Bryason Realty Corp. President Charles Shane,
with his two dogs, Shane (left) and Riley, was named
the chamber of commerce’s Business Leader of the Year.
Photo by Tim Stepien

By Linda Haase

“A lot of people around town know me as the guy with the two golden retrievers,” quips Charles Shane. “They are better known than I am.”

Not likely. Although Shane’s dogs, who are regulars at Max’s Grille and other venues, make quite an impression, their owner, a Highland Beach resident and the Greater Boca Raton Chamber’s 2010 Business Leader of the Year, has made his own immeasurable impact on the community.

Shane, the president of Boca Raton-based Bryason Realty Corp. and the recipient of the chamber’s 2008 Chairman’s Award for Community Service is uber busy: He serves on the chamber’s Golden Bell Education Foundation’s board of directors, is a member of the advisory committee to the Business Leaders United Political Action Committee  and is active in the Kids in Need Foundation, among other endeavors.  

This year is Golden Bell’s 20th anniversary, and will mark $1 million granted to K-12 public schools in Boca Raton for everything from computers to books to chemistry equipment. 

It’s a cause that touches Shane’s heart. “I have a personal interest in what I consider the declining quality of education our children are receiving at this time in this country,” he said about the all-volunteer program which raises money through year-round fundraisers. “Teachers are spending hundreds of dollars of their own money to make things work because they can’t get what they need. People don’t realize that although we have almost all A-rated schools in Boca Raton, they don’t have enough money to fund what they need.”  

The grants to the schools are awarded at a gathering in September and seeing the gratitude in the teachers’ eyes is heartwarming, Shane said. 

Although Shane spends a lot of time volunteering and working, he does find time for his new hobby — golfing, sparked by a suggestion from his wife, Mary. A former avid tennis player, Shane reluctantly gave up the game after his second spinal fusion. “I am addicted to golf now,” he said. “You hit one perfect shot … you know you can do it once and you think why can’t you do it again?”  

The father of two grown boys, Shane is a passionate sports fan — especially when it comes to the Yankees, whom he claims “are the best. They set the standard for every team.” Also on the list: the Miami Heat, the Miami Dolphins (“I live and die with the Dolphins. It’s been a tough few years, but I am not a fair weather fan”) and FAU’s Owls.

Although Shane, a Temple University graduate, realizes he might “get some heat,” he readily admits that The O’Reilly Factor is his favorite TV show and Fox News is his go-to for current events.

Perseverance and kindness are cornerstones of Shane’s life — and ones incorporated in his 30-plus years of real estate industry experience.  

“We are all in this together tying to keep our businesses afloat in turbulent financial waters. All we can do is work harder than ever, and utilize our cash reserves and lines of credit judiciously, until the economy rebounds. It is never easy, especially in the midst of a troubled economy. Just don’t give up!,” he said in May after being named Business Leader of the Year. 

Although the Shanes have traveled worldwide (they plan to return to Italy and France this spring and have been on a safari), there’s no place better than Boca Raton, says Shane, who is delighted he left New Jersey’s frigid winters behind 30 years ago.  

“I can’t image a better place to live, work and play than the Boca Raton area,” he said, lauding its beach and communities, cultural offerings, and shopping. And, just as important: “It is the most philanthropic town I have ever been involved in. You call for help and people step up.”                                Ú

The Highland Beach Town Commission has found a way to spend almost $90,000 of taxpayers’ money and get absolutely nothing in return. There is no product or service that the town receives for this expense. Other town governments may want to look into this new spending idea.

 At the Feb. 1 commission meeting, a motion was passed to suspend the town manager for five months with pay, including benefits. 

The manager is not to return to the town property during the suspension, and was required to immediately turn in any equipment owned by the town, except for the automobile leased for his use.

The town manager receives an annual salary of $180,000 and benefits. The manager immediately left the premises (smiling?).

The motion passed 3-2 with the mayor voting with the majority. I am encouraged by the fact that two of the commissioners seem to have retained their sanity.

The reason for this action was the commission’s disagreement with the manager’s following the town code in a matter involving unacceptable behavior by another employee under his supervision.

The town manager now has a five-month vacation with pay.

The town gets the opportunity to shop for an interim manager for the period.  I chalk this up to an effort at “job creation.”

Other towns should be encouraged to look into this method of spending tax dollars.

Alan Teller          

Highland Beach

LETTERS: The Coastal Star welcomes letters-to-the-editor about issues of interest in the community. These are subject to editing and must include your name, address and phone number. Preferred length is 200 words or less. Email to editor@thecoastalstar.com. or mail to 5011 N. Ocean Blvd. Suite #2 

Ocean Ridge, FL 33435

Ginny De Mattei swims near a sea turtle.
She said so far she has avoided any mishaps while diving. 
Photo courtesy of Ginny De Mattei 

By Steve Pike

In a spooky public service announcement weeks before his death, film legend James Dean urges the audience to drive safely.  “The life you might save,” he said, “might be mine.”

Dean died alone at the wheel of his Porsche in 1954, but his message resonates through the decades: Be responsible for others. That’s true whether it’s in a car or a boat. In regards to the latter, the life you save you might not even see.

Boats — or rather their operators — might be the single most dangerous threat to the SCUBA divers and snorkelers that flock to the area during the winter season. Incidents between boaters and divers aren’t common, but when one occurs, it nearly always results in serious injury to the diver or divers.

In January, for example, James C. Shelley, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., was hit by a boat while diving in the Atlantic Ocean off the Boca Inlet. Shelley was cut by the boat’s propeller even though, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report, he and the commercial vessel were displaying dive flags.

Highland Beach resident Jon Berger, 64, who was behind the wheel of the powerboat that day, was charged with culpable negligence and careless operation resulting in a boating accident, according to the FWC. Additionally, Berger was cited for failing to stay at least 300 feet away from a diver down flag.

On dry land and in the safety of a Boca Raton restaurant, Ginny De Mattei gently knocked her knuckles on the table next to her soup.

“I’ve never seen an accident,” the Boca Raton dive master and banker said. “I mostly dive with members of my dive club (South Florida Divers Inc.).  They’re extremely experienced. We dive according to the rules.

“There was an incident a couple of years ago where someone got the bends, but he didn’t do anything wrong.’’

That seems to be the key phrase in most accidents that involve divers and boats. The diver, “didn’t do anything wrong.’’

Between 2004 and 2009, according to the FWC, 22 scuba divers were injured or killed when run over by a boat.

Those are just the accidents. De Mattei, who has logged more than 230 dives around the world since 2005, said she has seen an increase in near-miss incidents in the areas where she dives between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

“Sometimes up in West Palm Beach they don’t dive with flags like we do in Boca and Broward. They blow up what’s called a ‘sausage,’ which is a tube you fill with air as you’re going to the surface.

“That’s a little disconcerting. We always dive with (red and white) flags and I make sure I come up directly underneath it. But even doing that, it’s hard for boaters to see the flag if the ocean is choppy.’’

Perhaps even more disconcerting is the fact that the state of Florida requires that only people born after Jan. 1, 1988, complete a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators or pass an approved equivalency exam. The exam can cost as little as $14.95. Operators who are required to have completed a boating education course or exam must carry on board a boating safety-education ID card issued by the FWC.

Florida law says divers must make “reasonable efforts’’ to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on open waters (all waterways other than rivers, inlets or navigation channels) and within 100 feet of a flag within rivers, inlets or navigation channels.

Boat operators are made aware of the law through the safety education program, but that’s not good enough for De Mattei.

“I think all boaters need to be licensed,’’ she said. “No question about it, I fear a boat a lot more than I fear a shark or something else in the water.’’

