BOCA RATON LIBRARY CHESS CLASS A HIT!

Kids from 7-17 have been learning the moves and strategies of chess on Saturday mornings this past summer at the Boca Raton Public Library. Chess is a game that strengthens one’s critical thinking skills. Retired educator Barbara McManus, a member of the City of Boca Raton Education Advisory Board, suggested and then supervised the classes. Other Board Members became instructors. McManus explained that chess is NOT a game of luck, but rather of the ability of the players to analyze, reason, and plan ahead and involves geometric patterns and spatial relationships. McManus hopes to coordinate another series of chess classes at the Boca Raton Public Library in the coming year. Volunteers to teach chess or participate in another way can contact Catherine Vanden Broeck, volunteer coordinator for the city of Boca Raton, at 561-393-7700.

RECENT GRANT TO HELP OUR CHILDREN

Remember the slogan, “A (wo)man never stands so tall as when they stoop to help a child?” A new Boca Raton children’s support group, the first of its kind in the US, and other schools with projects devoted to caregiving children, are among the recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s $500,000 grant. About 15,000 children in Palm Beach County care for relatives with mental illness, disability or frailty, without any organized support, taking time away from their education and homework hours. The Volunteers Homebound & Family Caregivers Inc. are helping bring aid to those children, and to promote awareness of the dual role of youth who are both students and young caregivers within families. The Caregiving Youth Project will use grant money to determine whether 1,000 children are emotionally and physically healthy, get adequate education with time for homework. The funding will support 100 children in 10 schools. Among those being worked with are Boca Middle School, Congress Middle School and Lantana Middle School. Olympic Heights High School may be included. There are 192 Boca Middle School students who are caregivers.

NEW WEST BOCA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FORMS

Finding a need for the businesses in West Boca to have their own voice, the Chamber will serve the area west of Florida’s Turnpike, from the Broward line north to the Delray Beach area line. Membership is $120/year. For more information call 561-482-9333. The office is located at 20283 State Road 7 (441), Suite 300 in Boca Raton.

WANT A HOUSE IN A WALKABLE, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT?

Buying a house in a walkable neighborhood is good for your health and good for the environment. Homebuyers, renters, and real estate agents can find houses and apartments in great neighborhoods. Walk Score shows you a map of what's nearby and calculates a Walk Score for any property.