FAU’s 5th Annual CAST Party Celebrates “Great American Songbook: The Next Generation”
Celebrating the cultivation of arts and letters at Florida Atlantic University and in the community, the lively memorable music of “The Great American Songbook” filled the ballroom at the fifth annual Culture, Arts and Society Today (CAST) Party to benefit the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. Held at Delaire Country Club and
FAU’s 5th Annual CAST Party on page 3
Broken Sound and St. Andrews Members Star
in
Delray Pickleball Tournament
The 3rd Annual Delray Beach “Pickleball Is Life Challenge” took place March 6th to 9th at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. The highlight was eight-time major champion Ivan Lendl’s ProAm exhibition, which benefitted the Ivan Lendl Adaptive Sports Program, an organization that helps disabled youth and adults compete in sports. Across the four days, more than 500 participants competed across numerous amateur and pro divisions, with $24,000 of prize money awarded to all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
Ivan Lendl—widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time—is comfortably making the transition to Pickleball as he took home Double Gold, with victories in both the 60+ Pro Men’s event (with the appropriately named partner, Larry Gold) and 60+ Pro Mixed (with Jean Halahan). Broken Sound resident Brian Levine also won a Double Gold, winning 50+ Pro Men’s with his teammate Mircea Morariu, who is captain of the 2024 National Pickleball League Champion Boca Raton Picklers. Levine also emerged victorious in 50+ Pro Mixed with Pickler teammate Tracey Flynn. One highlight in the amateur division: St. Andrews club members Patty Schwab and Jody Shulman won Gold in 50+ 4.0 Women’s.
City and Community Event
Brings
Boca Families, Government Leaders
Together in Celebration
The City of Boca Raton’s “State of the City & Community Celebration” on March 17th brought residents together for an evening of community spirit, entertainment and engagement at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Attendees enjoyed live music from local band Remix, interactive booths hosted by city departments and a variety of food and drinks. Families and residents of all ages participated in yard games and giveaways, and had the opportunity to connect with city staff and leaders. The event served as a vibrant showcase of Boca Raton’s services, achievements and vision for the future as the city moves forward in its Centennial year of 2025.
A highlight of the evening was Mayor Scott Singer’s State of the City Address, in which he reflected on Boca Raton’s progress, key accomplishments and priorities for the future. City Council members were also in attendance, engaging with residents and discussing community initiatives.
City and Community Event on page 4
Local TV Previewed Pro Football Hall of Fame Golf Invitational at Broken Sound
Prior to the tournament, Shayne Wright, WPBF-TV ABC Anchor/ Sports Director, walked The Old Course at Broken Sound while interviewing Jeff Waber (at left), the course’s PGA Director of Golf. Photo courtesy of James Hardie Invitational.
Before a worldwide audience of golf fans viewed on the global Golf Channel network this year’s inaugural James Hardie Invitational Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational that was held from March 31st through April 6th at Broken Sound Club’s legendary Old Course, local ABC-TV affiliate WPBF Channel 25 previewed the event by interviewing the course’s PGA Director of Golf, Jeff Waber. Next month’s May issue of Boca Club News will provide a full recap of the tournament, including photos and a chart showing the players’ final rankings and earnings from the $2.2 million total purse. In addition, the James Hardie Invitational benefits the Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County and First Tee Foundation.
Big Winners: Broken Sound Club member Brian Levine and St. Andrews members Patty Schwab (at left) and Jody Shulman won gold in the tournament.
FAU College of Arts and Letters CAST Party Co-Chairs and Committee
Boca Raton Mayer Scott Singer’s State of the City Address was a highlight of the event.
emceed by Legends Radio’s “Manfredi & May Mornings” co-host Toni May, the annual “friend-, fan- and fund- raiser” for student scholarships was a night of cocktails, fine food and American Songbook-themed décor. Entertainment with nostalgic nods from the 1920s to 1960s was performed by the Florida Atlantic Jazz Band, with visual fine arts popups and dancing to live pop music from Florida Atlantic’s own Commercial Music Band.
All proceeds from the event benefited student scholarships for the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. The college houses 21 academic programs including the School of the Arts, along with humanities degrees, social science degrees, and the areas of communication, public administration and architecture. The college also houses the Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights; the Center for the Future Mind; Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies; Global Studies; Jewish Studies, among others.
The evening showcased student and teaching talents as a warm tribute to the late Bob Lappin, the legendary founder, music director and maestro of The Palm Beach Pops, and honored his son, Jon Lappin, president and executive director of the Legacy Foundation of Palm Beach County/The Palm Beach Pops, for his contributions to the college and the music industry. He recently established the Bob Lappin and The Palm Beach Pops Music Legacy Endowment for the College of Arts and Letters music program, which includes assets and an extensive music library comprised of more than 1,600 titles and scores.
A significant amount was by the industry’s most prestigious arrangers and were from some of the Great American Songbook’s greatest composers. The endowment funds scholarships, graduate fellowships and other student financial aid to recruit and retain top music students for the Department of Music’s successful degree programs in commercial music, music education,
music performance and conducting. The programs have produced Grammy-winning artists and producers, industry-leading music executives, world-class music educators and top-tier scholars.
Also honored was the Broward-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global HIV/ AIDS organization and a longtime advocate for affordable housing, for its strategic partnership with the college’s School of Architecture. The two collaborate and deliver new transformational models for the adaptive reuse of old buildings as a key solution for America’s housing affordability crisis and sustainable living. The college’s partnership with AHF and Glavovic Studio is the first-ofits-kind bringing together a leading academic institution, a global nonprofit organization and a for-profit architecture studio to advance innovative solutions to the affordable housing problem in Florida and across the United States. The three partners work with Florida Atlantic students to identify adaptive reuse opportunities and amplify the voices of the next generation in solving generational problems.
“As the dean of our college, of your hometown public university, I firmly believe that higher education programs in the arts, humanities and social sciences are the cornerstone of a vibrant and compassionate society,” said Michael Horswell, dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. “These disciplines not only foster creativity and critical thinking but also equip students with the skills to navigate complex global challenges and contribute meaningfully to their communities. By supporting these programs and our students we empower the next generation of leaders, artists and thinkers to shape a brighter future for all.”
He underscored that scholarship funds raised during that evening increase opportunities for the College’s students in various disciplines during a very exciting year for the College. “Among our exciting programs, the School of Architecture continues to grow, and its faculty have won more national awards than any other school in the region. Also, the new musical theatre program has attracted a record number of student applicants. And in response to evolving trends, we’re developing new degrees, including one focused on Artificial Intelligence, Creativity and Society.”
Chairpersons for the CAST Party evening were Dean’s Advisory Board members Maurice D. Plough, Jr. and Beth K. Schwartz. CAST host committee members included Melanie Cabot, chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board; Alisa Cohen; Linda Cohn; Nancy Dershaw; Silvana Halperin; Bonnie and Jon Kaye; Frank LoRé; Sandra Meyer; Marcia Mithun and Dr. Deborah Mulligan.
Along with Cabot, sponsors included Marilyn and Jay Weinberg; Marta and James Batmasian; The Barry and Silvana Halperin Foundation; Beth K. Schwartz; Sharon DiPietro; Arthur Gutterman; Mark Traverso and Conor Walton; the Mithun Family Foundation (Marcia and Doug Mithun); Margie and Maurice D. Plough, Jr.; Fidelity Investments; Jon and Bonnie Kaye/Kaye Communications PR & Marketing; Myrna Gordon Skurnick; Gale Wechsler and The Wechsler Foundation; Alisa and Dr. Richard Cohen; Allegiance Home Health (Joe Martin and Rosie Inguanzo-Martin); Sue Ojeda and Randy Colman; Bonnie Halperin and Family; Ted Hoskinson and Aidalyn Magsayo; Deborah L. Kull; April Lewis; Sandra and Bernie Meyer; Sally and Dick O’Loughlin; Linda and Jay Rosenkranz; Evelyn and Howard Tai; The Boca Raton; Marilyn Wallach; Judith and Dr. Howard Weiner and Mark Swillinger. The Boca Raton Observer was the exclusive magazine sponsor and Legends Radio 100.3 WLML-FM the exclusive broadcast sponsor.
To support the FAU Schmidt College of Arts and Letters with scholarship funds, endowments, program and building naming opportunities and volunteer engagement, contact Laurie Carney at lcarney@fau.edu or (561) 2973606. For more information about the college, visit www. fau.edu/artsandletters.
Stephen Miller • Elizabeth Miller Sales
Tom English, Margo Williams, Laura Berrio Bret McCormick, Miranda Ledbeter
Alyssa Debban, Corey Bank
Anissa Stender
Production Manager Lee Nostrant
Dr. Rosenbusch has been practicing dentistry for 34 years and has extensive experience in many aspects of dentistry. His main focus is on Cosmetic Dentistry, Laser Dentistry and Implant Prosthetics
bocadentist12@gmail.com
Production Department
Elaine Donholt • Ruth Nekoranec • Katie Heystek
Dianne Strout • Karen Kalisz • Michelle Feeney
Andie Reynolds
Randy Colman, Sue Ojeda, Jon Kaye, Bonnie Kaye, Alisa Cohen, Dr. Richard Cohen
Dr. Howard Weiner, Judith Weiner, Marilyn Weinberg, Maurice Plough, Jr., Judy Donoff, Dean Michael Horswell
Helene Solomon, Arthur Gutterman, Marilyn Wallach, Linda Aaronberg
Editor Nils A. Shapiro
Boca Raton Promotes James Zervis to Deputy City Manager Following Awards for Boca’s Financial Excellence
The City of Boca Raton has announced the promotion of James Zervis to Deputy City Manager/ Chief Financial Officer, effective March 3rd. In addition to continuing his role as the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Zervis will now also serve as Deputy City Manager, expanding his responsibilities to include overseeing Public Works and Engineering, Information Technology, and playing a key role in the government campus redevelopment initiative.
City and Community Event from page 1
With over 24 years of experience in municipal leadership, financial management and executive oversight, Zervis brings extensive expertise to his expanded role.
Prior to joining the city as Chief Financial Officer, Zervis served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Kern, California, where he managed countywide strategic planning, capital improvement planning and funding, and was responsible for the preparation and ongoing management of the county’s $3.5 billion budget, financial planning, new financings and debt management. Through his tenure he has served in various roles from City Manager to Finance Director of various municipalities and counties. Additionally, he holds certifications as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Public Finance Officer.
to the highest standards in transparency and accountability. Boca Raton is among the few entities nationwide to have maintained this distinction for more than 44 years.