“Fear’’ is not part of a good diver’s vocabulary; it’s certainly not part of De Mattei’s vernacular. A healthy respect for the sport and the rules, however, is as important to diver’s safety as an oxygen tank.

“I would never classify it as a dangerous sport,’’ De Mattei said. “Is it a sport that has risk involved? Yes. But like everything else in life, you do everything to mitigate the risk.’’

A diver of any skill level, De Mattei said, must: always dive with a buddy; make sure equipment is in good working order; stay rested and hydrated; use a diver-down flag; and if running low on air, get to the surface.

“It’s a very equipment-intensive sport,’’ De Mattei said. “From my perspective, it’s a matter of safety. You want whatever’s going to
keep you safest.’’                 Ú

By Angie Francalancia

With overwhelming support from the merchants, Boca Raton has agreed to delay constructing raised intersections on Palmetto Park Road, which would have meant closing portions of the road. during the tourist season.

The Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency voted to delay the construction that began last September after a survey of merchants showed 38 favoring the delay while nine were opposed.

Delaying the work adds $72,000 to the cost.

“Thank you very much. It’s very appreciated,” said Guliano Lorenzani, owner of Boca Raton Travel.

City Manager Leif Ahnell said only the parts of the project that would require the road to be closed would be delayed until May 10. 

Merchants questioned the timing of the $6.8 million project last October soon after the work began. The work on Palmetto involves creating wider sidewalks with pavers, improved lighting and landscaping and installing the raised intersections. The project is the link, city officials say, between Mizner Park and Royal Palm Plaza and the path to making downtown more pedestrian-friendly.

The city will install the raised intersections — which will require closing the road in parts — at Northeast Third, Fourth and Fifth avenues and at Mizner Boulevard.

Once that work resumes in May, it will take about 60 days to complete, Ahnell said.  

Highland Beach Election: Candidate profiles

By Steve Plunkett

The city clerk of Peoria, Ill., regrets e-mailing a joke about a “Texas girl” (a Mexican and an Arab drinking in a bar) from her official computer to Highland Beach Town Clerk Beverly Brown.

“I don’t recall the specific incident, but evidently at some point in time I did forward what seemed like a joke, but may have been offensive to some,” Peoria Clerk Mary Haynes told the Peoria Pundit blog. “I regret offending anyone and have taken measures to ask people sending private email to utilize my home email account.”

The joke, in which the Texan shoots her bar companions because her state has “so many illegal aliens,” was one of five “sexually-oriented or defamatory” e-mails Brown received and forwarded on the town’s e-mail system, said since-suspended Town Manager Dale Sugerman.

Sugerman planned to suspend Brown without pay, but town commissioners ordered him to put a reprimand in her personnel file instead. When he said he had to wait until Brown’s appeal of the suspension was heard, commissioners suspended Sugerman, though with pay, until his contract ends June 30. His annual pay is $140,000, plus a vehicle allowance.

 Two weeks later they sent a registered letter telling Sugerman they would not extend his contract. The next week they sent Sugerman his annual evaluation, as required by the current contract.

At its March 1 meeting, commissioners voted not to give Sugerman a merit raise.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents took turns either blasting the commission for poor management, or thanking them for making the correct and difficult decision regarding Sugarman and Brown.

Other jokes in the case against Brown include one alluding to President Obama and using the N-word and one that praises Canadians for not being politically correct atop a collection of non-PC billboards. The Canadian joke was forwarded by Fran Garfunkel, a paralegal in Town Attorney Tom Sliney’s office who Brown said handles Highland Beach matters.

Sliney and Mayor Jim Newill, whose wife has been accompanying Brown to breast cancer treatments, interviewed four candidates for interim town manager and recommended Kathleen Dailey Weiser, who was town manager of Ocean Ridge for two years. 

 ‘’I talked to Mayor Ken Kaleel of Ocean Ridge and he had nothing but flowery things to say about her,’’ Newill said. ‘’She had a problem with one commissioner and just decided to move on.’’

Weiser, who Newill called ‘’the perfect fit’’ for Highland Beach, later was assistant city manager of Oakland Park in Broward County and of Punta Gorda on Florida’s Gulf coast until that position was cut from the budget in 2009.

Weiser was suspended for three days after she showed a friend some e-mails from Punta Gorda’s mayor regarding a dispute the mayor had with a neighbor, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. The next day she learned her job was being eliminated, the paper said.

In Illinois, the Peoria city attorney said it was against city policy to send e-mail messages with “illegal, offensive or disruptive” messages, the Peoria Pundit reported. 

The blog also said the “illegal alien” joke sounded similar to one that caused New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to discipline a prosecutor last summer while Martinez was a district attorney running for her state’s top job.

Martinez called the joke “deeply offensive” and said the prosecutor’s actions “were inappropriate and in violation of my office’s policy,’’ the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. 

In Brown’s case, Sugerman wrote that Sliney told him the police chief of Wilton Manors in Broward County was suspended for 30 days without pay for sending derogatory and racist e-mails during work hours from his city computer. 

Sugerman said Brown’s actions were serious enough to warrant termination but because she had health problems he had decided on the unpaid suspension. He also arranged for Brown to take college classes at town expense on sexual harassment, cultural sensitivity and computer etiquette.

Highland Beach commissioners have not yet selected an independent hearing officer to decide Brown’s appeal.

Brown is still working.

Newill said they can decide later whether to look for a permanent town manager or promote Weiser to the position.

 Highland Beach hired Brown in 2007. Sugerman became
town manager in 2005.          Ú

Boca amended its contract with Burkhardt Construction Co., contractor for the Pedestrian Promenade project, at its Feb. 23 City Council meeting. The increase of $172,000 — to add infrastructure for parking meters pushes the top price of the project to $7.2 million. 

While Burkhardt is installing the infrastructure for meters, it is not the vendor installing the meters.

The maximum project price already incorporates an estimated $72,000 it will cost the city to delay road closures on Palmetto Park Road until after May 10. 

The city decided to delay the closures after merchants voiced concern that construction during the busy tourist season will hurt business. 

— Margie Plunkett

Meet the candidates

By Steve Plunkett

A League of Women Voters forum held March 1 for mayoral candidates left no doubt who of the two is the newcomer to city politics.

Running are Susan Whelchel, who was first elected to the City Council in 1995, has also been vice mayor and is finishing her first term as mayor, and Linda Spurling Gruneisen, who has never held office.

Several times Gruneisen told forum moderator Sally Robinson that she either didn’t have an answer or didn’t know the subject.

“I don’t have my mind made up on any of the major issues that I know some of the people desire to have an answer to,” Gruneisen said when asked about development on North Federal Highway. “But what I can tell you is that I have a good background of experience making decisions.”

Whelchel, on the other hand, had some specifics.

“Actually, there’s a lot of good hope at the moment because there is a project that is kind of working its way through the system right now on the Levitz property, which is the area of course that we had hoped earlier, back a year or two before, was going to be redeveloped.”

Gruneisen said she was “not a fan of red-light cameras” based on her encounters with them in Europe.

“I am very concerned about having police work as tax collectors for this city,” Gruneisen said. “I would like a stronger police presence, a more visible police force out there, as a caretaker and a friend of the people that live here.”

Whelchel said Boca Raton’s plans for red-light cameras were on hold, but that the first county red-light camera would go up soon at Palmetto Park Road and Powerline.

“So you may not even notice if you’re in the city or the county when you run that first red light and get a ticket,” Whelchel said.

On annexing adjacent neighborhoods, Whelchel said Boca Raton would not do it unless it financially benefited the city.

