WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

An unusual and thought provoking story recently appeared in the Sun Sentinel. 

Please think and respond with your opinion.

In 2011, Sidney Reznick, 64 and Joseph Castronova, 25, were involved in  an altercation. Both men, avid pool players, were enjoying the competition in a local Hollywood pool hall. Joseph bragged to Sydney that he was a martial arts expert and put Sidney, against his will, in a choke hold. He struck a pole, and fell to the ground. He was rushed to the hospital and was treated for a "brain bleed".  After rehabilitation, Mr. Reznick, returned to work. His dizzy spells increased and eventually he became bedridden.

Meanwhile Mr. Castronova was convicted of felony battery and was placed on five years probation. He had pleaded guilty to the charge. He was ordered to pay @ $52,000 in restitution to cover medical bills. Mr. Castronova also acknowledged that he was not skilled in martial arts.  

Mr. Reznick died in 2015. His wife ,Anne, had cared for her bedridden husband for three years. An autopsy revealed that he died of "complication of remote blunt head trauma. The manner of death: homicide.

Here is the twist to the story. Anne Reznick does not want Joseph prosecuted. She believes that he has suffered enough and should be given a second chance. Prosecutors say that the victim is allowed to say anything he or she wants but the prosecution must not allow that victim to dictate the course of the case. 

The prosecution is pursuing a manslaughter charge 

What do you think? 

Please respond..   

I know what I think!

Kay

HEARD AROUND THE POOL...

   As the season begins, our residents are beginning to gather at poolside. Yes, some like to swim and exercise in the water. Many of us also like to "smooze". Please listen to an amusing and true story.

 

   Last year "A" told a funny story. Feeling in need of some exercise, she and her friend "G" signed up for a silver sneaker class. The class was offered as a fringe benefit with their health insurance.

 

   The first class was great but our ladies forgot their water bottles.The day before the next class "A" put her water bottle in the freezer. After all the frozen water would defrost and remain ice cold. Just before class "A" remembered her bottle and looked forward to a refreshing drink at intermission. During the break "A" quickly drank her "water". It tasted a little tart but "A" went back to class and did her exercises in double time! Do you know why? Yes, "A" also kept a bottle of vodka in her freezer and she grabbed the wrong bottle! "G" had to put her arm around  A and escort her to the car!

If, by chance, you do not know who "A" and "G" are just come out to the pool and ask around!

I am sure that you have an amusing story to share. Just send it to me at klwin2121@gmail.com and we will post it!

Kay

Boca's Building Boom!

Boca's Building Boom!

Recently the Boca Raton Historical Society hosted a trolley tour of five buildings in various stages of construction in the downtown area. When completed these buildings will add @2,000 residential units to our tax base.
The first trolley stop was at 327 Royal Palm Road. This building and the others are all within a couple of miles from Boca Towers. This impressive condo community comes with an impressive price tag..Starting at 1.6 million, this is one of two owner's buildings on the tour.
Palmetto Promenade was the next stop of the day. This is a rental complex located across the way from Eye Catchers Optique. The owner of the optical shop praised all the buildings as highly beneficial to the commercial base of the city. Of course, the rentals are pricey.  The range is $2,000-$5,500/month depending on size and location.
101 Via Mizner was the third stop on the tour. A 366 unit rental community, the leases range from $1700/month.  Amenities here include golf club privileges. Boca City Walk, the 4th stop on the tour, is in the process of being occupied.  About 20% occupied since its August opening, amenities include a pool and courtyard patio.  Rentals start at $3610/month for a 2 bedroom apartment.
Tower 155 was also on this stop.  The condos here will range from $500,000 to 2.2 million.  Owners will be allowed to rent their units for 3 months twice a year.
Finally, the last stop was at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental.  This development is not offering anything for sale and sales reps are offering concepts to prospective owners.

That's the summary. So, what do YOU think?

Please comment. The blog needs more input.

Kay

PARADE !!! - Yes we have rules...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BOAT PARADE ON DEC. 17, 2016

TO OUR OWNERS:

The annual Boat Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17 along the Intracoastal.  Our location offers a prime viewing spot for you and your authorized guests to enjoy a pleasant evening.

We have had some unfortunate experience in past years with large parties and unauthorized guests on our property, so the Board and management have decided on a procedure for this year’s event.  This is premised on our House Rule that parties using our pool and patio area are LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN 10 PEOPLE, TO INCLUDE THE UNIT OWNER.  This rule does not apply to parties where residents are congregating amongst themselves.

If you intend to have guests that evening please furnish the office with a list of their names in order to expedite their entry.

Here’s the procedure we will follow:

1.      All vehicles will be stopped at the A1A entry.  Owners and tenants will, of course, be permitted to enter as usual.  Visitors will be asked who they are seeing, and a checklist will be maintained.  Once a total of 10 per unit including the resident is reached any further visitors for that unit will be refused entry.

