http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/ en-us Copyright 2012 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:32:45 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The 13th birthday is special for any Jewish boy or girl because it is the day he or she becomes an adult. Usually the occasion is celebrated by a bar or bat mitzvah. But how does a Jewish building celebrate its 13th year? With a B’nai Mitzvah Dance Party, of course. The Lore & Eric F. Ross Jewish Community Center, 8500 Jog Road, is having a dance 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the building’s anniversary and has some special events planned for the evening. Mindy Hanken, associate executive director of the JCC of the Greater Palm Beaches, said the Ross JCC has really grown in the 13 years it has been around. With popular programs like Adults Continuing Education and an early childhood center with more than 230 children, a celebration was mandatory. “Our summer camp also has almost 400 children now,” Hanken said. “The nice thing about Feb. 11 is the tradition at a bar or bat mitzvah is to light 13 candles.” She said the JCC would bring out 13 years of graduates from its preschool to light candles for the building. “The first graduating class of students are now 18 years old,” Hanken said. “So, we invited them to come back and light that first candle.” She said the community is invited to submit photos of any meaningful experiences anyone has had at the JCC over the past 13 years to be compiled into a slideshow. Andrea Peleg, Ross JCC event coordinator, said she has been with the JCC for eight years and that the building has grown with the community’s growth. She highlighted that quality food, including Asian and Italian stations, would be options at the party. The Boynton Beach campus opened in 1998 with a little more than 600 memberships. Notable moments in the building’s history include a Henry and Ida Hochman donation that resulted in a new pool in 2001. Hochman was the building's namesake until it was changed to Ross in 2009. “Some of the programs here are Mommy and Me classes, preschool, a basketball league for 500 kids and our fitness program,” Peleg said. Tickets cost $36 for adults and $18 for children. Call 561-740-9000. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/02/boynton_jcc_to_celebrate_build.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/02/boynton_jcc_to_celebrate_build.html Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:32:45 -0500 Boynton Beach is a city going through many leadership changes, including the fire chief, city manager and most recently, the mayor. And now it loses yet another vital leader in Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce CEO Glenn Jergensen. Jergensen will conclude his run as CEO Feb. 17 and join the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau as senior vice president of operations next month. “We’ve certainly done a great job to bring more awareness to Boynton,” Jergensen said about his past six years with the chamber. But he said a new opportunity arose with the convention center position and he was compelled to throw his “name in the hat.” “I’ll be doing finance, IT, that kind of thing,” he said. Jergensen said his 22-year background with Motorola’s finance department helped him fit right into the new position. As for highlights from the past six years, he said moving the chamber to Renaissance Commons, the central shopping district off Congress Avenue, with a new visitors lobby topped the list. Another one of his highlights included a South County partnership with the Boca Raton and Delray Beach chambers that started four years ago. He also advocated for joined networking. “It is not only me, it is the staff; we accomplished quite a bit,” he said. “I think I’m leaving the chamber in a good position to move forward. Over the past six years, businesses saw a very tough environment ... look at West Boynton and see how it has developed, and Congress Avenue, even Boynton Town Center. We are more of a destination now for shopping and dining. We are even seeing light on the east side of town.” Jergensen said he feels positive about not leaving the chamber during the toughest parts of the recession. He said now is the best time to move on since the economy is on an upswing. The chamber’s Board of Directors will begin to look for a new leader in a few months. “Glenn has really prepared the staff for the transition,” said board chairman Jonathan Porges. He said the chamber would continue with mixers and signature events like Taste of Boynton while looking for a replacement CEO. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/02/chamber_leader_moves_on_after.