Once-in-a-lifetime thing Boca Boys & Girls Club fete

The girls were wearing sparkly antlers when they got off the Boys & Girls Club buses at the entrance to Boca West Country Club.

Waiting were volunteers like first-timer Leslie Wolf to escort the children into the clubhouse. Superheroes hung out in the hallway and the ballroom was dressed up in red plaid for the holidays.

It's not often they make Mickey Mouse pancakes, said one of three chefs at the buffet. Not to mention sprinkles and whipped cream on waffles that were available.

This was the fifth year the Boca West Foundation, the country club's philanthropic arm, went all out for the children. More than 100 were there from the Boca Raton Boys & Girls Club alone, and another 60 or so from other clubs.

"The more the merrier," was foundation head Arthur Adler's take on the number of children they took shopping with $50 each at Old Navy in West Boca, then fed at the luncheon, where magician Karl Koppertop entertained with slight of hand. Volunteers also staffed tables filled with toys to give out, and families got a food gift basket to take home. Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/west-boca/fl-wbf-foundation-1224-20141224-story.html

The biggest free outdoor public yoga class in South Florida

Without a parade or other traditional public events in Boca, New Year's Day left a big empty space for Yoga Journey.

So founder Leslie Glickman decided to go big or go home. In fact, SomethingBig2015 is the signup site for "the biggest free outdoor public yoga class South Florida has ever seen," the announcement said.

Three weeks out, 350 people had already registered, no surprise to Glickman, who has seen yoga grow from mostly women enthusiasts to professional athletes.

"I've been teaching yoga in Boca for 20 years," said Glickman, who conducts the city's free outdoor weekly yoga class in Sanborn Square. "Sometimes I have as much as 150 people there."

It's bring your own yoga mat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 1, a Thursday, in the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton's Mizner Park. Check-in begins at 10 a.m. and Glickman will have as many as 18 teachers, her own staff and others, from 11 a.m. to noon. Live music will be provided by jazz harpist Scott Marischen, who is expected to bring three other musicians, she said. Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-brf-yoga-1224-20141224-story.html

Car crashes into Deerfield Beach apartment, the hospital gained 2 new clients!

A Deerfield Beach man was sitting at his kitchen table Thursday afternoon when a car busted through his apartment, sending him and the driver to the hospital.

The accident happened just before 2 p.m. at Century Village, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said. The man and the driver were taken to Broward Health North with minor injuries.

The crash left the man's apartment uninhabitable, Jachles said. Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/deerfield-beach/fl-deerfield-car-into-apartment-20141204-story.html

Delray Beach Police K-9 Karo dies... A faithful partner will be missed.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - Delray Beach Police Department announced Monday the passing of retired K-9 Karo.

Read the following tribute from K-9 Officer Margolis on behalf of Former K-9 Officer Tolbert's faithful partner K-9 Karo.

"It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Officer Tolbert’s retired partner, K-9 Karo. Karo passed away this morning unexpectedly from complications after a surgery. Karo began working with Tom in February of 2006, and for those who had the opportunity to see him work, you know how special he was.

Karo was responsible for hundreds of apprehensions and narcotics seizures, as well as evidence recovery that solved many cases.

Out of all of his accomplishments (and there were many),one that I will always remember is the Picasso’s Pizza shooting back in 2007. After an extensive 9 hour search in a tropical storm, involving fifteen K-9 teams, it was Karo who located the two suspects, along with their handguns, rifle, masks and gloves. Read more here: http://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/delray-beach/delray-beach-police-department-former-k-9-karo-dies

Food for Families drive to benefit Boca Raton agency... 41% of Palm Beach Co. struggling

BOCA RATON, Fla. - A United Way study shows 49% of people in Florida can't afford basic needs. In Palm Beach County, 41% are struggling.

Now more than ever, local food banks need your help. You can donate to causes like the Bill Brooks Food for Families drive to make sure everyone has food on their table during the holidays and around the year.

Groups across the area, including in Boca Raton will benefit from the food drive.

Wednesday afternoon, Tamika Robinson sorted through food she just picked up from a food bank.

The Boca Raton student lives in a small apartment with her mom, brother and three-year-old son.

