Page 16 - Abacoa Community News - December '24

Page 16, Abacoa
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center

ER To Remain Open During Renovations

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center’s emergency flow. This addition is particularly important as Palm specialized attention, Palm Beach Gardens Medical
department will remain open and fully operational as it Beach County experiences a population surge that has Center reinforces its commitment to ensuring residents
undergoes renovations designed to expand access and placed increased demands on local healthcare facilities. have access to quality care without prolonged wait times.
enhance the patient experience. As the longest-standing “With our highly trained team, we are focused on The ongoing upgrades at Palm Beach Gardens Medical
healthcare provider in the Palm Beach Gardens community, enhancing services and patient-centric care in meaningful Center also include a modernized building façade, new
the hospital is investing in these improvements to meet the ways that will allow our community to seek specialized patient rooms designed for comfort, expanded operating
needs of the area’s growing population while maintaining care close to home,” says Erik Cazares, CEO of Palm rooms equipped with the latest technology, and a new
its reputation for award-winning care. Beach Gardens Medical Center. “As the area’s population main lobby.
One of the key additions to the renovated emergency is rapidly growing, we’re continually optimizing our The commitment to accessible, quality healthcare
department will be a vertical care area, specifically facilities, technology, and clinical programs to support has been a cornerstone of Palm Beach Gardens Medical
designed for patients with less acute medical needs. This that growth.” Center’s mission. These renovations are a continuation
new area will streamline the treatment process, enabling The emergency department already boasts low wait of the hospital’s legacy, positioning it to better serve
patients to receive timely care and return home quicker, times, and these renovations aim to improve those the evolving needs of the community with the latest in
easing their experience and improving overall patient times even further. By providing patients with prompt, healthcare technology and patient care approaches.
Book Review

’Twas The Bite Before from first page to last. I kept thinking that he would make “You taped an English soccer game? Voluntarily?”
“Yup.” …
a great writer for the Saturday Night Live TV show.
Christmas Here, for example, are just a couple of examples early “Does it bother you that they score about once every
on when Andy Carpenter is describing how he feels about couple of months?
By Nils A. Shapiro certain aspects of his family life. (I have omitted large “Nope.”
When I was trying to sections of the text for lack of space here and substituted … “I watch along with him for a minute or so,
decide on an appropriate ellipses. …) pretending to be interested, then I leave. I could watch
book to review for this “I don’t like eggnog, and I don’t think anybody does. until someone scores, but by then Bobby’s trial might have
December column, several It’s too thick and too sweet for my taste … like drinking started. …
features on the cover of this melted chewing gum. I just tried some again anyway and “I can’t sugarcoat this or enter a state of denial …
month’s selection attracted found that sucking some of this batch through a straw the simple fact is that I have a son who prefers soccer to
me: the obvious connection requires either a serious pair of lungs or a hydraulic good old American college football.
to the Christmas holiday, pump; it’s not nearly good enough to justify that amount “I am raising a Communist.”
the cute twist of the “Bite” of work. As if David Rosenfelt’s delightful writing style weren’t
for “Night” in the title and “But the reason I doubt that anyone really likes it is enough to have me join his vast base of admiring readers,
the adorable Dalmatian that it’s only popular at Christmas. Good food or drink how about the following: He and his wife live in Maine
with the Gingerbread Man cookie in his mouth—an should not require a holiday to justify consumption … I with 25 of the 4,000 dogs they have rescued. Do I need
irresistible draw for the doggie lover I am. feel the same way about fruitcakes and candied yams; if to say more?
What I did you like them, eat them all year. Otherwise, I don’t want
not realize until to hear about them.” *****
I arrived home, Or this passage about his son, Ricky.
opened the book, “Ricky is watching a soccer game. On a doggie note, my
noted the author’s “He likes soccer. wife Linda and I will be
credentials and “I’ve known this for a while, but it’s still jarring. I’m sharing our first holiday
b e g a n r e a d i n g a good parent, so as much as I hate soccer and hate even season with Lacey, who
this novel is more that he likes it, I’m not about to say anything or joined our family three
that I had struck be critical. He has to live his own life and make his own months ago. Lacey, a
literary gold in my choices, even a ridiculous one like this. “teacup” Maltese who
selection! Within “What are you watching, Rick?” weighs just 3-1/2 pounds,
the first few pages “It’s a Premier League game. Liverpool is playing will celebrate her first
I understood why Chelsea.” birthday on December 20,
David Rosenfelt “They’re five hours ahead there. Are they playing at and is already completely
has developed a midnight?” bonded with my wife
massive fan base of “I taped it.” Linda, as you can see here.
readers for his more
than 40 already
published novels,
over half of them
about Andy Carpenter, the same attorney who stars in
’Twas The Bite Before Christmas.
In this novel, Carpenter is serving as defense attorney
for a friend and excellent neighbor who, shockingly,
has been arrested and charged with the murder of a
high-ranking mobster. It turns out that his friend, to the
surprise of Carpenter and everyon e else in town, has
been living among them as part of the government’s
witness protection program after having earlier been a
part of the mob but who “turned” and gave evidence at
great personal risk.
With his friend and client declaring himself to be
completely innocent of the new charges, Carpenter must
get to the truth about the “evidence” and find the real
killer. (He also takes on the responsibility of caring for
his friend/client’s two dogs while he is in prison.) This
won’t be an easy case: The victim was found dead in the
trunk of his client’s car, and his bloodstains on the client’s
clothing. It’s a well-told tale with a surprising, satisfying
and credible ending.
What makes this book special is Rosenfelt’s writing
style. But there are so many reasons to love this author
it is difficult to know where to begin. Most importantly,
his tongue-in-cheek humor will keep a grin on your face