A dog at Tri-County Animal Rescue waits for a new family.

Bruce Borich/The Coastal Star

By Sallie James

    The discarded pets used to appear once a week, dropped off surreptitiously under cover of darkness by owners who didn’t want them anymore because they were too old, too sick, too active or just too much work.
    Now dogs are sometimes being dropped off two at a time at a rate that disheartens the chief executive officer and founder of the no-kill Tri-County Animal Rescue of Boca Raton, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
    Plans to expand the shelter at 21287 Boca Rio Road couldn’t come at a better time, said Tri-County CEO Suzi Goldsmith.
“We are always full up and there are always people surrendering pets, and people tying them to posts,” Goldsmith said. “It’s a sad situation and unfortunately it’s becoming worse. ”
    Where to house all these unwanted animals is an ongoing dilemma, Goldsmith said.
    The Boca Raton City Council is slated to give final approval to an amended lease agreement that will allow the Tri-County Animal Rescue to use an additional 5-acre parcel for the construction of a 9,000-square-foot isolation center and vet clinic.
The additional 5 acres were originally designated as a bird sanctuary and passive park when the city operated an animal shelter at the site.
    Tri-County Animal Rescue took over shelter operations in 2001, and signed a 30-year lease agreement with the city for a 9.4-acre parcel. The 5-acre parcel designated for use as a bird sanctuary was not included at the time. The amended lease agreement adds the parcel to the Tri-County Animal Rescue lease agreement.
    Tri-County leases the property where it is located from Boca Raton for an annual fee of $1, Goldsmith said. The additional parcel will make Tri-County Animal Rescue the largest regional 100 percent no-kill shelter that operates on 100 percent donations, according to a memo from Boca Raton City Manager Leif Ahnell.
    Plans are to construct a facility that will include isolation rooms for abandoned pets afflicted with contagious illnesses such as canine distemper, parvovirus and influenza. The new facility will also have a surgery center and dental care section and will offer low-cost neutering, spaying and shots.
    The rescue center operates seven days a week with assistance from a loyal corps of 125 volunteers, Goldsmith said.
    Construction of the estimated $2.2 million addition is expected to get underway sometime in September, Goldsmith said.
As always, the shelter needs more donations and more adopters.
    “Please come by and help us,” Goldsmith said, extending an invitation to the public. “At any time, we have hundreds of dogs and cats.”

Darren Dunlea won the competition after

he dropped 69.4 pounds in seven weeks. That’s about

the same amount that his daughter McKenzie, right,

weighs; also pictured is her sister, Aubrey.

Laura McGinnis is not shy about showing

a photo of her former (larger) self.

Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Lona O'Connor

    Darrin Dunlea used to be a chunk. Now he’s a hunk.
    He winces when he sees the “before” photo of himself, shirtless. It’s Dunlea all right, but with a cascade of body fat that started in the middle of his chest and lapped over his then-ample waistband. Ten weeks and 69.4 pounds later, Dunlea is the winner of a challenge among himself and 11 other clients of Elite Fitness, Elie Merhi’s Boca Raton company.
    There’s nothing like coughing up $1,500 to focus your attention on a weight-loss challenge. That’s the amount that Dunlea and the others each committed, in the form of blank checks, at the beginning of the 10-week competition. Dunlea took home $18,000 and a huge championship belt that fits loosely on his new, slimmer waist.
    Laura McGinnis, age 18, won $3,000 in the women’s challenge. Her weight loss during the challenge, 29.4 pounds, transformed her from a pretty girl to a head-turning beauty. Her resting heart rate dropped from 95 to 60 beats per minute. In two years, she has lost a total of 100 pounds.
    Many of Merhi’s clients, who came to cheer on the contestants, began their drive to good health well before this challenge started.
    “A friend said, ‘Listen, you owe this to your kids,’ ” said Mark Johnson of Parkland. Two months after starting his training with Merhi, Johnson was off blood-pressure medication. That was three years and 80 pounds ago.
    “My doctor was amazed,” said the car salesman. “It’s about eating right and eating clean. It’s a lot of work to get it off, but we’re all here (at the gym) working in the afternoon.”
    Gene Picchi had a heart attack in 2007.
    “I was dead on the operating table three times,” he recalled. He lost 110 pounds in three years and is proud to show off his streamlined V-shaped torso.
    During the challenge, the contestants gave up a variety of self-sabotaging eating habits: They avoided their favorite fatty snacks, or eating off their children’s plates, or chowing down on take-out food. Instead, they ate such things as lean chicken meat, egg whites and vegetables, and nutrient-packed grains like oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa.
    Besides eating clean and lean, besides regular cardio exercise, the secret of taking it off and keeping it off is weight training, says Merhi.
    “You burn that body fat off,” said Merhi. One pound of muscle burns at least 50 more calories a day than a pound of fat, and speeds up the body’s metabolism, he points out.
    Dunlea, who works out seven days a week, is a residential builder who works in Boca Raton and Highland Beach, so his wife, Erika, made it easier for him to eat properly on the run.
    “I did all the cooking, all protein and vegetables that I cooked ahead,” she said, beaming at her husband. “He never gave up. He set a goal and he had the inner strength.”
    Dunlea plans to put the majority of his prize money into a college fund for his daughters, McKenzie, 7, and Aubrey, 10.
    And of course some of it, he says, will go toward continuing his training sessions to keep the weight off.

Lona O’Connor has a lifelong interest in healthy living. Send column ideas to Lona13@bellsouth.net.

By Rich Pollack

    In an effort to maintain stability and continuity of operations at its public library, Highland Beach has named veteran librarian Suzy Hayes as interim director.
    Hayes has worked at the library for the last three years as  a part-time events coordinator. She was selected by Town Manager Beverly Brown last month to temporarily fill the director’s position.
    The library has been without a permanent department head since the sudden May resignation of longtime library director Mari Suarez.
    Hayes, 66, who has a master’s degree in library science from Wayne State University and an undergraduate degree in German from Albion College, both in Michigan, has more than three decades of library experience, having worked in both the public and private sectors.
    Prior to taking the part-time position as events coordinator at the Highland Beach Library, Hayes spent seven years as the director of Parkland Public Library in Broward County.
    She oversaw the construction of the library when she took the job in 2003 and ran it until 2010. That library, Hayes said, was similar in size to the Highland Beach Public Library but served a more family-oriented community.
    Hayes also served as a project manager working on the construction of a joint library between Nova Southeastern University and the Broward County Library which, at 500,000 square feet, became the largest physical library in Florida.
    In addition, she previously managed the library for a private corporation in Broward County and worked for the Broward County Library system. Hayes also served as president of the International Special Libraries Association, which has members in 60 countries.  Hayes said she is currently developing a survey to be conducted during the winter season in order to better understand the needs and concerns of library users. In addition, she’s working to ensure open communication between the library and the Friends of the Highland Beach Library, a nonprofit organization that supports the library.
    “By engaging the community, the Friends of the Library and our elected officials, we can move forward,” she said.
    Hayes, who is paid $30 an hour while interim director, says she has not yet decided if she will seek the full-time director’s position.

