Here's an essay by another one of my senior Creative Writing students that resonates:

Where in the world I would like to be and why . . .
By Mrs. Pat Regan

Cruises, boat trips, land tours, car trips, camping . . .
we’ve done them all.
After a while, the new city looks very much like the last one
and all the museums and churches blend together . . .
Where I would like to be is a place with beauty
and a mixture of stimulation and peace.
For now, that place is Florida in the winter.

Florida.

I like the cultivated beauty.
Who decided long ago that palm trees were so special?
But for many people they are . . . and you don’t need to go to Hawaii to find them.
They blow in the breeze outside your window and line the multi-laned roadways.
Sun, blue skies, fluffy clouds, birds singing, reflecting water
All help to complete the pleasant picture.

Dressing in shorts and wearing bathing suits feels wonderful.
I have grown tired of years of winter jackets, slippery roads and shoveling snow.
Recently my oldest grandson visited and spent time trying to connect poles and
knock down a green coconut from a palm tree outside our back door.
That’s was his focus and challenge for about an hour
and then it was off to the Everglades and alligator wrestling . . .
My brother e-mails me pictures of Colorado mountains covered in white
and people in pools heated by hot springs. Done that already.
I’m happy with the condo pools and facilities
where we walk in water, talk and swim on a daily basis.

A comfortable bed, a good book, soft, gently hugging clothing,
the right combination of companionship and solitude . . .
simple things to look forward to . . .
Good food, cooked or ordered in rest aurants; freedom to come and go;
Stimulation for the senses but not too much stress . . . .
Reasonably good health . . Always knowing nothing’s perfect . . .

It’s not really a place but more a state of mind . . .
Variety. A smile freely given and reflected back.
The touch of a hand in yours or a hug.
A voice saying your name: Pat, Hon, Mom, Grandma . . .
Someone who knows you and cares about you . .
And someone you know and care about, too . .
That’s where in the world I want to be.

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Traffic Alert for Wednesday April 1:
Heavy Rains Affecting Traffic PGA Boulevard at U.S.1 and Military Trail
Palm Beach Gardens – Heavy rains in northern Palm Beach County have caused roadway flooding along PGA Boulevard at U.S. 1 and also at Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials report. Crews are on site working to clear the roadway in these two areas; however, motorists are advised to seek alternate routes if possible or to proceed through these areas with caution.

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The inaugural Florida Atlantic University Spring Break Golf Championship that began Friday, March 27concluded Sunday afternoon, March 29 at Gleneagles Country Club, Delray Beach. Eighty-two collegiate golfers from fourteen colleges around the country competed for recognition as “the team to beat” at this first of its kind college golf event.

Finish Player Team Scores
1 Scott Langley Illinois 65 70 70 205 -8
2 Jonathan Bowers Northwestern 67 68 72 207 -6
3 Cam Burke Eastern Michigan U. 64 75 72 211 -2
T4 Bo Hoag Ohio State Univ. 68 72 72 212 -1
T4 Jordan Payne Memphis, U. of 72 70 70 212 -1
T4 Chris DeForest Illinois 71 72 69 212 -1
T4 Lion Kim Michigan, U. of 70 75 67 212 -1
T8 Dan Woltman Wisconsin, U. of 71 72 70 213 E
T8 Luke Guthrie Illinois 66 76 71 213 E

Participating colleges include Florida Atlantic University; Ohio State University; Michigan University; University of Illinois; University of Memphis; St. Johns University; University of Missouri; Northwestern University; Notre Dame; University of Wisconsin; University of Michigan Eastern; Northern Illinois University; University of Iowa and Marquette University.

This “Spring Break” tournament idea has been worked on since May 2008 by Angelo J. Sands, Head Golf Coach of Florida Atlantic University, Pat Goss Coach for Northwestern, and Jim Brown the Coach for Ohio State. (Coach Brown is retiring after this tournament. He has coached Ohio State for the past 36 years.)

Photo: Max Scodro of Notre Dame lines up putt on par 5 12th green of Gleneagles West Course as Will Hogan of University of Missouri looks on.

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Sid Parker brought his quintet and vocalist Roberta De Muro to the West Boca Library Wednesday, March 25 for another free concert sponsored by the Swing & Jazz Preservation Society, Inc.

The small meeting room was filled with more than 70 fans of swing and jazz who were rewarded with an hour of vocal and instrumental treats by the talented musicians.

