Last Updated 01/19/2012

Il Circolo, National Italian American Federation Award Scholarships

Marisa J. Flit

Michael Mattson

Lia Missena

Il Circolo, the Italian Cultural Society of the Palm Beaches, has joined with NIAF (National Italian American Federation) in awarding two local students, Lia Missena of Deerfield Beach and Michael Mattson of Boca Raton, scholarships towards furthering their education. Each recived $2,500 fom Il Circolo, matched by NIAF. The foundation has also matched a fund raised on behalf of Il Circolo, by Marcello Fiorentino of La Sirena Ristorante and granted $7,500 to Jupiter student, Marisa J. Flit. Besides the criteria established by NIAF, Il Circolo requires that each participant be of Italian heritage and reside in South Florida. Il Circolo is proud to contribute to these deserving students of diverse aptitudes and ambitions who will undoubtedly continue to have an influence in keeping the Italian culture alive.

Lia Missena, whose family originates from Potenza, Italy, is a sophomore, majoring in Animal Sciences. Her goal is to become a Veterinarian, although as she states, "people tell me veterinary school is impossible to get into, that it’s extremely time consuming and veterinarians don’t get paid well. I understand this, but I would not put myself through this challenge if I believed that I was not meant to achieve it." Because she grew up with strong family traditions, believing that "la famiglia is everything," she will also study International Studies, providing her with opportunities to visit and study in Italy and perhaps learn the Neopolitan dialect which she says connects her to her roots in Italy.

Michael Mattson’s heritage is Sicilian and he describes his cherished times as those when the whole family and a large group of friends sit around the table enjoying his Mom’s hearty dinner. He says, "I know a lot of friends who have never even met their cousins. This baffles me, having grown up in an envirionment where family was always the number one priority." His career choice is Mechanical Engineering. Perhaps he was drawn to this profession because his great-grandfather came to America with nothing and built his way up to becoming an accomplished engineer. "It’s nice to know the struggles my ancesters went through in order to pave the way for the life I have today," he says. Michael’s math teacher described him as, "an excellent student in all of his subjects," Besides the outstanding record he has in academics, he volunteers in several diversified community projects such as the school’s recycling club, tutoring students in math and Relay for Life, a fund-raising for cancer cure and prevention. Michael wrote to Il Circolo, "The scholarship you gave me will go a long way to helping me achieve my goals in life. I can’t thank you enough."

Il Circolo-Fiorentino Matching Scholarship winner, Marisa J. Flit, will be a freshman at Boston University, majoring in Journalism. Her teacher writes, "Marisa works from a sense of dedication and a set of goals clearly focused on excellence, and this dedication has paid off in the development of a mature and insiring talent." In the fall of 2012 she will be in the Boston University Dual Degree Program and will complete a second degree in Psychology. She also plans to study abroad immersing herself in Italian Art History, "and learn more about my Italian ancestors and heritage." She feels that this scholarship lightens her financial burden allowing her to concentrate on her academic goals. Her promise is, "to work hard and be a worthy recipient of the NIAF Il Circolo-Fiorentino Matching Scholarship."

Il Circolo and Marcello Fiorentino will also continue to work hard to assist students such as these to achieve their academic goals and also be outstanding role models of Italian youth, ever mindful of their rich cultural heritage.

FP&L Smoke Stacks Came a-Tumbling Down

By Jimmy Shirley, Jr.

Photo by Jimmy Shirley, Jr.

Photos below by 

Jimmy Shirley, Jr, Condo News,

From the Port Authority rooftop.

( Palm Beach House Condominium

is  in the background)

Photos below by 

Dr. Douglas Snetsinger

avec Mme. Alice Malon

From the rooftop of the 

Palm Beach House Condominium

Photos below by Jimmy Shirley, Jr. 

From the US Hwy 1 overpass west of the power plant

(6-29-11)

Sunday morning, 19 June, Father's Day, at precisely 8:30 AM, the landmark smokestacks of the Florida Power and Light power plant, located along US Hwy.1, at the Port of Palm Beach, were toppled to make way for a new state-of-the-art power plant which will use high-efficiency, combined-cycle natural gas to manufacture up to 1,250 megawatts of electricity. This ought to be enough for nearly 250,000 of FPL’s 4.5 million customers.

