terça-feira, 30 de abril de 2013

''Estão detonando nossas crianças e zombando dos cristãos no Brasil”

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Vídeo – “Estão detonando nossas crianças e zombando dos cristãos no Brasil”, diz pastora Damares Alves; Assista

Um vídeo de uma palestra da pastora Damares Alves, advogada, assessora jurídica da Frente Parlamentar Evangélica e professora, está sendo compartilhado através das redes sociais como um alerta sobre os rumos políticos do Brasil e o papel da igreja contemporânea.
A palestra, realizada na Primeira Igreja Batista de Campo Grande, no Mato Grosso do Sul, fala sobre os rumos dados pelo governo federal à educação infantil na área sexual e sobre uso de entorpecentes, além do projeto de aprovação do aborto.
Damares faz uma crítica à postura adotada pela maioria dos líderes evangélicos, dizendo que por se manter no conforto dos templos, a igreja se tornou alienada dos rumos que a sociedade está tomando.
“Deus está chamando a igreja evangélica brasileira para um novo momento, um novo instante, e grandes desafios nos esperam [...] Os desafios são de salvar essa nação do que está acontecendo”, alertou a pastora, que complementou: “Estão detonando as nossas crianças”.
Falando sobre pornografia e homossexualidade, Damares Alves disse que o Ministério da Educação tem divulgado nos últimos anos, materiais que fazem apologia à pornografia, à prática sexual e homossexual, e apresentou exemplares de cartilhas que são apresentadas às crianças.
“Aí vem o governo brasileiro com verba pública, do seu bolso, e faz um material desses distribui um material desses nas escolas públicas. E o que a gente faz? Nada. Sabe por quê? Porque estamos ocupados. A Igreja está muito ocupada. Estamos ocupados em ganhar dinheiro, ocupados com as nossas profissões, e não estamos antenados com o que está acontecendo. Mas Deus está dizendo à igreja evangélica brasileira: abre o olho [...] É hora de a gente se levantar como igreja”, disse, em tom de convocação.
Os materiais que contém instruções sobre como usar drogas, segundo Damares, foram distribuídos sob o argumento de que seria menos prejudicial se o consumo fosse orientado: “Os deputados evangélicos, que estão lá na Câmara tentando fazer uma diferença, e que estão sendo chamados de homofóbicos, fundamentalistas, que estão sendo perseguidos foram questionar [...] e os especialistas disseram ‘as crianças já estão usando, então temos que ensinar usar de uma forma melhor para que não contraiam outros tipos de doença’”.
Damares Alves diz, em sua palestra, que os argumentos usados pelo governo para buscar a aprovação da descriminalização do aborto são baseados em “mentiras”, e que as informações apresentadas não são precisas: “Eles manipulam dados, manipulam estatísticas, para impor na sociedade brasileira uma cultura de morte”, disse, antes de complementar: “Matar bebês no ventre da mãe é covardia, assassinato, além de ser pecado”.
A pastora Damares Alves disse ainda que o governo tem financiado iniciativas que zombam da fé cristã, e citou o exemplo de um artista plástico que recebeu verba para financiar uma performance em que um dos símbolos cristãos era ridicularizado.
“Estão zombando dos cristãos no Brasil [...] A igreja evangélica vai ter que dizer isso: nos respeitem, nós não somos um ‘zé povinho’, não somos um povo qualquer, nós somos uma geração eleita, o povo de Deus”, disse.
Assista no vídeo abaixo, a íntegra da palestra da pastora Damares Alves sobre a relação da igreja evangélica com a educação, o aborto e a política brasileira:
Por Tiago Chagas, para o Gospel+

domingo, 28 de abril de 2013

Farinha e Azeite



Elias Multiplica a Farinha e o Azeite da Viúva de Sarepta

23 Abril, 2013
A história em que Elias multiplica a farinha e o azeite da viúva de Sarepta está relacionada 
a fatos ocorridos em um tempo anterior na história do povo de Israel.

Os motivos que levaram o profeta Elias a se refugiar fora dos termos de Israel, na casa de uma viúva estrangeira, estão ligados aos acontecimentos encontrados

ainda no início da formação da monarquia israelita, na forma como Davi sucedeu Saul no comando da nação javista, bem como no meio em que Salomão escolheu para administrar as suas relações com as nações conflitantes ao redor do seu reino.
O fato é que o povo de Israel já havia sido contaminado pela idolatria trazida pelas
muitas esposas estrangeiras que Salomão possuíra, na sua tentativa de alcançar a paz
por meios diplomáticos.
Algo que entristeceu muito o coração Deus. Naturalmente a monarquia israelita era de
orígem dualista. Havia um sentimento nacionalista muito forte na tribo de Judá que a
separava do restante das outras tribos de Israel.
E esta divisão foi agravada pela sentença grave que Deus fez recair sobre Salomão,
rasgando-lhe o reino unido de Israel por causa da sua idolatria.
Com a morte de Salomão e a ascensão do seu filho Roboão ao trono, este em uma
disputa interna sobre os altos impostos cobrados por seu pai, nega-se a aliviar o povo
de tão pesado fardo, dando início a um conflito que culmina com a separação do reino,
dividindo-o em dois.

