By Angie Francalancia

    People displaying a disabled parking tag no longer automatically get free parking at Boynton Beach’s Oceanfront Park, located within Ocean Ridge.
Boynton Beach city officials made the decision during their budget workshops earlier this year, and began the change in October at the start of the new budget year.
    The exception is for people whose vehicles have been modified with special equipment such as a lift, a ramp or hand controls to accommodate their disability, said Boynton Beach Parks and Recreation Director Wally Majors.
    The city made the change as it sought new sources of money for its budget and became aware of the volume of nonpaying visitors to its only beachfront park. City officials reviewed the state law that allows parking fees to be waived for disabled drivers before changing its policy.
    “We are struggling to make ends meet, and approximately 20 percent of the vehicles coming into our parks were having their fees waived. That’s an inordinate amount,” Majors said.
“Certainly, we want to be benevolent,” he added, “but ultimately, we have to maintain the parks in a manner that people would expect.”
    Parking fees cover less than half of the $500,000 park maintenance budget, he said.
Last year, between October and December, there were 16,729 visitors to Oceanfront Park, and 3,411, or 20 percent, had their fees waived, Majors said.
Boynton Beach charges residents $40 for an annual parking pass, or $10 for a single day.
    Majors noted that free parking is available at two county beaches within a mile north and south of the park for people who can’t afford the fee.
    “The bulk of our permits are sold in September, and we started advising people of the new policy well over a month in advance. Personally, I’ve gotten two phone calls (complaining),” he said. “It certainly gives me the sense that people agreed it’s fair.”  

By Rich Pollack

    Two women who have been instrumental in creating historical archives in Boynton Beach and Delray Beach are, or soon will be ... well, history themselves.

DeVries

    Last month, Boynton Beach’s historical archivist Janet DeVries left her job at the Boynton Beach City Library to become the archivist at Palm Beach State College’s Harold C. Manor library. And next month, Dottie Patterson, the Delray Beach Historical Society’s longtime archivist, will be retiring after more than two decades in the job.

                              Patterson

    “They together and individually have done wonderful things for the promotion of local history and the scholarship of history in southern Palm Beach County,” said Susan Gillis, archivist for the Boca Raton Historical Society and a close associate of both Patterson and DeVries. “They were my go-to gals, and I will miss the ease of contacting them when I have a question that no one else can answer.”
    Both Patterson, who served as the historical archivist for 22 years, and DeVries, who held her job for 15 years, were instrumental in creating professional archives in their respective communities.
Today, those archives serve as critical resources for everyone from journalists and architects to visitors or callers from out of state who want to learn more about a long-lost relative who lived and died in South Florida.
    Recognizing the importance of maintaining an easily accessible collection of historical information and artifacts, both the Delray Beach Historical Society and the Boynton Beach Library have begun searching for replacements.
    The Delray Beach Historical Society has hopes of having someone on board by the end of the month to work with Patterson before she retires, according to Howard Ellingsworth, a member of the nonprofit organization’s board, who is helping to lead the search.
    Ellingsworth said the historical society’s goal is to find an archivist who will also be able to take on additional responsibilities and serve as the organization’s director as well. Due to financial constraints, the position would remain part-time.
    In Boynton Beach, Library Director Craig Clark says plans are in the works to fill the archivist position by early next year. One of the priorities for the new archivist, he said, will be to follow through on DeVries’ efforts to electronically categorize artifacts so they’ll be easier to locate.
    “The archivist is a very unique position for our library,” Clark said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have a position to preserve and care for our artifacts.”
    But that position didn’t always exist.
    When DeVries was first hired by the library, the archive was little more than a small, dank space just a little bigger than a closet, called the Florida room.
    “You could easily trip over boxes on the floor,” she said.
    Sorting through the old papers and unidentified objects took her some time, but eventually the archives at the library were transformed into a three-room professional environment with photographs and important papers carefully stored in plastic sleeves and binders.
    “The archive is a fabulous resource for the community,” said DeVries, who remains active in the Boynton Beach Historical Society. The author of five books on the history of the city, DeVries says she plans to continue using the archives for her research.
    Like DeVries, Patterson is a history detective of sorts who enjoys combing through old books and photos and helping others find information they’re searching for.
    And like her counterpart in Boynton, whose nomination letter helped her win Florida archivist of the year in 2009, Patterson is passionate about history and about making sure it is preserved for future generations.
    “The reason I’ve stayed so long is I love working here,” she said.
    Over the years, Patterson has seen the archives grow from a walk-in closet to filling a rescued house on Swinton Avenue and Northeast First Street, now known as the Ethel Williams Archives.
 She has been on hand to open several rediscovered time capsules, including one dating back to 1924, and has been around to help everyone from city officials to reporters find information they need.
    “Dottie has been the epitome of someone whose heart and soul is into what she’s doing,” Ellingsworth said. “She has been a real godsend to the Delray Beach Historical Society.”
    DeVries said both she and Patterson were “lone rangers,” often working independently, who were fueled by their desire to share the pasts of their respective towns with those who wanted to know more.
    “One of our jobs is to lead people to treasures,” DeVries said. “We act as tour guides and educators.”                               

