Do you have old, broken, or unused cell phones in your home? Why not donate them
to the Cell Phone Recycling Center?

You can donate your cell phone to members of the armed services serving outside
the United States. Simply put your cell phones into a large envelope and address
it to:
Cell Phone Recycling Center
2555 Bishop Circle West
Dexter, MI 48130-9828.

Locally: Two area Quiznos Sub Sandwich Shop locations: 6346 Lantana Road,
Lake Worth and 507 Ridge Road, Lantana.

for more information:
www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com OR 1-800-426-1031.
This site will allow you to print a mailing label. There is a "no postage" permit
available, however, applying postage helps our troops, so donate the postage.

The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was started in April 2004 by 13-year-old
Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts.
Robbie and Brittany's goal is to help our soldiers serving overseas call home.
They hope to provide as many soldiers as possible with prepaid calling cards.
Through generous donations and the recycling of used cell phones, Robbie
and Brittany have already distributed thousands of calling cards to soldiers around the globe.

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The West Boynton Park and Recreation Center is located at 6000 Northtree
Boulevard, Lake Worth - directly behind the Park Vista High School.

Ground Hog Day Celebration 2008 - will be held on Saturday,
February 2nd from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. for pre-school aged children. Program
is free. No pre-registration is required. Parents are invited to bring their children
to enjoy an educational morning with ground hog tales, dancing with their mascot
ground hog and outdoor games and music. Bring your camera!

Spring "Egg"stravaganza 2008 will be held on Friday,
March 21st from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Bring your children and your
camera to record photos with the bunny. Children will enjoy a great egg hunt!
Program is appropriate for children under 11. Rain or shine.

For more programs and information, log on to www.pbcparks.com

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At the West Boynton Branch Library, 9451 Jog Road:
Free tickets are available to see the Folk singers
Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson at 7:00 p.m. Feb. 4,
This group hails from West Townshend, Vt.. They use a range of styles in their
music, from bluegrass and country western to soul and Celtic music.

Sense of Place - Adult Book Discussion Series continues
on the second Tuesday of the month. 2:00 P.M. - 3:30- P.M. with Nora Natke.
The February 12th selection is "Orchid Beach," by Stuart Woods.
Pre-Register at the registration desk, and pick up a copy of this book, so
that you can participate in the discussion.

Tues., Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. - Socrates Café -
Jack Berger leads a discussion group for amateur philosophers on a variety of topics
such as integrity, tolerance, friendship, happiness, and more. (90 min.) Preregister.

Tues., Feb. 19, 2:00 p.m. Hohner’s Heroes
Enjoy harmonicas and humor performed by this popular local group. Tickets
available beginning Feb. 12. (60 min.)

Sat., Feb. 23, 2:00 p.m. Adult/Child
Celebrate The Chinese New Year of the Rat in this
multicultural program with singing, dancing, and Chinese musical instruments
as performed by the Joy Club of The Chinese Association of Science, Economics,
and Culture. Afterwards, children can make a craft and hear a story. Ages 4 & up.
(30 min.) Preregister.

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Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center is located at 12800 Hagen Ranch Road,
west of Boynton Beach between Boynton Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue.
The wetlands are open seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset. Nature center
hours are 1:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. Tuesday through Friday; 8:15 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Saturdays and 1:00 to 4:30 P.M. on Sundays.

On Tuesdays at 4:00 P.M., and on Saturdays at 9:00 and 11:00 A.M.
and 1:00 and 3:00 P.M., free guided half-mile tours are offered to visitors.
There are no reservations required.

For more information, call 561 966-7000. OR www.pbcparks.com/nature

If you are looking for a lovely morning or afternoon walk with visiting relatives or if you
need a destination to take your grandchildren, Green Cay Nature Center is a great refuge
for the eyes and the soul. Bring your camera and your binoculars. There is a lot to see!

The Nature Center has indoor exhibits, restrooms, and a lovely gift shop. Volunteers
are friendly and knowledgeable.

