Boca Pointe MAR 26 B 21-28

Director Of Security

Five Keys to Keeping Boca Pointe the Safest Community

By Ebenson Bristol

Boca Pointe’s reputation as one of the safest and most welcoming communities in South Florida is something we create together. Every resident plays a role in maintaining the secure, peaceful environment we all value. These five keys help strengthen our shared commitment to safety.

1. Stay Alert and Aware

A watchful community is a safe community. Whether you’re walking, driving, or simply enjoying the outdoors,

staying aware of your surroundings helps prevent issues before they arise. If something doesn’t seem right, report it to security by calling Access control 561-395-3392. Boca Pointe’s security Patrol team and Access control are here 24 hours a day. Save the Access Control number on your phone. The more residents use these resources, the more effective they become. Remember, if something doesn’t look right or feels right, trust your instincts and report it.

2. Keep Access Points Secure

Small habits make a big difference. Lock doors, secure garages, and avoid leaving key fobs or valuables in your vehicle. These simple steps help reduce opportunity and maintain the low-incident environment Boca Pointe is known for.

3. Support Security Procedures at the Gates

Our security officers follow strict post orders designed to protect the entire community. When officers ask your guests for identification, please remind your guests to comply. Officers are not required to remember faces or

recognize returning guests. Even if a guest was at the gate just ten minutes earlier, the officer may still request ID, and that means the officer is doing exactly what they are trained and required to do. Your cooperation ensures smooth entry and strengthens our overall security here at Boca Pointe.

4. Look Out for One Another

Community connection is one of Boca Pointe’s greatest strengths. Get to know your neighbors, exchange contact information, and keep an eye out when someone is away. A quick check-in or friendly wave reinforces the sense of unity that keeps our community strong.

5. Stay Informed and Involved

Engagement is one of the best tools for prevention. Attend board meetings, read updates from the Master Association, and stay connected with neighborhood initiatives. The more informed we are, the safer we remain. 

From The Desk Of Commissioner Marci Woodward

A Message from Marci

Two years ago, a veteran approached me with an idea that has stayed close to my heart, the creation of a Veterans Services Advisory Board to help veterans in our county navigate available services and to give veterans a voice in shaping those programs. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend one of their board meetings and was reminded just how critical these services are and how challenging it can be to know where to start.

With the board’s support, I asked our county staff to create a one-page crisis resource flyer that can be shared throughout the community, ensuring that veterans have quick access to essential services. We are also working on a comprehensive online landing page that will include employment opportunities, transportation options, legal assistance, community organizations, veteran events, and county agenda items that impact veterans.

This cause is personal for me. My father was a veteran, so I understand firsthand how complicated navigating these systems can be. While we continue to develop the landing page, I wanted to share a few emergency crisis resources and the largest South Florida veterans Facebook group to help

veterans access immediate support. If you have information you’d like to see included on the landing page, please contact my office.

Additionally, after seeing how valuable these discussions are, I plan to include a Veterans Services section in my newsletter so that we can share resources and updates each month, helping our veterans and their families access the services they need more easily.

You must be enrolled in the VA to access a number of these resources—call 877-222-8387 for help getting started. Emergency Hotlines:

• Veterans Crisis Hotline: Call or text 988 then press 1 or chat online at www.veteranscrisisline.net. No enrollment required; can remain anonymous.

• National Homeless Veterans Call Center: Call (877) 4243838 where trained counselors are ready to talk confidentially. Housing and Homelessness:

• Palm Beach County Human Services: Call (561) 355-4775 for assistance with emergency rent and utility payments, food vouchers, indigent cremation, and other support services.

• Stand Down House: Call (561) 968-1612 for emergency transitional housing for veterans experiencing addiction, mental health challenges, or PTSD.

• Salvation Army Center of Hope: Call (561) 682-1118 for transitional housing for eligible male veterans. Emergency Support Services:

• Wounded Veterans Relief Fund: Call (561) 855-4207 for help with emergency financial needs and critical dental care.

Emergency Counseling/Mental Health:

• Palm Beach Vet Center (561) 422-1201 and Jupiter Vet Center (561) 422-1220: Call for counseling services for depression, PTSD, and other related mental health concerns. Community Facebook Group:

• Veterans of South Florida: A community for veterans to support one another by accessing resources, sharing events, submitting requests, and posting veteran-related information.

For any veteran-related questions, call our Community Services Hotline at 833-CSD-WILL

Thank you for allowing me to serve those who have served us. Your input is always welcome. Together, we can ensure that every veteran in our community has the support they deserve.

Homebuyer Match Pilot Program

I am thrilled to see the Homebuyer Match Pilot Program come to fruition, a program I initiated to help more residents in Palm Beach County achieve the dream of homeownership.

Please Help

This innovative program provides a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $50,000 toward the purchase of an eligible for-sale home, making it easier for hardworking families to put down roots in our county. Spring is in the air! Time to clean out your closets! The homeless in our area have a constant need of clothing. Please consider donating any used clothing to those less fortunate. The only requirement is that the clothes are clean and placed in a bag (no loose items). All clothing collected will be donated to local homeless shelters and programs. All clothing can be dropped off at the Boca Pointe Community Association Office at 6909 SW 18th Street, suite A120.

Thank you for your generosity and care for those in need. 

The pre-application portal will open on March 30, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. and will close on April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. A total of 30 applicants will be selected from the submitted pre-applications.

Informational orientations for interested parties are tentatively scheduled for:

• March 3 at 2:00 p.m.

• March 12 at 7:30 a.m.

• March 17 at 4:00 p.m.

• March 24 at 10:00 a.m.

Let’s Talk Property Taxes

I am embarking on a Property Taxes “Tour” throughout District 4, meeting directly with local HOA communities to discuss property taxes and the county budget. As this topic continues to be widely discussed at the state level, I believe it is important to engage directly with residents here in Palm Beach County.

I will provide a brief, 30-minute presentation that includes clear, hard numbers on our budget, potential reductions, and the services property taxes support.

We will also include an interactive poll to gather real-time feedback and better understand your perspectives.

If you would like me to visit your community, please have your HOA president or designated representative contact my office to schedule a date. I look forward to the conversation.

Nonprofit Spotlight

Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary is a local nonprofit dedicated to rescuing homeless, unwanted, senior, and special needs pets in Palm Beach County, giving them a second chance at loving forever homes.

Founded in 2015, Barky Pines operates with a devoted team and volunteers who care for animals that might otherwise be euthanized, providing rehabilitation in a loving, home-like environment. They also focus on matching pets with seniors, veterans, and individuals in rehabilitation programs to foster meaningful human-animal connections. Beyond adoptions, Barky Pines runs a low-cost veterinary clinic offering spay/neuter services and affordable care, helping pets stay healthy while reducing overpopulation.

As many of you know, I have adopted two wonderful dogs from Barky Pines, Fritz and Toby, and they have truly completed our family.

Recently, we bundled up and headed out to their 7th Annual Puppy Love 5K to cheer on participants and show our support for this incredible organization. A heartfelt thank you goes to Elizabeth Accomando for the invitation and most importantly, for bringing Fritz and Toby into our lives!

For more information, visit https:// barkypinesanimalrescue.com/

If you require assistance, please contact our office at 561-355-2204 or email Mwoodward@pbcgov.org. 

Board Of Directors

June 2025 – June 2027 Officers/Executive Committee

Chairman and President Robert Cornell

Vice President Steve Retzer

Vice Chairman Howard Weinstein

Secretary Chandra Stewart-Keith

Treasurer Lawrence Gelfond

District Directors

District 1 Morton Karper (Valencia)

Encantada, Valencia and The Palms

District 2 Chandra Stewart-Keith (Panaché)

Promenade, Imperial Royale, Imperial, Regency and Panaché

District 3 Steve Retzer (La Mirada)

La Mirada and Meridiana

District 4 Robert Greenstein (Lakes of La Paz)

El Viento, La Paz 1, La Paz 2, Lakes at La Paz, Lakes at La Paz 3 and Southwinds

District 5 Barbara Windheim (Esplanada)

Esplanada, Caravelle, Palomar, La Corniche, and El Dorado

District 6 Parrish Gamarra (Palladium)

Villa Flora, Montego Bay, Villa del Sol, and Palladium

District 7 John Mineo (The Plum)

The Plum/Cortina, Villa Sonrisa and Pointe 100

District 8 Robert Cornell (Costa Brava)

Costa del Sol and Costa Brava

District 9 Susan George (Edgewater)

Edgewater Pointe Estates and Stratford Court

At Large Directors Through June 2027

Jacob Stark (Costa Del Sol)

Howard Weinstein (El Dorado)

David Weinstock (Esplanada)

How Self-Aware Are We?

By Josette Veltri

Do you have enough curiosity to ask the question, “How self-aware am I?”

It is a penetrating thought that may inspire us to reflect on the areas of our lives that are on autopilot, and it may prompt us on a journey of greater enlightenment with more aha moments.

We often hear that it is just the beginning, indicating there is much more going on beneath the surface. And, the truth is, there is much more going on in our unconscious minds once we begin to dig deeper. In fact, research in neuroscience and behavioral psychology indicates that 90% to 95% of human decisions and behaviors are driven by the subconscious mind. These non-conscious processes are influenced by emotions, past experiences, and cognitive biases, acting

much faster than conscious thought. And, left unseen, unconscious patterns will create the same frustrations, angry thoughts, and feelings – and until we make the unconscious conscious, it will direct our lives, and we will call it fate. (Carl Jung)

Keeping this in mind, doesn’t it make sense to increase our self-awareness? If or when you are ready, the following are three ways to start:

1. Understand that we process information through our senses – seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling.

Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.

6909 SW 18th St., Suite A120

Boca Raton, FL 33433

Office (561) 395-7551 Fax (561) 395-5936

Email: info@bocapointe.com Website: www.bocapointe.com

Access Control

Operator: (561) 395-3392

Voice mail system: (561) 395-3369 Website: www.gateaccess.net

Staff

April Narine, General Manager

Lisa Cammaleri, Assistant Manager

Alexis Brito, Administrative Assistant

Ebenson Bristol, Director of Security

Viewpointe of Boca Pointe is the newspaper of Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.

