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In this newsletter:
- The Word
- Hurricane Milton Disaster Recovery Update
- Early Voting Begins October 21
- AI Outlook
- Gregg in the News
- Commish in the Community
- Elections 2024
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My how things can change.
Just a few weeks ago it felt like we were coasting along. Though forecasters had predicted an active hurricane season, we made it to the second half pretty much unscathed. Then, just when we thought we'd dodged a bullet, Hurricane Helene swept in followed by Hurricane Milton - the cyclones barely two weeks apart. Helene was the deadliest of the season, killing hundreds across several states. Milton was the strongest tropical cyclone to form in 2024.
Though we are used to dealing with the impacts of hurricanes in Palm Beach County, EF3 tornados are a rare occurrence. But that’s what happened on Wednesday, October 9th. As Milton was traversing the state, a tornado with peak winds of 140 mph ripped through Wellington towards Jupiter Farms, leaving damaged homes in its wake, snapping trees, and tossing around vehicles like toy cars.
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You might guess Oklahoma or Kansas as the chart-toppers for tornadoes, but Florida has more tornadoes per square mile than any other state in the union. About 50 are reported each year in Florida, with most on the west coast between Tampa and Fort Myers. The more severe tornadoes are uncommon in Florida. The last time a strong tornado made landfall in our county was 66 years ago, on October 19, 1958: it formed in Pahokee, and traveled northeast towards Indiantown where it fizzled out. Learn more about tornadoes in Florida. And check out this colorful map showing all U.S. tornadoes since 1950.
On Saturday, President Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Florida, making available federal dollars to individuals, families, businesses, and governments affected, to assist in the cleanup. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance by registering online at Disaster Assistance, by calling 1-800-621-3362, or by using the FEMA app.
Shout out to Frank Coppola with the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA). Frank contacted our office asking to donate materials to help affected homeowners. After connecting with the county’s Emergency Manager, the FHBA delivered 100 roof tarps to the Village of Wellington, and they have more left for people who need them.
If you are in need of assistance don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Now to the good news. As regular readers of this newsletter know, Gregg is a water guy and a staunch supporter of the Lake Worth Lagoon, and the great work of our staff at the Department Environmental Resources Management (ERM). Every 5 years, ERM staff maps the presence of different types of seagrasses throughout the Lagoon. At the September 24th Board of County Commissioners workshop, staff presented results of their most recent findings.
2023 was a banner year, with more seagrass mapped than ever before. ERM staffer Matt Mitchell, who oversees the Division of Environmental Enhancement & Restoration, talked to the Palm Beach Post’s Mike Diamond about the significance, calling seagrass, “the rainforest of the ocean”.
Thanks for being a reader!
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Update for Tornado-Impacted Communities | |
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FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams have started going door-to-door in the tornado-affected areas of Palm Beach County. They’re here to help disaster survivors get the support they need. Palm Beach County is also working on establishing a multi-agency resource center, led by the State, to assist residents in the impacted areas of Wellington, Loxahatchee Groves, Acreage, Palm Beach Gardens, and Jupiter Farms. Details on the location will be announced soon. If you or your business suffered losses, you can start applying for assistance now by:
For a full list of Palm Beach County's available resources and updates, please click on the button below or the image.
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Early Voting Begins October 21 | |
Avoid the rush on Election Day by taking advantage of early voting!
When: Monday, October 21st through Sunday, November 3rd
Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Click the button below and scroll down the page to find the location nearest you.
You can early vote at any of the locations on the list.
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There’s no doubt that AI can be helpful in planning a trip, but it’s also important to remember the limitations of the technology. ChatGPT and other chatbots have never visited the places they’re talking about—they don’t know what fine dining is, or what a cozy hideaway is. They’re just regurgitating text they’ve found on the web (albeit in a smart and natural way). | |
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Hey all! Jana, here. Each month our office receives a monthly magazine called "Happenings" from the Palm Beach County Library System. It lists a staggering number of free events and online activities available through the library system, including several on AI and cybersecurity. In this issue of Weiss Words we're highlighting a couple of activities you may find fun and useful:
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Tuesday, Oct. 29, 11:00am - 12:30pm: Cybersecurity Topic: Secure Web Browsers and Emails for Beginners. Zoom presentation on web browsers and email providers focused on security and privacy. Registration is required. To register click here.
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Tuesday, Oct. 29, 6:00pm - 7:15pm: Write Smarter: AI Tools for Stellar Blogging. Zoom presentation. Discover how AI can elevate your blogging! Learn to brainstorm ideas, generate headlines, and streamline your writing process with advanced AI tools. Perfect for bloggers at any level looking to enhance their content creation, but you don't need to be a blogger to take advantage of these tools. Registration is required. To register click here.
You don't need to have a Zoom account to participate. You can join as a "Guest" by clicking on the link provided by the Library System when you register for the presentation.
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Note: Not all events listed are open to the public.
1/9/2025 @ 11:00 AM: AI presentation for the Retired Educators Association REA PBC Chapter. Contact Dr. Kenneth Long for more information.
1/23/2025 @ 3:30 PM: AI presentation at Addison Reserve Country Club (Delray Beach). Contact Nicole Stathopulos for more information.
2/28/2025 @ 10:15 AM: AI presentation for Stonebridge Country Club in Boca Raton. Contact Pam Avalos for more information.

