MY SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND I WERE ON OUR WAY TO WATCH MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN A PLAY AT DONNA KLEIN SCHOOL...

I tried to access the school the usual way, from the 95th Street entrance road, but there was a police car blocking the road.  There was construction going on at the entrance, and that appeared to be the reason we had no access.

Like others going to the school, I went around the corner to the other gate off 441 for school access.  There were police cars there and a big traffic jam at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy.

Saw a fellow walking with a cell phone and I yelled to him, while I was stuck in a big traffic jam, "What is happening?"  He yelled back, "School is on lockdown.  Bomb threat."

I managed to make my way close to the gate and park on the access road out of the way.  Stash, my son, saw me and came over.  Nobody knew anything.  This was about 12:30 pm.  The bomb squad had been there and police dogs. Nothing was found.  

Janice, my daughter-in-law, was in a nearby car.  They were letting the preschool children out at their regular time, and the parents were there to pick them up. 

About 2 pm, the Principal, Mrs.Feller, and others came over to be sure we were all calm, said the play Gabby (my granddaughter) was in was cancelled and soon they would let us in to get the children.

And so, we walked in and picked up Gabby and her brother Marty.  Later we were told that a threatening email had been received at the school early that morning, and taking no chances, "better safe than sorry," the lockdown proceeded.

A lot of prayers were said, and everyone did remain outwardly calm.

I hope none of you, my readership, goes through an experience like this.

Marilyn Jacobs, Editor

FISCAL CONDITION OF THE 50 STATES

Note that Florida came in #6, near the 

top of the list for fiscal conditions 

for all 50 states.

BOCA REGIONAL HOSPITAL GETS KUDOS

Healthgrades ranks Boca Regional Hospital in top 5% of hospitals for 10th year in a row for clinical performance. 

Out of 4500 hospitals in the United States, only 24 have earned such a consecutive distinction.  The hospital earned six 5-star ratings for

·       treatment of heart attack

·       treatment of heart failure

·       Colorectal Surgeries

·       treatment of GI bleed

·       treatment of Bowel obstruction

·       treatment of Sepsis.

 

Ranked nationally in the top 10% for:

·       Overall Cardiac Services

·       Overall Gastrointestinal Services

·       Overall General Surgery

Healthgrades estimates that if all hospitals performed at the level that Boca Regional does, a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence, 156,036 lives could potentially have been served.

Boca Regional, an advanced tertiary medical center has 400 beds and more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff.  It is noted as a leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease and surgery, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, women’s health and emergency medicine and the neurosciences, all of which offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging capabilities. The hospital is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center, noted by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). 

Boca Regional announced an agreement with North Shore-LIJ Health System, the largest integrated healthcare network in NY state, and one of the nation's largest healthcare systems which has 16 member hospitals throughout the NY metropolitan area.  It is the largest private employer in NY with 47,000 in its workforce, a medical school and research enterprise.  The affiliation will focus on clinical care programming.

NOW is the time to buy in Florida

before prices rise again

FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET IS IN RECOVERY MODE....

HOW MUCH ARE HOME SALES UP?

Florida Realtors News reports single family home sale

closings are up 8.6% compared to Dec 2012.  National

Association of Realtors says prices and sales are

strongest in 7 years.  The number of listings is
increasing. Statewide consecutive gains began 
over two years ago. 

Generally, properties are closing faster with median 
days on market 50 days for single family homes and 
51 days for townhouses and condos.  Translation: 50% of homes on the Florida market sell in less than two months.  

While inventories are rising, cash sales are declining 
and there are fewer distressed properties on the market.  Investor activity is lower.

PAP CORPS' GREATER BOCA RATON CANCER CHAPTER HOLDS SUCCESSFUL LUNCHEON AT POLO CLUB

The Pap Corps' Greater Boca Raton Cancer Care Chapter held an UBER! UBER! 25th Anniversary luncheon on January 20, 2014 at Polo Club.  From the gorgeous (YES!) Basler fashions, to the songs and music, to the committee speeches, not to mention the fabulous meal Polo Club presented... it was OVER THE TOP.  Thanks to Jean Wyman, thru her connection as a friend and personal shopper, Brian Rennie and his team talked to us and showed us absolutely fabulous garments ("...we cut to a size 20...") on gorgeous models.  We had serenades by his friend, a handsome singer, and a wonderful female singer and band, Meshell & Co, played thruout.

Co-chairmen Naomi Prever (a PAP CORPS PAST PRESIDENT) and Bunnie Katz (A GBRCC past president) outdid themselves.  They truly left no stone unturned.  Marilyn Barry and Dorothy Halperin were honored as Silver Philanthropists.  There were many other contributors over and above the price of the luncheon.  Over $4000 was collected for a raffle with prizes of a Basler custom made outfit and a gorgeous watch from Gregory's Jewelers.  Many other raffle prizes were called out. 

Many Past Presidents of the Pap Corp attended including Marise Rudnick, who was the founder of the Pap Corp.

Current Pap Corps President Ronnie Browning and many others assisted by contributing their time, energy and savvy to make this a fabulous event.  Luncheon Coordinator was Margot Kravitz.  Current Pap Corps President, Joann Goldberg attended too.  A few of the men participated and gave out the raffle prizes as well as collecting money for raffle tickets. Everybody was there today, 475 reservations and a waiting list... were you there?

The Pap Corps are "Champions for Cancer Research," giving over 90% of funds collected by our dedicated membership, 55 chapters in southeast Florida, to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Care facility for research.  Sylvester is connected with the University of Miami and Miller School of Medicine.  We are the largest grassroots organization working to provide research funds for a cancer cure.  Come and join us... we put the FUN in FUNd raising!  Our goal is to keep working towards a cure for cancer.  We will get there!  See www.PapCorps.org for information about the group.