Florida)
THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
The Everglades Foundation Hails Final Bipartisan Passage of SB 10
STAs and Sugar Fields
The Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg today issued the following statement hailing the final bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Senator Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island).
Read More (The Everglades Foundation)
GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER
When Weight Becomes Life-Threatening
When Chris Vallo started having problems breathing, he knew he had to take his weight seriously.
Read More (Good Samaritan)
Palm Beach Recreation Department
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Site
Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce 
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