In addition, the city’s Office of Management & Budget has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 42nd consecutive year, with special recognition in Performance Measures and Strategic Goals. The city also received the Award of Excellence in Procurement from the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, underscoring its dedication to responsible and efficient financial practices.
“I am honored to take on the role of Deputy City Manager while continuing to oversee the city’s financial operations,” said Zervis. “Boca Raton has a long-standing tradition of financial excellence, and I look forward to expanding my responsibilities to support the city’s strategic initiatives, infrastructure improvements and continued fiscal stewardship.”
“The State of the City & Community Celebration is a great opportunity to reflect on everything that makes Boca Raton such a special place to live, work, learn and play,” commented Mayor Singer. The event successfully reinforced the strong sense of pride and connection that defines Boca Raton, bringing together both longtime residents and newcomers to celebrate the city’s continued growth and success during Boca Raton’s Centennial year.
Zervis’s promotion comes on the heels of Boca Raton’s continued success in earning top-tier financial awards. The city has recently received three prestigious recognitions for its commitment to financial excellence. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) honored the City with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, a distinction that reflects the City’s adherence
For more information on the city’s financial reports, budget and procurement processes, visit the City’s Financial Services and Office of Management & Budget webpages.
“BocaConnect” Expands Service Between Downtown
The City of Boca Raton is expanding its eco-friendly downtown shuttle service to include a portion of the barrier island. This expansion is part of an ongoing 12-month pilot program designed to enhance mobility solutions within and around the downtown area and the Brightline station, and now the beach. The service, operated by Circuit, utilizes a quiet, all-electric fleet to provide sustainable and convenient transportation for residents and visitors.
The updated area serviced by BocaConnect includes:
• South of Glades Road, east of I-95;
• North of the Hillsboro Canal;
• West of NE 5th Way/SE 5th Avenue/Royal Palm Way, and
and the Beach
• The Barrier Island from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to the Boca Raton Inlet.
Cost. Rides that begin and end in the Red service area shown on the Base Service Area Map are Free. Rides that start or end in the Blue service area on the Base Service Area Map are $2 per rider plus $1 for each additional rider, capped at $5 per ride for a one-way trip.
Once requested, wait time for a shuttle is 10 minutes or less.
The App. Passengers can request a ride using the Circuit App, available for download on iOS and Android. The app provides real-time updates, operating hours, and service details. Learn more about BocaConnect, and the City’s Mobility & Connectivity initiatives on the City’s website.
app and get a ride!
THE BATTAGLIA GROUP
I have cash buyers that are currently looking for the following. Call me now if you are thinking of selling in the near future.
Buyer 1. Courtyard style home up to 3.6 million depending on condition
Buyer 2. Single family home up to 2 million. They will renovate if needed.
Buyer 3. Home with 2 bedroom plus a den. 800k-1.5 million. They will renovate.
Buyer 4. Home in Whisper Trace, Laurel Point or Timber Mill with primary suite on the ground floor
Igor Alterman Named President, CEO of Jewish Federation South Palm Beach County
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County has appointed Igor Alterman President and CEO of the organization. He leads a dynamic organization that serves as the central address for Jewish life in the greater Boca Raton area.
“I accepted the leadership role to not only harness the youthful vibrancy and growing numbers of Jewish families who have recently relocated to the region, but also to build upon the charitable foundation established by long-standing members of Boca Raton’s diverse Jewish community,” said Alterman.
Community Effort Helps Close Diaper Gap for Struggling County Families
When parents can’t afford the diapers required for daycare or preschool they may be forced to miss work, putting their entire family’s well-being at risk. Yet one in two U.S. families cannot afford enough diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. This urgent need sparked a massive diaper drive across 12 Palm Beach County neighborhoods and organizations over the winter months. Organized by Boca West Children’s Foundation, the collaboration resulted in over 435,000 diapers being donated to The Diaper Bank covering South Florida.
“No parent should have to choose between diapers and other essentials for their baby,” says Pamela Weinroth, executive director of Boca West Children’s Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of our community, thousands of families now have the diapers they need to provide a healthier, more stable start for their babies. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed.”
The following groups participated in the 2025 Diaper Drive Challenge: Broken Sound Club, St. Andrews Country Club, Boca Grove Boca West Country Club, Boca Woods Country Club, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County/PJ Library in South Palm Beach County Club, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Polo Club of Boca Raton, Polo Trace Philanthropy Club, Spanish River Church, The Cottone Foundation, and Woodfield Community Foundation.
“Diapers are a necessity, not a luxury, but for many families they are simply out of reach. Without them, parents often have to choose between buying diapers and paying for food, rent, or medical care,” said Dre Garcia, president of The Diaper Bank Covering South Florida. “Thanks to this incredible effort, thousands of babies will have a healthier start, and parents will have one less impossible decision to make.”
For those who missed the chance to donate, monetary contributions are still welcome at www. bocawestfoundation.org/2025-diaper-drive/.
About Boca West Children’s Foundation. Since its inception in 2010, Boca West Children’s Foundation has been committed to supporting at-risk children and their families in Palm Beach and Broward counties. The Foundation collaborates with 36 vetted, local nonprofit organizations to address the critical needs of children facing challenges such as abuse, neglect, hunger and more. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation has impacted tens of thousands of lives, raising over $20 million for local nonprofits. Learn more at www. bocawestfoundation.org.
Previously, as President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, he spearheaded recordbreaking annual campaigns, full-scale organizational digital transformation and unified the community in the aftermath of October 7th.
With dual master’s degrees in Nonprofit Management and Religious Education and experience spanning philanthropy, higher education and Jewish communal leadership, Alterman has a proven track record of advancing mission-driven organizations. Prior to his Federation leadership he served as Chief Executive Officer of the University of Miami Hillel, where he oversaw a
multi-million-dollar capital campaign, facility expansion and strategic partnerships with private foundations and international organizations. He also served at Hillel organizations at Cornell University and Ithaca College.
A Wexner Fellow and ROI Schusterman Community Member, his professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to strengthening Jewish life through strong nonprofit leadership. Born in Russia and having lived and studied in Israel, Igor is deeply connected to the global Jewish community. He resides in South Florida with his wife, Olga, their two children, David and Alice, and their dog, Quentin, named after a renowned film director.
“Why I Drive for Road to Recovery for the American Cancer Society”
By Joseph B. Ludwig
I consider myself to be the luckiest person that I know.
In May 2010, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and treated at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. The melanoma was surgically removed. After, I was given infusions of interferon and then self-injected doses of the same drug. I was declared in remission after the treatments.
In April 2012, I was diagnosed with a malignant neoplasm of the tongue. Again, I was treated at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. The surgical ear nose and throat specialist said that he would cut out part of the underside of my tongue. He also informed me that the surgery might be quite extensive and could require plastic surgery as a result. The surgery that might have lasted four to six hours was completed in about 45 minutes.
The surgeon said that the margins were very clear and he was quite confident that he had removed all of the cancerous lesion. Again, I was declared in remission.
In January 2021, I was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This time I was treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I had six rounds of R-Chop chemotherapy. Two years after the treatments I was again declared in remission.
I was now a three-time cancer survivor and had a weighty question. How could I repay my good fortune to others? I decided that one way that I could do this was to drive for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery.
Through its “Road to Recovery” program, the American Cancer Society provides free rides to treatment for people with cancer. With this program I would be able to repay my good fortune to others. Because I had been through various treatments, I could share my experiences with others who were new to the process. When I was diagnosed in each of
my three cases, as most patients do, I had much stress and many concerns. Since I had been through it, I might be able to ease their minds somewhat and give them hope.
The first person that I drove was Gay Snider, a senior citizen like myself, who lived in Boynton Beach. She had many maladies, cancer being only one of them. Gay and I got along famously and bonded over many things including the fact that her son and my daughter attended Syracuse University at the same time, although they did not know each other. I have since driven Gay many times and have even taken her to lunch once. Although she thinks of herself as a “foodie” and has eaten at almost every restaurant in South Palm Beach County, I was able to take her to a place of which she was unaware.
The American Cancer Society is on a mission to free the world from cancer. It invests in lifesaving research, provides 24/7 information and support, and works to ensure that individuals in every community have access to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Part of this mission is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through patient support.
Driving patients to lifesaving treatment is one of the most meaningful volunteer experiences you can have with the American Cancer Society. Last year, more than 3,600 volunteers gave about 77,000 rides to more than 4,000 patients across the country through Road to Recovery.
The American Cancer Society is actively working to recruit more volunteers across Southeast Florida and serve the needs of people with cancer near you. You can change someone’s life in as little as one hour a week by ensuring a ride is available, so care isn’t stopped or delayed. Connect with them at cancer. org/drive or call them at (800) 227-2345 to learn more about Road to Recovery volunteer opportunities in your area.
Igor Alterman Photo credit: 4th Avenue Photography, 2025
2530 NW 52nd St., Boca Raton, FL
Newly priced at $710,000, this 4 Bed/3 Bath/2,200 SF Broken Sound Club property is fully renovated & updated to the nines. Enjoy beautiful light-filled spaces, backyard with hot tub & quiet interior thanks to new impact windows & doors.
As your dedicated Boca Raton real estate team, The De Marzo Luxury Group pairs the right buyers with the right sellers. We are your luxury real estate experts with $1.8 Billion in lifetime sales & rank in the top 1% of all Coldwell Banker agents.
Our Buyer’s Needs in Broken Sound
Thinking of selling? We represent multiple buyers seeking ...
Single-story 3 bedroom homes redone up to $1.5M
Estate homes 4+ bedrooms
Broken Sound Club home for sale!
Well-priced single-family residence with 2,300 SF of living space. Photos & details available in May!
First floor condos
Price range: $550K-$3M
Any community in Broken Sound Club
Gold standard service, next-level marketing, unrivaled results & unwavering commitment to achieving your goals. Contact The De Marzo Luxury Group to discuss your buying & selling needs in South Florida!
Anne De Marzo
917-952-7822
annedemarz@gmail.com
annedemarzorealty.com
John De Marzo 561-445-7769
john.demarzo@cbrealty.com johndemarzo.com
Locally known & globally connected, The De Marzo Luxury Group provides exclusive insights that go beyond what you can find on the web, giving you access to both on-and-off market properties. With five decades of experience in NY, NJ & FL real estate, we’re here to guide you every step of the way!
Boca Happenings
From Venice to Boca Museum of Art, “Glasstress 2025” Exhibit Opens April 23rd
The Boca Raton Museum of Art’s popular Glasstress exhibition series, the 2025 edition of which runs from April 23rd through October 26th, brings together internationally renowned artists with master glassmakers of Venice to push the boundaries of glass art. This is the museum’s third iteration of the exhibition. Contributions from artists such as Ai Weiwei, Sean Scully, and María Magdalena Campos-Pons are among a diverse range of glass art on display, from small and delicate to monumental.