Please direct all questions, comments or articles for Viewpointe to lisa.cammaleri@ fsresidential.com.

A special Thank You to our monthly volunteer contributing writers

Steve Handwerker

Judith Levy

Lisa Sileo

Ebenson

Bristol

Harriet Rubin

Anne Gannon

Elyse Weintraub Brown

Hillary Reynolds

Arthur Dermer

William A. Gralnick

Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera

Yishai Mizrahi

Lexi Miller

The Pap Corps

Robert W. Goldfarb

Marci Woodward

Josette Veltri

Hotwire

Ilene Brookler

Carolina Rosenthal

The views of the writers of the various articles in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Boca Pointe Community Association. The Association nor the individual writers are not responsible for claims or promises contained in any advertising material appearing in the Viewpointe. Such claims and promises are the sole responsibility of the individual advertiser.

Office Hours

Monday Through Friday 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m

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In other words, from the inside out. And here is where conscious awareness is helpful.

2. Becoming conscious of your outer environments –the people, places, and things that can set you off (your triggers). Self-awareness recognizes your personal beliefs, perspectives, biases, and judgments; you become aware of what you know and what you do not know.

3. Our self-awareness becomes strengthened when we know our values. Our values indicate what we prioritize and deem important.

However, please keep in mind we all have limitations –some are self-sabotaging in nature, others are self-imposed, and many are a direct result of a lack of self-awareness. It is said, we have met the enemy and he/she is us NOW, here’s a thought to ponder!

Josette Veltri, a Boca Pointe resident, is a certified educator and coach on loss and transition. Her purpose, to assist clients with healing and move forward so they can go from I Can’t to I Can, One Step at a Time. She can be reached at josette@nextstepnewstart.com (https://www. linkedin.com/in/josettejveltri/). 

Emergency Rooms – A Vital Community Service

By Arthur Dermer, Volunteer

About a year ago I fractured and dislocated my ankle. I was taken by ambulance to the Emergency Department at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. There I was examined, treated, sent to a hospital room and scheduled for surgery the next morning. Thankfully all went well. My orthopedic surgeon did a great job putting my ankle back together. That visit to the ER prompted me to do some research about ERs in our country.

Emergency rooms (ERs) also known as emergency departments, are critical access points within the American healthcare system that deliver urgent medical care 24/7. These facilities are designed to treat severe, life-threatening conditions, such as chest pains, major trauma, respiratory distress, and stroke. They also serve as safety-net providers for patients lacking primary care access or comprehensive insurance coverage. ERs function as both entry points for hospital admissions and wide-ranging care centers for urgent conditions when other options are unavailable.

The need for emergency care in Boca Raton has grown exponentially in recent years. Witness the large number of private emergency facilities such as “MD Now” which has over 100 locations in Florida. In addition, Boca Raton Regional Hospital recently opened a new emergency facility in West Boca Raton located in Mission Bay Plaza off Glades Road on Route 441. The 116,800-square-foot ER provides round-the-clock emergency services. “We are thrilled to expand our services in the West Boca community. We provide timely and expert care when every second counts,” said Ms. Batista-Rodriguez, CEO of Baptist Outpatient Services. The facility includes 18 exam room and a comprehensive diagnostic imaging services, including CT scans and x-rays. These services are available 24/7 making it a one-stop destination for urgent medical needs.

Emergency departments in the United States receive massive patient traffic. Statistics from the Center for Disease Control say ERs recorded 155 million visits in 2024, illustrating the enormous demand for emergency care. The national average ER visit rate in 2023 was approximately 422 visits for 1,000 population though this varies widely among the states. For example, Nevada averages 226 visits per 1,000 residents while West Virginia averages 596 patient visits per 1,000. Demographic patterns showed that children under 15 contribute to about 12% of all visits to ERs. Utilization rates are higher in urban areas compared to those in rural settings. While most patients are treated and released a subset requires hospital admission. Approximately 11.5% of ER visits result in subsequent hospital admission.

Current Events Group

Group meet every Monday from 10am-11:30am at the BPCA office. The members consist of both men and women and all Boca Pointe residents are invited to attend. If you would like more

or to sign up, please call 516-835-2670.

Triage – Bleeding, Breathing and Little Children go First

Today, a typical hospital has its emergency department in its own section of the ground floor, with its own dedicated entrance. Since patients can arrive at any time and with any problem, a key part of the operation of an emergency department is the prioritization of cases based on clinical need. This process is called Triage. Triage is normally the first stage the patient passes through, and consists of a brief assessment by a Triage nurse. It includes taking of a set of vital signs, and the assignment of a “priority condition.” For example, chest pain, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, bleeding, etc.” Most emergency departments have a dedicated area for this process to take place, and often have staff

dedicated to performing nothing but triage. In most ER departments this role is fulfilled by a triage nurse. A form of triage may also be conducted via radio with an EMT ambulance crew. In this method, the paramedics will call the hospital triage center providing a report regarding the status of the transported patient.

Most patients will be initially assessed at triage and then passed to another area of the ER department. However, some patients may complete their treatment at the triage stage. For example, if the condition of the patient is not very serious and can be treated quickly, no further action in the ER will be needed. Likewise, if only advice is required, or if the emergency department is not a suitable point of care for the patient, they may be discharged. Conversely,

Community Association Meetings Monthly Schedule

(All meetings held via Zoom and in person.)

All meetings will be held electronically via Zoom and in person. The following is our regular schedule of monthly meetings, however, sometimes meetings are cancelled or schedules are revised due to holidays, etc. If you would like to attend, please call the BPCA office, (561) 395-7551, the day before the meeting to request the Zoom link be emailed to you.

Emergency Rooms – A Vital Community Service from page 4

patient with evidently serious conditions, such as cardiac arrest will bypass triage altogether, and move straight to the appropriate part of the department.

The resuscitation area, commonly referred to as trauma is a key area in most ER departments. The most seriously ill or injured patients will be dealt with in this area, as it contains the equipment and staff required for dealing with immediate life-threatening illnesses and injuries. In such situations, the time in which the patient is treated is crucial. Typically, resuscitation staffing involves at least one attending physician, and at least one and or two nurses with trauma and Advanced Cardiac Life-Support training.

Patients who exhibit signs of being seriously ill but are not in immediate danger of life or limb, will be triaged to “acute” or “major” care where they will be seen by a physician and receive a more thorough assessment and treatment. Examples of “major” include chest pain, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and neurological complaints. Advanced diagnostic testing may be conducted at this stage, including laboratory testing of blood, CAT scans or MRI scanning. Medications appropriate to manage the patient’s condition will also be given. Patients may be discharged home from this area or admitted to the hospital for further treatment, depending on underlying causes of the patient’s chief complaint.

The patients whose condition is not immediately lifethreatening will usually be sent to an area suitable to deal with them, and these areas might typically be termed a “prompt care” or “minor” area. Such patients may still have been found to have significant problems, including fractures,

dislocations, and lacerations requiring suturing. That’s where I went when I broke my ankle.

Special Cases

Rates of ER visits related to mental health concerns have been rapidly increasing. This puts additional strains on facilities not really designed for psychiatric care. These often include people who are actively a risk to themselves or others (e.g. suicidal). Some ERs have a separate area for evaluation of psychiatric problems. These are often staffed by hospital psychiatrists and mental health nurses and social workers.

Major Challenges facing ERs today

Waiting times

Waiting times in ERs remain a persistent problem. Nationally average wait times in emergency rooms vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The national median wait time is roughly 1 hour. This delay may in part be due to a shortage of primary care facilities or because many people cannot afford to go to a primary doctor or a private facility like “MD Now.” Going to the ER is often a last resort for those without the money or insurance to go elsewhere. It is estimated that 50 percent of the U.S. population fall into the group. Therefore, they rely on the ER for what is often primary care. Federal law forbids denial of care if the facility is a Medicare provider. That includes most regional hospitals. A major cause of delays is the fact that there is a shortage of primary doctors in our country. This gap is widening. New answers must be found, or the situation will progressively worsen.

ERs see a sharp mix of urgent and non-urgent cases. Most ER visits are not for immediate life-threatening conditions. Studies suggest that over 75 percent of cases are non-urgent and could potentially be managed in an out-patient settings. Visits related to abdominal or chest pain, infections, injuries and respiratory issues account for a large percentage of ER visits. Issues related to alcohol or drug abuse, homelessness, psychiatric issues, sunburn, pregnancy also cause visits to the ER.

Admission to Hospital from the ER

When the staff in the ER determine that a person needs to be admitted to the hospital, that patient is often referred to as a “ boarder ” while they are still in the ER. Boarding

rates have increased nationwide. Often, patients may have to wait several hours for a room with a vacant bed to open up. Extended ER boarding creates bottlenecks, limiting capacity for new arrivals and contributing to overcrowding and delays. In Boca Raton, this problem will be reduced when the new “Gloria Drummond Patient Tower” opens later this year.

Cost of Emergency Care

If an uninsured patient shows up in the ER, who pays? The hospital? The taxpayers? The patient? Under the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) hospitals provided about $40 billion in “uncompensated care.” That represented 6% of the hospital’s total expenses. A visit to an ER typically costs $1,500 to $3,000 for patients with minor issues. It will be much higher for those with serious problems. In 1985 a federal law requires ER departments to stabilize and treat anyone entering their doors, regardless of their ability to pay. Hospitals may not even ask if the person is insured. Note: There are 25.6 million uninsured, excluding elderIy, people in the U.S.A. Hospitals fortunately get help from taxpayers. They receive federal and state funding to offset some of the care for treating the poor. In 2023, Florida received almost $1 trillion from the Federal government for hospital and medical care for the needy. In July 2025 the Palm Beach County Commissioners also voted to allocate $300 million for health care for the needy.

ERs are a great community resource. Residents of Boca Raton are very fortunate to have very good ERs. More information regarding Emergency Care is available on numerous websites and from your hospital of choice. 

We are a women’s group who remember Reva Tucker. Hot Topics has resumed meetings every Friday and are seeking new members. Please join us for lively discussions at 11:00am to 12:30pm at the Boca Pointe Community Office. If you would like more information or to sign up, please call 561-715-8298.