Excelsior condominium, 400 S Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

     Extolling the virtues of a natural canopy, multihued hedges and trees that, at maturity, don’t interfere with utility lines, Barbara Benefield announced the annual Boca Raton Beautification Committee Landscape Excellence Awards for 2015.
    Presented at a ceremony and luncheon at Boca Raton City Hall on June 3, the awards recognized five businesses and homeowners associations that improved their landscaping over the past year.
    These included the Excelsior Condominium, which had previously won the high-density residential award in 2009; and, for the first time, a winner in the duplex category.
    Benefield, president of the beautification committee now in its 33rd year, recalled that in years past the committee has  presented 10 to 11 awards at the ceremony. “But people are not landscaping like they used to, and I miss it,” she said.
    However, owners of this year’s award-winning properties are doing their part. “It places like these that make Boca Raton beautiful,” said Benefield.
    The winners are:
    • Medium-Density Property — University View, 2190 NW 4 Court
    • Small Commercial Property — Coventry Square, 6599 N. Federal Highway.
    • High-Density Residential Property — Excelsior Condominium, 400 S. Ocean Blvd.
    • Duplex Residential Property — 676 Hastings St.
    • Low-Density Residential Ungated Property — Timbercreek, St. Andrews Boulevard between Glades and Potomac Roads.

Rapper-turned TV personality Vanilla Ice renovated a $1.4 million home on Hypoluxo Island and now has it on the market for $5 million. Contributed photo

By Mary Thurwachter

    When rapper-turned-renovator Vanilla Ice and his DIY show, The Vanilla Ice Project, took on a waterfront home on Hypoluxo Island earlier this year, not everyone was thrilled.
    A few residents were miffed that a large banyan tree was cut down during the renovating process. Others had a problem with traffic congestion caused by construction deliveries.
    But now that filming wrapped up and all 13 episodes have aired, the prettier side of the picture is coming into focus — and that is the economic boost generated by the project.
    Lantana Town Council members heard all about it June 8 from Michelle Hillery, deputy film commissioner for the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission.
    “For anyone not familiar with the show, host Robert Van Winkle, better known as rapper Vanilla Ice, renovates homes using his own money and expertise in real estate and then puts them back on the market,” Hillery said. “Rob has renovated the home located at 101 N. Atlantic Drive.”
    Filming took 6½ months.
    Crew members bunked for 252 nights at the Moorings Apartments in Lantana. Local contractors were used, and the crew ate at local restaurants.
    Van Winkel paid $1.4 million for the house, put in between $1.5 million and $2.5 million of his own money, and has the house on the market for $5 million, she said.
    The property value increase will bring more money to the town in taxes.
    “The person who lived in the house before was exempt from having to pay property taxes,” she said. (The county gives 100 percent tax exemption to disabled vets or wheelchair-bound residents.) “The new homeowner will be paying roughly $100,000 in ad valorem taxes in Palm Beach County per year, contributing new money to our local services, including education.”
    Season 5 of The Vanilla Ice Project had the highest ratings of any season of the show.  Film, television and digital media are key components to promoting tourism in Florida, she said.
    “You just can’t buy this kind of publicity,” Mayor Dave Stewart said. “You don’t know what it might bring. ”
    Stewart and other local dignitaries appeared in the final episode for a tour of the property and to watch Vanilla Ice arrive in a seaplane.

    HIGHLAND BEACH — George Flaum Banet, 85, died on May 20 at home, as he wanted.
    A Holocaust survivor, Mr. Banet had, with the help of Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, his wife, his family and his own powerful inner fortitude, fought cancer, heart disease and kidney failure to stay alive for much longer than anticipated. He fought to live so he could fulfill an act he believed was a moral obligation.
    Those who knew Mr. Banet thought only a miracle could make it happen. Then the miracle happened.
    What was keeping Mr. Banet alive, his wife, Marlene Roberts, said, was the yellow Star of David that said Juif (Jew) that the Nazis made Jews wear.
    Mr. Banet and his mother, Thèrése Flaum, were arrested in Paris before dawn in the Vel D’Hiv roundup. He escaped, but his mother perished in Auschwitz.
    To him, the Juif symbolized his love for his mother and her memory. He did not want to die before he passed this symbol on to someone in the next generation. But circumstances had left him not knowing who that person would be.
    Then an email arrived from Robert’s son saying that in school George’s grandson, Gavriel Yaakov Bernstein, and other students had been asked to write about someone in their family whom they respected. Gavriel chose Poppa George.
    The essays became part of a bar mitzvah book. Gavriel’s essay, in part, reads:
    “George Banet, my step-grandfather, was born and raised in Paris, France. Life was good until Hitler and his army invaded France. George and his mother were shoved into the street before dawn by an army of soldiers. An officer grabbed both George’s  mother and George, but the officer lost his grip on George. George’s mother shouted a warning to George to run to a Christian family they knew well, despite the fact that George didn’t want to run and leave his mother behind. He knew his life depended on it, though.
    “When George arrived at the Christian family’s house, they agreed to let him stay with them and wanted to help him as much as possible. He started attending a Catholic school and became acclimated to the Christian lifestyle. George loved the family he was staying with, but not as much as he loved his mother. He missed her very much and had a feeling she was no longer alive. He remained with the family until the end of the war.
    “After the war, George moved to Philadelphia, married and later got divorced. After his divorce, he moved to Highland Beach and married my grandmother. In Florida, they live in a nice apartment that overlooks the beach. Unfortunately, he started having liver issues and began seeing his doctor frequently.
    “Whenever I go to Florida to visit him, he shows me some of his memorabilia from the war when he was young. He still has the Jewish star he was forced to wear …”
    After reading Gavriel’s essay, Mr. Banet, a photographer who made his living in the finance industry, knew he had found the person to carry on the memory of his mother and the Holocaust. He went to the picture framer he used for his photography and designed the layout to place the Star and the photograph of his mother and him wearing it into a frame. He mailed the gift to Gavriel and it arrived in time for Gavriel’s bar mitvah.
    When Gavriel called to thank Mr. Banet, all the pain Mr. Banet had lived with seemed to disappear. Afterward though, it became obvious he was ready to die. His wife sent out an email to tell of his rapid decline and he had family with him when he passed.
Gavriel and his father made a special trip to spend time with Mr. Banet before he died.
    Mr. Banet leaves behind his wife and six grandchildren, all adored.
— Submitted by family

George Banet and his mother,  Therese Flaum, a month before the Vel D'Hiv round-up.

Teaching a child proper water safety as early as possible can avert tragedy.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

    For three Palm Beach County families, June became the worst month of their lives. Three children, ages 3, 7 and 14, drowned in separate accidents in the first half of the month.
    Rayyan Siddique, a 7-year-old boy with autism, drowned in a retention pond in Riviera Beach. Fourteen-year-old Colby Smith drowned after his airboat sank near Torry Island in Belle Glade. And a 3-year-old girl drowned (no name has been released) while playing in an unguarded section of the beach near the Boynton Inlet.
    Historically, June is one of the peak months for drownings in Palm Beach County, and more children younger than age 5 drown in Florida than in any other state. About three-quarters of those drownings occur in swimming pools, and African-American children have the highest rate of drowning fatalities.
    What can be done to change those trends?
    “Get Water Safe, Palm Beach County!” That’s the message of a countywide drowning prevention program supported by government agencies, nonprofits and private businesses.
    Everyone agrees the best line of defense is a good offense: In this case, teaching your kids water safety as early as possible, and learning rescue and swimming skills yourself.
    City pools, county pools, the YMCA, and private pools all offer swimming lessons. There are even people who will come to your home and teach your child (or you) to swim.
    Of course, fees vary widely. If you can’t afford even a nominal fee, the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County provides vouchers for free swimming lessons for low-income families. These $50 vouchers cover the cost of six to eight swimming lessons at about 20 public pools in Palm Beach County.
    At the beginning of the summer, the coalition gave out 400 vouchers in just four days, exhausting its supply, until the Children’s Services Council stepped up with a $25,000 contribution. That paid for 500 more vouchers, more than doubling the number of vouchers distributed so far this year; but those are gone too, said Anna Stewart, manager of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County.
    “We do get a lot of demand,” Stewart said, “but everything was heightened because of the news, and I was on TV and in the newspaper. It’s sad, but this way something good will come out of it.”
    Now the Children’s Services Council has agreed to a match private donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000 each year for the next three years to provide more vouchers.
    There’s already a waiting list, Stewart said.