The Glasstress project was launched in 2009 as a collateral event at the Venice Biennale, an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice. Glasstress brings contemporary artists from around the globe to collaborate with its master glassmakers, many of whom are exploring glass as a medium for the first time. By blending centuries-old techniques with contemporary artistic visions, the project highlights the
Delray Beach
Brings Pop
Culture to Life
This Summer with Art and Music
The fact that tickets are going on sale now, in mid-April, for an event that begins on July 5th says a great deal about the anticipated demand for the “Pop Culture” celebration planned by the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority. The event will feature a bold new exhibition at the Cornell Art Museum and an electrifying POP 2000 Tour Concert at The Amphitheatre at Old School Square.
Opening Saturday, July 5th, the “Pop Culture” exhibition will take over the Lower NE and SE galleries of the Cornell Art Museum through September 28th. Admission is free (donations welcome), inviting visitors to explore vibrant works by talented regional artists, including: Gwak – a Sarasota-based artist whose 15-year journey in the arts reflects a fascination with the unconventional.
Ashleigh Walters – A Palm Beach County painter and sculptor known for her whimsical, oddly scaled creations. Annina Rüst – A Jupiter-based artist-technologist pushing the boundaries of electronics and software-based media art.
The July 5th exhibition opening will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. The “Pop Culture” exhibition will remain on view in the Lower NE and SE galleries of the Cornell Art Museum through September 28th. Hours at the Cornell Art Museum are Wednesday 12 to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday 12 to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m. Parking is available in Old School Square garage. Concert Entrance: Please enter the concert area at NE 2nd Avenue / Pineapple Grove Way.
POP 2000 Tour Concert – A Boy Band Blast from the Past!
That same night, Saturday, July 5th, The Amphitheatre at Old School Square will come alive with the POP 2000 Tour Concert. Hosted by Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC, the show will feature performances by O-Town, BBMak, LFO and Ryan Cabrera—a dream lineup for any 2000s pop fan. General admission and VIP tickets are available for purchase. The Concert will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Tickets for the Concert can be purchased beginning mid-April at: tickets.delrayoldschoolsquare.com. Ticket options General Admission: $27 per ticket (kids 5 and under are free). Bring your own seat. VIP Tickets: $65 per ticket. Enjoy the VIP experience with access to the exclusive VIP lounge area with seating, a dedicated bar and free specialty cocktail.
enduring prestige of glass as a fine art and integrates Murano’s rich traditions into the modern art world.
Irish artist Sean Scully, known for lush abstract paintings, turned to sculpture as an artist-inresidence at the Berengo studio. His Venice Stack is a totemic tower consisting of handmade glass slabs of vibrant colors measuring nearly eight feet tall. The German artist Thomas Schütte, whose work was the subject of a 2024 retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, contributes an installation of similarly vividly colored urns. Afro-Cuban artist and MacArthur Fellow María Magdalena Campos-Pons’ interest in the forms and colors of butterflies is reflected in two works: a mobile dedicated to the memory of Breonna Taylor and a more recent work, a stabile titled Reservoir for Love that evokes both human tears and insect wings. Laure Prouvost, winner of the prestigious Turner Prize, represented France in the 2019 Venice Biennale and has since collaborated regularly with Berengo’s artisans in Murano. Her installation of aquatic birds situated in a tropical landscape is her homage to our endangered natural environment.
Another spectacular work in the exhibition is a monumental chandelier by internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai
Weiwei, as well as his mock-heroic self-portrait bust. Fiona Banner also addresses scale. Her scaffold—a piece of equipment common to construction sites as well as museums, where Banner often creates wall murals—is made of fragile glass instead of metal, foretelling catastrophe if climbed.
Another large work is an 8 × 8 ft. brilliantly colored glass mural with tarot characters and occult symbols by Mexican Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg.
As a special feature of this iteration of Glasstress, the Boca Raton Museum of Art has commissioned Florida artist Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A) to create his first work in glass with Berengo’s glass experts especially for this exhibition. It is a radiantly colored mirror, titled Echoes of Silence in the Galactic Garden, featuring complex floral patterns and spectacular gold embellishments.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue and is curated by Kathleen Goncharov, Senior Curator of the Boca Raton Museum of Art.
About Adriano Berengo. Adriano Berengo is a passionate and visionary Venetian whose mission is to revitalize the ancient tradition of Murano glass, encourage technical innovation and encourage cutting-edge contemporary artists to experiment with a new medium. In 1989 Berengo acquired an abandoned glass furnace in Murano, and a few years later established Fondazione Berengo and his Glasstress project, an innovative program whose mission is to encourage the medium of glass within the world of contemporary art. This project continues a tradition begun by Peggy Guggenheim and artist and master glassmaker Egidio Constantino who invited artists such as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall to work with glass in Venice in the 1960s.
Boca Home Care Services has been South Florida’s preferred home health care company for over 25 years. The caregivers we refer into our clients’ homes provide essential care to the most valued members of our community with compassion and dignity. Trusted by physicians and geriatric care professionals, we treat every client and family with a level of respect and professionalism that sets us apart.
Tailored Services Include:
• Alzheimer/Dementia Care
• Transferring/Bathing/ Toileting
• Personal Care/Housekeeping
• Errands, Cooking and Transportation
• Live - I n/Hourly Care
• Respite
• Hospice
• Post-Rehab or Hospital Care
• Short-Term or Long-Term
• And much more!
Happenings Outside Boca
“Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical” New Live Musical For
Families at Delray Beach’s Arts Garage May 3rd
Arts Garage, a Visual & Performing Arts Venue located in Delray Beach that connects the community to the world through the arts, is celebrating the success of its Family Series, which launched in October 2024. Designed for children ages 3 to 12 and their families, the series features live theatre and music performances that spark imagination and creativity.
On Saturday, May 3rd, from 1 to 2 p.m. The Monkey King: A Kung Fu Musical will be on stage, an original show for the whole family. It is based on the legendary mythical figure from the beloved 16th-century Chinese novel, “Journey to the West,” by Wu Cheng’en. Heartfelt music and an inspiring storyline tell the adventures of the first-ever female Monkey King as she battles against Heaven and Earth’s most treacherous foes to save her tribe and achieve immortality. With a cast of memorable characters, a mix of classical and rock music, and kung-fu style choreography – this is an action adventure come to life. Tickets are $18.
“Introducing children to live theatre and music ignites their imagination, fosters creativity, and builds a lifelong appreciation for the arts,” said Marjorie Waldo, President & CEO of Arts Garage. “For families, these shared experiences create lasting memories and deepen connections, planting the seeds of empathy and cultural awareness in the hearts of our youngest audiences. We’re especially excited to welcome those families and kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the magic of live performance.”
Advance ticket purchases are recommended. Prices may vary for same-day walk-up tickets. The Arts Garage Family Series is sponsored by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Arts Garage continues to add new programming and events to its schedule and is renowned for offering thought-provoking, community-driven, and socially relevant productions from professional, cutting-edge performers, playwrights and artists.
About Arts Garage. Arts Garage is a Visual & Performing Arts Center in Downtown Delray Beach, Florida that delivers innovative, diverse, and accessible arts experiences to the South Florida community. From Grammy Awardwinning musicians to renowned regional talent, Arts Garage showcases performers representing a wide variety of cultures. The Marshall Family Foundation Gallery at Arts Garage features exhibitions by emerging visual artists from South Florida and provides educational programs for adults and children to grow their talents and knowledge of the arts. Located at 94 N.E. 2nd Avenue in Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove Arts District (33444), Arts Garage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported in part by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, the Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, the City of Delray Beach, and the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call (561) 450-6357 or visit artsgarage.org.
Future Theatre Star in Your Family? Delray Announces Theatre Summer Camp
Arts Garage, a Visual & Performing Arts Venue located in Delray Beach that connects the community to the world through the arts, has announced an interesting new youth summer program: PLACES! A Summer Theatre Camp at Arts Garage Building on the success of its Set the Stage youth program over the past five years, this immersive day camp offers four weeks of intensive theatre training for aspiring performers ages 8 to 15. Running Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the program provides young artists with hands-on instruction from industry professionals, culminating in a showcase performance for friends and family each Friday.
Space is limited and early registration is encouraged. Families can enroll for one week at $500 per session or select multiple weeks with no minimum requirement. Those who register for all four weeks will receive one week free, bringing the total cost to $1,500. To learn more and register for the camp, visit https://artsgarage.org/events/category/places/. Summer 2025 Schedule:
Week 1 (Monday, July 7th to Friday, July 11th) –Technical Theatre and Playwriting: Campers will learn the basics of stage design, lighting/sound design and costume/ props design. They will also learn about creating a script and
get to showcase their original scenes and monologues for friends and family.
Week 2 (Monday, July 14 to Friday, July 18) –Improvisation : Campers will have fun while building teamwork through improvisation exercises and games. They will learn different forms of improv and perform a showcase for friends and family.
Government
Mayor’s Update:
Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor of Boca Raton and was re-elected in 2023. A South Florida native, attorney and small business owner, Scott and his wife Bella live in Broken Sound with their two children.
Happy birthday, Boca Raton! In case you haven’t heard, our city is celebrating its 100th birthday in May. In honor of this milestone occasion we have hosted and will continue to offer a series of events that honor our past, embrace our present and get us excited for our bright future.
We hope you are enjoying the throwback Welcome to Boca Raton sign at Sanborn Square and have had a chance to check out one of our Centennial-themed events, such as January’s Boca Street Fest, our State of the City and Community Celebration, or the Centennial activation “100th hole” station at the James Hardie Invitational Golf Tournament.
If you missed out on the fun so far, the month of May is
Week 3 (Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25) – Musical Theatre : Campers will take group singing and dancing lessons, learn how to tell a story through song, and choreograph a group number from a Broadway musical. The number will be presented to friends and family.
Week 4 (Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 1) – Acting: Campers will learn the craft of acting for the stage while having fun playing games and building confidence. They will work together as an ensemble to rehearse a short play and present it to friends and family at the end of the week.
“PLACES! A Summer Theatre Camp is an exciting evolution of our commitment to nurturing young artists,”
when we will commemorate our big day! Save Memorial Day weekend for a birthday bash. We have plans for a headline concert on Saturday, May 24th and a drone show on Sunday, May 25th.
The city was officially incorporated in May 1925, and the Boca Raton back then was a much different city than the one we now relish. With our land located below areas prone to frost in the winter, we were a haven to farmers who wanted to grow pineapples, strawberries, peppers and many other crops.
