I would like to take a moment to introduce myself, Ebenson Bristol, as the new Director of Security from St. Moritz Security Services. I have been working for Boca Pointe security for 16 years. I am a dedicated leader who strives to provide the highest quality of safety and protection for our residents. Below are some security and safety tips I would like to share.
• Keep your guest list as updated as possible. Remember to remove guests that you no longer want to come to your address.
• Do not give out your security access code to your guests or anyone.
• Do not give your tag master/transponder to anyone.
• Please let your guests know, even if they have a fast pass, they still need to show I.D. at the gate. For example: Anyone can find a fast pass on the floor and use it to enter Boca Pointe if an I.D. is not required.
• If you’re having a small get-together, please provide a list of the attending guests to the BPCA office for access control. Also please get in touch with your community village board to find out what’s allowed and what’s not allowed.
• Never provide your home address or phone number to people you don’t know.
• Please follow the posted speed limits throughout the community.
Discover What’s New And What’s Next At The Club At Boca Pointe
At The Club at Boca Pointe, we’re always evolving to bring our Members the best in fitness, fun, and community. From exciting new sports facilities to can’t-miss social events, here’s a peek at what’s new and what’s on the horizon!
Get Fit and Have Fun at the Sports Club
New Multifunctional
Sports Room
We’re excited to unveil our brand-new
Multifunctional Sports Room, designed to help Members improve their golf, tennis, and pickleball skills. With TPI-certified trainers on hand, participating Members receive a personalized fitness plan tailored to their unique needs, ensuring you’re not just getting fit but excelling at the sports you love.
Padel Courts Coming Soon!
The buzz is building for the arrival of four brand-new Padel courts at the Sports Club! Padel, the exciting blend of tennis and squash, is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide—and it’s easy to see why. Played in doubles on a smaller court surrounded by glass and mesh, this fun, strategic sport is great for all ages and skill levels. Whether new to Padel or a seasoned player, it’s the perfect way to stay active and socialize with friends.
Meet Our New Pickleball Pro – Bobby Runyan
We’re thrilled to welcome Bobby Runyan as our new Pickleball Professional. With pickleball, tennis, and fitness certifications, Bobby brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the Sports Club. Whether you’re sharpening your pickleball skills or just starting out, Bobby is here to help you take your game to the next level.
From our state-of-the-art gym and 40 complimentary group exercise classes to tennis, pickleball, and more, The Club at Boca Pointe has something for everyone. Ready to explore our facilities? Contact the Membership Team today to schedule your tour and see how we can help you reach your health and wellness goals while having fun!
• If you see something, say something (Access control is 24/7).
• Always make sure you lock your car(s).
• Always make sure all perimeter doors are locked when you’re away.
• When walking or jogging in the dark hours, please do not wear black clothing unless you wear a safety vest over it. It’s always important to wear a safety vest regardless.
• When walking your pets, please always keep them on a leash and pick up after them.
If you need to reach me with any security concerns or questions, please call (561) 395-7551 or email: bpointe@ smssi.com.
October Fun at The Club
The excitement continues this October with festive events the whole family will love! After celebrating the Jewish New Year, Members can look forward to these can’t-miss happenings:
• Boo House and Trunk or Treat (Open to the Boca Pointe Community)
Saturday, October 19, 5–7 PM
Get ready for spooky fun! Your ticket includes trunkor-treating, the Boo House experience, and a photo opportunity. Tickets are just $15 per child—bring cash!
• Health Fair (Open to the Boca Pointe Community) Saturday, October 23, 10 AM–12 PM
Join us for a complimentary event featuring the latest in health and wellness. The first 100 attendees will receive a complimentary boxed lunch!
• Freaky Friday Mak-Uerade
October 25, 7 – 10 pm
The much-anticipated annual Halloween party is always memorable, with a costume contest, decadent food display, and music by the Euphoria Band.
• Scream on the Green October 26, 7:30 pm
A Member favorite, golf carts emulate a drive-in movie theater held on the Golf Range with our featured movie Psycho.
Boca Pointe residents can register for events open to the community by calling 561.864.8500, ext. 0.
Please Help
Water, Water Everywhere
By Steve Handwerker
In 1972 A Clean Water Act was passed which offered a time of hope for American Rivers. Many years ago, before this act, it was common practice to dump sewage and pollutants into rivers and streams all over the country. Industrial pollutants and waste from farms were destroying the life in rivers and streams and even flood preventing wetlands. Hundreds of thousands of acres were destroyed yearly. The rivers in every state were being seriously compromised until a bipartisan effort was generated to attack this crisis head on in the Clean Water Act. This law made it illegal to dump pollutants from any designated source into our nation’s waters without a federal permit that limited what could be dumped. Local governments were required to create cleanup plans to reduce pollution in order to bring bodies of water back to health. This has precipitated many benefits for human and wildlife populations.
This single law keeps approximately 700+ billion pounds of pollutants out of our water. This precious act has been under attack in recent years through apathy and negligence on the part of citizens and governmental bodies as well. We the people need to take action through awareness and having a voice that matters to restore the attention, focus and enforcement of clean water measures in order to restore our states’ and nation’s priority on clean fresh water. Clean water is a fundamental condition for survival as a species and for the well being of the planet. Can you please take action to have a voice in the public forum to protect our bodies and supplies of fresh water?? Thank you for listening!!
Steven E. Handwerker Ph.D. D.Div, RM Board Certified Licensed Psychologist 50 years experience www.peacewk.org.
Books and Blogs
Vehicle Information
If you have purchased a new vehicle within the past 6 months, please make sure the Boca Pointe Community Association management office has a copy of your current vehicle registration on file. Your gate transponder is linked to your vehicle so it is important that we have accurate information in our system. Please fax it to (561) 395-5936 or email it to admin@bocapointe.com.
Thank you for your cooperation!
BPCA Management team
Tom
Board Of Directors
June 2024 – May 2025 Officers/Executive Committee
Chairman and President Robert Cornell
Vice Chairman Bob Greenstein
Vice President David Sussman
Secretary Steve Retzer
Treasurer Lawrence Gelfond
District Directors
District 1 Morton Karper (Valencia) Encantada, Valencia and The Palms
District 2 Chandra Stewart-Keith (Panaché)
Promenade, Imperial Royale, Imperial, Regency and Panaché
District 3 Steve Retzer (La Mirada)
La Mirada and Meridiana
District 4 Bob Greenstein (Lakes of La Paz) El Viento, La Paz, and Southwinds
District 5 Barbara Windheim (El Dorado)
Esplanada, Caravelle, Palomar, La Corniche, and El Dorado
District 6 Vacant
Villa Flora, Montego Bay, Villa del Sol, and Palladium
District 7 David Arlein (Pointe 100)
The Plum/Cortina, Villa Sonrisa and Pointe 100
District 8 Jacob Stark (Costa del Sol)
Costa del Sol and Costa Brava
District 9 Susan George (Edgewater) Edgewater at Boca Pointe and Stratford Court
At Large Directors Through May 2025
Robert Cornell (Costa Brava)
David Sussman (Valencia)
Howard Weinstein (El Dorado)
Dan Gabrielle (La Corniche) Lawrence Gelfond (La Corniche) Zachary Elliott (Encantada)
On Reflection
By Judith Levy
The way I see it is that each day is a gift. Not a gift to be shared with others, yours alone. Think about life as a dollar. You have one hundred cents, or two half dollars, four quarters, ten dimes, twenty nickels and one hundred cents.
How you spend this fortune depends solely on yourself. Will you squander every cent, or will you miserly save every dime, will you give away some of your fortune in money or time to help someone else? How have you used those freely given gifts to make your life and the world you live in a better place?
At the end of the day, the decade, or perhaps getting close to the century, what do you have to show for your life’s dollars? Did you help your parents, your mate, your
children, your friends or have you held onto as much of your fortune in time and money to be used for yourself alone? Is the cost of this hoarding a lack of friendship, closeness with your mate or children or has it brought you a sense of emptiness and yearning to have another opportunity to do things differently?
In the end it comes down to do you like yourself and your choices. If you can reflect and find pleasure in what you have chosen and their results, keep on doing what you’re doing, but if you have inner grumblings and dissatisfaction, and wish you had done things differently, take heart, there’s still time to change. Reach out, make amends, smooth the bumpy road you have been travelling on and bring some sunshine into your rainy day.
People at first will be startled at the change in you and wonder about it, but shortly they will embrace the new you and your life will brighten. You can use the remaining amount of your life’s dollars, half dollars, quarters, dimes and pennies to bring closeness and joy, that can only be garnered by bringing smiles to the people you care
Voice mail system: (561) 395-3369 Website: www.gateaccess.net
Staff April Narine, General Manager
Lisa Cammaleri, Assistant Manager
Alicia Fleming, Administrative Assistant Ebenson Bristol, Director of Security Viewpointe of Boca Pointe is the newspaper of Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc. Please direct all questions, comments or articles for Viewpointe to lisa.cammaleri@ fsresidential.com.
A special Thank You to our monthly volunteer contributing writers
Steve Handwerker
Judith Levy
Lisa Sileo
Harold Katz
Harriet Rubin
Anne Gannon
Elyse Weintraub Brown
Hillary Reynolds
Arthur Dermer
William A. Gralnick
Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera
Yishai Mizrahi
Ashley Rozo
Tonya Jansson
The Pap Corps
Robert W. Goldfarb
Marci Woodward
Josette Veltri
The views of the writers of the various articles in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Boca Pointe Community Association. The Association nor the individual writers are not responsible for claims or promises contained in any advertising material appearing in the Viewpointe. Such claims and promises are the sole responsibility of the individual advertiser.
