Page 21 - Abacoa Community News - April '24

Abacoa, Page 21
Commissioner’s Update

A Look At The Economic The Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC) Women’s Golf Championship, and the Jackson T. Stephens
Impacts Of Sports In Palm is dedicated to championing our county as the premier Cup call Palm Beach County home. Palm Beach County
destination for sports and tourism. Their mission is to
hosted the best of racquet sports with international tennis
Beach County attract sporting events and activities to Palm Beach County and pickleball events, and equestrian sports continue to
and to maximize the positive economic impact of these thrive with Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival. Our
By Vice Mayor Maria Marino events on our local economy. By expanding occupancy sports commission partnered with the United States Polo
Sports have long been of hotel room nights and maximizing the use of county Association in bringing FIP World Polo Championships
regarded as more than just facilities, PBCSC utilizes events and activities to promote to the National Polo Center and the United States for only
games; they are economic the image of Palm Beach County as a sports tourism the second time. Jupiter’s Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium
e ngi ne s t ha t p owe r destination on a national and international level. hosts the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins each
communities. Beyond the In 2023, our sports commission hosted 196 events, year for their Major League Baseball Spring Training and
thrill of competition and the which represented more than 40 different types of sports. CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach,
camaraderie it fosters, sports These events brought nearly 1.3 million sports-related hosts the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.
have a profound impact on attendees who traveled from 48 states and 42 nations. The As residents of Palm Beach County we know how truly
the economic landscape same attendees utilized over 300,000 room nights which valuable our location in the country is. With an average
of counties, promoting translated to over $77 million in hotel revenue with an year-round temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit, 47 miles
tourism, generating revenue, estimated $4.6 million collected in bed tax. Additionally, of breathtaking beaches, over 160 golf courses, 45 parks
creating jobs, and boosting local businesses. Palm Beach the Winter Equestrian Festival and Major League Baseball with vast multipurpose playing fields, and more than 346
County is unrivaled when it comes to golf, racquet sports, Spring Training utilized an additional 96,000 room nights. acres of polo and equestrian facilities, it is no wonder that
equestrian sports and baseball amenities. In fact, The Palm In total, these sports events created an estimated $300 Palm Beach County continues to increase its sports tourism
Beaches has been recognized by Sports Business Journal million in economic impact to Palm Beach County. economic impact.
as one of the top 50 sports destinations in the United States This past year has positioned Palm Beach County at For more information on ways to experience sports in
and No. 5 for a destination without a professional sports the top of the sports spectrum. As Florida’s Golf Capital, Palm Beach County, please visit www.palmbeachsports.
franchise. the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, NCAA DI com/events.
Professional Firefighters And Paramedics Of Palm Beach County

Bagpipes In The Fire Service One of the Irish traditions they brought with them was Next time you hear a fire department pipe and drum band,
the bagpipes. In an effort to keep their traditions alive, the please remember just how it came to be such a deep-rooted
If you saw firefighters in kilts and firefighters would play the bagpipes while at work, and over part of our tradition.
heard the unmistakable sound of time it became part of the firefighter culture. Steen Eriksson,
bagpipes during St. Patrick’s Day Few things evoke a firefighter’s emotions like the sounds of Community Relations - HOA North,
celebrations, there is a reason why pipes and drums. Feelings of pride and joy swell a firefighter’s Professional Firefighters/Paramedics
those sounds and images have become heart when listening to up-tempo Irish and Scottish tunes of Palm Beach County,
a part of the Fire Service traditions. at a joyous occasion, just as the ever-present pride and IAFF Local 2928,
Parades featuring fire department overwhelming sorrow breaks the firefighter’s heart when HOAN@iaff2928.com
honor guards and pipe and drum bands take place across the hearing the wail of Amazing Grace at the funeral for a fallen
United States, and especially in the Northeast as part of St. firefighter killed in the line of duty. Town Of
Patrick’s Day festivities.
This often piques the curiosity about the relationship
firefighters and police officers have with the bagpipes, and Jupiter News
how it has become part of our tradition.
In the mid-1800s, there was a massive migration of Irish to
the United States, mainly to cities in the Northeast. This was By Jim Kuretski,
due largely in part to the potato famine in Ireland prompting Mayor, Town of Jupiter
people to search for a better life. On a biannual basis for the
Initially, the Irish were not welcomed here, and as they past two decades, the Town
searched for jobs, they were usually greeted by signs stating of Jupiter has conducted
“Irish need not apply.” a citizen survey to secure
Becoming desperate to earn money to support their feedback and input from
families, they took the jobs that no one else wanted because it our residents. This survey is
was a dirty, dangerous and physically demanding way to earn conducted by a national firm
very little pay and even less respect. They became firefighters to enable comparisons to
and police officers. national benchmarks as well
as custom/peer benchmarks
to other Florida communities. I am sharing just a few
highlights of this latest survey as follows.
Quality Of Life In Jupiter
“Jupiter as a place to visit” ranked No. 6 of 326
nationally, No. 1 of 25 in Florida.
“Jupiter as a place to retire” ranked No. 11 of 372
nationally, No. 3 of 25 in Florida.
“Jupiter as a place to raise children” ranked No. 101
of 377 nationally, No. 6 of 25 in Florida.

Town Of Jupiter News on page 22
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