Warning To All Kids, It’s Report Card Time’

Well, how did you do this quarter? Will you bounce in through the front door waving your report card with a proud smile on your face, waiting for the words of praise and admiration? Or, will you bury the revolting report at the bottom of your book bag, hoping that your parents have forgotten that report cards are due to come home. Just in case they have remembered, you are at the ready with an excuse blaming the teacher for your fate.

It’s too bad that we are judged by capital letters printed on a card, but this is the way it is. This is the way that we teachers describe to the rest of society what kind of student you are in our class. Your letter grade reflects how well you take tests or quizzes and if you are turning in your homework on time. Take your grades seriously. It is a competitive world. Colleges across the country are too crowded and are tightening their admission belts. Don’t let a few letters on a page determine your future. Work hard enough so that you alone are able to select your academic future.

Now the good part. In the earlier portion of this article, I stated that grades are a means of communicating the type of student you are, not the kind of person you are. Unfortunately, there isn’t any report explaining your character. I wish there was. I wish some sort of formal document existed that let parents know, "Hey, three A students walked by an elderly person who was using a walker and trying to get into the food court at The Gardens Mall. They didn’t bother to hold the door open, but your C+ son did." Or, "Ya know, there was a new girl in school today and your A student daughters wouldn’t allow her to sit with them at lunch, but a group of C and D students did."

Now, let me mention this, there are high grade students that are wonderful, thoughtful young adults. I know many of them. Some come by good grades easily while others have to work quite hard for them. My point is not that only lower graded students are good people, my emphasis is that a grade is not an accurate measurement of one’s character and should not be treated like one.

So parents, on your report card day, celebrate and reflect on the character that you have instilled with your students. Also, remember there are programs available for students struggling with academics. One to consider is the "Get Ahead, Stay on Pace and Brush Up" seminars. For more information and registration information, e-mail me at gbaldwin@weissinc.com.

Barbershop Harmony Chapter Being Formed In Palm Beach Gardens

Carl Sperry, a four-year resident of Diamond Head at PGA National, is forming a new Barbershop Harmony chapter in the area. Sperry has been a member of the International Barbershop Harmony Society for 45 years and spent 15 years with the acclaimed Big Apple Chorus in New York before relocating to Florida.

Most recently, Sperry spent two years as musical director of the Boca Raton Barbershop Chorus, putting on two shows in which the Big Apple Chorus from New York came as the featured performers.

Sperry is looking for men who can carry a tune, love to sing, and want to be part of a top quality a cappella male barbershop chorus. Lessons in singing and sight-reading will be offered. Participation in quartets will be encouraged.

The first meeting is planned for early November. The group will meet weekly either Tuesday or Thursday nights. For more information, call Carl at 626-2232.

Martin Memorial’s Comprehensive Cancer Program has received a three-year accreditation from the American College of Surgeons, based on an on-site survey. The surveyors look at the clinical expertise of the program, its quality improvement plans and successes, its data management, and its outreach to the community. Martin Memorial’s Cancer Center celebrated its second anniversary in May. It is affiliated with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. Moffitt has been named one of the top cancer care facilities in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, and it was the only facility in Florida to be recognized as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute, a very important distinction.

For many people affected by this disease, extensive travel is no longer necessary with the convenience of the three-story cancer center on the main campus at Martin Memorial. On the first floor, the center offers the latest in 3-D radiation therapy, called Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, an important development in delivering tightly focused radiation beams to cancerous tumors. The clinicians can "paint" a precise dose to the shape and depth of the tumor while significantly reducing the adverse effects of doses on healthy tissue.

The second floor is devoted to the support and education of patients and their families as they cope with cancer. It is intended as a source of encouragement in their fight against the emotional impact of cancer on their lives and those around them. Library materials and Internet access are among the resources available, offered free to anyone interested.

Skilled and experienced board-certified medical oncologists are in residence on the third floor, providing the utmost in patient care and convenience. These physicians are well established in the medical community and have had many years of experience. Clinical trials and drug protocols are also available on specific cancer diagnoses, including breast cancer. For more information about the cancer center, call 561-288-5858 or visit www.mmhs.com.

On March 30 and 31, the municipalities in North County along with Palm Beach County, Martin County and the Florida Atlantic University Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems held the Northern Palm Beach County Traffic Summit at the city of Palm Beach Gardens Municipal Complex. The purpose of the summit was to develop new and creative solutions to rapidly growing traffic problems in Northern Palm Beach County.

