Holiday Plant Swap
January 1, 2025 Save The Date
Master Gardener Maura and husband Steve Miller
welcome you to our home for our annual holiday plant swap New Year’s Day from 8 to 11 a.m.
The 2024 hurricane season caused major damage to Florida’s crops resulting in rising food costs. The focus
of this year’s plant swap will be edible plants: vegetables, herbs, and fruits.
This is a family friendly activity and feel free to bring your friends and learn how to grow your own! Look for postings on social media.
We look forward to seeing you again for another successful Shores of Jupiter holiday event.
Miller Residence:
The Shores of Jupiter 6526 Winding Lake Drive Jupiter, FL 33458
Commissioner’s Update
New Flood Maps For Palm Beach County
By Vice Mayor Maria G. Marino
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently released updated flood zone maps that bring significant changes to Palm Beach County. These new maps, set to take effect on December 20, 2024, highlight an increased flood risk for thousands of residents, particularly in the eastern regions of the county. The revised maps classify many additional areas as high-risk flood zones, known officially as special flood hazard areas (SFHAs).
The updated maps are particularly impactful for low-lying regions, properties near canals and lakes, and coastal zones prone to tidal surges. As a result, more than 16,000 parcels in Palm Beach County are anticipated to have a base flood elevation (BFE) increase of one foot or more. The increase in BFE may result in nonconforming structures that have the lowest floor below the BFE or minimum elevation required for a substantial improvement (SI). For residents in unincorporated Palm Beach County, staff can provide SI determinations and technical assistance prior to major renovations.
For property owners required to have flood insurance under these new guidelines, it’s highly recommended to secure a policy as soon as possible. Those with existing National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies are encouraged to maintain them. Regardless of what flood zone you may be in, the county continues to recommend that all property owners have flood insurance since flooding can occur anywhere. Windstorm insurance does not cover flood damage. Thanks to Palm Beach County’s
participation in the Community Rating System (CRS) discount program, unincorporated area residents receive a 25 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums, which can help alleviate some of the financial burden associated with increased flood risk.
The maps are available on the Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building webpage, where residents can use the countywide property search tool to determine their flood zones. The webpage also provides other important information, including links to FEMA, the pending FEMA flood maps, municipalities affected, tips on how the county can help, and more. Please visit: https://discover.pbcgov.org/pzb/Pages/Update-on-FloodZones.aspx.
If property owners believe their property has been incorrectly identified as an SFHA, they can submit an application to FEMA for a formal determination of the property’s location and/or elevation relative to the SFHA. There are two types of determination documents you can seek in your Letter of Map Change (LOMC) request.
• Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA): A letter from FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land — that is on naturally high ground and has not been elevated by fill — would not be inundated by the base flood.
• Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill (LOMR-F): A letter from FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land has been elevated by earthen fill and would not be inundated by the base flood.
Residents in unincorporated areas can request flood zone determinations from Palm Beach County, which provides written confirmation of zone designations. Additionally, the county offers consultations for retrofitting existing buildings to improve flood resilience. Municipal residents should defer to their municipal floodplain or town/city manager.
For questions, property owners can call the Palm Beach County Flood Zone Hotline at (561) 233-5374 for personalized assistance with the new maps, flood proofing options, and more.
By Bill Thompson Bits And Pieces—This And That
Use the difficulty. When the worst thing happens, minor or major, don’t let it get you down; think. How can I get the most out of this happening? A philosophy described by actor Michael Caine. A very short but hilarious interview video seen on Facebook Reel. Within the long scenario, we now know the name of the next president of the United States.