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/02/chamber_leader_moves_on_after.html Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:10:02 -0500 Kristine Gobbo, Spectrum Public Relations in Boynton Beach Age 36 She was born in Fort Lauderdale. She likes traveling, photography and wine tasting. She lives in Boynton Beach. She launched Spectrum last October. She previously served as the assistant vice presidents of media relations and press secretary at Florida Atlantic University. The new firm focuses on education, government, science, technology, health and environment. Visit spectrum-publicrelations.com. How and why did you get into public relations? “Originally I started in public relations after college and worked for the [Gov.] Chiles administration, and a little time with Buddy MacKay. I knew then I was in love with public relations.” What did you go before at FAU? “I had worked for FAU for nine years in that position where I headed up the media relations department.” Why did you decide to start your own firm? “One of the wonderful things there [at FAU] is you get to work with many academic disciplines - on any day it could be opening up a medical school of promoting Dalai Lama’s visit. I became familiar in many specialized areas and enjoyed working in science, government and medicine. I wanted to put more of a focus on these areas and it was a wonderful time to do so.” What is Spectrum’s focus? “A lot ... on high-tech businesses and their relationships to local and state economy. Also start-ups in tech ... creating their visibility and creating their reputation, maintaining relationships in the community. I also enjoy areas of higher education, working with other institutes of higher education.” Do you have a free weekly blog? “It provides guidance on communication topics; small companies might not be able to hire a PR firm [so this blog should help]. My focus is on nonprofit work regardless of their ability to hire somebody, that is what the blog is for.” http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/profile_kristine_gobbo_who_jus.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/profile_kristine_gobbo_who_jus.html Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:17:06 -0500 The Theatre Academy at Boynton Beach Community High School has many accomplishments to be proud of so far this year. Three students were recently awarded prizes at the 2012 Alan Lebow Awards. Jonathan Raffoul took home a first-place prize, and Brendan Gardner and Bridgette Karam also placed in the top 10. Theater director Joe Ametrano said Alan Lebow was a lover of Shakespeare and died suddenly a few years back. “His wife did these awards to honor him,” Ametrano said. “Students go and perform a three-minute piece.” Ametrano said 25 students performed, 10 were awarded and some took home $1,000. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Boynton Beach High School has March 14 to 17 marked on its calendar because that is when six theater students are going to state competition. For the past couple years, the theater students had averaged about one medal at the district competition but picked up eight this year. The six students and the school are trying to raise the $5,000 to go to Tampa in March for the competition. Ametrano said they haven’t sent students to states since he has been with the school the past four years. Thousands of students will travel to Tampa for four days to participate in workshops, competitions, scenes and monologues. “There are two categories,” he said. “The monologue, where they get five minutes to do two contrasting pieces, like one modern and one classical.” The next category is a scene ensemble in which the group will perform for eight minutes. The students going to states are seniors Karla Armstrong and Kevin Altenor, and juniors Jonah Cabada, Brendan Gardner, Bridgette Karam and Christine Barger. Gardner, 17, said he has been acting for as long as he can remember. “When I came out, they said I was making this face that just said drama,” he joked about when he was born. “But never did I think I’d be able to accomplish this much so far.” Gardner plans to listen and learn at states, taking all the advice from the judges to heart. He plans on performing Brutus from “Julius Caesar” and Matthew Shepard’s father from “The Laramie Project,” among others. Bridgette Karam, 16, was actually placed in drama her freshman year and did not know what to expect. “I didn’t like Mr. Ametrano at first,” she joked. “But, I got more comfortable with myself and I am able to really bring that into my performance.” Now, drama is something Karam plans on taking to college and something she looks forward to each and every day. The activity from the drama department has one last event coming up. The comedy “Candide” is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 22 to 24 and 2 p.m. Feb. 25 at the school’s Black Box Theatre, 4975 Park Ridge Blvd. The performance will be a chance for residents to see the state finalists in action before March. Donations may be sent to: Boynton Beach Community High School, Attn: Pam Whigham, Choice Coordinator, 4975 Park Ridge Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33426 Call 561-752-1295. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/boynton_high_bringing_the_thea.