Matthew Vicari, a recent South Tech Academy graduate and winner of the Pat Oliphant award, was Florida’s representative in the National SkillsUSA Internetworking Competition in Kansas City last week.

The SkillsUSA Internetworking competition is considered one of the most challenging competitions conducted by Cisco Systems, Inc.

The secondary-high school competition had 34 states competing over a three-day period. Each competitor was scored in nine areas of skill, including structured cabling, network troubleshooting & monitoring, basic router configuration, advanced router configuration and LAN/WAN design.

Vicari received the highest score in six out of the nine skilled areas.

Clarence Vaughn, program instructor for South Tech, said that Vicari is a South Tech success story and a prime example of what his program produces.

The First Place Industry award consist of an expense-paid trip for two to Cisco corporate headquarters in San Jose, Calif.

South Tech Academy President Jim Kidd said Vicari is another example of the level of commitment his students achieve in the academy.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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Jeanette L. Jimenez, new principal at South Tech Academy, a conversion charter school in Boynton Beach
Recent doctoral graduate at Nova Southeastern University-Fischler School of Education and Human Services
Age 48
She was born in New York.
She lives in Lake Worth.
She has been working in education for 26 years.
She has served as South Tech’s ESE coordinator, compliance administrator and vice principal.
She has been with South Tech since 2001.

How did you get into this line of work?

“Ever since I was the age of 4 or 5, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I used to play school as a kid.”

What is a normal day like for you?

“July 1 was my official day and in the summer we work four-day weeks for 10 hours. I spend the day principal training and trying to raise student achievement for next year.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“I like working with people. It can be the students, teachers or even parents.”

How has your first month gone?

“It has been good. I have been here since 2001 and kind of moved positions every year, so the transition has been smooth.”

Read more about this story in the July 8 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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Gerda Klein lost her son, David, three years ago to suicide after he had been dealing with bipolar disorder.

“Who knows perhaps 20 years ago if my son had been given the proper testing or screening as a teen, maybe things could have turned out different,” Klein said.

After her son’s death, Klein said she was prompted to act. She started taking classes “Breaking the Silence” at Boca Raton’s Promise, which helps to break the stigma of mental illness and help children deal with it.

“The classes help to enable young people and break the stigma of mental illness so they can come out and get help,” she said.

Klein met Lorraine Michaelis through the classes and the two decided Boynton Beach was the area for which they wanted to focus their help.

“We want to identify and educate young and old about teen depression,” she said.

One in eight adolescents may suffer from depression. Of all the teens struggling with mental and emotional behavior problems, seventy percent go without any sort of intervention or treatment.

The Boynton Beach Mental Health Initiative, Michaelis and Klein’s Boynton creation, invites the community to attend a special educational program, “Let’s Talk About Teen Depression”, 10 a.m. to noon July 18 at the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd.

The event at the library will be the first that BBMHI will put on, but Klein said she has gotten enthusiastic feedback from the community.

Read more about this story in the July 8 issue of the Boynton Forum.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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Rothman Family Chiropractic, 1871 W. Woolbright Road, is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a “Christmas in July School Supply Fundraiser,” benefiting The Caridad Center, to begin July 1 and continue throughout the entire month.

Nicole Rothman will be offering a complete initial evaluation for $11 all month long for all new patients in exchange for three new school supply items.

This visit is typically valued up to $275, Rothman said.

In addition to the discount, Rothman said on July 15, she would be offering free chiropractic adjustments to people of any age who live in the local community in exchange for five new school supply items or an $11 donation.

Rothman said the Caridad Center is in desperate need of school supplies for the upcoming school year.

Residents can also drop off donations from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1871 W. Woolbright Road.

The Caridad Center, 8645 W Boynton Beach Blvd., provides free medical and dental care to a large population of agricultural workers, laborers and the working poor of Palm Beach County through volunteer work. The center also provides school supplies to children who cannot otherwise afford them.

