Boynton Forum

The United Way of Palm Beach County does not want to have to cut back on any programs if possible.

With just a couple weeks left in its 2009-10 fundraising campaign, they are making one last push to reach those who have not yet made a donation. The organization is focusing on those who gave in the past, but have not yet this year.

“If not, we might have to cut back on programs we fund, even though there is an increase in the need for our services,” said Chere Brodi, United Way spokeswoman.

The United Way of Palm Beach County, 2600 Quantum Blvd., funds 63 local programs including child care, transportation for seniors, employment support for people with disabilities and after-school programs, Brodi said.

This year’s campaign is much more than reaching its $13.8 million goal but also about its partner agencies that are experiencing an 84 percent increase in the demand for services.

“We want to reach out to companies and let them know there is still time to have a workplace campaign,” Brodi said. “Also we have direct mailing for retired residents. It is a chance for them to give back.”

Currently, 400 local companies and organizations already conduct workplace campaigns through payroll deductions.

For anyone who would like to give, donations can be made by calling 561 375-6600, by mail, or online at www.unitedwaypbc.org

Any company or organization interested in conducting a workplace campaign is asked to call Larry Miller at 561-375-6626.

Carisse LeJeune, a coordinator with the Boynton’s Sustainability Team
Age – 49

LeJeune works for one of the first “green” cities in Palm Beach County.
Boynton is actively trying to entice green businesses to come and make efforts to help residents live green.
Some employees bike to work instead of using cars.

What do you do for the city?

“My title is assistant to the city manager. It is a unique position. It allows me to work in areas at the discretion of the city manager. I’m also EOC manager or emergency operations manger. I do legislative tracking, get a handle of all bills proposed and how they affect the city.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“The sustainability, no question. Most exciting thing I have had opportunity to work on. When I was in high school, I belonged to an environmental activist group, so things have come full circle.”

What is going on with Boynton’s Sustainability Team?

“We are operating under the energy-efficiency block grant. We used that money to complete the first community greenhouse gas emissions inventory in Palm Beach County. We also brought first draft of climate action plan. In the climate action plan, we take inventory, recommend targets to reduce emissions and offer implementation strategies.”

What’s in your future?

“There is a lot of work to do here in city. Aside from moving the process along, I’d like to go back and get my master’s degree in counseling.”

Where do you see the city heading?

“I think that Boynton is going to be the place where people want to come and live and raise families. We are showing initiatives in green spaces and have the most parks per capita. We also sit on Intracoastal. Plus, the CRA is also working to create friendly downtown.”

Why is living green important?

“Because it is the way we were meant to live. Luxuries are wonderful but with our human nature, we want to be surrounded by green. We need clean air and water.”

Summer is approaching and will be here before residents know it.

To help avoid any accidents, swimming lessons from the city of Boynton Beach are in place to help parents keep their children safe around the water.

The John Denson Pool, 225 NW 12th Ave., offers 30-minute lessons for group swimming to children who are potty trained to age 3 and older. The Denson Pool also offers classes for the physically handicapped.

Ginny Shea, senior recreation manager for the Boynton Recreation and Parks Department, said the classes would run from Tuesday through Friday and Saturday at various times from 9 a.m. to noon for three skill levels and a parent/tot class.

“The parent/tot class is for tots accompanied by an adult at 11 a.m.,” she said. “The three skill levels run at different times in the morning depending on level 1, 2 or 3.”

Shea said participants learn to kick, breath, use arms and feel safe under water.

“They are two-week sessions that start June 8,” she said. “It is usually $30 for residents but there are vouchers to take the class for free.”

Participants must request vouchers in order to participate free of charge.

The vouchers are funded by the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County and will be mailed to families who qualify based on income guidelines. 
 


“They are great for those who usually would not be able to afford the classes to keep their children safe,” Shea said.

To qualify for a voucher, call the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County to find out if your family qualifies at 561-616-7068.
 


The vouchers are limited and are distributed on a first-come, first served basis.

For information, call 561-742-6645.
 


The single donation of a book to the Boynton Library can a have a butterfly effect and eventually save programs at the facility.

The Friends of the Boynton Beach City Library are in dire need of gently used books, DVDs and CDs to sell in its store, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd.

“With the economy, people are not heading to retail stores anymore to buy books but coming here,” said Karen Abramson, library spokeswoman.