Delray Beach resident Kevin Charles, 5, works with Gerard A. Smith, aquatics operations supervisor for the Delray Beach Parks & Recreation Department, to learn to float during a level one swimming class at Pompey Park pool in Delray Beach. Pictured watching are (l-r) Emily Jean-Francois, 6, Kayla Taylor, 7, Jaden Lopez, 8, and Zamar Guy, 7, all of Delray Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Be on guard at home
    Maybe you and your kids know how to swim. And maybe you’re lucky enough to have a backyard pool. How do you keep your home and pool safe? The injury prevention section of FloridaHealth.gov says there are three layers of protection for safety in the pool (where most drownings occur): Supervision, barriers and emergency preparedness.
    Even with lessons, there will always be children who don’t swim well, or who overestimate their skills and get into trouble. Experts say anytime a child is in the pool, a “dedicated watcher” is required. This is someone whose sole responsibility is keeping both eyes on the kids in the pool.
    You can’t assume you’ll hear a child yell for help. “That’s the biggest misconception,” Stewart said. “You’re not going to hear someone who is drowning. Drowning is silent.”
    And it takes only minutes.
    FloridaHealth.gov says kids should be under “close-enough-to-touch supervision,” which means the designated adult is within arms’ reach of the kids in the pool.
    Barriers and fences that keep kids out of the pool area when the pool isn’t in use need to be checked periodically for weak areas or holes. Gates should have self-closing latches. There should be alarms on all doors and windows out to the pool (don’t forget the doggy door) and on the pool itself.
    Think whole-house protection, Stewart said. “It’s impossible to watch a child every second. That’s why you have multiple barriers. If one mechanism fails, you have another.”
    Emergency preparedness measures include keeping rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook and life preserver) accessible and in good repair, and having a phone poolside, charged and programmed with emergency numbers.
    Most important, it means getting certified in CPR so you’re ready for anything. The Red Cross offers classes in first aid, CPR/AED, aquatics and life-guarding.
    In 2014, the YMCA of South Palm Beach County developed “Water Wise,” a two-pronged approach consisting of water safety instruction in the classroom and in the water, developed especially for kids who don’t have access to traditional swimming lessons. The YMCA also has a dedicated program to teach water safety to special needs kids. Autistic children, especially, seem to be drawn to the water. The Y offers group swimming lessons on site, or it can send instructors to your community to provide water safety instruction.
    All the lessons and locks and alarms might sound excessive but are worth it. If something happens, Stewart says, “At least you know you did everything you possibly could.”
    And don’t forget: If a child is missing, look in the pool, spa, lake, pond or other attractive body of water first.
    “A lot of this is common sense,” Stewart says. “We need to change the mentality that it can’t happen to you, because it can.”

    To find a pool near you offering swimming lessons, visit pbcgov.com/drowningprevention and click on Swim Lessons. 

Barney is learning to deal with separation anxiety.

Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Arden Moore

    Face the facts: No matter how much you love your pet, he or she will spend more time in your home than you will.
    Unless you win millions in the Florida Lottery and your life is so demand-free that you can afford to spend 24/7 with your beloved pet, chances are strong that two emotions may surface in your home: guilt and anxiety.
    Guilt is reserved for people strongly bonded with their pets to the point that they feel pangs of guilt each time they bid a temporary bye to their favorite four-leggers before heading off to work or a much-needed vacation. And they display this guilt by “apologizing” to their pet for having to walk out the door.
    Wrong. Making a big to-do out of leaving and coming home can backfire and cause your pet to become anxious and uncertain when left home alone.
    Newly adopted dogs, unsure ones and those unintentionally “rewarded” for being clingy lack the social canine tools to be calm and confident while home alone. They sense the sadness and guilt inside their favorite person and, feeling helpless, they experience rising feelings of separation anxiety. Often, they chew rugs, piddle on the floor or unleash marathon bark sessions to cope with being left alone.
    The bond between us and our pets is the strongest it has ever been. Just ask Marie Speed of Ocean Ridge. She was without a dog for a few months after the passing of her confident, sweet Shih Tzu named Sophie. She admits she needed a “dog fix” and stopped in a local pet supply store where a pet adoption event was occurring.
    “I just wanted to pet a dog — not adopt one,” says Speed, group editor for Boca Raton and Delray Beach magazines. “I told myself I was not going to get another dog. Then the adoption person put Barney in my arms. He wrapped his paws around my neck like a monkey and looked up at me with those big brown eyes. I quickly left to go to the bookstore next door and called friends to try to talk me out of adopting Barney.”
    She continues, “A friend pointed out that our quality of life is so much better when you have a dog and it is true. I was absolutely brokenhearted after losing Sophie. I am glad I adopted Barney. He is affectionate, but also clingy and needy.”
    Barney, a Yorkshire-silky terrier mix believed to be about 2, barked whenever Speed was out of his sight from Day One. He also ripped a window screen when Speed was not home.
    Speed knew she had to do something — quick — because she felt intense guilt each time she needed to leave the house without Barney. So she consulted a local veterinarian and professional dog trainer for ways to build Barney’s confidence and make him less clingy.
    Barney is gaining confidence every day. Speed no longer gives him free rein in her cottage while she is away. Barney is ushered into his crate with a treat. And, if Speed is away for more than a few hours, she arranges to come home or have a trusted, dog-savvy friend stop by to visit Barney.
    Barney’s tale is not uncommon. Newly adopted shelter pets need time to adjust to a new home environment. Most important, they need to feel safe. It often takes a few months or more for shelter adoptees to display their true personalities and develop confidence.
    And, they are downloading all our actions and emotions, says Dr. Alice Moon-Fanelli, a nationally renowned certified animal behaviorist based in Eastford, Conn.
    “Separation anxiety is one of the most over-diagnosed conditions in dogs,” she says. “Often, the real underlying cause for a dog barking too much or destroying things in the home while alone is a lack of stimulation. The young dog is bored being home alone with nothing to do.”
    Here are some strategies to turn your home into a haven for your home-alone dog:
    • Bring on the food feast. A few minutes before you head out the door, give your dog a frozen Kong toy stuffed with his favorite treat (peanut butter, kibble or cream cheese). Your dog should be so happily working to devour each little morsel that he won’t notice your absence for hours.
    • Turn on the television or radio to provide some sound to counter the silence.
    • Vary the daily routine. If your dog likes other dogs, treat him to an occasional day at a doggy day care center or a midday visit from a dog-friendly neighbor.
    • Give him plenty of exercise. A tired dog is a more relaxed dog.
    Speed is making sure Barney gets daily walks and is noting steady signs of confidence with each passing day.
    “One positive sign was that he used to bark when I left the room, but now he is learning that I will be back,” says Speed. “And he recently stayed at a friend’s condo one weekend. He howled 10 minutes after I left and she brought him back to spend the night in my house, but the next night, Barney stayed at her place and was just fine. We’re making progress.”
    I’m rooting for you, Barney. You’re a lucky dog to have a caring person like Marie Speed.

Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting fourleggedlife.com.

Stephanie Anderson is the new communications

and media coordinator at St. Gregory’s.

Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

    St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton has a new communications and media coordinator. Stephanie Anderson joined the team at the church on June 16.
    Anderson completed her master’s of fine arts degree in creative nonfiction at Florida Atlantic University  in May. She already had a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she majored in English with minors in philosophy and journalism. She served as special sections editor for Tri-State Neighbor, a regional newspaper in South Dakota, but her work as a journalist didn’t seem to be the best use of her gifts, she said.
    In 2010, she accepted a position with Cross International in Pompano Beach and moved to South Florida. “The ministry and nonprofit arenas seem to be a good fit for me,” she said, and St. Gregory’s is appealing because “it’s an inclusive church that welcomes all. A contemporary church that combines traditional liturgical elements with progressive ideas. A traditional, holy worship experience and a community that is diverse, loving and deeply engaged.”
    St. Gregory’s outreach programs for the poor, both locally and in Haiti, appealed to her strong social conscience. “My real passion is creative writing, and my special interest is nonfiction.”
    She’s eager to use her skills to help promote the good work the church is doing, and hone her craft at the same time. “If I am going to work,” she said, “I want it to be work that matters.”
    Anderson, who lives in Boca Raton with her husband, Ryan, said, “I was glad to jump right in and begin working on the St. Gregory’s newsletter, and on the promotion of the Summer Music Academy.”
    Speaking of the music academy: The church is expanding this popular summer music program to include choral instruction, piano, strings, bells, theory and music history and appreciation this year. The church has added a program for older kids with a more contemporary focus.
    Newcomer Beth Mankel will join Tim Brumfield to provide piano and vocal instruction, and Mankel will also work with the Simple Gifts Youth Band. Timothy Byrns, founder and director of the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra, joins the team as strings instructor.
    The camp meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 10-14. The fee is $125 for members, $150 for nonmembers. Call 395-8285 or visit www.stgregorysepiscopal.org for more information.

CROS Ministries gleaning local ripe produce
    Can you say mangoes?
    These luscious, juicy, colorful fruits are beginning to ripen! Don’t let them go to waste!
    In its ongoing effort to serve the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin counties, CROS Ministries of Lake Worth uses volunteers to recover fresh fruits and vegetables from groves, fields and even people’s backyards. Food that would rot in the fields or on the ground can be collected and distributed to hungry neighbors by the Palm Beach County Food Bank and its food partners.
    The gleaning season follows the growing season, and mangoes are at their peak from late June through the summer. To gather up the surplus produce, CROS hosts gleaning days every Saturday in July from 8:45 a.m. to noon. If you have a mango tree laden with fruit that would go uneaten, or if you would like to volunteer to glean (kids ages 5 and older are welcome; it’s never too early to teach them about the less fortunate people in our community), contact Keith Cutshall at CROS, 233-9009, Ext. 107.

Sheriff’s Office seeks chaplain applicants
    Attention, working and retired chaplains. The Sheriff’s Office is looking for a part-time chaplain to join the nondenominational volunteer chaplaincy, which serves the employees (including civilians) of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as  the spiritual needs of “civilians traumatized by an incident that rose to the level of police involvement.”
    A commitment of 10 hours per week is required, as is “ordination or certification to preach, five years of clergy experience, and for those not seminary graduates, a high level of study in theology.” A chaplain can be called on to aid anyone of any faith. Training is provided.
    For information, call lead chaplain Michael Tobey at 212-1014 or email tobeym@pbso.org or call unit manager Bill Gralnick at 688-4781 or email gralnickw@pbso.org.

Register for Vacation Bible School at Trinity
    Trinity Church of Delray Beach is hosting its annual Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon July 13-17. Its theme is “Everest — Conquering challenges with God’s mighty power.”
Volunteers are needed to help organizers Lynn Mook and Heather Batson gather supplies and decorate.
If you can help, email lmook@trinitydelray.org.
5K run benefits JCC scholarship fund
    The fifth annual Levis JCC Run, Sweat and Beers 5K benefits the JCC’s scholarship fund, which pays for programs throughout the year for kids who can’t afford the cost. This is an evening run beginning at 7 p.m. July 16 in South County Regional Park, 12251 Glades Road, Boca Raton.
    Stick around after the race for free wings and beer (over age 21). Don’t eat wings? They’ll also have salad.
    This Accuchip-timed race is part of the Racing with the J Series. For ages 10 and older. Registration is $25 until July 6, $30 July 7-15, and $35 race day. Check-in on race day is at the Sunset Pavilion.
    For information, call 852-3257 or email laurenk@levisjcc.org.

Interfaith Café meets
    The Interfaith Café meets from 7 to 9 p.m. July 16 at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach.
 The group promotes interfaith dialogue, awareness, and understanding by uniting people of different faiths in conversation. A different topic is discussed each month. Coffee, tea and light desserts are served.
A donation of $5 is requested to defray expenses. Call 901-3467.

Lake Worth church prepping for food event
    St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 100 North Palmway, Lake Worth, hosts its signature event, the ninth annual Summer Wine And Food Tasting, on Aug. 9 this year. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For more info, contact Margot Emery at margot@core-ensemble.cc or 582-6609.

Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Email her at janisfontaine@outlook.com.

First communion photos like this one capture the timeless traditions of the church and school.

Contributed photo

    St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church and School are asking residents to share their historic photos, old yearbooks, uniforms and other memorabilia of the early decades of the church and school.
    Since 1941, St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Parish has provided a rich tradition of “Faith, Excellence and Service” to the greater Delray Beach community.
    This coming school year, St. Vincent Ferrer will be celebrating a Diamond Jubilee commemorating the 60th anniversary of the school, 75th anniversary of the church, and 50th anniversary of the parish festival.
    The Diamond Jubilee Committee is collecting memorabilia that will be displayed on campus and during the gala celebration on Jan. 23, 2016.  
    The archives being sought are all years, especially from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.  It can be anything from old photos, uniforms, yearbooks, parish festival (formally know as the “Bazaar”) items, books, events, and ministry memorabilia. Committee members also are searching for alumni and their relatives who can help identify some of the students and faculty members whose images were captured in early photographs.
    To share memories or memorabilia with St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church and School, contact Julie Ott, director of stewardship and development at 276-6892 Ext. 308 or stewardship@stvincentferrer.com.
— Provided by St. Vincent Ferrer

Philanthropist Richard Schmeelk was honored during a ceremony for the opening

of the Richard J. Schmeelk Family Library and Media Center. The remodeled facility now

includes new technology, friendly furniture and a section on World War II history. Schmeelk,

a history enthusiast, donated books to the library. From left, the Rev. Nobert Jean-Pierre, Joel Koeppel,

William Finneran, Gary Smiegel, Richard and Priscilla Schmeelk, Jana Scarpa,

Principal Candace Tamposi, Jack Donsky, Walter Phillips, Frankie Stevens and Todd Devin

stand among students from Sacred Heart School during the ceremony.

