Thai Officials Visit County Emergency Operations Center

On March 25, the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management hosted 10 visitors from Thailand at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The trip was funded by the Thailand government, and the purpose was to present best practices in the areas of emergency management, emergency operations center practices, alert/notification, disaster information management and the National Incident Management System.

The group consisted of Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (MoICT) staff, university professors and two high-level Thailand officials:  retired Admiral Kohlak Charoenrook, former member of the Senate of the Royal Thai Kingdom and Viriya Mongkolveerapan, Director of the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC). 

The NDWC was created after the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.  This tsunami was caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and left 150,000 dead or missing and millions more homeless in 11 countries, making it perhaps the most destructive tsunami in history.  There were over 5,000 deaths in Thailand.  The NDWC was created to warn residents and visitors of approaching disasters and mitigate massive potential damage to the nation. 

This group is charged with setting the direction and policy for communications and technology for a variety of operations in Thailand where there currently are no uniform standards for incident management, information flow and resource management.  Information gathered from the visit will hopefully help improve Thailand’s national, provincial and local government emergency management practices.

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 Library Employees Earn State Recognition

Director Callahan is President of FLA

 

Library Director John J. Callahan III was installed as president of the Florida Library Association (FLA) at the annual conference held in Orlando in April. FLA is a leadership and advocacy organization for the library community throughout the state. The organization provides continuing education and networking opportunities for employees, supporters and volunteers from all types of libraries: public, private, academic and special. FLA also advocates for legislation and funding for libraries and has been instrumental in the efforts to convince state legislators to continue state aid for libraries.

 

Due to the economy, libraries are busier than ever as people look for ways to save money by checking out books and DVDs or using library computers and free wi-fi.  “It is more important than ever for people to be involved in organizations like FLA that advocate for libraries,” Callahan said.  “The FLA helps employees and administrators deal with the ever increasing demand for the services we provide.”

 

Callahan has been a member of FLA since 1991 when he moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he held a variety of administrative positions over 18 years to become the director of the Hernando County Public Library, Florida.  Callahan left Florida in 1996 to become assistant city librarian of Newport Beach, CA. In 1999 he returned to Florida as the director of the Delray Beach Public Library before taking the reins as the Palm Beach County Library director four years ago.

 

 

Librarian Olga Alvarez Receives Award

 

Librarian Olga Alvarez, from the Palm Beach County Library System’s Main Library, received the Florida Library Association’s “Chavez Hernandez - Libraries Change People’s Lives” award at a ceremony held on April 9 at the association’s convention in Orlando.

 

Alvarez has worked with the Library System since March 2005 and received many accolades for her outreach to the Spanish speaking population in Palm Beach County. She created a Spanish language book discussion group that brings in traveling authors, provided computer classes and health programs in Spanish, and worked to provide information to migrant and immigrant groups. Alvarez formed excellent relationships with the Hispanic media allowing the Library to reach out through newspaper, radio and television interviews.

 

In 2006, her creation of the annual Hispanic Heritage Month series, with programs sponsored by the cultural associations of Latin American countries, generated a broad appreciation and understanding of the diversity in our community. These highly successful partnership programs have allowed Hispanic groups in the county to highlight their rich cultural heritage and showcase it for all to appreciate.   

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Fire Rescue Captain Earns Heroism Award

 

Congratulations to Fire Rescue Capt. Craig Prusansky, EMS7, for recently receiving the heroism award from Firehouse Magazine, one of the nation’s largest fire service publications.  

 

The April 2010 edition published a list of award recipients who were chosen to have acted heroically at an emergency incident, or who have gone “above and beyond” their service to the community.  The nomination for the award was submitted in January by Chief Steve Jerauld and Battalion Chief Michael Arena.

 

In August 2009, county Fire Rescue Station 74 responded to a domestic violence report in Lake Harbor.  Prusansky was requested to report to the scene.  A woman was lying in front of a house while an armed suspect was inside the residence.  Deputies carried the woman to the road and crews started treatment.  Gunfire erupted between the suspect and the deputies. The EMS crew took cover, but Prusansky stayed with the patient as they were shielded by a deputy’s vehicle.  Prusansky and four deputies, who were protected with bulletproof shields, then carried the patient to Rescue 74.