By Tim O’Meilia
    
Ten years ago, a gang of four Point Manalapan residents made a federal case out of voting districts in Manalapan, where oceanside residents had half the U.S. census-tallied residents but twice the number of seats on the Town Commission as those on the point.
    Now, Town Commissioner Donald Brennan says that the resulting court-approved redistricting and reapportioning of the Town Commission has flip-flopped the power structure and left A1A residents with 70 percent of the tax bill but far less of the voting power.
    “The judge was astute. She said be careful what you’re doing because it may have the opposite effect,” Brennan said during an Oct. 23 workshop meeting on possible town charter amendments.
    The judge approved the revised voting district system overwhelmingly OK’d by Manalapan voters in 2002 that exists today — eliminating single-member districts but requiring two seats for ocean residents, two for the point and two more and the mayor for anyone, but all seven voted on by everyone.
    Brennan, an oceanside resident, wants the commission to consider modifying that system because oceanfront voters feel powerless.
    He proposed the at-large election of two ocean commissioners, two from the point and alternating the mayor between an ocean and point resident every four or six years, with term limits for all.
    “It gives both a perception of fair representation and de-escalates who’s paying for what and creates a commission that’s more manageable,” he said.
    Brennan believes the seven-member commission is unwieldy and would be more effective with five commissioners. “We have the smallest population of any town around and the biggest commission,” he said.
    Other commissioners quickly challenged his contention that ocean residents weren’t being represented adequately or their concerns being addressed.
    A former mayor was an oceanside resident (Thomas Gerrard) and one of the recent at-large positions was held by another (Peter Evans), even though point voters outnumber those on the beach, Mayor Basil Diamond noted.
    Brennan and beach resident Dennis Hammond said oceanfront security was at the root of the complaint.  
    Commissioners David Cheifetz and Bill Quigley challenged that claim, saying that the commission approved a weekend beach patrol beginning this month and a weekend marine patrol starting next summer.
    “When people on A1A said they’ve had a problem, we’ve tried to solve the problem,” Cheifetz said.
    The commission took no action on Brennan’s proposal, and he asked commissioners to consider it for the future.
    On other proposals considered during the charter workshop, the commission also declined to act on Diamond’s proposal to allow the mayor to be counted toward a quorum when four commissioners aren’t present and to vote in that instance.
    As an alternative, he suggested that the commission consider allowing the mayor to vote in all instances. Now, the mayor votes only in the event of a tie. No action was taken.
    Unless the commission acts before Feb. 8, the only charter question on the ballot in March will be on term limits. Voters will decide whether to limit commissioners to two consecutive two-year terms or a commissioner and mayor in combination for three terms in a row.
    In other business, commissioners voted unanimously to seek proposals to handle the town’s police dispatch services. The town spends more than $200,000 annually for three full-time and four part-time dispatchers to handle emergency and non-emergency calls. Police deal with only about 50 calls to 911 each month.
    After experimenting with a 3 p.m. start of Town Commission meetings for one month, the commission decided to revert to a 9:30 a.m. time for its monthly meeting. October’s meeting ran four hours, until 7 p.m.          

Daniela Nikolova-Popova demonstrates an equation during the conference Group Theory, Combinatorics and Computing, held in Highland Beach. Libby Volgyes/The Coastal Star

By Libby Volgyes

    It doesn’t matter that Daniela Nikolova-Popova has studied and researched extraordinarily complex mathematics all over the world.
    The brains of undergraduate Florida Atlantic University students still invigorate her these days.
    “You need these young people, and they need you,” she said. “Through the process of teaching, you develop these ideas. I have been doing both (research and teaching) all my life … But you cannot be a good teacher without inspiring them into research and showing them your own research.”
    Nikolova-Popova came to FAU six years ago at the urging of Professor Spyros Magliveras, the chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, who met her in Germany at a research conference in 2005.
    Though she was born in Bulgaria to a family of mathematicians — her mother a university professor in geometry, her uncle a distinguished professor in complex analysis, her cousin a professor in modeling theory and her father an engineer — for a while she struggled with the decision of whether she should follow in those family members’ footsteps.
    “I was interested in mathematics and language,” she said. “For some time, I had a dilemma — whether to go into mathematics or languages. My mother was discouraging me, saying it would be hard to be a woman in mathematics one day. But I chose it, knowing that if I chose mathematics I would still use languages, but if I chose languages, I would not use mathematics.”
    By the time she was 25, she knew German, Russian, English, French and Bulgarian. Her choice of mathematics led her to specialize in group theory, computer algebra, combinatorics, artificial intelligence and computer science. She also has a special interest in gender studies.
    “Usually boys and girls start on an equal basis, but then girls do not have the courage to persevere in careers in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) for different reasons,” she said.
“So the purpose of gender studies in general is to promote, to encourage girls to have the courage to do that. They are not more stupid than men; they simply do not believe it. Of course, it’s more difficult to have a family. But one is sure there’s not a physical difference in the brain between girls and boys.”
    As part of her ongoing encouragement of women in mathematics, she gave a special session for women scientists at the most recent conference she hosted at FAU — Group Theory, Combinatorics and Computing, staged Oct. 3-8 at the Highland Beach Holiday Inn. The conference brought in mathematicians from all over the world, representing 14 different nationalities. Thirty percent of the speakers invited were women.
    “It’s a continuous process (passing information) from the older generation to the younger generation,” she said.
    This is not the first notable conference she’s put on. She started organizing them in 2000 in Varna, Bulgaria — that one was titled “Algebraic Combinatorics and Computer Algebra.”
    Then, in 2002, she put on another for the group European Women in Mathematics. The conference coincided with her 50th birthday. Ten years later — though it didn’t fall exactly on her birthday — she wanted to do it again for her 60th birthday. 
    Nikolova-Popova lives in Ocean Ridge and wakes up early every morning to do two things: photograph the sunrise and then go for a swim in the ocean.
While the words of Baudelaire float through her head, she gazes at the clouds and allows herself this time to enjoy Florida nature — the birds, the clouds, the sun shining down on her. Soon it will be time for her students once again.  
    “It’s amazing how creative these students can be when you give them a hand and show them the way,” she said. “When you show them how you can apply their knowledge, they get very excited.”
    She met her husband, Georgi Popova, in 1985 at the Technical University in Aachen, Germany. They got married exactly six months later.
    Although Georgi is an engineer, their two sons are both dedicating their lives to music, not mathematics.
Theodor, 25, attended Princeton on a full scholarship and became an opera composer.
Borislav, 23, is a baritone opera singer graduating in Bulgaria this year.
    Nikolova-Popova loves the arts and spends her time at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Kravis Center attending musicals, opera and theater.
    “No wonder that my children went into art, because it was sleeping in me all my life,” she said.                         

