Page 8 - Boca Club News - October '19

Page 8, Boca Club News

From the Desk of Palm Beach County Commissioner

Robert S. Weinroth: Emergency Texting,

Passport Service, and Mermaids on Our Shoreline

Robert Weinroth, a former member The latest artificial reef, deployed south of the Lake
of the Boca Raton City Council, was Worth Inlet, consists of 100 tons of concrete donated by
elected as a Palm Beach County GL homes, and 18 sculptures created and donated by
Commissioner to replace Steven Boynton Beach-based artist Chris O’Hare. The project,
Abrams, who retired due to term “1000 Mermaids,” features mermaid sculptures, abstract
limits requirements. coral reefs, poetry, and a selfie station where divers can
Text to 911 Emergency Service. pose with a mermaid tail. The site is good for divers with
It’s been one year since the inception any level of experience because the depth reaches just 45
of this emergency service, and I feet.
am pleased to report that hundreds of county residents For more information, on the county’s artificial reef
have received help using the service. Since the program program, visit http://discover.pbcgov.org/erm/Pages/Reefs.
started last June, emergency responders have responded to aspx.
emergency text messages about 25 times a month instead Vaping in County Playgrounds Banned. The Board
of telephone calls to 911. of County Commissioners recently prohibited vaping in
Text to 911 guidelines: playgrounds at county parks. The ordinance prohibits
• “Call if you can – Text if you can’t.” the use of vapor-generating electronic devices (including
• Do not include anyone other than 911 in the text e-cigarettes) at county-operated public park playgrounds.
message. This is in response to recent reports, including one
• Always provide your location. Text to 911 location from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that
information is not equal to current wireless-location applications and minors. The service is expected to begin states the use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for children, teens,
technology. in early 2020. and young adults. Any individual in violation of the new
• When communicating with 911, use plain language. To learn more about the county library system, please ordinance will receive a civil citation for a first occurrence
No abbreviations, shortcuts, slang or emojis. visit www.pbclibrary.org. with a fine of $50 plus court costs.
• Photos and videos cannot be sent to 911 at this time. New Artificial Reef Includes Mermaids. Part of the Nonprofit Highlight: Faulk Center for Counseling.
• Language interpretation is not currently available when allure for many of our tourists is the county’s pristine The mission of the Faulk Center for Counseling is to
texting 911. shoreline. In addition to the abundant activities our coastline promote emotional well-being through a variety of free and
• As with all text messages, texts to 911 may take longer offers, Palm Beach County is considered a top destination low-cost programs for counseling, therapy and support in a
to receive, may get out of order, or may not be received for snorkelers and divers due to its exquisite reefs. safe and confidential environment.
at all. As your “coastal commissioner,” I am dedicated to Since 1973, the center has provided a variety of
• Text to 911 is an enhancement to the existing 911 protecting habitats along our coast with ongoing initiatives counseling services to people of all ages at its facility on
system and is not intended to replace traditional emergency such as the artificial reef program. These man-made habitats Boca Rio Road and at outreach locations throughout Palm
voice calls. Text messages are routed to the appropriate Palm provide food, shelter, protection and spawning areas for Beach and Broward counties.
Beach County 911 center in a designated queue. hundreds of fish species and other marine and estuarine Mental health services are provided by graduate students
The benefits to the public are significant, especially organisms. They also provide relief for the natural reefs, pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in psychology,
in cases where the caller cannot communicate verbally. which have shown a decline in marine organisms over social work or mental health counseling, as well as clinical
Examples of Text to 911 scenarios include an individual the years due to user pressure, hurricanes and coastal volunteers who hold degrees in a mental health field. All
who is deaf, hard of hearing, or has a speech disability; development. graduate students and volunteers are trained and supervised
someone who is in a situation where it is not safe to place Over the years, the county has deployed over 45 vessels, by the center’s staff of licensed psychologists. For more
a voice call to 911; or a medical emergency that renders the 82,000 tons of concrete, and 130,000 tons of limestone information on the Faulk Center for Counseling, visit http://
person incapable of speech. boulders in offshore waters to create artificial reefs, which faulkcenterforcounseling.org.
County Library Ends Overdue Fines and Adds mimic natural reef systems.
Passport Services. I am pleased to report that Board of
County Commissioners recently voted to eliminate overdue