Porém no reino do Norte de Israel, se foi proibído por Jeroboão, seu rei, de que o povo 

descesse à Jerusalém para adorar. Isto causou um "vácuo" espiritual muito grande em Israel
 (reino do norte a este ponto).O reino de Judá, englobava Jerusalém onde estava o templo,
local central da religião judaica, o que conservou até certo ponto o contato do seu
povo com a espiritualidade do Deus de Abraão.
De forma que o povo que já tinha sido, em certo nível contaminado pela adoração aos
deuses fenícios (desde o tratado de Salomão com o rei de Sidom para fornecer o cedro do
líbano para a construção do templo em Jerusalém), se entregam de forma generalizada à idolatria.
E os reis do reino do norte de Israel, que se sucedem, fazem o que era mau aos olhos divinos.
E o texto bíblico em 1 Reis 16:30 fala que o rei Acabe conseguiu ainda ser pior, mais do que
todos os seus antecessores, em idolatria, casando-se com a filha de um dos reis da Fenícia,
uma nação que adorava a baal.
"E fez Acabe, filho de Onri, o que era mau aos olhos do SENHOR, mais do que todos os que foram antes dele." 1 Reis 16:30
E sucedeu que (como se fora pouco andar nos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate) ainda tomou por mulher a Jezabel, filha de Etbaal, rei dos sidônios; e foi e serviu a Baal, e o adorou." 1 Reis 16:31

O Profeta Elias

E neste vácuo espiritual, com consequente decadência moral, Deus levanta a seu favor o
profeta Elias, em um tempo em que o povo de Israel(que constituía o reino do norte),
não podia ir a Jerusalém, nem podia ir ao templo para aprender sobre as coisas de Deus
nem sobre a sua palavra.
De forma que Elias foi chamado a representar o templo de Deus para aquela nação. Elias
representava a voz de Deus, os seus ensinamentos. Elias representava a misericórdia
de Deus em busca da salvação das ovelhas perdidas da casa de Israel, que estavam
dispersas, sem pastor, pelos caminhos da idolatria.
Elias foi ungido e passava a ter a representatividade da presença de Deus, que não havia
abandonado o seu juramento feito uma vez no passado a Abraão, Isaque e Jacó.

Quem era Jezabel

Acabe, rei de Israel em aproximadamente 988 antes de Cristo, casou-se com Jezabel
(no original seria Abizebel, que significa 'meu pai baal é nobre').
Ela era uma princesa e sacerdotisa de baal, filha do rei de Sidom, que também era
sacerdote de rimom.
Baal, hadade ou rimom (do hebraico ba'al), que significa 'proprietário', era um
deus pagão das tempestades, relacionado as poderosas forças da natureza, inclusive
conhecido como 'aquele que fazia trovejar, que fazia chover'. Era adorado por todo
 oriente antigo em associação com a deusa da fertilidade Asera
 ('aquela que fazia crescer as sementes').
A adoração à estas divindades envolvia automutilação, para tornar suas orações mais poderosas,
 bem como prostituição e sacrifício de crianças. O casamento de Acabe com Jezabel
teve consequências desastrosas.
Acabe seguiu o nível mais baixo de degradação espiritual, se curvando e adorando a
estes deuses pagãos, além de instituir o culto a estas divindades como a religião
oficial de Israel, atraindo a rejeição total do Deus vivo.
E é neste contexto de grande degeneração israelita que surge o profeta Elias. Para provar
àquela nação que somente Deus é o Senhor, Elias desafia o controle do deus que "fazia chover",
a quem foram erguidos diversos ídolos.
"Então Elias, o tisbita, dos moradores de Gileade, disse a Acabe: Vive o SENHOR Deus de Israel, perante cuja face estou, que nestes anos nem orvalho nem chuva haverá, senão segundo a minha palavra." 1 Reis 17:1
mapa de sarepta israel - líbanoMapa de Sarepta Israel - Líbano.


Logo o profeta Elias seria conhecido como o "perturbador de Israel", pois os céus se fecharam e a época de chuva, que começava no início de outubro, se converteu em uma terrível seca, trazendo fome a toda aquela terra.

Elias é Alimentado por Corvos

Elias passou a ser procurado pelo exército de Acabe, que possuía a maior parte dos mil e
quatrocentos carros de combate adquiridos anteriormente por Salomão. Era uma poderoso
exército que havia derrotado o rei sírio Hadade, onde foram mortos mais de cem mil homens sírios.
Mas Deus entrou com um livramento para Elias e o fez seguir na direção do ribeiro de Querite,
que era um filamento de água que tinha sua nascente nos montes de Efraim, e
ficava na transjordânia, próximo a Salim, a alguns quilômetros da cidade de Péla
 (na Decápolis do tempo de Jesus).
Hoje chamado em árabe de el-Yabis, o ribeiro de Querite está localizado atualmente no
reino hashimita da Jordânia. Lá, o Senhor sustentou milagrosamente a Elias através
de corvos que traziam carne e pão de manhã e a noite.
"E os corvos lhe traziam pão e carne pela manhã; como também pão e carne à noite; e bebia do ribeiro." 1 Reis 17:6