Gruneisen said it was another topic she was not familiar with. “I’m sure I’m up to the task of evaluating it objectively, fairly and to the benefit of the city of Boca Raton,” she added.

Summing up, Whelchel said, “We live in an outstanding, beautiful community that is considered a premier city. We have fabulous hospitals, we have fabulous universities, a great quality of life, outstanding public schools, a wonderful fire-rescue services, AAA bond rating, the lowest tax rate in the county and wonderful cultural arts. 

“And I intend to keep it that way.”

Gruneisen said she was proud to be part of the political process.

“As I’m sure all of you noticed, I’m not a professional candidate here, I’m not a professional career politician, but I’m very, very glad that I’m here,” Gruneisen said. “There’s been a great deal of interest on the election this cycle. … I hope that in the future we will always have this much interest in our elections, because it’s a very important aspect of living
in America.’’   Ú

Election Results:

Mayor

Susan Whelchel - 3,903 votes, 85.37%

Linda Spurling Gruneisen - 669 votes, 14.63%

Boca Raton Election: Once candidate offers specifics; the other not so much

The race between incumbent Mayor Susan Whelchel and challenger Linda Spurling Gruneisen will be the only contest on the March 8 ballot. The mayor is paid $750 a month plus $350 a month in car expenses and council members are paid $600 a month, plus $350 in car expenses, for three-year terms.

Re-elected without opposition to the City Council are Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie in Seat A and Michael Mullaugh in Seat B. 

LINDA SPURLING GRUNEISEN

PERSONAL: 41; married; B.A. liberal arts, Florida Atlantic University.

PROFESSIONAL: Certified professional guardian and homemaker.

POLITICAL: First run for office.

PRIORITY: The current council plans to balance our budget by closing parks and recreation facilities, installing parking meters, putting up red-light cameras and raising indirect taxes. These ideas are all destructive. It is my aim to generate ideas that are constructive. The current strategy reflects a failure to recognize the many possibilities that our unique position gives us.

The race between incumbent Mayor Susan Whelchel and challenger Linda Spurling Gruneisen will be the only contest on the March 8 ballot. The mayor is paid $750 a month plus $350 a month in car expenses and council members are paid $600 a month, plus $350 in car expenses, for three-year terms.

Re-elected without opposition to the City Council are Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie in Seat A and Michael Mullaugh in Seat B. 

SUSAN WHELCHEL (i)

PERSONAL: 67; married; four children; B.S. political science and psychology, Jacksonville University; master course work in psychology, Nova University and Florida Atlantic University.

PROFESSIONAL: Retired from family business; former schoolteacher.

POLITICAL: Serving first term as mayor; former City Council member; former Palm Beach County School Board member.

PRIORITY: My priority is job creation/economic development, public safety, neighborhood and qualify of life issues, and education.                         — C.B. Hanif

Election Results:

Mayor/Commissioner

Bernard Featherman - 440 votes, 51.28%

Jim Newill - 418 votes, 48.72%

Highland Beach Election: Regrets extend to Illlinois in e-mail flap; former Ocean Ridge manager filling in

Voters will elect one mayor/commissioner for a term of three years. Commissioners receive $12,000 a year; the mayor receives $15,000. Dennis Sheridan won with no opposition to fill Commission Seat 1 from retiring commissioner John Sorrelli. 

BERNARD FEATHERMAN

PERSONAL: 81; married; two children; B.S. Temple University; attended graduate business school and law school, Temple University; completed banking course, Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

PROFESSIONAL: Retired president of metal manufacturing company.

POLITICAL: Secretary Villa Costa condo board; recently reappointed to U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Board in Washington, D.C; served with three White House Conferences for Small Business with three presidents; former president of Association of Steel Distributors for the United States and Canada; served on board of American Red Cross Southern Region; former chair for the county of Philadelphia Mental Health and Mental Retardation Advisory Board for three mayors; board of Philadelphia Community Economic Development Council; former president and state treasurer of Association for Retarded Citizens of Philadelphia; city of Philadelphia Mayor’s Tax Policy and Budget Review Committee; former vice chair Southeast Pennsylvania Chapter National Foundation of the March of Dimes.

PRIORITY: I want to restore the town manager to his position because I think there are some very highly questionable situations going on. And we want to get the volunteers for our committees restored. Right now they’ve closed several down and they have a magistrate or an outside person, who probably is a lawyer, who makes decisions for the residents whether they like it or not. We want to give the town back to the people.

JIM NEWILL (i)

PERSONAL: 76; married; one child; B.S. business administration, Saint Vincent College; continuing education 40-plus hours a year.

PROFESSIONAL: Certified public accountant, owner, J W Newill, CPA; member American Institute of CPAs; member Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs and NAA; Who’s Who in American Finance & Industry; served on boards of financial institutions past 35 years.

POLITICAL: Mayor since 2007; board member Palm Beach County League of Cities; former commissioner; served on financial advisory board.

PRIORITY: My priority is to continue to maintain civility, courtesy and respect at commission meetings; continue my two-term commission pledge to fiscal responsibility, accountability and accuracy; continue to use performance measurement to justify need first and cost second on all projects; work to maintain the high quality of life in our town; work to preserve and protect the town’s natural resources; continue working to promote effective, fair government; continue working to maintain a balanced budget and stable tax rate. I fully understand and agree with the town manager/commission form of government, rather than a mayor-driven form of government; my only agenda is what is best for the town, the residents and the employees. The only legacy I will strive for is one of fairness and to provide a voice for the residents.                                                                                                     — C.B. Hanif

O'Brian's

51 SE First Ave., Boca Raton; 561-338-7565

Wishing Well

111 SE Mizner Blvd. Boca Raton; 561-750-5208

Holloway's Pub

504 Via De Palmas, Boca Raton; 561-361-8445

Dubliner

435 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 561-620-2540

Tim Finnegan's Irish Pub

1725 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach; 561-330-3153

O'Connor's

210 NE Second St., Delray Beach; 561-330-0022

Slainte

1500 Gateway Blvd., Boynton Beach; 561-742-4190

Brogue's on the Avenue

621 Lake Ave., Lake Worth; 561-585-1885

Maria Quezada of Boca Raton and her
Cairn terrier, Kaege, attend the Toto Look-a-Like
Contest in Mizner Park.  Quezada, dressed as Dorothy
from The Wizard of Oz, was a contest judge and is an
employee at Mizner Park’s Love My Puppy store.
Photo by Tim Stepien

By Thom Smith

Films by an award-winning veteran, a successful actor making the leap to directing and a dedicated local filmmaker who keeps plugging away: the Palm Beach International Film Festival, as usual, will offer a little bit of everything during its March 23-28 run. 

The opener will be Win Win, whose director, Thomas McCarthy, made a name for himself acting in The Lovely Bones, 2012, and in several installments of The Wire. So now he’s behind the camera, barking orders to the likes of Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan and Jeffrey Tambor. 

Mark Medoff, by comparison, was making headlines before McCarthy reached puberty, winning a Tony as a playwright for Children of a Lesser God, but he’s acted in,  directed and produced more than his share, including Clara’s Heart. Now the University of Miami grad, who also served as the Burt Reynolds Eminent Scholar at FSU’s theater school, is back as writer and director of festival feature Refuge, starring Linda Hamilton and Christopher McDonald. 

And then we have Frank Eberling. He’s had a love affair with a camera in Palm Beach County for more than 30 years. Started as a TV news shooter, branched into documentaries and even dabbled in a couple of locally made features and taught his craft to hundreds of high school and college students. Frank’s latest project is Turkles, which he wrote, directed and filmed. It’s a kids comedy about turtle egg poachers and, as is typical of Eberling’s productions, cast and crew are locals. 

