Letters

Editor's Note: How Intracoastal neighbors smoothed troubled waters

With the completion of the Bonefish Cove Restoration project only months away, we look forward to visiting the mangrove islands and oyster reefs in the central Lake Worth Lagoon north of Hypoluxo Island. American avocets, black skimmers and royal te

Letter to the Editor: An out-of-town critique of tunneling in Manalapan

In what logical way does it make any sense to allow one person to inconvenience thousands?

Why would a [Manalapan] homeowner be allowed to tunnel under a public road [State Road A1A] for personal use? Why should thousands of people be inconvenienc

Letter to the Editor: Keep educating residents about the environment

I really enjoyed reading John Pacenti’s article “Reef Madness: City diving deep to restore struggling coral” [April 2025 edition]. I am heartened by the fantastic work of the scientists at the Reef Institute and all the volunteers and supporters in

Publisher's Request: Let us know about mail delivery

Beginning with its May 2025 edition, The Coastal Star is converting all of its delivery to single-family homes, from newspapers in plastic bags thrown in driveways to U.S. Postal Service delivery to mailboxes.

If you live in one of these homes, pleas

Editor's Note: As snowbirds depart, turtles take their place on the beach

Publisher's Note: Same great newspaper, different delivery

The Coastal Star is converting all of its delivery to single-family homes, going from newspapers in plastic bags thrown in driveways to having U.S. Postal Service delivery in mailboxes.

We are doing this to improve service to our readers and adverti

Letter to the Editor: Ticket drivers who don’t stop for pedestrians trying to cross A1A

I’ve lived in Highland Beach for 26 years. In spite of all the new and improved infrastructure put in place to deter it — the latest of which is pedestrian-activated warning lights installed at no small expense — vehicles continue to fly through cro

Letter to the Editor: Crosswalks don’t need sidewalks on both sides of road

I am writing to address a common misconception that has repeatedly stalled progress on much-needed pedestrian safety measures in our community: the notion that crosswalks require sidewalks on both sides of the road. This claim is not only incorrect

Publisher's Note: Brush up on lifesaving skills

Did you ever think you really knew something, something vitally important? Only to find out the things you thought you knew were not only out of date, but also bordered on dead wrong?

I took a basic lifesaving class when I was in college and thought

Editor's Note: Railroad crossing gates: Let’s cover all the lanes

Totally unnecessary, that is, if only you could trust people to use common sense.

But then a fire truck being driven

Letter to the Editor: A reader’s sonnet tribute to the paper and its retired editor

Editor’s note: No one can say our readers aren’t creative, as can be seen in this double tribute to The Coastal Star and retired Editor Mary Kate Leming. It’s to be read all the way across, top to bottom.

— Bob Schwartz
Delray Beach

Letter to the Editor: Ocean Ridge’s A1A crosswalks need blinking lights for pedestrian safety

I am writing to emphasize the urgent need for blinking lights at pedestrian crossings along A1A in Ocean Ridge. This busy stretch of road, with its limited visibility, presents a significant danger to pedestrians.

Whether residents are out walking t

Letter to the Editor: Careless polluters mess up our beautiful beaches

While I can appreciate the artistic and educational value in the recycling of the bottle caps picked up along the beach (Coastal Star, January 2025: Beach walker turns bottle caps into art), it should not escape acknowledgment that these are the res

Editor's Note: So long, farewell, adieu (but not goodbye)

I’m retired. Yep. There I said it.

As of Jan. 1, I turned the editorial reins of this newspaper over to the talented and competent people my husband and I have

Editor's Note: Why the holiday season is a special gift to enjoy

Reciprocity. A word that might be hard to pronounce, but whose definition seems especially appropriate during the holidays. If we understand that the giving of gifts almost always initiates a reaction, and we listen to, or observe, that response, we

Letter to the Editor: Leaf blower story could have gone further to discourage use

I am in sympathy with the discontent and dismay expressed with regard to the omnipresent use of blowers. This ubiquitous tool can be heard anywhere and everywhere at any time.  Its unregulated use has become a public nuisance.

However, the ar

Editor's Note: 16 and counting — with your help

Sweet 16! The Coastal Star is growing up. …

Sixteen years ago — November 2008 — our first edition was delivered to homes and condos in the South County coastal area stretching from Manalapan through Delray Beach.

As other print publications stopped

Letter to the Editor: 99-year lease lets Crown Colony use beach access

The board of Crown Colony Club Inc., is compelled to respond to the October article your paper reported regarding the ongoing Ocean Ridge dispute involving “the walk.”

Unfortunately, your article was slanted, favoring the view of the Fayette Drive r

Local Voices: Geology may insulate county’s coastline when hurricanes strike

On the shore of Florida’s Gulf Coast, the islands of Captiva, Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach all have very low elevations, rich in sand and no rock outcrops. The area of Gulf Ridge on Sanibel is only 3 feet above sea level

Editor's Note: If you love your neighbor, consider yourself lucky

The people we feature in the pages of this newspaper frequently comment on how one of the things they love about living in our coastal communities is the “friendliness” of their neighbors. And sometimes, our reporting shows this neighborliness to be