Bomb Squad Called to Mission Bay Plaza: Video and Photos

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Around 10 am today we were tipped off to a situation at Mission Bay Plaza. Readers and friends told us that there was a heavy police presence along with fire trucks. We headed over and took both pictures and video.
The main part of the story is a “suspicious package” that was found in the parking area between TD Bank and Bank of America. You can see a wide version of the scene in our photo at top. It took some time but eventually the Sheriff’s “EOD” team (Explosive Ordnance Disposal or bomb squad) determined that the package was safe to handle. In the sequence of photos below you can see an armored bomb squad member approach it, pick it up, and then start bringing it to their truck along with another team member who is even more heavily armored. PBSO tells us this was not the package in question, but watching it on scene we don’t see what else it could have been.
Another reader agrees with PBSO though:

There was something else made up of an umbrella, some sort of plastic container with a water bottle and some coins.

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Please note that all photos in this article are copyrighted by Warren Redlich. Media are welcome to reuse them by simply crediting @WestBocaNews or WestBocaNews.com. Most photos are available in higher resolution just by clicking on them.

There was a lot of police and fire rescue activity around the plaza. A large section of the parking lot and the area around the two banks were evacuated and blocked off by police tape.
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The bomb squad truck was in operation near Bank of America.
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After the package was secured, the heavily armored bomb squad team member got some help getting the helmet off.
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The suspicious package itself just looks like a tool kit:
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We asked PBSO for comment:

We received a call from Bank of America, located on Glades Road and 441, of a suspicious package. Deputies arrived evacuated both Bank of America and TD Bank then contained the area until Bomb and Arson arrived. Bomb and Arson arrived checked out the package and determined that there was no threat. Both banks were opened to continue business as usual.

We shot some video at the scene. Here’s our initial report:

Here's our initial report from the scene at Mission Bay this morning. Our full report is coming soon.

Posted by West Boca News on Thursday, April 30, 2015

And here’s our final video:

Our final video on the Mission Bay Bomb Squad incident. We will also do an article. Pictures at the end of the video.

Posted by West Boca News on Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Weekend in West Boca

dryvinsouthbandDance to some High Energy Rock and Roll at Delray Marketplace on April 30th. The free concert by Dryvin’ South Band starts at 6 pm.
Enjoy a Free screening of Splash (PG) starring Tom Hanks at the West Boca Library on April 30th. The movie starts at 1 p.m.
beautynightmuseumLearn the latest beauty trends on April 30th at the Boca Museum of Art. Beauty Night, sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue, runs from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Free with admission.
 
lynncelebrationExperience a Celebration of the Arts on May 1st at Lynn University. There will be an outdoor festival at 5:30 p.m. featuring live music and street performers. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. The headline production will feature musical theatre, dance and more by Lynn faculty, students and staff and will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Go to the West Boca Library on May 2nd. Toddler Time is 10:30 a.m. Teens in grades 6-12 can decorate wooden boxes for Mother’s Day.
boca-museumVisit on May 2nd the Boca Raton Museum of Art The Art-E-Ology program is for kids in grades 3 to 5 and runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Call 561-392-2500 x106 for a reservation.
hoperelayforlifeWalk in the West Boca Relay for Life on May 2nd at Olympic Heights High School. The Opening ceremony starts at noon and the Survivors Lap is at 12:15 p.m. The Luminaria Ceremony is at 9 p.m. For more information, call 954-200-7533.
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Listen to the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County on May 3rd at Mizner Park Amphitheater. The free concert starts at 5 p.m. Bring blankets and chairs.

More School Winners: Spanish River and Logger's Run

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Three kids from West Boca schools were among 31 students on the Palm Beach County science team that won awards at the 2015 State Science and Engineering Fair.
Sean Elia of Spanish River won a 3rd place award in the “Senior Division” (high school) and he was invited to represent Palm Beach County at the 2015 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). We have a soft spot for tuba and sousaphone players.

Sean Elia (from Facebook)
Sean Elia (from Facebook)

Elia may be headed to UCF to study aerospace engineering next year.
From Logger’s Run Middle School, Anam Ahmed won a 2nd place award and Tesla Radulovic won an honorable mention.