She said residents read best sellers and then donate these gently used items to the store to be sold at a greatly reduced price of say $2 or even cheaper.

Even though sales are surging, donations are not.

“There are no snowbirds here right now, so not as many donations come from this crucial source,” she said.

A number that highlights the selling success of the store is $10,335.25; the sales from April 2008 through April 2009. Only items in good condition are accepted.

“We need these donations that turn into revenue with all the budget cuts taking place,” she said.

To bring in book donations, take them to the Delivery Door located on the south side of the building on Southeast Second Avenue between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

For information, call 561-742-6390 or visit www.boyntonlibrary.org.

Thelma Gannon, president of the Bethesda Memorial Hospital Auxiliary
She and her team of volunteers oversee the Bethesda Bargain Box, a thrift store in Delray Beach that benefits the hospital.
Age 73
She lives in Briny Breezes.

For people who don’t know, where is the Bargain Box located?

“One half block north of Atlantic Avenue on Federal Highway. We get all kinds of walk-ins because it is a destination city.”

What do you sell there?

“We have a full line of merchandise donated, all kinds of clothing, shoes, books, records, jewelry and furniture. Anything people donate, usually 99 percent of it we can use. If not we donate the rest to a Haitian church.”

Where does the money raised go?

“We are nonprofit corporation and we report to the board there. We are one of the major fundraising sources for them along with the gift shop. We also fund health career scholarships and buy equipment for the hospital.”

It recently was renovated, what happened?

“When I came through the Bargain Box, my objective was to redo it. It was just kind of tired. It deserved a facelift. One of first things we did was paint it, upgraded lighting and give it new floors.”

What is your vision for the Bargain Box for the future?

“The current economy and green movement has made us more popular. My goal is to always promote sales and donations and keep recruiting volunteers. Everybody is being more thrifty, which is good.”

Goodwill International has been helping indigent and disabled people in Palm Beach County for almost 50 years.

Goodwill made its way into Gulfstream in 1966 and now that Gulfstream derivative serves five counties including Palm Beach, Okeechobee and Indian River.

The original Goodwill that started in Boston in 1902 is a nonprofit that provides job training, employment placement services and other programs for people who have a disability or face employment challenges, said Cal Miller, Gulfstream Goodwill vice president of marketing.

The community may know Goodwill by its ubiquitous network of thrift stores that Miller said is a major source for the funding of all the programs.

“We try to work with people facing diversity because of a disability and put them to work,” Miller said. “We used to have a functioning homeless shelter and now are working on a program that helps nonviolent offenders placed into jobs.”

With the economy’s struggle protracted and the future unclear, Miller said he has seen a 15 to 20 percent increase in purchases at his thrift stores.

“People want to save money,” he said. “You are just as likely to see a person come in on a bicycle or a brand new Mercedes.”

Miller said the deals at a Goodwill thrift shop couldn’t be beat.
“Some of these donated clothes still have the tags on them,” he said.

Goodwill operates as a network of 183 independent, community-based organizations such as Gulfstream. Each is independent and run by its own set of guidelines.

Within Gulfstream, Boynton Beach’s 10,000-square-foot facility, 9764 S. Military Trail, is a top earner as far as donations are concerned, said Kathy Patton, store manager.

“Donations at this location have always been extremely high,” she said. “I think people are donating as much if not more now that people need the help. We actually have an ADC, an Attended Donation Center.”

Patton said 75 percent of sales at the Boynton location are clothes. The other quarter can include some unique items like coffee makers, DVD players, toasters and other household items.

For information on the Boynton location at 9764 S. Military Trail, call 561-740-4407.

For information on the Delray location at 1640 N. Federal Highway, call 561-278-3205.

With the economy the way it is, residents are turning to old-fashioned garage sales for a few quick bucks to help pay bills and keep food on the table.

Before families start raiding their closets looking for unwanted items to sell, there are a few things to keep in mind.

“If you are planning a garage sale, you definitely need to go get a permit,” said Wayne Segal, city spokesman. “If you park your car and plan to sell it with a sign in the window, that might be a code issue.”

For selling cars in a driveway, Segal said residents shouldn’t expect code personnel to go looking for this kind of thing unless a neighbor calls to complain.

As for the permits needed for garage sales, they are $5 each and can be used for up to three days, said Jamie Ann Wooley, spokeswoman for the Development Department.

“Residents can have two garage sales per year,” she said. “They can have each for up to three straight days.”

