The Boca Raton Tribune ED 662

The Boca Raton Tribune

Your Closest Neighbor

Peace Pole Planted With Butterflies In Boca

By: Marci Shatzman

Rotary’s past District Governor Steve Laine got a shoutout from present 6930 District Governor Douglas Heizer for planting the seeds of the idea. And on April 6, Heizer thanked Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward and county Parks and Recreation staff for making it happen.

Heizer and Woodward unveiled a new peace pole near the butterfly garden in front of Daggerwing Nature Center, named for the butterfl y species. Rotary Club Boca Raton West, Heizer’s home club, inspired the new placement.

Club president Angelica Blakely called the 40-acre nature preserve in west Boca’s South County Regional Park the perfect habitat for a pole that has become an international symbol. Tri-Rail’s

ENTERTAINMENT

See Page 17

Who could ever forget The Wick’s very first Broadway show, “The Sound of Music,” at the newly rescued theater in September 2013.

Executive managing producer and owner Marilynn Wick admitted she had never produced a show.

ENTERTAINMENT

B’nai Torah Congregation Celebrates Sold Out 2024 Concert Series

See Page 18

Boca Raton, FL – B’nai Torah Congregation, the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida, is celebrating the synagogue’s hugely successful and inspiring 2024 Concert Series. The series, which included four live, in-person performances, featured singers, songwriters, orchestras, and Cantors from around the world. Over

See Page 15

RotaryDistrictGovernorDouglasHeizerandPalmBeachCounty Commissioner Marci Woodward

LAST WEEK RESULT

COMMUNITY The Boca Raton Tribune

Peace Pole Planted With Butterflies In Boca

By: Marci Shatzman

Rotary’s past District Governor Steve Laine got a shoutout from present 6930 District Governor Douglas Heizer for planting the seeds of the idea. And on April 6, Heizer thanked Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward and county Parks and Recreation staff for making it happen.

Heizer and Woodward unveiled a new peace pole near the butterfly garden in front of Daggerwing Nature Center, named for the butterfly species. Rotary Club Boca Raton West, Heizer’s home club, inspired the new placement.

Club president Angelica Blakely called the 40-acre nature preserve in west Boca’s South County Regional Park the perfect habitat for a pole that has become an international symbol. With a message in eight languages, the pole was introduced after the WWII bombings in post-war Japan. Now there’s 250,000 peace poles in every country, she noted.

“This a great fit for us,” Jennifer Cirillo, Palm Beach County Parks and Rec Director said in her remarks before Rotary members and guests. “We’re happy to partner with people like you

to make a difference.”

“I have five more waiting for you in storage, and our next one will be in Okeechobee,” Heizer said, noting Delray Rotary placed a peace pole in front of City Hall. He presented Cirillo and Woodward with a Rotary pennant with the words: “Create Hope in the World.”

But it was the club’s peace essay winner Daniel Pushkin, 12, a student at Olympus International Academy in Boca Raton, whose words guests and speakers found the most inspiring:

“To me, peace is a promise we make to ourselves and each other to always try to understand and care…making the world a warmer and friendlier place, one smile at a time.”

Music was provided by BSS Harmony’s Daniela Ferrato and Marcelo Ferreira. Former West Boca club president Luciana Beuke concluded the ceremony with a butterfly release from a basket.

Note: Heizer is also the publisher of the Boca Raton Tribune.

RotaryDistrictGovernorDouglasHeizerandPalmBeachCounty Commissioner Marci Woodward

Monks of Gaden Shartse to Visit Atha

Delray Beach, FL – Atha Yoga Foundation, a Delray Beach-based organization that connects the community with yoga, meditation and healing through outreach programs and partnerships, announced it will be welcoming the Tibetan Buddhist Monks of Gaden Shartese to Delray Beach! The monks will be at Atha Yoga Shala participating in a week-long tour from Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12, 2024, which will feature Tea Ceremonies, Evening Lectures, Mandala Design and Build, Personal Blessings, a Business Blessing and Butter Sculpture Workshop with the kids.

In partnership with the Phukhang Educational Foundation, the community will have the opportunity to learn about the monks’ most ancient traditions, their culture and their pathways to inner peace and compassion. Events are open to the community; some are free and others require a nominal charge.

“We are so fortunate to be able to host the Monks of Gaden Shartese and immerse ourselves into their ancient traditions,” said Nicole Acacio, COO of Atha Yoga Shala. “I’m confident that those who participate in our week-long tour will benefit from their wisdom, culture and compassion. I am thrilled to welcome both the Tibetan Monks and the community to our oasis.”

The tour will support the Monks of Gaden Shartse as they contribute to the construction of a new Khangtsen

For more information, call 561857-1157 or visit https://athashala. com/the-monk-of-gaden-shartese/.

Atha Yoga Shala is committed to offering the community transformational growth while connecting with fellow humans through love, kindness, and education. Through outreach programs and partnerships, the organization aims to make yoga, meditation and healing bodywork accessible to individuals who may not have the opportunity to experience its benefits. They take pride in introducing yoga at their frequent kids camps and kids yoga classes offering kids a chance to learn the practice of yoga and meditation. By collaborating with local organizations, schools, and community centers, the foundation seeks to bring the healing power of yoga to all. Learn more at https://athashala.com/.

Scan QR code for more information

(dormitory). Currently, the monks face challenges due to limited accommodation. The overcrowding impacts their living conditions and hampers their ability to focus on spiritual growth. With the community’s support, their goal is to build 60 new rooms. By ensuring they have adequate living space, the monks can thrive and continue their invaluable contributions to the world.

