“Wild about Reading” Gives Children Free Zoo Admission
Oct 31, 2007 - Library, Mayor's Office
Children ages 12 and under can get free admission to the Palm Beach Zoo by showing a valid West Palm Beach library card at “Wild about Reading” on Saturday, November 3, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Palm Beach Zoo is located at 1301 Summit Blvd.
All children presenting a valid Palm Beach County or West Palm Beach library card will receive free admission to the zoo for themselves and one adult.
The event will feature celebrity readers, book giveaways and children’s entertainment.
Clematis by Night CANCELLED Due to Tropical Storm Noel
Oct 31, 2007 - Clematis By Night
Clematis by Night has been CANCELLED for Thursday, November 1 due to the high winds and heavy rains expected in the West Palm Beach> area from Tropical Storm Noel. Because of the strong gusty winds that are forecast for Thursday evening, the City is taking this precautionary step to ensure public safety and to prevent damage to City equipment (including tents).
Clematis by Night will return next Thursday, November 8 with one red hot evening at Firefighter Night. Guests can come out to support local firefighters and enjoy tons of five-alarm fun!
Looking for the area’s Hot Spot to Chill? Clematis by Night is it! Chill out South Florida style every Thursday night in downtown West Palm Beach from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. in Centennial Square at the top of Clematis Street. Clematis by Night draws thousands of folks from all walks of life to this highly-popular, award-winning, weekly Fountain-side Concert Series. This FREE event features the area’s best rock, r&b, reggae, Latin, blues, soul and swing music. Clematis by Night is the place to be for great music, a taste of mouth-watering foods, and sidewalk shopping of the trendiest items around. 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, Schumacher Automotive, 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 newly redesigned website at www.clematisbynight.net
WPB Returns to Phase 3 Water Restrictions
Oct 30, 2007 - Mayor's Office
As of October 30, 2007, all City of West Palm Beach water customers will be back on Phase 3 water restrictions. The restrictions apply to all City of West Palm Beach Utilities customers, including those in the Town of Palm Beach and Town of South Palm Beach. The City typically relies on Lake Okeechobee as a backup water supply, and the lake’s severely low water level makes the return to Phase 3 necessary.
“The wet season has brought us our fair share of rain, but our backup water supply is still recovering from historically low levels,” said West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel. “West Palm Beach water customers answered the call to conserve in the past, and I’m confident they’ll step up once again.”
Under the Phase 3 restrictions, residents with odd-numbered addresses may water their lawns on Saturdays only, between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Residents with even-numbered addresses may water their lawns on Sundays only, between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. The City strongly recommends that residents water their lawns for only 12-15 minutes, and not for the entire four-hour window. The restrictions apply to residential and commercial customers.
Residents may wash cars and/or boats from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on their yard watering day. Washing should be done on a non-paved surface and any runoff water should drain to a non-paved surface.
Residents may hand-water outdoor plants with one hose from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on their yard watering day. New landscaping (planted for less than 30 days) may be watered Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. However, planting of new landscaping is discouraged.
Residents are encouraged to take steps to reduce indoor water use. Please take shorter showers, fix all leaky faucets and only run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers.
As mandated by City ordinance, customers who use more than eight units (approximately 6,000 gallons) of water per month will face a 30% surcharge on the amount of water they use in excess of the eight units. This surcharge will be included in utility bills, and will take effect on December 1st.
Residents who have questions or notice water-use violations are asked to call the City’s 24-hour hotline at (561) 822-2222. Water customers can also get more information through West Palm TV (Comcast Cable channel 18).
Youth Center Hosts Teen Career Day and Job Fair
Oct 29, 2007 - Mayor's Office, Parks and Recreation
What: Hundreds Expected for Teen Career Day and Job Fair.
When: Thursday, November 1, 2007, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Northwood Youth Empowerment Center, 723 39th Street, WPB.
(10/29/07) Hundreds of teenagers are expected to attend a community career day and job fair at the City of West Palm Beach’s Northwood Youth Empowerment Center on Thursday, November 1, 2007, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Teens will be able to explore career choices at the Workforce Alliance mobile resource van throughout the event. Local employers with seasonal job openings will be on-hand to accept resumes and conduct interviews from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For additional information, contact the Northwood Youth Empowerment Center at (561) 804-5000.
Commission Amends Election Rules
Oct 29, 2007 - City Commission
(Monday, October 29, 2007) West Palm Beach City Commissioners have voted to amend the rules for candidates wishing to qualify to run for City offices. The new rules change the timing of the qualifying period, lengthen the official campaign period and follow the recommendations made by the City’s elections task force. The Commission also changed the timing of the qualifying period for candidates wishing to use the alternative method of qualifying.
Under the new ordinance, candidates must qualify for office no earlier than noon on the last Tuesday in December and no later than noon on the second Tuesday in January. Under the previous ordinance, candidates had to qualify no earlier than noon on the on the last Tuesday in January and no later than noon on the second Tuesday in February.
Having the deadline to qualify in January rather than in February will lengthen the official campaign period by approximately one month. This will give voters additional time to consider the issues, interact with candidates and weigh the positions and qualifications of the candidates.
For candidates wishing to use the alternative method to qualify, the qualification period for the City of West Palm Beach 2008 General Election will begin on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and close on Friday, November 30, 2007. The alternative method of qualifying for office involves gathering signatures rather than paying the campaign filing fee.