Useful Links and Contacts Website Feature

This community website has a useful numbers and links feature. This feature provides a broad selection of phone numbers and website links. The links include both local, city, county, state and national contacts.

The top black menu bar is the category of phone numbers. Click on any of the categories for a listing.

The grey menu bar contains the classifications within the category. In the example above we click on the Medical Category menu item. When we did this, we are presented with two classifications within the Medical list, Hospital and Information. We clicked on the Hospital Classification menu and we are presented with the list below of local hospitals.

We update this list on a regular basis, so please check it often. We also welcome and comments or feedback. Click on the contact us Menu item to do so.

Fire - Rescue: Can We Find Your Address?

From the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

Many times when a fire breaks out, smoke and flames show our firefighters how to get to your building. It's easy to locate with columns of smoke pouring out from your home or business.

But what if you're having a heart attach and lying on the floor waiting for the paramedics to get there? Can we find you? Is your address visible?

Following are a few smart tips to help us find you:

• Post big address numbers 4" minimum on multi-family units and 8" minimum on your commercial buildings and marquees.

• Use a contrasting color from the background of the building

• Make sure the numbers are clearly visible from the road

• Light up your address at night.

• Make sure your address is visible from both directions.

Living with Alligators

By: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC)

Alligators have inhabited Florida’s marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties. In recent years, Florida has experienced tremendous human population growth. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. This can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict.

Although many Floridians have learned to coexist with alligators, the potential for conflict always exists. Because of their predatory nature and large size (up to 14 feet in length and weighing as much as 1,000 pounds), alligators sometimes attack pets and livestock. Unfortunately, humans are occasionally attacked, and in rare instances, killed by large alligators. Since 1948, more than 275 unprovoked attacks on humans have been documented in Florida, with at least 17 resulting in deaths.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) annually receives more than 18,000 alligator-related complaints. Most of these complaints deal with alligators occurring in places such as backyard ponds, canals, ditches and streams, but other conflicts occur in garages, pools and in golf course ponds. In many cases, if left alone, alligators will eventually retreat to more-preferred, isolated areas away from people.

If you encounter an alligator over four feet in length and that poses a threat to humans or property, call 1-866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286). The FWC will evaluate your complaint, and if necessary send a registered trapper to remove the alligator.

• Be aware of the possibility of alligator attacks when in or near fresh or brackish waterbodies. Attacks may occur when people do not pay close enough attention to their surroundings when working or recreating near water.

• Closely supervise children when they are playing in or around water. Never allow small children to play unsupervised near water.

• Do not swim outside of posted swimming areas or in waters that might be inhabited by large alligators.

• Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. Therefore, swim only during daylight hours.

• Leave alligators alone. State law prohibits killing, harassing or possession of alligators.

• Never feed or entice alligators - it’s dangerous and illegal. When fed, alligators overcome their natural wariness and learn to associate people with food.

• Don’t allow pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near waters that may contain alligators or in designated swimming areas with humans. Dogs are more susceptible to being attacked than humans, because dogs resemble the natural prey of alligators.

• Never remove an alligator from its natural habitat or accept one as a pet. It is illegal and dangerous to do so. Handling even small alligators can result in injury.

• Observe and photograph alligators only from a distance. Remember, they’re an important part of Florida’s natural history as well as an integral component of freshwater ecosystems.

• Seek immediate medical attention if bitten by an alligator. Alligator bites often result in serious infection.

In Florida, increasing numbers of people living and recreating near water have led to a steady rise in the number of alligator-related complaints. Although the majority of these complaints relate to alligators occurring in locations where they simply aren’t wanted, a small number tragically involve attacks on humans. The FWC removes more than 7,000 nuisance alligators per year. Through removal of these alligators and increased public awareness, the rate of alligator attacks has remained constant despite the increased potential for alligator-human interaction.