The festival will close March 28 with The First Grader, a Kenyan film about the struggle to get the education he could never afford by an 84-year-old man. 

As for the suspense, well, most of it has abated along with rumors that the festival would not be held this year.

“That was never true,” festival Executive Director Randi Emerman said. “The only question was about Mizner Park Cinema, because we knew it was going to close. But we’ve got it all worked out.”

Instead of Mizner, the festival’s Boca site will be the new Living Room Theaters on the FAU campus. Screenings also will be held at the Movies of Delray, Lake Worth Playhouse and Muvico CityPlace in West Palm Beach. Boca’s Bridge is the host hotel this year.

Festival organizers have kept the celeb list a tight secret, but they did let on that this year’s Golden Palm Award will go to Richard Jenkins. 

The Visitor, in which he appeared with McCarthy, is just one of 20 credits for Jenkins since 2005, and it earned him an Oscar nomination. Actually, his career stretches back to Silverado (1985) and before, and includes The Witches of Eastwick, Stealing Home, Sea of Love, There’s Something About Mary, Random Hearts, Shall We Dance, Eat, Pray, Love and the just-released Hall Pass. Jenkins will be honored at a new event, the Silver Screen Splash on March 25, at the Boca Resort & Club swimming pool.

“If it rains, I have a backup,” Emerman said. “And in keeping with our commitment to make this a festival for everyone, people can go to every film and every event, including the Splash, with a Platinum Pass for just $300. A $150 Gold Pass admits to every event except the Splash, and a pass for the festival films is offered to students for $35.” (www.pbifilmfest.org).

Busy man that Dennis Lambert. 

The singer-songwriter will perform at the Film Festival’s big Splash. He’s already performed at the festival … on film in 2008, a documentary his son Jody directed, which has since inspired Warner Bros. to begin a feature about his life … with Steve Carell in the title role. Next up — April 22 at FAU’s Kaye Auditorium — is a concert, appropriately titled, “He wrote THAT?”, because Lambert, who is best known around Boca as a real estate agent (Double Platinum Realtors) has been nominated for 12 songwriting

Richard Jenkins

Grammys, including Starship’s We Built This City, the Four Tops’ Ain’t No Woman, One Tin Soldier and Rhinestone Cowboy among more than 80 Billboard hits. 

The concert will kick off a national tour, and will feature a few guests, including R&B stars Tavares, Starship’s Mickey Thomas and Player’s Peter Beckett. For tickets, $40 to $125, visit fauevents.com or call 800-564-9539.

Some of Lambert’s friends will be here earlier — March 14, also at FAU. Hal Linden of Barney Miller fame, South Pacific’s William Michaels, comedians Robert Klein and Sal Richards, the Platters, and others, will be raising money for City of Hope. Tickets from $40 to $125 for VIP including after-show dinner at Matteo’s. (fauevents.com or 800-564-9539)

In August 1988, deadpan one-liner comic Steven Wright filled the Carefree Theatre in West Palm Beach. He was a howl, but when the show was over, the crowd was talking just as much about the opening act. He could play piano, he could sing and he could tell a pretty good joke or two himself.

That was Harry Connick Jr.’s first visit to South Florida. Soon he was big, really big. 

Connick never forgot that promoter Jon Stoll of Fantasma Productions gave him that chance, and he returned often. He’ll be back April 9, with orchestra for AEG Live, Fantasma’s successor, at Mizner Park Amphitheater. 

“We think it’s a perfect spot for Harry,” AEG V.P. John Valentino said of his first show at the Amphitheater since the city took it over from LiveNation.  “We’ll see how it goes, but we expect to do a lot more.”

Three days before at Mizner, LiveNation will present Further, comprised of Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. Between the two shows, we’ll see how freeloading fans respond to new barricades to keep them off the median and the prohibition against coolers and open containers. 

AEG also is producing several shows in April and May at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in South County Regional Park west of Boca, with Darius Rucker just added for May 12. 

A non-AEG show featuring Little River Band is set for March 19, a benefit for Kids in Distress. Tickets are $35 or $75 for VIP seats that include beverages, snacks and a meet and greet with the band.  

Speaking of topnotch entertainment and a little inspiration to boot, you can’t go wrong with Bobby Bowden. He may have retired from coaching, but he hasn’t lost his knack for telling tales. He’s also been writing: The book is titled Called to Coach, and he’ll no doubt mention it March 9 when he speaks at the YMCA prayer breakfast at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. For tickets, $75, call Terri Evans at 561-237-0943.

Boca has landed a real, honest-to-goodness pro sports team. Palm Beach County resident and magicJack inventor Dan Borislow bought the Washington Freedom of the Women’s Professional Soccer League, is renaming it magicTalk SC and moving it south for the 2011 season. Reports have the team splitting its home games between Boca and D.C., using FAU’s soccer stadium as the home field

For talent, the team boasts Abby Wambach, 2010 U.S. Women’s Player of the Year and Olympic gold medalist, and Boca Raton product Caitlin Miskel, 23, entering her sophomore season. League play begins April 9. Stay tuned.

More than 800 chocophiles packed the Boca Center courtyard Feb. 3 for the Junior League of Boca’s 10th annual Chocolate Decadence. While most of the participating restaurants offered a variety of desserts and libations — all infused with chocolate — Nunzio Billante, executive chef at Rocco’s Tacos, took honors for his main dish: Pork Mole Sopes. He picked up the recipe and technique while on vacation in the Yucatan. A couple of choco martinis also drew raves. The party raised nearly $50,000 for the Junior League’s programs.

So what’s a pro golfer to do after his first round at the Allianz Championship at Broken Sound? Well, if you’re David Frost, you make straight for the wine tent. The second annual Allianz Golf & Wine Experience showcases wines and spirits marketed by professional golfers, including Frost, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Fuzzy Zoeller (he bottles vodka). Unlike his contemporaries, Frost didn’t invest in the grape after making his money on the green.

“My family has been growing grapes and making wine for more than 60 years,” Frost said. “I was working in the vineyards long before I was playing golf. It’s not something I take lightly.”

In fact, Frost paid for his first clubs with money he made picking grapes. He bought his own vineyard in

David Frost, left.

Fuzzy Zoeller, right.

his native South Africa in 1994 and produced his first cases in 1997, perfect timing since South African wines are now considered among the world’s best. 

Incidentally, Frost placed ninth and pocketed $48,600, not bad for three days work. Bet it beats picking grapes. 

Thom Smith is a freelance writer. He can be reached at thomsmith@ymail.com

Dubliner plans an Irish buffet for St. Patrick’s
Day at its  Mizner Park location.  Photos provided

By Jan Norris

If everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, they might all be in south Palm Beach County. The area’s Irish pubs and bars all are pulling out the stops, and offering up plenty of Irish fare and entertainment throughout the day.

To help you order food and drink properly — and get what you expect — here’s a brief guide:

Shepherd’s pie: We assure you, no shepherds are harmed in the making of this dish. Traditionally, this is a potpie made with leftover meats, vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes. Versions today include ground beef, carrots and peas, and mashed potatoes often topped with cheese and run under a broiler.

Bangers and mash: House-made sausages with mashed potatoes. Like many other dishes on Irish menus, it’s an English favorite, too. These are dinner sausages, fat ones made with pork or beef. They’re called bangers because the original ones made with water to stretch them during lean war years, exploded readily under high heat cooking. They often served with an onion-heavy gravy. It’s considered a ploughman’s lunch favorite, or blue-collar fare, to you Yanks.

