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In this newsletter:
- The Word
- Closure of Northlake Blvd/Beeline Hwy
- Hurricane Myths vs. Facts
- AI Outlook
- Spotlight
- Gregg in the News
- Commish in the Community
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Summer vacation is coming to a close, with the kids back to school in just two weeks. We're also approaching the peak of hurricane season, as storm activity historically ramps up in August and lasts well into October. During storm season, we continue to provide storm prep updates in our newsletters.
Starting at 8:00 P.M. this Friday, August 1, the intersection at Northlake Boulevard and Beeline Highway will be closed for traffic through Sunday, August 10. Freight railroad company CSX, which owns and operates the tracks, has indicated that the closure is necessary for critical railroad track replacement. While this is extremely inconvenient for residents and commuters, emergency vehicles will continue to be able to access the area. Law enforcement agencies and first responders have plans in place so that public safety will not be impacted. The Florida Department of Transportation will provide detour signage, and the Palm Beach County Traffic Division will optimize signal timing along alternate routes. It is certainly annoying, but in fairness to CSX, rail safety is important because if a train were ever to derail at the site it would shut down the intersection for a lot longer. Try to plan ahead to minimize the impacts on your lives. We have a summary, a map of the alternate routes, and contact information in this newsletter, as well as a link to a website with project updates.
On Friday, July 18, area leaders gathered at the County's Vista Center to kick off the Countywide Transportation Master Plan. The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved a resolution in March, encouraging cities, towns, and stakeholders to work together on a vision for transportation and mobility that safely connects people. This could potentially include adaptive signal technology throughout the county, something Gregg is pushing for. On June 18, the BCC approved a $1 million contract with WSP USA Inc., a world-renowned transportation consultancy firm. During the kick-off meeting, WSP presented an overview of the project scope of work, timeline, and public engagement strategies, and attendees had an opportunity to speak with the consultants. Though the process has barely started, the collective planning efforts are already underway in some places. Representatives from the city of Atlantis, JFK Hospital, and Palm Beach State College visited Gregg and told us they have an agreement with other mid-county municipalities (Lake Worth Beach, Greenacres, Palm Springs, Lantana, Haverhill) and are holding monthly meetings to work together on developing a shared vision for the mid-county area.
After 110 days, requiring two extensions, the Florida Legislative session concluded on June 18. The legislature approved a $115 Billion budget, a slight decrease compared to the current budget. Gregg spoke to Florida Weekly about how the appropriations and new bills and affects Palm Beach County residents. Check our "Gregg in the News" section for this and other news reports that feature the Commish.
State representative Joseph âJoeâ Casello passed away on July 18 at the age of 73, after suffering a heart attack. Casello represented the Stateâs 90th district since 2018 following a five year period as a Boynton Beach City Commissioner. âJoe was a friend, a good man, and a strong advocate for his constituents. My thoughts are with his family,â said Gregg. Following his passing, CBS12 aired this profile on Casello, may he rest in peace.
Finally, last Friday, Gregg presented a proclamation to the children of F. Martin "Marty" Perry during the dedication of a conference room at the Vista Center named in honor of Marty, who passed away last year. For more than half a century, Marty practiced law in Palm Beach County, serving as the county's first zoning attorney in the seventies. Watch the pictures of this and other events in Commish in the Community.
Thanks for being a reader!
| | Closure of Northlake Blvd/Beeline Hwy | | |
UPDATE: Northlake Boulevard Rail Crossing Closure - August 1-8, 2025
Freight railroad company CSX will close Northlake Boulevard/Beeline Highway crossing for critical railroad track replacement work starting Friday, August 1, 2025. The full closure of eastbound and westbound lanes will last eight days.
CSX is working to complete repairs efficiently before the school term starts August 11th.
Emergency vehicle access will be maintained 24/7 under Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office monitoring.
The Cities of Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach have plans in place to deliver essential services to their residents.
The Florida Department of Transportation will provide detour signage, and Palm Beach County will optimize signal timing along alternate routes.
