The Community Advocacy Network (CAN) held a Town Hall meeting yesterday where about 200 community leaders from throughout Florida attended and learned the details of recently passed bills from several of the elected officials who wrote them. The photo from the meeting includes, from left: Lori Vinikoor, Executive Vice President of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations; Rep. Debbie Mayfield, Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, Sponsor of HB 87; and Donna Berger, Esq. Executive Director of CAN. Elected officials present at the meeting included Rep. George Moraitis, Sponsor of HB73, Sen. Eleanor Sobel, Rep. Mike LaRossa, and Rep. Richard Stark.

After several fairly uneventful legislative sessions, this 2013 Legislative Session brought many changes to the way homeowner and condominium associations will be administered in the future and it has also brought some relief to associations in dealing with foreclosure issues.

HB 87 was signed into law in early June. Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, who was recently named Legislator of the Year by the Community Advocacy Network (CAN) is responsible for the language that will help to speed up the foreclosure process which will assist associations with collections.

HB73 and HB7119 were approved yesterday by the Governor. Both of these bills sweep through chapters 718, 719, and 720 with favorable changes such as allowing associations to print directories having residents "opt out" if they wish to not be included, to less favorable changes such as having all HOA's register with the state and provide the number of units in each association which community activists fear will cause more government regulation with fees attached.

No doubt, with the next legislative session, community activist associations will be lobbying for relief from what they perceive as adverse impacts to community association managers and associations arising from some of this new legislation.

For information on CAN go to www.canfl.com

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2013 ‘Champions of Florida’s Middle Class’ awardees have been announced and three of our area's elected officials were honored. Pictured from above left are Rep. Irv Slosberg, Rep. Lori Berman (standing foreground) and Sen. Jeff Clemens (seated). Florida Watch Action, Progress Florida and America Votes recognized 18 members of the Florida Legislature as “Champions of Florida’s Middle Class” for their unwavering support of Florida’s working families. During the 2013 legislative session, these lawmakers voted to protect and expand the middle class in Florida 100% of the time, and championed a range of issues including protecting jobs, expanding health care access, ethics reform and more.
“These eighteen lawmakers deserve Floridians’ thanks for their unwavering support and leadership on the issues that matter most to middle class families,” said Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferrulo. “Despite stacked odds, these legislators never once yielded to Gov. Rick Scott and his legislative allies’ corporate campaign cash driven agenda.”
The 2013 “Champions of Florida’s Middle Class” list of 18 where our 3 area legislators are included can be found at: www.MiddleClassChamps.com

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When you grow thousands of mangoes, there are bound to be some unusual shapes that pop up. Pictured are Lynda and Richard Wilson of Excalibur Fruit Trees in Lake Worth. Lynda is holding a heart-shaped mango which is an interesting anomaly.

Throughout the year, Excalibur Fruit Trees is visited by local residents and visitors from across the state looking for tropical fruit trees to purchase and grow. From mangoes and avocados to jackfruit and sapote, there are a multitude of varieties and thousands of plants to choose from.

At this particular time of year, there is a bounty of fruit to choose from. Lychees, Mangoes, sapodilla, jackfruit, the list goes on. To contact Excalibur for more information call (561)969-6988. Here is the website: http://www.excaliburfruittrees.com/

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Everyone from families to window shoppers to car aficionados will enjoy the third annual Mizner Park Downtown Drive Car Show on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is FREE.

“This event has grown into one of our most anticipated of the year,” said Barbara Finn, marketing manager for Mizner Park. “Last year more than 2,500 people of all ages came out to enjoy the sites and energy this car show brings to the area….all to benefit a wonderful cause.”

More than 100 cars, including antiques, classics, street rods, custom builds, race cars, sports cars, imports, hand-built cars and one-of-a-kind autos from 1900 to present day, will line the streets of Mizner Park. The show is a Russ G. Events production.

All money raised through car show entry fees and donations will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida.

Make-a-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Event sponsor Alpine Jaguar, family owned since 1971, was awarded the Number One Jaguar Retailer in the World for 2010 and 2012.

Mizner Park is located at 327 Plaza Real in Boca Raton.

For more information: www.miznerpark.com

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You might wonder who goes to the movies at 12:01 AM, but there will probably be a crowd at Frank Theatres at the Marketplace 14775 Lyons Road tonight. At 12:01 AM Friday June 14, 2013, “Man of Steel” will begin in 3-D IMAX.

This might be a terrific Father’s Day gift. If you can’t make it past midnight, then try attending at one of the other show times. For information call: 561.454.8002

For More information and tickets: https://frank.tstickets.com/(S(0vlcl0kceb51mdr55rabqzcw))/ticketing.aspx?theatreid=9&utm_source=06.13.13+-+Delray&utm_campaign=delray&utm_medium=email

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On June 5, 2013 the Gleneagles Country Club became the site of a phenomenal demonstration of the DaVinci Robot and the advances in healthcare that the Delray Medical Center offers the community. Richard Cartledge, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, and Jeffrey Newman, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic surgeon, spoke to the audience of more than 200 including members of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations, PBSO, Fire Rescue, and other elected officials and dignitaries. Minimally invasive vascular and heart procedures are among the many surgical procedures the DaVinci Robot is used for in the operating room and the audience was able to view the robotics technique first hand.

