With the holiday season in full force and the economy in shambles, there is a concern that desperation could led to an increase in crime. Two recent emails circulating around town discuss purported robberies which everyone should be aware of.

In the first situation, a woman's purse was taken from the back of her chair at a restaurant in the mall. The woman was preoccupied with taking care of her child and the thief brazenly grabbed the bag and sauntered out of the restaurant. Witnesses tried to alert the woman and in the commotion that ensued the robber got away.

In the second instance, a woman withdrew money from an ATM and was then followed to a grocery store. The perpetrator reached into her car right after she parked and stole the woman's purse as it sat on the passenger seat. The email states that this crime of following and then robbing individuals after they have withdrawn cash from an ATM is fairly common.

Regardless of whether these emails are true or urban legends, it is important to take measures to assure the safety of persons and property. It is just over a year since the unsolved heinous murders of Joey and Nancy Bochicchio. Make sure as you do holiday shopping and errands this season that you are aware of your surroundings and stay safe. Don't park in dark areas, ask for assistance if you have any hesitation, and keep your cell phone readily available to call for help.

Remember you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. Enjoy the holiday season but make sure to act safely at all times.

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The election on November 4 will be historic no matter who wins for it will either represent the first time an African American has been elected to the nation's highest office or a woman has been elected to the nation's second highest office. As we all have been told ad naseum, Florida is a swing state and this time around our votes should count.

If you want to vote by absentee ballot, the deadline for requesting the ballot is October 29. You can request it at www.pbcelections.org or by calling 561 656-6200. The absentee ballot must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections by 5:00 on Election Day.

Early voting starts Monday October 20 and continues every day, including Saturday and Sunday, through November 2. You can cast your vote at any of the Palm Beach County locations regardless of where you live. Locations nearby include Boca Raton City Hall, Southwest County Regional Library and Hagen Ranch Road Library. You will need a current and valid picture signature identification to vote. Hours to vote are 10- 6 weekdays and 10-2 weekends.

If you wait until November 4th Election Day to vote, be prepared for long lines. The ballot is lengthy and contains a variety of amendments in addition to the presidential, state and congressional elections. This long ballot combined with a big turnout could lead to delays. You will need your picture identification to vote and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Many attorneys are serving as poll watchers and if you have any problems contact them immediately.

Lastly, be an informed voter. Palm Beach County just distributed a sample ballot by mail to all registered voters. Study the ballot and even mark it up and bring it to the polling place with you. Attend one of the numerous candidate forms that are taking place around town. Read the papers and check out the endorsements and formulate your own opinions. With respect to voting, knowledge really is power.

This election represents everyone's chance to be part of the making of history. Make your voice heard in this groundbreaking election by voting.

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What is it about male politicians that make them think they can have an affair and no one will notice? Maybe the issue of having an affair is not only endemic to politicians; maybe it has to do more with men and money and power. Irregardless, once a man puts himself in the political spotlight, he becomes a public figure subject to public scrutiny and having an affair is dishonest, immoral and plain stupid.

The news about John Edwards' liaison was disheartening and audacious. How dare he think that he could run for President and that his affair would remain a secret? Even leaving aside the issues of his wife's illness and the destruction of his family, you really have to wonder what the man was thinking.

The recent revelations about Congressman Tim Mahoney, who represents parts of Palm Beach County, are also shocking. Here is a man who won his seat by virtue of his predecessor's illicit activities with underage males. Did he not learn any lessons from Mark Foley?

The fact that he hired the woman he was having an affair with compounds the problem tenfold. The FBI is currently investigating the matter to see if the employment relationship and subsequent discharge were legal. Sadly this situation has shades of Wayne Hayes. Remember the congressional aide who could not type or even answer the phone? Not to say that Ms. Allen is unqualified, but hiring someone you are sleeping with is just bad office policy.

Twenty years ago, when rumors began circulating about his extramarital relations, Gary Hart challenged the media to follow him around. He said they would be bored. Needless to say, they were not. His presidential aspirations were dashed by his activities on a boat appropriately named Monkey Business.

Since that time, the list of cheating Congressman has grown exponentially. David Vitter, Larry Craig, Bob Livingston and even Newt Gringich are just a few of the members of the infamous club.

