Boynton Forum

Those who don't believe in the awe-inspiring power of music need look no further than the Barnes and Noble in PGA last week.

The Ozzy Osbourne book signing for “I Am Ozzy,” drew hundreds of fans from all over South Florida, with stories to rival even the best from the Prince of Darkness himself. His first book, with stories from his 40-year music career, debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times Nonfiction Chart.

The PGA stop, 11380 Legacy Avenue, from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 was part of the second leg of Ozzy’s book tour and fans of the English songwriter and reality TV star were not going to miss out.

When most teenagers at the age of 15 are vying to get a driver’s permit, Stuart resident Joshua Saldate wanted no part of that and instead asked his mother to take him to the bookstore for his birthday gift.

“We have been out here since 10 a.m.,” said Saldate, who first heard a Black Sabbath album at the age of 9. “My uncle Abel showed me the album and because of that, I picked up the guitar and have been playing for six years.”

In the eight hours waiting to get his book signed, Saldate witnessed a bomb scare and a man seizure.

“I also started a wave,” he said.

Fans also came from South Palm Beach County to get a look at Ozzy in person.

Boynton Beach resident Justin Palestine got an earful all week from his girlfriend Alexandra Davis.

“She wouldn’t shut up,” he said. “All week it was Ozzy this and Ozzy that. I took her today just to quiet her. Now she owes me one.”

Davis said Ozzy’s music is not what brought her to stand in line for hours to meet the rock legend.

“I loved his MTV show,” she said. “I watched 'The Osbournes' all the time went it was on TV. It was a train wreck and I loved every minute of it.”

After an introductory dance, some “Ozzy” chants from the crowd and the signing of almost a thousand books, Osbourne was off to Texas for his next stop.

But not without leaving his mark on South Florida.

“I read the book. What an interesting life the man leads,” said Kim Shoemaker, spokeswoman for Barnes and Noble. “The publicity sets the signing tour and we were just luck enough to get today.”

Bruce Lynn, co-chairman for Bethesda Day on March 15
The event takes place at Hunters Run and is put on by Hunters Run for Bethesda Memorial Hospital.
The proceeds from the day’s activities, including a golf tournament, go toward the hospital.
The event started in 2001.
Other chairpersons include Stan Walker and Marge Roberts.
Age – 76
Heroes – “I don’t think I have any. I grew up in a poor neighborhood.”
Activities – golf and fish
Born – Massachusetts
He has lived in Hunters Run for 14 years.
The event has raised almost $2.35 million in the past 10 years.
About 200 people come out each year.

How did Bethesda Day start?

“We had a couple of volunteers at the hospital that lived here and we decided it was time to raise money for the facility. The hospital is only five minutes from us.”

Why did you decide to become co-chairman?

“Unfortunately one of us passed away and I was the only guy who stood up to volunteered to do it. I have a soft spot for that hospital.”

What happens at the event?

“We have a major golf tourney and a 100-lap swimming event. There is also a tennis event. Each year, we raise between $250,000 and $300,000.”

What do you do for a living?

“I am retired for 12 years but I used to import footwear.”

Where does the money raised go?

“The first $1 million went to the rehab center. The second we raised went to the heart center. It goes to whatever they need.”

Why do this?

“We are five minutes from them. God forbid something happens to one of us, they are here in no time.”

What’s in your future?

“I want to continue to raise money for the hospital and want to see my seven grandchildren more often. Haha.”

Briny Breezes is steeped in rich artistic tradition as one of the last vestiges or traces of old Florida.

The trailer park along the ocean and south of Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach has about 100 retired artists, who either moved to Briny because of it art league or were so inspired after the move that they became artists.

A luminous sign of the artistic tradition is the annual Art Show and Sale set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 20 and 21, which is in its 58th year.

Another sign is that the Briny Breezes Art League actually has its own building, 5000 N. Ocean Blvd., dedicated to the group.

Marla Guzzardo, one of the organizers of the March event, said in addition to the artists getting to showcase their work, money raised by raffles goes toward supporting the league.

She said that in between the annual shows, retired artists and current artists that are brought in teach the league members in specialized classes that run year-round.

Guzzardo said the art from the 100 members includes acrylic, watercolor, oils and some other types of art with a twist.

One such unique artist is Karen Morris, who uses an artist knife to scrape the pallet and create her work.

“The texture is special and has thickness. That is what its all about,” Morris said. “The theme of the show is ‘Under the Big Top’ so I am working on a clown now.”

Morris moved to Briny in 2001 and admits that the Art League was one of the biggest draws to moving to the community.

The community began when Ward Miller came to Florida from Michigan in 1919 and built a dairy barn in addition to planting strawberry patches.

People were allowed to camp on grounds if they bought milk and strawberries. The place grew from there and became incorporated in 1958.

Judi Murray, a watercolorist, has been a snowbird for 14 years at Briny. She uses photos from her travels to create her work.