One hundred years ago our city was a farming community of a few hundred people Today, we are 100,000 people strong and growing, with many industries and companies proudly calling Boca Raton their home.
Thanks to world-renowned architect Addison Mizner, Boca Raton was elevated from its rustic roots as he envisioned creating a premiere resort town.
As Mizner set out to create his dream city it soon became a reality as more people called our subtropical paradise home. Our population began to boom, and that growth continued as
we became a haven for innovation. The land that now houses Florida Atlantic University is where the Army trained its airmen on top-secret radar technology to help win World War II.
A few decades later, Boca Raton welcomed IBM, which transformed our world with the first mass-market personal computer.
Now we are attracting billions of dollars of investment throughout our city. The former IBM site is poised to undergo a massive transformation. Known as BRiC, the Boca Raton Innovation Campus has bold plans to become a “micro-city” where residents can live, work and enjoy amenities all on-site. The city is pursuing a rebirth of our downtown government campus. Rather than just replace our outdated and failing city hall and community center, we are planning for our future by investing in workspaces and homes for our growing base of talent.
We have much to be proud of this year as we embrace 100 years of history. I hope you can join us over Memorial Day weekend for our birthday events. Please visit myboca. us for more information.
said Marjorie Waldo, CEO & President of Arts Garage. “By offering a focused, in-depth exploration of theatre— from technical design to improvisation, musical theatre and acting—we are giving campers the opportunity to develop their craft under the guidance of industry professionals. Each week is designed to build skills, confidence and creativity, ensuring that every participant leaves with a deeper love for the performing arts.”
Arts Garage continues to add new programming and events to its schedule and is renowned for offering thought-provoking, community-driven and socially relevant productions from professional, cutting-edge performers, playwrights and artists.
“Painting Churches,” Pulitzer Prize Drama Finalist, On Ft. Lauderdale
Painting Churches, Tina Howe’s moving and hilarious portrait of a family of artists falling apart and coming together—a show that The New York Times described as “Beautifully written… A theatrical family portrait that has the shimmer and depth of Renoir portraits”—is currently at the Empire Stage in Fort Lauderdale until May 4th. It was a finalist for the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Gardner Church (a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet), and his wife, Fanny (a flamboyant aesthete) are aging Bostonian bluebloods in the process of moving out of their Beacon Hill home into their summer cottage on Cape Cod due to the shambles their lives have become. They have invited their daughter, Mags, who is on the verge of artistic celebrity as a portrait painter, to come and help them with the move.
“When Tina Howe’s Painting Churches first premiered, it invited audiences into the intimate, poignant, and often humorously complex world of family dynamics,” says the play’s director, Deborah Kondelik. “Set against the backdrop of a New England home the play explores the shifting tides of relationships between parents and their adult children, all while subtly examining the process of memory, change, and the inevitable passage of time.
“In Painting Churches Howe captures the bittersweetness of life – how we struggle with the past while simultaneously grappling with the responsibility of the present,” she continues. “The play gives us moments of levity amidst its emotional depths – finding laughter in the confusion, in the mismatched recollections, and in the sometimes outrageous behaviors of its characters. Howe reminds us that even in the face of loss or impending change, there is room for wit and tenderness.”
Stage Through May 4th
Kondelik has cast Carbonell Award-winner Laura Turnbull as Fanny, William Mahone as Gardner, and Ana Marie Calise as Mags.
“We are now entering our ninth year of operations,” says Pigs Do Fly Productions’ Founder and Executive Producer Ellen Wacher. “I am so proud of what we have accomplished during these past nine years; we are continuing to grow and to explore the many facets of life over 50. I love the fact that,
unlike in the past, the actor and the character over ‘a certain age’ is no longer considered ‘old’. We are totally involved in life; we love, we lose, we work, we play, and we enjoy life.” Tickets for Painting Churches are $45 and are available online at www.pigsdoflyproductions.com or by calling (954) 678-1496. Performances are on Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m. All performances will take place at Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive, Fort Lauderdale.
Future Theatre Star in Your Family? from page 9
Council Corner: Boca Raton’s
Spring – Embracing Boca’s Centennial
By
Boca Raton City Councilman
Marc Wigder. Councilman Wigder, a 15+ year resident of Boca Raton, is a business attorney, investor and Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Florida Atlantic University. His innovative startup, Greenhouse Offices, is headquartered in Boca Raton and infuses sustainability into small business commercial real estate. He is a former chair of the Boca Raton Community Development Agency, Chair of the Boca Raton Affordable Housing Committee, Chair of the Boca Raton Audit Committee, past Vice Chair of the Boca Raton Community Advisory Panel and past Vice-Chair of the Citizens’ Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board. He lives in Woodfield Country Club with his wife, Fran, and three children who are in high school and college. He is always out walking neighborhoods, so please call to schedule a walk in yours.
One hundred years ago the Town of Boca Raton was incorporated. With the arrival and vision of Addison Mizner in the 1920s and his Cloister Inn, now The Boca Raton resort; the Army Air Force Base and secret Radar installation during World War II, now FAU; the original IBM Campus in the 1960s and ’70s, now BRiC, and planned developments of Arthur Vining Davis in the ’80s–Arvida, now including the Park at Broken Sound, Boca has grown and evolved, but perhaps more spectacularly excelled as a world-class destination we all love to call home.
Serving the people of Boca Raton over the past several years as your City Councilman, and together with Mayor Singer, my Council colleagues and many talented and dedicated staff members, we continue to keep our success story going as we complete 100 years as a city and begin the next chapter of Boca’s amazing story. As Florida Atlantic University’s new President Adam Hasner is fond of saying, “Boca Raton is on the move!”
Our second century dawns with a focus on world class services, responsible growth and public safety as key priorities. Boca Raton’s dedicated police force and fire department continue to provide award-winning public
service to our people, for which we are thankful. Likewise, the City Council has approved planning and construction of a new centrally located state-of-the-art police station to improve efficiency and response time, with a substation in our downtown to serve that area.
Reimagining how and where the city provides its services is a critical component of our next chapter as well, as Council is working with the Terra/Frisbee group to responsibly reimagine our government campus in an innovative public/private partnership. By allowing the private sector to participate in this important project the taxpayers will significantly benefit from literally hundreds of millions of dollars in direct revenue. At the same time our collaborative and combined planning resources allow the city to complete these community-oriented infrastructure, civic and recreational facilities with higher quality–and more quickly!
To that end we have entered into an Interim Agreement to protect the interests of Boca Raton with clear timelines and deliverables, during which we will engage on comprehensive
due diligence and planning to make the project even better for all our residents for generations to come. Public input has been, and continues to be, an important part of the process, so please attend any meeting we have or go online to find a lot of information about it and register on the city’s website at Myboca.us for updates. And while you are there, leave a comment or idea.
As the city celebrates this Centennial year there are so many reasons to celebrate, and many events to enjoy. It can all be found at Boca100.com, dedicated to all things Centennial. With a list of events, a gallery, Boca 100 merch and Boca history, it has a wealth of information. So please check it out and stay up to date on the incredible events scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in late May, and more throughout this historic year.
As always, we are available and interested to hear your ideas to make Boca Raton even better than it already is. Please contact me at mwigder@myboca.us or call at (561) 334-9709.
From the Desk of Commissioner Marci Woodward: A Message from Marci
Commissioner Woodward, a 20-year resident of Boca Raton, was elected in November 2023 as Palm Beach County District 4 Commissioner. She serves on the following boards of directors as a representative of the county commission: Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency; South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (TriRail); Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council; CareerSource Palm Beach County; Palm Beach Cultural Council and Value Adjustment Board. Ms. Woodward graduated from the University of South CarolinaAiken with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts.
I proudly represented District 4 in two packed days with our state legislators and leaders in Tallahassee for PBC Day! Traffic improvements and transit were high on the list and we had constructive discussions with FDOT Secretary Perdue. I have dual roles when representing PBC on transportation issues as a county commissioner but also as the county’s representative on the SFRTA (TriRail) board.
As the current chair and rep for the county I had a thorough discussion on the future of our partnership with the state and the future of commuter rail in South Florida. It was a good start, but only the beginning; much more is to come.
From the Desk of Commissioner Marci Woodward from page 11
We also had meetings with Senator Calatayud and Representative Tendrich about the Mid-Lease Rent Increase Bill. This is a local bill request for something we were unaware of until a local resident brought it to our attention. Our workforce/affordable housing tenants have been surprised with rental increases, some only a month after signing a yearlong lease. The federal government, through HUD, releases the AMI numbers every April. AMI stands for Area Medium Income, and it is based on a formula the Federal Government uses to determine the local income of residents in a county.
We are a large county, and with the influx of many highwage earners our AMI has risen to $104,000, expected to be adjusted again next month. This number is important because it is what we must use to determine rental rates for affordable housing. The request of the bill is to prohibit landlords from increasing the rates with the release of new AMI numbers in April and, instead, only at the time of lease renewal. Regular rental agreements do not allow for an increase until renewal; we are asking the same for tenants in workforce housing.
Our Intergovernmental Affairs and Community Engagement Division Director, Ed Chase, also got us a meeting with Senator Burgess’s staff to begin the discussion for a Veterans’ initiative I am working on with the Hanley Foundation, No Fallen Heroes, and the Grey Team. Thank you, Ed, for helping me plant the seed. I can’t wait to tell you more once we are on stronger footing.
My advocacy extended to key areas of our legislative agenda, including vital infrastructure and water resource protections with appropriation chairs. Our meeting with Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Director Deb Drum and AEG Chair Jason Brodeur on the Loxahatchee River and Lake Worth Lagoon projects provides hope to continue the amazing work of restoration and protection of these vital natural resources.
Other Palm Beach County initiatives I supported include:
• Australian Avenue Road and Drainage Improvements ($2,500,000);
• Fire Rescue Water Vessels for Hazard Mitigation ($200,000);
• Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Bridge to Heaven Design ($500,000);
• Peanut Island Historic Restoration ($2,000,000);
• Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Initiative ($2,550,000);
• Palm Tran Patriot Passes Pilot Program ($150,000);
• RESTORE Re-Entry Program ($500,000);
• Lake Worth Lagoon System Assessment ($154,500);
• 9th Avenue South Outfall Restoration–City of Lake Worth Beach ($371,250);
• Daniels Way Water Quality Improvements–Town of Jupiter ($103,500);
• Loxahatchee River Headwaters Easement Mapping ($75,000);
• Loxahatchee Slough Habitat Restoration Phase II ($180,000).