While people have a right to their private lives, if they choose to become public figures who are passing legislation that affects everyone's privacy rights, the public has a right to know about their morals and values.

It is outrageous that so many elected representatives continue to have extra-marital affairs. Congressmen consider yourselves warned. The angry women are watching and will not condone your foolish behavior.

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The Atlantic Ocean from the Bahamas to Cape Verde now has three major tropical disturbances. Hurricane Hanna is near the Bahamas and forecast to head north. It is presently stalled which raises concern that it could drift further east toward Florida before the northward push. Tropical Storm Ike is predicted to move westward toward Florida as is the new Tropical Depression Ten. Both storms are too far away to determine where they will be beyond day five.

While none of these storms as of now are predicted to make land in Florida, it is important that we all have our evacuation routes and plans for securing properties in place. There is too much activity in the tropics for anyone to risk having a lackadaisical attitude.

The news forecasters all note that we are in the height of hurricane season. Given the amount of activity, let us hope they are right. If we continue to see this many disturbances in the Atlantic, the chances of Florida remaining relatively unscathed will be greatly diminished.

While we do not need to get into panic mode, now is a good time to address our anxiety levels by continuing to prepare. Hurricane alley is heating up and we need to be ready for any eventuality.

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Tuesday, August 26th is the Florida primary. Elections on the Palm Beach County ballot include Congress, the Florida Senate and House, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, State Attorney, Supervisor of Elections, County Commissioner, and the School Board.

Traditionally turnout is low in the primaries. Some of the positions are unopposed in the general election, so it is important for people to vote. Every vote is significant and could make a difference in the election.

The polls are open from seven in the morning until seven at night. Make the extra effort to exercise your civic duty and vote.

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Now that Tropical Storm Fay has passed through our area, we can all breath a sigh of relief. Although there was some damage from tornadoes and flooding, generally the storm's impact was minimal. Fay never reached hurricane strength and therefore did not wreck too much havoc.

There are some lessons that we should all take from this storm. First, this could be a very long and busy hurricane season and we all need to react appropriately to all storms. Not many people put up shutters for Fay because of its' weaker strength and the fact that we were out of the cone of danger. Next time could be stronger or more on target for our area and we can't afford to be lax. Second, once again the storm did not stick to the exact predicted track, showing that anyone in the cone really needs to be prepared. The National Hurricane Center has repeatedly stated that it is difficult to predict strength and we should also always prepare for the worst strength. Third, if you did not buy your hurricane supplies yet, stock up now. Do not wait to the last minute to get everything because the stores will be crazy. Water and gas were already in short supply for this storm and supplies will only be more limited when a bigger storm approaches.

Overall our area responded well to the storm threat. The news media did probably over hype the storm, interrupting morning programs to show the same tornado footage repeatedly. Palm Beach County school officials waited too long to call off school on Tuesday, not making the announcement until 5:30 p.m. This forced some families to unnecessarily scramble for childcare coverage on Tuesday. Let's hope that there are no more storms this year and that if we do have another storm our concerns are as minimal.

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The news that an 18 year old boy was stabbed in the back by a 17 year old at a party in Timbercreek is shocking. The fact that it happened in suburban Boca Raton highlights the fact that this summer is not starting well for teens.

The bad economy this year has rippled down to the teen group. Teens searching for jobs are finding that the pickings are very slim. Businesses are not hiring at all or are hiring at reduced hours. In addition, many parents can no longer afford the luxury of paying for their children to attend daytime or out of town summer programs. The end result is a volatile mix of too many teens with nothing to do.

The summer has just started and the problems will only worsen unless action is taken quickly. Parents need to organize and be aware of their children's activities. The stabbing occurred at 1 a.m. and not much good happens when teenagers are out at late hours. Parents need to take responsibility for their children.

City officials also need to address the issue. City officials should examine existing summer programs and determine how they can keep kids busy and out of trouble. More programming may be needed and should be added immediately.

This stabbing is a wake up call and is the time for everyone to take action to avoid future problems. It will be a hot summer in the city if this issue is not resolved.