Office Hours
Monday Through Friday 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m
most about. In the end it’s your relationships, not your acquisitions or the money you leave behind that will count, only your good name, which is a very precious legacy.
Judith Levy is the New York Times best-selling author of GRANDMOTHER REMEMBERS, which has sold over four million copies and the mega bestseller GRANDFATHER REMEMBERS, published by HarperCollins. Both books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Open Call For Viewpointe Contributing Writers!
We are looking for volunteers, whether experienced or hobbyist, interested in writing an article or a column for the Viewpointe. You may be interested in writing just once, occasionally or on a regular basis. It’s a great way to sharpen your skills or develop your talent while enlightening your community. Some themes we would like to include in the Viewpoint are as follows:
• Village Spotlight - write about your community. A different village will be featured each month.
• My Story - featuring a member of the community with a unique or interesting story.
• Student Life - High school students writing about school or a topic that interests them. Student writers will be eligible to earn community service hours.
• Global Cuisine or Gourmet Recipes - share a special, gourmet recipe or a recipe from our international community.
• Share an idea you may have for a new column or article. A Meet & Greet event with refreshments will be scheduled for current and new writers. Show your interest in joining the writing team by contacting Lisa Cammaleri at lisa.cammaleri@fsresidential.com.
• Preventive Medicine (Routine Health Screenings and Vaccinations)
Luisa Brito, MD Internal Medicine
Se habla español
Forgiveness Is YOUR Choice
By Josette Veltri
Forgiving oneself is not easy and often thought of as impossible. But, studies have shown if we cannot forgive ourselves, it will be difficult to forgive others. Mahatma Gandhi reminds us that the weak can never forgive because forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
In his book The 12 Steps of Forgiveness, Paul Ferrini introduces us to a process of showing ourselves compassion, empathy, kindness, and understanding; setting up healthy boundaries to make peace within, let go, and move forward.
However, forgiving someone does not start with them, it begins with you. Self-forgiveness is a choice that is not necessary. However, it is a choice to demonstrate unconditional love for ourselves.
Hot Topics Group Notice
We are a women’s group who remember Reva Tucker. Hot Topics has resumed meetings every Friday and are seeking new members. Please join us for lively discussions at 11:00am to 12:30pm at the Boca Pointe Community Office. If you would like more information or to sign up, please call 561-715-8298.
Dear Boca Pointe Dog Owners:
We have had a few recent complaints from residents who have had uncomfortable encounters with dogs off leash around the property. We are reaching out to our residents to remind them of our rules concerning keeping dogs on leashes and cleaning pet litter. As a resident of Boca Pointe you must: Keep your dog on a leash. All dogs must be controlled on a leash by an able-bodied person, at all times, whenever the dog is on property. Also, you must clean up and properly dispose of pet waste when your pet relieves itself. Knowing and abiding by our community’s animal-related ordinances will help make our neighborhood a better place for everyone. Thank you!
The following are five excerpts from Ferrini’s book as he explains the process of forgiveness:
1. The first step to self-forgiveness is to take responsibility for your peace with an understanding that it is/ was love and acceptance that you really wanted
2. Release self-judgment and all conditions attached to it, so you will be able to release your judgments and conditions toward others.
3. Trust yourself that you have learned the lessons in life and will make more effective choices in the future.
4. Be open and willing to learn and share with an open mind and heart.
5. Be mindful of your presuppositions. There is no “supposed to” in life. Acknowledge the here and now of your pain, be with it so you can come to understand it. And, lastly remember that what you see means nothing until you give meaning to what you think of what you have seen. Forgiving oneself is not based on how many mistakes or unresourceful choices you have made. It is your choice to stop packing, unpacking and repacking the same feelings over and over again.
It is your decision, your choice to drop the emotional baggage of unforgiveness toward yourself and others. It is a moment in time when you decide to unpack the corners of your heart for the last time.
Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, co-director at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reminds us that the act of forgiving is never easy. But, dwelling on events and reliving them over and over fills our minds with negative thoughts. Yet, when we learn to forgive ourselves and others, we no longer are trapped by past actions and, we can finally feel free to love, explore, relearn and learn again.
Josette Veltri, a Boca Point resident, is a certified educator and coach on loss and transition. Her purpose, to assist clients heal and move forward so they can go from I Can’t to I Can, One Step at a Time. She can be reached at josette@nextstepnewstart.com. (https://www. linkedin.com/in/josettejveltri/)
Pups N’ Pumpkins: Spooky Fun At The Shops At Boca Center To Benefit Tri-County Animal Rescue
Tuesday, October 29 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
By Hillary Reynolds
Get ready for a howling good time at Pups n’ Pumpkins at The Shops at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, (between Rocco’s Tacos and Tap 42), on Tuesday, October 29 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for an unforgettable evening filled with spooky bites, scary sips and a Halloween pet costume contest with a prize of $500 in gift cards from various Boca Center merchants of the winner’s choice. Bring your furry friends and festive spirit to celebrate the season with a Monster Mash DJ Dance Party that will have everyone grooving to the beat. This is a family-friendly event where pets and their owners can enjoy a variety of Halloween-themed activities.
Tickets are $20 per person, and all proceeds will benefit Tri-County Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming animals in need. Register in advance at https://bocacenterpupsnpumpkins.eventbrite.com.
About Tri-County Animal Rescue: Tri-County Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and rehabilitating animals in need. They provide medical care, shelter, and adoption services to countless animals, ensuring they find loving forever homes.
The Shops at Boca Center is a 117,227 square-foot upscale retail and dining destination with tenants including Total Wine & More, Copperfish Kitchen, Morton’s Steakhouse, Narbona, Orange Theory Fitness, Rocco’s Tacos, Sixty Vines, Tap 42, Ke Uh, Narbona, and more. For more information, visit www.bocacenter.com.
Pumpkin Perfection: Pick & Personalize At The Shops At Boca Center’s Pumpkin Pop-Up
Saturday, October 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
By Hillary Reynolds
Pick the perfect pumpkin at the pumpkin patch pop-up at The Shops at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, on Saturday, October 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Cason United Methodist Church.
The pumpkin patch will showcase a variety of pumpkins … from baseball-size pumpkins to monsters that will take two people to carry … as well as pumpkins and colorful gourds of every size and description. There is a large range of pricing.
Artists will be on hand to personalize purchased pumpkins with a monogram or a name, courtesy of The Shops at Boca Center.
The Shops at Boca Center is a 117,227 square-foot upscale retail and dining destination with tenants including Total Wine & More, Copperfish Kitchen, Morton’s Steakhouse, Narbona, Orange Theory Fitness, Rocco’s Tacos, Sixty Vines, Tap 42, Ke Uh, Narbona, and more.
For more information, visit www.bocacenter.com.
Calling All Who Love To Knit And Crochet
Boca Chicks is a group of local seniors that live in Boca Pointe and are committed to giving back to the community.
We are inviting those who knit or crochet to join us in our recent endeavor to support “Home Safe”, an organization that for 40 years has committed itself to providing services to create safer, more productive lives for infants, young adults, children and their families.
Holiday Cheer is Just Around the Corner!
Our Members are already buzzing with excitement for the upcoming holiday season! Highlights include our annual Thanksgiving Buffet, the “Back to the Future” Welcome Back Party, Hanukkah Lighting Ceremony and Dinner, Christmas Eve Buffet, and the glamorous Midnight in Monte Carlo New Year’s Eve celebration. With a packed calendar of events, it’s the perfect time to join us at The Club at Boca Pointe!
Discover Membership at The Club at Boca Pointe
If you haven’t yet joined our vibrant community, now’s the time! Unlike most clubs in the Boca area, The Club at Boca Pointe is a non-equity club, offering full membership privileges with no assessments. Plus, we welcome Members from both inside and outside the Boca Pointe community, so no matter where you live, you can be part of the fun. Contact our Membership Team today to learn more and start your journey toward a life of fitness, fun, and friendship.
Phone: 561.864.8537
Email: arobertson@heritagegolfgroup.com
Home Safe represents 44 theraputic group care beds throughout Palm Beach County that are managed by Home Safe , in Palm Beach County; Lakeworth, West Palm Beach and the new one soon to open in Boca Raton.
Boca Chicks goal is to shed a light of hope and bring gifts to the children housed in Home Safe in Palm Beach County during this Christmas/Hanukah holidays. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Chris Meyer e-mail: cam1204@aol.com or text 914-629-4646 for details. Visit Home Safe website, www.helphomesafe. org. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Website: bocapointecc.com
At The Club at Boca Pointe, friends become family. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Please Be Courteous, Pedestrians have the right of way!
United For Safety: Jewish Federation Of South Palm Beach County Screens ‘A Tree Of Life,’ Honors Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Victims And Educates Community
As the nation once again mourns lives lost to gun violence, The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) remembered 11 people gunned down by an anti-Semitic assailant in Pittsburgh in 2018.
On Sept. 8, 2024, the leaders of JCRC and Federation’s Security Council brought the community together for a screening of A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting. The following day, participants were trained in strategic safety responses by Federation’s Security team and members of the Secure Community Network (SCN), a national Jewish security organization.
Currently streaming on HBO Max, A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting is a deeply personal portrait of the survivors, victims and family members, who share their harrowing first-hand accounts of the impact of the shooting, which occurred on Oct. 27, 2018. Following the screening, JCRC Chair Rabbi Greg Weisman moderated a panel, featuring those who were directly involved in the Pittsburgh shooting, former Parkland Mayor Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, and Federation’s new Community Security Director Brandon Waller.