The five top problems defined at the summit were lack of connectivity, urban sprawl, mass transit, CRALLS misuse and a perceived lack of intergovernmental coordination between local governments in North County. Intergovernmental committee meetings coordinated by my office have been held since the summit. These committee meetings are attended by the mayors, city managers and city planning directors of the North County municipalities. A Technical Committee comprised of staff from Palm Beach County and the North County municipalities have also met several times. The Technical Committee identified four recommendations from the summit that could be implemented. They include: connectivity, land use patterns, misuse of constrained roadways at a lower level of service and modes of transportation.

The Technical Committee has proposed that connectivity between developments should be required whenever practical through vehicular connections or non-vehicular connections, such as bicycle or pedestrian paths. The committee would also like to see meaningful and sound incentives created to encourage true mixed-use projects. Additional criteria should be established for evaluating requests for a CRALLS (Constricted Roadway at Lower Level of Service) designation. The committee is also looking at alternative means to fund mass transit. All of these recommendations would likely require amendments to the county’s and municipal comprehensive plans and land development codes.

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners reviewed the recommendations of the Technical Committee last month. There was support to implement these recommendations on a county-wide basis. The Board will discuss this issue again in the near future.

Dealing with traffic is always a challenge, but the summit has brought county and municipal governments together to find solutions for the future. Much progress has been made to date and I will keep you informed as further developments emerge from this important effort.

A Gift For Every Occasion If you opened my guest closet you wouldn’t see clothes. Instead, you would find a stash of gifts just waiting for the perfect occasion. It all started innocently enough a few years back on a trip to Europe. Noticing a number of unique items, I began by picking up a few things for no one in particular. The items were then used during various times of the year for friends or hostess gifts. The small shelf grew into an entire closet of gifts.

Gift giving is a fundamental expression of love that transcends cultural barriers. Gifts let people know you are thinking of them and act as a visual symbol of your well wishes.

The gift closet concept has now been adopted by several of my good shopping buddies. The key is to keep things organized. Right now my closet contains things like miniature flavored coffees, stationery sets, candles, bath supplies and favorite CDs. To complement these items, there is a nice selection of wrapping papers, bags, bows and tissue.

This may seem crazy to you, but believe me there is a benefit. I never have to run around at the last minute. I’m always prepared for any event – even a spur-of-the-moment occasion. It is always such a relief to have something on hand for that forgotten birthday or paperboy. The whole concept promotes less stress.

To start a gift closet consider the following tips:

• Clear a space in your closet for gifts.
• Keep a variety of items for all categories of people in your life (women, men, children and couples).
• Gifts should be small and easy to store.
• Don’t spend too much money; work with a range of $20 to $40.
• When shopping, buy two to three of everything you like; multiple purchases keep things simple.
• Keep a log of the items you have and who you are giving them to; this will avoid duplication.

Good luck and happy gift giving!

The Jupiter Parks and Recreation Department is offering the following fitness classes:

Low Impact Aerobic - Intermediate Level classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. This high energy but low impact workout with no bouncing is designed to improve circulation, burn calories and lose inches. Class includes toning exercises to flatten the stomach, sculpt arms and tighten the buttocks and thighs.

The Sculpt and Stretch exercise class: Sculpts the whole body with an emphasis on the stomach, thighs, arms and buttocks. Hand weights, tubing and rubber bands are used to provide resistance and achieve quicker results. The weight training exercises also help in the prevention of osteoporosis. The 60-minute class concludes with slow, stretching, yoga-like movements to increase flexibility. Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

The first class is free to new students. All classes are held in the Jupiter Activity Building, 210 Military Trail in Jupiter, located behind the police department, and are taught by Kathy Andio, a certified aerobic instructor and strength and conditioning specialist. Participants purchase a 10-class exercise card which allows for flexibility around their schedule. The card expires Dec. 14 and costs $36 for Jupiter residents and $45 for non-Jupiter residents.

For further information call Kathy Andio, instructor, at 627-1386 or the Jupiter Parks and Recreation Department at 741-2314.

Halloween Parade

This year’s event will take place on Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. Please meet at Lake Bend and Longshore to start the parade to the park.

We look forward to all of the residents in The Shores coming out and participating in this annual event.

It’s a great time to meet your neighbors and have some fun.

Hospice Of Palm Beach County

Over 22 million people care for a loved one who suffers from a limiting illness or near the end of life inside the home. Hospice of Palm Beach County offers a unique forum for caregivers to come together to share feelings in a safe, supportive environment. The caregiver support groups are located at four different locations around Palm Beach County, including Wellington, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and Jupiter. The groups feature educational workshops, guest speakers and a chance to share feelings and stories with other caregivers in your area, creating strong bonds of mutual help and friendship.

There is no charge for participating, although space is limited.