Colette Vavrus (left) and Taylor Redd celebrate their robotic car’s  parking success. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Emily J. Minor

    In a bright, sunny classroom — the bright part being the students themselves — two seventh-grade girls are exploding in joy. Arms thrown over their heads, smiles wide, little beige uniform skirts flouncing as they bounce, these two have just done something most of the other kids are still scratching their heads over.
    Their computer-programmed robotic car went straight, made a right and parked — perfectly — in the masking-tape parking spot right up against the classroom wall.
    “This was about our 15th try, so it was very exciting,” said Taylor Redd, 13, a student in the robotics class taught by Shawn Harahush and his sidekick, Glenn Harland, at Gulf Stream School.
“It was A LOT of trial error,” said her partner, Colette Vavrus, 12.
You wouldn’t think a gaggle of 12- and 13-year-olds would get all psyched up about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Education bureaucrats call those fields STEM for short.
    But in this fifth-period class, kids have been known to stay after the bell. “Where did the time go?” Mr. Harland himself exclaimed on a recent Wednesday. Sure, these students will be driving in a few years. They’re discovering puppy love. High school, and a whole new school campus, isn’t far off. But there was one of them the other day, on her hands and knees, looking for the Lego piece she’d dropped on the classroom floor.
With bags of the click-together plastic toys that a lot of them played with as young children, students are learning how to use math, science, engineering and plain old logic to make their robots do what they’re supposed to do. A system called Lego Mindstorms, a computer program and the two lovable teachers help this process along.
    “At first, some of them say, ‘I don’t think I can do this,’ ” said Harahush, a self-avowed technology geek and a math teacher at Gulf Stream. “Then they start plugging away and trying things, and they start figuring it out.”

ABOVE: Teacher Glenn Harland helps Kelly Coughland and William Conder with their programming commands.

    The robotics class that Harahush and Harland, the science-teacher part of this team, run at Gulf Stream is mandatory, but there are no grades. At first, say the students, they weren’t sure they wanted to give up their study hall time for this.
    Now, of course, these two are everyone’s favorite teachers.
    Harahush says he found the program a few years back on a YouTube video, and was immediately amazed because one of the students — a college kid, he thinks — had built a robot that could solve a Rubik’s Cube. As Harahush tells the story, he looks at student Serena Martin, 12, as if to say she might someday be that college kid.
“If I do that, it will be a complete accident,” she assured him.
With computer software that’s included in the kit, these students wire their robots to distinguish colors. (Follow the black line, not the red one.) The robotic vehicles turn, stop, back up, all programmed by the kids themselves.
And it’s the buddy system, so it’s all about teamwork — and range of motion, proportional reasoning and axis programming. (Whatever that is.)
    “Right now, we’re just trying to get it straight, but it keeps turning because the power levels are different,” said Sophia Bourguignon, 12, explaining this so nonchalantly it’s as though she’s discussing a sale at Old Navy.
    There are about a dozen kids in the class, most of them girls, which means Henry Chardack, 12, is sorely outnumbered — a little something he’s used to.
    “I’ve been [in class] with every single one of these girls for nine years,” Chardack said. “And they’re just better organized.”
    Him? “I’m just really good at building things,” he said.
And humble, too.                

Between the two of them, Connie Wichman and owner Bruce Wenzel have worked more than 95 years at the store.  Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley
    
