Boynton Forum

With every penny that much more crucial in today’s economy, residents are getting a chance to save a large chunk off their flood insurance.

According to the National Flood Insurance Program, the average flood insurance policy costs $540 a year. Frugal residents can save up to $75 off that by doing more than just what is required.

Through active community floodplain management activities, Boynton Beach has previously been able to drive down the cost of flood insurance for residents by 10 percent under the program’s Community Rating System.

Now, residents will save an additional 5 percent for a total of 15 following a five-year cycle visit by NFIP’s rating agency.

CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

City spokesman Wayne Segal said the program has a goal of letting residents know that flood insurance is not the same as property or part of it.

“It really depends on where you live, that is why it is important to call the city to find out,” he said.

He said by doing just a bit extra, residents are getting a discount to avoid spending the regular rate on flood insurance.

Kathleen Sweeney, the city's CRS coordinator, said that residents in special flood hazard areas are able to get the 15 percent discount and residents not in those areas can get 5 percent.

“Residents in an A-rated flood zone are high risk, and B and C are lower to moderate,” she said.

Sweeney said the city was previously an 8 rated, then 7 and is looking to make a 6 in the next six to eight months by spreading the information, helping residents get their elevation certificates and enacting a floodplain management plan.

Insurance premium rates are cut to reflect the reduced flood risk from community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: reduce flood losses; facilitate accurate insurance rating; and promote the awareness of flood insurance.

Boynton Beach is one of nearly 900 communities receiving flood insurance premium discounts.

Sarah Marie Dodd, a six-month resident, said she has no idea what type of zone she lives in.

“This is something I will have to check on ASAP,” she said. “Every penny counts and why should I be paying more if I live in a high risk area?”

For information on the National Flood Insurance Program, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

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

Martie Wrock would always ask her friend Tracey O’Neill’s husband Tom, “How’s it going?”

“He would always respond, ‘Living the dream!’” Wrock said.

And that simple saying spawned a new business venture aimed at inspiring women around the world, starting in Boynton Beach.

Wrock, a local businesswoman, wanted to join Tracey O’Neill in a business that would be fun, honor women and encourage them to live their dreams.

Wrock and O’Neill sell “Living the Dream…” shirts through their website for $24.99, with plans to expand to hats and coffee mugs. The shirts are black and come in short and long sleeve.

In fact, Wrock, who is a cancer survivor, said she is living the dream every day by just being alive.

She said she has always worked in advertising ventures with ad campaigns on coffee mugs and other items, so the shirts were not a big change.

“We are just going to see how they are accepted and take it from there,” Wrock said.

The site launched last summer at www.dreamzlive.com but the friendship between the two women began further back.

The two were working together at a tomato farm by Florida's Turnpike in 1977. O’Neill has since moved to Virginia but that hasn’t affected the new business.

“I moved for my husband’s work,” O’Neill said. “As for the saying, he has been saying that for as long as I can remember.”

O’Neill said she lives the dream with her husband, working in an elementary school and training the teachers on the computer network.

“The shirts are something maybe I can do full-time after retirement and I am so proud I did something like this on my own with Martie,” she said. “I am the technical person, she is the advertiser.”

As for Tom O’Neill, he said he thinks the fact that his phrased is being used on the shirts is extremely funny.

For information, visit www.dreamzlive.com or call 561-732-2940.

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

Phyllis Koch, city of Boynton Beach Information Technology Director

She has been named a 2010 Premier 100 IT Leader by Computerworld Magazine.

She was among the 100 award leaders from around the country selected from both the technology and business sides of companies and organizations for their exceptional technology leadership, innovative ideas to business challenges and effectively managed IT strategies.

Age 60
She likes to take photos of wildlife.
She has worked in Boynton Beach for 18 months.

Under Koch’s leadership, the city’s IT department has focused on innovative ways to serve the community and at the same time decrease operating and capital costs and become more green.
The Premier 100 was first created in 2000 to spotlight individuals who have had a positive impact on their organization through technology. Boynton Beach is one of only two cities in Florida to receive the Premier 100 recognition. The other is Altamonte Springs.

How did you get into this line of work?

“I taught science for a while and went back and got my MBA with a concentration in IT. Then things moved on from there.”

What is the favorite aspect of what you do?

“I translate. I match up the city’s departments with what the public needs, with tech solutions. I understand the public and interpret their needs.”

What was the process of getting into the “Premier 100?”

“I got an e-mail that I was nominated and then they invited me to send back a bunch of questions. Then I found out I was in the 100.”

Any initiative you want the city to enact?

“We are working with the county on getting us in on the high-speed networks used in the schools, which would be another way for us to use the Internet.”

What’s in your future?

“I like to travel and take pictures. I also want to stay here and help the city.”

Where is Boynton heading in the near future?

“We, like everyone else, are trying to ride through the economic downturn without canceling services. We need to do more with less.”

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is continuing to make an effort to bring free entertainment to local residents in what is at best an uncertain economic situation in South Florida.

Ocean Avenue Concerts, previously known as the Oceanfront Concert Series,
has a new venue on East Ocean Avenue with free concerts beginning Jan. 15.

Kathy Biscuiti, CRA special events director, said the move was to put the concerts in the CRA District.

“Oceanfront Park is not in our district and CRA funds can’t be used in places outside our area,” she said. “The CRA Board wanted us to move the events into our district.”

The move also avoids the need for a shuttle to the concerts, which was necessary before at Oceanfront Park.

Local musical groups perform the third Friday of every month through May, from 6 to 9 p.m., offering a selection from oldies, rhythm & blues, calypso, reggae and even country music.

Biscuiti said free entertainment is more important now than ever, helping to take residents’ minds off of the financial crisis.

“Also we have seen younger families attend our events and there are two playgrounds nearby the new venue that should make their children happy,” she said.

The site for the concerts is the Ocean Avenue Amphitheatre at 129 E. Ocean Ave, next to the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum.

The first concert Jan. 15 will feature the Bulldog Rock 'n’ Roll Band. Food and drinks will be available for purchase and folding chairs are recommended to be brought by residents.

Future dates include Feb. 19, March 19, April 16 and May 21. Biscuiti said the February band is Wildfire, a reggae band. The Sundown Country Band and Cricklewood follow in March and April.

Lisa Bright, executive director of the CRA, said the consistency of the concerts and the turnouts from the community is the key.

“It creates a cultural venue with the focus on music,” she said. “Our goal is to keep it consistent.”

As for Bulldog Rock 'n’ Roll Band, drummer Carl Colaizzi said fans should expect a party that will be rocking all night.

“We have been together for 22 years and will bring '60s and '70s rock, with a four-part harmony and three horns,” he said.

The eight-person band also has a CIO and lawyer as part of the group.

“We all have our separate lives and different jobs,” he said. “We just got done performing for 3,000 people in West Palm for New Year’s Eve.”

For information, call 561-742-6246.

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

The Lakes Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee is set to present a series hosted by Randolph Del Lago, featuring readings and performances.

The first of the three-part series will be 2 p.m. Jan. 12 at Temple Anshei Shalom, 7099 W Atlantic Ave.

The first event is "George S. Kaufman, Dean of American Comedy". Kaufman was a popuar talent in the history of American theater. He partnered with Edna Ferber, Moss Hart, George and Ira Gershwin, and Cole Porter. The event will celebrate what Kaufman achieved.

Single performance tickets are $16 for Brandeis members and $18 for guests.

For information, call 561-375-7950 or 561-357-1383.

Local businesses will have a chance to be illuminated in a dark economic time through a new web application from the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.

It is now easy for residents, tourists and businesses to find what they are looking for on the CRA’s new interactive Downtown Business Map at www.boyntonbeachcra.com/map.

Margee Walsh, marketing director for the CRA, said the application is user-friendly and can be picked up in seconds.

“It was launched in September after about five months of planning,” she said.

Once on the homepage, click on “Downtown Businesses…where the locals go!” at the top right hand corner to connect with the Downtown Business Map application.

The map allows users to search for businesses within the CRA district by selecting one of five color-coded zones (Ocean Avenue, North Federal Highway, South Federal Highway, West Boynton Beach Boulevard or East Boynton Beach Boulevard) or by clicking on the type of service and exploring 27 categories.

Lisa Bright, executive director of the CRA, said 65 out of the 400 businesses in the area have picked up the application and made videos answering basic questions about the business that can be seen on the site.

“Everyone Googles everything, so we figured why not get involved and offer a free service to the businesses to promote them?” Bright said.

In the informational video clips, Walsh asked the business owner the location, address and what items the business has to offer residents.

