Bethesda physician Richard B. Raborn is a recipient of the Community-Based Teacher Award from the Florida Chapter of the American College of Physicians
He has a practice at 2800 S. Seacrest Blvd., Suite 180
Raborn was nominated by his colleague, Daniel M. Lichstein, M.D., F.A.C.P., for the award.
The award is given to a physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and who has contributed to the education of medical students, residents, and fellows as an office-based internist.
Raborn is a volunteer assistant professor for the University of Miami School of Medicine and he is a founding physician of the Caridad Clinic in Boynton Beach where he volunteers.
Age 58
Born – New Orleans
Married to Barbara Raborn
Lives now – Delray Beach
Activities – fishing and working on an electric car
Children – Robert Raborn, Erik Raborn and Trevor Raborn
He is a fan of researching information technology.
He became a doctor in 1981.
He graduated from Emory in 1972 and did internship and residency at Tulane University.

How did you get into your line of work?

“I am a third-generation physician. I did other things in college but found that medicine was a great path for me.”

What is the best aspect of what you do?

“Offering preventative care. That really goes beyond acute problems and changes people’s lives to helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s.”

How did you get into teaching?

“I always wanted to be involved in teaching or leading another. It has been a great experience for the past six years instructing young students about the best aspects of personal care.”

What was your reaction to the recent award you received?

“Initially I was surprised by the honor. It represents all the doctors in Florida doing community-based teaching.”

You also volunteer at the Caridad. How did this start and why?

“I went out there after Hurricane Andrew. I have put extensive time in there and it keeps me involved with taking care of children. There are a lot of children that need help there.”

What is in your future?

“I’m just really excited about what my sons are doing. One is working with human trials to destroy cancer in humans for the first time. Another is working with stem cell research.”

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The men’s room is wallpapered with old pinup magazines. There is a section dedicated to Marilyn Monroe and one booth has a mosquito net covering it for privacy.

The new Living Room in Boynton Beach has a little of everything to make the customer feel like they are at home, said owner Lisa Mercado.

“It is not a new concept,” she said. “Though it is not a franchise, there are Living Rooms all over.”

The new Living Room at 1709 N. Congress Ave. still features elements other similar spots do not - like acoustic music from Keith Michaub, which can be heard at the venue, sometimes till 1 a.m.

The menu is as eclectic with fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, curry, meatloaf, coconut shrimp, crab cakes and fish tacos all grace the menu.

Not to mention the beer, wine, coffee and other refreshments that are available.

The mix of items available at this collision-of-themes lounge comes from Mercado’s background owning the Red Lion in Boynton for 23 years, only to sell it three years ago. Mercado also created all the desserts for the Bizarre Café in Lake Worth for 12 years.

“I wanted to come back to Boynton Beach for some time now,” she said. “I missed my customers.”

Mercado said the response from her Red Lion patrons was a unanimous sigh of relief at her return with the opening of Living Room in early October.

One former customer of the Red Lion missed the place so much that he helped Mercado construct the new Living Room.

Lamar Venegas frequented the Red Lion for almost 18 years and said he bonded with the other patrons and Mercado while spending time there.

“It is nice to have a place back here in Boynton where all the old patrons can get together again,” he said. “I think everything turned out nice. It has a nice finish with a homemade feel.”

Jennifer Cunway, a Boynton resident for two years, said she never got a chance to go to the Red Lion but that after visiting the Living Room, she wises she had.

“Well, if she missed Boynton Beach then it missed her,” she said. “I never went to Red Lion but I am glad she opened Living Room. It is unlike any other place around.”

Cunway said she was especially fond of the mosaic tables and purple chairs, where you can sit after a long day at the office and have a glass of wine.

For information, call the Living Room at 561-742-4399.

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

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Classic rock band Kansas’s lyrics to “Dust in the Wind” exemplify the human condition of “what have you done for me lately.”

Often the residents of Boynton Beach forget what veterans in World War I, World War II and other efforts some 50 years ago, did to protect the freedom of this country and other countries assaulted by tyrants.

Tom Kaiser, spokesman for the Boynton Veteran’s Council, said his mission is to remind local residents about veterans, both alive and killed in action.

