Bringing you News that Counts
Bringing you News that Counts
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November 9, 2009
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County Joins Neighbors to Address Regional Climate Change
Palm Beach County is working with its neighbors in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to collaborate on a strategy to address regional concerns on climate change.
Elected officials and policy makers participated in the first Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit held at the Broward Convention Center on Oct. 23, 2009.
Also in attendance were federal and state legislators, regional transportation, planning and water management authorities and members of the regional Climate Change/Green Task Forces representing the four counties.
The day-long event provided an opportunity to join forces in discussing and developing a regional strategy to address climate change. The featured speakers addressed climate change policy, mitigation needs and adaptation strategies.
Keynote speakers included U.S. Department of Housing and Development Special Advisor Jim Lopez who spoke on “Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Climate Change Adaptation Through Urban Planning;” Retired Brigadier General Joseph Barnes who spoke about “National Security Issues re: Energy and Climate;” Senior Vice President Mark Way with Swiss Re Group and Lauren Toretta, McKinsey and Company who discussed “The Economics of Climate Adaptation.”
The morning panel discussion highlighted local policy commitments and priorities and the specific challenges and needs identified through the task forces. In the afternoon, panel discussion focused on technical aspects of specific climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. The final session covered the value of a regional climate change strategy for Southeast Florida and some key elements to encourage collaboration.
The summit concluded with commissioners from the four counties signing the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact. Palm Beach County Commissioner Shelley Vana, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, Broward County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs and Monroe County Mayor George Neugent will be presenting the compact to their respective commissions in the fall.
The regional compact contains four major points: engagement in a regional planning process, cooperation on state energy and climate policy positions, cooperation on federal energy and climate policy positions and commitment to ongoing cooperation via annual summits. All four counties have initiated climate change task forces to develop strategies on green county operations, reduce carbon emissions and begin planning for increasing rates of sea level rise associated with global climate change.
Mounts Offers Books on South Florida Gardening
When visiting the Mounts Botanical Garden, stop by the Mounts Bookstore and browse through a wide variety of South Florida gardening books.
The botanical garden bookstore has a wealth of both University of Florida gardening handbooks and those of the best garden authors in plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.
You can find top-notch publications including books on South Florida native trees, shrubs and groundcovers, tropical fruit trees, grafting, vegetable gardening, flowering trees, palms, lawn care, insects, butterflies, bromeliads and herbs.
If you need a good Felco hand pruner or pocket saw, a turned wood bowl or just a bottle of local palmetto honey, the Mounts Bookstore has them for sale. All the proceeds go to maintain the Mounts Botanical Garden. The holidays are here, and you can never give a gardener too many great gardening books.
Master Gardener Hertha Horner manages the bookstore. She can also answer plant questions over the weekend when the Cooperative Extension Service is closed. If you need a plant sample diagnosed, Horner will forward the sample to the county’s Cooperative Extension Service horticulturist. Volunteer Master Gardeners including Maria Mitsinicos, Linda Spillane and Sheila Olson also help visitors in the bookstore.
The Mounts Bookstore is located in the Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach and is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. If you have any questions about the bookstore, call 233-1760. If you have plant questions, call the Palm Beach County Master Gardener volunteers Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 233-1750.
Take a Historic Walking Tour of the Second Seminole War Battlefields
The Parks and Recreation Department is offering a guided walking tour of the Second Seminole War Battlefields in Riverbend Park, Jupiter.
Local historian and author Richard Procyk will lead a 1½-hour tour of the battlefield and discuss the famous leaders from the Seminole Resistance during the Seminole Wars: Abraham, Osceola, Wildcat and Sam Jones.
Comfortable shoes, lawn chairs, sunscreen, raingear, and bottled water are recommended.
When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.
Where: Riverbend Park, 9060 Indiantown Road in Jupiter, one mile west of the turnpike/I-95 exits, on the south side of the road
Cost: FREE! (reservations are recommended)
For more information, call (561) 966-6686.
Consumer Trap & Tip: Duct Cleaning
Trap
Linda suffers from allergies and wondered if duct cleaning would improve her health and increase the efficiency of her home air-conditioning system. She saw a glossy advertisement offering whole-house duct cleaning service for just $99! Sounding too good to be true, she decided she would get more information before calling the company.
Tips
Here are some tips to consider before hiring a duct cleaning company:
• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, www.epa.gov), there is no scientific evidence that duct cleaning improves air quality or prevents health problems. However, the EPA does recommend duct cleaning when mold is visible or the ducts are clogged with dust that can be released into your home.
• A license is required for contractors who provide duct cleaning services. Check with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (850-487-1395, www.myfloridalicense.com) or Palm Beach County Contractors Certification (233-5525, www.pbcgov.com/pzb/Contractors) to verify the contractor’s license status is active.
• Be wary of businesses that want to clean ducts without inspecting them first or offer services at a very low price without providing details as to what the price covers. A careless technician can damage your ducts. Ask for references, and get quotes from at least three licensed companies. If they pressure you into buying additional services, find another company.
Consumer Trap & Tip: Dietary Supplements
Trap
Health-conscious, 52-year-old Mary was looking to slow the effects of aging and improve her overall health. She ordered a free trial of a product she saw on the Internet. It promised to increase her energy and help her sleep at night, too. After taking some pills for two weeks, she started having headaches and chest pains. Her doctor told her to stop taking the supplements immediately. What should Mary have done?
Tips
Many online companies offer dietary supplements, and while supplements can be used safely by most people, some can be harmful. Some important things to consider before purchasing supplements are:
• Don’t be influenced by celebrity endorsements of a product. Check with your doctor first as some supplements may interact with your prescription drugs.
• Shop around before you buy from an out-of-state or foreign company. You may be able to find comparable products locally.
• Read all the terms and conditions of the purchase sale. A free trial may obligate you to buy additional products with automatic monthly billing and deliveries or convert to a membership if not canceled within the trial period.
• Be skeptical of “miracle” supplements, “wonder” cures or any product offering a “quick fix.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Do your own research with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, www.nutrition.gov, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov, and the National Institutes of Health, www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dietarysupplements.html.
Check on the company you are considering by going to the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Web site, www.pbcgov.com/consumer, or calling 712-6600 (Boca/Delray 1-888-852-7362 toll free).