Clematis by Night Lights Up Downtown WPB for the Holidays
Good Samaritan Medical Center Presents the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Parade down Clematis Street

(November 14, 2008 – West Palm Beach)  The City of West Palm Beach is teaming up with the Downtown Development Authority to light up downtown West Palm Beach this holiday season.  The annual Clematis by Night Holiday Lighting event will take place on Thursday, December 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with a parade down Clematis Street beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the lighting of a real holiday tree at 7:30 p.m. in Centennial Square.

CALENDAR LISTING:
CLEMATIS BY NIGHT HOLIDAY LIGHTING
Thursday, December 11, 2008¼br> 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
100 – 500 blocks of Clematis Street, Downtown West Palm Beach
6:30 p.m.  3rd Annual WEST PALM BEACH MAYOR’S PARADE down Clematis Street, presented by Good Samaritan Medical Center
7:30 p.m.  TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY in Centennial Square
FREE!
Produced by the City of West Palm Beach in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority
For more information:  561-822-1515 or www.clematisbynight.net

Clematis by Night is the Holiday Spot to Chill this season!  This year’s holiday celebrations in downtown West Palm Beach will include a magical parade down Clematis Street under a canopy of lights that covers five blocks.  The 3rd Annual West Palm Beach Mayor’s Parade, presented by Good Samaritan Medical Center, has become a popular holiday tradition in downtown West Palm Beach.  Then guests can watch as Mayor Frankel flips the switch and officially lights up a real holiday tree as well as a menorah and a kinara in Centennial Square.  There will be plenty of cool winter fun and excitement with kid’s activities, live entertainment, Santa’s Trolley and much more. 

The Clematis by Night Holiday Lighting is produced by the City of West Palm Beach in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and brought to you by KOOL 105.5 fm, The Palm Beach Post, WPTV NewsChannel 5, Wachovia, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Samuel Adams, Heineken, the West Palm Beach Marriott and many others.  For more information about this event, please contact the City of West Palm Beach, Community Events Division at 561-822-1515 or visit www.clematisbynight.net
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Media Contact:
Amaryvis “Ryvis” Sierra
Marketing Coordinator
Phone: 561-822-1522
Cell : 561-644-7639
E-mail: asierra@wpb.org

(November 13, 2008 - West Palm Beach, FL)  Looking for the area’s Hot Spot to Chill?  Clematis by Night is it!  Join us every Thursday night at the coolest hangout in downtown West Palm Beach from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. in Centennial Square.  This FREE weekly event features the area’s best rock, r&b, reggae, Latin, blues, soul and swing music.  Clematis by Night is the place to be every Thursday for great music, a taste of mouth-watering foods, sidewalk shopping for the trendiest items around, and fun in the fountain.

Clematis by Night is produced by the City of West Palm Beach and brought to you by Wachovia, Clear Channel Radio, The Palm Beach Post, La Palma, WPTV NewsChannel 5, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Heineken, Samuel Adams, the West Palm Beach Marriott, and many others.  For more information, please call the City of West Palm Beach Community Events Division at 561-822-1515 or visit the website at www.clematisbynight.net.

Clematis by Night Featured Entertainment
DECEMBER 2008 - FEBRUARY 2009

DECEMBER 4 - VALERIE TYSON
www.valerietysonband.com

Known as South Florida’s R&B Diva, Valerie Tyson has developed a style that fuses Jazz, R&B, Funk and Soul into a unique and delightful perfection.  Her smooth and sultry voice can be described as a cross between Anita Baker and Aretha Franklin.  Come and enjoy Valerie Tyson share her magic at Clematis by Night.  A portion of this evening’s proceeds will benefit the Achilles Track Club.

DECEMBER 11 -
HOLIDAY LIGHTING & MAYOR’S PARADE
Featuring RAQUEL WILLIAMS
www.raquelwilliamssings.com

Clematis by Night is the Holiday Spot To Chill this season as Mayor Frankel flips the magic switch and officially lights up Downtown West Palm Beach for the holidays.  Our holiday celebrations will include the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Parade presented by Good Samaritan Medical Center at 6:30 p.m. down Clematis Street, an overhead lighted canopy covering 5 blocks of Clematis Street, and the lighting of a real Holiday Tree at 7:30 p.m. in Centennial Square.  Come downtown and enjoy plenty of cool winter fun and excitement with kid’s activities, live entertainment, Santa’s Trolley and much more.  Raquel Williams, one of the area’s best known jazz singers, will get everyone into the spirit at Centennial Square with all of your holiday favorites!  A portion of this evening’s proceeds will benefit the Women of Note Chorus.