Elias Vai Para a Cidade de Sarepta

Porém, a medida que o solo ficava cada vez mais árido, as fontes e os rios secavam, fazendo
com que houvesse uma grande busca por água naquela região. Elias precisava de um novo local,
tanto para se esconder dos soldados de Acabe, como para conseguir água para beber.
O Senhor novamente em seu livramento, o conduz para a cidade de Sarepta, onde havia
preparado o coração de uma viúva para que cresse na sua palavra e oferecesse abrigo ao profeta.
Sarepta era uma cidade fenícia que ficava a 34km ao norte de Tiro, junto à costa do mar Mediterrâneo. Esta cidade foi reconhecida no distrito de libanês de Sarafand, a cerca de 150 quilômetros de Querite, onde Elias estava.
Sarepta era famosa por suas casas de fundição, que inovavam ao fazer utensílios de vidro,
substituindo a madeira, a pedra e o metal que eram mais usualmente utilizados.
Eram produzidos também nesta cidade, vários tipos de corantes, usados para tingir tecidos
de todos os tipos.
O interessante da ida de Elias para Sarepta, é que ela estava sob o alcance de Acabe também,
pois era governada pelo pai de Jezabel. O normal seria que Elias buscasse se refugiar
em um local governado pelos inimigos de Acabe, como fez Davi no passado, se abrigando
com os filisteus.
"Disse, porém, Davi no seu coração: Ora, algum dia ainda perecerei pela mão de Saul; não há coisa melhor para mim do que escapar apressadamente para a terra dos filisteus, para que Saul perca a esperança de mim," 1 Samuel 27:1
a viuva de sarepta serve a eliasA Viúva de Sarepta Cozinhando no Forno Chamado Tannur. Ilustração.
Mas Deus opera um grande milagre aqui, pois Elias não foi protegido por exército algum,
senão na casa de uma pobre viúva. Em tempos de fome e dificuldades, as viúvas eram as
primeiras a sofrer. Elias encontra esta mulher em uma situação miserável. Mas Deus usa as
pequenas coisas para confundir as grandes.
"A minha graça te basta, porque o meu poder se aperfeiçoa na fraqueza. De boa vontade, pois, me gloriarei nas minhas fraquezas, para que em mim habite o poder de Cristo." 2 Coríntios 12:9
Não existia naquele tempo algo mais frágil e dependente do que uma viúva, mas assim o Senhor
livrou a Elias das mãos de um grande e numeroso exército. Muitos buscariam apoio em
armas e soldados, porém o profeta preferiu confiar no Senhor.

Elias e a Viúva de Sarepta

Deus já havia preparado o coração daquela simples mulher, e um coração contrito, cheio
de fé é o combustível que alimenta o fogo para a operação do poder de Deus. Elias chega
cansado de uma viagem de 150Km desde Querite e vê esta viúva, na porta da cidade apanhando
 alguns gravetos.
"Então ele se levantou, e foi a Sarepta; e, chegando à porta da cidade, eis que estava ali uma mulher viúva apanhando lenha; e ele a chamou, e lhe disse: Traze-me, peço-te, num vaso um pouco de água que beba." 1 Reis 17:10
As entradas das cidades eram locais de intenso comércio na época, e ficavam repletas de
comerciantes. E o texto nos revela a devastação que a seca havia provocado naquela região,
pois não havia praticamente mais nada na cidade de Sarepta.
"E, indo ela a trazê-la, ele a chamou e lhe disse: Traze-me agora também um bocado de pão na tua mão." 1 Reis 17:11
A resposta da viúva a Elias, mostra a grave e desesperadora situação em que esta mulher estava.
Faria uma última refeição antes de morrer juntamente com seu filho. E o profeta a submete a
uma prova de fé, pedindo que ela dividisse o pouquinho de alimento que possuía, com ele.
"Porém ela disse: Vive o SENHOR teu Deus, que nem um bolo tenho, senão somente um punhado de farinha numa panela, e um pouco de azeite numa botija; e vês aqui apanhei dois cavacos, e vou prepará-lo para mim e para o meu filho, para que o comamos, e morramos." 1 Reis 17:12
Pela lógica, a viúva de Sarepta não atenderia ao pedido do homem de Deus. Ela porém deixa
o seu instinto protetor de mãe e crê na palavra do Senhor, que encontrou terreno fértil no
seu coração, apesar da seca que castigava tudo ao redor de si.
Em momentos de Seca, é preciso ter fé.
Ela escolheu crer e confiar em Deus, e a sua fé foi honrada. Através da palavra de Elias, a farinha
não se acabou e o azeite da botija não faltou até que passasse o período da seca. Um grande
milagre alcançado pela fé, pela lei da hospitalidade, pelo compartilhar do pão com o profeta
e irmão Elias.
E a viúva de Sarepta compartilhou ainda mais da benção do Senhor, com toda a sua casa, isto é,
com a sua família.
"E ela foi e fez conforme a palavra de Elias; e assim comeu ela, e ele, e a sua casa muitos dias." 1 Reis 17:15
"Da panela a farinha não se acabou, e da botija o azeite não faltou; conforme a palavra do SENHOR, que ele falara pelo ministério de Elias." 1 Reis 17:16
Quantas vezes olhamos as coias grandes e desprezamos as pequenas, porém pelas pequenas
coisas Deus pode nos projetar a situações de grandes vitórias.
Mesmo que o mundo esteja em um período de seca espiritual, precisamos crer que a benção
de Deus pode surgir de locais onde jamais imaginaríamos que pudessem ser.
Em Jesus, o alimento não depende das intempéries deste mundo. Pois Ele mesmo possui a
água do Espírito Santo, águas tranquilas. Ele é a porta que conduz a pastos verdejantes,
onde encontramos o alimento espiritual que necessitamos.


Extraido http://www.rudecruz.com/elias-alimentado-por-corvos-ribeiro-querite-e-multiplica-a-farinha-azeite-da-viuva-de-sarepta.php

quinta-feira, 25 de abril de 2013

City Boca Raton


Boca Raton (pron.: /ˈbkə rəˈtn/) is a city in Palm Beach CountyFlorida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. The Census 2010 count dropped 2,004 residents to 84,392. However, the majority of people with a Boca Raton postal address—about 200,000—do not actually reside within Boca Raton's municipal boundaries. As a business center, the city's daytime population increases significantly.
In terms of both population and land area, Boca Raton is the largest city between West Palm Beach andPompano BeachBroward County.

