Palm Beach County – Palm Beach County traffic will be affected this week by ongoing construction projects and maintenance work, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials report. Weather permitting; closures will be in effect on I-95, Southern Blvd. (SR80) and in other areas throughout Palm Beach County for construction activities. Click here to view the report

For around-the-clock, real-time traffic information within the tri-county area (Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties), travelers should call 511. For I-95 Palm Beach County traffic reports just say “I-95 or Interstate 95.

Information is also available on-line at www.511southflorida.com.

To view real-time video of I-95 in Palm Beach County, visit the FDOT I-95 Interim Traffic Management System (ITMS) website at www.palmbeachcotraffic.org. These free services are provided by FDOT and the SunGuide™ Partners. For updated lane closure information, please refer to www.pbfdot.com.

WILD 95.5 Presents Hot New Group, MENUDO, at West Palm’s Hot Spot to Chill

(July 24 – West Palm Beach)  Rising teen pop group, MENUDO, will wrap up the summer concert season at Clematis by Night with a FREE performance on Thursday, August 14 in Centennial Square.  WILD 95.5 fm, Palm Beaches’ Hit Music Station, will present this talented group of young Latin performers on the Wachovia stage for a FREE summer concert as part of the Clematis by Night Summer Blowout event.

Coming out of Puerto Rico in the 1970s, MENUDO was the first, and the greatest, of a wave of talented singing and dancing groups that’s still relevant 30 years later. The legendary group has sold over 40 million records worldwide, broke numerous attendance records and launched the career of international superstar Ricky Martin.  Now – two generations later – a new, updated version of MENUDO is back, with a contemporary sound and look, and the same universal appeal. The five new members Carlos, Chris, Emmanuel, José and Monti are young, polished, highly professional singing-and-dancing boy group. They have already released their More Than Words EP this past December and expect to release their full length album in 2008, both via Epic Records.

People know and love this new MENUDO already. The new group came together on the MTV & MTV Tr3s reality series Making Menudo. Viewers watched the dramatic competition week after week, as fifteen young Latinos, chosen from nationwide search went through a demanding “boy-band boot camp” designed by legendary pop impresario Johnny Wright to train and choose the five best suited for the even harder job of working professionally as a performing team.  The competition is over, and now the group begins.  MENUDO has already performed on Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Live with Regis & Kelly, and several Spanish-language television shows, and they are now set to carry on the pop music torch left by their 70’s predecessors as teen superstars.

Opening for MENUDO at Clematis by Night is indie pop/rock band Ruling Mercury.  This band, previously known as Kindle, is quickly making a name for themselves on the local music scene.  They have even been nominated as “Best Local Band” on the WPBF TV25 A*List, made appearances on Wild 95.5 and have just released their first album of original music titled after the band’s original name, Kindle.

CLEMATIS BY NIGHT – SUMMER BLOWOUT
Clematis by Night is a FREE weekly event that features great music, mouth-watering foods, sidewalk shopping, and fun in the fountain every Thursday night from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. in Centennial Square, downtown West Palm Beach.  The Clematis by Night Summer Blowout concert is produced by the City of West Palm Beach and brought to you by Wild 95.5, Wachovia, The Palm Beach Post, La Palma, Schumacher Automotive, WPTV NewsChannel 5, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Heineken, Samuel Adams, the West Palm Beach Marriott, and many others.  For more information, please call the City of West Palm Beach Community Events Division at 561-822-1515 or visit the website at www.clematisbynight.net.

The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer 2008 Concert Series
Sizzling Sounds Heat up the Meyer with a FREE Latin Concert

(July 25, 2008 – West Palm Beach, FL) – On Sunday, July 27, the City of West Palm Beach is bringing sizzling sounds and Latin dance rhythms to its monthly Sunday at the Meyer concert series. Guests can spend this upcoming Sunday afternoon getting their hips and feet moving to the Latin beats of Carlos Oliva & Los Sobrinos Del Juez, presented by La Palma and Mia 92.1 fm.

PERFORMER: Carlos Oliva & Los Sobrinos Del Juez www.carlosoliva.com
DATE: Sunday, July 27, 2008
TIME: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Meyer Amphitheatre in Downtown West Palm Beach

Carlos Oliva and “The Judge’s Nephews” have secured their place in Latin music history in the US and are known as one of the founders of the “Miami Sound”, a musical style developed by the fusion of rock, jazz, samba, son, guaracha and other Cuban rhythms. Carlos is the face and sound of Miami music having worked with and influenced numerous musicians including the Miami Sound Machine. The rhythm and liveliness of Carlos Oliva and The Judge’s Nephews are contagious and their performances are truly memorable. The opening act for this concert is Ernesto Fernandez, an up and coming Latin jazz flutist reminiscent of his world-renowned predecessor, Nestor Torres. Read the rest of this entry »

When:  Monday, July 21, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
Where:  City Hall Commission Chambers, 200 2nd Street, WPB

(07/18/08)  City commissioners will hold a “taste test” as part of their evaluation of potential operators for the new library café at a special meeting on Monday, July 21, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in City Hall Commission Chambers.

