Boca News And Events | Learning Ally Hours

Boca News And Events | Learning Ally Hours
8/15/2011
The Boca Raton Studio of Learning Ally will open its doors to the community providing Learning Ally Hours monthly, starting in September, 2011. These free events provide the opportunity for individuals and organizations to learn more about the programs, services and volunteer opportunities at Learning Ally.

Come for an hour of inspiration and find out about Learning Ally's mission and vision. We want you to see our volunteers at work, hear about our success stories first-hand and get the inside story of how you can change students' lives. Visitors will tour the audio book production studio and see how nationally, we record more than 6,000 books each year. In 2010, Learning Ally had more than 800,000 audio books and accessible educational materials in circulation throughout the country.

The dates and times for the Learning Ally Hour at the Boca Raton Studio are as follows:

Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
It is necessary to RSVP your interest in attending an event by calling 561-297-4442 or emailing Ron Wudarsky. Learning Ally's Boca Raton studio is located on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, a half mile from Glades Road in Boca Raton, Florida. Free parking is provided behind the studio.

For more information about News, Events, Shows, Activities and things To Do In Boca Raton Florida contact your South Florida Real Estate Advisors
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FAU could become more traditional campus with new apartments

Parents help their children move into the new FAU Innovation Village apartments on the Boca Raton campus. The new student housing, which along with the new stadium, has put FAU closer to becoming a more traditional college. (Jim Rassol, Sun Sentinel / August 21, 2011)
By Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel

9:50 p.m. EDT, August 21, 2011
Florida Atlantic University may officially lose its status as a commuter school this year.

A resort-style apartment complex called Innovation Village has just opened next to the university's new 30,000-seat stadium. It's become cool to live on campus, even for upper-classmen. The more than 1,200 beds at the new apartments filled up quickly.

Arielle Birgona, 23, of Jacksonville, lived in a Boynton Beach apartment last year but will be at Innovation Village for her senior year. She said she was attracted to its security features, such as resident card access for the elevators, and amenities, including a large pool, sand volleyball court and barbecue grills.

"I won't have to fight parking," she said. "I'll be closer and will get to meet new people and be more involved in campus."

It's part of FAU's efforts to transform the Boca Raton campus into one that's more traditional. Historically, the university has appealed mostly to commuter students, who came to campus for class and made FAU look like a ghost town on nights and weekends..

In the past few years, the university has added a fitness and recreation center, an indie movie house and a mall-style food court. In addition to the apartments, the Innovation Village project includes the stadium, which is set to open in October. Future phases will include another residence hall, retail and a parking garage.

"It is well known that one of the things that retains students on a campus is having a strong connection to the university," President Mary Jane Saunders said. "Part of that is living on campus and having activities outside the classroom."

She said students will have easier access to tutoring and resident assistants they can turn to if they start to slip in their school work.

FAU requires out-of-town freshmen students to live on campus. But many upper-classmen haven't been able to live there even if they wanted to. Before Innovation Village, the university had 2,446 beds, and all were occupied.

Students pay between $4,400 and $4,800 a semester to live in the new apartments, compared to about $2,800 a semester for the more traditional residence halls.

But the higher price hasn't dissuaded students; all 1,216 spots in Innovation Village are claimed. Right now the university put more than 80 students in a nearby hotel because housing director Jill Eckardt expects some no-shows.

The first official day of school was Saturday, with most students starting Monday.

The $121 million complex consists of a seven- and eight-story building, separated by a courtyard. There are a mix of two- and four-bedroom apartments, all with two bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens, cable TV and high-speed Internet. Each student has their own bedroom with a full-size bed.

Some units have their own washers and dryers, and there is a community laundry room for everyone else. But students won't have to waste much time waiting for their laundry to be done. The community facilities include computer technology that send students an email or text message when their clothes are ready.

Other amenities include a small fitness center, a computer room and a convenience store.

The complex was funded through a partnership with Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions, which built the apartments, and Capstone Development Corp., which will manage them. Balfour Beatty invested $3.4 million in tax-exempt bonds that finance the project.

"It's gorgeous," said Anita Garbett, 20, a junior at FAU. "It's just a nice, top-notch place to live. I showed my friends my room, and they all say, 'I want to move here.'"

stravis@tribune.com or 561-243-6637 or 954-425-1421

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Boca Raton Fl News Events Shows and Activities. Boca Raton offers many free events for residents throughout the year. The events include concerts on the green, art festivals, green markets, and outdoor movies. Holiday events include a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and a spectacular boat parade.

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West Boca Raton High School Information Reviews And Test Scores

West Boca Raton High School serves grades 9-12 in the Palm Beach County Public Schools district. It is among the few public high schools in Florida to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.

This school has an average Community Rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on reviews from 28 school community members.

School highlights:

Academic contests; Band; Basketball

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West Boca Raton High School Information and Reviews Test Scores

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