Page 4 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - December '23

Page 4, Jupiter Ocean Mile
Commissioner’s Update

Honoring And Supporting 67,000 homeless veterans in the United States, and roughly Earlier this year, the commission established a Veteran
Services Advisory Board to assess the needs of veterans
2,500 homeless veterans in Florida. Service men and women
Our Veterans returning home, many with disabilities, mental illness and in the county and to help facilitate coordination between
post-traumatic stress disorder, struggle transitioning back agencies and organizations whose mission is to assist
By Commissioner Maria into civilian life. veterans and their families. The members of the advisory
Marino Palm Beach County Veterans Services, (561) 355-4761, board are veterans and others experienced in the areas of
Each November, we assists and counsels former and current members of the Armed mental health and substance abuse, financial assistance,
observe Veterans Day to Forces to apply for benefits, including housing, disability housing, employment, mobility and a representative of
honor Americans who have compensation, education, employment, financial assistance, the Veterans Administration Medical Center. The Veteran
served in the U.S. Armed health care, and other resources. The county works with the Services Advisory Board will report to the commission on
Forces. As fellow citizens, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department needs and gaps in services. Through their input and guidance,
we must remember to express of Housing and Urban Development through the Rapid the county will take steps to seek additional resources and
our gratitude to veterans, Rehousing and Supportive Housing programs, but the need help maximize assistance to veterans.
who have been willing to remains for additional affordable housing and support services. The emergency helpline for veterans in Palm Beach
step in harm’s way to protect The County Department of Housing and Economic County is 2-1-1. The following link will take you to a
us, and the freedoms we hold Development makes state and federal financing available to comprehensive list of telephone numbers for veterans seeking
dear. November also has become the month during which we private and nonprofit developers who construct affordable assistance, https://bit.ly/guideforveterans.
observe National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. housing with preference for veterans. Additionally, the If you know a veteran who is struggling, please share
Sadly, veteran homelessness spans age groups from County Commission has urged our federal legislative this information with them or have them contact me at (561)
those who served in the Korean War and Vietnam era to the delegation to prioritize housing, financial and credit 355-2201 and I will connect them with service providers who
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. There are currently more than counseling programs for veterans. can help.
Northern Notes

“Otterly” Amazing Otters

By Katie Roundtree,
Director of Finance and
Administration, Northern
Palm Beach County
Improvement District
River otters are mainly
found in freshwater ponds,
streams, canals, and
marshes everywhere in upward to a nest chamber above the high-water level. The As cute as they are, otters are wild animals and should
Florida, except the Keys. burrows are built in the bank of a water body, often under be left alone. Please do not feed them and give them their
These charismatic mammals tree roots. They dig their own burrow or repurpose an space. They can be feisty and attack if threatened. River
are a member of the weasel abandoned beaver den. Otters give birth in early spring to otters can occasionally create a nuisance by eating fish in
family and are comfortable both in and out of the water. anywhere from one to five babies. Baby otters, called pups hatcheries and stocked ponds or digging dens in pond banks.
Otters grow to about 40 inches, weighing between 10 to 30 or kits, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old Keep stocked ponds covered or fenced to prevent otters from
pounds. They have short legs, elongated bodies, webbed feet or until she has another litter. Babies learn to swim when entering ponds.
and a strong, flattened tail, which acts like a rudder in the they are about 2 months old when their mother introduces Enjoy these native animals from afar. They are fun to
water. Their nostrils and ears close to keep water out, and them to the water. Otters are natural swimmers and learn watch and known for their antics in and around the water.
waterproof fur keeps them warm. Otters have the densest to swim quickly. However, please do not approach them or try to pet them.
coat of any animal – as many as a million hairs per square Active mainly at night, otters are excellent hunters. They are far more likely to avoid humans than confront them.
inch in places. Because of this, otters were once hunted to Their diet consists primarily of fish, amphibians, insects Otters are apex predators and are wild creatures – cute but
near extinction for their fur. Their colors range from light and crustaceans. Their powerful teeth and jaws are made certainly not cuddly.
brown to dark, rich brown. They are strong swimmers and for catching and gripping onto slippery fish. An otter’s bite NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet waste
can swim about 6 to 8 miles per hour, holding their breath is approximately 615 pounds per square inch compared is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays, using up
for up to eight minutes. On land, however, they can run up to the average person’s bite force of around 162 pounds oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels
to 15 miles per hour. per square inch. Their bite is comparable to a German and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can kill fish
Otters spend much time on land, often traveling Shepherd’s bite! River otters can easily chew through the and disrupt the natural food chain. Pet waste also contains
considerable distances between waterways. Most otters tough skin of armored catfish found in our area and eat the nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Perhaps most
have at least one permanent burrow (den) by water. The flesh underneath. importantly, pet waste carries diseases which make water unsafe.
burrow’s main entrance may be underwater. It then slopes

BallenIsles Charities Foundation from page 1

the shelter works with families to access support, therapy
and other local resources that can help youth address the
crises they are experiencing. Following discharge, Safe
Harbor staff will support the reunited family for up to 180
days to insure a smooth and successful transition.
In March, the BallenIsles Charities Foundation announced
53 financial grants and four impact grants totaling a record
$1,236,000. Each applicant organization is thoroughly vetted
and must demonstrate sound financial and management Life moves fast—
practices while their proposed program must meet a critical

community need. The record funds raised are a credit to the prepare for the unexpected
generosity of BallenIsles residents, local businesses and
corporate sponsors, contributions from volunteers, as well as with Accident Insurance.
BallenIsles club management and the community association.
For more information about the BallenIsles Charities
Foundation, visit www.BallenIslesCharitiesFoundation.
org. For more information on BallenIsles Country Club,
visit www.BallenIsles.org.
We’re here to help.

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