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April 2010
After almost 15 years of talking, arguing and thrashing out the issue, the two country clubs that comprise Eastpointe, the Country Club and Golf and Racquet voted in late March to finally merge at a meeting of both organizations.
Surprisingly enough, after years of acrimony, the vote to combine the two clubs was overwhelmingly passed.
The overriding issue centered on money. Both clubs have aging populations who have either dropped out of the clubs because of illness or moved to avoid the expenses of paying dues every year. As a result, both clubs have had to solicit outside members in order to avoid going into debt.
With two golf courses, two dining and fitness facilities and two banks of tennis courts, it became more and more obvious each year an extensive financial revamping had to be considered.
The actual merger will take place Nov. 1.
Both clubs will appoint four members each to work out the details of the consolidation. The following year a nine member board will be elected to run the community.
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CHABAD PUT ON HOLD
A decision on an application for a 26,000 sq. ft. Jewish religious center, proposed by Chabad on Military Trail near University Pl., was tabled by the Jupiter Town Council at its last meeting in late March. The topic will again be on the agenda for discussion at the board's next meeting on April 20.
Facing stiff opposition from nearby residents, the proposed building, whose size has already been reduced, would have a 120 person sanctuary, a daycare center for up to 44 children, an outdoor playground and a social hall. Aside from the size, critics also deemed the three story height of the center as too tall and out of place in the surrounding residential area
Earlier the town's zoning board approved Chabad's application with many modifications.
However, several issues remain. The amount of parking spaces for the center is probably the most prominent. Board member Robert Friedman, who was away and did not attend the March meeting, said that even with Chabad's modifications, there is not enough parking for the amount of people who may be in the synogogue at the same time. As of now, the Chabad application calls for six classrooms for 44 children and a seminar room, a 120 seat sanctuary and a social hall. In addition congregants could be using the outdoor play area. The plans call for the sanctuary to be separated by a wall from the social hall but, Friedman explained that does not mean that a video screen and chairs could not be brought into the social hall for additional people to attend services or other events. "They must provide the appropriate parking for that amount of people who would be using the facility at the same time."
Supporters of the project said that the Jewish center would be an asset to the area and would bring "good values" to the neighborhood. Rabbi Berel Barash, who leads the congregation, declared that he had "no doubt that the Jewish center would eventually be approved."
Chabad is an ultra Orthodox ect of Judaism with many fewer members than the three main branches of Judaism-Reform, Conservative and regular Orthodox.
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PARKINSON'S GROUP TO MEET
Victims of Parkinson's disease have searched for a long time for a support group that meets in the northern part of Palm Beach County. "There seems to be a group for every disorder in medicine in this area but Parkinson's, said Carol Gallagher, a resident of Mirasol, "and now we have enough interested people to organize one."
The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 13, at 3 p.m. in the Magnolia Room lounge on the second floor of the Mirasol Clubhouse off PGA Blvd., two lights west of the Florida Turnpike.
Those suffering from Parkinson's, their spouses, caregivers or friends are invited to attend this organizational meeting.
Highlighting the session will be speaker Dr. Joan Barice, an adjunct member of the faculties of the University of Miami, FAU, Nova Southeastern University Medical Schools and the Palm Beach County Health Department's Preventative Medicine Residency Program.
She is board certified in internal, preventative and addiction medicine and has special expertise in chronic pain management and clinical aromatherapy.
Her topic will be "Integrating Safe and Effective Approaches to Alternative Healing and it can be Combined with Western Medicine."
Persons who wish to attend can call Carol Gallagher at 691-9721 or Alicia Roman at 626-5880 so their names can be called in at the Mirasol gate.
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A FAST WAY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE IN A DOWN MARKET
During a recession new professions often come into play. Especially in Florida, which along with California, Arizona and Nevada, has taken the brunt of the current housing debacle.
With thousands of homes for sale, Floridians are looking for an edge to make their house more salable. Other than reducing the price significantly, the only other method of obtaining a quick sale is to make your house as attractive as possible without spending a bundle of money.
Eastpointe resident Carol Cohen had a brainstorm. She took what was her training and lifelong hobby and turned it into a business. A business that updates a home and turns it into a showplace for a very modest sum of cash.
That's what Carol Cohen is doing now. Called "staging," she recommends simple, inexpensive changes individualized to the homeowner-for instance, making rooms look larger by rearranging furniture, or just eliminating pieces, selecting colors and/or adding artwork as accessories.
Room arrangement can be completed in just one day, usually without the homeowner having to purchase anything new. "We use furniture and accessories that might be found anywhere in the house or condo," Cohen said. "First we empty the room, then we find the focal point, taking into account the shape, size and dimensions."
Cohen has not only done this as a hobby She is certified by the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS) as seen on HG-TV, and the Association of Design Education (ADE). A graduate of The Fashion Institute, she has worked for Dan River linens. " I was an avid watcher of HG-TV and built a connection."
Currently she is working with residents of PGA, Eastpointe, Juno Beach and Singer Island. She can be reached at 624-5738 or at her e-mail address-lexigirl375@comcast.net
Explained Cohen, now the proprietor of Carol's Creative Interiors,"For those eager to sell or just tired of the 'same old thing,' home staging makes all the difference between a 'house' and a 'home."