Photo provided

Chase Young of Delray Beach holds the 17.8-pound wahoo caught trolling a bonito strip

behind a sea witch in 375 feet north of Boynton Inlet. He won the wahoo division

in the May 30 Sail Inn KDW tournament.

Willie Howard/The Coastal Star

Divers need to make sure that the carapace of a lobster is larger than 3 inches, and no egg-bearing lobsters can be kept.

Graphic provided by FWC

By Willie Howard

    Divers will be rewarded for removing invasive lionfish from the water during the two-day sport lobster season set for July 29-30.
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a rule at its June 25 meeting that allows divers who bag 10 lionfish to keep one extra spiny lobster per day during the two-day sport season only.
    That means divers who first harvest 10 lionfish could take 13 lobster a day during the mini-season (or seven a day in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, where the daily sport-season limit is six.)
    Lionfish must be kept as proof of harvest by divers on the water. On land, a photo of harvesters with their 10 lionfish must be kept to document their eligibiity to keep an extra lobster. Lionfish must be harvested the same day and before taking the additional lobster.
    Divers who take photos of their lionfish and lobster catches during the two-day sport season and post them on Facebook.com/LionfishReef Rangers will receive a “Be the Predator” T-shirt. One photo entrant will win a lifetime saltwater fishing license through a drawing to be held shortly after the mini-season.
    The lionfish/lobster incentive was recommended by the FWC’s Division of Marine Fisheries Management as a way to help control the spread of lionfish — a colorful fish native to the Pacific and Indian oceans that eats Florida’s native fish and steals their food.
    “Opportunities like this are a great way to get divers who are already in the water accustomed to removing lionfish,” FWC Commissioner Brian Yablonski said. “Our hope is that once lobster divers realize how easy it is to remove lionfish, they will continue to do so throughout the regular lobster season and beyond.”
    Divers planning to capture lionfish should be prepared with a pole spear, gloves and some system for carrying lionfish in the water. Lionfish have 18 venomous spines. Although the lionfish’s spines are harmful, its meat is safe to eat and quite tasty. For more information on harvesting and eating lionfish, go to www.myfwc.com/lionfish.
    For those planning to dive for “bugs” during the two-day lobster mini-season, here’s a quick review of the basic rules:
    • A saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit are required except for Florida residents who are under 16, over 65 or otherwise exempt from the fishing license requirement.
    • A lobster’s head section, or carapace, must measure more than 3 inches to be legal to keep. All egg-bearing lobsters must be released. (Look for the spongy orange mass under the tail.) Divers should carry a lobster-measuring device, measure lobsters under water and bring them back to land intact.
    • The bag limit is 12 lobsters per day during the two-day sport season, except in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, where the sport-season daily limit is six. (Add one lobster to the daily bag limit for each diver who first captures 10 lionfish for the sport season only.)
    Dive flags are required by law. Red-and-white dive flags (at least 20 inches by 24 inches) must be displayed on boats supporting divers. Flags should be visible from all directions, displayed on the highest point on the boat and must have stiffeners to keep the flags unfurled. Dive flags must be taken down when divers are out of the water.
    A float-mounted flag or diver-down buoy (at least 12 inches square) should be towed by divers in the water. Boaters must make every effort to stay 300 feet away from dive flags or floats in open water and 100 feet away in inlets, rivers or navigation channels. Those approaching closer must do so at idle speed.
    Divers who choose to skip the mini-season but still want to catch a few spiny lobsters for dinner can wait until the regular lobster season opens Aug. 6. The daily bag limit is six per person during the regular season, which continues through March 31.
    Divers who haven’t been in the water for several months should have their scuba gear inspected and make a few dives before heading down to the reef to hunt lobster. Catching spiny lobster is a great family activity, but no lobster is worth a dive safety risk.

Sail Inn KDW tournament results
    The Sea Hottie fishing team led by Paul Sheridan of Delray Beach caught a 32.8-pound kingfish to win largest overall fish in the Sail Inn KDW tournament based at Boynton Harbor Marina.
    Sheridan was fishing with Ryan Stang, Colin Page and Chris Holland on the Sea Hottie — a beautifully restored 31-foot Bertram. Their winning kingfish hit a live goggle-eye on a weighted line.
    Team Hurricane won top dolphin with a 16.8-pound fish, and the Boatsetter team led by Chase Young won the wahoo category with a 17.8-pound ’hoo taken on a bonito strip/sea witch combination trolled behind a planer.
    The sixth annual Sail Inn tournament, held May 30, attracted 24 boats and raised $10,000 for Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation.

Lionfish derby set for July 25 in Boca Raton
    The third annual Gold Coast Lionfish Derby is set for July 24-25 based at Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton. Thirty-four cash prizes will be awarded to divers harvesting the most, the largest and the smallest lionfish.
    The derby begins with a captains meeting at 6 p.m. July 24 at Waterstone Resort & Marina, 999 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton.
The Waterstone is offering lionfish derby participants a special rate of $129 per night for romms overlooking Lake Boca. The derby entry fee is $120 for a four-diver team (by July 11) or $150 thereafter.
    Dive teams will bring their lionfish to the Waterstone Resort & Marina from 4-6 p.m. on July 25. Lionfish experts from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Reef Environmental Education Foundation will be there to answer questions.
    The public is invited to taste freshly cooked lionfish for free beginning around 6 p.m., tournament organizer Sean Meadows said.
For more information, call World of Scuba in Boca Raton at 368-2155 or go to www.world-of-scuba.com/goldcoastlionfishderby.

A web posting shows the aftermath of the sinking of the Rapa Nui off of Deerfield Beach, with the statues upside down.

Rapa Nui Reef update
    Diving and public art enthusiasts who promoted the Rapa Nui Reef are picking up the pieces and starting over after the barge holding the 15 Polynesian busts rolled upside down on June 7, instead of sinking with the concrete busts upright as intended to create a diving destination.
    “When it hit the sand, the whole thing went to pieces,” said Jim Mathie, a longtime diver who has been working on the dive-destination project.
    Although the $500,000 project still has value as a fish-attracting artificial reef, it did not become the underwater public art project it was intended to be.
    Mathie said organizers are raising money for the New Rapa Nui Reef, the first parts of which could be lowered into the waters off the Deerfield Beach fishing pier later this summer.
    This time, he said, the Polynesian busts (resembling the moai of Easter Island) will be placed in the water one at a time and lowered slowly to the bottom.
    “What’s there now will stay there, and we’ll add to it,” Mathie said.
    
Coming events
    July 11: Big Dog, Fat Cat KDW Shootout fishing tournament based at Sailfish Marina on Singer Island. Captains meeting July 10 at Sailfish Marina. 315-3722 or www.bigdogfatcat.org.
    July 25: Basic boating safety class taught by Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 54, 8 a.m., Coast Guard building (next to boat ramps), Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park, Boynton Beach. $40. Call Ron Cuneo, 389-1850.
    July 27: Veteran South Florida diver Jim Mathie, author of Catching the Bug, will speak on lobster-harvesting methods in preparation for mini-season, 6 p.m., World of Scuba, 2181 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. For details, 368-2155.
    Aug. 8: The 21st annual Mark Gerretson Memorial Fishing Tournament based at Deck 84 restaurant, 840 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Captains meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at Deck 84. Weigh-in the afternoon of Aug. 8 at Deck 84. Entry fee $200. Benefits children’s causes in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. 251-1945 or www.mgmft.net.

