The Boca Raton Tribune Your Closest Neighbor for news 24/7 go to bocaratontribune.com
East /West Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL - April 12 through April 18, 2013 • Year IV • Number 141 - FREE
Volunteer Pilots Soar to Give Autistic Kids a Thrill in the Skies By Fred Hamilton
BOCA RATON - The 20 or so small airplanes that taxied along the runway at the Boca Raton Airport recently, were carrying cargo of particular importance. Often times these pilots are called on to ferry chronically and sometimes critically ill passengers through Vital Flight, a Broward County-based nonprofit that pairs patients with volunteer pilots. But on March 23, their sole mission was to provide short plane flights to more than 150 autistic kids or children with other illnesses. “Awesome,” was how Delray Beach resident Robin Johnson described the experience. “I think what they’re doing is phenomenal. It takes special people to give special needs children the opportunity to do this. It’s overwhelming to know that there are so many great people in the world that give up their time to do this.” Johnson, director of recruitment and dual enrollment at Palm Beach State College, took her son, Evan, 17, and daughter, Alexis, 21, on the 20-minute flight up to Boynton
Continued on page 6
Community Boca Raton Bridge Hotel Invites Community To Enjoy A “Thanks For The Memories” See page 3
Community St. David Armenian Church Hosts Diocesan Assembly See page 4
Life & Arts Not “The” Iliad but “An Iliad” See page B1
Municipal Four Women Charged After Protesting Outside GEO Group See page 19
Business Vital Flight Special Kids Day, the nonprofit organization gives children, especially those fighting serious illness, an opportunity for a free airplane ride.
Megan Davis reading The Boca Raton Tribune
Brazil, U.S. are Powerful and Important Trade Partners See page 23
Vice Mayor Haynie Files for Mayor’s Seat By Stephanie Neeley
Send us a picture of you reading The Boca Raton Tribune to pictures@bocaratontribune.com
Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie on Tuesday filed her intent to run for Mayor, the first announcement regarding any upcoming election in South Palm Beach County. Mayor Susan Whelchel will remain in office until March 2014 when she is forced to leave because of term limits. The municipal election in Boca Raton will be Tuesday, March 11, 2014. “In my years on the Boca Raton City Council, we have accomplished so much for our City and have laid a foundation
Continued on page B6 Nearly 400,000 readers!
YOUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOR.