THIS WEEK IN PALM BEACH
June 23, 2017 Edition - The News Palm Beachers Need to Know 
UNDERGROUNDING
Townwide Undergrounding Project to Begin This Summer in Palm Beach
The town-wide conversion to underground utilities moves from the drawing board and into two neighborhoods this summer. After years of planning, the Town Council last week approved construction contracts for "phase one north," from Onondaga Avenue to the Palm Beach Inlet, and "phase one south," between Sloan's Curve and the south town limit.
PORT of PALM BEACH
Port of Palm Beach Not Impacted by Trump's Cuba Pullback
Port of Palm Beach
"Today's announcement from President Trump does not have any impact on the Port of Palm Beach. No progress has been made since January's Cuban delegation visit in generating trade or business with Cuba.", spokeswoman Aidy Alonzo said.
Port of PB, County Parks Officials to Visit JFK Bunker, Peanut Island

There could even be grant money in the historic property's future that could or could not end up in the county's hands. Its future isn't known yet.
TOWN of PALM BEACH
Palm Beach to Control Beach Path Improvements Paid for by Residents
Palm Beach is changing the way it regulates beach walkways to make sure they remain public - not private. Residents who want to spruce up public beach access paths near their properties now will have to go through the town so staff has more control over the projects.
Coyo Taco to Give Palm Beach Another Late-Night Food Option
Coyo Taco
Palm Beach's new taco restaurant plans to serve brunch, lunch and dinner on the island. The Town Council last week approved Coyo Taco's hours of operation, as well as plans for outdoor seating and catering.
Will Testa's Restaurant Move into Nick & Johnnie's Site in Palm Beach?
Testas
After Nick & Johnnie's restaurant closes on Saturday, its space at 207 Royal Poinciana Way could become a temporary home for Testa restaurant. According to Nick & Johnnie's owner Nick Coniglio, Testa's may move into that spot. Testa's current site, at 221 Royal Poinciana Way, is slated for demolition.
Town Council Meeting Actions
Town of Palm Beach logo

To view the summary of actions taken at this month's Town Council meetings, please click on the applicable link below.
TRAFFIC
Ideas on Fixing Okeechobee Blvd. Traffic Quagmire Plenty and Pricey
Okeechobee traffic
There are cures for what ails Okeechobee Blvd. Short-term, long-term. A few dollars, a few hundred million. It's a matter of which ones make the most sense, for now and then for the decades to come.
Construction Traffic Report for the Week of June 19
traffic 6-19-17
Click on the link below to download a copy of the construction and traffic report for the upcoming week.
WEST PALM DEVELOPS
Micro-Apartments Downtown Get Final OK, Paving Way for Compact Living
Banyan Place
With the city promoting downtown living but high rents making it impossible for many, West Palm Beach commissioners Monday gave final approval to developer Jeff Greene's micro-apartment project.
Looking Up 
West Palm Beach by the Numbers
Bristol Palm Beach Condo Tower
The city has dozens of projects on its wish list that will take years to complete, depending mainly on how money is tapped to pay for them, whether from bonds, state or federal grants or local taxes and fees.
PRESIDENTIAL VISITS
Palm Beach Reports No Concerns with Coast Guard Security Zones Around Trump's Mar-a-Lago
Allen Eyestone The Palm Beach Post
Allen Eyestone /The Palm Beach Post
For each of President Donald Trump's Palm Beach visits since taking office in January, the Coast Guard issued a notice with three temporary security areas around his Mar-a-Lago Club.
Palm Beach County Continues Push to Ease Presidential Visit
Flight Restrictions
flight restrictions
Palm Beach County isn't grounding efforts to have flight restrictions loosened when President Donald Trump visits his oceanfront estate Mar-a-Lago.
NEW
CIVIC ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS
Thirteen new directors were welcomed as Palm Beach Civic Association Directors at the Annual Meeting for 2017-2018. This weekly feature will introduce them, two per week in alphabetical order, now and in future editions of "This Week.
Jeffery Smith
Jeffery Smith
Mr. Smith is president of Smith Architectural Group, a Palm Beach based architectural office specializing in residential architecture that he founded in 1989. Mr. Smith was born in Chicago but moved to Palm Beach as a child in 1970. He attended the University of Miami and received his bachelor of architecture degree from Louisiana State University before joining Obst Associates, an office with Palm Beach roots since 1948. He became president of Obst Associates in 1985. Mr. Smith's firm has won numerous state and national awards for their work, including the American Institute of Architect's Top 100 Buildings in the State of Florida, the Preservation Foundation's Ballinger Award for Historic Architecture, and the Florida Trust Historic Preservation Award. Mr. Smith has been a trustee of the Preservation Foundation since 1996 and has served as chairman on the Town of Palm Beach's Architectural Commission and on its Landmarks Preservation Commission. 
Robert E. Swanson
Robert E. Swanson
Mr. Swanson is the chairman and CEO of Ridgewood Energy. He founded the firm in 1982 with an innovative approach of capitalizing US oil and gas exploration through private equity fund capital. After four years of investing in onshore US energy, Ridgewood Energy began investing in the offshore Gulf of Mexico in 1986, initially in the shallow waters. Since 2008, Ridgewood's investment focus has been on deepwater Gulf of Mexico oil assets. Under Mr. Swanson's leadership, Ridgewood Energy has raised over $6.5 billion in capital and commitments for US oil and gas investments since its inception. Prior to forming Ridgewood Energy, Mr. Swanson was a tax partner at the former New York and Los Angeles law firm of Fulop & Hardee, and an officer in the Trust and Investment Division of Morgan Guaranty Trust Company. His specialty was in personal tax and financial planning including income, estate, and gift tax. 
CIVIC ASSOCIATION 
DIRECTORS IN THE NEWS
School Dedicated to Tech Pioneer After $1M Donation
John Scarpa Courtesy Chris Franklin  For NJ.com
Cumberland County Technical Education Center held a dedication ceremony to rename it to the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center at Cumberland County. Mr. Scarpa is a Civic Association Director and a member of the Executive Committee.
David Koch Gives $10 Million to Stanford for Allergy Research
David Koch
David Koch

