Bringing you News that Counts
Bringing you News that Counts
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May 19, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
· County Helps Condo Owners Plant Sea Oats · Open House and Public Hearing May 22 for Delaware Scrub Natural Area Management Plan · Fleet Management Switches to Ethanol Fuel Blend · County Commission Receives Honor from Historical Society · How to Survive Skyrocketing Gas Prices
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County Helps Condo Plant Owners Sea Oats
Peter Bond, a resident of Ocean Trails, recently approached the Town of Jupiter about receiving a grant to plant sea oats near the condo. The town awarded the condominium association a $5,000 grant to purchase sea oat seedlings.
Bond sought help from Kimberly Miranda of Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resources Management Department (ERM) about helping with the project. Miranda then contacted Ann Mathews, volunteer coordinator for ERM. On April 18, more than 50 county and condominium volunteers planted the seedlings. Condo residents said they will make sure to water the sea oats to ensure their survival.
Open House and Public Hearing May 22 for Delaware Scrub Natural Area Management Plan
The
Palm Beach County Natural Areas Management Advisory Committee (NAMAC) will hold
an open house and public hearing on the draft management plan for the
county-managed Delaware Scrub Natural Area. It will be held on Thursday, May
22, 2008 at the West Jupiter Recreation Center, 6401 Indiantown Road, Jupiter
(corner of Central Blvd. and Indiantown Road). The open house will be held from
3 to 6 p.m., followed by a public hearing from 7 to 9 p.m. The
purpose is to allow residents of Jupiter and surrounding areas, as well as
other interested citizens, to learn about the passive public recreational
facilities planned for the site and offer comments on the draft management
plan. Copies of the draft management plan, site maps and other displays
will be available at the open house for public inspection. Department of Environmental
Resources Management staff also will be present to answer questions. The
public hearing will be conducted by NAMAC chair Richard Moyroud. The
hearing will provide a forum for public comment for those citizens who were not
able to attend the open house or who wish to address the committee members
directly. NAMAC members will consider the comments provided at the open house
and public hearing and may recommend revision of the management plan before it
is sent to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. Copies of the draft management plan also will be available for public inspection at the following locations:
For more information, please contact Dave Gillings in Environmental Resources Management at 233-2477.
Fleet Management Switches to Ethanol Fuel Blend In
another step toward implementing “green” initiatives, Palm Beach County’s Fleet
Management Division has switched to ethanol E10 fuel for county vehicles,
with all county fuel sites dispensing the new fuel. Using E10 fuel will
save the county approximately 300,000 gallons of gasoline a year. The
new fuel blend, composed of gasoline and 10 percent ethanol, will be used for
the entire county fleet, including constitutional officers, the Palm Beach
County Sheriff’s Office, Fire-Rescue, airports and all county departments.
Palm Tran, the county’s public transportation service, uses biodiesel, a
mixture of regular diesel and naturally grown resources. Fleet
Management has several other green initiatives already in place. It ranks
13th in the nation as having the highest number of hybrid vehicles
in its commercial and governmental fleets, according to the October 2007 issue
of Automotive Fleet magazine. The county’s fleet currently has 157
hybrid vehicles, and will add 43 more by the end of 2008. Fleet Management
will also be the first government body in the southeast United States to
purchase medium-duty hybrid bucket trucks this year. Other green practices established by Fleet Management include using propane for various pieces of equipment, downsizing the fleet (not buying large vehicles unless necessary for a particular mission), encouraging less idling of vehicles and establishing a stringent preventive maintenance program. The department also started using nitrogen-filled tires three years ago.
County Commission Receives Honor from Historical Society
The
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted to restore the
courthouse in April 2002, and they allocated funding. In February 2003, the BCC
voted to grant space in the Court House to the Historical Society. Removal of
the wraparound façade and demolition of the annex and its connecting structure
began in January 2004. The County Commission authorized the restoration contract
in September 2005, and the notice to proceed was issued in January 2006.The
restoration was completed in November 2007. Every year since 1989, the Judge James R. Knott Award has been given to recognize the achievements of an individual or organization that has contributed to the preservation, promotion or enrichment of Palm Beach County history. Palm Beach County commissioners join the list of distinguished awardees that includes Yesteryear Village (2006), the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum (2005), The Palm Beach Post (2004) and the late Judge Marvin Mounts (2003).
How to Survive Skyrocketing Gas Prices
Palm Beach County’s Cooperative Extension Service is offering drivers tips on how to survive climbing gas prices. It’s time to think of some things we can do to help ease the “pain at the pump.” • If you can eliminate just two discretionary trips per week you can save several dollars at the gas station. Combine trips by share driving chores with neighbors or carpooling to work. • Your gas mileage while waiting in line at the drive-thru is easy to calculate – 0 miles per gallon. Park the car and go inside the restaurant. You’ll save gas and get some exercise! • According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), all cars lose fuel efficiency at speeds above 55 mph and fuel efficiency really drops off at speeds over 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, reduces mileage by about 7 percent. Going 75 instead of 60 costs an extra 77.3 cents per gallon of gas when gas costs $3.68/gallon. • Maintenance is the key to peak performance. Some things like a dirty air filter and under inflated tires can increase your fuel cost up to 13 percent (U.S. Department of Energy - DOE). • “Flooring” the gas pedal while moving away from the light usually doesn’t get you to your destination any faster and it wastes gas. Drive evenly and sensibly. • When it’s time for a long trip, think about what you really need to take. A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent because of the drag the rack carrier produces. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car’s fuel economy by 1-2 percent. (U.S. Department of Energy - DOE) Source: Gas Price Help – http://fycs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2007/gasprices.html. For more helpful consumer tips, go to the Cooperative Extension Service’s Family and Consumer Division Web site at http://www.pbcgov.com/coopext/FACS/.
· Green Cay Nature Center is hosting “Terrific Turtles” on Saturday, May 24 at 2 p.m. where residents can learn about different varieties of turtles and their lifestyles The event is open to all ages, $3 per person; children 4 and under are free. Reservations are required. The center is located at 12800 Hagen Ranch Road in Boynton Beach. Visit www.pbcparks.com/nature for more information.
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