 

Congratulations to Capt. Prusansky for his heroism award!

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Landscaping Tip:  Conserving Water in Your Landscape

Homeowners have strict ordinances on yard watering.  The regulations are required because one half of all the drinking water in South Florida is used for outdoor irrigation. You can easily cut your outdoor water use by applying Florida-friendly landscaping principles in your yard.  Your landscape can incorporate native and non-native plants, turfgrass, flowering plants, trees or any combination of these while still conserving water.

 

The following nine Florida-friendly landscaping principles are recommended by the University of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District:

          1. Right plant, right place - Choose low-maintenance plants with needs that match the conditions in your landscape, and group them together to drastically reduce the need for water, fertilizer, pesticides and pruning.

          2. Water efficiently - Avoid overwatering, use micro-irrigation, and water your lawn and plants only when you know they need it or they show signs of stress.  Use a shut-off device to detect when a certain amount of rain has fallen or when a certain level of moisture is present in the soil. Perform regular irrigation system maintenance, and make sure your irrigation system is calibrated so you know how much it applies each time. Don’t irrigate if it has rained in the past 24 hours or if rain is forecast for the next 24 hours.

          3. Fertilize appropriately - If you are happy with the appearance of your plants, you don’t need to fertilize them. Many established plants don’t need fertilizer, and many trees will thrive without it.  Remember that fertilizer applied to turf will reach the roots of plants nearby, so if you fertilize your lawn, your plants may already be getting all the nutrients they need. Choose products that contain slow-release nutrients.  Avoid “weed and feed” products.  Apply fertilizers only when plants are actively growing. (Many plants, including most turfgrasses, are dormant in the winter.) Apply an iron source instead of additional fertilizer in the summer to keep grass green without increasing growth.

          4. Use mulch - Keep three inches of mulch on your plant beds to help control weeds, retain soil moisture and reduce erosion and stormwater runoff. Pine bark is a long lasting type of mulch. Soil pH may be reduced with pine bark and pine straw which help to acidify coastal soils.

5. Attract wildlife - Visitors and family will enjoy watching butterflies and nesting birds in your yard. Keys to attracting wildlife include providing water, planting native plants, providing bird/bat houses and bird feeders, removing invasive exotic plants, managing pests and reducing pesticide use.

          6. Manage yard pests responsibly - When it comes to pest management, nature can take care of itself. Learn to identify beneficial insects, and let them do the pest control for you. If pesticides are needed, choose the least toxic pesticides such as horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps.  Remember, low levels of pests will do minimal damage, so be tolerant.

          7. Recycle nutrients - There is no need to bag or rake lawn clippings; leave them on the lawn to recycle nitrogen.

          8. Prevent stormwater runoff - Precipitation that does not soak into the ground where it falls can be a problem.  Fast-flowing runoff from downpipes may lead to eroded areas and damaged plantings.  Instead, connect the downpipes to plastic or metal water tanks. This is a great way to reduce runoff while giving yourself a free supply of water for your garden.  A 1,000-square-foot roof can produce more than 600 gallons of runoff for every one inch of rain.  Direct downspouts toward a vegetated area, such as your garden or lawn.  Replace concrete or asphalt slabs with pavers. You can use paving stones or bricks for patios, walkways and driveways. Water can seep down into the ground in the spaces between the individual pavers and reduce the amount of runoff.  

          9. Protect the waterfront - When it rains, water flows down streets, sidewalks, and driveways. Everything that is on the pavement, such as grass clippings, fertilizer and car oil, gets washed into storm drains and empties directly into the closest body of water such as the nearest pond, creek or lake. The water is not filtered or cleaned first, so use pesticides and fertilizers at least three feet away from a water body.

 

If you would like to see samples of drought-tolerant plants, visit the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service at 531 North Military Trail and stroll through the Mounts Botanical Garden located right behind the Mounts Building.  The garden area has several kinds of plants that you can also look at (including fruit trees) before you purchase them. The Botanical Garden is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.   For more information, call 233-1750 or visit http://www.mounts.org/.