One piece she will be showing in the upcoming event is a landscape of France with a sunlit coastline and a hay wagon filled with flowers.

For a woman who has been involved with art all her life and even went to art school, Murray said Briny is a way to keep up with her passion.

Sleep is often overlooked as a crucial element of an individual’s health and well being. People are often too consumed with work and the gym to realize that without the proper sleep, all that hard work may be for naught.

David Brodner, a doctor and sleep medicine specialist in Boynton Beach, said unfortunately, the majority of sleep sufferers do not realize they have a problem, self-medicate or receive incomplete treatment.

In fact, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke said that 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic long-term sleep disorders each year.

To combat that fact, Brodner runs the Center for Sinus, Allergy and Sleep Wellness in Boynton, 10151 Enterprise Center Blvd., Suite 101, that also specializes in ear, nose and throat.

“That is how I got into sleep disorders,” he said. “As an ear, nose and throat doctor, I dealt with sleep surgeries and became more interested in it. Now, the bulk of my practice deals with sleep disorders.”

Brodner said since the practice of sleep disorders is so new, he is on the cutting edge of technology and that a new discovery comes out every month.

“There are breakthroughs every month because people still don’t know the real purpose of sleep,” he said.

Some new breakthroughs handled at his practice include using light radio waves to treat sleep apnea and new implants for snoring.

Cecilia Colindras joined the office in July as a medical assistant and said she has seen some major cases where patients desperately needed help.

The National Sleep Foundation's 2009 Sleep in America poll showed that as many as 1.9 million drivers have had a car crash or a near miss due to drowsiness.

Colindras said she had one patient crash his car into a parking garage wall because he fell asleep at the wheel.

“There was also a pilot who fell asleep while landing his plane,” she said. “It is so important to cure.”

To serve the 50 percent of adults affected by poor sleep, Dr. Brodner established a weekly Insomnia Clinic, where he formulates treatment plans tailored to the patient’s lifestyle, not just symptoms.

Brodner’s practice handles all ailments of the adult ears, nose and throat, such as snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, complaints of the nose and sinuses, voice and swallowing problems, and hearing and balance disorders.

For information, visit www.BrodnerMD.com or call 561 735-8750.

A symbiotic land swap might result in multifaceted benefits for both the city of Boynton Beach and its Community Redevelopment Agency.

City staff met with CRA staff last week regarding the Heart of Boynton property swap.

This March agenda item resulted in parcels of land near Sara Sims Park, 209 NW Ninth Court, controlled by the CRA being swapped for parcels along the MLK Corridor.

The city will take the land near the park including the old Sims Barber Shop on the south side and expand the park, said Lisa Bright, CRA executive director.

The city will also acquire other properties and one north of a nearby church.

As for the CRA, Bright said the redevelopment of the Heart of Boynton could finally begin with the pieces of land it has received from the city.

The plan is to build a two-story structure, about 2,000 square feet, with commercial space to enrich the Heart of Boynton area. A barbershop, coffee shop and law office were some of the business ideas that have been kicked around in this formation stage.

“The area is already zoned for commercial,” Bright said. “It will be incubation space for retail offices.”

In addition to the land acquired from the city, Bright said they also purchased the Jesus House of Worship, 414 NW 10th Ave., and Betsy Roberts Place in the area to further redevelop it.

The Heart of Boynton is along Seacrest Boulevard in the northern part of the city, south of Gateway Boulevard.

In the past few years, developers have been trying to revitalize the dilapidated area to no avail.

“Well, Auburn and Intown Partners both wanted too much density,” Bright said. “The Heart of Boynton Plan was created in 2001 and is hard to amend.”

Bright said that both development companies wanted a larger build ala City Place in West Palm Beach with greater density than the current market can handle. In fact, Bright thinks the market has naturally corrected things and the new build will fit the 2001 plan.

Michael Rumpf, the city's planning and zoning director, said the rounding off and expansion of the Sims Park might make it more visible from the street.

“It is kind of hidden behind parcels of land now,” he said. “I’m not sure but if it could go out to the road, it would be more visible.”

Rumpf also said a swap like this and resulting expansion would or would not be accepted by the public based on the potential cost to the residents.

Commissioner Jose Rodriguez said the land swap is a positive element for the growth and change in the city.

“I believe the swap will be good and facilitate clear ownerships of the east and west parcels of Seacrest,” he said. “This will make it much simpler to attract developers to the area and move projects forward.”

“These are a very randy bunch of seniors!” said Scott Benarde, spokesman for the JCC in Boynton Beach.

Benarde was speaking of the Lust for Life group at the JCC for 59 and older who have a zest for life and meet 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at the JCC Ross Branch, 8500 Jog Road.

“These seniors are not your usual seniors using a walker,” he said. “They have a lot of energy and talk about provocative topics. That is why it is ‘Lust’ for Life.”

The cost is $5 for nonmembers and free for members.