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The students in Ms. Oyer's social studies classes at Boca Raton Middle School continue to show that they have learned the true meaning of civic involvement. As you may recall, Ms. Oyer's classes actively participated in the effort to fight the cancellation of the television show "Jericho" by writing protest letters to CBS and bringing in spare change to help purchase advertisements in Variety.

Not content with stopping there, Ms. Oyer and the students learned of a program where DVD's of "Jericho" are sent to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Staten Island Program For Our Homefront purchased and shipped 100 DVD's of "Jericho" season one last year. Ms. Oyer's students raised $440.27 which will buy 20 DVD's of "Jericho" season two for the soldiers and Ms. Oyer contributed to make it 21 DVDs. Currently, the program has raised enough to purchase 67 DVD's, making Ms. Oyer's classes a major contributor.

Many of the students have friends and family who either were or are in the military. The students all stressed that they want the servicemen and women to have something to entertain them. As noted by Ashley Cope, "My uncle is thinking of going to war and I want to support people like I would support my uncle." Billy Tobener concurred noting that his uncle was in Iraq and said "it was boring and there was nothing to watch on television." Julian Parks summed it up by stating that he "wanted the troops to not just think about war."

The students raised the money through a variety of means, including enlisting their parents assistance and picking up spare change found on the school floors. Bobby Kron raised the most money and said he did chores to raise his contribution.

The DVD's donated by Ms. Oyer's classes will be sent as soon as the second season is released in mid-June. They will contain a personal message for the troops noting that the DVD's were purchased by the students and will provide address information for the soldiers to respond to.

As the school year is winding to a close, it is clear that these students have learned valuable lessons in civics and philanthropy that will create a lasting legacy. Their donations, which coincide with Memorial Day, highlight for all of us the need to support our troops and be active participants in the local, national and global level. If you would like more information about the DVD donations or the students involvement with "Jericho" go to http://www.jerichorangers4ourtroops.com/ or http://www.Jericho4kids.com .

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Now that primary season is concluding, South Florida is back on the political radar. John McCain, the Republican nominee, and Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, the Democratic contenders, are all campaigning in South Florida.

Hillary Clinton started her visit with stops at two bastions of staunch supporters, Century Village, Boca Raton and Sunrise Lakes. She completed her swoop through with an evening program open to the public at the University of Miami. John McCain appeared at a private fundraiser in Ft. Lauderdale and held a town hall style meeting in Miami. Barak Obama is starting his visit with a town hall style meeting at Congregation B'nai Torah in Boca Raton and an evening fundraiser at the Diplomat Hotel. He is concluding with a rally open to the public at Bank Atlantic Center.

The appearance of the candidates is a welcome opportunity for South Floridians to learn more about their positions. Because of the Florida legislator's decision to move up the primary, South Floridians never had the chance to see the Democratic contenders. Seeing the candidates in person is a more complete view than just catching the sound bites or the reviews from the nightly talking heads.

The town hall style meetings have afforded South Floridians the chance to question candidates on issues that matter both locally, nationally and globally. Even if you do not get a chance to see the candidates in person, there is more complete news coverage of their speeches providing everyone with a fuller picture of the individuals running for President.

Once again, it appears that Florida will be a pivotal state in the presidential election. This will probably be the first of many visits by the candidates. Now is a great opportunity to listen to the candidates and hear what they have to say on issues that matter to you. Let's all take advantage of being in the political driver's seat and enjoy being in the positive political spotlight for a change.

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1. Enjoy every minute of your graduation festivities. Live in the moment. There are very few opportunities in life for closure, which makes graduation a unique experience. Enjoy this chance to savor completing a significant task. Do not focus on what is coming next; there will be plenty of opportunities for that later.

2. Resolve to respect the principles of karma. Even if you think the Golden Rule is trite, remember that your actions lead to reactions that could adversely affect you later. Try not to do anything spiteful, malicious or inadvertently stupid as what goes around does eventually come back around.

3. Do not smoke. If you do smoke, quit immediately. There is no question that smoking is one of the most harmful things you can do to your body.

4. Even if you think you are invincible, take care of yourself. Watch your weight and try and exercise. Try not to do anything that has irreversible deleterious effects.

