Bringing you News that Counts
Bringing you News that Counts
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July 27, 2009 IN THIS ISSUE
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. |
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Criminal Justice Commission Project Wins National Awards
The Weed and Seed program, formed more than 17 years ago, is the county’s initiative to fight crime. The program is now operated in Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Belle Glade, and Gramercy Park. At the CCDO national conference, Jazlyn Lovely, 8, a second-grader at Washington Elementary School in Riviera Beach, won the national poster contest in the 10-and-under age group. She has been attending the Riviera Beach Weed and Seed Youth Enrichment After-School Program for three years. “Jazlyn is a talented young girl whose artistic and scholastic abilities know no boundaries,” Program Coordinator Inda Spencer said. In other awards, Delray Beach Weed and Seed won the Length of Service Award for its participation in the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program. The DEFY program is a prevention program for children ages 9 to 12. It utilizes a military model in promoting positive life choices to reduce the demand of illegal drugs. Delray Beach has been involved by participating and sponsoring youth at the DEFY Camp for 10 years. Detective Terrance Scott of the Delray Beach Police Department has participated for 10 years and accepted the award on behalf of Weed and Seed, along with Program Manager Cerina Anderson. “Detective Scott and the DEFY program represent the best in law enforcement and crime prevention. This camp is changing the lives of young people encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyles,” said Criminal Justice Commission board member and incoming Chairwoman, Barbara Cheives. There are more than 300 Weed and Seed sites throughout the United States and its territories. For more information about Weed and Seed in Palm Beach County, contact Rosalind Murray at 561-355-2332.
Community Services Department Welcomes New Director
Wilkins, the former director of the Washington D.C.-based Office of Head Start, said he’s looking forward to serving the community of Palm Beach County. Community Services is comprised of three divisions: Senior Services, Head Start & Children Services and Human Services. “I’m open to input from the staff. They’ve been here for a long time,” said Wilkins, who grew up in New Jersey. “They will help shape the vision for the department.” Wilkins said working with underserved populations brings both challenges and rewards. “The hardest part of the job is getting people to understand the benefits of working well together and sharing resources,” he said. And the best part of his job: seeing lives that are changed because of the work he does each day, he said. “I’ve traveled around to Head Start classrooms around the country,” he said. “It’s great seeing the impact the work that I do has on families.” Wilkins received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Bucknell University and his graduate degree in Public Administration from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden.
Volunteers’ Efforts in First Half of ’09 Save County More than $30,000 The numbers have been crunched and the results are outstanding: During the first six months of 2009, volunteers with the Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) donated approximately 2,700 hours toward preserving Palm Beach County’s environment. This equates to a savings of $30,364 to the county. Since January, nearly 800 volunteers have worked on 39 habitat restoration projects in natural areas and restoration areas throughout the county. They removed 16,672 pounds of trash and invasive exotic plants from woods, scrublands and along the Intracoastal Waterway. The collected trash items ranged from a suitcase and an in-line skate to kitchen appliances and two cast iron bath tubs. Volunteers planted 10,191 native grasses, shrubs and trees at wetland and scrubland restoration projects. They also carved an additional 425 feet of the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail, installed 300 feet of wire mesh fencing, and potted 1,876 seedlings in ERM’s nursery. The department’s volunteer program is a valuable tool that offers land managers a reliable supply of energetic workers willing to fight the heat, insects and terrain to protect our county’s natural treasures. For more information on joining ERM’s volunteer program, please visit ERM’s Web site at www.pbcgov.com/erm or e-mail amathews@co.palm-beach.fl.us.
Consumer Trap and Tip: Scholarships and Financial Aid Scams
Barbara graduated from high school last year and lives with her mother. She works for a company that provides temporary office help. Barbara likes the work, but it doesn’t provide a strong career path. She wants to become a nurse but doesn’t have the money for school. A friend told her about an Internet advertisement. The company guarantees financial aid to all applicants who pay a registration fee and attend a four-hour seminar at a local hotel. It sounds a little too easy. What could go wrong? Tips Before using a financial aid service, check them out thoroughly. Contact your high school guidance counselor or local college financial aid office for information, and watch out for these red flags: · “Apply now before it’s too late.” Resist high pressure tactics. You may end up paying for information you can get free. · “Millions of dollars of aid go unclaimed…” The “millions” represent an estimated national total of employee/member benefits that are only available to employees and/or their families of companies or unions that have made funds available. · “We guarantee you’ll get aid.” The company may charge $1,000 and provide a $200 scholarship and then claim this fulfills the promise. · “You can’t get this information anywhere else.” Actually, scholarship information is available from libraries, schools, government offices and FREE Internet scholarship sites if you’re willing to search for it. If you need more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site, http://studentaid.ed.gov, or call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 1-888-852-7362), or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer.
Volunteer Football Coaches Needed at Westgate Park and Recreation Center
Consider coaching in the Junior Arena Flag Football League for ages 6 to 7, the Youth Arena Flag Football League for ages 8 to 11 or the Teen Arena Flag Football League for ages 12 to 15. The Westgate Recreation Center staff will provide training and support throughout the season, and the children will greatly benefit from your time and energy. Westgate Park and Recreation Center is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and is located at 3691 Oswego Avenue in West Palm Beach. For more information on this and other programs available through the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.pbcparks.com.
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