ARE YOU OR IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW A CAREGIVER FOR AN ELDERLY PARENT?

AARP reports that there are 43-million caregivers taking care of elderly family members in the US.  When illness strikes a parent, it is most often the siblings upon whom the care giving falls.  They can divide up the responsibilities, write up a contract as to who handles finances, daily care, research, and all other immediate and anticipated future needs.  Elder care mediators are available and website or blogs can be set up for each sibling to record daily events so all siblings are “on the same page” and up to date on care provided.

When a caregiver’s own finances are at peril, the family can get together and each compensate the care giving sibling who lives in with or nearby the elderly parent.  Author Francine Russo calls this period in a family’s life, “The Twilight Transition.”  Read the Amazon.com reviews and perhaps you will find this book helpful regarding sibling issues.

There are 16,000 Nursing Homes in the US, with about 1.5-million people living in them.  The US News & World Report article on Best Nursing Homes explains the rankings, with 11 homes that have received perfect ratings for four consecutive quarters.  The article also directs you to Nursing Home Compare, on the Medicare site, to find a local nursing home.  A family can find a Geriatric Care Manager to help.  

The new health care plan includes The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, otherwise known as CLASS.  CLASS provides for a national insurance program to help cover the cost of long-term care -- something 70 percent of people over 65 will need at some point along the way. The premiums will be much lower than those for private plans, and you won't get screened out because you've already had some health problems. Once vested after five years, enrollees unable to care for themselves will be able to claim cash benefits for as long as needed.  Nursing homes will face more transparency requirements.

As the benefits of the CLASS program become clear, you will read about them on this blog in the near future.  Licensed Advisor/Independent Insurance Agent Marilyn Jacobs can provide details about Long Term Care Insurance and explain what Medicare, Medicaid and the newer Long Term Care Partnership (which protects a portion of assets) can and cannot do to help with expenses.

Sunday, March 28th

 7:00 pm in the Laurels

"The Blind Side" 

starring Sandra Bullock

ROBERT L. HOWARD, ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST DECORATED HEROES

It is important for future generations that we remember our military heroes and the great sacrifices they have made for us in the name of Freedom.  Only 3,448 Americans have been awarded Medals of Honor.  Today only 91 of them survive.

Wounded 14 times in 54 months of combat duty in Vietnam, Robert Howard was awarded 8 Purple Hearts and was believed to be the most decorated living American.  He served five tours in Vietnam and is the only soldier in our nation's history to be nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor three times for three separate actions within a 13-month period. Although it can only be awarded once to an individual, men who served with him said he deserved all three. 

President Richard M. Nixon awarded him the Medal of Honor at the White House in 1971.  Other awards included the Distinguished Service Cross - our nation's second highest award, and the Silver Star - the third highest award. He received his decorations for valor for actions while serving as an NCO (Sergeant First Class).

Robert L. Howard grew up in Opelika, Alabama and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 at age seventeen. He retired as a full Colonel in 1992 after 36 years service. During Vietnam, he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and spent most of his five tours in the super-secret MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group) also known as Special Operations Group, which ran classified cross-border operations into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam. These men carried out some of the most daring and dangerous missions ever conducted by the U.S. military. The under-strength sixty-man recon company at Kontum, in which he served, was the Vietnam War's most highly decorated unit of its size with five Medals of Honor. It was for his actions while serving on a mission to rescue a fellow soldier in Cambodia, that he was submitted for the Medal of Honor the third time for his extraordinary heroism. 

In later years, as a larger-than-life figure on the national military scene, he appeared at many patriotic events, encouraging people to remember our troops.  He was also an advocate for troops missing in action and believed there were more than 100 troops living in captivity in south east Asia.  He died in 2009 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Robert L. Howard is said to be our nation's most decorated soldier from the Vietnam War. He was the last Vietnam Special Forces Medal of Honor recipient still on active duty when he retired on Sept. 29, 1992. His story is told in John Plaster's excellent book, SOG The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam.  