FAU Receives Record-breaking Number of Applications

Boca Raton, FL – Florida Atlantic University has received more than 46,000 fi rst-year applications for fall – an all-time university record.

The 27 percent increase compares to the fi nal fi rst-year pool of 36,700 in April 2023. Of the 46,933 applicants, 70 percent are in-state and 30 percent are from out-of-state.

“We are thrilled so many prospective students are interested in attending Florida Atlantic in beautiful Boca Raton, as well as our other campuses in South Florida,” said FAU President Stacy Volnick. “As a fi rst-choice university, we look forward to welcoming the very best and brightest students from our state and across the nation as we continue our upward trajectory.”

In addition to the increased number of applicants, the profi le of admitted students has also climbed. The average GPA of those applying for admission is 3.95, while ACT scores now average 24, up from a 3.86 GPA and an average ACT score of 23 in 2022.

With more than a month until the

May 15 deposit deadline, deposits are also up 12 percent compared to one year ago. To manage the signifi cant increase, FAU started a waitlist process for first-year student applications this year.

“This is great news, and it presents opportunities for the university to strategically manage the incoming student population,” said Maura Flaschner, executive director of undergraduate admissions.

Moving to a waitlist means not all qualifi ed applicants, particularly those who applied after the Nov. 1 priority deadline, will be admitted. This process will help the university manage overall enrollment numbers, building use, retention rates and access to courses. Admission decisions for waitlisted applicants will be released in May.

The record-breaking numbers come at a time when graduating students are also making history, with more than 3,600 students graduating this spring for the fi rst time ever. The university will host seven instead of six spring ceremonies to accommodate the increase in May.

The Boca Raton

FAITH

By Robert J. Tamasy

Feeling In Control – Reality Or Illusion?

You show up for work on schedule, your mind already thinking through your plans for the day: meetings, deadlines, specific tasks, or projects you want to work on or finally complete. You feel totally in control. Until you realize you aren’t.

One of the certainties of life and work is how uncertain things can be. It was Scottish poet Robert Burns who observed, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” Stated a different way, the so-called “Murphy’s Law” advises that if it is possible for something to go wrong, it will go wrong. Just when we start thinking we are in control, circumstances may conspire to prove that we’re not.

I have experienced this hard lesson numerous times as a journalist. There was the time early in my career when I was working on a daily newspaper and thought I had the frontpage layout completed. Then

“All who worship worthless idols turn from the God who offers them mercy.”

Jonah 2:8 (CEV)

When we’re in trouble, we’re often tempted to find some sort of quick fix—or at least something that will relieve our stress.

People’s families may be falling apart. Their finances may be falling apart. Their careers may be falling apart. Their health may be falling apart. With their backs against the wall, they try everything imaginable to solve the problem. Everything, that is, except asking God for help.

We need to reject any attempts at a false fix, and instead turn to God for help.

Jonah had time to think about this when he was stuck in the belly of a big fish. Here’s what he prayed: “All who worship worthless idols turn from the God who offers them mercy” (Jonah 2:8 CEV).

I received an alert that a tragic school bus accident had just occurred. The deadline for sending the paper going to press was nearing, but I knew I couldn’t ignore this breaking news story. Suddenly things felt out of control. Thankfully, about that time the more-experienced managing editor came to my rescue.

Several times while I was a magazine editor, articles we planned to use did not materialize and we had to quickly shift to plan B. Instances like that dispelled any notion that I was “in control.” Before I became a follower in Jesus Christ and discovered the power of prayer, my first impulse would be to panic. Even later in my career, feeling out of control was always unsettling.

Giving my life to Christ proved transformational in many ways. One of them was learning how to handle the inevita-

ble out-of-control moments. In fact, one of the first Bible verses I memorized addressed this directly. Proverbs 3:5-6, which I came to regard as my “life verse,” gives this admonition: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

I sometimes struggle to navigate my way around unfamiliar places. The Global Positioning System (GPS) on my smartphone has been an invaluable tool. But life and work do not provide maps or GPS to show the best direction. This is why trusting in God’s guidance, even when I cannot understand what He is doing or where He is taking me, has become so vital. Here are a few of the principles I have learned:

Recognizing reliance on God. Putting God first in our plans and actions and trusting Him is crucial for not losing our

By Rick Warren

Don’t Settle for False Fixes

Today we don’t carve idols. But we still have them. Some of us idolize our cars. Others of us idolize our homes or our clothes. Sometimes people idolize fortune, wealth, or fame. Anything we place above God is an idol.

The only solution for our problems is the grace of God. Anytime we turn to something else, we’re turning to an idol.

Years ago my family was on vacation, and because I like learning about rocks and minerals, we went into a store that sold the kinds of rocks people collect. There was a whole section of quartz crystals that supposedly could solve a variety of problems. For instance, the descriptions claimed the crystals could provide contentment and confidence or supposedly create a protective shield or even give you some sort of psychic intuition.

But I knew they wouldn’t help me with any of those things.

In fact, the crystals and the promises about them reminded me of Romans 1:25: “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” (NIV).

When you choose to believe something other than God will solve your problems, you’re placing your trust in an inanimate object. You’re serving “created things” rather than “the Creator” himself.

When Jonah was at the bottom of the ocean in a big fish, he didn’t turn to an idol. He trusted God to help—and God came through.

God will do the same for you.

