Page 1 - The Shores of Jupiter - November '21

Our Village Voice

VOL. 32 NO. 11 www.seabreezepublications.com NOVEMBER 2021

Northern Notes Bill’s Box

Fall And Winter In Florida
By Bill Thompson
By Katie Roundtree, A Story
Finance Director, Northern There was a man who
Palm Beach County lived alone in a prominent
Improvement District single-home development.
Many people come to Due to circumstances, his
Florida to enjoy its mild home fell into disrepair
fall and winter but miss to such extent that the
the changing seasons and homeowner’s association
seasonal plant changes that Board of Directors had to address violations to its
the northern regions offer. architectural guidelines. The homeowner’s landscaping
Here in Florida, we have was out of compliance, but the worst was the cedar
our own kinds of plants shake roof that was decayed and reduced to splinters
that bloom during the fall and winter that give our area a through which one could see light. A member of the
feeling of the cooler seasons up north. During October and HOA Board of Directors looked into the matter and
November, muhly grass blooms with beautiful pink, red or met with the homeowner a number of times. Having
purple blooms, creating vistas of color in our landscaped gained an understanding of the seriousness of the
areas, dry detention areas and road medians. During the situation, especially the well-being of the owner, the
drier winter months, pusley (also known as “Florida snow”) board member proceeded to consult the Town of Jupiter
blooms with white or light purple flowers that blanket lawns authorities to assess what they recommended and were
and sides of roads creating the look of “snow.” Muhly grass in Abacoa dry detention areas. Photos by able to do. The home was beyond the owner’s ability
Muhly grass is a native landscape plant that has found Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District staff to save. It would eventually be condemned and raised.
favor with landscapers for its ease of growth and large The board member continued to pursue an acceptable
clusters of tall, grass-like appearance. Known scientifically as Northern Notes on page 2 remedy for the house, the owner, and the HOA. He
doggedly looked for solutions and took over to the
Commissioner’s Update owner items he needed.
Along comes one of the development’s pioneer
residents who had been a friend of the distressed owner
Public Input Improves Our the eyes and ears that help alert your county officials to for many years. He was an early builder and had built
matters needing attention. Whether it is a traffic problem,
the very house. He was made aware of his friend’s
Community uncollected trash, missing street signs, or a blocked circumstance and worked out an arrangement with the
drainage culvert, we appreciate the assistance residents
By County Commissioner provide in reporting these types of conditions. With a Bill’s Box on page 5
Maria Marino county in excess of 2,300 square miles in area, county
If you have ever wondered staff cannot possibly provide enough coverage to drive up
whether your voice matters, and down every street to note items needing correction. To
let me respond with an complement our regular maintenance of facilities under
emphatic yes. Many of our purview, your participation helps direct our crews
our public projects begin and field representatives to locations needing immediate
through resident input. attention.
Your phone calls, emails To give you an idea of how resident input matters, the
and letters about issues following District 1 projects are progressing or in the
you are experiencing in process of completion, thanks to information received
the community initiate from the public: Sunday, Nov. 7
research, and many times result in recommendations for • Traffic counts taken at the urging of neighboring
improvements. residents indicated the need to install a traffic signal at the
As engaged members of the community, you serve as intersection of Toney Penna Drive and Central Boulevard
in Jupiter.
• A traffic study performed
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IMMEDIATELY on Beach Road in the area
of Coral Cove Park resulted
TO THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT in a recommendation to
(561) 799-4445 lower the speed limit and
install marked pedestrian
Use 911 for emergencies only. Lock car doors. crossings. After further
Do not leave valuables in the car. discussions I held with
Parks and Engineering staff,
we agreed to move forward
with additional parallel
parking improvements.
• The installation of a
traffic signal at Northlake
Boulevard and Ancient Tree
Drive/Bay Hill Drive in the
city of Palm Beach Gardens
• Repair/replacement of

Commissioner’s Update
on page 2