Boxty: Ireland’s version of the potato pancake. If there’s a country that knows ways with potatoes, it’s the Emerald Isle. Boxty is something every cook learns as a side dish.

Corned beef and cabbage: Something you rarely find in Ireland, but it’s a big favorite of American Irish and represents their new homeland’s fare. To many, it also means a tasty New England boiled supper. It is what is appears: corned beef slices, with boiled cabbage alongside. Sometimes, it’s accompanied by boiled or mashed potatoes.

Fish and chips: Fried fish and french fries. Typically served up in a cone made of newspaper. You’ll have a harder time finding a real newspaper wrapping than you will getting the food; the combo is common today in most Irish pubs and American ones, too.

White pudding: Part of the traditional Irish breakfast, this pudding is made of oatmeal, pork and pork suet, and bread. It’s typically sliced and fried, and served with eggs and black pudding.

Black pudding: Made with meal and meat blood (pork, beef or sheep), it’s a type of sausage that is grilled, fried or boiled. It’s well known in the County Cork and Clonakilty regions of Ireland — and in the Southern U.S., where it’s called blood sausage.

Guinness: This yeasty stout is often called “bread in a glass.” Rich and sturdy, it warmed the bones in the chill Irish winters. There’s much debate over what temperature to serve it at. You’ll get it cold, or warm or somewhere in between. Nonetheless, ask this way: “Pull a pint, please.” Guinness is never poured, it’s pulled, and traditionally, should take 119 seconds for the perfect pint. You can mess with your bartender on this, but I wouldn’t do it on St. Pat’s Day. Just saying. If you’ve got a real experienced pint-puller, look for a shamrock drawn in the foam. (Harp is the other Irish beer to ask for. It’s a lager. On no account would you on this day order a Bass Ale.)

That green stuff: Just regular beer with food coloring.

Where to be Irish

There is a cluster of Irish pubs in the Mizner Park-Royal Palm Place area.

For the top o’ the mornin’ types, hit O’Brian’s Irish Pub in Royal Palm Place. At the former O’Connell’s, “We open at 8 a.m., serving breakfast — corned beef hash and eggs,” said Brian O’Brien, manager. Expect First Street to be closed off for the two circus tents they put up to hold the Irish dancers, bagpipers, leprechauns, live bands and assorted other entertainers.

“The Downtown Grill will be providing the food for the day. We’ll have corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and Irish stew. And of course, there will be several beer trucks.” It’s free admission and goes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the Wishing Well Irish Pub, also in Royal Palm Place, live bands are on stage all day, starting around 11 a.m. Five bars pulling plenty of Guinness will be set up around the tent in the parking lot in front of the pub, and corned beef and cabbage, corned beef sandwiches and shepherd’s pie will be on the day’s menu. Bagpipers, an Irish dance troupe and entertainers will perform in the tent. The fun here runs to 2 a.m.

                                                            Pipers get in the spirit at Holloway’s Pub in Boca Raton.  

Holloway’s Irish Pub will have a tent in the parking lot to spread out under. Walt Rooney will provide Irish music inside, with several other bands set up outdoors. Bagpipers and Irish dancers are expected to drop in. On their menu are shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, and corned beef sandwiches. Expect plenty of beer as well. The action is from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Over in Mizner Park, the Dubliner will use the next-door courtyard and area in front of the pub for serving food to go with all the flowing beer, according to co-owner Scott Frielich. “We’ll have an Irish buffet, with corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and a roasted beet salad. It’s too crazy and too crowded to try to get servers through, so we just have the buffet on St. Pat’s Day,” he said. 150 extra seats have been arranged.

Entertainers include face-painters for the kids and Carl the balloon artist, who fashions balloons into such creations as leprechauns with dogs or umbrellas upon request, he said. “Walt Rooney is an Irish folk singer. He plays from 11 to 3 (p.m.), then the Straw Hat Pickers — kind of Southern spin on Irish with dueling fiddlers — perform. Someday Radio is the U-2 tribute band that is the headliner at 9 till close,” he said. A strolling fiddler, bag pipers and Irish dance groups from local schools will perform. The all day celebration is from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Sláinte (say “slancha”) in Boynton Beach will party all over the parking lot and inside the Irish bar and restaurant. They open at 8 a.m. with a hearty Irish breakfast served, and continue throughout the day, serving a mix of both Irish and American favorites. Indoors, they’ll have bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie; outdoors, burgers and sandwiches are on the menu. 

Bands indoors include Kilbillies and BJ Irish; outdoors, the popular local band Evil Monkeys headlines, with Francine wrapping up the night’s entertainment. Other entertainers, not on any schedule, may show up, a restaurant representative said. The beer flows till 2 a.m.

You can start your day with a traditional Irish breakfast, including black or white pudding, at Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Delray Beach. Eggs, fried tomatoes and mushrooms also are served. Stick around for the corned beef and cabbage or corned beef sandwiches, and manager Tom Regan says there also will be green beer, “of course!”

Stay to listen to Gerry Carney, who happens to have a hit single on the Irish music charts in Ireland. “He’s flying in to sing here,” Regan said. The Black Pearl bagpipers also will come to play, and the Irish dancers from local dance schools will make a stop here as well.

At O’Connor’s in Delray Beach, the party actually starts early on March 12, after the St. Patrick’s Day parade. The tent outdoors will serve beer and food inside includes corned beef sandwiches and plenty of Guinness.

Irishman Walt Rooney plays traditional Irish music all day; the band Captain Reese closes the evening.

Brogue’s on the Avenue in Lake Worth will take their party to the streets, specifically K Street alongside the restaurant, following the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on the avenue. Their private Banshee Room will be open to serve the food that includes corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, fish and chips and more. 

They open early and will serve a traditional Irish breakfast. White pudding, black pudding, eggs, Irish sausage, Irish bacon, tomatoes and potatoes are on that menu. 

John Dougherty leads the Irish music and the band People Upstairs closes. In between are bagpipers, Irish dancers and other performers.                         Ú

Vintner Dinners 

Time and date: 7 p.m. March 18,  

Tickets: $300; reservations required

Celebrated Mango Gang chefs team with vintners to create intimate dinners served in private homes and other venues throughout eastern Boca Raton. 

The Bacchanal & Auction

Time and date: 6 p.m. March 19, 

Location: Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton 

Tickets: $250; reservations required

In a lush tropical setting, sip, dine and bid at this food and wine extravaganza created by the hotel chefs and the weekend’s celebrity chefs. Bid in both silent and live auctions.

The Grand Tasting 

Time and date:  noon to 3 p.m. March 20, 

Location: Mizner Park Amphitheatre, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton 

Tickets: $85 in advance; $100 at the gate

An alfresco luncheon served on the tented green, featuring bite-size tastes of food from about 30 local restaurants and samples of 140 wines. You also can discover herbs, produce, specialty oils and foods in ‘The Marketplace.’

For information and reservations 

Visit www.bocabacchanal.com

Call 395-6766, Ext. 101

Proceeds benefit the Boca Raton Historical Society’s Historic Preservation and Heritage Education Programs.

Hunting for old treasures? Here are some nearby antique events to get you started.

• West Palm Beach Antiques Festival. March 4-6: West Palm Beach; Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd.,West Palm Beach. Hours: Friday, early buying, 9 a.m-noon; Show, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. (941) 697-7475. www.wpbaf.com. 

