Page 14 - Stuart Exposure - June '21

Page 14, Stuart Exposure

local goverNmeNt

What Is The Martin County (74,074 residential, 18,905 commercial/industrial, and 2,126 that each tax roll submission passes the strict department of
agricultural) plus 10,510 tangible personal property businesses.
revenue processing guidelines. In addition, our professionals
Property Appraiser? • The work of the mapping and ownership department includes create user-friendly reports that are available on our website
title research, maintenance of property ownership records and (www.pa.martin.fl.us), and also ensure assessment rolls are
By Jenny Fields, CFA, mailing addresses, and editing digital maps when splitting and timely prepared and distributed correctly to the tax collector.
Martin County Property combining real property. Annually, there are approximately • Our administration team prepares the annual budget with
Appraiser, 10,000 property sales/transfers, 1,400 address changes, and Florida Department of Revenue oversight, conducts human
3473 S.E. Willoughby Blvd., 500 new parcels generated as result of property splits or new resource, payroll and benefits functions for our 41 full-time
Suite 101, Stuart, FL 34994 housing plats. professionals, and reviews office-wide operating procedures
(772) 288-5608 • Our exemption and customer service department specialists for optimum efficiency. Community outreach is administered
www.pa.martin.fl.us are well versed in customer service, exemption and portability in a comprehensive manner, including educational materials
We are your local applications, and homestead exemption compliance protocol. for Martin County residents and business owners, as well as
government agency In 2020, 4,465 new homestead applications were processed timely informative messages posted on social media platforms.
responsible for locating, for Martin County. Consequently, 465 property trusts required
identifying, and valuing real in-depth review for homestead eligibility, 2,471 affidavits were Property Appraiser’s Office Guiding
property and tangible personal reviewed for applying the limited income senior exemption Principles
property (business furniture, fixtures, and equipment) located for persons 65 and older, 1,937 portability applications were Make our customers feel like family.
in our county each year. We establish market values, maintain managed for in-county (1,466) and out-of-county (471), and Always give our customers the time they need.
property ownership records, and administer exemptions for a host of other exemptions that require various statutory Respect our customers through kindness and understanding.
property tax revenue. requirements. Teamwork through cooperation, not competition.
The following is a peek into our office organization: • The tax roll and information technology services department Innovative and continually seeking efficiency.
• The appraisal department includes real estate appraisers, field professionals are responsible for producing an accurate and Never-ending commitment to process improvement.
data collectors, data entry analysts, geographic information statutorily approved tax roll to the Florida Department of Please follow or like the Martin County Property
specialists, and support professionals working together to Revenue, five times per year. The team ensures all property Appraiser on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
review market data and establish values for 95,105 parcels values and approved exemptions are calculating correctly and MartinCountyPropertyAppraiser/.

gooD workS

Wendy Reynoso: Impacting childhood education On any day, a visitor might find Reynoso with the children

Children’s Lives For Good from Teachers in Gertie’s Library, giving comfort to a child who’s having a
College, Columbia
bad day, in her office designing a new curriculum element, in
University; and a a meeting with Banner Lake residents brainstorming on a new
Every Child Has A Story Bachelor of Arts program for the Banner Lake Club, popping into a classroom
Often the narrative of their young lives includes traumatic from Oberlin at Dunbar to encourage a teacher, or enthusiastically updating
experiences that can shape their ability and willingness to learn. College; and she is a longtime financial supporter of the Dunbar Center and the
Wendy Reynoso, executive director of the Dunbar Center in bilingual. Banner Lake Club.
Hobe Sound, is on a lifelong mission to help children build on Before being “It’s hard work,” Reynoso says, “but there’s no better work
their natural resilience, learn and grow, and reach their highest recruited to Dunbar, in the world than helping children grow into their best selves.”
potential in life. Reynoso was About Banner Lake Club Inc.
In just three short years, she has infused this philosophy head of school/ The Banner Lake Club (BLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
into the curriculum and the very air of the Dunbar Center, executive director organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for
where nearly 100 children from age birth to 5 spend their days for Storefront Wendy Reynoso, Banner Lake Club Hobe Sound residents, primarily those in need in the Banner
playing and learning, developing their social and emotional Academy Harlem, and Dunbar Early Learning Center Lake community. BLC provides community and educational
skills along with their academics. a tui tion-free executive director services including a free after-school and summer program
“Children need a sense of safety in order to learn,” Reynoso independent school; called B.L.A.S.T. (Banner Lake After School Time) for
says. “Dunbar has always provided that. But now we’re also and executive director of The GO Project, which helps improve children ages 5 to 18 as well as a new academy for students
engaged in elevating our standards for the curriculum and the futures of low-income public school-age children by in kindergarten through third grade. BLC also has a teen
transforming the way we approach each child’s experiences.” providing critical academic, social, and emotional support. program, a food pantry, community café, soup kitchen and
Reynoso, along with her team of teachers and Dunbar’s What might be overwhelming to others is a welcome a senior meals program that delivers meals to qualifying
devoted Board of Directors, have incorporated conscious challenge for Reynoso, so much so that she was also named seniors. For more information visit bannerlake.org, call (772)
discipline, a world-renowned, evidence-based, research- executive director of the Banner Lake Club because of the 402-5167, email office@bannerlake.org, or follow them on
backed methodology, into everything they do. This holistic, synergies between the two organizations. Facebook at www.facebook.com/bannerlakeclub.
nurturing approach provides tools to promote the social and “It just made sense,” Reynoso explained. “I wanted to make About Dunbar Early Learning Center
emotional learning and well-being of the students. sure what we were doing was not only helping the children The Dunbar Early Learning Center (Dunbar) is a
Reynoso’s 25-plus years of work with young children and attending Dunbar but moving the needle and helping to lift up 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 whose
her strong education background make her the perfect person the whole community.” mission is to provide care, education, and promotion of
to instill this life-changing curriculum into an early learning Parents can feel the energy coming from Reynoso and her the children and families within Martin County. Dunbar
center that has been serving the Hobe Sound community for team and see the sparks of success for their children. From the is dedicated to creating a nurturing, stimulating, and
more than 30 years. supportive environment and conscious discipline of the Dunbar welcoming environment for all children through its unique
She holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies in educational Center, children can transition to the Banner Lake Academy programs and a variety of educational theories while always
administration from Steinhardt School of Education at New York next door, which offers kindergarten through third grade keeping the child’s best interest in mind and allowing for
University; a Master of Education in sociology of education, education; then to B.L.A.S.T. for free after-school programs hands-on, experiential learning. For more information, visit
with a concentration in educational policy, from Teachers for youth ages 5 through 18; and on to the B.L.A.S.T. Teen dunbarearlylearningcenter.org or call (772) 545-0808.
College, Columbia University; a Master of Arts in elementary/ Program to foster teen/tween leadership skills.

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Home • Auto • Boat • RV • Life
Flood • Business • Commercial

Mary-Beth Zipsir
Agent in Charge
O: (772) 233-4444
www.smartchoicepartnersfl.com

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