Audrey Glickman, a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting survivor, and Brad Orsini, SCN Sr. National Security Advisor, shared accounts of how the community came together following the tragedy and what they feel other Jewish communities should do to safeguard against such violence. Chuck Lichtman, Chair of Federation’s Community Security Task Force and SCN Board member, opened the program by sharing that his family normally attended Tree of Life synagogue; but by chance, happened to not be in the synagogue on Oct. 27.
“In addition to supporting our synagogues and organizations, such as our local Jewish Federations, we must support national organizations, such as The Secure Community Network that is at the forefront of providing security for every Jewish building in America, while working closely with federal and state law enforcement authorities by tracking down those anti-Semites who overtly wish to do us substantial harm. No other entity performs that critical work. If we don’t accept that shared responsibility to protect our community, then we can’t expect anyone else to do it for us,” Lichtman said.
The screening and training are examples of Federation’s ongoing efforts to inform and prepare the local community. Federation’s Security team offers sessions, such as Active Threat Training and Situational Awareness Training, to organizations, schools, synagogues, businesses and other
entities throughout South Palm Beach County. For more information about the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Security offerings, visit www.jewishboca. org/security.
Audrey Glickman blowing the shofar, as she did in the documentary
Dennis May, Brandon Waller, Alan Poland, Rabbi Greg Weisman, Capt. David Moss, Brad Orsini, Sgt. Cory Gray
United For Safety on page 7
For questions, contact Community Security Director Brandon Waller at bwaller@securecommunitynetwork.org or 561-852-3362.
A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting: On October 27, 2018, a gunman opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people as they prayed, in what would become the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. A Tree of Life: The Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting is told through voices from the Pittsburgh community, including Carol Black, Dr. Joseph Charny, Anthony Fienberg, Martin Gaynor, Glickman, Daniel Leger, Hannibal Lokumbe, Wasi Mohamed, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Orsini, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, Michele Rosenthal, Diane Rosenthal, Augie Siriano, Ellen Surloff, Andrea Wedner, Stephen Weiss and Barry Werber. https://www.hbo.com/movies/a-tree-of-life-thepittsburgh-synagogue-shooting
Jewish Community Relations Council: The JCRC is the local affiliate of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the American Jewish community’s network of local and national public affairs organizations throughout the United States. The JCRC maintains a dialogue between the Jewish community and government; advocates for an inclusive, fair, and just society, based on our Jewish values; convenes the community in times of crisis, celebration and
commemoration; and builds, maintains, and joins coalitions to promote effective action and opportunities for community involvement. https://jewishboca.org/ jewish-community-relations-council/ Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County (JFSPBC): Established in 1979, the JFSPBC is made up of Jewish and social service organizations, synagogues, and schools that provide valued services and programs to recipients in South Palm Beach County, in Israel and around the world. JFSPBC is also comprised of local residents, including lay leadership, volunteer, donors, professional staff, rabbis, educators, event participants and students. Situated on a 100-acre campus in west Boca Raton – the largest in the nation – JFSPBC supports more than 70 beneficiaries, engages with more than 5,000 donors, and connects more than 130,000 residents. To learn more about how JFSPBC contributes to a shared vision for the Jewish community, visit jewishboca.org, jewishdelray.org, or call 561.852.3100.
Community Association Meetings Monthly Schedule
(All meetings held via Zoom and in person.)
All meetings will be held electronically via Zoom and in person. The following is our regular schedule of monthly meetings, however, sometimes meetings are cancelled or schedules are revised due to holidays, etc. If you would like to attend, please call the BPCA office, (561) 395-7551, the day before the meeting to request the Zoom link b e emailed to you.
Deepest thanks to Boca Pointe Federation Campaign Chairs: Jane and Dan Fishkoff, and to Committee Members: Rhoda Berkow, Allen Brayer, Daniel Fischer, Richard Glazer & Elaine Kaplan, Bea Gold, Harold Katz, Joel Meisner, Arlene Penner, Murray Pitkowsky, Mel Schoen, Doris & Stuart Zeuner, for their continued dedication and leadership.
If you or a neighbor are in need of help, please contact Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services at 561-852-3333. In addition, our main Federation telephone number, 561-852-3100, is monitored regularly for voicemail messages. Learn more about our Federation and how you can help at www.jewishboca.org - or contact Shirley Gross at shirleyg@bocafed.org or 561.852.3182 (leave a voicemail).
When my wife died shortly before our 70th anniversary, I was certain of two things, that I could not survive without her and that I had to survive without her. I was 90, but too healthy to simply will myself to give up and die. My children and grandchildren had suffered too great a loss to endure another. Muriel would have wanted me to go on, thinking not of what I lost, but of all we had together for all those years.
Going on without her called on resources within me I wasn’t sure were there. We had been together as though in embrace from the time she was 17 and I was 22. Without her I felt incomplete. My confidence flickered; her’s blazed. I found comfort in the familiar; she treated change as an adventure.
From our first days together we saw life as something physical we could build from parts of who we were. I wanted our life to be lit by her joy. She was confident my discipline would get that life built. But, she was gone and the light was beginning to dim. I would have to find a way to go on before it became too dark to find my way. In the early months, my children, grandchildren and I met regularly to comfort each other. I still talk with one
Attention
Boca Pointe Residents!
Flatten All Your Boxes!
Are You Watching Your Speed?
Please obey all posted speed limit signs throughout Boca Pointe for the safety of our residents. As a reminder, the speed limits are as follows:
Boca Pointe Drive 30mph Via de Sonrisa del Norte 25mph Promenade Drive 20mph
SPEEDING FINES ARE BEING ENFORCED!!
of them every day. Old friends invited me to dinner. I read everything I could find on grief, loss and loneliness. But this didn’t require much of me. I was always close to family and old friends and frequently read deep into the night. Losing Muriel tore from me her fearlessness and joy. Grief made breathing more like gasping. Was I too broken to survive without her.
If I chose to survive, I would have to be a different man than the one I became the day Muriel died. That would mean reassembling all the broken parts of me into someone who could go on alone. I would try to build my life as Muriel and I had long ago built ours from the strongest parts of each of us.
Her confidence powered our life and I would bring it into mine. My intuition--my gut feel for the integrity of others--kept me alive on battlefields where other soldiers fell. Muriel would want me to do that. During the many sleepless nights I began rebuilding myself. As I began adding Muriel’s strengths to mine, I felt her presence. She might not be physically alongside me, but she was in my being, my consciousness. It was not only her strengths that would carry me ahead, but her voice that began comforting me in the midnight moments.
From the moment I met her, Muriel helped me become the man I am, someone who, at times, has become my hero. Muriel might not be alongside me, but she made it possible for me to survive. She has done something else, she helped me make my way with courage and pride on the road deeper into old age.
I remember how acts of kindness from family and friends, sometimes from strangers, helped me begin to heal. I now try to touch others with acts of kindness. I welcome change and happily accept invitations I once rejected, I compete in three-mile races and fly to California to visit my new great-grandchildren, I say yes more than no. I’m a gentler man and a kinder one. All this because her presence has taken my hand.
Muriel often told me she was proud of the man she helped me become. I know she is proud of the man who has somehow found a way to go on without her.
Bob’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and in Next Avenue, the publication of the Public Broadcasting Service. His book, “What’s Stopping Me From Getting Ahead?” was published by McGraw Hill and is in five languages.
Move Over LAW (FS 316.126)
By Elyse Weintraub Brown, Community Education Specialist,
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (561) 616-7051 or ewbrown@pbcgov.org
This message is brought to you by your friendly Firefighters from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue….
Every day firefighters and other emergency responders drive to emergencies. What’s more, oftentimes the emergency they are driving to is actually in the roadway. Although they are helping others and rendering aid, they are also at risk of being injured and killed on our roadways by motorists. Help protect them…because if they can’t help you in your time of need…who will? Learn the Move Over LAW (FS 316.126)
Are you unsure about what you are supposed to do when you are driving on a local roadway, and you see DRIVING BEHIND YOU a fire truck or other emergency vehicle with lights flashing and sirens wailing on the way to an emergency? The Answer is …you must yield the right of way. When it is safe to do so, move over as close as reasonable to the closest edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and then stop. When this happens on highways and interstates, rather than stop, slow down
and then safely move over so that the emergency vehicle can pass.
Our recycling trucks do not pick up your cardboard boxes if they are not flattened. Instead, they go to trash and are burned with regular refuse.... lost revenue for residents of Boca Pointe. Tuesday, November 12, 9:00 am
My name is Leah Goldberg, a full time resident of Villa Sonrisa for the last six years. I have been working with dogs of all sizes for over 15 years. Services I provide include daily
and
or just plain spending some time with dogs that are
alone during the day. I am bonded and insured through Pet Sitters International. I would love the opportunity to take care of your pet. P.S. I will also take care of cats for anyone who needs that service. I can be reached 7 days a week at 561-849-8191.
Are you unsure about what you are supposed to do when you are driving on a roadway with multiple lanes, and you see a fire truck or rescue truck working an emergency ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD? The Answer is….When it is safe to do, merge away from a vehicle working on the side of the roadway to provide an empty travel lane for the emergency worker. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
On a two-lane roadway…Where there is NO lane of travel in the same direction to merge over to, you are REQUIRED to slow down to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.
In the State of Florida, drivers must also move over for sanitation vehicles and utility service vehicles performing tasks related to their services, and wreckers displaying amber rotating or flashing lights performing a recovery or loading on the roadside.
