The proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel," "eight innings of a nine-inning game", and ''we're almost there" have all been used to describe the present status in the Covid/19 pandemic. However way you look at it, the people of Palm Beach County have met our nemesis, and adapted to dealing with it. The vast majority of us are vaccinated, boosted, and are not shy about wearing masks in crowds. Too many of us have lost loved ones to this virus, (myself included) and are not about to lose one more.  

So, let's begin to put the Corona Virus in the rearview mirror and look forward to a 2022 of health, reunions, and new adventures! 

-Maria Sachs-
Palm Beach County Days
Florida Department of Transportation Update
Commissioner Sachs meeting with the Secretary of the FDOT
Kevin J. Thibault, P.E.

One of the most pressing issues that confound the residents of Palm Beach County is Traffic. Of all the many complaints that residents make, traffic congestion, traffic noise, and highway safety are of the most concern. Issues I discussed with the Secretary include:

  • Traffic safety issues on Lyons Road at the entrances to Escondido and The Timbers communities.
  • Signalization warrants standards for traffic lights at various points in South County.
  • The schedule for the widening of Atlantic Avenue.
  • The schedule for the widening of State Road Seven.
  • The schedule for the widening of The Florida Turnpike South County.


We have invited the Secretary to come to Palm Beach County to meet with our County Engineers, our residents, and Engineering Students from FAU. More information to follow on the date and venue.
Reports From Committees
Commissioner Sachs Chair of
The Tourist Development Council
87,100 Hospitality Jobs

Employment - Highlights

Leisure & Hospitality Employment for November was 87,100, 14% higher than the same month in 2021. Hotel employment at 8,700 jobs was 21% higher than last year. Food and Beverage establishments with 57,100 employees are up 14% over last year and our Arts, Entertainment, and attraction employment at 21,300 employees were up 11% over last November 2021. Finding workers to return to the workforce continues to be a major challenge for all sectors of the tourism industry.
Commissioner Sachs Vice-Chair of
The Solid Waste Authority
Recycling Right Means Revenue for Palm Beach County Cities, Towns, and Villages

Through its Municipal Revenue Share Program, the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) shares recycling revenues with the municipalities it serves. In the Fiscal Year 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021), more than $251,700 was shared with municipalities from Tequesta to Boca Raton. Since the SWA started the program in 2010, local municipalities have shared about $10 million.
 
In the last fiscal year, county residents placed more than 100,000 tons of recyclables in their blue and yellow recycle bins. That’s more than 200 million pounds of recyclable waste that would have otherwise been trashed.
 
Ultimately, more than 83,500 tons of recyclables were sold to mills and factories that could use them in making materials for new products. The top recycled items by weight were mixed paper, glass, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum.
Spotlight
The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge - Close to the Agricultural Reserve
The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1951. In 1986, the Refuge was renamed the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge to honor former USFWS employee and noted South Florida conservationist, Arthur Raymond Marshall. In 2013, the refuge was designated as one of 14 priority Urban National Wildlife Refuges. The goal of the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program is to engage urban communities as partners in wildlife conservation.
Present-day, the refuge consists of 145,188 acres, or 226 square miles, of Everglades ecosystems including a mosaic of wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, cattail communities, and a 400-acre cypress swamp. These lands provides habitat — food, water, shelter, and space — for more than 250 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 40 species of butterflies, and 20 types of mammals. The refuge also provides habitat and protection for endangered and threatened wildlife such as the American alligator, snail kite, and wood stork.

This treasure is located west of U.S. Highway 441 just west of the agricultural reserve and is surrounded by protected areas of farmland and open spaces. 
Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an international memorial day on January 27 commemorating the tragedy of the Holocaust that occurred during the Second World War. January 27 was chosen to commemorate the date that the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Russian Army in 1945.

One museum in South Florida is furthering its efforts to preserve the stories of those who survived. The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center has more than 2,300 Holocaust eyewitness testimonies. Its mission is to preserve the stories from Holocaust survivors, which is why it is now partnering with the Steven Spielberg Foundation to put the stories into an archive to be read all over the world. The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center was the first South Florida Holocaust Museum. The new partnership with the Steven Spielberg Foundation will make it one of the first interactive Holocaust museums in North America.

The Holocaust Documentation & Education Center is located in Dania Beach at 303 N Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL 33004.

Covid At Home Test Update
The federal government has made at-home COVID-19 test kits available by mail. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four (4) at-home tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them, visit https://www.covidtests.gov/.
  
As a reminder, vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and others against COVID-19. For a complete list of testing and vaccinations locations, visit PBC COVID-19 home page.

Horses and Hounds Charitable Foundation
It's Free!
Note the date for 2022
Dear Commissioner,
I will be picking up family members from the Palm Beach International Airport, is there an area free of charge where I can wait until they are ready to be picked up curbside?

Yes, there is. It is very close to the Dunkin'Donuts/7-11 Gas station located off Belvedere Rd., and it is referred to as the cell phone waiting area or Travel Plaza. You can also call 561-471-7420 and speak with our Communications Center and they will be able to further direct you.
Stay Safe Palm Beach County !
Your County Commissioner,
Maria Sachs, Commissioner
Palm Beach County
Fighting For You!
Commissioner Maria Sachs | Palm Beach County Commission - District 5