History

In Spanish "Boca" means "mouth" and "Raton" means "mouse". However, in nautical terms the word "Boca" refers to an inlet. The original name "Boca de Ratones" appeared on eighteenth century maps associated with an inlet in the Biscayne Bay area of Miami. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the term was mistakenly moved north to its current location on most maps and applied to the inland waterway from the closed inlet north for 8.5 miles (13.7 km), which was called the "Boca Ratones Lagoon". The word "ratones" appears in old Spanish maritime dictionaries referring to "rugged rocks or stony ground on the bottom of some ports and coastal outlets, where the cables rub against". Therefore the abridged translation defining "Boca de Ratones" is "a shallow inlet of sharp-pointed rocks which scrapes a ship's cables". The first settler was T. M. Rickards in 1895 who resided in a house made of driftwood on the east side of the East Coast Canal south of what is now the Palmetto Park Road bridge. He surveyed and sold land from the canal to beyond the railroad north of what is now Palmetto Park Road.

Land boom

During the city's early history during the Florida land boom of the 1920sAddison Mizner's Ritz-Carlton Cloister Inn was built in 1926, later renamed the Boca Raton Resort & Club, and is one of the only "5 star" hotels located in Florida. The 1969 addition of its "pink tower" hotel building is visible from miles away as a towering monument on the Intracoastal Waterway.

War

Japanese farmers of the Yamato Colony converted the land west of the city into pineapple plantations beginning in 1904. During World War II, much of their land was confiscated and used as the site of the Boca Raton Army Air Force Base, a major training facility for B-29 bomber crews and radar operators. Much of the airbase was later donated to Palm Beach County and later become the grounds of Florida Atlantic University, many of whose parking lots are former runways of the airbase; when viewed from above, the site's layout for its previous use as an airfield is plainly evident. Boca Raton Airport's runway 5/23 was once part of the original airbase, and is still active to this day.
The Japanese heritage of the Yamato Colony survives in the name of Yamato Road (NW 51st Street) just north of the airport and at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens northwest of the city. The headquarters building of the Army Air Forces Base has survived as the office building for the Cynthia Gardens apartment complex on Northwest 4th Avenue.

Post-war

In the late 1960s, the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) announced their intentions to open a manufacturing plant in the area. In 1965, well before the extension of I-95 into Southern Florida, IBM, working in secret with the Arvida corporation, quietly purchased several-hundred acres of real estate just west of the CSX rail line and northwest of Florida Atlantic University in University Park. Originally situated in unincorporated Palm Beach County, the site was controversially annexed into Boca Raton almost a year following its dedication in 1970.
The Boca Corporate Center and Campus was originally one of IBM's research labs where the PC was created. It is located on Yamato Rd (NW 51st St), and stands next to the Boca Raton Tri-RailStation.
Construction of IBM's main complex began in earnest in 1967, and the mammoth manufacturing and office complex was dedicated in March 1970. The campus was designed with self-sufficiency in mind, and to that end sported its own electrical substationwater pumping station, and rail-spur. Among other very noteworthy IT accomplishments, such as the mass manufacture of the System/360 and development of the Series/1mainframe computers, IBM's main complex was the birthplace of the IBM PC, which later evolved into the IBM Personal System/2, developed in nearby Delray Beach. Starting in 1987, IBM relocated their manufacturing for what became the IBM PC division to Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, and converted the cavernous manufacturing facilities into offices and laboratories, later producing products such as the OS/2operating system and VoiceType Dictation, later known as ViaVoice voice-recognition software.
IBM maintained its facilities in the South Florida area until 1996, when the facility was closed and sold to Blue Lake Real Estate, who in turn sold it to T-REX Management Consortium. Today, T-REX has revitalized the facility and its surrounding real estate into a highly successful and landscaped business/research park.
What used to be IBM's Building 051, an annex separated from the former main IBM campus by Spanish River Boulevard was donated to the Palm Beach County School District and converted into Don Estridge High Tech Middle School. It is named for Don Estridge, whose team was responsible for developing the IBM PC. IBM later returned in July 2001 opening the current software development laboratory at Beacon Square off Congress Avenue.
It is noteworthy that still left standing inside the old IBM complex is the actual office and conference table whereBill Gates signed his historic deal to supply IBM with the Microsoft MS-DOS operating system for its personal computer line.
In the 1980s, because of an explosion of development to the west of the historical center of the city, some eastern areas began to decay, including the downtown corridor. For instance, the old Boca Raton Mall, ashopping mall in the downtown area was beginning to experience higher vacancy, and occupancy by marginal tenants, due to the opening of Town Center at Boca Raton west of the city in 1980.
Mizner Park is a downtown attraction in Boca Raton's financial district. It is the northernmost part of Boca'sdowntown area, and home to 'Mizner Park Amphitheater'.
In 1991, the new downtown outdoor shopping and dining center, Mizner Park, was completed over the site of the old Boca Raton Mall. It has since become a cultural center for the southern Palm Beach County. Featuring a landscaped central park between the two main roads (collectively called Plaza Real) with stores only on the outside of the roads, Mizner Park resembles a Mediterranean suburban "town center" with a more contemporary look. It features many restaurants and is home to the Boca Raton Museum of Art which moved to the new facility in 2001."Boca Raton Museum of Art" In 2002, a new amphitheater was built replacing a smaller one, providing a large-capacity outdoor venue where concerts and other performances are held.
Mizner Park has significantly aided downtown revitalization. Many new eight to ten story mixed-use buildings have been constructed, are currently under construction or are proposed for the downtown area. The surrounding areas to the downtown have benefited from the downtown redevelopment.
The National Cartoon Museum (formally the International Museum of Cartoon Art) built a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m) facility on the southwest edge of Mizner Park in 1996. Open for six years, the museum relocated to its original home in New York City in 2002. Building renovations for public uses, including the local public TV station, and private uses, such as a locally owned and operated bookstore were completed in 2008. In addition to the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Association's theater and space, the building is home to the Schmidt Family Foundation.
As development continued to focus to the west of the city in the 1980s and 1990s, the mall area, Town Center at Boca Raton, became the geographic center of what is referred to as Boca Raton, though this mall was not actually annexed into the city until 2004. The area referred to as Boca Raton, including the unincorporated area west of the city (and discussed below), is now almost entirely built out.
In 1999, the Simon Property Group bought Town Center at Boca Raton and redeveloped it. Nordstrom was added as the anchor department store for the new wing. Neiman Marcus is the newest department store tenant as of 2006. In-late 2006, Simon began the construction stage of an outdoor lifestyle center near the new wing. Town Center Mall has become a tourist attraction and the largest indoor mall in Palm Beach County.
Boca Raton has a strict development code, including the size and types of commercial buildings, building signs and advertisements which may be erected within the city limits. No outdoor car dealerships are allowed in the municipality, according to the city zoning code. Additionally, no billboards are permitted in the city. The only billboard was grandfathered in during a recent annexation. Corporations such as McDonald's have subdued theirGolden Arches due to the code. The unincorporated areas still contain restaurants with the classic arches, but the heights of the signs have also been reduced. Many buildings in the area have Mediterranean and Spanish architectural themes, initially inspired in the area by Addison Mizner. The strict development code has resulted in several major thoroughfares without large signs or advertisements in the traveler's view; significant landscaping is in its place.
BocaSkyline2.jpg

