PRESS

Historical society names award recipients
By Michelle Mundy
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 11, 2005


The Boca Raton Historical Society has announced this year's recipients of the Walk of Recognition award.

Monsignor John McMahon, Madelyn Savarick and Joanne Weppner will be recognized at an induction ceremony today. There are now 41 people whose names are permanently displayed beneath the Mizner statue in Royal Palm Place.
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The award honors people who have shown a long-term commitment to serving the city and enriching the lives of its residents.

The name of each honoree is inscribed on an individual plaque below a gold star.

"This year we have three (people) that are very different," historical society executive director Mary Csar said.

McMahon is pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish and was recognized for forming strong interfaith relations between his church and Temple Beth El. He also has served as a consultant to city council, is a board member of the Florence Fuller Child Development Center, and participates in the American Cancer Society's local fund-raisers.

"He has contributed to the community through his position and has gone above and beyond that by helping establish the Interfaith Council... so he represents our spiritual life here," Csar said.

Savarick is a member of the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park's board of directors. She also supports the Little Palm Family Theater as a board member and as a co-executive producer of several productions. Other involvement includes: the Caldwell Theatre, Boy Scouts of America, Boca Raton Community Hospital, Debbie Rand Memorial League and Philanthropy Guild as well as the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia. She endowed a Lynn University scholarship for piano and violin students and an annual Florida Atlantic University scholarship.

The third person recognized is Weppner, who has lived in Boca Raton since 1971. She volunteers for youth and senior citizen programs. She started her community service in 1973 as the activities director and volunteer coordinator for the Boca Raton Convalescent Center. She's founded the Circle of Love program that encouraged students from Addison Mizner Elementary School to visit seniors; as well as the Sunshiners, which helps children from Boca schools help the elderly.

"Savarick... She's such a philanthropist and a participator in charities," Csar said. "And Joanne Weppner is just a long-time volunteer... a quiet, dedicated volunteer."

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Thrift shop on the move: The Levis Jewish Community Center's Thrift Shop is moving to Plum Park at 141 N.W. 20th St. within the next 60 days.

To prepare for the move, organizers are asking for donations of quality furniture, clothing, electronics and housewares.

"When we open in the new place, we want to open with a bang," the JCC's Director of Fund-raising and Communications Janet Oppenheimer said.

The JCC's thrift shop and the Florence Fuller Thrift Shop both are moving to the park after earlier announcements that "Thrift Row" on Southeast First Street will be demolished.

The date of the move is unknown. The new location, which will be the same size, is being built, and an exact demolition date is still uncertain. "It will be over the summer," Oppenheimer said.

For information, call (561) 368-3665.

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A quiet ride: A group will gather at Patch Reef Park on Yamato Road at 7 p.m. on May 18 to remember people killed or injured by vehicles while riding a bike.

The Ride of Silence is a slow bike ride of about 11 miles that will start and end at the park. A map of the route as well as a registration form is available at www.rideofsilencefl.org.

For details, call Barry Hersh at (561) 434-3432.

Michelle Mundy is a staff writer for Neighborhood Post. She can be reached at (561) 279-3468. Faxes can be sent to (561) 265-4872.