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The Boca Raton Tribune
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Your Closest Neighbor
East /West Boca Raton, FL - April 3 through 16,2010 •Year I •Number 002
Advisory Board, City Council, back plan to change Boca High to charter school
Rubio raps Obama policies, pushes for tax cuts in speech to Boca GOP By Dale M. King BOCA RATON - America is at a critical juncture in its history, said Republican Marco Rubio, former Florida state representative and exspeaker of the House in Tallahassee. “I honestly believe the decisions we make during the coming few years will set the lifestyle for the next 100 years,” Rubio told more than 300 members and guests at a recent meeting of the Boca Raton Republican Club. “My children and grandchildren can be more prosperous than we are if the U.S. makes the right decisions.” Otherwise, he said, “we will have the distinction of leaving our children worse off than we are.” The eight-year former Miami area lawmaker See Rubio page 2
Go Bald or go home: Olympic Heights students shave their way to end kid’s cancer By Pedro Heizer It’s that time of the year again! Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, completed its annual St. Baldrick’s celebration. St. Baldrick’s is an organization in which its volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and family and friends give generously. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation uses the donations to fund more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States Government. At a St. Baldrick’s event, something amazing happens. People who normally shy away from the very thought of childhood cancer find themselves compelled to support this cause after looking into the face of these brave children who are beaming
Del Prado Elementary
It happens every year. The Honey Bears from Lenae Breger Herman’s kindergarten class at Del Prado Elementary School use money they raised through various projects to purchase food for Boca Helping Hands. See page 5
as their friends and family members proudly display their newly shorn heads. Volunteers and donors see it can be fun to support a serious cause. This is the sixth year that the event has happened at Olympic Heights, which was brought not only to the school but to Palm Beach County six years ago by Olympic Heights own Renee Manwaring. Olympic Heights rose over $34,000 in this year’s event with 62 brave students and staff that stepped up to the plate to raise money for children’s cancer. Among the first time “shavee” was first year Olympic Heights Principal Frank Rodriguez that when asked about the magnitude of this event and what it means to not only Olympic Heights but to Palm Beach County said, “This is a great oppor-
See Go Bald page 7
Society by Skip
By Dale M. King BOCA RATON - City and local school officials have agreed to move forward with a plan to make Boca Raton High School a charter school, which would take it out of the Palm Beach County School District and put it under the management of a nonprofit corporation. But the School District will have the final say in the matter. And Fred Schwartz, chairman of a feasibility committee that has been studying the concept, said “the district is opposed to it. The district will probably find a reason not to approve it.” But he did say an appeals process exists, and noted that every legitimate charter appeal made to date has been approved. See Boca High page 5
The Mayor’s Desk Mayor Whelchel picked as “Best City Official” for 2010 by readers of Sun Sentinel forum!
See page 15
See page 5