Megan Doney, special events director for the Caridad, said Rothman Chiropractic did all the research and found the center on its own.

“We really need the help, especially this year,” she said. “Our waiting rooms are full and our social services line grows every day.”

Read more about this story in the July 8 issue of the Boynton Forum.
For information, call 561-740-2340 or visit www.DrNicole.com.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com. Mike Rothman is not related to the subject in this story.

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Sara Boyd’s restaurant Just Wings & A Few Other Things is known for its 17 sauces from which to choose at its 1600 N.Federal Highway location.

Boyd often suggests placing orders that include combing a selection of flavors, such as hot honey, some raspberry and lemon pepper.

Boyd celebrates her second anniversary this month at her Boynton Beach location after opening her original wing shack in 2000 in the Fort Lauderdale area.

The idea came from a visit Boyd had with her daughter, Angel, in Atlanta, where she was going to college.

“I saw all these wing places up there and just thought that we don’t have anything like that in South Florida,” Boyd said.

Margee Walsh, Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency spokeswoman, said breakfast items are now available on the take-out menu.

Walsh said in addition, a variety of spicy, flavorful “other things,” or menu items, such as fried shrimp, pork souse, a popular Caribbean stew, chicken gizzards and oversized, homemade red velvet cupcakes are also on the menu.

All the wings can be washed down with a chilled, sweet tea.

Boyd said residents come in mainly for her wings, and keep coming back while they decide which of the 17 flavors are their favorite, such as the sweet & sour or Thai.

“Our flavors are addicting,” Boyd said. “We have honey garlic, spicy garlic, Caribbean, the house special and lemon pepper.”

The prices for wings range from $5.50 for the “snack” of five wings and fries to $7.50 for 10 wings. For 16 wings, the cost is $9.75.

In addition, lunch specials and party platters are available. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call 561-740-9613.

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, established in 1982 serves to encourage diverse redevelopment activities, stimulate economic growth, create a destination core and enhance the visual appearance of the community.

The Boynton CRA also serves to promote businesses within the community as part of their goals.

Walsh said the CRA has begun a downtown small business-marketing plan to help promote the 500 businesses located in the CRA’s district.

“The economy is just so bad, everyone needs to step up to the plate and help,” she said. “This wing restaurant is just another example of a hidden gem in Boynton that people may not know because it is not a chain.”

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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Glenn Jergensen, president of the Boynton Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber Young Professionals Steering Committee has decided to hold a monthly business card exchange for Boynton Chamber young professionals on the first Thursday of each month.

The idea is to get the young professionals who are members of the chamber networking and exchanging information.

The owners of Slainte Irush Pub, 1500 Gateway Blvd., have offered to have the card exchanges at the pub.

The first card exchange is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 2. The cost is $10 for one drink ticket and appetizers.

RSVP to CNorsesian@ymcaspbc.org or 
call 561-732-9501.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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The Community Redevelopment Agency is having a July Fourth celebration from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Intracoastal Park, 2240 N. Federal Highway.

Kathy Biscuiti, the CRA’s special events director, said the night’s festivities would include live music by the Synthesis Band, a patriotic salute, a fireworks display by Fireworks by Grucci, and food and beverage vendors on site.

“The Fireworks by Grucci is an international company that does fireworks all around the world,” Biscuiti said. “It will also be a fully choreographed show, so it should be great.”

No pets or personal fireworks allowed.

Biscuiti also said park and ride the free shuttle from Bank of America on Federal Highway and Ocean Avenue.

For information, call 561-742-6246.

In addition to the CRA’s fireworks, the Sand Sifters, a local beach cleanup group, is having an “All-American Cleanup” from 8 to 10:30 a.m. July 4 at 
Oceanfront Park, 
6415 N. Ocean Blvd.

Gary Solomon, the group’s organizer, said free T-shirts are available while supplies last. In addition, free hot dogs and snacks will be offered.

The July 4 Sand Sifters cleanup will also have free surf lessons by Kahuna Surf School but only for the first 10 to register.

