Bringing you News that Counts
Bringing you News that Counts
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March 24, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
· Palm Beach County Day a Success · 1916 County Court House Opens · Criminal Justice Commission Unveils New Bus Shelter Displays · Office of Equal Opportunity Hosts Annual Fair Housing Contest · Boots Boyer to Receive Stewards of Heritage Preservation Award · Animal Care and Control Offering Low-Cost Rabies Clinic · Cooperative Extension Service to Host WaterPalooza, a Water Wise Expo · Rock Mining Summit Deemed Positive, Productive For more information about Palm Beach County’s programs and services, visit us online at www.pbcgov.com. If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, you can e-mail us at countenews@pbcgov.com or call 355-2754. Click here to unsubscribe from Count-e-News.
Palm Beach County Day a Success
County commissioners, staffers and sponsors spent the day meeting with state senators and representatives discussing a number of important local issues and funding requests. They included road construction projects, traffic cameras to deter red-light runners, juvenile crime prevention, and more state funding for the Lake Region Water Treatment Plant, the Lake Worth Lagoon, and restoration of the Chain of Lakes. In addition, the local contingent scored valuable face time with the “big three”: Senate President Ken Pruitt, House Speaker Marco Rubio and Governor Charlie Crist – an unprecedented lobbying coup.
Due to state-mandated budget cuts, the previous three-day Palm Beach County Days event was scaled back to a single, very effective day of one-on-one meetings and round table discussions, followed by a reception in the Capitol Courtyard and Historic Capitol building, which was free and open to the public. Everyone had a great time and agreed that the Palm Beach County message was heard loud and clear by our state lawmakers.
Several hundred dignitaries
and enthusiastic well-wishers listened intently as County officials, officials
from the Historical Society and School District officials explained the many
commitments and partnerships that went into preserving this architectural
treasure. The crowd then made its way
across the street from the atrium of the current courthouse to the steps of the
1916 Court House where officials cut the ribbon of the new facility. (See above) Visitors also toured the building and the new Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum located on the second floor. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free.
Criminal
Justice Commission Unveils New Bus Shelter Displays
The Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) recently unveiled new bus shelter display featuring two winning posters of the Criminal Justice Commission’s “Prevent Youth Violence” design contest. The winners of the contest are South Tech Academy students Carl Ceance and Danielle Post (pictured at left.) Their posters will be featured on 11 bus shelter locations across the county. The event was held on March 20. at bus shelter #617, located across the street from the West Palm Beach Police Department.
The contest is part of the CJC’s Saving The Youths’ Lives Everywhere (or STYLE). Super Group, which meets twice a month at the Lake Worth Youth Empowerment Center. The group attracts about 60 students from 15 area middle and high schools. STYLE focuses on building leadership skills, youth empowerment and reducing youth violence. For the design
contest, students were asked to create a poster with an anti-violence message.
Group members picked four winning posters from the 36 entries. Two of the
winning posters will be displayed at the bus stops while all four will be
displayed on Palm Tran buses.
Office
of Equal Opportunity Hosts The Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity and the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches and are proud to announce the 2008 Fair Housing Poster, Essay and Video Contest in honor of Fair Housing Month. Fair Housing Month is a time to recognize that everyone is entitled to safe, clean and affordable housing no matter what his or her race, religion, color, age, familial status, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, or marital status. That is why this year a curriculum was developed in conjunction with the poster, essay and video contest, to help reach out to the youth of Palm Beach County about fair housing issues. All Palm Beach County schools are being sent resources to understand and facilitate discussion on fair housing issues. This year's contest includes a poster contest for third- and seventh-graders, an essay contest for seventh- graders and eleventh-graders and a video/DVD contest for 11th graders, all depicting this year's theme, "40 Years...Keeping the Dream of Fair Housing." Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. Not only is this an exciting contest for students to participate in, they will be learning about a very important topic: fair housing. Entries may be submitted through April 4. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 15, and prizes will be awarded at a reception held on April 30 at 6 p.m. at the Palm Beach County Governmental Center. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Katz, Government Affairs Assistant at (561) 585-4544 ext 121 or at gkatz@rapb.com or click here: http://www.rapb.com/home.htm?top.htm&0
Boots Boyer to Receive Stewards of Heritage Preservation
Award
Boyer, (pictured on the right) is owner of Boyer Emergency Services and was nominated by County Archaeologist Christian Davenport (pictured on the left). For the past year, the two have been archiving unusual items retrieved from more than 20 locations within an 80-square-mile area of Lake Okeechobee. Boyer has personally taken Davenport and others on numerous tours aboard his airboat, donating hundreds of volunteer hours, as well as paying his own operating expenses. Boyer also helps Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers patrol the region, protecting the sites from looters and curious hikers.
Among the items found: human bones, pieces of American Indian pottery and a shell hammer, a shard of amethyst glass from what appears to be a candleholder, bottles dating back some 100 years, and shell pendants that are perhaps 2,000 years old. A large fishing boat with copper nails and a steam-powered dredge remains mostly submerged in the muck, not to mention the 16-foot double-framed catfishing boat with a one-cylinder three-horse engine that Boyer discovered in March 2007 and reported to Davenport. Some of the recovered Lake Okeechobee artifacts are now on display at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum inside the newly-opened 1916 County Court House.
Animal Care and Control Offering
Low-Cost Rabies Clinic
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control is offering low-cost rabies vaccinations, tags and microchipping for dogs and cats four months and older on Saturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to noon. The location is the Micanopy Pavilion in Okeeheelee Park, off Forest Hill Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
The cost is $15
for a rabies vaccination, tag and microchip. All dogs must be on a leash and
cats in a secure carrier. No cardboard boxes.
Cooperative
Extension Service to Host WaterPalooza, a Water Wise Expo
Before you go, make your pledge to use water wisely at the “20 Gallon Challenge” station! Exhibitors include Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Florida Native Plant Society - Palm Beach County Chapter, Lagoon Keepers, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Mister Landscaper, Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management, Palm Beach County Water Utilities, Palm Beach Zoo, South Florida Water Management District, Toro Sprinkler, and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Do you want a rain barrel for your home? If so, sign up for a rain barrel workshop hosted during WaterPalooza in the Mounts Building Auditorium. Pre-registration for the rain barrel workshop is required and space is limited. Please call (561) 233-1759.
WHAT: WaterPalooza: A Water Wise Expo
WHERE: Mounts Botanical Garden 559 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415 (Located between Southern Boulevard and Belvedere Road)
WHEN: Saturday, April 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
COST: WaterPalooza is FREE; rain barrel workshop is $35, includes rain barrel and fixtures
Rock Mining Summit Deemed Positive, Productive
Commissioners held the fact-finding session with mining and construction representatives, environmentalists, and state and federal regulators, to provide staff direction on permit requests and to establish a coordinated review process for mining within the 700,000-acre EAA.
Palm Beach County is one of the few places in the state with significant deposits of limestone and other aggregate sources needed for road construction and industry.
Following a series of reports and public comment, commissioners agreed to have the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involved in the pre-application process. They will also send a letter to the state asking that the EAA be designated a region of critical concern; and they directed County staff to look into possibly hiring a team of independent experts to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the long-range effects rock mining could have on water quality, wetlands, wildlife and farming in the EAA.
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