Page 1 - PGA Community News - December '23

VOL. 33 NO. 12 FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com DECEMBER 2023

PGA POA Communication Corner

Happy December And Happy Holidays! People, Traffic And More People
Welcome Back Pga National Family And Friends! Where has 2023 gone? Doesn’t it seem as if the days and months are flying by? Here we are
in December yet again! December is a beautiful month in South Florida and especially at PGA
By Gail Coppage, Communications Committee Chairperson National. Our PGA family welcomes many of its families and friends this month, in celebration
Palm Beach Gardens Annual Toy Drive of the holidays, to enjoy the lovely weather, to golf, swim, bike, walk and to visit the many
The annual “Joy Toy Drive” is hosted by the Palm restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens and the surrounding towns. While you are also driving through
Beach Gardens Police and Fire Departments. Police and our communities, and enjoying the twinkling holiday lights throughout PGA National, please
Fire employees receive a list of children’s needs and remember that we are now seeing more traffic and an increase in pedestrians on bikes, scooters
toy wants, with lists categorized by family so that each and on foot throughout our community. PGA National is home to lots of little ones as well so
gift is addressed to a specific child by name. Each child please take it slow, take your time while driving, and please watch out for our PGA residents and
receives the gifts from their original list. Police and Fire their families while traveling throughout PGA National. Please stay safe out there!
Employees do an amazing job in serving as volunteers NCNC Update On Beeline Widening
for this important holiday project to better support the The North County Neighborhood Coalition (“NCNC”) is a Florida not-for-profit corporation
neediest of our community. What a great effort! Our own which includes 23 member communities including PGA National, Ibis, Admirals Cove, Avenir,
POA Office staff also serve as volunteers. The POA office BallenIsles, Ibis, Mirasol, etc. The NCNC’s mission is to improve the quality of life in North
has been accepting new, unwrapped toys since Nov. 1 and will continue to accept gift Palm Beach County. PGA National is a founding member of the NCNC, and the POA’s President,
donations up until Dec. 23. If you are interested in making a toy donation, just bring Mike Engelsher, was involved in the original establishment of the organization. Mike and
your unwrapped toy (for a boy or girl) to the POA offices to deposit in one of the large fellow POA Director, Jim Kraus, are the POA’s delegates to the NCNC; Jim Kraus is also
donation boxes in the lobby. Thank you for your willingness to participate and help the
neediest in our community! PGA POA Communication Corner on page 2
Commissioner’s Update

Honoring And Supporting Our Veterans abuse, financial assistance, housing,
employment, mobility and a
By Commissioner Maria Marino representative of the Veterans
Each November, we observe Veterans Day to honor Administration Medical Center. The
Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. As Veteran Services Advisory Board will
fellow citizens, we must remember to express our gratitude report to the commission on needs and
to veterans, who have been willing to step in harm’s way to gaps in services. Through their input
protect us, and the freedoms we hold dear. November also has and guidance, the county will take steps
become the month during which we observe National Hunger to seek additional resources and help maximize assistance to veterans.
and Homeless Awareness Week. The emergency helpline for veterans in Palm Beach County is 2-1-1. The following link
Sadly, veteran homelessness spans age groups from will take you to a comprehensive list of telephone numbers for veterans seeking assistance,
those who served in the Korean War and Vietnam era to the https://bit.ly/guideforveterans.
Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. There are currently more than If you know a veteran who is struggling, please share this information with them or
67,000 homeless veterans in the United States, and roughly have them contact me at (561) 355-2201 and I will connect them with service providers
2,500 homeless veterans in Florida. Service men and women returning home, many with who can help.
disabilities, mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder, struggle transitioning back into
civilian life.
Palm Beach County Veterans Services, (561) 355-4761, assists and counsels former and Per State Law:
current members of the Armed Forces to apply for benefits, including housing, disability
compensation, education, employment, financial assistance, health care, and other resources.
The county works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing Drivers Must Yield To Pedestrians
and Urban Development through the Rapid Rehousing and Supportive Housing programs, but
the need remains for additional affordable housing and support services.
The County Department of Housing and Economic Development makes state and federal Pedestrians pressing the button at the crosswalk
financing available to private and nonprofit developers who construct affordable housing with will cause warning lights to flash at the three below
preference for veterans. Additionally, the County Commission has urged our federal legislative locations. If you are driving and see the pedestrian
delegation to prioritize housing, financial and credit counseling programs for veterans. sign flashing the warning, please yield to those
Earlier this year, the commission established a Veteran Services Advisory Board to assess crossing:
the needs of veterans in the county and to help facilitate coordination between agencies and On Fairway Drive just as you turn on/off the ellipse
organizations whose mission is to assist veterans and their families. The members of the
advisory board are veterans and others experienced in the areas of mental health and substance (circle) from Avenue of the Champions,
On Ryder Cup Boulevard at the south end just as
you enter/exit at Northlake opposite Preston entry,
On Avenue of the Masters at Old Meadow Way
(where the road widens/narrows near Glenwood).
As a reminder, drivers must yield to pedestrians
whether there is a flashing light or not. We have installed
flashers at the above wide intersections where drivers
must pay particular attention.
Thanks for helping to keep our residents safe.