David Koch, a Civic Association Director, Wichita native, and executive vice president of Koch Industries Inc., and his wife have donated $10 million to help support allergy research.
ENVIRONMENT
Green Iguanas are Hanging Out in Palm Beach and 'They are the Ugliest'
Green Iguana
They're relaxing on your yard and sunbathing by your pool, hanging out at the golf course. The iguanas are back.

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Wednesday, June 28, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Architectural Commission (ARCOM) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, June 29, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Finance and Taxation Committee Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Monday, July 3, 2017, All Day
Civic Association Offices Closed
 
Tuesday, July 4, 2017, All Day
Independence Day
Town and Civic Association Offices Closed
 
Thursday, July 6, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Underground Utilities Task Force (UUTF) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, July 11, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Budget Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, July 12, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Regular Business and Development Review
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, July 18, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, July 19, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, July 20, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Code Enforcement Board Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, July 26, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Architectural Commission (ARCOM) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
WEATHER
Heavy Rains Blamed for Recent Beach Closures
Midtown Beach
The beaches in Palm Beach County, including Midtown Beach, are closing a lot lately due to high bacteria levels. Blame the rainy weather.
Read More (Civic Association News)
Drought
Wiped Out in Florida
Florida Drought 6-2017
According to the US Drought Monitor for Florida the drought is over.  The US Army Corp of Engineers Lake Okeechobee water levels are in the normal range at 12.23 ft.
Read More (Civic Association News)
UPDATE 6-22-2017 Tropical Storm Cindy Made Landfall in Louisiana-Texas Border
TS Cindy 6-2017
Tropical Storm Cindy made landfall near the Louisiana-Texas border early Thursday morning. A tropical storm warning is in effect for parts of the Texas and Louisiana coastlines.
Read More (Civic Association News)
Tropical Storm Bret
TS Bret 6-2017
Tropical Storm Bret is currently about 20 miles east-northeast of Isla Margarita, moving swiftly toward the west-northwest.
Read More (Civic Association News)
TAX & FINANCE
Cost of Doing Business in Palm Beach to Go Up
Palm Beach Town Hall
Palm Beach businesses will have to pay more to operate on the island next season. The Town Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday increasing the business tax fee by 5 percent.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
New Buses Mark Beginning of Palm Beach County Schools Sales Tax Purchases
school bus
Palm Beach County schools have begun a flurry of renovations and purchases this summer with new sales tax money, including weatherproofing aging buildings, installing new roofs and buying new buses to replace an aging fleet.
Read More (Sun Sentinel)
REAL ESTATE
A Good Time to Buy a Mansion
The five most expensive home sales in South Florida within the last year involved hedge fund billionaires, homebuilders, a car salesman, a controversial news executive, a liquor company exec who doubles as a race car champion, and (of course) shadowy corporate entities
Read More (The Real Deal)
ZIKA VIRUS
Florida Matters Preview: The Zika Virus In 2017
Florida Zika Virus
It's June, it's hot, it's rainy -- and that means mosquitos are once again coming out in full force. Most Floridians were caught off-guard when Zika arrived on U.S. soil last year. 
Read More (WUSF)
IN MEMORIAM
Honorary Civic Association Director Dick Raffo Died
Last Night 
Memorial Scheduled

Saturday, June 24

10 AM

St. Edwards Catholic Church
Palm Beach

A full In Memoriam will run
next week.
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
State Funding for Cultural and Historic Preservation Grants Shrinks
Norton Museum expansion
State legislators gave less to cultural and historic preservation grants in the 2017-18 budget negotiations that wrapped up earlier this month than they did last year.
Florida Health Officials Move Forward with Medical Marijuana Plans
Florida health officials have laid out a new process to implement the voter-approved constitutional amendment broadly legalizing medical marijuana, as they attempt to meet deadlines included in the November ballot measure.
SCRIPPS FLORIDA
Scripps Florida Scientist and Collaborators Win $7 Million Grant to Develop New ALS Treatments
Matthew Disney
Matthew Disney
Professor Matthew Disney of the Department of Chemistry on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), together with scientists from Mayo Clinic's Florida campus and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has been awarded $7.2 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of The National Institutes of Health.
Read More (Scripps Florida)
GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER
A Sunny Recovery After Patient Undergoes Weight Loss Surgery
Good Samaritan Medical Center
"I knew I had to put aside all the doubts and nervous jitters and recognize that this would be a positive turning point in my life."
Read More (Good Samaritan)
THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
The Algae That Devastated Florida's Coasts Also Contained 28 Kinds of Bacteria, Study Finds
Blue-green algae blooms that devastated Florida's coasts last summer contained as many as 28 types of bacteria, some of which can harm humans.
Read More (WLRN)
Palm Beach Recreation Department
To Visit
Recreation 
Department
Site
Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce 
To See 
Chamber Events 
Palm Beach Civic Association | 561-655-0820 | [email protected] | http://www.palmbeachcivic.org

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