3/5/2025 @ 3:30 PM: AI presentation for The Women's Club at the Grove Boynton Beach. Contact Kara Rowden for more information.
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If you would like to invite Commissioner Weiss to give a presentation in your community on artificial intelligence or any other topic, contact our office at district2@pbc.gov or 561-355-2202. | |
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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."

If you'd like to invite Commissioner Weiss to your event, let us know.
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7-Eleven Franchise Owners Event
On Friday, October 11th Gregg joined South Florida 7-Eleven franchise owners Neeraj and Neeta Mahani - owners of the 7-Eleven off Southern Blvd. and the Florida Turnpike - and members of the South Florida Franchise Owner Association to declare October 2024 as 7-Eleven community engagement month.
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Town Hall at Century Village
County staff has been in discussions with the owner of La Quinta Inn on Okeechobee Blvd. about possibly acquiring the property for senior housing. At the October 4th town hall in Century Village, Gregg heard resident concerns and staff clarified that the proposal is for senior housing, not a homeless shelter, focusing on seniors at risk of homelessness. The purchase isn't final, and if a price is agreed upon, the board will then review and approve or reject the purchase and operational plan.
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Hispanic Heritage Celebration
At the Hispanic Heritage Festival on September 28th, organized by the Office of Community Revitalization and Family Impact PBC, Gregg enjoyed tasting delicious food from various Latin American countries and immersing himself in their vibrant cultures. It was a festive and colorful morning!
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Canyon District Park Phase II Groundbreaking Ceremony
Gregg joined the September 30th groundbreaking ceremony for Canyon District Park's expansion project in Boynton Beach. The much-anticipated Phase II construction will feature four lighted baseball/softball fields, an all-abilities destination playground, two lighted sand volleyball courts, a picnic pavilion, a concession/restroom building, two stand-alone restroom buildings, an 800-square-foot baseball storage building, two batting cages, and 273 parking spaces.
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The deadline TO REGISTER to vote in the 2024 elections has passed.
BUT... you can check your voter registration status today by visiting “My Status” at https://www.votepalmbeach.gov
The deadline to request that a Vote-by-Mail ballot be mailed to you is
5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024
Voters wishing to vote by mail in the 2024 elections are required to make a new Vote-by-Mail Request for all elections.
Click here to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot
for the General Election in November
2024 General Election Information:

Early Voting: Oct. 21, 2024 - Nov. 3, 2024 (7 a.m.-7 p.m.)
Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 (7 a.m.-7 p.m.)
Deadline to register to vote: Monday, October 7, 2024
Deadline to return your Vote-by-Mail ballot to the Supervisor of Elections Main Office: 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2024
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