Wellington Community Center, 12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, Florida 33414. Meetings held on the second and fourth Monday of every month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Key West Room. Facilitators: Donna Donato, LCSW, CAP and Carrie Laks, MSW; RSVP: 561-227-5227.

Spectrum Care Management Office, 2324 S. Congress Ave., Unit 2A, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406. Meetings held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Facilitator: Carrie Laks, MSW; RSVP: 561-273-2179.

Palm Beach Board of Realtors, 50 Cocoanut Row, Suite 119, Palm Beach, Florida 33480. Meetings held on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month from 2 to 3 p.m. (This support group specializes in Alzheimer’s caregivers.) Facilitator: Donna Donato, LCSW, CAP; RSVP: 561-227-5227.

Jupiter Medical Center, 1210 S. Old Dixie Highway, Jupiter, Florida, 33458. Meetings held on the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon in Meeting Room 2. Facilitator: Donna Donato, LCSW, CAP; RSVP: 561-227-5227.

Jury Duty

I received my notice in the mail, just as everyone does. My reaction was a bit different, though because I was elated! You see, I was summoned to appear in court in a matter of two weeks for the possibility of becoming a juror. Now, let me explain the reason for my unprecedented joy. Oh sure, I had been summoned before; however, due to the fact that I had small children and no full-time job (outside the home, that is), I was always in the enviable position of having an acceptable excuse not to perform my civic duty. This is no longer the case and so after careful deliberation regarding work schedules, child care and most importantly, my attire (casual business, according to the notice), I was off to that majestic courthouse in West Palm Beach where I imagined the fates of ordinary folks being determined daily.

Everyone told me to bring a book and expect to be sent home, but secretly I was hoping to be called and I was! This was only the first process though: the "voir dire," or as I referred to it, the question and answer session a la Miss America (thank goodness there was no bathing suit competition). I noticed an interesting camaraderie amongst the 20 strangers in the room. It was us against them and although the trial process would impede on people’s daily lives, businesses, etc., I got the feeling that everyone wanted to be "chosen."

You can see where this is going; my name was called to be one of six jurors for a civil case. (What? No runner- up? What if the sixth juror can’t fulfill his/her duties?) The case progressed for three days. During this time I marveled at the judicial system. Yes, it seemed tedious at times, in fact the lawyers were painstakingly choosing their words and aligning the facts, but that is what we would all want if our future was on the line, right? It all came down to six people, all from different areas of expertise and stages of life to determine how the plaintiff was going to live the rest of her days.

The whole process was indeed a learning experience, one I will remember for a while as new cases are presented and new lawyers scramble for the right words. I recall our judge stating that although most people cringe at the sight of a jury summons, we all are entitled to "due process," and these are the same folks who may have the unfortunate circumstance to depend on six or 12 strangers to determine their fate.

God bless America! Now, give me that crown. . . .

Nautical Notebook

Oct. 9. Andy Mrozinski, scuba diving instructor/trainer and St. Mary’s Medical Center hyperbaric therapist, discusses scuba safety and hyperbaric chambers at the meeting of the Palm Beach County Reef Research Team. The free program is at 7 p.m. at Building 509, Fifth Street, a quarter mile north of Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. Call 842-8624 or 640-4810.

Oct. 10. Skipper Don Landry presents a free clinic on the basics of GPS navigation at 6:30 p.m. at BOAT/U.S. Marine Center, 1900 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Call 684-4900.

Oct. 11 through 14. Southern Exposure Sea Kayaks provides free use of sit-on-top kayaks and gear for paddling on the Intracoastal Waterway north of Jupiter Inlet. Beginners welcome. Boats are available between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Blowing Rocks Marina, 18487 U.S. 1, Tequesta. Donations are accepted for Loxahatchee River enhancement. Call 575-4530.

Oct. 18, 20 and 21. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park naturalist leads walk along beach, mangrove estuary and maritime hammock. Children welcome. Meet at 10 a.m. at the nature center, A1A at the north end of Singer Island. Cost is $3.25 per car. Call 624-6952.

Oct. 20. Volunteers are needed for a beach cleanup from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at The Nature Conservancy’s Blowing Rocks Preserve, 574 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound. Reservations suggested. Call 744-6668.

Oct. 20 and 21. Ski club of the Palm Beaches presents its annual fall tournament with competition in slalom, trick skiing and jumping between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach. Free for spectators. Call 795-7083.

Oct. 24. Captain Gary Bell discusses docking and anchoring techniques at 6:30 p.m. at BOAT/U.S. Marine Center, 1900 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Free. Call 684-4900.

Oct. 27. Okeeheelee Nature Center teaches introductory canoeing for adults and youths 12 and up (12 to 15 with adult). The clinic is from 9 a.m. to noon at 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach. Cost is $10. Preregistration and swimming ability required. Call 233-1400.

