The culmination of the construction that began at Hagen Ranch Road, opposite Emerald Point on December 4, 2006 will take place Friday morning July 11th with a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the grand opening of this magnificent new library. This facility doubles the size of the West Atlantic Ave. branch from 16,500 square feet to 34,000 square feet. There are 213 parking spaces with 14 spaces for handicapped parking.

A covered walkway leads to the entrance of the new library which has two sets of doors that open and close automatically. The lobby is spacious, with a high ceiling. To the right are meeting room spaces--a large room accommodating 225 people, a smaller conference room accommodating 50 people and a room for children’s programming with space for 50. This new facility has space for the current selection of approximately 82,000 books, CDs, and DVDs plus room to grow to 150,000 items.

There will be increased access to computers: 40 Internet and word processing computers in the adult area, eight computers in the children’s area, and three in the teen area. This is in addition to library catalog computers which will be available throughout the building. Laptop computers for training will be provided in the meeting room. Free wireless access will be available throughout the building.

There will be five quiet-space small study rooms that can be used for individual study or one on one tutoring.

Customer service: Two express check-out stations for fast, efficient service. Improved accessibility will allow for drive-up materials return, in addition to interior and exterior walk-up returns. Wider aisles and lower shelves make it convenient for easier retrieval of items.

The new library provides an extremely attractive environment: A beautiful natural setting with scenic water views from the reading area, lofty and spacious ceilings, abundance of artificial and natural lighting from floor to ceiling windows and comfortable seating areas throughout the branch. Enjoy it West Delray!

Ms. Karen Spano serves as the Branch Head Librarian who will manage the transition of moving all the material from the West Delray branch off Cumberland, to the new Hagen Ranch branch from June 7 until the grand opening date. During this five week period patrons can use the Boynton Beach Public Library off Jog Road. Materials taken from the West Delray branch by patrons just before the June 7 closing can hold for return to the new branch after July 11.

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The Peachtree Plaza, located at the northwest corner of West Atlanitic Avenue and Via Flora currently contains a vacant outparcel which is approximately one (1) acre in size. Regions Bank would like to devleop this outparcel by builidng a three thousand three hundred twenty (3,320) square foot branch bank building with a three (3) lane drive-thru facility. The drive-thru contains two banking lanes and one lane for a drive-up atm.

As a gesture of community goodwill, Regions Bank will agree to allow the use of the available parking spaces during non-banking hours to anyone visiting the plaza.

Reveiw of this request is almost complete with Palm Beach County staff. They expect to be heard at the July 3 Planning and Zoning Board hearing and at the July 23 Board of County Commissioners hearing.

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Palm Beach County has hurricane emergency facilities for persons who meet specific medical criteria. These include persons who are bedridden or immobile; require electricity for life support equipment; have conditions that need professional monitoring of medical conditions, medication and/or vital signs.

Space is limited and requires pre-registration.

Contact the Special Needs Coordinator: 1-561-712-6400 or online: www.pbcgov.com/pubsafety/eoc

If you do not meet the Special Needs Shelter criteria and are disabled with no other transportation to a Red Cross shelter, you may register with Palm Tran at 1-561-649-9838. They will transport you to an emergency shelter at no charge.

West Atlantic Avenue Library Branch will close June 7, at 5 PM in preparation for move to the new Hagen Ranch Road Branch.

No materials will be due while the branch is closed. In the interim visit:

Sothwest County Regional
20701 95th Ave. So.
Boca Raton. Phone 482-4554
or
West Boynton Branch
9451 Jog Road
Boynton Beach, Phone 734-5556

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Memorial Day May 26, 2008
Remember The Fallen

Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a specialized in-office surgical procedure that effectively removes and cures many skin cancers while sparing healthy tissue and minimizing scarring. Mohs offers the highest potential for surgical removal, even for those areas in which the skin cancer has been previously treated.

Named after Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, MD, who developed the technique while still a medical student at the University of Wisconsin in the 1930’s, the Mohs procedure minimizes the chance of the cancer returning and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement.