Late But Worthy Comment
Parts of Palm Beach County suffered severe damage this fall but spared The Shores of Jupiter. Two miles to the west a tornado severely damaged property. It was not that we prayed more fervently than others who were hit hard by two hurricanes. As in poker, it is always the luck of the draw. There were approximately 17 to 19 confirmed tornado touchdowns, some of which created a ground path of destruction before lifting. That exceeds the number recorded in the history of such weather records. I will not comment on hurricane devastation in North Carolina nor other sections of Florida. Being a son of NC, I have never in my relatively long life heard of hurricane destruction that occurred in the mountains. Whole sections of I-40. It may be trite to say life goes on in one fashion or another. That is until the next planet collision with earth, which would replicate our planet’s origin. That should take a while. Meanwhile, we the current residents may preempt the final chapter. We are now thought to be within four years of deadline to reverse or mitigate our climate change. Stronger wildfires, raging floods, hurricanes and tornados, the current rise in global temperature, and deforestation are only the beginnings. Responsibility lies
Bill’s Box on page 3
Deadline for the January Issue is December 13
Mail or email to:
Bill Thompson, 18583 Lake Bend Drive billthompsonsoj@gmail.com
The Shores of Jupiter website:
www.theshoresofjupiter.org
Disclaimer
Copy appearing herewith may not be the viewpoint of The Shores Board of Directors or its newsletter editor. Nor should responsibility be assigned for accuracy or validity or articles contributed by residents or other articles chosen by the publisher or the editor.
Realtime Property Management of South Florida LLC
Alexa Schuck, Property Manager
612 N. Orange Ave., Bldg C-4, Jupiter, FL 33458
The Shores Of Jupiter Homeowners Association Inc.
Board Of Directors, Committee
Board Of Directors:
David Lindley, President
John Hornyak, Vice President
Cynthia Clemente, Secretary
Barry Parker, Treasurer
Sal Greco, Director
Brian Martin, Director
Ryan Warren, Director
Architectural Control Committee:
Brian Martin, Co-Chair
Sal Greco, Co-Chair
John Hornyak
Compliance Committee:
Ryan Warren, Chair
Lakes And Parks Committee:
David Lindley, Chair
Crimewatch Committee:
Bill Thompson, Co-Chair
Sal Greco, Co-Chair
Welcoming Committee:
John Hornyak, Chair
Sylke Lopez
Infrastructure
David Lindley, Chair
Communications and Newsletter Editor: Bill Thompson, Chair
Events & Social Media Committee:
Barry Parker, Co-Chair
Kristi Parker, Co-Chair
Francesca Brown
Tracey Lavoll
Sylke Lopez
Anais Maristany-Diaz
Dena Martin
Webmaster
Kristi Parker
Financial Focus®
Consider Tax-Smart Charitable Gifts
By Sally Sima Stahl
As we enter the annual season of giving, you might be thinking of charities you wish to support. But you also might be wondering how to gain some tax benefits from your gifts.
It used to be pretty straightforward: You wrote a check to a charity and then deducted the amount of the gift, within limits, from your taxes. But a few years ago, as part of tax law changes, the standard deduction was raised significantly, so fewer people were able to itemize deductions. Consequently, there was less financial incentive to make charitable gifts.
Of course, this didn’t entirely stop people from making them. And it’s still possible to gain some tax advantages, too.
Here are a few tax-smart charitable giving strategies:
• Bunch your charitable gifts into one year . If you combine a few years’ worth of charitable gifts in a single year, you could surpass the standard deduction amount and then itemize deductions for that year. In the years following, you could revert to taking the standard deduction.
• Make qualified charitable distributions . Once you turn 73 (or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later), you must start taking withdrawals from your traditional or inherited IRA. These withdrawals—technically called required minimum distributions, or RMDs—are taxable at your personal income tax rate, so, if the amounts are large enough, they could push you into a higher tax bracket or cause you to pay larger Medicare premiums.
But if you donate these RMDs directly to a qualified charity, you can avoid the taxes. And because these donations, known as qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), will reduce the balance on your IRA, you may have lower RMDs in the future.
Of course, if you need some or all your RMDs to help sustain yourself in retirement, the use of QCDs may not be of interest to you. Keep in mind, though, that you can start making QCDs at 70½, even before you must start taking RMDs. QCDs up to $105,000 can be taken in 2024.
• Consider a donor-advised fund . If you’re interested in a long-term charitable giving arrangement, you might want to consider establishing a donor-advised fund. You can put many types of assets into this fund, and then direct it to make grants periodically to the charities you’ve chosen. You get an immediate tax deduction for your contribution, and, if you donate appreciated assets, such as stocks, you’ll avoid the capital gains taxes you would have incurred if you simply sold the stocks and then gave the money to the charities. One note of caution, though—your contributions to a donor-advised fund are irrevocable, and once the assets are in the fund, you can’t use them for anything except charitable giving.
These strategies—QCDs and donor-advised funds in particular—can be complex and involve several issues of which you should be aware. So, you should consult your tax advisor before taking action. But if any of these techniques are appropriate for your situation, give them some thought—because helping a charitable group and getting tax benefits for doing so is a “win” for everyone.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, Member SIPC.
Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.
Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax advice. You should consult your qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
Contact us at (561) 748-7600, Sally Sima Stahl, CFP®, AAMS™, 1851 W. Indiantown Road, Ste. 106, Jupiter, FL 33458.
Jupiter Senior Softball
A crowd of about 60 Jupiter Senior Softball players turned out for a Veterans Day ceremony honoring all who have served in the military.
The event at Jupiter Community Park featured players gathered around a large American flag donated by the family of the late Gerry Elias, the Jupiter Senior Softball Association’s 2023 Hall of Fame honoree.
Army veteran Gary Vitaletti, explained that November 11, 1919 was proclaimed as Armistice Day by President Woodrow Wilson to commemorate the first anniversary of the cessation of fighting in World War I. Following the World War II and the Korean War, congress again amended the name of the holiday. “This time to honor those who participated in all U.S. wars, calling it Veterans Day in 1954,” Vitaletti said. More than a dozen veterans in the audience were also recognized for their service with a round of applause when they were asked to step forward. They included veterans of of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard.
The ceremony concluded with Ron Nolan, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, playing a recording of the National Anthem in honor of all who have worn a uniform in defense of our country. Then it was “play ball” as players took to the fields for scheduled games.
The senior softball program is open to persons 55 and older, and new players are welcome. Games are every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Jupiter Community Park. Sponsorships are also available.
For more information contact Gary Newman at (917) 6230791 or to register online go to www.leaguelineup.com/jssa.
My Child Is Slow To Get Going
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D.
Licensed School Psychologist
Eve’s nickname is “Eeyore” one parent told me. She was feeling frustration when dealing with her child completing tasks slower than everyone else. Whether it was doing homework, completing simple household chores, or getting out the door in the morning, Eve was slow or the last one to go. It required constant reminders and mom felt like she was always nagging. She hypothesized her daughter was perhaps lazy, unmotivated, or did not understand what to do. But what really perplexed this mom was that Eve was slow regardless of if the activity was something fun or routine. It could be getting ready for a fun day at the waterpark and she was still slow.
There are many reasons why a child is completing tasks at a much slower pace than their peers. One reason is your child could have slower processing speed so even simple tasks will take them longer to complete. This can leave your child feeling overwhelmed, mentally fatigued, and discouraged. Second, your child could have a weak working memory and struggle to keep track of the tasks they are assigned and often forget what to do next. This can especially be noticed if you give your child multiple tasks at once. Third, your child may have weaker inhibition which means that they have a hard time resisting distractors. Your child could be cleaning their room and find something they misplaced and become distracted playing with this and not cleaning up. Fourth, your child might have ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation or what we used to call ADD.
Seek answers and understanding so you can do something different instead of becoming frustrated with your child and straining your relationship. A school neuropsychological evaluation will help you get to the root cause of why your child is completing tasks so slowly. Our evaluations assess
all of these potential causes and provide specific and helpful recommendations to improve your child’s functioning in the home and school settings. Call us at (561) 625-4125 to discuss your child or learn more at www.JimForgan.com.
Veterans of various military branches were honored in a November 11 Veterans Day ceremony.
The Veterans Day tribute was followed by four regularly scheduled slow-pitch softball games.
Drum Roll Please ...
Jupiter Law Center’s 19th Annual Fundraiser Benefiting
The Aicardi Syndrome
Foundation
Is A Huge Hit!
Jupiter Law Center and its guests rocked and rolled at its annual costume party fundraising event to benefit the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation, a 501(c)(3) volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research and conferences to raise awareness of Aicardi Syndrome and improve the lives of Aicardi children and their families. Last year brought out characters from Saturday Night Live!, bringing tons of laughs and improv. This year, it was ivory keys on dueling Howl at the Moon pianos and wooden sticks beating the drums, with guests dressed as their favorite singer/musicians.
