A seriously ill, elderly woman in West Boca has been recuperating for some time in another state, leaving her home of 14 years here temporarily vacant. The home is in the middle of a lovely block, surrounded by many other houses.

Her relatives recently came to check on the house. As soon as they walked through the house, they saw that their mother’s house had been broken into during her absence.

But it turned out to be worse than that. The house was a filthy mess. Graffiti was scrawled around the kitchen, including the N-word and references to a satanic cult. When the relatives found personal effects that could not possibly belong to their mother, they realized that this was not just a break-in. Her house was being lived in by one or more intruders.

When police came and went through those personal effects, they found an ID belonging to a young man from Wooster, Massachusetts, along with a Circuit City employee badge. They also found a used plane ticket from Boston to South Florida suggesting that the squatter may have been living in the house for some weeks. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

No one in the neighborhood ever called the police while this home was occupied by one or more squatters.

The number of vacant homes is rising all over South Florida, including West Boca. It’s a sign of the times, caused by people abandoning homes that have more debt than equity, homes that are in foreclosure limbo, and sellers who had to move elsewhere before they were able to find a buyer for their home here.

Police say vacant homes everywhere have become targets for the homeless, for drug dealers and users, and for those seeking places to hang out.

In this deteriorating climate, it would be good if all of us paid a bit more attention to what’s going on in our immediate neighborhood. If you know an owner is away or has moved out and you see activity in their house, call the police.

And when you go away or move out and your home is vacant, let your neighbors know and ask them to keep an eye on your property.

We all need to become more pro-active neighbors in this worsening economy.

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Cable TV subscribers all over the country who are not set up for digital TV have been complaining loudly about losing analog channels in recent months.

In response, the Cable TV trade association, of which Comcast is a member, has just announced that effective December 31, its cable provider members would suspend further migration of analog channels to digital channels until March 1.

Meanwhile, the transition of broadcasters (NBC, CBS etc.) to digital-only broadcasting is set to occur on February 17, 2009. The date for this event was mandated by the federal government many years ago.

There is widespread confusion and anxiety about these major changes. Additionally, many community associations throughout West Boca are struggling with their cable future as bulk service contracts with Comcast are approaching expiration dates.

In response to these developments, the West Boca Community Council will host a public Cable TV Forum. The event will feature expert speakers. There will be ample opportunity for the audience to ask questions or make comments. Comcast has been invited to field questions about their service.

The Forum will be held on January 13 at the Boca Lago Country Club starting at 7:30 pm.

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A small insect called the ficus whitefly a.k.a. the fig whitefly has been spotted recently in West Boca. It is capable of completely defoliating ficus hedges and even killing them altogether.

If this infestation is not thwarted, it has the potential reduce the privacy provided by our ficus hedges along roads and between the properties of neighbors.

It can be stopped by the thorough spraying of hedges with insecticides.

The cost of the spraying will likely be in the vicinity of $2.50 per linear foot. It is also possible that the hedges will have to be sprayed more than once, which would double the cost. However, spraying will still be considerably cheaper than having to replace destroyed hedges with new ones. Plus replacement hedges will probably be no higher than three feet at time of planting, so it will likely be a couple of years before they reach hedge heights – and the level of privacy -- currently enjoyed.

The ficus whitefly is thought to have arrived in the Port of Miami from somewhere in Southeast Asia about 18 months ago. It has since migrated to much of Miami-Dade County and parts of Broward. For more information, just Google ficus whitefly.

You can test for it by shaking the foliage on your hedge. If it’s infested, you will see small, white, gnat-like bugs flying out of the foliage. The whiteflies are in the hedges to breed, not to devour leaves. Their offspring, in the larvae stage, are what destroys the foliage.

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The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department is offering Winter Camp for children ages 9-12 at Daggerwing Nature Center on December 29, 30, 31, and January 2 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Participants will discover the wonders of winter in South Florida! Campers will visit local attractions to learn about migration, hibernation, and special adaptations animals use to survive the winter weather.

The fee is $80 per child. Registration is open until full and limited to 20 campers. For more information and to get an application, visit Daggerwing Nature Center or visit our website at www.pbcparks.com/nature and click on the Daggerwing link.

Daggerwing Nature Center is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and is located in South County Regional Park at 11200 Park Access Road, off Cain Boulevard between Glades Road and Yamato Road, in western Boca Raton.
Visit www.pbcparks.com/nature for more!