The Sand Sifters will also be collecting items for the Forgotten Soldiers, another local nonprofit that sends monthly care packages to soldiers overseas.

The group is looking for donated item, including beef jerky, trail mix, small bottles of mouthwash, small bottle of foot powder, foiled tuna and letters of encouragement to the soldiers.

For information on the cleanup, call 561-734-9128.

For all local events, the U.S. Coast Guard has issued an advisory with regard to Fourth of July events that are staged in coastal areas. These events have the potential to impact endangered species.

The Coast Guard said vessels should not anchor on a coral reef. If a vessel anchors in the Elkhorn/Staghorn coral critical habitat, it should anchor over a sandy bottom that is free from coral or Johnson's sea grass.

In addition, all vessels should maintain a lookout for endangered species, especially sea turtles and manatees.

If a collision with manatee or marine wildlife occurs, call 888-404-FWCC for rescue and recovery.

Finally, a federal or state agency may impose a civil fine of $25,000 and/or criminal penalty of $50,000 and/or up to one year in jail for violating the Endangered Species Act or state statute by taking an endangered or threatened species or damaging coral.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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Gary Horner, karate master at the Karate Center, 7000 Charleston Shores Blvd.
Age – 58

How did you get into this line of work?

“My daughter started training with martial arts with an after-school program. I started to train formally and got my black belt. I realized I had a talent for it and it took off from there.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“The biggest kick I get is seeing the students grow and reach their goals.”

What is a normal day like for you?

“I start in the late morning with busy work, paper work. Then I start teaching from 4 to 9 p.m. with ages 3 to adult.”

What kinds of classes do you offer?

“We study the traditional Korean style. We also work on the classic forms with the physical, including sparing and self-defense. There is also the mental, the spiritual and the learning the history of martial arts.”

Read more about this story in the July 1 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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The Boynton Veterans’ Council has plans to install additional monuments to the two that are already erected in Bicentennial Park, located at the corner of Boynton Beach Boulevard and Federal Highway.

Tom Kaiser, spokesman for the council, said in addition to the two monuments in the center of the park, the group has plans to erect a World War I monument at 10 a.m. Nov. 11.

The theme of the new WWI monument is a pigeon with a medal around its neck to celebrate the bird that flew to the American forces to deliver a note that 500 American soldiers were in danger.

“The war was over in 1918, but 500 soldiers were surrounded by 5,000 Germans,” Kaiser said. “The Germans shot the pigeon down, but it got back up and flew 30 miles to deliver the note. The soldiers were eventually rescued.”

Kaiser said the new monument would be 42 inches tall and 28 inches wide and would be crafted by Lake Worth Monument, who crafted the original two already standing.

The Veterans’ Council has no plans to stop there.

On Dec. 7, the council also plans to erect a Pearl Harbor monument, with the theme WWII and the Arizona, one of the ships that were destroyed by the attack of Pearl Harbor.

“Half the people that died that day were on the Arizona,” Kaiser said.

To donate or buy a memorial brick, call Tom Kaiser at 561-276-1796.

Read more about this story in the July 1 issue of the Boynton Forum.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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Nick and Marianne Tamposi, owners of P Model Management, 3925 Boynton Beach Blvd., came up with the dream of housing a hair salon adjacent to the modeling agency after a string of models came in with ruined hair from area salons.

Not wanting their talent to be passed over and jeopardize their careers, they decided to put a plan into action.

Pink Salon in Boynton Beach opened just over a year ago to cater to anyone who is interested in having a hairdresser interpret their style.

With the current economic struggles, the salon has kept their prices low to give anyone a chance at the celebrity hair experience.

Tamposi said a haircut runs for $55, with a partial coloring going for $70 and full coloring for $110.

“Our client list has just been growing each and every month,” Tamposi said. “I think this is because we keep our prices reasonable even with the slow of the economy.”

For information, call 561-736-0758.

Read more about this story in the July 1 issue of the Boynton Forum.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.

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