The café will be located on a portion of the ground floor of the new City library, which is part of the City Center project.  The parties wishing to operate the library café will create samples from their menu for the commissioners to taste.

When:  Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where:  Gaines Park, 1501 North Australian Blvd., WPB

Families dealing with increasing prices for everything from gasoline to groceries will be able to get FREE school supplies and services at an upcoming event.

The City of West Palm Beach is proud to support the Urban Youth Impact “Back 2 School Blast” which is being held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Gaines Park, which is located at 1501 North Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach.

The Back 2 School Blast will offer school physicals, health screenings, groceries, school supplies, children’s haircuts and immunizations, ALL FREE OF CHARGE.  All services and supplies are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last.  Event parking will be at Redemptive Life Church just north of Gaines Park on Australian Avenue.

What:  Two new businesses come to Rosemary Avenue
When:  Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.
Where:  411 and 413 North Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach

The City of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is helping welcome two new businesses to North Rosemary Avenue at a special grand opening ceremony.  The ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in front of the two businesses, which are located at 411 North Rosemary Avenue and 413 North Rosemary Avenue.

“Hairdo U Salon” will be opening at 413 North Rosemary, and “Bethy Beauty Supply” will be opening at 411 North Rosemary.  Both shops are locally owned and will be offering special deals to customers as part of their grand opening celebrations.

When:  Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 2:45 p.m.
Where:  City Commission Chambers, 200 2nd Street, WPB City Hall

(07/08/08)  Newly-elected City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell (District 3) will be sworn into office at a special ceremony on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 2:45 p.m.  The ceremony will take place in West Palm Beach City Hall Commission Chambers located at 200 2nd Street.

Commissioner Mitchell will take the City’s oath of office, and begins serving her term immediately thereafter.  The ceremony will be carried live by West Palm TV (Comcast Cable Channel 18) and can also be seen live by logging onto wpbtv.org.

Learn how to save money on gas, save your home from foreclosure and more… all on your iPod

(Tuesday, July 8, 2008)  West Palm Beach residents and visitors will now be able to learn about their City government’s programs, projects and happenings… all on their iPod.

The City of West Palm Beach has unveiled “CityCast,” the City’s own podcasting service.  Anyone with internet access will be able to listen to CityCast for free at anytime.  You can also download CityCast through wpb.org or through iTunes to an iPod or MP3 player.

The City of West Palm Beach is the FIRST municipality in Palm Beach County, and one of the first in the State of Florida, to offer podcasting.  A podcast is a digital audio or video recording made available over the internet.  CityCast is similar in some ways to a radio show, but it is hosted exclusively on the internet and is available on-demand and free of charge.

“CityCast is just one more innovative way we can communicate with the public,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel.  “From offering on-demand video of City Commission meetings through our award-winning website, wpb.org, to our free e-newsletter “CityConnect” and now to our free podcasts, the City of West Palm Beach continues to embrace new technologies and get information to the public in user-friendly, cost-effective ways.”

Episodes of CityCast are available by going to wpb.org. and clicking on the “CityCast” link.  Current episodes include tips on how to save money on gasoline, an update on the City’s Foreclosure Assistance Center and a history of the City’s 4th on Flagler event.

People can subscribe for free to CityCast through iTunes so that new episodes are automatically downloaded to their computer, iPod or MP3 player.

What:  South Flagler Drive/Granada Road Intersection Closed
When:  Beginning Monday, July 7, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.
Affected Area:  South Flagler Drive and Granada Road, WPB

(07/01/08)  Motorists should be aware that the intersection of South Flagler Drive and Granada Road will be closed from Monday, July 7, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, July 11, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.  The intersection will be closed while crews perform underground stormwater pipe removal and repairs.

The detour for northbound traffic is Avila Road to Olive Avenue to Diana Place.  The detour for southbound traffic is Actaeon Place to Olive Avenue to Avila Road.

What:  4th on Flagler Road Closings
When:  Beginning Thursday, July 3, 2008
Affected Area:  Flagler Drive, downtown WPB

(07/01/08)  The following roads will be closed for “4th on Flagler” in downtown West Palm Beach, which will be held Friday, July 4, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.:

Beginning Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.:
Flagler Drive will be closed from Banyan Boulevard to Lakeview Avenue.
North Clematis Street will be closed from Lantana Avenue to Flagler Drive.
South Clematis Street will be closed from Narcissus Avenue to Flagler Drive.
Datura Street will be closed from Narcissus Avenue to Flagler Drive.
Evernia Street will be closed from Narcissus Avenue to Flagler Drive.
Narcissus Avenue will be closed from Datura Street to Evernia Street.
All  the above roads will reopen no later than Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.

Beginning Friday, July 4, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.:
Clematis Street, Datura Street, Evernia Street and Fern Street will all be closed from Olive Avenue to Flagler Drive.
Access for resident parking will be maintained on Evernia Street and Fern Street.
All roads will reopen no later than Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 12:00 p.m.