Move Over LAW (FS

By Elyse Weintraub Brown, Community Education Specialist,

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (561) 616-7051 or ewbrown@pbcgov.org

This message is brought to you by your friendly Firefighters from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue….

Every day firefighters and other emergency responders drive to emergencies. What’s more, oftentimes the emergency they are driving to is actually in the roadway. Although they are helping others and rendering aid, they are also at risk of being injured and killed on our roadways by motorists. Help protect them…

316.126)

because if they can’t help you in your time of need…who will? Learn the Move Over LAW (FS 316.126)

Are you unsure about what you are supposed to do when you are driving on a local roadway, and you see DRIVING BEHIND YOU a fire truck or other emergency vehicle with lights flashing and sirens wailing on the way to an emergency? The Answer is …you must yield the right of way. When it is safe to do so, move over as close as reasonable to the closest edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and then stop. When this happens on highways and interstates, rather than stop, slow down and then safely move over so that the emergency vehicle can pass.

Are you unsure about what you are supposed to do when you are driving on a roadway with multiple lanes, and you see a fire truck or rescue truck working an emergency ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD? The Answer is….When it is safe to

do, merge away from a vehicle working on the side of the roadway to provide an empty travel lane for the emergency worker. If you are not able to safely move over, you must slow down to a speed of 20 MPH below the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer. On a two-lane roadway…Where there is NO lane of travel in the same direction to merge over to, you are REQUIRED to slow down to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. If the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, you must slow down to five miles per hour.

In the State of Florida, drivers must also move over for sanitation vehicles and utility service vehicles performing tasks related to their services, and wreckers displaying amber rotating or flashing lights performing a recovery or loading on the roadside.

Violating the Move Over Law can result in a fine and points on your license; and worse, because it puts rescuers, civilians, and other motorists at risk of serious injury and even death. For everyone’s safety, share the Move Over Law with others. Help us…help You! 

Open Call For Viewpointe Contributing Writers!

We are looking for volunteers, whether experienced or hobbyist, interested in writing an article or a column for the Viewpointe. You may be interested in writing just once, occasionally or on a regular basis. It’s a great way to sharpen your skills or develop your talent while enlightening your community. Some themes we would like to include in the Viewpoint are as follows:

• Village Spotlight - write about your community. A different village can be featured each month.

• My Story - featuring a member of the community with a unique or interesting story.

• Student Life - High school students writing about school or a topic that interests them. Student writers will be eligible to earn community service hours.

• Global Cuisine or Gourmet Recipes - share a special, gourmet recipe or a recipe from our international community.

• Share an idea you may have for a new column or article.

Show your interest in joining the writing team by contacting Lisa Cammaleri at asstmgr@bocapointe.com. 

Kindness Wired My Home

By Robert W. Goldfarb

My wife designed the home I’ve lived in alone since I lost her. The moment Muriel saw this apartment, she said, “If we take it, every wall is coming down. Its beauty is hidden behind too many walls!”

The love she brought to our marriage of nearly seventy years now embraces me in this tranquil space she created. Her presence is everywhere, free to glow where walls once stood.

I feel her presence most profoundly in a column she designed to replace a wall that stretched between a bay of windows and the kitchen it kept dark. The column has become far more than structural to me. Every time I pass it, I remember the smile that warmed her face when she visualized its slender grace around which sunlight now streams into the kitchen.

A recent decision by our homeowner’s association threatens the column. To meet that threat I’ve had to call upon qualities within myself I hoped were there.

Our community’s management decided to replace the existing internet provider it considered outdated. The technicians who came to install the new system – a woman and two men – spoke very little English and I know even less Spanish. What little I did understand troubled me. It appeared I was being told wires inside Muriel’s column would now be wrapped around it.

Wire clenching the column would reach for the ceiling and then across to the modem. Surfaces now as smooth as an unblemished cheek would be scarred with stitches. To me, cable coiling around Muriel’s column was a snake intent on strangling her as well. I was an angry breath away from insisting the technicians call for a supervisor or an English-speaking co-worker who would join me in protecting the column.

But Muriel had designed the apartment with love. It was love, not anger I hoped would inspire these young people to rewire the apartment not as a mechanical task, but as an act of kindness.

At 96, I’m four years from being a century old. The love Muriel brought to our marriage helped plant and nourish seeds of wisdom within me. Muriel would expect me to call on that wisdom to win the trust of the technicians. If

I won their trust, perhaps their hearts and Muriel’s could touch. She would come alive to people who had never met her and were different from her in so many ways.

I would tell them about Muriel and her dream of creating a home in which four generations would celebrate the love that made them a family. Although she spoke the least English, it was the woman technician to whom I turned, confident she was most likely to share Muriel’s feelings.

I pointed to a nearby photograph of Muriel and then to my eyes. I spread my arms as though embracing the space around us, before touching my eyes again. I wanted the young woman to understand I saw the apartment through Muriel’s eyes.

My gestures seemed to reach her. She moved closer to me but turned to the two men and began speaking rapidly, her voice now confident, even commanding. She kept pointing to the column, often touching it. Within moments the three of them began nodding approvingly.

One of the men unscrewed a metal disk that covered an opening in the column. Wires that had once run through a wall had been threaded into Muriel’s column by the original internet provider. Even I could see the jungle of cable the technician pushed aside.

But instead of considering this a problem, he was showing us space could be found for the new wires. The three turned to me and smiled. Their cables would not snake around the column; they would disappear inside it.

The older of the men took my shoulders, turned me away from the column and said, “Vete, por favor.” I didn’t need to be told the time for words was over.

Two hours later, I was called to rejoin them. They said nothing as I looked for wires running to the modem. There were none to be seen. I turned to the technicians and the four of us embraced.

Despite our differences, within each of us beat a heart that craved kindness. Those differences disappeared as the kindness within us embraced. Wire had been forgotten; what brought us together was a woman they would never meet, but had come to know.

Had we met as our less compassionate selves. I would have admitted them as strangers who would do their jobs without leaving a trace of themselves behind. They would have seen me as one of those old people who resents

change and the technology that ignites change. I would have been remembered as someone they joked about. When I closed the apartment door behind them, their presence remained. I never pass the column without thinking of Muriel. Now there are three others who think of her as well.

Bob’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and in Next Avenue, the publication of the Public Broadcasting Service. His book, “What’s Stopping Me From Getting Ahead?” was published by McGraw Hill and is in five languages. 

Watch Your Speed!

Speeding fines are being enforced! Fine schedule: 6-20 mph over the limit $50 and more than 21 mph over the limit $100. Please obey the posted speed limit signs and drive safely! 

Lease Renewals

Renters- If you plan to renew your lease at Boca Pointe, please provide the BPCA Management office a copy of your renewal lease and vehicle registration prior to your lease expiration date. Both items are needed to ensure that your transponder does not get deactivated when the lease ends. Please email to admin@bocapointe.com.

Thank you! 

Surfing The Waves Of Change

By Steve Handwerker

Since the beginning of time “change” has been and still is the reality of human and planetary existence. These changes are not always part of the natural unfolding of time and have disproportionately effected various segments of the earth’s population: disfavoring the less fortunate and vast majority of humans as well as the innocent species occupying this planet’s surface and waters. The wealthiest populations (10%) are responsible for more than half of the emissions and pollution of the planet and the poorest 50% are responsible for only 7%.

Building climate resilience increases exponentially when we work together and take a multidimensional approach to creating sustainable lifestyles regardless of life circumstances. Our own personal ecosystem management requires simply TAKING A STEP BACK AND AN OBJECTIVE LOOK at our individual lives and not take for granted any aspect of it in relation to the conservation and transformation of energies...our own and the resources around us at our daily disposal. Think about the myriad of ways YOU can conserve your own energy and how you can conserve the energy expended in resources you use. You can do it! We can do it! Thank you for taking the time to consider these ideas and act on behalf of real change, the betterment of all.

Steven E. Handwerker Ph.D., D.div, RM Board Certified Licensed Psychologist 50 years’ experience www.peacewk.org.

Books and Blogs 

On behalf of The Club at Boca Pointe we would like to remind our residents that NO walking, running, bicycle riding or dog walking is permitted on the golf course or golf cart paths. For safety reasons, the paths are for golf carts only.

Thank you for cooperating with The Club's policy. 

Boca Street Fest Returns With Live Music, Local Flavor And A State Of The City Address

By Hillary Reynolds

Downtown Boca will come alive with music, culture, and community pride when the second annual Boca Street Fest takes over Mizner Park on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Spanning Mizner Park Amphitheater and throughout Mizner Park, the free, familyfriendly event invites residents and visitors to enjoy an afternoon of live entertainment, local vendors, food, and community connection – all in the heart of downtown.

Two Stages of Live Entertainment

Boca Street Fest will feature performances across two stages, showcasing the diverse talent and cultural energy of the Boca Raton community.

• Main Stage (Mizner Park Amphitheater): Enjoy live music from local bands and an open-air beer garden offering a curated selection of craft and domestic favorites throughout the afternoon.

• Community Stage: Experience the heart of Boca Raton with live music, dance, and cultural performances by local groups and organizations.

A Community Marketplace

During the event, the interior of Mizner Park will transform into a pedestrian-friendly promenade filled with 100 local vendors and makers, a variety of food options, and participating Mizner Park businesses. Guests are encouraged to stroll, shop, sample, and discover what makes Downtown Boca so dynamic.

State of the City Address

As part of the program, Scott Singer, Mayor of the City of Boca Raton, will deliver a State of the City presentation highlighting Boca Raton’s current services, priorities, accomplishments, and vision for the future.

Event Details

What: Boca Street Fest

When: Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Mizner Park Amphitheater & throughout Mizner Park

Cost: Free and open to the public

Free Parking Available

Complimentary parking will be available at the following locations:

• City Hall – 201 W. Palmetto Park Rd

• Downtown Library – 400 NW 2nd Ave

• Downtown Parking Lot – 300 NW 2nd Ave

• Building Administration – 200 NW 2nd Ave

For more information, visit Boca Street Fest | Boca Raton, FL or email CommunityEvents@myboca.us

About the City of Boca Raton: Boca Raton, the second largest city in Palm Beach County, blends history and innovation with its Mediterranean Revival architecture and vibrant cultural scene. Influenced by architect Addison Mizner, the city is home to live concerts, international art exhibits, worldclass museums, five miles of Atlantic coastline, and 49 parks offering 1,650 acres of recreational space. A hub for business and innovation, Boca Raton hosts 40 publicly traded corporate headquarters. With three nationally ranked universities, top-rated schools, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, Boca Raton is a dynamic, safe, and educated community with a low property tax rate. Learn more at myboca.us. 