Parker, on tenor sax; Johnny Amoroso, trumpet and vocals; Joe Belanger, drums; Al Ferrari, bass fiddle; Sonny Marusso, keyboard player and husky voiced vocalist Roberta De Muro.

Al Ferrari sings "Time After Time" to his wife who was in the audience. He should make a recording of that number, he does it so well!

Saturday, March 26, Sid Parker brings the group to the Hagen Ranch Road Library. The Library has distributed all the free tickets available for the 200 seat auditorium. It's a sell out! Ticket holders you're in for a treat!

Rene Zerah, President of the Swing & Jazz Preservation Society says: "Hagen Ranch Library concert is the final free concert of the spring season to acquaint the public with our November through April paid series that takes place at the Spanish River Performing Arts auditorium in Boca Raton. Tickets available for the April 21 concert featuring Chris LaBarberra on trumpet and his sextet, $18 for members; $26 for non-members. Call 499-9976 to reserve your seats.

We will have one more free performance immediately before our first concert of the 2009-2010 season. This will take place at the South County Civic Center on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 2 to 3 PM. Tickets will be available after Labor Day."

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At a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations Jeff Brophy of Land Design South showed a graphic of the conceptual site plan of the proposed medical
office development on the civic parcel at Delray Villas.

“This plan has not been submitted or reviewed by County staff and will likely modify as we go through the approval process,” he said.

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March 20, 2009
Dear Friend,
New state revenue estimates came out last Friday, and as one might expect when receiving news on Friday the 13th, the news was not good. State economists have estimated that we now face a $2.3 billion revenue shortfall for the next fiscal year resulting in a budget deficit of about $6 billion. We must use every penny of the federal recovery money made available to Florida by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help offset our deficit and make long overdue investments in critical areas like education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Florida has been allocated about $13.4 billion in federal funding over the next two to three years, and it is critical that we inject this money into Florida’s economy as rapidly and precisely as possible. Budget negotiations in the Florida House are about to begin and I will do all that I can to encourage the leadership of the Florida House to take full advantage of the federal money that has been made available to our state.

While the news regarding the status of our budget was not very positive, I’m happy to report that a bill I’m sponsoring to help the Florida Public Health Institute more effectively promote public health awareness passed its first committee this week with unanimous support. The bill has two more committee stops to go before it reaches a vote on the House Floor, and I’ll be sure to keep you informed of further developments. Click here for more info about the bill.
While there is a lot of news to report from Tallahassee, the following items regarding our community may be of interest to you as well.

Free Skin Cancer Screenings Tomorrow As the Grapefruit League comes down to Florida each year for Major League Baseball’s spring training, the Moffitt Cancer Center is tagging along by bus with the Tampa Bay Rays to offer free skin cancer screenings to the public before each spring training game. Free screenings will be available tomorrow, March 21st, at the Moffitt Cancer Center mobile unit bus in the Fort Lauderdale Stadium parking lot located at 1301 NW 55th St in Fort Lauderdale beginning at 11:05AM (2 hours before the start of the Rays game at 1:05PM). The mobile unit bus is easily accessible to the public, even for people who do not wish to attend the game, and will be properly staffed with volunteers, physicians and other medical personal to efficiently aid in the screenings. For more information about the Moffitt Cancer Center and the Spring Swing event, visit www.moffitt.org/springswing.

Health Tip: The Moffitt Cancer Center is promoting the following sun safety tips from the American Cancer Society to help protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause wrinkles, dryness, age spots and skin cancer.

Avoid unprotected exposure when the sun is at its strongest (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). UV rays pass through clouds and water, so don’t assume you’re safe if it’s not sunny or you’re feeling comfortable in the cool water.
• Check the UV Index for your area before planning a day outside. This number between 1 and 10 is a measure of the amount of radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. The higher the number, the greater the exposure. You can find the UV Index by visiting www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html and entering
your ZIP code.
• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. Ideally, glasses should have 99 percent to 100 percent UV absorption. Darker lenses are not necessarily better because the protection comes from an invisible chemical applied to the lenses. Look for an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) label.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB radiation. Apply generously and properly – 30 minutes before sun exposure. For most sunscreens, reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming, toweling dry or perspiring. Guard against loss of your sunscreen’s effectiveness from heat by keeping it in your cooler.
Stay in the shade as much as possible or cover up with protective clothing. Dark colors provide better protection than light colors. Choose tightly woven fabric and select a hat with a broad brim to protect your neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp.
• Regular skin examinations are key. This includes monthly self exams as well as an annual skin examination by a health care practitioner to identify any changes in your skin or the development of anything new. Click here to see images and information on what malignant melanoma can look like.