Tip of the month
    Head out early to fish the ocean for snapper and kingfish, then take shelter during the heat of the day. Try getting lines wet by 7 a.m. and pulling them out around 11 a.m. to avoid hot, still summer conditions.
    Fish for snapper and kingfish at the same time by drifting in 80 to 90 feet with dead sardines on the surface for kingfish (triple 5/0 hooks, 50-pound leader) and squid, ballyhoo or sardine chunks for snapper on the bottom (double 4/0 hook or single circle hook under an ounce of weight with 40-pound leader). Add an eighth- or quarter-ounce sinker to the kingfish baits to pull them down slightly below the surface.
    If you have live bait (such as sardines or greenies), use them on the surface or with a small weight above the leader. Rig them with a live-bait hook and a 6-inch wire trace above the hook to guard against the kingfish’s teeth.
    Alternative plan: Head out at 4 p.m. or so and fish until dusk — or fish at night if you’re confident about navigating the inlet after dark. (Drift boats running out of Boynton Inlet offer night fishing trips.)

Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat caption. Reach him at tiowillie@bellsouth.net.

Jamie Tisch teaches a sensory art class at The Boca Raton Children’s Museum.

The class uses tactile and multi-dimensional objects to create art. Here, Tisch (left),

Avery Luppino, 16 months, and Jolene Luppino use a string to balance pirates

created with paper, crayons, tape and pennies for weight and balance.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

    The Boca Raton Children’s Museum, called the oldest children’s museum in Florida, announced it is now an affiliate of the Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, a nonprofit that has been dedicated “to providing children a pathway out of poverty” in Boca Raton for more than 40 years. Leading the charge to rejuvenate the museum is Florence Fuller’s CEO, Ellyn Okrent.
    Jayne Morrison, the museum’s operations coordinator, called Okrent “a dynamic personality with a proven track record.” Okrent will try to lead the struggling venue to solid ground.
    The Children’s Museum is a charming place, with real historical significance. “It’s an important part of our community, but it couldn’t sustain itself,” Morrison said. One of the first things the new leaders did was begin planning the Dash Around Town Cocktail Party, a fund- and friend-raiser to be held July 18.
    “We call it a ‘friend-raiser’ because we need the older, more established members of the community to show support for us,” Morrison said. “We need to let people know about our new events and activities we offer, and to identify people who want to support the museum. The historic importance of our buildings is still the museum’s cornerstone.”
    Three historic structures make up the museum: Singing Pines is one of the oldest unaltered wooden structures in Boca Raton. The 1935 cottage was originally built as a private home but it was used by the Arvida Corp. as its first local construction and sales office in the 1960s and was moved to the museum grounds in the ’80s. The newest building opened in June 2011. The Rickards House is a replica inspired by one of the first homes built in Boca Raton by Capt. T. M. Rickards in 1897.
    A variety of art and enrichment activities take place every day, plus there’s plenty to explore and touch. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and admission is $5. Infants are admitted free. Soon there will be even more to see.
    “Our exhibit builder, Adrian St. Cyr — we call him ‘our museum imagineer’ — is working on two new exhibits to go up this year. One will be a water table for indoor water play. The other is a story-time tent. We’re kicking it to a whole new level!” Morrison said. “They haven’t seen anything yet!”
    If you go: The Dash Around Town Cocktail Party will be held from 7 to 10:30 p.m. July 18, and will features drinks, dinner by the bite, and a performance by jazz singer Deborah Paiva. Guests will have a chance to meet Florence Fuller CEO Ellyn Okrent. Tickets are $35, which includes two drink tickets, dinner by the bite, and entertainment. A cash bar is available. Raffles and auctions are also planned. For tickets or information, call 368-6875 or visit www.cmboca.org

Summer activities to keep your youngsters happy
    Looking for something different to do with the kids?
    We know children come with diverse interests, so we found five things to do in July, each appealing to a different personality. See if there’s one that fits your child.
    For your science nerd: The Children’s Science Explorium offers Grab ’n’ Go EcoPacks — backpacks filled with tools and materials needed to guide your family through an investigation of the plants, animals and insects in the park. There are three pack options: Bug Hunter, Botanical Investigator and Bird Sleuth.
    They’re free for the asking, but an adult (18 and older) needs to reserve the pack with a valid ID. Eco-packs are available during regular hours. On July 18 and 19 at 3:30 p.m., the Explorium will host a free weekend science demo best for ages 7 and older. Kids will learn scientific principles through interactive demonstrations. The Science Explorium is in Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. For more information, call 347-3912 or visit www.scienceexplorium.org.
    For your budding chef: The master chocolatiers at Hoffman’s Chocolate Factory — the local source for handmade, artisan chocolates for 40 years — is looking for kids with a creative mind and sweet tooth.
    On Thursday mornings at 10:30 from July 9 through Aug. 13, kids become chocolatiers for an hour, dipping and decorating delectable dollops of deliciousness. They also make their own chocolate pizza. The class is suited for age 6 and older and is $14.95. Call for reservations. Hoffman’s is at 5190 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth. Call 967-2213.
For your sun worshiper:  Each summer, the naturalists at Sandoway House Nature Center take kids on a beach adventure, “hunting and decoding the mystery of the various critters washing up on our shore.”
    Called Decoding Beach Curiosities, the guide leads the intrepid explorers on a hunt for clams, snails, corals, plants and other signs of life. A careful examination reveals their similarities and differences and, ultimately, the identification of these creatures.
    The fee is $8, including admission to the nature center. The program will begin at 9 a.m. July 11 and is appropriate for all ages. Sandoway House is at 142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. To reserve your place, call 274-7263.
    For your fairy tale-loving thespian: Curtain Call Playhouse, an 18-year-old local touring troupe, presents an interactive twist on a  classic fairy tale — The Little Mermaid’s Adventure — as part of the Willow Theatre’s Summer Children’s Series. Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved story, this show is an interactive performance with singalongs to familiar songs and even a few educational life lessons.
    Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for ages 12 and younger. Each child’s ticket includes a carousel ride token; and cookies and juice will be served in the lobby after the performance. Show times are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 19 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Call 954-784-0768; www.curtaincallplayhouse.com.
For your grand explorer: Pretend your family’s survival depends on locating the certain critical items and your only means of transportation is by bike. This is the Geocaching by Bike family adventure at Daggerwing Nature Center, which “integrates modern technology with the exploration of nature.”
    It’s a bike hike / scavenger hunt using a GPS (or your smartphone) as a guide. Build communication skills, bond as a team, and take a deep breath outside before it gets too hot.
    You must bring your own bike. Start time is 10 a.m. July 30 at Daggerwing, inside South County Regional Park, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton.The fee is $5; reservations are required. Call 629-8760.

Ocean Ridge resident Haley Joyce, one of the leaders in the recall effort, confers with her husband, Fred, at the May 6 hearing.