Kaiser said the group has plans to erect a World War I monument at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 at Bicentennial Park, 411 N. Federal Highway. The group will continue to erect monuments thereafter, celebrating those who have fallen in every major war from the past century.

Kaiser, 81, joined the Navy in 1945 at 17 because his brother Robert had lost his life one year prior on Feb. 29, 1944.

“He [Robert] was one of only 407,000 that died in World War II,” Kaiser said.

The theme of the new World War I 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.”

Anthony Nastasi, 84, remembers a group of soldiers that were not so lucky during World War II.

Nastasi was in the 45th Infantry from Oklahoma for the Army. He was active from 1943 through 1945 and was witness to battles in Anzio, Italy that lasted three months, resulting in 40,000 casualties.

“You have memories of different buddies and guys that when you turned around they were not there anymore,” he said. “It is still happening today, where you see these guys on the news who are killed and you really feel for them.”

For information about the Nov. 11 event, call 561-276-1796.

Read more about this story in the Nov. 4 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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

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West Palm Beach artist Maxine Schreiber said she is always trying to be a master painter like her father Herman Schreiber.

To honor her late father and also show some of her own work, the URS Gallery Group has an exhibit running through Jan. 10 with nine pieces from the father-and-daughter combo at the URS studio, 802 N. Federal Highway.

“Four of the paintings are my father’s in pastels and five are mine in oil,” Maxine Schreiber said. “It is nice to get his work out to show. We have 70 of his tucked away.”

Herman Schreiber was a well-known artist in New Jersey and Delray Beach before his death in 1995. He was featured in numerous exhibits, including the Montclair Museum of Art in New Jersey and the Society of Four Arts in Palm Beach.

Maxine Schreiber took a more roundabout route into the professional painting business.

After not being able to make money in the painting industry in the 1970s and '80s, she turned to professional psychology, but was drawn back after 20 years. In 2001, she could not fight the painting fever anymore and started to pursue the craft full time.

Since returning to her passion, Maxine Schreiber has become a member of Women in the Visual Arts and has exhibited in numerous shows including the Armory Art Center, Palm Beach County Art in Public Places and the All Florida Juried Fine Art Exhibit in the Cornell Museum.

Suzette Urs, owner of the URS Gallery Group, said the quality of the work of the two artists was the first thing that caught her eye.

“We have regular clientele and we want them to have something to talk about and bring in new guests,” she said. “The second thing that caught my eye was that there is a lot of violence and anger in our climate today and these paintings don’t reflect that at all.”

Urs said the art from the father-daughter combo shows attention to detail and the appreciation for beautiful things in the world.

Information about the art can be found at www.schreiberstudio.com. For information about the gallery, call 561-734-6926.

Read more about this story in the Nov. 4 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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

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Audrey Arian, a resident in Banyan Springs, came down with the flu a few years back and was stuck in bed for weeks.

To avoid this from happening again, Arian got her flu shot during a two-week program sponsored by the Coalition Of Boynton West Residential Associations that ended Oct. 14.

The two-week program, in which 47 communities and 6,434 residents participated, was for just regular seasonal flu shots.

Arian said she also plans to get the H1N1 shot when COBWRA gets them in and starts that program.

“I know there are reports that people born before 1950 are sometimes immune to H1N1 but I don’t want to be that person who is not,” she said.

The seasonal flu shot program that COBWRA had from Sept. 30 through Oct. 14 was administered by Maxim Healthcare Services, where residents could use Medicare, and HMO, another insurance carrier or self pay for $30.

Joan Brunswick, COBWRA flu shot chairwoman, said in addition to the seasonal program, the coalition sent out a survey to see what communities would be interested in the H1N1 program.

“We have 45 communities that said they would participate,” Brunswick said. “The time for the program is undetermined because we don’t know when the vaccines will arrive. But when they do, we will be ready to go.”

Brunswick said residents like the flu programs COBWRA has because they are afraid and want the vaccine.

Ken Lassiter, COBWRA president, said there have been delays with the H1N1 vaccine but that when they get them the coalition can have the program up and running in a few weeks.