Violating the Move Over Law can result in a fine and points on your license; and worse, because it puts rescuers, civilians, and other motorists at risk of serious injury and even death. For everyone’s safety, share the Move Over Law with others. Help us…help You!
Tax Talk
Dear Friends:
Our office was recently advised by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) that they are warning drivers who have illegal Florida license plates, which have been altered or customized, such as with air brushing or vinyl wrapping. In fact, since 2020 citations for unlawful altered Florida license plates have increased nearly 100 percent. FHP is being proactive in raising awareness of this and if you are caught with one of these customized or altered plates, you can receive a moving violation citation, which includes a fine of $60 (plus fees) and three points on your license! If you have one of these altered Florida license plates and it cannot be returned to its original condition, I strongly encourage you to make a reservation to visit one of our service centers to get a replacement license plate by visiting www.pbctax.com/reservations.
Anne M. Gannon, Constitutional Tax Collector, Serving Palm Beach County
Customer Service Appreciation Week – Going Above And Beyond!
At our office, we make customer service our No. 1 priority! In honor of Customer Service Appreciation Week, October 7 to 11, I asked a few of our service center managers to share their thoughts on exceptional customer service and here is what they had to say:
“Exceptional client service enhances our agency’s reputation. Quality customer service is the distinguishing factor that sets us apart from other agencies. We prioritize the client’s needs by being effective and empathetic.” – Brian Applebaum, South County Service Center Manager
“Customer service directly impacts public trust and satisfaction. When residents interact with us, they often do so during critical moments in their lives, original identification issuance, driver license testing, vehicle ownership, or establishing a new business. Our focus on exceptional customer service ensures that these interactions are efficient and respectful, which can significantly enhance the public’s perception of the government.” – Matthew Johnson, Westlake Service Center Manager
“The goal of our customer service is to build trust with our clients through communication and knowledge of our services. We strive every day to do this by incorporating the LEAP principles (listening, empathizing, apologizing, problem solving) with all our interactions allowing us to provide exceptional service.” – Michelle Arias, Central Service Center Manager
Faces Of The Tax Collector’s Office – James McConnell
Title: Chief Operations Officer
Hometown: Wildwood, NJ
Favorite Activity: Attending various cultural events in Palm Beach County and beyond
Favorite Food: Veal chop
There are more than 330 tax collector’s office (TCO) employees, and I thought you might be interested in getting to know some of them. We will start with someone who is behind the scenes, but very much a part of your experience as a client.
Jim McConnell, our chief operations officer, is a member of our senior leadership team, and he oversees the operation of our six service centers throughout the county. Jim is responsible for approximately 200 employees who provide service to our clients, so I asked Jim how he helps ensure that our clients receive exceptional customer service during each visit.
Jim says, “I’ve given my managers the ability to make decisions on their own. We talk about customer service in most of
our meetings. The managers jokingly ask one another, WWJD: What Would Jim Do? And the answer is: serve the client.”
He adds that an important component to success – both for his team and for the customer experience – is recognition. “When clients leave a positive review for an employee, that feedback is passed along.”
“As a leader, I think it is my responsibility to recognize my team for the good that they do, knowing that leads to better customer service,” says Jim.
And what about when things are not going perfectly? Jim notes that, “We have a great team environment for discussing challenges.”
A common concern voiced by clients is the long lead time for making a reservation at one of our service centers.
“We’re researching a whole new reservation system,” Jim says. “The goal is to enable us to take more clients by decreasing the lead time.”
Stay tuned to future editions of Tax Talk to read about improvements we are making in our service centers and across the agency. And keep an eye out for opportunities to learn more about our team and how we are serving you in upcoming “Faces of the TCO” profiles!
Jim with his shih-tzu, Charlie
Welcome To The Fantastic World Of Feng Shui!!!
Part II
By Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera P.H.D.
This new installment completes last month’s article, with the idea that you can carry out an exhaustive examination of the state of your spaces, whether at home, office, commercial premises, among others.
We have included in this second part a new work modality that, as a result of Covid-19, was implemented in many homes in a new way, whose main characteristics are the performance of work and professional tasks from home, which, being totally different due to its uniqueness, it has captured areas that were previously dedicated to the library, study, but not in a formal way as until now and what generates that said space contains all those materials necessary for professional, academic and work performance.
Community Channel Have You Seen It?
The Boca Pointe Community information channel is currently broadcast on Comcast channel 63 and soon will be transitioning to channel 1075. Please check both channels on your TV to see which channel hosts our community information. If you are unable to view either channel, please call our office (561) 395-7551. Tune in for community updates, BPCA/ committee meeting dates and current events.
How To Add Your Guests To The Gate
The Boca Pointe Community Association offers a few different methods to add guests to your visitors list, so please ensure that you add your guest BEFORE they arrive. If your guest is not on the list, they may be denied without a phone call being placed to get your approval. Phone calls are placed as a courtesy depending on how busy the guard is when they arrive.
To add a guest to your visitor list, you have several options:
• Website- www.gateaccess.net
• Cell phone app- Download ABDI/Gate Access from the app/play store
• Access Control- Call 561-395-3392 or leave a voicemail message at 561-395-3369
The advantage of using gateaccess.net or the app is the ability to:
• Add a guest for the day or permanently
• Remove a guest
• Send a pass with barcode
• Receive notification of guest arrival
If you have any questions regarding access methods, please call the Boca Pointe Community Association 561-395-7551.
Current Events Group
The Current Events Group meet every Monday from 10am-11:30am at the BPCA office. The members consist of both men and women and all Boca Pointe residents are invited to attend. If you would like more information or to sign up, please call 516-835-2670.
We bring this inclusion to complete this month’s article, because Teleworking, Remote Work, among other names for this new way of working, has come to stay in many lives, families and homes.
We cannot also forget that there are people who study online, both university degrees and courses, professional updates, seminars, among others, since technology allows an endless number of tools without leaving home, this being a great advantage for those people who, for different reasons, reasons they cannot do it in person. Entertainment must also be included, but this will be the reason for a new article that we have in the pipeline for a future installment.
It is necessary to point out that if several members of the family group have work, academic and other commitments that require spaces for activities whose characteristics are office type, that is, they need a desk, chair, computers, printers among other materials and this area must be shared, suggests establishing a schedule for each member so that there is not “a pitched battle” to carry out a task to be done, this especially in the case of children and adolescents.
This also implies good discipline for school tasks that are carried out in the appropriate space and thus create habits that accompany them for life (sorry parents, I am a teacher) and with this by not allowing the use of rooms, rooms or others, For these activities, this will prevent you from falling asleep, distracted by social networks, your friends and fellow students. It is also important to note that this activity becomes a habit every day and you will take it as part of your daily routine.
As The situation is only of a family nature, other considerations must be evaluated, such as:
• Use of the area.
• Number of family members with whom the place is shared
• What kind of events take place in it?
• Materials that make up the room.
• Area for special situations.
• Appropriate decoration and furniture.
In short, everything that complements the operation of the place’s activity, even respecting that if that space is shared by several people, that each corner represents who uses it, impregnating that “micro” or “macro” with their personal seal.
Returning to our main function, which is to guide our energy and harmony, through the ancient science of FENG SHUI , It is important to note that the orientation of these spaces must be in the North-East zone of the house. Whose exact name is the zone of Self-knowledge, Intellect, Connections.
Favorable colors: Soft yellows in combination with very subtle greens. However, today there is a range of colors with which you can “play” in order to find what defines this space, no less important.
Therefore, it is recommended to use these colors as well as decorations that promote visions towards achievements, such as mountains, skyscrapers, as well as placing diplomas, certificates and recognitions that allow you to “dream” of new achievements. It is also recommended to avoid As much as possible, those objects and devices that are distracting for obvious reasons.
We wish the students that this new school year is the most beneficial in their academic training and that they can project themselves in the future as useful people to our society in the various areas and disciplines they choose.
“ SUCCESS TO ALL .”
Milagros
Author Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera, Feng Shui Specialist is a resident of the Plum. Email: herreramilagros1983@gmail.com.
Palm Beach County Votes 2024
GENERAL ELECTION
3 EASY WAYS TO VOTE
VOTE-BY-MAIL
REQUEST IT
Visit VotePalmBeach.gov, call (561) 656-6208, or email votebymail@votepalmbeach.gov
See ballot drop off locations at VotePalmBeach.GOV
RETURN IT
Deadline to request aVote-by-Mail ballot is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024. Vote-by-Mail ballot pickup is not available at our offices from October 26th through November 5th unless, due to an emergency, the voter is unable to go to a designated early voting site or to his or her assigned polling place on Election Day (See F.S. §101.62(3)(d)(5)).
Please have your Florida Driver License, Florida ID card, or the last 4 digits ofyour Social Security number available when making your request.
Mail your Vote-by-Mail ballot using pre-paid postage, or drop it off inside any of our four offices during business hours. You may also drop it off at designated drop off locations across the county starting October 21, 2024.
TRACK IT
Voters can sign up for BallotTrax at VotePalmBeach.gov or by scanning this QR code to get alerts via email, text (SMS), and/or voice message with updates about the status of their ballot or if there is an issue so that it can be corrected right away.
EARLY VOTING
See Early Voting locations at VotePalmBeach.gov
Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, through Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Registered voters in Palm Beach County can vote at any of the 26 Early Voting locations conveniently located county wide. Visit VotePalmBeach.gov for Early Voting locations, directions, wait times, or to make an appointment. You can also check our website to see when pet adoptions will be available at Early Voting locations!
