South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • 403

HIGHLAND BEACH Boca aton South Florida sun-Sentinel Sunday March 21, 2 004 Community News Web site shows status of school construction v'W. to a week-by-week photo history, field reports, building cost, estimated completion date, names of site officials and more. Blueprints are not available, but constant improvements are being made, said site creator Ian Esplin, who helped launch the platform in January, six months ahead of schedule. "Everyone is in a learning curve here," he said, calling the previous system "pretty inac- WEB CONTINUES ON 2 by Marc Freeman EDUCATION WRITER Take a drive around your neighborhood and you're bound to see contractors building a new school or upgrading an old one. Want to get a glimpse behind those chain-link fences and see your tax dollars at work? Details and photos of every Palm Beach County School District construction project are available to the public like never before through a new Web site.

Once accused of not spending building dollars on bricks and mortar, district officials now insist on a total accounting of their nearly $1 billion building program. With just a few mouse clicks, Internet users have virtual hard-hat access. "I find it fascinating that they're willing to let the public see where they stand on every aspect of a construction project," said Lewis Doctor, a retiree from west of Boynton Beach who serves on a citizens committee that oversees school construction. "They're not hiding anything; it's all laid out in the open." The Web site is run through the district's Program Management Department, which tracks ongoing and future building projects. Residents can search for a school by name or select from a county map.

Each project has its own Web page, complete with links WORK IN PROGRESS: West Boca Raton Community High School is one of the schools featured on the Palm Beach County School District construction project Web site. PhotoMichael Francis McElroy FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR Finish insight for 1-95 phase "1 Mil by prashant gopal STAFF WRITER Palm Beach County motorists, exasperated for years by the Interstate 95 widening project, soon will see what a completed stretch of highway looks like. But they won't be driving on it, at least not right away. The 5-mile Boynton Beach segment from north of Atlantic Avenue to south of Gateway Boulevard, is scheduled to be finished by June. But it won't open until the fall to coincide with the opening of the Delray Beach section.

Opening one section before the other would create a bottleneck by forcing traffic to merge from five to three lanes, 1-95 project spokeswoman Sarah Peacock said. "If you go from three lanes to five and then back to three, you create another bottleneck, another merge situation and nobody thought that was wise," she said. The Florida Department of Transportation is spending $440 million over the next five years to widen the interstate from six to 1 0 lanes to keep up with the county's growing population. The Boynton Beach and Del-ray Beach projects will be the first sections to open. The stretch from north of Gateway to Sixth Avenue won't be complete until the end of RECOGNITION: Boca Raton Fire-Rescue Lt Joseph Hauck, a 23-year veteran of the department, was honored with the 2003 Firefighter of the Year award during an awards banquet at the Boca Raton Resort Club.

Staff photoJim Rassol Exceptional service 1 1-95 CONTINUES ON 10 is dedicated to financially and morally supporting families of police officers and firefighters when tragedy strikes. The group also likes to annually recognize the men and women who risk their lives for the community. During the festivities, Hauck received a plaque, a $2,500 check and an engraved watch. "It is a surprise," said Hauck, a resident of Deerfield Beach, who enjoys boating and riding his motorcycle when he is off duty. "It 1-95 widening project Both sections are scheduled to open this fall.

organized the evening. "Every year, we honor an outstanding member of the police and fire departments and a member of the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Department," said Brady Osborne club president. "We give them recognition before their family and friends." Locally, the nonprofit 100 Club began back in the 1 970s, but the concept of the club was born in 1952 in Detroit. The group that is made up of corporate sponsors, individuals from the community, law enforcement and fire officials, Boca Raton lieutenant earns top award for outstanding work. (.

By Linda Reeves SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT He quietly served Boca Raton, climbed the ladder and kept training along the way for more than two decades. Today, Lt. Joseph Hauck, 48, has one of the most important jobs in the Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services making the buildings of Boca Raton safe for the community. The man co-workers call an unsung hero has received fire rescue's highest award, Firefighter of the Year. "He is an exceptional individual," Fire Chief Bruce Silk said.

The 2003 Firefighter of the Year award was presented to Hauck before family, friends and coworkers on March 4 during a private dinner at the Boca Raton Resort Club. The 100 Club of South Palm Beach County sponsored and Gateway Blvd. Boynton Beach Blvd. Woolbright Rd. I FIREFIGHTER CONTINUES ON 2 7 "Joseph Hauck is very professional and passionate about his work.

In my opinion, he is the perfect person in the department to be honored." Lake Ida Rd JOHN JOHNSON ASSISTANT CHIEF 4l Atlantic Ave. Staff graphicCindy JorMi-Hurfachoi INDEX Celebrations a what's Doing 4 Condo Law 6 class notes 14 social Security is Explorer program opens Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services Department has started a Fire Rescue Explorer Program for girls and boys ages 14 to 21, which will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays at Boca Raton Fire Rescue Station No. 5, 2333 W. Glades Road.

For information, contact Public Information Officer Frank Correggio at 561-367-6764. include entertainment, music, rides and games, face painting and balloon making and karaoke. Boca Raton Police Services will present a K-9 demonstration at noon. Admission is free, but there is a minimal charge for rides and games. Food is available for purchase.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be on Wednesday. For information, call 561-393-7806, selection 2 or visit Networking event planned The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce After-Hours Network will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Florida Atlantic University's Oxley Center, 777 Glades Road. Tickets are $10 for members, $25 for non-members. Purchase tickets online, via fax at 561-392-3780 or at the door.

Contact Dan at dan( bocaraton chamber.com or call 561-395-4433. REGION Digital photo class offered The Palm Beach Photographic Centre, 55 NE Second Ave. in Delray Beach, is offering a class on digital photography to benefit the Rotary Club of Delray Beach. FatimaNejame, executive director of the center, will teach the class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April 3. The cost is $50. To register, call 561-276-1640. Town Talk BOCA RATON Children's Fair set for Tuesday A Spring Children's Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday in Patch Reef Park, 2000 NWYamato Road, west of Military Trail. The event will ll .11 1 EDITORIAL OFFICES 3333 S. Congress Ave. Delray Beach, FL 33445 561-243-6651 EDITORIAL FAX 561-272-3189 ADVERTISING FAX 561-243-6546 PAR FOR THE COURSE See how Kristi Scott rates the Carolina Golf Club in Margate and improve your putting with some of the drills she shares in her tips. PAGE 28 Sun-SentineUcom Get The Latest Breaking News.