Page 8 - Boca Exposure - March '20

Page 8, Boca Exposure
Mayor Update:

Please Continue Our Successes This Tuesday, March 17

Scott Singer is the 35th plaguing nearby cities. This year, and for each of the next 15 and policies that have helped create high-paying jobs, cut red
Mayor of Boca Raton. A years, we will reinvest nearly $50 million annually into our tape for small businesses, enhanced the appearance standards
South Florida native, Innovative Sustainable Infrastructure Program to ensure that and green space in Boca, increased transparency, and raised
attorney, mediator, and small our roads and utilities are safe and strong. Green space has ethics standards. I’ve been willing to stand alone in opposing
business owner, Scott and his been greatly expanded, with the opening of our 47th park, projects that negatively impacted traffic and neighborhoods
wife, Bella, live in Broken Hillsboro El Rio South, and more expanded public park and and were not reflective of smart development.
Sound with their two young beach amenities. In just that last month, we’ve attracted three I’m honored to have the endorsements of our police
children. more corporate headquarters to Boca. Our tax rate remains officers, firefighters, local Realtors , classroom teachers,
®
On Feb. 18, the City of one of the lowest in all of Florida for a full-service city, and business groups, and bipartisan support from elected leaders
Boca Raton held its inaugural property values continue to rise. like Congressman Ted Deutch, former Commissioner Steven
State of the City address. As This Tuesday, March 17, will be Election Day in Boca Abrams, and all of my City Council colleagues. This includes
previewed last issue, we Raton for those who have not yet voted by mail or at early endorsements from more than 700 residents to date, including
were able to report on a number of success stories in Boca voting. I will be on the ballot, and I’m hoping to earn your many in your neighborhood.
Raton. A crowd of nearly 200 people filled the Mizner Park support to continue serving as a strong voice for Boca’s Our city needs the right leadership with the vision to keep
Cultural Arts Center to hear about our priorities and recently residents. I’m proud of my record in delivering results during Boca moving toward a brighter future for this and future
completed projects. They included expanded public safety my nearly two years as mayor. My initiatives and work generations. I humbly ask for your support so we can all
investments. With a 14 percent reduction in crime the last helped bring the first new public school to Boca Raton in do so – together. Tuesday’s election is open to all residents
two years, our expansion of police services and community- more than a decade and a forthcoming Brightline station – regardless of party registration, so please make sure you take
focused policing is setting a model for other agencies. Our something so many have called a game changer for our city. a moment to make sure your voice is heard. The future of
firefighters and paramedics rank in the top half of one percent I’ve brought needed change to our city in the areas of our city depends on it. With your help, I hope to be part of
of all departments nationwide. business growth, communications, green space, ethics, and that future. For more information, please visit my website
We’ve invested in infrastructure to avoid problems accessibility. I’ve proposed and worked to pass new laws at SingerForBoca.com. Thank you.
Council Corner: A City to Be Proud Of

