UNDERSTANDING IRAN’S THREAT

Mark your calendar page for Sunday, December 2nd, from 12:30 – 5 pm to head for the Marriott Hotel City Place, 1001 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach and learn all about Iran’s threat. An interesting variety of speakers will be featured, including Jim Woolsey, former Director of the CIA and Co-Chair of the US Committee on Present Danger and Congressman Ron Klein (D-Florida), Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Middle East, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. We will learn about Iran from an insider, Amir Abbas Fakhravar, Iranian Student Leader and former Prisoner of the Iranian regime. We will get other views from Philippe Vinogradoff, Consul General of France in Florida, and Victor Comras, former United Nations Security Council monitor of Anti-Terrorist Sanctions and a leading expert on international law and terrorism financing. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Sponsors are the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County in conjunction with the World Affairs Council of the Florida Palm Beaches and other local organizations. Please make out checks for $18 (not tax deductible) to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and mail to 4601 Community Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33417, Attn: JCRC. You can register online at JewishPalmBeach.org, or RSVP to Mary Greco at 561-242-6671 or email jcrc@jewishpalmbeach.org. Co-sponsors include Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith International, Christ Fellowship, Covenant Centre International, Florida Security Council, National Council of Jewish Women and Palm Beach County Board of Rabbis. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to become more aware of Iran’s threat.

TOWN CENTER MALL OFFERS TRICK-OR-TREAT WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31

Costumed youngsters can search for treats from costumed characters at the Town Center Mall where indoor trick-or-treating will be offered from 6-7:30 pm. Children 10 or younger may wear masks and costumes can only be worn during these hours. Photos of the children in costumes can be taken in Center Court, close to the Guest Cervices Booth, one near Macy’s and one in the Nordstrom Wind opposite Pottery Barn. Bring your children or grandchildren for a safe opportunity to enjoy the holiday!

NEW ADVISORY BOARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES MEETS

The Boca Raton Advisory Board for People with Disabilities holds its regular meeting Thursday, November 1 at 7 pm in City Hall. An additional disabilities awareness day will be held December 6th for which a symposium is proposed, and the board needs help from the public to put it together. Meetings offer opportunities to discuss and correct problems residents may have relating to their disabilities. For more information call Aron Breslow, public relations chairman at 561-483-8093 or board chairman Shawn Friedkin at 561-994-5900.

WEST BOCA GREEN MARKET HELPS GRADUATION PROJECT

The Olympic Heights Community High School’s Green Market and More will run from November 4^th through April at the school, every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, with community vendors selling goods to area residents. The address is 20101 Lyons Road, north of Glades Road. This project will help support the Class of 2008’s graduation, a drug- and alcohol-free chaperoned event. For vendor applications, email OHPG2008@yahoo.com or call 561-883-8372.

JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL AT FAU

A 5-part Kultur series beings at 3 pm Sunday on the 5^th floor of the S.E. Wimberly Library on FAU’s B ca Raton campus which is open to the public and free. Each of the 5 lectures explores the evolution of the Yiddish language and culture I nthe fine and performing arts. This is the series 5^th year. Featured this Sunday will be 22 pieces performed by the Klezmer Company Orchestra, made up of professional musicians. Ten of the pieces will be sing-a-longs and anyone who brings an instrument to the event can play two songs with the orchestra. A question and answer period will also be held at the end of the performance. The next event features Alexandra Bracie presenting a film screening and lecture, “Memories of my Father, the artist Arthur Szyk at 3 pm November 4^th.

WEST DELRAY REGIONAL PARK NOW OPEN

Located off Atlantic Avenue west of US Highway 441, a new 313-acre passive park has opened, featuring lake frontage, non-motorized canoe/kayak launching area, freshwater fishing, hiking/nature trail, mountain bike area, single table picnic areas with grills, modular toilets and parking. By permit only are archery, primitive camping area, remote control airplane field and boat lake. The Delray Alliance of Residential Associations, the West Boca Community Council and the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations were instrumental in making the new park, formerly known as Palm Beach Downs, a reality. For general park information call 561-966-6600.

