Page 17 - Abacoa Community News - February '24
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Abacoa, Page 17
Tax Talk
Dear Friends, Beach County. Look for next month’s issue of “Tax Talk” and clients can have two-way conversations in the client’s
February is quite an when I will share some of the photos and details of the grand preferred language and the device will translate the message
exciting month around the opening! into English, and vice versa.
tax collector’s office. We Anne M. Gannon, This new device has been a game changer for our teams
have passed the halfway Constitutional Tax Collector, Serving Palm Beach County in the service centers and during road tests. Now, during road
mark of this year’s tax season tests, it allows us to provide the driver with the necessary
and 86 percent of taxpayers Introducing Pocketalk! commands in English that they will hear in their preferred
have paid their property Serving you is our commitment and language. Prior to Pocketalk, we had to rely on either an
taxes. For those who have not goal with every interaction with our employee to translate, or the services of a translator when
yet paid, February offers a 1 clients. And with that, we are pleased to and if available. We are happy to say goodbye to those days
percent discount if paid by announce an exciting new service is now and hello, bonjour, and hola to the introduction of this new
Feb. 29. Keep in mind that available in all of our service centers – technology. This is just another way we are delivering on our
there is no discount offered in March so now is your last introducing Pocketalk. commitment to “Serving You” … regardless of the language
chance to save some money on your taxes. The Pocketalk device is simple to use the client speaks.
February also marks the opening of the newest service and is capable of translating more than 80
center in Palm Beach Gardens where we will begin servicing different languages. All you do is speak Origami In The Garden
our clients in a beautiful, spacious, and modern facility. After into the Pocketalk device and it converts A beautiful new
several years of planning and construction, we are thrilled the words into a text and audio translation exhibit has unfolded at
to bring this newest facility to our clients in northern Palm in the desired language. Now our client service specialists Mounts Botanical Garden.
Origami in the Garden,
created by Santa Fe artists
Jennifer and Kevin Box,
is an outdoor sculpture
exhibition. It features 20
metal sculptures inspired
by the Japanese art of paper
folding. What better time to enjoy the beautiful grounds at
Mounts than during the cooler winter weather? I hope you
get a chance to stroll through the exhibit. Origami in the
Garden is open now through May 12, during regular Mounts
Botanical Garden hours.
Visit https://www.mounts.org/origami-in-the-garden/
to purchase tickets: $20 general admission; $18 seniors 65
years-plus, college students and military with ID; $13 kids
6 to 17; free for children under 6.
Admission is free for Mounts members and RAP
(reciprocal program) members; must present membership
card. Annual membership is $60 for an individual or $95
for a family. Visit https://www.mounts.org/membership/ for
more information. Admission is by credit/debit card only.
Dispose Safely … The Hazards Of Lithium
Batteries
They are found in everything
from electric toothbrushes,
musical greeting cards, and
even Tesla electric vehicles,
but do you know the dangers of
lithium batteries if they are not
disposed of properly? Lithium
batteries are easily damaged
once thrown out. When they are
dropped, scraped, crushed, or punctured, the lithium inside
can become exposed and create a fire hazard. When lithium
combines with water, it produces highly flammable hydrogen
and lithium hydroxide that produces a spark. If this happens
inside a garbage/recycling truck or a solid waste facility, that
spark can cause a fire. These fires can spread quickly and
burn for weeks.
Lithium batteries can be properly disposed of at one
of the seven Solid Waste Authority Home Chemical and
Recycling Centers located throughout Palm Beach County.
Many major retailers also offer free disposal of these
batteries. For more information and examples of products
containing lithium batteries, visit the Solid Waste Authority
website, www.swa.org/lib.
