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In this newsletter:
- The Word
- Spring Plant Sale & Family Fun Weekend
- Summer Youth Employment Program
- AI Outlook
- Gregg in the News
- Commish in the Community
- Volunteer Spotlight
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As of Friday, April 18, 127 people have submitted resumes to be considered for the replacement of County Administrator Verdenia Baker, who announced her retirement after leading the county for the past ten years. At the April 8 Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, Commissioners adopted a resolution establishing the County Administrator Task Force (CATF). Each commissioner announced the people who would serve in this Task Force, which was charged with whittling down the number of applicants. Gregg selected accountant Jay Nisberg and Ron Davis, a management consultant from West Palm Beach who we are featuring in the Volunteer Spotlight column. The deadline to apply for the County Administrator job is April 28. The Task Force will get to work on May 1. It will receive the resumes of all eligible applicants on May 6. This is the same day that the names and resumes of all applicants will be made available to the public on the County website. The Task Force makes recommendations to the board on June 3. This recommendation is expected to include 5 finalists that the Board of County Commissioners can pick from. Each of the county commissioners will have an opportunity to interview the applicants before they convene as the BCC to deliberate on who theyād like to see as the next county administrator. This process will take us into June, well past Verdenia Bakerās last day (May 31), so itās expected that the Board will have to decide on an interim administrator in the next month.
The intersection at Belvedere Road and Georgia Avenue was a mess: the crosswalks were faded, the sidewalks were crumbling, and the curb cuts were inadequate, making it hard for people with strollers or people in wheelchairs to cross the road. An area resident, Bill Cross, told us about these issues a while ago. Following brief temporary closures earlier this year, the work has been completed, so we went out there to talk to Bill about the improvements. Watch that video.
After attending the annual meetings of several West Palm Beach neighborhood associations, Gregg got an earful on-- you guessed it: traffic! Many constituents say they are frustrated with being stuck in traffic. One of the roads where cars can be stuck is Parker Avenue at the Okeechobee Boulevard intersection. A pragmatic problem-solver at heart, Gregg came up with a plan that can improve the flow of traffic. But since it is a city street we canāt just implement the solution; instead, we wrote a letter to the Mayor and the City Engineer. Read all about Gregg's proposal. WPTV picked it up and did a story on it, and judging by the response from the drivers interviewed in the piece, it makes sense.
Please let us know when you see things that need to be fixed. Last Friday, Linda reported the pedestrian signal at the Hilton by Okeechobee wasnāt working. By Monday staff had repaired and replaced the LED at the crosswalk device. Keep āem coming, because if you donāt tell us, we canāt fix it.
Jack the Bike Man, the local nonprofit that gives bicycles to those who need them, while offering training and job opportunities to locals, was devastated by a fire that severely damaged their warehouse. As we learned at a firefighter appreciation event last week, what started as an electrical fire burned for 33 hours straight. It also burned a $500,000 hole in the nonprofit's budget, as the building they are trying to sell lost value because of the damage. Jack "the bike man" Hairston was a friend of Gregg and Rebeccaās who took in Jackās cat Sprockets after his passing. Thereās a way that you can help them climb out of the hole. Write a check if you can, donate that old bike youāre no longer using, or just get your bike tuned up and leave a tip. The money is well spent as it keeps you riding AND helps others in need of two wheels.
Thanks for being a reader!
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SPRING PLANT SALE & FAMILY FUN WEEKEND
~ KIDS FREE ~
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šæ Spring Plant Sale & Family Fun
Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach is hosting its annual Plant-a-Palooza Spring Plant Sale & Family Fun Weekend on April 26 and 27, 2025. This vibrant event features over 70 top growers and vendors offering a diverse selection of rare, exotic, and hard-to-find plants, including orchids, succulents, bonsai, and native species. Attendees can also explore garden accessories, crafts, and more.
š Family-Friendly Activities
Families will enjoy free āFrog-Tasticā activities such as lawn games, arts and crafts, live reggae music by Marijah & the Reggae All Stars, and food vendors. The garden will also showcase the whimsical āRibbit the Exhibit II,ā featuring human-sized frog sculptures by artist Andy Cobb.
š Special Presentations
Special presentations include a talk and book signing by author and photographer Kirsten Hines on April 26 at 11:00 am, and a session on Florida native plants with ecologist Mindi Ogden at 1:00 pm.
šļø Admission & Tickets
Admission is free for Mounts members and children, with tickets priced at $20 for adults and $18 for seniors, students, and military personnel. Advance ticket purchases are encouraged, and all sales are credit/debit only.
š Learn more and get tickets
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| | SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM | | |
š£ Hey parents! Want to make sure your teen doesn't spend the summer glued to a screen? Set them up with real-world skills and a paycheck. CareerSource's Summer Youth Work Experience Program gives 16 to 18-year-oldsāor 19 if theyāre still in high school or working on their GEDāa chance to earn money while gaining valuable job experience, building confidence, and learning workplace responsibility.
