Bringing you News that Counts
Bringing you News that Counts
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November 5, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE · Yamato Scrub Natural Area Opens · Get Ready for the “How to Make Everything Come Up Roses” Workshop · County’s Art in Public Places Program Selects Design for Convention Center Project · Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
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Yamato Scrub Natural Area Opens
Environmental Resources Management’s newest natural area opened on October 17 in Boca Raton. The 217-acre Yamato Scrub preserves an endangered ecosystem while also providing a passive recreation area for the public. After a brief opening ceremony, attendees took a tour along the trail. ERM Site Manager Lee Lietzke pointed out highlights of the environmental restoration project. The tour featured views of the diverse ecosystems on the site including scrub, scrubby pine flatwoods and a restored 10-acre basin marsh system. Most of the planting and restoration work was accomplished by ERM staff and hundreds of volunteers. Scrub ecosystem comprises more than 60 percent of this natural area. Preservation of scrub ecosystem is of particular importance because less than two percent of the County’s original scrub remains. The Yamato Scrub Natural Area is located at 710 Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton. The site, jointly owned and managed by the County and Boca Raton, is now part of a countywide system of natural areas encompassing over 30,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land. All natural areas are open for environmental education, scientific research and passive recreation such as photography, bird watching and hiking, from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, including holidays. For more information about the Yamato Scrub or other County natural areas call 233-2400 or visit the Web site at www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/erm
Get Ready for the “How to Make Everything Come Up Roses” Workshop
The cost for this two session workshop is $45 per person for Mounts Botanical Garden members and $55 per person for non-members. Fee includes book, “Growing Roses in South Florida” by Greater Palm Beach Rose Society members. Available space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please call (561) 233-1757 to register by telephone using a credit card. For more information, please visit our web site at: www.Mounts.org.
Call today to make your plans to start growing beautiful roses by taking advantage of the valuable knowledge available through this workshop.
WHAT: How to Make Everything Come Up Roses Workshop WHERE: Mounts Botanical Garden Auditorium, November 10 559 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415 (Located between Southern Boulevard and Belvedere Road) Coolidge Nursery, November 17 WHEN: Saturday, November 10 & 17, 9 a.m - 1:00 p.m COST: $45 per person for Mounts Botanical Garden members, $55 per person for non-members.
Palm Tan, Palm Beach County’s public transportation agency, will implement new environmentally-friendly initiatives over the next few months. Palm Tran received a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation to install a nitrogen inflation system which will be used to fill tires on Palm Tran’s buses. The installation is currently in progress and the switch will take place in December. Additionally, Palm Tran has plans to fuel its buses with biodiesel, a mixture made from regular diesel fuel and processed vegetable or soybean oil. Biodiesel fuel has been shown to reduce bus emissions by 30 to 40 percent. The switch to biodiesel is planned for January. Riding public transportation is a meaningful way to reduce the impact of pollution on the environment. Palm Tran is an affordable, safe and convenient method of transportation. For assistance with planning your trip and general route information, please call the customer service department at 841-4287.
County’s Art in Public Places Program Selects Design for Convention Center Project
When approaching the downtown West Palm Beach, residents and visitors will greeted with an eye-catching light display on the exterior of the Convention Center. The County’s Art in Public Places Program has selected artist Barbara Grygutis for this project at 650 Okeechobee Boulevard for her design “Wave.” Five aluminum arc forms will be illuminated from within with kinetic lightning. Each unit will have a changing light pattern ranging from shades of blue to turquoise and green. The light sequence will be staggered by 15 seconds, creating a rolling wave pattern as it sequences through the forms. The contract will go before the Board of County Commissioners for approval on Nov. 20. Grygutis has won numerous awards and commissions including two National Endowment for the Arts awards.
More Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities
What: Volunteer Work Day Where: Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area in Hypoluxo When: Tuesday, December 4, 2007 Time: 9:00 a.m. to noon Volunteers will install trail markers along the hiking trail and remove invasive plants and trash. (This project is a continuation of the November 3 volunteer event) Volunteers should wear long pants, t-shirts, boots or sneakers, and hats. The Department will supply tools, refreshments, and environmental education. For more information, call
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