Patrick Combs had no idea that his idea to spread a bit of holiday cheer would lead to threats of death and jail time. It was 1995 when the California native deposited a $95,000 junk-mail check marked non-negotiable, but after finding his balance in the six-figures a few days later he knew something was amiss.
“I broke out of my lifelong, four-figure balance in one transaction, and the next six months of my life was the wildest and craziest time imaginable,” he said.
Combs tells the tale in his award-winning, off-Broadway one-man show, and he is coming to Sugar Sand Park’s Willow Theatre, 300 S. Military Trail, beginning Dec. 4. Combs plays it close to the vest and does not want to divulge how things transpired, but rest assured all is revealed during the show.
“Whether I ended up in jail, had to return the money or used it to begin building my riches, all questions will be answered,” he said.
Combs plays angry voicemail messages and produces hostile documents from the incident and discusses the worldwide media attention.
“I was actually becoming quite afraid of litigation or who knows what, so I contacted the Wall Street Journal, and the whole thing exploded from there,” he said.
Combs steeped himself in banking law, and even coaxed the nation’s leading banking authority out of retirement to back his cause. Combs will be at the Willow Theater from Dec. 4 to 7. For more information, visit www.WillowTheatre.org.

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Temple Beth Shira’s second yard sale and fundraising event is from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at Spanish River Community High School, 5100 Jog Road, and space is going fast.
“We had the first one in the Wal-Mart parking lot about seven months ago, and everything went beautifully. With the Spanish River location, we were able to offer more vendor spaces, but I’m pretty sure they will be gone in a few days,” said temple communications director Rick Alovis.
There is room for 200 vendors, and Alovis said they have also donated several spaces to area nonprofits and high schools. Temple Beth Shira is a member of the Union For Reform Judaism, and the funds will be used to support expanding programs, the religious school and community outreach initiatives.
“It’s not all about the fundraising though, and it is a great day to come out and meet people from the local community,” said Alovis.
For more information, call Cliff at 561-633-9991 or email at GarageSale@TempleBethShira.org.

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Pope John Paul II High School, 4001 N. Military Trail, has become a pipeline to some of the most successful collegiate lacrosse programs, and the school is having its inaugural alumni game Nov. 29. Boca resident Michael Weppner helped organize the game and said the program’s success is a direct reflection of the coach.
“Coach [Andrew] Bolger was recently inducted into the Florida Lacrosse Hall of Fame and is just an amazing figure. My son Brandon is on the team, and I wanted to help in any way possible,” he said.
Weppner said his son also played in the Boca Jets Lacrosse League, and that the experience provided the foundation for his current success.
“I think the program is about five years old and has really come a long way. It started with one overloaded team, but is now a top-level organization,” he said. For more information about the game, call 561-314-2100. For more information about the Boca Jets Lacrosse League, visit www.bocajetslacrosse.com.

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Boca Raton Fire Rescue Explorer Post #315 recently pitched in to help Jerry’s Kids and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Explorers joined members of Boca Raton Firefighters Local 1650 for the ‘Fill the Boot’ initiative, and the group collected funds outside two local Publix Supermarkets. They collected more than $900 during the drive, and public information officer Frank Correggio said the group supports several local and national causes.
“The Firefighters of Boca Raton and the Fire Explorers are committed to work together to help find a cure to end neuromuscular diseases,” he said.

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By DAVID DIPINO
Safety As Floridians Expect (SAFE), a local watchdog group with concerns about pedestrian safety, will be presenting its newsletter, "Full Consideration," a response to the Florida Department of Transportation’s revision to "Pedestrian, Bicycle and Public Transit Facilities" of the Plan Preparation Manual at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 at the Mae Volen Senior Center, 1555 W. Palmetto Park Road.
“The FDOT has done a very good job in preparing the draft, which is still a work in progress, but SAFE concluded that what was really needed was a change to the Florida statute,” said SAFE Chairman Jim Smith.

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Michael’s Body Scenes and the Town Center Mall have joined forces to help you battle the bulge. Michael’s will be having fitness demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Nov. 28 through Dec. 21 each weekend, and they are giving away seven weeks of training with a certified personal trainer. Applications for the "Fitness Journey to a New You" contest will be available at the mall during the demonstrations and also online at www.bodyscenes.com. Applicants must submit a brief story about prior weight loss struggles and how they could benefit from personal training.