Wooley said the permit form can be filled out online or at City Hall, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd., and that it takes about five minutes. All forms filled out at home from the city’s website need to be printed and taken to Wooley for approval.

“The form is simple with name, address and whether the site would be a home or commercial property,” she said. “This is just to avoid people from running a business under the tax radar.”

Once the permit is obtained and paid for, Wooley suggests placing it in the window of a home or on display outside in the middle of the garage sale itself.

In regards to advertising signs prior to the sale, she said they could be taken down because of code compliance issues.

“Ads in the paper are always good,” she said.

To fill out and print the form online to be brought into City Hall, visit www.boynton-beach.org, click on Online Services, and then click on Permits Online. Next, make another click onto Forms & Publications and one last click on Applications Forms and Info. The Garage Sale Permit & Guidelines is located near the bottom of the list.

For information, call 561-742-6350.

Hip-hop and basketball have always had palpable similarities and over time have been culled together to form a new culture. Steve Rifkind, chairman of SRC Records/Universal, thinks the next progression of this culture is youth basketball.

In 2009, the Boca Raton resident and hip-hop mogul purchased Vision Sports, a youth travel basketball tournament company. Rifkind’s plan is to utilized his strong hip-hop resources and cajole children into a healthy activity that keeps them out of trouble.

Rifkind, a father of three and the man who introduced Akon and the Wu-Tang Clan, also plans to expand Vision Sports into cheerleading, lacrosse and soccer.

With Rifkind at the helm, Vision Sports will continue to have competitive tournaments across the country in Las Vegas, South Florida and Dallas, but will also focus on life lessons.

Rifkin took a few minutes during a recent stay in Boca to talk about SRC Records, plans to create a “New Hollywood” in Florida rife with music studios and SRC talent, and how he wants to showcase the kids of Vision Sports.

Did this purchase of Vision Sports spawn from the fact that you were involved with the Delray Blazers in years past?

The Delray Blazers is a youth traveling basketball team for the city of Delray Beach, which helps us, and then I sponsor the rest of the teams. My son plays for the Delray Blazers so I decided to buy Vision Sports.

What are your plans for Vision Sports?

I have a goal for Vision Sports. It’s really to showcase the kids. I realized it could be a real business too. But I want the kids involved as much as I possibly can. I bought the company a year ago and every day I have a new idea for it.

What are some of the ideas you have for Vision Sports?

I want to add music to it. Have an opening night ceremony for Vegas, which is the main event. I want to get the artists involved. There is always a parallel between sports and music, and it is almost pretty much the same kid involved in both. I am all about teaching the kids and trying to teach them work ethic and that if you have a dream, to follow through on your dreams. I want them to be 100 percent honest and don’t be scared of the word no and to ask for help.

That’s the great thing about the program. The guy who runs it, Kevin Huggins, if you f*** up in school, you are off the team. Also, all these kids are from a five-, six-block radius.

Is basketball the sport you liked to play?

As a kid, yeah. I could talk basketball all day and be happy.

What’s the plan for making South Florida the “New Hollywood”?

I’m doing it cause I’m lazy. I want people to come visit me. My kids are here and the more time I can spend with them the better, while having my artists record here and do their videos here. But it’s taking a life of its own and I would love to sit down with the powers that be and see what we could do to make this because everyone does love Miami.

Any preference where you want to be, Palm Beach or Miami?

One of my good friends who manages Queen Latifah just opened up a studio down in Miami and I’m meeting someone this week who has one in Palm Beach.

What’s next for SRC Records in 2010?

We have Shontelle’s record [No Gravity, released April 26] actually exploding right this second. We have a new Asher Roth album coming; we have a new Akon album coming [Stadium Music 2010].

You are deeply involved with the “Think Pink Rocks” concert in Boca Raton in October during breast cancer awareness month and once mentioned your father is a breast cancer survivor.

Yeah my dad is. But it is close to home for a whole bunch of different reasons.

Most people don’t associate men with having breast cancer, so is it extra important to bring your father to light?

It affects men but I could see watching my dad recuperate how it could just really mess with a woman. I mean my dad, they took out 90 percent of his chest but he had no chest.

Think Pink 2010 is still a few months away but are you planning it now?

Not yet. We are gonna open it up, so it won’t only be SRC artists, we will open it up to our friends to make it bigger and better...