Jerry Lower/ The Coastal Star

INSET BELOW: Town Commissioner Richard Lucibella

 By Dan Moffett

    Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Gregory Keyser is expected to rule this month on the fate of the recall movement against Ocean Ridge Town Commissioner Richard Lucibella.
    During a five-hour trial in West Palm Beach on May 6, Lucibella’s attorney, Sidney Calloway, told Keyser that petitions calling for the commissioner’s removal were “fatally flawed” and did not satisfy requirements in the state’s recall statute.
    Chief among Calloway’s complaints was that the petitions were too vague and did not articulate specific allegations of misconduct against Lucibella.
    “There has to be something that puts the public on notice of what the real allegations are,” Calloway told the judge.
    The recall movement is rooted in Lucibella’s role in the forced resignation of former Police Chief Chris Yannuzzi in January. Recall supporters say Lucibella was guilty of malfeasance during Yannuzzi’s ouster, but they may not have detailed their case explicitly enough.
    “We have not taken any shortcuts,” said Haley Joyce, the recall leader who represented herself during the trial. “We have done everything properly and accurately.”
    Joyce told the judge the statute is itself vague about exactly what form the petitions should take. She said she sought guidance from the Florida Department of State’s office and received assurances that the petitions’ format was legally sound.
    “I would never have thought to hire an attorney to start my petition,” Joyce said. “It was reasonable for me to read the statute and follow to the best of my ability what it said.”
    Another member of the recall group, Nan Yablong, testified that Lucibella’s behavior in the Yannuzzi matter had put the town in legal peril.
    “I had lost confidence in a commissioner who would open our town to hundreds of thousands of dollars in liabilities,” Yablong said.
    Recall efforts in Florida are rare, and almost always fall apart early on. Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher, who was named as a co-defendant in Lucibella’s suit, said she was unaware of a recall that has succeeded in the state. So, there is little legal or practical precedent for how legislators intended the law to be followed.
    “I think everyone here agrees that the statute could be clearer,” Keyser told attorneys.
    Calloway said the statute was clear enough and the petitions were legally insufficient because they weren’t properly witnessed and they didn’t properly designate Joyce as the recall group chairman.
    Ocean Ridge is siding with Lucibella in the suit, and Town Attorney Ken Spillias said that Calloway got a call from Keyser’s office on May 28, requesting proposed orders from the plaintiff. Joyce said she’s heard nothing from the judge and there’s been no request for a proposal from the recall group’s side, leaving an inference that Keyser could be leaning toward ruling in Lucibella’s favor.
    Complicating matters further is the passing of the statutory deadline for ordering the recall. The group had until the end of May to get county elections officials to certify the petitions and order a special election. But in April, Circuit Court Judge Peter Blanc, who was filling in for Keyser, approved an emergency injunction preventing the petitions’ certification.Spillias told the Town Commission at its June 1 meeting that Keyser could possibly rule the case moot, since the certification deadline has passed “and therefore there will be no recall election based on those petitions.”
    Said Spillias, “I don’t think he will decide that because the issue certainly can rise again.” He said the town needs guidance from the judge to help put the dispute behind it.

‘Can you believe it? It looks so different,' exclaimed Lino Marmorato after he sold the chairs,

sinks and mirrors of his barber shop in the 5011 N. Ocean Blvd. building in Ocean Ridge.

A barber for more than 60 years, Marmorato has practiced his trade at Colby’s Barber Shop in Ocean Ridge

for the past 20 years. He is joining another shop in western Boynton Beach. Longtime 5011 tenant Ocean Ridge Realty

has moved across the street to 5114 N. Ocean Blvd. in the old TD Bank space.

Jerry Lower/ The Coastal Star

By Dan Moffett

    An unprecedented year for personnel change in Ocean Ridge is continuing to take shape as town commissioners begin their search for a new town manager and clerk.
    At a special May 27 meeting on succession, commissioners laid out their plans for dealing with the retirement of Town Clerk Karen Hancsak, who is planning to move to North Carolina within the next year.
    Hancsak’s departure not only opens the clerk’s job but also the finance director position she has filled for decades. Ocean Ridge has been something of an outlier among small South Florida municipalities — most of them have town managers who double as finance directors, while the clerks generally stay out of budget matters.
    Town Manager Ken Schenck has told commissioners he does not want to take over the finance duties when Hancsak leaves. A unanimous commission followed the recommendations of Mayor Geoffrey Pugh and Commissioner James Bonfiglio and decided to begin the search for a new town manager who would also handle finance, a move that opens the door for Schenck’s departure.
    Schenck, 75, served as Pahokee city manager for 12 years before taking the Ocean Ridge job in 2006 under then-Mayor Ken Kaleel.
    Hancsak has been town clerk for 25 years and was deputy clerk before that.
    Commissioners are making final changes to advertisements for the manager and clerk positions that will go out later this month. Commissioner Richard Lucibella urged the commission to allow a six-month training period for both positions to ensure a smooth transition.
    Pugh said the town manager position should be filled first, so that he or she can have input into the clerk’s hiring and oversee further staff reorganization.
    The year of change in Ocean Ridge started in January with the forced resignation of Police Chief Chris Yannuzzi, who was replaced by Lt. Hal Hutchins. Then Town Attorney Ken Spillias told commissioners he will be retiring next March.
    In other business, commissioners gave final approval for plans to raze the six-unit building at 5001 Old Ocean Blvd. and replace it with a large duplex that will house two families. The existing building, owned for years by Bob Weisblut, has 10 bedrooms and parking for 12 cars; the new building will have two two-car garages. The dramatic reduction in density and traffic was appealing to the commission.
    “This is exactly the kind of change we’ve wanted for the south end,” Pugh said.

By Dan Moffett

    Briny Breezes officials are scrambling to fill several key positions that have opened in recent months.
    At the top of the list is the Town Council seat vacated by Karen Wiggins in April. Wiggins, 73, who is moving to California, was the most experienced member of the council, having served several terms beginning in 2008. She also served a one-year term on the Briny corporate board in 2010.
    Council President Sue Thaler said a couple of promising candidates have expressed interest in the open seat, and she hopes to have a successor lined up soon, perhaps by the council’s June 25 meeting.
    Briny also will have to find a new deputy town clerk. Carol Lang, who has held the position since August, is leaving the job later this year. “Carol has been very accommodating,” Thaler said. “She has committed that she will stay to help train the next person as long as the hiring process doesn’t drag on unreasonably.”
    The town has advertised the deputy clerk’s job and gotten a good response, according to Councilwoman Barbara Molina.
    “We received over 40 applications for this position,” Molina said. “Very surprising.”
    Last year, the Town Council formalized the deputy clerk’s position as a staff employee of the town, rather than using independent contractors to do the work.
    Briny is also looking for someone to fill a seat on the Planning and Zoning Board that has been open for more than a year now.
    In other business:
    • Council members approved a new ordinance regulating golf cart use on a 3-1 vote, with Wiggins’ seat open. Molina voted no after questioning whether a 10 mph speed limit might make more sense than the ordinance’s 15 mph limit.
Thaler said feedback on the new cart rules has been generally favorable, once residents understand what the council is aiming to do — or not do.
    “We’re not trying to prohibit people from using their golf carts,” Thaler said. “We’re trying to make it legal for people to use their golf carts. When people hear what we are trying to do as opposed to what they thought we’re trying to do, then they’re fine.”
    • The council joined a chorus of dissent among coastal communities against All Aboard Florida, unanimously approving a resolution criticizing the potentially negative impact of the proposed passenger rail service. Mayor Mike Hill argued against the resolution, however, saying the council should invite All Aboard Florida to make a presentation in Briny before taking sides.
    “If we’re expressing a negative view of their project,” Hill said, “I think we should give them a chance to address our concerns. I think it’s the fair thing to do.”
    • Council members set three dates for budget workshops: July 21, July 22 and Aug. 25. Each session is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

