By Sallie James

    Preserving the city’s history would be easier if owners of historic properties were eligible for federal tax credits. At least that’s the way the chairman of the city’s Historic Preservation Board sees it.
    Rex Nichols is hoping City Council members will agree.
    At a Dec. 8 workshop meeting, Nichols outlined a proposed amendment to the 1975-era ordinance that would provide that the city assist the board in pursuing Certified Local Government status. CLG status links federal, state and local government in a preservation partnership for the “dedication, evaluation and protection” of historic properties, Nichols said.
    The program is administered by the National Park Service and State Historic Preservation Office.
    “Dedication as a Certified Local Government makes preservation public policy,” Nichols told council members at the workshop.
    Incentives include:
    • Identifying historic properties by assisting with surveys
    • Evaluating existing properties and providing grants for restoration
    • Funding for educational materials for the public describing what partnership opportunities are available
    • Funding for promoting preservation
    • Holding workshops and documentation for the National Registry programs and interested parties.
    “The main benefits are funding — grants and tax incentives,” Nichols said.
    Boynton Beach achieved CLG status in 2012 and the designation helped with dollars and recognition, said Warren Adams, historic preservation planner.
    “Over the past two years, we’ve been approved for approximately $55,000 for the Historic Preservation education program,” Adams said. “The grants were especially good because they did not require any matching funds.”
Tax incentives have also been a boon.
    “Because we are a CLG, we can offer the ad valorem tax incentive program,” he said. “That is an interlocal agreement with the county where we can offer tax incentives for pre-approved work for historic sites.”
Delray Beach also has CLG status.
    The amended ordinance has already been reviewed by Boca Raton Deputy City Manager George Brown, staff and Development Services and the state of Florida, Nichols said.
     The City Council now needs to give its approval.
    The ordinance calls for a representative from the city to assist with the CLG. Nichols said a part-time worker or even an intern would likely to do the trick.
    Possible historical preservations might include:
    • Luff House/Palmetto Park residences
    • Clarence H. Geist Memorial Drawbridge on Camino Real
    • Boca Raton Air Field, T-buildings
    • IBM buildings
    • Boca Raton Road
    • Spanish Village
    • Numerous private residences and neighborhoods
    Council member Robert Weinroth voiced concern about some of the potential sites, in particular the IBM buildings, noting that they might be situated in a location that someday would be slated for redevelopment.
    Mayor Susan Haynie noted that the IBM buildings were designed by architect Marcel Breuer and have great historical significance.
    Haynie supports historic preservation but said the city has to be fiscally responsible.
    “My concern … is certainly not with the preservation aspect. We as a council are also very concerned about the fiscal impact on the community as far as personnel goes,” Haynie said. “We will work with staff, the Historical Society and our Historic Preservation Board.”

Developers of Tower 155 agreed to modify the original proposal to 140 feet at its highest point and 170 condos.

Rendering provided

By Sallie James

    Plans to increase the height of the proposed Tower 155 condominium project and reduce the number of units won approval from the city’s Planning and Zoning Board in December.
    Developer Jim Comparato’s project at the corner of Mizner Boulevard and Boca Raton Road will rise to 140 feet at its highest point, and contain 170 upscale condos instead of 192, if Boca Raton City Council members approve the Planning and Zoning Board’s Dec. 18 recommendation.
    The modifications would offer larger units with loftier views of Mizner Park. Under the proposal, the project would have 12 stories instead of nine.
    “It’s a lifestyle experience we are trying to create for our downtown property,” Comparato said. “It looks right down the center of Mizner Park.”
    The Tower 155 project is slated to be built on 1.25 acres instead of the minimum two acres required by the city’s interim design guidelines. However, city officials are expected to review and possibly revise the minimum parcel size requirements this month.
    Downtown manager Ruby Childers has said the guidelines were never intended to exclude smaller parcels, but were put in place to require developers of small parcels to use them.
    The revised project would increase structured parking from 120,124 square feet to 120,840 square feet and allow 1,105 square feet of retail on the ground floor at the southwest corner of the site.
    When completed, the project would include four townhomes, 35 one-bedroom units, 100 two-bedroom units, 25 three-bedroom units and three multilevel penthouses. The units would range from 800 square feet to more than 2,400 square feet, Comparato said.
    Units would cost from about $400,000 to $1 million.
    “The building is something different in Boca Raton because it’s a new mixture of architectural design with an art deco flair,” Comparato said.
    Tower 155 will be a “smart” building which will allow unit owners to select amenities like lighting, security, air conditioning in the same manner in which they might select an entertainment system.
    The shortest part of the project will be eight stories, and include a roof deck with a pool, a bar, a Jacuzzi area and a fitness center, he said.
    A sales center at 199 Boca Raton Blvd., expected to be open by Feb. 1, will display two furnished units so buyers can experience the design elements, such as 10-foot ceilings, Comparato said. Construction of Tower 155 will likely take 18 months, he said.
In addition to Tower 155, Boca Raton has three other 12-story downtown building projects:
    • The Mark at CityScape, a 12-story apartment building, is set to open early this year at the southeast corner of Palmetto Park Road and Federal Highway.
    • Construction has begun on 12-story Via Mizner, a 366-unit apartment complex at the corner of Camino Real and Federal Highway.
    • In September, the City Council approved a 12-story Hyatt hotel for the southeast corner of Palmetto Park Road and Federal Highway next to the Mark at CityScape.
    Boca Raton’s buildings are officially capped at nine or 10 stories (100 feet) plus some added height for decorative elements.  With temporary rules, the city is allowing taller buildings if certain guidelines are met.
    Only parcels that are 2 acres or larger currently are eligible for contstruction of buildings higher than 100 feet. The city may consider dropping that requirement when the City Council meets this month.
    If the 2-acre minimum is dropped, more than 150 lots would become eligible for taller buildings.

By Cheryl Blackerby

    The renourishment project for Boca Raton’s north beach was plagued with strong winds and big waves that stopped work, but in the end the project was finished ahead of schedule.
    Dredging was completed Dec. 13, two weeks shy of the predicted finish date of the end of the month.
    “The project is done and the beach looks great,” said Jennifer Bistyga, coastal engineer with the city of Boca Raton. “They finished pumping sand, then removed the dredge, and it’s heading up to South Carolina.”
    High waves caused severe erosion farther north in Martin County on Dec. 9, but South County fared better.  There was some loss of sand at north beach, but two weeks later that sand was already coming back, she said.
    “It caused a little bit of erosion, but there’s a beautiful sandbar at water edge at low tide in front of Spanish River Park,” she said. “You want to see a sandbar if you’ve lost sand, because you know it’s going to work its way back on the beach.”
    Wind, rain and rough seas stopped the project several times in March and April this year.
    The work came to a halt at the beginning of turtle nesting season at the end of April, with only about 50 percent of the dredging completed.
    Work started again in early November at the end of turtle season, but was stopped again Nov. 15 and during Thanksgiving because of bad weather.
    The 1.4 miles of new sand starts 1,000 feet north of Spanish River Boulevard and runs south to just north of Red Reef Park. The north beach got the worst damage in the city from Hurricane Sandy.  
    The Army Corps of Engineers, the city of Boca Raton and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are paying for the project.
    The next renourishment project in Boca Raton is central beach.
    “We’re going to bid for construction companies in May for the central beach project,” she said. “We hope to start dredging in November 2015 and complete the project in April 2016.”
    Although the central beach didn’t lose as much sand to Hurricane Sandy as the north and south beaches, a recent survey showed the beach needs sand.  
    The central beach hasn’t been replenished since 2006 and is due for regular sand maintenance, usually done at 10-year intervals, said Bistyga.
    Central beach runs just south of Red Reef Park to Boca Inlet.  The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, the city of Boca Raton and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will pay for that project.

