The academies of Olympic Heights High School are hosting a golf scramble at noon April 26 at the Boca Country Club, 17751 Boca Club Blvd. Proceeds from the scramble will fund scholarships, field trips, conference attendance and help pay for organizational memberships. The cost is $125 per person, and there will be an awards dinner and silent auction after the event. For more information, call Academy Coordinator Pat Aviezer at 561-852-6610 or e-mail at aviezep@palmbeach.k12.fl.us.

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Charlie Serafine tearing it up at last year's event.
Boca Raton resident Don Ryan’s two great passions are surfing and helping people with autism, and he has found a way to combine both. Ryan is the chairman and event organizer for the second annual Surfers For Autism, a May 2 event at the Deerfield Beach pier where close to 100 children with autism will hit the waves with qualified instructors.
“I first became familiar with autism through the Trespass Surf Club. One of our members has a brother with autism and it has been quite a journey, and the idea to host a surfing event was born,” said Ryan.
The event is an additional fundraising arm for Autism Speaks, and South Florida regional director Jaclyn Merens said she was not sure what to expect at last year’s event. “I knew very little about the surfing culture or community, and I was absolutely blown away. When I think of how my son Daniel responded and the joy on his face, it is hard not to get emotional,” she said.
Deerfield Beach resident Robin Serafine brought her 10-year-old son Charlie and echoed Meren’s sentiment.
“Charlie responds to anything that goes fast, and I’ve wanted to get him in the water for a while but didn’t have the know how. These surfers are amazing, and Don has met us a few times during the past year to get Charlie in the water,” she said.
For information or to donate, visit www.surfersforautism.com.

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Raquel Dunn is not your average 12-year-old. The sixth-grader from Loggers Run Elementary School has already logged more philanthropic hours than most adults. From singing for seniors to making toys for animals at the Humane Society to assembling Thanksgiving dinner for those less fortunate, her benevolent endeavors run the gamut. Her most recent cause hits much closer to home. Raquel is walking in this weekend’s Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk at Mizner Park, and she is doing it for her older brother, 20-year-old Barry Dunn.
“He’s gone through so much, and he is my hero,” she said while overcome with emotion. Barry is a Type 1 diabetic, and Raquel has been there for the frantic 911 calls when EMT’s had to raise his blood sugar level. Raquel’s goal was to raise $1,000, but she has only raised $750 thus far. There is still time to help Raquel reach her goal. To donate, visit www.jdrf.org and click on donate under the walk section. When prompted, enter Raquel Dunn for walker’s name and Saul for the team name.

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Current Builders recently completed construction of Boca Colonnade II, 750 Park of Commerce Blvd., which will soon be the second LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold-certified building in Boca Raton.
Currently, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University is the only building in Boca Raton with such a designation, and project manager Aaron Buttress said all the pieces are in place.
“There are different phases to the certification process and it is based on a point or credit system. The LEED system entails several benefits, including lower operating costs, energy and water conservation, and the buildings have better air quality as well,” he said.
The Unites States Green Building Council’s Web site, www.usgbc.org, describes the process as one that “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.”

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Boca Raton Police detectives are looking for three men and one woman who stole a Gucci purse valued at $1,380 that was on display at Neiman Marcus, 5860 W. Glades Road. The thieves entered the store through the mall entrance and left through the southwest entrance with the purse. The suspect who took the purse fled in a black rental car, and the others returned to the store but left without incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Tim Kurdys at 561-338-1377 or Crime Stoppers at 800-458-8477.

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Bonefish Grill, 21065 Powerline Road, and The American Red Cross have partnered for the "Owner for an Evening" event March 30. From open to close, 10 percent of the day’s take will be donated to the Red Cross’ Palm Beach Chapter, and special events director Julie Ott said such events take on added importance considering the economic conditions.
“We understand how difficult it can be for charitable giving during tough economic times. Bonefish Grill is providing a fantastic, built-in opportunity for people to make a difference in the community while having fun and enjoying great food,” she said.

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Witness Theater has been running in Israel for the past eight years, and the joint venture between local teens and Holocaust survivors is making its stateside debut in Boca Raton at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Kay Auditorium, 21160 95th Ave. S. For the past month, local teens and Holocaust survivors have been sharing life stories in the hopes of ensuring the Holocaust will never be forgotten. During the performance, survivors tell their stories while the students act them out on stage. The first performance is at 2 p.m. March 29, and the second performance is at 7 p.m. March 30. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $10 for children. For tickets or more information, call 561-852-3318.