Excerpt from John Plaster's recent book SECRET COMMANDOS Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG - pg. 303:
"The day that President Nixon draped the Medal of Honor's pale blue ribbon around Howard's neck, I sat before the TV in my parents' living room watching the evening news. Coming on top of his previous decorations - the Distinguished Service Cross and multiple Silver and Bronze Stars, plus eight Purple Hearts - Howard's combat awards exceeded those of Audie Murphy, America's legendary World War II hero, until then our most highly decorated serviceman. At last, Howard would get his due. I flipped station to station, but not one of the networks - not CBS or NBC or ABC - could find ten seconds to mention Captain Robert Howard or his indomitable courage. I found nothing about him in the newspapers. Twisted by the antiwar politics of that era, many in the media believed that to recognize a heroic act was to glorify war. They simply chose not to cover the ceremony. It might as well not have happened." 

Let's pass these stories of valor, bravery and dedication to the United States of America on to our children and grandchildren. 

Sunday, March 14th at 

7:00 pm in the Laurels

 

"Say Anything (1987)"

starring John Cusack.

POLO CLUB Security Committee Update 3/12/2010

We have been advised by the Sheriff’s Dept that in recent weeks there has been a rash of home burglaries throughout Palm Beach County including a number of gated communities. 

During this period of time there have been no burglaries at Polo. Incidents have occurred at Addison Reserve, Broken Sound, Mizner Country Club (2), The Oaks, Kings Point, Cameron Park, Delray Garden Estates, and in Jupiter there were 6 burglaries at Admirals Cove. 

The most common point of entry was through a rear door/slider or window and the common method of entry was to pry or smash open the door/window. In the other incidents, doors were left unlocked. There was no indication that alarms, where present, were actually activated. Most of the incidents occurred after 6pm.
These are professional burglars.. They are in and out of a home in less than 3 minutes. They primarily look for cash and jewelry and small items like cameras, I-pods, etc. They know just where to look for things. 

We all need to be security conscious at all times. If you see anything that looks out of place or suspicious call 911 and then call Polo Security Emergency at 995-1111.

The sheriff urges all Polo residents to make sure they do the following:
1. ALWAYS SET YOUR ALARM. It is the first and most important line of protection Turn it on whenever you leave home. Put it on and by-pass the motion detectors when home at night. If you don’t know how to use your alarm system let Devcon know and they will show you how to use it. 

2. Make sure all doors and windows are locked. This requires criminals to take more time to gain entry, which they don’t like. 

3. You can have a locksmith insert a lock into your back sliders so they cannot be lifted off the track. 

4. Keep the your alarm system chime alert on at all times so it chimes when anyone opens a door or window when you are home. 

5. Keep exterior lights on at night. 

6. Cut back landscaping and shrubbery from windows and doors as landscaping helps criminals avoid detection.

31ST ANNUAL HATSUME FAIR AT MORIKAMI SATURDAY MARCH 20, AND SUNDAY MARCH 21

Morikami’s largest annual event transforms the usually tranquil Morikami Park into a unique  Japanese spring festival.  Featured will be three stages of continuous entertainment ranging from martial arts demos, drumming, children’s activities, presentations of Anime History, Japanese folk tales, artisan booths, plant sales and Asian and American food vendors. 

Ensemble Otodama will present arrangements of Japanese traditional folk music and their original works, blending jazz, classical, Japanese and other world  music.

Tickets can be purchase online before Thursday Mach 18^th, $10 for adults, $$5 for ages 4-17, children 3 and under and museum members free.  Admission at the gate is slightly higher.  Free on-site parking is provided.  The Morikami Cornell Café will be serving an a la carte menu.  

Sunday, March 7th at 7:00 pm 

in the Laurels.  

 

"Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince"

WATCH THE POLO CLUB ON “GOLF AMERICA”

Our Equestrian Course has been selected as "The Course of The Week" and will be featured on national television 14 times over the next few weeks. Not only will you see our golf courses, but our entire community, amenities and Clubhouse. Also, watch the video of our Club Course, which was chosen as the "Online Course of the Week" by Cyber Links Golf, watch it now at www.cyberlinksgolf.com.

Saturday, March 6th 
12:00 PM SUNSHBHD
653 (DirecTV)/ Golf America
(New, Sports)

Monday, March 8th
4:30 PM SSUNSHBHD
653 (DirecTV)/ Golf America

1000 OCEAN HAS FIRST CLOSING

It's official. After years of often contentious battles with neighbors and under different ownership, One Thousand Ocean, the ultra-luxurious condominium project in Boca Raton, is done.

The city issued the developer LXR Luxury Resort & Hotels, owner of the Boca Raton Resort & Club, a certificate of occupancy last week. The condo sits on the resort's property adjacent to its Boca Beach Club.

The first closing at LXR's One Thousand Ocean, which is owned by New York-based Blackstone Group, took place yesterday, officials said. The units run from $3 million to $15 million.

UPCOMING LOCAL TOURS

Downtown West Palm Beach Historic Trolley Tours: 3, 4 p.m. Fridays; 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, leaves from Richard & Pat Johnson Palm Beach County Museum, North Dixie Highway & Third Street. $5; ages 10 and younger free. RSVP 561-833-8873.

Boca Raton Historical Society Hotel Tour: 2 p.m. Tuesdays at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. $15; $9 valet fee. RSVP 561-395-6766 ext. 100 or bocahistory.org.

Boca Raton Historical Society Trolley Tour: 10 a.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month leaving from Boca Raton Historical Society, Town Hall, 71 N. Federal Highway. $20; members $15. RSVP 561-395-6766 ext. 100 or bocahistory.org.

Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach: Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Registration 10 a.m., departure 11 a.m. Feb. 27 from Delray Beach Library, 100 W. Atlantic Ave. Adults/seniors $15; under 18 free. delraybeachbustours.org, 561-243-2662.

West Palm Beach Antiques Show: Early buyers 9 a.m.-noon March 5 ($25); regular hours: noon-5 p.m. March 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7 at South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard. Adults $7, seniors $6, under 16 free. 561-793-0333, wpbaf.com.

Lake Worth Parrot Cove Home and Garden Tour: Includes nine homes/gardens, two bed & breakfasts and St. Andrews Episcopal Church 2-6 p.m. March 7. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of event. 561-586-8612, parrotcove.org.

Arts & Crafts Trunk Show: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 13, 12-5 p.m. March 14 at Art-Sea Living Gallery, 1628 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. 561-737-2600, art-sealiving.com.

Spady Museum Ride & Remember Trolley Tour: Leaves 10 a.m. March 13 from Delray Beach Parking Garage, NE First Street & NE First Avenue. Cost $15; $10 children; $12 members. 561-279-8883, spadymuseum.org.

American Orchid Society: 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach. "Orchid Design Clinic" 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Members $5, non-members $10. 561-404-2031. Orchid Judging 2 p.m. Feb. 27. Orchid Doctor 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays; 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. 561-404-2000.

Gardening Classes: "Landscape Design Techniques Used by Professionals" 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays, through March 1; "When Your Garden Misbehaves" 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays, March 15-29 at Community Center, Boca Raton. Residents $38, non-residents $48. 561-338-5436.

Boca Raton Garden Club: Clubhouse, 4281 NW Third Ave. "History of Boca Raton" 1 p.m. March 2 Free. Rummage Treasures ‘N Plants Sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 13. Free. 561-395-9376.

Mounts Botanical Garden: 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. "Designing, Creating & Maintaining Your Home Landscape" workshop series 6-9 pm. March 3-27 (Wednesdays). $50 members, $60 non-members. Bonsai Society 7 p.m. March 2. J.harman2006@yahoo.com. PBC Beekeepers Association 7 p.m. March 5. 561-686-6557. Begonia Society 7 p.m. March 8. 561-434-3745. Herb Society of PBC 9:30 a.m. March 9. 561-640-7943. Orchid Society of Palm Beaches 7:30 p.m. March 11. pottedorchid@aol.com. Rare Fruit Coucil 7:30 p.m. March 12. 561-495-4694. Enchanted Garden Spring Benefit/Auction 4:30-7 p.m. March 14. Tickets $75. General info: 561-233-1757, mounts.org.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens: Art of Bonsai classes begin March 7 (9 a.m.-noon Sundays through April 11) at 4000 Morikami Park Road, west of Delray Beach. Members $81, non-members $91; additonal material fee of $35. 561-495-0233 ext. 210, morikami.org.

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens: 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach. Marino Marini Sculptures, Etchings and Lithographs on view through March 8. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sun. 561-832-5328, ansg.org.

SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE AT POLO CLUB

Sunday, February 28th at 7:00 pm 

in the Laurels

 "State of the Union" 

starring 

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

SEA TURTLE DAY AT GUMBO LIMBO

On March 13^th, Gumbo Limbo will celebrate their 5^th Annual Sea Turtle Day from 10 a m to 4 pm.  Included in the celebration will be marine life, our oceans, terrestrial species and habitats along with a fun-filled day of environmental education.  Learn about conservation to help make our world a better, cleaner place, and how all species and habitats are interconnected.  This year’s focus will be on responsible fishing.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

CBS Channel 12 will feature on their morning show on February 21^st a live broadcast from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, from 6-9 am.  CBS recently showed surgical treatments for 35 green sea turtles affected by fibropapilloma, a virus which manifests in fleshy tumors on the turtles skin.  It is contagious among turtles, but does not affect humans.  Currently, only surgery can remove the tumors.  After surgery and a short recovery period, the turtles will be released to the ocean.  There were 5000 “cold-stunned” turtles rescued during 2 weeks of abnormally cold temperatures in Florida. 

Come to Gumbo Limbo and stroll around the butterfly garden, climb the observation tower on the boardwalk through coastal hammock, sit in a hut, see saltwater tanks brimming with marine life and take photos of the 7 giant turtles in the sea turtle garden. 

Wiggy, the Kemp’s Ridley turtle pictured about was captured as an adult in 1971 and is presumed to be born about 1960. 

The turtle pictured here, FeeBee, a Loggerhead, survived pneumonia and was hatched in July 2002 in Spanish River Park in Boca Raton.

Above is Milton, another Loggerhead, hatched in July 2002 south of the South Beach Pavilion in Boca Raton.  97 out of 102 of Milton’s eggs hatched.

You can adopt a sea turtle, including FeeBee or Milton, to help support their care and feeding

Sunday, February 21st 

7:00 pm in the Laurels

 "A Serious Man" 

 

directed by the Coen brothers

Nominated for 2 ACADEMY AWARDS

Best Picture, Best Writing/Screenplay

also GOLDEN GLOBES
Best actor in musical or comedy:

Michael Stuhlbarg

and many more awards

for this "black comedy"

DELRAY BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES FIRST REGISTERED ARCHITECT

Delray Beach is known for it’s historical homes built from the 1920’s on, and some built earlier, many of which have original details carefully preserved.  Samuel Ogren Sr. and Jr. worked together on many Delray Beach structures, and developed a style known as “historic village-by-the-sea” architecture. They were the most influential architects with their achievements.

Samuel Ogren Sr. is being honored by the Delray Beach Historical Society as the city’s first registered architect, and is known as the “Father of Delray Beach Architecture.”  There will be 6 panel discussions on Ogren for his work on Sandoway House, Delray Beach Club, the Arcade, the Gymnasium and 1926 High School at Old School Square, starting March 2^nd running until May 20.  For more information call 561-274-9578.  Selected architectural drawings of both Ogren’s works will be on display, donated by the Ogren family to the  Historical Society’s archives. 

Wanting to create a portable exhibit of the drawing reproductions, The Historical Society is applying for a Florida Humanities Council Grant, to educate the community on the importance of understanding and preserving the essential elements of historic local architecture. 

GOING THROUGH END-OF-LIFE ISSUES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS?

Head over to the CARING INFO website.  Find out there about caring for someone, planning ahead, living with an illness.  You can download an advance directive form, fill it out and add it to your google health profile so it will always be easy for a family member to find.  There is hospice info there and a legal guide for the seriously ill.  There is also information on grieving a loss and using community outreach resources.

BOCA WHISPER WALK COMMUNITY GUN CLUB VERY ACTIVE

In order to get a Florida state gun permit, according to the Treasurer of the Whisper Walk Gun club in West Boca Raton, you need 6 hours of intense coaching and a final period of shooting the gun at a range. The club is 14 years old and has 50 members including retired professionals, a few ex-law enfocement officers, neighbors and people from other communities. They meet monthly in the community clubhouse. 

During class you

·        see a 10-minute NRA video about the safe and responsible use of firearms

·        go through the NRA training manual, “The Basics of Pistol Shooting

o      pistol parts

o      operation

o      ammunition

o      using a pistol safey

o      operating a pistol

o      shooting basics

Three fundamental gun safety rules are mentioned:

·        always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

·        keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

·        always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

The group learns how to shoot and care for their weapon.  They go to a Pembroke Pines shooting range a few times a month.  

For more information call 561-483-5636.  Cost of course is $40.

 

MORE NEWS ABOUT HOME SALES...