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Santa and Mrs. Claus recently made one of their first local appearances, officially marking the beginning of the holiday season. St. Nick and his better half were in town for the Town Center Mall’s sixth annual holiday parade, and children of all ages were in full holiday cheer mode. The Mullins family was doing some early shopping and just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
“We had no idea this was going on, and the kids were less than thrilled to come shopping. They are obviously a bit happier now,” said Andrew Mullins. The youngest of the Mullin’s clan, 6-year-old Stacey, could barely contain her enthusiasm as she fidgeted and paced nervously.
“I can’t wait to see Santa because I have been a very good girl,” she said.
There were jugglers, tricycle-riding clowns, 12-foot-tall characters on stilts, and the Boca Raton High School Band provided the musical backdrop. The Velez family knew all about Santa’s mall visit and said they make it out every year.
“The kids get so excited this time of year, and it so much fun to see their eyes light up. Just looking around the crowd, all you see are smiles and that is one of the best things about the holidays,” said Sandra Velez.

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Congregation Shaarei Kodesh, 19785 Hampton Drive, recently announced that Director of Israeli Archaeological Seminars Dr. Ian Stern will be the presenter at the 2008 Scholar –In-Residence Program at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14. The “Digging Israel’ program will focus on whether or not archaeology supports Biblical texts and the most recent excavations in Israel. Dr. Stern is currently the site supervisor for archaeological excavations at Ein Yael, Ketef Hinom, Mt. Zion, Bet Guvrin, Citael of David Moat and Maresha. The cost is $10 for members and $18 for nonmembers. For more information call 561-852-6555 or visit www.shaareikodesh.org.

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The Boca Raton Airport Authority and Boca Fire Rescue recently joined forces to host a training exercise at Boca Raton Airport, 3100 Airport Road, for their fixed base carriers.
Boca Airport public affairs director Kim Singer said the training exercises are important on a number of levels.
“Aside from the obvious passenger safety issues, we have a number of businesses, universities and residences nearby. We want the community to know that we take safety very seriously,” she said.
Pilots and ground crew ran through several scenarios including jets filled with smoke, fuel leaks and fire extinguishing training.
“The airport, and particularly Kim [Singer], is extremely proactive when it comes to safety measures, and we encourage all people and business to do the same,” said public information officer Frank Correggio. He also said Boca Raton Fire Rescue will come out to any business hoping to educate their employees about safety issues.
“We will come out and go over all sorts of topics and also give them a sense of all that we are capable of doing,” he said.

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Bloomingdale’s in the Town Center Mall, 5840 Glades Road, is hosting a holiday cooking demonstration at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 in the main course on level three, and it will be led by Cakes by Blanca founder Blanca Combas. The event will focus on tips for mastering chocolate deserts including chocolate chunk brownies and fondue. Attendees will take home a recipe card provided by Gourmet Executive Chef and PBS star Sara Moulton. All Bloomingdale’s cooking events are free. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 561-394-2263.

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George Sheldon, Don Stewart, Bob Butterworth.
The Haven group home for adolescent boys’ executive director Don Stewart was recently elected to the Florida Coalition for Children’s Board of Directors, and he was also presented with the FCC’s annual Chairman’s Award of Distinction. The FCC was established in 1952 and is one of the state’s oldest group child care associations, and its mission is to support neglected and abused children and the agencies working on their behalf.
“Having the opportunity to represent The Haven as a board member of a state-wide organization such as the Coalition and to serve as chairman of the Coalition’s Residential Provider Council is consistent with the overall goals of our agency,” said Stewart. “I welcome the chance to be directly involved in shaping state-wide policy that directly impacts provider agencies like The Haven, and I am humbled and proud to receive such a prestigious award.”
For more information about The Haven, visit www.haven4kids.org.

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Boca Raton City Council Seat B becomes vacant Nov. 30, and they are currently seeking applications from interested parties. The appointment would begin Nov. 30 and run through March 31, and the remaining two years of the term will be filled during the city’s March 10 regular election. The council will consider the appointment during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 in Council Chambers, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. Applicants must be at least 18, a resident of the city of Boca and a registered city elector. Interested parties must submit applications by 5 p.m. Dec. 3, which can be downloaded at www.myboca.us or by calling 561-393-7740.