Stan Taffet runs the group that he said is not for seniors but people in their “second adulthood.”

“We talk about sex, dating, anything goes,” Taffet said. “We try to keep it funny and comical, and people leave feeling higher than when they came in.”

An example of a discussion, Taffet said, is what to do on a first date, including not talking too much about an ex and doing things to make a good first impression.

“You can say you were married and have three kids but that’s all,” he said. “I’ve had dates that talk constantly about their ex, I don’t want to hear that.”

Lenore Glickman, director of adult activities at the JCC, said the group has been going on for many years and brings in up to 70 to 80 people for meetings.

“They can have eight tables, each with a facilitator for the discussion,” she said. “It is people looking to meet other people. They do things together after like go to dinner.”

Taffet usually begins the meeting with a 30-minute discussion.

“I also urge women to be more aggressive and strike up a conversation wit the men,” Taffet said.

Benarde said the group also brings in guest speakers for the “non run of the mill” group.

“This is the definition of young at heart,” Benarde said.

For information, call 561-736-4751.

Sonia Torres of West Boynton
She was honored at the 20th anniversary Caridad Center Recognition Dinner for all volunteers.
Age - 72
Profession – Retired from being an executive assistant at AT&T
Born – New York
Live now – West Boynton
Working with the Caridad Center for 16 years as a volunteer
Husband – Luis
Started volunteering at Caridad as translator
Hobbies – Read and dance
Also likes to travel and visit her grandchildren in Virginia

What do you do at the Caridad now?

“My current position is with the events committee. I help them obtain auction items. There are a lot of other areas I help out.”

Why did you start volunteering at the Caridad?

“I believe in giving back to the community. My husband and I were looking for something we could do together.”

What was the feeling of being honored at the Recognition Dinner?

“It is not just us. It is for all the volunteers with the organization that have been there a certain time. It is a group of people, not just us.”

Why is Caridad important to the community?

“They really try to reach people in a desperate situation who need help. This also eliminates the need for these people to go to the emergency room. We save the hospitals thousands of dollars.”

What is in your future?

“I hope to continue volunteering. I also love to travel and take cruises. I also would like to visit my grandchildren in Virginia.”

Harvest Time Market, 4361 Hypoluxo Road, opened six weeks ago with the intention of feeding the masses with healthy, fresh fruits and veggies.

The market features a 3-acre hydroponics field and a 15-acre U-pick field, where customers can pick fresh strawberries, among other items and take them home.

“We had 800 to 900 people on Saturday and Sunday last week,” said Paul Okean, a managing partner. “We are excited to be open here, especially in this current economic climate.”

The market is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week and also offers fresh-squeezed juices.

“We also have a barbecue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Okean said. “We are in the process of making smoothies and shakes, as well.”

The barbecue offers visitors a slab of ribs for $15 and $5 for quail. There are also hamburgers and hotdogs.

Okean also said the market has fresh onions, peppers, squash and other local favorites. He also said the goal of the market is to provide the freshest local product possible.

“The organic section is limited but you have to have it,” he said.

The 100 percent organic area has citrus, peppers and tomatoes, which means the products are grown without pesticides in a more natural fashion.

Robert DuBois, another managing partner, said cutting out the middleman is what separates the market from others that might cost a bit more. He also said keeping things local might help sustain the local producers.

DuBois said Okean called him with the site west of Lantana after he had been formulating the idea for almost three years.

“It was a no-brainer to move forward,” he said. “We tried to get everything together as fast as possible. All the products we sell are grown onsite, that is what is unique.”

For information, call the Harvest Time Market at 561-641-6199.

This time last year, Gerda Klein was focused on starting the Boynton Beach Mental Health Initiative.

After a successful first year for Klein and her co-founder Lorraine Michaelis, the focus this year is to start the South County Mental Health Coalition and team up with other cities to focus on breaking the stigma of mental illness.

Klein lost her son, David, four years ago in April to suicide after he had been dealing with bipolar disorder all his life.

In the past year, Klein has helped to bring informational sessions to venues like the Hagen Ranch Branch County Library, the Boynton Beach City Library and in West Boynton at COWBRA meetings.

“The first year has been great,” Klein said. “With the COBWRA, they cover 88 communities and are an important group. That meeting was on teen issues and early signs of depressions in youth.”

Klein is all about helping parents to discover the signs of depression or bipolar disease early in their child’s development. She often wonders what could have happened to her son if he had been diagnosed early.

Klein said once Rita Thrasher of the Boca Promise Alliance for Youth saw that her Boynton project was clicking, she decided it was time to unite the cities through the South County Mental Health Coalition.

Thrasher said the idea behind the south county initiative is to gain information about how each other is doing and take the best from each city, including Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton.

“The time is now that the community should get info for all ages, even seniors on mental health,” Thrasher said.

She said mental health could correlate and be responsible for even the most serious issues including school dropout rates and overcrowding in jails.

