Christmas Lighting …By The Sea…Dec. 2, 2008…

Walking up…El Mar Drive..Post and thou shall receive…previous post before Thanksgiving …asking about the Anglin monument still in front of the Minto development site…it is now where it belongs…front and center in El Prado Park…..NICE!…

Arriving at the Chamber tree lighting ceremony…approximately 6:40 pm…quite a let down from the previous events…not too many attendees…..although the tree was looking better…still some gaps in the lighting…but Dave Gadsby said the “tree fluffer” was there ….Bill Davis said the tree was showing its age…with the salt air…

The Vice Mayor was wearing his VFD “hat”….radio in hand…driving the fire truck…. putting up caution tape…due to the traffic still flowing…and the late arrival of BSO…too bad …..not quite the festive holiday touch we desired….really needed the roads free and clear…all around the square…

Families were lined up…for snapshots with Santa….(Commissioner Silverstone)…including a few buxom blondes…with Chamber Vice President Guy Contrada ….introducing Mayor Minnet…who spoke briefly…with words of Holiday wishes…acknowledging her fellow Commissioners in attendance……and asking all to remember our enlisted men and women…then leading the countdown to officially light up the town square Christmas tree…

The crowd that was there ….were mostly those who come every year and participate and run the Chamber event…they came to show their support….all were friendly and a little subdued…in the chilly night air…with talk of next year…being discussed here and there…

It was nice to see Tom and Marilyn Carr…back in town…..

Heard a new sign is on the BTSTimes Realty building …for sale or lease….adding to the speculation….the mystery…of the Editor and wife…

Ate dinner with a group of friends at Aruba…enjoying the best cobb salads around…by far…along with great burgers…..fresh tuna ….. expresso martinis…and tiramisu……

Outside back in the cold…it was truly sad to see the Village Grille’s ….outdoor musicians…playing to the empty sidewalk seating….and an empty town square…all before 10 pm….all the stores were closed down…way too cold for t-shirts…and bathing suits…especially when no customers in sight…..there was quite a lot of revenue was lost by our LBTS establishments this night…

A brief stop by Athena…guess code enforcement is out to stop a little extra Christmas lighting cheer…by asking them to take down the lighting that is on the trees in the right of way…HUH?…Come on…it’s Christmas…let them have the lights…and the penguins…just like last year…no Grinch’s allowed…

Is it the coating?…Sure hope so…..A walk by the Public Safety Complex…shows the newly installed sign above the entry…with the LBTS town emblem and the Public Safety Complex letters facing backwards…like looking at a mirror….OOPS?…

Finally the flag was at half staff in honor of LBTS resident Paul Winkler…who was active in the town…http://www.usa-flag-site.org/faq/half-staff.shtml

Winkler, Paul Karl, age 84 years, passed away on Wednesday November 26, 2008. Survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Ursula and his son Roy Kininmouth. He was preceded in death by his daughter Katherin Bauman. Paul resided in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea for the past 35 years where he was active in civic and governmental projects. He was a past Director of the Chamber of Commerce and was a Market Director for Ralston Purina. Paul was a devoted husband and a loving father. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends. The family will receive friends on Tuesday December 2 from 5 – 7 PM and a funeral service will be conducted at 6 PM. Arrangements were entrusted to Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home, 4061 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 954-565-5591. As expressions of sympathy donations to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family.

more to come….

Tags: chamber, christmas, organizations, Scoops
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NO HAYRIDES…THIS CHRISTMAS…..

‘If you can’t make it downtown, stop by Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s annual “Christmas By The Sea” from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Set up on the town’s beach at the end of Commercial Boulevard, this annual family friendly event features local carolers, hayrides, a Santa village and the ceremonial lighting of the town’s tree. While it may not offer several tons of shaved ice, this is one event that will have you feeling like you’ve arrived somewhere else. And of course, admission is free.’

Somebody didn’t get the message…LBTS Christmas-By-The-Sea…is not to be…just a simple tree lighting at 7pm on  Dec.2nd..

Spread the word…

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/fort_lauderdale/sfl-flesbquickhit1127esbnov27,0,1007452.story

Tags: chamber, christmas by the sea, Local News, News, organizations, Scoops
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Tags: chamber, christmas by the sea, organizations, Scoops
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THAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT….

Whomever was responsible for the Chamber’s Arts and Craft Fair advertising…BRAVO!…First rate…multiple coverage in the papers leading up to and during the event….

GREAT WEATHER…

The 10th Arts And Craft Fair was the recipient of the best weather conditions possible…luck of the draw…

BEST CRAFT AREA….

