Thanksgiving is almost here and the Christmas and winter holiday season is almost upon us! Take a look at what my team and I have been up to, and check out some of the upcoming events you don't want to miss! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

In This Issue:

• Giving Thanks & Fighting Food Insecurity
• Celebrating 1 Year In Office
• Progress In Our Neighborhoods
• BCC Meetings
• Community Engagement
• Who's Hiring
• Events & Things To Do
• News You Can Use

Thanksgiving Turkey Distributions

This week, my team and I joined Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and IAFF Local 2928 to hand out 75 turkeys to families receiving services from The Guatemalan-Maya Center, the Hispanic Human Resources Council, and Adopt-A-Family.

But the generosity didn’t stop there! Collectively between IAFF Local 2928 members from Palm Beach County, Greenacres, Riviera Beach Fire Rescue, the Palm Beach County Office of Community Revitalization, and my office, 500 turkeys were delivered to families in need countywide!

Seeing neighbors come together in our community to support one another is what the holidays are all about.

YMCA Thanksgiving Luncheon

"Home-Away-From-Home Celebration"

Today, the YMCA hosted its annual “Home Away from Home” Thanksgiving Luncheon at the YMCA Aquatic Complex on Lake Worth Road. It was a beautiful gathering for community members who don’t have family nearby to celebrate the holiday with.

It was heartwarming to see neighbors come together to share a meal, connect, and enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving as one community. Thank you to the YMCA team and all the volunteers for creating such a welcoming space filled with warmth, joy, and togetherness.

Greenacres Friendsgiving Luncheon

I had the pleasure of joining our older adult participants for the annual Friendsgiving Luncheon, hosted by the Community and Recreation Services Department of the City of Greenacres. This beautiful tradition brings our community together to share gratitude, good food, and even a few surprises — including a special visit from Santa, who filled the room with holiday cheer.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the incredible team, volunteers, and sponsors who made this gathering so meaningful. Events like this remind us how important it is to create spaces where our older adults feel celebrated, connected, and supported.

My entire team and I volunteered with the Palm Beach County Food Bank during their emergency Community Food Distribution at John Prince Park. This effort helped nourish 4,470 people and support 1,000 households across our community.

Just one week after SNAP benefits were paused for thousands of Palm Beach County residents, the Food Bank and our County partners came together to make sure families didn’t go without food.

I’m deeply grateful to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, United Way of Palm Beach County, the Community Services Department, PBC Parks & Recreation, and every volunteer who showed up to serve. Together, we’re feeding hope — one family at a time.

And after the food distribution at the park, my team and I personally delivered food to seniors living at Riverview Apartments who were unable to pick up the boxes at the park. We also set them up with a biweekly food delivery program from the Palm Beach County Food Bank.

Greenacres Food Distribution

Volunteers from all walks of life gave their time to feed Greenacres residents. Together, we distributed over 34,000 pounds of supplemental groceries to our neighbors in need!

Thank you to Restoration Bridge International, the City of Greenacres, and everyone else that made this food distribution a success.

Food Distribution for Federal Workers at PBI Airport

Thank you to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) for hosting this thoughtful food distribution event for the incredible federal workers who keep our airport running safely every day. It was an honor to join our community partners to help distribute more than 400 boxes of food to TSA officers and other airport personnel.

A note to the federal workers working our airport: your hard work and dedication make traveling through PBI a smooth and safe experience for thousands of residents and visitors each day. Thank you for all you do!

Touring the Palm Beach County Food Bank

My team and I toured the Palm Beach County Food Bank and saw firsthand that they do so much more than provide food boxes.

They offer cooking classes for seniors, helping older adults learn how to prepare healthy, affordable meals. They’ve also partnered with the School District of Palm Beach County’s Adult Education Program to host culinary classes that lead to industry-recognized certifications, opening doors to new careers in our local food and hospitality sectors.

On top of that, the Food Bank donates groceries to many partner organizations across the county, multiplying their impact and reaching families wherever they are.

I’m deeply grateful for the Palm Beach County Food Bank and all of their partners for the work they do every day to fight hunger and strengthen our community.

Food Finder Map

Thanksgiving Meal Finder

This month we celebrated 1 year in office. Since I was elected in November 2024, we've accomplished a lot. We've personally helped families in need, we've advocated tirelessly at the Board of County Commissioners meetings for outcomes that benefit our community as a whole, and we've never lost sight of the progress we want to see in our district. Thank you to all who joined me in celebrating this milestone. And thank you to all who continue to work with me and believe in me to make District 3 the best place to live, work and play in Palm Beach County.

Lake Lytal Groundbreaking

Palm Beach County has officially broken ground on the new Lake Lytal Aquatic Center. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for recreation, swim instruction, and community wellness in West Palm Beach.

The new center will feature a 70-meter competition pool with a deep dive well, a 6,975-square-foot aquatic play zone with slides and interactive water structures, and modern amenities including restrooms, showers, shaded seating, a concession area, and multipurpose space for events and training.

For over 50 years, Lake Lytal has been a cornerstone of our community, and this investment ensures it will continue to bring families together for generations to come.

Lake Worth Beach Groundbreaking

I joined community partners and local leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Lake Worth Beach Apartments, which will become the largest workforce housing development in Palm Beach County.

This project will bring 195 new one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments to our community — providing safe, attainable homes for families, seniors, essential workers, and individuals at risk of homelessness.

Built with sustainability in mind, the development will achieve National Green Building Standards (NGBS) Silver Certification and feature modern amenities including a clubhouse, swimming pool, and 279 parking spaces.

