Message from Commissioner Burt Aaronson

May 6, 2008

Our winter season has come to a close.  No matter where you will be in the coming months,  Sheila, my staff and I wish all of you a safe, healthy and happy summer.

I was pleased to attend the recent grand opening of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Park Vista/District 6 substation.  The  residents in West Boynton now have a Sheriff’s substation to call their own.  This new facility compliments the Sheriff’s District 4 substation in Delray Beach and the District 7 substation in West Boca.  Captain Marty Bechtel, Captain Jeff Calise, Captain Matt Eisenberg and their terrific staff work diligently to provide quality service to all our residents.  I will continue to work with them to insure that we have the highest quality of life possible.

I also attended the Earth Day celebration and opening of the Daggerwing Nature Center’s expanded facility at South County Regional Park.  The newly designed 5000 square foot facility includes a new lobby, a large exhibit hall, a laboratory, classroom and new offices.  The highlight of the Center is the new swamp exhibit that teaches visitors about the swamp environment surrounding Daggerwing.  Visitors begin their tour by experiencing life underground.  They wind their way up to the waterline and conclude their journey above the ground.  Along the way, they are introduced to swamp vegetation, green tree frogs, an Eastern screech owl and a box turtle.  The exhibit teaches metamorphosis, decomposition, recycling, pollination and other natural events. Numerous sights, sounds and interactive opportunities are available for everyone.  There is no admission charge to experience this amazing new Center.

Sunset Cove Amphitheater at South County Regional Park has a number of summer events scheduled over the coming months.  On Mothers Day, you can see the Bob Hoose Orchestra starting at 4:00pm.  The entire family can enjoy a Bugs Life at 8:30pm May 23rd.  The Caroline Hope Band (an R&B and Rock Band) will perform June 7th at 7:00pm.  The movie Grease will be shown on June 20th at 8:30pm.  Join me for the first annual July 4th Celebration featuring Private Stock Band performing hits from 1940 to the present.  A Zambelli fireworks display will follow.  The Shakespeare Festival will be presenting A Comedy of Errors July 10th-13th, 17th-20th and 24th-27th.  I am certain you will agree that Sunset Cove’s schedule has something for everyone to enjoy.  I look forward to seeing many of you at these events.

Finally, the Veterans Coalition of South Florida will present their annual Memorial Day Program beginning at 9:30am on Monday, May 26th at Veteran’s Park located on West Palmetto Park Rd. in west Boca. This event honors veterans of our armed services and will feature a procession of colors, guest speakers and patriotic music. I invite all of you to join with me to salute our veterans and show them how much we appreciate all they have done to protect and defend our country.