Greenerpalmbeach’s Weblog


WALL ST. GREEN
March 28, 2008, 12:03 am
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags:

Methodology Guide for NYSE Indexes

What is HYIP?

Posted in Investing, Finance, Home Business, Business, stock, Money by Allen Taylor on the April 16th, 2008

HYIP stands for High Yield Investment Programs and is a get rich quick scheme. HYIP’s promise from 1% up to 200% a day of the total invested amount. If you invested in the 200% a day program 1$ you would get 2$ the next day, 4$ the second, 8$ on the third and so on… if you left all your money in the program without taking anything out. This method is called compounding. Of course this just doesn’t work as well as written and advertised. We can categorize HYIP’s into three categories:

a) Scams 80%
b) Games 15%
c) Legit 5%

SCAMS

These HYIP’s are run by people who’s only intention is to steal your money. Most of these scams are Ponzi schemes. Every day hundreds of new ones appear across the globe. A very famous online scam was profits4investing.com, happened in 2005. During the time of the internet fraud, their conduct resulted in $684,388.74 in losses to 9,756 victims. Money never was invested, but same as in the Ponzi scheme was used for personal use and some to pay the first investors from the money of later ones to create a false belief that the program is legitimate.

GAMES

In the United States a Ponzi Scheme is illegal, but that does not go for all the countries of the world. So some people are placing Ponzi Games to play with investors. Their explanation of the Game is accurate and promises high paying figures, but closes when a certain percentage of payouts has been reached. Usually this is about 90%. The remaining 10% go into the pockets of program owner. This means if the total invested amount into such a game is 10.000 dollars and 9.000 dollars already were paid to the previous investors the program will close. First investors will leave with a profit, those who come too late with a loss. It all is part of the game. Usually when such a period ends, a new game starts all over again.
 Indexes are maintained at each of the four levels. The NYSE selection universe is comprised of all NYSE-listed common stocks,
http://www.nyse.com/pdfs/NYSE-MethodologyGuide.pdf

NYSE, New York Stock Exchange >  Listed Securities >  Listed Company
Market Vectors-Global Alternative Energy ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the Ardour Global Index (Extra Liquid) (the Index). The Index, published by Ardour Global Indexes, LLC and calculated by Dow Jones Indexes, is a benchmark for the global alternatives.

 Portfolio 21 invests in companies designing ecologically superior products, using renewable energy, and developing efficient production methods. Portfolio 21 companies seek to prosper in the 21st Century by recognizing environmental sustainability as a fundamental human challenge and a tremendous business opportunity.   www.portfolio.com

How To Begin Investing – A Brief Guide

Posted in Investing, Finance, Home Business, Business, stock, Money by Allen Taylor on the April 6th, 2008

Any time is a good time to begin investing. You do not have to know everything about investing to get started. That you can learn over time but investing is a must if you want to secure your financial future. You can start by being a conservative investor so that you do not risk too much, and in the mean time you begin your learning process.

The best way to start investing is to deposit your money into interest bearing savings account. You can open this account in any bank and you will receive an interest of 2 to 4 percent, depending on the prevailing interest rates, on your money. The interest may not work out to too much but it is a start and we all know that starting is one of the most difficult things to do.



Palm Beach Green Initiative
March 27, 2008, 12:21 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

The Palm Beach/Martin County Green Initiative

In 1999, 1000 Friends of Florida launched its Palm Beach County Green Initiative to promote smarter growth in this rapidly developing part of the state and adjoining Martin County, and to generate innovative new planning tools that will be also applicable elsewhere in the state. The initiative has three prongs:

Planning–helping to guide the location and timing of new development and coordinate existing, fragmented planning efforts;
Education–working with the public to ensure they play an active role in shaping the future of their community; and,
Advocacy–ensuring that proposed development follows the principles of smart growth.

  To find out more:Joanne Davis, Community Planner
1000 Friends of Florida
Phone: 561.582.8992
Fax: 561.582.8938
Contact Joanne Davis


“Food for Thought…
March 26, 2008, 10:52 am
Filed under: paypal

whole-foods.jpg Here in the sunshine state there is something to really be proud of .