By Dan Moffett

    Nine of the 144 properties on Point Manalapan have hedges that are 12-feet tall, and town commissioners have decided these homeowners are going to have to do some trimming.
    At their May 26 meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to keep the town’s current 8-foot height restriction on hedges, while allowing some leniency for residents on corner lots to grow their greenery up to 10 feet.
    “Part of the job of the Town Commission is to protect the culture and history of the town of Manalapan,” said Mayor Pro Tem Peter Isaac, who told commissioners to keep in mind what made the Point a desirable place to live when it was developed decades ago.
    Isaac said it was intended to be a community of neighborhoods with open, landscaped lawns — not walls and tunnels of hedges. He said, over the years, residents’ calls for increased privacy had raised hedge limits from 4 feet in 1999, to 6 feet in 2003, to the current 8-foot limit in 2009.
    Commissioner Ronald Barsanti said the town should live by its own rules. “Too many people want special consideration,” he said.
    Commissioners agreed that the town had to do more to restrict hedges that have become safety hazards and grown too far into sidewalks or driveways, obstructing sight lines. They instructed Police Chief Carmen Mattox to survey problem spots throughout the town and report back.
    In other business:
    • The blessing of the National Marine Fisheries Service is all that’s holding up construction on the Audubon Causeway Bridge.
The town needs permit approval from that federal agency before the $1 million replacement project can begin. All other permits are approved, including a go-ahead from the Army Corps of Engineers. Town Manager Linda Stumpf said it typically takes between six months and a year for the NMFS to complete its review process, and June is the year anniversary, so approval could come any day.
Stumpf told commissioners plans are in place to relocate and then replant the trees around the bridge. Isaac said engineers are still looking for cost-cutting measures that may include reinforcing, rather than replacing, the existing side walls. Isaac said he remains hopeful that the project can be completed by year’s end.
    • Commissioners rejected construction variance requests from Kenn Karakul, the homeowner at 1555 S. Ocean Blvd. Karakul’s property sits at the curve on A1A and has a configuration that is more triangular than rectangular.
Karakul told the commission that the unusual shape of the parcel makes it difficult to design an addition to his home without relief from setback requirements. But Mayor David Cheifetz said allowing Karakul to build 11 feet from the ocean, instead of the 25-foot standard, is too close.
    “It would be a very dangerous precedent for us to set to approve these variances,” Cheifetz said. A majority of commissioners agreed. Commissioner Simone Bonutti voted to approve the variances.
    • Homeowners on Curlew Road got an abrupt surprise recently when one of their neighbors across the water on Lands End Road cut down the vegetation to install a retaining wall on a 40-foot strip of land east of the road.
    Commissioners say they will consider adopting an ordinance to protect the natural vegetation along the water from 1545 to 1605 Lands End Road. Larry Robbins, owner of Docks and Seawalls, told the commission that new plants will soon be planted behind the wall his company is building and ultimately will overgrow the opening. Robbins said mangroves grow in the surrounding parcels and are protected, so it’s unlikely a similar surprise will happen again.
    • Stumpf said the survey ballots for natural gas service to Point Manalapan will be opened at a special public meeting beginning at 2 p.m. June 23. At least 60 percent of the respondents must vote yes for the town to move forward with Florida Public Utilities and install gas lines.
    Stumpf said the town’s first budget workshop is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 22, with other sessions tentatively scheduled for July 27 and Aug. 24.

Students from Pine Crest School launch a water rocket May 2 during the FAU Science Olympiad.

More than 250 elementary schoolers came to compete from counties as far north as Indian River

and as far south as Miami-Dade.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Tao Woolfe

    A distinctive migratory pattern can be observed each spring as science-minded children flock,  parents in tow, to Florida Atlantic University to display their skills at the FAU Science Olympiad.
    This year, more than 250 competitors came from counties as far north as Indian River and as far south as Miami-Dade. The elementary-school-aged children were put through their paces in a daylong series of events testing their knowledge in everything from aeronautics to weather.
    There were some unusual teams this year, including a group of Boca Raton home-schooled kids and a group from the Boca Raton Boys and Girls Club who were tutored by Anna Shea, a science whiz from Oxbridge Academy.
    Here are some of the events they tackled:
    Aerodynamics: Each two-member team built two paper airplanes built onsite.
    A is for Anatomy: The event consisted of questions about structure and function of the following systems: respiratory, circulatory.
    Chopper Challenge: This event tested students’ ability to build a helicopter onsite.
    Cool It: A team of two students constructed a container onsite that prevented an ice cube from melting.
    Crime Busters: Participants used tests to identify unknown powders, match fingerprints and used paper chromatography to identify a crime suspect.
    Fossil Find: Teams demonstrated their knowledge of ancient life by completing selected tasks at a series of stations.
    Map Reading: Teams were given questions to be answered by using various maps.
    Pentathlon: Five physical skills were interspersed with science questions in an obstacle course.
    Simple Machines: Students were asked to identify, use and answer questions about simple machines.
    Straw Egg Drop: Students made a device onsite of straws and masking tape, to hold a large raw egg. The device was dropped from a fixed height to a target.
    Water Rockets: Students built and launched a 2-liter plastic bottle for maximum time aloft.
    Weather or Not: The competition tested the students’ knowledge of meteorological terms, techniques and events.

    The competition was the brainchild of Ingrid Johanson, the Florida Science Olympiad’s regional director, and a professor at FAU.
    “It’s a great way to give kids some hands-on experience in science. That’s how they learn,” Johanson said. “These experiments are simple but effective.”
    The winners of the competition can go on to compete at the regional, state and national levels, Johanson said. FAU also hosts an Olympiad each year for middle and high school students.
    Johanson is assisted each year by dozens of volunteers, including Doug Bloch, of Boca Raton, a retired IBM executive who loves to get involved with the FAU Olympiads.
    “When I was a kid I was just interested in surfing, really. In eighth grade year, I took a summer class in marine science, and the teacher, Dr. Gordon Gilbert, inspired me. He went on to start Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and that class changed my life.” Bloch said.
    “I like to think the FAU Science Olympiads might inspire these kids in the same way.”

More than 100 residents joined veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan

for a Memorial Day event at South Palm Beach Town Hall.

ABOVE: Paivi Aholaita, Teresa Pylvas, Linda Aholaita and Rebecca Pylvas

wave flags while a brass band plays God Bless America.

CORRECTION: The caption in the June  edition should have read:
South Palm Beach Town Commissioner Woodie Gorbach, a decorated WWII veteran, recounts his experience at Anzio.

BELOW: Town Commissioner Woodie Gorbach,

a decorated WWII veteran, recounts his experience at Anzio.

Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

BELOW: Betty Sue Shaprio, a resident of Palm Sea condominium,

encourages the crowd to sing patriotic songs.