Healthy start to New Year in West Palm Beach

Patti Kadis and her dog Lily in the Run and Roll store

While many people were just crawling out of bed Tuesday morning, a dedicated group of about 70 met at the Run and Roll store in West Palm Beach.

The free, 3-mile family fun run/walk started precisely at 10 a.m. on New Year's Day with a countdown outside the fitness wear store in the 300 block of Clematis Street. The event was sponsored by the store and the Palm Beach RoadRunners group.

Store owner Patti Kadis says she also sponsors other fitness activities throughout the week. On Tuesday evenings, a group of power walkers meet at the store. Wednesday evenings are for runners, as are Saturday mornings. Kadis, who has been a runner for over 4 decades, recently moved her story from CityPlace, a shopping and entertainment complex about .5 mile southwest of downtown.

Jupiter walk to honor Suncoast High School junior

Zoe Loren jumping (Photo provided)

When hundreds, maybe even 1,000 people, show up for the 5K Run/Walk at Carlin Park on Nov. 11, they will do it to make a difference in honor of a lively teenager.

Zoe Loren had a range of interests that focused on photography and art. She created video shoots for her friends which she planned the location, poses and clothes. She dreamed about becoming a creative director for a magazine, living in New York City.

She was also a compassionate person who cared about the homeless, stray animals and the less fortunate students at the Arthur Meyer Jewish Academy in West Palm Beach and Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach.

"She sometimes came home and talked about students not having enough money for a class trip," her mom Evonn recalls. "So we (with husband Bruce) would donate anonymously to make sure that the students could go."