First of all we live in paradise, the sun and the sea, oh do’nt forget, the franchisesees behind our Weston and Palm beach Gardens restaurants, who are reporting outstanding responses from their communities.   Pizza Fusion has a place in florida.    Giving credit to Kris Adam and Rick and Linda Wilson, who are true trend setters.

Our Environment

At Florida Crystals, our proud heritage of family farming has taught us the importance of being good stewards of the land.

Environmentally friendly farming is vital for our future.  That’s why we practice sustainable agriculture. 

We grow our natural foods in harmony with the environment to preserve and enhance the natural resources of our farms and surrounding ecosystems.

Everglades Forever Acteverglades.jpg

At Florida Crystals, we are committed to implementing the Everglades Forever Act, the most ambitious and complex environmental restoration effort in the United States.  Using advanced farming techniques, called Best Management Practices (BMPs), we ensure that water flowing into the Everglades is cleaner than when it arrived on our farms. 

We also advocated for and contributed to the construction of filter marshes.  More than 100,000 acres of farmland are being converted to filter marshes.

The benefits of the Everglades Forever Act and Everglades restoration projects are being seen in wildlife.  The marshes have created homes for wildlife and have revived habitats for more than 60 threatened and endangered species.  These new habitats contributed to cleaner water for the Everglades and one of the best breeding years on record for wading birds in South Florida with more than 50,000 nests. And, these filter marshes helped to reverse a decades-long trend of declining bird populations.

Organic Sugar

Florida Crystals was the first and remains the only producer of certified organic sugar in the United States.  We also pioneered certified organic rice production in Florida. These milestones in our sustainable agricultural efforts have advanced our commitment to finding new ways to farm in harmony with the environment.

Adhering to the USDA’s National Organic Program, Florida Crystals’ organic products are produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides on farmland free of prohibitive materials for three years prior to harvest.

Crop Rotation

We rotate sugarcane with rice to restore the soil’s fertility, remove weeds and unfriendly pests, and provide an excellent habitat for many species of wading birds.

More than 80 percent of our non-organic sugarcane is produced without a single pesticide application.

Employing Nature’s Own Methods

Nature has proven to be a great ally.  By employing Nature’s own methods, we ensure our environmentally friendly farming.  We maintain habitats for owls in our sugarcane fields.  We consider these natural predators welcomed guests, as they protect our crops from unwanted rodents.

Renewable Energy

Sugarcane ranks highest among all cultivated crops at capturing solar energy in reusable form: more than 2 percent of the sunshine falling on cane is converted to potential energy. Florida Crystals is particularly adept at extracting both natural sugar products and renewable energy, in the form of electricity, from the cane stalk.

Our renewable energy power plant is an important link in our sustainable agriculture strategy. The facility recycles leftover sugar cane fiber, called “bagasse,” and urban wood waste to produce enough electricity to power our sugar milling and refinery operations as well as more than 40,000 homes.  The facility protects the environment by eliminating the need for fossil fuels and by preserving space in landfills.

PUBLIX’S GREENWISE

 publix.jpg

More and more people today are paying close attention to what they eat. They’re looking for options that are more natural and less processed. They’re trying to avoid additives and chemicals, and seeking products raised in a way they can feel good about. To meet these growing needs, Publix has created Publix GreenWise Market.

 

 

  • More and more people today are paying close attention to what they eat. They’re looking for options that are more natural and less processed. They’re trying to avoid additives and chemicals, and seeking products raised in a way they can feel good about. To meet these growing needs, Publix has createdMore and more people today are paying close attention to what they eat. They’re looking for options that are more natural and less processed. They’re trying to avoid additives and chemicals, and seeking products raised in a way they can feel good about. To meet these growing needs, Publix has created Publix GreenWise Market.

