ISSUE 3 · SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026 · LIFE BY DESIGN, NOT DEFAULT
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH This Week |
Tuesday is the week’s big night. City Hall and the library are closed Monday for the holiday. The Commission meets Tuesday — with $6.4 million in borrowing for three fire trucks, $5.1 million for Parker Avenue and new raises for city workers. On Wednesday, a downtown board takes up a big new grocery store on Banyan Boulevard.
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Liberty Watch |
Tue 10/13 CRA 4:30 p.m. Commission 5 | $6.38M lease-purchase for 3 fire trucks | $5.11M FDOT money for Parker Ave | 5/3/3% SEIU raises over 3 years |
Tuesday, October 13, 5 p.m. — City Commission, Commission Chambers, 401 Clematis St. The biggest item: borrowing up to $6,381,628 to buy three fire trucks (a platform truck and two aerial ladders) on a seven-year lease-purchase at 4.69% interest. More on what that costs below.
On the consent calendar — passed in one motion, no separate discussion: the $5,110,000 FDOT grant for rebuilding about 1.3 miles of Parker Avenue, Forest Hill Boulevard to Nottingham Boulevard (we previewed it last week; it’s now on the final agenda as item 8.5). And a new three-year contract with the SEIU union: raises of 5% this year, then 3% and 3%, with standby pay up from $25 to $30 a day and the tool allowance doubled to $1,200. The city says the first year is already in the adopted budget.
Before that, 4:30 p.m. — CRA: one item, appointing a new at-large member to the Northwood / Pleasant City advisory board. Also Tuesday, 4 p.m.: the Sustainability Advisory Committee meets in the Flagler Gallery; no agenda is posted on its page.
Wednesday, October 14, 9 a.m. — Downtown Action Committee, Commission Chambers. A request for a two-story, 69,922-square-foot supermarket with 178 parking spaces at 629 Banyan Boulevard, with variances — plus a privately requested change to downtown zoning rules for full-service supermarkets, and two transfers of development rights from lots on 9th and 10th Streets. Wednesday, 6 p.m.: a city community meeting on the South Flagler Overlay District at the St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church hall, 110 Southern Blvd.; the city’s page posts a flyer but no agenda.
From issue 2: the City Clerk’s posted results for September 28 mark every public-hearing item “approved” — including the citywide mobility fee (Ordinance 5182-26, second reading) and the cap of 10 commercial trash franchises at a time (Ordinance 5184-26). It doesn’t show vote counts, and the minutes aren’t posted yet.
| Your move: want to speak Tuesday? Fill out a comment card for each item before it comes up — without one, the chair won’t call you. Comments are limited to three minutes. |
Sources: Oct 13 Commission agenda · Oct 13 CRA agenda · Oct 14 DAC agenda · SOFOD meeting page · SAC meeting page · City Clerk’s posted Sept 28 results
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Mapping Our Community: What a Fire Truck Really Costs |
Fire trucks are expensive, and West Palm is buying three at once. The city plans to lease-purchase them: borrow up to $6.38 million, then pay $1.1 million a year for seven years, starting December 2027. The trucks become the city’s when the last payment is made, in December 2033.
Add it up and the city pays $7.72 million — including $1.34 million in interest. That’s about 21 cents of interest for every dollar borrowed. The payments come out of the Fire Assessment Fee Fund, starting with the 2028 budget.
The lens worth keeping: spreading the cost over the years the trucks are in service is a reasonable way to pay for them. The fair question is the price of that convenience — and whether, next time, saving ahead would cost residents less.