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.
All the best, Kelly Skidmore State Representative, District 90

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INAUGURAL
COMMUNITY INVITATIONAL
GOLF SHOOT-OUT

To recognize the many community golf groups who play on a regularly scheduled weekly basis at the Kings Point Executive golf course during each season, the management team at Kings Point inaugurated a tournament that took place February 28, 2009. Thirteen foursomes responded to invitations and signed up for a round of golf at the Kings Point Executive course and an awards luncheon afterwards. 44 men and eight women participated.

This year's men's winning team was from the Jamaica Bay community: Dick Franciosi,
Val Williams, Dick Newell, and Tom Diehl. The contest was very close. A second handicap hole was necessary to decide the winner. This created a very high level of excitement at the luncheon.
The women's winner was the team representing the Kings Point Ladies Golf Club: Gloria Carroll, Jan Greenglass, Frances Cohen and Fran Garnes.

Perpetual trophies for the best men's and women's teams were purchased. The
names of the winning community and the players were fixed to the trophy
which will reside in the winning team's clubhouse. This is a plan
similar to the "Claret Jug", which is won at the British Open. The winner
returns the trophy the following year to be passed on to the next winning team.

The tournament fostered a festive atmosphere. The players agreed that a
good time was had by all. All the players planned to participate next year.
The management is anxious to have more women participating.

For further information, call Bill Guimond, 561-381-2037.

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To read my story in yesterday's Sun-Sentinel about a returning Iraq veteran CLICK HEREhttp://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/palmbeach/sfl-flfriedman0322pcmar22,0,7679549.story

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Martin Schiller is one of the students in my Creative Writing class. I want to share with you
this beautiful poem he wrote:

Faith By Martin Schiller © 2/29/09

Faith is a state of mind.
It is the line between believing in….and knowing that there is a God.
Faith is having that inner strength to trust in God when all is lost.
Faith is that hidden voice that says “Thank You God” at seeing the sun slip into the sea.
Faith is the bridge between pessimism and optimism.
It is a grandmother’s certainty in her progeny’s talents.
Faith is the bond between a dream and success.
Faith is that short distance between “I can” and “I cannot”.
It is that glow in a mother’s eyes at the first sight of her new-born baby
Faith is a mother’s conviction in her child’s ability.
Faith is that glue that holds a family together.
Faith spans the distance between disaster and triumph.
It is the pathway that leads from self-doubt to victory.
Faith is that inner voice that says “Hold-on!”
Faith means to join the robin in its morning song.
Faith is watching your baby take its first steps.
Faith is the arrow to tomorrow when the load today is too hard to tow.
Faith means to await the morning sun during a violent storm.
Faith is to bask in a mother’s embrace after being hurt.
It is to awe at the universe when we gaze at the stars.
Faith means to trust in your anchor in times of distress.
Faith means to trust in someone, or something, bigger than you.

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Swing & Jazz Preservation Society Tuesday March 17 concert stars Jimmy Cavallo and his sextet. Jimmy on his saxophone and vocals is a master entertainer. His jumpin' blues and swinging jazz pleases everyone who hears him. At the Spanish River Performing Arts Center, 2400 Yamato Road, corner of St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton. Call 561-499-9976 to reserve your tickets.

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Wednesday everning, March 18 at 6:15 PM, the monthly meeting of the Boca Raton Computer Society at the South County Civic Center, Jog Rd., Delray Beach, opposite Morikami Gardens. Meet new president of the club Steve Costello. The public is welcome. Featured speaker: Lee Reynolds "Exploring MS Windows 7, Beta 1."

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Friday, March 20 Hearing Loss Association of America Delray/Boynton/Boca Chapter meets at 10 A.M. at South County Civic Center. Featured Speaker: Norman Domb, Owner of Florida Hearing Care Centers. If you have hearing problems this is the place for you to meet and learn. Public is always welcome. Coffee "and" provided.

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Free jazz concerts sponsored by Swing & Jazz Preservation Society will take place next week from 2 to 3 PM, starring Sid Parker, his quintet and Roberta di Muro, vocalist. Wednesday, March 25 at State Rd 7 Library in Boca Raton; Saturday March 28 at the Hagen Ranch Road Library in Delray Beach. Free tickets available in advance at the Information desk in each library. Enjoy the live music you love!

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The Swing & Jazz Preservation Society Presents Jimmy Cavallo and his sextet March 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Spanish River Performing Arts Center. Cavallo plays the saxophone and sings jump blues and jazz.

