Southern Palm Beach County Projects: Atlantic Avenue / S.R. 806, from NW/SW 12th Avenue to A1A—This $4.2 million construction project began January 5, 2009, from just east of I-95 to just west of A1A in Delray Beach. This project includes milling and resurfacing the roadway; replacing sidewalk curb ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards; and signalization, widening, and landscaping. The work is being performed by Weekley Asphalt Paving, Inc. and is expected to be completed in November.

Restrictions: Travel lanes will be closed between I-95 and Swinton Avenue 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. At least one lane will remain open in each direction. On-street parking and access to side streets may be temporarily restricted during those times. Detours will be established when necessary. Access to local businesses and residences will be maintained at all times. Motorists should expect delays.

S.R. 7 / U.S. 441 from the Broward County Line to Glades Road--Construction on this 2.9-mile
project began February 9, 2009. Work consists of milling and resurfacing, curb ramp replacement, guardrail, and signalization. The project will cost an estimated $4.7 million. The work is being performed by Hardrives of Delray, Inc. and is expected to be completed late November 2009.

Restrictions: Lane closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, for paving and other project related work. Motorists should anticipate delays and seek alternate routes when possible.

Powerline Road / S.R. 845 from the Broward County Line to Glades Road--Construction on this 3-mile project began Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Work consists of milling and resurfacing, minor widening and reconstruction, signalization, lighting, drainage, bridge replacement, irrigation and landscaping. The project will cost an estimated $9.7 million. The work is being performed by Ranger Construction Industries and is expected to be completed summer 2011.

Restrictions: Lane closures will occur at various locations between Glades Road and the Broward-Palm Beach County line, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The contractor will install temporary barrier wall and establish continuous lane closures at various locations, as necessary, for drainage work. At least one lane will remain open in each direction at all times. Turn lanes will be closed at various locations for safety reasons. Motorists may experience delays.
*************************************************************************************************************
To read my story in November 8 Sun-Sentinel CLICK HERE.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

The Society conducted a free concert for the public at the South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach this past Friday from 2 to 3 PM. The Sid Parker Quintet and vocalists Roberta De Muro and Steve Leeds provided vocal accompaniment. Under the leadership of Sid Parker playing tenor sax, the group included Johnny Amoroso, trumpet (and vocal on a community sing "Lulu's Back in Town"), Cotton Kent, keyboard; Al Greenstein, bass; and Joe Belanger, drums. The group put on a loose, fun-filled show, designed to be a taste of the good music available during the six show season of the Society that begins November 17.

An audience of more than 350 from Boca Raton, Delray and Boynton, mostly seniors, enjoyed the classic popular songs from the 40's and 50's. De Muro and Leeds did a duet on "Makin' Whoopee" a popular tune made famous in the '30's by Eddie Cantor that would make Eddie proud. The quintet featuring solo turns by Parker and Amoroso began the concert with "Take the A Train,"and moved on from there through a program that included "Girl from Ipanema" and concluded with everyone singing "God Bless America" in a salute to victims of the tragic events of November 5 at Camp Hood, Texas.

The first Swing & Jazz Preservation Society concert of the new season features the Johnny Amoroso Sextet, Tuesday evening, November 17 at 7:30 PM. Johnny plays trumpet and sings some of the material made famous when he played with Tommy Dorsey as a young man.

All monthly concerts of the Society take place at the Spanish River Performing Arts Center, 2400 Yamato Road, corner of St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton, the third Tuesday of each month through April 20, 2010. Ticket information call ( 561) 499-9976. Access their website at:
www.swingandjazzpreservationsociety.org.
******************************************************************************************************
To read my story in November 8 Sun-Sentinel CLICK HERE.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Japan Through the Eyes of a Child

Elementary school-aged children, along with their families and classmates, can step into Japanese culture and experience it first-hand in this exhibition designed especially for them.