As for the youth, one in eight adolescents may suffer from depression. Of all the teens struggling with mental and emotional behavior problems, 70 percent go without any sort of treatment, so the county initiative aims at treating teens with mental illness early and often to avoid the school dropouts Thrasher spoke about.

Klein said the first annual meeting of the new county group would be in May and then the group would meet quarterly to discuss how each city is working.

For information, call 561-866-1850.

Slainte Irish Pub might not have become a favorite watering hole for locals if not for St. Baldrick's Day. Actually, it probably wouldn’t exist.

Co-owners Francis Feeney and Clem McAuley met eight years ago through a mutual friend. Both were working with St. Baldrick’s and committed to the cause.

Five years later, Slainte opened as an avenue for St. Baldrick’s to expand into Boynton Beach.

After raising $200,000 for children’s cancer last year, Slainte, 1500 Gateway Blvd., in once again having its St. Baldrick’s Day event with professional head shaving and crowd-pleasing activities. McAuley said this is the third year Slainte has had the event.

“We will have six different bands and a 100-foot-by-40-foot Guinness tent,” McAuley said. “The bands include People Upstairs and Evil Monkeys.”

The event, set for 8 a.m. breakfast and head shaving from 3 to 8 p.m. March 17, will have people who collected money for children’s cancer research getting their heads buzzed. Last year, money was also collected on the spot through raffles and donation buckets passed around to guests.

Feeney said the pub was the third biggest in America last year and wants to raise more money for the worthy cause, upwards of $250,000.

Both owners know raising a quarter of a million is tough in the current economy but that cancer is an even tougher foe.

St. Baldrick’s began in 2000 and more than 106,000 volunteers have shaved their heads in 50 states and 24 countries. Last year alone, $16 million was raised through the organization.

The money raised goes to combat the fact that each year, 160,000 children around the world are diagnosed with cancer.

Feeney helped to bring St. Baldrick’s to Palm Beach County seven years ago.

One of Slainte’s top performers, Scott Wyler, has already raised more than $10,000 for the cause.

He is having his head shaved so that he can relate to the children who usually lose their hair during Chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

“It is one of the only times that I ask friends and family for support,” he said, explaining how he could raise the money so fast. “I was a little scared the first time I got my head shaved but if you know anyone going through this, you can’t help but feel empathy for them.”

Wyler said he thought the concept was unique and exciting when he first heard about St. Baldrick’s.

Wyler is part of the team of AVM Traders, a hedge fund in Boca Raton, who are in its ninth year of participating in St. Baldrick's. The team’s goal is $150,000 and has already raised more than $30,000.

“Not just any event can raise $200,000 in one day you know,” McAuley said.

For information, call 561-742-4190.

Before Diane Heavin and her husband Gary founded Curves, they donated their time to a local food bank in South Texas.

Curves was founded in 1995 to help women burn calories in a short, 30-minute workout. Heavin started a food drive two years later throughout the company.

Twelve years later, the annual Curves Food Drive spans almost 80 countries and 10,000 locations worldwide.

“In past years, we have gotten 12 million pounds of food from this drive,” Heavin said. “The neat thing is that the food stays in the local communities.”

The clubs are offering incentives to donate for existing members and others who might want to join.

Through March, Curves locations will collect non-perishable items and monetary donations for food banks in the local area.

In addition, Heavin said the Feinstein Foundation in Rhode Island would match up to $1 million donated to help alleviate hunger.

The goal, Heavin said is for the community to come together to help families in need.

Members who donate a bag of groceries or make a donation of $30 through March will receive a reusable Curves grocery freezer bag. Nonmembers who do the same through March 20 can join Curves for free and avoid the cost to join, which Heavin said averages $39.

Curves will also have a company-wide contest for the most food donations collected. Winners will receive one of several cash prizes to be donated to their local food bank.

An anecdote Heavin said represented Curves and its members was that she and her husband created 10,000 Haiti relief shirts a short while back.

“Within two days, those shirts were all gone at $10 apiece, so now we are up to 50,000 shirts,” she said. “That means $500,000 will go toward relief.

Local Curves locations have already seen their members and nonmembers reach into their pockets to help.

Jennifer Aracri, owner of Curves of Delray Beach located at 1316 N. Federal Highway, said the club has gotten close to 700 pounds of food and $280 in donations already in the second week of the drive.

“We also have prizes we are giving away like a two-night stay at the Hamilton House,” she said.

Aracri said this is her fourth year owning the Delray Curves and being a part of the drive.

“It goes directly to people who need the donated food to eat, especially those who didn’t expect the current economy,” she said.

The food collected will go to The Caring Kitchen, part of C.R.O.S. Ministries of Palm Beach County.

For information about the Delray Curves, call 561-279-7557.

Sylvia Welter, manager of the Curves in Boynton Beach, 4895 Windward Passage Drive, said the club has not weighed the food brought in yet but that the response from their members has been strong.