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/boynton_high_bringing_the_thea.html Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:15:43 -0500 Whether you’re looking for a different Valentine’s Day present to wow someone or you want to hone your singing voice for free, the Women of Note Chorus have solutions for both. In addition to the group’s annual singing Valentines, the women are also having a membership drive in which other women can join for free and learn some vocal skills. “They learn what it’s like to sing barbershop music,” said Shoshana Davidowitz, chorus spokeswoman. She said the women sing four-part harmony, with music ranging from 1912 to today. “We have been singing Gershwin songs and other songs like ‘I’ve Got Rhythm,’” Davidowitz said. “Also ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight?’ from the ‘Lion King.’” She got involved with the group in 2006 after looking for a local chorus. “I went to a rehearsal and just fell in love with them,” she said. The membership drive started Jan. 17 as a way to grow the group by offering free vocal lessons. It will run until Feb. 7. The group practices from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays at Boynton Beach High School, 4975 Park Ridge Blvd. Marcia Braff, organizer of the membership drive, said as members of Sweet Adelines, the women have access to coaching and resources on a professional level. “If you join, there is usually a fee,” she said. “This is not just a community chorus, it is a social thing and now you get it for free.” Braff said director Mitch Greenberg would spend time with the group of guests that show up for the drive. “He will teach them musical interludes and have them come on the risers and sing with us,” she said. “As it turns out, one of the things we are preparing for is our Valentine’s Day, where people can pay to have quartets come and sing to others as a gift.” Braff said for $40 the quartet will sing at restaurants, businesses and homes. She said the song the women are singing for Valentine’s Day this year is “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Visit womenofnote.com or call 877-966-7464. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/learn_to_sing_or_just_have_the.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/learn_to_sing_or_just_have_the.html Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:03:45 -0500 With Valentine’s Day coming up in a few weeks, The Blossom Shoppe, 402 E. Ocean Ave., is one of the busiest stores in Boynton Beach. Owner Lynda Tatara said the flower shop has been open since 1958 and her family bought it more than 15 years ago. Tatara is only the second owner in more than 50 years. “My family is only in it for me,” she laughed. “The shop is owned by a corporation that is my mother [Norma] and my two daughters. It is just us.” Tatara started working with flowers when she was in school for interior design. She worked part time at a florist and eventually ended up in Hollywood managing a shop. “When we moved up here, we decided to look for a shop to buy,” she said. “It is the consistency and the quality of the work we do [that separates us]. We are willing to go that extra mile.” From birth to death, Tatara said the shop deals with a lot of emotion. Graduations, funerals and new babies are some of the events to which the shop caters. “We do weddings, too,” she said. “Not a lot of florists like to do weddings; it is a tremendous amount of work but we like to do them.” For Valentine’s Day, Tatara said red roses are still No. 1. “It is all about the red roses and sending them to the office to show off,” she said. Other big sellers are balloons (including ones that sing) and anything fun to be different for a special day, Tatara said. One of Tatara’s daughters, Tami Schreurs, was in the mortgage business then came to work at the shop full time in 2001. Tami is a Jack of all trades, handling the books, among other jobs. She said it's nice to work with family be around flowers all the time. And Schreurs said she has seen it all in regards to strange orders. “People have asked for us to spray roses black or for a vase of dead roses,” she said. “Either for a joke for a 40th birthday or I have seen them sent to an ex-boyfriend’s house.” The Blossom Shoppe is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. Tatara said on Sundays, she would deliver to funerals and other special events. Call 561-732-3722. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/business_profile_the_blossom_s.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/business_profile_the_blossom_s.