At the beginning of the evening, Palm Beach county Commissioner Addie L.Greene will present a $1,000 check from the Swing & Jazz Preservation Society being donated to Boynton Beach High School Dimensional Chorus. During intermission a vocal trio from Dimensional Chorus will entertain.

All Swing & Jazz Preservation Society performances take place the third Tuesday of each month through April 21, 2009 in the 1500 seat venue at Spanish River Performing Arts Center located at 2400 Yamato Road, corner of St. Andrews Blvd. in Boca Raton beginning at 7:30 P. M. Tickets are $18 for members and $26 for  non-members.

Membership applications for a full 12-month period are available in the lobby at concert night, or by calling (561) 499-9976.

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SeniorNet has lost its space at the JCC in Boynton Beach due to the coming closing of the JCC in West Palm Beach. This created a snowball effect that resulted in the need for additional space by the JCC at the Boynton Beach location, hence SeniorNet is being evicted.

SeniorNet began in 1995 with three students in a basement classroom. In 2003, ‘04 and ‘05 they taught 1,000 students each year. In 2008 attendance went down to 500.

SeniorNet, which has educated literally thousands of seniors in computer usage south Palm Beach, is in need of a new rent free home.

Contact SeniorNet at 561-306-4947 or Ed Ostrowski, President at 561-306-4947. See what they are about at their website: www.SeniornetBoyntonBeach.org.

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Consumer Traps & Tips from the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division
Topic: Gold Parties

Trap: Mark from Boynton Beach couldn’t resist the invitation. A gold party! It sounded fun, and his wife had a big box of discarded jewelry. He went to a stranger’s house across town and met a lot of people selling their gold. There was a professional looking lady weighing the gold and writing checks. Mark handed over his bag of jewelry and made more than three hundred dollars! He even got a tip on how he could start his own gold party business. Later that night he wondered if he got such a great deal. Mark’s wife was also not happy about him selling her high school pendant.

Tips: The gold bullion exchange industry is largely unregulated and Florida does not require licensing. There are ways to avoid a gold party nightmare:
• First, decide if you really want to sell your gold. Jewelry can often be worth more than its salvage weight when you include artistic or sentimental value.
• Gold parties may be fun and convenient, but may not give you the best deal. It is important to know the karat of your gold and to get it appraised beforehand. Call a local jewelry store or go to www.goldprice.org.
• Keep in mind nobody does business to lose. Gold parties operate with many costs such as host commissions, the buyer’s time and the refiner’s costs. These expenses mean your gold may be bought at up to half of what it is really worth.
• Be wary of buyers who lump your gold into one pile. Sort your gold by karat weight beforehand, and be cautious if told your gold is of a different karat.
• Understand the scales. Gold is measured in Troy ounces (31.1 grams). Shady buyers will weigh gold in what’s called pennyweight (1.555 grams) and pay you in grams. Make sure you are paid the right price for the unit of measurement.

Need more information? - Call Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 or visit www.pbcgov.com/consumer to see if complaints have been made against the company you are considering.
Dennis Moore, Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division, 561-712-6600
Boca/Delray/Glades toll free: 1-888-852-7362. Fax: 561-712-6610
50 So. Military Trail, Suite 201, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Check out our website at: http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer

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Session is off to a quick start and the Capitol is a buzz with people. A student from Broward College came to Tallahassee to shadow me for two days this week and I’m happy he got such a great picture of democracy in action. The House is mostly focused on how to use $12 billion in recovery money allocated to Florida over the next three years from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and if we should accept it. Although some members in leadership have expressed serious reservations about accepting the recovery funding, I believe this money is essential to help reduce the cuts to Florida’s budget after years of reductions and a rapidly declining economy. New general revenue estimates will be released next Friday, and at that point we will know more about the size of the budget deficit for the next fiscal year.

The following items regarding our community may be of interest to you as well.
Recovery Money Available to Palm Beach County Businesses--The Palm Beach County Economic Development Office has received more than $13 million in federal loan money to offer local businesses in an effort to create jobs and boost the local economy. The money will be available in the form of a low-interest, five-year loan to profitable businesses that have been in operation for two years. Contact Claudia Lopez at clopez@pbcgov.com for more information.