Attention Dog Owners

It is your responsibility to pick up after your dog. It’s the law. Some of you have been negligent in doing so. Please keep our Boca Pointe community beautiful!

Welcome To The Fantastic World Of FENG SHUI

By Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera P.H.D.

In previous installments, we have talked about health, family, and ancestors. Today we want to bring it up again because some readers have requested the previously mentioned topic.

Talking about family and ancestors nowadays with so much information may seem clichéd, however, it will always be a subject to consider given its importance.

Returning to the topic we will address in this installment, there is a close relationship between family and ancestors, because each and every one of us belongs to a family and comes from previous generations who came before us; we are leaves of a tree. So let’s break down each concept for better understanding. The FENG SHUI of the FAMILY: When we speak of Family FENG SHUI, we refer to the living members of the home, with whom we establish bonds of love, daily contact, and also share in the development and growth of the family. The organization of living space alongside loved ones impacts the health of our emotional relationships with our family members.

The FENG SHUI of ANCESTORS : We all have roots in those who preceded us and who watch over us with their blessings and support, in the different circumstances of human life. Proof of this can be seen in those events where we experience fear, nervousness, or other emotions that can even be positive, and we turn to asking or giving thanks depending on each particular case, and this connects us with those people who were important in our lives. That is honoring the past. Now that we have clarified the concepts to be developed, let’s locate the area or space where the Family and Ancestors zone is situated according to the BAGUA MAP. To do this, let’s place the BAGUA MAP in front of us and, at the Northwest point, establish these areas in our home in order to give them energy and, consequently, harmony, which are principles of this ancient science.

Since we have clarified the concepts to be developed, let’s locate the area or space where the Family and Ancestors zone is according to the BAGUA MAP . To do this, let’s place the BAGUA MAP in front of us and in the Northwest point, establish these areas in our home so that we can give them energy and, therefore, harmony,

which are the premises of this ancient science, known as FENG SHUI.

Once the place of the Family and Ancestors is established, we will proceed with the diagnosis if we want to harmonize both or just one, depending on the situation we want to optimize. For this, we use the “cures” of FENG SHUI, which are generally easy and inexpensive solutions.

Let’s start with FENG SHUI for the Family : We should work with wood elements, such as plants and wood in all its artistic manifestations. For example, we can do the following: Place happy photos of our family, capturing moments we have shared, such as parties, specific events in which they have been together, whether a religious, academic, or health-related event, such as leaving a hospital treatment, recovering from an illness, family vacations, trips to the countryside or beach, travels, reunions—in short, any image that reflects HAPPINESS

Because the main goal is to “enhance” the area with memories captured where joy and well-being are evident, thereby certifying the emotion experienced. The colors to be used should be green and blue, which are colors of wood, like Mother Nature. Plants play a starring role in this area because of their living nature, their photosynthesis which helps energize the environment, as well as art made with the aforementioned material and colors.

Just like art with the aforementioned material and colors. For the Feng Shui area of the Ancestors : For the Ancestors zone, it is important to keep in mind that it is “honoring the past” above all. Therefore, in this space we should place images of our ancestors, whether they be parents, grandparents, uncles, as part of our family tree, because by paying tribute to their connection with our lives and ensuring their presence has not been relegated to oblivion, we not only honor them but also acknowledge that their passage through our lives was not in vain, and their legacy is remembered with gratitude, which will reflect in our protection, like angels watching over us from where God saw fit to receive them.

It is very important to note that photos of living relatives should not be mixed with those of family members who are on another plane, as they represent two different energies. The same “cures” previously mentioned in terms of color and wood material can be

used, with well-defined separations, although even if they are close but not together, there should be a distance that allows establishing each one separately.

In both cases, as we always recommend, art objects, plants, and furniture should be orderly and clean; broken or damaged items, please do not use, because in both cases it is a tribute to those present and absent, so that this ancient science of FENG SHUI can heal, energize, and harmonize the areas, a topic that we have developed in this edition.

Until the next time.

Milagros

Author Milagros Gutierrez de Herrera, Feng Shui Specialist is a resident of the Plum. Email: herreramilagros1983@gmail.com. 

Impact 100 Palm Beach County Members

Take To The Road To See Their Giving In Action

Bus Tour Showcases Six

Nonprofits Benefiting from $100,000

Grants

By Hillary Reynolds

Seventy-four women. Two buses. Six life-changing missions. One powerful morning of impact.

Impact 100 Palm Beach County members recently stepped off the page and into the heart of their philanthropy during a special Bus Tour visiting six nonprofit organizations that have received $100,000 grants from the women’s collective giving organization.

“Experiencing these programs in person reminds us why we give,” said Janean Mileusnic, President of Impact 100 Palm Beach County. “It’s not just about the grant, it’s about the ripple effect in our community.”

The day began with breakfast and a warm welcome from Mileusnic, who thanked members for their commitment to transformational giving and reminded them that “together, we are not just writing checks, we are changing lives and making real impact, right here in South Palm Beach County.”

Members boarded two buses—one traveling northbound and one southbound—to visit three nonprofits each. By the end of the morning, all six organizations had been toured, stories had been shared, and impact had been witnessed firsthand.

The tour, chaired by Helen Ballerano and Ingrid Kennemer, concluded with a celebratory luncheon at the Dr. André Fladell Civic Center, where members connected and strengthened bonds rooted in shared purpose.

Nonprofits Visited

Morningday Community Solutions

Impact 100 funding helped expand membership outreach in southern Palm Beach County, enabling 44 new nonprofit members to join Morningday. The project resulted in 245 tons of retail waste diverted from landfills and an estimated $312,400 in annual savings for new members demonstrating how environmental sustainability and nonprofit support go hand in hand.

Tomorrow’s Rainbow

This Palm Beach County grief and trauma support organization provides equine-assisted programs for children experiencing loss. Impact 100 funding helped launch a mobile program serving children across partner sites, resulting in 1,385 sessions delivered and 98% of participants utilizing coping strategies learned. The grant allowed the organization to reach vulnerable youth, including undocumented and refugee children, in safe, trauma-informed environments. Place of Hope

Impact 100 PBC’s $100,000 grant supported initiatives providing essential services to children, families, and youth who have been abused, neglected, or in crisis. The funding aided plans to expand Place of Hope’s Boca-area campus with three new triplex housing units, increasing capacity for families in need and strengthening transitional housing and support services.

Milagro Center (GEMS – Girls in Engineering, Math & Science)

Through GEMS programming, 63 girls in southern Palm Beach County have already participated in STEM-focused workshops and field trips designed to empower young women of color in middle and high school to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. The Impact 100 PBC grant supports hands-on learning, mentorship, and academic readiness initiatives.

Delray Beach Children’s Garden

Through science field trips for Title I students, 391 second through fourth graders have engaged in handson environmental education experiences, with 85% demonstrating increased knowledge of science concepts following participation. The initiative fosters curiosity, ecological literacy, and academic growth through immersive outdoor learning.

Roots &

The Impact 100 PBC grant supports “Project Uplift,” an artificial intelligence–enhanced literacy initiative serving 3rd and 4th grade students reading below grade level. To date, 358 students have enrolled in the Buddy Books AI-supported reading program, with 24 of 38 teachers underwritten by the grant. The initiative strengthens literacy foundations and academic confidence for some of the community’s most vulnerable learners.

Collective Giving in Action

Impact 100 Palm Beach County brings together women who each contribute $1,000 annually, pooling their resources to fund transformational $100,000 grants. By seeing projects firsthand, members were able to witness the tangible results of their collective investment from

housing expansions and environmental sustainability to grief counseling, literacy advancement, STEM education, and food security.

As the buses returned and the morning concluded, one theme rose above the rest: when women come together around a shared mission, impact grows exponentially. Many guests joined as new members, bringing this Impact chapter closer to their goal of 1,000 members in this milestone 15th year of giving.

About Impact 100 Palm Beach County

Impact 100 Palm Beach County is a women’s collective giving organization that funds transformative grants to nonprofit organizations serving southern Palm Beach County. Over the last 14 years, its members have invested $7.7 million through 124 grants—including 73 high-impact $100,000 grants and 51 merit grants—each creating lasting, tangible change in the community. 

Boca Raton Public Library Presents The Art Exhibit, “Paintings By Boca Raton Artist Sandra Gorman”

February 16, 2026 To March 30, 2026

The Boca Raton Public Library presents a new art exhibit, “Paintings by Boca Raton Artist Sandra Gorman.” Ms. Gorman has been painting from an early age, as teachers encouraged her to pursue her love of the medium. She studied at the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League in New York, and at the Boca Raton Museum of Art School. She has exhibited her artwork in South Florida and New York for both solo and group shows.

Sandra Gorman works with oil, acrylics, and pastels and largely paints portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. “Painting is a passion for me,” Gorman says, “and I am on

a journey discovering new materials, experimenting with mixed media, and working on large, abstract paintings.” Gorman is inspired by nature and her surroundings, alongside both well-known impressionist painters and contemporary abstract painters.

“Paintings by Boca Raton Artist Sandra Gorman”, a free exhibit, will run from February 16, 2026 to March 30, 2026, in the second-floor Art Gallery at the Spanish River Library location, 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33431, during regular library hours.

The Boca Raton Public Library provides outstanding library services, resources, and programs that meet the educational, recreational, cultural, and informational needs of the Boca Raton community. 

up your

Vehicle Information

If you have purchased a new vehicle within the past 6 months, please make sure the Boca Pointe Community Association management office has a copy of your current vehicle registration on file. Your gate transponder is linked to your vehicle so it is important that we have accurate information in our system. Please fax it to (561) 395-5936 or email it to admin@bocapointe.com.