fines for late materials from the Palm Beach County Library Memo from County
System starting October 1st. If a library cardholder doesn’t
return an item within seven days after the due date, the
replacement cost of the item will be charged. When the Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon:
item is returned, however, the charge is waived.
The library system will also raise the block limit,
the point at which borrowers are prevented from taking Get Real! (ID, that is...)
out items with accrued fees, from $5 to $25. These new
initiatives are the result of a national library trend in support
of the library’s core values of equitable service, support of By Anne M. Gannon, Constitutional by mail or by phone. If you don’t have access to the internet,
early literacy and free access to information. Tax Collector serving Palm Beach you can always visit a library to use the public computers to
In addition, the county is currently working with the County. You can reach her office respond online.
U.S. Department of State Passport Services to establish an by Email: ClientAdvocate@ While our agency is not directly involved with the census
acceptance facility at the main library on Summit Boulevard taxcollectorpbc.com. Phone: (561) itself, we are helping to spread the word in Palm Beach County.
in West Palm Beach. Once the service begins, the facility 355-4271. If you would like more information about the 2020 Census,
will accept and execute passport applications for first-time REAL ID Deadline Countdown: please visit the official website at www.2020census.gov.
One Year to Go! The clock is ticking! Tips to Help You Stay Safe and Secure Online. October
Starting Oct. 1st, 2020, every U.S. is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM),
Southern Exposure Technologies resident must present a REAL ID driver license or state ID a collaborative effort headed by the Cybersecurity and
Computer Install/Setup/Repair card to board commercial flights or enter federal buildings. Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cyber
Security Alliance (NCSA). The goal is to raise awareness about
Do you have a REAL ID driver license or state ID card? If
(561) 315-0144 your credential is missing a star in the upper right corner, you the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure all Americans
getsetgo.annie@gmail.com are not REAL ID compliant. Please visit ww.pbctax.com for a have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.
* DSL, Broadband,Wireless Install checklist of required documents and schedule an appointment Protect yourself and your personal information by
* Networking, Troubleshooting at least 90 days before your credential expires. following these tips:
* Instruction Invite Us to Your Next HOA Meeting or Event. Tip #1: Double your login protection. Enable multi-factor
* Hardware/Software Installation The winter season is just around the corner and our civic authentication to ensure that the only person who has access
* Virus/Spyware/Adware Fix engagement team looks forward to partnering with your to your account is you.
* Cleanup/Maintenance/Backup
* Business Consult/Startup/Move homeowners’ association. We are available to deliver short Tip #2: Shake up your password protocol. Use the longest
* Website Design/Maintenance presentations about our agency and the services we provide. password permissible. Get creative and customize your
Call S.E.T. to install your “new computer, printer Does your HOA have an upcoming event? We are happy password for different sites. Using different passwords for
and wireless network”! to set up a display table to distribute agency materials and different sites can prevent criminals from gaining access to
GET S.E.T. GO! answer residents’ questions. Please email ClientAdvocate@ multiple accounts.
REASONABLE HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY RATES taxcollectorpbc.com to invite us to your next meeting or event. Tip #3: If you connect, you must protect. Make sure your
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AS LOW AS $50.00 AN HOUR, We’re Helping Spread the Word about Census 2020. devices are updated with the latest security software. Sign up
WITH A MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS A MONTH, Once a decade, America comes together to participate in the for automatic updates. Protect your devices with anti-virus
OR 2 HOURS A WEEK, OR ON AN AS-NEEDED
BASIS RATE OF $75.00 P/HOUR. census. This census provides the basis for reapportioning software.
START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH SECURE BACKUPS, Congressional seats and redistricting. Census data determine For more tips, please visit the Department of Homeland
QUALITY MAINTENANCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND how $675 billion are spent, supporting our state, county and Security’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month website
PERSONABLE ON-SITE SUPPORT! community’s vital programs. at https://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-
(561) 315-0144
CALL S.E.T. TODAY FOR YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS! By April 2020, most households will receive a census month today!
invitation in the mail. Every household can respond online,