Print

IN THIS ISSUE

·        Come to the Grand Hatching of Loggerhead Marinelife Center

·        Date Set for Next Lake Worth Lagoon Meeting

·        Groundbreaking Held for West Boca Branch Library

·        Hurricane Housing Recovery Program

·        Why Should We Like Bats?

·        More Upcoming Events

For more information about Palm Beach County’s programs and services, visit us online at www.pbcgov.com. If you have any questions or to provide feedback, you can email us at countenews@pbcgov.com or call (561) 355-2754. To unsubscribe to Count-e-News, click here.

Come to the Grand Hatching of Loggerhead Marinelife Center

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center proudly announces its GRAND HATCHING on Thursday, January 10 at 6:30 pm.

This official grand opening event, chaired by Russ Morley, will be a tropical theme complete with cocktails, island fare graciously donated by Bonefish Grill and tropical entertainment. The highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of the new turtle yard, which is decorated with two custom murals featuring the artwork of renowned marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey. The designs for each of the wall murals were inspired by Harvey’s love of the local marine environment and his passion for educating people regarding our marine environment. The murals were made possible thanks to a donation from Merrill Lynch, Gregory O’Hare. The walls surround the turtle yard which is the focal point of the new 12,000 square foot campus.

“A dedication of the new campus was held last April with local officials; however this event will be the spectacular grand opening event everyone has been anticipating,” said Nanette Lawrenson, Executive Director. 

Construction of the new Center cost $4 million to build and another $2 million for exhibits and equipment. In addition to the expanded turtle yard, the new facility includes a 1,200 square foot exhibit hall that houses the world’s largest sea turtle skeleton replica – the Archelon, an on-site veterinary clinic, a research laboratory, learning center an expansive gift shop.

The grand opening celebration theme is tropical and guests are asked to dress in their favorite most tropical attire. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased by calling 561-627-8280 extension 101. Sponsors of the event include Bonefish Grill, Merrill Lynch, Gregory O’Hare, 10 Cane Rum and NUVO Wine. The Grand Hatching Committee is comprised of Russ Morley, chair; Chris Fratalia, Frank Harris, Paula Henderson, Nanette Lawrenson, Terri Mersentes, Ellen Morley, Jim Mostad, Terri Neil, Mike Rendina, Ann Seppenfield and Dawn Sherwood.

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a nonprofit organization, is committed to the conservation of marine life through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. In addition to providing educational programs, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center operates a sea turtle rehabilitation program, and features aquariums and other marine exhibits and is located at 14200 US Highway One in Juno Beach. For more information visit www.marinelife.org or call 561-627-8280.

ˆ Go to the top of this page

Date Set for Next Lake Worth Lagoon Meeting

A second Lake Worth Lagoon “listening meeting” has been scheduled for Jan. 23 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vista Center, 2300 N. Jog Rd. in the first floor public meeting room.  The public is invited to submit comments on the second draft of the 2007 Lake Worth Lagoon Management Plan.
 For directions, visit www.pbcgov.com/erm/contact.asp.  To review or download the plan, go to: www.pbcgov.com/erm/enhancement/lwlagoon.asp. 
 Written comments to the plan may be submitted via e-mail to LWLMP@co.palm-beach.fl.us anytime after Dec. 28 and until Feb. 1, 2008. For more information, contact Alessandra Medri at 233-2512 or amedri@co.palm-beach.fl.us.

ˆ Go to the top of this page

Groundbreaking Held for West Boca Branch Library

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new West Boca Branch County Library was held on Nov. 28 at 18685 State Road 7 (between Yamato and Clint Moore roads) in Boca Raton.
 The new West Boca Branch will be a 20,000-square- foot facility that was designed to be expanded to 40,000 square feet in the future.  The new library will feature 136 parking spaces, 30 public computers, a teen room dedicated to young adults, three private study rooms and a larger study tutor room, a meeting room, a public conference room and a children’s area with a story time room. 
 The architect for the project is Konrad Kwok- PGAL.  The Weitz Company is the contractor.

caption:  Pictured above is an artist’s rendering of the new library expected to open in the spring of 2009.

ˆ Go to the top of this page

Hurricane Housing Recovery Program

The Palm Beach County Department of Housing & Community Development is currently accepting new applications from County residents whose primary homes were damaged by the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes. 
 Based on household size and annual gross income, (limits are listed below), eligible homeowners may receive up to a maximum $55,000 in assistance.
 These funds may be used for interior and exterior repairs including installation of hurricane shutters, mold remediation and fence replacement. Homeowners may also be eligible for reimbursement of hurricane/windstorm insurance deductibles, HOA or condo association assessments for hurricane damage, and up to $2,500 for moving and/or storage expenses. Expenditures for most repairs not fully covered by your  hurricane/windstorm policy may also qualify for reimbursement. Only complete applications with verifiable documentation will be accepted. Assistance is issued on a first come, first served basis and is subject to funding availability.
 For information regarding eligible repairs, program guidelines and acquiring applications, contact Stacey Garced at 233-3650.

ˆ Go to the top of this page

Why Should We Like Bats?

If you do not like mosquitoes, then you should love bats.  Bats can eat thousands of flying insects each    night. They are often considered nature’s pest control. Unfortunately, bats, much like snakes, sharks and spiders, seem to evoke feelings of fear and distress beyond the harm they may cause people. It could be because of the old vampire bat stories, but who really knows. Bats are very harmless.  They are primarily insect, fruit or nectar eaters. Bats in Florida only eat insects and definitely do not eat blood.  No bats eat citrus.  The animal eating the holes in your oranges in the fall and winter is spelled “r-a-t”, not “b-a-t”.  In reality, bats are very shy and not at all aggressive.
    Bats are the only flying mammal, and their flight is characterized by acrobatics as they pursue their insect prey. The most notable structures of bats are their wings which are essentially the same as our arms and hands, thus the scientific name chiroptera meaning “hand-wing” in Latin. The bones of the “hands” and “fingers” are elongated and serve to support and move the wing. The hind limbs of bats are modified for landing and hanging upside-down.
      Bats in our area have suffered due to the dramatic loss of old trees and canopy cover. In south Florida, tree cavities, snags and especially unpruned cabbage palm trees are important roost sites. Window shutters, drain pipes, billboards and various other nooks and crannies also house bats.

    You can help bat populations directly by providing them with roosting habitats. A bat house is easy to construct, such as the one pictured above.  For detailed directions on how to build one, go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG342 (or /UW053).   You can also get directions from the Cooperative Extension Office.  Call 233-1759 for more information. To learn more about Florida bats, visit the Florida Bat Conservation Web site, www.floridabats.org.  

ˆ Go to the top of this page

More Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

·        Meet some of our shelled friends and learn about the different varieties of turtles and their lifestyles at Green Cay Nature Center’s “Terrific Turtles” event. The event will be held on Saturday, January 12 at 2:00 pm.  The event is open to all ages. Cost is $3 per person, but children 4 and under free. Green Cay Nature Center is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and is located at 12800 Hagen Ranch Road in Boynton Beach. Log on to www.pbcparks.com/nature for more!

·        Discover these wondrous wetlands as a park naturalist guides you off the main trails on a five-mile hike during “Off the Beaten Path” at Riverbend Park. The event will be held on Sunday, January 6 from 9 to 11 a.m. Riverbend Park is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and is located at 9060 Indiantown Road in Jupiter. For more information about Riverbend Park and other programs available through the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, visit us online at www.pbcparks.com

ˆ Go to the top of this page