$3.5-MM in SUPPLEMENTAL HURRICANE DAMAGE COMING TO DELRAY BEACH

With Palm Beach County ranking #1 in the state for qualifying for supplemental funding from damages by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma in 2005, the 2005 Disaster Recovery Initiative is supply new funds. The Florida Department of Community Affairs administers the funds ($19-MM total) provided by the Federal government under the Community Development Block Grant. The Pines, Inc. is the largest fund recipient ($3.3-MM) for a townhouse rental housing project in Delray Beach. For extensions into the city from Mango Drive and SW 7^th Avenue, $252,000 was granted. The city’s Neighborhood Resource Center was granted $10,500 for hurricane protection. Hurricane Wilma, according to Florida Power & Light, cause the largest disruption ever experienced in Florida with up to 98% of South Florida without power after landfall. Wilma was one of the costliest hurricanes on record with over 50% of Florida’s counties declared a federal disaster area. The Corps of Engineers “Blue Roof” program covered over 40,000 roofs. Over 625,000 Floridians registered for FEMA assistance and more than $850-MM was provided to disaster victims during the hurricane season.

FOUR MURALS UNVEILED IN PINEAPPLE GROVE ARTS DISTRICT

With $75,000 in funding from Palm Beach County for their ArtScape Program, four murals will be displayed and sculptured bicycle racks and scooter spaces will be installed, and sidewalk art provided. The first mural is up and others will follow. Pineapple Grove consists of a four-block area bounded on the north by NE 4th Street, on the south by East Atlantic Avenue, the east by NE 3rd Avenue and the west by Swinton Avenue in Delray Beach.

BOCA RATON LIBRARY CHESS CLASS A HIT!

Kids from 7-17 have been learning the moves and strategies of chess on Saturday mornings this past summer at the Boca Raton Public Library. Chess is a game that strengthens one’s critical thinking skills. Retired educator Barbara McManus, a member of the City of Boca Raton Education Advisory Board, suggested and then supervised the classes. Other Board Members became instructors. McManus explained that chess is NOT a game of luck, but rather of the ability of the players to analyze, reason, and plan ahead and involves geometric patterns and spatial relationships. McManus hopes to coordinate another series of chess classes at the Boca Raton Public Library in the coming year. Volunteers to teach chess or participate in another way can contact Catherine Vanden Broeck, volunteer coordinator for the city of Boca Raton, at 561-393-7700.

RECENT GRANT TO HELP OUR CHILDREN

Remember the slogan, “A (wo)man never stands so tall as when they stoop to help a child?” A new Boca Raton children’s support group, the first of its kind in the US, and other schools with projects devoted to caregiving children, are among the recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s $500,000 grant. About 15,000 children in Palm Beach County care for relatives with mental illness, disability or frailty, without any organized support, taking time away from their education and homework hours. The Volunteers Homebound & Family Caregivers Inc. are helping bring aid to those children, and to promote awareness of the dual role of youth who are both students and young caregivers within families. The Caregiving Youth Project will use grant money to determine whether 1,000 children are emotionally and physically healthy, get adequate education with time for homework. The funding will support 100 children in 10 schools. Among those being worked with are Boca Middle School, Congress Middle School and Lantana Middle School. Olympic Heights High School may be included. There are 192 Boca Middle School students who are caregivers.

FL MASTER NATURALIST COURSE OFFERED Sept 8 through Oct 16

The Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service will provide programs of interest to those with “green thumbs,” who love the great outdoors. Freshwater Wetlands is the first in the series, to promote awareness, understanding an respect of Florida’s natural world among Florida’s citizens. Topics will include concepts of echo-system processes, identification of key plants and wildlife, and how humans can help shape Florida’s environment. There will be both classroom learning and field trips. Cost is $225 per course and will include detailed course manuals with certificate, path and pin upon completion. Participation is limited to 20. The 2nd module, the Uplands Module, begins in October, and the 3rd will be at the Gumbo Limbo Center in Boca Raton on A1A. You can register at http://www.MasterNaturalist.orgAdodd@co.palm-beach.fl.us. or call Alyss Dodd at 561-233-1725 or email Adodd@co.palm-beach.fl.us.

FL DOT BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON PARTS OF A1A

Work has begun or 2 ½ miles of Delray roadway from south of Linton on A1A to north of George Bush Boulevard. There will be alternate lane closings between 7 am and 6 pm daily through Friday, August 17th, with flaggers on site.

WANT A HOUSE IN A WALKABLE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT?

Buying a house in a walkable neighborhood is good for your health and good for the environment. Homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents can find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods. Walk Score shows you a map of what's nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property.

Wi-FI NOW AVAILABLE AT BOCA HOSPITAL

Wireless internet access is now available at Boca Community Hospital its guest network, available to physicians, patients and guest, allowing wireless internet access within most areas of the hospital. The Chief Information Officer said, “We recognize that many of our patients, our guests and our physicians rely on the internet to communicate with family and friends, do research on important topics and to stay connect with work and their careers.”

OVER $1-BB SAVED IN BOCA WITH WATER RESTRICTIONS IN MAY AND JUNE

With recent rains easing the drought, water restrictions have been eased. Now homeowners in odd-numbered houses can water lawns Wednesday and Saturday and those with even house numbers can water Thursday and Sunday. Note that sewer and water rates will increase by 25-30% in November, due to rising costs of chemicals, electricity and other commodities. The utility services director said the increase may be spread over 2 or 3 years to ease the impact.

CITYPLACE EVENTS in WEST PALM BEACH

On August 9th, CityPlace fine restaurants are featuring CityPlaceUncorked at the Harriet Himmel Theater. Over 150 fine wines from all over the world to taste… VIP Receipton 6:30-7:30. General Admission 7:30 – 10 pm. Call 1-866-449-2489 to purchase tickets. Tickets are $100 (reserved for exclusive tastings) and General Admission is $60 in advance, $75 on day of event. Participating restaurants in clued Blue Martini, Il Bellagio, Legal Seafoods, Saito’s Japanese Steakhouse, Starbucks, City Cellar, Brewzzi, Columbia, Continental Catering, Jinja, Mark’s and Taverna OPA.