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:26:02 -0500 Local clinics, looking to help the uninsured get proper medical care, recently got a healthy boost from a generous source. Allegany Franciscan Ministries on Dec. 15 donated $1.4 million to nonprofits in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, and $4.5 million overall to other regions included. Specifically, Caridad Health Clinic received $200,000 for two years and Genesis Community Health Inc. got $65,000 for one year. Eileen Boyle, the organization’s spokeswoman, said this type of donation is something that is done every year but that with private money, no fundraising is needed, so no publicity is needed either. “We are a grant-making organization a lot like a hospital conversion foundation,” she said. “This is a Catholic congregation that came to Florida from New York and owned several hospitals in Florida.” After selling those hospitals, the congregation invested the money and has been donating it ever since. Depending on how well the investments do, Boyle said this year could be the third in a row in which about $6 million will be donated. “People don’t know the impact that so many sisters have on healthcare in this country,” she said. “The thing about clinics like Caridad is they are providing direct medical care and information to people who don’t have insurance.” She said that munificent work to get care to the people that need it is what attracts her organization’s grants. “That is what the sisters most care about,” she said. The unique thing about these grants is that the Caridad Center can use the money to pay a utility bill or use the funding for operations. DeAnna Warren, Genesis’ executive director, said as one of the grant recipients, the funding will actually be creating a job for someone. “It will help us to hire someone with the sole job of outreach in the community,” she said. “To bring in more patients, also this person will be cross trained as a health navigator to help those underserved.” She said the new employee would be hitting the streets to find those uninsured or underinsured in the laundromats and stores, and get them to Genesis for proper care. “This position will also leverage volunteers from local colleges and help us get the word out in that way,” she said. “Our goal is to provide quality primary care to people regardless of their ability to pay.” Upendo Shabazz-Phillips, regional vice president with Allegany Franciscan Ministries, said the organization has been working with Palm Beach County since 2001. She said across the county, the uninsured rate is 26 percent, so with funding to clinics like this, her organization is helping about a quarter of the population. “[With Caridad], you can never go in without it being a full house there,” she said. “We need to keep investing in them, since they really impact the community is a great way.” For information on Caridad Center, call 561-737-6336. For information on Genesis, call 561-735-6553. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/local_organization_donates_to.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/local_organization_donates_to.html Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:59:22 -0500 An often overlooked segment of soldiers that risked their lives for the Allied Forces during World War II are those that fought within the Resistance in France. Pockets of movements in every country overrun by the Nazis were often formed from the outcasts and hunted Jewish refugees, and those dedicated to resisting the Axis and what it represented. The Boynton Beach Veterans Council is honoring those who fought in the Resistance at 11:30 a.m. Thursday when the French Consul General Gael de Maisonneuve will be at the Civic Center, 128 E. Ocean Ave., to present medals of the highest honor. For the past three years, council member Tom Kaiser has been assisting the French in giving out these medals to those living locally that fought in France during the war. “Back in 2009, I got a call from the French consul general. He didn’t know where to have the ceremonies and help the guys get their medals,” Kaiser said. “The veterans are passing, so we want to do as many ceremonies as possible, as fast as possible.” Kaiser said medals are coming in fast now and the Civic Center was the best place to get 20 veterans honored in one day. “Any place that will give us an auditorium, so we can bring in the color guard to sing the French National Anthem is fine,” he said. Kaiser said all recipients would watch the advancement of the colors of France, get their medals, a diploma and a DVD of Omaha Beach. “Half a million guys went through France, with thousands dying,” he said. “They finally decided to recognize them and France is trying to say, ‘Thank you.’ They honored me even though I wasn’t in France because I’m trying to get the medals for them.” Kurt Leuchter was in France during the war and at age 16, fought for a year in the French Resistance. “I’m a Holocaust survivor and veteran of the Korean War, too,” he said. When his parents were shipped to concentration camps, he went to live with a woman in France who housed him for some time. He had to change his name to Claude Lambert to hide from those looking for Jews, and in 1943, the Gestapo came looking for him at the French woman’s home. “I hid in the closet,” he said. When it became too dangerous, he had to join the Resistance and lived in the woods for more than a year. “I came to America in 1946 and started working here,” he said. “In 1952, I got drafted to go to Korea.” Leuchter has worked alongside Kaiser with de Maisonneuve to recognize others that might have fought next to him during the war. Call 561-742-6240. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/veterans_of_the_french_resista.