“When the Chamber [of Commerce] decided to move west in 2006, we said we would support the businesses in the downtown,” Bright said.

More than 400 local businesses in the CRA’s 1,650-acre district are listed, along with information such as address, phone number, website and description of services.

Customers can read online reviews, watch business-specific videos and find the quickest route to the establishment through a link to Google maps.

CRA Executive Director Lisa Bright said she expects the new tool to become a fan favorite when searching for local hot spots. She even said the map is fun to use when looking for businesses.

Robert Finley, owner of Gentleman’s Choice Barbershop in Boynton Beach, said he participated in the video for the new CRA map and thinks the process went as smooth as can be expected.

“The advertising is great,” he said. “I haven’t seen the video yet but of course hope it will help.”

For information on the CRA or its programs, call 561-737-3256 or visit www.boyntonbeachcra.com.

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

In a stagnant economy, where money for field trips is hard to come by, the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum & Learning Center has started a new program to get students an out-of-the-class experience without leaving the school.

The new outreach program that will run throughout the school year from the museum at 129 E Ocean Ave. brings history from the museum’s site to the actual classrooms.

Kelsey Harris, director of operations at the museum, said with buses costing between $200 and $400 to rent for a single outing, many schools simply couldn’t afford the transportation to take their students out of the classroom.

She also said with FCAT preparation paramount, making time for field trips is difficult to justify.

With this in mind, the museum has decided to bring field-trip style lessons with hands-on experiences into the classrooms at a cheaper cost to the schools.

Mario Aguilar, the museum’s education director, said he would rather come to the schools rather than to see the students not have access to the artifacts and presentations a museum can offer.

For about $150 for a 60-minute or $175 for a 75-minute presentation filled with artifacts, a PowerPoint presentation and a video, Aguilar will come to teach an entire grade level about Florida Pioneer History.

Aguilar said students could see actually historic artifacts rather than just seeing a picture in a book. Pioneer life becomes real in the minds of students with family photographs from the 1890s.

He said this cost is a fraction of the price of a field trip that only suits one class at a time.

Aguilar said back in 2007, the funds for buses for field trips to cultural institutions like the museum were plentiful but have dried up in the past year.

“We have to do more outreach, even if I am serving an entire grade level at a time to save the school money,” he said.

With Sunshine State Standard lessons and benchmarks for grades K-5, The Schoolhouse is one of a few sites approved for field experiences by the Palm Beach County School Board.

Marisa Guida, program director for the museum, said that she had seen transportation become a problem over the past few years.

“Some students just can’t get here,” she said. “This was the year that it became apparent that we needed to do something.”

For information, call the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum at 561-742-6780.

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

Students often find subjects boring and become uninterested when lessons are absent of hands-on experiences to help engage them.

For the aftercare students at Freedom Shore Elementary School, 3400 Hypoluxo Road, they got to work outside the classroom while learning about sea life, which avoided those wan expressions students express when just learning from books.

Center for Creative Education artist Dave Tripp worked for more than two months with 40 fourth- and fifth-grade students to create an underwater-themed mural teeming with starfish, coral and other underwater creatures.

“It was an oceanography lesson,” Tripp said. “The students painted coral, seaweed and starfish, and learned about the different types of under-sea life.”

Tripp said the lesson also taught the students about how to properly prepare and paint a wall with two coats and the proper sizes of the fish.

Tripp wrapped up the project with the students Dec. 7, after starting Oct. 5.

The new mural is located on the top and bottom of the school’s stairwell, with a wave winding down connecting the two scenes.

“I really just pulled back and let the kids take the lead on this,” Tripp said. “I am just so proud of them and what they have done.”

Tripp said the hands-on experience worked and that the students were so excited about the project and couldn't wait for the next time to meet and work on the mural.

The Center for Creative Education began programming in schools more than 16 years ago, collaborating with teachers to reach students in the classroom with programs designed to help children learn subjects in new, creative ways.

Kim Sheehan, director of the after-school class that painted the mural, said the kids had a great time and got to work in teams for the first time.

“They usually work individually so this was a nice change to be working together on something to help them learn,” she said.

Sheehan said the mural was so successful that the school can’t wait to have Tripp back to paint an outside mural with the students.

Tatyana Stewart, 11 and a student at Freedom Shores, said she can’t wait for Tripp to come back either.

“My favorite part was painting and learning about all the different types of fish in the ocean,” she said.

