PRESERVATION... PRESERVATION... PRESERVATION

GONE WITH THE WIND

Last night the Preservation Foundation audience watched, enthralled, the first part (of two parts) of “Gone With the Wind”.  Even if we’d seen it before, we were on the edge of our seats.  Somehow the battles in the film and scenes of the wounded particularly hit home right now.  The  backgrounds, customs and clothing were most interesting.

Tonight is part two, and you should see it.  Non-members are free… do come and join us.  The Preservation Foundation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of the historic, architectural, and cultural heritage of Palm Beach, Florida.  Gone With the Wind is about the preservation of a fine plantation which has been under siege.

311 Peruvian Ave, Palm Beach.  One block north of Worth Avenue. Bice Restaurant is right across the street. 6-8 pm, doors close at 6:15.  Must reserve at 561-832-0731. 

PRESERVATION FOUNDATION WELCOMES GENERAL PUBLIC TONIGHT -free admission- ONLY IF SEAT IS RESERVED in advance

Actor/filmmaker Pierre Etaix’s personal and most beloved movie, YOYO (1965), tells about an estate gone full circle.  A 1920’s billionaire lives in an empty old estate but is not happy.  His financial state is destroyed by the stock market crash, and he joins the circus.  His son, decades later, becomes a famous movie star comedian and buys back his father’s former estate, and begins to restore it, an example of our debt and responsibility to the past.

 

Come and hear from President Alexander Ives show and tell how the movie links to the causes and work of the Preservation Foundation.  The Preservation Foundation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of the historic, architectural, and cultural heritage of Palm Beach, Florida. Through advocacy initiatives, educational programs, architectural resources, and cultural events, the Foundation’s goal is to encourage the community to learn about and save the historic buildings that truly make Palm Beach special.

 

As with all events, the Preservation Foundation expects attendees to act respectfully.  We reserve the right to turn away anyone.  Reserve at 561-832-731.  No admittance after film begins at 6 pm.  Location is at 311 Peruvian Ave, Palm Beach, FL 33480.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE... and Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach brings water usage to our attention!

Four years of continuing drought in California has brought water conservation and use enforcement to the forefront of the news.  Some solutions are building new dams and water-storage facilities and water market approaches re pricing, as well as seeking water elsewhere.

Preservation Foundation President Alexander Ives presented this past week Part 1 of the movie, Cadillac Desert-Mulholland’s Dream, about the role of water in the history of Los Angeles.  The exploding population was using up the water supply so LA Water Department Chief William Mulholland set about seeking water to bring in.  His agents quietly purchased water rights to a lake 230 miles to the east, soon depriving local farmers in Owens Valley the water they needed for their farms and animals from the Owens River.  What followed was havoc, building pipelines that farmers dynamited and otherwise sabotaged.  Nevertheless, the water was transported through the pipelines to Los Angeles creating new neighborhoods, the benefits from which politicians thrived.  This happened in the late 1920’s.

It was a truly timely presentation as Los Angeles struggles today with water conservation and perhaps plans again to divert water from elsewhere.  With an endless ocean right there, one wonders why that water can’t be converted for public use.  Hopefully, someone is working on overcoming whatever obstacles there are to this obvious potential solution.

Marc Reisner, author of Cadillac Desert, describes in his book the economics, history, politics and ecology of water in the reclaiming of the American West.  He was featured in the film.

If Mr. Ives focus is alerting us to our environment and making us aware of what is happening with our natural elements, he is succeeding very well.

VENICE: GLORIOUS ARCHITECTURE THEN, EVEN MORE GLAMOUROUS NOW

ALL seats spoken for at Palm Beach Preservation Foundation’s Venice evening.  “Summertime” was shown but the real stars were the buildings, wall murals, exquisite tile work and statues. 

If you have been to Venice, or not, “Summertime” takes you there like it is. The first short showed the gondolas and ferries in fast motion, and made us wonder how there were no accidents on the Grand Canal.  The movie was most romantic and highly scenic.

 

The Foundation building at 311 Peruvian Avenue in downtown Palm Beach is a work of art itself, and worthy of your study.  The appropriateness of the movie for our crowd echoed the mission of the Foundation. 

 

Over 30 years, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach has

 

• given millions of dollars for the preservation and restoration of historic properties
• worked advocating for over 290 landmark properties
• recognized numerous architects, owners, and properties with awards
• educated hundreds of thousands of children about the architectural, cultural and environmental legacy of Palm Beach
• saved thousands of archival documents in its library, among many other accomplishments.

 

It is awesome to preserve historical treasures for future study and enjoyment. 

FLORIDA UPDATE JUNE 2015 from CFO Jeff Atwater

Along with Florida’s beautiful beaches and laid-back lifestyle, here are recent advances:

• Since 2011 Florida’s economy has been growing, with private sector growth higher than national average.
• Ranked #1 in aerospace manufacturing attractiveness
• 2^nd best  state to do business in
• 3^rd highest number of technology establishments in US
• 4^th in nation for technology industry workers
• Miami named 2^nd best metropolitan statistical area for startup activity
• Miami is home to #1 cruise port in the world
• Largest single site employer is Walt Disney World in Orlando
• High tech corridor (Orlando, Gainesville, Lakeland, St. Petersburg and more) creates cutting-edge aviation and aerospace advancements with economic impact of $1.2BB
• Creative digital media advances, including top-selling video games
• Panama City ranked as south’s #1 pro-business beach community
• Pensacola ranked in Top 10 for successful aviation and aerospace clusters in the south