By Steven J. Smith

    A couple who had recently moved to a beachside neighborhood in southern Boca Raton were both struck and killed by a car on Dec. 17, while attempting to cross a dark patch of State Road A1A in Deerfield Beach.
    At 7:06 p.m., Francine Freedman, 80, and Philip Kendall, 85, were crossing Ocean Drive from west to east in the middle of the 600 block near the border of Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach.
    Mark Lasman, 64, of Boca Raton was the driver of the car heading northbound on A1A when his 2007 Lexus RX350 struck the couple. Lasman remained at the scene of the accident, where Freedman was pronounced dead. Boca Raton Fire Rescue transported Kendall to Delray Medical Center, where he soon died.
    A nearby streetlight was out and hampered visibility, according to Gina Carter, spokeswoman for the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
    “Right now it’s all still under investigation, but there are no charges against Mr. Lasman pending,” Carter said. “It’s a small residential area and it’s a small road. The couple may have felt it was safe to cross there, even though they were basically crossing in the middle of the block. The speed limit is not very high there, so maybe they thought it was a comfortable place to cross. Unfortunately it was dark and with a streetlight out, it was more difficult to see them as they were crossing.”
    Carter maintained accidents of this kind are best averted by crossing roads at intersections rather than in the middle of the block.
    “Any time you’re crossing at the middle of the block, the driver may not be prepared or anticipating someone crossing at that location,” she said. “So the safest thing you can do as a pedestrian is always cross at the intersection.”
    Anyone with additional information is asked to contact BSO’s traffic homicide detective Keliher at (954) 321-4840 or report anonymous tips to either Crime Stoppers of Broward County at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org. Ú

Shelves begin to empty in December at the Winn-Dixie in Boynton Beach’s Riverwalk Plaza.

The store is planned to close by mid-January.

Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

    If you shop at the Winn-Dixie in Riverwalk Plaza on the corner of Federal Highway and Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach, you already know the store is closing by mid-January; signs are posted all over it.  But what will take its place?
    The process that will answer that question is just starting, said Vivian Brooks, executive director of the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. “It’s really exciting for the city. Stay tuned,” she said.
    Mid-December, she met with a group from Isram Realty, the Hallandale-based company that owns and manages the shopping center, and next on her agenda, she planned to meet with Boynton Beach city officials to get an idea of options for the space. “Isram wants to optimize the site for water views,” she said.
    A little history of Riverwalk Plaza: In 2011, Woolbright Development unloaded it as well as the Shops of Boca Grove, in short sales for a combined $20 million. The sales were at a 44 percent discount off of the value of the properties’ mortgages, according to the South Florida Business Journal. The 81,160-square-foot Shops of Boca Grove, which Woolbright purchased for $17.5 million in 2005, had its mortgage modified at $21 million in 2008. It went for $10 million in the short sale to Isram. Woolbright’s Riverwalk Plaza, which contains a total of 119,199 square feet, in addition to the 3.3-acre site that sits adjacent to it, was purchased for $16 million in 2007. Isram was also the buyer for that property, and paid $10 million in two transactions. Since then, Riverwalk Plaza was renovated with a new paint scheme, landscaping and parking lot resurfacing.

INSET BELOW: Jessica Rosato

                                  
    To have Delray Beach at your fingertips, check this new app out. Jessica Rosato, a Realtor and luxury property specialist with Nestler Poletto Sotheby’s International Realty, has recently helped launch a free neighborhood app that gives local information specifically tailored to Delray Beach. The app, which can be downloaded from either the Android or Apple app stores, is a community feed as well as a resource for comprehensive information on Delray Beach, from hotels to restaurants to events to real estate. To download the app, visit www.neighbrhds.com.
                                      ***

Chef Marvin Barrera, Sean Nathan and Bonnie Beer led Caffe Luna Rosa to victory in Best Bite on the Ave. Photo by Michiko Kurisu

    Late November, Caffe Luna Rosa won first place in Crane’s third annual Best Bite on the Ave restaurant competition. Other culinary contenders included City Oyster, Pizza Rustica, Prime, Rocky’s Bistro, Salt 7, Sundy House and Tryst. The event attracted almost 500 guests, and raised money for the HOW Foundation of South Florida and Project Holiday.

Dr. Danielle Manolakos (left) was named Best Dermatologist in Delray,

and Dr. Richard Staller (right) was named Best Dentist in Delray by the Sun Sentinel.

Photo provided

    Dr. Richard Staller, who donates his services to Florida Atlantic University athletes, was named Best Dentist in Delray Beach by the Sun Sentinel for the second year in a row. He was feted at a reception hosted by his staff at his new offices for his patients and friends. Also recognized was Dr. Danielle Manolakos, who was named Best Dermatologist in Delray. Staller’s new office, Advanced Dentistry of South Florida, is at 15340 Jog Road, Suite 100, Delray Beach.
                                      
INSET BELOW: Mary Sol Gonzalez

   Boca Raton business owner Mary Sol Gonzalez, who was recently named the recipient of the Boca Raton Chamber’s 2015 Diamond Award, will be honored on Feb. 20, at the Woodfield Country Club. The chamber bestows Diamond awards to women who’ve achieved success in their professional careers and who continually make a difference in their communities.