Stewart said the experience of painting the mural has spawned a desire to learn more about the ocean and paint again.

The same can be said for Sabrina Ginsburg, 11, who is an after-school classmate of Stewart’s.

Ginsburg said learning out of a book did not compare to painting the mural, especially since she is a fan of the beach and the ocean.

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

Susan G Komen race participant Jackie Moynihan of Boynton Beach has been a Jazzercise student for 30 years.
As the Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure® begins each year, a group of Jazzercise instructors take to the stage to help participants warm up.
Age 81
Activities – Ballroom dancing
Heroes – Uncle Joseph Hoctor
Moynihan is a recent 2008 survivor of breast cancer.
She has lived in Boynton for eight years.
Husband – John
Born – Bronx
The 2010 Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure®, scheduled for Jan. 30 in West Palm Beach, raises funds for Komen: 75 percent of the proceeds stay in South Florida and 25 percent support breast cancer research nationally.
More than 22,000 people participated in the 2009 Race and raised nearly $1.7 million.

What was your reaction when you learned you had breast cancer?

“I said that it was not the result I wanted to hear but we are gonna get through it.”

How did the Komen Race help you get through it?

“Because of Komen, I knew I would make it through. You just meet other positive people who also have breast cancer.”

What is Jazzercise?

“It is aerobic exercise to dancing. It makes you feel good.”

How did Jazzercise become the warm-up for Komen?

“I don’t know. We just meet the walkers and talk to them before the race.”

What is the future outlook for breast cancer and research?

“I hope it’s heading to a cure. But we really need to teach prevention and stop this.”

What’s in your future?

“We are going skiing for three weeks in February. Then, we have a cruise in May.”

Like every other region in the country, people and organizations in Palm Beach County are scampering to do what they can to help mitigate the damages the natural disaster in Haiti has caused their people.

The money and supplies residents donate are needed now more than ever.

• The United Way of Palm Beach County in Boynton Beach has stepped up and is accepting monetary donations for the United Way Disaster Fund, which helps in times just like this.

Donations to the United Way Disaster Fund will help with food, water, clothing, shelter, medical and services for local Haitian families. The donations can be made by check or by credit card.

Residents may donate by sending checks made out to UWPBC/Haiti Relief Efforts to: 

United Way of Palm Beach County

2600 Quantum Blvd.
Boynton Beach, FL 33426-8627


Residents wishing to make a credit card donation can go online to www.unitedwaypbc.org. Click on the United Way Disaster Fund headline.

United Way of Palm Beach County is unable to accept collected goods or individual items. 

 



To donate, volunteer, or for information, call United Way of Palm Beach County at 561-375-6600.

• The School District is also trying to make a difference.

The District is partnering with Missionary Flights International, Red Cross and the United Way to help out in multiple ways.

Schools and departments can organize food drives and schedule drop-off to organizations that will be assisting directly in getting relief to Haiti, if an item donation is more to the liking of residents.

Items needed include granola bars, cereal, peanut butter, blankets, towels, washcloths, soap, toothpaste, shampoo and first aid kits.

Missionary Flights International has several drop-off locations, one at WRMB, Moody Radio at 
1511 W. Boynton Beach Blvd.


For information on that spot, call 561-737-6035 


Missionary Flights International, based in Ft. Pierce, flies mail and supplies to more than 600 missionary workers in Haiti.

Just like the United Way, residents can also write a check to either Missionary Flights International with the memo line indicating: Haiti Earthquake Relief. 


• In addition, for those wishing to contribute to the Red Cross on line, go to www.redcross-pbc.org and follow the instructions. 



• In an unconventional way, Toussaint L'Ouverture High School, 1325 Gateway Blvd., is trying to help. The school is opening its doors to
 the public for those who want to try and call family in Haiti. 



Joseph Bernadel, co-founder of the high school, said he is allowing
 Toussaint L'Ouverture to become a meeting place for the local Haitian community. The school caters to mostly
 Haitian students, whose parents still live in Haiti. 



The school will remain open until midnight every evening until the crisis is resolved. 
 Residents trying to reach family can also call the school at 561-738-9800.

With the economy and job market constantly on the minds of local residents, an escape is sometimes necessary.

The interest in craft brewing in the United States has been on the rise, spawning Bon Beer Voyage, a new specialty tour company created for specialty beer lovers by a Boynton Beach husband and wife.