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/veterans_of_the_french_resista.html Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:25:53 -0500 Where can you get a cafe latte and ice cream cone at the same time? Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins just re-opened its combination store at 8324 S. Jog Road. Jackie Guzman, spokeswoman for Dunkin’ Donuts, said the remodel of the store was to give it a more updated, welcoming look to customers. The goal is to have people comfortable is any setting, whether to do work or just grab a snack. “We changed the color inside and it is a lighter, fresher color,” she said. “We also added more seating to have more guests, who might want to take their time enjoying their coffee.” A couple other additions include a flat-screen TV on the wall and free wireless Internet for people who want to do work in the morning or during the day. “The combination makes it easy to come in the morning for coffee and back in the afternoon for a scoop of ice cream,” she said. She said the store also has some flavors combining the best of both restaurants like the Espresso Melt, which is a Coolatta float that pairs the Dunkin’ drinks of either coffee, strawberry or blue raspberry with a scoop of soft serve vanilla ice cream. “Right now, the sausage pancake bites are also big,” she said. “The bites are sausage inside a pancake and you don't need syrup; they are great for on the go.” She also added that with everyone trying to lose weight for the new year, lower calorie treats like egg-white flatbreads and light lattes are options. The flavor of the month for Baskin is Berry Nut Honey Frozen Yogurt, which is honey and vanilla flavored yogurt, topped off with sweet honey and almond pieces. Store manager Jim Jeanlouis said because of the quality of the combination store, he has worked at the Dunkin’ Donuts for more than two years. “They love it here in Boynton; the community is full of very good people,” he said. “The new remodel is more friendly, like it’s home.” For ice cream lovers, Jeanlouis said the soft serve equipment is new and came along with the remodel. “More people can fit inside now, like 50 to 60,” he said. “I love being around these people and love meeting new challenges every day.” The store hours are 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Call 561-752-1840. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/dunkin_donuts_and_baskinrobbin.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/dunkin_donuts_and_baskinrobbin.html Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:02:42 -0500 Age 68 She was born in New York and moved to Florida 17 years ago. Her hobby is needlepoint. Sun Valley East is a small community of 300 homes off Boynton Beach Boulevard between Military Trail and Jog Road. She has been in charge of the group for about two years. There are about 20 seniors, 55 and older, that are part of the Music-Pals group. For information about the group or to have them sing for a community, call 561-742-3039. Who are the Sun Valley East Music-Pals? “It has been around for 15 years, on and off ... Now we have 20 people in it. From September through December, we sing songs from various states and get up on stage ... We sing at nursing homes and assisted living facilities.” How did this all start? “We started off just going to one place then went to Windward Palms off Military, an assisted living facility, and now Brighton Gardens in Boca. Then we got a call from out of the blue from Veranda Club in Boca.” Why is it important to sing to the elderly? “We are going to be there sometime and be at that age. I remember my mother singing these songs to me, these people get such a smile on their face when we sing these songs.” When do you practice? “Wednesday mornings is when we practice at 10 a.m. We all look forward to Wednesdays; it keeps everyone going. We enjoy singing and it’s fun. How did you get into singing? “I never sang in high school ... I would carpool my kids to Hebrew school, and always had the radio on and sung. My daughters heard that the Jewish center was putting on “Pajama Game.” I tried out and got the part of Mabel.” http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/profile_sitting_down_with_rhod.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/profile_sitting_down_with_rhod.html Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:25:03 -0500 Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County, the Boynton Community Redevelopment Agency and Boynton Faith-Based Community Development Corporation all got together last week to break ground on a project that is going to put families into new homes soon. Ocean Breeze West, 801 N. Seacrest Blvd., will be 21 single-family homes in the Heart of Boynton, a place that has been the focus of redevelopment for years with little action. Linda Gove, Habitat for Humanity spokeswoman, said that Hurricane Wilma hit the area in 2005 and destroyed it. Habitat coupled with the Faith-Based CDC took on the project as part of a bidding process from the CRA and Gove said green elements in the homes will help bring the function costs down. Habitat will be building 11 of the homes with the CDC