It was great to meet with so many key leaders this past week, including FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, Senator Alexis Calatayud, Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Senator Danny Burgess. I also had the opportunity to connect with Representative Debra Tendrich, Representative Jervonte Edmonds, Department of Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly, Department of Economic Development Secretary Jason Mahon, Appropriations Chair Senator Ed Hooper, Natural Resources Appropriations Chair Tiffany Esposito, Appropriations Chair Representative Lawrence McClure, Attorney General James Uthmeier and Chief of Staff for Governor Ron DeSantis, Cody Farrill. It was an incredibly productive few days, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration to achieve our shared goals.
As always, we are grateful to our state partners for their time and effort. As session continues throughout the month, a team of county lobbyists will remain in Tallahassee to monitor appropriations that are important to our residents. A big thank you to TEAM PBC and my escorts, PBC Firefighter Craig Gerlach and Kayla West, for keeping me on schedule and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Recently Approved Agenda Items. Each month the Board of County Commissioners approves a wide range of important agenda items that impact areas such as engineering, facilities, housing, airports, and more. Here are some key items approved this month:
• A resolution encouraging collaboration among municipalities, stakeholders, state agencies and taxing authorities for the successful development and adoption of a Countywide Transportation Master Plan.
• A 12-month agreement extension with FDEP to share costs for the Singer Island Dune Nourishment project.
• Direction to staff to return with a resolution amending the Boards Rules and Procedures, adding a Board Direction section to the agenda.
• A 360-degree survey to evaluate the County Auditors, County Administrators and County Attorneys performance.
• $11.6 million for Transit Signal Priority and Emergency Vehicle Preemption hardware and software for Fire Rescue and Palm Tran.
• $34 million in bonds approved for Calusa Pointe II in Belle Glade, providing 168 affordable units for 30 years.
• $4.65 million HIP award to One North Lake, LLC for 54 affordable units in Pahokee, capped at 70% AMI for 50 years.
• $3.15 million HIP award for Westgate Terrace Apartments, with 37 affordable units capped at 120% AMI for 50 years.
• $4.3 million HBLP award to Village of Valor in Palm Springs, providing 54 affordable units for veterans and their families for 50 years.
• $2.25 million grant for Davis Commons, a 20-unit affordable townhome project in Lake Worth Beach.
Over $1 Million Saved in Insurance Coverage. Palm Beach County is making smart financial decisions while protecting public buildings and infrastructure. The latest insurance renewal reduces costs by 5.7%, saving over $1 million, and increases coverage in key areas.
Significant improvements include stronger hurricane protection, with named wind coverage rising from $145 million to $155 million per storm, and the hurricane deductible dropping from $33.25 million to $25 million per occurrence.
Non-hurricane property coverage has increased from $200 million to $215 million, and the total insured value of municipal and utility properties has grown to $3.1 billion. Cyber liability premiums have decreased by 2.42%, expanding coverage limits, while workers’ compensation excess insurance rose 4.6% due to payroll growth. This renewal strengthens our coverage while saving taxpayer dollars.
The county’s Risk Management team played a key role in securing these benefits and maintaining strong insurance relationships, ensuring the County’s financial security. Nonprofit Spotlight:
Boca Helping Hands (BHH) is a local nonprofit dedicated to serving South Florida by providing food, financial assistance and job training to individuals, children and families. Their Resource Center offers emergency financial help for rent, utilities and childcare, while partnerships with Genesis Community Health and FAU provide affordable medical, dental and behavioral care.
I recently secured support from the Board of County Commissioners to add BHH’s Job Training Program request for $427,700 to the county’s appropriations list this legislative session. The program offers scholarships for vocational training in healthcare, IT, construction and transportation. BHH always needs volunteers, donations and food for their pantry. For more information, call (561) 317-0913. If you require assistance, please contact our office at (561) 355-2204 or email Mwoodward@pbcgov.org.
Memo from County Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon: People and Events You Should Know About!
By Anne M. Gannon,
Constitutional Tax Collector serving Palm Beach County. You can reach her office by Email: ClientAdvocate@ taxcollectorpbc.com. Phone: (561) 355-4271.
The arrival of April means that the 2024 property tax season is a done deal, so hopefully everyone paid their taxes before the March 31st deadline. In addition, before the onslaught of the summer heat, we have a flurry of community events around this time that we look forward to participating in each, one of which was the Jupiter Jubilee, which you will read more about in this column.
This time of year also means our staff is embarking on our annual Journey to Good Health program that provides them with an opportunity to learn more about their individual health profile. We then help them through oneon-one sessions with a licensed nutritionist, to set personal health goals to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Over the years a good number of our employees who have participated in the program have achieved amazing results. And the program is designed to reward those employees who meet standards for good health or who make progress toward their goals. I am very proud that we are able to offer this program to our employees and that we are committed to promoting good healthy lifestyles.
Publishing our organization’s annual report is a huge undertaking each year. Data for the report is gathered from many of our departments in order to accurately and fully detail our performance during the previous fiscal year. As you can imagine, this can be tedious when working with dollar amounts in the billions and servicing numbers in the hundreds of thousands. My team did a fantastic job pulling this together and I am pleased to present our “Report to Our Citizens” for fiscal year 2023-24.
This year’s report has been thoughtfully designed to present the data and information in an organized fashion
to highlight the efforts and initiatives undertaken by my office. Among our areas of focus this past fiscal year were improving communication, continuing to enhance our online service and expanding the convenience and availability of the vehicle registration renewal kiosks throughout the county.
There is a great deal of valuable information in this 16page report and I encourage you to review it by visiting www.pbctax.gov/annual-report where you can also request a copy be mailed to you.
Joe tells us that his approach to tackling challenges or problems is “taking the time to come together to understand the issue and make sure everyone is on the same page.” He emphasizes that computer security and improving staff experience are among his department’s top priorities.
When the topic of artificial intelligence arose, Joe had this to say, “AI can’t replace what our people do, but can accelerate our processes,” noting that “the benefits outweigh the potential consequences with the proper policies and managed approach.”
Meet Joe Sverak. Whether you transact with us in person, by mail or online you are interacting with systems that have been put in place by our dedicated Information Technology (IT) team, a department that often goes unnoticed. Joe Sverak, Chief Information Officer, oversees our IT department of sixteen team members who manage and safeguard the stability of our equipment and technology, which includes everything from computers and software to the servers that keep everything afloat. They are part of the fabric that binds the organization together. When asked about the role that he and his team play at the TCO he said, “There is more to IT than just computers; there are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes, which means there are often several ways to do something, and I give my team the latitude to explore those options.”
With 13 years at the TCO and extensive experience, Joe was asked what career he would choose if he had not chosen IT, and he quickly answered, “an automotive mechanic.” Joe, we are glad that you chose IT and we value the integral part you and your team play for our organization’s success.
TCO in the Community. The Town of Jupiter is celebrating its 100th birthday this year and our organization took part in the Centennial Celebration by participating in the Jupiter Jubilee. This event is Jupiter’s biggest hometown celebration and the town’s official birthday party! It was a great day of celebrating with our neighbors in the North County. TCO employees were on hand to answer questions about TCO services and distribute informational materials.
Thank you to our staff for volunteering their time to share their expertise with attendees. We all look forward to this event to provide outreach to our North County residents
Important Dates & Holidays:
April 18th Good Friday
April 20th Passover Ends
April 20th Easter
April 30th IPP Enrollment Deadline for 2025
Healthy Answers – A Guide to Healthy Living: “What Are Friends For?” From The Professionals’ Desks
By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C.
Dale is a motivational speaker who has spent many years as a Certified Life Coach and has written numerous articles and e-books relating to self-improvement and ways to build a high-performance team. She is the author of the book, “Small Steps...Big Changes: The Personal Stories of a Life Coach,” from which this month’s column is adapted. Her education and years of experience in physical fitness and training of elite athletes has enabled her to sharpen her knowledge in many health-related areas. The following introduces a new approach to Ms. Brown’s series of columns devoted to many topics that deal with the mind/body connection and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com.
If I were to ask you how many friends you think you have, what would your answer be? Most of us who live in communities feel like we have lots of friends. We play golf, tennis, engage in like activities and surround ourselves at a table of “friends” for dinner. We make small talk, laugh and enjoy the comradery of being together, but it is rare to pinpoint any one you might describe as a “true” friend.
As humans, we have an innate capacity and a need for close, emotional connections with others. It’s a known fact that positive social experiences impact a person’s physical and mental health. The more social you are the more likely you are to be less stressed. On the flip side, loneliness and social isolation have been linked to a higher risk of illness. We tend to use the word “friend” when referring to many people in our social circle. In reality, there may be very few “true” friends and many more acquaintances. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X are good examples of how social media inflates the idea of the
importance of having hundreds, even thousands, of “friends” or followers.
While social media helps people stay in touch across distances it often prevents relationships from growing deeper because it replaces face-to-face interactions with quick, digital check-ins. Many times, people post happy moments in their lives, making their friendships appear more vibrant and fulfilling than they may actually be. Just because someone likes your post doesn’t mean they’d be there for you in the long run.
Friendship itself is a complex subject. It comes and goes, and changes throughout your life depending on your age and gender. The way in which men handle friendship is much different than that of women. Men seem to address conflict more directly or, in my husband’s case, use humor to resolve an issue. I admire the way he’s able to “let things go” after having a difference of opinion with a buddy. Men are more apt to keep friendships over time, even with less contact in between, and are able to pick up where they left off.
Women differ from men because they become emotionally involved, getting hurt more easily when trust is broken. It’s not unusual to see open gestures of hugging, holding hands or telling a friend, “I love you” or, “I appreciate you.” Having a group of close-knit girlfriends who support one another is one of the joys of womanhood. I speak for myself when I say, “There’s nothing better than carrying on with a gaggle of ladies after a couple glasses of champagne!”
How we kindle friendship and keep the flame burning in every phase of our life is the essence of not being lonely. Things evolve as you get older and you may not connect with the same people you once did, nor do you have the same things in common. You may drift away from just acquaintances and focus on deeper, more meaningful relationships. At times you may ask yourself, “What
happened? We used to be such good friends and now we barely pick up the phone or try to meet.”
As you age it becomes harder to make new friends and you may find you are no longer included in the circle of friends you once knew. This is the time when it is most important to make an effort to reach out, do the asking, make the call, send a text. Don’t depend on other people to know you’re feeling left out and need some company. The key to keeping meaningful relationships during life’s transitions is to be pro-active … by joining a club, networking with members of your community or reconnecting with old acquaintances.
What does it mean to be a “true” friend verses an acquaintance? This is someone who genuinely cares and is honest with you, even when what is being said is hard to hear. They show up when it matters, whether it’s celebrating your success or supporting you in tough times. True friendship is not always about you; both people have to invest time, energy and care. It goes both ways.