5. Register to vote. Be part of the civic process and go willingly when called for jury duty. Serving on a jury is a great honor and one that you may actually find that you enjoy. Be an active member of whatever community you live in wherever you live.

6. Always remember to give back. Serve as a volunteer or donate money to your favorite cause. You will receive much more than you give once you discover the benefits of helping others.

7. Remember that no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, including you. Do not beat yourself up over the past and instead learn from it and move forward. Forgive others for their errors.

Congratulations to you and your family on this wonderful occasion! Now go party - SAFELY.

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The recent sighting and photos of an individual in the Aventura Mall who resembles the Town Center Mall killer is a welcome breakthrough. It has been over one year since the death of Randi Gorenberg and almost five months since the deaths of the Bochicchios. This appears to be the first real lead that the police have.

The tip was called in to Crime Stoppers by someone who must have seen the reward posters, which highlights the importance of maintaining publicity about the case. Now that the matter is back in the news, the police need to step up their efforts to identify this possible perpetrator. Hopefully the public and police can use the new photographs to find this individual.

The best possible Mother's Day gift the woman of South Florida could receive would be to know that the party responsible for the murder of the Bochicchios has been apprehended.

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Students in Ms. Oyer's sixth and seventh grade social studies classes have had the opportunity to learn first hand about civics and economics concepts thanks to the television program Jericho. Jericho is a show about a small town in Kansas and what happens in the town following a nuclear bombing of the United States. The show chronicles how the residents survive and the choices they make in governing and allocation of resources.

Ms. Oyer, a teacher at Boca Raton Middle School, recommends that students watch the show as part of their homework assignment. She said the show helps make abstract concepts easier for the students to understand. The students get absorbed in the show's characters and at the same time learn about societal, economic and governmental choices through concrete examples.

The only problem is that CBS has decided to cancel the show for the second time. The show was cancelled in 2007, but due to viewer response was reinstated. An on-line protest involving delivering 20 tons of peanuts to CBS Entertainment in New York and California succeeded in bringing back Jericho. Peanuts were used because in the very last show the main character's battle cry was "nuts".

Just as the students learned about civics from the show, its cancellation also presents an opportunity to become involved. Knowing that the fans are rising up in revolt again, the students want to do their part and have written letters to CBS asking for Jericho to be continued. When the on-line fans decided to raise money to buy huge ads in Variety and Hollywood Reporter, the students brought in spare change and raised $52.11. A note with the donation posted on the protest website by Ms. Oyer received great feedback and motivated others to donate. Once again peanuts are being sent, this time to entertainment writers at newspapers so that they can generate media coverage about the cancellation.

The loyal viewers are hopeful that CBS will sell the show to another station who will continue to produce it. As Ms. Oyer optimistically states, " This show is not dead, just in transit." Whatever happens, these social studies students have had a real life opportunity to learn about civic involvement.

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When was the last time you heard an elected official in Boca Raton discussing environmental issues? Yes, Mayor Susan Whelchel did campaign on a platform of environmental sensitivity, but what specific actions are taking place?

To the City's credit, there is a program for waste water reclamation. However, this is the only "green" item on the City website. What is the City doing about low energy light bulbs, xeriscape landscaping to conserve water, and promoting bike paths to cut down on automobile traffic?

My research found an article that said the City purchased four hybrid vehicles in 2005 to ferry police personnel around town. Does the City still own these automobiles and are there plans in the works to purchase other fuel efficient vehicles? Does the City have any plans to build Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ("LEED") certified buildings? If the City proceeds with its proposal to build a second multimillion dollar library will it be LEED certified?

If the City is acting in an environmentally responsible manner, it has not made the local citizens aware of its actions. While is it everyone's individual responsibility to be environmentally sensitive, the City should be leading the effort from the top down. Use this Earth Day as a platform for letting elected officials know that you care about the environment and that you want Boca Raton to be a "green" city.

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Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22 and everyone can help make a difference at The Great America Cleanup sponsored by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Join Saturday, April 19th with volunteers from the community for a three hour annual beach cleanup, as part of a national effort to beautify the nation. Meet at 8:30 at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to receive everything you will need for this event: gloves, garbage bags, water, and an event ball cap (while supplies last).