Specifically designed to remove skin caner by tracking and removing the cancerous roots, Mohs allows specially trained dermatologists to see beyond the visible disease and precisely identify and remove the entire tumor, leaving healthy tissue unharmed. The procedure is most often used in treating two of the most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Dr. Nancy L. Marchell is the Mohs surgeon specialist at the Palm Beach Dermatology Group. We have met on several occasions in her office when deeper digging was necessary, twice on my right leg, once on my nose and recently on my forehead. Not only did she have to work on me, but two spots necessitated leaving from her office and hustling over to plastic surgeon Dr. Raphael Cabrerra in Boca Raton for further cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Marchell operates in degrees. She takes a slice from the offending location and hands it to a lab technician who works side by side with her in the West Delray office. The slice is processed by horizontal frozen section which gives a more complete view of the tumor margins. The piece of skin containing the tumor is mapped, inked and processed by the technician. The patient is told to return to the waiting room for 30 to 45 minutes while the lab tech analyzes the specimen. That’s why Dr. Marchell always advises “Bring something to read.”

When the lab tech reports results to Dr. Marchell the patient is then called back into the examining room. The patient is told one of two things:

“We have to go deeper,” or “We got all the bad cells out and you can go home.”

If Dr. Marchell has to go deeper, she takes another slice for analysis and you are told to wait another half hour and you get to read some more—until the results she is seeking are obtained—the removal of the offending cells.

As with all forms of surgery, a scar will remain after the skin cancer is removed and the surgical area is completely healed. A Mohs-trained physician will, by definition, leave the smallest possible resultant scar on the skin of the afflicted area. They may also repair the area or, if extensive, consult with a plastic surgeon to ensure the best possible cosmetic result.

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A “Kickoff Meeting” was held by executives of Florida Turnpike Enterprise and Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc., project engineering firm, 6 PM, Tuesday evening, May 20, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Boca Raton to explain the Project Development and Environment Study (PD&E) Kimley-Horn will conduct for the Florida Turnpike.

In a large meeting room, lined with a dizzying array of panel after panel illustrating the route of a proposed future Turnpike widening, from the Sawgrass Expressway to the Atlantic Ave. exit on the Turnpike, principal speaker Paul Cherry, Project Manager of Kimley-Horn outlined the preliminary study his firm will undertake over the next 12 months to evaluate the impacts of widening the Turnpike to eight lanes by adding two additional lanes (one in each direction), as well as environmental issues.

Palm Beach County long range road plans through 2030 lists the construction of an alternative new Turnpike exit at one of three locations: Clint Moore, Yamato or Palmetto Park Road.

Cherry made it clear that design and construction for the turnpike widening and improved turnpike exit are not currently funded; that this is a feasibility study that will include resident input and opinion.

A “no build” alternative will also be evaluated. Population growth through the year 2030 will be factored into the research. Cherry provided some auto traffic statistics: Presently 98,000 vehicles travel the turnpike in the Boca-Delray corridor daily. In 2013 it is projected to increase to 149,500 and in 2033 to 180,000.

Paul Cherry concluded his presentation stating: “Results of this study are anticipated to be revealed at a public information meeting one year from today.”

I aksed State Representative Kelly Skidmore who was present, her opinion of the proposed road widening project. She replied, “While we have to prepare for population and vehicle growth, I would like to see planning that would benefit the children of our communities, with bicycle paths and additional recreational facilities.”

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There I was in the Palm Beach Dermatology Group office in West Delray for my quarterly visit to "zap city" last week in a frigid examining room without my shirt or pants—just underwear, protected against prying eyes and cold air by a large white paper sheet handed to me by the nurse.

Dr. Adam S. Plotkin enters and examines me carefully limb by limb, front and back torso, face and scalp using a magnifying glass.

“Give me the liquid nitrogen container,” he orders the nurse, as he spots several minute, sun afflicted spots. "Zap," "zap" the liquid nitrogen spray freezes and burns away offending small lesions.

“These things didn’t appear over the past few months,” he explains. “This is the result of severe sunburns when you were a child and a teen.”

My joyous youth at Coney Island has grown to haunt me as a post-teen senior.

He rubs a finger over a brown spot on my left temple. “We’ll have to take a biopsy of this,” he mutters. “I’ll be right back,” and exits the icy room. Who can blame him? I’m shivering. He wants to warm up in the hallway. The nurse realizes his exit is her signal to inject the site with Novocain. Five minutes later he returns, takes a double edged razor blade and slices off the brown spot, dropping it into a specimen bottle for laboratory testing. He picks up an electric cauterizing tool and seals the wound to the odor of burning flesh—mine. “You can get dressed now,” he says. “I’ll see you in three months,” shakes my hand and is off to an office full of waiting patients.