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.1 sq mi (75.4 km), of which 27.2 sq mi (70.4 km) of this is land and 1.9 sq mi (5.0 km) of it (6.63%) is water. Boca Raton is a 'principal city' (as defined by the Census Bureau) of the Miami metropolitan area. Like most South Florida cities, Boca Raton has a water table that does not permit building basements, but there are several high points in the city, such as 4th Avenue which is aptly named "High Street". The highest point in this area is the guard shack at Camino Gardens, which is 24 ft (7.3 m) above sea level. The Boca Raton Hotel's Beach Club rests at 23 ft (7.0 m) above sea level.
Several small tunnels run under roads in Boca, but the roads are built up several feet at these locations, or are located on dunes. Several of these tunnels are under State Road A1A at Spanish River Park, from the west side of the road where parking is available to beachgoers, to the east side of the road, which is where the beach is located. A1A is already higher than the surrounding land here due to sand dunes formed by erosion and other natural features.

Climate

Boca Raton's climate barely qualifies as a Tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af), as its driest month (December) averages 62.5mm of precipitation, narrowly meeting the minimum standard of 60mm in the driest month needed to qualify for that designation.
Climate data for Boca Raton, Florida
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °F (°C)76
(24)
77
(25)
80
(27)
83
(28)
87
(31)
90
(32)
92
(33)
92
(33)
91
(33)
87
(31)
82
(28)
78
(26)
84.6
(29.3)
Average low °F (°C)58
(14)
58
(14)
62
(17)
66
(19)
71
(22)
74
(23)
75
(24)
75
(24)
74
(23)
71
(22)
66
(19)
61
(16)
67.6
(19.8)
Precipitationinches (mm)2.78
(70.6)
2.76
(70.1)
3.00
(76.2)
3.40
(86.4)
5.73
(145.5)
7.31
(185.7)
5.94
(150.9)
6.91
(175.5)
7.01
(178.1)
5.73
(145.5)
4.24
(107.7)
2.46
(62.5)
57.27
(1,454.7)
Source: The Weather Channel

Demographics

Population
CensusPop.
1940723
195099237.2%
19606,961601.7%
197029,538324.3%
198049,47767.5%
199061,49224.3%
200074,76421.6%
201084,39212.9%
As of 2010, there were 44,539 households, out of which 17.4% were vacant. As of 2000, 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81.
In 2000, the city population was spread out with 18.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $67,531, and the median income for a family was $92,057. Males had a median income of $52,287 versus $33,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was $45,628. About 4.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
According to Forbes, Boca Raton has three of the ten most expensive gated communities in the U.S. The Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club holds the #1 spot, The Sanctuary takes #6, and Le Lac takes the #8 spot.
As of 2000, English was spoken as a first language by 79.89% of the population, Spanish by 9.28%, French by 1.46%, Portuguese by 1.45%, French Creole by 1.29%, and Italian by 1.05% of the population. There is a substantial Jewish population in Boca Raton, and a small percentage of them add to the linguistic variety, with 0.36% of Boca Raton residents speaking Hebrew and 0.27% of the population speaking Yiddish at home.