| GO DEEPER The West Palm Beach record is being built. The Council on Local Relations publishes sourced city records — see how it works at councilonlocalrelations.org. Start here — the Primers: 01 The Long Flat Line (how the family changed) · 02 The Documents We Live Under (the written rules that limit power) · 03 The Household (what a household buys, priced in years of work) · all primers → From the Council: This week: If It Only Works Because Someone Remembers, It Isn't Built Yet (The Engineer); Complexity Is a Moat. My Job Is to Fill It. (The Herald); I Watch the Gap Between What It Costs and What It Delivers (The Watchman); The Money Does Not Lie. But It Does Hide. (The Analyst); Why I Built a Council (David Campbell, Chairman). Get them by email → |
Sources: Oct 13 Commission agenda, item 9.1
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH From the Council This Week |
 | MONDAY, OCT 12 · THE TREASURER Every Dollar Is Working For You or Against You |
 | TUESDAY, OCT 13 · THE STEWARD Count What's Actually in the Pantry |
 | WEDNESDAY, OCT 14 · THE HEADMASTER The Standard Is Not Completion. The Standard Is Transfer. |
 | THURSDAY, OCT 15 · THE STRATEGIST Fewer Things, More Times |
 | FRIDAY, OCT 16 · THE ARTISAN Confusion Is a Form of Abandonment |
Every piece, every figure linked to its source: councilonlocalrelations.org
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Around the Block |
| Creative Movement Ballet for ages 4 and up — 11–11:30 a.m., KidSpace, Mandel Public Library. Free; sign-up starts at 10:30. | ||
| Small Business Accounting Basics — 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Mandel Library, Clematis Room. A free full-day workshop; registration required, lunch provided. | ||
| Tiny Garden Club for grades K–5 — 4:30–5:30 p.m., Mandel Library. Avocados, peppers and chocolate for Hispanic Heritage Month; kids go home with free seeds. | ||
| Clematis by Night — 6–9 p.m., Centennial Square & the Great Lawn, with 56 Ace. | ||
| GreenMarket — Saturday morning, 100 N. Clematis St.; check the city’s GreenMarket page for this season’s hours. Watch the forecast: storms are likely Saturday. | ||
| Hip Hop for Kids, grades K–5 — 2–3 p.m., Mandel Library. Sign-up starts at 1:30. |
Your move: library programs fill up — get there for sign-up. Run a West Palm event? Send it by Thursday.
Sources: Library: ballet · Library: accounting workshop · Library: Tiny Garden Club · Clematis by Night · GreenMarket · Library: Hip Hop for Kids
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Prosperity Spotlight |
Nowlin Flower Shop
Nowlin Flower Shop has sold flowers on Northwood Road since 1934. Neighbors who grew up nearby remember stopping in with their parents or grandparents.
Robert Bono bought the business and its building in 2003, and the shop lists Robert and Anthony as its owners today.
It delivers the same day at no extra charge.
| Nowlin Flower Shop · 457 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach · (561) 659-0988 Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–5 p.m. · Sat 11–3 · Closed Sunday · nowlinflowershop.com |
Sources: Nowlin Flower Shop · WPTV, 2020
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Food Scene |
E.R. Bradley's Saloon
E.R. Bradley's has sat on the downtown waterfront at Clematis Street since 1984, when Frank Coniglio bought it as a nod to his love of horse racing.
It's named for Colonel Edward Riley Bradley, who ran the Beach Club casino on Palm Beach for more than 50 years starting in 1898.
Frank's son, Nick Coniglio, runs it now. Weekend brunch starts at 8 a.m., and the kitchen serves until 10 every night.
| E.R. Bradley's Saloon · 104 S. Clematis St., West Palm Beach Mon–Fri from 11 a.m. · Sat–Sun from 8 a.m. (brunch until 3) · Kitchen until 10 p.m. · erbradleys.com |
Sources: E.R. Bradley's Saloon · West Palm Beach DDA, family businesses · New Times Broward-Palm Beach
✦ Trivia Question |
GreenMarket is in its 32nd season and topped USA Today’s 10Best readers’ poll of farmers markets again in 2026. How many vendors did it have when it first opened? (Answer at the bottom.)
✦ Quote of the Day |
“Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” — Louis D. Brandeis, Harper’s Weekly, 1913
✦ Secret Little Hack |
Want to speak at a Commission meeting? The rules are on every agenda: fill out a comment card for each item you want to address — your full name, address and the item number — and hand it to the City Clerk before that item comes up. No card, no recognition. You get three minutes (Oct 13 agenda, page 1).
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Real Estate Pulse |
37.5% of houses for sale cut their price | $35,000 median cut, houses | 40.2% of condos cut their price | 61 days to contract, houses (Sept) |
Sellers are blinking. As of today, more than a third of West Palm houses for sale (37.5%) are priced below where they started, with a median cut of 5.2%, or $35,000. Among condos and townhouses it’s 40.2%, with a median cut of 6.7%. Houses that sold in September took a median 61 days to go under contract. There are 504 houses and 1,098 condos and townhouses on the market. Figures are PBP Real Estate’s analysis of BeachesMLS listing data, published by a local brokerage.
Sources: PBP Real Estate — West Palm Beach statistics (BeachesMLS), Oct 11 edition
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Service Opportunities |
Know someone struggling with groceries? Every Tuesday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., the Palm Beach County Food Bank helps with SNAP, Medicaid and cash-assistance applications at the Mandel Library, 4th floor — walk-in, in English and Haitian Creole (library listing). Pass it along. Or adopt: the county shelter on Belvedere Road has dogs and cats waiting.
