Department Partnership Grows and Reaps Harvest

Employees of the Cooperative Extension and Parks and Recreation departments have collaborated for the second year to help 80 children, ages 6 to 12, plant edible gardens. The children participate in the Parks and Recreation Green Thumb Club, an after-school enrichment program. 

Arthur Kirstein and Melissa Allman, of the Cooperative Extension, provide hands-on education and resources to the young gardeners in the programs. Parks and Recreation staff, including Stephanie Tannone, Rico Adona, Raymond Johnson, Alison Schram, Lee Powell, Andrew Robinson and Adrienne Huisman, help the children plant, care for and reap the harvest from the gardens.

The Green Thumb Clubs (pictured above), located at Westgate Park and West Jupiter Park, recently celebrated Cauliflower Harvest Day and participated in the Great American Cleanup, beautifying their gardens by planting watermelon seedlings and butterfly-friendly flowers.

Because these departments share knowledge and resources, this program has been a huge success. The children’s accomplishments have been recognized with $20,000 in Gifts to Parks donations over the last two years.  These funds are used to support recreational after-school enrichment programming.  For more information on the Green Thumb Club, call 694-5455 (Westgate Park) or 694-5430 (West Jupiter Park).

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 ERM Volunteers Find Unusual Trash

During the first three months of 2010, volunteers removed more than 4,800 pounds of trash from county natural areas. Much of the trash was glass bottles, aluminum cans and plastic containers. However, volunteers always seem to find items that make them scratch their heads and wonder how they arrived in the wilderness.

They uncovered a car axle, Christmas lights, a Hoover vacuum cleaner and carpet at a February cleanup event in Juno Beach. Even stranger things were found at two March cleanup events in Boynton Beach when volunteers removed a large A/C unit, a wooden crutch, a paint roller and a shower curtain. Whatever challenges they face, the volunteers are extremely dedicated to taking action to solve significant environmental problems in our communities. Their hard work ensures that county residents and visitors can enjoy a cleaner and greener environment.

For more information on joining ERM’s volunteer program, visit http://www.pbcgov.com/erm  or send an e-mail to Ann Mathews at amathews@pbcgov.org. 

 

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Glades Road Branch Library Reopens

The Glades Road Branch Library (formerly known as the Southwest County Regional Library) reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 21.   The celebration included activities and entertainment with visits from storybook characters (left). 

 

Renovations to the facility include a larger teen area, improved public service desks, new paint and carpet, and refurbished furniture. Outdated fixtures have been replaced with new audiovisual shelving that provides space for additional materials. Existing seating and shelving were rearranged to give the facility a more open feel. Streamlined computer stations, which take up less floor space, allow for additional computer terminals. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building.  For information on activities at a branch library near you, visit http://www.pbclibrary.org.

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 Landscaping Tip:  How to Save Water With Your Irrigation System

Water use issues have become a big concern in communities across the United States. Residential water use comprises 61 percent of the potable water used by the public. This amount of groundwater use is even larger than the agriculture or industrial categories.

 

One way to help save water is to check your irrigation system regularly.  Most homeowners can overwater their yard, unwittingly wasting money every time they let the automatic irrigation system run. Homeowners often fail to inspect their irrigation system for leaks and breaks, and the system may be set to irrigate even during a rainstorm. Adopting water-savvy habits not only helps reduce this waste, but it saves money while promoting a healthier lawn and landscape.

 

Water-saving irrigation tips:

• Adjust irrigation zones/sprinklers to avoid spraying buildings, driveways, streets and sidewalks. In addition, be certain that plants or structures do not interfere with irrigation spray patterns.
• Make sure that there is a functioning rain shut-off device placed in an effective location so that rainfall collection will not be impeded.
• Use a dual programmable timer to irrigate different areas of the landscape for different lengths of time.
• Separate the irrigation system into multiple zones to water only those areas that need it.
•  Watering at the right time of day, when the sun is low, the winds are calm and temperatures are cool, will save a lot of water - as much as 30 percent - by reducing evaporative losses. The best time to water is just before sunrise.
• Use micro-irrigation systems (sometimes called low-volume irrigation) on ornamental planting areas, which use water more efficiently by dispensing water slowly near the base of the plant, thereby reducing runoff and evaporation.
• Water the landscape only as needed.  This helps prevent water from being wasted, fertilizer from being washed away and the possibility of plant diseases.