Palm Beach County Offering Discount to Spay or Neuter Your Pets--I am sponsoring HB 1337 that would require shelters to spay or neuter cats and dogs before giving them up for adoption in an effort to reduce an overpopulation of stray cats and dogs, but there are also important measures you as a pet owner can take to help alleviate the problem. Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control is offering $100 vouchers to help pet owners cover the cost of spaying or neutering their cat or dog. The vouchers are available to low income residents, residents receiving unemployment benefits, and seniors over the age of 70. For more information, and to see if you may be eligible, please click on the “$100 Spay/ Neuter Vouchers” link at http://www.pbcgov.com/publicsafety/animalcare.

Health Tip: House Resolution 9013, which I sponsored, passed the Florida House this week recognizing March 8 – 14 as patient safety awareness week in the state of Florida. The resolution also acknowledges the good work of the Florida Patient Safety Corporation in improving the quality and safety of health care in Florida. Visit http://www.floridapatientsafetycorp.com and click on the “Patient Checklists” for resources to help you choose doctors and pharmacists, and plan for hospital visits. Feel free to explore the rest of the website for great information on how to ensure you are receiving the safest and best quality health care possible.

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
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SeniorNet has lost its space at the JCC in Boynton Beach due to the coming closing of the JCC in West Palm Beach. This created a snowball effect that resulted in the need for additional space by the JCC at the Boynton Beach location, hence SeniorNet is being evicted.

SeniorNet began in 1995 with three students in a basement classroom. In 2003, ‘04 and ‘05 they taught 1,000 students each year. In 2008 attendance went down to 500.

SeniorNet, which has educated literally thousands of seniors in computer usage south Palm Beach, is in need of a new rent free home.

Contact SeniorNet at 561-306-4947 or Ed Ostrowski, President at 561-306-4947. See what they are about at their website: www.SeniornetBoyntonBeach.org.

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Consumer Traps & Tips. A weekly service of the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division
Topic: Buying Furniture

Trap: The last time Janice bought furniture had been a nightmare! She had gone to a recently opened store that was having a “great” sale. A lot of the furniture did not have manufacturer’s labels or price tags but the sales person helped her find furniture in her price range and said it could be delivered in two days.

Janice hadn’t been concerned that the order form just said “furniture” and “bed” and it did not itemize the two nightstands, the dresser and the headboard or the queen mattress. When the furniture arrived three weeks later the mattress and nightstands were not what she ordered! The headboard and dresser mirror were missing!

Tips: This time would be different. Janice got a business information report from Consumer Affairs.• She was at a store that had been at the same location for several years, where friends and relatives had shopped with good results. • She made sure all the furniture had manufacturer’s labels and price tags.• She insisted on seeing and reviewing everything on the order form before paying for the furniture. Janice wanted to make sure each item she was buying was listed on the form along with the manufacturer’s name, model name and number, the size, color and price.• She read all the terms and conditions on the order form carefully.• Janice paid for the furniture with a credit card, giving her leverage in case of a dispute.

For more information, contact Consumer Affairs at 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray 1-888-852-7362), or check out the businesses at: www.pbcgov.com/consumer.

Dennis Moore, Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Division, 561-712-6600
Boca/Delray/Glades toll free: 1-888-852-7362; Fax: 561-712-6610
50 So. Military Trail, Suite 201, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Check out our website at: http://www.pbcgov.com/consumer

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SeniorNet has lost its space at the JCC in Boynton Beach due to the coming closing of the JCC in West Palm Beach. This created a snowball effect that resulted in the need for additional space by the JCC at the Boynton Beach location, hence SeniorNet is being evicted.

SeniorNet began in 1995 with three students in a basement classroom. In 2003, ‘04 and ‘05 they taught 1,000 students each year. In 2008 attendance went down to 500.

SeniorNet, which has educated literally thousands of seniors in computer usage south Palm Beach, is in need of a new rent free home.

Contact SeniorNet at 561-306-4947 or Ed Ostrowski, President at 561-306-4947. See what they are about at their website: www.SeniornetBoyntonBeach.org.

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Senator Ted Deutch weighs in on tobacco industry front groups’ hype of alleged heightened cigarette smuggling

Tallahassee, FL – Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) immediately responded today to what he labeled wild and irresponsible assertions of dramatically increased smuggling and bootlegging of cigarettes should the state’s excise tax on this leading killer finally be raised after nearly two decades of inaction by the Florida Legislature. The Boca Raton Democrat, whose legislation, SB 1840, would raise by a dollar the nation’s 6th lowest cigarette tax of 33.9-cents per pack, was particularly rankled by overt suggestions by front groups for the tobacco industry that highly organized and even violent criminal activity would arise merely from having a cigarette excise tax in the neighborhood of the national average.