This presentation was made at the Alliance of Delray's Annual Breakfast. Pictured in the following photo are, from left, Carol Klausner, Alliance Director; Norma Arnold, Alliance Director; Lori Vinikoor, Alliance Executive Vice President; Bob Schulbaum, Alliance President; Jeffrey Newman, MD, FACS; Kathy Malcolm-Bouca, AMP; and Richard Cartledge, MD, FACS.

For more on Delray Medical Center, one of America's "Top 50" hospitals again this year, and its treatment and services for the heart, go to http://www.delraymedicalheart.com/

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The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County Offers the following:
With all the aquatic recreational activity that occurs during the Memorial Day weekend, fun can easily turn tragic. In Palm Beach County during the last five years, children ages 1 to 4 have had the highest drowning rate based on population, and 22 percent of all drowning deaths occurred in swimming pools. Such sobering statistics should serve as a reminder to caregivers to be water smart and follow the ABCD’s of water safety this holiday weekend.

A – Adult supervision
• Whenever infants and toddlers are in or around water, an adult should supervise within an arm’s length of the children.
• In addition to parental supervision, designate an adult “water watcher” (using a distinguishable item such as a lanyard or funny hat) whose sole responsibility is to watch the pool area for 15 minutes and not read, talk on the phone or be influenced by other distractions. After 15 minutes, the distinguishable item should be given to another adult for 15 minutes, and so forth. Ensure that the water watcher is a sober adult who knows CPR and has basic swimming skills.
• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. “Water wings” or “floaties” (inflatable water rings) and other pool toys are NOT safety devices. Only life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard are designed and tested for safety.

B – Barriers, beach safety and boating safety
• Have a properly working physical barrier around, on, or in the pool (i.e. isolation fence, pool safety cover, pool alarm) that meets code requirements.
• Have window and door alarms that sound when breached.
• Always swim at a lifeguarded beach, and pay attention to the beach flags. Wear properly fitted life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on a boat.

C – Classes
• Take a water safety course at a local aquatic facility to learn the skills necessary to survive in the water.
• Take CPR classes.

D – Drain Safety
• Have a pool professional check residential drain covers to determine whether or not they are safe.
• Encourage children to stay away from drains. Noncompliant drain covers can cause suction entrapment injuries and possible death.
• Those using a pool/spa should know where the cut off switch is for the pump in case a suction entrapment incident occurs.

The Palm Beach County Drowning Prevention Coalition (DPC) suggests that everyone uses the ABCD’s of water safety to stay safe in and around water, but it is up to each individual to make sure a drowning incident does not happen. For more information on water safety lessons and water safety/drowning prevention education, please visit the DPC website at www.pbcgov.org/dpc or call 561-616-7068. The coalition is funded by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.

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AMR, a well-known ambulance service, is now offering AMR ON GUARD which includes 24/7 security patrols with dual certified guards, EMT’s and Paramedics.
AMR’s enhanced model of security service includes a patrol vehicle fully stocked with advanced life support equipment, cardiac monitor, drug box under the supervision of a Medical Director, medical security/guards are able to initiate treatment until 911 arrives and if non-life threatening the company can transport victims to the facility of his or her choice. For further information go to: http://www.amr.net/Contracted-Services/OnGuard.aspx or call (954)553-2298 to speak to AMR’s General Manager Bill Hall.

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Florida Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy shared the stage with Ohio's Republican Congressman David Joyce at the the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach on Friday May 24, 2013. Both elected officials spoke about the first five months in office and their experiences working across party lines while serving as freshmen in the U.S. House of Representatives. They both agreed that sometimes elected officials support policies based on the composition of their districts, i.e. worrying about being in the too far left or too far right of an issue. Congressmen Murphy and Joyce vowed to continue to work across party lines and think about what's best for and keep the promises made to the people who elected them.

The Congressmen spoke at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches meeting. The Forum Club is a non-partisan organization and its members are derived mainly from government and civic leadership. On May 24 th, the audience consisted of representatives from such prominent groups as the Palm Beach County Commissioners and Florida Atlantic University. The Hanley Center Foundation, another distinguished organization was present and is actively involved in the Forum Club. Sarah Alsofrom, Executive Director of Development & Community Relations of the Hanley Center, is past president of the Forum Club.

Although Congressmen Murphy and Joyce maintain different views on certain policies such as the Affordable Care Act, they encourage and support bi-partisanship not only on the ethics front but on many government issues.

How we can support bi-partisanship? The Congressmen state that it starts at home and we should encourage our family members to "vote for the best candidate."

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