Clematis by Night Summer Schedule Announced

(May 22, 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.  (more…)

The City of West Palm Beach is soliciting vendors to operate a Library Cafe that is located at the heart of the downtown cultural center. The Cafe will reside in the Library with outdoor access to the City Center and Clematis Street. City Center will  be home to over 400 employees and approximately 400 visitors a day. The City is seeking a vendor that is creative and customer service oriented to attract guests by offering an array of healthy foods for any time of the day. The City will base its decision on assortment of food choices, business experience, and the quality of the food.  The City Commission will hold a taste test of the top candidates.  This opportunity is available until June 17th.”

For more information or to receive a copy of the Invitation to Negotiate please contact the Procurement Division at 561-822-2100.

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is offering a one-day program entitled “To Dad, From Me!” This program will be held Saturday, June 14th, 2008 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm at South Olive Community Center. Children ages 3 – 10 will have the opportunity to create fun gifts to give their dads for Fathers’ Day. All the materials will be provided to make a variety of cool, crafty items. Kids can also create Fathers’ Day cards to accompany the presents. The cost for this program is $6.00 per child for City of West Palm Beach residents and $7.50 per child for non-residents.

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

One of the City’s newest groups recently toured one of the City’s finest gems.

Some members of the City’s Green Task Force spent the afternoon at Grassy Waters Preserve, which is the main source of the City’s drinking water.  The group came away with a better understanding of how the City’s water system works, as well as an appreciation for the natural beauty of the preserve.

Under the direction of Mayor Lois J. Frankel, the City of West Palm Beach formed the committee to make recommendations to the Mayor on sustainability and environmental issues.  The recommendations will be intended to help the City reduce its carbon footprint.

“I’d like to thank the citizens on this task force for volunteering their time and taking on the crucial task of making our City more environmentally friendly,” said Mayor Frankel.

The task force is made up of private citizens with backgrounds ranging from energy management to engineering.  The group has held several meetings, all of which have been open to the public.  West Palm Beach City Commission President Jeri Muoio has been selected to be the City Commission’s liaison to the task force.

The City Green Task Force plans to meet with various City departments and leaders to better understand how the City operates, to analyze current “green” efforts and to make recommendations for improvements and changes.  The task force plans to examine a wide range of issues including the City’s vehicle fleet, office waste reduction and energy conservation.

If you’re wanting to do your part to protect the environment, you can pitch in by saving energy.  When we cut our energy use, good things happen:  you help the environment by reducing harmful emissions and you save money on your electric bill.

Here are the top ten ways you can save energy in your home.
The tips are provided by Florida Power and Light:

• Cool your home to 78 degrees or higher with the thermostat set on auto
• Heat your home at 68 degrees or lower with the thermostat set at auto
• Install a programmable thermostat to maximize savings
• Clean or replace your AC filter monthly
• Turn off ceiling fans when you leave the room
• Avoid pre-rinsing dishes before putting in dishwasher
• Limit the time you run your pool pump
• Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, and always wash in cold water
• Clean the lint filter in your dryer before each load
• Use the auto sensor on your dryer to avoid over-drying clothes.

Follow these quick and easy steps to help save the environment and cut your bill.
We’ll have more money saving tips in upcoming editions of CityConnect!

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Currie Park; corner of Flagler Drive and 23rd Street, WPB

(05/20/08) The City of West Palm Beach will be hosting more than one hundred third grade students at a hands-on celebration of Public Works Week on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Currie Park.

The event includes visual, hands-on activities for the kids, including demonstrations of the heavy equipment typically used by Public Works employees.

The Department of Public Works provides valuable services to City residents, including road repair, street sign maintenance, hurricane recovery assistance, garbage collection, yard waste removal, and more.

When:  Continuing through Friday, May 23, 2008
Affected Area:  Near Convention Center, Okeechobee Blvd.

(05/20/08)  Residents and commuters should be aware that heavy traffic volumes are expected in the area near the Palm Beach County Convention Center and west of the Convention Center along Okeechobee Boulevard throughout the rest of the week due to ongoing high school graduation ceremonies at the Convention Center.  The graduations conclude on Friday, May 23, 2008.

West Palm Beach Police are assisting with traffic flow, but commuters should consider seeking alternate routes during morning rush hour and be prepared for possible delays along Okeechobee Boulevard near the Convention Center.

FREE Event on Memorial Day Weekend
Save Alotta Money when you spend Sunday At the Meyer

(May 19, 2008 – West Palm Beach, FL) – Regular patrons to The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer concert series affectionately refer to these wonderful, family-friendly events as “SAM.”  This year, while residents are concerned about their spending and watching every dollar, SAM will not only signify the typical good times and great entertainment, but this popular nickname will also stand for “Save Alotta Money!” 

Ways to “Save Alotta Money” when you spend “Sunday At the Meyer”:
FREE Concert featuring great entertainment
FREE Parking at all City parking lots, meters and garages
FREE Kid’s Activities with lots of fun including hoola hoops, sidewalk chalk, etc.
FREE Treats from the Mayor as she passes out fresh baked cookies to the crowd
FREE Chance to Win a $250 CityPlace gift Certificate & an NYC getaway with $1000 shopping spree!