The press had begun to assemble on top of the Port Authority office building at around 7:30 AM in order to have a "grandstand" view of the spectacle. As the press waited in anticipation, they were also doing interviews with sight-seeing dignitaries. Also, some were soaking in the panoramic view, capturing images of the flotilla of hundreds of boaters gathering to watch. On the ground, some 400 people lined N. Flagler Drive to watch the historic event.

The old plant was built in 1946 with the 300 foot high smoke stacks going up in 1963. And ever since then, those stacks had been a guiding light, a lighthouse if you will, for boaters of all sizes during both day and night.

There was mixed reaction among those watching the demolition. Some lamented the fallen stacks, some were gushing praise they were gone. But most if not all, recognized that progress must move forward as the new plant, when it goes online, will provide electricity with far fewer emissions than the old plant.

Palm Beach's New Group, Coalition SOS, and NAPB in Joint Effort For Shore Protection

By Maddy Greenberg

(3-23-11)

In the sleepy Town of Palm Beach there has been a lot of action going on as of late. There is a new group in town, The Coalition to Save Our Shoreline, (SOS), which has evolved out of the dissatisfaction of a significant number of people who reside in properties along the shoreline and a good number happen to live in condominiums co-ops along the southern end of the coast of the Town of Palm Beach. The owners of these properties had been among the 18 Condo/ Co-ops that had resigned from the Citizens’ Association. They felt the CA was not meeting their critical needs for adequate protection against, at the very least, CAT 2 Hurricanes.

On March 8, 2011 at a Town Council Meeting the Coalition SOS led a bold and unique movement in the Town of Palm Beach. The Coalition SOS joined forces to take action with another group, the Neighborhood Association of Palm Beach, NAPB, whose members are from the north-end, and mid-town sections of the Town of Palm Beach. In a tag team presentation by both SOS Board Members and NAPB Members, led by Richard G. Hunegs, Esq. Chairman and Vice-President of the Coalition and President of 3360 Condominium Association, Mr. Hunegs announced that there was "good news of change." Hunegs said that "this is the first time in a very long time those citizens from all over Palm Beach Barrier Island: North, Mid-Town and South have joined to take action and help solve a problem on this scale". He introduced the presentation by saying that their intent is to "help the town in finding and completing long term if not permanent solutions to the high risk and dangerous conditions of our shore."

Hunegs said, "No one should see us as a threat. Everyone should greet this as a breakthrough. We have, for far too long, helped create a divisive atmosphere that has stymied progress towards a real affordable and permanent program acceptable to all."

3360 Condominium Association, of which Richard Hunegs is President, is the only private property that has given the Town beach access for the recently completed dune project. This is the second time that 3360 has done so. Mr. Hunegs spoke passionately about how he has "watched up close and in real time two efforts for dune restoration which unfortunately will share the same fate as part of a failed plan." He quoted Spanish born Philosopher, George Santayana who wrote, "Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." As Mr. Hunegs implored the Town Council, "We need to do this right once and for all."

The Town Council was asked to "Please take note of the geographical diversity of those speaking on this issue. We are ONE town and we are ALL concerned about the safety, the quality and longevity of the projects that the Town will implement with respect to saving our beaches." Carla Herwitz, 2275 S. Ocean Blvd., The Reef Condo, continued the speech from Mr. Hunegs intro; Eileen Curran, 3170 S. Ocean Blvd., Enclave Condo, spoke next. Hunegs, Herwitz & Curran are all SOS Board Members. The remainder of the dynamic and "breakthrough" presentation was continued by Anne Pepper and completed by former Town Councilman, Allen Wyett both from the NAPB.

An announcement was made that it was their "belief that the Shore Protection issues must get an independent look, BEFORE any plan is implemented. We MUST admit and learn from our mistakes and make a commitment to our residents to do it right this time."