    Gonzalez’s company, Image360, offers professional graphic solutions to regional businesses and organizations.
    Before starting her business, Gonzalez supported Hispanic immigration efforts and advocated for abused and neglected children. In 2013, she won a “Top Places for People on the Move” award from the Sun Sentinel, and she co-created the International Business Alliance. In 2014, she was nominated for the Giraffe Awards by the Women’s Chamber of Palm Beach County.
Currently, she sits on the board of the Boca Raton Children’s Museum, the board of Networking Hispanos and the community academy advisory board of West Boca High School.
                                      ***
    Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s new Marcus Neuroscience Institute recently treated its first aneurysm patient using the Pipeline embolization device. The minimally invasive procedure treats oversized aneurysms quickly and successfully.
    This device, a small stent of cylindrical mesh, is inserted into the vessel. It redirects blood flow and within a few minutes, the grape-like aneurysm shrivels to about the size of a raisin. The stent eventually becomes incorporated into the blood vessel wall like rebar and will hold up permanently.
    Over a two-week period, this patient had experienced headaches and lost function in her right eye. An MRI showed a large aneurysm that was forcing the patient’s nerves to go around it, stretching the nerves and creating extra pressure.  After the procedure, her nerves were no longer stretched; her headaches have dramatically improved; and eye function is expected to be completely restored.
                                      ***
    The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club has elected five additional directors to its board for 2015. They are Robert Fraiberg, Marshall Isaacson, Sheldon Jaffee, Norka Parodi and Peter Ticktin. The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club, a nonpartisan political club, meets for lunch on the second Wednesday of every month at City Fish Market, Glades Road and the Turnpike, Boca Raton. Cost is $25 for members paid in advance and $35 for guests paid in advance. Add $10 for those without reservations. Membership is $180 per year. For information, call 852-0000.
                                      ***
    The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce invites the public to its 2015 Great Gatsby Gala, an evening celebrating the 1920s, on Jan. 17, starting with cocktails at 7 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing at 8 p.m. Rico’s Mixed Sounds will provide the music and Fred Astaire Dance Studio is bringing swing dancers.
    The gala will be held at Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa-Palm Beach (formerly the Omphoy), 2842 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Tickets are $130 each, or two tickets for $200. Proceeds will fund the chamber’s free public events, including the Harvest Fest, Taste of Boynton and Red Hot Festival. For information, call 732-9501.
                                      ***
    A 13,000-square-foot estate at 3621 S. Ocean Blvd. in Highland Beach — a foreclosure that began in 2008, with a final judgment rendered in favor of the U.S. Bank National Association in September 2013 for $17.8 million — is back on the market for $12.5 million, and is listed by United Realty Group of Boca Raton. The land is zoned multifamily, meaning the lot can be divided into two 95-foot parcels if desired.
    The bank, which bought the home at a Jan. 2, 2014, auction for $902,200, sold it on Nov. 13 to 3621 South Ocean Blvd., LLC for $7.5 million.
    Some of its history: According to property records, William L. Knight bought the property in 2001 for $5.5 million, and, according to an April 2003 article in Boca Raton magazine, it was one of three Highland Beach properties that Knight and his wife, Beverly, were developing. They called it Casa Bella Riente, and features included a putting green and a Hawaiian fire pit for pig roasts. They planned, at that time, to list it for $15.9 million.
    However, Knight failed to sell it, and it went into foreclosure. The private lender of the deal, Rap Knifore LLC, managed by Norman Rappaport, took over the property in October 2008 for $2.15 million. It was put on the market for $16.5 million, but failed to sell.
                                      ***
    What started as an imaginative idea in August of 2013 has been transformed into the World’s Most Valuable Dreidel, thanks to the skill and generosity of jeweler Pedro Maldonado of Jewelry Artisans in Manalapan.
    Shaina Stolik of Chabad of South Palm Beach asked Maldonado if he’d be interested in creating a world-record dreidel with precious metals and gemstones donated by community members to commemorate the confluence of Hanukkah with Thanksgiving in 2013.
    Maldonado comes from a family of master jewelers who’ve produced crowns and church artifacts, and he was intrigued by the opportunity to create a Jewish ritual object.
    So, Stolik, with her husband, Rabbi Leibel Stolik, appealed to the Guinness World Records Inc. to create custom criteria for the new category: the World’s Most Valuable Dreidel. Guinness responded with specific guidelines as to the value, structure and proof package that the Guinness world record attempt would require.
    This four-sided dreidel is built on a structure of Tiffany frames, antiqued to contrast with the gemstone-encrusted gold plates that have the requisite Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Shin. The apex of the dreidel is antique turquoise. The dreidel spins upon a diamond at its base, and free-hanging diamonds and gems dance and move as the dreidel spins.
    “We are grateful to Pedro Maldonado for the extraordinary effort and time that he invested in this project as a donation to the Jewish community,” says Stolik. “We are looking forward to the official Guinness World Record endorsement so that Pedro can have the international recognition that he deserves.”

Christine Davis is a freelance writer. Send business items to her at cdavis9797@comcast.net.

Lion LX1 Electric Bike by BESV

Biking is a great way to get fit in 2015

The Coastal Star's top 12 cycling products

By Teresa Bono
    Want to get fit in 2015? Why not dust off the old Schwinn and go green, too? Experts agree that the simplest New Year’s resolutions are the easiest to keep. And in South Florida, where there’s an annual average of 240 days of sunshine, swapping out a ride in the car for a trek on a bike isn’t hard to do.
    Getting started doesn’t require expensive equipment or, for most of us, learning a new skill. It’s a great way to get outdoors, boost your mood and reduce environmental pollutants. Even leisurely rides are calorie-burners, and cycling is much kinder to your joints than running.
    Gently used garage-sale or thrift-store bikes can make the cut with a quick tune-up and some upgraded gear. Sprucing up an old bike, instead of buying new, keeps them out of landfills too. Your “new” bike could be as close as your neighbor’s shed.
    After a personal medical checkup, get a bicycle checkup. If schlepping the bike to the shop is unappealing, contact a mobile repair service like the Bicycle Doctor in Boca Raton (www.bicycledoctorflorida.com).
    If enthusiasm for your new year’s resolution starts to wane, log on to the Florida Bicycle Association site (www.floridabicycleorg/florida-bike-clubs) to scout a local bike club. Having company and going to a few post-ride parties might do the trick.
    Boredom with the same old route can throw you off track, so mix up routes. The Rails-To-Trails Conservancy (traillink.com) has an extensive list of asphalt trails.
    For commuters who don’t want to arrive at work tired and sweaty, an electric bike can come in handy. The legal speed limit for an electric bike in Florida is 20 mph so allow travel time. E-bikes are also becoming popular with seniors who have given up their licenses and with DUI offenders who’ve lost them. Don’t feel guilty about using pedal assist because skipping the gas pump is still green.
    With all the options to choose from, virtually anyone can benefit from a good bike ride. So before you write out your resolution, remember riding your bike as a child to a pal’s house and feeling happy and free. This could be a resolution you can stick to.
    And if you ultimately resolve to befriend a bike, check out The Coastal Star’s “Top Twelve Cycling Products,” chosen in honor of the 12 months of 2015. They’ll get you ready for your new adventures and make your ride safer, more comfortable and more stylish.

Megan is rescued on Lantana Beach on Christmas Day 2013.

Coastal Star file photo

Meghan gets a sendoff south of Key West on Dec. 11, 2014.

Photo provided by Melanie Bell

By Cheryl Blackerby

    The little olive ridley sea turtle that washed up on the Lantana beach on Christmas Day 2013 was released back into the ocean Dec. 11 in Key West.
    In critical condition with all four flippers tangled in monofilament fishing line, she spent almost a year recovering at Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s turtle hospital in Juno Beach.
    Loggerhead staff drove the endangered olive ridley they named Meghan to Key West in the center’s turtle transport vehicle. She was carried out into the ocean on a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission boat with FWC officers assisting with the release, said Kathryn Rumbley, Loggerhead spokesperson.
    Around noon, with calm waters under a blue sky, Meghan took off into the ocean heading south toward home, probably about 4,000 miles away near Brazil, say turtle experts.
    She is the only documented olive ridley ever found in Palm Beach County and only the fourth to strand in Florida. The other three turtles died.
    Meghan had probably drifted north in the Gulf Stream, trapped in the line, until she was spotted thrashing in the surf behind the Dune Deck. A couple who were eating at the restaurant saw the turtle and pulled her to the beach. They cut the fishing line off her flippers, and put her back into the water.
    But Lantana lifeguards George Klein and Randy Reed kept a lookout for her and saw her struggling in the surf. They called the FWC, which took her to the nonprofit Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
    Dehydrated and emaciated, she weighed only 64.85 pounds. By the time she was released, she weighed 86.50 pounds. Adult olive ridleys generally weigh about 100 pounds.
    It has been a long recovery for the weary and sick little turtle. She had a very deep wound on her front left flipper from the fishing line, and was severely underweight, anemic, and had low blood sugar. She was given a glucose IV, antibiotics to prevent infection, and iron to treat anemia.
    A couple of weeks after she arrived at the turtle hospital, she took a turn for the worse and stopped eating. The center’s veterinarian Dr. Charles Manire called her condition grave, and said the outlook wasn’t good for a turtle that had been sick for quite a while.
    But she gradually improved after being tube-fed gruel, a slurry of fish and vitamins, twice a day. Five liters of air were extracted from her intestines, which made her list to one side in the water.
    The staff conducted daily glucose tests until levels were stable. She was put into a shallow pool, and then underwent rehabilitation, which included a deeper pool and hydrotherapy to strengthen her flippers.
    She wasn’t fitted with satellite tracking tags, so we may never know if Meghan finds her way safely back to South America.
    “We actually purchased the transmitter,” said Rumbley, “but a special permit was required which would take another year to obtain.
    “Of course, our hope is that she will find her way back.”
    
Anyone seeing a hurt sea turtle or other marine animal should call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

INSET BELOW: Dr. Matthew D'Alessio; Dr. Andrea Klemes; Dr. Robert Mellman; Dr. David Ahlquist.