“We can’t do it overnight,” he said.

Even local West Boynton doctors are stepping up to promote the use the H1N1 flu shot and how safe it actually is.

Dr. Scott 
Friedberg took his H1N1 vaccine and gave his staff the vaccine Oct. 21 at his office at 6611 W. Boynton Beach Blvd.

He said there are five groups recommended to receive the 2009 H1N1
influenza vaccine by the Center for Disease Control.

“The way I approach it, is that it is the same as the regular season flu vaccine, just altered to fight this particular strain,” he said. “If you fit into one of the five categories, there is no reason you shouldn’t get the vaccine.”

The five high-risk groups include pregnant women, employees watching children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and medical personnel, persons age 25 through 64 years who have health conditions with a higher risk of medical complications from the flu and all people from 10 years through 24 years of age.

For information from Friedberg, call the 
office at 561-369-2428.

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

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What can you do with $26,000?

You can buy a Toyota Prius, or two. You can order a Russian mail-order bride off the Internet. You can take a vacation to the Middle East. Finally, you can make a sound investment and bet $26,000 on the Miami Dolphins to win the Super Bowl.

There are so many wonderful things you can spend $26,000 on, but one West Boynton resident, Frank Crisci, has spent that amount on Halloween decorations for his home since 2002.

He has more than 60 tombstones, one with the name Roth, almost a dozen decorated corpses, a crazy female zombie in a coffin, a mutant dog named Satan, aka my sister Brooke, and a Grim Reaper that watches over the entire yard.

He even has an 8-foot vampire creeping down from the roof.

Other than the fact that Frank spent more on decorations than I get paid in a year, I assume trick-or-treaters must love his ghoulish setup.

The attention to detail is remarkable. One corpse was clothed like a pirate wearing MC Hammer pants. I thought to myself that it might in fact be Hammer. His career died years ago anyway.

Another body lay in the grass with a ripped, bloodied tank top and jean shorts. This person must have been dead for some time, because jean shorts are so 10 years ago. What a fashion no-no.

Another victim had pink Skechers sneakers on. These victims must have died from lack of fashion sense.

The tombstones say Mason, Wylde, Waters and … Roth? It said Roth died in 1751. I know what you’re thinking. Yes I was brought back to life to write these amazing, award-winning columns.

It is not a Halloween party without a tiki-hut type of setup accompanied with your own three-fingered goblin bar tender to serve you drinks.

One such tiki hut is located a bit away from the house on the north side of the lawn, where Dave took it upon him self to buy a Monster (an energy drink) and vodka. Get it? I said Monster and vodka. Not funny? I know.

Frank’s Halloween obsession did not stop with the lawn but moved into the garage, where a creepy fortuneteller was accompanied by an Elvira-looking brunette, wearing skin-tight black leather.

Dave offered the mannequin some of his drink and finally found himself a date for his blowout Halloween bash at his home in Jupiter. So far, the guest list includes, Dave, the mannequin and a homeless man he paid to come. Was that insulting to homeless people?

Finally, near the west entrance of the garage is a doghouse with the name Satan on top. Inside sits a cut, deranged looking dog-thing with sharp teeth and blood dripping from its mouth.

What did I do? I love puppies. I knelt down to pet the little fella.

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

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Leila B. Alson, co-author with Douglas Kalajian of the new book “Say It Again!” a guide to keep smart people from sounding dumb
The book, published in August 2009, can be bought for $12.95 at Amazon.com
The book says, “If you make a mistake, you’ll be the last one to know.”
Age – Never tell
Activities – Works out five days a week
Loves the theater, art and opera
She teaches the Alson Power Speaking method to her clients - www.alsonpowerspeaking.com
Born – In New York but spent more time in Philadelphia
Lives now – Boynton Beach
She coaches executives, attorneys, senior leaders and even Miami Dolphins on speaking.
She has taught at such schools as the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and the University of the City of New York.

How did you get into this line of work?

“In college, I wanted to be a journalist and I was looking for a minor. I took a speech class and said this is what I love.”

What is your favorite aspect of what you do?

“I love looking at people and seeing what they are capable of doing. People usually see their own faults but I see their strengths. The faults we can easily fix.”

What is your book about?

“Clients would come in to see me saying the wrong words. I had a client who had a perfect score on his PhD but nothing was ever good enough because his pronunciation was not correct. I got him to say subsidiary and he said, 'Is that all I have to do?' I developed a way to help with pronunciation and got together with Doug in 2004. David Blasco came in and took care of the details.”

How was it working with Doug?

“It was a pleasure working with him. We think alike. We are both verbal, one oral and one written.”

Any future books from you two?

“I would love to make a bigger, fuller speech book with a subsection for people who speak Spanish as a first language. I’d also like parts of the book to focus on grammatical errors, how to prepare for a presentation and how to make the listener give you what you want.”

Any tips on how to read the new book?

“Definitely start from the beginning. The rest of the book won’t make sense if you don’t.”

Is there anything else you would like to add?

“I used to write for a law journal. I was talking to a judge one day and he told me about a case where a juror was put to sleep by a lawyer. It is my job to help these professionals keep that juror awake in the future.”

Say It Again! is available on order from any bookseller, Amazon.com, direct from the publisher at www.sayitagain.org or by calling 800-882-9098.

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

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Instead of buying canned corn and produce from the supermarket, residents will soon get an opportunity to pick fresh fruits and vegetables right from the ground and bring them home.

Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market broke ground last month on a 9,800-square-foot, barn-style building located at 12033 State Road 7 in Boynton Beach, three miles north of Atlantic Avenue.

Owner Steve Bedner is a fourth-generation farmer whose goal is to bring something new to the area by being the only place where residents can pick their own produce straight from the farm into their hands.

“Our saying is from the farm to the fork,” he said.

The new market is set for completion in January and will house a retail store dedicated to offering fresh locally grown produce direct to the community.

Jim Forinella, a Boynton Beach resident, said fresh produce has been just what he was looking for and that he didn’t want to buy lettuce and carrots that could be days old from his regular store.

“My wife and I just had a baby girl earlier this year,” he said. “It makes you think about what you put in your mouth and what we will put in hers.”

In addition to the retail space, there are plans for a large field behind the market where customers, tour groups and field trips can pick strawberries and tomatoes. That field is set to open in December, before the building.

“We really just want to educate the community on were their produce comes from instead of just getting it from a local chain store,” he said.

Bedner said with prices, it is too far out to predict but that they will be reasonable to other markets that sell similar items.

“There is just no where else that you can pick your own items right off the farm and buy them,” Bedner said.

Read more about this story in the Oct. 28 issue of the Boynton Forum.

For information, visit www.bedners.com.

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

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The Women of Note, a Boynton Beach-based chorus, is trying to reach a younger audience by promoting a scholarship competition for high school women in the area.

The first 20 who apply will audition Nov. 14 with two songs of any style. After the audition, five finalists will be chosen, said Shoshana Davidowitz, a chorus member and show chairwoman.

“This is kind of an 'American Idol' thing,” she said. “Then the five finalists will perform Dec. 12 to be chosen by an audience at our annual show.”

The Women of Note are set to have their annual show, “In the Spotlight: Rising Stars”, at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Eissey Campus Theatre, 3160 PGA Blvd., where the five high school applicants will try to win the crowd’s vote.

“This is our first time doing this, so we want to grow the awards in the future through sponsors and donations,” Davidowitz said.

She said as of now, the winner will get $500, with $400 for second place, $300 for third and $100 for fourth and fifth. Finalists of the Rising Star Vocal Scholarship Competition will be announced one month before the show.

She said the idea behind the competition is to help some area women with college and gain younger interest in the type of music the chorus performs.

Applications and additional competition information can be found at www.womenofnote.com. Applications must be postmarked by October 30, 2009.

This is the group’s first Rising Star Vocal Scholarship Competition and Davidowitz said the group would like to make this an annual event to grow membership and audience participation.

Holly St. John, one of the founding members of the chorus and artistic director, said in this economy, parents are calling the chorus to thank the group for scholarship opportunities.

