News Briefs for Palm Beach County
By South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Jan. 3–Delray Beach
Land-use hearing is postponed again
About 40 residents attended Tuesday night’s City Commission meeting for a public hearing on a land-use proposal, only to hear the item had been postponed again.
A proposal to build 28 homes on 9 acres now occupied by Christ the King Monastery, at Sherwood Boulevard and Sutton Place, will be tweaked to address house setback issues, city officials said.
The proposal originally had been postponed to downscale two lot sizes.
A first reading and public hearing about the revised draft is now scheduled for Jan. 16. The second public hearing and a final reading are scheduled for Feb. 6.
Greenacres
Suspect is charged in hit-and-run death
Police arrested a Greenacres man they said ran over and killed a 79-year-old man who was mowing his lawn.
Investigators charged Juan J. Macias, 48, with hit and run, and failing to stay at the scene of a crash involving death. He was being held in the Palm Beach County Jail without bond.
Macias was driving a Dodge van in the 5600 block of South 38th Court when he struck Jose Solis, who died at the scene about 12:16 p.m. Monday, police said.
Macias admitted running over Solis, police said.
West Palm Beach
Maintenance worker attacked, police say
A city maintenance man working in Gaines Park on Tuesday was beaten up by a group of teenagers, police said.
David Nieves, who is in his 60s, was working at the park at 1501 N. Australian Ave. when three young men came up from behind about 3:30 p.m. and started punching him, police said.
Nieves suffered minor injuries, police said.
The young men did not take Nieves’ wallet, police said.
WEST LAKE WORTH
Man is found dead outside his mobile home
Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the killing of a 26-year-old man found dead outside his mobile home early Tuesday morning.
Aniceto Guatemala’s roommate found him dead about 1:30 a.m. at a mobile home park in the 100 block of Fern Drive, which is west of Lake Worth, the Sheriff’s Office said.
It appeared Guatemala had been drinking, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were called to the mobile home park after someone reported hearing gunshots.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive for Guatemala’s killing.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-4000 or Crime Stoppers at 800-458-8477.
Florida
15 people killed on roads over the holiday weekend
Fifteen people died in traffic crashes on Florida’s roads during the New Year holiday, including four people in South Florida, authorities said.
The Florida Highway Patrol recorded two highway deaths in Broward County and two in Palm Beach County from Saturday to Monday.
Both of Palm Beach County’s deaths were pedestrian fatalities that did not occur on interstate highways, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Broward’s single pedestrian fatality happened Sunday morning on Interstate 95 when a woman argued with a passenger, stopped her car and was hit by a car as she ran across the highway. Broward’s deadly wreck happened Saturday in a single-vehicle rollover on Alligator Alley.
WEST LAKE WORTH
3 men shot in legs during brawl at Toxido’s nightclub
Three men were shot in the legs early Tuesday morning during a brawl at Toxido’s nightclub, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The men, 24, 22 and 19, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. It appeared that they were targeted, investigators said.
Police said the men were shot about 2:30 a.m. after fighting with another group of men who walked into the club at 7306 Lake Worth Road, which is west of Lake Worth.
The fight eventually spilled outside the club and that’s when some men grabbed guns, made their way back into the club and opened fire, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-4000 or Crime Stoppers at 800-458-8477.
South Florida
Hurricane center increases number of tropical storms
That nice, calm hurricane season last summer and autumn was a touch busier than initially thought. As part of a postmortem analysis, the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County has discovered an additional tropical storm formed July 17 off the northeast U.S. coast and dissipated by the next day.
That means there were 10 tropical storms, not nine as previously detected, in 2006. Of those, five strengthened into hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season still was slower than normal, as the average season sees 11 tropical storms, including six hurricanes.
Winds from the unnamed tropical storm reached a peak intensity of 52 mph, after it formed in the Atlantic Ocean, 240 miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Mass. It then swirled northeast, fizzling after 18 hours.
I-95 update
The Florida Department of Transportation reports the following on Interstate 95:
The southbound exit ramp to Sixth Avenue South is closed for reconstruction.
Sixth Avenue under I-95 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday.
Two lanes southbound from Summit Boulevard to Forest Hill Boulevard will be intermittently closed 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Two lanes in each direction from Southern Boulevard to north of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard will be intermittently closed 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday.
The inside lanes of the northbound and southbound exit ramps at Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard will be intermittently closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Saturday.
One lane northbound at 45th Street will be closed at 8 p.m. with two lanes closed at 10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m.