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Consumer Trap & Tip:  Selling Your Car Privately Can Be a Nightmare

In today’s economy, many in Palm Beach County are selling their vehicles, boats or trailers privately.  While you are avoiding the “middle man,” there are some pit falls that must be avoided to assure your old car doesn’t come back to haunt you and cost you.

Trap

Joe and Sandy Nelson decided to sell their old Chevy Van, so they placed an advertisement in their community paper. Tom, who worked in the Nelson’s housing development, saw the advertisement and thought the van would be perfect for his job and growing family. He called the Nelsons and made arrangements to see the van that night.

The Nelsons were anxious to make a deal and offered to sell the van to Tom at a discounted price because he seemed like a nice guy. They even took Tom’s personal check and signed over the title.  Everybody seemed to get what they wanted.

About a year later, the Nelsons received a certified letter from a local towing company concerning their old van. The letter was a “Notice of Claim of Lien and Proposed Sale of Motor Vehicle or Vessel.” It detailed charges for towing fees totaling over $500! The notice referred to storage charges continuing to accumulate at the rate of $25 per day if the van was not claimed and the fees paid.  Failure to pay the charges would mean the van would be sold at public auction.  If the sale of the vehicle didn’t cover the fees due the towing company, the Nelsons would be held responsible and could be prevented from registering a vehicle or securing a revalidation sticker for their car tag.

The Nelsons called the towing company immediately and discovered that the van was never properly registered with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles. Tom had apparently abandoned the van after it broke down, and the police department called the towing company to have it removed.  Fortunately for the Nelsons, they were able to negotiate the charges, and the towing company took the van to the salvage yard for scrap.  What could the Nelsons have done to prevent this?

Tips

When you sell a car, truck, boat or other vehicle that requires a license plate in Florida, the following tips may save you trouble down the road:

• First, locate the title. If you can’t find it, you must apply for a new one. Download the form, HSMV 82101 online at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV). Fill the form out and return it to the local tax collector’s office.  Although not required, consider meeting the buyer at the county tax collector’s office to complete the sale.
• It is the seller’s responsibility to maintain insurance on the car so the title can be transferred to the new owner. The buyer will also need insurance before the title can be transferred.  
• Collect payment from the buyer in the form of cash, money order or cashier’s check.
• Transfer the title by filling in the buyer’s name, address and the vehicle’s purchase price. Write the current odometer reading along with the date of sale. Print your name in the “Seller” section and the buyer’s name in the “Purchasers” section of the title. Both the seller and purchaser will need to sign the title.
• Give the buyer a printed bill of sale. Include the date, description of the car and vehicle identification number. Write the buyer’s name and street address along with your name and address. Record the odometer reading, show the purchase price, sign your name and write “paid in full.”   
• Be sure to fill out a “Notice of Sale” form at the county tax collector’s office within 30 days of the sale. This lets the state know you no longer own the car and frees you from future liabilities to the car.
• Failure to take these recommended steps could lead to having a “Wrecker’s Operator’s lien” filed against you for unpaid towing and storage charges. The lien places your name on a list with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.  You will be prevented from registering a vehicle or applying for a revalidation sticker until the towing company’s lien is resolved.

Resources:

• Palm Beach county Tax Collector: http://www.taxcollectorpbc.com
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: http://www.flhsmv.gov

For more information call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 888-852-7362 toll free) or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer for more information.

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Animal Disaster Expo May 15 to Promote New Stamp

 

What:  Palm Beach County Adopt a Shelter Pet New Stamp Promotion

When: Sat., May 15, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

 

Where: Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach (between Jog Road & the Florida Turnpike)

 

Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control and the U.S. Postal Service are hosting a FREE family event including information on preparing animals for hurricane season, pet adoptions, low-cost rabies clinic (shot, tag and chip for $25 for spayed/neutered pets only), pet pictures, shelter dog fashion show, guest speakers, exhibitors and an unveiling of the new U.S. Postal Service “Adopt a Shelter Pet” stamp. Exhibitors welcome.  For more information, call 233-1222 or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/animalcare/.

 

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