DEVELOPMENT NEAR NEW DOWNTOWN BOCA RATON PUBLIC LIBRARY

New Downtown Boca Raton Public Library will have development of homes and multi-family units adjacent in Libarary Commons.

Land clearing is now complete, and this sign above appears, indicating Library commons, a development of 55 single-family homes and 37 multi-family units will soon be going up. Location is at 200 NW 2nd Avenue, near Glades.

BOCA FESTIVAL DAYS: August 1 to August 31

Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce President Troy McLellan said that, “our main goal these days is to contribute to the various non profit charities in the area… it’s all about giving back to the community.” Thirty-five years ago the month-long citywide series of events were intended to help boost business during August, a traditionally slow month. Now there are a huge variety of activities and about 40 events are scheduled, with thousands of participants. In 2005, more than $200,000 was raised.

Events being held include:
August 1, 5:30 – 7:30: 2nd Anuual Splash of Gold Fashion Show at the Marriot Boca Raton Center with local celebrities participating and modeling. $40 per person in advance, $60 at the door. Marriott Boca Raton at Boca Center. Raffle prizes, dj, h’ors d’ouvres, libations and drinks. For more info call Kate Volman at 561-395-4433 or kate@bocaratonchamber.com.
July 31 through September 8: Juried art exhibition sponsored by the Artists Guild of the Boca Raton Museum of Art and Coneca Properties, open to all Florida artists (Courtyard Building, 5301 N. Federal Highway). Awards Reception is August 5, 2-4 pm. For information call Gloria Berger, 561-738-4842 or Roni DiSabello at 561-487-3362.
August 5: Mr. Boca Legs Competition at Mizner Park
August 7: Seminar in love and relationships at the Kabbalah Centre, 7 pm. Call 561-488-8826 for more details and registration.
August 8 at noon: Boca Raton Public Library, 200 NW 2nd Avenue, will hold a book discussion of “The Great Fire,” a romance novel by National Book Award Winner Shirley Hazzard, who will speak about the book. For more information, call 561-393-7968.
August 8, 8 pm: Kabbalah Centre will present food, dancing and more to celebrate Tu B”av, The Holiday of Love. For more information and to register, call 561-488-8826.
August 9, 5:30 – 8:30 pm: PIP Printing & Document Services at 1200 S. Rogers Circle, Unit 8 will hold their “2nd Annual BBQ For A Cure” with minimum donation at $20 per person to support the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” event. BBQ fixins, fun ,games, karaoke, entertainment, chance drawings with prices and more. Country & Western attire is welcomed, rain or shine.
August 11m 6-8 pm: Sweet Jazz by Steve Gryb and ensemble along with Chablis, Red and Chardonnay wines among friends – dance and mingle at this wine tasting party at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Mizner Center, 501 E. Camino Real with complimentary on-stie self parking. $50 tickets must be purchased in advance at www.bocaratonchamber.com (events calendar) or at the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce at 1800 N. Dixie Highway. Call Jo Scannell at 561-395-4433, Ext 21 or email at jo@bocaratonchamber.com.
August 11, 7-9 pm: Marshall Turkin and his Classic Jazz Ensemble present Gershwin music at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre, with a free concert under the stars- bring your chairs and blankets. Chair rentals are $2 and food may be purchased. For more info call 561-393-7806, selection 2.
August 12: Sea Turtle Conservation Day, a family affair, 10 am – 3 pm at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center on North Ocean Blvd (A1A) below Spanish River Road. For more info call 561-338-1473.
AUGUST 12, 11-3: Skating Competition at Tim Huxhold State Park, 400 Crawford Blvd. For ages 5-17. Early registration began July 29 at 10 am. For more info call 561-393-7818. $10 registration fee.
August 13, 2-3 pm. Boca Museum and FAU South Florida Storytelling Project will hold an educational program demonstrating how to create and tell effective, entertaining stories, using voice momevment, eye contact andimagination. Free with paid museum admission, children 12 and under are free. Go to www.bocamusuem.org for more info.
August 17: Sports Fans & Family Night at Wilt Chamberlain’s is free
August 1, 15, and 29: free skin cancer screenings – advance appointments can be made by calling sponsor Boca Raton Community Hospital at 561-95-LEARN.
Saturdays August 5, 12, 19, 26, 2-4 pm: Guided Tour of the historic Boca Raton Resort & Club on Camino Real. Cost is $12 per person, $10 for BRHS members, $9 per car valet parking, and benefits the Boca Raton Historical Society. Not for children under 12. For more information call 561-395-6766 Ext 100, or go to www.bocahistory.org.