The event is free but reservations are required and can be made by calling (561) 338-1473. All ages are welcome to participate and children and teens under the age of 18 MAY NOT participate if they arrive without an adult.

There will also be a special Earth Day event at Gumbo Limbo for children ages 7 through 12 on Tuesday, April 22 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. In the program, titled "Earth Day is Everyday" children will learn what they can do to help the earth on a daily basis. They will create an earth friendly project that will make a difference to Mother Earth everyday. Adults will not need to stay and the member cost is $10 and the non-member cost is $15. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (561) 338-1473.

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Every now and then something happens that is considered a "wake up call." I think we just saw such an event with the City of Boca Raton Housing Authority debacle and it is an issue that needs to be addressed by our public figures now.

For those of you who don't know, the Housing Authority announced that it would accept applications for HUD Section 8 housing vouchers on the morning of Wednesday, March 12th. Hundreds of people began lining up at the Glades Road office the evening before and by midnight the police had been called in to patrol the crowd. At 2 a.m. the Housing Authority passed out 500 of its 600 applications, reserving 100 for disabled individuals. At 9 a.m. the Housing Authority asked for disabled individuals to come forward, which caused a crowd surge. Evidently, thereafter the police told everyone to leave and hundreds of people were turned away without even getting an application.

Leaving aside the issue of a near riot and police action in Boca Raton, what is even more troubling is the numbers and desperation of the people waiting for vouchers. Photos of the crowd show families and children who lined up for hours for the privilege of getting subsidized housing. The pictures illustrate the fact that there are a large number of individuals in our area who are in dire need of help.

In these troubled economic times with a recession looming, many people are just a step away from homelessness. The Housing Authority was clearly caught off guard by the crowd and unprepared for the number of applicants. The Housing Authority alone, however, can not solve this societal problem. Our local, county and state governments need to take action now and help people obtain affordable housing before things get worse.

The Housing Authority crowd was probably just the tip of the iceberg representing only a fraction of the numbers that need help. Now is the time, before there is a true catastrophe, for our public officials to step forward and address the issue of affordable housing.

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In response to America's Most Wanted airing the murder stories of Nancy and Joey Bochicchio and Randi Gorenberg on Saturday, February 16th, the police in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County finally released more information about the crimes. The fact that new information was divulged at this late date only serves to highlight the total mismanagement of these cases by every entity involved.

First, the owners of Town Center, Simon Property Group, Inc. (“Simon”) have been in the forefront of the denial movement. Simon has long been aware of problems in their parking lots and kept it hushed up. There are plenty of cameras in the mall to stop shoplifters but crimes against persons evidently were not as much a priority. By instituting "Up Front Parking" and taking over more spaces for valet parking Simon exacerbated the parking lot problems. Simon's initial silence on the murders and then its lame new parking proposals are troubling. The free parking is only until 5 p.m., for mothers with young children and expires Mother's Day. Are we to assume that women without children, including the elderly, women who enter the mall after five or after Mother's Day are not potential targets? Simon should take a serious look at its policies and make some concrete concessions that might even affect its bottom line.

The Boca Police Department's handling of crime frighteningly resembles the Keystone Cops. The police did not believe the woman who was kidnapped in August and even made her take a lie detector test. Then there was no warning to the public about the predator. Even after the Bochicchio's were murdered very little information was released and it was only in response to a national television show that we get more information. It has been almost a year since the Gorenberg murder and two months since the Bochicchio's and the police have no suspects. Shouldn't there be some forensic evidence? The Police Department needs to find the criminals and bring them to justice. Even more important for the future the police need to be proactive and focus on stopping predators and alerting the public to serious crimes.

The Boca Raton Mayor and City Council were also aware that Town Center parking areas are crime ridden. The initial response from the elected officials to the Gorenberg murder was null and the first reaction to the Bochicchio murders was disbelief. It was not until the City Council meeting almost one month later that they excoriated Simon. The Council should stop blaming Simon and do some inward introspection. Why were they unaware of the August kidnapping? Doesn't the police department keep the elected officials aware of town issues? Why did they wait almost a month to issue any public statements? There is a new incumbent Mayor and this is a good time to institute new procedures to assure that our elected officials do not get caught unaware again.