“We have several that have applied already,” she said. “We know that music programs are getting cut in local schools. We want to recognize local young women and help them pursue music in college and in their careers.”

She said corporate sponsors might be the key to increasing the amount of the scholarship in the future.

Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door and $10 for Students. To buy tickets, call the Eissey Campus Theatre box office at 561-207-5900.

For additional information about the Women of Note, visit womenofnote.com or call 877-966-7464.

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

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The road will be long and the process is a little foggy right now but it seems that the implementation of a new, independent Boynton Beach CRA Board has begun.

The item was placed on the agenda for the Oct. 6 commission meeting at the request of Commissioner
 Jose Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said the need for an independent board mainly came from the goal of engaging the community in the CRA.

“The CRA is the Community Redevelopment Agency. That is what they do, community redevelopment,” he said. “The more we engage the citizens, the more this adds to the whole of the community.”

The City Commission, consisting of five members, has been also serving as the CRA Board for the past two years. Rodriguez alluded to the possibility of getting local citizens involved in the new board, hence connecting further with the community.

Lisa Bright, CRA executive director, said Rodriguez had a desire to put an independent board into place at the Oct. 6 meeting but was unable to since the board is not an advisory board but a separate legal entity.

This separate entity leaves the Commission and the CRA with a long journey ahead of them to implement a five- or seven-member CRA Board.

Vice Mayor Woodrow Hay suggested the idea of creating a committee to come up with and devise a new application for board members.

The CRA Board had been independent of the Commission until 2007, when it was disbanded. The original independent board was formed in 2000.

“So after nine years, we are back at square one,” Bright said.

The committee to create the new application will consist of Bright, City Manager Kurt Bressner and three others.

Read more about this story in the Oct. 21 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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

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Deborah Sargeant, Bethesda Memorial Hospital Executive Committee member and co-chairwoman of the 10th annual Women of Grace Luncheon.
The luncheon honors individuals who have contributed volunteer service to local organizations and is set for Oct. 29.
Age – 51
Born – Florida
Lives now – Gulf Stream
Activities – Running
Heroes – Father, Baylis
Has an 11-year-old son, Garrett
Favorite aspect of the hospital – “Sharing this asset we have here.”
Has had friends that have used the ER
Has been on the executive committee for two years

How did you start volunteering here at Bethesda?

“I was asked to be on the board a couple years ago, then the executive committee. I just wanted to be involved and be an information gatherer for the community.”

What are your duties with he committee?

“They are different for different stages. I used to handle sponsorships and now I spread the word about this great hospital.”

Why is your volunteer work here at Bethesda important to its growth?

“We have a new demographic moving into Boynton that can pay for health care and I want to see the hospital grow with their needs.”

Read more about this story in the Oct. 21 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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A famous treat is heading to Boynton Beach.

Since opening in New York in 1987, some television appearances have made Tasti D-Lite a famous, healthy frozen desert. Tasti D-Lite has appeared in episodes of HBO’s “Sex and the City” and “The Apprentice.”

The company has plans for expansion into Florida, with eight stores opening in Palm Beach County by 2013.

One of the first steps of the Palm Beach County expansion is taking place in Boynton Beach in December.

The store is set to be located at 1050 Gateway Blvd., and will be open seven days a week, with hours yet to be determined.

Store owner Robyn Vescovi has been a resident of Boynton Beach for the past eight years and a Tasti D-Lite customer longer than that.

“I have been a customer for 20 years,” she said. “Sometimes three times a day.”

Vescovi will also own the Delray Beach and Boca Raton stores. She had worked in financial services in the past, which took her to New York City often for business.

“I had been looking at entrepreneurial opportunities for a while now, and figured why not open a store with a great product that is also good for people,” she said.

Tasti D-Lite has more than 100 flavors with most flavors having 80 calories or less, 1.5 grams of fat and 14 grams of carbohydrates. The most popular flavors are Chocolate, Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Oreos ’n Cream and Cake Batter.

Vescovi said the prices also have not been set yet, but would be consistent with other natural, healthy frozen products similar to Tasti D-Lite.