Some of the charities who will benefit from Festival Days are Boca Helping Hands, Kids in Distress, March of Dimes and Hospice by the Sea. Included as event sponsors are the Boca Raton News, Boca Rton Resort & Club and West Boca Medical Center.
For more information call Myles Kornblatt, Director of Communications for the Chamber at 561-395-4433, Ext. 235 or email: myles@bocaratonchamber.com.

POSSIBLE $30-MM BOND ISSUE ON BOCA’S PROPOSED “SPINE”

The possibility of developing a pedestrian walkway along the route between Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place will be decided by City Council, yes or no, in the near future. Three plans have been drawn up by an architectural firm, each showing either low- medium- or high density solutions..

“Sixty years of Boca history is contained there,” said Mary Csar, the executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society, whose group hopes to retain the historic nature and “flavor of the 1950’s” for the Boca Raton Road area east of Sanborn Square.

This idea was first presented in the late 1960’s, and again in the 1980’s. The second proposal was adopted by the City Countil, but opponents forced it onto a referendum question, which voters rejected.
City Manager Leif Ahnell said the bond issue would be intended to cover costs of the project.

CAMINO REAL BRIDGE TO BE REHABILITATED

Designated as a Historic Landmark in 1997, the Camino Real Bridge will be rehabilitated in 2007 with a new deck and painting and repair of the beams. Some are afraid if it is not fixed now, it will pass the stage where it still can be repaired and a new bridge will be necessary. Camino Real Boulevard was also designated at the same time as a Historic Landmark. The roadway was designed by Addison Mizner in the 1930’s, but he did not design the bridge. That was built in 1939. Palm Beach County is responsible for the bridge and it’s bills. In 1998 the County spend more than $100,000 to replace gearboxes at the bridge.

NEW SPANISH RIVER BRANCH LIBRARY COMPLETION STALLED

Due to a dispute between the city and the building contractor, construction of the new Library ground to a halt earlier this year. Assistant City Manager Mike Wotka said, ”It’s at a standstill.”

South Florida Construction Services, the low bidder for library construction, filed suit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court in March, claiming the city has withheld payments and refused to grant an extension of time for completion of the building. It is about 75% complete, but the City Manager, Leif Ahnell, predicted to City Council that the ongoing troubles with the contractor will delay completion for a year. Completion time was 420 days, in the original contract, for substantial completion and 450 days for final completion from the notice to proceed. Notice was issued July 7, 2004.

Local officials have said the builder was behind in its work and had allegedly jacked up the price of materials because they did not buy them before the project began and failing to lock in the pricing forced the firm to purchase materials at current market rates. The City Manager said that, “One month into construction, the builder wanted a $795,000 change order, which was found to be unmerited under the contract documents and conditions.” He added, “The contractor’s bonding company has gotten involved and have to decide if they will find someone else to finish or take the side of the contractor. They have the option to mediate.” Ahnell said that the $2.5-million in this year’s city budget that was allocated for the operation of the library will be used instead to cover the expected additional costs from the lawsuit and the delay.
A 2003 bond issue provided funding for the library and other local libraries.

MONEY MAGAZINE NAMES BOCA RATON 30TH BEST CITY TO LIVE IN US FOR 2006 AND #1 FOR FLORIDA

Click on COMMENTS below to read details.