ELECTION DAY
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
On Election Day, you must vote at the polling place that is assigned to your precinct. Polling places may change! Visit VotePalmBeach.gov to confirm your polling place before you go vote.
Sallyb@thepapcorps.org and she will connect you to the correct person at Sylvester
Time To Join Pap
By Andrea Gralnick
Would you like to meet some wonderful, interesting, and caring people while also making a difference in finding a cure for cancer?
The Boca Pointe Pap Corps, Champions for Cancer Research, is one of 51 chapters in South Florida with a membership of over 22,000 that contributes millions of dollars annually to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami. Sylvester is the only designated National Cancer Institute (NCI) in South Florida. We like to say The Pap Corps is an organization that gives back to you while you are supporting it. Should you need it, you are guaranteed a speedy appointment through the Physician’s Referral Program concerning possible cancer or a cancer diagnosis. As a member, for annual dues of $50, or lifetime $350 dollars, you and your immediate household will be eligible. As you know, normally it can take weeks to get appointments at specialized institutions. We would love to have you join our chapter. On Thursday, November 7, 2024 we are holding a free Happy Hour to welcome members who have joined our chapter over the last year and tell prospective members all about the Pap Corps. The Boca Pointe Pap chapter is an open chapter, so you can bring your friends, too!
If you have questions or want further information call: Andrea Gralnick, at 561-302-9108 or email at gralnick. andrea@gmail.com.
Turning 65 or new to Medicare?
Save up to $174.70 on your Part B premium
Turning 65 or new to Medicare? Save up to $164.90 on your Part B premium
Our Medicare Advantage plan, HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO), gives you up to $164.90 back each month through the Part B giveback benefit. This will return part of your Part B premium to you through a credit to your Social Security check or by reducing the monthly premium you pay directly to Medicare. That’s not the only way our plan is looking out for your wallet, your goals and your health. It also comes with benefits beyond Original Medicare, such as:
• Part B premium reduction, putting up to $164.90 back into your Social Security check each month*
• No referral required to see innetwork specialists
Our Medicare Advantage plan, HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO), gives you up to $164.90 back each month through the Part B giveback benefit. This will return part of your Part B premium to you through a credit to your Social Security check or by reducing the monthly premium you pay directly to Medicare. That’s not the only way our plan is looking out for your wallet, your goals and your health. It also comes with benefits beyond Original Medicare, such as:
• Routine dental, hearing and vision coverage
• Part B premium reduction, putting up to $164.90 back into your Social Security check each month*
Our Medicare Advantage plan, HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO), gives you up to $174.70 back each month through the Part B giveback benefit. This will return part of your Part B premium to you through a credit to your Social Security check or by reducing the monthly premium you pay directly to Medicare. That’s not the only way our plan is looking out for your wallet, your goals and your health. It also comes with benefits beyond Original Medicare, such as:
• No referral required to see innetwork specialists
• Routine dental, hearing and vision coverage
• Part B premium reduction, putting up to $174.70 back into your Social Security check each month*
• No referral required to see in-network specialists
• Routine dental, hearing and vision coverage
DATES 2024 | 25 FUNDRAISING EVENTS CALENDAR
Join us and assist in raising much needed funds towards Cancer research and making a change in the lives of others.
NOVEMBER 7, 2024
NEW MEMBER HAPPY HOUR
RSVP: Andrea Gralnick 561-302-9108 Gralnick.andrea@gmail.com
RSVP: Ann Rhodes 561-289-8327 aroads@bellsouth.net
JANUARY 14, 2025
CARD PARTY & LUNCHEON RSVP: Gail Meddoff 561-542-1625 gmeddoff@gmail.com
FEBRUARY 18, 2025 ART IN THE PARK - A GALLERY OF HOPE
A more human way to healthcare™
* The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B. The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B. Humana is a Medicare Advantage PPO organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO). . At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion or language. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 877‑320‑1235
* The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B. The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B. Humana is a Medicare Advantage PPO organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to HumanaChoice Florida H5216-311 (PPO). . At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, ethnicity, marital status, religion or language. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 877‑320‑1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a
The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research, Inc., DBA The Pap C and DBA The Pap Corps, is recognized by the IRS as a non-profit
number is 65-0171014.
FALLING FOR FASHION
Fashion Show and Educational Brunch Fashions by: Sandro in the Cove Guest speaker: Sally Berenzweig CEO, The Pap Corps
Friday, November 15, 2024
Edgewater at Boca Pointe 9:30 AM
Boo-ca Boo Days Delights With A Week Of Spooktacular Festivities
By Hillary Reynolds
Brace yourselves for the spine-chilling Boo-ca Boo Days, the City of Boca Raton’s week-long extravaganza of festivities and frights leading up to Halloween. The schedule of terrifyingly fun events and activities across a variety of City facilities is perfect for the whole family. The lineup of happenings include:
EXPLORIUM DEMONSTRATIONS – SPOOKY SOUNDS
Date & Time: Oct. 19 & 20 | 3:30pm
Location: The Children’s Science Explorium at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33486
Ages: 7+ with parent or guardian
In a season of shrieks, join us as we investigate the science behind spooky sounds.
Cost: Free
THE LAB – LASER ENGRAVED BAT HOUSE
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct. 20 | 11am-12pm
Location: The Children’s Science Explorium at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33486
Activity#: 111011
Ages: 5-12 with parent/guardian
An innovative space designed for elementary students and their parent/guardian to explore the exciting world of STEAM through hands-on activities and interactive projects. Pre-registration is required.
Cost: Resident: $10 |Non-Resident: $12.50
HALLOWEEN BY THE SEA
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct. 20 | 4:30-5:30pm or 5:45-6:45pm (register for either time slot). Registration required, begins October 1.
Location: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432
Activity#: 155035
Ages: 2-6; minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Join us by the Gumbo Limbo aquariums for outdoor crafts, games, a special Halloween ice cream treat, get a picture with Luna – our sea turtle friend – and wear your coolest costume.
Cost: Resident: $10 | Non-Resident: $13 (parents are free!)
SPOOKY TENNIS
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 25 | 5-7pm
Location: The Swim & Racquet Center, 21626 Saint Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33433
Activity#: 123399-01
Ages: 4-12
Come dressed up in costumes and enjoy playing tennis, followed by a delicious pizza party to end the night.
Cost: Resident: $30 | Non-Resident: $37.50
HAUNTED HAMMOCK
Date & Time: Saturday, Oct. 26 | 7:30-10pm (register for one of the 30-minute walks at 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9, or 9:30pm).
Registration required, begins October 1.
Location: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33432
Activity#: 155460
Ages: Adults and children 7+; minors must be accompanied by a registered guardian.
Guides lead you on a nighttime stroll through the haunted hammock along the boardwalk. Learn about nocturnal critters that creep and crawl. This program is a little scary with frights along the way.
Cost: Resident: $12 | Non-Resident: $15
HALLOWEEN MIXER
Location: The Swim & Racquet Center, 21626 Saint Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33433
Activity#: 123399-04
Ages: 18+
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct. 27 | 9-11:30am
Round robin style play where players will be teamed up day of event. Each round, players will be teamed up with a new player.
Cost: Resident: $30 | Non-Resident $37.50
MONSTER MASH
Location: The Swim & Racquet Center, 21626 Saint Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33433
Ages: Family
Date & Time: Oct. 27 | 12-2pm
Are you ready for some spooky Halloween fun?! The Monster Mash will include a haunted house, face painting, and a pumpkin dive (5-13-year-olds only) where children collect pennies from the bottom of the pool and redeem them for Halloween prizes!
Cost: Free
EMBROIDER A HALLOWEEN-THEMED PUMPKIN, BAT, OR CAT
Date & Time: Thursday, October 31| 1-3pm
Location: The Boca Raton Public Library – Downtown, 400 NW 2nd Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432
Ages: Adults
Learn some of the basics of embroidery to use in daily life or for your small business while also creating a beautiful Halloween decoration this year. Library card required for registration.
Cost: Free
For more information, registration, and details on the City’s Halloween festivities, visit Boo-ca Boo Days. The City of Boca Raton boasts five miles of gorgeous beaches, 49 parks, and 1,650 acres of recreational space, attracting residents and visitors year-round. The City’s Recreation Services Department hosts a full calendar of free community events at select parks and the Mizner Park Amphitheater. For more details, visit the City’s Recreation Services webpage.
ARLYNE
Edgewater at Boca Pointe Near Boca Pointe Country Club
After decades of hard work and planning, it’s time to relax and spend your time doing what you love. Moving to an Acts community is the smart choice for your QOL. Come in and talk with one of our happy residents to learn how moving to Edgewater at Boca Pointe enabled them to focus on Quality of Life.
COMPREHENSIVE RETIREMENT
Your residence, amenities and more are all included with a onetime entrance fee and an ongoing monthly fee. And if you need more help in the future, your monthly fee will remain predictable thanks to Acts Life Care®. It took 60 seconds for me to fall in
The Leave Of Summer, The Leaves Of Fall
By William A. Gralnick
When the notice arrived calling for the October Viewpoint articles, a line jumped out at me. It referred with disbelief to how fast the end of the year was upon us. By the time you read this, you, your friends, and your neighbors will be thinking about who to invite, what to buy for Thanksgiving, and how to deal with the greedy rush of the Christmas season. We will also see the first feathers of the snowbirds. Weren’t we just celebrating New Year’s and wishing we could do it with Guy Lombardo instead of what passes for New Year’s entertainment now? Aren’t we still feeling the chill of patriotism from watching the Fourth of July Fireworks exploding to the 1812 Overture? It’s almost unnerving how time flies. As Tweety says, My “doodness draycious!”