Culture and attractions

Boca Raton is known for its affluent social community and high income demographic. Boca Raton was the site of two now vanished amusement parksAfrica U.S.A. (1953–1961) and Ancient America (1953–1959). Africa U.S.A. was a wild animal park in which tourists rode a "Jeep Safari Train" through the park. There were no fencesseparating the animals from the tourists on the "Jeep Safari Train". It is now the Camino Gardens subdivision one mile (1.6 km) west of the Boca Raton Hotel. A red wooden bridge from Africa USA can still be seen at the entrance to Camino Gardens. In the 1970s, peacocks could still be found in the subdivision, having escaped from the attraction. Ancient America was built surrounding a real Indian burial mound. Today, the mound is still visible within the Boca Marina & Yacht Club neighborhood on U.S. 1 near Yamato Road.
Boca Raton is home to the Caldwell Theatre Company, the longest-running professional theater in South Florida, celebrating its 34th season in the recently inaugurated Count de Hoernle Theatre on South Federal Highway.
Boca Raton has beaches along its eastern shore, notably Red Reef Park and South Inlet Park, where snorkeling from the shore can bring a visitor to a living reef without the expense of renting a boat. Also in the 20-acre (81,000 m) park is Gumbo Limbo, an Environmental Education Center. A small fee is charged to enter the park.

Crime

Crime statistics

According to the Department of Justice, the following offenses occurred in Boca Raton in 2006. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assembles this data each year through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Murders and nonnegligent manslaughters 3
Forcible rapes 13
Robberies 72
Aggravated assaults 150
Total violent crimes 238
Burglaries 799
Larceny-thefts 2,232
Motor vehicle thefts 170
Arson 2
Total property crimes 2,956
Estimated population 88,093

Internet / Computer Fraud

On July 22, 2004, Boca Raton resident Scott Levine was charged with the largest computer crime indictment in United States history. Federal prosecutors allege that Levine unlawfully accessed Acxiom, a database ofconsumer data, to steal detailed personal information of millions of people.
According to MessageLabs (an email security vendor), Boca Raton was the "spam capital of the world", but this is no longer true, as it has been surpassed by several other cities, and India is now recognized as being the source of the most significant proportion of all spam generated worldwide. According to the Miami Herald, the city, as well as areas in South Florida have a long history of involvement in confidence tricksRichard C. Breeden, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, once called the city "the only coastal city in Florida where there are more sharks on land than in the water". In the keynote address to a computer security conference on June 8, 2004, Bruce Sterling described the city as the "Capone-Chicago of cyber fraud".

Organized crime

In 2007 it was reported that there were nine known gangs operating in Boca Raton.
Boca Raton has a connection to the Mafia. Although not known for violent crime, it is a popular hangout for many suspected Mafia members. According to a number of US Federal indictments, as of June 2004, the Gambino family continues to operate in Boca Raton. The television show, The Sopranos, featured the city in its plot ("Boca" and "...To Save Us All From Satan's Power"), and Mafia Wife author Lynda Milito resides in Boca Raton. As does Joey Merlino, the reputed head of the Philadelphia Crime family.Boca Raton, Florida - Mafia Wife Interview with Lynda Milita | Boca Raton

Politics

The City of Boca Raton has a Council-Manager form of government. Information about the City government is available at the city website.
The city council, including Mayor Susan Whelchel, is nonpartisan. As of February 2013, Democrat Patrick Murphy and Democrat Ted Deutch both represent parts of the city in the United States Congress.

Economy

Office Depot, a supplier of office products and services, has its global headquarters on a 28-acre campus in the city. The GEO Group, a company that operates prisons, also has its headquarters in Boca Raton based out of One Park Place. Media companies American Media and FriendFinder Networks, hotel company Luxury Resortsand e-retailers Vitacost plus BMI Gaming are also based in Boca Raton.
Previously W. R. Grace and Company had its headquarters in unincorporated Palm Beach County, near Boca Raton.

Top employers

According to the City's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
#Employer# of Employees
1Florida Atlantic University2,290
2Office Depot (corporate headquarters)2,250
3Boca Raton Regional Hospital2,250
4Boca Raton Resort1,800
5City of Boca Raton1,267
6National Council on Compensation Insurance800
7The Continental Group750
8Tyco International700
9IBM600
10Applied Card Systems550
11Bluegreen Corporation401

Education

Public schools

Public education is provided and managed by The School District of Palm Beach County. Boca Raton is also home to several notable private and religious schools.
As of 2007, Boca Raton is served by four public high schools. Within the city's limits, Boca Raton Community High School serves the eastern part of the city. Spanish River Community High School serves the west-central part of the city limits and parts of unincorporated Boca Raton. Olympic Heights Community High School serves the western unincorporated areas. Finally, West Boca Raton Community High School serves the far-west unincorporated areas. Spanish River, Olympic Heights, and West Boca Raton also serve students from Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.
The area is served by five public middle schools:
The area is served by twelve public elementary schools:
  • Addison Mizner Elementary (Founded in 1968. It is named after Addison Mizner.)
  • Boca Raton Elementary
  • Calusa Elementary
  • Coral Sunset Elementary
  • Del Prado Elementary
  • Hammock Pointe Elementary
  • J.C. Mitchell Elementary
  • Sandpiper Shores Elementary
  • Sunrise Park Elementary
  • Verde Elementary
  • Waters Edge Elementary
  • Whispering Pines Elementary
An alternative to the Palm Beach County Public Schools in Boca Raton is the Alexander D. Henderson University School is located on the Florida Atlantic University campus. A. D. Henderson University School (ADHUS) is organized as a unique and separate school district; it is not part of the Palm Beach County School System. Henderson School is recognized as Florida Atlantic University School District #72, under the College of Education’s administrative oversight.
University schools in Florida are authorized to provide instruction for grades K-12 and university students, support university research efforts, and test educational reforms for Florida schools. ADHUS is a public school and thus does not charge tuition. It is open to children who reside in Palm Beach County or Broward County and admission is by lottery. Student characteristics of gender, race, family income and student ability are used to match the student population profile to that of the state.

Private schools

Pope John Paul II High School is a Catholic school located in Boca Raton near Florida Atlantic University and Lynn University.
  • Hillel Day School of Boca Raton
  • Boca Raton Christian School
  • Pine Crest School, based in Fort Lauderdale, has a campus in Boca Raton.
  • Saint Jude Catholic School and Parish is an Elementary and Middle School founded in 1985. The Parish also has a Preschool founded in 1995.
  • Saint Andrew's School
  • Pope John Paul II High School
  • Grandview Preparatory School is an independent college preparatory, nonsectarian, coeducational day school founded in 1997. Student enrollment is offered for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.
  • Donna Klein Jewish Academy
  • Boca Prep International School
  • Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School and Church
  • Weinbaum Yeshiva High School
  • Summit Private School, a Montessori school
  • Spanish River Christian
  • Saint Paul Lutheran School
  • Advent Lutheran School
  • Torah Academy of Boca Raton
  • Claremont Montessori School
  • American Heritage School

Higher education

In recognition of the rapid growth of Boca Raton's universities, in particular Florida Atlantic University, the city of Boca Raton has recently been referred to as a "burgeoning college town." [1]

Libraries

The Boca Raton Public Library serves city of Boca Raton residents. A second municipal library building on Spanish River Boulevard west of I-95 was opened in January 2008.
The Glades Road Branch Library and the West Boca Branch Library serve Boca Raton residents who live outside the city limits. The West Boca Branch opened on February 20, 2009. It is located on State Road 7 just north of Yamato Road. The Glades Road Branch Library, formerly known as the Southwest County Regional Library, is located on 95th Street and Glades Road, between Lyons Road and State Road 7. It closed for renovations in early 2009 and reopened as the Glades Road Branch Library on May 29, 2010. County library card holders may use any of the sixteen branches in the Palm Beach County Library System and have access to many databases and downloadable e-books and audio books.

Transportation

Air

Highways

  • Florida State Road A1A is a north-south road lying between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • U.S. Highway 1 is a north-south highway passing through the city’s downtown, commercial, and industrial districts in the eastern part of the city.
  • U.S. Highway 441, also popularly known as State Road 7, is a north-south highway passing through commercial and residential districts west of the city limits.
  • Interstate 95 bisects the city from north to south with four interchanges serving Boca Raton.
  • Florida's Turnpike is a north-south highway passing through unincorporated Boca Raton, forming part of the city limits in the north, with one interchange at Glades Road.
  • Florida State Road 808 (Glades Road) is an east-west road between US 441 and US 1.
  • Other major east-west roads include Palmetto Park Road and Yamato Road.
  • Other major north-south roads include Military Trail and Powerline Road.

Rail

Water

Long before any settlers arrived, the original 1870 government survey of the area showed that just west of and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean's coastal dune was the "Boca Ratones Lagoon", which extended south for nine miles (14.5 km) from just north of the present location of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Along the southern half of the lagoon were three wide areas each called a "Lake", which are now named (north to south) Lake Rogers, Lake Wyman, and Lake Boca Raton. At the southeast end of the lagoon was a short protrusion toward the south which would become the Boca Raton Inlet after a sandbar at its mouth was removed. The lagoon and lakes were part of a half-mile (0.8 km) wide swamp, west of which was scrub land a mile (1.6 km) wide (part of the Atlantic coastal ridge) where the Florida East Coast Railway (1896) and Dixie Highway (1923) were built. To the west of the scrub was a half mile or wider swamp within which flowed north to south the "Prong of Hillsborough River", which is now the El Rio Canal. It now forms the eastern border of Florida Atlantic University and the Old Floresta neighborhood. The prong entered the "Hillsborough River" at the present eastern end of the straight portion of theHillsboro Canal (dredged 1911–14), which is the southern city limits. The river flowed southeast in several channels along the western edge of the present Deerfield Island, formerly called Capone Island (named for Al Capone who owned it during the 1930s), which did not become an island until the Royal Palm Canal was dredged along its northern edge in 1961. Flowing south from the lagoon to the river along the eastern edge of the 'island' was a "Small boat Pass into Hillsboro' River", also called the Little Hillsboro. The river continued due south about four and a half miles (7.2 km) just inland of the coastal dune until it emptied into the Atlantic Ocean at the "Hillsborough Bar", now the Hillsboro Inlet.
The lagoon was dredged in 1894–95 to form part of the Florida East Coast Canal from Jacksonville to Biscayne Bay with a minimum depth of 5 feet (1.5 m) and a minimum width of 50 feet (15.2 m). After 1895, the lagoon and canal were sometimes called the Spanish River. Between 1930 and 1935 the canal was improved to 8×100 feet (2.4×30.5 m) by the federal government and renamed the Intracoastal Waterway. It was improved again between 1960 and 1965 to 10×125 feet (3×38.1 m). All three versions were subject to shoaling which reduced their depths below the specified minimum. Forming part of the northern city limits is the C-15 canal, connecting the El Rio Canal to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Notable people

Greater Boca Raton

A majority of postal Boca Raton lies outside of the actual city limits. This large unincorporated area to the west of the city limits is included in the Boca Raton mailing address and local telephone calling area. There are many large planned developments in the area, including gated communities, and a number of golf courses. This is a result in the later start of development in these areas, and the availability of large tracts of land. Many of these affluent communities are large enough to be designated as census-designated places, including Boca Del Marand Boca Pointe, geographically in Central Boca Raton, and Avalon at Boca Raton, Boca Falls, Boca Winds,CimarronHamptons at Boca RatonMission BayLoggers' Run, The Polo Club Boca Raton, Sandalfoot Cove, and Whisper Walk as West Boca Raton.
On November 2, 2004, the voters of the Via Verde Association, Waterside, Deerhurst Association (Boca South), Marina Del Mar Association, Rio Del Mar Association (both originally Boca Del Mar communities), and Heatherwood of Boca Raton Condominium Association approved annexation into the Boca Raton city limits, increasing the city land area to 29.6 square miles (77 km).

