Page 3 - The Shores of Jupiter - January '21

The Shores, Page 3
Commissioner’s Update

Make Fitness A Priority companies and nonprofit organizations. Whether you are • County Parks’ staff produced several videos for you to
interested in having your child play in a league sport, enroll enjoy at home, featuring yoga, animal encounters, workouts,
By County Commissioner in a summer camp, or just increase their time outdoors, there DIY activities and more. Check out all the videos on PBC
Maria Marino is a wide array of options in our community. Parks TV (youtube.com).
One of the highest priorities Here are just a few of the exciting happenings in Palm Beach As an athlete since my youth and a professional golfer, I
for our community in my view County parks in District 1: know first-hand how physical activity enriches our health, our
is to expand and enhance our • The Gardens North County District Park is meeting the quality of life and stimulates learning, and I look forward to
parks and recreation systems need for additional multipurpose fields for soccer and other field developing additional programs to help our children, families
for the health and well-being sports. A partnership of the City of Palm Beach Gardens with and seniors stay active.
of our children and families. Palm Beach County brought this to fruition. Phase 2 of the project Please contact me with your ideas and let me know how I
This has become even more will include a state-of-the-art indoor recreation facility and will can assist you. You can reach me at (561) 355-2201 or by email
critical given the gravitation to be constructed through a public/private partnership between the at mmarino@pbcgov.org.
remote learning and working city, the county and a not-for-profit foundation.
over the past year. Getting • Limestone Creek Park, one of our oldest neighborhood
outdoors and being active is extremely important for mental and parks, just received a basketball court expansion with new Northern Notes from page 1
physical health, and research has shown that students perform backboards. Resident input will help finalize plans for
better scholastically when their days include time for recreation. native landscaping. Locally, there are large populations of gopher tortoises
Recent studies performed by UNICEF, the British Journal of • West Jupiter Recreation Center plans to host JTAA in preserves maintained by Northern within Abacoa and
Sports Medicine, and sporting marketing surveys have revealed basketball and volleyball youth sports programs this winter with Botanica. Some of Abacoa’s preserves have trails within
some startling statistics: additional COVID-19 protocols in place. them where you may catch a glimpse of a tortoise. Because
• The United States ranks last – 38th out of 38 rich countries in • North County Aquatic Complex has worked closely with gopher tortoises are protected in Florida, handling and
the physical health of our children, and 32nd out of 38 countries youth swim and dive teams, master swimmers, water aerobics relocation of gopher tortoises is an illegal activity unless
in mental health and well-being and public participants to allow safe continued activity at the conducted under a valid permit issued by Florida Fish
• Children in the United States ranked 47th out of 50 countries pool, allowing for fitness and achievement in aquatic sports. and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). An FWC
in fitness • Carlin Park is a great place to visit the beach, play some relocation permit must be obtained before disturbing
• Ninety-three percent of children in the United States are not tennis, or have a small family picnic, and now offers a free, new burrows and conducting construction activities. One of
active according to CDC physical activity standards “Functional Fitness” program outdoors for adults and seniors. Northern’s staff members has taken courses and is certified
• Sixty-two percent of all children in America cannot afford See the calendar and register at: as a Gopher Tortoise Authorized Agent. As such, he is
to play sports https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Lists/EventsCalendar/ allowed by the FWC to survey, trap, transport and relocate
• Inactivity leading to major physical and mental health issues EventDispForm.aspx?ID=1017.0.2020-12-07T13:30:00Z&So tortoises as necessary.
is dramatically higher in low-income families urce=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscover%2Epbcgov%2Eorg%2Fpa It is illegal to kill, harass or destroy gopher tortoises;
We can help change these statistics for the better by getting rks%2FLists%2FEventsCalendar%2FGeneralCommunity%2 however, if you see a tortoise crossing a busy road, FWC
the word out about Palm Beach County’s award-winning Easpx&ContentTypeId=0x0102007E5E79BC7D09B14D9EB grants permission to move the gopher tortoise across the
Parks and Recreation Department facilities and programs. The E35EF456801ED. road, in the same direction as it was heading as long as it is
county operates 110 parks and recreation facilities, including • Infrastructure Sales Surtax dollars funded a recent renovation safe for you to do so. Do not move the tortoise to another
athletic facilities, campsites, trails and beaches, as well as two of Juno Park’s playground on Ellison Wilson Road. location or put it in a car as this constitutes illegal possession.
water parks. These parks include more than 8,000 acres of • Small groups of volunteers are getting outdoors to help clean If you see a sick or injured tortoise, contact a local wildlife
land for residents and visitors to explore, offering more than our county public park beaches with an eye toward eliminating rehabilitator, such as Busch Wildlife Sanctuary at (561) 575-
50 miles of trails. discarded plastics that wash ashore, contributing to a healthy 3399 for assistance. Source: myfwc.org
The county expands its reach in offering programs environment while enhancing their own physical fitness. Friends NPDES Tip: Do not pile garbage, trash, leaves, limbs
accessible to all residents through public/private partnerships of Jupiter Beach has regularly scheduled small group cleanups or garden debris in swales – this adds pollutants which can
with nearly 500 teams, leagues, service clubs, agencies, for youth, family and individual participation. You can obtain wash into downstream waters. Do not park vehicles in the
homeowner associations, neighborhood groups, schools, more information at https://friendsofjupiterbeach.org/. swale – this compacts the soil so less runoff soaks in.

Bill’s Box from page 1

Martin Luther King Day
Jan. 18 is a special day to remember and honor one
of our greatest leaders who inspired so many people.
He was a primary figure in the civil rights movement.
His influence in government persuaded its leaders
to do the right things to better the cause of equality.
Remember his famous speech in Washington D.C., “I
have a dream!” Powerful. His death at the hand of an
assassin was stunning and cause of widespread grief.
Quotes
“Always do right. This will gratify some people and
astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain
“The most wasted of all days is one without
laughter.” – e.e. cummings
“The longer you keep your temper the more it will
improve.” – Mark Twain
*****
Copy deadline for the February issue is Jan. 13.

Best Bin Caddy#

NEW!

On sale
$ 75 00
Tax Inc.
Licensed and Insured Recycling Bin Caddy

Made in the USA
Using Heavy Duty PVC and All Terrain Wheels.
Easy To Use Design. Arrives Fully Assembled With
Free Local Delivery. (Bins not included.)
Call 561.354.8169
To Order Today