Boca Raton
Board on disabled
to meet Thursday
The Boca Raton Advisory Board for the Physically and Mentally Challenged holds its first meeting of the new year at 7 p.m. Thursday on the first-floor conference room at City Hall.
At the meeting, board officials hope to start planning a board gathering March 24 at Mizner Park, they said. The board advises the City Council on issues related to the disabled community. Call Aron Breslow at 561-483-8093 or Peter Schnell, board chairman, at 561-361-8389 for more information.
West Boca
Children’s safety seat
inspections set Jan. 13
Free child safety seat inspections and a VIN etching rally will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 13 in The Home Depot parking lot at U.S. 441 and Glades Road.
Have your VIN etched into windows and T-tops, and your child’s car seat inspected free. The event is sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Prevention and Traffic Division.
Boynton Beach
Haiti’s independence
celebrated Saturday
Liliane Louis will tell stories and display artifacts of Haitian culture to celebrate Haitian Independence Day. An experienced storyteller and author of When Night Falls, Kric! Krac!, Louis will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday at Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. Louis will discus the culture and customs of her native country and the history of the island nation. The program should last about one hour and is free. Call 561-742-6390.
West Boynton
Chabad Lubavitch
hosts concert today
Nine musicians from the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra will perform 7:30 p.m. today at Chabad Lubavitch of Greater Boynton Beach, 10655 El Clair Ranch Road.
David’s Ensemble will feature masters of the string instruments playing klezmer, classical, traditional and Israeli music. Proceeds from the $36 tickets will benefit the development and growth of the orchestra. For reservations, call 561-732-4633.
Delray beach
Christmas trees
may be dropped off
The city’s litter prevention program is recycling Christmas trees for people with no curbside service. Trees can be dropped off between now and Monday at Miller Park, 1905 SW Fourth Ave.; Barwick Park, 4321 Lake Ida Road; Orchard View Park, 4060 Germantown Road; and Knowles Park, 1001 S. Federal Highway. Trees should be free of tinsel and decorations. No plastic or metal trees. Call 561-243-7138.
Delray beach
Israeli literature focus
of lecture Thursday
Avraham Dov Horowitz will offer a lecture on Israeli literature as part of the Jewish Education Commission’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at Temple Anshei Shalom, 7099 W. Atlantic Ave.
Horowitz’s talk will focus on European interest in modern Israeli literature. For more information on the lecture series, call the commission at 561-852-6013.
highland beach
Manager screens
town clerk applicants
Friday is Town Clerk Doris Trinley’s last day with the town, and the Town Commission is still searching for her replacement.
Town Manager Dale Sugerman is screening applicants, but the commission is conducting interviews and making the final decision. Trinley, 70, moved to Highland Beach in 1983 and began working for the town in 1988 as an administrative secretary.
With Commissioner Rachael Scala-Pistone leaving due to term limits, Trinley has announced she is running for a commission seat in the spring elections.
lantana
Online reference service
available at the library
Lantana Library cardholders can now access the World Book online reference service. To gain access, follow the link www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Login?ed=lib&acct=L6552, then type the word “ocean” before the library card number. Call 561-540-5740.
Lake Worth
Library offers classes
about laptop computers
Free laptop computer classes will be offered by the Lake Worth Public Library, 15 N. M St., Jan. 12 through Feb. 16.
The course, which meets 9 a.m. Fridays, will offer classes in Windows, computer desktop and icons, file management, wireless setup and basic Internet.
Students must bring their own, fully charged laptop to each class. Prerequisites include knowing how to use a mouse, keyboard and Windows XP.
To register, call 561-533-7354.
Palm Beach County
Pa. retiree group
slates luncheon
The Southeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees is having a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 10 at Cardello’s, 1447 10th St., Lake Park.
Region 13 director John Lambert will discuss the cost-of-living adjustments. There is $15 fee. Call 561-712-0612.
Royal Palm Beach
Lead designers hired
for golf club conversion
The Village Council has inked an agreement with two lead designers and consultants for development of the planned conversion of the old Tradition Golf Club in the center of town. Erdman Anthony and its subcontractors will receive $572,575 over all phases of the contract for engineering work, golf course design and electrical work. The RMPK Group will receive $676,900 for general landscaping and architecture.
The council purchased the rights to the defunct golf course in 2005 for close to $5 million and has undertaken a lengthy public process to decide what to build on the 160 acres. The latest design concept, which has yet to be approved by the council, includes a nine-hole executive golf course, a kayak lake, running trails, a senior center and botanical gardens.