In the town parking lot…locals…with great wares…and plenty of informative and positive feedback …parking bags on or off…a big consensus…from the local shop owners…BAGS OFF!…Followed up by some call for creativity in finding ways not to slap the customers with an instant ticket…somehow….

Bill Davis was enthusiastic in his response to how well this venue has worked with getting the word out on the Diner By The Sea…with its own Diner Dollars…and creative one of a kind menu items…never seen before in town…and the news that his Away Inn is full…doing a healthy business…in these hard times…due to the extensive upgrades…good news for the other hotels on El Mar…in the renovations process…

Local talented Artist Fran Scheffler was in all her glory…surrounded by her one of a kind t-shirts…and artwork….

Sharon Huff from Frame n’ Art Gallery…was right in front ……saying she and Gary are very happy in their new location on Commercial…with the addition of new neighbor Abru Caffe’…and the fix-up happening next door on the other side…all to bring new life into the area…

Paradise Gifts and Fruit …was included…welcomed back after the summer away…for those who are still missing Macks….the items displayed did not disappoint…doggy purses!…

Ran into many neighbors… and Commissioner Dodd after I met up with Commissioner Clottey… we both walked over to say hello to VFD Fire Chief Perkins…sitting on the park bench in the square…

Chief Perkins was responsive and promised to reply to my next public records request…asking me to e-mail in once again what I need…and I will…

He said that he is fully ready and able to answer all questions at the podium at all times from the Commission…despite protestations from the VFD members on the dais…so Commissioners…ask away!…

Chief Perkins informed this writer that Vice Mayor McIntee’s son has taken former Battalion Chief Pointu’s position…and is training the FF1 class…being paid the same as Pointu was…

This means that Vice Mayor McIntee must recuse himself from all VFD votes…to avoid any conflict of interest …due to benefitting a relative…his son…

The Chief also said everyone on the roster has had their medical exams and the VFD was paying for medical exams themselves…including the “old guys”…McIntee and Silverstone…who have been approved despite a few medical conditions..

When this writer inquired about following his own By-laws…the Chief asked which…I pointed out …appointing a board member rather than voting them in…he replied he had the right as Chief to appoint anyone..until the election (will need to take a look to verify this assertion)…

He did not know that the SOPs still contained the #205 VFD members responding while on duty with AMR…and responded that is not allowed after he was dressed down by the Manager over the fact that the contract did not allow it…I concurred…and said that was why I was surprised to see its inclusion…and had checked with the Town for any amended SOPs……with a reply…there were none…

The Chief and I finished up…with his final thoughts…that he was doing his job…he is in charge…and he can not get caught up in all the side stuff going on …with McIntee and Silverstone…he needs to keep his eye on the VFD and protecting the town…words this writer wants to believe and see in action…

He added that the town Christmas tree goes up tomorrow…courtesy of the VFD…

All in all…a pleasant outing…despite a little light on the vendors…and the football fans…

Nice job…Chamber…nice job…

Tags: art fair, chamber, Local News, Local Politics, VFD
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47 PORT-A-POTTIES REQUIRED BY LBTS?….

In today’s Pelican…by Judy Vik…covering the cancellation of the Chambers Christmas- By -The- Sea…the topper…on the list of reasons for the demise of this LBTS Christmas tradition…came with a comment from Chamber Executive Director Judy Swaggerty…that the Town was requiring 47 port-a- potties …rather than the usual 3!…

While we waited for the VFD to return to this town…and dealt with trouble from the BSO Fire Marshall and the requirements thrown out for each event that seemed outrageous……. the new majority regularly touted about the day we would no long require “outside” interference…so what on earth is this…was it really the Town…making such a ridiculous requirement?….WOW!

After the holidays are over…it is time to have yet another workshop…and decide once and for all … how to make it easy for the businesses to get their events on…with no catch 22s and no Town staff “gotchas” because the applicant did not know what to ask for…and “it’s not the staffs’ job” as the Assistant Town Manager asserts…to inform them of ahead of time…HUH?…

This latest event was a mess from start to finish…doomed by the Vice Mayor making a $5000 dollar VFD offer he did not have the authority to offer…( it was unknown by the cash strapped department)…which he ultimately reneged on…lamely putting the blame elsewhere…the lack of a liquor license being authorized…and then when being added to the Nov. 10th agenda last minute…again ..it was not voted on…a point the Assistant Manager kept mum on…( not his place?)…any extra money needed to make up for the Vice Mayor’s missing moolah…were dashed… even the late offer to put up the tree by the VFD…after the Chamber President informed the Commission of a letter from the Town that the Town would not cover the cost of it…this year…( the Town did pay for it last year)…along with some unseemly behavior towards Mr Novak at the podium from the Town Manager…put the nail in the coffin…