WHOLEFOODS

Whole Foods Company Description

With food and other items that are free of pesticides, preservatives, sweeteners, and cruelty, Whole Foods Market knows more about guiltless eating and shopping than most retailers. The world’s #1 natural foods chain by far — now that it has acquired its main rival Wild Oats Markets — the company operates some 275 stores in the US, Canada, and the UK. The stores emphasize perishable products, which account for about two-thirds of sales. Whole Foods Market offers more than 2,000 items in four lines of private-label products (such as the premium Whole Foods line). Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1980, Whole Foods Market pioneered the supermarket concept in natural and organic foods retailing. www.wholefoods.com



“The Survey Says…
March 25, 2008, 4:06 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

Media Contact: Jenn Hudson

Edelman

404-262-3000

jennifer.hudson@edelman.com

DESPITE NATIONAL INSTABILITY, SURVEY SUGGESTS SOUTHEAST

FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET IS NOT ALL “GLOOM AND DOOM”

Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade Homeowners Mixed About Real Estate Market

ORLANDO, Fla. – August 13, 2007 – The annual Fund Homeownership survey found that more than

half of Florida homeowners polled in Broward (56 percent), Miami-Dade (62 percent) and West Palm Beach (53

percent) believe the value of their homes will continue to rise or remain the same during the next 12 months,

despite recent real estate sales data that show home values waning across the state.

The annual survey, commissioned by Florida-based Attorneys’ Title Insurance Fund’s Consumer

Education Campaign, polled more than 1,400 homeowners throughout the state between June 11 and June 25,

2007. Detailed results can be found at www.browardrec.com, www.palmbeachrec.com or

www.miamidaderec.com.

Homeowners in West Palm Beach appear to be the most optimistic among the major metropolitan areas

in Southeast Florida as three out of five (60 percent) respondents believe now is a good time to buy Florida real

estate, compared to 43 percent in Broward and 51 percent in Miami-Dade. However less than 30 percent said

they actually intended to buy a home in the next two years (with Broward at 20 percent, Miami-Dade at 29

percent and West Palm Beach at 17 percent). Not surprisingly, more than three in four homeowners (Broward

at 84 percent, Miami-Dade at 76 percent and West Palm Beach at 90 percent) are less optimistic about their

ability to sell their homes today, and agree that now is a bad time to sell.

The survey also indicates that a majority of the respondents in Southeast Florida believe rising property

insurance costs (93 percent for Broward, 83 percent for Miami-Dade and 86 percent for West Palm Beach) and

rising property taxes (89 percent for Broward, 80 percent for Miami-Dade and 86 percent for West Palm Beach)

are the biggest obstacles to purchasing a home.

When asked about their biggest real estate concern in Florida, Southeast Florida respondents were

least concerned about becoming the victim of real-estate fraud with no respondents in Broward, 1 percent in

Miami-Dade and 2 percent in West Palm Beach. Being hit by a hurricane was still listed as one of the top three

concerns for all Florida homeowners (19 percent) and tied with rising property taxes as the top concern in West

Palm Beach (32 percent).

“The good news with this year’s survey results is that homeowners in Southeast Florida still maintain

some optimism about the value of their homes despite the sluggish real estate market nationwide,” said Iris

Hernandez, president of the Attorneys’ Real Estate Council of Miami-Dade County. “Alarming to me is

that these results also indicate that homeowners are generally not concerned when it comes to real estate fraud,

while recent data tells us Florida remains a top state for incidences of mortgage fraud. Homeowners and

potential homeowners should be mindful of this as they proceed with real estate transactions and should always

consult a real estate attorney to ensure their investment is fully protected.”

Summary of key findings

Mixed perspective on Southeast Florida real estate market values:

Overall, Florida homeowners are evenly divided between those who expect home values in their community to

increase or remain the same and those who expect them to decrease during the next 12 months

Miami-Dade homeowners appear to be the most optimistic of homeowners in Southeast Florida that

their home values will increase or remain the same (62 percent) with 39 percent expecting their home

values to decrease in the next 12 months.

More homeowners in Broward County (56 percent) and West Palm Beach (53 percent) believe that

home values will increase or remain the same in the next 12 months compared to 45 percent in Broward

and 48 percent in West Palm Beach that believe values will decrease.

Plans for buying a home in Florida:

A majority of homeowners in Miami-Dade (51 percent) and West Palm Beach (60 percent) believe that now is a

good time to buy a house or condo, while fewer residents in Broward County (43 percent) are as confident.

Homeowners in Broward County (46 percent) are more likely to believe now is a bad time to buy a home

compared to other markets throughout Southeast Florida.

Plans for selling a home in Florida:

The vast majority of Southeast Florida homeowners believe that now is a bad time to sell a house or condo.

Homeowners in West Palm Beach (90 percent) are more likely to believe that now is a bad time to sell a

house or condo than other markets in Southeast Florida.

Homeowners in Miami-Dade are the most optimistic of the Southeast Florida markets surveyed with 10

percent indicating that now is a good time to sell a house or condo.

More than 80 percent of homeowners (84 percent) in Broward believe that now is a bad time to sell a

house or condo.

Obstacles to homeownership:

Among Southeast Florida homeowners, a vast majority cite rising property insurance costs as the biggest

obstacle to homeownership, while nearly half of all respondents listed assembling a qualified real estate team

(Realtor, real estate attorney, appraiser, etc.) as their top choice for “not an obstacle” to homeownership.

Homeowners in Broward (93 percent), Miami-Dade (83 percent) and West Palm Beach (86 percent) cite

rising property insurance costs at the top of their list as a big obstacle to homeownership.

Biggest real estate concerns:

Rising property insurance costs are clearly an issue, with all Southeast Florida markets, except West Palm

Beach, ranking it as their top “biggest concern.”

Despite the overwhelming majority who believe it is a bad time to sell a home, only 9 percent in

Broward, 8 percent in Miami-Dade and 3 percent in West Palm Beach believe the issue of depreciating

home values is the main real estate concern in Florida.

Despite increasing levels of real estate fraud and Florida being ranked as the second highest state for

mortgage fraud (according to the Mortgage Asset Research Institute, which used data from the nation’s

biggest lenders to compile its annual survey, released in March 2007), homeowners listed being the

victim of real-estate fraud as last on their list of biggest concerns with only 1 percent in Miami-Dade, 2

percent in West Palm Beach and no responses from Broward homeowners.

Future buying behavior:

The majority of Southeast Florida homeowners (80 percent in Broward, 70 percent in Miami-Dade and 84

percent in West Palm Beach) are not planning on purchasing a house or condo in the next two years.

Homeowners in Miami-Dade (29 percent) are most likely to buy a house or condo in the next one to two

years when compared to Broward and West Palm Beach.

When asked which metropolitan area homeowners would consider moving to, the highest percentage of

Southeast Florida homeowners selected their own metropolitan area or a neighboring market.

o Broward homeowners chose Broward/Ft. Lauderdale as their number one pick.



AUTOMOTIVE GREEN
March 24, 2008, 3:12 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

smart fortwo  

Hybrids The recent craze over hybrid automobiles shows that we are at the nexus of environmentalism and market forces.

   Having a car that gets 50 miles to the gallon is good for the pocketbook and good for the guilty conscience. Hybrids work by capturing energy that is created when the car brakes. That energy is stored in batteries and used, whenever possible, instead of fuel.

   Pros Great Mileage: EPA mileage estimates for the Prius are 60 mpg city, 51 mpg highway. Hybrids are designed to look like mainstream vehicles now (not the moon units they used to resemble). They are quiet (almost eerily quiet) and offer a smooth ride. They run on gasoline; you refuel at traditional gas stations.