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SPMUG is a group of avid MacIntosh users who meet on the third
Friday of every month at 1:00 P.M. at the South Civic Center in Del Ray Beach.
The current president is Abe Korn.

The group meets to discuss new software, MAC problems and their solutions, and
to discuss ways to share their knowledge with other MAC "people." They also
demonstrate quite a few Applications and Utilities using a Projector and Screen.
In addition, their Newsletter offers SPMUG Tips and Tricks to all members who have
email addresses. They offer free raffles for prizes to members at every meeting.
Visit their web site, http://www.mv.com/ipusers/spmug/
At the January meeting, Abe Korn eulogized past Board member, Oscar Winograd.

Irv Berliner gave a demonstration of how to take a picture with a digital camera and
transfer the picture to a Macintosh computer with iPhoto08.

Dean Hoffman presented some of the features of iPhoto08 and Apple's new operating
system, "Leopard."

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Education Groups Endorse Eye Exams, H.R. 2238

In January, two national education groups joined forces with the Vision Council
of America, in its fight for healthy vision in children, by supporting children’s eye exams and
endorsing H.R. 2238.

The National PTA recently updated their position statement on children’s health
to read: “Early diagnosis and treatment of children’s vision problems is a necessary
component to school readiness and academic learning; and that vision screening is
not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor.
Comprehensive eye and vision examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist
are important for all children first entering school and regularly throughout their
school-aged years to ensure healthy eyes and adequate vision skills essential for
successful academic achievement.”

In addition, the National Head Start Association, the longest-running national
school readiness program in U.S., endorsed H.R. 2238 in their efforts to provide
health, education and nutrition services to low-income children and families.
This bill, introduced by Representative Bill Pascrell (NJ-08), has already received
over 150 cosponsors and continues to gain support.

To show your support of H.R. 2238 and healthy vision for children,
please visit www.2020advocacy.com. For more information,
please contact Eve Zartman-Ball,
manager of government relations and advocacy, at (703) 548-4560 ext. 224

or via e-mail at ezb@visionsite.org.

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According to the State of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,
Florida Statute 316.1955, handicapped parking areas can only be used by a driver
eligible for a handicap permit.

Frequently Asked Questions about Disabled Parking Permits

How do I get a disabled parking permit? Who is eligible?

You must obtain "Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit", form HSMV 83039,
through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Division of Motor
Vehicles, 2900 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0620, or at any local
tag office. Submit the application, signed by a physician, to your local tax collector's
office with appropriate payment.
In addition to the completed form, be sure to bring:
* A copy of your Florida driver license or Florida identification card.
* Fees based on the fee chart on the application form.

After you have been issued a parking placard, you will receive a renewal notice before your next expiration date.

If you have any questions concerning the parking permit program, you may call your local county tax collector's office or the Division of Motor Vehicles Customer Service Section at (850) 488-388l.

Will everyone with a disabled parking permit be able to park for free at meters?

Anyone with a disabled parking permit who parks on the street at a turnstile meter will continue to park for free. However, there are new time restrictions; 4 hours maximum. The law also allows local municipalities to exceed the 4 hours maximum by local ordinance.

What are the guidelines for charging a person to park whose vehicle displays a disabled parking permit under the new law?

The law allows municipalities to remove free parking in the following settings: government lots that are used for entertainment, such as convention centers, cruise port terminals, sports stadiums, sports arenas, coliseums and auditoriums along with airports and city or municipal garages.

When free parking is removed as described above, the law requires the free parking be maintained only for those vehicles with ramps, lifts, hand controls or State of Florida toll exemption permits.

What is the limit on the number of days I can park using my disabled parking permit?

The new law allows facilities to restrict the number of days (in a row) a vehicle may be parked with a permit, if the number of days is being restricted for the general public.

What new requirements will assist with enforcement?