The nurse puts a small bandage on the wound and gives me a sheet of instructions which reads: “You can remove the bandage tomorrow before you shower. Wash the area well with soap and water and pat dry. Cleanse the wound with a mixture of half peroxide and half water with Q tips. Pat dry gently. Apply Polysporin ointment. Do this twice a day. When you see a dry scab, discontinue treatment. Avoid swimming in chlorinated and ocean water until healed.”

Now I have to wait two weeks to phone the lab and obtain test results on the specimen. In two weeks this wound will have healed beautifully, however if they have found cancer cells, I will have to return to Dr. Plotkin’s associate, Dr. Nancy L. Marchell, the Mohs Surgery specialist for deeper surgery. More about this lady’s technique in a future post.

There are basic steps we can all take—especially for our children and grandchildren—to lower the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer:
Limit or avoid intense sunlight and practice safe sun tips, i.e.
…Avoid sun between 10 AM and 4 PM.
…Look for shade, especially mid-day when sun’s rays are strongest.
…Apply the “shadow rule” and teach it to your children and grandchildren: if your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Seek shade.
…Cover up with protective clothing to protect as much skin as possible when you’re in the sun. Select comfortable clothing with tightly woven fabrics.
…Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply generously and reapply after swimming, toweling dry of perspiring. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.
…Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat that shades your face, ears and neck. If you wear a baseball cap, protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.
…Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption giving the best possible protection for your eyes.

Helpful Hints to Obtain Traffic Updates

Palm Beach County – Palm Beach County traffic will be affected this week by ongoing construction projects and maintenance work, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials report. Weather permitting; closures will be in effect on I-95, Southern Blvd. (S.R.80) and in other areas throughout Palm Beach County for construction activities.

For around-the-clock, real-time traffic information within the tri-county area (Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties), travelers should call 511. For I-95 Palm Beach County traffic reports just say "I-95” or “Interstate 95". Information is also available on-line at www.511southflorida.com.

To view real-time video of I-95 in Palm Beach County, visit the FDOT I-95 Interim Traffic Management System (ITMS) website at www.palmbeachcotraffic.org. These free services are provided by FDOT and the SunGuide™ Partners. For updated lane closure information, please refer to www.pbfdot.com.

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Boca Raton Computer Society Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at South County Civic Center, Jog Road opposite Morikami Museum 6:15 PM.

Principal Speaker: Mr. Win Baumel --"Computer Tools For People With Low Vision"

Win was an admirer of Albert Einstein, that sparked an interest in a technical career. He served in the Navy, then earned a Bachelors Degree in electrical engineering at CCNY and a Masters Degree in electrical engineering at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute.

His career included stints as a General Manager of the Information Engineering Division of Lockheed for over a decade, then president of several electronic companies. Today, he is working on projects that will benefit sight and physically impaired people.

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Patricia Kricos, Ph.D. Professor Audiology in the Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders at the University of Florida, Gainsville, addressed the Delray/Boynton Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America this past Friday at the South County Civic Center. It was their final meeting of the season until they will reconvene September 19.

Professor Kricos, a warm, friendly educator in her late 50’s, presented valuable communication strategies helpful to hard of hearing people and those they communicate with--"The Two to Tango." Whether with a spouse or significant other; or in general conversation with others, a hard of hearing person should communicate politely with person’s speaking to them.

Mark Ross, a venerable audiologist with a severe hearing loss himself, once said: “When someone in the family has a hearing loss, the entire family has a hearing problem.” Communication is a two way street, and both the listener with the hearing loss, and his or her communication partner, can play a role in reducing the problems that may arise during a conversation. Here are samples of some of the communication strategies that may significantly reduce conversational difficulties proposed by Professor Kricos. Space limitations preclude us from reporting her entire valuable discourse.

Don’t try to hide your hearing loss. Listener: Acknowledge your hearing loss so people will be more likely to look at you when talking and speak clearly. There may be fewer misunderstandings if your conversation partner knows you have hearing difficulties.

Communication Partner: If someone you are conversing with wears hearing aids and/or tells you they have a hearing loss, do not shout or exaggerate your mouth movements. Just speak clearly, a little bit slower and a little bit louder while facing the person. Pausing between phrases will help the listener to process what you are saying.