They said that a previous beach restoration project in a portion of the south-end of town had failed and that the proposed remaining beach restoration project of similar design in the southern most portion of town is similarly doomed." They stressed to the Council that we "must not waste valuable tax dollars on sand that will wash away." Instead the new group said their common goal is to "fix the shore problems from inlet to inlet in the most cost effective manner and make improvements that will last."

Part of their announcement was that they were going to raise money to hire their own engineer, who will work with the Town, "to the extent allowed by the Town staff and their consulting engineers," hire attorneys for advice and to review the permitting work and make suggestions if they feel it necessary and to look into the possibility of legislative changes.

This writer will keep you abreast as to how things progress on this important "embryonic movement" in the Town of Palm Beach on shore protection issues.

Until next time, stay safe and be well.

***

(4-6-11)

A challenge for the Town of Palm Beach has been heightened by a recent letter signed by SOS Board Members, Richard Hunegs, (3360 S. Ocean Blvd.) Carla Herwitz, (2275 S. Ocean Blvd., The Reef) and NAPB Members, Anne Pepper, Rachel Lorentzen, Jeff Cloninger, and former Council Members, Allen Wyett and Susan Markin addressed to the Town of Palm Beach Town Manager, the Chairman of the Town’s Shore Protection Board, (the Shore Board is an advisory board to the Town Council), the heads of two other civic associations: Palm Beach Civic Association & Citizens’ Association, inviting them "to put aside past grievances ... in favor of an imaginative and energetic effort to create a sensible project for the entire town. The notion of 'Plan A' or 'Plan B' has to be scrapped and replaced with Plan R- the Right Plan. Anything less is a bridge to nowhere." Plan A was one shore protection plan by the town and its Shore Board for the beaches; Plan B, just coming out this week, is the town’s budget cutting newest plan for shore protection for the barrier island. Plan R is what the jointly blended new civic group Coalition to Save Our Shoreline (SOS) and their partners, civic group Neighborhood Association of Palm Beach, (NAPB) suggest should take place instead of the other two plans.

In this recent letter, the SOS & NAPB working together invited the other groups, The Mayor of Palm Beach and the Town Council, to participate with and join them in a partnership. They said that "this effort will set a tone for future cooperation on all issues of importance facing the town now or in the future." "In the spirit of this joint enterprise," the SOS & NAPB jointly invited all those to whom the letter was addressed to "a short meeting to discuss the future of Palm Beach shore protection," and meet the engineering firm they have hired to assist the Shore Board and the Town of Palm Beach and to share their information on matters of shore protection.

What makes this such a challenge is that, according to the SOS & NAPB, this is a "unique opportunity to have the entire town, north and south, join in making real, effective, efficient, and long lasting beach renourishment a reality. Never before has there been such unity of purpose among the residents of Palm Beach in support of shore protection matters." The question is: How will the Town and these other organizations respond to this challenge?

Thus far, this is what has transpired. After said letter went out with invitations, the SOS & NAPB Board Members, held discussions with the Mayor and five Council Members on an individual basis, (due to Florida Sunshine Laws), to open up the lines of communication. The SOS/NAPB put out the idea that, in order that both the town and the SOS/NAPB have a vested interest and work together rather than at odds, the town put up some share of the cost of Erickson Engineering fees so that they would work together. At this time, the recommendation by the SOS/NAPB has not been voted upon by the Town Council.

