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 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

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).

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.

(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.

What:  Resurfacing of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
When:  Beginning Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
Affected Area:  Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. from Executive Center Drive to canal just east of Hank Aaron Drive.

(10/26/07)  Motorists should be aware that Palm Beach County will be resurfacing Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. between Executive Center Drive and the canal just east of Hank Aaron Drive beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, Oct. 28th.   Work will be performed from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. nightly.  At least one lane of traffic will be maintained in both directions during the construction.  The work is expected to be completed by Friday, November 2, 2007.

This work was to have begun on Sunday, October 21, 2007, but was delayed by one week.

Beginning Monday, November 5, 2007, work will be done from the connecting canal bridge just east of Hank Aaron Drive to Sapodilla Ave.  Work will take place daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Traffic will be maintained in both directions.

(Wednesday, October 24, 2007)  The City of West Palm Beach has been honored for financial excellence, receiving the highest form of recognition possible for a municipality.  The Government Finance Officer’s Association (GFOA) has awarded the City a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the City’s comprehensive annual financial report.

“Receiving this award is an honor for our Finance Department and for our City,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel.  “Governments have a special responsibility to provide a clear picture of their financial affairs to the public, and it’s noteworthy that the City is being honored for doing so.”

“This award is a credit to the entire Finance Department team for its hard work and dedication,” said Finance Director Randy Sherman.

The GFOA Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in government accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.  Certificates recognize financial reporting that goes beyond the requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to provide taxpayers and the many users of government financial statements with a wide variety of information useful in evaluating the financial condition of a government.  This is the 28th consecutive year the City has been honored by the GFOA.

The City’s Finance Department develops and implements financial and accounting policies and procedures.  The department also provides a sound accounting system for protecting the City’s assets by recording and reporting financial transactions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, Government Accounting Standards Board Pronouncements and other legally mandated standards.  The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 16,000 government finance professionals.

Grassy Waters Preserve will become “Grassworts” for a night of educational enchantment as the nature center hosts “Monsters in the Marsh” on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at 8264 Northlake Blvd.

Children are encouraged to wear costumes and learn the magic of being a “green wizard” as they trick-or-treat along the nature preserve’s boardwalk and meet characters eager to teach ways to conserve and care for the earth.  

Monsters in the Marsh costs $3 for adults ($1 for adults in costume)  and $1 for children.  While the events take place on the south side of Northlake Blvd., parking is available on the NORTH SIDE ONLY.  There is free shuttle service to the south side.  Parking is located off Northlake Blvd. approximately one mile west of Beeline Highway and approximately four miles west of I-95.

Please click here to view the advisory.

(October 17, 2007) – The West Palm Beach GreenMarket will mark the opening of its thirteenth season with a bounty of new and returning vendors and some exciting new features.  The West Palm Beach GreenMarket will reopen for the 2007-2008 season this Saturday, October 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. along 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue, just outside of City Hall, in Downtown West Palm Beach.  Some fun features market goers can find on opening day include:

Ready, Set, Shop! - Market lovers can get out their shopping bags and start browsing through an abundant selection of items from all of their favorite local vendors including farm fresh fruits and vegetables; fresh baked breads and pastries; fresh seafood, poultry and meats; domestic and imported cheeses; homemade sauces, spreads and salsas; fresh cut flowers, tropical plants, native trees and herbs;  assorted gourmet coffee, teas and cider; and prepared specialty foods.    

Floral Ribbon Cutting – To officially kick off the 2007-2008 season of the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, there will be a floral ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:50 a.m. in the center of the market at the intersection of 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue.  

1st Chef Throw-Down – West Palm Beach’s own Chef John Carlino has been officially named the West Palm Beach GreenMarket Chef.  Carlino and a guest chef will be challenged on the third Saturday of each month to create their own delicious signature dish in thirty minutes with a list of ingredients collected from GreenMarket vendors.  Patrons can watch these talented chefs create unique masterpieces right before their eyes and they’ll also be able to sample the tasty dishes and vote on the winning chef.  The fun begins in the center of the market at the intersection of 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue at 10:00 a.m.

GreenMarket Shopping Spree – Guests that visit the West Palm Beach GreenMarket on opening day can register to win $100 in GreenMarket Bucks good for any GreenMarket vendor throughout the season.  Guests can register at the West Palm Beach GreenMarket information/merchandise booth where 2nd Street meets Narcissus Avenue, and the winner will be drawn at noon.

Live Music – This season, the GreenMarket Café will feature live music each week by different local artists with Nicholas Marks performing on opening day.  Marks has made a name for himself locally and nationally with his unique style of flamenco pop and by appearing on the hit NBC show “America’s Got Talent.”  A new speaker system has also been installed throughout the market site so that patrons can listen to the music while shopping.  

The grand opening celebration will also include lots of fun from a couple of West Palm Beach’s favorite radio stations.  Sunny 104.3 fm and WIRK 107.9 fm will be at the market on opening day, so listeners can stop by their booths and register to win more cool prizes or pick up some great giveaways.  

Guests to the West Palm Beach GreenMarket can also enjoy some other great new features this season including GreenMarket coupons of the month, a new photo gallery on the GreenMarket website, and different special events every month.  The West Palm Beach GreenMarket will go even “greener” this season with a new recycling program for customers at the market as well.

The West Palm Beach GreenMarket is the area’s original and most popular green market.  This traditional European-style farmers market has become a Saturday morning staple that welcomes city residents and visitors alike.  Vendors bring an abundant selection of locally grown and “just harvested” produce, plants and specialty items to downtown West Palm Beach.  Each Saturday over 60 vendors offer a variety of farm fresh fruits and vegetables, tropical and native plants, fresh-cut flowers, artisan foods, and much more.  Guests can also sit and enjoy their made-to-order breakfast or lunch at the GreenMarket Café.  The West Palm Beach GreenMarket is dog-friendly with thirty pup zones in each block and offers free parking in the Banyan Street Garage until 2:00 pm.  The West Palm Beach GreenMarket is produced by the City of West Palm Beach, Mayor’s Office - Division of Community Events and is sponsored by The Palm Beach Post, The Palm Beach Daily News, WIRK 107.9 fm and Sunny 104.3 fm.  For more information about the West Palm Beach GreenMarket or other City-produced events, please call 561-822-1515 or visit www.wpb.org/greenmarket.