The Delray Beach-based nonprofit Roots and Wings raised more than $50,000 at its inaugural event before a sellout crowd. The fundraiser’s festivities included dinner, a wine presentation, wizard-themed centerpieces, a ‘Wisdom Hunt’ scavenger game and a live auction. The money will support Project UpLift, a tutoring program for students in Title 1 elementary schools. ‘I want to sincerely thank all those who helped make this special inaugural event possible, including the sponsors, those who donated auction items and all those who came out to support the event,’ founder Ted Hoskinson said. ‘The $50,000 raised will go toward our Project UpLift literacy program and will provide more than 100 local students the opportunity to learn to read.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Pamela Weinroth, Jan Savarick, Daniel Hartwell and Pamela Polani. Photo provided by Emiliano Brooks

The YMCA of South Palm Beach County had its victory celebration to wrap up the yearly fundraising effort and proudly shared with donors and volunteers in attendance that it had raised a record-breaking $1,076,571. ‘This campaign was a massive success,’ said Linda Gunn Paton, chairwoman of the 2023 effort. ‘We had a motivated crew of donors, staff, volunteers, members, ambassadors and philanthropic partners involved this year who were committed to sharing the impactful work the Y does in our community. I believe we accomplished that through this campaign.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Paton, Pam Arrieta, Sandra DeJesus, Jackie Reeves, Casey Wilbanks, Michael Sorg, Elke Bojes, Kelley Marcellus, Nicole Grimes, Phil Piedt, Heather Dupree and Michael Nathanson. Photo provided

Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches’ festive annual ceremony raised $900,000 to assist in the fight against homelessness. The event began with the tradition of a serenade by The Kings Academy Choir. Once inside, guests were transported to a holiday wonderland as they perused the silent auction and, later, heard from a previous Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches client who shared how the organization led her and her family to a place of stability and security. ‘We are continuously grateful for the individuals, families and organizations that enable us to help our neighbors,’ CEO Matt Constantine said. ‘This event has been around for nearly as long as our agency and raises critical funds to support those faced with homelessness right here in our community.’ ABOVE: Xiomi Murray and Jennifer Nawrocki. Photo provided

The Fuller Center’s signature gala was filled with magic and wonder brought to life by attendees, speakers and honorees. First to take the stage was Simone Spiegel, board president and event chairwoman. Spiegel introduced Ellyn Okrent, CEO of the organization, who reminded guests about the challenges in child-care services and education everyone is facing. Honoree Dr. Tina Westine shared a personal experience: ‘My mother was able to thrive and succeed as a successful businesswoman because of the support she received from the Fuller Center. The Fuller Center planted the seed of hope in me and my family that inspired us to pursue the American dream.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Tom Mersch, Dr. Patricia Anastasio and Simone and Sam Spiegel. BELOW: Drs. Tina and John Westine. Photos provided

Ocean Ridge Garden Club members (l-r) Julia Walker, Sallie Howell with her dog Fishbone, Elisa Garcia, Britt Flanagan, Susan Holtz, Deborah Land, Cheryl MacGuidwin and Carolyn Cassidy celebrated Arbor Day by overseeing the planting of a native marlberry and porterweed at the northwest corner of Woolbright Road and A1A. The planting was done by Indian Trails Native Nursery and celebrated Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ 100th anniversary as many garden clubs throughout the state planted trees and other flora on Jan. 19. The Ocean Ridge Garden Club gave away native Simpson’s stoppers and bay trees to participants. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

At the Boynton Hills neighborhood garden, Mark Cassini (l-r), Linda Anderson, Alannah Irwin, Nancy Lemcke, Bonnie Paton, Christine Johnson and Steven Grant gathered to plant a Lignum vitae, or Tree of Life. Photo provided

Libations at the new El Camino in Boca Raton include old favorites as well as several new concoctions, including an assortment of margaritas. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

El Camino, the popular Mexican chain that began in downtown Delray Beach, has expanded to Boca Raton. The Modern Restaurant Group’s fourth, and largest, location opened in December.

Known for authentic, from-scratch foods such as its tortillas, El Camino brings its fare to Restaurant Row in Midtown, 5377 Town Center Road. The 10,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor space is now the flagship of the chain.