When Bruce Wenzel started operating Mercer Wenzel in 1958, he lived in Fort Lauderdale. He drove to his store in Delray Beach along U.S. 1 because there was no interstate. Back then, he had to contend with only one traffic light.
    The family-run department store he owned at 401 E. Atlantic Ave. was the only large retailer in the area.  
    Of course, things changed.
    And Wenzel has done well for himself and his staff, including his children who have worked with him full-time since 1988.
    Daughter Chris Wenzel recalls wrapping gifts during the Christmas holidays when she was 8 years old. Today, she handles the business side and is the “go-to” person when there are problems.
    “It’s a lot of responsibility,” she said.
    Son Mark Wenzel has memories of stocking shelves and doing maintenance at age 14. Today he’s in men’s wear.
    Together, the family has survived seasonal customers, hurricanes and even a firebombing in 1968 that destroyed the shop. No one has ever been arrested for the crime, and the family still doesn’t know why it happened. But they shoveled out the store, threw a fire sale and rebuilt what stands today.
    Late this month — probably before Thanksgiving  — Mercer Wenzel will close its doors for the last time.
    So if you pass the shop windows now, you’ll see vintage red “25 percent storewide clearance” signs. These are the very same signs the family hung for their long-ago fire sale.
    “We are at the point where staying open requires major changes. My father is 85, and he has worked hard for 54 and a half years. It’s time for us to do something else, “ Chris said.
    It’s clear that tradition and the past mean a lot to this crew, but the future is now.  
    Founder Bruce hopes to continue breakfasting at the Green Owl Restaurant across the street. He’ll participate in Rotary activities and be an active member of The Ocean Club in Ocean Ridge.
    He also hopes to travel. “Any place I go will be new to me because I haven’t been able to get away a lot over the years,” he says.
    Mark is thinking of buying houses and refurbishing them. “I want to do something positive that adds to the community,” he said.
    And Chris has her future charted as the owner of Truly Tropical, a 5-acre grove in Delray Beach. She raises organic mangoes and other tropical fruits that she plans to market. She’ll also be able to spend more time with her own daughter, Kaeli Stenroos, 14.
    At Mercer Wenzel, the merchandise and fixtures as well as the building itself are for sale. The family hopes the property will be refurbished and leased to other businesses.
    The closing, however, leaves a hole in many lives.
    Store buyer Connie Wichman has worked here for 41 years selecting merchandise and designing the store windows. “This has been a big part of my life,” she said, adding that she will miss her “amazing and wonderful staff.”
    Anna Diebold, who works upstairs in children’s, linens and gifts, will put her master’s in education to work. She hopes to become a substitute teacher and then work with children with special needs.
    Today, customers stop to catch the sales, chat with their favorite salespeople and wish the family good luck. Many have tears in their eyes.
    Mindy Parsons, who works nearby, remembers coming to Mercer Wenzel as a child to buy her Brownie and Girl Scout uniforms.
    Pam Dobson of Boca Raton admits to being around one more year than the store. She has often bought her husband’s clothes here because they are the only one to stock sports coats he’ll wear, she says.
    Today she is shopping with her aunt, Anita Buckmaster of Delray Beach, who has been frequenting this store for about 20 years.
    Together they’ve spent 1½ hours filling seven shopping bags. Perhaps Buckmaster said it best when she spoke of the closing: “It’s sad, very sad. I live nearby, and I will miss them.”                     

ABOVE: Even the mannequins and shelving are for sale now at Mercer Wenzel.

ABOVE: Guests can opt to have a massage by the waterfall at the pool.

By Mary Thurwachter
    
A decade has passed since Michael and Cheryl Crane scooped up a pair of plain-Jane 1950s apartment buildings and transformed them into a fetching boutique hotel with a whole lot of Key West-style appeal.
    No two rooms are exactly alike, and each is decorated with local artwork and murals. “Guests love it,” said sales and marketing director Ashley Mileschkowsky. “When they make reservations, they ask for the room with the sea turtle (mural) or the grotto shower.”
    Despite what guests at the 27-suite hotel may suspect, the hotel did not get its name from the long-legged birds known for noisy courting dances. Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar took its moniker from its owners, who have a home nearby.
    But that doesn’t mean guests won’t encounter a crane or two at the resort perched at the corner of Gleason and Miramar, two blocks from the beach. The cranes at Crane’s, however, have been fashioned by local artists and frequently find themselves in the background of vacation snapshots.
    While the cranes don’t dance around the hotel’s tiki bars and pools (there are two of each), tourists do, especially during happy hour from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Happy hours are open to the public, says hotel manager Cathy Balestriere.
    Since the early days in 2002, the staff has grown from three employees to 22 today, Balestriere says. Annual occupancy has risen from 23 percent to 68 percent. Some guests stay for a night, others for months.

Rooms at Crane’s boast Key West-style appeal.
Photos provided

    While it’s not technically a bed-and-breakfast, guests receive a complimentary continental breakfast in a large tiki hut constructed by Seminole Indians, and may opt for a soothing massage beside a waterfall in the lush tropical gardens.
    “They think of this as their beach house,” Mileschkowsky said. Couples are charmed by the place, she says, but families with children are welcome, too — as are dogs, who even get a special treat when they check in with their two-legged pals.
    “The key has been having guests return,” Balestriere said. “We invest in our guests.”
    Birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations are marked with special service, such as a bottle of wine or cake or other treats placed in the guests’ rooms when they arrive. If a guest is allergic to feathers, the feather bed is removed ahead of time. Ice cream bars and other treats are stocked in the in-room refrigerators.
    Crane’s BeachHouse is gearing up for its own celebration this month.
    “We are really excited about our birthday party on Nov. 15,” Balestriere said. “Several of the top chefs in Delray will compete to win ‘The Best Bite on the Avenue’ contest. The buzz of competition is already starting, and I am sure each of the head chefs will bring their top tastings to the event.”
    The event, billed as a 10-10-10 Win-Win-Win Party, takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and caps this year’s series of Third Thursday Fundraisers at Crane’s. Admission is free, and there will be live music.
    Every time someone buys a drink, he/she receives a special gold coin. Visitors will be encouraged to drop their coins in their favorite restaurant/charity’s treasure chest. By the end of the evening, each charity receives $1 for every gold coin.
    “That’s why our 10-10-10 party is win-win-win for everyone,” Balestriere said. “Restaurants and charities get to promote themselves, and party-goers get to enjoy great food and great company.”      
    For more information on the party or the hotel at 82 Gleason St. in Delray Beach, call 278-1700 or www.cranesbeachhouse.com.

A whimsical sign shows the way to points of interest at Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar.