Access aisles are now a no parking zone for all vehicles whether the vehicle is displaying a disabled parking permit or not. The fine for parking in an access aisle is the same for the disabled parking space, most commonly $250. The placement of the identification number on the permit will allow the enforcement entity to request the identification card or driver license. They can then match the number on the ID to the number on the permit, and match the picture on the ID to the person using the permit. If anything does not match, a ticket will be written.

What will be done if someone uses a family members' permit or person uses a permit that does not belong to them?

Anyone who obtains or uses a permit that does not belong to them can be charged with a second degree misdemeanor - $500 fine or up to 6 months in jail. Improper use of the permit is now twice the fee of a disabled parking violation. This should deter people from loaning their permits to family members. It does not matter if you are running an errand for the person with a disability. If the person with a disability is not present -- the fine is $500.
Handicapped parking areas are marked by an approved sign on a post or building
at the head of a designated area in blue paint. The vehicle parked in that designated
space must have his/her permit prominently displayed. Out of state vehicles with
handicap license plates are recognized as valid in Florida.

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Does your name appear on a "sucker list?" These lists contain information about people who have
provided valuable personal information to previous telemarketing solicitations. The lists are bought, sold and traded by scam artists who want your information and your money!

Seniors are especially targeted by unscrupulous sales marketers for products and services.
They want your valuable information, especially your credit card, birth date,
social security number, and address. Older women living alone are especially
targeted by scam artists. They play upon an older person's trust and politeness.
Often, callers inform the listener that he/she has won
a foreign lottery or that Social Security needs bank account information for their files.
Social Security employees NEVER call individuals for information.

You can protect yourself:
1) Do NOT give your credit card, checking account or Social Security number
to anyone who calls you. Call 1-800-772-1213 if you need direct Social Security information.
2) Don't pay for something to receive a "free" gift or sweepstakes.
3) Do not pay anyone to recover money for you for a "fee."
4) Call the Better Business Bureau, local consumer protection agency, or the State Attorney General's Office, before you agree to send money. Another source of information is the
OIG (Office of Inspector General). Their Hotline number is 1-800-269-0271. A Public
Fraud Reporting form is available online at OIG's Web site: www.socialsecurity.lgov/oig.

PUT YOUR NAME ON THE DO NOT CALL REGISTRY, too! It is free.
www.donotcall.gov
or 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you wish you register.
Do it for your cell phone, too!

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Do you want to have a say in who the candidates are in the next Presidential Election?
The January 29th Primary election is your opportunity to make your vote count, if you
are a Republican or Democrat.

The homestead exemption referendum is also on the ballot. You do NOT
have to be a registered Democrat or Republican to vote on this referendum. The homestead
exemption is now $25,000. Passage of this referendum would double the
exemption to $50,000 on everything except school taxes. An important issue in
this referendum is the Property Tax Referendum, also known as
"portability." This would allow new homeowners
to transfer Save Our Homes tax savings when they move.
60% majority vote is needed to have this become law.

Palm Beach has about 781,000 registered voters. Early voting begins January 14th
and absentee voters have until January 23rd to request mail ballots.

Need more information? Here are some sources:

www.pbcelections.org - Download a voter registration form.
Elections Office - 561 656-6200

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The Florida Highway Patrol is encouraging all drivers to use their computers to log in their
emergency contact information. More than 700,000 Floridians have done this, so far.
However, there are over 18 million licensed drivers and ID card holders in our state who have not done this, yet.

So, if you hold a valid Florida driver's license or if you have a valid Florida ID card, PLEASE
go to your computer or go to a library and use a computer to enter your emergency contact
information.

If you are ever involved in an automobile accident, or any other altercation, your information
will be on file. Please understand that the information that you supply will be kept secure and is only used by law enforcement officials in case of emergency.