• Evening on Antique Row. March 5. The Evening on Antique Row closes Dixie Highway between Southern Boulevard and Greenwood Avenue with live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, bicycle rides and more, allowing visitors to explore the area’s 50 unique shops, each offering collections of 17th- to 20th-century antiques, decorative arts, period furnishings and fine art. Hours 6-9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased for $55 each at the check-in booths for the event in the 3300, 3600 and 3900 blocks of South Dixie Highway. (After-Party begins at 9 p.m.; special ticket required), Tickets for the Young Friends After Party are $100 each and include admission to the Evening On Antique Row. Tickets may be purchased at the event check-in booths or at the entrance to the After Party. (561) 832-4164, Ext. 103. www.historicalsocietypbc.org.

• Stuart Antique Show. 26th year. March 12-13, Martin County Fairgrounds , 2616 SE Dixie Highway (A1A), Stuart. Hours: Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (941) 697-7272. www.floridaantiqueshows.com.

• Quester Annual Antiques Show & Sale. March 19-20, Flagler Recreation Center, 201 SW Flagler Ave., Stuart. Hours: Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. (772) 220-4600. www.floridaantiqueshows.com -- Jan Norris

Leslie Keno (left) and Leigh Keno
describe the details that make their
furniture line special. Photo by Tim Stepien

Find out about local antique shows

By Jan Norris

The Keno twins, Leigh and Leslie, have to be the most polite brothers anywhere.

While constantly finishing one another’s thoughts, they verbally stepped aside for one another — “You continue” “No, you, please!” — while talking furniture and antiques at a recent Robb & Stucky appearance.

Leslie and Leigh Keno, well known to Antiques Roadshow viewers as period furniture appraisers, were in Boca Raton to promote their own furniture collection designed with Theodore Alexander and sold at Robb & Stucky stores.

They have long envisioned their own line of furniture, Leslie said. “Part of what we do is make judgment calls on art and antiques; we have to evaluate the history of a piece and judging the quality of the design and workmanship.”

Leigh continued, “It was a natural lead-in to having our own ideas about what is classic, and will stand up as an heirloom.”

After meeting and evaluating the work of Alexander, they felt their line would fit well with his philosophy.

“We met Theodore at High Point, and saw his John Goddard tea table from his Rep-li-ca line. We couldn’t believe the quality of the workmanship. I was sure I’d either bought or sold one at Sotheby’s,” Leslie said. 

The brothers were amazed, too, at the value of the pieces; the price was reasonable for the quality of the workmanship, they said.

“It was quality we knew we wanted to work with,” Leslie said. “A year later we agreed to do a line with the same attention to detail.”

They put their favorite designs from centuries ago into the updated pieces: S-curves, perfectly proportioned clean lines, and a decided lack of excess ornamentation.

What resulted was a sensuous array of pieces: tables with delicately curved legs, square nesting tables, bureaus with a serpentine curve front, and the best seller so far — the wooden Slope chair.

“We sat down to do at sketches,” Leslie said, “and we brought in elements from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. We took some from everything we love: a little Chippendale, some Queen Anne, Modernism, Saarinen, Danish modern. We had a lot of inspiration.”

It wasn’t just other furniture, Leigh said. “The sideboard has a checkerboard weave front. That was inspired by wooden woven baskets.”

The pieces are multifunctional to bring them into the 21st century lifestyles, they said. “In today’s world, multifunctional pieces are key — a bureau that can be used for a flat-screen TV stand, for instance, or a writing desk for eating. Our Slope chair is equally at home in the dining room or in the living room,” Leigh said. “We think our line meshes with modern lifestyles.”

Leslie added, “We wanted to design pieces that we would want to live with ourselves. I’ve got two dogs and two kids. I travel a lot. I know the hectic pace we all live at today.”

Their homes reflect the flurry of travel and TV appearances, as well as auction houses they are involved in.  Leigh laughed and said his house is like a bachelor’s pad — shirts are everywhere. “It’s my son and I. I’m a single parent. Leslie’s got it good. His wife is a terrific housekeeper. No, don’t say that. Just say she’s wonderful!”

As for using antiques in Florida homes, the twins say they work well. “Classic pieces go with modern classics,” Leslie said. “Mix things up, but not in a cluttered way. 

“And thanks to techniques and attention to detail like we discussed, climate and humidity aren’t a problem for new wood furniture. Varnishes are green [eco-friendly], and are hand rubbed numerous times. We saw them doing this ourselves. The brass ornaments have more copper in it to prevent tarnishing. All these details add up to the quality that we want to see in any piece.”

The 50-something-year-old men were raised around antiques: Their mother had a shop. They learned early how to evaluate and appreciate the history behind the pieces.

“It’s amazing to me that you can perform the same actions as someone did 200 or 300 years ago. I like the fact that we still have today musical clocks from the Revolutionary period. We can hear the exact same music as maybe a Patriot did 200 years ago.”

How do the guys keep themselves from collecting every piece they love, since they still get excited about certain pieces after all these years?

“Life wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t still find things we like to live with or want,” Leigh said.

Leslie agreed. “Collecting is a primal part of being human. It starts when we’re children, picking up shells on the beach or rocks. As we get older, certainly we’re more selective. It’s when you collect too much you get in trouble. Those are the ones going for quantity over quality.

“Buy the best you can afford and reduce your collections. Continue to educate yourself, and upgrade. Buy for quality over quantity. That said,” he laughed, “I can appreciate those who
can’t help themselves.”   Ú

Robb & Stucky is at 200 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, in Mizner Park.

Reinaldo Padrino, seen under the Spanish River
Boulevard bridge, is a commercial diver and bridge
inspector who writes short stories and works
with a writers group at Highland Beach Library.
Photo by Tim Stepien

When Reinaldo Padrino talks about his life, people often tell him he really needs to write a book.

“Well, maybe someday,” Padrino says. For now, the 52-year-old commercial diver and bridge inspector concentrates his writings to short stories. And he appreciates the feedback he collects from his friends at a writers group that meets at the Highland Beach library.

“It is relaxing and my fellow writers like my quirky stories,” says the Cuban-born wordsmith. “Plus it is something I can do when I am not able to run around diving on bridges or climbing [and inspecting highway] signs.”

Working as a commercial diver in the offshore oil industry, Padrino has done and seen things most people never get to do or see.  

“I worked on the [construction] of the Shell Cognac rig in 1978, which at the time was the deepest (1,025 feet) and tallest (1,350 feet) fixed oil rig in the world,” he explains.  “Because I am bilingual, the company sent me to jobs in Mexico, like the Ixtoc blowout in the Gulf of Campeche, which took 10 months to cap and spewed 30,000 barrels a day —a 1979 accident similar to what just happened in the Gulf of Mexico with BP.  

“I also worked in Guatemala on the Rio Dulce, where a French company was building a pipeline practically through the jungle and they needed divers for the river crossing.” 

Closer to home, Padrino was the fellow who found hungry, wood-boring insects chomping away on the Royal Park Bridge (the middle bridge to Palm Beach from West Palm Beach). 

The Highland Beach man is still inspecting bridges large and small, including the many little bridges at Disney World.

He has always been comfortable around water. His grandfather, Domingo, taught him to swim before he learned to walk. 

“We had a summer/weekend house on Jaimanitas beach west of Havana that was enclosed within a seawall, which made it like a swimming pool with marine life,” Padrino says.

He enjoys kayaking in the Atlantic just off the beach from his condo and is delighted when he finds himself surrounded by dolphin or little spinner sharks. He and his wife, Gail, a physical therapist, like to travel and snorkel. 

His colleagues in the writers group like to hear him talk about his experiences working with his father’s limo service in Miami. He helps out during special occasions, like when the Super Bowl is in Miami.

His clients have included boxing champ Muhammad Ali, retired astronaut Frank Borman, and Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who, he says, are very, very nice.

“Gloria always invited us in for pastelitos.” 

— Mary Thurwachter

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? 