Questions:
Contact Pat Kennedy at (561) 662-8054 or pat.kennedy@oz-matic.com
and
Silvana Ojeda, Florida Department of Transportation:
(561) 905-0167; sojeda@corradino.com
For the detour map click here, the button below, or the image.
| | Hurricane Myths vs. Facts | | Summer in South Florida is synonymous with hurricane season, so we want to keep everyone ready with information at your fingertips. Here's what we've got for you today! | | |
OpenAI joins the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to launch
the National Academy for AI Instruction
The groundbreaking $23 million education initiative will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all 1.8 million members of the AFT, starting with K-12 educators. It will be based at a state-of-the-art bricks-and-mortar Manhattan facility designed to transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States. Read all about it here and in this press release.
| | With the start of the school year around the corner it's a great time to check out MagicSchool for Educators. A kind of super-powered sidekick for teachers, MagicSchool packs a bunch of generative AI tools that help take the stress out of everyday tasksâthink lesson planning, writing assessments, chatting with families, and even supporting students with personalized learning. It saves teachers time and helps students thrive. The best part? It's FREE for educators. Check it out here and click the image below to learn more. | | |
Owen O'Neill
In 2005, hospice nurse Owen OâNeill noticed something that didnât sit right: perfectly good medical equipment was being thrown out, while people who needed it couldnât afford it. Inspired by the free clinics where he volunteered, Owen began collecting donated wheelchairs and hospital beds and giving them to patients in need. That simple idea led to the creation of Clinics Can Help â named after the clinics that inspired his mission. Owen knew that if his organization could just help the clinics, they could help a lot of people.
What began in a small storage locker with a handful of supplies has grown into a full-scale operation with a warehouse, a hardworking staff, and a team of dedicated volunteers.
Today, Clinics Can Help supports nearly 4,000 people each year, providing medical equipment to individuals and families across Palm Beach County and nearby communities.
Owen sees every day how access to the right equipmentâwhether itâs a walker, hospital bed, or pediatric wheelchairâcan dramatically improve someoneâs comfort, independence, and outlook on life. Itâs not just about the gear; itâs about giving people the tools to live with dignity and confidence.
We're so thankful for community heroes like Owen, and for the work of Clinics Can Help!
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Celebrations, anniversaries, meeting with agencies, recognizing community leaders, joining neighbors' festivities and going to neighborhood meetings ... Commissioner Weiss spends a lot of time in the community.
"As an elected official, I want to be part of the community I represent," said Commissioner Weiss. "I want to understand the issues in my district, and that's why I spend many evenings attending events to listen and learn."
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If you'd like to invite Commissioner Weiss to your event, let us know.
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Back to School PBC!
Back to School PBC! is an annual event where parents can kick off the school year with everything their Palm Beach County student needs to thrive. This amazing community event is packed with free school supplies, valuable resources, and exciting surprises to get children geared up and ready for success. Gregg was happy to volunteer at this year's event July 26th at the Convention Center, which was expected to serve over 12,000 students countywide!
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Lake Osborne Cleanup
At the Lake Osborne Pavilion on July 25th Gregg joined realtors from Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie for a big time cleanup event in an ongoing effort to make sure Palm Beach County remains beautiful for residents to enjoy. Like the realtors, Gregg is committed to giving back to his community, and he was delighted to participate!
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Marty Perry Dedication Ceremony
F. Martin "Marty" Perry, Palm Beach Countyâs first zoning attorney, went on to co-found a law firm focused on commercial litigation, zoning, land use, and major real estate projects. He also held several leadership roles, including appointments by former Governor Bob Graham. On July 24, Martyâs life and legacy were celebrated at the Verdenia C. Baker Vista Center Complex, where a conference room plaque was unveiled in his honor. A friend, Gregg, proudly sponsored a proclamation recognizing Marty's distinguished career. Pictured with Gregg are Martyâs children, Martine and Justin.
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Digital Counties Award at NACo
For 23 years the Digital Counties Survey has recognized counties that are leading the way in using technology to improve public services, strengthen cybersecurity, modernize operations, and deliver more responsive, transparent government. And at this year's annual National Association of Counties (NACo) conference and exhibition held from July 11-14th,, Gregg was delighted to accept the award along with Palm Beach County colleagues, reinforcing his strong commitment to his constituents for innovation, excellence in digital government, and public service.
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7-Eleven Recognition
At some point in or lives we've all popped into a 7-Eleven for coffee or a snack, a Slurpee, and more. So on July 10th Gregg was delighted to honor 7-Eleven franchiseesâ ongoing dedication to serving the community day and night by presenting a proclamation to South Florida FOA, officially recognizing July 11 as 7-Eleven Community Appreciation Day. He was joined at the event by District 4 Commissioner Marci Woodward, 7-Eleven owner Neeta Mahani, and employees of the store at 7025 Southern Blvd.
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