Talk It Over

What idols do you find most tempting to “worship” when you’re feeling hopeless?

What’s the most difficult part about giving up your idols?

What idols seem the most common in

way. “Trust in the Lord and do good…. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart…. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:3-7).

Relying in God’s course corrections. When traveling it is important to know when to take an exist and when to remain on the main road. The same is true as we negotiate the course of our lives, even in the workplace. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Remembering God holds the future. Our plans often fail because we do not know what lies ahead. In faith it can help knowing that God is in control. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

your community?

Where will you spend eternity?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. You can’t earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

COLUMNIST

By: Thomas J Madden

Armando, Planetary Lifeguard™ Congratulates You for Combatting Climate Change by Capturing Carbon!

On the renewable energy front, Planetary Lifeguard™ congratulates Armando Pimentel, FPL president and CEO, for pushing his company to go solar and replacing fossil fuel generators with renewable power.

What a wise step in such a right direction, says Planetary Lifeguard™ about your plans to reduce the carbon emissions that are dangerously warming our planet, choking our environment and causing such havoc as the worst hurricane season ever is just ahead.

How wise you are, my environmental friend, says Planetary Lifeguard especially in a state like Florida with as many as 1,000 people moving here each day, a trend that isn’t expected to let up and that’s pushing up demand for electricity like crazy.

Three cheers for Juno Beach-based Florida Power & Light’s looking to replace its fossil fuel generators with renewable power, as reported by Ashley Portero of the South Florida Business Journal. Good job, Ashley!

How wonderful and timely for FPL’s parent company, NextEra Energy, to begin planning to fully make the switch to renewable power generation by 2045. For reaching that goal Planetary Lifeguard™ wishes you good luck and God speed,

And congratulations for becoming one of the only utilities in the U.S. that has pledged to cut all carbon emissions from its operations. Maybe you can do it sooner.

Planetary Lifeguard™ is getting reports that solar and battery storage will

be FPL’s main source of renewable energy and under the company’s plan, FPL is developing thousands of acres of land across South Florida for solar panels.

Even with that herculean progress, however, FPL will need many more sites to meet the 2045 goal.

That’s a challenge, says Planetary Lifeguard™, since you’ll have to compete with residential and commercial real estate developers also hungry for land as Florida continues to be inundated by a flood of new residents fleeing climate-caused upheavals up north like coastal cities there literally sinking.

Planetary Lifeguard™ applauds when you say why it matters so much to clean up our environment and why it’s so

smart also financially as renewable energy sourced from solar panels and storage batteries is more cost effective than fossil fuels like natural gas.

And now my Planetary Lifeguard™ urges you to think of him as a motivator, an inspiring symbol just as Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter were during world wars and Smoky the Bandit got us to safely put out our camping fires so they won’t destroy something so incredibly valuable–trees.

Planetary Lifetguard stands ready to educate and enlighten the public on how what you’re planning to do in reducing harmful emissions is so important to everyone’s wellbeing.

By: Clay Jones

CARTOON Goodbye, OJ

Sunshine Gala Casts Light on Alzheimer’s Cure for It’s Inaugural Year

Boca Raton, FL – Casting light upon the need to find a cure and a new era of treatments, the Alzheimer’s Association inaugural Sunshine Gala shined bright the night of Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Broken Sound Country Club in Boca Raton. The sold out Sunshine Gala had more than 250 attendees and raised more than $300,000 to support programs and research for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

The Sunshine Gala co-chairs Pamela Higer-Polani and Saul Simon, along with their Host Committee, welcomed Master of Ceremonies Cris Martinez, Chief meteorologist at WPBF 25 News, and esteemed guest

Dr. Rebecca Edelmayer, Senior Director of Scientific Engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association, who shared the latest advancements in Alzheimer’s treatments and research.

Mark Polani, Pam Higer-Polani, Saul Simon, Michelle Krasner

Ray of Hope honorees were John and Sue Martins and the inaugural Sunshine Gala Host Committee were Pam and Mark Polani; Saul Simon and Michelle Krasner; John and Sue Mar-

tins; Doug and Sue Benach; Dick and Pattie Damron; Brian and Cari Friedman; Marcy Howard; Marsha Pearlman; Carl Taylor and Charlotte Mather-Taylor; and the Southeast Florida Chapter Board of Directors.

In Florida, more than 580,000

Floridians over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s. Of counties with a population of 10,000 or more residents, Palm Beach County was ranked No. 38 at 13.8 percent or 51,600 people with a prevalence of Alzheimer’s for those age 65 and older, according to a study released at the 2023 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. Broward County is ranked No. 34 at 13.9 percent or more than 47,800 people.

The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit alz.org or contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

JohnStrader,JuanOrtiz

TraceyWekar-Paige,AntonMartens,JohnandSueMartens

EllenWeiner,MarcyHoward

MichelleKrasner,SaulSimon,StaceyForstot,JasonForstot

Tri-Rail’s “Ride & Play” With Onboard Family Fun Returns

Boca Raton, FL – Tri-Rail is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved annual event, “Ride & Play,” on Saturday, April 27. South Florida residents and visitors are invited, once again, to ride Tri-Rail to experience its new service to MiamiCentral Station and explore downtown Miami with great attractions, shopping and dining destinations. Tri-Rail riders can enjoy fun on board the train along with the sights and sounds of downtown Miami and special offers from local partners.