“The women here are always very generous,” she said. “We have seen non-perishable items come in like pasta, canned foods, peanut butter and stuff like that.”

Welter said once the food is collected and weighed, it would be donated to Oasis Compassion Agency in Greenacres, 4952 10th Ave. N.

For information about the Boynton location, call 561-364-2112.

PNC Bank is celebrating the opening of its new Old Boynton and Congress Green Branch® location at 500 N. Congress Ave. with a community event complete with free food, entertainment, games, a celebrity guest and prizes for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.

Branch Manager Mark Palm and the rest of the PNC Bank team will welcome area residents and host tours of this new Green Branch® location.

The grand opening celebration will feature a free money giveaway in which the first 100 people in line will receive an envelope that may include up to $100. One person will walk away with $100.

Meet Miami Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess, who will greet visitors and sign autographs from noon to 2 p.m. Other activities include: free food plus samples from Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Palermo’s Bakery; caricaturists, a clown and balloon artist, and an airbrush tattoo artist; a live DJ; a moon bounce; a free photo favor; the PNC Prize Wheel; and PNC’s mascot, Linky. In addition, participants may enter to win a Nintendo® Wii™ Prize Pack.

With March coming to an end, it is not too early to start planning for summer and parents need to decide how their children will spend this time off from school.

The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum and Learning Center, 129 E Ocean Ave., is having an Explorer’s Club Camp from June 14 through Aug. 6.

Carol Mahoney, spokeswoman for the museum, said the camp runs Monday through Friday with two time blocks.

The first time block is from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $125 a week and the other is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for $185 a week.

“We also do prorated rates for just one day not just weeks,” she said.

She also said if tuition is paid in full by May 28, 10 percent is taken off the total. This offer also applies to city of Boynton employees and museum members.

The camp features themed weeks taught by Mario Aguilar, the museum’s education director.

Some themes of the eight weeks include Surf’s Up, All Aboard, Rescue Me and a Go Green week.

“I am also working on getting the kids to ride the trolley, so they can have that experience,” Aguilar said.

Some planned trips include to the beach, a nature center and recycling plant.

For information, call 561-742-6780.

• In addition to the local museum, the Lore & Eric F. Ross JCC, 8500 Jog Road, has some planned camps for children in the area.

Camp Shalom, Shalom Jr. and Tikvah are running from June 14 to Aug. 6, said Adele Fine, assistant director of Camp Shalom Jr.

She said the ages for the junior camp are from 6 months through prekindergarten. The senior camp runs from kindergarten through sixth grade.

The camps runs from 7:30 a.m. through 6 p.m. but Fine said there are mixed times and days that parents can register.

She said the junior camp includes a swimming pool activity that teaches water safety and swimming readiness. The junior camp also includes art, science, nature and music.

The senior camp includes sports and the option for a shuttle bus to the circus camp up in Palm Beach Gardens. There are also specialties including tennis, cooking, music and martial arts.

Scott Benarde, spokesman for the JCC, said Tikvah, which means hope, is for children with special needs including autism and cerebral palsy. The Tikvah camp has a low staff-to-camper ratio to give needed attention. Sports, music therapy, cooking and nature are among the activities.

He also said all three camps can be found at the Boynton branch.

For information on all three camps, call the Lore & Eric F. Ross JCC at 561-259-3000 for Camp Shalom and 561-732-7620 for Camp Shalom Jr., or visit www.campshalom.org.

Janice Phillips, Supervisor, Civic Center
Age 57
She was born in Sampson County N.C.
She lives in Lake Worth.
She likes reading, traveling and spending time with family.
Kenna was named after the title character.

What do you do at the Civic Center now?

“As supervisor of the Civic Center, I am responsible for the daily operation of the facility. I create, plan and implement year round programs offered to people of all ages and abilities.”

Why did you start working there?

“I have been working with the City of Boynton Beach Recreation Department for 20 years. My first eight years was part-time with an afterschool program located at Rolling Green Elementary. I was transferred to the Civic Center in 2007.”

What is going on with the upcoming camps in Boynton?

“Wonderful things! We have such a great team of supervisors who work diligently all year planning camps. We offer swimming, field trips and lots of on site special events to keep the kids busy.”

What kind of camps does Boynton offer for residents?

“Art, fishing, craft and sports camps are offered this year. We are very proud of the diversity of programming we bring to the community. The camp services offered by Boynton Beach are aimed directly towards the benefits of the participants. In other words, what we do is really all about our customers.”

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

“Everything! I love planning programs and working with all my co-workers. I particularly enjoy working with people from all backgrounds and all abilities.”

Where do you think Boynton is heading?

“My most important concern is that the city continues to provide the health and well being services of the Recreation and Parks Department so that Boynton Beach can be the best city in Palm Beach County to live, learn, work, visit and play.”