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By Dave DiPino
The Delray Beach Sister Cities Student Exchange Program will be sending qualified students to Miyazu, Japan in June. Students in the program have been in training sessions for two years before their trip. Tony Durante, the director of discipleship at Trinity Lutheran Church & School in Delray Beach,
will once again travel to Japan with the students.
The students selected are Chelsea Brandt of Boynton Beach who attends American Heritage School; Sofia Ellingsworth of Delray Beach who attends Boca Raton High School; and Atlantic Community High School students: Matthew Feldman of Wellington; Matthew Kondziela of Boynton Beach; Jacqueline Lowell of Delray Beach; Danielle Trubow of Boca Raton and Bobby Weil of Boynton Beach.
Durante has taught regular weekly sessions and workshops with emphasis on Japanese culture, language, protocol, as well as sessions about city government.
He is also a native of Delray Beach who spent two years living and teaching in Japan as a Christian missionary. Durante speaks fluent Japanese.

For more information about the Student Exchange program call Tony Durante at 561-278-1737 or e-mail Tony Durante at tdurante@trinitydelray.org

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Florida Atlantic University’s AIDS Committee and Student Health Advisory Council is having a World AIDS Day program at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in the Student Union Grand Palm Room, 777 Glades Road.
Demaries ‘Dee’ Cruz will be the guest speaker, and there will be an art exhibit by Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegal. Cruz is a well-known AIDS educator in the Miami Latino community and will share personal experiences about how AIDS is impacting local communities. Siegal is a local physician who spent the years before her retirement painting portraits of patients living and dying with HIV/AIDS. For more information about the free event, call Cherie Williams at 561-297-3516 or email at cwilliam@fau.edu.

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Boca Raton Synagogue has come a long way from its original incarnation. Congregants initially met at individual homes, but the Modern Orthodox synagogue is going strong with 600 members and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary Nov. 23.
“Our presence and growth and leadership helped create a demand for Jewish day schools, kosher markets and other facilities that as little as 15 years ago might have required a trip to Miami,” said BRS President Jonathan Marriott.
The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. at the synagogue, 7900 Montoya Circle, and will include a cocktail hour, buffet dinner and dessert.
“The program will celebrate with pictures, artifacts and words the individuals and events that helped grow the congregation into the vibrant institution of prayer and learning, social action and support of Israel it has become,” said Marriott.
or more information, call Gila Stern at 561-929-6536 or e-mail at gbs2231@yahoo.com.

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United Methodist Church, 9087 Glades Road, is having a free Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 27, and it is open to all.
“We welcome anyone and everyone from the community. It doesn’t matter if they are homeless, have no family here or can’t afford to put dinner on the table, and there will be no questions asked,” said fellowship co-chairwoman Sharon Raddock.
She said they decided to host the dinner because of the economic downturn and to offset some of the hardships.
“There really is so much pain in the community right now. From foreclosures to job loss, these really are trying times, and everyone should be pitching in to do whatever they can,” she said. For more information, call Sharon at 561-852-5642.

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The new county library in West Boca, U.S. Highway 441 north of Yamato Road, may look done, but looks can be deceiving. Palm Beach County Library Director John J. Callahan said that while the exterior is almost complete, they are awaiting furniture and staffing.
“We are being very creative with our staffing efforts to save money and to make sure we are making the best use of all possible resources,” he said.
Callahan said county library employees will be moved around from locations including Palm Beach Gardens and the Southwest Regional Library off Glades Road, which is scheduled for renovation next June.
“Those libraries will be closed for extended periods, and we will bring staff from those locations. We anticipate opening the West Boca branch by February of next year,” he said.

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The Boca Ballet Theatre recently announced it will dedicate its 17th annual production of ‘The Nutcracker’ to longtime presenters Marleen and Harold Forkas. The performances run from Nov. 28-30 at Florida Atlantic University’s Theatre, 777 Glades Road, and will feature guest artists Roddy Doble and Devon Teushcer, along with BBT regulars Noel Dupuis and Michael Wardlaw. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $25 for children and seniors. For more information, visit www.bocaballet.org.