NATIONAL TRUST HISTORIC HOTELS WELCOMES BRAZILIAN COURT IN PALM BEACH

Citing its history and ambiance, the Brazilian Court, a condominium-hotel that is a favorite Palm Beach landmark, has joined the National Trust Historic Hotels of America, under the auspices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There are 200 hotels and resorts in the US that the organization acknowledges for preserving and maintaining historic integrity, architecture and ambience. Built in 1926, and designed by Rosario Candela (who built luxurious Manhattan apartments) the hotel’s south wing was added by Maurice Fatio and William Treanor in 1936. Multi-million dollar improvements were made, starting in 2002 and are now in the final phase. A central see-through lushly landscaped courtyard links the marbled lobby on Australian Avenue with an arched portico on Brazilian Avenue. A barrel-tile roof is accented with cantilevered wrought-iron balconies. The interior “speaks of Provence,” and complements the hotel’s Tuscan-villa roots. Stars who stayed there include Gary Cooper, Greta Garbo, Tommy Lee Jones and designer Bob Mackie and Marjorie Merriweather Post. Featured in the hotel are Café Boulud and the Frederic Fekkai Salon and Spa.

YOUR RENTAL CAR MAY PAY TURNPIKE & BRIDGE TOLLS WITHOUT USING SUNPASS

Customers of Avis, Budget and Hertz will pay daily fees of $2-$2.50 using “Plate-Pass” with charges billed to credit card of renter. “Rent-A-Tollpass” can be used with Dollar and Thrifty for a flat daily fee of $5.95 per rental day or $27.95 weekly with all toll charges included. These agreements are between Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and American Traffic Solutions and Rent A Toll, Ltd. License plate information will identify the vehicles and electronically collect the toll. In it’s current newsletter, SunPass states that open road tolling will soon be available in 4 turnpike plazas – Lantana, Cypress Creek, Bird Road and Homestead Toll Plaza with plans to add this feature to other turnpike plaza areas. This will entail removal of the concrete islands (barriers, gates and columns) and adding new toll equipment structures and equipment so that cards with SunPass transducers can keep traveling at speeds of 55 mph instead of the current designated speed limit of 25 mph. Go to http://www.sunpass.com/ to update your license plate, check account balance, replenish your account, update your contact info and answer survey questions. Did you know that Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise invested $7.5-MM for generators for all service plazas giving full power for 72 hours without refueling, for use during hurricanes, and has external defibrillators available? Construction updates and real-time traffic info is available at http://www.floridasturnpike.com/. Another site for traffic info is http://www.traffic.com/.

FIRST BOCADOG WALK – BRING ALONG YOUR POOCH

Do you and your dog look alike? Is yours very small, very large, or very talented? Come to the Canine Carnival and the First BocaDog Walk on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at Mizner Bark, Banyan Trail in Boca Raton and you and your pooch might win a prize! There will be vendors, contests, prizes, and demonstrations. $25 registration fee for you, and the pooch has free admission. Your pooch will get a goodie bag! Registration is at 8:30 am. Walk begins at 9:30 am. Canine Carnival is from 10:30 am to 2 pm. Prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed, Owner/Dog Look Alike, Best of Show, Biggest, Smallest and Most Talented. For more info call 561-305-3351 or go to http://www.bocadogmagazine.com/CanineCarnival

COLLAGES AND QUILTS TO BE DISPLAYED

Old School Square’s Cornell Museum will have two exhibitions displayed through Sunday, October 28^th. 105 Collages and Assemblages will be featured at the National Collage Society’s 23^rd Annual Juried Exhibit. Also on display will be 21 quilts from the Manhattan Quilters Guild celebrating the “visual feast” of New York City. For more information call 561-243-7972

NARRATED BUS TOUR OF DELRAY BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICT SATURDAY 10-27

Departing from the Delray Beach Public Library, 110 West Atlantic Avenue at 11 am, The Museum of Lifestyle and Fashion History will begin its Narrated Bus Tour of Historic Delray Beach. To prepay and be sure to get a seat call 561-243-2662.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE…

Alas, all the sand-renourished beach areas in the county have been returned to the ocean by abnormal winds and tides, leaving behind long buried groins, rocks, tree stumps and revetments. Stairs, lifeguard stands and building foundations have also been removed. Nearby parking areas and parks have been flooded. Millions of tons of sand are gone, ensuring death to the off-shore environment. The sand smothers fragile coral reefs and all life that inhabits them, limiting food sources for sports and food fish, interfering with “catches” for the fishermen. According to the NEW YORK TIMES (10-2-07) the world’s polar areas are experiencing and ice melt so vast that predictions are that by 2013 a blue Arctic Ocean will exist. Would you say this is an exercise in futility, and that Mother Nature wins?