Mark Warren has been practicing podiatry in Boynton Beach and the surrounding areas for more than 25 years.

Warren has duel offices, in Boynton at 1325 Congress Ave., suite 108 and in Delray Beach at 5130 Linton Blvd., suites H3 and H4, and also works at the Delray Beach Medical Center and Boca Raton Community Hospital.

After exploring numerous medical fields, Warren said he decided that podiatry was the best fit for him. Now, two and a half decades later, he treats patients from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at his Boynton office Monday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at his Delray office on Wednesday.

“There are so many problems associated with the feet,” he said. “I work with different conditions and help people to walk.”

Warren also works with toenail problems and wound care.

“The biggest problem I see is diabetes patients that have a wound that won’t heal because of infection,” he said. “I also see hammer toes, bunions and warts.”

Warren said he also treats a lot of athletes like soccer players and runners.

“I get them back doing what it is they love,” he said.

The new technology is another cutting edge aspect of podiatry, Warren said.

With new laser therapy and skin graphs to heal wounds, Warren said the recovery time is faster and patients feel less pain.

Connie Kaye, spokeswoman for the practice, said she sees patients come in for nail clippings because the pain is too much to handle.

“Some people come in who are in wheelchairs and can’t bend over to clip their toes,” she said. “Some, as they get older, have brittle nails that are also hard to cut. Most of the patients Mark sees are elderly.”

Kaye, who has worked with Warren for four years, said the relief on the faces of exiting patients is all she needs to know that what the practice does for the community is worth it.

For information, call 561-369-3300.

More than 1,200 retired lawyers, doctors, security analysts and government employees were heralded March 18 at Intracoastal Park, 2240 N. Federal Highway, gratis of the Boynton Beach Police Department.

“It is our way of saying thank you for their effort,” said Robert Kellman, an officer with the Crime Prevention Unit. “They are our extra set of eyes and ears in the city.”

The laudable volunteers from neighborhoods throughout the city are part of the Citizen Observer Patrol program, where residents join forces with the police to watch the areas they live in.

The C.O.P. program began in 1995 and 100,000 miles of community is patrolled every year.

Ken White just finished his first year with the program. White, a snowbird from Montreal, has lived in Leisureville for seven years and decided to patrol for two hours at a time to watch for potential crime.

“The objective is to keep our place safe,” he said. “There’s not a lot of crime in our area, so it seems to be helping.”

White retired 23 years ago after working in a bank in Canada as a security specialist, so the move to C.O.P. was a natural fit.

“I fit in with the rest of the old people,” he joked.

Dan Langelier does not have a security background but one as a postal worker.

He said the key is that the program saves both the residents and police money.

“If you are planning to do something and see our cars, you will think twice,” the Sausalito resident said.

There are currently seven C.O.P. groups in Palm Beach Leisureville, Boynton Beach Leisureville, Village Royal on the Green, Boynton IntraCoastal Group, Gulfview Harbor, High Point and Sausalito Place.

The citizen patrols alert officers when a situation demands their attention or intervention.

Another Sausalito resident Robert Wiedrich has been involved with the program since 2002.

“In 2001, we had a couple of break-ins,” he said. “Some jewelry and money were taken. The police suggested we do this. Since the, we have seen no breaks-ins, only minor stuff.”

For information about the C.O.P. program, call Crime Prevention Officer Robert Kellman at 561-742-6849.

In order to enhance civic pride, the Boynton Beach Garden Club spent $650 last week to restore the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker.

The marker is located on Federal Highway, on the west side of the road at the 1500 block.

A nationwide project, the Blue Star Memorial Highway Markers are a tribute to the armed forces. The National Garden Clubs is the parent organization and in 1945, the first one was erected.

“Not until you get up close, could you realize how bad of shape the marker was in,” President Mary Scheitler said of the marker she thinks was installed in Boynton around the 1970s.

Scheitler said the Garden Club had some funds available for the $550 restoration through Tombstone Cleaner in Daytona Beach and the $100 transportation cost.

The work was done by Tom Stelling, who took about seven hours to complete and said he used a specialty paint to ensure it will stay vibrant for almost 10 years, if not longer.

The sign has a green background with a brown center that represents the blood of the servicemen and women.

Stelling drove down to Marathon to restore the marker there that the garden club had erected, and was in Boynton Beach last week to work on the local marker.

“I clean and refurbish bronze and stone markers,” Stelling said. “I have done five of these markers, one here in Daytona.”

Stelling said he started working on the markers when he was down in the Florida Keys and saw that the one there was in pretty bad shape.

“I called the sponsors down there and restored that one,” he said.

Stelling started his cleaning company after he was asked to clean his father James’ tombstone. He couldn’t find anyone to do it, so started to work on the cleaning process himself. The company was spawned from that first job.

The city of Boynton Beach maintains the landscaping around the marker.

Tina Pugliese has a different way of marketing her public relations services. Her goal is to provide services that every business, no matter how small, can afford.