Thank you to The Richman Group, the Palm Beach County Department of Housing & Economic Development, and everyone who helped make this vision a reality. Together, we’re creating opportunity, stability, and brighter futures for Lake Worth Beach. 

Pinecrest Bakery Opens in Greenacres

It was a pleasure to join the community in celebrating the grand opening of Pinecrest Bakery in Greenacres! Their fresh flavors, warm atmosphere, and beloved pastelitos are a welcome addition to our local business community.

Congratulations to the entire Pinecrest Bakery team — we’re excited to see you thrive here in District 3. Be sure to stop by and show your support!

📍 4650 Jog Rd., Greenacres, FL 33463

Open daily from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM

Touring PBC Animal Care & Control

Did you know Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control steps in to care for pets when their owners can no longer do so — whether due to an emergency, unexpected circumstances, or major life changes? No animal is too big or too small. In addition to dogs and cats, they’ve temporarily cared for horses, pigs, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, birds, and even tarantulas!

These are just a few of the many surprising things my team and I learned during our tour of the Animal Care and Control facilities this week. A heartfelt thank-you to the veterinarians, staff, and volunteers who provide such essential services across our county.

Latest BCC Meeting Outcomes

At the Nov. 18, 2025, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

• BCC - Commissioner Sara Baxter was elected Mayor for a one-year term and Commissioner Marci Woodward was elected as Vice Mayor.
• Community Services – ratified the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Unified Homeless Contract to provide homeless prevention services for a term of three (3) years, in the total amount of $3,276,202.
• County Attorney - adopted a resolution calling for a referendum to be held on Nov. 3, 2026 to call for an election for voters to decide if the School District of Palm Beach County shall have the authority to levy 1.00 mills of ad valorem millage for operational needs of Palm Beach County public schools from July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2031.  
• Fire Rescue - approved on preliminary reading and permission to advertise for a public hearing on Dec. 2, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., amending County Code to remove the Town of Jupiter from the Jupiter Municipal Service Taxing Unit. 
• Housing & Economic Development – approved the Budget Amendment in the amount of $588,500 in Industrial Development Revenue Bond (IDRB) fees to implement a Small Business Training and Development Program, the Business Revolving Loan Program, and Department Outreach Initiatives
• Approved on preliminary reading and permission to advertise for a public hearing on Dec. 2, 2025, an ordinance entitled The Small Business Development Ordinance.

For further information on consent and regular items, please visit the Agenda section of our website.

November Proclamations

Upcoming BCC Meetings

BCC Meeting — December 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM

• The Board will convene for its regular meeting with public comment. The agenda and backup will be posted in advance on the County website.

BCC Workshop — December 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM

• Commissioners will hold a discussion-focused workshop on scheduled topics listed on the agenda.

BCC Zoning Hearing — December 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM

• Commissioners review proposed zoning applications and land development regulations at these monthly meetings. These zoning hearings are quasi-judicial in nature and are conducted to afford all parties due process. The agenda will be posted in advance on the County website.

You can watch all meetings live online, on YouTube, or on PBC TV Channel 20.

Storytime at the Achievement Center for Children & Families

Veterans Build Project with Habitat for Humanity

Beyond Politics: Leadership Palm Beach County Event

Palm Beach County is hosting its first-ever Countywide Career Fair!

Come check out exciting career opportunities across our 30+ departments like Fire Rescue, Parks & Recreation, and Engineering & Public Works to Libraries, Environmental Resources Management, Community Services, and more!

When: Wednesday, December 10th from 3 PM to 7 PM

Where: The Majestic Ballroom at 130 Australian Ave, West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Everyone looking for a job should have this on their calendars, and don’t forget to share this with a friend!

Ilumina: A Tropical Garden Lantern Festival at Mounts Botanical Garden

Embark on a magical after-dark journey through 20 acres of glowing gardens. Explore themed worlds perfect for photos and family fun, enjoy festive food and drinks, and celebrate art, culture, and community in a radiant tropical paradise.

Enjoy this nighttime spectacular until January 11, 2026. Get your tickets here: https://www.mounts.org/ILUMINA/ or by calling 561-233-1757.

Lanterns and Lights Safari Nights at

Lion County Safari

Get ready to glow at Lanterns and Lights Safari Nights, the first-ever lantern festival at Lion Country Safari in Palm Beach County!

Step into a sparkling safari adventure as Lion Country Safari transforms for the holidays with dazzling lights, festive displays, and colorful scenes that bring the magic of the season to life.

Stroll through glowing pathways, explore illuminated animal-themed worlds perfect for photos, enjoy holiday treats, and make unforgettable memories with family and friends — all in one of Palm Beach County’s most iconic destinations.

Don’t miss this holiday spectacular happening now through January 2026!

Learn more and get your tickets at: https://www.lioncountrysafari.com

Hurricane Safety

Make a plan, stock your supplies, and stay informed.

Visit ReadyPBC.com for local updates and safety tips.

Download Alert PBC app from your phone's app store to stay up to date.

Download DART app from your phone's app store to stay up to date.

Commissioner Joel G. Flores

561-355-2203

jgflores@pbc.gov

Vivian Rodriguez

Chief of Staff

vrodriguez@pbc.gov

Dianni Mendez

Director of

Constituent Services

dmendez@pbc.gov

Yaneli Mata

Director of

Communications

ymata@pbc.gov

Deborah Arocho-Maisonet

District 3 Intern

darocho@pbc.gov

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