Contact: Anitra Harmon

Phone: (561) 790 – 6200

Email: [email protected]

PALMS WEST CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 6-WEEK BUSINESS PLANNING ACADEMY BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 AT PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY’S WELLINGTON CAMPUS.

The Palms West Chamber’s Business Planning Academy is a series of 6 workshops designed to help small businesses maximize their chance of success and minimize their risk of failure.  Beginning Tuesday, September 8^th and running for 6 consecutive Tuesdays through October 13^th, the Academy is being offered in conjunction with Palm Beach Atlantic University at the Wellington Campus from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Academy will provide participants with the tools, information and training necessary to develop a new business plan or optimize their current business plan.    According to Bob Bloom of Ink & Toner USA, the Academy’s coordinator and moderator, “if you are an entrepreneur looking to start a business, a current business owner, a business manager desiring performance improvement or an individual desiring to enhance you business knowledge, this program is custom made for you.”

Enrollment is $100 for Palms West chamber members and $150 for non-chamber members.  Fifty dollars towards chamber membership renewal or new membership can be earned upon completion of the Academy.   For further information and to register on line visit www.palmswest.com or call 561-790-6200.

The Palms West Chamber is the regional chamber for the west central communities of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, Loxahatchee Groves and the Acreage/Loxahatchee

7/21/09

1st Annual Royal Palm Folk & Acoustic Music Festival

W4CY Radio in conjunction with Jordan M. Cherkinsky D.D.S. (Wellington Dental) and Chef Chris Paul from Wild Orchards Cafe are proud to announce the 1st Annual Royal Palm Folk & Acoustic Music Festival. The event will take place on Saturday August 8th at Veterans Park in Royal Palm Beach – 1036B Royal Palm Beach Blvd, Royal Palm Beach. After months of talking about where and how to create this event, Peter Wein from W4CY and Jordan Cherkinsky from Wellington Dental, met with Chef Chris Paul of Wild Orchards Cafe and the the event started to unfold. From 11AM till 11 PM on August 8th, spectators will enjoy a day and evening of talent that ranges from local artists to acclaimed artists from all over the state. There will be the likes of Marie Nofsinger, Valerie C. Wisecracker, Garrison Doles, Ellen Bukstel, Rick Nelson, Bill & Eli Perras, JD Danner, Rick Seguso, Chad & Heather, Southern Shores Bluegrass, Andrew Bayuk, Ashley Gang, Nick Annis, Billy Glades, Roadside Revue, Heart Strings, Eddie Parshall & Willie Hunton, Shauna Sweeney, Phil Mitrakos. Rick Seguso, a well known artist of equestrian and music related paintings will be auctioning off art that portions of the proceeds will be donated to charity. Wild Orchards will be offering reserved tables that will include the Festival & Food for $25.00 (Advance Tickets-$20.00-Purchase at Veterans Park on August 1st). Children under 12 accompanied by an adult will be admitted free (including a free gift). Those not planning on eating are encouraged to bring their own chairs and enjoy the sounds of the day. We are suggesting a $5 (or higher) donation would be accepted by those not choosing the reserved seating. In attendance will also be a handful of local merchants passing out information about their businesses and also expected are some well known artists that are not listed in the program..
This is a great way to keep live entertainment available in the Western Communities as a way for family and friends to spend an affordable day together.

PURCHASE ADVANCE TICKETS FOR $20 ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST AT OUR PRE-FESTIVAL EVENT-SAVE $5.00

On August 1st fro 3 PM till 9 PM there will be a Pre-Festival open Mic and concert at Veterans Park in the same location to give everyone a taste of what the full day event will bring to Royal Palm Beach on August 8th.
Exhibitor tables and sponsorships are still available. Please contact Jordan Cherkinsky at 713-0255 or Peter Wein at 827-4223. You can also go to the festival web site and email us at
[email protected]

FOLLOW US AT:

http://twitter.com/royalpalmfest

W4CY Radio Announces Sponsorship of the Health Expo at the S. FL Science Museum

W4CY Radio is happy to announce its sponsorship of the Health Expo at the South Florida Science Museum.

The South Florida Science Museum will host its first annual Health Expo on Sunday, July 26, 2009 from noon to 6 p.m. Sponsored by W4CY, the Museum’s Health Expo will feature healthy cooking demonstrations, personal massages, raffles, fun family activities and more!  Scouts can even earn a patch based on the Museum’s newest exhibition, Amazing Feats of Aging, by participating in health-related experiments and activities. All Health Expo activities are included with museum admission.

Once at the Expo, visit the W4CY booth  and enter to win one of 15 free passes to a spectacular Laser Concert inside the Museum’s Marvin Dekelboum Planetarium! Enjoy your favorite rock classics—including The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and more—all set to an extraordinary 3-D laser light show. Laser Concert performances take place at 7 and 8:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month inside the planetarium. For a complete schedule, visit www.sfsm.org

FREE Pastry on July 21^st at Starbucks Coffee

Description

We’re making a change: your food not only tastes better, it is better. To celebrate, we’re inviting you to bring this invitation to a participating U.S. Starbucks store to enjoy a FREE pastry* from opening** until 10:30am on July 21st, 2009 (while supplies last) with the purchase of any beverage*.

Click to print your invitation:
http://www.starbucks.com/retail/print_free_pastry.html

Or open this page in a mobile device and show your barista:
http://www.starbucks.com/FreePastryDay

* Pastries included in offer are: Muffins, Scones, Bagels, Croissants, Rolls, Breads, Pound Cakes, Morning Bun, Coffeecakes, Cheese Danish, Apple Fritter, Doughnuts, Tarts, Pies, Gluten Free Orange Valencia Cake, Tropical Paradise Bar.