They have scheduled two tours this year for Florida and Belgium.

Ruth Berman, CEO of Bon Beer Voyage, said she and husband Mike Arra went on a tour this past summer and ended up running the entire tour as guests, so the business became a natural fit for them.

Berman and Arra have both been chiropractors at 901 N. Congress Ave. for 20 years, with Berman working in travel also for the past 12 years.

“Mike has always loved beer so that just rubbed off on me,” she said.

Arra, co-owner and chief beer officer of Bon Beer Voyage, is the creator of the blog The Beer Stocked Refrigerator at bonbeer.wordpress.com.

“It is just a blog about what beers I currently have in my house,” Arra said. “Right now, I have more than 250 types. There are reviews of beers, short and sweet, about if I like the beer or not.”

With Berman’s travel experience and Arra’s love for exotic beer, the new business just naturally came to fruition.

The first tour, a Tampa Beer Safari Weekend, is set for March 19 to 21 for $463 per person. The two nights include tastings at Cigar City, Saint Somewhere and Dunedin breweries.

There is also a private tour through Ybor City’s past, a visit to Tarpon Springs, two breakfasts, a beer-paired lunch and two beer-paired dinners to be hosted at Tampa Bay Brewery and Fleming’s Steak House. Transportation to and from Tampa is the responsibility of the participants.

Berman said the cabins are bigger than many other barges she has sailed on in the past and the chef will be preparing cuisine a la bière (meals cooked with beer) for the guests.

“A lot of people don’t know but Ybor was the location of the first brewery in Florida,” Berman said. “It is just a little bit of local culture tucked into beer.”

The second tour, called the Belgium Barge Beercation, is set for Oct. 23 to 30. Travelers will sail the canals of Belgium in a private barge.
The passengers will visit some of Belgium’s renowned breweries, including Westvleteren Trappist Abbey, where monks make the beer. Early booking price is $2,195 (based on double occupancy), which includes overnight accommodations, transportation to breweries, guided tours throughout the country, most meals and travel insurance. (Flights to and from Belgium are not included.)

“Belgium is my real passion,” Arra said. “There are just so many little pubs there that serve beer that you might not be able to get here.”

Arra said brewing is as much an art as wine making and that craft beer pairs well with, and often better with, food much like wine.

Growth of the craft beer industry rose by 9 percent in dollars in 2009. There are 1,525 craft breweries in the United States, the highest total in 100 years.

“I still love being a chiropractor,” Arra said. “But I just have a passion for good beer.”

For information, call 1-888-846-2337 or visit www.BonBeer.com.

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

Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute, 1717 Woolbright Road, has begun collecting any and all medical supplies and medications related to eye care to help with the Haitian earthquake crisis.

All items collected will be delivered to Toussaint L’Ouverture High School, 1325 Gateway Blvd., on a regular basis. The school has arranged for private planes to fly out supplies as often as possible.

Gwen Cohan, director of marketing for Florida Eye, said she has seen four drop offs to her location so far.

“We have gotten donations of everything from eye drops to gauze pads to small eye pads,” she said. “We have even gotten contact lenses for the rescue people who need them.”

Since the earthquake caused so much smoke and debris from the collapsed buildings that the victims as well as the rescue teams are in great need of anything that will bring relief to a variety of eye conditions.

Dr. Randy Katz said that debris from collapsed buildings and rescue efforts can cause myriad eye problems. He said that smoke from fires and destroyed buildings can also cause eye irritations, itchiness, burning and constant watering.

Cohan said one person dropped off three boxes of eye drops and another donated Blink Tears, a type of lubricating eye drop.

Cohan also said she has gotten e-mails from benefactors saying they are gathering items together to drop off to Florida Eye.

Items can be dropped off from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1717 Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach; 1397 State Road #7, Suite 380 in Wellington; and 9980 Central Park Blvd., Suite 204 in Boca Raton.

For information, call Gwen Cohan at 561-736-5050.

The managers at Holiday Inn Express, 480 W Boynton Beach Blvd., reached out to their Haitian employees with cash donations to send to their family members on the island.

Co-presidents Kirby D. Payne and Terry Bickhardt authorized hotel manager Carlos Adorno to pay out $200 each to four staff members last week.

“We have some of the Haitian employees that have been with us as long as 15 years, so we had to do something. One employee lost her cousin and nephew but still comes to work,” Adorno said. “We have so much respect for them.”