With a “true” friend there is no jealousy or competition, just happiness for your success without feeling envious of your achievements. If a disagreement happens it doesn’t have to end the friendship. The best thing you can do is talk things out and make an effort to apologize and forgive when unfortunate situations happen. My husband and I often say, “We don’t need filters when we’re with “true friends.” This means we are comfortable, accepted and loved by them for who we are and vice versa. You don’t have to hold back words for fear you’ll be criticized or judged.
Friendship isn’t just about socializing. It’s one of the most valuable relationships in life – bringing happiness, strength and a sense of belonging. It’s a lifeline for better mental, emotional and physical health. Investing in strong, meaningful connections can truly add years to your life and life to your years!
Medical Matters: Primary Care
By Richard Nagler, M.D., a member of Broken Sound Club and retired physician. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University’s School of Medicine, Dr. Nagler served his internship and residency at Baltimore City Hospital and Johns Hopkins. He followed that with a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Yale University School of Medicine, and was then Chief of Gastroenterology at Fitzsimons General Army Hospital in Denver. He returned to the Yale Medical School for one year as an Assistant Professor of Medicine before opening his own successful private practice in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. During that time, he also served for ten years as Chief of Medicine at Huntington Hospital in Huntington, N.Y.
In a recent article that appeared in the AARP Bulletin entitled “Where Have All the Doctors Gone?” the evergrowing shortage of primary care Physicians is explored. This has placed an extraordinary burden on the delivery of health care to American citizens, particularly evident in rural areas. Many of these doctors are not seeing new patients and others are so overburdened with patients that getting an appointment is beset with unacceptable delays.
Many patients are forced to seek medical care in urgent care centers or in an overcrowded Emergency Room with exposure to contagious illnesses and unacceptable wait times, often resulting in patients leaving without ever being seen.
The cost of ER care is often exorbitant.
Primary care doctors include internists, pediatricians, ob-gyn, general practitioners and gerontologists. Medical student graduates are not choosing primary care residency programs for a variety of reasons that include the fact that this specialty is the least financially rewarding.
Burdened with huge student loan debt at a time when these young doctors are ready to marry, have a family and own a home drives them into such more financially rewarding careers as Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Radiology and various surgical specialties. At one time primary care doctors were held in high esteem but that has changed, mainly because these doctors no longer are in private practice. They are hired by groups of doctors whose practices have been bought up by HMOs, hospital corporations, insurance companies and entrepreneurs.
They become salaried employees whose income depends on performance. This translates into seeing as many patients as possible in the least amount of time and avoiding sick patients who take up the most time. In addition, because of the lack of time spent with a patient and doing little more than a cursory physical examination, they rely more on costly tests and procedures as well as often unnecessary referrals to specialists within the group, adding more to costs as well as their own income.
This kind of medical practice is no way to build a meaningful doctor-patient relationship; it results in poorer medical care and the label of “vendor” applied to these doctors who have sacrificed their once cherished prestige.
Legal: Proposed New Laws
By Michael J. Posner,
Esq., a partner in Lippes Mathias LLP, a national real estate and business-oriented law firm with sixteen locations nationwide. Michael specializes in real estate and association law. He can be reached at (561) 594-1452 or at mjposner@lippes.com.
Florida’s legislature is now in session and several new bills have been introduced that are most likely to pass this Spring.
Fallen Tree Act: If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? (For science nerds the answer is “no,” only sound of waves). However, under current Florida law if your neighbor’s tree falls on your lawn you are responsible for any removal or clean-up, not the tree’s owner.
A new Florida law has been proposed that would address this perceived inequity. The law, called the Fallen Tree Act, if passed, would impose liability on a tree’s owner for any loss or damage caused by their tree falling onto your property. The determination of the ownership would be based on where the tree is rooted. In addition, the new law would also allow
Plates
property owners to remove trees or shrubs growing on shared property lines without permission from their neighbors, after providing written notice.
Property Taxes: Several bills have been filed that would dramatically affect property taxes in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis urged the Florida Legislature in his recent State of the State address to provide relief from such taxes. The cost to homeowners has increased substantially due to the rising home values. The total amount of property taxes levied in Florida has roughly doubled over the past decade.
The proposed bills would increase the number of exemptions so as to reduce the taxable value of a property, especially for homes used as a primary residence. In addition, there have been some radical calls to totally eliminate property taxes even though they provide 18% of county revenue, 17% of municipal revenue and 50% to 60% of school-district revenue. A constitutional ballot amendment to eliminate the tax could be brought to voters as early as 2026.
Condominium Assessments: Many condominium owners of older units in condominiums that are taller than three stories are facing potentially devastating assessments in order to comply with new structural reserves and repairs
ARCHIVE GALLERIES
Premature burnout has resulted in earlier retirement for many of these doctors, adding to the shortage.
The challenge is how to provide adequate primary care in a broken American Health Care System. Concierge doctors are increasing in numbers. They offer personalized medical care with adequate time spent with a patient and access to a doctor 24 hours a day. However, there is an annual fee of between $1,500 to as much as $6,000 or more, which is beyond the reach of most people.
Increasing the supply of Nurse Practitioners and Physicians’ Assistants who take care of mundane chores and minor ailments would permit the doctor to attend to more serious cases.
Greater use of Telemedicine would grant access to a doctor, especially in rural areas where patients cannot travel the distance to the doctor’s office. Medical schools could offer free tuition to students who are willing to commit to primary care for a five-year period, especially in areas of greatest need. Student loans could be forgiven for a similar commitment.
Thoroughly vetted foreign-trained primary care doctors could be encouraged and welcomed to the medical establishment with opportunities offered in needy areas. Providing health insurance for the remaining millions of Americans who have no, or grossly inadequate, coverage is another possibility. This might involve access to expanded Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and private insurance, a formidable task in today’s environment.
that were imposed in light of the Champlain Towers Condominium collapse in 2021. The deadline for compliance is December 31st, 2025, and assessments as great as thirty to fifty percent of the unit’s value have been proposed to pay the cost of unrepaired milestone defects as well as to fully fund structural reserves, which reserves many associations have failed to fund for decades.
These assessments mean that many owners, especially those on fixed incomes, cannot afford to keep their units. However, unlike a few years ago, demand for condominium units is lower just as the supply increases, and values are declining making it hard for many owners to sell their units except at bargain basement prices. A unit that would have sold for $400,000 in 2021 will likely go for $300,000 today, and if there is a $50,000 pending assessment the net to the owner in just four years has been reduced by $150,000.
One proposed bill would change the current requirements from condos that are three stories or higher to condos that are six stories or higher, allowing the smaller buildings to opt out of the milestone inspection requirement and to vote to waive or reduce contributions to the structural reserve.
Another proposed bill would allow Associations to invest reserve funds; obtain a line of credit in lieu of a required reserve fund and allow buildings that have completed a milestone inspection to delay mandated funding until December 31st, 2028 and to delay a structural integrity reserve study for up to two budget years.
Another bill proposed provides up to $2,500 to assist with special assessments levied to fund the reserve accounts. The grant would be to low-income homeowners ages 60 and over.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Act: Many municipalities in Florida prohibit accessory dwelling units to be placed on a single family lot. A proposed new law would legalize the right to install accessory dwelling units, such as granny apartments, regardless of any local prohibition. One key to the bill is that homeowners would not lose their homestead property exemptions if they add such dwelling units. The proposal does not apply to homes in a PUD (such as most homes in a homeowners’ association, and would also restrict use of same for short-term rentals.
Car Laws: Two new laws, if passed, could affect how you drive in Florida. One law proposes to raise the 70 mph speed limit on major roads to 75 mph. A second law would require cars to have two license plates, as many other states already require.
Supporters of this bill say it may help investigators trying to catch hit-and-run drivers.
The Good Life: Dining, Drinks, Destinations
Dining Out: I’m No Don Quixote But This One Deserves Attention!
By
Alan Serinsky of Bocaire Country Club. Hungry Al’s love for food started very young. Never satisfied with his Mom’s dishes, he started to cook his way through her “Betty Crocker Cookbook.” During the years to follow he spend many hours working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his perspective on current food trends and guides you through your local restaurant options.
La Terraza Tapas & Bar
21770 St. Andrews Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33433 (561) 576-3040 laterrazatapas.com
Tapas Tonight: Tapas is about sharing. Regardless of what region of Spain you visit, there’s always a tapas bar close by. Tapas, sometimes referred to as snacks or appetizers, were designed to encourage conversation. In bar situations most folks usually find themselves standing or moving while devouring these Spanish delicacies. Interestingly, tapas are sometimes called pincho (toothpick). Not only do they serve the purpose of selection from a bar plate but also to keep your snack securely perched upon a piece of bread.
While in Barcelona I discovered too late that these toothpicks served a second function. When I asked for the check, after consuming over a dozen tapas, the bartender asked for my toothpicks. I pointed to the floor as a result of picking my teeth clean and assumed that he was upset for my littering. Instead, it came to my awareness that the number of different shapes and colors indicated the price of my dinner! He estimated my cost and I embarrassingly picked up my trash. Hungry D without hesitation stopped my Cava drinking!
Tablas Y Ensalada: We didn’t indulge on these tapas because there is a limit to what we can eat! But for a group of three or more these charcuteries cheese and meat boards are fantastic. As an example of items, you can have Jamon Iberico ham cured for 48-months, Manchego cheese, Spanish Chorizo or a Spanish salad.
Let’s Talk Paellas: The big show of the night is Spaniard’s Paellas! Having eaten this in Spain and making it several times at home in a proper paella pan, I have to give them accolades on delivering a near perfect dish. The only improvement would have been the texture. Traditionally, you cook the rice with a limited amount of stirring to allow the bottom rice to develop a crust finish. To avoid complaints of overcooked rice it was cooked “Boca style,” a bit softer. But the flavors of saffron, the fresh seafood and spicy Chorizo of their Paella Valenciana ($38.95) was spot on Note: Similar to a soufflé, this dish needs time. The chefs are requesting you give them 30 minutes heads-up so they can execute the dish properly.
Food For Thought: Having been to Spain recently I can’t tell you how excited I was to finally have an authentic Spanish restaurant so close to home. I’m not referring to those crossovers of Mexican/Spanish local spots, but one that can deliver exactly what one would experience if they visited Spain.
I often reminisce the nights of tapas ( not pronounced “topless”) bar hopping in Barcelona, quenching our parched sightseeing-days with quality Cava wine and finger-tasting our way through various tooth-picked Spanish appetizers. I also remember how we two very drunken Americans, lost at midnight, eventually made it back to our hotel only to discover I was pickpocketed (from my front pocket!).