Thank you for your cooperation! BPCA Management team 

Transponder

Trouble?

TRANSPONDER FEES

The old style transponders that you use to gain entry through the gates work off of batteries. The batteries are built into the device and cannot be replaced. At the end of their life, the entire device must be replaced. Most of our devices have been in use for over five years now and are beginning to fail. If your device is no longer working properly, it may be time for you to purchase a new one. Replacement devices are sold at the discounted price of $75. Driver’s license and vehicle registration required. We are now using windshield devices. 

$100.00 - New transponder

$75.00 - Replacement transponder

**Homeowners, tenants and club members will be issued a transponder to the village they reside in and into the Boca Pointe Club if they are a member**

If you have never registered on the Community Association web site, call Access Control for our “Community Code,” then go to www.bocapointe.com. Click on the “Not registered yet?” link right under the log in box.

If you think you are registered, but just can’t remember your User Name and Password, click on the “Forgot your password?” link and it will be mailed to the email address you used when you registered. Want to update your email address or add your mobile number to receive text messages? Go to the

web site Residents Only page and click on the “User Profile” link.

Once you are a registered user, to log onto the web site, you simply go to www.bocapointe.com and you will find the User name and Password boxes in the top right hand corner. Fill in your information, then click on the small blue forward arrow. The log in is “case sensitive.”

If you are a smartphone user, we now have a mobile version of the web site for your use that even includes a Comment Form. Let us know what you think and give us your suggestions for improvements. 

Boca Raton Public Library Presents The Art Exhibit, “Earrings And Buttons And Pins, Oh My!!” By LIBBY

February 2, 2026 To April 3, 2026

The Boca Raton Public Library presents a new art exhibit, “Earrings and Buttons and Pins, Oh My!!” by artist LIBBY. Libby Jacobs, who goes by the artist name LIBBY, owned Mixed Media Gallery for over 22 years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, creating her own artwork and helping to expose the work of other artists to the world while also working with the South Florida Fairgrounds and Antique Show. LIBBY began her work in California as a costumer in the film industry creating vintage costumes and using this start as inspiration for her vintage-inspired pieces.

Using “up-cycled” materials, LIBBY aims to create vintage-style works with embellishments to give new

life to these older materials. Using older wooden boxes, frames, letters, and more, LIBBY has created an eyecatching, bold collection of materials for all to enjoy.

“Earrings and Buttons and Pins, Oh My!!”, a free exhibit, will run from February 2, 2026 to April 3, 2026, in the first-floor display area at the Spanish River Library location, 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, during regular library hours.

The Boca Raton Public Library provides outstanding library services, resources, and programs that meet the educational, recreational, cultural, and informational needs of the Boca Raton community. 

Minimizing Taxes of Highly Appreciated Assets

Introduction

If the value of your stocks, bonds, or other capital investments has increased substantially, there are a few steps you can take to minimize taxation. These include timing the sale of your capital assets, using capital losses effectively, and passing assets to heirs at your death. In addition, you might consider charitable giving.

Timing the sale of assets is important

Generally, you can choose when to sell your investments, potentially shifting taxes owed. Therefore, if your capital assets have appreciated substantially, you can control when you recognize the profit (capital gain) on these investments. If you are in a high tax bracket, you may want to hold on to your highly appreciated investments for longer than 12 months in order to get favorable longterm capital gains tax treatment. Long-term capital gains are generally taxed at special capital gains tax rates of 0%, 15%, and 20% depending on your taxable income. By contrast, because short-term capital gains are taxed as ordinary income, the top short-term capital gains tax rate can be 37%. Higher-income taxpayers should be aware that they may be subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare unearned income tax on net investment income (unearned income includes capital gains) if their adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married joint filers). As you can see, a little patience can pay off handsomely.

Moreover, if you expect to have substantial tax deductions in a particular year, it may be wise to wait until that year to sell, so that the resulting gain can be offset.

Using capital losses effectively

You can minimize taxation of your capital gain income by using capital losses effectively. More specifically, you can generate capital losses to offset capital gains, and you can use your capital gain income to utilize unused losses. Capital losses must be netted against capital gains in a specific manner. Excess losses may offset up to $3,000 ($1,500 if married filing separately) of ordinary income per year. Losses remaining after the limit may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future income.

Planning with capital losses can be an important method of minimizing taxes on highly appreciated assets. If you expect to recognize a substantial capital gain this year, you should review your portfolio to make use of any capital losses you may have.

Is it better to gift highly appreciated assets during your lifetime or to pass them to others at death?

Property that has already appreciated substantially may not be the best candidate for a lifetime transfer or gift. That is because the recipient of a gift takes a carryover basis in the property; that is, the recipient's basis in the property is the same as your basis was. In contrast, the basis of property passed at your death is generally stepped up (or down) to its fair market value (FMV) at the time of your death.

You may not want to give highly appreciated property if the donee will recognize a substantial capital gain when the property is sold.

On the other hand, you may want to make that gift if the sale of the property is imminent anyway and the donee is in a lower tax bracket.

You (the donor) may increase the basis of appreciated property by the portion of any federal gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes you pay that are attributable to the appreciation element. Since the donee takes a carryover basis, the capital gain recognized by the donee will be less than it would have been without the adjustment. You cannot increase the basis of the property any higher than the property's fair market value on the date of the gift.

Remember, you can currently make federal tax-free gifts of $15,000 per recipient under the annual gift tax exclusion. If you exceed this amount, you may owe gift tax, however, gift tax owed may be offset by your applicable exclusion amount to the extent that is available.

Gifting highly appreciated assets to charity

When you donate stock or other intangible long-term capital gain property to a qualified public charity, you can deduct the full FMV of the property to the extent that it does not exceed 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Any amount that cannot be deducted in the current year can be carried over and deducted for up to five succeeding years. You benefit in two ways: (1) you get a tax deduction, and (2) you remove interest, dividends, and/or capital gains from your investment portfolio. If you wish to donate highly appreciated assets to charity, however, it is important to apprise yourself of all relevant rules. Also, certain types of property may be more advantageous to donate to charity than others.

How To Add Your Guests To The Gate

The Boca Pointe Community Association offers a few different methods to add guests to your visitors list, so please ensure that you add your guest BEFORE they arrive. If your guest is not on the list, they may be denied without a phone call being placed to get your approval. Phone calls are placed as a courtesy depending on how busy the guard is when they arrive.

To add a guest to your visitor list, you have several options:

• Website- www.gateaccess.net

• Cell phone app- Download ABDI/Gate Access from the app/play store

• Access Control- Call 561-395-3392 or leave a voicemail message at 561-395-3369

The advantage of using gateaccess.net or the app is the ability to:

• Add a guest for the day or permanently

• Remove a guest

• Send a pass with barcode

• Receive notification of guest arrival

If you have any questions regarding access methods, please call the Boca Pointe Community Association 561-395-7551. 

Tax Talk

Dear Friends:

This time of year, my office starts gearing up for some of our favorite community events. First up was the Jupiter Jubilee that was held on Saturday, Feb. 7. This Town of Jupiter community event has been happening since 2003.

In March we will participate in the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 14 and then on March 28 and 29, we will have a booth at the Palm Beach Pride event in Lake Worth Beach. This premier LGBTQ+ celebration culminates with an exciting parade on Sunday, March 29.

Then in April, our community engagement team will host a booth at the

on Saturday, April 18. This annual event, which began back in 1976, draws several thousand attendees from near and far. My team and I look forward to seeing you at one of these Palm Beach County community events!

Anne M. Gannon, Constitutional Tax Collector, Serving Palm Beach County

Stop And Go: Tips For A Successful Driver’s License Road Test

(Please Note: Effective Feb. 9, 2026, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has directed that all driver’s license knowledge and driving exams administered in the State of Florida will be offered exclusively in English. In addition, and through March 31, 2026, these exams will also be offered in Spanish. Language translation services will no longer be permitted.)

White knuckles, sweaty palms, and the sudden realization that you have forgotten which side the blinker is on— welcome to the road test!

It is a rite of passage for every new driver, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here is some expert advice on how to cruise through your skills exam without breaking a sweat.

During the driving skills exam, our examiner will observe your ability to control the vehicle and how well you obey traffic laws. I asked two of our Client Service Specialists from our Central Service Center for some tips and advice for taking the driving skills exam for the first time. Here is what they had to say:

Coleen Plata says that clients are often anxious about taking the exam. To help them relax, Coleen says, “I usually just joke with them. I try to make them laugh to break the ice. I talk to them and ask them personal questions about themselves.” She continues, “Usually people are more inclined to talk about themselves. They tend to become more relaxed during the exam when they are talking about something other than the exam, and then we proceed with the exam.”

Her colleague, Madison Buera, says that teenagers are usually nervous when taking the road test. She has two techniques for helping new drivers feel more comfortable behind the wheel during the test.

“I go over all the instructions with them, and before we start any maneuver, I give them a chance to ask as many questions as they need and I give them some time to think about what they are doing before they begin,” says Madison.

and wait and that usually calms some of the teen’s nerves.”

Coleen and Madison shared these helpful tips for taking the road test:

Even though it is a closed course, treat it as if you are on the road.

Learn which way to turn the wheels when backing/ reversing, i.e. when backing out of a parking space or reversing from a three-point turn.

Avoid all distractions: no radios, phones or eating/ drinking while driving.

Always use two hands on the steering wheel for better control of the vehicle.

Get comfortable with the car; know where the pedals, signals and wipers are.

Practice in big/empty areas.

Be courteous of other drivers.

Signal at every turn.

Be aware of your surroundings and stop signs.

Hopefully, if you are about to embark upon your first road test, you find this information helpful. Coleen, Madison and our staff members are always ready to answer your questions and help you be successful in getting your driver’s license. It is rewarding for us to see the smiles on the faces of our new Florida drivers!

For more information for first time drivers or to make your reservation for a road test, visit www.pbctax.gov.

Say What? Lingo At The TCO

At the TCO, you will hear our staff using numerous acronyms and phrases for terms associated with our services, for example, TCO is tax collector’s office. To help you, here are some common terms you might hear the staff speaking “the lingo” during your interaction with us.