By Boca Raton City Council address took place in the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center in the garden will be larger, to allow for more residents to rent plots
member Monica Mayotte, south end of Mizner Park. Mayor Singer illustrated how Boca and provide educational opportunities for Boca Middle students.
a 21-year resident of Boca Raton is fiscally strong. We have many projects taking place, The temporary parking lot work will commence soon, too.
Raton who has been active such as the Utility Department’s iSIP program that will ensure I am proud to announce that the city just opened its 47th park,
in the community, both in our water infrastructure is strong and resilient for many years the Hillsboro El Rio Park South. This new waterfront park is
our local schools and as a to come. He showcased the Municipal Services department and located on S.W. 18th Street and Dixie Highway, along the El Rio
city advisory board member. how the city council decided to keep the garbage and recycle canal. The ribbon cutting was held on Feb. 22. Congratulations
Happy 2020! This is my pickup service in-house. Our Office of Sustainability is working goes out to the Parks and Recreation Department, the Parks
first article in the new year. I to ensure our future is bright by identifying how the city can and Recreation Board, and all the city staff and workers who
hope your year is going well. reduce its carbon footprint by conserving energy and water, made this park a reality. It was a long wait, but everyone is glad
The city has been so busy this reducing fuel consumption, embracing better recycling practices it is open. The park has tennis courts, pickleball courts, a sand
year with many initiatives to and reducing single-use plastics. The city’s communication and volleyball court, a fitness track for walking and jogging, many
make our great city even better. technology staff did a great job with the presentation. playgrounds, several pavilions that can be rented for parties,
The city held its very first State of the City Address. The The city’s Planning Department always has their hands full and a non-motorized boat launch for standup paddleboard and
reviewing development projects all around the city. One of kayaks. And, the park has restrooms and plenty of parking for
the biggest and most consequential projects they are currently those who don’t live close by. Stop by and see for yourself.
working on is the new Virgin Trains USA/Brightline (VTUSA) Congratulations goes out to Council members Andrea Levine
train station. The first two steps in the process are to move the O’Rourke and Andy Thomson for winning re-election because
community garden and to get approvals to build the temporary they ran unopposed.
parking lot just south of the downtown library. VTUSA is In just a few days, on March 17, not only is it the Presidential
working with Junior League of Boca Raton, the community Preference Primary, it is also your opportunity to re-elect Mayor
garden’s master gardeners and outside landscape designers, on Scott Singer. Don’t forget to vote on March 17 to re-elect Mayor
the new community garden, which will be more centrally located Singer.
across the street from Boca Raton Middle School. The new
Chasing Jack, Award-Winning Play,

At Willow Theatre In Sugar Sands

Park Through March 22

Chasing Jack, the award-winning play by John S. and said almost the same thing: ‘Write about what you
Anastasi, is currently in its southeastern premiere at the know…’ There are two things I love, medicine and the law.
Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. The production, which My daughter is a lawyer. So, I started to think of how to
won the Best Play Award at the 2019 New York Theatre connect them all, and after an especially difficult operation
Festival Summerfest, will run through March 22. the germ of the story began.
Chasing Jack is the story of Dr. Jack Chase, a surgeon “I don’t want anyone to get the idea that I’m Jack,
with a serious gambling addiction. Through the lens of because I’m not,” he says. “Some of me is in him as I believe
a malpractice lawsuit that could end his career, the play some of me is in all the characters I write, even the women.
explores familial relationships, medical ethics, and the The monologues Jack speaks regarding what it’s like to be a
potentially crippling effects of addiction. The stakes couldn’t heart surgeon are very real. The addiction concept is drawn
be any higher as Jack looks back at pivotal moments in his from having the unfortunate experience of operating on drug
life, his relationships, and his career. addicts over the years, and watching them lie, betray, and
“I had written several plays, three of which were systematically destroy every relationship, especially the
produced Off Broadway,” playwright John Anastasi said people who love them the most.”
recently, when he was asked how Chasing Jack came about. Anastasi and Director Loewy have cast a combination of
“It was after a reading of my play I Forgive You Ronald local and out-of-town actors in the production. Galen Murphy
Reagan, starring Lucie Arnaz and her husband Laurence Hoffman will play Dr. Jack Chase, and two-time Tony Award
Luckinbill, and we were all out for dinner. Lucie asked me nominee Crista Moore will portray the attorney Ockerman
about her mother’s aortic dissection (I am a thoracic surgeon – the first time a woman has played this role. Other cast
in ‘my other life’!) and we started talking about heart members include India H. Jarvis as Taylor, Elana Valastro
surgery. She listened to all the stories and was mesmerized, as Rebecca, David Sadaka as The Judge, Rick Malone as
and at the end of the evening she said, ‘You write well but Robert, Ben Prayz as Dr. Fox, and Francis Allen as Dr. Noel.
the best stories are when you write and talk about what you Performances: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday,
do!’ My response was that I spend 14 hours a day doing 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets are $30; group
heart surgery, the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a rates (six or more tickets purchased in one transaction) are
computer and write about it. $25. Tickets can be purchased online at sugarsandpark.org/
“So, two plays later I was at the opening night party of chasing-jack or by phone at (561) 347-3948. The Willow
my play, Would You Still Love Me If, with Kathleen Turner,” Theatre is located at 300 South Military Trail, in Boca
Anastasi continued. “John Patrick Shanley came up to me Raton’s Sugar Sand Park (33486).