The site is:

https://www6.hsmv.state.fl.us/dlcheck/findcustomer

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OCEANFRONT CONCERT SERIES

Friday, January 18, 2008 – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Friday, March 21, 2008 – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Friday, April 18, 2008 – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Friday, May 16, 2008 – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Oceanfront Park (directions/map from Google Maps page)
6415 N Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435
On A1A, just north of the Ocean Avenue Bridge

Park and Ride on the shuttle – park at Bank of America located on the corner of East Ocean Avenue and Federal Highway

Shuttle runs from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Bring your folding chairs
Food & Drink Vendors available
Concerts are presented by the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency

For Information call: 561-742-6246 or 737-3256

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More water restrictions will soon be enacted and enforced for our county. Several acquaintances, who had proudly showed-off their colorful gardens, have sought drought-resistant plants for their front yards. Drought-friendly grass and smaller lawns, with more rocks and/or mulch are becoming more prevalent in large communities. Native bushes, succulents and cactus are replacing annuals
and flowers that require large and frequent waterings. These things were on my mind when I
found a magazine in the doctor's office.

I was intrigued by the article I read in SCIENCE NEWS, December 1, 2007, page 340,
entitled "So Sproutish, Anti-aging gene for plants gives drought protection."

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have been experimenting with the gene IPT,
which can delay the affects of drought on tobacco plants (by staying green after 15 days without water) .IPT gene added to a plant stimulates a surge of enzymes that fool the plant into thinking it's
still young. Aging plants drop their leaves and die. Young plants are strong and can withstand
drought conditions. So, this is like an "anti-aging" gene for plants!

Other plant varieties were treated with IPT, which achieved at least 85% of their usual yield.
Eduardo Blumwald of UC says he hopes that IPT will be tested on crops such as wheat and
tomatoes.

At the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, water-thrifty rice,
corn, and cotton are being engineered to survive drought conditions.

While this research is highly commendable and might provide future solutions to our drought,
we are the solution at the moment. So, neighbors, start looking for more cactus or succulents for your garden, rather than showy annuals, and put away your hoses. Mother Nature is in control, but we have to help by conserving what we receive.

Want to read more about IPT? Go to www.sciencenews.org.
See Sun-Sentinel, December 22, 2007, Local, "Builders May See Landscaping Rules."

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It is winter time and few people think about mosquitoes at this time of year, but planning
for their spring and summer invasions requires forethought. Being retired affords me
the luxury of reading books and magazines and Google searches that pique my interest.
Here's what I have been learning about mosquitoes:

DDT was a popular chemical widely used in the U.S., until three decades ago,
when it was banned. DDT was sprayed on lawns and shrubs in home gardens
and on farms and orchards, to eradicate harmful insects. Rachel Carson,
(Silent Spring, 1962), documented the evils of DDT and other insecticides
that were commonly used at that time, and helped influence the
U.S. government to ban its widespread use.

Recently, scientists have been revisiting the use of DDT to combat malaria in
South Africa. In Mexico, they are successfully dealing with mosquito-breeding
by spraying safer pesticides called "permethrins."

The wettest summer on record in Dallas, Texas produced a huge community
of long-jawed orb weaver spiders. The population of these spiders, together with
other varieties, produced a gigantic web that trapped millions of mosquitoes.
Perhaps introducing spiders and other helpful insects
into our environment might help balance nature in our favor.

Want to learn more?

www.mods.org is the web site for Museum of Discovery & Science
"Better Planet," Discover Magazine, November, 2007, page 34-36.

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Modified Phase 2 Water Restrictions from South Florida Water Management District now in place are limited to landscape irrigation to two days per week. Beginning January 15, 2008, Modified Phase III Water-Use Restrictions will go into effect.

The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board declared an extreme District-wide water shortage and adopted a Modified Phase III water shortage order, instituting a one-day-a-week watering schedule for residential landscape irrigation.
Additional restrictions regarding multi-family complexes and new landscaping can be
found by visiting: www.sfwmd.gov, or call SFWMD at (561) 686-8800 or (800) 432-2045.
City of Boynton Beach Utilities, (561) 742-6400, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
For additional information: Sun-Sentinel.com/waterrestrictions
(Watch how the levels of Lake Okeechobee change in an interactive graphic.


Information furnished by the South Water Florida Water Management District.

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