Wellington
Pierson Road intersection
closed through Jan. 11
Pierson Road will be closed at the intersection of 120th Avenue in Wellington’s equestrian area through Jan. 11.
Pump stations and control structures of the village’s storm water system are being reconstructed in order to bring discharged water into compliance with the Everglades Forever Act. For more information about the road closures, call 561-791-4003.
West Palm Beach/ West Boynton
JCC schedules gospel concert Jan. 13
The Jewish Community Center of the Greater Palm Beaches is sponsoring a concert by Joshua Nelson, gospel singer, preacher and third-generation African-American Jew, at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, 501 Sapodilla Ave., West Palm Beach.
A second concert is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 14 at Park Vista High School’s theater, 7900 Jog Road, west of Boynton Beach. Tickets are $20, $40 for VIP seating and $12 for children age 12 and younger.
Call 561-712-5201 for the first concert and 561-740-9000 for the matinee.
Boca Raton
Jewish heritage topic of Monday lecture
Marcia Zerivitz, executive director of the Jewish Museum of Florida, will speak about Jewish heritage on Monday in the first of four lectures in the annual Education Series for the Gold Coast Division of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
Each program starts at 6 p.m. on a Monday with a dinner buffet and dessert, followed by a speaker at The Addison restaurant, 2 E. Camino Real.
Writer and journalist Edouard Valdman will speak Feb. 5 on “Is France Anti-Semitic?” On Feb. 19, author Betty Heisler-Samuels will speak on about growing up Jewish in Havana. On March 19, Ethiopian Dror Nagusa will tell his story of making an aliyah with his family at the age of 5.
The cost is $45 per program or $150 for all four. For tickets, call Lynn Gucciardo at 561-852-6088.
West Boca
Jewish humor author to speak Jan. 16
Moshe Waldoks, author of The Big Book of Jewish Humor, will be featured at B’nai Torah Congregation’s Author Forum at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16.
B’nai Torah Congregation is at 6261 SW 18th St.
The cost is $25. For tickets, call 561-392-8566.
Boynton beach
Book on region’s history on sale at retailers
The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum is benefiting from the sales of Around Boynton Beach by Boynton Beach resident Janet DeVries. The book contains postcard images that tell the story of the region’s history. The book is available at retailers and the museum, 129 E. Ocean Ave. It cost $19.99 and 40 percent of the proceeds go to the museum. Call 561-742-6780.
West Boynton
A Funny Thing plays at Park Vista High
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the first production in the inaugural season of the New Vista Theatre Company. The show runs through Sunday at the Park Vista Theatre in Park Vista High School, 7900 Jog Road. The theater company is a division of the National Center for Jewish Cultural Arts. The company’s founder Avi Hoffman stars in the show. Tickets are $32 or $35; $15 for students and teachers. Call 888-284-4633, ext. 1, or visit www.newvistatheatre.com.
Delray Beach
Chorale group plans auditions Saturday
The Delray Beach Chorale is looking for singers. Now in its 25th season, the chorale is holding auditions for men and women of all ages from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason St., off of East Atlantic Avenue, east of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Some sight reading is required. Rehearsals begin Jan. 9. Call 561-865-3354.
West Delray
Class on orchids scheduled Saturday
American Orchid Society judge Arlene Maguire will teach a class on Orchids 101 at 10 a.m. Saturday at the American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Gardens.
The class is geared toward beginning gardeners and first-time orchid owners. Maguire will discuss light, fertilizer and watering. The cost is $25 for society members and $35 for guests. The society is off Jog Road, south of Linton Boulevard. To register, call 561-404-2033.
Wellington
Bartending event aids equestrian foundation
Organizers for the Sidelines Equestrian Triathlon are having a celebrity bartending event to benefit the Equestrian Aid Foundation, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Player’s Club Restaurant, 13410 South Shore Blvd. There is no admission fee.
Since the triathlon has been postponed indefinitely during the outbreak of equine herpes virus, event organizers wanted to organize a get-together to keep the community excited about rescheduling the event, said Samantha Charles, triathlon chairwoman.
Triathlon athletes Robert Dover, Michelle Grubb, and Tony Coppola will be some of the well-known faces serving up drinks behind the bar and offering raffle prizes.
For more information about the celebrity bartending event, call 561-795-0080. For information about the triathlon, the Equestrian Aid Foundation or to purchase tickets to the triathlon, call 800-792-6068.
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Copyright (c) 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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