As for Mizner Park in Boca Raton, is that an unusual venue for you?

I love the venue. I’m trying to take over the venue. I think it is an incredible place to throw a show.

For more information on Vision Sports, visit www.visionsports.com.

Dana Cook has to “hear color.”

Cook is a local artist and Arts Commission board member who is colorblind but sees his disability as a benefit not an impediment.

Mixing colors has become more a mathematics exercise for cook, with adding and subtracting shades, than a visual experience like it is for most people.

But Cook also said he has to go with the mood that a color gives him sometimes and memorize “color hearing” to get it right.

In his definition of “color hearing,” Cook said the color has to resonate in the mind like a song. Only then, can someone who is colorblind differentiate the shades.

“Sometimes after finishing a painting, I forget what colors I used,” he joked. “I have to paint by what is labeled on the bottle.”

There are various types of colorblind individuals some that can only see in black and white and the majority that simply cannot differentiate colors.

“A funny fact, people may not know that the color maker for Crayola Crayons was color blind too,” Cook said.

A “true friend” to the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd., Cook spoke May 17 there about his disability and how others like him can overcome handicaps, said Karen Abramson, library spokeswoman.

“In the past he has been very supportive to the Friends of the Library, donating artwork,” Abramsons said.

During his recent library presentation, Cook spoke about his experiences creating his artwork, displayed his work and gave examples of how he translates color.

“Whether its being color blind or even another disability, he just wants to reach people,” said Debby Coles-Dobay, public art administrator for Boynton. “He wants them to have a better self esteem, especially if they are artists.”

Coles-Dobay said he has been on the Arts Commission for four years and helped the Art in Public Places program come to fruition throughout the city.

The presentation at the library was part of Art Connections, a monthly program that connects art, artwork and artists with the public.

“I wanted people not just to look but get close to touch and feel my paintings,” Cook said.

For information about Art in Public Places, visit www.boyntonbeacharts.org.

Jessica Aperavich, alumni of St. Joseph’s and co-organizer for first Summer Shootout
Summer Shootout is set for 6 a.m. June 19.
Participants will be fishing for dolphin, wahoo, tuna, kingfish and snapper. Proceeds will benefit the programs and student activities at St. Joseph’s.
Prizes include cash, waived testing, enrollment and application fees for a new student registration at St. Joseph’s, and a round of golf at Boca Green’s Country Club.

What is the Shootout?

“I go to a lot of the fundraising events for the school and I got the idea last May. It was something the parent haven’t’ had yet. It is something I am into. It is a fishing tournament.”

Why a fishing tournament?

“It is to reach a different audience than the usual bake sales. Since I am into it, I could easily put in a lot of my energy. It also gets the dads involved.”

Where do the proceeds go?

“They go toward the school’s annual fund. Some will also be earmarked for alumni students. It is important for people who went to the school if they have children that they can send them here too.”

Why is St. Joe’s special to you?

“I believe in what they do here. It is a small school that is a tight community that takes you back to the way Florida used to be.”

What is your hope for the outcome of the tournament?

“I hope to get $1,000 for the school and just spread the word for the future of the event.”

For information, e-mail Jessica Aperavich at sjs.summershootout@gmail.com, or visit http://www.sjsfishingtournament.com.

A day off from work is not always a day by the pool or at the beach. Sometimes it includes helping others.

With their office in West Boynton shut down for the day, employees of all kinds from Keller Williams Realty set up shop May 13 as part of a new service initiative the company calls RED DAY, which stands for “Renew, Energize and Donate.”

Donna Tavares, Keller spokeswoman, said this was the second year of RED DAY and a way for the company to positively affect the community in which its lives and works.

More than 40 Keller associates joined the more than 70,000 associates across the country doing the same thing and helping local communities through volunteer work.

This year, the local office worked on the Boynton Beach Senior Center, 1021 S. Federal Highway, including beautifying the front patio with plants, fresh paint jobs and inside work.

“The seniors were just so cute,” Tavares said. “We were wearing our red shirts, so they would always stop, look for a little while and then talk to us.”

She said a mix of agents, Realtors and staff came to help.

“Even though our office is located out west [8188 Jog Road], we called the city and asked for suggestions of where we could help,” she said. “This is the motivation of one of the founding members to give back and help where we can.”

Steve Lulkin, Senior Center supervisor, said the 40 associates that came out really helped a center that could use a facelift.