A. I was born in Habana Cuba; my family immigrated to this country in 1967, when I was 8.  

We came on the Freedom Flights and settled in Miami, near the airport.  I went to Kinloch Park Elementary and Junior High schools, then graduated from Miami Senior High in 1976 and attended George T. Baker aviation school as a high school elective. I got my commercial diver degree from Al Mikalow’s Coastal School of Deep Sea Diving in Oakland, Calif. 

Q. How did you choose to make your home in Highland Beach?

A. I got lucky. I used to drive by along on A1A admiring the condos and homes. Then on Dec. 17, 1995, I saw an ad in the Sunday paper for a condo on the beach. Even though it was out of my price range, I decided to take a look. Once I stepped out on the balcony and saw the ocean, I decided that I would somehow figure out a way to make it happen.

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Highland Beach?

A. I love that I can snorkel, kayak and walk along a dynamic beach that sometimes feels like my private beach. 

Q. What are some of your interests outside of work?  

A. Snorkeling and kayaking, which is something I do right here in Highland Beach.  I love to travel with my wife, Gail. We recently hiked in Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, snorkeled with whale sharks off the Yucatan Peninsula and with manatees in Crystal River, Florida. And after seeing the humpback whales in Maui, we are hoping, maybe, next year to spend a week snorkeling and swimming with humpback whales along the Silver Banks, 70 miles north of the Dominican Republic.  I also dabble in photography.

Q. What got you interested in writing?

A. One day a couple of years ago, I saw a flier at the Highland Beach library for a writing workshop and decided to try it out, and really liked it.

Q. What is your latest short story about? 

A. It is about a young woman whose office is in 86th story of the World Trade Center. She has a meeting at 9 a.m. on the morning of 9/11 on the 62nd floor and decides to go to the meeting early rather than endure somebody’s intoxicating perfume on the elevator and avoids being above the impact area. I think it is a story about fate, how a person’s life can be changed, doomed or saved by the flip of a coin or a sudden decision. 

Q. If someone made a movie of your life, whom would you like to play you and why?

A. Telly Savalas, Yul Brynner or Curly Howard, because of the physical appearance and toughness of the first two and the wackiness of Curly.

Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?  

A. I listen to the blues on Sirius Satellite radio for both.  

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?

A. I got my work ethic from my parents and grandparents.  My father started working at Miami International Airport on the midnight shift of the day we arrived from Cuba, and within a year we owned a house near the airport and had started a limousine business, which is what he did in Cuba. My mother, who had been a home economics teacher, started working at a clothing factory back when Miami had a big clothing manufacturing industry and many Cuban women worked in them. My grandparents, who were in their 60s, would get up at 4 a.m. to go pick tomatoes in Homestead. Also, Richard Barthold, who was my mentor, diving partner and friend.  He taught me the intricacies of underwater bridge inspection.

Q. Who/what makes you laugh?

A. My taste for comedy is eclectic, from Sasha Baron Cohen to Sarah Silverman to Howard Stern.  I like Johnny Knoxville and his Jackass cohorts and I also enjoy British humor like Fawlty Towers, Absolutely Fabulous and Monty Python. However, the comedians I grew up with are still my favorites, like Steve Martin, Rodney Dangerfield, John Belushi and Richard Pryor.

Leslie Keno (left) and Leigh Keno
describe the details that make their
furniture line special. Photo by Tim Stepien

Find out about local antique shows

By Jan Norris

The Keno twins, Leigh and Leslie, have to be the most polite brothers anywhere.

While constantly finishing one another’s thoughts, they verbally stepped aside for one another — “You continue” “No, you, please!” — while talking furniture and antiques at a recent Robb & Stucky appearance.

Leslie and Leigh Keno, well known to Antiques Roadshow viewers as period furniture appraisers, were in Boca Raton to promote their own furniture collection designed with Theodore Alexander and sold at Robb & Stucky stores.

They have long envisioned their own line of furniture, Leslie said. “Part of what we do is make judgment calls on art and antiques; we have to evaluate the history of a piece and judging the quality of the design and workmanship.”

Leigh continued, “It was a natural lead-in to having our own ideas about what is classic, and will stand up as an heirloom.”

After meeting and evaluating the work of Alexander, they felt their line would fit well with his philosophy.

“We met Theodore at High Point, and saw his John Goddard tea table from his Rep-li-ca line. We couldn’t believe the quality of the workmanship. I was sure I’d either bought or sold one at Sotheby’s,” Leslie said. 

The brothers were amazed, too, at the value of the pieces; the price was reasonable for the quality of the workmanship, they said.

“It was quality we knew we wanted to work with,” Leslie said. “A year later we agreed to do a line with the same attention to detail.”

They put their favorite designs from centuries ago into the updated pieces: S-curves, perfectly proportioned clean lines, and a decided lack of excess ornamentation.

What resulted was a sensuous array of pieces: tables with delicately curved legs, square nesting tables, bureaus with a serpentine curve front, and the best seller so far — the wooden Slope chair.

“We sat down to do at sketches,” Leslie said, “and we brought in elements from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. We took some from everything we love: a little Chippendale, some Queen Anne, Modernism, Saarinen, Danish modern. We had a lot of inspiration.”

It wasn’t just other furniture, Leigh said. “The sideboard has a checkerboard weave front. That was inspired by wooden woven baskets.”

The pieces are multifunctional to bring them into the 21st century lifestyles, they said. “In today’s world, multifunctional pieces are key — a bureau that can be used for a flat-screen TV stand, for instance, or a writing desk for eating. Our Slope chair is equally at home in the dining room or in the living room,” Leigh said. “We think our line meshes with modern lifestyles.”

Leslie added, “We wanted to design pieces that we would want to live with ourselves. I’ve got two dogs and two kids. I travel a lot. I know the hectic pace we all live at today.”

Their homes reflect the flurry of travel and TV appearances, as well as auction houses they are involved in.  Leigh laughed and said his house is like a bachelor’s pad — shirts are everywhere. “It’s my son and I. I’m a single parent. Leslie’s got it good. His wife is a terrific housekeeper. No, don’t say that. Just say she’s wonderful!”

As for using antiques in Florida homes, the twins say they work well. “Classic pieces go with modern classics,” Leslie said. “Mix things up, but not in a cluttered way. 

“And thanks to techniques and attention to detail like we discussed, climate and humidity aren’t a problem for new wood furniture. Varnishes are green [eco-friendly], and are hand rubbed numerous times. We saw them doing this ourselves. The brass ornaments have more copper in it to prevent tarnishing. All these details add up to the quality that we want to see in any piece.”

The 50-something-year-old men were raised around antiques: Their mother had a shop. They learned early how to evaluate and appreciate the history behind the pieces.

“It’s amazing to me that you can perform the same actions as someone did 200 or 300 years ago. I like the fact that we still have today musical clocks from the Revolutionary period. We can hear the exact same music as maybe a Patriot did 200 years ago.”

How do the guys keep themselves from collecting every piece they love, since they still get excited about certain pieces after all these years?

“Life wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t still find things we like to live with or want,” Leigh said.

Leslie agreed. “Collecting is a primal part of being human. It starts when we’re children, picking up shells on the beach or rocks. As we get older, certainly we’re more selective. It’s when you collect too much you get in trouble. Those are the ones going for quantity over quality.

“Buy the best you can afford and reduce your collections. Continue to educate yourself, and upgrade. Buy for quality over quantity. That said,” he laughed, “I can appreciate those who
can’t help themselves.”   Ú

Robb & Stucky is at 200 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, in Mizner Park.