Tasti D-Lite’s CEO Jim Amos said the product is not ice cream because it is lower in butterfat, while also not being yogurt because it doesn’t contain any yogurt bacteria.

He also said with obesity on the rise, it is important to offer a desert that is healthy, while still being good to the taste.

In late 2008, Tasti D-Lite introduced a new line of cakes and pies. The cake and pie flavors reflect some of Tasti D-Lite’s top sellers including Oreos ’n Cream and Peanut Buddy.

Joseph Winke, a regular customer of the 821 Lincoln Road Tasti D-Lite in Miami, said on his lunch breaks from work, he can’t get enough of his favorite treat.

“It is sometimes just that little break at lunch with my favorite desert that gets me through the long work day,” he said.

For information, visit www.tastidlite.com.

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

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Rebekah Lee, a Boynton Beach resident, who first started to experience kidney problems in 2004 and about a year and half ago, was told she would have to get a transplant.

“In 2004, I got back from a trip and had hypertension and high blood pressure, and decided to go to the doctor,” Lee said. “Five years later, I had the transplant on April 30.”

Lee said one of the things she wishes she would have done before the surgery was attend support groups to learn more about the process.

“I guess, I really didn’t accept it,” she said.

Lee, a member of the Kidney Association of South Florida located in Lake Worth, was lucky to have her brother Raymond step up and offer his kidney. He was a perfect match.

Lee said the surgery she had at Tampa General went smoothly and the only complication was a simple blood transfusion, which is normal.

Now after the surgery that Lee said changed her life, she has a new goal of raising awareness among all kidney patients about the importance of educating themselves about the transplantation process.

Her goal will be further advanced when the Kidney Association of South Florida has an informational event on the basics of kidney transplants Oct. 18 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd.

The event is titled “Nuts and Bolts of Kidney Transplantation,” which is self explanatory, and the event will have presentations from doctors at the Florida Hospital Transplant Center in Orlando. The presentations will give guests an expert view into transplants.

The event will cover the financial issues associated with kidney transplants, how to get on a transplant list for a kidney and an explanation of the actual surgery.

Like Lee, the Association’s main objective is to educate the community about the transplantation process.

Jess Arceneaux, spokesman for the association, said the group started in May 2008, after a national group decided it could not support local groups anymore.

“We decided what the heck and formed our own group to sponsor local events,” he said. “We just want to get the word out about various types of treatments and how kidney failure affects patients.”

For information about the event, call 561-575-1593.

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

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Local residents dealing with chronic wounds received a boost of confidence in early October when a Boca Raton company made a donation to a local nonprofit hospital to help advance the treatment of these wounds.

The partnership between Bethesda Memorial Hospital, 2815 S. Seacrest Blvd., and the Boca-based National Healing Corporation started more than 13 years ago in 1996, when the two organizations started a wound-healing center for chronic wounds.

To further strengthen the partnership, NHC donated $50,000 to the Bethesda Hospital Foundation’s corporate partnership program.

Kristin Calder, Bethesda Memorial spokeswoman, said the $50,000 contribution supports new technology and new equipment for the hospital.

She said it would also go to the addition and expansion of services and facility improvements in the Hospital’s Centers of Excellence including the Bethesda Heart Institute, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine, the Driskill Endovascular Center and the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Program.

Calder said a wound that is slow to heal is most likely because of an underlying health problem. Bethesda seeks out the cause of the wound and works with the patient to develop a treatment plan to stop future wounds.

Kay Harvey, executive director of Bethesda’s Foundation, said now more than ever in the struggling economy, donations are critical to maintain a certain level of standards that patients at the hospital have become accustomed to.

“National Healing was a founding member of our corporate partnership program six years ago,” Harvey said “Their continued support distinguishes them as a civic-minded corporate leader who has made a commitment to the growth and stability of our community hospital. “

As for NHC, the company accounts for 30 percent of all managed and outsourced wound centers in the nation.

Bethesda’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Program sees more than 1,600 patients a year for wound care and an additional 125 patients for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

NHC CEO James Patrick said with Bethesda being the company’s flagship and first hospital, it was more than happy to make the donation.

Patrick said NHC has programs in more than 150 hospitals in 32 states.