WAYS TO SAVE MONEY

HOW CAN YOU CONSERVE ENERGY (and save $$$)? GO to http://www.fpl.com/ and click on SUMMER TOOL KIT to get to the Online Home Energy Survey. It takes a few minutes, and, as I did, you might find a few hints that are helpful.

CONSTRUCTION HEADING OUR WAY

Being considered are an additional interchange or two partial ones in Boca Raton from the Turnpike; a new interchange with work starting in 2012 using one of two alternative plans at Spanish River Boulevard from I-95 (to handle FAU traffic), more work on the Linton Boulevard area to widen the lanes; revamping of the Yamato interchange, perhaps getting rid of the loop ramps; improvements at Glades Road I-95 interchange and widening of Glades from Butts to FAU. ALso being considered are a full set of ramps at Clint Moore and the Turnpike, or partial interchanges at Yamato and Palmetto Park.

REMEMBER THAT: AARP magazine says that THE MOST DANGEROUS ROAD in the US is I-95 in Florida! Drive on it CAREFULLY!

MARILYN FARBER JACOBS

SUMMER ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES

At 2 pm today, at the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Mizner Park partners with Morikami Musuem to present “ARTful Adventure Sunday” will show children how to turn flat pieces of paper into 3-dimensional works of art. The activity is free with paid museum admission; children under 12 get in free.

Other activities coming up include:


FRIDAY, JULY 14th:
“A Glass Act”: an exhibition of glass plates with handmade paper adhered, created by 55 kids, ages 6 -11. Sponsored by the Art School Youth Summer Art Camp and Bloomingdales. A desert reception at Bloomingdales Town Center Mall B’Kids department will host parents and campers on July 28th. Exhibit will remain between July 14th and July 28th.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19TH:
Boca Museum will present “Let’s Tell a Story – A look at Narrative Art.” 2 pm in the permanent collection area. Free with paid museum admission.

THURSDAY, JULY 20th:
Boca Museum and Morikami present a “ppolisde bash” for active professionals at the Athletic Club of Boca Raton, 1499 Yamato Road. Japanese art and culture will be featured, with music, appetizers and cool drinks. Tickets are $25 for BAM and Tashi (the working professionals group of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens) and $40 for all others. For more info call 561-392-2500, ext 216.

MONDAY, JULY 31st:Art School Term C at Boca Museum begins. Call 561-392-2503 for more information. In the Art School Gallery there will be an exhibit of the Individual Youth Summer Camp from 10 am to 4 pm through October 5th.

PAINTING EVENT COMPETITION

On Saturday, July 8th the Gardens Memorial Park located at 4103 North Military Trail, south of Yamato Road, in Boca Raton will host a “Gathering of Artists at the Gardens,” from 8 am to noon. The work of local artists will be showcased and exhibited. The event takes place in the South Sanctuary Building on the 2nd Floor. A portion of sales will benefit research into Crohn’s & Colitis.

The Plein Air Painting Event is open to all aspiring artists age 10-7 and amateur and professional visual artists age 18 and older. Media can be pen and ink, watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastels or photography; each artist may submit 1-2 entries of any size, framed or unframed. Submissions accepted until Tuesday, July 11th before 5 pm.

Label finished works with title, size, medium, artist’s name, phone number and email address. Three winners will be chosen in “best” category and 6 consolation favorites. Cash prizes will be awarded. On July 13th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at The Gardens Fine Arts Gallery, second floor south sanctuary. For further information, call (561) 989-9190.

PB COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION TARGETS LEGISLATURE

The South County Partnership, a 3-year old group, is an umbrella community association organization. It recently assessed its influence on legistlators during this year’s session and outlined a plan for 2007.

The partnership comprises the Alliance of Delray Residential Associations, the West Boca Community Council and the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations and plans to reach out and invite similar organizations in northwest Broward County to join. The group represents nearly 300 communities and about 500,000 residents. The West Boca council, which has 115 members, was formed in 1980, and a year later came the Coalition of Boynton West Residential Associations, which has 79 members representing about 100,000 people. In 1994, the areas west of Delray Beach organized into The Alliance of Delray Residential Associations, which represents communities that are home to 70,000 people.Community leaders hope those numbers, along with memberships to larger organizations such as the Florida Coalition of Community Associations, pull weight with legislators.

Rob Schulbaum, president of Alliance of Delray Residential Associations, said, “We had some influence in keeping the bills with punitive actions against condo and HOAs from being passed.”

Introductions of bills limiting the powers of condo and HOAs since 2004 included several restricting the power associations have to enforce many of their laws, including collecting past dues or fining homeowners for violations. Schulbaum said, “Our fear is that these bills will pass next year.” A big current issue is over insurance not being renewed for communities.

TEMPLE BETH EL PLANNING WEST BOCA FACILITY

Zoning Commission meets August 3rd to hear about plans for the largest Jewish Boca Raton congregation (and one of the largest in the US) to build a new educational facility in West Boca. A pre-school and religious education center is planned for the Reform Temple. It may include 10 pre-school classrooms, 10 religious education classes and a multi-purpose area. Regular services will not be held there, but special religious gatherings may be conducted occasionally for special events. Children attend grades Pre-K and K.

Temple Beth El wants to build on 6 acres at the corner of Cobblestone Way and Ponderosa Drive.

The Temple, located at 333 SW Fourth Avenue, is about to celebrate its 40th Anniversary, and according to Rabbi Dan Levin, has grown from “a handful of people to one of the largest Jewish communities in the county.” The Rabbi said, “This is no longer central. We are central in the hearts of the congregation but not in their neighborhoods… we have so many families who live north and west of the synagogue.” Some students attending religious school classes have been moved to rental space in Omni Middle School and Eagle’s Landing School. Rabbi Levin said that this has worked fairly well, but attending classes “in a sacred space” should be part of the religious experience.
According to the Rabbi, about $5MM has been raised through preliminary fund raising and the capital campaing will be launced in the fall with a goal of $10-$12MM.

Website for Temple Beth El is TREBOCA.com. Phone number for the Temple is 561-391-8900.

HOA and CONDO laws

FL OFFICIALS DECIDE CONDOS MUST HAVE GENERATORS and HOAS CAN CONTINUE OPERATING WITHOUT RESERVE FUND TO PAY EMERGENCY CLEANUP AND OTHER EXPENSES

While the lack of reserves last year forced many association to impose huge special assessments on owners, the mandatory HOAs can continue operating without a reserve fund to pay emergency cleanup and other expenses.

High-rise condos must install sprinklers in hallways and lobbies by 2013, and associations must provide a generator for at least one elevator in each building by 2007 for at least 5 days after a disaster, so that the elderly and infirm residents won’t again get trapped on upper floors.

The length of time a condo owner or association can file suit against the buildrer for construction defects has been reduced from 15 years to 10 years.

State condo law is 93 pages, compared with 30 pages for the homeowner law. Governor Jeb Bush has ordered the state Department of Business & Professional Regulation to recommend by October 1st whether the state should consider combining laws for all “common interest communities,” include HOAs, condos, co-ops and timeshares.

TOWN CENTER TO EXPAND

A massive 25% expansion plan has begun at Town Center mall to add shops and restaurants, and to move restaurants to the edges of the mall and create more of a “café” atmosphere, a “village concept with an open air feeling, parking close to the store entrances and open patio dining areas” as posted in a memo around the mall.

Built more than 2 decades ago, the mall is now officially within the Boca city limits. Restaurant expansions include Legal Seaafoods and TGI Fridays, and include adding parking and an elevated walkway. Crate and Barrel will also expand as will Macy’s. A future expansion will add 51,682 sq ft of “general (as yet undefined) land area, subject to future site plan reviews and approvals.”
Stores currently counted as anchors include Sears, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue and Neiman Marcus.