She also notes that teens are the most nervous when their parents are watching near the road test course. Madison says, “I offer the parents the option to sit inside our

center

Ad Valorem: From the Latin term “according to worth,” that refers to taxes levied annually based on the value of an object. Pertains to both property tax and tangible personal property tax.

BTR/LBTR: Local business tax receipt is required to operate a business in Palm Beach County. For more information visit pbctax.gov/taxes/business-tax/.

CCR: Client Care Representative is the title of our staff that assists you over the phone and when you email our office at clientadvocate@pbctax.com.

CSS: Client Service Specialist is the title of our staff that assists you in our service centers when you transact with us.

If either of these two positions sound interesting to you and you would like to join our award-winning organization, we are hiring! Visit www.pbctax.gov/resources/culture-andcareers/.

DETS: Driver Education Traffic Safety Course is a sixhour course required if you are under 18 years old prior to obtaining a driver’s license for the first time. For more information visit www.pbctax.gov/driver-license/get-yourfirst-driver-license/.

eCheck: Electronic check payment. This free, secure service uses your bank account and routing numbers to process your payment.

IPP: Installment payment plan, for real estate and tangible personal property taxes. IPP divides your taxes into four quarterly payments due in June/July, September, December and March. To enroll, visit www.pbctax.gov/ taxes/installment-payment-plan/.

ELT: When an e-titled vehicle is purchased using a loan, the lender issues an electronic lien title (ELT). For more information, visit www.pbctax.gov/motor-vehicle/titles/.

Non-Ad Valorem Tax: Assessments not determined by millage or value. The levying authority calculates the tax using a unit of measure to assess the cost of services. For example, Solid Waste Authority fees are based on the property producing the waste.

TDT: Tourist development tax is required of anyone offering accommodation for short-term rental of six months or less. Also known as “bed tax,” and applies to all hotels, motels, accommodations, and privately-owned homes listed for short-term rental. For more information visit www. pbctax.gov/taxes/tourist-development-tax/.

These are just a few of the common acronyms and phrases we use regularly. Visit www.pbctax.gov/tpsg for more information on all of these and much more in the latest edition of our signature publication Tax Planner & Services Guide, also known as TPSG!

Check Your Postmark

If you prefer to make your payments to our office via mail, here is some important information that you need to be aware of before you send in your next payment.

Traditionally, we have all been used to the mail we drop off at the post office being postmarked that same day. But

recent processing changes at the U.S. Postal Service have changed that. Dropping off your mail at the post office is no longer a guarantee it will be postmarked that same day. Now, once you drop off your mail, it is then transported to a processing facility where the postmark is applied. Due to changes in transportation, the time it is postmarked may not be the same day you dropped the payment off, possibly causing your payment to arrive at our office late.

If you need a same day postmark, you can visit a Postal Service retail location and request a manual (local) postmark at the counter. Manual postmarks are free of charge.

So, keep in mind when sending in payments that you need to allow some extra time for the postmark to be applied to your mail, unless you opt for the manual postmark.

To ensure you don’t miss any upcoming deadlines if you plan to mail us your payment, here are some important upcoming payment deadlines:

2025 Property Tax – March 31, 2026

2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 1 – June 30 or July 31, 2026

2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 2 – September 30, 2026

2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 3 – December 31, 2026

2026 Installment Payment Plan Payment 4 – March 31, 2027

Of course, to avoid all this, and not stress about the timeliness of the postmark, you can simply pay online at www.pbctax.gov/pay-online. 

The Reading List

By William A. Gralnick

Last month, I wrote about writing. This month, we explore reading. I’m not one for lists. I will do a grocery list. It goes from pencil to pocket. Then all I have to do is remember which pocket it’s in when I get to the store. There’s little chance I’ll lose it. I don’t make New Year’s resolution lists. I long ago learned that they are a ticket to becoming guilt-ridden. I rarely make to-do lists because I mostly don’t get them done. When I turned 65, longer ago than I’d like to admit, the subject of bucket lists came up. I thought maybe this was a list that I should do, so I began to compile lists of things I wanted to get done before I have to deal with the Great Gates. In short order, I realized I’d have to live as long as Methuselah and win the lottery to get through even a part of the list. And unfortunately, the bucket had a hole in it. The things I put in kept leaking out. I felt, though, that a bucket list could be good for my mental health, so I tried to find one subject to which I would dedicate myself. I found it, reading.

Such a list made more sense than one that said, “play more tennis,” or “learn how to play Pickleball,” or, “forget Pickleball, learn Padel.” My wife is an avid card player. She wanted me to learn how to play Canasta or Mahjongg. It didn’t take long to realize I had no mind for cards, and having one’s spouse become one’s teacher is a ticket to a rocky marriage. I even registered for a class at my synagogue for learning canasta. Almost everybody who came already knew how to play. The woman teaching the class said she had only been playing for two years and told everyone who had played longer than that to go fill the tables in the back and play amongst themselves. When that happened, the remaining people were an extremely cranky woman and me. Sometimes God speaks to you. He was definitely telling me to erase card-playing from my list. Reading was going to be the winner.

I have always loved reading. I began to think about a reading list. The question became did I know the names of enough books that I wanted to read to create a list? The answer was no. I could easily have chosen an author like Stephen King, whose writing I love, and just read all his books. But I wanted more of a challenge.

I don’t know how I stumbled across it, but I became aware that there were lists of “best books” by categories. The 10 best mysteries, the 50 best love stories, and so on. Then I found the one that was for me. England’s prized Guardian Magazine had created a list of the 100 best books written in English. Since that was the language I was going to read in, what better magazine to be the judge of what’s best than an English magazine? The books begin in the mid-1600s with Pilgrim’s Progress and run through the 1980s. They have updated it, but I didn’t know which number book after 100 would be the one that breaks this camel’s back, so I decided to stick with what I had and, if I got through a hundred books, I’d decide if I wanted to continue on. When I first began, I didn’t think I would ever finish. A one hundred book list is intimidating. But reading good literature, sometimes even not so good literature, can be addictive. One day, my wife asked me how many books I had read. I guesstimated about half. Then I got curious. You see, the wonderful thing about this list is I can’t lose it. Guardian Magazine printed it. I copied it onto my computer and saved it. It’s always at my fingertips. I put an X next to every book when I finish it. I often forget titles—and authors’ names? Fuhgeddaboudit! Now I don’t even have to remember them; they’re on my list. So, I decided to count my Xs. In fact, I was past 50 and close to 70. Mathematically, that’s great, but realistically, it means I still have about 30 books to go. When I started, I decided not to go from first to last but to jump around, reading a few books from one period, a few more from another, a couple from the third. It’s fascinating to see how writing has changed, which themes were prevalent at different periods, and how the expression of feelings and emotions has changed. Some of the books are fairly short, about 350 pages on my Kindle. The average book seems to be about

500 to 600 Kindle pages. However, there are a daunting number that exceed 1,000 pages. After finishing a few books, I noticed that the Kindle folks were asking for a review. Once upon a time in my career, I wrote book reviews for the then Atlanta Constitution. I enjoyed it, and my editor told me I was good at it. I have added this as a “plus-one” item to my reading. I have just finished a 1,200-page book that was so good I didn’t want it to end. It is a book whose title you know and one you may have read in high school or college. The book is David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Here is my take on it.

My brother, a TV news journalist at the time, used to tease me about my writing. He said “you write like Charles Dickens. You never met an adjective or adverb you didn’t like.” Would that he was right about the Dickens part. I do love his writing. Why? Is there a writer who uses the alphabet better than Charles Dickens? If you want characters who have stayed with us for centuries, if you want those characters to leap off the page and perform on a stage in front of your eyes, if you want laugh out loud humor and droll sarcasm, if you want melancholy that will cause a lump in your throat or excitement that will quicken your heartbeat, or a basket brimming full of metaphors and similes such as this—“His legs were so long and he was so thin that standing there he looked like somebody else’s shadow—,” if you want a book that you’re sorry to see end then you want to read Charles Dickens. David Copperfield, described above, a novelized autobiography of a 1,000-plus Kindle pages, was Dickens’s favorite. Mine too.

So, it’s on to number 72–George Orwell’s 1984, a mere 360 Kindle pages. ‘piece of cake.

Columnist and author Bill Gralnick was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He recently finished a humorous memoir trilogy. The first book is “The War of the Itchy Balls and Other Tales from Brooklyn.” The second is “George Washington Didn’t Sleep Here.” The recently published third is, That’s Why They Call It Work.” He is currently working on a novel. His books are available on Amazon and his other writings at https://www. williamgralnickauthor.com. 

Foundation, Announces 2026 Teacher Of The Year Honorees

40th Annual Program Recognizes Outstanding Educators Across Boca Raton Public Schools

By Hillary Reynolds

The Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise proudly announces the 2026 Teacher of the Year honorees, recognizing exceptional educators from Boca Raton’s public schools for their dedication, leadership, and lasting impact on students and the community.

Now celebrating its 40th year, the Rotary Teacher of the Year program, in partnership with the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Bell Education Foundation, honors teachers who exemplify excellence in education and a deep commitment to student success. Since its founding in 1987, the program has recognized more than 700 outstanding educators, making it one of Boca Raton’s longest running and most meaningful education initiatives.

The 2026 honorees represent a diverse range of grade levels, subject areas, and schools throughout Boca Raton.

