Page 2 - PGA Community News - May '22

Page 2, PGA C.A.N.! May 2022 May 2022

Editorial Board Commissioner’s Update from page 1

and keeps our small businesses humming. According to the towing industry, and moving companies. In addition, their
Small Business Administration, small businesses account for investigators help resolve consumer disputes with a business
Editor: James A. Cioffi 99.9 percent of all United States businesses. Additionally, or landlord in the county by analyzing contracts, invoices and
james@jcclaw.com supporting documentation and utilizing informal mediation.
Feature Writers: Dawn Levinstein, POA Longwoods International, a market research consultant, Emergency Management (DEM) works to protect the
Commissioner Maria Marino recently released a survey noting strong traveler support for
Katie Roundtree small, locally-owned restaurants and retailers, many of whom public from large-scale natural and technological hazards
are still climbing out from under the financial hits they took in close coordination with Florida’s Division of Emergency
Contributing during the pandemic. Management, local municipal emergency management
Reporter: Don Kiselewski Please contact me if you need assistance at (561) 355- programs, nonprofit organizations, and public services. They
2201, or by email at mmarino@pbcgov.org. monitor severe and tropical weather, assist first-response
Your editors strongly believe that the number agencies, develop local emergency response plans and
of people who do become involved with any procedures, coordinate mutual aid, review emergency plans
news medium directly reflects on that medium’s Public Safety Is A for health care facilities, implement shelter and evacuation
excellence, versatility and broad viewpoint.
Therefore, we invite PGA residents to contribute Multifaceted Service standards, hold Community Emergency Response Team
articles or current, timely news items and/or (CERT) exercises and educational workshops, and conduct
“Letters to the Editors.” When we hear the term “public safety,” many may assume inspections of all advanced life support and basic life support
Articles/letters are subject to editing and editors’ that it refers strictly to law enforcement and fire rescue ambulances. Further, they administer the provisions of the
right to publish. Submission must include writer’s services. In Palm Beach County, the sheriff’s office and fire Emergency Medical Services Ordinance that regulates the
name, address and telephone number. Unsigned articles rescue are two distinct agencies that are, without question, issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity
/letters will not be published. Opposing views to article essential to the health, safety and welfare of our community. for life support and transport services.
viewpoints contained in this paper are welcome. The county’s Department of Public Safety encompasses During hurricane season each year, the Emergency
Articles do not necessarily represent the viewpoint seven divisions providing additional critical services to keep Operations Center (EOC) stands at the ready for activation, and
of the C.A.N.! organization. Submissions should our community safe, informed and resilient. during the COVID-19 pandemic the EOC served as the county
be mailed or delivered by the tenth of each month staging area providing unified messaging and the tracking and
for the following month’s publication (example: by 9-1-1 Program Services operates and maintains the
January 10 for February publication) to: infrastructure for the county’s 13 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering distribution of supplies to testing and vaccine sites. The DEM
C.A.N.! Editors Points, involving over 150 call-handling workstations. Palm provided weekly updates to state and local governments on case
or Beach County harnesses the latest technologies to improve numbers, rates of transmission, vaccinations administered, and
Contact the publisher for additional information response times for law enforcement, fire rescue and emergency hospital capacity. They also managed FEMA’s noncongregate
regarding submissions, fax (561) 627-9088 or e-mail medical services. The division also conducts education for the sheltering program countywide.
canpga@yahoo.com. public and over 400 9-1-1 public safety communicators in the Justice Services provides reentry services for high-risk
Let’s hear from you. county. The 9-1-1 division collaborated with the school district adult and juvenile offenders. They inform the court regarding
and law enforcement to configure and test the Alyssa’s Law decisions on pre-trial release, ensure compliance with release
silent panic alarm notification system and secured a grant for conditions and court appearances, and supervise persons
the Florida Highway Patrol to provide next-generation 9-1-1 referred by the court for psychological evaluations. The
services to enhance safety along interstate highways. division also handles fiscal responsibilities for the three Drug
Animal Care and Control (AC&C) is the only open Courts serving adults, juveniles, and those involved with the
admission animal welfare organization in the county. child welfare system.
Providing services to residents, pets, and pet owners since Victim Services assists victims of sexual assault,
1969, AC&C now shelters over 15,000 animals each year. The intimate partner violence, homicide and other violent crimes
division educates the public on responsible pet ownership; through crisis response, advocacy, therapy, and community
enforces county, state and federal animal laws; provides awareness. The division is the only Certified Rape Crisis
Center in Palm Beach County. They colead the Human
shelter and veterinary care for lost, abandoned or unwanted
Attention: pets; and reunites pets with owners. They encourage spay Trafficking Task Force in partnership with the sheriff’s
office, lead the Sexual Assault Response Team, the Impaired
and neuter of dogs and cats to reduce pet overpopulation and
Driving Death Enhance Assistance Taskforce, and they chair
euthanasia, and actively carry out adoption programs to find
PGA Residents Of loving homes for as many pets as possible. the Victim Rights Coalition.

Supporting public safety is the division of Finance

Consumer Affairs provides protections to residents
Mellowing Years through the regulation of specified industries and through an and Administrative Services. This office implements and
monitors all financial controls, manages grant contracts, and
informal dispute resolution program. The division conducts
background screening and identification registration of home measures program performance.
A single phone number may help you to live caregivers to curtail abuse and financial exploitation of seniors. Together, these divisions of the Department of Public Safety
confidently and gracefully in your own home. They also register adult entertainers to help address concerns work to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.
Now there is a volunteer senior ambassador related to human trafficking. Consumer Affairs enforces Please let me know how I can assist you by contacting my
within PGA community who is well-schooled requirements of ordinances governing vehicles for hire, the office at (561) 355-2201, or by email at mmarino@pbcgov.org.
in resources available to help with problems of
elders. The Alpert family and Children’s Services
has been helping seniors do just that for many
years.
• You have questions? We may have answers.
• You don’t know where to go? We can guide
you.
• You don’t know what you need? We’re well-
versed in that problem.
• Do you know a neighbor who needs help?
Don’t wait. Call now. Dorothy Weiss, 624- Upscale Resale
4035. Let’s keep connected with each other as
a community. All you need is the desire to live Experience The Difference
comfortably in your own home.
New and consigned furniture, unique lighting, accessories and gifts.
Complete wallpaper and fabric library for all your design needs.

Editorial copy appearing herewith is not necessarily the viewpoint of
Seabreeze Publications of Central Florida. Most editorial copy is created by
the homeowners and is edited by their appointed editor.

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