Remember when summer seemed endless? Those of us who were lucky got to go to summer camp for eight weeks or spend at least a few weeks up in the mountains. But by mid-summer, it seemed one had lived an entirely separate life during those eight weeks. Others played in the spray of backyard garden sprinklers or the powerful rush of water from open fire hydrants. Even with the momentary heart-pounding rush that came with the rush of the water, that too got old. Summer seemed so long that getting ready for school was almost welcome. It began to feel like we had been out of school for so long that going back was like entering a foreign place even though it was only nine or ten weeks ago that the term had ended. Yet, it seemed the way out, escape, would never come. School lasted so long that by the end of the year, it seemed that you knew every nook and cranny of it. Would it ever release us from its clutches? Then came the dancing in the streets; school was out. Summer was here but it wasn’t very long before it seemed that without the daily routine of school, summer was the endless part of life. And it was hot.
We didn’t know about climate change in those days, but we did know about hot. In my house, we had one airconditioner. Of course, it was in my parents’ bedroom. Every so often we were allowed “a breather” and could go into that sanctum sanctorum, its shades pulled down and feel the coolness envelope us.
We lived in a three-story house and for cooling the rest of the house, we had an attic fan. It seemed back then to be the size of an airplane propeller. Right before dinner my dad would open up the windows and switch it on. It created vibrations that were felt on every floor in the house. Along with the vibrations though came a breeze. That breeze made summer dinners tolerable to eat indoors and when it was time for bed, the breeze would nudge us in the back as my brother and I ascended the stairs to the second floor and our bedrooms. The bedroom doors and windows were open; the breeze blew playfully around the
room and our beds. As I rolled over, the sheet sticking from sweat to my body, the breeze helped evaporate the dampness and create a sense of comfort. Don’t think for a minute that I didn’t know I would have been more comfortable in that room across the hall from which came the sound of the air conditioner’s motor.
But not every meal was indoors. Was there anything that smelled better, or tasted better than a steak on the grill? My favorites were flank steak, fancily known as London Broil, or T-bone. I lusted for the bone. The charcoal briquets were piled in a pyramid and soaked with lighter fluid which had its own easily identifiable odor. The match was thrown in, with cries of “stand back, stand back.” The match created a whoosh of red and blue flame that settled back into the black coals that soon began to turn white. The meat sizzled and its dripping created sudden flare-ups all to the delight of the children. Who knew then that something that tasted so good could be so bad for you? I’m not sure, even if we knew, it would have mattered.
To beat the heat there was always a trip to the beach. There was an irony to such trips. You had to bear the heat of the unairconditioned car to get there. Once there the sand was so hot you had to wear shoes to walk on it, and the sun was scorching. There was always traffic so one arrived dripping with sweat, clothes glued to your back as the car sat in endless traffic, inching along mile after mile. But we’d stay past sundown. The sight of the sun going down over the ocean, the feeling of the breezes kicking up, the sounds of the waves splashing against the hard,
grey ocean sand—it was enough to make you forget the misery of getting there.
Something else we didn’t know was what the sun could do to you. Mothers would slather their children in the early edition of Coppertone but a day in the sun, coated with sun tan lotion, could still mean a night of misery from sunburn and blisters. Later, when we got older and mom wasn’t around, we became the baby oil and iodine generation. In the winter we’d top off that attack on our skin by holding aluminum reflectors up to our faces. How many dermatologists’ children have gone to college from our hormonally driven need to look cool by having a winter tan?
Ah yes, those were the days, the days that turn the head’s memory drum as summer turns into what passes for Fall in South Florida.
By the way, for those of you following my WHYI -Philadelphia Fresh Air adventure—I’ve yet to hear from Terry Gross. But hope springs eternal. She’s been on vacation and has just returned. Don’t hold your breath but do keep your fingers crossed for me.
Columnist and author Bill Gralnick was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He recently finished a humorous memoir trilogy. The first book is “The War of the Itchy Balls and Other Tales from Brooklyn.” The second is “George Washington Didn’t Sleep Here.” The recently published third is, That’s Why They Call It Work.” He is currently working on a novel. His books are available on Amazon and his other writings at https://www.williamgralnickauthor.com.
MEDICARE OPTIONS?
On behalf of The Club at Boca Pointe we would like to remind our residents that NO walking, running, bicycle riding or dog walking is permitted on the golf course or golf cart paths. For safety reasons, the paths are for golf carts only.
Thank you for cooperating with The Club's policy.
Residents Are Registered on www.bocapointe.com. Are You?
If you have never registered on the Community Association web site, call Access Control for our “Community Code,” then go to www.bocapointe.com. Click on the “Not registered yet?” link right under the log in box.
If you think you are registered, but just can’t remember your User Name and Password, click on the “Forgot your password?” link and it will be mailed to the email address you used when you registered. Want to update your email address or add your mobile number to receive text messages? Go to the
web site Residents Only page and click on the “User Profile” link.
Once you are a registered user, to log onto the web site, you simply go to www.bocapointe.com and you will find the User name and Password boxes in the top right hand corner. Fill in your information, then click on the small blue forward arrow. The log in is “case sensitive.”
If you are a smartphone user, we now have a mobile version of the web site for your use that even includes a Comment Form. Let us know what you think and give us your suggestions for improvements.
Transponder Trouble?
TRANSPONDER FEES
The transponders that you use to gain entry through the gates work off of batteries. The batteries are built into the device and cannot be replaced. At the end of their life, the entire device must be replaced. Most of our devices have been in use for over five years now and are beginning to fail. If your device is no longer working properly, it may be time for you to purchase a new one. Replacement devices are sold at the discounted price of $75. Please call for an appointment (561) 395-7551. Driver’s license and vehicle registration required.
$100.00 - New transponder
$75.00 - Replacement transponder
$5.00 - Transponder plastic holder
**Homeowners, tenants and club members will be issued a transponder to the village they reside in and into the Boca Pointe Club if they are a member**
Stamp and Coin Club
Boca Raton Stamp & Coin Club asks you to start a new hobby. Visit with us at the Stratford Courts Auditorium located at 6343 Via Sonrisa del Sur, off S.W. 18th Street, between Powerline Road and Military Trail. We meet the second and fourth Thursday each month at 7 p.m. Please call membership coordinator Harvey Golinger at (561) 752-4922.
Help Preserve Your Wealth and Leave A Legacy
Learn Strategies to help you feel in Control of your Money and Financial Future In Retirement
• Hear from guest speaker Jack Owen, Jr. Esquire, Estate Planning Attorney & CPA about ways to create an Estate Plan designed to help protect the assets you leave to your Children and Grandchildren protected from potential future divorces, lawsuits and creditor claims , and help ensure your assets stay in your family bloodline
• Taxes are potentially going up in 2026, are you concerned?1 If so, what strategies could you look into now?
• Learn strategies to help protect your retirement assets from the next Recession – what could you do NOW?
• The high costs of many mutual funds and variable annuities – what are you really paying in fees each year?
• Now that your children cannot do a Stretch IRA , how might that affect your current planning?
• NOW is the best time to get a second opinion on your retirement plan with the markets near all-time highs
• How could you adapt to today’s volatile economy, tax laws and evolving investment world?
• Learn IRA tax strategies that could potentially save you income taxes
• Alternatives for today’s low-rate CDs and money market funds to help combat inflation
• Do you now own an annuity? Now is a great time to get a second opinion on that annuity with interest rates higher
Our retired clients typically want to learn strategies to help preserve their wealth, minimize risk, reduce taxes and leave a legacy to their family after they’re gone. This is an informational dinner workshop to help avoid the most common mistakes when planning your retirement. To learn more, attend one of our upcoming dinner workshops
Craig’s retirement
Clowns On Call
By Harriet Rubin, aka Florabelle the Clown
Greetings from the Clown World! I have some exciting news to share with you all. Our Boca Pointe “Clowns on Call” alley began 10 years ago in October of 2014! For those of you who might not be familiar with our history, I will provide some background information. I’ve been clowning since 1993, and when I moved full-time to Boca in 2008, I did various kinds of clown activities strictly solo or sometimes with a group of clowns in Delray. I did quite a bit of clown training at Boca Raton High School Night Classes for Adults, Donna Klein Day School, Temple Beth El, etc. I also started a small clown group made up of seniors who I trained at the high school and these were all volunteers. I was involved in lots of “gigs” but it was not easy being a solo clown. For example, I have been a volunteer for Boca Helping Hands for over 22 years, The Children’s Museum (which is long gone), Temple Beth El, etc. I enjoyed my clowning experiences but it’s always so much more uplifting when you share it with other clowns!
In early 2014, I was asked by whoever was the editor of the Viewpointe to write an article about clowning, and I
decided at that time that I was going to teach a class for Boca Pointe residents. There would be no charge but students would have to commit to about 10 classes. My initial articles were very general and designed to drum up interest in the community. I believe I started advertising the concept of a class that summer and I got a number of calls from interested residents. Fortunately, I had a nucleus of a core group from my “Scams Against Seniors” troupe, so I was assured of at least four to start. I did a lot of soliciting at the club and convinced a number of “happy faced” people to give it a shot. We started out with 14 and kept most of the original group for at least a year. I’ve included photos of our original costumes and makeup. Unfortunately, a number are no longer with us, but they were all great clowns!
Looking back over the past 10 years, I was amazed at the hundreds of gigs we have volunteered for. If anyone is interested, please go to our beautiful website Boca Pointe “Clowns on Call”. com and you can see lots of photos, thank you letters, etc. The web site was done about five years ago so, of course, we have added lots of events since then. It makes me very sad to accept the fact that we are down to six of us who are aging and at some point in the foreseeable future we will have to disband altogether.