Three Houses for Sale in Saturnia for $750K and up

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As an agent with Signature International Real Estate, I recently learned of three houses our brokerage has on the market in the Saturnia neighborhood at the far west end of Yamato Road. I’d be happy to show these houses to potential buyers. Call me at 888-733-5299.
Currently active listings in Saturnia start around $540K and go as high as $1.2 million. The three homes from Signature are in the middle of that pack, starting at $750K.
[contact-form to=’[email protected]’ subject=’Lead from 33496′][contact-field label=’Email or phone’ type=’text’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’How can we help?’ type=’radio’ options=’I want to sell,I want to buy,I want to rent,I want to find tenants,Other’/][/contact-form]
Saturnia has a unique location sheltered from the rest of the world by South County Regional Park, and conveniently located across the street from highly rated schools: Eagles Landing Middle and Sunrise Park Elementary.

Prices are likely to go up since GL Homes is going ahead with a 43-home high-end development just south of Saturnia. Those houses will start somewhere north of $1 million, and that kind of addition tends to boost neighboring home values.


Two of the homes in this report are on one floor and were built in 2001. Brand new on the market is 19211 North Creekshore Court, listed at $809,900.
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This is a large home for only one floor. It has five bedrooms and 4 baths in nearly 3700 square feet of living space. It’s also a fairly big lot at a third of an acre and it’s on a cul-de-sac with a pool and a pleasant lake view.
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One particularly notable feature is the kitchen. It has gorgeous dark wood floors, upgraded cabinets, stainless appliances and exotic granite countertops.
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Of course the house has a spacious master and its windows look out on the pool and lake. The master bath has a nice tub, separate shower, and separate “his and hers” vanities.
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Next up is another large one-floor home with 6 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths in just over 3400 square feet. 11741 Watercrest Lane is listed for $799,000 and has been on the market for less than a month.
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Common in such homes of this vintage, it has an open floor plan.
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The master bedroom has plenty of room with pool and lake views.
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The master bath has a similar layout to the previous home with two vanities, a tub and separate shower area.
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That pool and lake view is particularly nice:
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The third house, 11729 Preservation is a two-floor model with over 4000 square feet, listed at $750,000.
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The most notable feature just might be the pool area which includes special lighting and a spiral staircase down from the second floor patio.
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The house also includes a very nice kitchen with a refrigerator that matches the cabinets and a bonus wine area including a rack and cooler.
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The master bedroom is nice, though for some reason the photographer took this shot from a very low angle.
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And that extra square footage creates space for features like the impressive master bath:
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Sitting next to a cul-de-sac on the north edge of Saturnia, the rear of the house faces a canal and a large empty lot. That’s owned by the South Florida Water Management District so it’s likely to remain undeveloped and peaceful for decades.
Please call me (Warren) at 888-733-5299 if you’d like to see one of these houses or if I can help you with any other real estate needs in West Boca.
[contact-form to=’[email protected]’ subject=’Lead from 33496′][contact-field label=’Email or phone’ type=’text’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’How can we help?’ type=’radio’ options=’I want to sell,I want to buy,I want to rent,I want to find tenants,Other’/][/contact-form]

Be wary of private companies selling copies of deeds and other documents

From the Palm Beach County Clerk:
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Be wary of private companies selling copies of deeds and other documents
Several Palm Beach County residents have called my office because they recently received official-looking solicitations in the mail from companies selling certified copies of property deeds. I encourage everyone to be cautious of private companies trying to sell public records that can be easily obtained at the courthouse or online.
These companies often send letters advertising the government’s recommendation that all citizens have certified copies of their records, such as property deeds. They then offer copies of the records for fees ranging from $40 to $89 or even more.

Sharon Bock
Sharon Bock

Uncertified copies may be downloaded and printed for free by using the Official Records search on our website.
Certified copies of Deeds and other official records can be obtained from my office for just a few dollars — not for the excessive prices these companies are charging. You can obtain documents from the Clerk’s office for $1 per page and they can be certified for an additional $2.
In addition to property deeds, other public records available from our office include mortgages, liens, court judgments, marriage licenses and tax deeds.
Solicitations like this may be legal, but they are misleading. Every few years, we hear from residents who have received these notices and want to know what they should do. I want to remind people that this information is readily available online and at the courthouse – there is no need to pay that kind of money to view a public records database when you can easily find one on the internet.
For more information on receiving copies of your public records, please contact the Records Services Center at (561) 355-2976.
Best regards,
Sharon R. Bock, Esq.
Clerk & Comptroller
Palm Beach County