June 15, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

• Human Services to Start Free Summer Food Program for Children
• Palm Beach County WUD to Flush Lines with Chlorine
• Consumer Traps & Tips - Moving Out of State
• Jupiter Farms Equestrian Facility to Open
• Luau for Teens and Adults with Developmental Disabilities

For more information about Palm Beach County’s programs and services, visit us online at www.pbcgov.com. During hurricanes or other activation events, Public Affairs will email releases to Count-e-News subscribers. If you have any questions or to provide feedback, you can email us at countenews@pbcgov.com or call (561) 355-2754. To unsubscribe from Count-e-News, click here. 

Human Services Offers Free Summer Food Program for Children

The county’s Division of Human Services is offering free meals for children on weekdays from June 8 through August 14. The Summer Food Service Program provides nutritionally balanced meals to all children regardless of race, color, sex, disability, age or national origin during summer vacation, when school breakfasts and lunches are not available.

All children who are 18 years old and younger are eligible for meals at no charge.  The programs are approved for geographical areas of need where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year.

Summer Food Service Program sites can provide meals to all children in the immediate vicinity in addition to those enrolled in summer school or summer camps. To view a list of summer food site locations or to access a user-friendly meal site locator, visit the Human Services Web site, www.pbcgov.com/communityservices/programs/humanservices.  Residents can also call 2-1-1 to find the nearest site.

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Palm Beach County WUD to Flush Lines with Chlorine

To maintain high water quality in the county’s water distribution system, Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department will temporarily modify the disinfection process used to treat our drinking water. The county will be using a somewhat stronger disinfection process to produce chlorine residual instead of a chloramine residual starting today, June 15, through July 15, 2009. The county will also increase hydrant flushing during this time. This is a preventative maintenance process.

Customers served by the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department may notice a slight chlorine taste or odor in their tap water during this period. These temporary conditions will not cause adverse health effects.

If you are especially sensitive to the taste or odor of chlorine, keep an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator for a few hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

Users of home dialysis machines, owners of tropical fish and managers of stores and restaurants with fish and shellfish holding tanks are advised to seek professional advice as the method for removing chlorine residuals differs from removing chloramine residuals from tap water.

Should you need more information on this change in the water treatment process, please call the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department at (561) 740-4600, option #3.

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Consumer Traps & Tips - Moving Out of State

A weekly service of the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division

Trap

Mike was ecstatic about his new job with a prestigious marketing company.  His only major concern was the need to move from West Palm Beach to New York.  To save money, Mike decided to hire a mover who advertised a low rate on the Internet.  The rental truck arrived on moving day three hours late! Pressed for time, he signed forms he didn’t read. Two weeks later, Mike’s furniture was delivered with many pieces damaged or missing. Mike contacted the mover who refused to consider his claim. 

Tips

Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs licenses local movers. However, when your furniture is transported across state lines, the responsibility to investigate complaints falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).  Here are some tips to help you select the right mover:

·         Get written estimates from three movers based on visual inspections.

·         Companies who conduct interstate moves must have insurance and a United   States Department of Transportation (DOT) permit issued by the FMCSA. The   DOT number must be displayed on all estimates, bills of lading (contract) and       trucks. You can verify a mover’s license at FMCSA’s Web site, www.protectyourmove.gov. 

·         Getting the cheapest price can be costly in the long run. You may be required          to pay more than the agreed upon price before the mover will release your goods.

·         By law, movers are required to deliver your goods based on a “binding or       non-binding” estimate. Call the FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660, and ask for the        booklet, “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move,” to learn more.  

·         Ask the mover about “full value protection” if you are concerned about possible damage.  The most common valuation coverage is “release value”        which means you will only be reimbursed 60 cents per pound for lost or    damaged goods.

·         Never ship valuables, heirlooms, irreplaceable family photos or medicine.

Consumers can check for licensed Palm Beach County moving companies and consumer complaints by going to the Consumer Affairs Web site at, www.pbcgov.com/consumer.  For more information, call Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 1-888-852-7362).

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Jupiter Farms Equestrian Facility to Open

Area residents are invited to celebrate the opening of the new equestrian facility in Jupiter Farms Park on Saturday, June 20 at 10 am. The facility includes an equestrian ring and warm-up area, as well as parking that can accommodate horse trailers.

The Jupiter Farms Park Equestrian Facility is being dedicated to the memory of longtime residents William T. and Geertruida E. Bellew.

The celebration will feature equestrian demonstrations, as well as displays and information of special interest to Jupiter Farms residents. County staff and officials will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about future plans for Jupiter Farms Park, nearby Riverbend Park, a new county fire station currently under construction, as well as information about the Northeast Everglades Natural Area.

Jupiter Farms residents will also enjoy the annual Pig Roast hosted by Veronica Bellew and Chuck Russo/Florida Cattlemen’s Association from noon to 2 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

The Jupiter Farms Park Equestrian Facility will be operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department as an unsupervised recreational area, and the Jupiter Farms Horsemen’s Association, Inc. (JHA) is the coordinating partner with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department.

 The Equestrian Facility is located at 16655 Jupiter Farms Road in Jupiter. From Florida’s Turnpike or I-95, exit west at Indiantown Road and turn left at Jupiter Farms Road.

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Luau for Teens and Adults with Developmental Disabilities

The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s Therapeutic Recreation Section is hosting the fourth annual luau for teens and adults with developmental disabilities from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 26 at Osborne Pavilion in John Prince Park, Lake Worth.

The event will include a variety of games and contests as well as light tropical snacks and, of course, Hawaiian Punch! Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite Hawaiian shirt or grass skirt and flip flops.

The fee for the event is $5. Participants must fill out a registration form before attending the event.

For more information about The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s Therapeutic Recreation Section or for more leisure opportunities available through the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.pbcparks.com.

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