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Rachel Goodman, Erin Blankstein, Zach Goldstein and Dianna DelPrete of Pine Crest Boca Raton and Alie Rothman of St. Andrews show their support for multiple sclerosis research. Students from those schools will be dressing down for the cause Nov. 21. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s South Florida chapter recently announced that students from the two schools can donate $5 and wear jeans for the day, and the funds will be used for MS research. The 26th annual MS Gala and Fashion Show takes place Jan. 22 at the Broward Convention Center. Chairwoman Deborah DelPrete said parents should contact children’s schools to encourage them to host similar dress down days. For information about the South Florida Chapter or Gala, call Monica Whiting at 954-731-4224 or visit www.nmssfls.org.

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Florida Atlantic University’s Barry Kaye College of Business was recently named to the Princeton Review’s list of the 296 best business schools for 2009. The review is based on student ratings and was compiled from a survey of 19,000 students attending the 296 business schools.

The Kaye College of Business was recognized for having business industry leaders as professors and for having state-of-the art classroom technology.

“The inclusion in this ranking demonstrates that FAU’s Barry Kaye College of Business is successful in bridging the gap between theory and practice,” Dean Dennis Coates said. “Our faculty relates to the world of business, and our graduates owe much of their success in business to this exposure as students.”

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The First Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Camino Real, is hosting a Fall Family Jubilee from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14. It is one of the church's largest community outreach initiatives.

“We have been doing some sort of fall festival for 10 years now, and we just really want to reach out to everyone in the community,” event organizer Jane Sackler said.

There will be bungee jumping, face painting, bounce houses, candy apples and more.

For information, call 561-395-2811.

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The Tri County Humane Society, 21287 Boca Rio Road, recently received a $10,000 grant from Home Depot, and the funds will be used to make some much-needed repairs.

The largest amount the shelter can receive is $10,000, and development and activities director Sasha Muzzarelli said it takes on added significance in today’s economy.

“The fact that they are donating such a large amount even with all the upheaval really speaks to how much they care. Not only the supplies, but they are sending 40 or 50 employees out to do the repairs,” she said.

The repairs will include replacing gutters for proper rain drainage, putting in pavers for a new walkway and fixing a dilapidated Dumpster.

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Boca Raton High School students were recently treated to a performance by master musician Conrad Tao, who was recently celebrated by The Wall Street Journal as a performer of brilliant technique.
"It is an honor and a privilege to welcome Conrad Tao to our school and a marvelous opportunity for our students and his peers to hear from a musician of this caliber," said Victoria Passarello, choral and piano director for Boca Raton High School. The 13-year-old prodigy gave his first public piano recital when he was only 4 and stuck around for a wide-ranging question-and-answer session. The event was organized by the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park and was part of the larger educational series for the 2009 Festival of the Arts Boca.

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The drama department at Boca Raton Community High School, 1501 NW 15th Court, is performing Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and the first show is at 7 p.m. Nov. 13. The production is a traditional adaptation of the play and will showcase some of the school's most talented actors and technicians including Jacob Victor as Oberon, Samantha Milich as Puck, Lauren Fortes as Titania, and Wade Appleton as Bottom. The play runs through Nov. 15, and tickets cost $8 in advance or $12 at the door. For more information, call 561-338-1533.

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Eliana Levin casts her vote. Preschoolers from the Early Childhood Center at the Maimonides Institute of Jewish Learning on Temple Beth El's main Boca campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., joined millions of Americans on Election Day and cast votes in a mock election. There was a two-week curriculum leading up to the election that included locating Florida on a map, candidate explanations and voting procedures. Sixty-five children cast their fictitious ballots and also put Obama in the White House.
"You'd be surprised how politically savvy the children were, and they could tell you what candidate they hoped would win and some could tell you why. We had pictures of McCain and Obama in the booths, and that is how they selected their candidates," said Judy Levine, director of the Early Childhood Center.

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The Boca Fest Art Fair takes place Jan. 10to 11 at The Shops at Boca Center, 5250 Town Center Circle, and it is currently seeking submissions.
“The fair is open to all mediums including paintings, sculpture, mixed media and more. There is no specific deadline for submission, but we encourage people to submit early,” said event spokesperson Misty Pinson. The prices range from $25 hand-designed earrings to $20,000 metal sculptures, and applications are available at www.artfestival.com. For more information, call 954-472-3755.

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WestFest will take place at Olympic Heights High School Feb. 7-8, and the festival is seeking sponsors. All sponsors will have a tented space, one draped and skirted table, and room to hang a 2’ x 4’ banner. Sponsors will also appear in all written advertising materials and on a banner outside the school. Sponsorship prices range from $1,000 to $5,000. The deadline to assure maximum exposure is Nov. 30. For more information, call Lois Niesen at 561-999-1997 or email at Lois29@msn.com.