The SOS/NAPB groups announced they have retained a highly qualified engineer, Karyn Erickson, President of Erickson Consulting Engineers, Inc. who has 30 years of experience in applied coastal and estuarine engineering. Ms. Erickson not only is the recipient of the 2005 Moffatt-Nichol Harbor & Coastal Engineering (ASCE) Annual Award of Excellence, but has recently been inducted as a Diplomate in Coastal Engineering by ASCE. She serves as chair of the Civil Engineering Sustainability Certification Board for the American Society of Civil Engineers. Her background with a major coastal engineering project on the barrier island of Palm Beach, according to the two civic organizations, makes her a perfect match as a consultant engineer for this joint venture with these groups and the town. Ms. Erickson served as Engineer-of-Record and Project Manager for the Town of Palm Beach’s Mid-Town Beach Restoration Project in 1995. The Mid-Town Beach Restoration Project was considered a highly unique project at that time, using a series of 11 groin structures to restore and slow sand losses at a section of Palm Beach’s shoreline and to act as a feeder beach for the adjoining section of shoreline immediately south. This project included a tapered groin field and beach nourishment, providing a unique solution to a difficult erosion problem and gained accolades from the state for such a successful beach renourishment of its time. The NAPB and SOS stated that Erickson was "eminently qualified to be the consulting engineer for the group’s joint effort to secure cost effective and permanent shore protection for Palm Beach."

Neither the Citizens’ Association nor the Civic Association met with the SOS and NAPB to join them in their "joint enterprise" offer at this time.

This innovative and "embryonic movement" in the joining of the Coalition SOS, a group of owners who reside on the southern most end of the barrier island, and NAPB, which consists of residents from the northern and mid-town sections of the island, is not only progressive but a true "break through" in the Town of Palm Beach.

Until next time stay safe and be well.

***

Lake Worth Street Painting, Sat., Feb. 26

Photos by Jimmy Shirley

Lake Worth’s annual street painting festival brought out everyone including the co-owners of Rita’s of Lake Worth, Ben Hill and Jude Blessington with their families, pictured at right, l-r: 

Christina and Ben Hill, 

Valerie Blessington holding oldest son Jude, and Jude Blessington holding youngest son Anthony.

The Condo News camera found these folks among the crowds enjoying perfect weather at the Street Painting Festival. They are snowbirds from Finland who spend winters at Murry Hills in Lake Worth.

l-r: Mallu Koskinen, Lisa Hemanber,

Pentti Nenonen and 

Tuula Janka.

"We love our condo," they said.

Baby Boomer Club 

of Century Village, WPB

Caribbean Cruise, Feb. 13, 2011

Bob & Sheila Bell, 

Arthur & Stella Mostel,

Michael & Lynda Cohen.

Michael Cohen, Arthur Mostel, Marge Feldman,

Sheila Bell, Beverly Feldstein

Cynthia Mont, Joel Sabel, 

Peter Silverberg,

Angela Lombardo, 

Evelyn DeChellis

Jo Ann & Paul Colangelo, 

Kate Silverberg,

Shelly Kalef, Betty Richmon.

Mel Feldstein, Bob Bell, 

Bob Feldman, Stella Mostel, 

Linda Cohen

Okeeheelee Park Outing, Feb. 4, 2011

Photo by Bob Bell

Echoes of the Blast

Where Did All the 1515 Promises Go?

Commentary by Jeanine Heidtman

With only the last weeks of 2010 before us, I want to bring our returning Condo News readers some updates regarding the current status of the large brown, barren, vacant parcel at 1515 South Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. During this summer, the August announcement of the foreclosure lawsuit against New York City-based Trinity 1515 LLC and managing member Edmund Abramson is working its way through Palm Beach County Circuit Court. In addition to the $36 million owed First Commonwealth Bank of Pennsylvania, another $1.3 million in interest has accrued as of September 1st. The mortgage was due on Feb. 21st, 2010. It replaced the original $24 million from Kennedy Funding.

In searching the tax rolls for the Arkona a/k/a/ Tower 1515, the total market value of the parcel now is listed as $10,500,000 and $254,325 is the total tax pending. I have questioned many officials, many times, why no figures are listed for 2008 and 2009 on the Tax Collector’s website. The best answer I got was the original condo owners, not Trinity 1515 LLC, was responsible for the ’08 and ’09 obligation for these 2 years taxes even though it was clear these unfortunate previous owners were long gone and their units were sold. The date of February 3rd, 2007 has always been given as when the property was sold and closed for 32 million dollars.