Boca Raton in popular culture

Boca Raton, given its small population, is actually a very well-known city to many people across the USA and the world, due to its celebrity and media promotion in many forms of popular culture.
Boca Raton has been mentioned in many movies, including All the President's MenBack to the Future,BewitchedCats & DogsMarley and MeThe MexicanMr. 3000Music and LyricsA Perfect MurderWag the Dog, and Wonderland, and in many TV shows, such as American Dad!American Dragon: Jake LongCode Name: The CleanerDexterEntourageLizzie McGuireNip/TuckThe Golden GirlsHisteria!Mad MenMADtvMy Name Is EarlThe NannyPhil of the FutureRobot ChickenThe SopranosSpongeBob SquarePantsTwo and a Half MenThe Venture Bros.Weeds, and Wipeout. These references usually have something to do with the large number of luxury resorts and condominiums in Florida, or in the past, the considerable number of retired persons residing in Florida (especially in the case of Seinfeld),.
"Boca Raton" is almost idiomatically used for indicating retirement. For example, Fran Drescher's character inThe Nanny is always pushing her parents to move to Boca, and Chelsea Handler frequently uses the city in reference to the elderly on her talk show, Chelsea Lately.
Development of Boca Raton features prominently in the 2008 Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical, Road Show, which centers on the lives of Addison Mizner and his brother Wilson Mizner.
Boca Raton has also been the stage and background for many popular movies filmed on location in Boca Raton, including Paper Lion (1968), Paper Moon (1973), Caddyshack (1980), Caddyshack II (1988), Where the Boys Are '84(1984), Stella (1990), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and Sex Drive (2008).

Photo Gallery

Old Dixie Seafood is a popular local seafood market and deli famous for their Marlin dip and stone crab claws

References

  1. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup – Search By City". United States Postal Service. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  2. ^ "American FactFinder"United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names"United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Census
  5. ^ "Multimedia"USA Today.
  6. ^ Boca Raton Historical Society: Boca Raton's History
  7. ^ The Spanish Maritime Dictionary of 1831
  8. ^ Boca De Ratones: An Etymological Reassessment(Ruiz and Cobia, Feb. 14, 2012)
  9. ^ Boca Raton Historical Society, Spanish River Papers, 1.1 (January 1973).
  10. ^ Curl, Donald W. and John P. Johnson. Boca Raton; A Pictorial History. Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company, 1990. p. 52
  11. ^ Janie Gold, "Archer calls on Boca Raton to de-annex University Park"The Palm Beach Post, July 12, 1972, C1-C2.
  12. ^ http://www.miznerparkamp.com/
  13. Google Earth
  14. ^ "Average weather for Boca Raton". The Weather Channel. May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  15. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Fact Finder for Boca Raton
  16. ^ "Most Expensive Gated Communities In America 2004".Forbes.
  17. ^ Data Center Results
  18. ^ Virtual Tour of Arica U.S.A.. Retrieved August 27, 2006.
  19. ^ Ancient America: one of Florida's lost tourist attractions.lostparks.com. Retrieved August 27, 2006.
  20. ^ Caldwell Theatre Company
  21. ^ Red Reef Park
  22. ^ South Inlet Park
  23. ^ "Boca Raton Snorkeling Beach Dive Site | Red Reef Park"Sink, Florida, Sink!. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  24. ^ "South Inlet Park | Boca Raton Snorkeling Beach Dive Site"Sink, Florida, Sink!. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
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  27. ^ India is the Spam Capital of the World - Economic Times. Retrieved Feb 2, 2013.
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  30. ^ cbs4.com - Married To The Mob: Mafia Wife To Sue HBO
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  34. ^ "Contact Us." GEO Group. Retrieved on May 10, 2010.
  35. ^ "Grace Announces Relocation To Columbia, Maryland."W. R. Grace and Company. Retrieved on June 29, 2011. "The restructuring will entail a relocation of approximately 40 people, including senior management, from Grace's Boca Raton, Florida office to its Columbia, Maryland site. A few positions will be relocated to another Grace office in Cambridge, Massachusetts." and "Following the relocation, Grace will close its headquarters office at 1750 Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton, which currently employs approximately 130 people."
  36. ^ "Boca Raton city, Florida." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on June 29, 2011.
  37. ^ City of Boca Raton CAFR
  38. ^ School District of Palm Beach County - High School Boundary Maps - Accessed December 17, 2007
  39. ^ FAU - A.D. Henderson University School
  40. ^ "Grandview Preparatory School"
  41. ^ "Boca Prep International School"
  42. ^ "Summit Private School"
  43. ^ Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records Florida, Townships 46–48, Range 43
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  45. ^ Deerfield Island - Spanish River Papers PDF (2.47MB)
  46. ^ A history of Florida's East Coast Canal: The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville to Miami PDF (3.8 MB)
  47. ^ Aubrey Parkman, History of the waterways of the Atlantic coast of the United States, National Waterways Study, 1983, p.87.
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  51. ^ Seinfeld, The Wizard, Air date: February 26, 1998 (Jerry: "Kramer, you can't live down here. This is where people come to die.")