By Linda Haase

    Mention you’re going to get a colonoscopy, and you’ll usually get a look of sympathy. Perhaps an earful of some graphic jokes. Or, even worse, the story of someone else’s procedure that went horribly wrong.
    Those of us of a certain age know that an invite to join AARP is usually followed by an appointment with a gastroenterologist for this all-important procedure. But between the all-day prep, the time away from work (and anything else not bathroom related) and the fear of anesthesia, it’s no wonder this is a test that many dread — or, regrettably, avoid.   
    Enter Cologuard, a new FDA-approved noninvasive screening test for colon cancer and pre-cancer. No prep needed. You don’t even need to leave home for this innovative test that detects blood in stools and altered DNA associated with colon cancer and pre-cancer.
    The test is sent to a patient’s home. Users simply collect a stool sample and mail it to a lab using a prepaid and pre-addressed return label.
    It’s designed for men and women 50 and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer with no personal or family history of polyps or colorectal cancer, and have not been diagnosed with a condition that is associated with high risk for colorectal cancer (such as Crohn’s disease) and have no symptoms, including blood in stools or urine.
    But is it a good alternative to a colonoscopy? Local doctors agree it has merit — but issue caveats.
    “I think it a real break-through. One of the most important things we do in medicine is screen people for colorectal cancer,” notes Dr. Matthew D’Alessio, director of surgical oncology for the Bethesda Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Only 60 percent of people who should have a colonoscopy actually have one. However, the Cologuard test is new and nobody knows how it will perform in the real world. The standard is a colonoscopy, but this is a good alternative for people who are unwilling or unable to have a colonscopy. It’s better than nothing.”
    During the Cologuard clinical study, 10,000 people of average risk for colon cancer in the United States and Canada were screened with the test. Although Cologuard found 92 percent of cancers, it did have some false negative or positive results. “The false negative results are the problem. This test could give people a false sense of security. They think that they don’t have colon cancer but they really do,” says D’Alessio. Those types of results, D’Alessio points out, don’t occur with a colonoscopy, which also has the advantage of allowing doctors to remove polyps found during the procedure.
    Although D’Alessio is impressed with Cologuard’s clinical study that showed it found 92 percent of cancer (it also found 69 percent of precancerous polyps at greatest risk to progress to cancer), he notes that one of its downsides is that it doesn’t find small polyps. “Polyps start off as growths but become cancers if left alone,” he warns.
    Cologuard, which was co-developed by the Mayo Clinic and Madison, Wisconsin-based Exact Sciences, is not available over the counter and costs $599 if not covered by insurance (it is, however, a Medicare approved test). Results are sent to the prescribing physician, and if the outcome is positive, you will need a colonoscopy.
    Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer of Boca Raton-based MDVIP, is a proponent of the test.
    “It is an innovative new test that is a significant advancement in colorectal cancer detection,” notes Klemes, who is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology. “Many of the primary care physicians in our network have recommended and ordered the test, primarily because colorectal cancer is highly preventable with screening. This test will allow our patients who are 50 years and older and at average risk for colorectal cancer, an easy-to-use screening test which they can do in the privacy of their own home.”
    And, she emphasizes, this just might convince some hesitant patients to get screened. “Twenty-three million Americans between ages 50 and 75 are not getting screened as recommended and, as a result, colorectal cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. This test should increase numbers of patients screened. If they are at high risk or if this test is positive, then a patient is referred for colonoscopy.”
    The CDC claims that “if everyone age 50 or older had regular screening tests as recommended, at least 60 percent of colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided.”
    Although Boca Raton-based gastroenterologist Dr. Robert Mellman says a colonoscopy “is the gold standard,” he does see some merit in Cologuard. It is “not a perfect test but it is a good one,” especially for someone who is healthy and absolutely refuses to have a colonoscopy or is unable to have one, he says.
    Although he, too, lauds the high success rate for discovering cancer, the study’s sensitivity result for detecting advanced precancerous lesions was only 42 percent with DNA testing — and that worries him.
    “Wouldn’t it just be better to have a colonoscopy where you could find and remove these polyps and prevent cancer?” asks Mellman, who has been practicing for 25 years and is on staff at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Delray Medical Center.
    Dr. David Ahlquist, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and co-inventor of Cologuard, describes his discovery on the clinic’s website.

    “Cologuard detection rates of early stage cancer and high-risk precancerous polyps validated in this large study were outstanding and have not been achieved by other noninvasive approaches,” he wrote. “It is our hope that this accurate and user-friendly test will expand screening effectiveness and help curb colorectal cancer rates in much the same way as regular Pap smear screening has done for cervical cancer.”
    Getting the word out about colorectal cancer is vital, says D’Alessio, who often speaks to community groups about the issue. “We need to take the fear factor out of this. If you have it you want to know about it and you want to know about it sooner than later. We have an extremely high rate of success treating this disease and people need to know that,” says D’Alessio, who has offices in Boynton Beach and Delray Beach and serves as clinical assistant professor of surgery at Nova Southeastern University and Florida Atlantic University.
    For more information, visit www.cologuardtest.com.

Linda Haase is a freelance writer on a quest to learn — and share — all she can about how to get and stay healthy. Reach her at lindawrites76 @gmail.com.

• Pack ’N Pedal Basket and Tour Rack by Thule (www.thule.com) Travel in style with this sleek and roomy basket that’s a gigantic step up from traditional wire and wicker Grannie baskets. Rack is easy to install and mounts securely. Great for commuters and trips to the beach.

• Propero Helmet by Specialized (www.specialized.com) Large vents keep your head cool and Drylite webbing material won’t stretch out when you sweat. It doesn’t interfere with ponytails and it stays put. Lightweight and reliable.

• Symphony Short by Pearl Izumi (www.pearlizumi.com) Stay cool and comfy with a 3D chamois and fabric that uses intercool technology. Reflective properties for night rides and sun protection for daytime ones make this an excellent investment to keep you committed to your new resolution.

• Talon and Flight Deck Bike Rack by Seasucker (www.seasucker.com) Say goodbye to nasty scratches and dings that usually come with mounting a bike rack. Unique, super strong suction cups keep your bike in place without having to install cumbersome hardware. Road trip!

• Lion LX1 Electric Bike by BESV (www.besv.com) It’s no wonder this bike is called “Lion” because it was king of the e-bikes at last year’s Interbike. Premium pedal-assist and a full five-hour charge make for a super smooth ride you won’t want to end.  Never, ever lend this bike to your friends because you might not get it back!

• Motor Citizen Messenger Bag by Chrome (www.chromeindustries.com) The perfect bag for commuting, with 3M reflective detail for night travel, durable fabric and a comfortable design that holds your stuff without making you feel weighed down.

• Screw Sunglasses by Spy Optic (www.spyoptic.com) These comfortable, lightweight, wraparound frames offer a Scoop Ventilation system, and replaceable lenses for day and evening. High-quality performance sunglasses that protect eyes from dirt, dust and UV rays.

• Hiplok Bike Lock by Hiplok (www.hiplok.com)  We’ve all wrapped our bike locks around our waists and now Hiplok has created one that snaps on like a belt. Hardened steel chain and removable reflective nylon case protect your bike, and all the fidgeting you get with regular locks is eliminated.

• CSR Mini Surfboard Transporter by Carver Racks (www.carverracks.com) Keep your surfer dude cool and avoid parking lot jams with this aluminum, rust-proof, surfboard and boogie board rack that wont scratch up your bike. Voted among the best racks in the world by SurferToday.com.

• Spruzzamist by Spruzza (www.spruzzamist.com) An innovative, aerodynamic cooling system that easily mounts on your bike and cools off your head, face and neck by spraying a mist of water. Perfect refresher for when you stop at a traffic light. Weighs less than a full bottle of water and is an absolute must-have for Floridians!