 

For more information, call the Cooperative Extension Service at 233-1750 or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/coextension. 

 

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Consumer Trap & Tip:  Is Duct Cleaning the Solution?

Americans spend over $16 billion a year on indoor air quality to help improve their health.  But, are dirty air-conditioning ducts really the reason for those nagging coughs?

 

Trap

Nick and Nora Brown were frazzled. Their kids had been coughing and sneezing and unable to sleep through the night. Visits to the family doctor had been inconclusive. A friend suggested having all the rugs in the house professionally cleaned. Nora even washed all the kid’s stuffed animals, but the problem persisted.

 

Nora was at a loss as to what was causing the problem. She saw an advertisement for duct cleaning that claimed major health benefits.  She decided to call and arranged to have a technician inspect her home after she was told they were running a $100 limited time special offer.

 

Ed, from “Dirt and Dust Away,” was sure his company could provide the solution. At the inspection, Ed made a long list of things that needed to be done including special treatments. The cost was over $1,000! Nick and Nora questioned Ed about the advertised “special offer” and were told that since there were multiple ducts, each one needed separate treatments to ensure the problem was resolved. The Browns were feeling uncomfortable but Ed promised that if he cleaned the ducts, installed an ultraviolet light and a new special filter, the kids would never cough or sneeze again. Desperate for relief, the Browns signed the work order and credit card receipt.

 

The work took less time than the Browns expected, and days later the children were still coughing and sneezing. Nick took out the copy of the work order and called the company to complain. He asked to speak with the manager who agreed to come right over. Nick was assured that if the job didn’t meet his satisfaction, it would be redone. Although appointments were made, they were always cancelled at the last minute. Nick decided a strongly worded letter was necessary, but when he looked at the advertisement and work order, there was no address for the business. They called their credit card company to dispute the charge and were advised since they signed the work order and credit card receipt, little could be done.  

 

Tips

 

Here are some tips to consider before hiring a duct cleaning company:

• Ask your doctor if it is possible to determine the cause of the symptoms your family is experiencing. If the cause is related to indoor air quality, consider consulting a specialist who deals with allergies and respiratory concerns. 
• Since it is possible contaminates could be entering the home through leaks in the ductwork, contact Florida Power and Light (http://www.fpl.com)  to schedule an FPL Energy Expert to perform an affordable duct system test to determine if your ducts are sealed properly or if repairs need to be made.
• A license is required for contractors who provide duct cleaning services. Check with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (850-487-1395, http://www.myfloridalicense.com) to determine if the business has an active license or Palm Beach County Contractor’s Certification (561-233-5525, http://www.pbcgov.com/pzb/contractors) for more information.
• Be wary of businesses that want to clean ducts without inspecting them first and/or offer services at a very low price without providing details as to what the price covers. Review the work order. Is the address for the business preprinted on the form? Verify that the address provided is the physical address and not just the mailing address.
• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no scientific evidence that duct cleaning by itself improves air quality or prevents health problems. However, the EPA does recommend duct cleaning when mold is visible or the ducts are clogged with dust that can be released into the home.
• Many homes in south Florida have insulated fiber or flex ducts which should not be cleaned aggressively. Doing so will loosen the fiberglass and send fibers through the house. If you are uncertain as to what type of ductwork you have, consider consulting a cooling or heating professional. 
• Are the workers experienced? An untrained worker can damage your home. Get estimates to compare costs and services to be provided. If you feel pressured to buy additional services, sign the work order or make a quick decision, find another company.

 

For more information about duct cleaning, call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 888-852-7362 toll free) or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer to see if other consumers have filed disputes against the companies you are considering.  

The Consumer Traps & Tips is a service of the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division.  The above described “Trap” is a compilation of actual consumer complaints handled by the Consumer Affairs Division.

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