Most Palm Beach County Beach Parks

Still Closed to Swimming

With the exception of Boca-South Inlet, all Palm Beach County ocean beaches remain closed to swimmers due to high surf and greater amounts of debris in water and deposited on shore.  Crews are waiting for lower tide to begin debris removal and lifeguards are monitoring conditions and public access.  Inland swimming locations (Dubois and Phil Foster Parks) are open.

Stay tuned to local news outlets for the latest information. For instant access to emergency information, follow us on Twitter @PBCDEM and @PBCGOV, become a fan on Facebook, or visit www.pbcgov.com.

Most Palm Beach County Beach Parks Still Closed to Swimming

With the exception of Boca-South Inlet, all Palm Beach County ocean beaches remain closed to swimmers due to wind gusts, high surf and debris in the water. PBC Ocean Rescue personnel will continue to monitor beaches and reopen them as conditions improve. Inland swimming locations (Dubois, Phil Foster and Peanut Island Parks) are open. Some of the ocean beaches may be opened following the next low tide at this afternoon. Stay tuned to local news outlets for the latest information. For instant access to emergency information, follow us on Twitter @PBCDEM and @PBCGOV, become a fan on Facebook, or visit www.pbcgov.com.

Palm Beach County Closes All

Beach Parks to Swimming

All Palm Beach County operated beaches have been closed to swimming due to large surf, big shore break, 50 mph gusts and a great deal of debris in the water. Other beaches controlled by municipalities may also be closed to swimming. The beaches will be flying double red flags to alert beachgoers. The beaches will be surveyed after the storm passes with the expectation that they will open Saturday morning.

Stay tuned to local news outlets for the latest information. For instant access to emergency information, follow us on Twitter @PBCDEM and @PBCGOV, become a fan on Facebook, or visit www.pbcgov.com. 

Take Palm Tran to Vote Early

Palm Tran, Palm Beach County’s public transportation agency, has several routes that serve Palm Beach County early voting locations. Riders seeking to participate in the County's early voting process can avoid the potential of long lines and parking on Election Day.  Early voting begins Saturday, October 27 through Saturday, November 3,

2012.  Voting times are 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. daily.

Voting Locations:

•   Acreage Branch Library- no Palm Tran bus service

•   Belle Glade City Hall- Routes 47 and 48

•   Boca Raton City Hall- Routes 1, 91 and 92

•   Delray Beach Public Library- Routes 70 and 81

•   Hagen Ranch Road Library- Route 81

•   Jupiter Branch Library-  Route 10

•   Lantana Branch Library- Routes 63 and 71

•   Okeechobee Boulevard Branch Library- Routes 43 and 44

•   Palm Beach Gardens Library- Routes 1, 20 and 21

•   Riviera Beach City Hall- Routes 20, 30 and 33

•   Supervisor of Elections Office- Route 3

•   Wellington Branch Library- Route 40

•   West Boca Branch Library- Route 91

•   West Boynton Branch Library- no Palm Tran bus service

For more information on Palm Tran routes, please call the customer service department at 561-841-4287.

October 18, 2012:  The City of Delray Beach wants everyone to have a safe and fun Halloween. It is one of the most exciting times of the year for children, but sometimes the most hectic for parents. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) encourages parents to review the following tips to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween:

1. Instruct your older children to TAKE FRIENDS when "Trick or Treating."

2. Make sure a TRUSTED ADULT, an older child or you accompany your younger children when "Trick or Treating." A trusted adult is a person parents/guardians have come to rely on and with whom they and their children feel comfortable. Discuss with your child who will accompany them and make sure you are both comfortable with the choice.

3. Accompany, or make sure a trusted adult accompanies, your younger children to the door of every home that they approach. Become familiar with each home your child visits and the people who are providing Halloween treats to your children.

4. Teach your children to only enter homes with your prior permission and only approach homes that are well-lit, both inside and outside.

5. Teach your children to NEVER approach a vehicle unless they are accompanied by you, even if it appears no one is inside the vehicle.

6. Make sure your children wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight or glow stick when traveling during the evening hours.

7. Make sure your children are able to see and breathe properly and easily when using facial masks. All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant.

8. Teach your children to always stay in well-lit areas, never take shortcuts, and never go into isolated areas.

9. Teach your children to stay alert for any suspicious incidents and report anything unusual to you and/or law enforcement.

10. Teach your children, that if anyone tries to grab them to draw attention to themselves and loudly yell "This person is trying to take me," or "This person is not my father/mother." Instruct your children to make every effort to escape by walking, running or pulling away; yelling; kicking; attracting attention; and/or otherwise resisting.

11. Consider organizing or attending parties at home, in schools or in community centers as a good alternative to "Trick or Treating."

For more information, contact Sgt. Nicole Guerriero, Delray Beach Police Department Community Relations Officer, at (561) 243-7841 or E-mail Guerriero@mydelraybeach.com.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1984 and serves as the nation's resource on the issues of missing and sexually exploited children. The organization provides information and resources to law enforcement, parents, children (including child victims) as well as other professionals and operates the toll-free 24 hour national missing children's hotline 1-800-THE-LOST. For more information, visit www.missingkids.com.

Presidential Debate Road Closures

Beginning at 6:00 am Monday, October 22, 2012 and lasting until 2:00 am Tuesday, October 23, 2012 the following roads will be closed by the Boca Raton Police Services Department for the Presidential Debate at Lynn University.

• Military Trail from Yamato Road to Potomac Road.
• Potomac Road from NW 24^th Ave to Military Trail.
• Spanish River Blvd from Broken Sound Blvd to Military Trail.

*Other road closures should be anticipated throughout the debate period.

