http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/ A blog written by members of the Boca Raton community. en Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:48:53 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 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. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/09/hurricane_alley.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/09/hurricane_alley.html Current Affairs Environmental Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:48:53 -0500 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. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/vote_on_august_26.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/vote_on_august_26.html Current Affairs Government Politics Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:55:29 -0500 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. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/we_survived_round_one_of_the_h.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/we_survived_round_one_of_the_h.html Current Affairs Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:47:53 -0500 Monday, August 18th is the official opening date of public school in Palm Beach County. Although it seems like just yesterday, it has been ten weeks since school ended in June. As the new school year commences, the following are some thoughts to consider: 1. Check out your school website to see if there are any new changes. Spanish River Community High School, for instance, has a new stricter dress code. 2. Do not wait until the last minute to prepare for school to start. Gather your school supplies and modify your schedule to adjust to new sleeping patterns. 3. Drivers need to be on the look out for pedestrian students around school facilities. Also, be aware of student drivers near schools. 4. Take the opening of school as an opportunity to get off to a good start and make it a great year. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/summer_is_over_for_students.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/summer_is_over_for_students.html Education Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:14:26 -0500 www.bocaratonchamber.com. ]]> http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/boca_festival_days.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/08/boca_festival_days.html Business Charitable Events Recreation Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:55:13 -0500 If you have not already including seeing the Dalai Lama on your life or bucket list, you might want to revise your list. I recently had the opportunity to hear him speak in Aspen, Colorado and it was a once in a lifetime memorable experience. Even though he is revered by millions, the Dalai Lama calls himself a "simple Buddhist monk". His speaking style reflects his humble feelings and is quite unique. He sits cross legged in stocking feet in an oversized armchair and speaks without notes. He laughs infectiously throughout his talk, leading you to feel as if you are having a conversation with him. Since English is not his first language, he speaks with an accent which takes some time to acclimate to. He even plays up the misinterpretations, at one point repeatedly saying "forget it" knowing that the audience thought he was stating an obscenity. The basic message of his speech is that we are all one earth and that we must treat each other with compassion. He explained that children do not care about race, religion or social background and treat everyone the same. When we grow we lose this innocence and forget the importance of humanity. He stated that we are all human beings and that physically and mentally we are the same. We have the ability to show kindness to people and animals and should do so. The Dalai Lama describes himself as a Marxist and said that he is concerned with the well being of the working class people. He believes that moral principles must govern transactions, not just profit. We "really need a sense of global responsibility" because if we only care for our economy than the environment will suffer and all will be effected. He hopes that this century will be a "century of dialogue". A blueprint should be developed to transform the world and make everyone globally responsible. Peace must come through individual inner peace which can then develop in families and communities and ultimately spread to all. " It must also come through leadership — leadership that is truthful, transparent, open.” He addressed the issue of Tibet, his exiled homeland, by saying that Chairman Mao had promised him that Tibet would be autonomous under its own flag. He claimed that there are human rights violations and violations of religious freedom in China. He does not oppose the Olympic games but wants China to recognize Tibet. During the question and answer session, which lasted almost as long as his speech, he noted that compassion is based on two levels. The first is biological, such as a mother for a child. The second level is through training and reasoning and can be developed in individuals. He said that in order to change and become more compassionate, each person has to be responsible for themselves. He offered several personal stories as his way of illustrating his points. For example, he explained how on meeting an official and his wife and child he shook hands with everyone. He said that the child had a nanny who was reluctant to shake his hand. He did not understand this class distinction and pointed out that everyone is the same. Similarly, he explained that a wealthy Indian family had once asked for his blessing. The Dalai Lama told them the blessing must come from within and that they had the source of the blessing. He told the family to bless others by giving their wealth to help educate people in need. The Dalai Lama's sincerity and humbleness were apparent throughout his talk. He "never dreamt Lama in dreams" and instead identifies more closely to being a monk. To the almost two thousand people who listened with rapt attention to his discussion, the Dalai Lama was much more than a simple monk. ]]> http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/his_holiness_the_dalai_lama.