DECEMBER 18 -
VANILLA MONK
www.vanillamonk.com

Vanilla Monk is a four-piece band from Ft. Lauderdale that has morphed into a very soulful, funky, rock group.  The band has made South Florida home, frequenting numerous venues in the area and even being selected to perform at SunFest.  Departing from the norm, and bringing a new sound and a new vibe that reaches out to a wide variety of music fans, Vanilla Monk will create a true festival vibe at Clematis by Night, with lively tunes crossing the boundaries of rock, jam, jazz, and funk.  A portion of this evening’s proceeds will benefit the West Palm Beach Downtown Neighborhood Association.

DECEMBER 25 -
No CbN – HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

JANUARY 1 -
No CbN – HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

JANUARY 8 -
DEE DEE WILDE BAND
www.tropicsentertainment.com

Dee Dee Wilde is one of South Florida’s most dynamic and captivating entertainers known for her talent to sing low and sweet like Sade, tempestuous like Chaka, or dramatic like Whitney.  Dee Dee has performed as a soloist on the LP’s of some impressive artists including James Brown, Phyliss Hyman, Howard Hewitt, INXS, Gerald Albright and Gerald Alston.  Dee Dee has also had two of her own hits from her two albums, “No Way Out” and “Getaway”.   Don’t miss her group’s tight and versatile performance on the Clematis by Night stage full of warmth and good cheer.

JANUARY 15 -
MARIJAH & THE REGGAE ALLSTARS
www.marijahmusic.com

Move your feet, and your soul, to the stirring island sounds of Marijah and the Reggae Allstars.  This local artist will perform your favorite reggae tunes as well as some original songs.  Marijah will get you movin’ as she brings the groove to Reggae Night at Clematis by Night. 

JANUARY 22 -
MITCH WOODS & HIS ROCKET 88’s
www.mitchwoods.com

Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88’s are the torch bearers of the great swing American musical heritage.  Taking inspiration from the great jump n’ boogie outfits and swingin’ little big bands of the 40’s, they breathe fresh life into jump and swing with “Rock-a-boogie,” their trademark mix of jump blues, boogie woogie and rockabilly. 

JANUARY 29 -
BISCUIT MILLER & THE MIX
www.biscuitmiller.com

Biscuit Miller is a born entertainer who is loaded with persona and charisma.  Biscuit, named so after eating a whole pan of his grandma’s biscuits, has pulled out a recipe from the past, and stirred in a brand new flavorful mix of funk, blues, and old style rock-n-roll soul.  Biscuit is a world-class bassist and entertainer, with a unique, fun and funky R&B soul sound that is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for a good time.  Biscuit Miller and The Mix are ready to bring a smorgasbord of fun to Clematis by Night.

FEBRUARY 5 -
RICO MONACO & SOL SONS
www.ricomonaco.com

Rico Monaco & Sol Sons (RMSS) is an multi-award-winning Latin rock band from Orlando.  RMSS mixes Latin rhythms, rock, pop, jazz and world influences to create a unique crossover sound.  They have shared the stage with Tito Puente, Sammy Hagar, Bob Marley’s legendary Wailers, Marc Anthony and many more.  Come check out this red hot band when they showcase their Latin grooves, pop styles, and superb musicianship at Clematis by Night.

FEBRUARY 12 -
JUSTIN ENCO BAND
www.myspace.com/justinencoband

According to Justin Enco, a good song moves you, tells a story, belies a truth, leaves you vulnerable, and makes you dance.  When Justin combines these qualities with good beats, guitar mixes both electric and acoustic, poetic percussions and engaging stories the result is amazing.  This creative evolution from an open-mic night newbie to a professional musician is apparent on his album Long Drive Home, where you can hear the changes and growth Justin experienced. 

FEBRUARY 19 -
MARIO LaCASSE
www.myspace.com/themariolacasseband

This four-piece blues band describes their sound as “A Cluster Funk of Blues & Rock.”  Mario is a veteran musician known for his ability to play the right note at the right time with the right feel.   The undeniable charisma in his playing has led to comments from his peers as being THE REAL DEAL.  Come check out one of the most respected and liked guitar players in our area play his Jazzy Swamp Funk Boogie Soul Music.  A portion of this evening’s proceeds will benefit the.