For up to the minute information please visit www.bocapolice.com

Pay it Forward is our new calendar designed to celebrate the many philanthropic events in the community from October through April each year. To submit your event, please contact Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net
Events in this listing are current as of 9/28. Please check with organizers for any changes.

October  6

Saturday - 10/6 - Shred Your Personal Papers Event at Boca Raton Lions Club, 399 NW 35th St. Help the club fund eye examinations and prescription glasses for the community. 1-3 pm. $5/regular-size storage box. 512-2675.
10/6 - Golf Classic at Osprey Point Golf Course, 12551 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Tee off to support Florida Fishing Academy. 1:30 pm/registration, 2 pm/scramble. $100/player, $375/foursome. 740-7227.
10/6 - Delray Bash at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave. Savor signature dishes from local restaurants to benefit American Lung Association. 7-9:30 pm. Guests must be 21 years old. $50-$60. 659-7644, Ext. 1601, or www.thedelraybash.com.

October 7-13

Wednesday - 10/10 - Girls, Pearls, Hats & Heels at Delray Dunes County Club, 12005 Dunes Road, Boynton Beach. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of shopping in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Presented by Delray Beach Public Library and Bethesda Hospital Foundation. 11 am-1:30 pm. $40. 266-0775.
10/10 - Tribute to Henrietta, Countess deHoernle and her Legacy of Giving at St. Jude Catholic Church, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. Celebrate deHoernle’s 100th birthday while benefiting St. Jude Church & School. Noon. $50. 314-1250.
Friday - 10/12 - Signature Chefs Auction at Marriott Boca Raton at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle. Bring an appeite and some friends to support March of Dimes.  6:30-7:30 pm/VIP reception, 7:30-10 pm/tasting and auctions. $195. 290-0901.
10/12 - Casino Royale at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive. Enter the daring world of James Bond at a “shaken-not-stirred” event benefiting Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. 7 pm. $150. 683-3287, Ext. 28, or www.bgcpbc.org.
Saturday - 10/13 - Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse’s 13th Annual Race for Hope at Anchor Park, A1A, Delray Beach. All ages can participate in the 10K Run, 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s Dash. 6:30 am/registration, 7:30 am /start. $30-35/advance, $35-40/race day. 265-3797, Ext. 109.
10/13 - 23rd Annual Celebration by the Sea at Delray Beach Club, 2001 S Ocean Blvd. Gala features waterfront dining, fine wines and spirits, and dancing to live music under the moon and stars to benefit Hospice by the Sea. The club requests that guests refrain from wearing denim or shorts. 5:30-10 pm. $125. 416-5007.

October 14-20

Sunday - 10/14 - 18th Annual C.R.O.S. Walk at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 211 Trinity Place, West Palm Beach. Take steps to benefit the ministries of Christians Reaching Out to Society, which has provided a secure food source for families for 33 years. Participants collect pledges for a 5K walk on Flagler Drive along the Intracoastal Waterway. 2:30 pm/registration, 3 pm/walk. 233-9009, Ext. 106, or www.crosministries.org.
Thursday - 10/18 - Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. The Junior League of Boca Raton pays tribute to local women and their pledge to volunteerism. 10:30 am. $125-$200. 213-2497 or www.jlbr.org/wvoy.
10/18 - Lights Out at Rosso Italia, 1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Learn what it’s like to be visually impaired during a fundraising dinner for Stand Among  Friends, in which guests are blindfolded. 7 pm. $85. 297-2208.
Saturday - 10/20 - Third Annual Scarecrow Festival at St. Ann Catholic School, 324 N. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Enjoy Native-American dancers, hay rides, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating and a corn-shucking contest to benefit Historical Society of Palm Beach County. 11 am-2 pm. $10. 832-4164, Ext. 106.
10/20 - St. Vincent Ferrer Golf & Tennis Classic at Quail Ridge Country Club, 3715 Golf Road, Boynton Beach. Proceeds benefit the parish and its children through the Ferrer Fund. 11:30 am/registration, 12:30 pm/shotgun start, 12:30 pm/Tennis Round-Robin Mixer, 5:30 pm/Oktoberfest dinner and celebration. Golf: $125/player, $500/foursome; Tennis: $100/player, $200/team; Oktoberfest: $45. 276-6892.
10/20 - Palm Beaches Crab Cake Cook-Off at Lake Pavilion and Terrace, City  Commons and Waterfront, West Palm Beach. Enjoy a tasty benefits for the Parent-Child Center. 6:30-9 pm. Regular tickets: $55/person, $100/couple; VIP tickets: $95/person. 841-3500, Ext. 1081, or www.gocpg.org.

