President Sheri Scarborough opened the April 8 Annual Meeting of the West Boca Community Council with news that the fight to prevent the extension of University Drive is still far from over. The plan to extend University Drive from Northwest Broward through southwest Palm Beach County would route an estimated 70,000 cars a day through the heart of West Boca in order to hook up University Drive with 441.

Scarborough spoke with great enthusiasm about the recent grand opening of the Amphitheater in South County Regional Park. After passing the mike to Commissioner Burt Aaronson, without whose many years of effort there might not be a new Amphitheater to celebrate, he spoke about those who opposed and still oppose the many new facilities in the park now open or coming soon. High on his list was the editorial slant of the Palm Beach Post, as well as those who argued that birds nesting in the nearby Everglades would be disturbed by noise from the Amphitheater and the annual 4th of July fireworks planned at the site. The Commissioner reported that the chief biologist for the state of Florida assured him long ago that these birds would not be adversely affected.

Council Board member Frank Barbieri, currently also a candidate for the PBC School Board, reported on his efforts to exempt area schools from state sign codes that might disallow advertising signs on school perimeter fencing. Such signs have become an important source of revenue for numerous cash-strapped schools in Boca Raton.

Scarborough announced that the Council’s June meeting, normally held on the second Tuesday of each month, would take place on Monday, June 2 to accommodate guest speaker Robert Wexler, the U.S. Congressman whose District 19 includes most of unincorporated Boca Raton, i.e. West Boca. The meeting with Congressman Wexler is open to the public.

Council Vice President Alan Grubow reported on the Council’s ongoing efforts to remedy the discrepancy in HMO premium rates paid in Palm Beach County versus Broward and Miami-Dade County.

Kelli Kirchofer, Manager of the Daggerwing Nature Center in South County Regional Park near the water park, addressed the meeting and invited everyone to the big grand opening of the dazzling Daggerwing expansion on Saturday, April 26 from 9 am to 3 pm. The event will include crafting, games, live animal shows and much more. The dedication ceremony will take place at 9 am.

Captain Matt Eisenberg, the PBSO Commander for our area, also addressed the meeting about what police call “crimes of opportunity”. He warned of an email scam making the rounds in West Boca and elsewhere which informs recipients that they have won a big cash prize. In order to claim the prize check they receive in the mail, the “winner” has first to wire some funds via Western Union, following which they are told to go ahead and deposit the check. Surprise, surprise – it will definitely bounce.

Captain Eisenberg also urged homeowners to be vigilant about service personnel in their homes, noting numerous incidents of medications, jewelry, credit cards and other valuables stolen by such people while performing work in people’s homes.

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