• Kelly Helmet Cover by Rockinoggins (www.rockinoggins.com) Crack yourself up with these fun helmet covers that come in a variety of styles and fabrics. Go tweed one day and wear a mug of beer cover another. Smiles from other riders are free of charge!

• Tire Lever Set, Emergency Tire Boot and Super Small Micro Pump by Park Tool (www.parktool.com.) Be prepared for the inevitable flat with tools from a leader in bicycle hardware. Written, step-by-step instructions are available online. so remember to bring your iPhone!
When upgrading your bicycle or accessories, please donate the old ones instead of putting them out for the trash.

Do you want to expand your horizons in 2015?

Happily, guidance from the ancient esoteric arts of Numerology and Astrology reveal 2015 is a particularly auspicious year for growth and expansion. To take advantage of the cosmic benefits of this year, focus on a goal worthy of a numerological No. 8 year — one characterized for being expressly suited for meaningful achievements.

As a result, 2015 is a time to dream “impossible dreams” and apply understanding of the movements of the cosmos to help you make these dreams come true. When choosing a target “dream,” choose a significant worldly accomplishment, or choose to master a skill you have not previously thought possible (e.g., a new sport, learning to paint, or mastering a language). Or choose to forgive someone you thought you never could or would.

You will improve your potential for success by cosmically “chunking” down a big goal into manageable,  monthly, star-inspired action steps. By following these month-to-month suggestions,  you will be empowered to utilize the cosmic calendar to help ensure success.

January: The will to change will inspire you to start new projects and be creative.  This year begins with both the sun and moon in earth signs. Plan and take concrete steps to fulfill your goals and dreams.

February: Discerning calmness will inspire you to be patient and understanding. You may find yourself questioning whether you have the patience to take care of details and go the distance. The air sign sun will help you focus on refining your plans and the water sign moon can help you go with the flow.  

March: Creativity that frees your mind to be innovative will help you expand your vision to include elements that the first two months of experience have enabled you to see are needed. As both the sun and the moon are in water signs you will be most successful if you are flexible.

April: Logic and stability will help you accept the need for taking care of details and focusing on achieving practical results. The water sign moon is at risk of conflicting with the fiery sun. Common sense and the avoidance of emotional excess are recommended.

May: Wisdom based on experimentation will help you be adventuresome. The sun in an earth sign will help you focus on pursuing the accomplishment of tangible results, while the air sign moon will help you with determination and commitment.

June: Sincerity and caring for self and others reveals it is time to seek and engage help. Share both your joys and challenges with a friend and ask for help if needed. The doubled air sun and the moon signs should help assure you will be very focused.

July: Integrity based on a very personal perspective is likely to cause you to re-evaluate and take stock this month. Do you still have the same vision and mission you had in January?  This is the midpoint of the year. Adjust as needed. The Sun and the Moon are in conflicting elements (fire and water). Spend some time soul searching and listening to what your heart guides you to do.

August: Excellence based on planning will heighten the will to take charge. This is a take-charge month intensified because it is a take-charge year. Powerful forces are at work. Both the sun and the moon are in water signs. You will be most successful if you listen to and follow your heart.

September: Insight —sometimes without knowing why — suggests that now that you are three-fourths of the way into this journey, courage is required stay your course.  The moon in a fire sign will empower you to take risks. The earth sign sun will help assure you can risk without going overboard.

October: Lucky new opportunities assure beneficial energy supports your well-being. The sun and the moon are positioned so that Venus, the planet of art, luxury, and beauty, plays an important role. Do something to pamper yourself.

November: Exceptional discernment helps you see the need for multiple perspectives to handle unresolved issues that may be limiting success. The sun and moon are in water signs. The double water influence may cause you to feel emotionally drained. Take good care of yourself and keep focused on your goal.

December: Reflective enthusiasm enables you to appreciate your effort and your successes. Celebrate. This is the only time in 2015 when the sun and the moon are both in fire signs. Enjoy the passion and excitement.

Hattie Parker, MS Ed, astrologer/numerologist, lives in Delray Beach and is available for private readings, speaking engagements, events and parties. To learn more, subscribe to The Cosmic Pulses Newsletter, a free weekly publication, or the Cosmic Pulse Monthly Guidance Call. Both services are available at www.HattieParker.com.

Whether you choose to let the trees tower over you or to view them close-up, each

has its own charm. A couple hold hands while they cross a bridge over a flowing water feature.

The multicolored bark of a Rainbow Eucalyptus.

A honeybee works the blooms of a Red Saraca tree.

The clocklike pattern of a thatch palm frond.

Photos by Jerry Lower, Thomas Leming
and Mary Kate Leming/The Coastal Star

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

    Whether you want to rest under the canopy of a royal poinciana, power walk under palm trees or ponder the monkey puzzle tree, make your destination the Deerfield Beach Arboretum.
    It is part of Constitution Park with its playground as well as tennis and basketball courts. This 2.5-acre “Tree Zoo,” as it’s fondly called, was the brainchild of city forester H.W. “Zeke” Landis.
    In 1994, he approached the city with the idea of turning what was a neighborhood park with limited landscaping into almost 10 acres covered with exotic as well as native trees and bushes.
    Today, as you walk the half-mile circular macadam path, you’ll pass through a Japanese garden, a bamboo forest, a wetland area, a butterfly garden and more.
    You’ll see more than 200 species of trees and palms from five continents, including almost 50 different flowering trees, 20 native trees, 20 wetland trees, 35 tropical fruit trees, 55 palms, 20 exotic trees and 20 bamboos.  
    You are welcome to wander the trails on your own. Many of the plants are labeled, although some tags are well worn and difficult to read. Or, if you’d like to learn more, opt for one of the free weekly tours offered by volunteers, who also tend this garden.
    Either way, your journey is bound to take you under the red torri gate that marks entry to the Japanese garden. Although its trees and shrubs look like they hail from the land of the rising sun, few of the specimens are authentically Japanese.
    Instead, you might say this is a Japanese-style garden. The plants provide the look you expect but they grow well in our tropical clime. There’s plenty of tall bamboo, including giant timber and golden Hawaiian blowing in the breeze and sounding like natural wind chimes.
    Continuing on our tour, provided by Jerry Behan, president of the Friends of the Deerfield Beach Arboretum, we come upon a mast tree. It stands tall and straight like the mast of a ship. You often find them used singly or planted close together in a row like a giant picket fence.
    In another area of the arboretum where native plants dominate, we see a Simpson’s stopper. That’s a native Florida tree with red-tinged leaves, red berries birds love to eat and fragrant white flowers.  
In case you are wondering why it’s called a stopper, Behan explains: “Way back, when they didn’t have a Walgreen’s on every corner, if someone had diarrhea, they went into the woods and got the seeds, leaves and bark from this tree that they’d use to make a concoction that they drank. And that would stop them up,” he says.
    And don’t miss the Jamaican dogwood, another Florida native. It is nicknamed fishfuddle because if you take the leaves and seeds, grind them and throw them on the water, the combination stuns the fish below. That’s when they float to the top, where they can be netted.
    “Of course it’s illegal to fish like that in Florida so don’t do it,” warns our guide.
    The baobab tree from Africa looks like it was planted upside down, with its fat trunk capped with what look like roots in the air. But no mistake was made. That’s just how it looks, we are told.
    Now perhaps you are wondering about that monkey puzzle tree I mentioned “pondering” at the beginning of this piece.
Well, tell the kids to look at this evergreen but don’t touch. Its scale-like leaves have sharp edges and there are plenty of prickers.
    In fact, that’s how this well-armed tree got its name. After all, it would be a real puzzle for even an accomplished scamp such as a monkey to climb it.

Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley is a certified master gardener who can be reached at debhartz@att.net when she’s not in her garden.

Aquira Leon celebrates having a reliable car. ‘The car that I received was the answer to my prayers,’  she said.

Photo provided

By Tim Pallesen

    Wheels from the Heart, a charity that finds reliable used cars for single mothers, has won hearts on the outreach committee at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach.
    The entire Christmas offering, which last year raised $30,000 for several charities, will go to buy cars for at least four deserving families chosen by Family Promise, Adopt-a-Family and other local charities. The Christmas offering last month is still being counted.
    “We like to help local families in need,” committee co-chair Jeane Heavilin said. “Over the years, we have seen that the common need is transportation. We are so dependent on cars.”
    The congregation trusts used-car dealer Steve Muschlitz, the founder of Wheels from the Heart, to locate and overhaul the best cars.
    “We are very impressed by Steve,” Heavilin said. “This is a ministry for him. He focuses on single mothers who are getting ripped off.”
    Muschlitz, who owns Country Club Auto in Boca Raton, sees himself as an advocate for single mothers in his charity work. “I’m 51 years old, and this is the first time that I can look at myself in the mirror,” he said.
    First Presbyterian gave him a portion of last year’s Christmas offering to find cars for three single mothers.   
    One of them was Aquira Leon, whose previous two used cars each had broken down within a month. “The car that I received was the answer to my prayers,” she said.
    Leon, a Boynton Beach resident with a 3-year-old son, was able to finish her courses for a nursing degree once she got reliable wheels.
    “Giving the car is freedom and a life change,” Muschlitz said.
                                    
    Daniel Silva, the best-selling author of Israeli spy novels, highlights the Jan. 8 gala for hundreds of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s largest donors.
    The Sandler Family Major Gifts Event at St. Andrew’s Country Club features Silva in “dynamic conversation” with his wife, NBC journalist Jamie Gangel.
    A minimum $10,000 donation is requested to attend. The event honors the donors who have contributed $1 million or more to the Jewish Federation’s annual campaigns.
    “The federation has been feeding the hungry, caring for our elderly and disabled, educating the next generation, and providing comfort and brighter lives in Israel and around the world,” event co- chair Cliff Seresky said.
    “We couldn’t possibly do it without the overwhelming compassion and leadership of our major donors.”
                                    
    The new Jewish Federation men’s division leaves Jan. 29 on a “men’s only” mission to Cuba.
    “The men will be learning about Jewish life hands-on as well as spending great times together in the Tropicana, in Old Havana and learning about Cuban rum and cigars,” the federation said in a news release.
    Mission chairman David Pratt clarified that the three-day “private journey” has enough time to both “get in touch with the needs of our Jewish family there” and explore the Cuban sights, sounds and tastes” in what he calls a “life-changing experience.” The trip cost includes a minimum $1,800 donation to the federation.
    “This is a unique opportunity to spend Shabbat with fellow Jews who are just a couple hundred miles away but worlds apart,” said Ken Lebersfeld, who signed up for the trip. “One can only visit with an organized group like this.”
                                    
    The Knights of Columbus men at Emmanuel Catholic Church are geared up for a food drive to surpass the 4,000 pounds of food collected for the CROS Ministries food pantry in Delray Beach last September.
Donations will be accepted at the church at 15700 S. Military Trail from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Jan. 17, and 7:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 18.
                                    
    The annual Pray for Delray prayer breakfast on Jan. 9 has grown this year to include a police captain and firefighter praying for law enforcement and first responders.
    The 7 a.m. breakfast at Pompey Park features Atlantic Community High School principal Anthony Lockhart as keynote speaker. Chamber of Commerce president Karen Granger will be the emcee.
    Speakers representing all areas of the Delray Beach community including police Capt. Michael Coleman and fire-rescue officer Kevin Saxton will offer prayers.
    The event is hosted by the Avenue Church with proceeds to City House, a charity for single mothers with children. The Rev. Daniel Williams, the lead pastor at Redemption Church, will provide music.
    Tickets are $25 at www.theavenuechurchdelray.com, click on “Pray for Delray.”
                                    
    St. Paul’s Episcopal Church expects to name a new rector this month after a lengthy search that has narrowed the field to two candidates.
    The search began after former rector Chip Stokes left last year.
    The call for candidates yielded 22 priests. The search committee held Skype interviews with four finalists in November.
    The top two candidates will travel to Delray Beach this month for final interviews with the search committee and vestry before the final selection.
    
Tim Pallesen writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Email him at tcpallesen@aol.com.

Ruby van Rooyen led the Altar Guild at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in making needlepoint altar chairs

and kneeling cushions, including this one, her favorite.

Tim Stepien/Coastal Star

By Tim Pallesen   

    Ruby van Rooyen was a dancing angel at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church for years before she died at age 107.
    She joined the Boynton Beach church when she moved to Delray Beach in 1966. Her contributions include the church parish hall, named in her honor, and the new music building — for which she was able to hoist a groundbreaking shovel at age 104.
    She’s best known for leading the church ladies in an Altar Guild needlepoint project to decorate the communion kneeling cushions and altar chairs.
    The Rev. Martin Zlatic raised her favorite cushion with the words “Alleluia! Christ is Risen.” at the Dec. 7 memorial service after her Nov. 28 death.
    “She would speak the truth in love, whether you wanted to hear it or not,” Zlatic said, recalling her words to him when he arrived in 2000. “Ruby said ‘you got to do something because they’re not exactly beating down the doors.’ ”
    She was born on June 6, 1907, in northeast Georgia. After the death of her first husband, a large auto parts dealer in New York City, she married widower friend Abraham van Rooyen, a major importer of tulip bulbs.
    Her second husband died shortly after the couple moved to coastal Delray Beach. She is survived by many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
    Mrs. van Rooyen led the way for St. Joseph’s to grow with the same vigor that she displayed as a ballroom dancer.
    She quit competitive dancing at age 98 only because there was nobody left in her age category to compete with. Then she invited the congregation to see her perform in a dance exhibit celebrating her 100th birthday.
    “Because she danced her life, a lot of other people could dance as well,” Zlatic said. “I hope she’s dancing now with the angels.”

Siena Ridolfo holds her baby Jesus prior to the blessing of baby Jesus crèche figurines. Following the blessing, participants wrapped their baby Jesuses to place under the Christmas tree. This was to be the first gift opened on Christmas morning as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

After lighting torches on a menorah, Rabbi Ruvi New of the Chabad of East Boca turns to a crowd of more than 200 who gathered at Sanborn Square in Boca Raton to celebrate Chanukah. Children’s games, a concert and the menorah lighting were all part of the festivities to remind the crowd of the Chanukah story, a battle for religious freedom over the Syrian-Greek oppression in 165 B.C.  The menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be  ‘a light unto the nations.’

Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Marvin Kaplowitz of Boynton Beach caught this mutton snapper during a mid-December trip on the Sea Mist III.

Kaplowitz used a sardine on a 5/0 circle hook rigged with relatively light 30-pound-test fluorocarbon leader

and 1.5 ounces of weight to catch his snapper.

Diane Dinin of Lake Park shows two of several vermilion snapper she caught

during an afternoon trip in December aboard the Living on Island Time

drift boat. Standing with her is Capt. Max Parker.