“Supporting this hospital was very important since it takes care of its community,” he said. “Nonprofit hospitals are still the key to healthcare in America.”

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

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Franklin Dewitt Ireland Sr., recreation supervisor at the Sims Center in Boynton Beach, and writer and singer
Age – 40
Born – Boynton Beach
Still lives in Boynton Beach
Activities – Songwriting, basketball
Heroes – mother, Irene
Children – Eryn and Franklin Jr.
A graduate of Stetson University in 1992 with a bachelor's in Sports Administration
Published works include:
"Through Darkness I Found"
"Cool-Aid Anyone?", along with Donnell Sampson
"It’s Jake" (a children's book)
"My Son: A New Beginning"
"Exposed by the Light"

What does your job at the Sims Center entail?

“I oversee and organize new activities for the kids.”

What is your favorite aspect of what you do?

“Just interacting with the kids. I love seeing the kids smile.”

How did you get into writing?

“My mom inspired me. She used to hide books in the bathroom to read, so I started to do the same.”

How would you compare your writing to your job at the Sims Center?

“I love anything where I get to create. Whether it is art or programs, I like seeing stuff in my mind develop and come to reality.”

What do you have in the works next?

“I have a concept called “readercise,” where you do it three times a week. It strengthens the body and the mind by incorporating exercise with reading.”

What’s in your future?

“Movies. I see myself either writing movies or being in them or writing the music.”

What music do you have in the works?

“I just released a 3-song EP “Love You Slow” on ITunes.”

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After a year and a half of construction, the Boynton Beach Fire Station No. 5 will have its grand opening Oct. 10 with a few added touches of class.

The new fires station and emergency operation center will stand at
 2080 High Ridge Road, by Gateway Boulevard and Interstate 95.


Dana Donaty Designs in Delray Beach created an acrylics on canvas custom installation of
 four firefighting vehicles from 80 years of history for the main lobby of the new station. Dana Donaty said the mural was 4 feet by 19 feet and was titled “Big Red.”

Donaty said the mural only took one day to install and that the landscape background of the piece is from a historical 1930 Boynton Beach photograph of Federal Highway.

Donaty said there are replicas for sale at www.DanaDonaty.com or by calling 561-504-3374.

“They decided that they needed another art component at the station, so they saw samples of my past work and like them,” she said.

Donaty is known for her work in downtown Delray Beach, especially a large mural on the outside wall of an old camera shop.

“They saw my body of work and decided on me,” she said. “I’m going to say from start to finish it took two months but I had other projects I was working on in between.”

Steve Lewis, spokesman for the Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, said the operations center aspect of the building is a gigantic step into the future for the city.

“We received a $1.7 million Hazard Mitigation grant to harden the building to category 5 status,” he said. “This is the first building in Boynton to have this rating.”

Lewis said that if something were to happen to City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd., with the flip of a switch, dispatch functions would not miss a beat. In addition, there are backup ITS servers in the new building to also backup City Hall.

The 42,000 square-foot building took about a year and a half to finish at a total cost of almost $9 million.

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

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After more than 15 years without a driver’s education program, Santaluces High School,
 6880 Lawrence Road, will have a state-of-the-art class thanks to the donations of the Dori Slosberg Foundation. 


The organization, which brings in $12 million to $14 million each year, has helped schools in more than 60 counties in Florida bring driver’s programs to their students.

The foundation donated 40 remote controls for the Road Wise Digital Classroom for students to use during the class. The percentage of students getting questions correct will help instructors to know when it is time to move onto the next section.

Former Florida Rep. Irv Slocberg started the foundation after he lost his daughter, Dori, to a fatal car accident in 1996 because she did not have her seatbelt on at the time.

With the new addition of the program at the Lantana high school, more than 120 students have signed up to take the class.

For information, contact Tara Kirschner, executive director of the Dori Solsberg Foundation, at 561-488-7900.

Read more about this story in the Oct. 14 issue of the Boynton Forum.

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As event writers, we experience and cover fundraising events all the time. We write about how important each event is but most times our opinions never really ring true or seem all that genuine.