When we arrived at La Terraza and started to immerse into the environment we began to realize how much it resembled our night out in that amazing Spanish city. Tapas dining is about allowing yourself to transport to another culture. It’s about letting go of how much one appetizer costs or how tight the tables are located to each other. It’s time to accept the noise of the stomping feet of the Flamenco guitarist and the excitement of something different than the ordinary, that made us and everyone else feel the spirit of Spanish dining.
First Impressions: La Terraza is located where you’ll find the United Nations of dining. Here at Boca Village Square you’ll find a Publix store, a sports bar, a Greek restaurant, a breakfast joint, an Indian restaurant and a pizza parlor. The narrow layout of the restaurant lends itself to the Tapas theme with an expansive bar facing an open kitchen window and various high tops and table seating. Yes, you can dine outside if you want to join the countless people standing about waiting for pizzas at the Sicilian Oven.
Thankfully, La Terraza is a family-owned business: two brothers in the kitchen overseeing every dish that goes out and another family member running the front of the house. No chain restaurant mentality operating this one, and everyone works hard to stay afloat and keep happy patrons coming back. The night we visited, a Spanish classical guitarist was playing. Unfortunately, he’s squeezed into a small spot near the bar and high-top tables, playing much too loud for us trying to carry on a conversation.
Again, that was in Barcelona. Happily, this doesn’t happen here at La Terraza!
Let’s talk Tapas! To simplify this review, I’m going to offer my brief comments on some of the numerous selections of Tapas you’ll find at La Terraza.
Empanadas de Carne ($15.95) I haven’t found too many empanadas that I don’t like and these certainly aren’t among them. Nice portions with meat fillings that won’t disappoint.
Camarones Ajillo ($19.95) This is a great small plate with perfectly cooked shrimp all blended in a preparation of hot peppers, garlic, olive oil and white wine.
Berenjena con Queso de Cabra e Iberico ($16.95) Hungry D and I loved this one. How can you not enjoy a stuffed eggplant with goat cheese and quality Iberico ham?
Chueltas de Cordero ($24.95) These four non-fatty wellseasoned Grilled Lamb chops are similar to Greek style ones and will have you coming back soon for more.
From the Dessert Tray: The dessert menu is simple and not overly creative. There is what’s expected – Flan ($12); Crema Catalana ($12) a Spanish version of Crème Brule; a Homemade Almond Cake and, of course, Spanish Churros (no difference from Mexican ones). And if all else fails, go with a scoop or two of ice cream.
Check please: If you want to save yourself a trip to Spain just to eat Spanish food I suggest you give them a try. As in the Don Quixote novel, the conclusion brings us to its meaning. With a strong identity and some perseverance, you can differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd. La Terraza has certainly done this. So, as with the running of the bulls, both Hungry D and I will be returning soon. With our feet stomping and our hands clapping like Flamenco dancers we give La Terraza three golden toothpicks!
Grape Expectations: 10 Interesting Wine Facts You May Not Know
By Ed Wolfarth,
who moved to South Florida after retiring with his wife, Vicki, as Professor of Sports Sciences & Physical Education at both Queens College and Hostra University. He is a nationally ranked senior tennis player and long-time USPTA Elite Teaching Professional. Ed has written many educational and tennis articles in the past. Over the past few years, Ed has turned his hobby of wine collecting into a way of continuing his passion for writing and has written on the subject for publications. As a self-proclaimed “wine snob,” he has collaborated on many wine lists for private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can be reached at wolfarth@msn.com.
1. It takes exactly six turns to open a bottle of sparkling wine. The wine pressure in a bottle of Champagne can be as much as 90PSI. That’s three times the pressure in your tires! In order to open it without any flying corks you need to hold the bottle on its side first. Remove the foil wrapping. Then untwist the metal cage using six half twists. Don’t ask me why six does the trick but try four or five. Of course, more may also work. I always wondered if Cava, Cremant or Prosecco producers got together and agreed to make their cages open with a minimum of six turns!!??
Or did this happen by chance? Anyway, six is the answer. And yes – remove the cork gradually, holding it away from you and your guests.
2. When in restaurants ordering a glass of wine you only get five to six ounces. The industry standard used to be an eight-ounce pour, but obviously hard times prevail. With
25.4 ounces in a standard 750 ML bottles – well, do the math. I have noticed, at Happy Hour you may get an exuberant bartender filling your glass. Make sure you tip appropriately!
3. If a California wine label says it’s Cabernet Sauvignon it needs only to be 75% of that grape. The other 25% can be anything else. Most of these Cabs are actually blends. The other grapes–i.e.; Cab Franc, Merlot, Syrah, are included to add color, alcohol, viscosity or body to the final product.
4. White wines gain color as they age, while red wines lose color. The color of wine indicates age, grape variety, flavor density and acidity. Color is often determined by the method of vinification and the time the must is in contact with the skins of the grapes. You can tell a lot by carefully observing the color in a glass of wine.
5. Two new studies have shown that polyphenols in wine and chocolate increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain, boosting cognitive ability. The effect gets even more beneficial as you age, since there is a natural reduction in blood supply around the brain later in life. All the more reason to have a glass of “medicine” and a little dessert every chance you get!
6. Putting salt in the ice bucket will chill white wine and sparkling wines faster. Ice melts faster in salty water, making for more freezing water in contact with the wine bottle. One of my pet peeves at restaurants is the improper way wait staffers present the bottle in an ice bucket. Trying to stuff a bottle on top of ice cubes does nothing to chill wine. You need to add water. Duh! The proper way is half ice and half water and drop the bottle into the icy water with full contact. You can even add salt.
Women are actually better tasters of wine due to their superior sense of smell. Many studies have shown that women have more taste buds on their tongues and 43% more cells and neurons in the olfactory part of the brain that receives signals from the nose. Go figure! These supertasters can simply detect smells and tastes more readily.
Poor quality soil tends to produce better wine. This is complicated. Soil affects drainage and root density. Sandy soil can produce elegant wines with high aromatics, pale color and low tannins. Sandy soils drain well and retain heat. In addition, sandy soils have a higher resistance to pests. Clay soils usually produce heavier wines with more color and extract. Spain’s Rioja and Burgundy’s Pinot Noir are good examples of fine wines made from grapes with limestone-rich clay soils. I wouldn’t grow vegetables in these soils, however. The custom of “bumping” glasses with a “Cheers” greeting came from old Rome where they used this method to make sure no one was trying to poison the other! This tradition started even earlier in Greece, where the host was to drink the first cup of wine to show his guests he didn’t intend to poison them.
Wines are fat-free and contain few calories. There are approximately 100 to 130 calories in a five-ounce glass of red wine. Of course, this varies with the amount of alcohol and type of grape. There are many health benefits to drinking a glass of red wine. You may have heard of resveratrol Studies have shown that hearing loss was greatly reduced by including this extract found in grape skins. Many diseases are alleviated due to resveratrols’s ability to reduce free radicals and bioinflammation, a precursor to many health issues. And a bonus fact: Extra dry champagne or any sparkling wine is sweeter than Brut or Dry. Go figure!
If you have any questions or suggestions for future articles please contact me at wolfarthe@msn.com.
The Arts
Book Review: “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence
Offers a New Understanding
By Nils A. Shapiro
Nils began his career as Marketing Director for a major book publisher. He has since edited the authors’ manuscripts’ for more than 20 published books, written more than 200 book reviews, served as Publisher of several million-plus circulation national magazines, created the official Yearbooks for teams in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League, and “retired” as President of a successful telecommunications company before being appointed Editor of Boca Club News when the newspaper was launched in January 2007.
Of the more than 200 books that I have reviewed in this column in what is now the 19th year of Boca Club News, only a half dozen have affected me in a life-changing way. I cannot promise that it will do the same for many of this column’s readers, but for those who share my profound interest in the vast diversity of life with which we share this planet—and who are willing to be open-minded about what the most recent science is discovering—this is a book that will make you think…with a capital T.H.I.N.K.!
It was inevitable that I would someday be captivated by this area of interest. I grew up as a child living in New York just one city block from the wondrous Bronx Zoo, close enough to hear the lions roar for their dinner every afternoon when I returned home from elementary school, and I walked the zoo from end to end hundreds of times. The famed New York Botanical Gardens were also only a short walk away. Little did I know then that there was far more constant inter-action and communication between the “residents” of that beautiful attraction than at the zoo.
In 2016 I reviewed for this column a book, “Sex on Six Legs,” a nonfiction report on insects and what scientists have learned about their aspects of memory, decision-making and free will. It was fascinating.
A year later, in “Gift from the Crow: How Perception, Emotion and Thought Allow Birds to Think Like Us,” the author pointed out that these birds often outscore human children in tests designed to measure intelligence.
In that same year, primatologist and ethologist Frans de Waal’s “Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?” won for its author a major award for demonstrating parallel behavior between humans and primates in the aspects of empathy, morality and justice. Later, Sy Montgomery’s international bestseller, “The Soul of an Octopus,” made a worldwide splash by revealing the stunning cognitive abilities of these undersea geniuses.
But it was with the publication of “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben, the head of Europe’s largest natural forest located in Germany, that this evolving life-changing experience reached a high point for me. To discover that what I had always thought of as “inanimate, unconscious” life forms were actually very much alive in the sense of communication with the other trees around them—as just one example, warning them of attacking insects so that those other trees could immediately protect themselves by sending poison into their own leaves to kill the specific invading species—was enough to turn me into a believer. And that was just the beginning. The statement that there are more life form organisms in one handful of soil under a tree than there are people in the entire world is a fact that even I, by now a convert to the new sciences, can barely comprehend.
To her credit, the author of “The Light Eaters”—Zoe Schlanger, an award-winning science writer for the Atlantic magazine, Time, Newsweek, The Nation, The
New York Times and other publications— presents her subject on the assumption that many, if not most, of her readers will approach it as skeptics, not quite prepared to accept the idea of coupling plants together with such concepts as “intelligence,” “decision-making,” “consciousness,” “seeing,” “hearing” and other capabilities.
of Life on Earth”
The result is a book that is organized as the author’s report on the most current studies and experiments in botanical science around the world based on her own travels—meeting with leading botanic scientists, witnessing their work in laboratories, to forests, jungles, deep underground caves, wherever it leads—discovering with them the most extraordinary and surprising facts of plant life—then describing all of it in these pages so clearly and convincingly that even the most skeptical reader will find it difficult to deny the miracles of nature that have surrounded all of us, all our lives, without our awareness and appreciation.
There are so many such examples that to offer just a few here seems unfair and almost counter-productive, but the following “tease” will help support my comments about the author’s final chapter.