Polish your concentration skills. Listener: Pay extra attention to talker. Try to hone your listening skills. Watch the talker’s mouth instead of looking down.

Communication Partner: Realize it can be a strain for people with hearing difficulties to listen for long periods of time. They may tire more easily than other listeners and may want to leave earlier than you do from group events like parties and family dinners.

Be prepared. Listener: Anticipate difficult listening situations and plan ahead. Dining out? Recommend a restaurant that you know is relatively quiet and familiarize yourself with the restaurant’ menu, which can often be found online.

Communication Partner: Think of ways ahead of time to minimize communication problems. Try to arrive early at a lecture, for example, so the two of you can get a good seat close to the podium.

Use effective clarification strategies. Listener: Avoid saying “Huh?” or “What did you say?” when you have heard at least part of what the speaker was saying. Instead, try saying something like “I know you said you are talking about the new house you are building, but I didn’t catch where you said the house is located.” This way the talker does not have to repeat everything that was said.

Communication partner: When the listener has missed something you said, try repeating what you said one time, using clear (but not exaggerated) speech. If the person still does not understand, try rewording. For example, if the person did not understand you when you said, “It’s not polite to boast”, repeat it once, then reword your sentence to “It’s not nice to brag.”

Try to determine the source of your difficulty. Listener: Practice analyzing “why” you are having difficulties with a particular talker, then make specific requests, politely of course. Does she have a soft voice? Rather than saying “Say again?” try asking her to “speak a little bit louder please.” Does he speak too fast? Ask him to “please slow down a bit so my ears can keep up with what you are saying!” If she has turned away from you while talking, don’t say, “I didn’t hear you.” Instead, use a specific request such as “Please face toward me when you speak.” If she is talking with her hand over her mouth, say “Could you please put your hand down” instead of “I Can’t make out what you’re saying.”

Communication partner: The best way to speak clearly for people with hearing loss is to face them, speak a little bit more slowly, a bit more loudly, and with natural voice intonation, not a monotone. Try not to cover your mouth when you are talking, because that prevents your partner from taking advantage of lip cues.

Professor Kricos, shown here with HLAA member Ada Tucker, concluded by playing a game of Wheel of Fortune. She spun the wheel after asking a person in the audience a question of what they would do in a particular hard of hearing situation. The numbers on the wheel went from 1 to 6. Where the wheel stopped the person would provide from one to six answers to the question.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Chapter President Oscar Segal invited Professor Kricos back for a return lecture, preferably during the height of next season. She readily accepted.

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Alliance of Delray members are aware that President Bob Schulbaum has contacted U. S. Congressman Wexler and Palm Beach County State legislators to register dismay at once again discovering wide disparities between HMO patient benefits paid to subscribers in Miami-Dade as compared to Palm Beach County residents.

U. S. Congressmen Wexler, Klein, Hastings and Mahoney as well as state elected officials have sent letters to Gov. Crist requesting him to restore parity between counties. Miami Dade now receives $233 more per HMO member per month than Palm Beach County HMO members. It gets worse in 2009. Scheduled increase for Palm Beach County is 4% while Miami Dade will get a 13% increase. In dollars that will be $344 more a month for Miami Dade than Palm Beach County.

When asked why this difference, the director of the actuarial group at Medicare stated, “It is because Medicare spending in Miami Dade is unusually high compared to other counties—they received more medical services than their neighbors. The reason why has not been determined at this time, but this difference has been known for years.”

“This is the second time in the past three years,” said Schulbaum “we have had to fight this inequity by seeking the help of our elected officials. It was changed then by the incumbent Governor and it should be changed now. We invite the Budget Director in Washington to attend a mass meeting of our citizens to explain to us why Palm Beach County HMO participants are receiving less HMO reimbursement benefits than those in Miami Dade. There should be no difference.”

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State Senator Ted Deutch and staff members Casey Kustin and Josh Sztorc held a luncheon meeting for the board of directors of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations Wednesday, May 14, 2008.

