Page 10 - Boca Club News - December '21

Page 10, Boca Club News

Boca Happenings

Boca Raton Public Library Announces New Butterfly

Garden At Spanish River Branch’s Pondhawk Natural Area

A new butterfly trail. Now, people of all ages will enjoy beautiful plants,
garden is located at the butterflies, caterpillars and moths in the butterfly garden
Pondhawk Natural Area, located at the entrance to StoryWalk.
which is adjacent to the All the plants in the butterfly garden are native to
Spanish River branch of Florida. Nectar-producing plants attract butterflies and
the Boca Raton Public other animal pollinators, while other plants, such as
Library. The butterfly milkweed, provide nourishment for caterpillars. The
garden is an exciting garden also includes salvia, dune sunflowers, coonties,
addition to the ongoing and more. Visitors to the garden may spot a variety of
partnership between the butterflies, including the zebra longwing, monarch, gulf
Library, the Palm Beach fritillary, and atala. Although the butterfly garden was just
County Department planted in October, caterpillars and butterflies have already
of Environmental been spotted.
Resources Management, The 79-acre Pondhawk Natural Area is maintained by
the City of Boca Raton the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental
Recreation Services, and Resources Management. Pondhawk includes a 12-foot-
the Friends of the Boca wide multiuse trail for walkers and bicyclists with stunning
Raton Public Library. views of Blue Lake and the birds, lizards and other wildlife
Pondhawk is already that make their home in the eight-acre wetland restoration
home to the Library’s project. An observation platform provides a close-up look
award-winning at the wetlands. Pondhawk is open from sunrise to sunset,
StoryWalk, which 365 days a year, and can be accessed through the west
provides a children’s Young and old visitors to the new Garden will enjoy seeing, and learning about, the caterpillar- parking lot at Spanish River Library.
storybook along a nature to-butterfly life cycle of these beautiful winged wonders.
Government

Mayor’s Update: Happy Holidays

and Reasons to Be Happy About Boca Raton

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor 5. Access to Great Minds: Through my role with tax increases and major cutbacks. We’ve provided relief to
of Boca Raton. A South Florida the Bloomberg Harvard Recovery Leadership Program, small businesses, and added additional mortgage and rent
native, attorney, mediator, and small our city was one of eight selected nationwide to receive relief. In my roles with the Florida League of Mayors and
business owner, Scott and his wife support for an eight-month innovation project. The project U.S. Conference of Mayors, as well as a working group of
Bella live in Broken Sound with their completed in the fall, with the launch of an Innovation local mayors, I advocated for more funding from state and
two young children. Office and the formation of a strategy to connect venture federal legislation. The continued attractiveness of Boca
The holiday season provides extra capital funders with the many start-up companies calling Raton is keeping property values high, with a banner year
reminders of the many reasons we Boca Raton home. for residential real estate. People and companies across the
can be grateful for what we have in 6. City Employees: It’s easy to take for granted the nation want to be where we are already blessed to live!
Boca Raton. Among them: Here are a few points of gratitude hard work of our nearly 2,000 city employees. Our first 8. Back in Person: It’s been great to see so many
for our wonderful community. responders and sanitation teams have persevered through familiar faces after a hiatus. You can join the remaining
1. Caring Residents: Boca Raton residents have the challenges of public interaction in a pandemic. Just the city events this year, including the Boca Raton Bowl on
done well since the pandemic began in continuing to be same, so many unseen employees work 365 days to make December 18th at 11 a.m. and our 47th Annual Boat Parade
considerate of our neighbors. I’m so grateful for those who sure our water is clean and safe, our roads and traffic signals that evening at 6:30 p.m.
have worked to help others get back to normal as quickly work, and so much more. I’m grateful to be one member of As always, I’m grateful to serve the people of Boca
and strongly as possible. a group of professionals who serve us all every day. Raton! You can share any thoughts you have at ssinger@
2. Veterans and Servicemembers: This year’s Veterans’ 7. Strong Economics: Boca Raton has shouldered the myboca.com, and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter,
Day featured moving presentations from veterans who large costs from COVID-19 without any tax increase, and and Instagram at @scottsingerusa.
head two Boca-based organizations that help our veterans with no cuts to essential services, even as other cities had Wishing you and yours a safe, happy and healthy new year.
nationwide. Grey Team provides health and wellness
programs to reduce and end veteran suicides, a sad and real Council Corner:
risk for too many of our brave heroes. Vets Helping Heroes
provides service dogs for active duty military members and
veterans. Also on Veterans Day, Connected Warriors opened #RunTheCity Update—Almost Done!
its resource center to better provide therapy, counseling,
and a place for veterans to connect. These are a few of the
organizations that welcome help for our heroes. By Boca Raton City Councilman Club of Downtown Boca Raton, Boca Raton Community
3. Public Safety: We continue to have the finest public Andy Thomson, who was first elected Church, Addison Mizner School PTA, and the Junior
safety professionals safeguarding us. Our crime rate during the special City Council League of Boca Raton. After speaking to their classes,
dropped another 9% this year, even as neighboring areas election in 2018, and re-elected several elementary school children asked me to join them
saw increases. This is part of an amazing 30% decrease without opposition to the Council. to run and clean their communities.
from already-low figures over the past four years. We ke e p m ov i ng i n m y We have only a few neighborhoods left to do this year,
4. Non-Profits and City Help: Speaking of non-profits, #RunTheCity initiative, where I’m including all or parts of:
the City of Boca Raton expanded its funding for non-profits running and cleaning all 475 miles - Broken Sound Club
in our annual budget, and your help for our local charities of Boca Raton streets in 2021. At this - Woodfield Country Club
is always needed. point, the journey is almost complete! Since January 1st, - Woodfield Hunt Club
here’s what we’ve done: - Seasons
- Ran 374.53 miles (79% of Boca Raton streets); - Sanctuary
- Cleaned up 1,212.96 pounds of trash, including 504 - Royal Palm
pieces of PPE; - Fairfield
- Identified 313 safety improvements; - Boca Bay Colony
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing - Had 413 volunteers join us to help keep their city clean - The Estates
Palm Beach County and is a privately and safe. As we hit these remaining neighborhoods, I’d love for
owned and managed company. That last part has been the most rewarding. Volunteers you to join me. Whether you run, walk, or just meet up
Captain’s is committed to providing from community groups and non-profits across our city with us to give me your thoughts, I want your input. Let
dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all have partnered with #RunTheCity, including Christ me know what your neighborhood needs and what the city
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 Community Church, Boca Raton Innovation Campus, Boca can do better. If you or your organization want to partner
To reserve your vehicle: Raton Regional Hospital, Boca Raton Historical Society, with us as we #RunTheCity, you can sign up at www.
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com Riviera Civic Association, Boca Save Our Beaches, the andythomson.com/run-the-city.
Spanish River High School cross-country teams, Rotary