The median single-family home in Palm Beach County sold for $238,000 in January – 9 percent higher than in 2009, according to the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches. Inventory in January was down to eight months, less than half of what it was in January 2009.  Are we experiencing the start of a seller's market?

Realtors say part of the problem is that people hear the hype about the down market and expect to find a steal in a great neighborhood.  Last year, more than 500,000 Florida homes received some type of foreclosure notice, according to RealtyTrac who charts foreclosures.  But while foreclosures are usually priced low, they’re not always good deals. They could be tagged with liens, have missing appliances or be in general disrepair.

Buyers have said banks will sometimes set a low asking price on a short sale to attract buyers, but with no plans to actually settle for that price. While short sales have traditionally taken months to settle, new federal guidelines that go into effect in April require banks to respond to short sale offers within 30 days.

LATEST FLORIDA HOME SALES NEWS

WHY IS RIGHT NOW THE BEST TIME EVER TO BUY A PROPERTY IN FLORIDA? Florida single family home sales in Florida were up 33% for the month of JANUARY 2010  compared with the prior year, and condo sales gained 91%.  REALTY TIMES reports that Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors which conducts the pending sales survey said the swings from month to month are "masking the underlying trend (in housing) which is a broad improvement over year-ago levels."   Yun also predicts that that the two home purchase tax credits -- the extended $8,000 credit and the new $6,500 credit -- will have a significant impact on closed sales in the coming several months.  He forecasts that the two credits combined will stimulate 2.4 million sales in 2010, and most of that activity will be compressed into the first six months of the year. December's pending sales contracts were 11 percent higher than December 2008's.

MOVIE NIGHT

Movie Night - Sunday, February 14th 

in the Bamboo Room at 7:00 pm. 

The movie will be 

"The Music Man" 

starring Robert Preston

19th ANNUAL BIG WINTER SPECTACULAR WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUES FESTIVAL.

Florida’s largest antique show with more than 1000 dealers hosts the Big Winter Spectacular on February 5-7, 2010.  An Early Buyer pass can be purchased to enter from 9-12 Friday mornings for $25 and is good all weekend.  Daily admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors.  Children under 16 are free.  Discount coupons for admissions are available in the newspapers and at http://www.wpbaf.com.

You will find everything from period furniture from the 1700’s to 1960’s modernism for sale.  Glass and jewelry repair will be onsite, while you wait and shop around your items can be fixed.  Browse and shop inside huge new air conditioned buildings, and outside more than 100 dealers set up in covered areas or tents.  Unlimited free parking, and food and drink concessions are available.

Hours are:
Friday, 2/5: noon to 5 pm

Saturday, 2/6 9 am to 5 pm

Sunday 2/7: 10 am to 4:30 pm

The Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fair is located at 9067 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach.  From the Florida turnpike go west on Southern Boulevard for 1 ½ miles.  From I-95 go west on Southern Boulevard for 7 miles. 

For more information email info@wpbaf.com or call 941-697-7475.

Florida single family home sales in Florida
were up 33% for the month of JANUARY 2010
compared with the prior year, and
condo sales gained 91%.

IN USTA Florida February 2010 Tennis Notes

BOCA RATON -- The Polo Club is this year's recipient of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) 2010 Private Facility of the Year Award. The awards committee judged the club as extraordinary in tennis operations, tennis programming, club amenities, charitable endeavors and support of PTR and the tennis industry. The club has been the past residence of tennis greats Steffi Graf and Chris Evert, and has been host to tennis events such as the Andy Roddick Charity Event, Virginia Slims tour events, pro-celebrity events and ITF-level pro tournaments. Led by Tennis Director Jean Mills, The Polo Club has also been host to the USTA National Girls' 12 Championship for the past 21 years. The national award will be presented at the PTR Awards Banquet on Feb. 14, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza on Hilton Head Island.

http://www.usatennisflorida.usta.com/sitecore/content/Florida/Global/News/News/2010_01/Notes.aspx

THE WHITE HOUSE LOST MARKET VALUE TOO…

The Palm Beach Post Real Estate News page reports that,  “you and your neighbors are not alone.  The place the president and his family call home was worth 5.1% less last year, one analyst says.”

Zillow “zestimates” 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC (The White House) at $288,494,000.  The residence has 16 bedrooms, 35 baths and is 55,000 sq ft.  They further estimate a monthly mortgage payment would be $1,216,562.