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Upcoming Events at Sunset Cove Amphitheater

Sunday December 14, 2008 – First United Methodist Church Christmas Sing Along. 6-7 PM. Come and sing Christmas Carols and your favorite holiday songs. Admission is free.

Saturday December 20, 2008 MPj04387210000[1] – A family fun-filled event as we celebrate the “Winter Solstice” 4 PM to 8 PM. Admission is free. Come and play in 24 tons of SNOW, make winter arts and crafts, play reindeer games, pictures with Santa and enjoy the magic of “STEPHAN.” Vendors on site, so no outside food or drinks allowed. No pets. Don’t forget your mittens!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL FROM SUNSET COVE AMPHITHEATER

Saturday, February 7, 2009 – Compassionate Pug Rescue’s (CPR) first Pugs and Pooches WinterBark 2009. South County Regional Park, Sunset Cove Pavilion 9 AM - 4 PM. Spend the day hanging out with your pooch while enjoying the festival. All proceeds will benefit a local animal rescue. Vendors on site. No outside food or beverages allowed. $10 parking fee.
Saturday, February 21, 2009 – Boca Raton Dog Club’s AKC Show. Sunset Cove Amphitheater and Pavilion 7 AM - 5 PM. Come and enjoy the thrill of competition combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs compete in the AKC All Breed Conformation Show. Vendors on site. No outside food or beverages allowed.

Festival seating - bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. Vendors on site, no outside food or drinks (or pets) allowed inside the gates.

Visit www.pbcgov.com/parks for new additions to the schedule and sign up for E-lerts. Event Hotline 561-488-8069

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The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has announced an innovative new program that enables citizens to report various types of minor crimes and incidents.

Online Citizens Reporting provides a more efficient alternative to the traditional method of reporting, whereby the victim has to phone in a complaint and then wait for a deputy to come write down the details of what occurred. The new program not only saves the victim’s time – it also enables more deputies to remain on patrol.

The types of incidents that can be reported online are:
Lost property
Vandalism
Traffic crash/hit and run
Theft
Graffiti
Identity theft
Trash dumping
Harassing phone calls

The new program can also be used to update information previously given to PBSO.

A few caveats to keep in mind. Online Citizen Reporting can only be used to report incidents in those areas of Palm Beach County where PBSO provides law enforcement services. It should not be used as a substitute for calling 911 during an emergency or when there are known suspects. You must have a valid email address and be at least 18 years old to file. Lastly, filing a false report online is subject to criminal prosecution.

To access this new service, go to www.pbso.org and click on the “file a police report online” on the home page.

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The newly expanded and renovated Daggerwing Nature Center in nearby South County Regional Park has lots of upcoming events for your children. Here’s the lineup from now until Thanksgiving:

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER: ALLIGATORS
Saturday, October 25 at 2:00 pm
Families, $3 per person
Reservations Required
What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Come found out and get a chance to meet an alligator up close!

CHILDREN’S NATURE SERIES: BATS
Tuesday, October 28 at 2:30 pm
Ages 3-6, $4 per child
Reservations Required
Parents, bring your little ones to experience exciting nature topics! Programs may include activities such as: stories, puppets, games, role play, nature walks, and crafts.

HALLOWEEN “BOO”ARDWALK
Friday, October 31 anytime between 7:00 – 9:00pm
All Ages/Families, FREE
Reservation NOT Required
After trick-or-treating, bring your costumed kids and take a walk on the family-friendly “Boo”ardwalk through a real swamp! Take part in fun Halloween activities and crafts while learning about some spooky creatures of the night! Bring a flashlight to see what creatures you can find in the swamp! Bug spray is recommended.

STORY TIME
Sunday, November 2 at 2:00pm
Children, $2 per child
Reservations NOT Required
Join us as we go on adventures through stories, both fiction and non-fiction, about animals and nature!

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER: CAMOUFLAGE
Saturday, November 8 at 2:00 pm
Families, $3 per person
Reservations Required
Why are colors and patterns on animals important? Come find out and meet some hard to find animals!

NIGHT HIKE
Friday, November 14 at 6:00 pm
Families, $3 per person
Reservations Required
What comes out at night? Join us for a walk through our wetlands and see some special adaptations of nocturnal animals. Bring bug spray and a flashlight.

CHILDREN’S NATURE SERIES: RECYCLING
Tuesday, November 18 at 2:30 pm
Ages 3-4, $4 per child
Reservations Required
Parents, Bring your little ones to experience exciting nature topics! Programs may include activities such as: stories, puppets, games, role play, nature walks, and crafts.