Photos by Willie Howard/The Coastal Star

RELATED STORY: Boynton Inlet Drift Boats

By Willie Howard

    Fishing the ocean off southern Palm Beach County offers anglers the chance to appreciate the beauty of the clear, Gulf Stream water that sweeps along our coastline — and the possibility of bringing home fresh fish for dinner.
    But hiring a boat for a private charter can be expensive.
    For anglers who want to fish the Atlantic without spending hundreds of dollars and making advance reservations can step onto any of three drift boats that reach the ocean through Boynton Inlet.
    The Lady K in Lantana, the Living on Island Time in Hypoluxo and the Sea Mist III in Boynton Beach all offer four-hour ocean trips daily and night trips when enough anglers show up to fish.
    Reservations are not required. Just show up half an hour or so before the boat leaves, buy a ticket and go fishing (assuming the trip is not sold out).
    The cost: about $40 a person (less for children, seniors and in some cases active members of the military) for four hours of ocean fishing. The fare includes fishing tackle, bait and fishing license. Anglers usually tip mates for their assistance.
    Ocean fishing buffs who own boats know that the cost of fishing on a drift boat is less than the price of fuel and bait for most offshore trips.
    The drawback: You might fish shoulder-to-shoulder with a lot of other anglers, especially on fair-weather weekends. The Boynton Inlet head boats are licensed to carry more than 40 passengers.
    Fishing with a group can be fun when anglers start cheering on others as they fight fish. But it can be frustrating when a hooked fish swims all around the boat, wrapping many lines into a large knot.
    Drift boat regulars often fish on weekdays or at night, when the number of anglers tends to be smaller. Most of the Boynton Inlet drift boats will leave the docks if they get eight anglers. Even when they don’t, anglers will sometimes chip in a little extra money to make the trip worthwhile for a drift-boat captain.
    Drift boats are also called head boats because people pay by the head to step aboard and go fishing. When searching for fish in the waters off Palm Beach County, drift boat captains shut down their engines and drift with the wind and the current, hence the name drift boats.
    Anglers fish from one side of the boat — the windward side — so the fishing lines extend out away from the boat instead of going under it.
    The most common drift-boat bait is a dead sardine threaded onto a trio of hooks with varying amounts of weight to get the bait down below the surface. The amount of weight is typically 1 ounce, though it varies with the strength of the current and the fish being targeted.
    Anglers who want to fish the middle of the water column or near the surface for kingfish and dolphin often will use a quarter-ounce or smaller weight, or no weight at all (a flat line).
    When conditions are right, many drift boats also use strips of squid on multiple-hook “guppy rigs” to catch snapper such as the bright red vermilion snapper, a winter favorite.
    Even though it might appear that anglers simply set their rods in rod holders and chew the fat while they wait for a bite, seasoned drift-boat anglers let their lines out and bring them in a lot to keep their baits where they believe the fish are holding.
    Some regulars hold their fingers on the line to feel the bite. Those who pay the most attention to their baits tend to catch the most fish.
    Experts at bottom fishing for snapper often rig their rods with relatively light fluorocarbon leader, which is harder for the fish to see than heavier leaders, and circle hooks.
    Sea Mist III angler Marvin Kaplowitz of Boynton Beach caught a nice mutton snapper during a mid-December trip on the Sea Mist III, partly by using relatively light 30-pound-test fluorocarbon leader and a 5/0 circle hook below a 1.5-ounce weight.
    But in fishing, as in life, there are no guarantees.
    Sometimes the lady from Indiana who has never fished on the ocean catches the largest fish on the boat, which is part of the fun of drift fishing.
                                               ***
    The Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 54 will offer a basic boating safety class Jan. 24 in the boat club building near the boat ramps at Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park in Boynton Beach.
    The class runs from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The $40 fee includes a boating manual. For details and reservations, call Ron Cuneo at (561) 389-1850.
                                               ***
    Veteran shallow water fishing experts will meet for the Backcountry Tuneup set for Jan. 10 at the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) in Dania Beach.
    The seminar begins with registration at 9 a.m. and will continue until 4 p.m. Speakers include Stu Apte of Florida Keys fame, fly-fishing great Chico Fernandez and fishing television host Flip Pallot.
    Speakers will cover tackle and methods for catching snook, seatrout, redfish and tarpon in shallow waters as well as tips for rigging boats for the back country.
    Tickets are $65. For more information, go to www.igfa.org or call Anthony Vedral at (954) 924-4254.
                                               ***
    Tip of the month: Catch and release sailfish using live bait and circle hooks. North wind and cold weather drive sailfish into area waters. Dangle live baits such as goggle-eyes, greenies or pilchards under fishing kites — or fish them on flat (unweighted) lines. Use non-offset circle hooks such as the Eagle Claw L2004EL in 7/0 or 8/0 sizes to minimize internal damage to sailfish before they’re released. Sailfish also will hit trolled baits such as ballyhoo and bonito belly strips garnished with trolling skirts.
    Release sailfish by cutting the leader as close to the fish as possible. If someone on board can handle the sailfish safely in the water, remove the hook before releasing it. To be legal to keep, a sailfish must measure 63 inches from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. A federal HMS (highly migratory species) permit is required to harvest sailfish and other billfish, and all billfish landings must be reported to NOAA within 24 hours.

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

A mate throws a pair of small kingfish into the fish-sorting bin from the Lady K drift boat

at Lantana’s Sportsman’s Park. The 65-foot boat is one of three walk-on fishing boats

that reaches the ocean through Boynton Inlet.

Lady K:

Located at Sportsman’s Park, 314 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana. Trips leave at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The fare is $37 for adults, $25 for ages 12 and under and $33 for seniors, members of the military, law enforcement officers and teachers. Call 588-7612 or go to www.barjackfishing.com.

Living on Island Time:

Located at Palm Beach Yacht Center, 7848 S. Federal Highway, Hypoluxo. Trips leave at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The fare is $40 or $25 for ages 12 and under. Seniors, students and active military: $35. Call 585-4475 or go to www.fishingonislandtime.com.

Sea Mist III:

Located at Boynton Harbor Marina, 700 Casa Loma Blvd., Boynton Beach. Trips leave at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Night trips (Friday and Saturday) leave at 6:30 p.m. The fare is $40 for adults, $25 for ages 12 and under and $35 for seniors. Call 732-9974 or go to www.seamist3.com.

Driftboat basics

Basic rules: Drift boats allow customers to bring their own rods, but braided line is frowned upon or forbidden because it is harder to untangle than monofilament line and can cut through the lines of other anglers.  
Big-fish pools: Most drift boat crews allow anglers to chip in $5 in hopes of winning the pot of money for the largest fish. Most boats exclude bonito, sharks and some other fish from the big-fish pot.
What to bring: Layers of clothing are recommended during the winter in case of cold or rain. Hats and sunglasses are a must because they protect eyes from hooks and sinkers. Drift boat anglers often bring snacks and drinks in a small cooler and their own fishing tackle.
Weather: Check the marine weather section of the NOAA website (www.weather.gov) and look for wave height before deciding when to fish. If you’re seasick because of rough seas, don’t expect the captain to take you back to the docks. You’ll be out there for four hours.
Tips: Call ahead to check sea conditions and the types of fish being caught. Show up at the docks half an hour before the scheduled departure time if possible. Ask questions to learn from captains, mates and veteran angler.

-- Willie Howard

A great blue heron is easy to recognize for its gold-colored beak, yellow circle around the eye and 4-foot wingspan.

Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

This red shouldered hawk takes advantage

of a tall snag to announce his desire to mate.

Sandy Komito is easy to spot with his notepad, binoculars, camera and wide-brim hat.