Four Japanese neighborhoods transport you from Florida to far-off Japan. The exhibition was developed by the National Children's Museum in Washington, D.C. and is funded by a grant from the Kohnken Family Foundation. The extensive, multifaceted exhibit will debut in its new home in The Morikami Yamato-kan on November 7, 2009.

Trainstation
Japan's public transportation system is one of the best in the world and a great way to see the country. In "Japan Through the Eyes of a Child," kids walk onto a train platform and board the famed Shinkansen Bullet Train. Once inside, they sit in seats from a real Bullet Train and see what Japan's fastest mode of transportation is like.

Elementary School Classroom
In Japan, kids take off their shoes at school as they do at home and keep their classroom neat and tidy by cleaning it themselves. In "Japan Through the Eyes of a Child," American kids see what a classroom in Japan is like. They don't have to take off their shoes, but they can sit at real desks and discover for themselves what their Japanese counterparts are learning. The black bag hanging from the side of the desk? It's a randoseru, the type of book-bag all elementary school children use. Also here is a giant soroban (abacus) to be used as an aid to teach this ancient calculating device that is still very much in use in Japan today. Kids learn their ABCs in a classroom like this, but also their toyo kanji that make up the Japanese writing system, all 1,800 of them, according to a chart on the wall.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Healthcare Status; Answers from a panel of Experts, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach, opposite Morkami Gardens. Doors open at 9 A.M. Meeting begins at 9:30. The public is welcome.

Featured Panelists:
...Michelle O. McGovern, from U. S. Senator Bill Nelson's office
...Dr. Fred Carlisle, AARP Volunteer and Advocate
...Tatiana Paradelo, Social Security Administration
...Moses Baskin, Area SHINE coordinator.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Last Wednesday night after a meeting of the Delray Camera Club we interviewed Stuart Freedman, APSA Photographer and President of the club in preparation for a story about him and the club that I am writing for the Sunday Sun-Sentinel Community News Section that will appear in four to six weeks.

Stuart showed me a few of the photographs he took that morning at Green Cay off Hagen Ranch Road. I want to share one of the pictures he took. He calls this "Mated Pair." Outstanding!

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Southern Palm Beach County Projects: Atlantic Avenue / S.R. 806, from NW/SW 12th Avenue to A1A

This $4.2 million construction project began January 5, 2009, from just east of I-95 to just west of A1A in Delray Beach. This project includes milling and resurfacing the roadway; replacing sidewalk curb ramps to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards; and signalization, widening, and landscaping. The work is being performed by Weekley Asphalt Paving, Inc. and is expected to be completed in November.

Restrictions: Travel lanes will be closed between I-95 and Swinton Avenue 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 7 p.m. until 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. At least one lane will remain open in each direction. On-street parking and access to side streets may be temporarily restricted during those times. Detours will be established when necessary. Access to local businesses and residences will be maintained at all times. Motorists should expect delays.

S.R. 7 / U.S. 441 from the Broward County Line to Glades Road--Construction on this 2.9-mile project began February 9, 2009. Work consists of milling and resurfacing, curb ramp replacement, guardrail, and signalization. The project will cost an estimated $4.7 million. The work is being performed by Hardrives of Delray, Inc. and is expected to be completed late November 2009.

Restrictions: Lane closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, for paving and other project related work. Motorists should anticipate delays and seek alternate routes when possible.

Powerline Road / S.R. 845 from the Broward County Line to Glades Road--Construction on this 3-mile project began Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Work consists of milling and resurfacing, minor widening and reconstruction, signalization, lighting, drainage, bridge replacement, irrigation and landscaping. The project will cost an estimated $9.7 million. The work is being performed by Ranger Construction Industries and is expected to be completed summer 2011.

Restrictions: Lane closures will occur at various locations between Glades Road and the Broward-Palm Beach County line, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The contractor will install temporary barrier wall and establish continuous lane closures at various locations, as necessary, for drainage work. At least one lane will remain open in each direction at all times. Turn lanes will be closed at various locations for safety reasons. Motorists may experience delays.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Healthcare Status; Answers from a panel of Experts, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at South County Civic Center, Jog Road, Delray Beach, opposite Morkami Gardens. Doors open at 9 A.M. Meeting begins at 9:30.

