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. (more…)

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.

“Stuck in the Bubble Gum Children’s Book Store”
When:  Saturday, October 25, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: 506 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach

(10/24/08)   Local parents will now have a great new place to get their kids excited about reading and help them with their education.  “Stuck in the Bubble Gum Children’s Book Store” will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.  The ribbon cutting will be at 11:00 a.m at 506 Northwood Road.

Stuck in the Bubble Gum Children’s Book Store will offer the community reading theaters, tutoring, reading clubs, dramatic expressions, story time for day cares and reading theaters for school field trips.

The owner of the store, Shilondra Sheppard, says “Stuck in the Bubble Gum Bookstore was inspired by my daughter Sydni Sheppard who at the age of eight expressed how reading made her feel ‘Stuck in the Bubble Gum.’  I knew then that she needed more help with reading.  She needed me to help her find creative ways to not only like to read but to want to read.  I needed to make reading fun and exciting.  My goal is to create an environment that will prevent children from feeling “Stuck in the Bubble Gum” like Sydni.”

Please call (561) 820-0030 for more information

(October 24, 2008) The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has just released its mid-year crime report for cities through-out the state.
The report shows a 20% decrease in the crime rate over the first six months of 2008 in the City of West Palm Beach.
This is the largest drop for any city it’s size in Florida.

Mayor Lois Frankel credits a multitude of strategies with this extraordinary accomplishment,”Strong cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, more officers on the streets, innovative police strategies, active participation of our citizens and programs for our youth are major factors in this accomplishment. Our reduction in crime translates into millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers because of reduced costs for enforcement and prosecution and the hardship and losses caused to victims.”

Chief Delsa Bush believes the hard work of her officers and enforcement of new legal and high-tech tools play a role “We were the first in the state to have an anti-gang ordinance, the first in the area with a downtown curfew for teens, and one of the first departments to utilize the latest technology such as remote cameras in high crime areas. Of course, the dedication of our officers is the key.”

This major reduction is not a statewide trend. Many areas are experiencing significant increases in crime…you can see the stats for the entire state by visiting this web address:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/UCR/2008/2008SA_County_Municipal_Off.pdf

The decrease represents almost 900 fewer crimes in the city to date this year.

Mayor Frankel asks all residents and visitors to continue their vigilance,” We know that there is still much work to be done. And we will work diligently to keep this trend going.”
 

For Additional Information: West Palm Beach Public Information Office Chase Scott (561) 822-1411

The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer - Last Concert of the Season featuring
Percy Sledge – the Legend behind “When a Man Loves A Woman”

(October 22, 2008 – West Palm Beach, FL) – On Sunday, October 26, Percy Sledge, the soulful voice behind the #1 hit single “When a Man Loves a Woman,” will bring his emotional ballad to the Meyer Amphitheatre.  Guests can catch the legendary Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer at this season’s final Sunday at the Meyer concert as he performs his touching love songs, gritty southern sounds, and energizing soul hymns.  This passionate soul man is sure to bring a taste of the Memphis glory years to downtown West Palm Beach.   (more…)

When:  Friday, October 24, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where:  CITY HALL LOBBY, 200 2ND STREET, WPB

(10/24/08)  City of West Palm Beach employees will put on their chef’s hats and whip up culinary concoctions at the City’s 9th Annual Chili Cook-off on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The cook-off will be held in the City Hall Lobby at 200 2nd Street.

City departments will be competing against each other to see who can create the best-tasting batch of chili.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Heart Association.

(Thursday, October 16, 2008)  The City of West Palm Beach Parking Division is moving into a new home that was designed with the customer in mind.

The Parking Division’s new office is located in the new 600-space Clematis Street garage, which will be opening to the public in the coming weeks.  The new office includes a larger customer service area with improved access for the disabled, a media center for staff training and energy saving light fixtures and bulbs.  The entrance to the Parking Division is on the Banyan Boulevard side of the garage.

While the Parking Administration Division moves into the new office, the Parking Administration Offices will be temporarily closed to the public.  The offices will be closed on both Friday, October 17, 2008, and Monday, October 20, 2008.  On those days, both the in-person and on-line parking citation payments systems will be suspended and unavailable.  The late payment schedule will be extended through this period.  Regular operations of the Parking Administration Division will resume on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, at the new office located at 500 Banyan Boulevard.  Office hours are 7am – 6pm.