constructing the other 10. The project is estimated to take about two years, but Gove said Habitat wants to build a home each month. The cost of the project is more than $2 million. Mike Williams, Habitat’s associate executive director, said the housing on the land before the hurricane was designated Section 108, which is low-cost rentals. “The CRA was looking to revitalize the area,” he said. “They decided they wanted a mixed-income community.” Williams said all the homes will be at least three bedrooms or more depending on who gets placed in the homes. He said the homes, whether built by either Habitat or the CDC, will look exactly the same. “Habitat is out to help those who can’t find homes through traditional means, usually those with low income,” he said. “Mortgages we get for them are zero interest, with a lot of volunteers constructing the homes to keep costs down.” He said anyone getting a home through Habitat has to put in 500 hours of sweat equity and help build homes themselves or attend educational classes. “The project itself will be open to families with incomes up to 120 percent of the area median income,” he said. “For example, a family of four can have an income as high as $88,800 and as low as $22,200.” While Habitat homes have zero interest, the CDC homes will have some interest but all the homes will look the same. Visit habitatsouthpalmbeach.org. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/habitat_for_humanity_breaks_gr.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/habitat_for_humanity_breaks_gr.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:13:29 -0500 The holiday season may be over but some gifts keep on giving. Tivoli Reserve, 11045 Vía Sorrento, in Boynton Beach raised more than $5,500 last month during a 5K Walkathon and Health Fair, and the residents plan to donate the money to Fire Rescue Station No. 44, 6670 Flavor Pict Road, later this month. John Lacopo, Tivoli Reserve spokesman, said after participating with the nonprofit Community Assistance & Benefit Corp in its last golf outing, also to benefit the fire station, the men’s club at Tivoli decided to put their efforts behind the same cause. “Station No. 44 serves our community, so we wanted to give back,” he said. “About 130 people came out and we got a great response from local health professionals like Delray Medical Center, who also came out.” Lacopo said the participants either walked the 5K or met with healthcare professionals like Hospice of Palm Beach County to get information and blood tests. “They were willing to give money to this,” he said. “Fire rescue is in here all the time; this is what CAB Corp has been touting about for some time.” Lacopo said with all the budget cuts, fire rescue needs help from the community. The is Tivoli’s first event. “CAB showed us the way,” he said. For the walk, Lacopo said even a woman in a wheelchair had her husband roll her around for the cause. The money will be donated to the station through CAB Corp and be used to refurbish or buy new equipment. Lacopo said people from neighboring communities like Avalon Estates came to Tivoli to help out and donate. Irwin Horowitz, CAB Corp member, said the organization has a ceremonial large check to give to the fire department later this month as a symbol of success. “We’ve been around a long, long time now,” he said of CAB Corp. “We reached out to other groups to help and it is expanding.” Horowitz said CAB started with a handful of people almost 10 years ago in Palm Isle and residents can see how the donations to help fire rescue have grown. “As you see, we’ve gotten other developments to join in,” he said. Visit cabcorp.org. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/local_walk_and_health_fair_rai.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/local_walk_and_health_fair_rai.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:35:40 -0500 In 25 years of working with the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, Virginia Shea said she has never been more excited about a project than she is about the Congress Avenue Barrier-Free Park. Shea, the city’s senior Recreation and Parks manager, said the goal of the new park, 311 S. Congress Ave., is that everyone, including those with disabilities, is able to play and experience the fun. The city is having a ceremony at 11 a.m. Jan. 21 with snacks for children, kite flying, games and a wheelchair tennis match at the adjacent tennis center. “The tennis courts are attached to the park,” Shea said. “This is really like an $8 million project but it’s not finished. To be able to do even a portion of the larger vision makes a difference in the community.” Taking about a year to construct, Shea said this part is Phase 1 of multiple steps to complete the barrier-free park. Activities for children include a game called Sway-Fun in which children in wheelchairs can roll up to it, get on the platform and the game makes them feel like they are on a boat. Wally Majors, director of the Recreation and Parks Department, said the boundless aspect was spread throughout the park to remove barriers to make it accessible