Featured Panelists:
...Michelle O. McGovern, from U. S. Senator Bill Nelson's office
...Dr. Fred Carlisle, AARP Volunteer and Advocate
...Tatiana Paradelo, Social Security Administration
...Moses Baskin, Area SHINE coordinator.

The public is welcome!

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

We made the trip to the renovated Wal-Mart on Military Trail in Delray Beach on the day it opened in all its expanded glory, Wednesday Oct. 28th.

The Mrs. needed an item from the drug department and breakfast cereal from the grocery department. Bring your roller skates! Be prepared to walk what seemed like the length of Dolphins Stadium to journey from one end of the store to the other.

But the prices are good. They will probably do harm to the local Albertson’s and Winn-Dixie. Publix looks like they lowered some prices already.

Competition in the market place: That’s what benefits the consumer.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

If you bring Total Ink at 5028 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, (phone (561) 865-1323) your empty brand name printer cartridges they will refill them for you at handsome savings. They also sell toner cartridges and do computer and printer repairs. I've been using their cartridges for several months and find them serviceable.

I had a problem with a printer and brought it to them for repair. They charge $15 to look at the problem and add on additonal cost for the repair if necessary. They repaired my printer for only the $15 fee.

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share:

Dear Friend: This year, Florida took a step forward in the war against prescription drug abuse when the Florida Legislature passed, and the Governor signed in to law, legislation creating a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) in Florida.

I feel very passionate about this issue, which is why I was a sponsor of the bill in the Florida House. In the next few months I will be working with experts in the field to look for ways to build and improve upon the PDMP legislation. I look forward to taking another step forward during the 2010 Legislative Session.

Florida is facing a growing prescription drug abuse epidemic that has devastated many Florida families. According to the Florida Office of Drug Control, the rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs in Florida is over three times as high as the rate of deaths caused by all illicit drugs combined. Over 742,000 Floridians illegally use prescription drugs each year. As of last spring, the top 50 dispensing practitioners of oxycodone, nationwide, were located in Florida. Now that Florida has a monitoring system, I hope our state will cease being a prime destination for criminals looking to buy and sell prescription drugs, spreading misery throughout Florida and other states.

I strongly recommend you watch the new documentary, “The OxyContin Express,” on prescription drug abuse and the role of pain clinics in Florida. This documentary by Current TV/Vanguard really hits home.
You can watch it here: http://current.com/groups/vanguard-the-oxycontin-express/. Get Involved!

This fight requires people in the community to get involved. If you are interested in joining the fight against substance abuse, please consider joining the NOPE Task Force, Narcotic Overdose Prevention and Education, for the 3rd Annual NOPE National Candle Light Vigil, which will take place in communities across the nation on Thursday, October 29th, during Red Ribbon Week, a week to raise awareness of drug abuse.

The Palm Beach County vigil will be held at Lynn University in Boca Raton. The Vigil Ceremony will be at 6:30pm in the Green Center. The Broward County vigil will take place at 6:30pm at Tradewinds Park in Pompano Beach. For more information and to find a vigil nearest you, please visit www.nopetaskforce.org or call 866-612-NOPE.

Lastly, you can get involved in the United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse, which includes a Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force. The UWBCCSA has regularly scheduled monthly meetings. For more information please contact: Joel Kaufman, Ph.D., Executive Director/Vice President, (954) 760-7007, Ext. 205 or jkaufman@unitedwaybroward.org. The website is www.drugfreebroward.org. In Palm Beach County you can contact the Palm Beach County Substance Abuse Coalition at (561) 844-5952 or send e-mail to info@pbcsac.org. The website is www.pbcsac.org.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns. Our district office number is (561) 470-6593
Kelly Skidmore, State Representative, District 90

> Discuss this entry

Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Share: