On Friday June 24, 2011, the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Southwest County Transfer Station took place. The facility is located in Boynton Beach south of Boynton Beach Blvd. on the East side of Route 441. Residents and businesses within the immediate service area of this facility, which includes west Delray, will realize a 15% rate reduction. Residential customers will recognize this savings on their annual property tax statement which will be prorated from the facility opening day.

The transfer station campus includes a 90,000 square foot transfer station with attached administrative building and a 42,250 square foot floor with six open-top holes where below, tractor trailers await the trash which is pushed into the hole by huge moving equipment (see photo left)
Concerning the environment and hazardous wastes, there is an expected reduction in fuel consumption of 700,000 gallons per year and a reduction of 15 million pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a result of the opening of this facility. Also, an area will soon be available for acceptance of batteries and other consumer wastes among them fluids such as oil and paint.

For a spectacular aerial view of the facility and more SWA Transfer Station Facts, click on the following:
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_list.asp?subcat=384&subtitle=Solid+Waste+Authority+Transfer+Station%3A+Southwest+County

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The Palm Beach County Charter is undergoing a thorough review of its content to determine what changes, if any, citizens would like placed on the November 2012 ballot. A series of public meetings has been scheduled around the county to obtain comments and suggestions.

Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions:
What is the Palm Beach County Charter? The Palm Beach County Charter, in essence, is the document that spells out how county government will operate. It establishes home rule and a county manager form of government, as well as providing a process to amend or modify the document itself. The charter enables Palm Beach County voters, through their elected officials, to have greater independence in determining how their local government will function and what services it provides.
Where can you obtain a copy of the current County Charter? The Following is the link:
http://allianceofdelray.com/picture/pbc_charter.pdf
Where and when are the public hearings being held? The following is the link to the schedule of public hearings:
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_list.asp?subcat=382&subtitle=PALM+BEACH+COUNTY+CHARTER+REVIEW+PROCESS
What changes have been made to the Charter since it was established in 1984?
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_detail.asp?id=134&itemdesc=WHAT+CHANGES+HAVE+BEEN+MADE+TO+THE+CHARTER+SINCE+1984%3F
Where can I receive a further explanation of county charters in the State of Florida and the Review Process prior to the public meeting?
http://allianceofdelray.com/picture/charter_review_2011.pdf
There will be suggestion cards available at all the public meetings in order to receive input from the public.

County website:
http://www.pbcgov.com

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Over the next few years you will see big changes on Atlantic Avenue between Hagen Ranch Road and Jog Road. Plans are underway to widen the avenue from 4 lanes to 6 lanes. Noise walls, landscape buffering, and easement procurement are among the major issues surrounding the widening.

On June 10, 2011 the Palm Beach County Planning Commission voted to recommend the widening of the avenue in accordance with future roadway maps and planning consistency rules.

There will be a series of public meetings concerning this project. The Alliance of Delray Residential Associations is following this closely and when the meetings are scheduled, the meeting times and dates will be posted on its website at
http://www.allianceofdelray.com

For details of this project, click on the following:
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_list.asp?subcat=380&subtitle=ATLANTIC+AVENUE+WIDENING

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Now you can schedule a free heart screening at the prestigious Delray Medical Center, your local "heart Hospital." Already named one of America’s 50 best hospitals and a recipient of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence by Healthgrades, Delray Medical Center was also recently named one of America’s “Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals” by Thomson Reuters. Delray Medical Center was selected from more than 1,000 U.S. hospitals based on its record of providing high-quality and effective cardiovascular care.

Three cardiac catheterization labs provide for efficient diagnostic and minimally invasive procedures to be performed. Special operating rooms and the availability of a multitude of diagnostic procedures contribute to the high quality health care.

The following link will provide access to the heart banner button to “click” and schedule your appointment. You can also review the schedule of lectures “Healthy Conversations” offered this month at the Hospital.

http://allianceofdelray.com/sub_category_list.asp?category=73&title=Delray+Medical+Center

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With iPAD in hand, I performed a solemnization of marriage* for a local couple yesterday. More than 100 guests filled the chapel at the golf and country club. The bride was radiant and the groom was handsome and my ipad shined. Following the wedding ceremony, I attempted to scoot over to the dressing room to remove my robe, don my party dress, and join the festivities but was delayed by several guests asking questions regarding the 7.25 by 9.5 inch electronic wonder. I entertained questions regarding the memory capacity, the program used to store the data, and even the price I paid. A comment was made that I am probably the first person EVER to officiate a marriage using the iPAD; my response was “maybe not the first ever, but certainly the first that everyone here today has seen.”

*The author is a Florida notary public authorized to solemnize matrimony according to Florida Statute 117.045 and Florida Statute 741.07. Since the law was enacted in 1861, Florida notaries have been performing marriage ceremonies.

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Summer is a terrific time for a staycation. These tourist sites are a must to experience and much less crowded now.