2026 Rotary Teacher of the Year Honorees

• Ella Pillitteri – AD Henderson University School / FAU High School

• Kathryn Vecchio – Addison Mizner School

• Nicole J. Wallace – Blue Lake Elementary School

• Rachel Bennett – Boca Raton Elementary School

• Kimberly Carlo – Boca Raton High School

• Lonnie Varela – Boca Raton Middle School

• Grace Marie O’Dowd-Curra – Calusa Elementary School

• Cherise Chase – Coral Sunset Elementary School

• Michelle Stuart – Del Prado Elementary School

• Heather Tully – Don Estridge Middle School

• Allison Nelson – Eagles Landing Middle School

• Erika Dunlea – Hammock Pointe Elementary School

• Ebony Harden – J.C. Mitchell Elementary School

• Joseph Ametrano – Loggers’ Run Middle School

• Marta Sjövall-Brihammar – Olympic Heights High School

• Nathaly Ibarra-Rumsey – Omni Middle School

• Kerry Maione – Sandpiper Shores Elementary School

• Nichole Lee – Spanish River High School

• Robyn Marcus – Sunrise Park Elementary School

• Chelsey Boothney – Verde K-8

• Michelle Wagner – Waters Edge Elementary School

• Debra Rosenblum – West Boca Raton High School

• Stacy-Ann Garbos – Whispering Pines Elementary School

The teachers will be formally recognized at the 40th Annual Rotary Teacher of the Year Awards Celebration on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Studio at Mizner Park For more information, visit www.rotarybocasunrise.org

the Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise The Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise is a community service organization dedicated to making a positive impact locally and globally. Through initiatives focused on education, youth programs, and community development, the club lives Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self 

The Club At Boca Pointe

The Club at Boca Pointe’s Sports & Fitness Spring Camp is open for registration — and the best part is that it’s open to everyone, no membership required! Kids can enjoy exciting golf and tennis lessons led by experienced pros, along with a wide variety of engaging activities designed to keep them active, learning, and having fun all day long. Flexible day camp options make it easy for families to join in. Beyond camp, children can look forward to monthly craft projects and our popular Parents’ Night Out, where kids enjoy a supervised evening of fun while parents relax and dine.

Throughout the year, our vibrant social calendar keeps the energy high with favorites like birthday bashes, trivia nights, bingo, karaoke, photography club, and card games and tournaments. We also host a monthly Member Onboarding Event to warmly welcome and connect new members, along with a quarterly New Member Mixer designed to help build friendships and community — with our next mixer coming up on March 14.

March continues to be packed with excitement, featuring a mesmerizing magic show, a passionate flamenco performance, and a festive end-of-season celebration. Culinary experiences range from elegant grand and traditional buffets to casual weekend cookouts on the courts. Members also enjoy enriching outings such as museum and theater trips, a sophisticated cigar night, and an exclusive membersonly art exhibition. At The Club at Boca Pointe, there’s truly something for everyone — from family fun and social gatherings to cultural experiences and unforgettable events — and we can’t wait to welcome you!

MARCH Membership Celebration Incentives:

Current Member Upgrade Incentive

Upgrade your Membership in the Month of March 2026 and receive 10% off your initial Upgrade Initiation Fee,

Clowns On Call

By Harriet Rubin, aka Florabelle

Cold weather here in South Florida? Who would have expected that when last summer was so hot!

Our gig at Tri-County Animal Shelter on January 31st, starting at 10:30 am, was on a very cold day and we all had to improvise with our costumes. Normally clowns don’t wear coats or non-costume jackets! In our northern states there are very few clown events outside, except for St. Patrick’s Day parades, so the need for heavy clown outside gear is non-existent; therefore we learn to wear layers under our costumes. The problem with this is, we can’t discard the layers when the temperature goes up, which it generally does in this climate. I personally spent quite a bit of pre-gig time figuring out how to keep warm without changing my clown look in costume. Fortunately, extra leggings and a long sleeved T-shirt did the trick.

The event was quite successful, although I am sure lots of families decided not to brave the weather. I was very impressed at how many vendors there were with lots of samples and great food from several restaurants, and they never ran out of food choices, which tends to happen at free food events. We had a great time and loved seeing all the various breeds of dogs, many wearing funny costumes! So, Kudos to the staff at Tri-County!

Our second event in February was a Valentine’s Program at the YMCA right here off PowerLine. For

and waived upgrade dues difference for the month of March 2026.

Limited time offering, Terms & Conditions Apply.

Current Member Sponsor a New Member Incentive

Refer/Sponsor a new Member to enroll in New Club Membership in the Month of March 2026 and receive additional Club Credit. Inquire with Membership Sponsor Program and Credit Details!

Limited time offering, Terms & Conditions Apply.

Not A Member Yet?

March is the perfect time to join, ENROLL TODAY!

By enrolling in our current Deferred Dues Program , you will secure the current Initiation Fee rate for your preferred new Membership classification, guaranteeing your access to our vibrant and thriving community for the upcoming 20262027 season. This exclusive opportunity ensures you will be part of a Club that values connection, wellness, and enjoyment while offering flexibility with deferred seasonal access starting no later than December 1st, 2026. Spots are limited, and this special offer will not last long, making now the perfect time to take advantage of this exciting new Membership opportunity. Do not miss the chance to secure your place and begin looking forward to a season filled with exceptional amenities, social events, and the camaraderie that makes The Club at Boca Pointe truly

unique. Secure your new Seasonal Membership today, and let us welcome you to a lifestyle you’ll love! Limited time offering, Terms & Conditions Apply.

Phone: 561.864.8537

Email: aseligman@heritagegolfgroup.com

Website: bocapointecc.com 

those of you who follow my articles, this is part of our Red Nose Reader service. Because I didn’t want to take up time applying our make-up and costumes in front of the kids, to illustrate that “anyone can become a clown,” Lucky and I came in costume. Since one class of 3-4 yr. olds had many children who had never seen us before, I took the time to explain that we were real people just

coming to make them smile. 30 adorable kids loved us and we had a great program singing valentine songs to familiar tunes, reading a great book on “Kindness”, performing magic tricks and encouraging them to talk about acts of kindness they each had done. The classes with 4-5 yr. olds (most of whom we knew from last year) were fabulous, and it was really interesting to see how quickly they were able to come up with all kinds of “kind” experiences.

The beauty of this Red Nose Readers program is how much these pre-school youngsters can learn and retain from hearing a story with a particular message and then talking about it. Usually their attention is remarkable and it is a true pleasure to provide a little extra joy and laughter!

If anyone out there is tempted to get more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 561362-6695. Remember, we are all Volunteers, without any charges or fees!

Don’t forget to wave if you see a clown on campus! I just have to share this- When we were driving to The Tri-County event and stopped at the light at Palmetto, the car next to us beeped and from the drivers seat took a photo. Smiled, waved and drove on. It’s always fun when people see a clown and react! 

Dear Boca Pointe Dog Owners:

We have had a few recent complaints from residents who have had uncomfortable encounters with dogs off leash around the property. We are reaching out to our residents to remind them of our rules concerning keeping dogs on leashes and cleaning pet litter. As a resident of Boca Pointe you must: Keep your dog on a leash. All dogs must be controlled on a leash by an able-bodied person, at all times, whenever the dog is on property. Also, you must clean up and properly dispose of pet waste when your pet relieves itself. Knowing and abiding by our community’s animalrelated ordinances will help make our neighborhood a better place for everyone. Thank you! 

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC WHY CHOOSE US??

u ONE ON ONE PERSONALIZED CARE u EXPERIENCED THERAPISTS, COMMITTED TO YOUR PROGRESS u CONVENIENT LOCATION – BOCA WHARFSIDE –u INSURANCE FRIENDLY

6909 SW 18th Street, Ste A114

Boca Raton Fl 33433

What’s

Better: Life Estate Deed or Revocable Trust?

By Martin Zevin, Attorney

There are several ways to avoid probate on your home when you die. If you are single, there will be probate when you die unless you choose one of the following options. If you are married and own your home together, your surviving spouse will not have probate; however, there will be probate when the second of you passes away, unless one of these options is done.

Let us assume that you own your home jointly with your spouse and that you have one child. Both of you desire to have your child inherit your home when you both pass away.

The first option would be to add the name of your child to the Deed as a joint tenant with right of survivorship. This is not a good idea. It would affect your ability to claim your full homestead exemption. In addition, you lose control of your property and can only sell it if your child agrees and signs all closing documents. If you wanted to take the child off the Deed, you would be unable to do so. If your child files for bankruptcy, has an adverse judgment or files for divorce, your property could be subject to liens or other legal action. Therefore, I recommend against a Deed with your child as a joint tenant with right of survivorship.

The second option is a Life Estate Deed. There are two types of Life Estate Deed: regular and Enhanced (also referred to as Lady Bird). The regular Life Estate Deed requires that your child join in any sale or other changes on the Deed; therefore, you have lost control and cannot take your child’s name off the Deed if you choose to do so. The Enhanced Life Estate Deed gives you the sole right to sell the property

during during your lifetime or make any other changes to the Deed without the permission of your child. The Enhanced Life Estate Deed has very specific legal language in order to be effective; therefore, do not attempt to do this on your own.

Even with the Enhanced Life Estate Deed, there are risks, particularly if your child has a bankruptcy, outstanding judgment or undergoes divorce. The worst risk, however, is if, God forbid, your child dies before you or with you in a common accident. Your child’s estate would then become the owner of the property once you died, which would result in probate being required. Thus, the main purpose of the Life Estate Deed is not accomplished.

The best way to avoid probate on your home is to do a Revocable Living Trust. When you sign the Revocable Living Trust Agreement, you also sign a Deed transferring the property to you as Trustees of your Trust. You are able to keep your homestead exemption, maintain complete control of the property during your lifetime and make amendments to your Trust without changing the Deed. There are no risks involved, since your child’s name does not appear on the Deed. The only disadvantage of the Revocable Living Trust is that it will cost more in attorney’s fees. When you discuss the options with your attorney, you should discuss the difference in fees between the Revocable Living Trust and the Enhanced Life Estate Deed. You can then determine whether it is worth saving the money and taking the risks involved in the Enhanced Life Estate Deed.

Please feel free to call me for a free phone consultation regarding any issues pertaining to Wills, Trusts, Deeds, Probate, Power of Attorney or Health Care Surrogate. Call me at (954) 569-4878. My address is 3275 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Suite 204, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442. My web site is www.martinzevinpa.com and my e-mail address is martinzevin@netzero.com.

Boca Pointe PAP Corps Hosts GREAT GATSBY Card

Party, Raises Thousands Of Dollars For Cancer Research

By Gail S. Meddoff

The GREAT GATSBY Roaring ’20s era came to life on January 12, 2026, at the Boca Pointe PAP Corps’ major annual card party fundraiser, held this year at Boca Lago Golf and Country Club in Boca Raton. More than 200 women, many of them dressed in 1920s attire, joined in the festivities.