He also said in addition to the timely gift, the hotel would cover the cost of wiring the money to Haiti, whatever it takes to get the money there quickly.

Adorno said Holiday Inn Express owners made the decision within hours of hearing the news of the developing crisis in the impoverished country.

“It was an immediate decision that we had to step up and do to show our support,” he said.

Dr. Ralph Breslaw, chief of staff at Bethesda Memorial Hospital
Breslaw is also co-chairman of the 55th annual Bethesda Ball on Feb. 13
Age – 41
Wife – Kristy
Son – Jake
Activities – Running triathlons
Born and raised – Miami
He has been working at Bethesda for 10 years.

So why did you decide to be a doctor?

“It was all about science and I liked the challenge. I also wanted to be a general surgeon so I could fix problems for patients.”

What is your favorite aspect of what you do at the hospital?

“Solving problems and making people feel better. Medical people sometimes have to deal with chronic problems. I get to perform surgery and fix the problem.”

What is the annual Bethesda Ball on Feb. 13?

“It is a huge fundraiser for the hospital. Being a community hospital, the fund raising keeps it running up to the standards people are accustomed to.”

Any certain areas that funding goes toward?

“State-of-the-art equipment. It helps us practice in a top notch environment.”

Where do you see the future of Bethesda heading?

“The future is great! There is a plan for 2013 for the West Bethesda Hospital and we have brand new equipment with brand new operating rooms here.”

What do you see in your future?

“This is it. I want to get to practice here for another 15 years or so. That will probably be 20 or 30 years instead.”

Usually elementary school students are learning cursive writing or multiplication tables.

It is rare that children at such a delicate age get a chance or even have to deal with once-in-a-century natural disasters like the earthquake that struck Haiti and killed thousands.

It is even more rare that children at such a young age get to work with a multibillion- dollar corporation like Nike but for the students at Forest Park Elementary, 1201 SW Third St., both rare instances took place last week.

Students helped design shoes and apparel for NBA basketball stars under the Nike label to be worn in a professional basketball game at a later date.

The shoes will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to the Haitian relief effort. The name of the project by Nike is the "Help Haiti Project."

Nike Spokeswoman Megan Saalfeld said the project at Forest Park was spawned shortly after the Jan. 12 earthquake by Nike basketball shoe designer Eugene Rogers, whose sister Kim Rogers works at the school as a science coach.

“She [Kim] told him that 50 percent of the students there were Haitian Creole,” Saalfeld said. “One second he [Rogers] was sitting in a meeting and brought it up, next he was taken from office to office.”

Saalfeld said within seconds of Rogers bringing up the idea to do something with the school, Nike executives could not get out of their seat to help fast enough. Rogers was taken from office to office and asked how they could help in any way.

Maybe not as high as LeBron James or Kobe Bryant but Nike execs jumped at the opportunity to help the starving and injured people of Haiti.

“It was just great to watch the passion these kids had to create and help at the same time,” Saalfeld said.

She said one second it was just an inkling of an idea, the next a team of designers were in Florida meeting with the students in Boynton Beach.

Principal Sharon Brannon said the players who will wear the shoe designed by her students are not known at the time but that they will wear the special shoe in a future game and then auction off the shoes for Haiti.

“There was even a film crew here and they spent the entire day from breakfast to aftercare creating the design,” Brannon said.

Each student got a template of a shoe and even a shirt, where they drew their own designs of hope and empathy.

The shoe will be a collage of all the ideas and designs the students came up with Jan. 18. Phrases like “help is coming” and pictures of hands and hearts will cover the special shoe that will take center stage in a future NBA game. 



“They are thinking big,” Brannon said.

Other schools have followed Forest Park’s lead and stepped up to make a difference during this trying time:

• Odyssey Middle School is collecting supplies to donate at the end of the month. Canned food and water can be donated to the school from 9:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Michelle Gunnning, the school's media specialist, said the day after the magnitude 7 earthquake hit, the school was mobilizing and putting up fliers looking for canned food and other goods that could help.

“We’ve seen a lot of clothes come in,” she said. “We have garbage bags full so far.”

The school is located at 6161 W. Woolbright Road.

For information, call Odyssey Middle School at 561-752-1300.

• Freedom Shores Elementary, 3400 Hypoluxo Road, is getting into the act in multiple ways. First, proceeds from the school’s Crazy Hat Fridays during the month of January and until Feb. 12 will be donated to assist in the efforts of the Red Cross.