1. Heading South? Flamingo Gardens in Davie for an “eco experience” of botanicals, wildlife, and historic 1930’s Wray House. It is mating season for flamingos and peacocks. http://www.flamingogardens.org/

2. Heading North? Trapper Nelson “Wildman of Loxahatchee” was Florida’s very own “Tarzan.” Take the riverboat and visit the unique 1930’s fur trapping site at Jonathan Dickinson State Park just north of Jupiter and South of Stuart in Hobe Sound. For Information: http://www.floridaparktours.com/trappernelsons.html
Photo below of Trapper Nelson from: http://www.floridastateparks.org

3. Staying in Delray? Relax with Island Music on Thursday June 16 th you can attend a “fun raiser” at Crane’s Beachouse and Tiki bar and help support the local Historic Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.
Here is the link to the information regarding this event:
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_list.asp?subcat=374&subtitle=Spady+Museum+Event

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Mounts Botanical Garden will be reviving its Tropical Fruit Festival after a 5 year hiatus to teach adults and children about the benefits and fun of growing your own fruit.
Mounts Botanical Garden’s Tropical Fruit Festival “Come Taste the Tropics” co-sponsored by Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, will be held on Saturday, June 25th from 10am to 3pm. General Event Admission is $5.
Main event highlights include:
• Tropical fruit samples including: guava, mango, papaya, lychee and sapote (limited to first 500 attendees)
• Cooking demonstrations by Acclaimed Chef Allen Susser
• Gene Joyner’s Tropical Fruit Display
• Lecture on “Fruitscaping” by Dr. Jonathan Crane
• Tropical fruit & fruit trees for sale
• Tours 11am & 1pm (space limited)
• Live steel drums music by “Calypso King”
• PBC Extension Master Gardner Booth
• Family & Consumer Sciences Canning Display
“Come to Mounts and taste the Tropics,” urges Garden Director Allen Sistrunk. “This is the exact time of year when most local tropical fruit ripen, so it is the perfect opportunity for people to see and taste some delicious varieties.”

Chef Allen Susser is a culinary pioneer, a renowned restaurateur and is well-known for creating and developing “NEW WORLD CUISINE,” which is his innovative signature and an important contribution to American Culinary craftsmanship.
Chef Allen has been featured in Bon Appetit, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, and Food Arts, and has been a frequent guest on NBC’s Today Show, the CBS Early Show, PBS and the Food Network. Hailed as “the Ponce de Leon of New Florida Cooking” by the New York Times, he has also been the recipient of many awards including: the James Beard Award as “Best Chef in the Southeast,” in 1994, a Top Table Award from Gourmet magazine in 1997 and again in 1999 and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence from 1989-2008. He was also named “One of the 10 Best New Chefs in America,” by Food & Wine magazine in 1994.
In addition to his many accomplishments, Chef Allen has been the spokesperson for the National Mango Board for the past six years and is the author of New World Cuisine and Cookery (Doubleday, 1995), The Great Citrus Book (Ten Speed Press, 1997) and The Great Mango Book, (Ten Speed Press, 2001).

This event is made possible by a generous gift from the Marge & Fritz Bell Tropical Fruit Project.

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Once or twice a year, check for toilet leaks. Add food coloring to the toilet tank. If colored water appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, internal tank parts such as the flapper need to be replaced. Flush the colored water immediately to avoid staining.

Remember, be a part of the solution. Here are 50 Ways to conserve water just click on the following:
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_list.asp?subcat=369&subtitle=50+Ways+to+Conserve+Water

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This week, at the age of 59, Michael “Elwood” Gochenour entered into eternity. For many years he owned and operated “Elwood’s Dixie BBQ” which was located at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and the railroad tracks in Delray Beach.

Elwood will be remembered by many area residents as the businessman and personality that brought terrific entertainment to the Avenue in Delray Beach. Here is a vintage photo of Thursday night with a crowd of fans watching Scott Ringersen with his “Elvis Experience” Show. Among popular fixtures at the shabby chic bar were the Pierce Tire Company Sign which is pictured below and the bar made of automotive ramps.

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Today, the USDA unveiled the new food icon, MyPlate, a simple reminder for healthy eating. The icon above shows a plate with four components and a side dish, making five food groups: grains, vegetables, fruit, dairy, and protein. This icon replaces the traditional food pyramid that we grew up with.

The slogan from the USDA: “We hope that MyPlate becomes your plate” accompanies suggestions such as avoiding oversized portions, increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed, and reducing fat, sodium, and sugar in the diet.
For more information, go to
http://www.choosemyplate.gov

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Hurricane season has arrived. Be sure to give attention to the following three areas of hurricane preparedness.

Yard Trimming: Maintaining your grounds is important so that loose branches and debris do not become projectiles during a storm. Pre hurricane season maintenance is preferable, but there is still time to perform yard work. The Solid Waste Authority recommends that once a storm has been named, you do not perform major yard work or cut down trees. Also, once a watch or warning has been issued, do not trim vegetation of any kind. The Solid Waste Authority provides storm preparedness guidelines. Here is the link to that pamphlet:
http://allianceofdelray.com/item_list.asp?subcat=359&subtitle=Storm+Preparedness+Guidelines+from+Solid+Waste+Authority

Grocery stores and gas stations with generators: Know which stores would most likely be open following a storm so that you can purchase essential items. Here is a link to our area’s Publix stores and gas stations with generators:
http://allianceofdelray.com/sub_category_list.asp?category=66&title=Hurricane+Preparedness

Storm tracking: Know where the storms are off our coasts so if they head our way you will have more time to prepare. Here is the link to the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Attention to the above three areas will help to weather the storm season.

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