Senator Deutch wanted to hear from this group about issues that concerned them and their member communities. In a free wheeling, informal hour and a half meeting, the following subjects were discussed and are being addressed by the Senator’s office:

1. Sen. Deutch is working on securing funding for FAU’s Holocaust Center.
2. Congressman Wexler is working on seeking parity for HMO payments between Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County at the Federal level. Sen. Deutch will work to make sure State will be on board for whatever Federal changes may come.
3. Sen. Deutch staff members are checking to learn if Solar panels are allowed on homes under HOA rules
4. Researching the amount of revenue generated from state gas tax with rise in current gas prices.
5. My Safe Florida Home Program- Has the original $40 million grant been exhausted? What is the status of the free inspection program?
6. Confirming status of Mitigation reports to home buyers. New law stating sellers with Citizens must provide Mitigation report. In 2011 all insurance companies will provide.
7. Provide an outline of provisions of new Healthcare Bill.

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Delray/Boynton Chapter of the HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF America
monthly meeting will take place Friday, May 16, 2008 from 9:45 A.M.
to 12 Noon at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach .
(opposite Morikami Park.)

Guest Speaker: Patricia B. Kricos, Ph.D,
Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders,
University of Florida. Question and answer period will follow.

Subject: “Living with hearing Loss: It Takes Two to Tango."

This is the final meeting of the season. Next meeting will be
September 19, 2008.

The meeting is open to the public at no charge.
Complimentary coffee and bagels served.
Oscar Segal, President
Email: trip3584@comcast.net
Tel. (561) 499-9873

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The Human Statue of Liberty photograph was made in 1918 by arranging the 18,000 Officers and Men at Fort Dodge, Des Moines Iowa into the Statue of Liberty shape.

Imagine how long these men had to stay out in the open until everything was perfect for the picture to be taken!

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Norma Crown is a student in the Creative Writing Class I give at Kings Point during season. She has superior writing skills and is an exceptional poet. Enjoy her tribute to her Mother.

What I Learned From My Mother
By Norma Crown

I learned from my mother that it was good
To be generous, kind, polite, honest,
Modest, and never intentionally
Say anything to hurt another.

I learned that it was important
To forgive, to overlook,
To have patience, a sense of humor,
And to not bear grudges.

I learned that it was good
To be ambitious,
To get an education,
To try new experiences,
To do volunteer work.

I learned that it was bad
To gamble, to drink alcohol,
And to allow a boy any advances.

I learned to forgive her
shortcomings and aberrations.

I learned that she would always be
there for me and that I was loved.

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In the Morikami Gardens auditorium, Alliance President Bob Schulbaum welcomed Senator Ted Deutch, State Representatives Kelly Skidmore, Richard Machek, Maria Sachs, County Commissioner Burt Aaronson and Superintendant of Elections Dr. Arthur Anderson to their monthly meeting.

In his opening remarks, Schulbaum brought up the serious problem of the discrepancy in HMO member per month payment differences between Palm Beach County residents and those that live in Miami-Dade. Presently $233 more is paid to Miami Dade residents per month. In 2009 this difference will widen to $344 per month per HMO member. Schulbaum and the Alliance have enlisted the aid of U. S. Congressmen Wexler, Hastings, Klein and Mahoney to attempt to get this situation evened out. The Congressmen have a signed a letter to Gov. Crist asking him to narrow the disparity. "We in Palm Beach County are no different than the people in Miami-Dade," said Schulbaum. "There should be no difference. We are all part of the tri county
census area. We will continue to investigate this injustice. Let the Budget Director from Washington, D. C. come down here and explain to all of us in a public meeting why this inequity exists."

Alliance Vice President Dr. Lori Vinikoor had the honor of introducing a special guest, Miss Jessica Stallone, the 17 year old Spanish River H. S. junior who won a recent contest "Ought to be a Law" sponsored by State sen. Deutch and Representative Kelly Skidmore. The young lady said she would like to dedicate her adult life to public service.

Superintendant of Elections, Dr. Robert Anderson had requested to speak about the upcoming August primary. He stated that optical scanning machines would be available in August and absentee balloting would be more efficient because of new equipment purchased from Pitney-Bowes Co.

State Representative Maria L. Sachs presented a proclamation to Alliance President Bob Schulbaum from all the state legislators commending him and the Alliance for their continuous quest for improving quality of life issues for the people of south Palm Beach County.

The elected state officials and Commissioner Aaronson reported to Alliance of Delray delegates and alternates the results of the legislative session in Tallahassee that ended this past Friday, May 2. Representative Machek had to leave early. Space limitations require you visit www.allianceofdelray.com for their complete report.