   Carpool lane access in California and Arizona. Cons Batteries: There is much speculation on how long the batteries in hybrid cars last, but the owner of the first Prius (a taxi driver) has put 180,000 miles on his car without a battery replacement, and that’s a good sign. Vehicle Choice: Up until recently, you’ve only been able to get sedans that use hybrid technology. Manufacturers have recognized the popularity of the hybrids and have started to make SUVs with the technology. Here’s the rub: Higher-powered vehicles (like trucks and SUVs) get better but not fantastic mileage, and they cost a lot more to purchase.

   According to Consumer Reports, the hybrid Escape from Ford gets city/highway mileage of 22/29, averaging at 26 mpg. The regular Ford Escape gets 12/27 mileage, averaging at 18 mpg. Price: The 8 mpg differential is great, but for consumers, you have to factor in the increased costs of buying a hybrid. For the Escape, the MSRP on the hybrid is $8,000 more than the MSRP on the traditional, nonhybrid version of the same SUV. BioDiesel There is a lot of confusion about biodiesel, so here’s the skinny: Biodiesel is a blend of traditional diesel (aka dino-diesel) and vegetable oil.

   The most important thing you need to know about biodiesel is that every existing diesel engine is capable of using biodiesel. You can switch back and forth between biodiesel and regular diesel if you have to. The only differencel when using biodiesel is you may have to switch your oil filter more often.

   Some people modify their diesel engines to run a fuel called straight vegetable oil. These are the folks who back up to a McDonald’s and take all its fry grease. SVO and biodiesel are different animals in the same family. Biodiesel is a lot less hassle than running an SVO vehicle.



What Is LEEDS ?
March 24, 2008, 1:33 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

What is LEED®?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. Website www.usgbc.org

The ISO 14000 environmental management standards exist to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment (cause adverse changes to air, water, or land), comply with applicable laws and regulations.

The South Florida chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council celebrated a banner year on March 15 with GalaVerde, a mostly black (and green)-tie affair at the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale.

The chapter is the biggest local organization promoting environmental design and energy conservation in construction. Members help certify buildings and professionals under the Leadership in Environment and Energy Design (LEED) program.

More than 300 people attended the $100-a-ticket gala, from business owners to local mayors and other VIPs. Attendees wore green and blue lights on their nametags, like fireflies in the garden area.

Chapter President Rob Hink addressed the crowd at about 9 p.m. He noted the tripling of membership – to about 600 last year – and the more than 400 LEED-registered projects in Florida. At the current pace, Florida in a few years will pass states like Illinois and Georgia, which currently have more LEED buildings.



ENERGYSTAR
March 23, 2008, 9:37 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

ENERGY STAR® Qualified Buildings and Manufacturing Plants

As of December 31, 2007ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

www.energystar.gov/ – 12k – Similar pages

Building/Plant Name City State Building/Plant Type

701 Waterford Miami FL Office

703 Waterford Miami FL Office

BellSouth America’s Center Miami FL Office

One Biscayne Tower Miami FL Office

One Brickell Square Miami FL Bank/Financial Institution

Wachovia Financial Center Miami FL Bank/Financial Institution

5201 Waterford Miami FL Office

Delta Air Lines SFCC Miramar FL Bank/Financial Institution

Miramar Center I Miramar FL Office

400 Gran Park* Orlando FL Office

AmSouth Bank Center Orlando FL Office

Lockheed Martin SLRC* Orlando FL Office

Sun Trust Center Orlando FL Bank/Financial Institution

Westwood Corporate Center II Orlando FL Office

Westwood Corporate Center III Orlando FL Office

Discovery Elementary Palm Bay FL K-12 School

Jupiter Elementary Palm Bay FL K-12 School

Riviera Elementary Palm Bay FL K-12 School

Royal Palm 1 Plantation FL Office

Sarasota County Judicial Center Sarasota FL Office

Corporate I Sunrise FL Office

International Place I Sunrise FL Office

Sawgrass Plaza Sunrise FL Office

UnitedHealth Group – Sunrise, FL Sunrise FL Office

Gerald L. Gunter Building Tallahassee FL Office

Tallahassee Courthouse Tallahassee FL Courthouse

Centerpointe Tampa FL Office

Corporate Oaks Building 1 Tampa FL Office

Corporate Oaks Building 2 Tampa FL Office

Hillsborough County – Water Department Administration Tampa FL Office

Southtrust Plaza Tampa FL Office

Tampa Commons Tampa FL Office

USAA Southeast Regional Office Tampa FL Bank/Financial Institution

Wachovia Center Tampa FL Office

Westshore Center Tampa FL Office

Andrew Jackson Middle School Titusville FL K-12 School

Titusville High School Titusville FL K-12 School

HQ AFCESA Tyndall Air Force Base FL Office

Meadowlane Elementary West Melbourne FL K-12 School

One clearlake Center West Palm Beach FL Office



News In Green
March 23, 2008, 6:11 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

  Here’s  some important news about the Green Movement and it’s impact in the U.S.    “The green revolution isn’t just creating new and different jobs, it’s revitalizing and creating new investment in a lot of the jobs we already have”.   David Foster, Executive Director Blue Green Alliance

GOOD JOBS, GREEN JOBS NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

This national conference was just recently held, in Pittsburgh, PA,

Releasing  major reports titled “Green Collar Jobs in American Cities”, Building Pathways out of Poverty”. “ Careers in the  Clean Energy Economy”.

Miami’s first green home built with public money is completed

South Florida Business Journal – by Oscar Pedro Musibay

The home’s green features include a white-tile roof, solar light bulbs, dual-flush toilets and carpeting made from recycled corn husks.

View Larger

Single mother and bus driver Tangelia Sands and her four children have moved into Miami’s first green affordable home built with public funds.

Developer Ario Lundy, principal of Palmetto Homes of Miami, which has completed more than a dozen single-family homes in the city, built the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Liberty City. The developer expects to get silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which signifies the home meets the basic standards of efficiency for usage of water, energy and materials. For the Sandses, the green design is supposed to translate into smaller utility bills.

The Sandses qualified to buy the home under a city program requiring that the family earn no more than 120 percent of the average median income. For a family of five, including mom, $76,875 is the cap.

To help the Sandses buy the house, the city gave $78,000, the Miami-Dade County Housing Finance Authority contributed $70,000, SunTrust Mortgage provided $74,000 in financing and the Florida Housing Corp. provided $10,000.

The city also conveyed the parcel to the developer to build the home, which is priced at $225,000. Cost of construction for the 2,200-square-foot home was $180,000.

Christine Bermudez, a spokeswoman for the Miami Community Development Department, said the idea of incorporating green design into the home was not part of the development agenda from the start. It evolved organically during discussions with the developer and the funding agencies.

Architect Steve Luria designed the home with a white tile roof to reflect sun, solar light bulbs, water-saving dual-flush toilets, a rainwater collection system for irrigation, carpeting made from recycled corn husks, insulated concrete walls and recycled stone countertops.

Lundy said he is working with the city to build 11 affordable townhouses using LEED guidelines at a city-owned site near the Sands home.

More than three-dozen projects in Miami-Dade County are registered to get LEED certification. One of the most prominent is the Foram Group’s Brickell Financial Centre, at 600 Brickell Ave. The developer is seeking silver certification for more than 1 million square feet of offices, hotel rooms, residences and retail.

Boca Developers, which is building Biscayne Landing in North Miami, also has said it would build the commercial section of its project, which at last count covered nearly 800,000 square feet, using LEED-based design.

Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, whose district includes Liberty City, said she’s focused on the development of affordable housing as a whole and won’t push to require developers to build green certified homes.

Environmental challenge puts Palm Beach Reach 8 reconstruction on hold for season

By WILLIAM KELLY
Daily News Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

imagespalmbeach1.jpg

 

The town has pulled the plug on its efforts to reconstruct the Reach 8 beach this season, Town Manager Peter Elwell said Tuesday.

Elwell cited a challenge to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Feb. 29 notice that it intended to approve a permit for the beach work.

“We are deeply disappointed that a small group of objectors has prevented the town from protecting town residents and their property from potentially serious damage in future storms,” Elwell said.