Posing in front of the photo wall, lovely PAP Corps attendees modeled sparkling dresses, colorful feather boas, strands of pearls, flapper-style beaded and feathered headbands, and long gloves. Utilizing a 1920s complimentary phrase, those decoratively costumed ladies were definitely “the cat’s meow” (very stylish).

To help attendees get into the spirit of the event, all rooms were given a Roaring ’20s name. Guests entered the RENDEZVOUS ROOM to pick up their name tags. (The secret password for entry was “Hootchy-Kootchy.”)

They then proceeded into the SECRET STASH ROOM to peruse the incredible display of raffle gifts. Raffle ticket sales were at an all-time high, adding to the size of the chapter’s financial contribution to the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. There was also a silent auction. To reinforce the theme, “prohibited” bottles of booze on wooden crates and copies of newspapers from the 1920s proclaiming Prohibition adorned the raffle tables.

Next up for the guests was a visit to the HOTSY-TOTSY BOUTIQUE PARLOR. There they could shop ’til they dropped as they browsed the fashionable wares of the many venders, featuring beautiful clothing, jewelry, handbags, accessories, makeup and more.

Hungry from all that shopping? Guests could relax and enjoy a delicious continental breakfast available in each of the three cardrooms, while getting an early start on their favorite games. Borrowing names from the 1920s Prohibition era, the first card room, named HUSH-HUSH HAVEN, hosted Bridge and Canasta players; the second card room, SPEAKEASY SALOON, hosted Canasta players; and the third card room, LONGLEG LOUNGE, hosted Mahjongg and Canasta players. Flapper girl posters and Prohibition signage added to the décor.

After a morning of shopping, eating, playing games, and visiting with friends, guests were invited into the GILDED GATSBY BALLROOM. There they enjoyed a delicious plated lunch and delectable dessert, while applauding their friends who were lucky enough to win one of the spectacular raffle gifts. Table decorations featured decorative gold wine

bottles festooned with, ribbon, rhinestones, ostrich feathers, flowers and beads, along with classic old photos in gilded frames, and ornate gold charger plates. Each attendee received a fancy sequined and feathered headband as a souvenir gift. Following lunch, guests returned to their assigned card rooms with their friends for more games, conversation and fun.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous The Great Gatsby novel, and the lavish film adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio, epitomized extravagance, ostentation and squandered wealth. While the PAP Corps Great Gatsby card party featured the glitz, decorative costumes, and art deco designs of the 1920s era, its goal was to promote generosity and charitable giving in the fight to wipe out cancer. And those attending the event complied, fully participating in the fun while contributing generously to the cause.

Once again, it took a village to organize and coordinate all the moving parts of this major annual card party fund raiser, according to Gail Meddoff and Denise Siegel, who co-chaired the event. Ms. Siegel also headed the Raffle Committee, along with Linda Pavlov. Together they procured and wrapped all the incredible raffle prize baskets.

Recognition and thanks to the following: Corporate Member Nancy Goldstein and Felice Rosen for the monumental job of coordinating the registration process, dining and game table assignments; Treasurer Allan Wickstein and Jane Gutterman for handling fiscal operations and managing cash and credit card transactions; Jill Angelino, who arranged and coordinated the many Vendor Boutiques; Boca Pointe PAP Corps on page 25

Scott Cohen is Here to Help!

PBCFR Yellow Dot Program

Have you ever wondered, what would happen if you got into a car crash and you were unconscious? Have you thought to yourself… how would anyone know what my medical history is; or how would they know about the medications I am taking; or the medicines I’m allergic to; or better yet, how would they know what hospital that I want to go to…? Who would call my family and let them know I’ve been hurt? How would they even know how to get in touch with my family?

The good news is that you don’t have to wonder or worry about that anymore. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue supports a new Program called the Yellow Dot. The Yellow Dot gets important information into the hands of emergency responders quickly and it can save your life!

If you are involved in a car accident and can’t communicate, first responders can look in your glove compartment box for the “Yellow Dot” pamphlet where you have written essential medical information about yourself.

Ann Rhodes, Joan Samitt, and Diane Davis for manning the sign-in tables; Connie Murray, for helping design and assemble the swanky centerpieces; Lynn Berman for designing and producing the creative art deco table numbers; Chapter President Belinda Coon for all the festive balloons and her leadership skills; Kathy London for being a wonderful helper wherever needed; Dee Zwicker for sending out the colorful email blasts marketing this event; Arlene Fisher, Lynn Berman, and Arlene Fineman for handling Tribute Card sales; Membership Chair Andrea Gralnik for signing up new members and welcoming new life members; Photographer Andrew Meddoff for snapping hundreds of pictures of the attendees and the event; along

This information can help rescue crews decide the best approach to your emergency treatment. This is especially important after a car accident where you may be unconscious, in shock, or simply unable to communicate clearly.

When you can’t talk to Emergency Responders to provide them with vital medical information, the Yellow Dot is your tool to provide personalized information on your behalf!

This is how it works…just follow three steps.

1- Fill out the form on the Yellow Dot pamphlet.

2- Put the Yellow Dot pamphlet form in your glove compartment box.

3- Place the sticker on the back/rear windshield in the lower left hand corner so emergency responders can see it quickly and easily when approaching from behind.

*Important Tips*

* Keep the Yellow Dot pamphlet updated as information changes.

research and saving lives.

This successful event raised thousands of dollars for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Moreover, like Gatsby and others during the lively Roaring ’20s, the Card Party attendees ate a lot, partied hard, and had a ROARING GOOD TIME!

Over the years, the PAP Corps, Champions for Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization, has

** How many do you need??? (i.e. One Yellow Dot sticker per vehicle & One Yellow Dot pamphlet for each person.)

You can stop in to any Palm Beach County Fire Station to pick up Yellow Dot pamphlets and stickers for your household. For quantities more than that, please call our Community Education Office at 561-616-7033.

If your club or organization would like a presentation about the Yellow Dot, to learn more about additional resources available, and to have an opportunity to ask questions, please call 561-616-7051. Yellow Dot Sticker/ Pamphlet sets will be brought to the presentation for audience attendees. Quantities can be discussed when presentations are booked.

Making Your Safety My Priority, Elyse Weintraub Brown, Community Education Specialist, South County, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue 561-616-7051 ewbrown@pbcgov.org 

Transitioning Jobs? Reassess Your Life Insurance

By Carolina Rosenthal, CPA & Principal

Changing jobs often comes with a flurry of financial changes – new salary, different benefits, and possibly a shift in lifestyle or long-term goals. Amidst the excitement, it’s easy to overlook one important area: life insurance. A job change is an ideal moment to review your coverage and ensure it aligns with your evolving financial picture.

Right-Sizing Your Coverage

There are various ways to assess the type and amount of insurance required, depending on your goals, income, and family needs. One commonly cited rule of thumb is to carry life insurance equal to 10-12 times your annual income. This offers a simple benchmark but overlooks key factors such as taxes, your remaining working years, and your existing savings. Specifically, it tends to overestimate income replacement needs later in your career when you may have accumulated significant assets and have less future income to replace.

Another method is to target specific expenses— mortgage, childcare, college tuition, etc.—and choose enough insurance to cover those costs. This approach may be sufficient for families with enough assets to cover retirement and/or a surviving spouse with enough income to cover ongoing living expenses. However, this calculation is not well-suited for a worker whose income is necessary to cover day-to-day needs.

A more nuanced approach is to calculate the present value of your future after-tax earnings. This enables you to determine how much insurance would be necessary to generate an equivalent income stream for your family. Since life insurance proceeds are generally tax-free, this method usually requires less coverage than a simple gross income multiple.

For those seeking maximal precision, a needs analysis can be undertaken. This financial projection accounts for your income, portfolio, current expenses, and goals. It allows for a more detailed calculation of how much insurance is needed to protect a surviving spouse and children for the rest of their lives.

Structuring Your Coverage Effectively

There are multiple types of life insurance, including term, whole life, variable life, and universal life. Permanent policies (whole, variable, universal) are more expensive, but are designed to last a lifetime. This makes

Stamp and Coin Club

Boca

them suitable for long-term estate planning or liquidity needs. Term insurance, on the other hand, offers the most affordable coverage for a fixed period (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 years), making it ideal for needs like income replacement or college funding. For most people changing jobs, term insurance provides the best balance of cost and protection, especially when needs may decline over time.

Many employers offer group life insurance as a benefit, often equal to one or two times your salary. Some also allow you to purchase additional coverage. While convenient, group plans typically base premiums on age, which means costs can rise over time. Individually purchased insurance may be a better option if you are looking for a fixed price that does not increase over time. Group coverage may lack portability, meaning you may not be able to keep it if you leave your job. If you are allowed to convert the coverage to an individual policy, then the costs and availability will vary by employer.

One strategy is to “ladder” policies—buying multiple term policies with different end dates. For example, you might layer a 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year policy so that coverage declines over time as your financial responsibilities decrease. This can help you reduce premiums while maintaining adequate protection.

Life insurance isn’t something you buy once and forget about. It’s important to revisit your coverage periodically—or whenever your circumstances change. Job transitions, births, marriages, home purchases, and significant financial shifts all warrant a thorough review.

If you’re unsure whether your current coverage is sufficient or if it still meets your needs, we’re here to help. Your financial planner can run a detailed analysis, explain your options, and make sure your insurance plan evolves with your life.

Author Carolina Rosenthal is a resident of Boca Pointe. Email: crosenthal@withum.com 

I knew right away. I had this sense of security, safety and peace of mind that my children never have to worry about me ever again.”

ALICE

Edgewater at Boca Pointe Near Boca Pointe Country Club

After decades of hard work and planning, it’s time to relax and spend your time doing what you love. That’s why moving to an Acts Retirement-Life Community is the smart choice for your QOL. Come in and talk with one of our happy residents to learn how moving to Edgewater at Boca Pointe enabled them to focus on Quality of Life.

COMPREHENSIVE RETIREMENT

Your residence, amenities and more are all included with a onetime entrance fee and an ongoing monthly fee. And if you need more help in the future, your monthly fee will remain predictable thanks to Acts Life Care®.