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HERE’S THE SCOOP….10/11/2022 LBTS COMMISSION MEETING …SAVE OUR DOWNTOWN OUTDOOR DINING IN THE OCEAN PLAZA….

October 11, 2022 by Barbara

SAVE OUR OUTDOOR DINING IN THE OCEAN PLAZA….

Dear Readers….as previously posted there is a small group rabidly trying to put an end to what has been a successful co-existence in the Ocean Plaza ….Aruba Beach Cafe and our Ocean Plaza have proven to be a win-win to all those who have enjoyed both over the last few years!…..

Why this small minority has chosen to spread unfounded fears and falsehoods is mind boggling and so wrong on so many levels!….

Tonight the commission will vote on both Aruba Beach Cafe staying in the Ocean Plaza and the downtown restaurant extension ….yet again!!!!…..

It is time for the majority of those who see the benefit of both extension dining areas  being made permanent as this outstanding and necessary action taken by the commission due to the pandemic in order to assist the restaurants and to protect their patrons and our residents turned out to be perhaps the one positive as a result of it all!!!…..

Please let your commissioners know you want them to support the restaurants in the Ocean Plaza and in the downtown….

Public comments can be made in person tonight at Jarvis Hall…6:30 PM ….It will be a full hall and you won’t want to miss it!…. To send Public Comments in….

[email protected]

My Public Comments….sent in as this writer will unfortunately not be able to attend…

10/10/2022 email-

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Mayor, Commissioners,

Unfortunately, I am not able to attend this all- important meeting with the stand alone agenda item to address the expansion of outdoor dining downtown and in the Ocean Plaza.

The test of this addition to our town for both areas has been an overwhelming success for our town in keeping LBTS in the forefront of being the unique beachfront community has long been known for as both a place to call home and a coveted worldwide destination.

The support for Aruba Beach Cafe is overwhelming throughout our town from many of those who have served on the dais, served on Town boards and Town committees, LBTS pioneer founders of our town, the majority of LBTS hoteliers, downtown businesses, our residents and our visitors.

The only real concern voiced with Aruba Beach Cafe in the Ocean Plaza was if it would impact Town sponsored events in the plaza and that concern has been negated as Aruba has proven to be a wonderful partner with the Town by clearing its outdoor dining extension and positively assisting in each Ocean Plaza event by elevating each one!

Option #1 should remain in place as it is the most advantageous location for both the Town and Aruba Beach Cafe in allowing for diners to enjoy this dining experience in the plaza and for allowing parents to dine as their children do indeed play with the games nearby that Aruba puts away each evening to allow for extended time beyond Town employee hours.

It is a sad day in LBTS when a small negative group puts forth unfounded fears and factual  untruths aimed at this one restaurant that is the historic premier anchor of our town with the Anglin Pier and has consistently provided so much to our town through its extensive advertising, large taxes, countless donations and constant assistance for all Town events over many, many years.

Tonight, I ask for this Commission to join in with voting with overwhelming support for Aruba Beach Cafe to remain where they are in the Ocean Plaza and to extend the gratitude Aruba so richly deserves for their prominent role in our Town’s history as we celebrate our 75th year in 2023!

Barbara Cole

 

More To Come….

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HERE’S THE SCOOP…. WHICH CAME FIRST…THE LANDMARK RESTAURANT OR THE PLAZA?…..

September 25, 2022 by Barbara

LANDMARK ARUBA CAFE WAS THE WHARF RESTAURANT BUILT BY LBTS FOUNDING DEMKO FAMILY !….

Dear Readers….As previously posted there is a small minority of misinformed LBTS residents and visitors who are being told that Aruba Beach Cafe is infringing on our public property and must be stopped…..

This is a campaign of lacking the facts and the history of our town….especially as we approach our 75th year and the upcoming celebrations….

The facts as you can see are quite the opposite….The Wharf Restaurant was built by the Demko family who like the Anglin family who built the Anglin Pier and the Friedt family who brought us Friedt Park…. are landmarks that were here long before the 2008 Pavilion and the 2013 Ocean Plaza….

The Wharf Restaurant now known as Aruba Beach Cafe should be rightly recognized along with the pier and the park and the Welcome Center that was the original Women’s Club in our 75th year and as such should be coveted and revered ….not denigrated and displaced as this group is looking to do….

Don’t buy into these scare tactics of “tunnels” to the beach and there being no more public space for children to play….It is a ruse of the worst kind to work people up under false fears for the future….