The additional amount of the outstanding loan according to Abramson "... was necessary to obtain the Modern’s zoning and Trinity had intended to repay the loan with a construction loan." He expects construction to start in 12 - 16 months and the clock to cancel the hard fought rezoning is tied to beginning actual construction. In March, long before the foreclosure action, a construction lien of $60,000 was placed by Urban Design Studios aka Kilday and Associates on the 1515 South Flagler property. A contract signed with Paul Grillo was documented for the professional services provided to guide the rezoning through the commission process. The lien is for May ‘09 to December ‘09 and remains unpaid. The Planning and Zoning Firm has been added to the August foreclosure submittal.

West Palm Beach Attorney Peter Bernhardt, who represents the bank, said the full $36 million is outstanding and I continue searching for any information if Trinity has a chance to work this out.

On a different side of the Modern’s history, using more than 3,000 sticks of dynamite, the remains of the 30 story 1515 Condo Tower originally called the Arkona, were imploded by Advanced Explosives Demolition on February 14, 2010.

This week, that company no longer can claim an accident free record for 27 years. Wednesday, November 12th at noon, the AED demolition of a 300 foot smokestack at an Ohio power plant went terribly wrong. Lisa and Eric Kelly the company owners, had little patience last year when the plan to implode the 1515 during the holidays was denied. Because our city and construction supervisor, Doug Wise, put safety in front of a chance to become a TV reality show episode of the "Imploders", our takedown occurred in February with enormous safety rules in place.

According to the Dayton Daily news accounts, the explanation of why the blast did not send the stack to the cleared area directly to the east, but went crashing down to the southeast, was an undetected crack in the tower.

With the live electrical lines falling, 25 media members, demolition crews and the Kelly family members scattered to avoid the crackling lines. WHLO-TV videographer Eric Higgenbotham stated, "We were standing under the power lines, it was like the end. We were running for our lives." The two 12,000 volt power lines also came down on a building housing backup generators. Power was out to the west side of the city for hours.

The justified fears and concerns of the 1515 neighbors and city officials who labored to ensure the best outcome, along with the Condo News’ unwavering support, made this comment by Lisa Kelly NOT a part of our collective memory, "Nobody’s happy with things that go wrong in life, and sometimes it’s out of our hands and beyond anybody’s prediction." she stated.

I remain convinced the "public unified demand" for every possible safety factor and several rigorous pre-inspections might have made the difference in our city.

Since we have been successful in our goal of removing a terrible blight on our waterfront, I have been writing your Condo Design column. I have come to realize my passion remains in the visual satisfaction of creating a room, not in putting the Rules and Don’t into words. I plan on continuing submitting the social goings on at Rapallo Condominium, as well as any major news regarding the Modern project when our local paper does not give as much detail as available.

As every politician says when departing whether by scandal or choice, "I want to travel and spend more time with my family."

(Note: See full story of 1515 take-down below)

1515 Condominium Tower Imploded February 14, 2010 

By Jeanine Heidtman

Photo by Jimmy Shirley for Condo News

Background by Betty Thomas: On Labor Day weekend in 2004, Palm Beach County was hit by Hurricane Frances, and 3 weeks later by Hurricane Jeanne. They made landfall very nearly at the same place in Hutchinson Island, some 35-40 miles north of West Palm Beach. H. Frances, a category 2 at landfall,  had an unusually large eye, 80 miles across, torrential rains and lingered nearly stationary, moving only 5 miles an hour, with hurricane force winds pummeling West Palm Beach for nearly 2 days.  H. Jeanne struck Florida as a category 3, with a 60 mile wide eye and moved out the same day.  The following year, Hurricane Wilma made her entrance on the west coast of Florida October 24, 2005, crossed the state in about 6 hours, with the eye passing over West Palm Beach. Winds were measured at 92 miles per hour with gusts 112-117 mph over Lake Okeechobee. The 1515 Tower on Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach (pictured above) sustained devastating damage during Frances and Jeanne, rendering the building uninhabitable, but not condemned by the City of West Palm Beach. Wilma added to the damage by blowing more debris through the structure endangering surrounding buildings. The status of 1515 remained in flux until February 14 , and residents in nearby condominiums were exasperated by seemingly endless wrangling between the developer, who bought the property for redevelopment, and the City Commission.  At 30 stories high, the 1515 was the tallest building in the state of Florida to be imploded, and the third tallest in the nation. Below are some photos of the demolition and Jeanine Heidtman's account. Still to come, the clean-up and eventual construction of The Modern on that site.