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American Health Society founder and president J. R. Gordon is calling on the community for help. The Orphans of War Campaign collects dolls, stuffed animals, Beanie Babies and the like, and overseas troops distribute the toys to children in war-torn regions.
“Every $25 sends a box, and every box has approximately 100 stuffed toys that our troops carry with their cargo. These wars won't be won with bullets, and our symbolic bears represent security and love,” he said.
Gordon will be leaving for Baghdad soon as the only American representative to the International Orphans of War Conference. For more information or to donate, call 561-361-9091.

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Sugar Sand Park, 300 S Military Trail, is hosting its sixth annual Spring Break Puppet Fest beginning with a March 29 outdoor festival featuring live shows. The weeklong festival will focus on myriad puppetry styles including hand, rod, found-object, finger and giant puppets. Children can also attend several workshops and receive one-on-one instruction about crafting their own puppets. Admission to the park is free, and there is a small fee for select events. For a complete schedule and list of pricing, call the box office at 561-347-3948.

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West Boca Raton High School’s award-winning drama department opens its spring production of "Pippin" at 8 p.m. March 27. The drama department won the Florida State Thespian Award for last year’s "Little Shop of Horrors," and the South Florida Cappies Award for best musical of the year for "All Shook Up." Pippin is the story of the young son of King Charlemagne the Great, who is searching for the secret of true happiness and fulfillment. The tongue-in-cheek fairy tale has been a hit with Broadway audiences and features a score by three-time Oscar and Tony award-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Tickets cost $13, and group discounts are available. For more information and additional showtimes, e-mail Andrea at adbsz@aol.com or call the box office at 561-672-2066.

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About 400 women philanthropists gathered recently for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County's annual Lion of Judah Luncheon at the Boca Club and Resort.
“The women at our luncheon represent about $3 million in gifts. In those few hours, we closed nearly a quarter million dollars in pledges to the Annual Campaign,” said luncheon co-chairwoman Pam Kaye.
Women’s Philanthropy chairwoman Anne Jacobson said more people than ever are reaching out to assist the Federation.
“Beyond Jewish education and day camp and programs that connect fellow Jews to their heritage, overwhelming numbers are relying on us for basic life essentials. These include food, healthcare, medicine, transportation and shelter from foreclosures or from rocket attacks,” she said.
For more information about philanthropy opportunities, call 561-852-5015 or e-mail at jillh@bocafed.org.

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Gov. Charlie Crist recently appointed former Boca Raton Mayor Steve Abrams to the Palm Beach County Commission, and the 50-year-old attorney will represent District Four. The district covers the southeast portion of Palm Beach County, and Abrams was selected from a pool of 30 applicants. Abrams was planning on running for the commission in 2010 and said he was eager to fill the post when the opportunity arose.
“Obviously, the first priority is restoring public confidence in the commission. I am not casting aspersions on anyone, but it is going to be difficult to tackle the serious issues until that trust has been restored,” he said. Abrams spent 17 years on the Boca Council, eight as mayor, and left due to term limits, and he said that experience will serve him well in getting the ball rolling.
“I have worked with and known my commission colleagues and senior staff for some time. Being appointed does present one unique challenge in that during campaigns you really get to flesh out all the issues, but my knowledge of the district and area will go a long way in meeting that challenge,” he said.

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Temple Beth El of Boca Raton recently opened a sample classroom at The Reserve shopping plaza, US Highway 441 and Clint Moore Road, to give residents a sense of the Beck Family Campus. The campus is under construction and will open in August, and director of early childhood education Ann Pardes said parents will love the new space. “We wanted to give parents a sense of the type of classrooms we will have, so we’ve displayed areas from infant care up to 4-year-olds. Once parents see the sample classroom, we think they’ll feel very comfortable leaving their child in such an attractive and child-friendly atmosphere,” said Pardes. For information or to schedule a tour, visit www.tbeboca.org/education or call Ann at 561-391-9092.

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Caron Renaissance is one of the nation’s leading addiction treatment centers, and it recently moved from their location off Federal Highway to a 22,000-square-foot facility at 7789 NW Beacon Square Blvd.
Caron has centers in Pennsylvania, New York and Bermuda, and the new Boca Raton location will be home to two innovative programs. The Residential Family Restructuring Program deals with rebuilding the family unit, and executive director Sid Goodman said the approach is crucial.
“When we are looking at a client, we do not just look at that individual but rather the entire family system. Addiction is like an emotional terrorist that rips families apart and it spares no one,” he said.
Another program unique to Caron is Telemedicine, where patients and therapists can speak face-to-face via teleconferencing technology, and Goodman said he was a bit skeptical at first.
“We had a patient coming from our Pennsylvania center and as we spoke you could see tears welling up. We were able to discuss the emotions right away, and that never would have happened with just a phone call and after that I was sold,” he said. For more information, visit www.caronrenaissance.org

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The League of American Bicyclists is hosting a street skills course from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 21 at South County Regional Park, 11200 Park Access Road. The certified course is titled "The Art of Cycling in South Florida," and topics will include legal rights and responsibilities of cyclists, crash avoidance, road hazards and more. The morning discussion will be followed by a road skills course ride. Participants must bring their own bike, and helmets are required. The cost is $30. For more information or to register, visit www.Bocaratonbicycleclub.com and follow the link to bicycle training, or call Jeff Lynne at 561-239-0839 or Bob Sabin at 561-742-3605.