But as a son whose mother is battling breast cancer, the Think Pink Rocks concert funding the same disease that struck the woman who raised me, really hit home.

I actually mean it hit home literally because I grew up in South Florida and the concert took place in Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

Aside from the fact that hip-hop giant Akon took the time out to headline the event, I was shocked to see how cancer had affected all these celebrities.

You see, breast cancer does not read US Weekly, and does not care if J-Lo is dating Justin Timberlake. It will strike anyone at any time, which proves once again that we are all just human under the unrelenting thumb of disease.

The highlight of my night had to be the late addition of Trina to the pink carpet, which was like the red carpet washed with a little bleach to signify breast cancer awareness. I was shocked to hear her mother’s sister lost her life to cancer. So for her, this was an extra special event.

As Trina exited the pink carpet, I shouted out a question you all wanted me to ask. “Are you still 'Da Baddest Bitch'?” (Her hip-hip moniker).

She simply winked at me. I think that is an adamant yes.

I also got a few seconds with Steve Rifkind, the CEO of SRC/Universal Records who also said cancer affected his family intimately. Believe it or not, it was his father that had breast cancer. By the way, I think I impressed him so much that my album, “Don’t Say I Look Like Ross From ‘Friends’ (David Schwimmer)” drops next month.

The event just left everyone involved with a positive outlook on life and reminded us of the innate human drive to fight any adversary that comes our way, even cancer.

Our generation gets caught up in worthless drama involving Jon and Kate, their 20 children and his 30 affairs, but sometimes, just sometimes we can come together for events that have real meaning and show our true capacity for greatness as human beings and friends.

It was also nice to see Stephanie Robin, a Boca Raton mother also battling the disease, enjoy herself and let go for one night without worrying about therapy or radiation.

As did I, she got lost in the moment and all pain that comes with cancer dissipated if not for just one night.

Think Pink Rocks was an event I won’t soon forget and with the funds raised, hopefully those the event helped won’t soon forget it either.

***** Five stars out of five.

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Residents in Boynton Beach can throw a few more items into their blue and yellow bins for the Solid Waste Authority to pick up.

In addition to the items residents are already placing in their recycle bins, a few items were added recently.

Linda Moreno, commercial recycling specialist with the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority, told the Boynton Beach unit they could accept more recycling because the county had built a bigger recycling facility.

Now, blue bins can have steel cans, and yellow bins can have beverage cartons, tissue boxes, dry food boxes, mail and office paper.

Even with the additions, the Solid Waste Authority still does not recycle plastic grocery bags or Styrofoam from either of the recycling containers.

For information, or to have a question answered, call the Public Works office at 561-742-6200.

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

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Howard Goldman, a doctor and partner with Boca Eye Associates
Goldman swam a course around the entire island of Key West, a 12.5-mile distance in June to raise money for the Vision Program at the Caridad Center in Boynton Beach
Age – 62
Heroes – Abe Lincoln
Activities – Swimming, playing golf
Born – Ohio
Lives now – Delray Beach
Has been a doctor for 32 years
Finished the Key West swim in just less than nine hours
The Caridad Center provides free medical and dental care to low-income, working poor families living in Palm Beach County
Several doctors at Boca Eye Associates donate their time working with patients from the Caridad Center

In June, you swam 12.5 miles around Key West. How was that experience?

“It was a major challenge. I finished it at 8 hours, 55 minutes and was glad I did it. It was kind of fun but it took me a few days to recover. I was glad to raise funds for the Caridad Center.”

How did you get into your line of work?

“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor. Initially, I wanted to do head and neck surgery but in my second month of my internship, I started to work with ophthalmology. I decided this was really interesting stuff. The eye is fascinating.”

How did your practice start helping the Caridad Center?

“Howard Doyle, a former partner, retired and started volunteering there. He started sending patients over here that they couldn’t completely help there at the center.”

What is the best aspect of what you do?

“I love performing surgery. Being in the operating room and helping someone to eventually see.”

What does your future hold?

“I just want to do more of what I’m doing today. I’d also like to help out the Caridad more and help them raise more money. I’d also like to increase the number of surgeries we do for them.”

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