to all children. “We took away curbs and other boundaries,” he said. “Also, there are rolling hills that are beneficial to children with autism; going up and down the hills is great therapy.” Majors said the landscaping is in the theme of the swamp. “For example, one area of the park has water spraying out of two alligator heads,” he said. “Also, the surface of a playground piece is brown like a swamp.” Majors said with 13.5 acres, views of ponds and sunsets in the west, the park is not just for children with disabilities but for all families. He said the Greater Boynton Beach Foundation, separate from the city, was tasked with the effort to raise money for the park. The ultimate goal is to include a therapeutic recreation center. Call 561-742-6255. http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/new_park_will_give_access_to_a.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/new_park_will_give_access_to_a.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:56:03 -0500 Kassidy Sottilare, Boynton Beach Community High School senior and author Age 17 She likes cheerleading and dance. She was born in and lives in Boynton Beach. She has been writing since the seventh grade. The American Library of Poetry has an annual contest in which the winners not only have the chance to win prizes but also the opportunity to see their work in print. Kassidy’s poem, “Love Ain’t Real,” earned her a spot in “Acclaimed,” this year’s compilation of poetry. In addition to creative writing, Kassidy is also a member of the Performing Arts Dance Academy and an active member of the School Advisory Council at Boynton Beach High School. How did you get into writing? “It was really hard and I didn’t have anybody to talk to, so I wrote it down. The paper can’t tell your secrets.” What is you favorite aspect of writing? “No matter what you are going through, you can always write about it; even if you can’t express it to other people, you write it down so you understand it.” What did the contest include? “It was a contest for school; send it in, win and get a prize. It was freestyle; send in short stories or poems, or drawings too ... I didn’t win but they did ask my permission to put the poem in [Acclaimed]. Of course I said yes.” What was your first reaction to being published? “I think I called everybody; that’s the first thing I did.” Do you plan to continue to write? “Yes, I plan to write for the rest of my life.” What’s next for you after high school? “After I graduate, I might go off into the military or might stay home and go to college.” http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/profile_kassidy_sottilare_a_se.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2012/01/profile_kassidy_sottilare_a_se.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:12:17 -0500 Age 29 Salgado’s job at Genesis, 564 E. Woolbright Road, is to oversee the accounting and finance departments. He also creates program budgets, among other duties. He was born in Nicaragua and lives in Miami. He likes to play tennis, basketball and soccer when he has time. Before this job, he was senior accountant for Health Choice Network in Doral. Genesis is a nonprofit organization that attempts to help the uninsured of Palm Beach County by working with patients to get them basic medical attention at prices they can afford. For more information, call 561-735-6553. What attracted you to work at Genesis and what are your job duties? “The operations manager entails making sure, from the moment a patient walks into our lobby, that two employees in front provide excellent customer service. Also with Encounter, which is like our invoice, we outline service and how much it will cost, making sure all the information allocated into the software is being recorded properly.” Why is this organization so important to the community? “Well, you know, President Obama is trying to create [healthcare] reform, and we know that our healthcare is going through changes, leaving many people uninsured. A lot of people can't afford the most essential services. This is not a place for emergency, just preventive medical services.” You drive all the way up from Miami? “I do live in Miami but it's the borderline between Broward and Miami. Driving north it takes me 45 minutes but I have been driving since I graduated from school. It's not that bad; everyone is going south, so you are actually going against the traffic.” You are working on your MBA right now? “Yes, I am enrolled in the healthcare MBA at Florida International University. It has completely given me a different perspective and given me a full understanding how the healthcare system is and what we need.” What do you want for Genesis' future? “We would like in 2012 to have a dentistry office and hopefully within the next three years open a second facility in the Deerfield Beach or Boca Raton area.” http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2011/12/sitting_down_with_cecil_salgad.html http://blogs.trb.com/community/news/boynton_forum/2011/12/sitting_down_with_cecil_salgad.html Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:22:51 -0500