Oct. 31. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 52 begins a four-week safe boating course. Classes are from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday at Jupiter Lighthouse Park, U.S. 1 at Alternate A1A. Register at door before first session. Cost is $30 for materials. Call 845-8927 or 744-8398.

Nov. 1. Palm Beach County Artificial Reef and Estuarine Enhancement Committee reports on projects offshore and in Lake Worth Lagoon at 9 a.m. at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, North Flagler Drive at Fifth Street. Free. Call 233-2446.

Nov. 2. Cheri Crider shows slides of scuba diving the coral reefs at the Red Sea off Sharm El-Sheik. The free presentation before the CUDA Dive Club is at 7:30 p.m. at Good Samaritan Medical Center’s Phillips Auditorium, 1309 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. Call 776-7142.

Nov. 3. Palm Beach Sailing Club sails the ocean at 3 p.m. followed by a raft-up on the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach. Reservations required. Call 848-9508.

Nov. 3 and 4. Jupiter Pro Am Fall Classic Surf Contest features competition for shortboard and longboard surfers between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. at Jupiter’s Carlin Park on South A1A. The U.S. Surfing Federation - sanctioned event is free for spectators. Call 744-2687.

Nov. 7. Jeff Matheson discusses light-tackle and fly fishing from a canoe at 7 p.m. at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, North Flagler Drive at Fifth Street. A fly-tying workshop precedes the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Free. Call 832-6780.

Nov. 7, 14 and 17. Jupiter Inlet Offshore Fishing Club teaches a three-part clinic on surf and beach fishing for youths ages 9 to 12. The first two sessions are at 7 p.m. at Jupiter’s Old Town Hall, followed by a fishing excursion on Saturday morning. Cost is $5 and preregistration is required. Call 741-2310.

Nov. 10. Canoe Outfitters of Florida leads a nature/history tour of the Loxahatchee River, Florida’s first national Wild and Scenic River. The trip begins at 8:30 a.m. at Riverbend Park off Indiantown Road in Jupiter and returns to the park around 12:30 p.m. Beginners welcome. Cost is $35 and reservations are required. Call 746-7053.

Nov. 10. Marinelife Center of Juno Beach open house features guided tours of its sea turtle tanks, saltwater aquariums and shell exhibits. Children welcome. The free event is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Loggerhead Park, 14200 U.S. 1. Turtle feeding is at 2 p.m. Call 627-8280.

Nov. 16 through 18. Powerboating, fishing, canoeing and kayaking are among topics taught at the "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" workshop of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The three-day course is suitable for beginners. Participants must be 18 or older. The $125 cost includes equipment, meals and cabin at J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area west of Palm Beach Gardens. Preregistration required. Call 625-5126 for brochure or reservations.

Put your maritime organization and events aboard the Nautical Notebook. Activities must be open to the public. Call Harvey Rosenfeld at 640-4810.

From The President

The Real Reason

In preparation for the annual meeting to be held in January 2002, I will be writing to you to review proposed amendments to The Shores Declarations of Protective Covenants. While reading through these documents, I noticed a paragraph headed "General Purpose of Covenants":

"The real property described (The Shores) is subject to the covenants, restrictions, reservations, servitudes and easements hereby declared to insure the best and the most appropriate development and improvement of each lot thereof, to protect the owners of lots against such improper use of surrounding lots as will depreciate the value of their property; to preserve, therefore, as practicable, the natural beauty of said property; to guard against erection thereon of poorly designed or proportioned structures built of unsuitable materials; to obtain harmonious architectural schemes; to insure the highest and best development of said property; to encourage and secure the erection of attractive homes thereon, with appropriate locations thereof on the lot; to prevent haphazard and inharmonious improvements of the lot; to secure and maintain proper setbacks from streets and adequate free spaces between structures; and, in general, to provide adequately for a high type and quality of improvements in said property, and thereby enhance the property and investments made by purchasers of lots therein."

This is the real reason protective covenants exist and also why the Board has the responsibility of applying them. Some of the key words and phrases that captured my attention were "protect," "depreciate," "preserve the natural beauty," "guard," "harmonious architectural schemes," "highest and best development" and "enhance the property and investments."

Over the years, several amendments have been made to address situations not foreseen in the original documents. Currently, the Board is considering amendments that would apply to vehicle parking, roofing materials and landscaping. The Board also is considering the possibility of a system of fines to assist in enforcement of the covenants. You will have an opportunity to vote on any proposed amendment(s) at the annual meeting. I encourage you to attend and to voice your opinions.