- Plants obviously do not have ears. But after many experiences indicating that plants can somehow “hear,” two of the scientists decided to test Arabidopsis (a weedy mustard plant) by playing the sounds of several different objects, including something that would surely eat it: a cabbage white caterpillar. When they had the leaves analyzed in a lab they found that only as a response to the sound of the caterpillar chewing did the leaves discharge a chemical defense compound!
- Plants also have the same ability to communicate warnings to their neighboring plants about such dangers as
Film Review:
insect invasions that trees in a natural forest do, as referred to above in this review.
- Boquila trifoliata is a simple-looking plant, a vine with bright-green oval leaves in groups of three, like a clover or a common bean. A Peruvian ecologist, Ernesto Gianoli, had discovered that this common “chameleon” rain forest vine was capable of doing what no other plant could do: It could, quite spontaneously, morph into the shape of almost any plant it grew beside…A research group in Germany felt sure this incredible mimicry implied the plant could see. How else could it accurately reproduce the texture, the vein pattern the shape, of a neighboring leaf?
In this book’s final chapter—one of the most thoughtful, well-reasoned and compelling writing I have come across in a long time—the author addresses her readers’ likely initial skepticism directly and responds with understanding and a logic that I found irrefutable.
I will quote here just two paragraphs from that chapter’s 20 pages:
“At the end of the day, whether or not plants are intelligent is a social question, not a scientific one. Science will continue to find that plants are doing more than we’d imagined. But then the rest of us will have a look at the data and come to our own conclusions. How will we interpret the new knowledge? How will we fit it into our beliefs about life on earth? That is the exciting part. Perhaps we will see them as the animate creatures they are.
“But what happens then? Underlying all this is the deeper question, the one that matters most: What will we do with this new understanding? There are two directions to go in: we do nothing at all, and carry on as before, or we change our relationship with plants. At what point do plants enter the gates of our regard? When are they allowed in to the realm of our ethical consideration? Is it when they have language? When they have family structures? When they make allies and enemies, have preferences, plan ahead? When we find they can remember? They seem, indeed, to have all these characteristics. It’s now our choice whether to let that reality in. To let plants in.”
In recommending this book to you I have planted the seed. Whether you have the desire to grow—as a plant surely does—is up to you.
“The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry”
By Nils A. Shapiro
There are two reasons for my having selected this film to review in this month’s column, neither of which is my certainty that you will fully enjoy it.
The first is that the writer of the screenplay, Gabrielle Zevin, was born and raised in Boca Raton and graduated from Spanish River Community High School in 1996. She graduated from Harvard University in 2000, having concentrated on American Literature, then adapted the screenplay from her own 2014 national bestseller of the same title and has become an award-winning author of several bestselling books.
The second reason I enjoyed The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is its subject matter—the story of a bookseller and his world—and anyone who is a regular reader of Boca Club News and my monthly Book Review column knows that says it all!
My one hesitation is that the film received mixed reviews when released in 2022, so I will inform you of that up front and leave to you the decision of whether or not to view this film now streaming on Netflix.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was directed by Hans Canosa, who has since become married to the author/ screenwriter.
Kunal Nayyar stars in the role of A.J. Fikry, owner of a bookstore in the lovely, scenic town of Alice Island on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Bearded and kind of scruffy looking, when we first meet him he is being visited by a young woman, Amelia “Amy” Loman, the new sales representative of a book publishing company. She is there to present the new season’s titles but is treated rather rudely by the impatient Fikry, who complains that business is slow and ignores
her suggestions about the potential of certain of her favorite new titles.
It soon becomes clear that the bookstore is in disarray, the shelves overcrowded and a mess, the owner himself drowning in alcohol and in the process losing a rare, valuable copy of “Tamerlane” he had been saving for a future financial need. (We learn later the truth about what happened to that book.)
But there is more on Alice Island that is in disarray than just the bookstore and A.J. Fikry’s life; the film explores these others as well: how his life changes when a 2-year-old girl, Maya, is abandoned in his bookstore and the mother is found dead; his sister-in-law, Ismay’s, husband dies in a car crash; the pregnant wife of an author learns that her husband has been cheating on her; Fikry’s relationship with the young book sales rep he treated poorly takes a dramatic turn toward feelings he had not expected…and much more that if described more fully here would act as “spoilers.”
For me, the seven years covered in the film—and the emotional ending—brought forth enough involving moments to make this very much a worthwhile experience. I believe many of you will feel the same and I shall consider this review an homage to a Boca Raton Spanish River Community High School graduate who has made us all proud.
Essays on Life: The Changing of the Seasons
By Sonia E. Ravech. Sonia is a
native of Massachusetts and a resident of Broken Sound for more than 30 years. She is the mother of four, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of four. She has been the facilitator of the Broken Sound Memoir Writers’ Workshop for the past seven years.
Winters in my home State of Massachusetts are stark. The air is damp and cold. Limbs of the barren trees resemble spiders’ legs reaching towards the overcast sky. The ground is frozen and cracked. Lawns have turned to straw. The
environment is almost colorless, grey, white and drab.
Everyone looks forward to the first signs of Spring when the tree limbs start to bud, crocuses push up through the earth, lawns emit a hint of green and the golden sun breaks through exposing a blue sky. The change of seasons is easily evident. But how does one distinguish the change in an environment such as Florida where the grass and trees are always green, colorful flowers continually dot the landscape, and the sun and bright blue sky are taken for granted? I suggest we look to our feathered friends, the birds.
The advent of Spring ushers in the mating season. The flocks appear larger, their activities more frenzied. The trills and chirps are louder and more frequent as the males
attempt to lure female companions. The females can be seen darting back and forth from ground to bush with slivers of straw between their beaks from which to fashion their nests, providing a safe and warm environment for their eggs and eventual newborn hatchlings.
Spring is the season of renewal, when nature reminds us of God’s miracles. Just as folks in Massachusetts are reassured each year that lawns will return to their lush green color, the leaves on the trees will burst open revealing their shading canopies, flowers will bloom and the sun will spread its warmth and glow, so too are Floridians reminded that Spring is the time for rebirth. The circle of life will continue.
You and Your Pet: A Systematic Approach to House Training a Puppy Pet Matters
By Dr.
A. L.
Krawitz, DVM, Calusa
Veterinary Center, 6900 Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33487. (561) 999-3000
www.cvcboca.com
Early successful house training of your puppy will lead to a lifetime of happiness. Usually 3-6 weeks is the time required to be successful, depending on the individual pet’s personality. Be patient and persevere. Consistency, patience and persistence will be rewarded. Dogs need to be clearly shown what you want. Even though we like to think of them as people they do not understand and rationalize in the same way as humans. The best way is to train them by reward just like training them to do tricks, and this is the basis of the method below.
1. Designate a “bathroom area” in the front- or backyard of your home. This is the spot where you go each and every time with your pet when taking them out to do their business. Once successfully house trained they can then “go make” anywhere on their walks.
2. Take your pet to this area frequently during the day and in the evening. Have a routine for this. Take them out first thing on waking, then before eating, after eating, last thing at night. Also a few other times during the day, or when you see your pet sniffing around to go to the bathroom or circling to look for a place.
3. When you are at the designated bathroom area give your pet a command, such as “Do it!”, “Pee-pee!” or “Make!” This is to train your pet, just as you would when teaching them to sit or fetch. Do not use commands that sound like other common words you would use, such as “Let’s go!” or “Go!”, or similar to their name, as this will confuse them.
4. If your pet does pass a stool or urine, then praise them in an “over-the-top” way so they can see that you are very happy with them and they did well. The idea is to leave no doubt that it is good to do it in that area and on command.
5. Only give them a few minutes to go. If they do not do it in that time period, go back inside and try again later. (Watch them carefully when back inside to see if they want to go and, if necessary, go out again). If you wait too long for them to go you are teaching them a bad habit and they will wait longer and longer each time. The idea is for them to do it on your command, and soon.
6. If your pet successfully passes a bowel movement on command, then leave the stool there for a few days to a week if possible. This tells the animal instinctually that the designated area is the bathroom area. Once house trained clean up can be done immediately afterwards.
7. If your pet makes inside: Unless you catch them in the act; do and say nothing! If caught in the act, shout “No!,” pick your pet up, take to the designated area and give your command.
Even if you catch them a few seconds later after making, it is best to ignore it and say nothing, as even though you shout at them and they know they have obviously done “something” wrong, they do not always know that it is because they messed in the house. This sometimes can have the opposite effect of making them go in that area again due to the anxiety caused by the scolding, or they can simply become scared of you or of that area in the house.
Without saying anything (or internally fuming), take them out of the room, out of visual contact and then clean up the mess. Dogs can sense and even smell your emotions so take them out of the room.
Remember to spray an odor eliminator spray (obtained from the pet store) after cleaning, to deter them from going there again, as they can easily smell the spot and can be triggered to use that area again.
The idea is to teach them that the only time they get attention is when they do it correctly. To dogs, negative attention is often enough to attract them to do it again, as it is often more intense than positive attention.
It is very simple, actually:
Use a designated spot, give the command, praise profusely if successful; do not allow too long a time.
If they make inside, no fuss, just clean up unless caught in the act.
Early house training will ensure that instead of being a nuisance your life with your pet will be happy, easy, enjoyable and fulfilling.
A Free Opportunity For Animal Lovers ...
Now Feed 6 Shelter Dogs and Cats Every Day at No Cost to You ... in Less Than a Minute ... with just a “Click”
Want to feel really good about yourself? If, like most of us, those TV announcements bring tears to your eyes with photos of sad shelter dogs and cats in small cages, hoping somehow to be brought into loving homes – when you wish over and over again that you could somehow bring joy into their lives, here is an act of loving kindness that will cost you absolutely nothing ... and take less than a minute a day.
Visit the website: www.theanimalrescuesite.com and click on the words “Click here to feed a dog or cat.” A “button” will appear on your screen, and all you have to do is click on it once. Each time a person clicks on that button, the website’s sponsors provide bowls of food, free, to feed 6 dogs and cats. That’s all there is to it. In only seconds each day, you can see to it that 6 animals are fed. The folks who run the website never bother you with tons of promotional e-mails. You can, if you wish, click on a link that sends a daily reminder to you. I did that; the reminder is e-mailed, and that is it. No hard-sell follow-ups. And if you realize how good it will make you feel to be able to do at least something for these poor, loving creatures who are there through no fault of their own (some have been rescued from abusive owners), imagine how even bowls of food will help make the animals feel better.
Please take just seconds a day to lift 6 animals’ spirits ... and your own. Thanks.