“Tri-Rail’s ‘Ride & Play’ is another invitation for people to come out and experience our improved service and expansion into MiamiCentral Station,” said David Dech, executive director of SFRTA/Tri-Rail. “We welcome everyone for a fun day on board the train to enjoy downtown Miami with weekend fares at just $5 all day.”

As part of Tri-Rail’s “Ride & Play,” attendees will enjoy costumed characters, balloon artists and magicians on southbound trains P669 and P671. On the Saturday, riders will also benefi t from special offers from downtown Miami partners by showing a valid Tri-Rail ticket or EASY Card:

The

HistoryMiami Museum – Enjoy $2 off general admission

Julia and Henry’s – Adults 21+ receive a complimentary beer at Boxelder, and those under 21 enjoy a 10% discount at Puffl es Hong Kong

Starbucks – Receive a complimentary tall iced or hot regular coffee.

Tri-Rail riders can catch a train from any of the 19 conveniently located stations across South Florida. Tri-Rail’s weekend fares are just $5 round-trip, and children under 5 ride free.

To learn more about Tri-Rail’s “Ride & Play” or to fi nd train schedules, visit www.tri-rail.com or call 1-800-TRI-RAIL.

Tri-Rail, part of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, is South Florida’s premier commuter rail system with 19 stations across South Florida. Operating every day of the year, Tri-Rail provides train service to get to work, school, major airports, regional events and popular destinations. For more information about Tri-Rail, visit www.tri-rail.com or call 1-800-TRI-RAIL.

Season of 2023-2024

Spring Menagerie

April 20 & 21, 2024

This repertory concert will feature an interesting blend of classical and contemporary pieces. This concert will offer something for everyone to enjoy!

La Sylphide

July 27 & 28, 2024

In La Sylphide, one of the oldest ballets still commonly performed, an otherworldly creature, the Sylph, bewitches the Scotsman James causing him to abandon his fiancée Effie and all that he once held dear. This performance will feature New York City Ballet’s Emma Von Enck & Anthony Huxley.

Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation presents

Artistic Directors: Dan Guin & Jane Tyree

County Police Sponsor Major Fundraiser In Boca

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was a major sponsor for Eat Better Live Better’s second luncheon fundraiser.

Last year, PBSO deputies attended the first event, also held in Boca West Country Club. This year, the ‘boss’ was there too, pledging continued support for the nonprofit started by Debra Tendrich in 2016 to provide groceries and other essentials for people in need.

“We feel responsible for the quality of life. People in the community know the good we do,” Bradshaw told some 240 people who were helped by EBLV and their volunteers and supporters.

By: Marci Shatzman

tion of “Imagine.”

Two families helped by EBLV told their stories, including a couple in their ‘80s struggling to find enough work to pay the bills. “What if this was you,” Tendrich said. Two-hundred people are on their waiting list for help with groceries and other essentials, she added.

“Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” said luncheon emcee Bianca Greenstein. She asked for a show of hands for anyone who ever needed help, and noted “90 percent” of the audience responded.

PBSO’s community-based police units distribute food and get haircuts and school supplies for kids, among their ongoing initiatives, Bradshaw said. “I’m happy to be their partner, and we’ll always be here when you need us.”

teen Nathanaelle Letage by EBLV’s fundraising director Kristin Carstarphen.

City staff, not an outside vendor, will continue to run expanded pickleball courts, the pro shop, camps, leagues, instruction, tournaments, parties and special events in Patch Reef Park.

And Boca Paddle, the group planning to build and operate the new public pickleball center in North Park, will revisit their legal agreement to see if they can adjust their fees to be more affordable.

The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District, working with the city, oversees both pickleball sites and had to grapple with both issues at their April 1 meeting.

District commissioners approved a motion to keep city staff on board at Patch Reef Pickleball, instead of considering outside pickleball companies that responded to a request for proposal (RFP).

That move gave the go-ahead to expand Patch Reef pickleball courts to 18 covered, 12 uncovered and three junior courts, plus more services and programming in the district’s Patch Reef Park. Patch Reef now has 12 lighted courts with three more set aside for clinics and lessons.

After a detailed presentation of current and expected needs by recreation services superintendent Ryan Reckley, district commissioners were all impressed, particularly for plans for players with permanent or tem -

PBSO was the event’s volunteer award sponsor, and awards were presented to Lourdes Alfonso, Becky Campbell, Shelley Seidenberg and

Singer Adrianna Foster conducted their first Call to the Heart to raise funds at the event to sponsor a family and groceries, and sang her rendi -

Update On Two Boca Pickleball Sites

By: Marci Shatzman

porary special needs. Commissioners also agreed with the current fee schedule. “We’re blown away,” said Commissioner Bob Rollins. You have a huge job in front of you. We’re expecting it to be successful.”

After Boca Paddle’s routine update by Malcolm Butters and Brian Davis, commissioners took exception to the proposed fee schedule for working people in the community, following chair Erin Wright’s lead. “So people who work 9-to-5 can only come three times a year,” she said. “This is public land and I can’t get beyond that with this project the majority of our residents” won’t be able to afford to use the facility.

Butters conceded the point, but reminded commissioners that Boca Paddle is putting $16 million into the proposed facility and will have continuing expenses as operators.

After considering options such as extending court hours for community access, he agreed to explore the concession agreement to see if there’s a way to structure it to allow moderating the fees.

“This is not a lease and there’s no ownership interest in real property the district owns,” Jacob Horowitz, the district’s deputy general counsel explained later. “They build and operate the facility and the district will receive a concession.” This will be the district’s first concession agreement, he said.

