Page 18 - The Islander - March '22

Page 18, The Islander

local GovernmenT from page 16 secure drive-by drop box, offering payment 24/7 without responsibility for the Client Care and Research Center. He
having to get out of their car or make an appointment. brings significant call center and client service experience
Operated by the State Division of Driver Licenses With this addition, the Tax Collector’s Office currently with him, most recently as the call center manager for
before the Tax Collector’s Office inherited the building operating within the North County Governmental Center Broward County Government where he led a team of
in 2010, this location has served generations of Palm will close. Then, our North County team will transition 150 employees that answered calls for multiple county
Beach County drivers. And just as Palm Beach County to the new facility once completed in late 2023. agencies and the county’s emergency hotline during
has grown, we must also grow to accommodate the needs The new service center will be the third facility built declared emergencies. “I am excited to join the Palm
of the public. by our agency to meet the demand because of the growth Beach County Tax Collector’s Office and look forward
A new, state-of-the-art facility, offering 74 percent in Palm Beach County. to continuing our standard of excellence in providing
more client service stations to meet anticipated growth “When I was elected in 2006, our county was home to unparalleled customer service to our clients,” said Starks.
to serve North County taxpayers, will replace the former 700,000 people. We have now grown to over 1.6 million
DMV office. Clients will enjoy the convenience of a people,” said Gannon. “This new service center will give Important Dates And
us the ability to serve clients more efficiently now and in Deadlines
the future.”
Palm Beach center in late 2023. March 1 Tourist Development
I expect to complete construction on this new service

Tax (TDT) due
County Fire Welcome To The TCO! March 13 Daylight Saving Time
begins
I am pleased to welcome the newest member of our
Rescue Fun Fact senior leadership team, Ajani Starks. Ajani is our new March 17 St. Patrick’s Day
March 31 Deadline to pay 2021 property tax
March 31 Final installment payment plan payment due
director of contact center operations and will assume
Bagpipes In The Fire Service Local Senior Artist Maintains

By Steen Eriksson, Professional Firefighters and
Paramedics of Palm Beach County
As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I want to share a Thriving Career At La Posada

bit of the history of bagpipes in the Fire Service.
Parades featuring fire department honor guards and Recent research has highlighted that intolerance of Even after transitioning into life at La Posada, Shapiro
pipes and drums bands take place across the United uncertainty is likely to play a key role in our mental health as has remained booked and busy. Her most recent art gallery
States, and especially in the Northeast as part of St. we cope with the pandemic. In an effort to combat this, senior exhibition was in Palm Beach Gardens City Hall, where some
Patrick’s Day festivities. living communities such as La Posada, a community in Palm of her oil painting pieces such as Quattro and Inconito were
This often piques the curiosity about the relationship Beach Gardens, are constantly striving to find new ways to featured along with the works of another local artist. Among
firefighters and police officers have with the bagpipes, engage their residents and maintain their health and wellbeing her other oil paintings is a piece titled La Posada, inspired by
and how it has become part of our tradition. during uncertain times. her new home.
In the mid-1800s, there was a massive migration For many, art provides a sense of freedom that enables “La Posada is the place where I continue to live and work
of Irish to the United States, mainly to cities in the one to bend things most people see as a straight line. For as an artist,” notes Shapiro. “I am no longer physically able
Northeast. This was due largely in part to the potato Rita Shapiro, resident of La Posada, that sense of freedom is to do what I used to but living at La Posada has allowed me
famine in Ireland prompting people to search for a everything. Although Shapiro maintained a love for fine art the best time of my life. They take care of me, and now I live
better life. throughout her life, her passion and talent for creating abstract with no responsibilities. This allows me to hone my passions
Initially, the Irish were not welcomed here, and as masterpieces didn’t blossom until she was in her 50s. Today, and maintain my love for art. Life can continue and blossom
they searched for jobs, they were usually greeted by her work can be found in numerous corporate and private at La Posada.”
signs stating, “Irish need not apply.” collections. featured in several different galleries across Florida Photos courtesy of Rita Shapiro and La Posada.
Becoming desperate to earn money to support their and Pennsylvania.
families, they took the jobs that no one else wanted
because it was a dirty, dangerous and physically
demanding way to earn very little pay and even less
respect. They became firefighters and police officers.
One of the Irish traditions they brought with them
was the bagpipes. In an effort to keep their traditions
alive, the firefighters would play the bagpipes while
at work, and over time it became part of the firefighter
culture.
Few things evoke a firefighter’s emotions like the
sounds of pipes and drums. Feelings of pride and joy
swell a firefighter’s heart when listening to up-tempo
Irish and Scottish tunes at a joyous occasion, just
as the ever-present pride and overwhelming sorrow
breaks the firefighter’s heart when hearing the wail of
Amazing Grace at the funeral for a fallen firefighter
killed in the line of duty.
Next time you hear a fire department pipes and
drums band, please remember just how it came to be
such a deep-rooted part of our tradition.
Steen Eriksson,
Community Relations-HOA North, Work in progress Simple Pleasures
Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm
Beach County,
IAFF Local 2928,
HOAN@iaff2928.com

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or call For more information on how you can participate or to learn more
746-3244 about Life at La Posada: Call 561-277-0680 or visit mylaposada.com
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