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Donations Needed for Pet Food Bank

Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control is looking for donations of dog and cat food to stock the Pahokee Pet Food Bank in order to assist low-income or indigent pet owners in need of food for their pets.  The food bank is located at the West County Spay/Neuter Clinic in Pahokee. This facility operates to actively reduce pet overpopulation by offering free sterilization for cats and dogs to all Palm Beach County residents.

The West County facility is located in one of Palm Beach County’s most impoverished regions. Many animals are left to fend for themselves because families can no longer afford to care for them.  Any contribution is greatly appreciated.  The food bank will accept any size or brand of dog or cat food in unopened bags or cans.

Donations may be brought to Animal Care and Control’s main shelter in West Palm Beach, 7100 Belvedere Road, or the West County facility, 3615 State Road 715, Pahokee.  For your convenience, a large gray bin is available outside the main shelter lobby doors to drop off donations after hours.

For more information, please call (561) 233-1222 or visit www.pbcgov.com/pubsafety/animal.

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Consumer Trap & Tip: Auto Repossessions

Trap

Chris hurried out the door for a job interview but suddenly stopped.  His car was not in the driveway!  As panic set in, Chris remembered the calls he received the previous week from the finance company. He ignored the calls but never thought his car would be repossessed because he had less than a year to go before it would be paid off.

Tips

Don’t ignore the problem!  Most motor vehicle purchase contracts allow for repossession if you fail to make timely payments.  The lender does not need to give advance notice, and the recovery agent may come onto your property at any time to take the vehicle.  The following tips can help you avoid this situation.

• Before a payment is late, talk with the lender about your situation.  If the problem is long term, contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (800-388-2227, http://www.nfcc.org) to find a nonprofit group to work with you and your creditors.
• A lender must authorize repossession by a recovery agent licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Division of Licensing. 
• The recovery agent may not carry a weapon onto private property or use physical force or threats. The lender may be liable if the agent harms you or your property. 
• The recovery agent must inventory all personal property in the repossessed vehicle and notify you in writing within five working days as to how and where you can reclaim your property.  The agent must also notify you at least 45 days prior to disposal of property.  You will be given your property after payment of reasonable inventory and storage fees.
• You must be notified in advance of a vehicle resale to cover the loan and recovery costs.  You may be liable for the difference if the sale does not satisfy the debt. 

Call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 888-852-7362 toll free) or visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer for more information.

 

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Consumer Trap & Tip: Auto Body Accident Repairs

Trap

On the way home from work, Richard was involved in an auto accident. Fortunately, the only “injury” was to the front end of his car. After driver and insurance information was exchanged, the police officer asked Richard where he wanted his car towed. The only auto body shop Richard knew was downtown near the courthouse.  Feeling the pressure to make a decision, Richard gave the name of the shop to the tow truck driver who promptly towed his car away. But did he really know where it was going?    

 

Tips
The following are points to consider when selecting an auto body shop:    

·      Before an accident, get organized. Keep your vehicle registration and insurance card (with the needed “800” phone number) in your glove compartment. 

·      Talk to the shop who services your car.  If they don’t have a body shop, ask who they would recommend.  Keep the information with your insurance card.    

·      Contact the State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (800-435-7352) to verify the body shop has a Motor Vehicle Repair License, and contact the shop to ask if they are familiar with your type of vehicle, as some cars require specialized tools and training to repair properly.

·      When practical, visit the shop to see if it has a well-organized service floor with modern equipment. Do the mechanics have updated certifications?

·      “Word of mouth” is still a very good source of information.  Ask friends and neighbors who they have used with successful results.

·      Check with your insurance company agent for a list of body shops that provide extra services and warranties through an agreement with the insurance company.

For more information and to check for consumer disputes against an auto body shop, visit http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer or call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray residents call 888-852-7362 toll free).

 

 

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Celebrate Archaeology Month in Palm Beach County

March is Archaeology Month. Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation is offering a series of informative presentations about the archaeology found right here in Palm Beach County. These talks will be presented by local archaeologists and are free to the public.

The presentations and locations are listed below.  For more information, call the telephone numbers provided or visit www.pbcparks.com.

Topics include:

·         “The Results of the Boyer Survey of Lake Okeechobee” presented by Chris Davenport
Saturday, March 13, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Riverbend Park
Saturday, March 20, 2 -3 p.m., Green Cay Nature Center

• “Archaeology of Jupiter Inlet” presented by Dorothy Block
  Saturday, March 20, 2 - 3 p.m., Okeeheeleee Nature Center
•  “The Archaeology of the Belle Glade Peoples” presented by Greg Mount
  Saturday, March 20, 3 - 4 p.m., Green Cay Nature Center
• “Dining Out 2000 Years Ago,” (walk and talk through Okeeheelee Nature Center) presented by Dr. Michele Williams
  Thursday, March 25, noon, Okeeheelee Nature Center
• Cookie Excavations (for ages 7-11) presented by Dr. Michele Williams
  Friday, March 26, 2:30 -3:30 p.m., Daggerwing Nature Center

Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department operates:

- Daggerwing Nature Center - 11200 Park Access Road, South County Regional Park, west of Boca Raton (629-8760)

- Green Cay Nature Center - 12800 Hagen Ranch Road, west of Boynton Beach (966-7000)

- Okeeheelee Nature Center - 7715 Forest Hill Boulevard, Okeeheelee Park, west of West Palm Beach (233-1400)

- Riverbend Park - 9060 Indiantown Road, west of Jupiter (966-6617)

 

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