................................................................................................

Jeanine Heidtman reports on the implosion of the 1515 and aftermath to come. 

................................................................................................

With the live broadcast of the 1515 South Flagler Drive Implosion and in depth stories by our local newspaper, it would appear all ended well.

Because of the diligent requirements and safety measures in place under the direction of Doug Wise, Director of Construction Services, we witnessed the most modern methods of taking down such a tall structure. With the push of a button by Elyja Kelly, 6 year old daughter of AED’s Kelly family , the building fell, the wind sent the dust cloud over to Palm Beach and the hundreds of boats watching made a mad dash to get away.

With AED Demolition gone from Palm Beach County after their "picture perfect implosion," there is one Condo who did not fare very well.

I spoke to Seth Schulman, Manager of the Viking Arms, just south of the implosion who told me "after further assessment, our roof suffered significant damage. The bast threw out large chunks of concrete and steel rebar that penetrated our roof system in over 40 places. We have been told by City Officials to file with our Insurance Company, but no person from the BG Group has come over as requested several times. The roof is only several years old and cost over $200,000 and has to be professionally repaired so it will remain under warranty in the future. We are hoping temporary patches will hold till we can get it taken care of. We also have our screen balconies and windows covered with thick cement dust and bent aluminum rail damage to be addressed. Despite additional calls, there has been no one over to the Viking Arms to evaluate and discuss solutions even though BG Group is working right next door."

Shortly after I was allowed to return to the Rapallo, I gathered a large amount of golf ball and larger cement chunks which had fallen into our parking lot. The total removal of all our cars surely saved a lot of damage to deal with.

I was very pleased overall from the cooperative spirit between condo residents and the police who were organizing every aspect of safety. A definite feeling of respect was shown by spectators for the many necessary rules during the event. Watching from Olive Avenue and the Norton Museum where VIP and Press were set up, I spoke with one former resident of 1515, who asked to be nameless, about her home of almost 30 years permanently gone in 8 seconds. She recalled the glorious view each morning while having her coffee, never imagining it would someday end so abruptly from the Hurricanes.

The worst part before today, was the hopes for restoration of the 1515 being followed by disappointment afterwards. She felt being there in person to watch would finally give her some ending emotionally. I truly hope it has.

Mayor Frankel greeted the crowd assembled with Hershey’s Kisses for Valentine’s Day, and Bill Moss appeared to be the only City Commissioner in our viewing area.

Just before blast, I started speaking with the person next to me who turned out to be Susan Wise, whose husband was Director for the Implosion. I commented the enormous responsibility Doug was just completing and he should take a long needed rest. She and their four children were just looking forward to getting "Dad and Husband back again."

Still to come ... the Aftermath ...

Wrapping Up 1515

March 24, 2010

Probably the most often asked question after the long hoped for implosion, is how is the fast shrinking pile of debris being dealt with.

Doug Wise, City of West Palm Beach Construction Services, who has turned in his "Demolition Hard Hat" after a job well done, sent me the City Code 109.3.10 regarding the specific language concerning the impact of Construction.

This widely inclusive Code states, "All activity cannot adversely impact conditions of adjacent properties unless consent is granted by the property owners with exact terms and conditions. This includes but not limited to dust, noise, debris and construction materials."

In speaking with Denny Johnson, a resident of Norton Park Place Condominium, to thank him for some new amazing shots of the building falling, I received the following e-mail:

"I am feeling positive regarding the on-going rubble cleanup at 1515 South Flagler. There has been no unwelcome weekend activity, and things are well organized to separate the enormous amount of rebar from the cement.