See the flyer for important dates and eligibility
š For More Info & to Register:
Call: (561) 340-1060 ext. 2361
š§ Email: youthteam@careersourcepbc.com
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DolphinGemma is a new AI model thatās trying to crack the code of how dolphins communicateāand thatās a big deal. Dolphins arenāt just cute, theyāre incredibly smart, with complex social lives and a language weāre only beginning to understand. If this works, we might actually be able to talk with them one day. That could totally change how we see animal intelligence and might lead to stronger protections for these brainy creatures. Itās also a cool example of how AI can help us connect with the natural world in brand new ways. Click here for the full story!
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Hey all - Jana, here! Memes are short silly things on the internet that make people laugh. ShortMeme is an AI tool that can help you make these memes. I took a picture of Gregg, gave it to the app and it came up with silly captions. I was impressed that AI is able to decipher whatās in the picture and have fun with it, like it did with the skeleton kitty Gregg was holding. Here's how ShortMeme works: upload a photo or take one with your device, choose "Top" or "Bottom" depending on where you want the caption to land, choose a language, and click "Regenerate" (you can keep regenerating until you find a caption you like). ShortMeme is free, so start creating and sharing!
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Note: Not all events listed are open to the public.
4/30/2025 @ 10:30 AM: AI presentation for the Delray Villa Clubhouse. Contact Mitzi Garvey 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. | | |
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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AI Presentation at BRIC
The Palm Beach Chapter of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association welcomed Gregg to the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRIC) on April 21st for one of his signature AI presentations - this one focused on AI in government finance. He cited several tasks AI can be used for, including budget forecasting, fraud detection, assessing economic risks and simulating financial scenarios to support better policy decisions. Thanks for the warm reception!
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WPB Firefighters Appreciation Event
Local leaders including Gregg came together on April 16th to thank the West Palm Beach firefighters who worked through the night two months ago to contain the fire at Jack the Bike Man's warehouseāa cherished local nonprofit. The damage was devastating, but fundraising is now underway. Every purchase at Jack's helps support recovery efforts. Huge thanks to our brave firefighters for all they do for Jack and our city. Pictured here with Gregg is West Palm Beach Fire Chief Diana Matty.
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Tour of Hospital for Special Surgery
During a tour of the Hospital for Special Surgery (HHS) on April 14th Gregg saw firsthand how people with all types of orthopedic conditions are being treated by a dedicated staff, using cutting-edge equipment. Located across the street from Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, HSS serves a range of clients, from pro athletes and dancers to everyday people all with unique needs. Thanks for the eye-opening tour!
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Run With The Cops 5K
Gregg joined over 400 community members who gathered on April 13 for the 9th Annual Run with the Cops 5K, held along the Intracoastal on Flagler Drive in Downtown West Palm Beach (WPB). Proceeds from the race benefitted THE FUND for WPB Police, supporting programs like Shop with a Cop, Cops & Scholars, Police Explorers, Victims Assistance Fund, and other initiatives that strengthen the connection between officers and the community. Gregg placed 4th in his age group, with a chip time of 30:53.4!
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Solomon Empowerment Session
A group of motivated teens tuned in to hear Gregg speak at the March 20 Solomon Empowerment Session at Northwest Wisdom Academy in West Palm Beach. The Academy hosts a chapter of the Solomon Leadership Program, which helps high school juniors and seniors build leadership skills through mentorship and hands-on sessions. Gregg shared how his life experiences, especially those of his teen years, helped shape the values he lives by as a leader today.
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Ronald A. Davis
Ronald āRonā Davis has long been a friend and advisor to Gregg. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, he brings over 40 years of leadership experience in both public and private sectors. His public service includes roles as City Manager in Riviera Beach, Assistant City Manager in West Palm Beach, and Senior Assistant to Florida Governor Bob Graham. He also served in key positions with Palm Beach County Schools and the DC Government. In the corporate world, Davis held executive roles at Infrastructure Management Group, Capital Asset Research Corporation, and Dominion Developers. He currently leads Mosnar Group, LLC, a real estate development and advisory firm in West Palm Beach.
Davis, who holds degrees from Morehouse College and the University of Michigan, is active in the community. He has served on the Board of Trustees of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, FL; The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, and as Chairman of the Board, Northwest Community Consortium, Inc. and the Northwest Community Health Alliance, Inc.
In 2015, when the county was searching for a new county administrator, Ron headed the countyās selection advisory committee.
Gregg asked Ron to once again play an important role in the selection of a new administrator. He serves as alternate on the County Administrator Task Force, charged with whittling down the number of applicants who are seeking to replace Verdenia Baker.
We are grateful for Ronās service!
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