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Adopt a Friend |
Meet Cooper
5 years · Male (neutered)
“Cooper is a sweet 5-year-old male dog who gets along well with other dogs. He has a medium energy level.” Red, about 78 pounds, house-broken, and listed as ready for adoption. See Cooper’s listing →
| Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control · 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach · 561-233-1200 Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.–4 p.m. · adoption page |
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Growth & Learning |
Raises stack. City workers in the new SEIU contract get 5% this year, then 3% and 3%. Have your kids try it on a made-up $40,000 salary: $42,000 after year one, $43,260 after year two, $44,557.80 after year three. Is that more or less than 11% added at once? (More — each raise grows on the last.) More at unrivaledacademy.com.
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Local Theory & Remnant Radio |
 | Now playing: Sovereign Ground — the latest Local Theory album (April 3, 2026 · 15 tracks). Listen · vote on the mixes. Remnant Radio streams the whole catalog 24/7 at radio.thinkandactlocally.com · Spotify. Fourteen releases. Sovereignty through sound. |
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Weather Forecast |
Sun Storms possible 87° 79° | Mon Mostly sunny 84° 77° | Tue Sunny 84° 80° | Wed Sunny 85° 81° | Thu Storms possible 85° 81° | Fri Storms possible 85° 79° | Sat Storms likely 84° 77° |
A dry, breezy start: sunny Monday through Wednesday, highs in the mid-80s. Storm chances climb to 50% Thursday and Friday, and Saturday is the wettest day of the week — showers and storms likely (70%). GreenMarket-goers, bring a rain plan.
Sources: National Weather Service (MFL), retrieved Oct 11, 2:32 p.m. CT
✦ CrowdHealth |
 | David and his family left traditional health insurance for CrowdHealth — a community that funds each other’s medical bills. Bills get negotiated down first; no claims department, no denial letters. See how it works. We earn a referral if you join. CrowdHealth is not insurance. David is a paying member. |
✦ Unrivaled Travels |
 | Planning a trip worth taking? Our own travel service books the expedition, cruise, or getaway you’ll remember — at no markup. info@unrivaledtravels.com · 281-241-1994 · unrivaledtravels.com One of our own businesses. |
✦ Unrivaled Candles |
 | Hand-poured jewelry candles — every one hides a piece of jewelry inside, valued from $10 to $10,000. Burn it down and find out what’s yours. Shop Unrivaled Candles. Full disclosure: one of our own businesses. |
✦ Unrivaled Marketing Solutions |
 | You built the business — now make sure your West Palm Beach neighbors can find it. Grab a free digital audit and we’ll show you where you’re leaving money on the table. No pitch. Book your free audit. One of our own businesses. |
✦ Sponsor Spot |
This spot is open. Sponsor this spot — reach West Palm Beach neighbors every Sunday, in the one inbox they actually read. Reply to book it.
✦ They Told Him He Was Crazy |
David sold his metals. Not trimmed — sold. He kept the receipts, every decision sourced, so you can decide for yourself: conviction, or crazy? Read the filing →
David’s own account; affiliate link. Support never touches coverage.
✦ Have a Question? Ask It Live |
Want to understand the framework David uses to put money to work without living in front of a screen? The team behind it runs free live calls — bring your questions, get them answered in real time. No cost to sit in and listen.
Register for a free live call →
Full disclosure: this is an affiliate link. But you know the rule — sponsors support the mission, never influence the message. David doesn't recommend anything he doesn't personally use.
We earn a referral if you join. Education, not financial advice. Options involve risk of loss.
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Community Voices |
Who keeps your corner of West Palm running? The crossing guard on Parker Avenue, the firefighter who checked your smoke alarm, the neighbor who hauls everyone’s bins in after a storm. Hit reply with a sentence or two — we’ll run the best next Sunday.
✦ Take Action |
- Read the Oct 13 agenda — the Commission meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. (CRA at 4:30), City Hall.
- Weigh in on downtown’s grocery at the Downtown Action Committee, Wednesday, 9 a.m., Commission Chambers.
- Go to the South Flagler meeting Wednesday, 6 p.m., 110 Southern Blvd., if you live or own near it.
✦ Submit Your Content |
Events, business features, volunteer calls, letters from West Palm Beach: david@thinkandactlocally.com. Deadline: Thursday 5 PM for Sunday.
✦ Answer to Trivia |
13 vendors. The first GreenMarket opened in November 1995 in the parking lot of the Old City Hall (City of West Palm Beach, History of the Market).
THE HERALD ✦ WEST PALM BEACH Keep the Herald Free |
No advertiser sets our coverage — readers keep it alive. The best thing you can do costs nothing: forward this to one neighbor who’d want to know what Tuesday’s agenda costs.
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The Herald is published by Think and Act Locally. Its facts come from the public record kept by the Council on Local Relations, which shares a founder with Think and Act Locally. Portions drafted with AI assistance and reviewed before publication. Reply anytime: david@thinkandactlocally.com