Pugliese, executive coach for Pugliese Public Relations, 6835 Camille St., has been in the publicity business for more than 20 years, the last five of which have been in Boynton.

She has managed national public awareness campaigns, developed clients’ strategic messages, handled media relations and conducted media coaching for a number of national organizations.

Her office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

She is the author of four e-books “Marketing Your Business for Success”, “How To Work With The Media”, “Public Relations Manual: A Guide for Entrepreneurs”, and the most recent the “PR Survival Kit”.

“These books are very affordable and they teach clients how to do it themselves,” she said.

How Pugliese started in PR is also unique. She was working for a small business investment company in Washington D.C. and one of her clients asked her to get him into the Washington Post.

“I got him in and then I have been doing PR ever since,” she said.

When she moved to Boynton, she quickly realized that the businesses here could not afford to pay thousands for services with retainers.

“I created a price list, a la carte, where customers could buy just a news release or pitch letter,” she said.

Marie Mitchalk, membership director for the Hamlet Country Club in Delray Beach, said the affordable prices are what made Pugliese PR the right choice.

“She is always available to us for our fundraising events and even comes to us with story ideas,” she said. “Our budget is small, so her prices are important. She gives us the same attention she would a larger client.”

Her Subscription Program is even more affordable, for start-ups or low-volume users.
For $49.99 per month, customers receive four news releases each year, one per quarter. They also get monthly publicity monitoring to keep informed of any media opportunities that can get the business media coverage, one-hour consultation with Pugliese each month and a 20 percent discount on all public relations services.

“Those subscriptions have been going off like gangbusters,” Pugliese said.

For information, call 561-889-3575 or visit www.PugliesePR.com.

Kay Harvey, executive director of the foundation at Bethesda Memorial Hospital
She has been executive director for 8 years.
She has helped the hospital raise $110 million in campaigns.
May 25 will be the groundbreaking for the new Bethesda West Hospital in West Boynton.
Age 52
She was born in Philadelphia.

How did you get into your profession?

“A better question would be how I got into nonprofits. My degrees are in sociology, history and anthropology. I have a great interest in people.”

What do you do from day to day?

“I talk with a lot of people and meet with prospective donors. I also try to understand what Bethesda is attempting to do.”

What is the best part of what you do?

“Dealing with people and talking about their aspirations for the community.”

What is going on with Bethesda West?

“That is 10 years in the making and kind of like our ‘Avatar!’ We are very excited.”

What do you think about the healthcare bill President Obama is trying to pass?

“I don’t think anybody knows exactly what it is going to be. I do know good minds will produce good thoughts and plans.”

What is in your future?

“I am going to work till I drop. I just want to keep doing something meaningful and help people.”

With April serving as National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month, Harriet Sherwin of Boynton Beach is on a mission.

She is looking for a kidney donation for her daughter Susan Cohen.

Cohen, a Coral Springs resident, is a full-time nurse and mother. She is suffering with kidney disease and has been on dialysis for more than four years.

“Dialysis is three times a week for three and half hours,” Sherwin said. “It changes your life.”

Sherwin is seeking an individual with O blood type for the kidney donation. She said with Cohen having O blood, she can donate to almost anyone but the same isn’t true for her receiving organs.

“It is hard to match and we need someone with O blood,” Sherwin said. “All of our friends and family have been tested but no one has had this type blood.”

Cohen said a donation would mean the beginning of a life free of dialysis and dietary restrictions. The first thing she said she would do is go on a real vacation without having to plan for doctors visits.

“I actually view it [dialysis] as forced relaxation so it doesn't seem so bad,” Cohen said. “Just part of my day.”

Cohen said she found out early in her 20s that she had polycystic kidney disease, a chronic degenerative disease that eventually would require dialysis or a transplant.

To her chagrin, the need for a transplant came earlier than anticipated.

To make matters worse, Cohen’s husband of 24 years died from the most lethal form of kidney cancer in March 2009. There was no known treatment and she said he was a trooper till the very end.

“I am a registered nurse with a master's in Psychiatric Nursing, working a full-time hospital position and a part-time teaching at Broward College,” Cohen said. “I consider myself very independent and usually don't like to ask for help.”

Cohen’s doctor Scott Smoller said polycystic kidney disease, a common form, is where cysts replace and eventually destroy the kidney tissue.

He said the dialysis can continue for years but if any underlying problems like heart disease or cancer arise, then the real trouble ensues.

With the new minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, a donor can recuperate quickly and continue their usual life without any limitations or special needs in the future.

Wendy Routh, who donated a kidney on Dec. 9, can attest to the fact that the process is minimal.

Routh donated to her aunt, Dorothy, by marriage and also has a very brittle juvenile diabetic son who faces the need for a kidney in the future, so this is a cause she said is near and dear to her.