“They started at about 8 a.m. and finished at 3:30 p.m.,” he said. “They pressure cleaned the front patio, painted the front of the building, repainted the game room and worked with our landscape.”

He said the volunteers also brought new tables and chairs for the patio area as a place for seniors to sit and have a drink or snack.

“They came to us and said they wanted to work with seniors, so they chose us and I’m glad they did,” he said.

Allan Spiro, Team Leader of the Keller Boynton office, said he chose the Senior Center because of how much it does for the elderly.

Spiro said the goal was to do what his company could to enhance the facility that keeps seniors active even later in life.

Last year, the inaugural year of RED DAY, the entire company throughout the country and Canada donated more than 130,000 volunteer hours in local communities just like Boynton Beach.

For information about RED DAY visit www.kw.com/redday.

Some future burgeoning law enforcement careers might just start or have originated from one simple week with current officers in August.
Registration has begun for the second annual Boynton Police Teen Academy, a weeklong summer camp to approach the youth at a nascent age and develop a partnership with the department.

Hands-on opportunities with officers include SWAT, K-9, patrol techniques, traffic stops, firearm safety, ropes course and drug awareness.

The weeklong experience takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9 to 13. The age range is 14 to 16 and the applicants must live in the city. Parental consent is required and the cost is $75.

Crime Prevention Officer John Huntington said last year 24 children graduated and were able to bond with the officers that ran the program.

“A lot of kids came out of their shell which was a complete success,” he said. “The officers we chose to work with the kids had the perfect personality to do so.”

Huntington said when the K-9 unit came out, children were able to actually work with the dogs not just be an audience.

He said the key lesson throughout the week was working as a unit or team not as an individual.

Stephanie Slater, police department spokeswoman said the teen academy is an exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunity for youth to be a part of the Boynton Beach Police Department and learn from the officers.

“We strongly encourage any teen with an interest in law enforcement to take part in this program,” Slater said.

Applications are available at www.BBPD.org, or at City Hall and the BBPD, 100 E. Boynton Beach Blvd. The deadline is June 15.

For information, call Officer John Huntington at 561-742-6848.

The wait is over!

Residents found out late last year that a famous and healthy treat, Tasti D-Lite, was coming to Boynton Beach. To the 'D-Lite' of decadent residents, the grand opening is finally taking place this weekend through May 23.

The store is located at 1050 Gateway Blvd., and is open 12:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 12:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

The Boynton opening is part of an expansion into Florida, with eight stores opening in Palm Beach County by 2013.

Robyn Vescovi, storeowner, has been a resident of Boynton Beach for the past nine years and a Tasti D-Lite customer longer than that for about 20 years. Vescovi will also own the Delray Beach and Boca Raton stores.

“We have been open for five weeks and we waited for the grand opening just to make sure the staff was fully trained and the machines were running smoothly,” she said.

In the five weeks the store has been opened, she said more than 200 loyalty cards, where customers earn points toward free rewards, have been given out.

“If you get 50 points, you get a free small Tasti,” she said. “Some customers are on their third or fourth free one. So we have a nice little loyal following.”

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.

The grand opening weekend features face painting for kids, free giveaways, Tasti tattoos and K-9 demonstrations.

Also, 10 percent of the weekend’s proceeds will go toward to the K-9 unit of the Boynton Beach Police Department, which is looking for a new K-9.

“We will be doing a lot of charity but wanted to start with the police department for all they do for us,” she said.

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

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.

Tasti has introduced new products in the past few months including seven new smoothie blends and a fresh coffee and green tea blend.

Debi Scroggins is a Tasti fan being that she is from New York, where the treat originated.

“I love the old and new of Tasti,” she said. “Everything just keeps getting better.”

For information, visit www.tastidlite.com or call the Boynton store at 561-244-7343.

Steve Holzman has been a city commissioner for only two months but is making his presence known immediately.

At the request of Holzman, the city sent a letter Monday to BP Global putting the company on notice that the city is holding it responsible for the April pipe blowout that is oozing millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Boynton officials do not want to hear any excuses from the oil juggernaut about how the need to drill in deeper waters caused the pipe to burst.

Holzman said Boynton is the first city in Palm Beach County to take this proactive action and contact BP.

“We just wanted to make sure we were in line, because reparations are going to be first-come, first-serve and as I see it, I think their funding is limited,” Holzman said.

