WEDNESDAY HOUSE MEETING FLOOR VOTE DETERMINES BIG FLORIDA STIMULUS PLAN GAINS

No, we are NOT dreaming… money could be coming to Florida to help balance its budget, build bridges and highways, expand mass transit, modernize schools and improve other government services. Over $4BB could come to Medicaid, the state federal program providing funds for health care for the pool. There are $120MM in rebuilding projects which are ready to go and will provide immediate jobs. $46MM for water treatment could create 350+ jobs. $21MM for North Flagler Drive improvements could create almost 170 new jobs. Port St. Lucie could restore policing staff to earlier levels, and an energy analysis, resulting in 160 new jobs. Boynton Beach could have a new $31MM police station and 3 00 new jobs, as well as a park that would add 100 more jobs. Unemployment benefits could be extended with health care options for those laid off from jobs. The Senate, though, is working on a separate plan and any differences would have to be worked out before a final version can be sent to President Barack Obama. We will be carefully watching this vote and any changes or revisions.

ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR? COME AND LEARN

An intensive 8 week Actors’ Workshop will be held at Sugar Sand Park (off Military Trail south of Palmetto Park Road) from February 2^nd through March 23^rd, Mondays, from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. The instructor for the 8 classes is Jane Kelly. The workshop is for ages 16 and up, those who are interested in tapping into their creative side, improving public speaking and presentation skills, overcoming shyness, having fun, or seeking a career in acting. Cost for a Resident is $150; non-resident is $180. Thursday Movie Time at Sugar Sands will offer a tribute to Paul Newman, 7:30 pm. Here is the schedule: 2/12: Rally ‘Round the Flag, Boys; 3/12: The Hustler; 4-16: Cool Hand Luke; 5-14: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Tickets are $1 each, and include popcorn and a drink. Limited seating. Please call the box office at 561-347-3948 to purchase tickets in advance. Watch Newman’s acting and enjoy it all! He is a good acting example to learn from.

BRING YOUR AGE 5-10 CHILDREN TO GUMBO LIMBO ART WORKSHOP AND CONTEST

From 10 am to noon on Saturday, February 7^th, bring the kids to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center on A1A below Spanish River Drive for an art workshop and contest, “I am drawing with Pascal,” combining art with an environmental education. Sponsoring artist, Pascal Lecocq, will facilitate the workshop, along with staff and volunteers. Lecocq’s passion for the arts and environmental education led to the formation of the Pascal Foundation for the Arts and Environmental Education. The foundation’s goal is to encourage children to express themselves by painting and showing concern for the environment. He has created templates for the children, to which they can add color and designs, and they will answer five questions related to this year’s theme, “Plastic is Forever.” Contest Winners will be announced on Sea Turtle Day, March 7^th. An adult must participate with the child. To reserve space, call 561-338-1473. There is no fee. Founded in 1984 as a cooperative venture between the City of Boca Raton, Palm Beach County School District, Florida Atlantic University and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Incorporated, the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex is designed to provide marine and coastal environmental education for the community through classes, workshops, field trips and research. Volunteers are welcome. The current Gumbo Limbo volunteers put in over 22,000 hours annually. That is the equivalent of 11 full-time employees!

ALWAYS DREAMED OF WRITING THAT FAMOUS NOVEL?

A non-credit Fiction Workshop will be offered by FAU on the Boca Raton campus from February 10 through April 21, 6-8 pm. Come, bring your writings, get feedback and meet other South Florida writers. Study craft techniques and find publishing opportunities. For fees and more info call 561-297-2974. Limited seating. Registration and payment due by February 2^nd. WE WANT TO READ YOUR NOVEL WHEN IT GETS PUBLISHED!

MOVES IN AND OUT OF FLORIDA BALANCED, SAYS UNITED VAN LINES

According to the Florida Association of Realtors, United Van Lines tracks its moves each year and compares the number of people moving into each state versus the number moving out. In 2008, the company found Florida to be perfectly "balanced," meaning the number of inbound and outbound moves was virtually even. The Mid-Atlantic states saw growth while states to the north saw decreases.

YOU DON’T LIKE THOSE PESKY LITTLE IGUANAS (OR BIG ONES) IN YOUR HOUSE OR ON YOUR PROPERTY?

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has agreed to meet with local government agencies over iguana issues thanks to a request from Boca Raton City Council. Their aim is to reduce the green iguana population. FWC has engaged the US Department of Agriculture/Wildlife Services to work on this issue with them. No specific methods of reducing or eradicating the overpopulation of this species has evolved yet. Both Boca Raton and Coral Springs petitioned the state to put these iguanas on their “reptiles of concern” list, but the state declined, saying the iguana is not a dangerous animal, merely an obnoxious one. However, the feeling locally is that they are destroying native species of plant life, and Boca Mayor Welchel says they are destroying her plants.

H.R. 7327: Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 - MRDs Suspended for 2009

A recent federal law temporarily suspends minimum required distributions (MRDs) from tax-deferred savings for policyholders over age 70½. This suspension is for 2009 only and does not apply to MRDs for 2008. If a policyholder turns 70½ in 2009, no MRD is required. If a policyholder turned age 70½ in 2008, an MRD for 2008 is still required by April 1, 2009.

Although MRDs are not required for 2009, policyholders who need the monies can still take minimum withdrawals. The suspension allows funds that would have been withdrawn to continue to grow tax-deferred for 2009. Impacted plans include IRAs, 401(k)s, and other defined contribution plans. The law also applies to distributions under the five-year rule, where beneficiaries are required to deplete the annuity value within five years of the owner’s death. The new law provides an additional year to meet the depletion requirement. Systematic withdrawals taken by IRA owners or beneficiaries under MRD rules can be suspended. However, these policyholders must notify Policyholder Services to cancel withdrawals for 2009 and then restart them for 2010. For legal, tax or investment advice, please consult a qualified advisor.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-7327

TRI-RAIL RIDERSHIP MAKES RECORD IN 2008

More than 4-million passengers rode the commuter Tri-Rail in 2008, the highest amount in it’s 20-year history, up nearly 23% over 2007 and up 50%+ over 2005. Tri-Rail is the second fastest growing commuter rail system in the United States during the third quarter of 2008, outranked only by a new commuter train in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With gas prices down below $2 a gallon, there has been a slight dip in the number of passengers, but there are still between 15,000 and 16,000 riders a day. Tri-Rails efforts to tax rental cars to help pay for their operations have been rebuffed by the Legislature.