Debi Stewart, spokeswoman for the School District of Palm Beach County, said every Friday, Freedom Shores teachers, staff and students put change into a hat in order to have the privilege to wear a crazy hat.

“The kids are really excited about helping, they just care so much,” Stewart said.

Then, on Feb. 12, the fifth grade will sponsor a campout. The goal is to fill tents on campus with supplies so desperately needed by the Haitian people.

Needed supplies include first-aid goods such as Band Aids, bandages and antibiotic ointment. Also appreciated are dry goods such as rice, crackers and cookies. Canned goods that do not require cooking will be accepted.

“It is emotional for all of us, even just watching it on TV,” Stewart said.

For information, call Freedom Shores Elementary at 561-804-3100.

Local parents are looking for some funding to put a little drama back in high school because believe it or not, it is needed at Park Vista.

Sheryl Berkowitz is a parent and president of the boosters who has been fighting to keep the drama department alive at Park Vista High School for the past three years, when it was canceled.

Through petitioning and fundraising, she has clawed her way into getting select performances to take place at the 800-seat theater at the school, 7900 Jog Road.

“We spoke with LuAnne Daucanski, the vice principal and she just had so much faith in us,” Berkowitz said. “It has been a long fight.”

Last year, "The Curious Savage" was put on by the students and staff.

Berkowitz said through the sales of ads for the playbill, tickets and fundraising the boosters raised $10,000, which covered production costs and left $1,500 over to be saved.

“Our director Jacquie Hasko is very professional and well known in Boca Raton,” she said. “Our theater has stadium seating and is hardly being used.”

Vice Principal Daucanski said with the economy down, the school is fighting to keep programs like the drama department.

“For a lot of these students, it is their only outlet to express themselves,” she said. “Without drama, a lot of these students would drop out.”

The students are putting on Noel Coward’s "Blithe Spirit," which will be presented 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 18, and 7 p.m. on March 19 and 20.

The costs this year will probably be the same, about $10,000 and fundraising is not going as well as expected.

In the past, the students have put on numerous car washes and are having a rummage sale at the school from 7 to 11 a.m. Feb. 13.

In addition, the boosters are looking for some individual or group of individuals that would like to help fund the play.

“We would also like to get in touch with a large donor to maybe get their name on the building,” Berkowitz said. “Right now, it is just the Park Vista Theatre.”

Berkowitz’s daughter, Amanda, is part of the new production and will taking on the role of Ruth in "Blithe Spirit."

Amanda, 18, said she would not give up theater if there were no productions at Park Vista but is glad to have a performance that is close to home.

“The cast for the new play is amazing,” she said. “I hope we can live up to the expectations set from last year.”

Tickets for the March performances are $15 at the door and $10 bought in advance. Students can buy tickets for $5.

For information, call 561-662-2222 or visit parkvistadramaclub.com.

Steven Holzman, candidate for District 3 City Commissioner
The city election is March 9.
Age – 31
Profession – Attorney and owner of an international recruiting company
Activities – Spending time with family and friends; rooting for the Florida Gators
Wife – Andee
He has been in Boynton Beach for five years.
Graduate of the University of Florida Business School and Law School
Born - New Jersey
Heroes – President John F. Kennedy for his ability to unite the country in life and death
He played soccer at the University of Pittsburgh
He is running to take over seat left vacant by Jose Rodriguez, who is running for mayor.

Why did you choose to run for the District 3 seat?

“I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing while bad decisions were being made about our city’s future. I can't complain unless I'm willing to do something about it.”

Where is District 3?

“The west boundary is [Interstate 95], the north is Boynton Beach Boulevard and the south is the Boynton/Delray border. It runs east to the Intracoastal.”

What are your plans if elected?

“I will work hard to keep both city hall and the police department downtown. I stand for smart redevelopment and preservation in order to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown.”

How did you get into law?

“I always wanted to be a lawyer growing up. Even in college when I was studying finance, I knew I would go to law school.”

What is the best aspect of what you do?

“Since my main job is recruiting, I like getting people to where they want to be in life. Getting them the best situation for their career.”

Where do you think the city is heading?

“If we continue down this path, I fear for what will happen to the city. If I win, I will work with the new mayor and commissioners to get the city back on track.”