FEBRUARY 26 -
SWEET JUSTICE
www.sweetjusticeband.com

It’s Reggae Night and we are feelin’ alright!  So come and check out the tropical reggae rhythms of Sweet Justice, a band on the cutting edge of reggae with an energizing sound.  This Clematis by Night favorite will bring you to your feet with their Caribbean sounds and just make you wanna move to the groove and dance the night away.  A portion of this evening’s proceeds will benefit the.

Directions to Clematis by Night
From I-95 exit east onto Okeechobee Boulevard.  Travel east on Okeechobee until you reach Quadrille Boulevard.  Turn left (north) onto Quadrille Boulevard and proceed north until you arrive at Clematis Street.  At Clematis Street make a right (east) and continue east past Olive Avenue to Centennial Square.  Centennial Square is located in the 100 block of Clematis Street between Narcissus Avenue and Flagler Drive. 

Parking
Ample public parking is available at the following City garages and surface lots at reasonable rates:

• The NEW Clematis Street Garage, located on the corner of Clematis Street and Quadrille Avenue.
• The Banyan Street Garage, located at Banyan Boulevard and Olive Avenue, just one block North of Clematis Street
• The City Hall surface parking lot, located East of City Hall at Olive Avenue and Banyan Street, just one block North of Clematis Street
• The Evernia Street Garage, located at Evernia Street and Olive Avenue, just two blocks South of Clematis Street

Numerous private parking lots in the downtown area are also available for parking and a free trolley runs round-trip from Clematis Street to CityPlace.

For more information about Clematis by Night, please call the City of West Palm Beach Community Events Division at 561-822-1515 or visit the website at www.clematisbynight.net.

Amaryvis “Ryvis” Sierra
Marketing Coordinator
Mayor’s Office, Community Events Division
City of West Palm Beach
Phone: (561) 822-1522
Cell: (561) 644-7639
Fax: (561) 822-1525
E-mail: asierra@wpb.org

City of West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel and the City Commission are joining area residents and nearby municipalities in fighting for the quality of life in West Palm Beach neighborhoods by encouraging the Federal Aviation Administration to re-evaluate and seek alternatives to the proposed expansion of Palm Beach International Airport.

“We appreciate the airport’s value to our City and our economy, but expanding it unnecessarily will create more noise, decrease air quality and impact property values for thousands of West Palm Beach residents,” said Mayor Frankel.  “We’re proud to stand by our residents and make our voice heard.”

The City is taking issue with several of the major findings in a Federal Aviation Administration study of the proposed expansion.  It is the City’s position that:

• The expansion is unnecessary, as PBIA traffic has been steadily decreasing over the past few decades
• The expansion would lower property values in the City’s south-end neighborhoods
• The noise and pollution generated by additional planes would decrease the overall quality of life for neighbors

As most of the activity at PBIA is general aviation (private planes that do not carry commercial passenger traffic) the City believes that there are several strategies that would reduce aviation traffic and eliminate the need for any expansion.  These include pricing and fee changes which would help the airport better manage demand and potentially shift general aviation activity to near-by airports.

The City of West Palm Beach is also being joined by Mar-a-Lago and the Town of Palm Beach in supporting alternatives to the airport expansion.

For Additional Information:
Peter Robbins, West Palm Beach Public Information Officer
Office:  (561) 822-1433
probbins@wpb.org

When:  Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
Where:  Clematis Street and Centennial Square, WPB

(11/07/08)  Mayor Lois J. Frankel will participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade on Sunday, November 9, 2008 beginning at 2:00 p.m. along Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach.  The parade is being organized and produced by Palm Beach Veterans Day Parade, Inc.

The parade route begins on the west end of Clematis Street and finishes at Centennial Square, where there will be a ceremony.  Mayor Frankel will join the Veteran’s groups at this ceremony.

When: Saturday, November 1, 2008, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown WPB Library, 100 Clematis Street

(10/29/08) The West Palm Beach Public Library will unveil a new, interactive 3-D multimedia exhibit as part of the celebration of the City of West Palm Beach’s 114th birthday. The celebration and unveiling of the exhibit will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the WPB Library located at 100 Clematis Street in West Palm Beach.