He said limited might mean $25 million budgeted to help Florida in the catastrophe.

Holzman said the backlash from the oil spill would not just be the manpower needed to clean the beaches but a hit on the tourism by which South Florida thrives.

“It is vacation time and it will be on the minds of tourists everywhere and we are just afraid this will deter them from spending their vacation dollars in Boynton Beach,” he said.

Charles Magazine, risk manager for Boynton Beach, authored the stern letter to the BP Corporation.

“Please be advised that the City of Boynton Beach hereby puts BP p.l.c., and all subsidiary, associated or affiliated companies on notice for any damages to City of Boynton Beach property resulting from the loss of the Deepwater Horizon platform, on April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico; and, any and all subsequent petroleum product releases,” Magazine’s release said.

Magazine said the pipe blowout was a preventable incident that may eventually cause damages to the city of Boynton Beach.

Therefore, any damages sustained to the city of Boynton Beach are because of BP’s negligence, the release said.

Magazine said he would be in touch with the company further at a later date if reports came back the crude oil in any way was harming Boynton’s waterfront.

Janet Prainito, Boynton Beach City Clerk, was recognized last February for earning the designation Master Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.
The MMC program provides an advanced continuing education program.
Prainito joined the city clerk staff as recording secretary in 1991 and was named deputy city clerk in 1997.
In 2001, she was appointed to the position of city clerk. She oversees a service department that is the oldest office of municipal government and is responsible for keeping a public record of all proceedings of the City Commission, including the certification of all ordinances and resolutions.
The city clerk is the official custodian of the city seal and any other papers, documents or records pertaining to the city.
Age 63
She likes to go to the movies and the beach.
She was born in Queens.

What is your day-to-day life like as city clerk?
It’s busy and challenging but exciting. We get lots of inquiries from the public. We are constantly answering questions and adhering to state statutes.

How did you get into this job?
I was working at FAU. My husband was working in the Utility Department. He saw there was an opening. I came in and took a test and got hired as a recording secretary.

What is your favorite aspect of the job?
When you satisfy a customer who maybe has not had the best experience up to this point. Just to see the smile on their faces.

It’s back!

A room rife with the mixture of epicurean smells that local residents have been munching on for years. There is a bit of wine tasting as well. It is the Taste of Boynton; a gathering of the culinary masses that has been happening for more than a decade.

The Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce brings together the city’s top culinary members for an evening of menu items from local restaurants and wine tasting sponsored by Total Wine & More to take place June 3 at Benvenuto’s, 1730 N. Federal Highway.

“We are very happy to be back in the east part of the city,” said Glenn Jergensen, president of the Boynton Chamber. “Benvenuto’s is a great restaurant and the staff is just so accommodating.”

He said 16 restaurants are participating this year with The Living Room and Mamma Mia Trattoria as some of the new guests.

The rest of the participating restaurants include Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Boynton Village Tavern, Benvenuto's, Cypress Creek Country Club, Culinary Solutions Catering, Jason's Deli, Longhorn Steakhouse, Margarita's Mexican Kitchen & Cantina, Shane’s Rib Shack, Ocean Avenue Green Market Café, Prime Catch, Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant, Snappers Seafood & Pasta and Westchester Country Club.

“We are taking over the entire place and we have a fantastic lineup to showcase to the residents,” Jergensen said. “The wine tasting will be in a separate room with the food in the ballroom.”

Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant, an authentic Irish eatery at 1500 Gateway Blvd., will be at the Taste of Boynton for the third year.

Slainte co-owner Clem McAuley said the timing of the event could not be better, since he plans to release a new menu in June.

“We will be previewing some of the new items at the tasting, including bang bang shrimp, deep dish rubin skins with cornbeef and chicken pot pie,” he said.

Gail Stegenga, Prime Catch general manager, said this is the second year the restaurant is involved. She hopes inviting the public to sample some of the culinary delights will draw them back to the restaurant located in a clandestine spot at 700 E. Woolbright Road.

Stegenga said the restaurant’s involvement started a couple years back after going to actual Taste of Boynton and seeing what it was all about.

It is not just all about wine and food. Music by Cricklewood, a local staple, for dancing will be playing in the background, as well.

Tickets are $40 per person or $35 for two or more at boyntonbeachchamber.com.

Tickets will be $50 at the door if still available. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted.

For information, call the Boynton Chamber at 561 732-9501.