Major matching fund donors were honored, and Grocery Guardians, a new program for monthly donations was announced. “Let’s give a big hand to Debra Tendrich for making her vision come alive,” Greenstein said to wrap the afternoon.

Butters said Boca Paddle is still on track for city permitting for the new pickleball center proposed for a corner of North Park. North Park is the name for the former golf course in Boca Teeca that the district bought and is being redeveloped by the consulting firm Miller Legg.

“We hope the city will look at this as one project, so we’re hoping we can both get onto a summer agenda,” Butters said. “Our goal is to work through the concession agreement and start construction in January.”

How to Avoid Hefty Smartphone Repair Costs

(StatePoint) From listening to music to watching movies, connecting with family to counting steps, Americans say in a new study that they depend on their smartphones like never before. And they are putting their money where their mouth is. The amount of money they spent on screen repairs surged to $8.3 billion in 2023, near-

ly tripling the amount spent in 2018 ($3.4 billion).

In its latest Mobile Mythconceptions Survey, Allstate Protection Plans found that despite the rising amount spent on smartphone repair, Americans are actually damaging their devices less frequently. In the past 12 months, 78 million Americans reported damaging a device compared to 87 million during a comparable period in 2020.

Cost Conscious Consumers

Last year, the three most frequent accidents and malfunctions reported were: damaged screens (67%), WiFi or connectivity issues (28%) and touchscreen problems (24%).

When Americans do damage their phones, repair costs remain a significant concern for many. In fact, 49% of Americans would not repair a damaged smartphone that still functions

due to the high costs involved. This could be in part due to sticker shock and misconceptions around the cost of smartphone ownership. The survey found that the average cost for repairs and replacements is now $302, yet 47% of Americans think repairs cost $150 or less. The top reason given by respondents who have damaged a smartphone for avoiding or delaying repairs was the cost, with 39% saying they could not afford it.

The Race to Repair

Smartphones have taken center stage, with 45% of smartphone owners spending five or more hours a day glued to their screens and the overwhelming majority saying their phone has completely replaced their digital camera. So it’s no surprise that despite cost concerns, many American smartphone owners don’t delay when dealing with damage, with 27% saying they would initiate screen repairs within a day due to the importance of

their phones in everyday life. When it comes to broken buttons, 36% say they would wait a day or less to repair their phone, 30% for damaged speakers, 29% for broken microphones and 22% for broken cameras.

The good news? With a high-quality case, you can help prevent damage, and with a protection plan in place, you can avoid hefty out-of-pocket costs when mishaps do occur. For information on plans, which cover repair costs on everything from battery failure and cracked screens to liquid damage and touchscreen failure, and which are available to both individuals and families, visit AllstateProtectionPlans.com.

Since the introduction of the smartphone, Americans have spent $149 billion on repairs and replacements. By taking a few precautionary measures, smartphone ownership can be a much more affordable prospect.

How to Give Back to the Military Community This National Volunteer Month

(StatePoint) April is National Volunteer Month, an annual opportunity to recognize the contributions that volunteers make to their community through their time and energy.

When it comes to a vast operation like the USO, which has more than 250 locations around the globe that serve hundreds of thousands of U.S. ser-

vice members and their families, volunteers are at the heart of the organization’s mission.

In fact, in 2023 alone, nearly 20,000 USO volunteers at home and abroad contributed more than 1.2 million hours of their time equating to 137 years’ worth of volunteering. Fun fact: Not all the organization’s volunteers are human! Seventy-six canine volunteers contributed 4,800 hours to supporting service members and their families. Staff say that without their volunteers—human and dog alike— they wouldn’t be able to do what they do.

Whether it’s helping at community events for military spouses, greeting guests at the front desk of an airport center, organizing NFL watch parties for those stationed on the frontlines or simply providing a listening ear to a service member in need, USO vol-

unteers help strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.

Stories like Alina Wilson’s can serve as inspiration to those interested in giving back to their own community. A USO volunteer and military spouse, Wilson lent her support to the military community of Guam when the island was devastated by Super Typhoon Mawar in May 2023. Guam is home to 20,000 service members and also several USO staff and volunteers.

At a time when many USO staff members were navigating the damage done to their own homes and dealing with no power or air conditioning in the middle of a hot and humid Guam summer, Wilson leaped into action. She played a huge role in helping the local USO center open its doors to service members and families recovering from the disaster to provide air condi-

tioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, phones to call home, snacks, coffee, and a place of refuge. She went the extra mile every day by arriving early to prepare the center for opening and often stayed late to provide much-needed support.

“It was a devastating storm for the whole community of Guam. We worked really hard at the Tumon USO to get the power back on. We cleaned every day. We got there and tried to prepare the center to open as fast as we could,” Wilson said.

There are countless ways volunteers can support the military community. To find out more or to register to volunteer, visit uso.org/take-action/ volunteer.

No matter where you live, or what your skill set is, you can take action this National Volunteer Month and make a real difference.

Chiera Family Foundation to Host 31st Annual Fundraiser

Boca Raton, FL – Celebrating its 31st year, the Chiera Family Foundation and guests will be trying to see who is behind the masks during its N.I.C.K.’s Masquerade Ball fundraiser on April 28 to help kids fi ghting cancer attend summer camp and college. The dinner/auction will be held at Broken Sound Country Club in Boca Raton, followed the next day by the organization’s signature Golf Classic on April 29 at The Old Course at Broken Sound.