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National Arbor Day is April 24, and Boca Raton residents can take advantage of a special deal. The city is selling Gumbo Limbo and Red Bottlebrush trees for only $50, but they must be ordered by March 31. The trees will be delivered between April 3 to 24, and can also be planted for an additional $25. To order, call Nu-Turf at 561-392-9089. For more information, call 561-393-7835.

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Florida Atlantic University’s Women’s Studies Center and the FAU Diversity Committee will host the inaugural Women’s Leadership Forum from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 25 in the Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni Center, 777 Glades Road. The topic is ‘Women as Leaders: Facilitating a Culture of Leadership,’ and the keynote speaker is Florida International University senior associate dean for the sciences Suzanna Rosa. Other speakers include Anne Boykin, dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at FAU; Susan Reilly, director of the school of communication and multimedia studies at FAU; Ira Bogotch, professor in FAU’s department of educational leadership and El pagnier Hudson, director of FAU’s department of human resources. Admission is free, but registration is required. To register or for more information, visit www.fau.edu/WomensStudies or call 561-297-3865.

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According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. West Boca High School, 12811 Glades Road, is hosting the organization’s signature fundraising event, the Relay For Life, beginning at 4 p.m. March 20.
“It’s an event designed not only to raise much-needed funds for research, but we also celebrate the lives of survivors and remember those we lost,” said Jennifer Siesel, American Cancer Society community representative. I remember the evening five years ago when my father gathered us all at my brother’s house to tell us about his morning doctor’s appointment. He was told it was Stage IV Melanoma, and that it was time to get his affairs in order. The sight of my father shaken to tears and how the air was sucked from the room will never leave me. Luckily, the diagnosis was incorrect and it turned out to be Lymphoma, and the chemotherapy was successful and he is now in remission. Countless others are not as fortunate."
Helene Grill is a relay team captain and has seen cancer’s wrath first hand.
“I have lost family members and several dear friends to cancer. Just recently, a friend from out of town passed away, and her husband sent a check for $100 and he plans to fly down for the event,” she said. For information on putting a team together or to donate, call Jennifer Siesel at 561-394-7751, ext. 5311 or e-mail at Jennifer.siesel@cancer.org.

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ATM skimmers place a small camera on the outside of the machine’s card reader, and the information is sent wirelessly to a waiting thief’s laptop, who is often mere blocks away. Your account is either drained or the information is sold to global crime syndicates, and the ATM Industry Association puts the losses at more than $1 billion globally.
Boca Police hosted a joint news conference recently with ADT Security Services to introduce a new anti-skimming device, and ADT Vice President Hank Monaco said one of the most damaging problems is bank credibility.
“When a customer experiences the theft of their personal information, there is a resulting loss of confidence. Most times the customer has no idea it has happened, and they go about their day completely unaware,” he said.
ADT’s device is placed inside the ATM machine and sends a silent alarm if a skimming device is detected. For more safety tips, visit www.bocaviper.com.

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Boca Raton resident Steve Kaye, 48, was all set to leave on vacation seven months ago when he got the disheartening news. It was Friday morning, and there stood his employer with a letter notifying him he was to be separated from the company three days before he and his wife Linda were leaving town.
“There was no notice or indication that it was going to happen, and they let me go and my entire 11-person team,” he said.
Kaye has been looking for work ever since and decided to try a new approach. He created a local job fair, and close to 20 companies attended the recent event at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s West Boca Campus.
“I didn’t want the kind of fair that had 5,000 people attending without that local and personal feel. All of the companies here are local and hiring, and it’s much different to look someone in the eye as opposed to words on a page,” he said.

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West Boca High School’s drama department is hosting an art show and live auction from 6 to 9 p.m. March 14 in the West Boca Theater, 12811 Glades Road. Jewelry, original art and fine prints from Dali, Picasso, Renoir, Matisse and Chagall will be available, along with sports, theatrical and rock memorabilia. All items are between 50 to 70 percent below retail value, and proceeds will go toward the spring musical, "Pippin." There will also be hors d’oeuvres and door prizes. For more information, call 561-672-2066.