October 21-27

Sunday - 10/21 - 18th Annual Buddy Walk at John Prince Park, 2700 Sixth Ave. S, Lake Worth. Acknowledge the talents and capabilities of children and adults with Down Syndrome. 8 am-1 pm. $15-$20. 752-3383 or buddywalk.kintera.org/gcdso.
Wednesday - 10/24 - “Augmented Reality” Art Fundraiser at Max’s Harvest, 169 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach. Enjoy drinks and appetizers to benefit Artworks4food during a demonstration that layers digital information onto real-world objects. 6-8 pm. $30/advance, $40/event. 889-3575 or www.artworks4food.org.
Friday - 10/26 - Ninth Annual Go Pink Luncheon at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. Join the fight against breast cancer to benefit Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. 11 am-1:30 pm. $150. 955-4142 or www.brrh.com/Foundation.aspx.
Saturday - 10/27 - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Boca Raton at Mizner Park Amphitheatre, 590 Plaza Real. Put on a pink bra and take a big step to help end a disease that threatens the lives of so many loved ones. 9 am. Free for spectators. 394-7751.
10/27 - Raising the Barre with Susan G. Komen at two locations: Palm Beach Studio, 340 Royal Poinciana Way, Suite No. 307; Delray Beach Studio, 200 NE Second Ave., Suite No.111. Participate in barre and yoga classes, and get spoiled with massages, facials and hair styling, with proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 9 am-noon at Palm Beach Studio, 833-8999. 3-6 pm at Delray Beach Studio, 366-5899.
Sunday - 10/28 - Par for Promise Golf Classic at Boca Greens Country Club, 19642 Trophy Drive, Boca Raton. Help support Family Promise of South Palm Beach County during a day of golf. Noon/registration, lunch and warm-up; 1:30 pm/shotgun start. $175/player; $650/foursome; $40/awards dinner. 212-8092.

November

Friday - 11/2 - Expedition Epilepsy at Palm Beach Zoo, 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach. Encounter animals, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and dance under the starts in support of Epilepsy Foundation of Florida. 6-8 pm. $50. 478-6515 or www.epilipsyfla.org.
11/2 - Boca Bus Loop at The Spaniard, 99 SE Mizner Blvd. Tour Boca Raton venues to benefit Junior League of Boca Raton, Golden Bell and Spirit of Giving, and receive a free drink or other item at each venue. 5:30-9 pm/check-in; 6-11 pm/Bus Loop. $20/door, free/designated drivers. 954-574-6000.

November 6: Bethesda Hospital Foundation’s Magnolia Society will sponsor a 10 a.m. brunch at The Ocean Club, 6849 N. Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge. The society supports the Women of Grace Luncheon’s efforts to fund the hospital’s Center for Women & Children. Tickets: $250/renewing members, $500/first-time members. For information, call 737-7733, Ext. 84445, or visit www.bethesdahospitalfoundation.org. Photo: Magnolia Society chairwomen at the 2011 event were Peggy Martin, Eileen Augustyn, Bettina Young and Phyllis Spinner. Photo provided

Friday - 11/9 - David T. Harden Preservation Award at Delray Beach Golf Club, 2200 Highland Ave. Honor Delray Beach City Manager David Harden at a dinner sponsored by Delray Beach Preservation Trust. 6 pm. $50. 276-8968.

November 10: A fundraiser for Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, the Take Steps Walk will get under way at 3 p.m. at CityPlace, 700 S Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach. Free for spectators, the walk raises money to aid the more than 1.4 million Americans affected by digestive diseases. For information, call (800) 932-2423, or visit www.ccfa.org.          Photo: Walk Chairwoman Wendy Greenhut, with husband, Doug, and daughter Jamie. Photo provided

Wednesday - 11/14 - Women of Grace Luncheon at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, 100 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Witness an elegant, heart-warming and inspiring event that honors five volunteers for their work and accomplishments and benefits Bethesda Hospital Foundation. 10:30 a.m. $100. 737-7733, Ext. 84445.
Thursday - 11/15 - National Philanthropy Day at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Recognize philanthropy’s role in enriching lives and honor philanthropists Harry and Deborah Sargeant III. 11:30 am-1 pm. $100. 848-7200, Ext. 3250 or 3286.
Friday - 11/16 - Delray Beach Stiletto Race at SE Fourth Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Strap on those stilettos and race to support Achievement Centers for Children & Families Foundation. 5-8 pm. $25. 266-0003.
Thursday - 11/29 - Grand Opening at Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service Food Pantry, 430 S Congress Ave., Delray Beach. Share the vision, work and generosity of those who made the Food Pantry possible. 5:30 p.m. Free. 852-3333 or www.ruthralesjfs.org.
Friday - 11/30 - Wee Dream Ball at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Place, Boca Raton. Experience an event as energetic and unique as the children it helps while benefiting Florence Fuller Child Development Centers. 7-11 p.m. $250. 391-7274, Ext. 128.

December

Monday-Wednesday - 12/3-5 - Holiday Trunk Show & Preview Cocktail Reception at The Seagate Hotel & Spa, 1000 E Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Monday: Preview goodies and gift items at a cocktail reception. 6-8 pm. $85. Tuesday-Wednesday:  Shop for jewelry, accessories, home decor and a variety of other items during the 10th annual fundraiser for Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys & Girls Club. 9 am-5 pm. Free. 683-3287.
Thursday - 12/6 - Major Gifts Event at St. Andrews Country Club, 17557 W Claridge Oval, Boca Raton. Laud Harvey and Phyllis Sandler for being the largest donors in the history of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Annual Campaign. 6 pm. $125. 852-3333.
Saturday - 12/8 - River of Grass Gala at The Colony, 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach. Preserve and protect the Everglades by attending this “green-tie’ affair. 6:30 p.m. $350. 233-9004.
12/8 - 12th Annual Caridad Center “Wrapping up Your Holiday Wishes” Gala at Four Season Resort, 2800 S Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach.  An evening of auctions, gourmet food, drink and dancing that honors four dentists for their 20-year volunteer efforts at Caridad Center. 7 pm. $250. 582-2800.