Offer available at participating U.S. stores with the purchase of any handcrafted beverage (handcrafted, brewed, iced). Limit one free pastry per customer. Offer good between opening and 10:30 a.m. or until pastries are gone, whichever comes first. Opening hours and pastry selection vary. Supplies are limited. Offer not valid in Hawaii, airports and travel plazas or at Barnes & Noble cafes. Starbucks reserves the right to cancel, amend or revoke the offer at any time due to business considerations or circumstances beyond its control. Starbucks is not responsible for errors, omissions, malfunctions, interruptions, deletions, delays or failures of operations. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Cash value 1/20 cent. Not valid if photocopied, altered or reproduced. Barista, please ring discount code 563. Our new food is not yet available everywhere; ask your barista for details. **For 24 hours stores – opening is 4 a.m.

On Tuesday, July 21, the Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners have an important item on their agenda at 2pm. This is “Time Certain”. There will be not be the usual hours of waiting for the agenda item to come up.

The item to be discussed is: “Grand Jury Report”. I have attached a copy of this scathing report. If you do not have time to read the full report, just scan the yellow highlighted parts to get the gist. If you cannot open it, or do not have the time to read it, here is a quick summary:

1. The reputation of Palm Bch County has deteriorated to the point that PBC is derisely referred to as “Corruption County”.
2. Accountability and transparency are not being adequately addressed.
3. Solutions to these problems will prove elusive until meaningful independent oversight exists.
4. The Grand Jury recommends an “independent watchdog entity to monitor the activities of the County government“.

I have also attached a letter written by our Vice Mayor, Dennis Lipp which was sent to the local newspapers. Here is an excerpt from that letter that gets to the crux of the issue to be decided on Tuesday:

The “powers that be” don’t want to spend the money to have an independent new constitutional “Office of Inspector General”. The scuttlebutt seems to be that the County Administrator wants use the internal auditor to fill this role.  Might this be the same internal and external county auditors that missed the embezzlement of $1,556,961 over three years from the Convention & Visitors Bureau? (pg 41 of the Grand Jury Report)  Where is the transparency?  Where is the accountability?  The internal auditor reports to the County Administrator.  The County Administrator works at the pleasure of the BCC?  Isn’t this the same as having the fox guard the hen house?

Our Vice Mayor asks for your support in fighting the current culture of corruption in Palm Beach County. The citizens should demand a truly INDEPENDENT entity to watch out for our tax dollars. The ‘good ole boy’ system of appointing your buddies – clearly defeats the purpose!

If you can make the time to attend the Tuesday BCC meeting, please gather at Hillary’s restaurant in the corner plaza at Southern and RPB Blvd at noon on Tuesday. A free lunch will be provided and a free T-shirt which reads; WE ARE MAD AS HELL & WE’RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! If we can gather 25 people, we will have a free bus provided for the ride to the BBC meeting. The bus will leave at approx. 1:15pm.

Please respond to Dennis or Doreen @ 793-6013 if you can make the time to attend this very important meeting.

Welcome to “Corruption County”

Dennis C. Lipp, Loxahatchee Groves

On May 21, 2009, the Circuit Court of the 15^th Judicial Circuit in and for the County of Palm Beach, FL issued the final presentment of the Palm Beach County Grand Jury, “INVESTIGATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION ISSUES,” Spring Term A.D. 2009.  On page 1 of this 57 page document you will find these words:  “Indeed, the reputation of Palm Beach County has deteriorated to the point that Palm Beach County is derisively referred to as “Corruption County.”  On Tuesday, July 21^st, Palm Beach County’s Board of County Commissioners (BCC) regular meeting will have the agenda item; “Grand Jury Report” 2:00 PM, Time certain.

Anyone who has lived in Palm Beach County for the last 3 or 4 years knows three county commissioners and two city commissioners who made headlines with their guilty pleas to corruption charges.  On page 24 of the report you will read, “The Grand Jury listened to testimony regarding corrupt land deals, bond underwriting arrangements, conflicts of interest, gifts and gratuities and a system that reflected to some a “culture of corruption.”   The arrest and conviction of five publicly elected officials does not represent a “culture.”  A corrupt culture requires a host of enablers in order for the corruptors to be successful.  If you want to read the Grand Jury report in its entirety go to www.sa15.state.fl.us/GJ/Final Presentment of the Palm Beach County Grand Jury.pdf

Of the six recommendations, one of the primary recommendations of the Grand Jury Report was the establishment of a new office; the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to function as a watchdog agency. Palm Beach County will not have to create this OIG from the ground up.  The Grand Jury recommends using the template that Miami-Dade crafted for the position of OIG.  Here is where you and I must stand up and make ourselves heard.  The “powers that be” don’t want to “spend the money” to have a new constitutional officer, i.e. OIG.  The scuttlebutt seems to be that the County Administrator wants use the internal auditor to fill this role.  Might this be the same internal and external county auditors that missed the embezzlement of $1,556,961 over three years from the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau? (pg 41 of the Grand Jury Report)  Where is the transparency?  Where is the accountability?  The internal auditor reports to the County Administrator.  The County Administrator works at the pleasure of the BCC?  Isn’t this the same as having the fox guard the hen house?

In Miami-Dade, the first year’s budget for the OIG was $200,000.  “In their first year of operations the OIG uncovered several multi-million dollar scandals which resulted in substantial restitution to the county.” (pg 45 of Grand Jury Report)  We, the voters and taxpayers of Palm Beach County, must demand that the BCC have an OIG that is independent of any BCC “strings”.  Comments like “Times are tough” and “We can’t afford it” must be answered by a loud and clear voice from the public: “WE ARE MAD AS HELL AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY LONGER.” See you on the 21^st and wear RED!