Page 10 - Boca Club News - November '24

Page 10, Boca Club News

Government
Government

Mayor’s Update:

Count the Many More Reasons to Love Our Boca!

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor of monitoring and technology. Without a tax increase we information, including on social media, turn out to be wrong.
Boca Raton and was re-elected have also invested millions in road resurfacing and median It’s impossible to get perfect information instantly,
in 2023. A South Florida native, landscaping and beautification. The city has worked with especially when dozens of calls to 911 are being logged and
attorney and small business owner, state and local agencies to improve connectivity for public investigated. It takes some time, so a bit of patience may go
Scott and his wife Bella live in Broken transportation, bike paths and more. a long way. This incident has already provided lessons for
Sound with their two children. You The city recently held its “Vision Zero” kick-off meeting more tools and ways to get the facts out there. It also starts
may also want to stay in touch on where residents received an overview of the Action Plan with what we each share.
social media at @scottsingerusa. As being developed to achieve safe streets. For the most up-to-date and official information follow
always, please reach out by email to In October 2022 the City Council passed a resolution to Boca Raton Police Services on Facebook and Twitter.
ssinger@myboca.us with any thoughts or requests. Honored designate Boca Raton as a “Vision Zero City,” an aspirational Residents can also sign up for police emergency alerts
to serve you! policy that traffic-related crashes should never result in a by texting AlertBoca (no space) to 38276 or visiting the
As we transition into the height of season, we have much severe injury or loss of life. city’s website.
good news to report and many events to highlight. After passing the resolution Boca Raton was awarded Boca Raton remains a safe and vibrant place. Each
Low Taxes in Boca Raton, Again. As in every year since a $300,000 grant in February 2023 and a $4 million grant possible event shows how ready we are for potential
I was first elected in 2014, Boca Raton’s tax rate has not earlier this year–two of the largest grants of this type. The challenges, and our first responders deserve the praise they
increased. Indeed, this year we had another small decrease–to city continues to champion safe, multimodal transportation received for their preparedness. We prepare for the worst but,
3.67 mils. It is a testament to our strong planning, careful options so pedestrians and bicyclists can also enjoy our thankfully, we haven’t experienced it. May we never.
investment and outstanding city staff that we are able to expanded offerings. Winter Events. As we approach the height of season,
maintain world-class city services and keep the tax rate the Public Safety News and Gratitude. Boca residents please check out signature events in Boca Raton.
lowest of any full-service city in Palm Beach County, and enjoy one of the safest communities anywhere. Boca Raton’s We will welcome in the holiday season on Saturday,
about 60% less than such larger cities as Miami. crime rate remains at levels among the lowest in 40 years November 23rd with our Holiday Tree Lightning at Mizner
Please remember that there are at least seven other taxing and continues to show a consistent downward trend. Our Park.
jurisdictions on your tax bill, and only 20% of your property paramedic-firefighters’ success in reviving heart attack The holiday spirit will be on full display on Wednesday,
taxes are paid to the City of Boca Raton. We’ll keep doing victims on scene is several times better than the national December 4th when the city’s 52nd Annual Holiday Parade
our part to balance low taxes, great services and strong average, and we continue to enjoy the best in public safety will turn Downtown Boca Raton into a “Winter Wonderland.”
property values. services. The parade will start at Federal Highway and SE 5th Street,
Traffic and Mobility Improvements. The city has In the wake of the recent “swatting” incident at Town and travel north to the Mizner Park Amphitheater.
continued to improve traffic signals through greater Center, which turned out to be a false alarm, we have many Federal Highway will be closed from Camino to Glades Road
The parade begins at 7:30 p.m. To prepare for the floats,
reasons to be grateful. We are grateful that the scary situation
Council Corner: we feared did not actually happen. As always, we are so from about 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
grateful for the swift action by our first responders: Boca

Music fans can enjoy the Holiday Pops Concert featuring
“RunTheCity” Police, Boca Fire, many other law enforcement partners, and The Symphonia and FAU chorus conducted by Jacomo Bairos
at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7th at Mizner Park Amphitheater.
employees who helped the situation.
The monthly Night Market at Sanborn Square will have