I would still love to train some of you out there to become volunteer clowns and experience the joys that come with the adventure. Bringing smiles and laughter to the world is such a positive experience and honestly anyone can do it with some training, as long as you have it in your heart to want to. As it says on my clown business card “Let Florabelle Bring You A Smile, If Only For a Little While!”
The “Bowling For Bread” event for Boca Helping Hands was very successful and Cutie Pie, Twinkle Toes and I had a wonderful time. The kids who attended were really delightful, and it was great seeing how many balloons we gave out.
October will bring Halloween and the entire community is invited to attend the “Boo House and Trunk or Treat” event at the Fitness Center, on October 19. Last year was so successful and I’m sure it will be even more fun this time. We will be there making balloon hats, swords, and animals, and bringing joy and laughter to all. Please stop by and say hello!
Experience Boca After Dark: Night Markets Return To Downtown Boca’s Sanborn Square
First Thursday of Each Month
October 2024 - May 2025 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
By Hillary Reynolds
The heart of Boca Raton will come alive under the stars as the popular Night Markets return to Sanborn Square (72 N. Federal Highway) this fall. Running from October 2024 through May 2025, this series of markets will take place on the first Thursday of each month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering residents and visitors an enchanting evening of food and drinks, art, live music, and community.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Downtown Boca for our Night Markets,” said Richard Mahler, Community Events Coordinator for the City of Boca Raton. “These events are all about celebrating our community, supporting local businesses, and enjoying the unique culture that Boca Raton has to offer.”
The City of Boca Raton Night Markets will feature a diverse array of local food vendors serving up mouthwatering dishes, sweet treats to satisfy every craving,
and an assortment of handcrafted goods by local artists and makers. Each market evening will be accompanied by live music, crafting the perfect atmosphere for a night out in the city.
The 2024/25 Season
Dates include:
• October 3, 2024
• November 7, 2024
• December 12, 2024
• January 9, 2025
• February 6, 2025
• March 6, 2025
• April 3, 2025
• May 1, 2025
About the City of Boca Raton:
The City of Boca Raton boasts five miles of gorgeous beaches, 49 parks, and 1,650 acres of recreational space, attracting residents and visitors year-round. The City’s Recreation Services Department hosts a full calendar of free community
events at select parks and the Mizner Park Amphitheater. For more details on City events, visit www.myboca.us/ CommunityEvents.
2015 – One of our first gigs
2018 – Great photo
2015 – Florabelle, Twinkle Toes, Perky, JJ, EJ, and Cutie Pie
Honoring The Memory Of MDA Heroes And Wishing You A Sweet New Year
By Yishai Mizrahi
Dear Friends,
As we approach the High Holidays, I want to take a moment to share the tragic story of a brave Magen David Adom volunteer who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving her fellow soldiers in Gaza last month.
IDF St.-Sgt. Agam Naim, a 20-year-old Magen David Adom paramedic from Kibbutz Mishmarot, became the first female IDF soldier to fall in combat in the Gaza Strip. She, along with three other soldiers, was killed in a building explosion during a mission. Agam was only days away from completing six months of service in Gaza and had planned to instruct a paramedics course at Bahad 10, the medical corps school. She had even renewed her passport, preparing for a well-deserved vacation with friends to escape the intensity of the battlefield.
Her family, particularly her parents, Dorit and Yoram (Dudi), had deep concerns about her service in Gaza. Agam sought their advice, and after much consideration, she decided to follow her heart. Her aunt Muriel recalls Agam’s powerful words: “I wouldn’t be able to look into the eyes of the mothers of my comrades if they were going to Gaza and I wasn’t there to take care of them.”
Agam’s dedication never wavered. Though she had fallen ill and could have stayed back, she insisted on returning to Gaza to be with her comrades, even as her assignment was set to end that week. Days before the tragedy, she called her family from the staging area, expressing her love and saying she would be unreachable until Thursday. That was the last they heard from her.
Agam, the youngest of three daughters, was known for her radiant personality, fierce independence, and ability to excel at everything she pursued. She leaves behind her parents and two sisters, Yuval and Peleg, who, along with her entire community, mourn her deeply.
Her loss marks the 37th MDA emergency medic to fall since October 7th, either while serving MDA or in combat with the IDF. May her memory, and the memory of all the fallen, forever be a blessing.
As we enter this High Holiday season, we are reminded of the challenges we’ve endured. The unwavering support
of the Boca Pointe community has been a beacon of hope, touching thousands of lives in the process. Leslie and I want to extend our heartfelt wishes to you and your families for a sweet, safe, and peaceful New Year ahead.
If you’d like more information or to get involved in our efforts, please feel free to reach out to either myself, Yishai Mizrahi, or Leslie Viselman, Co-Area Directors for AFMDA, at 561.288.5658 or via email at Boca-Delray@afmda.org. Your dedication means the world to us, and we are forever grateful for your continued support.
Am Yisrael Chai.
IDF St.-Sgt. Agam Naim, a 20-year-old Magen David Adom paramedic, Z’L
Many of the other fallen MDA medics since Oct 7th
PBCFR Yellow Dot Program
Have you ever wondered, what would happen if you got into a car crash and you were unconscious? Have you thought to yourself… how would anyone know what my medical history is; or how would they know about the medications I am taking; or the medicines I’m allergic to; or better yet, how would they know what hospital that I want to go to…? Who would call my family and let them know I’ve been hurt? How would they even know how to get in touch with my family ?
The good news is that you don’t have to wonder or worry about that anymore. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue supports a new Program called the Yellow Dot. The Yellow Dot gets important information into the hands of emergency responders quickly and it can save your life!
If you are involved in a car accident and can’t communicate, first responders can look in your glove compartment box for the “Yellow Dot” pamphlet where you have written essential medical information about yourself. This information can help rescue crews decide the best approach to your emergency treatment. This is especially
important after a car accident where you may be unconscious, in shock, or simply unable to communicate clearly.
When you can’t talk to Emergency Responders to provide them with vital medical information, the Yellow Dot is your tool to provide personalized information on your behalf!
This is how it works…just follow three steps.
1- Fill out the form on the Yellow Dot pamphlet.
2- Put the Yellow Dot pamphlet form in your glove compartment box.
3- Place the sticker on the back/ rear windshield in the lower left hand corner so emergency responders can see it quickly and easily when approaching from behind. *Important Tips*
* Keep the Yellow Dot pamphlet updated as information changes.
** How many do you need??? (i.e. One Yellow Dot sticker per vehicle & One Yellow Dot pamphlet for each person.)
You can stop in to any Palm Beach County Fire Station to pick up Yellow Dot pamphlets and stickers for your household. For quantities more than that, please call our Community Education Office at 561-616-7033. If your club or organization would like a presentation about the Yellow Dot, to learn more about additional resources available, and to have an opportunity to ask questions, please call 561-616-7051. Yellow Dot Sticker/ Pamphlet sets will be brought to the presentation for audience attendees. Quantities can be discussed when presentations are booked.
Making Your Safety My Priority, Elyse Weintraub Brown, Community Education Specialist, South County, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue 561-616-7051 ewbrown@pbcgov.org
Book Review
American Sanctuary: Mutiny, Martyrdom, And National Identity In The Age Of Revolution
By Nils A. Shapiro
I cannot recall ever enjoying a scholarly work of early American history so interestingly and vividly told, so extraordinarily researched and impressively detailed, exciting as any novel, and as timely in subject as next month’s presidential election!
The date was September 21, 1797. The event was a vicious mutiny by the crew of a British naval vessel, HMS Hermione, in the Caribbean off the coast of Puerto Rico. Little remembered today, its aftershock was to lead directly to the election of Thomas Jefferson over the incumbent John Adams as president of the United States … and the resulting lasting image of America as a sanctuary of freedom for those fleeing from persecution in other lands—an issue that dominates today’s political campaigns just as it did the one in 1800.
I must admit that, although it was published in 2017, I had never heard of American Sanctuary and was fortunate to come across it by accident on a table stacked with books while shopping in a market. Its author, A. Roger Ekirch, is a professor of history at Virginia Tech, has written four earlier books, received a Guggenheim Fellowship and is widely recognized as one of our finest historians.
The details that enrich this narrative, garnered from the author’s extraordinary research, add enormously to the overall experience, as do the many contemporary portraits and illustrations from that period.
Revolutionary and early American history being one of my preferred reading tastes I was surprised never to have heard of the very significant event that is the pivotal subject of this book: the mutiny aboard HMS Hermione Nor, shockingly, was it ever mentioned in any class, even through college.
At the time the mutiny took place—after the United States had already won the Revolutionary War several years earlier and declared itself an independent nation—one of the most objectionable policies of the British crown and its navy was the practice of “impressment”: the stopping and boarding of other nations’ vessels, capturing members of their crews and forcing them to sail and work as seamen on British ships, most likely never to see their families again.
Such was the case of many on the Hermione’s crew as it sailed near the island of Puerto Rico on that September day in 1797. Adding to what was already a tinder box of a situation was the fact that this ship’s captain, Admiral Hugh Pigot, was a disciplinarian so stern that whipping and other punishments for minor crew offenses became unbearable and sparked the bloody insurrection that ended in the death of the captain and other officers.
One of the main leaders of the mutiny was a man whose name throughout this book varies between Thomas Nash (if he was actually Irish) and Jonathan Robbins, depending upon whether his claim to have been an American from Connecticut was true or not.