Before the workshop …enlist a town-wide straw poll…ask how the residents want to proceed in the future with all LBTS events…the costs…the target audience…the reality….including the benefits…and the pitfalls…

Does it make sense in these hard economic times to pay upwards of $100 thousand a year for events that bring out- of- towners into town?…Does it actually benefit town businesses in the long term…with repeat business form those who attend?…….Or is it time to downsize to small town events…scaled back for residents only?…

Please join in …the tree lighting on Dec. 2,2008…7 pm Pelican Square…

Please contact your Commissioners…with your comments…

Commissioners…please have a workshop…on events…

Town Staff…please have a workshop…as Commissioner Clottey called for some time back…businesses …and Staff…to build a better working relationship…

more to come…

Tags: chamber, events, Local News, Local Politics, Scoops
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WHILE WE ARE WAITING TO SEE ….IF LBTS WILL HAVE THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA….

The Sea Breeze is out for November…

The Stats………………….. October…………………………..YTD………………………….10/07

Walk-Ins……………………….1,037…………………………..15,041………………………1,020

Visitor Guides Mailed………..240……………………………..4,156…………………………629

See Ya There Ad V/G Mailed…76………………………………..668……………………………….

Diving Inquiries………………….33………………………………..571…………………………..30

Relocation Inquiries…………….18………………………………..262……………………………16

Car Rental Inquiries…………….54…………………………………677……………………………64

Romm Inquiries…………………116……………………………….2,330…………………………177

Total Traffic……………………1,705………………………………23,705………………………1,936

Website Hits……………………7,199………………………………81,799………………………7,092

Membership Renewed……………..1…………………………………..205……………………………….

New Memberships………………….6…………………………………….46……………………………..8

Non- Renewals……………………………………………………………….44………………………………..

Pre-paid 07/08…………………….13……………………………………..13……………………………16

Businesses Closed……………………………………………………………11………………………………..

Total Membership……………………………………………………………209

Letter From The President….

In his letter…President Paul Novak….wrote of the weather changing….and the en masse return of the Snow Birds and Tourists…..he said “good tourist signs are showing up along El Mar Drive and other parts of town”…which should make dire predictions…wrong…… He highlighted the improvements made with the new construction of Villas By The Sea…Wings…and restoration going on at fine establishments along the beach…such as the White Cap… and the Sea Lord….The major issue of parking was included….the bags….with encouragement for members to give their input and suggestions…Thanks were given to the people and volunteers for the annual Fish Fry …an overwhelming success….and a heads up for the upcoming Arts and Crafts Fair…Nov. 22 & 23…and Christmas By The Sea…Dec 2nd…reaching out for donations for the event…finishing up with a call for all members to make their establishments…spiffy and ready for the 2009 tourist season….
In addition…Holiday Arts & Craft Fair Community Church of LBTS…10am-2pm…Saturday Dec 6th…

Will post when we know…if Dec. 2nd is a go….

Tags: chamber, Local News
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CHEWING OUT THE CHAMBER…

Wow…whiplash….wet noodles…wipe out….is the Chamber’s Christmas- By- The- Sea event….a wash?….

President Paul Novak…was practically slimed last night between the Manager…the Assistant Manager… several on the dais…and a few on the CIC side of the room….utterly ridiculous…

He came to get squared away on some pre- Christmas event snags…the liquor license approval…for the restaurants…and an infusion of cash to make up for the bogus offer of the VFD $5000 dollar donation…from Booster funds…( maybe they did not make it back from the Operations fund…as stated in the VFD minutes?) made singularly by the Vice Mayor….in his grandstanding offer made without the VFD’s knowledge…(per Pointu’s resignation letter) …when he backed down on that offer …..using a lame excuse…and blaming others…instead of fessing up…to his actions… leaving the Chamber event underfunded…

Add to that another smarmy letter( 2nd of the night …after the Terra Mar letter…previous post)… from the Assistant Town Manager …informing them this year the Town would not be putting up or taking down the tree…it too would come from the Chamber funds…

Commissioner Silverstone did try…on both the liquor snag…although in the end…the Commission never voted on it…and offering the VFD services for tree duty….with VFD Chief Perkins….nodding in agreement….

Too much…says President Novak……according to his members…they need to reassess to see if it is worth it…if they still have the energy to do it…or not…

The Town Manager owes this fine upstanding …taxpaying …business owning…resident a letter of apology for her inappropriate behavior from the dais…unbecoming and uncalled for from a Town Manager…really hard to watch…

It is hoped the Chamber will band together ..and see what can be done……for the sake of continuing a fine tradition… in this town for yet another season of good will….

more to come…

Tags: chamber, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops
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