"Every truck is covered with a retractable screen and they are hosing down the dust constantly throughout the day. At their current rate, the lot should be clean by April 1st. In summary, the Dental Office on Arkona Drive is not very happy with the aftermath of the implosion and if you venture near to see the rubble from a different vantage, you are asked to leave. Certainly he has every right."

Seth Schulman reports the roof repairs on the Viking Arms were to begin March 9th, but no agreement has been reached for the significant clean-up of resident balconies. With the additional ongoing cloud of dust created, it would be futile for much actual work to begin. Trinity Development has acknowledged this responsibility by City Code to comply, and that granting final approval to sign off on the Demolition permit can be with-held. We hope the BG Group will inform us of their plan for restoring our property without further delay.

Perhaps the most favorable news to share, is the changed route for trucks removing the debris. According to Brian Collins, City Traffic Official in a phone call this morning, "No longer are trucks permitted to exit and go south on Flagler Drive through the El Cid Historic District. Now required is a left out of the Demolition site north to Okeechobee Blvd. and then proceeding west on Okeechobee where commercial vehicles are standard fare.

Empty returning trucks come east on Okeechobee, travel a short distance south on Flagler Drive, but use Arkona Drive and Olive Avenue to come back in for reloading. This prevents any turn around on the narrow Historic Streets of Mango Promenade, particularily on Cranes Nest Way, just south of the Norton Museum. This has solved the many numerous complaints and also moved the traffic away from the Museum."

Many of us wish however, the traffic congestion from student pick-up from Palm Beach Day Academy would be finally dealt with as quickly.

The Foreman of the 1515 site has stated to the City Officials, "Any trucks not obeying the Flagler Drive and other restrictions should report the name on the side of the vehicle and the person will be dealt with immediately. With all our surrounding Condominium owners now enjoying their new view, there will be plenty of eyes from above watching the efforts.

A call to 822-2222 at City Hall has resulted in fast and successful resolution of problems for concerned citizens.

Perhaps April 1st, 2010, is a bit optimistic for a completely cleared site but no one is venturing a comment beyond grass and irrigation required by the end of May.

With the Modern units to start at over $3 million, many will be waiting for their income tax checks before they make the anticipated $800,000 deposit.

With property taxes to be around $70,000 per year, you’ll have to dig deeper in your pockets than the 25 foot excavation planned just 1 foot from all 1515 site property lines, necessary for the underground parking garage. The neighborhood hopes this anticipated step down the line, whenever and if it occurs will be "Picture perfect too."

Next issue, back to ideas and trends in 2010 Spring decorating. I’m turning in my "Hard Hat" as well.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SENIORS vs CRIME: The Florida Attorney General’s Office announces the opening of its West Palm Beach office through its "SENIOR vs CRIME" program. These offices are staffed by volunteers who are part of the crime-fighting initiative which aims to identify unethical businesses and individuals who attempt to prey on seniors. For information call 561-445-9966.

MEETINGS

***

Yddish Vinkl. West Palm Beach Century Village Clubhouse, 2 Sundays a Month, 1PM. Talk, poetry, legends, sing-a-long. Info: Edy, 687-4255.

Miscellaneous

CLASSES

The Lake Worth Senior Citizens Center, 202 No. H St., offers the following classes: Languages (Spanish, French); Exercise, Senior Aerobics, Arts and Crafts, Computer, Tai Chi, Oil Painting, Ballroom Dance, Line Dance and others. Call for information: 586-6102.

VOLUNTEERS

***

SUPPORT GROUPS

Bereavement Support Groups.:

DONATIONS NEEDED

Hospice’s Resale Shops are looking for quality donations of furniture, household items and furniture from residents and businesses. The shops are open Monday thru Friday, 10am-4pm. Shops are located in West Palm Beach, Juno Beach and their newest one in Wellington. For information, Call Pat Bockford at (561) 236-4008.

Interior Decorating for Condominiums

Jeanine Heidtman

Rembaum's Association Chronicle

Jeffrey Rembaum, Esq.

Baby Boomers Club News

Century Village

Bob Bell