By Rich Pollack

    Sandy Komito has been standing at the entrance to the Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands for maybe 20 minutes and already he has seen 13 different species of birds.
    Each time, he extracts a small notebook from his pocket and jots down the name of the bird. Before this day is over, Komito will see close to 45 different species, and today is not even one his best days. Just a day or two earlier he had seen more than 50 different kinds of birds.
    Komito, who has been writing down the names of the birds he spies for almost 75 years, is not your garden-variety bird watcher. He is at the extreme end of the spectrum, having traveled all over the globe.
    His 1998 escapades, in which he set a long-standing record of seeing 748 species in North America, were captured in the book The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, written by Mark Obmascik, which was later made into a film. Komito was portrayed in the movie by actor Owen Wilson.
    But Komito, who makes his home in Boynton Beach, will tell you there’s no need to travel all over the world to catch a glimpse of a wide array of bird species. In fact, if you live in South Florida, you can probably catch several hundred species right in your own backyard.
    “There have been more than 500 birds seen here in Florida,” says Komito, noting that only California and Texas have more. “Florida has a couple of dozen birds you won’t find anywhere else.”
    Over the years he has seen more than 180 species at Green Cay alone, ranging from reclusive limpkins and sora rails to common gallinules, blue jays and cardinals.
    Other local spots that Komito says are good for either a bird walk or for a serious bird watching trip are the Wakodahatchee wetlands on Jog Road, just north of Lake Ida Road; the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge on U.S. 441 in Boynton Beach; Spanish River Park in Boca Raton; and even the Boynton Inlet.
    “Every spot is different because you have different birds there,” he says.

The markings allow this Wilson’s snipe to blend

into the vegetation upon which it rests until it chases after a meal.

An obsessive note-taker, Komito averages about 50 species in a morning walk at Green Cay.

This four-day total was added to his spreadsheet that records years of observations.

    For Komito, who is driven by an intense curiosity, there’s always something new to see on each trip. “I get surprises every time I come out,” he says. “It’s like panning for gold.”
    On this day, one of the nuggets Komito found as he walked the boardwalk was a chance to see a Wilson’s snipe, a fairly uncommon visitor to Green Cay, which are well camouflaged and tricky to see without a little help.
    Those surprises may be what drive people who enjoy bird watching, but Komito says even novices and others who aren’t as passionate about finding something they’ve never seen before can enjoy a bird walk — which he describes as simply a walk where you can see the natural world around you.
    “When I take you on a bird walk all I want to do is introduce you to a new world you might not be familiar with,” Komito says.  “There’s another world aside from the world you get with your TV remote. This is a world of sight and a world of sound.”
    Should you decide to go for a bird walk, Komito has a few suggestions for the best ways to enjoy it.
    • Plan your bird walk for mornings because that’s when birds are the most active.
    • Go on a field trip with someone familiar with the birds in the area. The Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands offers guided bird walks.
    • Bring a bird book with you. Even experienced birders carry a book with them. Komito’s favorite is the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America.
    • Bring a note pad to record what you saw.
    • Keep your eyes — and ears — open.
    • Come with the right mindset. Come curious and ready to learn.
    In addition to the scientific allure of birding, Komito also points out the social aspect. On this day, he stops many times to talk to people he has seen at Green Cay and other local spots on a regular basis. He is also stopped by others who ask questions or just want to share stories.
    But even so, he’ll still stop in the middle of a conversation when he hears a bird call. Then out comes the notebook so he can record another bird he’s seen right here in his own back yard.

Ann Rutherford is Junior League of Boca Raton’s

2014 Woman Volunteer of the Year.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

    Think of a major not-for-profit organization in Boca Raton, and chances are Ann Rutherford has been a part of its beginning, its growth or both.
    You’ll find Rutherford’s fingerprints on such venerable institutions as the YMCA, the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum and the Spirit of Giving Network. A Boca Raton resident for more than 40 years, Rutherford has been a longtime member of the Junior League of Boca Raton, was the driving force behind a physical education program at a local elementary school and helped create the booster club at St. Andrew’s school.
    And if there’s an organization she hasn’t touched, chances are her husband, Charlie, has been involved in it.
    “We have probably been a part of most of the major organizations in the area,” she said.
    Her support of the community over the last four decades, and her latest challenge — serving as the liaison between organizers of the Boca Raton Bowl and its official charity, the Spirit of Giving Network — resulted in Rutherford’s being named Woman Volunteer of the Year during ceremonies hosted by the Junior League of Boca Raton last month.
    Rutherford was one of 27 women nominated for the honor and was recognized along with two other familiar faces in the Boca Raton volunteer community — Connie Berry and Helen Babione — who both received Lifetime Achievement awards from the Junior League.
    For Rutherford, 69, solving problems and finding ways to meet needs in the community is just a part of what she does, when she’s not working at her job selling real estate.
    “After 40 years of being involved, its just part of my essence,” she said. “I love people, I love Boca Raton and I don’t want to let it go. It’s just a part of me.”
    The mother of two successful adult sons, Rutherford first got involved in the community when her boys were in an elementary school that lacked a physical education program.
    An athlete growing up, Rutherford worked with the fledgling YMCA to bring a program to the school.
    “We raised money to run the program,” she said.
    Soon Rutherford was serving as a member of the Y’s board and helped start the organization’s Women’s Auxiliary, which helped raise money to fund various programs.
    “Everything was new here back then and there weren’t that many programs for children,” she said.
    As her sons got older, Rutherford became involved in St. Andrew’s School, where she played a leading role in creating a booster club to support athletic programs and also served as chair of the school’s 25th anniversary celebration.
    “We used Green Stamps to buy equipment,” she said.
    Over the years, Rutherford stayed involved in athletics, helping to run tennis tournaments and fundraisers.
    She also stayed active in the Junior League, which led to her involvement with the Boca Raton Historical Society, where she was the driving force behind Boca Bacchanal, the organization’s major fundraiser, which she guided for more than a dozen years.
    Today, Rutherford’s focus is on the Spirit of Giving Network, an organization that she also helped start and which now supports more than 60 nonprofit organizations in the area.
    “The Spirit of Giving Network started in Barbara Schmidt’s garage in 2005,” says Rutherford, who remains on the organization’s board of directors.
    Begun during the holiday season when a group of 14 friends decided that instead of bringing gifts to holiday parties, they would collect gifts for kids in need, the Spirit of Giving Network quickly grew into a major force in the community.
    This spring, the Spirit of Giving Network was selected as the official charity for the Boca Raton Bowl, the first college football bowl game held in Palm Beach County, which will be televised nationally by ESPN on Dec. 23.
    As the liaison between the network and the event, Rutherford is helping to coordinate efforts to bring 250 volunteers, as well as 5,500 local disadvantaged children, to the game. The Spirit of Giving will receive funds that can be distributed back to the community as a result of its involvement in the game.
    While a time-consuming challenge for Rutherford, the role of liaison to the bowl game is the perfect fit for someone who loves sports and has played such a key role in helping others.
    “You really feel a part of a community when you have this level of involvement,” she said.

    Who is Marty O’Boyle? A jerk? A bully? A white knight? He’s right, or he’s the village idiot? He’s an egomaniac having a tantrum, or he’s a genius, as the city paid him nearly $200,000?
    Who knows?
    Who is Sheila O’Boyle? A wonderful woman. A kind and generous person. A wonderful mother, friend and neighbor. A person who has contributed thousands of hours and dollars to local charities and causes. A model citizen.
    Oh, Marty O’Boyle’s wife!
    How should we treat this kind, generous and giving woman? Should she be branded with a scarlet “O” and ostracized from society because of her husband’s actions? Should people go out of their way to be rude and say unkind things to her?
    Should her neighbors pride themselves on rudeness to her and threaten the many charities she has worked for and supported over the years? Should those worthwhile charities and causes be financially punished for not ostracizing this wonderful, kind and generous woman?
    Let’s graduate from junior high school. Let’s grow up and treat this wonderful lady with the kindness and respect she has earned in our community. Give her a hug.
J. Reeve Bright
Delray Beach