Reflecting on my opening newsletter comments, the old Tin Pan Alley song "In the Good Old Summertime" came to mind. I envisioned my mother and father singing that old song: Dad playing the four-string tenor banjo and Mom belting out the words. 

"There is a time Each year

That we all hold dear

Good old Summertime

With the birds and the trees

And sweet-scented breezes

Good old Summertime,

When your day's work is over

Then you are in the clover

And life is one beautiful rhyme

No trouble annoying,

Each enjoying

The good old Summertime."

You could see them relive their youth of the 1920s in their minds. Even though work was hard and the depression had set in, back then, folks still took time to marvel at and enjoy nature and the small joys of life.

As I write this, my mind drifts back to the summer of 1959. I was dating the girl that would become my first wife. She had grown up on a small subsistence farm in southern Indiana. In the Summertime, I would drive some sixty miles on a two-lane country road to see her. I always kept the car windows open so I could smell the newly cut hay. When I arrived, she and her father would just be leaving the fields. After they washed up, it was dinner, and them making homemade cream. We would sit on the swing, eating ice cream and enjoying the cool summer breezes. To quote another verse,

"I hold her hand and she holds mine,

And that's a very good sign

In the good old summer time."

That was before we entered the race track of life. As she was dying, we talked about those days and wished we had taken more time to enjoy life and had not been so driven by ambition.

Maybe I am just getting old. As the saying goes, "Young men see visions; old men dream dreams. But, this aside, it seems to me that in our world today, we are too busy arguing, fighting amongst ourselves, and chasing after our ambitions to enjoy the beauty of nature and the small things of life. Think about this!

I will write a separate report later this week providing information about the July Commission meeting.

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:

COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION:

The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane season is here. The season runs from June 1 through November 30, 2023. Forecasters are predicting between 11 and 15 named storms this year with up to half reaching hurricane strength. We’ve already had some tropical activity to our south within the past few weeks. Don’t delay – it’s time to complete the hurricane preparation checklist. A helpful guide can be viewed at https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/PDF/Hurricane-Guide.pdf

FIRE DEPARTMENT: 

Training:

The PBSFD continues its annual training cycle for water rescue. This training incorporates shore-based water rescue techniques, flood / swift water rescue, ocean rescue, and sand tunnel collapse rescue. Our Medical Director, Dr. Keehn, has provided on-site continuing education on EMS management of drowning / near drowning victims, SCUBA diving incidents, and stabilization and treatment of patients who have suffered various forms of trauma. We were very fortunate to also complete fire training in acquired structures that were provided to us by the Sailfish Marina and Resort. Prior to being demolished, the Sailfish North and Sailfish South lodging on the southern end of the Sailfish Resort and Marina property were donated to the PBSFD to perform a variety of training scenarios. Thank you to Bryan Cheney and the Staff of SFM for their support! 

Beach Wheelchair: The Beach Wheelchair is a wonderful mobility asset that helps more people enjoy our beautiful beach. Please see the Lifeguard to sign out the beach wheelchair during guarded beach hours (10 am – 5 pm.)

As always, please reach out with questions or if we can be of any assistance. tsteedman@pbsfire.org or (561) 296-3380  

The Town of Palm Beach Shores Building Department is excited to announce the launch of our newest version of the MyGovernmentOnline (MGO) customer portal platform....READ MORE

READ MORE PBS WEBSITE - APPLY ONLINE MGO'S WEBSITE

I hope your summer is going well! The only holdover from the 1970s is our polyester uniforms; I believe they are starting to melt off.

Our midnight Deputy Greg Fernandez will retire after 35 years of service on September 12th. We will miss him, as he fits into our town perfectly. But understand, we each know when it's time to place the badge into a retirement wallet and lose the Kevlar, except when visiting certain states. Good luck to our friend. We wish him nothing but the best for him and his family. We will soon start interviewing many deputies who want to call Palm Beach Shores home.

Mary's position continues to be filled by any law enforcement aide available during the week. October 1^st,  a full-time replacement will be made.

We have had some homeless issues in town and have contacted the Sheriff's intervention team, who has assisted those who wish it. We have trespassed two persons from the Community Center due to behavioral issues. By law, these trespass notices are good for one year. In one individual's case, he returned in the 13^th month and created a disturbance, so I guess we will see him 13 months from last week. With one individual, he needed a way to get to a job, and PBSO outreach was able to donate to him a $500.00 bicycle. Unfortunately, it was stolen while at the bathrooms of Phil Foster Park.

Homeless issues were the topic of discussion at the PBSO Northern Region quarterly meeting of the Community Advisory Board, our representative on the board is Elizabeth Kuechenmeister. I would like to express my gratitude to Elizabeth for being a part of this board and for the many other things that she has worked with me on

Some of you have heard of a robbery in front of 33 Ocean Avenue. I am happy to report that after many interviews and the issuance of many warrants, we were able to obtain a confession from the reporter that he had made the whole thing up. It was a disagreement between three individuals.

Deputy Greg Fernandez and Deputy June Stewart were in pursuit of some tiny little turtles who must have heard the saying go west, young man when they should have gone east. They were able to grab them and put them back into the ocean. 

Also, my thanks to Sue Fleming, who daily goes out to our town's entire beach area and ensures the turtles' safety for no pay.

On Wednesday, I received many calls about the helicopter and additional patrol cars in town. A lady who had some issues entered the Behavioral Health buildings on Blossom. She removed bags of snacks and soda in many of the rooms. When confronted by staff, she pepper sprayed the person and ran onto Ocean Avenue. A search was conducted by our two deputies, who were joined by eight other deputies along with one K9 unit and the helicopter, and we were able to apprehend her at the Ocean Mall, where she was arrested.

Regarding the calls about traffic concerns on Lake Drive, we have increased traffic stops this month by 69 percent and 53 percent for the year to date.

Always something……….. Here when you need us.

Sergeant Steve Langevin

Commander District 20 Town of Palm Beach Shores

TOWN HALL MEETINGS - 2023

(Visit our Town of Palm Beach Shores Website and connect to our virtual meetings.

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING

NO DRC MEETING



COMMISSION WORKSHOP/BOARD MEETING

August 14, 2023 @ 7:00 P.M.

August 28, 2023 @ 7:00 P.M.

PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING

August 23, 2023 @ 6:30 P.M.

2023-2024

Beach Parking Passes are available for purchase in Town Hall.

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August Environmental Committee Update

The Environmental Committee continues to add flowers and tend to the butterfly garden.



A new flyer showcasing the butterfly garden was posted on each town information board.

After the substantial dune vegetation trimming last winter, the dune sea grapes and coin vines are growing back.

We have held a few beach work parties to clear out trash, remove old limb debris, and pull out weedy non-native vines. The successful cleanup efforts generated 12 large piles that the Department of Public Works will dispose of.   

Similar to how the invasive pythons are not good for the Everglades, invasive plant species disrupt a balanced dune system. At least 7 invasive plant species have been identified in our beach dune. The EC will work together with the town to promote a resilient beach dune.

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The Bookmobile is Available!

Obtain a Library Card with proof of local address and check out library materials

Click Here To Read The Schedule