The Singer Island News

Last week, in a crowded ballroom at the Hilton, Islanders heard a presentation from the City of Riviera Beach on the long-awaited, often-delayed A1A project. If the city's timetable holds, work will begin next year and be finished in 2010.

After a hard-fought and often nasty campaign, two new Council people were sworn into office Wednesday night. Dawn Pardo replaced Jim Jackson as Singer Island's District 4 representative on the Council. Joining her was Judy Davis, newly elected from District 2, who replaces her opponent, Norma Dumcombe.

After waiting hours for election returns, Islanders and "West Side" residents of Riviera Beach learned that they would have two new Council people as well as a new law banning "baggy pants" in public. The latter was led by Mayor Thomas Masters, who overcame ridicule by local media and some residents as he argued for some kind of community standards.

Mayor Thomas Masters and Gary Ward, a member of the Charter Revision Committee, sat down last Wednesday night with members of the Singer Island Civic Association’s board of directors to explain the proposed Charter revisions as well as the Mayor’s “Baggy Pants” voter initiative.

The Singer Island Civic Association held its annual meeting at the new Palm Beach Shores Community Center. Acting President and Chairman Tony Gigliotti introduced Mayor Thomas Mills who welcomed everyone to the new facility.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by children from the R.J. Hendley School in Riviera Beach. They sang and danced to the National Anthem and then took turns repeating and explaining each of the ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights. All donned patriotic hats except for one of the smallest who was dressed as the Statue of Liberty. The program ended with three finalists reading their essays on “accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative."

Everyone in the audience was taken in by the children, a fact reinforced by Tony Gigliotti’s reminder that SICA is lending support to the school and encouraging members and non-members alike to become boosters at $20 per person.

Two city council seats and 21 charter amendments will be on the ballot as Islanders head to the Sugar Sands clubhouse to vote on March 11th. Former Council Person Judy Davis is running against District 4 incumbant Norma Duncombe, while District 2, Singer Island, incumbant James "Jim" Jackson is challenged by Dawn Pardo. The Singer Island Civic Association (SICA) has endorsed Dawn Pardo and Judy Davis in these contests, and will soon announce its position on the 20 amendments to the City Charter and Mayor Master's "Baggy Pants" amendment.