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My neighbor Mike Hoffman is in his mid 50’s, 6’ 2” tall and weighs 220 lbs., and an active tennis player. Get the picture? A hale, hearty and handsome young retiree. In his own words, this is the story of an incident that happened to him on April 3d:

“While playing tennis in the finals of the Grand Slam League Division Championship at Boca Pointe Athletic Club, well into the second hour of the match, I experienced a tingling in my feet and then rapidly shooting up through my body as I was awaiting the victorious completion of a second set tie-breaker. The only thing I was to complete on that day was passing out unconscious, and as was explained to me later, my heart stopped. I had to receive four jolts of electricity via a defibrillator in order to restore my heartbeat as well as my breathing. If it were not for a certified trained employee of the athletic center, I would not be here writing this story. Quite simply, this young lady, who additionally administered CPR techniques along with the ‘defib’, saved my life!”

Mike’s experience demonstrates that every community needs to have a trained certified defibrillator staff in order to save a life.

He continues: “I feel compelled to share this with you because I was very lucky. You however may not be. Emergency medical response teams took over 20 minutes to reach me. Guess what? Too Late! I personally challenge community members throughout the county to get involved. Support a defibrillator training program in your community. It could happen to you.”

To learn more about defibrillator and CPR training go to the following Red Cross site: http://www.redcross-pbc.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=291&srcid=301

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The annual Coach Schnellenberger / Stand Among Friends Golf Championship moves to the renowned Trump International Golf Club on Monday, May 19, with proceeds benefiting programs and services for people with disabilities.

“This is the perfect combination for those who enjoy the outdoors, good food, having fun and contributing to a good cause,” says Shawn A. Friedkin, president and founder of the nonprofit organization Stand Among Friends, which helps people with disabilities to live with independence and success.

Lending his legendary name and support to the annual golf championship is Florida Atlantic University Head Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger, shown in photo with Lisa and Shawn. Schnellenberger has been part of four collegiate national championships and seven NFL playoff teams, two of which won the Super Bowl. A hometown favorite throughout South Florida, Coach Schnellenberger led the 1983 University of Miami Hurricanes to the school's first national title, defeating Nebraska in the 50th Orange Bowl.

“Coach Schnellenberger’s commitment and concern for people with disabilities is exemplary,” says Friedkin. “We’re honored once again to have his participation in our golf fundraiser.”

“We rely entirely on grants, gifts, fundraisers and good-hearted people to help serve people with disabilities,” Friedkin explains. “That’s why this golf championship is so important.”

The event begins with brunch and registration at 10 a.m. on Monday May 19 at Trump International Golf Club (3505 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach), and golf begins with a shotgun start at noon. The fundraiser continues afterward with a cocktail party, awards presentations and silent auction beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Fees start at $350 for an individual player with corporate sponsorships up to $12,500. Guest passes for the cocktail party afterward are $100 each.

For more information or to sign up early, see the Stand Among Friends website: www.standamongfriends.org and click the golf icon, or call (561) 297-4400.

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The non-sectarian Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service has obtained approximately an acre of land on the grounds of Temple Anshei Shalom, West Atlantic Avenue just west of Cumberland in Delray Beach.

A 22,000 square foot building will be built on this parcel of land. This state of the art facility will be uniquely tailored for the wealth of programs offered by Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service. The facility will feature large, flexible program rooms designed to be quickly configurable to meet the needs of any program.

A warming kitchen with all new commercial grade appliances will serve as the culinary hub for feeding programs and special events where access to a properly stocked kitchen is essential.

Comfortable, quiet therapy offices will provide clients the comfort and privacy they need during their sessions.

The building will also feature a café that will serve as a casual gathering place for clients and visitors to socialize and share a cup of coffee or other refreshments in an open, relaxed atmosphere.

Land Design South is handling land planning and permitting which process is occurring presently. After zoning approval, the next step is to have the building permitted and approved for construction. The projections are to put a ceremonial shovel in the ground in mid-June 2008 and an estimated completion date in the first quarter of 2010. The architectural firm of Stofft & Associates should have preliminary plans available in the second quarter of 2008.