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United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta spoke at this morning’s West Boca Chamber of Commerce breakfast about corruption in Palm Beach County and South Florida. Acosta said the overwhelming majority of public officials behave ethically, and the problem is more systemic.
“Prosecution is not the answer when it comes to corruption, and there is only so much that can accomplish. The answer is more transparency, and I am thrilled that such a movement is under way,” he said.
Acosta drew comparisons between prosecutions after the fact and traffic tickets after an accident. “
The ticket may serve as a deterrent after, but the accident has already happened. The way to prevent accidents is through speed limits, stop signs and traffic lights, and we need a better system for preventing corruption in public affairs,” he said.

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Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel presented legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman with the key to the city after his March 8 performance during Festival of the Arts BOCA. Perlman played alongside students of the Perlman Music Program, which trains the next generation of classical musicians.
“We are particularly thrilled and honored to welcome Mr. Perlman to our city again. To have an artist of his distinction in residence for the entire festival is a privilege for the whole community,” said Whelchel.
The festival continues through March 15. For more information, visit www.festivaloftheartsboca.org.

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United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta will be the guest speaker at the 7:30 a.m. March 10 West Boca Chamber of Commerce Breakfast at the Boca Dunes Country Club, 400 Country Club Drive. Acosta will be speaking about corruption in Palm Beach County and South Florida, and there will be a brief orientation session for new members following the breakfast. For information, call 561-482-9333 or e-mail info@westbocachamber.com.

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Boca Raton resident Dr. Dan Staub is a retired dentist, but he is staying busy. Staub pays weekly visits to the Jewish Association for Residential Care and keeps the residents informed on current events. He began working with a client or two, but the group has grown to 12, and Staub said he likes to see the group interact.
“They’ve got real feelings about these issues including the election, the economy and Israel,” he said.
Staub and his wife also travel to Israel every year and volunteer teaching to dental students.
“We try to find productive things for ourselves to do to benefit other people,” he said.

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Members of Spanish River High School's choral jazz ensemble recently performed during the inaugural Disney Jazz Celebration, and they were the only Florida school to participate. Due to FCAT testing, students who had yet to pass the test were not permitted to travel, but school choral director Rita D. Bolling lobbied administration to permit the trip.
“We only brought juniors and seniors that already passed the test and brought nine members. It was an amazing experience, and we came home with an encyclopedia’s worth of education that we will now incorporate into our performances,” she said.
Junior Tiffany Shieroing, 16, said she was a bit nervous before taking the stage but that everything went off without a hitch.
“I think we did very well, even though we didn’t have a lot of time to rehearse. The judges were fantastic and came on stage with us after to give us really good instructions,” she said.

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A newly released Holocaust documentary will be screened at 8:30 p.m. March 7 at the Boca Raton Synagogues, 7900 Montoya Circle N. "No. 4 Street of Our Lady" tells the story of a Polish-Catholic woman, Francisca Halamajowa, who rescued 16 of her Jewish neighbors during the Holocaust. “For close to two years, she hid her Jewish neighbors in her tiny home and cooked and cared for them, right under the noses of German troops camped on her property as well as hostile neighbors,” said the film’s producer Judy Maltz. Also attending the Boca screening will be three children who were saved by Halamajowa. Tickets cost $5. For more information, call 561-394-0394.

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Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., is hosting its fourth annual Sea Turtle Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 7, and they are expecting close to 4,000 attendees. The day will feature 35 local conservations organizations, environmentally-friendly businesses, local children’s groups and of course plenty of turtles. There will also be tank feedings, guided tours of one of Florida’s few remaining hardwood hammocks, leaf painting and educational activities. For more information, call Mike Zewe at 561-391-8110.

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Boca Raton Fire Rescue units paid a recent visit to the children at B’Nai Israel school to instruct the youngsters on all that fire safety entails. Fire personnel talked to the children about how to stop, drop and roll, the importance of having two exit strategies, phone numbers to dial and more. “Throughout the year, we visit schools and organizations and talk about fire safety. We also allow the participants to view the apparatus and equipment that firefighters use to protect our city,” said public information officer Frank Correggio.

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A new group is forming in West Boca, and the goal is to help those hit hardest by the economic downturn find new employment. Jim Infantino owns Infantino Search and Consulting and has been placing job seekers for 29 years, but things began to change last October.
“Even up until then, we were still placing large numbers of job seekers in good positions. Things began to change in October, and the number of applicants far exceeded available positions,” he said.
Infantino said the new group will take an atypical, hands-on approach and will focus on resume writing, interviewing, new job search technologies and special topics. “Sometimes people get discouraged when they are on their own looking for employment, and it can get very frustrating. Our workshops will be capped at 15 people and broken down into three, 30-minute sections,” he said.
The first meeting is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. March 9 in the Board Room at 20283 U.S. Highway 441. Subsequent workshops will take place Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $10. For more information call ISC at 561-483-8640, or visit www.iscrecruiters.net

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