ORIGAMI
Friday, November 21 at 3:00 pm
Children 7+, FREE
Reservations NOT Required
Join volunteers Jerry and Marilyn Lambert as they teach the ancient art of paper-folding.

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER: OWLS
Saturday, November 22 at 2:00 pm
Families, $3 per person
Reservations Required
Whoooo’s curious about owls? Come learn about these amazing and important birds and get a chance to meet an owl!

CHILDREN’S NATURE SERIES: RECYCLING
Tuesday, November 25 at 2:30 pm
Ages 5-6, $4 per child
Reservations Required
Parents, Bring your little ones to experience exciting nature topics! Programs may include activities such as: stories, puppets, games, role play, nature walks, and crafts.

Please note that most of these programs are by reservation only, which you can make by calling 629-8760. Most programs also charge a modest fee, payable at the door by cash or check only. All participants are required to sign a Program Participation Form for each program you attend.

The Daggerwing Nature Center is located close to the Coconut Cove Waterpark.

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Captain Matt Eisenberg, who commands the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in West Boca, told the audience at the West Boca Community Council’s October meeting that residential burglaries in West Boca have shot up 50% since mid-summer.

Most such crimes were committed during the day, and many involved breaking and entering. The two favorite points of entry were sliding glass doors and rear windows.

In a number of cases, thieves in an unmarked white van stole the aluminum panel type of hurricane shutters.

He also said that car burglaries had jumped 50% last summer, but the rate has fallen considerably since then. The great majority of such burglaries involve unlocked cars, as we have reported numerous times on FRONT PAGE.

The best protection against car burglaries is:

1. Lock your car doors at all times – even in your own driveway.

2. If you have any valuables in your car, keep them out of sight.

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Would you like to see a skateboarding facility in West Boca that provides a safe and supervised environment where young people could go to skateboard?

The Board of Directors of the West Boca Community Council recently passed a resolution by unanimous vote to encourage the establishment of just such a facility.

Skateboarding has become an increasingly popular sport among young people all across the country. The growing number of skateboard enthusiasts in West Boca skate in all the wrong places, such as HOA recreational facilities, on residential sidewalks and streets, and in the parking lots of commercial complexes. Currently, they have no place else to engage in this activity, which can be both a nuisance to others and a danger to themselves.

For those who think that a skateboard facility is too problematic because of liability issues, there are plenty of examples to go to school on. There are now thousands of such facilities all across the country – many operated by local governments, some by the private sector.

There are numerous skateboard facilities in our own area – in Coral Springs, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, West Boynton, and even within the city limits of Boca Raton. The one in West Boynton is the first such facility opened by the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department. It’s located in an area loaded with senior communities and where the teen and pre-teen population is a fraction of West Boca’s.

The West Boca Community Council is encouraging the county to build a skateboard park in cavernous South County Regional Park, or perhaps in the much smaller Loggers Run Park on Palmetto.

Whether the county builds one or the private sector does, the time has come for a skateboard park to be built in West Boca.

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The Boca Raton Dog Club is sponsoring NUTTS FOR MUTTS, an all-day festival for dogs on Saturday, November 1 at the new Amphitheater in South County Regional Park.

The event will kick off at 10 am with an animal blessing from Father Frank and Rabbi Frank, followed by fun contests for adults, young people and their dogs. PBSO’s K9 tracking unit will put on a demonstration, as will the obedience and agility clubs. There will be presentations on CPR and critical care from top professionals as well as from breeding clubs, the American Kennel Club, the American Red Cross and the fire department.

The Boca Raton Dog Club, a non-profit organization, will conduct raffles for the best products, services and gift certificates generously donated by local and national merchants.

There will be lots of great vendors at the event, including purveyors of food and beverages.

NUTTS FOR MUTTS will raise funds to provide every rescue vehicle in Palm Beach County with smoke inhalation equipment for animals.

Anyone interested in volunteering should call the Boca Raton Dog Club at 394-4404.

Vendors wanting to book space at the event should also call 394-4404.

It is recommended that you bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Admission to NUTTS FOR MUTTS is free. A donation of $5 for parking will be collected to help pay for the smoke inhalation masks.

Where: the Amphitheater at South County Regional Park

When: Saturday, November 1

Time: 9 am to 4 pm

Directions: west on Glades 2.5 miles from 441, turn right into park and follow signs

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