To be honored at this year’s fundraiser are Mr. Steve Benjamin and Mr. Mel Zucker, board members of the Chiera Family Foundation. Their company, KSM Electronics, was a longtime presenting sponsor for the past 30 years.

Lou Chiera, Board Member and Trustee of the Chiera Family Foundation, stated, “We are thrilled to be honoring our longtime sponsors and board members Mel Zucker and Steve Benjamin. They, along with their company, KSM Electronics, have been by our side from day one and have helped thousands of children battling cancer attend summer camp and college.”

Guests attending the dinner auction will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction browsing starting at 4:30 p.m. A sit-down dinner with

presentations follows at 5:30pm, with the event topped off at 7:00pm by an exciting live auction to raise funds to send children to summer camp. Formal attire is requested.

Cancer is the leading cause of death for children, and it is estimated that 17,000 children are diagnosed with this horrible disease each year. To date, the Chiera Family Foundation has raised $4.8 million in support of kids battling cancer.

The proceeds from the evening will directly support the foundation’s four programs: N.I.C.K.’s (Nothing is Impossible for Cancer Kids) Camp at Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, FL,

This year’s sponsor list includes Presenting Sponsor Winner’s Award Group, The Rotary Club of Coral Springs, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, The Bomar Foundation, the Rubin Family Foundation, Carousel Development Corporation, Apogee Commemoratives, The Florida Panther’s Foundation, Bacardi USA, Minton Tuzzo Group of Merrill Lynch, Glenn and Jodi Lotenberg, Keyes Coverage, and Amtrust Group.

Individual tickets are priced at $300 with tables starting at $3,000. The organization is seeking sponsors for the

fundraiser, the Golf Classic, and also scholarship sponsors. Event information may be found at https://www. chierafamilyfoundation.org/events/. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at: https://nickstickets. asimobile.net/#/tickets/event.

The Chiera Family Foundation began as a tribute to the family’s patriarch Nick Chiera who passed away from cancer. The organization’s annual event has since evolved into one of the area’s largest fundraisers for children who battle cancer.

Each summer, the foundation helps send 150 kids to experience N.I.C.K.’s Camp at Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, Florida while N.I.C.K.’s Scholarships offer young adults a chance to attend the college of their choice. The foundation also offers a program through The First Tee of Broward to teach kids who are undergoing chemotherapy how to golf. Through a generous grant from The Florida Panthers Foundation, the foundation offers N.I.C.K.’s Ice Skating. Taking place at the Panther’s IceDen, kids fighting cancer and their siblings learn to ice skate.

For more information about the Chiera Family Foundation, please call 954-480-8809 or visit https://www. chierafamilyfoundation.org.

N.I.C.K.’s Scholarships, N.I.C.K.’s Golf and N.I.C.K.’s Ice Skating.

Claims Conference Launches International Holocaust Survivor Speakers Bureau

Boca Raton, FL – The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) launched the Survivor Speakers Bureau (SSB), a vast program of over 250 Holocaust survivors willing and able to tell their critical stories to students around the world.

Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference, said, “At a moment of dramatically rising antisemitism, this program tells the history and educates for the future. A Holocaust survivor speakers bureau of this scale and reach is unprecedented. Holocaust stories remain as important as ever, for both ends of the generational spectrum. Survivors continue to feel the enormous need to share their harrowing stories, and, encouragingly, schools continue to want to fill their rooms with living, eyewitness testimony.”

Since its founding in 1951, the Claims Conference has been dedicated to securing a measure of justice for Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. As a result of ongoing negotiations with the German government, the German government has paid more than $90 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis. Just as important, the Claims Conference has secured increasing funding for Holocaust education as the need and desire for sustainable Holocaust education has been proven globally. Funding has increased year over year from €30 million for 2024, €35 million for 2025, €38 million for 2026 and €41 million for 2027.

Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, said, “It is more important than ever that every student in every school, regardless of where they are, have the opportunity to hear directly from the Holocaust survivors who are still with us. First-hand accounts are essential to maintaining Holocaust memory and go much further to ensure people understand the impact of bigotry, antisemitism, and unchecked hatred.”

In a 50 state survey of Holocaust Knowledge and Awareness in the United States, 64 percent of Millennials and Gen Z over the age of 18 believe that Holocaust education should be compulsory in school, and 80 percent of all respondents believe that it is important to continue teaching about the Holocaust, in part, so that it does not happen again.

Holocaust survivor Hanne Holsten, in the United States, said, “It is one thing to read about the Holocaust in a textbook, a few paragraphs about the global politics of World War II and the history of Europe. It is another thing altogether to sit with someone who was deported from their hometown, stripped of everything they own, made to live in hiding or to endure a concentration camp. If speaking directly with the few remaining survivors makes an impact for even one person, I am more than willing to participate.”

The importance of making sure survivors have ample platforms to share their testimonies in the limited time that they have with audiences who want to hear them, is vital to the overall impact and success of Holocaust education.

The Claims Conference Survivor Speakers Bureau connects Holocaust survivors with students both virtually and in-person. There are many schools in countries that do not have access to survivors. In order to provide these experiences to both survivors and schools regardless of location, the option for virtual presentations is critical for a successful speakers bureau with truly global reach and will ensure first-hand testimony is accessible even in communities that have perhaps never had the opportunity to hear a survivor share their story.

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Over $645,000 Was Raised for Local Children’s Charities

Boca Raton, FL — Children’s charities throughout Palm Beach County will be granted funds raised from the Boca West Children’s Foundation (BWCF) 12th Annual Golf Challenge. The daylong event, which included brunch, golf, a cocktail reception and dinner, took place on Monday, March 25 at Boca West Country Club. Nonprofits that had foursomes playing received a portion of $100,000. The event raised a total of $645,000.

