Page 8 - The Islander- March '20

Page 8, The Islander DOUBLE SPACE

good WorkS

A Caring Adult Role Model Can Make All The

Difference In The World!

Guardian ad Litem Our volunteers advocate
(GAL) is a state supported for needed services for the
program of trained volunteers child, visit and spend time
that are 21 years and older, with the child, report to the
supporting attorneys and case judge, case manager and
advocate managers. There are attorney via written reports/
approximately 1,500 to 1,700 testimony and monitor the
children in the dependency case from beginning to end. Training, online and classroom, is
system in Palm Beach County required along with fingerprinting and no criminal background.
at any given time. Most of these children, through no fault of A volunteer works alongside the parents, caregivers, teachers,
their own, are now subjects of judicial proceedings and have doctors and counselors, as well as collaborating with outside
been removed from their homes because of alleged abuse, agencies assigned to the child’s case.
abandonment or neglect. Volunteers become part of the court To be part of Guardian ad Litem, there are no special legal
process in order to fight for these children to make sure their skills necessary – just good common sense and the desire to help
basic rights and essential needs are not ignored by the system. abused and neglected children. Someone interested in helping and its mission through fundraising, grants, community events/
With a GAL, a child is half as likely to languish in the foster children but unable to take on a full case, may also volunteer for awareness and presentations.
care and child welfare system and more likely to find a safe, our Speak Up for Kids program. Speak Up for Kids is a 501(c) To volunteer or obtain more information regarding Guardian
permanent home. (3) nonprofit whose sole purpose is to support the GAL program ad Litem, visit our website at galpbc.org or call (561) 355-6224.

northErn notES

Living With The Endangered Snail Kite

By Katie Roundtree, Finance Director, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

Our logo at Northern climb to the surface to breathe. Snail kites will
Palm Beach County Snail kites only eat apple leave their nest when
Improvement District snails, which they hunt by bothered, but may not
consists of a picture of a bird flying low over the water aggressively defend
within a circle surrounded while searching for their prey it from people or
by our name. Not many near the surface. Snail kites predators. They may fly
people know what that bird do not plunge into the water away or just sit nearby
is though. It is an Everglades to capture snails and never use until the intruder is
snail kite (Rostrhamus the bill to capture prey. Rather, gone. This behavior
sociabilis plumbeus) a crow- they use their feet to capture snails can lead people to think
sized hawk, which is easily at or below the surface of the water. Only snails that are that their presence is not bothering the birds; however, any
identified by the white patch breathing air, laying eggs or crawling in a few inches of time a nest is untended the chicks or eggs are vulnerable
at the base of its tail. It has a unique curved bill designed water are vulnerable. After capturing a snail, the kite pries it to predators and harsh temperatures. The longer the nest
to quickly pluck snails from their shells. Adult males are open and, using its curved bill, cuts the snail from the shell. is exposed, the greater the chance of failure. The best way
slate-gray, while females are brown with varying amounts Sometimes this feat is performed while in flight! you can help snail kites is to avoid posted nesting areas and
of white streaks on the face, chest and neck. A unique trait Snail kites have been protected by state and federal law to report any harassment or disturbance to FWC’s Wildlife
of both sexes is that they have red eyes. under the Endangered Species Act since 1967, making it Alert Rewards Program at (888) 404-FWCC (3922). Source:
Snail kites can be found in Central and South America, illegal to harass, kill, capture or collect them. This includes www.myfwc.com.
but the Everglade snail kite (R. s. plumbeus) is the only protection from activities that disrupt normal breeding, NPDES tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
subspecies found in the United States. Their entire U.S. range feeding or sheltering. The Florida Fish and Wildlife waste is washed into lakes or canals the waste decays, using
is restricted to South Florida, where they can be found in Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Fish and up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia. Low oxygen
shallow freshwater marshes, like those of the Everglades, or Wildlife Service protect nest sites by posting signs around levels and ammonia combined with warm temperatures can
along the shallow, grassy shorelines of lakes. Both habitats sensitive areas during the breeding season. Always avoid kill fish. Pet waste also contains nutrients that encourage
have a mixture of short plants and open water, making them posted areas, particularly from February through August, weed and algae growth. Perhaps most importantly, pet waste
great places for kites to see and catch apple snails as they and stay back at least 500 feet from warning signs. carries diseases which make water unsafe.

March 2020 / Jupiter Inlet Tide Chart

Day High Low High Low High Day High Low High Low High
Sun 01 Low 7:23 AM High 1:09 PM Low 7:46 PM Tue 17 High 4:34 AM Low 11:04 AM High 4:47 PM Low 11:32 PM
Mon 02 High 1:58 AM Low 8:16 AM High 1:58 PM Low 8:43 PM Wed 18 High 5:42 AM Low 12:09 PM High 5:55 PM
Tue 03 High 2:59 AM Low 9:19 AM High 2:59 PM Low 9:48 PM Thu 19 Low 12:34 AM High 6:44 AM Low 1:07 PM High 6:57 PM
Wed 04 High 4:06 AM Low 10:27 AM High 4:09 PM Low 10:54 PM Fri 20 Low 1:29 AM High 7:36 AM Low 1:58 PM 0.5 High 7:49 PM 2.0
Thu 05 High 5:13 AM Low 11:32 AM High 5:19 PM Low 11:56 PM Sat 21 Low 2:18 AM High 8:20 AM Low 2:42 PM High 8:33 PM
Fri 06 High 6:13 AM Low 12:30 PM High 6:23 PM Sun 22 Low 3:01 AM High 8:58 AM Low 3:22 PM High 9:13 PM
Sat 07 Low 12:53 AM High 7:06 AM Low 1:23 PM High 7:20 PM Mon 23 Low 3:40 AM High 9:33 AM Low 3:58 PM High 9:51 PM
Sun 08 Low 1:47 AM High 8:56 AM Low 3:14 PM High 9:13 PM Tue 24 Low 4:16 AM High 10:07 AM Low 4:33 PM High 10:27 PM
Mon 09 Low 3:38 AM High 9:43 AM Low 4:03 PM High 10:05 PM Wed 25 Low 4:51 AM High 10:40 AM Low 5:05 PM High 11:02 PM
Tue 10 Low 4:27 AM High 10:29 AM Low 4:51 PM High 10:55 PM Thu 26 Low 5:25 AM High 11:13 AM Low 5:37 PM High 11:39 PM
Wed 11 Low 5:17 AM High 11:16 AM Low 5:40 PM High 11:45 PM Fri 27 Low 5:58 AM High 11:47 AM Low 6:10 PM
Thu 12 Low 6:07 AM High 12:02 PM Low 6:30 PM Sat 28 High 12:16 AM Low 6:31 AM High 12:21 PM Low 6:44 PM
Fri 13 High 12:37 AM Low 6:59 AM High 12:51 PM Low 7:23 PM Sun 29 High 12:55 AM Low 7:08 AM High 12:57 PM Low 7:23 PM
Sat 14 High 1:30 AM Low 7:53 AM High 1:42 PM Low 8:19 PM Mon 30 High 1:38 AM Low 7:51 AM High 1:38 PM Low 8:10 PM
Sun 15 High 2:26 AM Low 8:52 AM High 2:37 PM Low 9:20 PM Tue 31 High 2:28 AM Low 8:43 AM High 2:28 PM Low 9:08 PM
Mon 16 High 3:28 AM Low 9:57 AM High 3:39 PM Low 10:25 PM
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