The exhibit will use a fun, interactive display to show how Clematis Street and downtown West Palm Beach have changed and evolved over the years. Visitors will also be offered a slice of birthday cake, have a chance to listen to a barbershop quartet and be able to play old-fashioned games.

(Wednesday, October 29, 2008)  As part of the overall effort to improve the quality and reliability of the water system and provide top-quality drinking water to its customers, the City of West Palm Beach will launch a new measure designed to help prevent lead and copper leaching from customer’s pipes into the water and to reduce pipe corrosion.  The measures will begin on Thursday, October 30, 2008.  The City has used anti-corrosion measures in the past, but this new treatment will be a significant improvement over the old system.

The City will gradually introduce a phosphate corrosion control additive into the water supply at the water treatment plant, using a strictly controlled and closely monitored process.  This process is being undertaken with the full cooperation and support of the Palm Beach County Health Department and other regulatory agencies.

Though the City no longer uses lead in water pipes or joints, some water customers with older homes still have lead in their home’s pipes, joints or fixtures.  The City routinely tests its water for the presence of lead, copper and other materials.

“This measure is part of our commitment to having a top-quality water system,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel.  “We’ll continue to make the necessary investments to improve the quality and reliability of our water supply.”

Water customers are not being asked to take any action as a result of this measure.  Should any water customers notice a slight discoloration of their water immediately after this process begins, they should let their water run for a few minutes until it clears.  Residents with questions or concerns should contact the City’s 24-hour hotline at 561-822-2222.

The anti-corrosion additive is a poly-orthophosphate blend of 70% orthophosphate and 30% polyphosphate.  Orthophosphate forms a protective coating on the inside of pipes in both the distribution system and in customer homes.  The coating can help prevent copper and lead from leaching into drinking water, particularly in homes that have pipes or fixtures containing lead.  Poly-orthophosphate is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is commonly used to improve water quality and protect water distribution systems.

WHO: West Palm Beach GreenMarket
WHAT: Canine Costume Contest & Parade
WHEN: Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 am
WHERE: 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue, Downtown West Palm Beach

(October 24, 2008) – The West Palm Beach GreenMarket will hold its annual Canine Costume Contest & Parade this Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 am.  Patrons are invited to bring their furry friends dressed in costume and enter them in the contest for great prizes.  Categories for the canine costume contest include scariest, funniest, most original and best overall.  Registration begins at 9:00 am at the GreenMarket merchandise booth (at the intersection of 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue).  All costume contest participants will be included in the parade to show off their pooch’s Halloween ensemble. Read the rest of this entry »

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: South Olive Community Center

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is presenting “Fun and Fairytales,” an event in which children will walk through a series of fairytale scenes, complete with costumed characters. There will also be a hayride around the park, arts and crafts, and a pumpkin patch storytelling area. This all ages event will be held on Saturday, October 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The fee is $3 / City of West Palm Beach residents and $4 / non-residents, or $7 / resident family and $9 / non-resident family. South Olive Community Center is located at 345 Summa Street in West Palm Beach.

For more information, please call South Olive Community Center at
(561) 804-4945.

When: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: South Olive Community Center

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a Haunted Hayride at South Olive Community Center on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 7:00 – 9:30 pm.  Participants will be able to take a scary hayride around the park, listen to spooky stories, and roast marshmallows around a fire. This event is for all ages. The fee is $2 / City of West Palm Beach residents and $2.50 / non-residents, or $5 / resident family and $6.25 / non-resident family. South Olive Community Center is located at 345 Summa Street in West Palm Beach.

For more information, please call South Olive Community Center at
(561) 804-4945.

Palm Beach County – Palm Beach County traffic will be affected this week by ongoing construction projects and maintenance work, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials report. Weather permitting; closures will be in effect on I-95, Southern Blvd. (SR80) and in other areas throughout Palm Beach County for construction activities. Click here to view the report

r around-the-clock, real-time traffic information within the tri-county area (Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties), travelers should call 511. For I-95 Palm Beach County traffic reports just say “I-95 or Interstate 95.Information is also available on-line at www.511southflorida.com.

To view real-time video of I-95 in Palm Beach County, visit the FDOT I-95 Interim Traffic Management System (ITMS) website at www.palmbeachcotraffic.org. These free services are provided by FDOT and the SunGuide™ Partners. For updated lane closure information, please refer to www.pbfdot.com.