The Surfrider Foundation, Snook Foundation and three individuals filed the challenge last week. The move triggered an administrative review likely to take weeks or months before an administrative law judge makes a decision.

That would make it impossible for a town contractor to mobilize and complete the dredge and fill work by May 1, when sea-turtle nesting season kicks into high gear, Elwell said.

The environmentalists argue the dredged sand will cover a nearshore reef and destroy valuable marine habitat.

The town says the beach must be rebuilt to protect coastal properties from wave damage and that it will compensate for the habitat loss by building an artificial reef.

Jerry Frank, ex-officio of the Citizens’ Association of Palm Beach, said South End residents will just have to pray that a hurricane doesn’t strike the island before a new beach can be built.

“We are terribly disappointed that an environmental group can stop a project like that, endangering the safety of people and [risking] the destruction of property,” Frank said.

Jane West, the Jupiter lawyer who represents the environmentalists, welcomed Tuesday’s news.

“This is a very prudent course of action, in light of the fact that this is not a critically eroded beach,” West said.

West said she hopes the additional time will allow the town and the opponents to work out their differences by employing “creative, out-of-the-box solutions.” She would not elaborate.

The Town Council cancelled Friday’s special meeting, called to obligate funds to get the contractor on site around April 1. Construction was expected to take four weeks. The estimated cost was about $9 million for the work, plus another $8 million for the artificial reef.

Mayor Jack McDonald said the town will press ahead, and he predicted the beach will be rebuilt late this year, after turtle-nesting season ends Oct. 31, or during the winter of 2008-2009.

“It’s the biggest disappointment of the year for me,” he said. But “it’s just going to delay this nourishment. It’s not going to stop it.”

The town faces three hurdles, he said.

First, the challenge must be defeated and the DEP decision upheld so the town can receive the state permit.

Second, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must approve a federal environmental permit for the project. That decision is expected after the National Marine Fisheries Service issues a biological opinion scheduled for March 27, the town has said.

Third, the town must overcome any requirement that the artificial reef be expanded from 8 acres to 10.5 acres, which would increase the cost to about $10.5 million, he said.

The DEP required the 8-acre reef. But the marine fisheries service wants a 10.5-acre reef, Public Works Director Paul Brazil has said.

Town officials have said 8 acres is more than adequate.

Reach 8 extends from the Ambassador II condominium at 2780 S. Ocean Blvd. to the condominium at 3360 S. Ocean Blvd., excluding the Lake Worth Municipal Beach.



EMPLOYMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT
March 23, 2008, 3:43 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

paycheck.jpg   Have you ever wanted to do something, and feel good about it?

Well many of us do have the desire to do more in life than just pickup a pay check.  

   Have you ever heard of Green collar jobs?   Well it’s Here!  

Green Collar Jobs are the answer to many Americans, and Europeans who want to do more than just get paid.  

   Over the next decade the potential for Green Collar Jobs, could be in great demand.   According to an article by Raquel Pinderhughes (Green Collar Jobs\Urban Habiat) many San Francisco Bay areas cities, and the state of California, are proposing and passing policies and programs designed to improve environmental quality.

Pinderhughes goes on to note that there are over 100 local firms/institutions which are producing jobs in 22 specific sectors.

3 of which are :

1. Bicycle repair and bike delivery services.

2. Car and truck mechnic jobs, production jobs.

3.   gas-station jobs related to biodiesel.  

For more info go to  http://urbanhabitat.org



GreenAcres, West…
March 23, 2008, 4:34 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

bill-gates.jpgGates on the Green…

Apparently money has burned quite the hole in Bill Gates’ philanthropic pocket, as during this week’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Gates pledged $306 million in grants to fund farming in in poor/developing countries through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. To the audience he said: If we are serious about ending extreme hunger and poverty around the world, we must be serious about transforming agriculture for small farmers, most of whom are women…The challenge here is to design a system including profit and recognition to do more for the poor.