You met with Jose Rodriguez; how is he important to your campaign?

“Jose has been an excellent commissioner for the past three years; he was integral in my decision to run for his current District 3 seat. My hope is that, together, we will have the opportunity to help lead this city in a positive and effective manner.”

Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute, 1717 Woolbright Road, has been collecting all medical supplies and medications related to eye care in response to the Haitian crisis.

All items collected will be and have been delivered to Toussaint L’Ouverture High School, 1325 Gateway Blvd., on a regular basis.

Gwen Cohan, director of marketing for Florida Eye, said she has been dropping off supplies twice a week to the school since the earthquake struck the country.

Cohan said donations have included gauze pads, eye pads and even contact lenses.

Dr. Randy Katz, owner of the institute, said that debris and dust from collapsed buildings and rescue efforts can cause a number of eye problems.

As for the institute, Cohan said that the practice was founded in 1975 by Dr. Jonathan Chua and then bought by Katz and associates in 2004.

In addition to the main practice in Boynton, there are other offices in West Boca Raton, Wellington and Juno Beach.

“This Boynton office is our main one with the surgery center,” Cohan said.

Katz himself specializes in retinal reattachments that have happened due to trauma or disease. Katz and the other doctors also deal with cancer and other afflictions of the eye.

“It is amazing to me how he can fix someone’s blindness in 10 minutes,” Cohan said.

The institute has four full-time doctors with two more part-time. One of these full-time physicians is Jason Gorscak.

“I got into ophthalmology basically because I entered into medicine when my grandma was sick with cancer,” he said. “I went to Miami for school and saw these ladies with bad cataracts who were completely blind. After surgery, they could see again, so I was amazed.”

Gorscak said he specializes in certain types of cataract surgery but also handles the medical exams of patients.

Cohan said that Florida Eye has spearheaded some national clinical trials that are showing positive results for certain types of macular degeneration. She said that they have been and are taking on subjects for the trial, depending on criteria to be chosen.

Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on Saturday and Sunday.

For information, call 561-737-5500 or visit www.fleyedocs.com.

Items for Haiti can be dropped off at 1717 Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach, 1397 State Road #7; Suite 380 in Wellington; and 9980 Central Park Blvd., Suite 204 in Boca Raton.

With the mayoral election only weeks away, the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum is displaying the city’s past leaders while residents debate which candidate they want to run the city in the future.

The new exhibit, “90 Years of Leadership: Mayors of Boynton Beach,” opened Jan. 12 and honors past and present leaders of Boynton Beach.

The exhibit is open through May at the Community Archives Gallery in the museum, 129 E. Ocean Ave., where residents can see elected officials who served as mayor of Boynton Beach over the last nine decades.

Janet DeVries, museum archivist, said she did not come up with the new exhibit just because of the impending election.

“I realized that the first mayor was elected in 1920 and knew it was the 90th anniversary,” she said. “I wanted to do something special for the 90th year of Boynton government.”

Included in the exhibit are the past officials whom Woolbright Road, Knuth Road, Willard Way and Harmening Park were named after.

“To make it special for children, we sent out letters to past and present mayors and commissioners to get back photos and stories of when they were children,” DeVries said. “Those stories are the real gem of the exhibit.”

DeVries said children can also learn what style and dress was like for the city’s leaders through the old photos.

She said guests to the museum could also view the minutes from the first town council meetings in 1920 and check out original city ledgers, checkbooks, maps, dockets and other memorabilia.

“It shows that anyone can be a leader,” DeVries said.

One leader featured in the exhibit was C. Stanley Weaver, who was the mayor in 1956, and graduated from the high school that used to be where the museum stands.

“I’m proud of the museum; it is well run and successful,” Weaver said. “I graduated from the big school there in 1939. The museum is written up in several travel magazines as a place you have to visit if you are in the area.”

Weaver is a third-generation mayor, with his father M. A. Weaver and grandfather C. F. Knuth both serving before him.

“I contributed to the exhibit and am glad I had a little bit to do with it,” Weaver said.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

For information, call 561-742-6780 or go to www.schoolhousemuseum.org.

Pediatric patients in Bethesda Children’s Center received a visit from NFL players on Thursday. The NFL players, who were down for the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, handed out autographed footballs and posed for pictures with the children.

Jamal Lewis of the Cleveland Browns and former Miami Dolphin Mark Duper were among the players who came out.