The holidays always put a smile on her face. "Get together, laugh, catch up," Robinson describes the family atmosphere. "It's good to see them."

But feeding her family is hard. She relies on donations to put a meal on the table.

"God bless them," Robinson said. "I'm real thankful because without them, our table wouldn't be full of food."

Robinson lives in Dixie Manor, a Boca Raton community for low income tenants.

"There are 95 units here," explained officer Cornelius Riley.

The police officer is assigned to this neighborhood. Every year before Thanksgiving, he helps coordinate gathering and distributing donated food.

"We hear nothing but praises from people who actually receive the turkey dinners along with the canned good items," Riley said. Read more here: http://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boca-raton/food-for-families-drive-to-benefit-boca-raton-agency

Woman caused a three-car crash in Boca Raton on Sunday... Drunk with a 7-year-old boy in the back seat

Police say a woman was driving drunk with a 7-year-old boy in the back seat when she caused a three-car crash in Boca Raton on Sunday.

The crash happened just before 9 p.m. when Colleen Cooney-Platten, 44, of Boca Raton, was driving in the 800 block of Federal Highway. That's where Cooney-Platten told police she was slowing down to stop and turn around to talk to a passenger in the back seat, police said.

But before she stopped her silver, 2013 Volkswagen, her car slammed into another car in front of her, causing that car to hit another car in front of it, according to the report.

Four people in the other two vehicles complained of neck and back pain and were taken to Boca Raton Regional Hospital for minor injuries, police said.

Cooney-Platten said she wasn't injured, and police said the boy wasn't injured either. Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-boca-drunk-crash-child-20141112-story.html

Boca Raton Teen uses Fishing to Help Children... Now, what a crazy good idea?

By Kathryn Wohlpart

At the age of 15 Lucas Metropulos saw that he could improve the lives of others with tools he had learned from family friends. After Hurricane Frances left his family homeless, they were taken in by the Maillis family on their oceanfront farm.

Four brothers taught Lucas and his brother Nicholas Metropulos conservation and fishing methods that the two have brought back to Boca Raton. Lucas created Fishing for Families in Need in Boca Raton, an organization that is now active in multiple cities including Miami.

Fishing of Families in Need, or F4FN, is an organization whose mission “is to use the sport/ skill of fishing as a mechanism to immerse and educate socio-economically disadvantaged children about their local marine and/or freshwater environment,” according to Nicholas.

An environmental education is a “large component” of the organization; marine science IBooks by Duke Marine Science professors are used in classes for the children. Topics like marine conservation, ocean pollution and climate change are “infused” with the lesson of how to fish responsibly. Read more here: http://www.bocaratontribune.com/bocaratonnews/2014/11/fishing-for-a-future/

"Shabbos Project" takes place in Boca Raton.. We can all get a long.

On Oct. 24-25, Jews in more than 450 cities in 65 countries participated in "The Shabbos Project" — a worldwide Jewish unity initiative, founded in South Africa last year, to encourage Jews to observe one Shabbos at the same time.

About the project, Rabbi Warren Goldstein, chief rabbi of South Africa, wrote in a Jerusalem Post article: "The rhythms of Shabbat unite Jewish life in a very real way. We all read the same weekly Torah portion, light candles, recite Kiddush, abstain from the same acts of work, enjoy the same festivities, say the same prayers and sit together around the table as families.

"When we keep Shabbat, we are not alone in the world — we are connected to Hashem, to the Jewish people, to our families and, indeed, to ourselves. It grants us belonging and togetherness in a world of fragmentation. It has been our mainstay, guiding us throughout our journeys across continents, historic eras, political upheavals and amidst an ever-fluctuating world. We have worn it as a badge of honor and it has rewarded us with countless blessings." Read more here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/news/palm/fl-jjps-shabbatdkja-1105-20141103-story.html

Cats Killed In Apartment Fire In Boca Raton... Gruesome scene.

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Two cats died in a fire at an apartment complex in Boca Raton Thursday morning.

The fire happened in a second floor unit at the Bella Vista Apartments on Town Harbour Boulevard.

Firefighters told CBS12 News no one was home at the time.

No word yet on a cause. The damage has been contained to one apartment.

[Photo courtesy of Jamie Melanson] Read more here: http://www.cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_20612.shtml