It is deeply troubling that three innocent lives have been lost in our community. Hopefully, Simon, the police and elected officials will learn from mistakes made in handling these cases so that they are more effective in thwarting such crimes and apprehending the perpetrators.

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Although it took almost four years to build, cost much more than expected, and is the subject of a lawsuit against the original contractor, the City of Boca Raton Spanish River Library appears poised to be a huge success.

The Library opened with a grand flourish on Saturday, January 26th. Over 2,000 people attended the first day ceremonies which included clowns, magicians, a bounce house and a harpist.

My informal survey of the initial crowd was overwhelming positive and I wholeheartedly concur with this sentiment.

The architectural details that comprise the physical building have a mediterranean flair and make the premises a visual delight. The library itself is well thought out and provides something for everyone.

There's a teen room that specializes in teen books, a children's computer lab with specially pre-programmed games, a tiny tots reading room called pooh's corner, a cafe situated next to a beautiful outdoor terrace, conference rooms available for rent, an adult computer lab, a gift shop and a plentiful assortment of books, books on tape and videos.

Programs for the new library are scheduled to start immediately and include Story Time, Tween and Teen programs, a Sunday speaker series and a Book Club. The hours of operation are 9 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 9 to 6 Friday and Saturday and 12 to 8 on Sunday.

Having such an amazing library and great programming really was worth the wait.

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When Florida Atlantic University ("FAU") opened in Boca Raton in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson delivered the keynote address. On Thursday, January 24th, FAU was once again in the national spotlight, hosting the Republican presidential debate.

Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney took center stage in FAU's Kay Auditorium. Moderators Brian Williams and Tim Russert framed questions to the candidates, which included issues concerning the economy, the war in Iraq, global warming, and even Florida's property insurance crisis. McCain and Romney came across as dignified and presidential, Huckabee as homespun and down to earth, Guiliani as friendly and affable and Paul as out of the mainstream.

Over 1,500 people attended the debate. The attendees included FAU students, individuals supporting various candidates, and a who's who of Florida Republicans - Governor Charlie Crist, Speaker of the House Marco Rubio, Attorney General Bill McCollum, Representative Connie Mack, and Mayor Steve Abrams, to name a few.

FAU President Frank Brogan spoke to the crowd prior to the debate. He greeted each of the candidates and then left to attend an FAU student watch party, giving up his seats for student use. After the debate several of the candidates also went to meet the students at a watch party.

The debates were FAU's ninety minutes of fame. The professional and competent manner in which the University executed this event should serve to place FAU in a long lasting positive light. Kudos to all the candidates and President Brogan and FAU for their participation in the debate.

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With each day that passes without any arrests in the Bochicchio murders, frustration mounts. Law enforcement officials have been working diligently on the case for over a month. Despite their efforts and the supposedly abundant forensic evidence collected at the scene of the crime, the police evidently do not have any clue as to who committed the atrocious murders.

The only thing they know is that it appears similar to an August incident at Town Center and another in Mizner Park, both of which have not resulted in any arrests. There are also no suspects in the Randi Gorenberg murder case which happened over ten months ago.

Reliable sources have advised me that there was an attempted carjacking at gun point on Jog Road in December and an attempted car robbery in broad daylight last week at the Military Trail post office. In early December, my car was robbed of an ipod and several of my neighbor's cars were also robbed of personal items. Credit cards taken from one of the vehicles were used hours later in Miami but to my knowledge the case was immediately closed without any arrests.

The fact that the perpetrators of murders and robberies are still walking the streets of our community has everyone in a justifiably heightened state of concern. The lack of any arrests in these high profile cases along with stories of widespread crime makes it feel like we are living in the Wild West.

Local law enforcement officials need to reassure the public that we are not living in a lawless community. A strong zero tolerance policy toward any crime needs to be adopted and enforced. While we should not compromise on-going investigations, the police do need to be more forthcoming so that citizens can be aware of potential problems and feel more secure.