More than 30 non-profits that serve local children will benefit from the Golf Challenge. Funds from the golf challenge support participating charities such as Boca Helping Hands to grow its BHH Backpacks Program, which provides weekend meals to food-insecure elementary students; as well as Roots and Wings’ UpLift program which provides free, intensive, small group after school reading focused on grades 1-3 for children attending Palm Beach County Title One public elementary schools who are reading one or two grades below grade level.

Prior to tee off for the golf challenge a duck drop was held. Hundreds of plastic yellow ducks were dropped from a crane for a chance to win $2500.

The Golf Challenge was followed by a cocktail reception, dinner and live

auction with exclusive items and experiences. Charities vied for a portion of the $100,000 awarded during the tournament. Each charity received between $3,750 and $10,000 depending on its team’s placement. Over the past 14 years, The Foundation has granted more than $18 million for projects that serve at-risk youth.

“The golf challenge is our signature annual fundraiser and so many people from the community participate in our shared effort to support local kids,” said Pamela Weinroth, Executive Director of Boca West Children’s Foundation. “Non-golfers supported the effort and joined in the fun by attending the cocktail reception and dinner.”

Sponsors included Ronnie and Allen Flicker, The RADCO Companies, Fidelity Investments, Yvonne and Don Ackerman, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, Jane and Richard Zenker, Diane and Joel Macher, Phyllis and Howard Boilen, Barbara and Dr. Donald Janower, GL Homes, Allied Private Wealth, AW Property Co., The GEO Group, Moss Construction, Republic National Distributing Company, Nancy and Chuck Rosenblatt, Sensus Healthcare, Fifth Third Bank, Workaway International, Richard Bowman, HomeSafe, Berman Law Group, Greenspoon Marder, LanConnect, CBIZ, Bonaccord Capital Partners, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Mo Wazir, FAU Music Summer Band Camp, E.M. Lynn Foundation

– Christine Lynn, Lennar, The Edwin & Carolyne Levy Charitable Foundation, Eddie & Susan Silverman, Action Electric & Air Conditioning, Citi Private Bank, Marvin Rubin, Andrea & Jim Orleans, Pearl Greenfield, Fuller Center, Gary Peters Family Foundation, Faulk Center for Counseling, Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, NCCI, Barbara & David Hoffman, Franne & Buddy Dickman, Construction Risk Partners, PBSO, Rotary Club of Boca Raton, Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Phil Procacci, Ellen & Kenny Schwebel, DSM Capital Partners, JM Lexus, Boys and Girls Club of PBC, and Spirit of Giving.

The Boca West Foundation was launched in 2010 and came about as a desire by the thousands of volunteers from the Boca West Country Club to give back to children in Palm Beach County. The Foundation’s mission is to identify and fund projects to assist children and their families in need in the area. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $18 million for specific programs for more than 30 charities.

For more information, visit www. bocawestfoundation.org, call 561-4886980 or email foundation@bocawestcc.org.

AdamGutekunst,NickBoule,JPCrowley, BarbaraCrowley,fromWorkawayInternational

Announcingthewinningduck

Golfersgettingreadytogoatstartingline

Choosingthewinningduck

MichelleKrasner,SaulSimon,StaceyForstot,Jason Forstot

Local 13-Year-Old Hosts Inaugural ‘Annual Autism Awareness Golf Tournament’

Coral Springs, FL – Breaking barriers and defying the odds! A current 7th grader at Digital Academy of Florida (DAOF), Carter Bonas, is inspiring change across the state through his love of golf and personal journey. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at a young age, Carter has faced numerous challenges, including learning hardships and experiencing bullying at his former school. Determined to create a brighter future, Carter, alongside his supportive family, embarked on a journey that led him to find his passion for golf, entrepreneurship, and advocacy.

Next month, Carter will host the inaugural “Carter’s Spectrum Golf – First Annual Autism Awareness Golf Tournament” on Thursday, April 25, at the Country Club of Coral Springs. The event aims to raise awareness about autism and support marginalized youth in South Florida. Carter invites families, friends, and golf enthusiasts to join in supporting this noble cause and “Embracing Your Difference” on the green. April 25th is also “Carter Bonas Day,” an honor bestowed to the young businessman in 2023 by the City of Lauderhill.

“I want to help encourage and motivate people like me. I want them to know that there’s life after their diagnosis, that they can go after their dream,” proclaims Carter. “My tournament is an opportunity for people in the community to come together and support my mission, to tell people like me and those with other disabilities that they are important, that they matter.”

Driven by his own experiences with sensory sensitivities and a lack of comfortable golf attire, Carter founded Spectrum Golf, a company dedicated to providing quality golf apparel while promoting inclusivity and celebrating differ-

ences. Carter will be holding an Autism Sensory Demonstration on the Putting Green, to help participants experience what it can be like to play the game.

Despite his young age, Carter’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication have garnered national attention– including being named Sports Iallustrated 2022 SportsKid of the Year– making him a sought-after motivational speaker and advocate for neurodiversity.

Continuing their dedication to students’ success inside and outside of the classroom, Mike Swindle, Hendry County School District’s Superintendent, in partnership with K12, is supporting Carter’s golf tournament as the title sponsor for the event. Additional education and nonprofit sponsors include The Rhyu Founda`on (Gold), and the Tony Bennea Memorial Founda`on (Silver), two organiza`ons dedicated to empowering youth and the work they do in their communi`es.