Alligators are an important part of Florida’s heritage and play an important role in the ecology of our state’s wetlands. A better understanding of these facts and a broader knowledge of alligator behavior will help ensure that humans and alligators can continue to coexist.

Microsoft Vista: Should You Buy Now?

After five years in development, Microsoft's new operating system is finally about to hit the street. Is it a keeper? Fortune's Peter Lewis takes it for a test drive.

(Fortune Magazine) -- What does Windows Vista have in common with the just-christened nuclear aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush? Answer: They are both powerful flagships of technology that took five years and billions of dollars to build.

Also, while they'll both be in use for years to come, they're almost certainly the last of their respective kinds. The world now moves at Internet speed, and slow, complex behemoths - whether warships or software - are being forced to become smaller, faster and more maneuverable.

How does Vista stack up? After a couple of months of testing in the Fortune gadget laboratory, my verdict is this: Vista is definitely the best operating system Microsoft (Charts) has ever made. (Mac users, stop snorting!) It offers greater security and reliability than previous versions of Windows; a prettier, more useful user interface; better support for networked computers; backward compatibility with older programs, plus a better bridge to future technologies like 64-bit computing; and greatly improved search abilities.

I'll definitely upgrade from Windows XP - but probably not until Microsoft releases the inevitable bug-fixing and hole-patching Vista Service Pack, which may be months from now.

Vista's negative ledger is shorter - some significant headaches but no deal breakers. One big hurdle is that you'll need serious hardware to take advantage of the best features. Only the most expensive versions of Vista - Home Premium and Ultimate - offer the new "breakthrough Vista experience" Microsoft is touting, including the glassy Aero interface and fancier graphics. Older PCs lack the horsepower to run it. If you haven't bought a new PC in the past year or so, you'll probably have to grab your wallet and a screwdriver to upgrade your hardware. That's not including the hundreds of bucks you'll spend for new Vista-enabled versions of your favorite applications.

Bottom line: Microsoft's Windows Vista delivers better security and usability, from the home to the road to the enterprise. But since you've already waited five years for it, it won't hurt to wait a little bit longer, until it's time to buy your next PC.

Research associate Doris Burke contributed to this article.

view complete article at money.cnn.com

Living Beautifully With Art

By Nancy Feldman
The Art of Placement
TheArtOfPlacement.cc

This month's client question for our Q and A column really hit home. I've recently inherited some art and collectibles that have wonderful memories for me. It can be challenging to incorporate pieces that you have emotional attachments to into your existing collections; even for me, i.e. The Art of Placement, Inc. Just the question of "where do I want to see this everyday?" has major impact.

So many times I've entered homes that house the most interesting collections and art pieces but everything's so jumbled up you can't appreciate the beauty of each piece. It's important for the senses not to be overwhelmed, the eye needs to be able to rest. A good example is when you go to the opera…you just can't appreciate the music without the pause; not every space on the wall has to be filled.

Q. Can you give us some basic how to tips when it comes to hanging our art? No matter what we do, it just doesn't feel right.

A. If it doesn't feel right, it's probably not…art can be very subjective but here are a few constants that I've collected from the pros over the past few years that really work.

• Never hang art too high

• Remember which areas in your home serve what purpose. Art viewed from a standing position in the entry is meant to be hung higher than when you're seated in the living room.

If your straining your neck to look at your pieces then they're hung too high.

• Frames of similar sizes shapes and materials give continuity to a room.

• If your frames are a combo of styles and sizes painting them one color gives you a sense of order.

• The most interesting groupings are organized by subject, size or color.

• When you're hanging art, the room, its proportions and the art are 3 important elements that must be remembered.

• Last but not least, if you don't know where to hang that painting try leaning it against the wall in different rooms and different positions; i.e. on top of the entry table, next to the bed…over a mantel. Move it around until it does feel right to you and always think aboutthe effect you want to achieve. Layering works so incorporate groupings of art pieces right along with your art work whenever possible and remember, sometimes art can be the rug you're standing on or the ceiling above you!