“It’s one thing to grossly exaggerate the impact of cross-border sales, which common sense dictates would be as minimal here as any state given our geography and population centers,” Deutch remarked. “But it’s absolutely reckless to employ scare tactics on Floridians by inventing an infusion of violent crime in a desperate attempt to fight, of all things, a measure everyone knows will save lives rather than endanger them.”

Senator Deutch acknowledged that, as with any product involving an excise tax, collection is never 100 percent effective. He strongly refuted, however, any claims that tax avoidance measures would negate the expected net revenue gains from an increased levy, as experience in virtually every state raising its cigarette tax has proven these allegations to be patently false.

He scoffed at the use of the lone known instance of a state, New Jersey, actually losing revenue, albeit only slightly, from a cigarette tax increase, pointing out that the Garden State already had one of the highest levies in the land when it upped its tax to $2.58 per pack.
“Naysayers here can invoke Sopranos-like images all they want,” Deutch observed, “But it can’t change the fact that Florida has one of the very lowest cigarette taxes to begin with. It also belittles the strong commitment of Florida’s highly capable state and local law enforcement apparatus.”

Lastly, Deutch expressed grave doubts concerning the tobacco industry front groups’ assertions of a projected loss of 2,400 jobs merely due to an increase in Florida’s excise tax on tobacco, calling it a bogus attempt to prey upon the fears of Floridians during troubled economic times, while also noting that passage of his legislation would result in tens of thousands of clean, significantly higher-wage jobs in the research, bio-tech, and health sectors. Even more importantly, he stated, tens of thousands of Floridians would not lose their lives.

“More lives saved, as well as more and better jobs in this economy, in exchange for a higher tax on a deadly product is a trade the vast majority of Floridians are willing to accept,” Senator Deutch concluded.

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Health Tip According to the American Cancer Society, secondhand smoke in the United States each year is responsible for an estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease in non-smokers who live with smokers, about 3,000 deaths due to lung cancer in non-smoking adults, and thousands of other cases of lung problems for both children and adults.

The U.S. Surgeon General recommends protecting yourself and your loved ones from secondhand smoke by:

…Making your home and car smoke-free.

…Asking people not to smoke around you and your children.

…Making sure that your children’s day care center or school is smoke-free.

…Choosing restaurants and other businesses that are smoke-free. Thanking businesses for being smoke-free. Letting owners of businesses that are not smoke-free know that secondhand smoke is harmful to your family’s health.

…Teaching children to stay away from secondhand smoke.

…Avoiding secondhand smoke exposure especially if you or your children have respiratory conditions, if you have heart disease, or if you are pregnant

...Talking to your doctor or healthcare provider more about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

… If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family from secondhand smoke is to quit smoking. In the meantime, you can protect your family by making your home and vehicles smoke-free and only smoking outside. A smoke-free home rule can also help you quit smoking.

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.

All the best, Kelly Skidmore State Representative, District 90

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The March monthly meeting of the Alliance of Delray will take place today Wednesday, March 4 at the South County Civic Center at 9:30 A.M. Doors open at 9 A.M. for coffee "and." The public is always welcome. Annual Election takes place. Guest Speaker: Tony Newbold, Florida Power and Light executive.

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Bob Schulbaum, President of the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations proclaimed the all day Vendor Fair held at the South County Civic Center, Friday Feb. 27 “a win-win situation for local HOA’ s and condo associations from the Alliance, Coalition of Boynton West and West Boca Community Council, and suppliers of goods and services to those organizations.”

Thirty-eight vendors including local banks, property management, landscape maintenance, security companies, insurance purveyors and others purchased booth space at the fair which was open only to community and homeowner association boards of directors, committee members and property managers. More than five hundred community executives toured the booth spaces learning about the various products and services offered.

Richard Herman, Vice President of the Alliance and Chairman of the annual Vendor Fairs stated, “I spoke to each of our exhibitors as the fair was winding down in the afternoon. Most said they were pleased with the amount of traffic and interest shown in their products or services and were interested in returning f for next year’s exhibit.”

The Alliance of Delray is comprised of 65 homeowner and condo associations in the Delray area.

The March monthly meeting of the Alliance of Delray will take place this Wednesday, March 4 at the South County Civic Center at 9:30 A.M. Doors open at 9 A.M. for coffee "and." The public is always welcome. Guest Speaker: Tony Newbold, Florida Power and Light executive.

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CLICK HERE to read my article in Sunday's (March 1) Sun-Sentinel Community News section.

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