Carter’s school, Digital Academy of Florida, is a K12-powered virtual educa`on program of Hendry County School District that is commiaed to helping students across the state discover their unique poten`al through personalized, online learning. Carter’s teachers have watched his journey over the last year and are inspired by his commitment to helping others and sharing his story.

“It has been an honor to watch Carter grow both academically and personally since he first joined my class in fich grade at Digital Academy. He is an inspira`on for not only his teachers but also his fellow students,” shares DAOF educator, Kira Chamberlain. “His success is a testament to what every student can achieve when given the right tools and encouragement.”

To register for Carter’s “First Annual Autism Awareness Golf Tournament” or learn about sponsorship opportunities, please visit cartersspectrumgolf.com.

Spectrum Golf, a 501c3 non-profit, was founded in 2022 by Carter Bonas. Dedicated to providing comfortable and stylish golf attire, Spectrum Golf promotes inclusivity and celebrates diversity on and off the course. The name ‘Spectrum Golf’ was chosen by Carter to empower himself and others, to show them that they do not have to hide from their diagnoses. Like him, they too can choose to learn how to control their own emotions, life, and narrative.

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ENTERTAINMENT The

Wick Theatre Celebrates all 10 years

By: Marci Shatzman

Who could ever forget The Wick’s very first Broadway show, “The Sound of Music,” at the newly rescued theater in September 2013.

Executive managing producer and owner Marilynn Wick admitted she had never produced a show. So, people thought she was crazy to try, after she rented a bankrupt theater to showcase her Broadway and movie costume collection, she told the audience at the 10th Anniversary Gala. “We will always be the ‘I can’ theater,” she said.

It was a glittering night of memories for Wick and her daughters Kimberly and Kelly. They gathered stage and musical directors, choreographers,

lighting, scenery and prop masters who helped them produce more than 50 Broadway shows in the decade since.

Wick favorite Lee Roy Reams reminisced. He took a chance to play Dolly Levi in the Wick’s “Hello Dolly!” in 2015, a female role he knew he could do but was risky, he said. Among Wick regulars performing were Mallory Newbrough, Leah Sessa and Lourelene Snedecker. “The standout performance comes from Lourelene Snedeker as the mother abbess who blows the roof off with her first act finale ‘Climb Every Mountain,’” critic Hap Erstein wrote after the Wick’s first show. She sang that song at the gala.

Julie Suriano, who had just played Julie in the Wick’s “Carousel,” sang a moving duet with Hugh Panaro, a Broadway actor with 2,500 “Phantom of the Opera” leads on Broadway. He brought his final performance mask with him for the special occasion, he said.

Janice Hamilton, a professional auctioneer and actress, conducted a live auction and Call to the Heart fundraiser, the Wick’s first, raising money to pay for cast members’ housing, show sponsors and other theater essentials.

Afterward there were champagne toasts and dessert in the lobby named for theater patron Myrna Skurnick, who was there.

“You are the reason there is music in this space,” Marilynn Wick said to a standing ovation.

B’nai Torah Congregation Celebrates Sold Out 2024 Concert Series

Boca Raton, FL – B’nai Torah Congregation, the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida, is celebrating the synagogue’s hugely successful and inspiring 2024 Concert Series. The series, which included four live, in-person performances, featured singers, songwriters, orchestras, and Cantors from around the world. It was presented in loving memory of Eleanor and Paul Weiner (Z’L). Margie Browner Marks served as Chair.

The four concerts, which kicked off in January and concluded in March, featured: Dudu Fisher, Soul to Soul, Cantor Magda Fishman and Friends Celebrate Broadway and Beyond, and Netanel Hershtik & Big Band Orchestra.

B’nai Torah Congregation’s Cantor Magda Fishman, who served as leader of the Concert Series in collaboration with Maestro Tomer Adaddi, selected each of the performers and performed herself twice. Fishman, who has traveled extensively in Israel, the United States, Europe and Canada, to sing, performed in front of a sold crowd of 1,400 audience members.

“Year after year, we continue to

provide a musical journey through a wide range of artistic expression –traditional, contemporary, liturgical, pop,” said Cantor Fishman. “This music transcends language, culture, and time, and touches the deepest parts of our hearts and souls. I am grateful that we truly share the power of music, culture and community with the world.”

“In my years at B’nai Torah, our community has never come together the way it has in recent months,” added Rabbi David Steinhardt. “We are so deeply tied to our people, our homeland, our culture and religious expression. This series gave us the opportunity to gather and listen to talented musical artists as we refl ected on the past and look towards a brighter future.”

Benefactors of the 2024 Concert Series were Eleanor & Paul Weiner (Z’L), Barbara & Jeffrey Rosenberg and Carla & Bruce Weiner. For a full list of patrons and friends, please visit https://www.btcboca.org/cs/.

B’nai Torah Congregation is the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida with over 1,300 membership families. It is a closeknit, multi-generational, modern, and egalitarian synagogue, which offers diverse services, programs of worship, learning, tzedakah, social action, and social activities. B’nai Torah Congregation creates a perfect outlet for arts, culture, and learning, and we are home to several schools of Jewish education. The synagogue, which offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities that will enrich the synagogue experience, is a tremendous and vibrant center for tzedakah acts and projects that touch thousands of people. Learn more at https://btcboca.org.

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The Boca Raton Tribune

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