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Students from local schools prepare for the day at Wal-Mart.
Rose Lee Archer saw her son Pat falling through the cracks in the public school system and wanted to make sure he had every opportunity for success. She founded the Boca-based Archer Disability Foundation, which is a community outreach program designed to bolster social inclusion for people with disabilities. One of the group’s key initiatives is the Disability Awareness, Disability Employment Opportunities Program, DADEO, and the goal is to transition high school students with disabilities into the community workforce.
“A lot of placement programs are designed to just place them into jobs they may have no aptitude for or interest in, and after 90 days they are gone. This leads to dissatisfied parents and heart-broken children,” said Archer.
The group recently partnered with Wal-Mart stores for Disability Mentoring Day, and students from Boca and West Boca High Schools spent the day at the Coconut Creek store learning the ropes. DMD is a one-day job shadowing experience for youth and adults with disabilities and is hosted in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities.
“One of the students pulled up to me in his wheelchair and said it was the happiest day of his life. He told me that never in his wildest dreams did he think he would actually have a chance to work in a Wal-Mart,” she said.
Last year, the foundation mentored 176 students, and this year the number is approaching 350.
“I was told when my son was 15-years-old that employment was not a possibility, and now he is on the road to his dream of working as a videographer for NASA,” she said. For more information, visit www.archerdisabilityfoundation.org.

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The Pine Crest School, 2700 St. Andrews Blvd., is having an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 in which interested families can tour the 20-acre campus. There will be presentations on the new Lower School facility, academic and athletic programs, financial aid and bus services. The new $20 million Lower School is a LEED-certified building that will house 550 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. To register, call 561-852-2801 or visit www.pinecrest.edu.

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FeeBee
Two loggerhead turtles hatched on Boca beaches in July 2002 will be released from captivity Nov. 6 into the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian Inlet. Milton and FeeBee were part of a sex ratio study conducted by Dr. Jeanette Wyneken of Florida Atlantic University, which was designed to learn how many male and female turtles are born each year. The turtles will also be satellite tagged, giving scientists and the public the opportunity to track Milton and FeeBee’s behavior. Gumbo Limbo Marine Conservationist Dr. Kirt Rusenko and center staff will release the turtles late Thursday morning. For more information, visit www.gumbolimbo.org.Milton

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The Mae Volen Senior Center, 1515 W Palmetto Park Drive, is having its annual health fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13, and there will be more than 60 exhibitors. The free fair is open to all and will feature major hospitals, health screenings, educational seminars and information on preventative health programs. For more information, visit www.maevolen.com or call 561-395-8920, ext. 1-243.

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No wait time at the Boca Raton Community Center.
Wait times are minimal at East Boca voting locations, including The Wayne Barton Study Center, 269 NE 14th St., and The Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd.
James Cogin, 42, came by the Barton Center before work, but said it was a bit crowded so he decided to come back during non-peak hours.
“I was also going to vote early, but those wait times were absurd. I knew it wouldn’t be as bad on Election Day,” he said.
Cogin planned to cast his vote for Obama, but not because he is an avid supporter. “To be completely honest, I just think he is the lesser of two evils. I think it’s sad that the best we can do is one guy with no experience and another with the wrong kind,” he said.
McCain supporter Rebecca Ruiz disagreed and said McCain has exactly the kind of experience the country sorely needs.
“He’s been in the Senate for decades, served in the military and is a war hero and has no socialist tendencies. That is good enough for me,” she said.

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Food Network star and nine-time world pizza champion Tony ‘G’ Gemignani will be at Coal Mine Pizza, 399 SE Mizner Blvd., from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 8 for the inaugural Family Fun Day. Gemignani will perform an acrobatic dough throw and host a kids dough toss, and there will be face painting, a bounce house, balloon art and live music.
Mayor Susan Whelchel will also present Gemignani the key to the city. World champion pies will be auctioned off at $1,000 minimum bids to benefit the Andy Roddick Foundation, The Scott Stapp With Arms Wide Open Foundation and the Sun-Sentinel Children’s Fund. For more information, call 561-826-2625 or visit www.coalminepizza.com.

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