Green Market returns for summer weeknight hours by Andrew Abramson There will be a little California Dreamin’ in West Palm Beach beginning Wednesday as the Green Market opens for its first season for summer, weeknight hours. Weeknight summer green markets are popular are on the west cost, but for years West Palm was reluctant to open its waterfront Green Market during the summer, citing a smaller population and vendors not wanting to put up with the heat. But as the Green Market grows in popularity, the city decided there was enough to demand to hold it year around. The market will open on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with more than 60 vendors. There will also be opening ceremonies to usher in the ... Continue reading →

Clematis Street closed off for motorcycle night http://t.co/KUqk1ZuZ Continue reading →

By Andrew Abramson Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH — The city's next police chief will either be a long-time New York City cop who went on to lead the Yonkers Police Department or an assistant chief from Cincinnati. West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio announced her two finalists on Friday, deciding to hire a chief from outside the department for the first time in 25 years. Cincinnati Assistant Police Chief Vincent Demasi, 55, and former Yonkers Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett, 56, beat out four other finalists, including West Palm Beach's acting co-chiefs, Mary Santos-Olsen and Bryan Kummerlen. Muoio said the city will conduct an extensive background search for the next two weeks and then bring Demasi and Hartnett in for final interviews ... Continue reading →

Next police chief will come from outside as mayor selects finalists from Yonkers, N.Y. and Cincinnati by Andrew Abramson Hartnett Demasi While it could be a few weeks until the city selects its next police chief, Mayor Jeri Muoio on Friday made it official: For the first time in 25 years, the city will hire a chief from outside for the department. Muoio on Friday narrowed the field of six finalists down to two: Edmund Hartnett, former police commissioner of Yonkers, N.Y. and Vincent Demasi, assistant police chief of Cincinnati. “The biggest difference with these guys is they had executive leadership experience,” Muoio said. “One was a chief of police and one had been an assistant for many years. They have a long background of ... Continue reading →

Norvell South End Neighborhood Association president Jeff Fischer has stepped down, leaving vice president Robert Norvell in charge until elections in September. SENA is one of the city’s most active neighborhood associations and has about 200 members. In an email to SENA members this morning, Fischer said that his work responsibilities have left him unable to adequately serve as president. Norvell, an attorney, was the co-leader of ‘West Palm Fair Elections’ which was pushing for the city to hold an election, and not an appointment, to fill the commission seat left vacant when Bill Moss died. The movement was initially successful, but the city wound up backtracking and appointing Shanon Materio, who served on the SENA board until her appointment earlier this month. Norvell said ... Continue reading →

By Andrew Abramson Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH — A group led by a Juno Beach artist and gallery owner wants to build an arts center that would be a "unique national facility" that could help revitalize the Northwood area and make West Palm Beach an arts hub.Commissioners on Monday gave the city's Community Redevelopment Agency the go-ahead to negotiate with the Benzaiten Group, headed by JoAnne Berkow, a Juno Beach artist whose paintings are featured in galleries around the world.The Benzaiten Group gave an unsolicited proposal, meaning the city can negotiate but will have to give others the opportunity to bid if it decides to move ahead with the project. CRA director Kim Briesemeister said the city would likely review the ... Continue reading →