New park address honors Officer Joseph Crowder
Plus a citywide chlorination flush, extra speed enforcement, and a full week at the library.
Boynton Beach Police dedicated a new address for Officer Joseph Crowder Park and Dog Park on July 11, assigning it 792 Renaissance Commons Boulevard so the number matches Crowder's badge. Crowder served the city as a police officer and K-9 handler and was a U.S. Army veteran. Mayor Rebecca Shelton spoke at the ceremony, and the department thanked Crowder's family, fellow officers, and community members who turned out for it. The change ties the park that already carries his name to the badge number he wore, and the new 792 sign now stands at the site. Family members gathered with officers at that sign during the dedication, which the department marked as a tribute to Crowder's service. (Boca Post)
Extra speed enforcement across Florida this week
Operation Southern Slow Down runs July 13 through 18, with Florida joining Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee in stepped-up speed enforcement paired with public education. The Florida Department of Transportation says speeding was a factor in about six percent of the state's traffic fatalities in the 2024 Florida Traffic Crash Facts report. The campaign is statewide and spans five Southeastern states, so the focus is regional rather than tied to a single Boynton Beach checkpoint or enforcement location. Drivers across the region can expect the speed-enforcement push to continue through Saturday. (Florida Department of Transportation)
Citywide chlorination flush runs through July 30
Boynton Beach Water Utility is temporarily switching to free chlorination from July 9 through July 30 for routine preventive maintenance and flushing of the distribution system. The city says the change is not a response to contamination and the water will keep meeting federal and state drinking-water standards, though some residents may notice a different taste or odor. Refrigerating an open container of tap water for a few hours can ease any chlorine taste or smell. People who use home dialysis machines or keep tropical-fish aquariums or commercial fish-holding tanks should seek professional guidance, since chlorine and chloramine removal differ. Questions can go to the Water Quality Division at 561-742-6964 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Boca Post)
Drop-in tech help Saturday at the library
The library offers drop-in technology help on Saturday, July 18, in two windows, 9-11 a.m. and again 2:30-5 p.m. One-on-one assistance covers smartphones, tablets, laptops, apps, email, internet basics, e-readers, and the digital library. The library says no registration is required for either session, so residents can choose the morning or afternoon window and arrive with the device or digital task they need help using. (Boynton Beach City Library)
Master Kids returns July 18 and 25
Master Kids meets Saturday, July 18, and Saturday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to noon at the library, using gentle movement and imaginative meditation to connect body awareness with thoughts and feelings. The official description says the exercises are intended to build coordination, self-awareness, and calmness. It is limited to children entering grades 2-4, registration is required, yoga mats are provided, and each child should bring a bath towel. (Boynton Beach City Library)
Beginner Excel class July 21
A beginner Excel class meets Tuesday, July 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the library, covering how to enter and organize data, format cells, build simple formulas, and make a basic chart for everyday uses such as budgets, lists, and schedules. The library describes it as beginner-friendly and designed for people who do not know where to start with spreadsheets. Preregistration is available through the library's official event page. (Boynton Beach City Library)
Kids' astronomy program July 23
News from Outer Space meets Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the library, where the Astronomical Society of the Palm Beaches presents a hands-on solar-system program for children ages 5-11. The registration instruction applies only to the children who will participate in the program, rather than accompanying adults. (Boynton Beach City Library)
Bring Your Own Project night July 23
Bring Your Own Project runs Thursday, July 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, where people can bring knitting, crochet, coloring, drawing, journaling, scrapbooking, embroidery, or another portable craft. The library also provides coloring pages, pencils, markers, yarn, and basic supplies, and people may drop in any time after the 5 p.m. start. (Boynton Beach City Library)