City Administrator Faye Johnson is leaving Jan. 15
Plus ice skating on the waterfront, a film fest across three cities and the next king tides.
The city administrator's office at City Hall will be empty by mid-January, and nobody has been named to fill it. Faye Johnson's exit lands in a year when the mayor's office is turning over and, according to Stet News, the city is expected to take a sizable property tax hit from a newly approved amendment. Elsewhere this weekend, there's skating by the Intracoastal and a film festival that stretches from the Norton to Palm Springs.
Faye Johnson has worked in and out of West Palm Beach city offices since 1986, and in 1992 she became the city's first Black female department head, leading Housing and Community Development. Now she plans to leave the city administrator's job Jan. 15, Stet News reported Thursday. She has not announced it publicly, but Commissioner Christy Fox and others confirmed it. Johnson was the first woman and first African American to hold the post.
No successor has been named. Under the strong-mayor system the administrator reports to the mayor, and Mayor Keith James leaves office in March because of term limits. Deputy Administrator Jose-Luis Rodriguez remains. Assistant Administrator Armando Fana left in September.
At least four candidates are running for mayor, including former Commissioner Christina Lambert and County Commissioner Gregg Weiss. Qualifying closes at noon Nov. 17. The winner also inherits Amendment 3, the expanded homestead exemption voters approved this week. Stet News reports the city is expected to lose nearly $32 million a year in property tax revenue by the second year. The city expects to raise about $161 million from property taxes this year.
Brightline trains between West Palm and Orlando are running again
Automatic refunds are going out for trips Brightline canceled during this week's flooding disruption, the company says, sent to the original payment method. Its notice, updated Nov. 5, estimates three to five business days for a refund to appear.
Flooding in Central Florida stopped trains between West Palm Beach and Orlando from Nov. 2 through part of Nov. 4 while crews inspected track conditions. According to the same notice, service has been restored, and all departures were operating as scheduled when it was posted.
A former Navy jet pilot is turning his recovery into a calling
Chris Claflin flew Navy jets in combat and graduated from Harvard Business School, then spent eight years addicted to drugs. Now more than a year sober, he is reaching out to other veterans. WPTV reported his story this week for National Veterans and Military Families Month. He was recently invited to speak at the Called to Freedom Veterans Retreat.
According to WPTV, the Hanley Center in West Palm Beach has been a major source of support for Claflin. He is working toward certification as an addiction counselor. His message to veterans who are struggling: "Get help."
The Ben's waterfront ice rink is open daily through Jan. 3
- When
- Daily through Jan. 3 · 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Where
- The Ben, downtown West Palm Beach waterfront
- Price
- $30 adults, $15 children; skate rental included
Tickets are required for anyone entering the rink at The Ben, and each one includes skate rental. General admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children, according to the hotel. Tickets are non-refundable.
The Winter Wonderland rink sits along the Intracoastal and runs through Jan. 3, open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Skating is for ages 4 and up, and skate aids for kids are first come, first served. Skating stops every 90 minutes while the ice is resurfaced, and blackout dates may apply for private events, holidays or bad weather. Hot chocolate, seasonal cocktails and s'mores kits are on the menu.
Subtropic Film Festival spreads across three venues Saturday
- When
- Saturday, Nov. 7 (festival runs Nov. 6-8)
- Where
- Norton Museum of Art; Lake Worth Playhouse; Afflux Studios at G-Star Studios
- Address
- 1450 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach; 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth; 2060 S. Congress Ave., Palm Springs
Saturday is the second day of the Subtropic Film Festival, which runs Nov. 6 to 8, and the action is split among three cities. Organizers list the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, the Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth and Afflux Studios at G-Star in Palm Springs.
The Lake Worth Playhouse is new to the festival this year. Afflux is the main venue for filmmaker workshops, which include lessons in shooting and processing real film stock. The lineup also features work by high school filmmakers. Schedules and tickets are at linktr.ee/SubtropicFF.
City flags more king tides this month and a wetter winter
In a release last week, the city said what it calls a "Super El Niño" pattern could add 1 to 4 inches of rain a month this winter, peaking in January. When heavy rain hits during a high tide, drainage can slow and streets can flood.
The current king tide period is expected to last through Nov. 12, with more forecast Nov. 22 to 29 and Dec. 22 to 27. Flood stage is the level at which minor coastal flooding may begin, according to the city.
The city asks residents to keep leaves and clippings out of storm drains. HOA managers and commercial owners should check their private drainage. Report a clogged inlet to Public Utilities at 561-822-2210, open around the clock. Report king tide flooding at 561-822-2185.