Instead…. join those who know that Aruba Beach Cafe is as it has always been….well placed both in its historic placement with the pier and within the Ocean Plaza as we proceed to improve upon what our founding families provided us with a town like no other….

 

Below is the email I sent to the commission last week….and the link to-

Lauderdale- By The – Sea A Living History found on our Town website….

It is a must read for all who live and love LBTS…..

 

‘Mayor, Commissioners-

I stood before you on 9/14/2022 and spoke about Aruba Beach Cafe being a landmark in our town.
Further investigation produced more credence to designate it as such along with our other landmarks such as Anglin Pier, Friedt Park, Women’s Club Building (The Welcome Center )etc…
Included in the book Lauderdale- By- The- Sea A Living History by Martha E Munzer Chapter 1. “The Beginning” on page 3  is the history of the Wharf Restaurant now known as Aruba Beach Cafe.
It was built and run by one of our Town’s founding families,The Demko family and it is described for its location as is the pier built by another founding family the Anglin family.
What this tells us all is that Aruba Beach Cafe ( The Wharf) and Anglin Pier were the coveted properties in place decades before the redevelopment of the pavilion ( from  metal shell covers) in 2008 and the Ocean Plaza ( from parking places) in 2013.
To denigrate Aruba Beach Cafe in the manner a small minority is doing with threats of a referendum ( not possible for the Nov.8,2022 election per required process) and threaten them with falsehoods in alerts disgraces the history and significance of Aruba Beach Cafe( The Wharf) and its Demko history as well as a look at the reverence long paid to it past and present.
Experienced planners look to join public- private ventures such as we have with Aruba Beach Cafe in the Ocean Plaza and as such it should be recognized for the landmark it rightly is and a shining example of urban planning at its best!
I again ask the Mayor as he finishes his term to spearhead designating Aruba Beach Cafe with a proclamation as a landmark alongside Anglin Pier, Friedt Park, The Women’s Club Building and others.
Respectfully,
Barbara Cole’
Link- Lauderdale- By The – Sea A Living History found on our Town website-
https://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/286/A-Living-History-PDF?bidId=
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HERE’S THE SCOOP…..ARUBA BEACH CAFE A LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA LANDMARK….

September 11, 2022 by Barbara

HERE’S THE SCOOP….

Dear Readers…. Below is an email I sent to Town Mayor Chris Vincent, Vice Mayor Edmund Malkoon, Commissioner Buz Oldaker, Commissioner  Theo Poulopolous, Commissioner Randy Strauss as well as Town Manager Linda Conners, Deputy Town Manager Ken Rubach et al…. today…..

‘ARUBA AND OUR TOWN…..

Mayor, Commissioners-

It has come to my attention that once again there are a minority of people who are pushing their views of the plaza use to you in order to remove Aruba Beach Cafe from retaining their outdoor dining on a portion of the plaza.

I have no doubt that they would find out from their hotel patrons, neighbors and the majority of residents, neighboring residents and tourists both in our town and beyond that the pairing of our ocean front plaza and Aruba Beach Cafe are actually combining the two major landmarks we are known for along with the pier.

On the agenda for 9/14/2022 is to approve the archiving of our social media.

If you look at these archives you will see Aruba Beach Cafe in first or second place with the ocean plaza of photos taken by those using social media along with public relations photos and articles capturing our town.

Go to any specialty shop, photographer and art vendor or store and you will find Aruba Beach Cafe postcards, sketches, paintings and household items that change from place to place assuring its place as our town destination landmark.

Aruba Beach Cafe anchors our town and our downtown restaurants and has done so from our lean days to the present day that affords us all with much coveted parking revenue that you all marvel at year after year.

Add to that the income this town enjoys from the income we derive from Aruba Beach Cafe both from taxes and from their patrons who surely expand their patronage to other businesses in our town.

Aruba Beach Cafe under the management of Peggy Mohler has proven throughout their time in the plaza with their outdoor dining that they go over and beyond with the town in maintaining the plaza far beyond their designated area. 

They have happily and helpfully made sure to not impede or impact the town’s events in the plaza. In fact, they have supported and supplied assistance to elevate each event as you can all attest to.

It is time to laud Aruba Beach Cafe for being the first rate example of true public- private urban planning that urban planners on every level strive for.

I look forward to seeing all of you join the majority in making sure that Aruba Beach Cafe knows it is a LBTS treasure with a long overdue proclamation that solidifies it and the assurance of full support for retaining their plaza dining!

Barbara Cole

It is time for this town commission, administration, staff and residents to proclaim Aruba Beach Cafe as the landmark we all know it is and to support it as such….

More to come……

 

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