To submit your event, please contact Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net

Construction of the Boca Raton Library, at the corner of Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest Fourth Street, is on schedule.  This is the front entrance. The 42,000-square-foot facility, set to open in 2013, will be almost twice the size of the current library, which opened 50 years ago.  Photo provided

A 1939 home slated for demolition was recently rescued and moved from its original location on Northeast Second Street, just west of the Intracoastal Waterway, to 170 Marine Way, at the corner of Southeast Second Street. The two-story, three-bedroom home with an outdoor balcony was purchased by Mark and Lou Gambill of Richmond, Va., and Delray Beach, after they learned the house was scheduled to be torn down to make way for a new home on the Northeast Second Street location. The move, on Sept. 16, took about eight hours, according to architect Roger Cope, who helped the Gambills coordinate the project. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Ocean Ridge resident Luke Smith eats lunch at Hurricane Alley in Boynton Beach with Healy, a Labradoodle he was petsitting. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Arden Moore

You’re familiar with signs posted in restaurants that declare, “We have the right to refuse to serve anyone.” In Boynton Beach, look for restaurants to post a new sign that welcomes well-mannered dogs to be part of the dining experience.
    The new law, passed by a 3-1 vote by city commissioners in early September, permits leashed dogs in outdoor areas of restaurants with certain stipulations. Canines are not allowed to perch on laps of diners nor are they permitted to lap up leftovers on plates. Patrons are required to promptly clean up any doggy deposits. Don’t count on your dog being allowed inside the restaurant unless he or she is a service dog. Finally, look for the addition of hand sanitizer stations in place for staff and patrons.
    Happy with the law is the pet-friendly staff at the Village Tavern on North Congress Avenue.  The eatery has been a draw for dogs at their outdoor patio for many years. They regularly serve up grilled chicken breast (sans any seasoning) for pampered pooch patrons. And this restaurant has earned high marks from pet-loving patrons on restaurant review sites.
    “We don’t have a pet menu — yet,” says Shannon Zwicker, one of the restaurant’s managers. “On Saturday nights, we feature live music. Some people enjoy bringing their entire families to listen and that includes their dogs.”
    The law does not mandate that restaurants must cater to canines, but it is viewed as another way to drum up business and boost the bottom line. It also reflects the growing trend that in the 21st century, pets are full-fledged members of the family.
This opportunity caters to friendly dogs with good table manners. I urge you to candidly size up your dog’s mastery of basic obedience commands and his temperament, especially outside your home. Does he get easily stressed in new places or unleash a barrage of barks at new dogs he meets? This type of dog would be best left home.
I also urge restaurant owners to invite professional dog trainers to give talks to their staff on canine behavior and body postures. The goal is to keep the staff safe while serving food and interacting with canine guests.
Sadly, a waitress was mauled by a Mastiff at a restaurant in Miami Beach recently and need more than 300 stitches to close the wounds on her face. The large dog had been irritated by a pair of barking dogs at the eatery, according to a witness. When the waitress bent down to give the Mastiff a bowl of water, her body loomed over his and she was inches from his face. Sensing this as a threat, this leashed dog responded by attacking. This incident is causing some restaurants to re-think their pet policies.
    Think safety first — for everyone — when it comes to offering pet-welcoming opportunities. With Boynton Beach taking a lead on this issue, l saw the need to dish up these tips to make the dining experience pleasant for all patrons:
    * Rein in your dog. To prevent your four-legged friend from begging or bothering patrons at neighboring tables, please keep him on a short leash — 4- or 6-foot — and definitely, do not tether him to a retractable leash.
    * Exercise your dog before heading to the restaurant. To increase the chances that your canine companion will be mellow while you enjoy a meal, take him out for a brisk walk first. The aerobic exercise will benefit the both of you and make him more apt to nap under the table while you dine.
     * Scope out the scene before sitting down. Request to be seated in a corner or away from the patio’s entrance to minimize your dog from barking or wanting to rudely sniff other patrons and their dogs. Keep your dog from being overheated by finding a table that offers shade and bring a portable water bowl.
     * Paw it forward. By that I mean to be courteous to the restaurant staff, bring only dogs who star in social settings and certainly leave a generous tip. These actions can boost the dog-welcoming movement.
    For this column, I visited several social media sites and discovered plenty of people are yapping about this new law. My informal research shows that people are in favor of pets parked under tables by a 2-to-1 margin.
    Here’s a sampling of the range of response to the new doggy dining law:
    “In 10 years, I’ve never seen a dog do anything unpleasant at dinner. Owners have always been responsible and polite.”
    “My son is allergic to dogs. I love dogs, but do not understand why people think they have to drag them around everywhere they go.”
    “I’d rather have a dog next to me than a crying kid!”
    And, here’s my personal favorite: “I have a pet pig that is very well behaved. Can I bring my pet pig?”
    Leaders in neighboring cities are keeping close tabs on this move by Boynton Beach.
So, where do you stand on this new law? Is it long overdue or will the city law motivate you to eat elsewhere?
Send your comments to arden@fourleggedlife.com.  
    Bone appetit!

    Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and certified pet first aid instructor. She happily shares her home with two dogs, two cats and one overworked vacuum cleaner. Tune in to her Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com and learn more by visiting www.fourleggedlife.com.

Bobby, Marge, Caron, Bob, Nancy, Maureen and Jim Dockerty serve as celebrity chefs and bartenders at ‘Dine Out For A Cause,’
raising $2,000 in celebration of the library’s 100th birthday.

Clayton Peart, Robert Hickok and Marissa Garone-Blatz
attended the event.  The donations and silent-auction bids garnered more than $1,000 to benefit the Delray Beach Preservation Trust.

South Palm Beach Town Council members Robert Gottlieb and Bonnie Fischer supported the literacy luncheon.