With the support of the firm’s friends, Jupiter Law Center has raised over $620,000 in donations to the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation since 2005.
The annual event is a passion project for Jupiter Law Center’s principal attorney, Adam Gumson, and his wife Lissa, whose oldest daughter, Ava, was diagnosed as an infant with Aicardi Syndrome, a rare congenital neurological seizure disorder which inhibits the normal development of motor skills, sight and speech, causing mild to profound developmental delays. When she was diagnosed, the Gumsons were informed that Ava’s life expectancy was no more than two years.
Now 20, Ava continues to defy the odds. She attends The Learning Academy on the campus of the Els Center of Excellence and although she is non-verbal, severely delayed and has multiple daily seizures, she is a happy, joyful girl whose smile and laugh lights up a room. What started as a small party with friends and family hosted at the Gumsons’ home in the early years has blossomed into a major annual event held for the last five years at Tequesta Country Club. The monies raised since 2006 help the foundation fund research grants at
both Baylor University and the University of California at San Francisco and underwrite the cost for Aicardi families to attend the every-other-year family conference where people from all over the world gather to exchange information. This, in turn, enhances each family’s ability to care for its own Aicardi child. Since only 4,000 girls worldwide are afflicted with Aicardi Syndrome, there is very little money for research and the foundation is made up entirely of volunteers (mostly the affected families and their extended family and friends).
From the sequenced head caps of ABBA to the wild hair and famous black and white face makeup of KISS to John Lennon, Sonny and Cher, Tina Turner, Willie Nelson, Madonna and Elvis, partygoers reached into the archives for inspiration.
The muse for this annual affair – Lissa and Adam’s daughter Ava – came as a Pink Lady from Grease (as did many others in attendance), bobbing her head and cheering on those who boogied on the dance floor. The tip jars on the pianos were lined with generous donations as guests requested their favorite songs, with 100 percent of the band’s tips donated back to the cause. Photo ops in front of a blanket of draped gold tassels adorned with famous album covers and disco balls set the mood and the food, drinks and service from Tequesta Country Club staff made it a rocking (and rolling!) good time.
“Because the condition is so rare and affects such a small population, research is just so limited, and the only way for us as families to encourage institutions to delve deeper into the causes of Aicardi Syndrome is to fund research grants,” Adam Gumson stated. “And the family conferences are so essential to creating and developing a community of families who are all going through the same things, like what medicines and diets work best to combat seizures, what medical procedures and therapies have helped, what equipment and other technology have improved the quality of life” chimed in Lissa Gumson. Adam Gumson continued, “One family conference costs over $100,000 when calculating all of the food, rooms and audio visual equipment necessary to put on a successful conference, so our party, and other families’ fundraising efforts, are absolutely essential to support the continuation of the great
work that the foundation does.” The Gumsons have become more and more active in the foundation over the years, with Adam lecturing at the conferences on various topics such as estate planning, guardianship and fundraising, and assuming the presidency of the foundation this past June.
Lissa handles a variety of tasks, too, and the Gumsons’ other two children, Lilly and Zane, attend the conferences and assist with child care and speak on the sibling panel, answering questions from new families about what it is like to have a sister with Aicardi Syndrome. “Their participation has helped them feel like they are not alone since they get to see and meet other families, and especially other siblings, dealing with similar issues, and both of them have become so much more grounded and empathetic by just being present at the conferences and being exposed to the highs and lows of living with an Aicardi child. No one wanted to be a part of this club but, if there is a silver lining, it is that it has introduced us to such incredible people from all over the world and taught us and our children that there is a higher calling to help others than just being concerned with ourselves. It has been incredibly rewarding for our whole family to be so involved,” Lissa commented.
To learn more about Aicardi Syndrome, the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation or Ava Shaye Gumson and/or the other Aicardi girls, log on to www.aicardisyndromefoundation.org and/or www.ouraicardilife.org or contact Jupiter Law Center at (561) 744-4600 if you have any other questions about Aicardi Syndrome or about how you can help support the foundation.