2.      Authorized visitors will be required to check in at the front desk, where they will obtain a parking pass.

3.      No one other than a person leasing a dock space may dock and/or discharge passengers at the boat dock. Security will monitor the area to assure compliance.

4.      Security will ask parties in excess of the maximum to immediately disperse.  Failure to do so will result in a violation punishable by financial penalties.

5.      Children MUST be supervised at all times; unruly children and their responsible adults will be asked to leave the area.

6.      UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLES PARKED ON OUR PREMISES WILL BE TOWED AT THE CAR OWNER’S EXPENSE.

We’re hoping that all of our residents and their authorized guests can have a fun time without being overwhelmed by excessively large parties and non-authorized people on our premises.

Thanks very much.

Board of Directors

Boca Towers Condominium Association, Inc.

FRIENDS OF GUMBO LIMBO - "PRESENTS JOHN ENGLANDER"

Opinions / Comments / Questions?

Opinions Please!

I am trying to broaden interest in our blog..
For that reason, I want to comment on an article appearing in the Sun-Sentinel.


Just prior to the election, the City moved a voting place. The Islamic Center of Boca Raton was removed from the list of polling locations. A nearby library was added to the list.
I do not know the real reason for this move. Perhaps the city feared for the safety of both the Mosque and the voting public. Churches and Synagogues are routinely used as polling places.

In response to this move, several places of worship have refuse to be used as polling places unless the Mosque is reinstated. .

I have a few questions to ask:
What has happened to the separation of Church and State?
What has happened to the cooperation between Church and State?
Should voting be done in schools...
Forcing the school to be closed for the day, allowing anyone to enter the school?

LET'S TALK,
Kay

Looks like we are getting a new addition to the beach - Comments?

 Boca Raton: State approves construction of 4-story mansion on beach

• Posted by The Coastal Star on November 30, 2016 at 12:41pm

Project faces further review from city

after OK catches some off-guard

By Steve Plunkett
  
    The state’s environmental agency has issued a “notice to proceed” on construction of a controversial beachside mega-mansion, but Boca Raton officials say the owner of the undersized lot has more hurdles to cross.
    “You are hereby granted final authorization to proceed with construction” of a four-story, single-family dwelling at 2500 N. Ocean Blvd., according to the notice issued Oct. 18 by the Department of Environmental Protection.
    The entire lot, located on the ocean between Spanish River Park and Ocean Strand, is east of the state’s Coastal Construction Control Line, which calls for stricter scrutiny of proposed projects.
    But the landowner, Natural Lands LLC, still must pass review by the city’s Environmental Advisory Board and obtain a Coastal Construction Control Line variance and a building permit from Boca Raton, Deputy City Manager George Brown told the City Council on Nov. 22.
    Brown said the city was surprised that the DEP issued the permit without receiving a letter directly from Boca Raton stating that the proposal does not conflict with city zoning codes. The DEP confirmed that “although it is not their usual practice, they accepted a copy of [a city resolution] for the lot width variance, instead of a letter,” Brown said in a memo.
    The state agency’s files show the resolution was sent to Natural Lands with a cover letter in June from city zoning officer John Harbilas, who called it his “response to a request for a zoning confirmation letter.”
    “The subject property satisfies the minimum requirements of the [multifamily zoning] district, including the minimum lot size requirements, and also the minimum setback requirements,” Harbilas wrote the landowner. Natural Lands forwarded the letter to the DEP.
    The City Council in December 2015 reversed a Zoning Board of Adjustment decision that prohibited construction of the 10,432-square-foot house. The zoning board had declined to approve variances for property width and front-yard setbacks.
    Furious residents complained that the structure would change the face of the beach, disorient nesting sea turtles and set a precedent for even more development.
    Council members defended their decision, claiming the city would likely face litigation because more than a dozen similar variances had been approved before. Natural Lands had dropped its request for a front-yard setback, moving the proposed home almost 15 feet closer to the ocean. Approved in a resolution was an 11.5-foot variance from the minimum lot width of 100 feet.
    At the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District’s Nov. 14 meeting, Al Zucaro, of citizen watchdog group Boca Watch, said residents were “misled” by the City Council, who told them the proposal “had many steps to go before any reality might be attached to it.”
    “All the other side had to do to get that permit was to demonstrate that the city of Boca Raton had granted the zoning approval. And the variance did that,” Zucaro said.
    Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Dee Ann Miller said the CCCL is “a line of regulation, not prohibition” and “should not be confused with setback lines or lines of prohibition which are established through comprehensive plans and local zoning laws.
    “That being said,” Miller continued, “as part of the permitting process an applicant is required to submit written evidence from the local government stating the proposed activity does not conflict with local setback requirements or zoning codes — which the applicant did.”
    The DEP permit, which is posted at the site, expires Oct. 7, 2019. Natural Lands contacted the city Nov. 4 to begin the Environmental Advisory Board review, Brown said. The item will be scheduled for an advisory board meeting once the landowner resolves questions from city staff, he said.