Most of us don’t choose our neighbors. We come from all over with diverse heritage, different walks of life. The mashup of humanity is a base ingredient of the South Florida stew. We love Italian restaurants, taco trucks, French bakeries, roadside b
It’s hard to ask for money at the holidays. There are so many worthwhile organizations working to meet the needs of those struggling in our community — children, the elderly, animals. Agencies involved in these heart-wrenching efforts need your finan
Thankful. What other word better describes November? It’s not clear why such a difficult month for so many is defined by a word so expressive of gratitude. Are we happy how the year has gone racing by leaving us a year older, or how we’ll soon hav
I was surprised to see you publish a photograph of a young man with a surfboard jumping off the north jetty of Boynton Inlet Pier — “taking advantage of the waves created by Hurricane Ian.” Most years report deaths at the Inlet and one can imagine s
Lights, camera, action! The arts season is back! Brush off that pretty shawl collecting dust in the closet and put a bit of polish on your good shoes. We’re going out! For those of us who’ve used extra caution to keep people we love safe throughout t
I just received your September issue and was shocked to read your front-page article on “Suffering summer of sargassum” full of inaccurate information. I and South Florida would appreciate the honest truth be published regarding our beaches and sarg
I am appalled by Kristine de Haseth’s comments, and her veiled attempt at an apology only demonstrates her true feelings. Totally inappropriate for a commissioner to say in a recent town communication, “Don’t think for one second that the inmates wi
The city of Delray Beach appears hellbent on selling off some of our precious public open space for a quick fix to get some money from developers to repair our historic, albeit neglected, golf course. The city plan requires the destruction of several
Thirty years ago, life changed over the course of an August weekend. A swirling mass off the coast of Africa had struggled to develop until it was on South Florida’s doorstep. Then it intensified so quickly that Hurricane Andrew rushed ashore less
I don’t understand why there is such contempt for iguanas. They are not aggressive toward people, they run away as fast as they can if anyone approaches them. They don’t bite, they don’t sting. They don’t attack our pets. They don’t ravage our impor
What is wrong with the Delray Beach commissioners? They have as a whole completely ruined the award-winning small town of Delray Beach. It has been ruined and they are all to blame. With their approved overdevelopment, the city has, in a mere coup
This month’s Coastal Star mailbag included one letter with a photo and a question for readers: Do you know these flashy dressers? Coastal Star reader Mary Wollney of Lantana sent in this photograph, which she took sometime between 2008 and 2011, of th
Welcome to hurricane season. If you’re new to the area you may have recently encountered your first flooded roadways, rising groundwater and canceled windstorm insurance. Add to that mix La Niña holding in the Pacific, a slowed Gulf Stream, a w
I can’t remember how I learned to swim. I’d like to think I gripped my mother’s hands with my pudgy baby fingers as she bounced me up and down in the water of some muddy, Midwestern lake until I was floating — still grasping one finger until I let g
The purchase of 9 acres of mangrove natural area for the town of Ocean Ridge is one of those decisions where I saw a whole town come together and show what living in this paradise really means. It is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our
On April 23, Ocean Ridge offered residents the amenity of shredding personal papers. I participated in this generous offer. I was greeted there, most warmly, by town staff and directed to the shred area, where — on a Saturday! — I was additiona
About 15 years ago, my wife and I fell in love with Delray Beach and purchased a condo nearby, which my family enjoys so much. Unfortunately, the ongoing development projects are destroying what was once a wonderful respite from busy city life. You