Eventually, after the mutiny Robbins made his way to the U.S. and was tracked down by the British government, which demanded that President John Adams turn over the “mutineer and murderer” to Britain for punishment. It was awkward timing, for Adams was then in the process of ratifying an economic trade treaty with Britain that had just been negotiated.
Adams had to weigh the success of the treaty against the American public’s anger about the British policy and actions of impressment on the high seas and the idea of turning over to Britain a claimed American citizen who “had the right to regain his freedom after having been the victim of such impressment” and return home.
Adams’s decision to turn Robbins over to Britain— where he was executed by hanging without a trial— Adams’s Federalist Party’s defense of his decision, and the consequences of Jefferson’s Republican Party’s national
electoral campaign focused on driving the public’s anger, form the major part of this compelling story.
Eventually—and critical in light of today’s political climate and immigration crisis— the American people eventually decided that, whether or not Jonathan Robbins (or Thomas Nash, if that was his real name) was in fact an American citizen, anyone fleeing from oppression should
be able to find sanctuary in the United States and not have to fear being turned away. It is to this day at the heart of our nation’s selfimage, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and the inscription on her base addressed to “the huddled masses yearning to be free.”
This is the story of how and when that all started. I loved every word of it.
What Are The Differences Between
A Will And A Revocable Living Trust?
By Martin Zevin, Attorney
Many people mistakenly believe that, if they have executed a Florida Will, probate will be avoided when they pass away. This is not true.
In Florida, an Estate will go into probate when a person owns any property in his or her name alone without named beneficiaries. For example, if your spouse is deceased and the deed to your home is in both of your names, that home will have to go through the probate process in Court when you die. Likewise, if you have a brokerage account or bank account in your name alone with no one named as payable on death, that asset will also need to be probated upon your death.
The main purpose of a Will is to designate who you want to get certain assets when you die. If you die without a Will in Florida, the law will still require probate of your assets and your beneficiaries will be based on your closest living blood relatives. Florida Law provides for an order of priority of blood relatives if someone dies without a Will. If you are a Florida resident and own real estate in another state, it is likely that two probates will be required: a primary probate in Florida and a secondary probate (known as an ancillary proceeding) in the state where the property is located.
With cash assets such as bank accounts, CDs, brokerage accounts, annuities, life insurance policies, etc. you can avoid probate by designating one or more beneficiaries on the account. These beneficiaries will be entitled to the proceeds of that account upon your death, regardless of whether you have a Will or what you may have indicated in the Will; in other words, the designation of a beneficiary in a specific account takes precedence over anything stated in a Will. The Will
will only apply to those assets where there are no designated beneficiaries (or if the beneficiaries have died before you). Therefore, one of the primary reasons that many clients choose to create a Revocable Living Trust is to avoid probate on all of their assets, particularly their home and any other real estate. I have many clients who own their primary home in Florida and a vacation home in another state. We create a Revocable Living Trust in Florida and also prepare a Quit Claim Deed to transfer the Florida property into the Trust. An attorney in the other state can then prepare a Deed transferring that property into the Florida Trust. This legal work will avoid probate in both states and allow for quick and easy sale or distribution of the properties. The Trust which we prepare also provides that your Successor Trustee (the person or persons you designate to administer the Trust after you pass away) can also take over managing the assets of your Trust if you become legally incapacitated. Legal incapacity is defined in the Trust document with language that requires a written statement from two medical doctors indicating that you are not able to carry on your legal affairs. The language allows your Successor Trustee to take over without a Court Order, but still provides you the protection of requiring written statements from two doctors.
In addition, it is much more difficult to contest a Revocable Living Trust than a Will. Your Successor Trustee can sell your properties and make distributions very quickly following your death, whereas the probate process required for a Will generally takes six to nine months or longer. I leave you with the words of wisdom that my father left for me: “May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.” I am available for a free personal meeting or phone consultation regarding Estate Planning. Call me at 954-569-4878. My address is 3275 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Suite 204, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442. My website is www.martinzevinpa.com and my e-mail address is martinzevin@netzero.com.
HOUR: MON - THURS, ALL DAY AT BAR
Boca Helping Hands’ Bowling For Bread Benefited Backpacks Weekend Meal Program
Boca Helping Hands (BHH) welcomed 225 adults and children at their annual Bowling for Bread event on August 25 at Bowlero in Boca Raton. BHH invited kids from local children’s charities to attend for free and enjoy an afternoon of bowling, food, and prize giveaways.
The children’s charities that were invited to attend this event included 4KIDS of South Florida, Inc., Achievement Centers for Children & Families, Adopt a Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc., American Association of Caregiving Youth, Fuller Center, HomeSafe, Place of Hope/Village of Hope, PROPEL, and Pearl City Cats. The event also raised enough funds to provide more than 41,000 meals for the BHH weekend meal program.
Special guests from the Florida Atlantic University football team included Offensive Linemen Federico Maranges and Andre Lamas and Junior Punter Logan Lupo who came out to cheer on the kids and bowl alongside them.
Trophies were awarded to the top three bowling teams and overall high scores. Bowling tournament winners were: First place team – Waypoint Residential Second place team – Waypoint Residential Third place team – The Law Offices of Pamela Higer-Polani, Attorney at Law
The top score was 180, bowled by Dan Brede.
Boca Helping Hands has operated the BHH Backpacks children’s meal program for the past 13 years. Every Friday, BHH Backpacks provides food-insecure students with nonperishable, easy-to-prepare meals to ensure they get enough to eat on the weekends. During the 2023/24 school year, BHH Backpacks helped over 1,600 students in 13 local schools, providing 181,362 meals and 60,454 snacks to elementary students in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach.
Bowling for Bread is part of Boca Chamber Festival Days—a series of fun-filled August events intended to raise awareness and funds by pairing nonprofits with for-profit members of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.
Florida Peninsula Insurance Company was Bowling for Bread’s For-Profit Chamber Partner and the Event Sponsor was the Lee Pearlson Steinberg Foundation. Other major sponsors included the Gary Peters Family Foundation, Humana, Stanley Waldshan, and Waypoint Residential.
This was the seventh year that the Lee Pearlson Steinberg Foundation sponsored the event. “Bowling for Bread is always a fantastic event, and I love seeing the kids enjoy themselves. I’m thrilled to be a part of it again this year,” said
Foundation Trustee Lee Steinberg. “Supporting this cause is a special way for me to honor my mom, Pearl, who had a deep passion for helping children.”
About Boca Helping Hands
Boca Helping Hands (BHH) is a community-based nonprofit that provides food, medical, and financial assistance to help individuals and families improve their quality of life and build financial stability. Through its various programs, BHH assists nearly 35,000 people annually.
Boca Helping Hands is a partner agency of The Town of Palm Beach United Way. Since 1945, the Town of Palm Beach United Way has been committed to improving lives and building strong communities throughout Palm Beach County by focusing on programs and priorities that promote education, health, and financial stability.
Boca Helping Hands holds accreditation for Sound Nonprofit Management from Nonprofits First, a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid/GuideStar, and has been a Charity Navigator Four-Star Charity for 17 consecutive years. It is located at 1500 N.W. 1st Court, Boca Raton, FL 33432. For more information, please visit BocaHelpingHands.org.
Achievement Centers For Children & Families (ACCF) To Hold 13th Annual Witches Of Delray Beach Bike Ride
Achievement Centers for Children & Families (ACCF) will hold its 13th Annual Witches of Delray Beach Bike Ride on Saturday, October 26. The witches plan to make their triumphant return to Downtown Delray Beach with the route starting at City Hall, flying down the famed Atlantic Avenue, and zipping back to the Old School Square pavilion.
Three hundred witches will don their best witch-wear and extravagantly decorated brooms (bikes) to ride through scenic Downtown Delray Beach up Atlantic Avenue, all guided by the Delray Beach Police Department. The ride will take off promptly at 8:30 a.m. At the conclusion of the ride, the party will continue at the Old School Square Outdoor Pavilion Stage with music and awards presentations such as “Best Costume,” “Best Witch Cackle,” “Best Decorated Broom (Bike),” and “Best Group Theme.”
Prior to the big ride day, new this year, Amanda Perna of the House of Perna Boutique & Atelier (Project Runway Reality Star) and the Tin Roof will host a “Not your Basic Witch” Hat Decorating Event on October 1 at 7 p.m. (rain date is October 8). ACCF will provide hat supplies, crafts, couture and traditional hat decorating materials. The event will be held at 8 E. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach. Space is limited. Additionally, longtime event partner Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Delray Beach will host a signature fundraiser in support of the Witches Ride, the Annual “Witches Brew” on Friday, October 18 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The entire month of October, ACCF will have a variety of Ways to be Wicked with the Witches of Delray. For registration and event details visit www.tinyurl.com/ Witches2024.
Funds raised from the Witches Ride directly benefit Delray Beach’s Achievement Centers for Children & Families, a community-based organization dedicated to serving under-resourced children and families in Delray Beach and surrounding communities.
“As we mark the 13th anniversary of our Witches Ride, we are reminded of the incredible community spirit that has made this event so special. It’s not just about the costumes and the fun—it’s about coming together to support a cause that has
such a meaningful impact,” said Stephanie Seibel, CEO of the Achievement Centers. “It’s incredible to see how much the event has grown over the years. It brings so much joy and support to our organization, and we’re excited to see it continue to grow.”
For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/Witches2024 or email events@accffoundation.org.
For more information about Achievement Centers for Children & Families, call (561) 266-0003 or visit www. achievementcentersFL.org.
