From the desk of Vice Mayor Weinroth (June 2021)
Vaccine Update
There are plenty of vaccines available in our area. To find a convenient location, use the CDC vaccine locator website at www.vaccines.gov/search/ that provides vaccine and provider choices based on your zip code.
The Pfizer vaccine has recently been authorized for persons’ age 12 and up. The Moderna and J&J vaccines are authorized for persons’ age 18 and up. All individuals under the age of 18 receiving a vaccine must be accompanied by a guardian.
Currently, only 45% of those over the age of 16 have been fully vaccinated in the county. Consequently, a large percentage of our 1.5 million residents remain unprotected. Health experts have indicated that in order to reach herd immunity, 70-85% of the population needs to be vaccinated.
Drowning Prevention/Water Safety
With year round sunshine and warm weather, swimming remains one of our areas most popular activities. Unfortunately, drowning accidents are far too frequent and the number one cause is unsupervised water activity. In 2019, over 50 people drowned in an avoidable accident in Palm Beach County. It only takes a minute for the unthinkable to occur, so please take some time to review the following information.
- Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim.
- Swim in designated areas, preferably supervised by lifeguards.
- Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
- Young children should never be left unattended near water.
- Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear life jackets around water.
- If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
The county’s Drowning Prevention Coalition offers various programs including free/reduced-cost swimming lessons. Other programs include free water safety seminars to audiences of all ages; traveling safety displays, and more. For more info or to schedule a presentation for your group of 10 or more, or call 561-616-7068.
Also, the Red Cross offers free online and in-person programs such as CPR and First Aid training and certification. For more details, visit www.redcross.org.
Warning: Lithium-ion Batteries Traced to Fires
Throwing rechargeable batteries in a recycling bin or garbage puts property and lives at risk since they are known to ignite spontaneously. They need to be disposed of at one of Solid Waste Authority’s (SWA) designated centers or at major retailers who have drop-off locations.
County residents can dispose of rechargeable (non-alkaline) batteries at any of the SWA’s seven home chemical and recycling centers.
Regular alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt) can be placed in your garbage.
To see a full list of household hazardous wastes, visit www.SWA.org/HCRC.
Emergency Broadband Benefit
The federal government is now offering monetary assistance through the Emergency Broadband Benefit for households struggling to afford internet service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program offers up to $50 a month towards broadband service for eligible households. In addition, the program also provides a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a computer, or tablet from participating providers (if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price).
For more details on the program, visit www.GetEmergencyBroadband.org or call 833-511-0311.
Volunteers Needed for Gleaning
Gleaning is the process of harvesting leftover produce from grower’s fields after the commercial harvest. The produce is then donated to the Palm Beach County Food Bank and other food relief partners, for distribution to individuals and families countywide.
CROS Ministries is a local non-profit agency that holds annual gleaning events at local farms and is always in need of volunteers. It’s a great way to spend time outdoors while helping provide fresh produce to those in need. For more information, contact Keith Cutshall at kcutshall@crosministries.org.
For more information on county programs including COVID-19 resources such as vaccine locations and more, visitwww.pbcgov.com.
Please contact our office if you require assistance at 561-355-2204 and/or email me atrweinroth@pbcgov.org.