The following programs are planned when new facility is completed:
…Bereavement and caregiver support groups
…Mental health counseling
…Holocaust survivor services
…Case management services for the homebound frail elderly
…A significantly expanded food pantry
…Kosher Konnection, a congregate meal program for seniors
…“Welcome Home” drop-in center for chronically mental ill adults
…A café, operated by the higher functioning participants in the Welcome Home program
…Community Education Programs
…Community Social and Recreational Programs such as the Diamond Club and the Open Door
…Hurricane Registry and Support
…Shirley and Bart Weisman Center for Gerontology
…Volunteer Services

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At 4 PM Thursday May 1, 2009 Temple Anshei Shalom, West Atlantic Avenue, held a Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance service, conducted by Rabbi Barry J. Konovitch and Cantor Emil Levy. Mr. Moric Jusovic, a survivor, served as Master of Ceremonies.

Principal Guest speaker was Ms. Janice Friebaum, a 46 year old daughter of her Holocaust survivor father. “I am not a stranger to public speaking or the subject of the Holocaust,” said Friebaum, “but this is the first time I have spoken about the Holocaust with my father in the audience.”

She told of the time when she was five years old sitting at the kitchen table with her father, pointing to the number tattoo on his arm and asking “What is that mark on your arm?” “That’s from the war,” was her father’s answer. When she asked him about grandparents, aunts, and uncles and why she never saw any while her childhood friends were always talking about their relatives, she always got the same brief answer: “It’s the war.” She was told she was named for her father’s sister who was killed by the Nazis.

“Even, when I got to be 14 and 15, my father refused to speak of the war years. I realized then he was psychologically wounded.” Janice determined at that early age she would strive to succeed in school and her career to make up for his suffering—to provide him with the pleasure of seeing her grow into a successful adult.

When she reached her early 20’s she became aware of the many “children of Holocaust survivors.” At age 30 she immersed herself in the history of the Holocaust, becoming an expert in the field. Understanding that her father did not want to speak about his experiences she urged him to be interviewed by Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust archive team. “When I watched the videotape of that one hour interview I learned more about my Father’s horrific experiences than I had heard from him my entire life. Since then he has traveled to Poland visiting the carnage sites and now speaks to Palm Beach County school kids about his experience when he was their age.”

Janice Friebaum speaks often and loudly about human rights and social injustice regardless of skin color, creed, or religion. She ended her talk by reading a moving poem she wrote about the silent conversations she had with her father in her imagination. An appreciative audience cloaked her in warm applause.

More than 400 people attended this somber service. About half were Holocaust survivors who participated in a candle lighting ceremony, each lighting a candle in memory of their relatives and those millions who perished.

Commissioner Burt Aaronson presented a proclamation to the Temple, signed by all the county commissioners, which proclaimed May 1, 2008 as Holocaust Remembrance Day throughout Palm Beach County. The audience then gathered around the outdoor Holocaust memorial for a brief closing prayer ceremony.

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Anne M. Chernin, (l.) Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations Director of Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service of So. Palm Beach County; and Janice Friebaum, (r.) Senior Planner, Community Planning of Jewish Federation of So. Palm Beach County met with Alliance of Delray President, Robert Schulbaum and this Blogger who serves as First Vice President of the Alliance of Delray, Tuesday morning, April 29, 2008 for a wide ranging discussion on what services are most needed for seniors in South Palm Beach County.

Ms. Friebaum is the lead investigator for the Jewish Federation charged with gathering useable ideas that can help older residents and make recommendations to the Federation to support their implementation.

We offered several suggestions where there is dire need:
1. Transportation services to take people to doctors and food shopping.
2. Delivery of meals to the homebound on a larger scale than exists at present.
3. A day care center in West Delray area for Alzheimer’s and dementia afflicted people.

“The Cumberland Ave. library, soon to be used as a book storage and shipping point by the Palm Beach County Library system when the new Hagen Ranch Road library opens in June or July would, with little alteration, be a perfect building for such an asset, so family caregivers could get a few hours respite.” said Schulbaum.

4. A system of one-on-one visits to homebound seniors by volunteers or qualified staff members to determine if these people were eating properly, caring for personal hygiene needs and taking their medications.

5. An independent transportation network, something that Ms. Friebaum has been studying that is in use in a few other states. She plans to do further in-depth research into this possibility.

Schulbaum made clear to the two women that the South Palm Beach County Partnership comprised of the Alliance of Delray, the Coalition of Boynton West (COBWRA) and the West Boca Community Council can seek the help of elected officials when needed for the betterment of our citizens.

Ms. Friebaum said she would continue to speak to other community leaders, then put together her recommendations to attempt to obtain funds for the future that would impact people in need favorably.

If you have some other good ideas you can reply to this blog.

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