Members of the Mango Gang, including
Allen Susser (left) and Mark Militello, will
cook during events at this year’s Boca Bacchanal.
Photo provided

List of Boca Bacchanal Events

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

The Mango Gang is back in town just in time for the ninth Annual Boca Bacchanal, March 18 through 20. 

The original gang — chefs Allen Susser, Mark Militello, Douglas Rodriguez and Norman Van Aken — flavored Florida’s agricultural wealth with Caribbean, Cuban and Latin American influences to create their signature Floribbean cuisine. 

“These great chefs had the vision and talent to utilize our fresh local produce, the bounty from Florida’s waters and the influences of our geography and rich cultural mix to create a unique style of cooking,” says Debbie Abrams, president of the board of the Boca Raton Historical Society, which will benefit from this fundraiser.  

The gang promoted their creations in the 1980s when regional American cooking was just becoming trendy. 

“The food made sense in Florida’s weather. It was simple, light and used local ingredients that many of today’s chefs are just discovering 25 years later,” says Militello, who was owner of the eponymous Mark’s Place in North Miami when the Mango Gang ruled. He also had restaurants at Mizner Park and CityPlace.

And it was these chefs who earned Florida its chops in the culinary world.

“Before we came along and started to work together and collaborate, there was no food scene in South Florida. There was no forward-looking, innovative cooking or anything to put the area on the map,” Susser says.

Thanks to the efforts of these chefs and those they influenced, South Florida took its rightful place in the culinary world, where it has remained ever since. 

Chefs, vintners paired

The bacchanal weekend features intimate dinners prepared by these chefs and those they influenced, as well as a blowout auction held during a dinner at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, and a chance to sample dishes from local restaurants served under a tent in Mizner Park.

On the chef roster for the weekend is Militello (restaurant consultant, Pompano Beach), Susser (Chef Allen’s, Aventura), Rodriguez (D. Rodriguez Cuba and Ola Miami, Miami Beach), Robbin Haas (Gulf Coast Kitchen at the Montauk Yacht Club Resort, New York; and Bistro Cinq, Antigua, Guatemala), Oliver Saucy (Darryl & Oliver’s Café Maxx, Pompano Beach) and Cindy Hutson (Ortanique on the Mile, Coral Gables; and Ortanique Grand Cayman). 

The chefs will be showcased when the Bacchanal kicks off March 18 with six Vintner Dinners. Each pairs one of the guest chefs with a wine producer and a theme such as “Chef Oliver’s Culinary French Kiss” or “Bubbles d’Cuba!”

“We give great attention to how we match the chefs with the vintners so that each complements the other’s distinctive style,” says Chris Kearney of event partner Republic National Distributing Co. “The result is an amazing collaboration,” adds Kearney who is also the Bacchanal’s wine advisory chairman. 

Boca homes
host dinners

Participating wineries include Fess Parker Winery & Vineyards of Santa Barbara, Calif.; Champagne Taittinger and Maison Louis Jadot, both of France; and Spring  Mountain Vineyard, ZD Wines and Hall Winery, all of Napa Valley.

What makes this event even more special is that the five-course meals paired with fine wines are prepared and served to small groups in luxurious Boca Raton homes. 

“People love hosting this event because they get to have great chefs in their kitchens,” says event spokeswoman Carla Marsh.

The chefs enjoy the evening, too. “This is my third time to the big dance,” Saucy says. “When you do a private party like this, it’s pure satisfaction right there. There’s no place to hide.”

March 19  the Boca Raton Resort & Club is hosting the Bacchanal & Auction. The event begins with the Taittinger Chef’s Reception during which Champagne will be served with bites prepared by Rodriguez, Saucy, Hutson and Haas. 

Guests can take time from their sipping to bid in a silent auction.

The reception is followed by a dinner prepared by chefs Militello and Susser under the auspices of the resort’s executive chef Andrew Roenbeck. 

Chitchat will be kept to a minimum as diners concentrate on bidding in a live auction during the meal. 

Auction lots include items such as a week-long stay at Villa Bernardi in Tuscany. The holiday for eight guests includes private wine tastings at Chianti classico wineries.

The Bacchanal wraps up March 20 with a Grand Tasting under a tent in Mizner Park. 

Thirty area restaurants, including City Fish Market and Casa D’ Angelo, both of Boca Raton; and Lola Delray, Delray Beach, will provide samples of their menus with 140 wines being poured.

“We are keeping some details under wraps at this point,” says Bacchanal & Auction co-chairman  Stephanie Miskew. “But … I can tell you this will be one of the most … heralded food
and wine events in the country.”

OPAL Awards Gala

The ballroom at The Club at Boca Pointe

The Rotary Club of Boca Raton honored presented its  OPAL (Outstanding People and Leaders) Awards at the 14th annual presentation.

                                                 Mr. and Mrs. Neil Meany, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Fedele and Michael Kaufman

 

                                                                                           Photos by Kelli Boyle

 

Boca Raton Museum Diamond Anniversary Gala

At the Boca Raton Resort & Club

The Boca Raton Museum of Art celebrated its 60th anniversary Feb. 5 with a diamond-themed gala at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. The event raised more than $360,000. 

 

                    Gala Chair Terry Adelman with Paul Carman, president of the Board of Trustees. Photos provided

 

                                                                                        Dani and Jack Sonnenblick                                                                                                          

Pairings Party for Boca Bacchanal

At the Boca Raton Resort & Club

 

 

                                                               Derek and Lisa Vanderploeg and Sylvie and Bernard Godin

 

                                                                       Peggy Henry, Steve Ast and Kate Toomey

 

                                                                                     Photos provided

 

‘A Woman’s Journey’ symposium

At the Palm Beach County Convention Center

 

                                                             Mary Ott (left), Gayl Hackett and Andrea Kornblue attended
                                                                         the Jan. 20 event in West Palm Beach.

                                                                                      Photo provided

  

By Emily J. Minor

BOCA RATON — Carmen B. Dickenson, a descendent of the Minorcan settlers who came to St. Augustine in the 1700s and forever changed the ethnic makeup of Florida, died Feb. 11 at her island condo with the pretty waterfront view. She was 89.

A family member said she had been in failing health for several months.

Mrs. Dickenson spent her childhood and adolescent years in Cleveland, Ohio, but she was really a Florida girl at heart — enjoying gardening, fishing and crabbing until late in her life, said her daughter-in-law, Katharine Dickenson.

“She loved to read. She loved antiques. And she was a devout Catholic,” said Katharine Dickenson.

Katharine Dickenson said some of her mother-in-law’s greatest joys were her children, her grandchildren and her Catholic faith.

“She was a fantastic cake baker,” said her daughter-in-law. “She made the best cakes I’ve ever eaten in my life, and making them was an art form.”

As a young woman, Mrs. Dickenson studied dental hygiene at Northwestern University, where she graduated first in her class in 1941.

It was also at Northwestern where Mrs. Dickenson met her future husband, James Blaine Dickenson Jr., who was studying to become a dentist. After college, the married couple moved to Ashland, Ky., where Dr. Dickenson practiced dentistry and the couple raised their family.

In 1979, they retired permanently to Florida and enjoyed many years together until Mr. Dickenson died in 1994. 

A bit of a perfectionist, Mrs. Dickenson was also famous — at least among family and friends — for her amazing “eggnog cake.”

“Everything was always done perfectly,” said Katharine Dickenson. “Her manners. Her loyalty. Her attitude toward people.”

Mrs. Dickenson is survived by three children, son David B. Dickenson and wife Katharine; son Paul Foster Dickenson, and his wife, Debra; and a daughter, Nancy Ann Dickenson-Hazard, and her husband John. She also is survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services and burial were held the last week of February. 

Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County or St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.