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It has now been over a week since the bodies of Nancy Bochicchio and her daughter Joey were found in their car at Town Center. The City of Boca Raton has offered a generous reward for information regarding the crime. The police appear to be working diligently to track down the killers. Despite these efforts, it is unknown whether the perpetrators will ever be brought to justice.

Mall management has been relatively quiet during this troubling time period. The Mayor's initial comments to wait and see what the investigation reveals were indicative of the laissez- faire attitude about crime at the mall that has been displayed to date. Several City Councilmen have commented privately to various citizens that there is a crime problem at the mall. No one has really stepped up and addressed the issue of mall safety.

Simon Property Group Inc. should be in the forefront of re-evaluating what can be done to stop criminals from using the mall as stomping grounds. Solutions like more cameras, better lighting, less prime parking taken up by the paid parking and car wash areas, and procedures to assist staff who are leaving work, need to be put into place. The mayor's office and the police department should work with Simon to formulate a plan to protect shoppers at the mall. A zero tolerance policy toward all crime, including shoplifters and purse snatchers, should be implemented.

Now is the time for Simon, the Mayor's office, the City Council and the police department to come forward and show everyone that this is a priority that is being and will be addressed. Let us hear from these groups so that the citizens of Boca know that they are working to honor the memory of Nancy and Joey Bochicchio by trying to assure that this tragedy is not repeated.

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The tragic news that a mother and daughter were found dead in their car at Town Center at Boca Raton raises significant concerns about security at the mall parking lots. This is not the first time that questions have arisen as to what is happening in the parking areas at the mall.

In March, 2007, Randi Gorenberg was seen leaving Town Center. She was murdered less than one hour later in Delray Beach. Videotapes showed her exiting the mall but, as there are no cameras in the parking lot, do not show what happened when she entered her car.

In August, 2007, a women and her son were carjacked at gun point from the center and taken to a bank where the woman was forced to withdraw cash from the automatic teller. Police will tell you that being right off an interstate highway allows for easy get-aways and makes the mall a prime target for thieves.

Given this, WHY ARE THERE NO CAMERAS IN THE PARKING LOTS? There are numerous cameras throughout the mall and the parking lots needs to be under video surveillance as well. The mall owners, Simon, should at a minimum take this important step to protect customers. In addition, a complete evaluation needs to be quickly conducted and implemented to combat parking lot crime.

Call Simon at 368-6000 and let them know that you are concerned. Mall management has cordoned off many of the best parking spaces for valet and paid parking, forcing many people to park far from the nearest entrance. Security needs to be stepped up and not with a temporary band aid of a few more police during the holiday season. While cameras and better security may not stop all crimes, it should serve as a deterrent and provide evidence that may assist in apprehending the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

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Stop Iran is an organization newly created by the Jewish Community Relations Council for the purpose of opposing Iran's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. The group hopes to partner with other community and religious groups and held its first event in Boca Raton at Zinman Hall in the Jewish Federation Campus on Thursday, November 15.

The special briefing entitled "National Security and the Threat of a Nuclear Iran" featured R. James Woolsey and Ofer Bavly. Mr. Woolsey, a former CIA director and Co-chair of the Committee of Present Danger, spoke about the historical, political and religious situation in Iran. He stated that the Iranian government is working hard on developing nuclear weapons and that the United States should do everything in its power to prevent a nuclear Iran. He said that he does not favor using force, but that if the alternative would be to allow Iran such weapons, then U.S. air power should be used. Mr. Woolsey explained that because of the ideological differences a nuclear Iran is not comparable to a nuclear Soviet Union. He concluded that Iran must be stopped before it reaches the point where it has the technology to produce a nuclear weapon.

Mr. Ofer Bavley, the new Consul General of Israel for Florida, agreed with Mr. Woolsey's comments and recommended economic sanctions as a viable alternative for stopping Iran's nuclear program. He noted that the State of Florida has divested from companies that do business with Iran. He explained that if there was worldwide support of economic sanctions, Iran would have the dilemma of deciding between a nuclear program or feeding its people.

As made clear by the speakers, the threat of a nuclear Iran is a frightening proposition. This group is certainly in the forefront of addressing this issue and will hopefully continue to put the spotlight on this very important issue.

For additional information about this group, email jcrc@jewishboca.org.

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