Northern Notes
Know The Flow
By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
Flood control in Florida is a shared responsibility that provides maximum benefit only when all components (primary, secondary and tertiary) are designed and constructed to work together and are maintained in proper working order. Florida is more complex than many states, where one entity usually provides local and regional drainage for the community. In Florida, some areas have no formal drainage systems and are prone to routine flooding; others may be covered by several organizations or governments providing varying service levels. Depending on conditions, water may have to be routed through several interconnected, though independent, conveyance systems –each must be properly maintained and functioning – to provide flood protection for south Florida neighborhoods. So, what path does stormwater typically follow from your neighborhood to its final destination? Here’s an example. Five inches of rain falls in 24 hours over an
inland community. This rain follows a wet period, so groundwater levels are already high. According to most approved drainage designs, some water is temporarily stored in public recreational areas, yard swales and streets. Drainage swale areas are sloped to catch water and filter out pollutants as water is absorbed into the ground. Some yards direct water to the community drainage system as runoff, with very little water retained in the yard. The excess surface water slowly drains to community lakes or on-site ponds via street and yard drainage grates, swales, ditches or canals. Homeowner associations typically assume the maintenance and upkeep of community drainage facilities. Water then drains from the community or “tertiary” system through underground pipes to the “secondary” system, which is mainly operated by the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District (Northern) in this area. Cities and the county also maintain “secondary” systems, depending on development plans.
The “secondary” drainage system is usually a network of canals, structures, pumping stations and storage areas. These systems can cover several hundred square miles and serve many communities. In communities maintained by Northern, stormwater systems are gravity-fed or pumped using stormwater pump stations. Water moves through a series of lakes and canals via weirs (fixed structures), operable gates and pump stations. These systems sometimes move water through multiple communities, so the “downstream” effects must be considered when moving water from one area to another. The stormwater
systems discharge into local canals managed by Northern or other municipalities. Northern uses a telemetry system to monitor and remotely open and close gates and pumps. Weather conditions and water levels are monitored around the clock. Water levels in the secondary drainage system can be lowered to allow more water storage and minimize flooding. These systems discharge water into the “primary” flood control system as long as carrying capacity is available.
The South Florida Water Management District operates the “primary” drainage system. In anticipation of heavy rains, floodgates may be opened, and water levels might be lowered to accommodate direct rainfall and accept inflows from the “secondary” systems. During and after heavy rains, excess water is routed through all available “primary” waterways to regional storage areas or coastal discharge points to relieve flooding as quickly and safely as possible.
What can YOU do to help?
As a resident or business owner, you play a crucial role in flood control. Your actions can significantly impact your community’s resilience to flooding. Here’s what you can do:
1. Ensure your neighborhood’s drainage grates, ditches, and swales are debris-free.
2. Remove loose items, including yard debris, from your yard. Debris and litter can clog storm drains and cause flooding.
3. Check your community retention pond or lake for obstructed pipes and contact the appropriate authority for removal (this could be your HOA/POA, city, county, or local drainage district).
4. Find out who is responsible for drainage in your community. Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl. Note the service area status under the search results. It may not be serviced even if the location is within an agency’s jurisdiction.
As a homeowner or property owner association official, you are a key player in the flood control process. Your knowledge and actions can greatly contribute to your community’s flood resilience. Here’s what you can do:
1. Familiarize yourself with your particular drainage system and how it fits into the overall South Florida drainage picture.
2. Learn how the stormwater system works in your area and how to properly maintain the facilities under your responsibility.
3. Understand your community’s irrigation needs. Turn off your irrigation before a storm. Return to normal operating conditions after the storm. Remember, if the ground is saturated, you may not have to irrigate for quite some time after the storm.
Reporting the location and condition of any clogged or damaged facilities is a crucial step in flood control. By doing so, you are actively contributing to your community’s flood resilience. Please make a note of important telephone numbers and keep them handy for quick reporting.
NPDES tip: Your neighborhood drainage system is not a garbage disposal — don’t treat it like one. Encourage residents to take responsibility and to not dump chemicals, fertilizer, paint, oil, etc., in inlets or pipes. Discourage sweeping of lawn clippings and dirt into street drains and disposing of lawn clippings and other debris (wood, concrete blocks, Christmas trees, etc.) directly into retention lakes. Keep drainage facilities clear of vegetation, trash, improperly and illegally discarded appliances, shopping carts, tires, cars, garbage bags, etc.