“The procedure was really nothing. I was only sore for like a day or two,” she said. “The change in her lifestyle was instantaneous. There is a reason why God gave us two kidneys.”

A good candidate for donation is between the ages of 18 and 55, in good health, with blood type O.

For information, contact sueco1007@gmail.com or newlyret@aol.com.

It was a moment that die hard Florida Gator fan Sarah Springer thought she would never forget. She had absolutely no idea.

Walking up to the podium Saturday in Palm Beach Gardens to meet and take a picture with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Springer followed her boyfriend of nine years and calmly shook Tebow's hand.

Then it happened.

"I think Ian has a question for you," Tebow said opening a black box with a ring inside.

Ian Lis, an attorney in Fort Lauderdale, had gotten down on one knee. After about 20 seconds to gather herself from an insensible state, Springer said a tearful "yes!"

Lis, with the help of his sister Hillary, had been planning this impromptu proposal for more than a month and the two-time National Champion Tebow came through just as he does on the football field.

Springer, also an attorney in Lauderdale, said she had no idea the clandestine plan was coming, even after four years of undergraduate school, coupled with three years of law school together with Lis at UF.

Hillary Lis had placed a call one month prior to Palm Beach Autographs co-owner Jim Dodson with one rapacious request. Palm Beach Autographs has the rights to all Tim Tebow signatures and had a March 27 planned photo session and autograph appearence at 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., with Tebow the focus.

"She called me and asked if Tim would help with the engagement," Dodson said. "I wasn't able to promise anything but I said I thought it was something he'd be happy to do. He was very excited and kept asking 'are they coming soon' the closer they got to the podium."

Tebow's part in Lis's plan was more than efficacious and even brought the crowd watching the scene to a steady roar of applause.

"She [Sarah] had no clue. I keep good secrets," Lis said "I didn't even tell my best friend till Monday and my dad didn't find out till last Friday."

Link to Mike Rothman's live video of the engagement at - http://bit.ly/bqF39f

April is the 80th anniversary of Nancy Drew books and also Women’s History Month, so the local library is having an exhibit to showcase the female sleuth.

The Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd., will showcase four Nancy Drew- related exhibits starting April 5 and continuing through May.

“After all, not all detectives have 80th birthdays and are still going strong,” said Anne Watts, assistant director of the library. “We just had a young woman check out a Nancy Drew book the other day and say, ‘I love this!’”

The library will feature books dating back to the 1930s, along with dolls, computer games and graphic novels of Drew.

“I think the books have changed, so people will be able to identify with the type of Nancy Drew they read at a particular time,” Watts said. “I know I recognize the Nancy Drew I read in the 1950s.”

The library is also having an 80th Birthday Party for Nancy Drew at 6:30 p.m. April 29 in the program room. The party includes a trivia contest, birthday cake, and show & tell session.

“There is also a week in April that is National Library Week, so we are trying to incorporate that as well,” said Janet DeVries, library archivist. “We are trying to attract people to the library that have never been here before.”

DeVries said she has a vast collection of memorabilia and almost all the 500 Drew titles dating back to 1930.

“I read them as a child and as an adult found the Nancy Drew Sleuths, an organization that has a convention every year,” DeVries said. “The books are not only for children but adults too. Smart women like Nancy Drew.”

The phenomenon of Nancy Drew was the brainchild of Edward Stratemeyer, who had created the Hardy Boys series. He decided to create a series for girls because of the Hardy Boys and the books’ worldwide fame.

Drew is a fictional teenage detective. The books were ghostwritten by Carolyn Keene, who DeVries said she is sad to admit does not exist but is only a penname.

For information, call 561.742.6397 or visit www.boyntonlibrary.org.

The Women of Note Chorus has announced the retirement of musical and artistic director, Holly St. John.
St. John is the founding director of the Women of Note, a women’s a cappella barbershop chorus that was founded in 1996.
The chorus has earned several first place medals in their division in regional competition.
St. John has been a member of Sweet Adelines International for more than 35 years.
The Women of Note Chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, a nonprofit music education association for women singing four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style.
St. John will lead the chorus through its regional competition in April.
Age – 63
Hobbies - Artist
Born – Milwaukee
Live now – Lake Worth
Favorite singer – Maureen McGovern
Heroes – Mother, Ruth

How did you get into music?

“I started singing in second grade in church in a Christmas pageant. I also sang in high school in the choir. In my 20s, I was looking for something else to do and my mother suggested Sweet Adelines.”

What is your favorite aspect of music?

“I love to entertain audiences. I love when people come up to me after and tell me I made them laugh.”

What is in your future since you are leaving?

“I don’t know. I don’t have any plans. I am just trying to create some space in my life for something new.”

With you leaving, what is the future of the group?

“I hope they remain strong. I know the leadership is committed to finding a top-notch director.”

What is the idea behind the group?

“They had a choir up in West Palm and wanted to start another in 1996. They drove up to Jacksonville and enticed me to lead them.”

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