Residents do not need to pinch their pennies any more!  They can come and enjoy Sunday afternoons at the Meyer with with Fab Tunes, A Cool Scene and Good Vibes along the picturesque Flagler Drive waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach – all for FREE!  Guests are also welcome to bring their own blankets, lawn chairs and coolers, or they can also purchase food and beverages at the concert for reasonable prices.     

This Memorial Day weekend, The City of West Palm Beach is kicking off its 2008 SAM concert series with southern rock legends, the Atlanta Rhythm Section:

PERFORMER: ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION
www.atlantarhythmsection.com
DATE:  Sunday, May 25, 2008
TIME:  4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Meyer Amphitheatre in Downtown West Palm Beach

This band has been part of the Southern Rock scene for more than 30 years and is usually paired with contemporaries Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers. Their biggest hits include So Into You, Champagne Jam, Imaginary Lover, and Spooky.  But there’s so much more musical diversity to these accomplished studio musicians that include comparisons to the Eagles, Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac.  With 15 albums of outstanding songwriting and performances, The Atlanta Rhythm Section represents all the good things the phrase “classic rock” implies.  Opening for ARS is Florida’s favorite party band, The Fabulons, with covers of classic tunes.

UPCOMING SAM CONCERTS:
JUNE 22  HOT BRASS MONKEY
JULY 27  CARLOS OLIVA & LOS SOBRINOS DEL JUEZ
AUGUST 24  THE LANDSHARKS
SEPTEMBER 28  THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES SHOW
OCTOBER 26  LEGENDS OF DOO-WOP  

**ENTER TO WIN CITYPLACE SHOPPING & A NEW YORK CITY GETAWAY**
Guests to The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer can enter to win a $250 gift certificate at each concert good for shopping at CityPlace in downtown West Palm Beach.  Guests can also enter for a grand prize New York City getaway that includes a $1000 shopping spree in the Big Apple courtesy of CityPlace.   KOOL 105.5 listeners will also have an opportunity to win $50 CityPlace gift certificates during the week of the concert.   

TREATS FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Lois Frankel will continue her tradition of passing out cookies to the crowd during the band breaks.  This crowd pleaser allows guests to introduce themselves and become familiar with the Mayor in a casual and friendly atmosphere. 

CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT
There will be lots of fun, interactive games and activities for children at each concert including hoola hoops, sidewalk chalk, limbo contests, coloring books, and bubbles – all for FREE. 

SPONSORS
The Palm Beach Post, La Palma, The Palm Beach Daily News, Florida PennySaver, KOOL 105.5 FM, West Palm Beach Marriott, Newsradio 1290 WJNO, Coca-Cola, MIA 92.1 FM, WPBF TV 25, CityPlace, and National City.

The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer is bringing Fab Tunes, A Cool Scene and Good Vibes to downtown West Palm Beach.  This FREE family-friendly concert series is held from May through October on the 4th Sunday of each month, and features a variety of national and regional recording artists.  Located along the picturesque Flagler Drive waterfront in the Meyer Amphitheater, The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer provides an ideal setting for good times and great entertainment.  Guests are welcome to bring their own blankets, lawn chairs, and coolers, or they can also purchase food and beverages at the concert.  The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer is produced by the City of West Palm Beach, Mayor’s Office – Division of Community Events.  For more information, please call 561-822-1515 or visit www.wpb.org.
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For Additional Information:
Amaryvis “Ryvis” Sierra
Marketing Coordinator
Mayor’s Office, Community Events Division
Office:  (561) 822-1522
E-mail:  asierra@wpb.org

(Friday, May 16, 2008)  As a temporary measure intended to supplement existing water supplies and help reduce the impact of dry weather on protected species at Grassy Waters Preserve, the City of West Palm Beach will be accessing water stored in the L-8 reservoir beginning the week of May 19, 2008.  The move is being made with the full support and cooperation of the South Florida Water Management District.

The L-8 reservoir water will be blended with water from other sources and will be treated in accordance with strict standards.  It is expected that West Palm Beach water customers WILL NOT notice any change in the quality or taste of their drinking water as a result of the L-8 water use.

This temporary measure will help support the Everglades snail kite bird population in Grassy Waters Preserve.  This protected species relies on apple snails as a primary source of food, and sufficient water levels in the preserve are critical to apple snails.

It is expected that the City will cease accessing water from the L-8 reservoir once the South Florida dry season comes to a close.

With hurricane season just a couple of months away, the City is once again bringing back the very popular and successful “Amnesty” program. Amnesty encourages residents to get ready for hurricane season by offering FREE pickup of yard waste and vegetative debris during April and May. By cutting back and trimming trees, shrubs and bushes prior to storms, the potential for damage and debris during and after storms is limited. Homeowners win by getting their yard in shape and getting the trimmings picked up for free, and we all win when there is less damage during storms. Please cut back all trees, bushes and shrubs during the months of April and May. Place the yard waste and vegetative debris at your curb on your normal yard waste collection day. The City will drop by and pick it up for free, regardless of the quantity. This free pickup service is for City residents only, and does not apply to private yard services or contractors. Those services must arrange for their own hauling. To learn more about Amnesty, please call 561-822-2222.

(Photo: A City worker removes a pile of yard waste from a home on Hillcrest Boulevard.)