Swatting is a prank call to emergency services in efforts

Update to dispatch a large number of police officers to a particular a holiday twist on Dec. 12th. Meet “Olaf” from Disney’s
Frozen between 6 and 8 p.m.
area. Swatting diverts community resources and quickly

spreads fear. Often, these calls come from a “spoof” number
For college football fans the 11th Annual Boca Raton
that doesn’t originate locally. Bowl game returns on December 18th. Kick-off is 5:30
By Andy Thomson, who was re- Swatting incidents are designed to create panic and chaos. p.m. at FAU Stadium. Our city will again be showcased
elected to the City Council at the These types of false alarms are not exclusive to Boca Raton. to a national TV audience on ESPN, but the best view is
last election after having previously Cities across the nation have faced similar false scares. As from inside the only college stadium with a view of the
served from 2018-2022. He has lived unfortunate as “swatting” is, our police department takes Atlantic Ocean.
in South Florida his entire life,except these threats seriously and will respond and investigate. Winter festivities will continue at Mizner Park with
for four college years in Atlanta. Because these situations are fluid we may have to Cookie & Cocoa from 6-8 p.m. on December 20th and Let it
Andy resolves business disputes realize that rumors will fly in the first moments while law Snow, snow cones from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Decrmber 28th.
for a living. He is also an adjunct enforcement responds to an incident. Minutes may drag on For more information on city events please check out
professor at FAU, where he teaches but we’d all benefit by trying to remain calm until reports the city’s website, myboca.us, or like my Facebook page at
local and state government. Andy and his wife, Joanna, can be confirmed. Very often, early reports and unconfirmed facebook.com/scottsingerusa.
have five young children
Back in 2021 we started the RunTheCity initiative, where
we resolved to run every mile of every street in Boca Raton
while cleaning up trash and identifying safety improvements.
That first year we completed the 475.82-mile journey and
picked up 1,276.76 pounds of trash, identified 329 safety
improvements, and were helped by 427 volunteers from
a variety of non-profit groups, churches and community
organizations throughout Boca Raton.
After completing that first round through the city we’ve 561-989-0611
kept going. At this point we’ve run 602.36 miles (1.27 times
around the city), have cleaned up 2,235.42 pounds of trash, EXCEPTIONAL HOMECARE SERVICES
identified 482 safety improvements (most of which have
now been addressed), and have had 907 volunteers. Boca Home Care Services has been South Florida’s preferred home health care company for over
This year, we came up with a new innovation to the 25 years. The caregivers we refer into our clients’ homes provide essential care to the most valued
RunTheCity program: a virtual 5K where participants run members of our community with compassion and dignity. Trusted by physicians and geriatric care
any 3.1-mile route of their choice and clean up trash along professionals, we treat every client and family with a level of respect and professionalism that sets us
the way. This inaugural RunTheCity Virtual 5K took place apart.
on September 21st. We had 216 participants who picked Accepting ALL
up 509.81 pounds of trash (and that’s just by the folks who Tailored Services Include:
brought their trash back for weighing, so that true impact was forms of Long-
likely much greater). We determined the winners of the 5K • Alzheimer/Dementia Care Term Care
based on the families/group and individuals who picked up • Transferring/Bathing/ Toileting
the most trash. Those winners were: • Personal Care/Housekeeping Insurance &
Family/Group Private Pay!
Mary Craumer and Janixx Parisi: 60 pounds • Errands, Cooking and Transportation
Reggie Borges and Brett Earl: 53.5 pounds • Live-In/Hourly Care
Jeanpierre Family: 42 pounds • Respite
Individual • Hospice
Heather Danan: 53 pounds • Post-Rehab or Hospital Care
Kathy Harrington: 47 pounds
Alex Drozd: 41 pounds • Short-Term or Long-Term
Congratulations to these winners for loving their • And much more!
community in such a tangible way!
Hope you’ll join us for next year’s event. For more Mention this ad to receive a discount on our fee. www.bocahomecareservices.com
information about RunTheCity, please visit https://www. Open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week NR license # 30211009
runthecityboca.com/.