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/his_holiness_the_dalai_lama.html People Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:47:31 -0500 Want to make a difference in the Boca community by serving on one of the City's citizen advisory boards? Unless your areas of interest were biking or Pearl City, there was little room for newcomers at the recent round of interviews. The City advertised the following openings: elder affairs - one position; library - two positions; bike paths - one position; historical preservation -one position; and parks and recreation - 4 positions. Multiple individuals applied for all committees except for Pearl City and bike paths. Eleven people applied for Parks and Recreation and eight people applied for the Elder Affairs Committee. All four of the individuals appointed to Parks and Recreation were incumbents and both library appointees were incumbents. That left one new person on elder affairs, one new individual for historic preservation and the sole applicant for Pearl City, for a total of three new members. While it is certainly in the City's best interest to obtain continuity and reward incumbents for jobs well done, it is frustrating that people who want to bring new energy and vibrancy to the community are rejected. People who take the time to apply and interview and show a sincere desire to make a difference in Boca Raton should be given the opportunity to do so instead of being summarily dismissed in favor of incumbents. If there are so many applicants for certain committees, the City should look into expanding the committees or finding other places where willing volunteers can make a difference. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/slim_pickings_for_those_intere.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/slim_pickings_for_those_intere.html Government Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:46:41 -0500 ]]> http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/not_too_many_students_can.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/not_too_many_students_can.html Education People Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:20:02 -0500 http://www.improvftl.com. ]]> http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/a_night_at_the_improv.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/a_night_at_the_improv.html Arts Recreation Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:30:02 -0500 If you watched any of the Wimbledon tennis, you might have been subjected to a new American Express commercial that uses Boca as the butt of the plot joke. In the commercial, actress and writer Tina Fey runs into director Martin Scorsese in an airport. Marty tells Tina that he has something that he wants her to look at and she should meet him in the lounge. Tina goes to the first class lounge and tries desperately to get in even though she has a coach class ticket. She pulls the don't you know who I am routine and takes out her Amex platinum to show that she is Tina Fey. She is let in because of her Amex card and hurries over to meet with Marty. Excitedly she asks him if he has a script he wants her to see. He calmly replies that he has a proposal that he wants her to see. He hands her a prospectus and tells her it is for an investment - time shares in Boca. Of course she is just as deflated as those of us who live in Boca are by the commercial. Why is our town continually the punch line of national jokes? What is it about Boca that causes our name to be bandied about by the media? Boca repeatedly gets used as a short handed version for a variety of images - mostly focusing on affluence and retired elderly populations. It seems that this image will continue to stick no matter what the truth is. They say that there is no such thing as negative publicity and that all publicity is good. I guess it could be worse than being labeled as a place where time share investments are tooted. I just can't wait to see the next reference to Boca! http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/boca_back_in_the_spoof_spotlig.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/boca_back_in_the_spoof_spotlig.html Boca bashing Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:50:08 -0500 Traditional July 4th fireworks will be launched in Boca Raton, West Boca, Delray Beach and Deerfield Beach. The schedule is as follows. FAU - Fabulous Fourth from 6-9:30 p.m. Family Activities start at 6 p.m. and the Florida Wind Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks go off at 9 p.m. Sunset Cove Amphitheater - An opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. with music hits from the 40's to the present. At 9 p.m. the twenty-five minute fireworks extravaganza will be synchronized to patriotic music. AIA and Atlantic in Delray - The annual sand sculpting contest is from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on the beach with live music from 2:30 - 8 p.m. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. on the beach. Hillsborough and AIA in Deerfield Beach - An oceanfront concert by Jay and the Americans is at 7:30 p.m. and The Mad Bomber fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Rain is in the forecast but should hopefully clear by the 9 p.m. start time. Bring a blanket and your favorite drink and enjoy the show. Have a safe and happy 4th! http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/july_4th_fireworks.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/07/july_4th_fireworks.html City Events Holiday Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:18:46 -0500 Starting in August when the new school year begins, Spanish River Community High School will begin enforcing a new school dress code. Students violating the dress code policy will be required to change clothes. Students with continuous or flagrant violations of the dress policy are subject to detentions or suspension. The dress code is as follows: • No visible underwear on either boys or girls at any time or the lack of it. • Head covers are out- includes any form of hat, scarf, do rags, stocking, bandanas or towels. • Girls may not wear low exposing tops or shirts exposing any cleavage or midriffs. Midriffs must fall below the waistline rather than just meeting the top of the garment. • Students must not wear tube or strapless, halter, spaghetti straps or any tank tops. Carrying a sweater on top or wearing a jacket over it is not adequate. • Tops must be high enough to eliminate any exposure of cleavage and long enough to prevent any exposure of midriff. • Many students know what they are wearing is inappropriate. If we see parts of the body exposed as a result of midriff tops or low cut tops, students will be required to change. • Girls must wear shirts that have sleeves. If they choose to wear a sleeveless shirt when the weather is warm, the shirt must have a collar. • Short shorts and short skirts have no place in school. They must be just above the knee. This new dress code represents a significant departure from existing policies. Female students can only wear sleeveless shirts if they have a collar and tank tops are prohibited. I support our educators and believe that a dress code is warranted. The sleeveless shirt policy, however, is possibly sexist, rather strict given South Florida's hot weather, and one that will surely be controversial when school returns. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/spanish_river_high_new_dress_c.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/spanish_river_high_new_dress_c.html Education Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:45:31 -0500 The Boca bashing continues. On Thursday, June 26th Steven Colbert had Congressman Robert Wexler as a guest on The Colbert Report. Colbert noted that Congressman Wexler's district is comprised of Boca Raton and that it was therefore safe to say that no one from the district was awake watching the show at its 10:30 p.m. airtime. Colbert further unsuccessfully attempted to coerce the Congressman into saying that people in the district look like lizards. While we certainly have our share of elderly residents and I enjoy a joke as much as the next person, the problem is that the ageism stereotype has become accepted nationwide. People who do not know that Boca has a vibrant multigenerational community just assume because of the publicity that it is composed of old retirees. In fact, Boca Raton is a wonderful community made up of all ages, races, religions and ethnicities. It would be nice if instead of using the old person characterization, the media would recognize Boca for what it actually is - a suburban South Florida community that is a great place to live in. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/boca_bashing.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/boca_bashing.html City Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:27:59 -0500 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. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/stabbing_in_timbercreek_what_i.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/stabbing_in_timbercreek_what_i.html Current Affairs Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:24:30 -0500 No more teachers, no more rules. . . . . . . Palm Beach County public schools ended Friday, June 6th and it is time to play. Homework, tutors and extra-curricular activities are on hold until fall and it is time to enjoy South Florida. Even though it's an understatement to stay it is a little warm, this is an ideal time to be a tourist in your own town. Her are some suggestions for things to do. 1. Go to the beach. It is so easy to forget that we have the magnificent ocean right in our backyard. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy swimming and the scenery. 2. Visit a water park. There are both public (Coconut Cove) and private water parks nearby and they are especially fun for the younger set. 3. Check out the local museums. Lunch at Mizner Park and a trip to the Boca Museum are always a good way to fill a day. 4. Engage in your sport of choice. Public golf and tennis courts have greater availability. Rent a sailboat at the Delray beach. Visit a local gym or just do laps in the nearest swimming pool. 5. Hit your favorite restaurants. Catch the summer specials and chat up the host so that you can get in when winter comes. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the lazy days of summer. http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/schools_out_summer_is_in.html http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/community/boca/2008/06/schools_out_summer_is_in.html Holiday Recreation Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:49:51 -0500