Asked about expansion plans, the vice president of Modern Restaurant’s operations, Francis Lake, said, “We’ve always been looking at new markets to bring El Camino to, including Tampa, Orlando and Key West at the moment.” He explained the popularity at the restaurant, calling it a “cult favorite” brand. “We aren’t a food truck or street food-offering concept.”

Everything on the food and drink menus is chef-driven, Lake said, using all fresh ingredients — the restaurant has no freezers for food. Twenty-five sauces are made in-house daily.

Billed as Mexican soul food, the menu in Boca Raton includes new items, such as red snapper ceviche Veracruz using manzano chiles, pickled cambray onions, capers and organic green olives; a chopped salad made with chayote squash, jicama, red cabbage and spiced pepita seeds; and a cochinita pibil taco with habanero salsa.

Foods are sourced locally when possible, and some organic is offered.

New cocktails here include several margaritas — a mango lassi, blueberry, hibiscus guava and an avocado ’rita.

Another new house-made drink is a banana tequila. The bananas marinate in reposado tequila, then are combined with a banana peel Demerara sugar. A michelada has a house-made mix featuring Maggi seasoning and a smoky house-made salt using Tajin, smoked sea salt and ground chipotle peppers.

Design of the new restaurant follows those of Delray, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale with broad murals by Miami urban street artist Ruben Ubiera.

Two live trees anchor patio seating, with banquettes underneath. The indoor/outdoor bar wraps around the building and features a corner outside fireplace. Tables come in varying configurations.

As with the others, the Boca restaurant is open late night.

El Camino, 5377 Town Center Road, No. 100, Boca Raton. 561-980-7700; elcaminobocaraton.com. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Also new to the area is a “San Diego-inspired” Mexican eatery, A’Lu Mexican Cuisine in Boynton Beach. Described as “Tex-Mex without the Tex” and “elevated Mexican,” the menu includes short rib empanada; ceviche; and tacos such as birria (made as traditional with goat meat) and lengua (beef tongue), along with more familiar barbacoa (braised beef brisket) and smoked chicken.

Snapper Veracruz, smoked short rib mole, and a unique corn lasagna with roasted poblano gravy are on the entree menu, alongside the waffle made of street corn, chicharron, chorizo and sour orange pickled vegetables.

An extensive drink menu of handcrafted cocktails, a tequila and mescal list, and beers and wines complement the food.

A’Lu Mexican Cuisine, 1080 Gateway Blvd., Boynton Beach. 561-810-4572; alupalmbeach.com. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Other Mexican favorites
Looking for more Mexican restaurants? Other favorites in the area include:
Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar, 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. A small chain originating in West Palm Beach. Extensive tequila list.

Casa Linda, 701 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach. A blend of Mexican, Latin and Spanish cuisine. A longtime fixture in the area.

Tacos al Carbon, 4469 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth Beach. A spin-off of the location at 4420 Lake Worth Road and a late-night go-to for people craving tacos. No frills — a few sides and drinks.

Cafe Tecun, 7 N. L St., Lake Worth Beach. A hidden gem with very fresh Mexican, Caribbean, South American and Latin fare in a nondescript setting.

Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant, 499 NE Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton. This boasts an extensive menu that includes numerous vegetarian choices.

Enjoy sushi and other Asia-inspired dishes under the stars at Taste of Asia on Feb. 17 at the Morikami. Photo provided

Morikami's Taste of Asia festival is this month
The first big food event of the season is the Taste of Asia, 6:30 to 11 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

Numerous chefs and performers will celebrate Japan’s culture and cuisine at this inaugural dine-around in the gardens surrounding the museum.

Guests will be given cuisine passports to use while sampling Asian-inspired dishes from South Florida restaurateurs, and sipping fine wines, sake and whiskey.

Restaurants and drink providers include: Coco Sushi Lounge and Bar; Cornell Cafe at Morikami; Gaijin Taiyaki; Ito En; Kapow Noodle Bar; Ken Rose Catering; Lemongrass Asian Bistro; Niigata Sake Selections; Nobu Miami; Palm Beach Meats; Phat Boy Sushi, Kitchen and Bar; Ramen Lab Eatery; Sushi Yasu Tanaka; Sushi by Bou; The Sea Kitchen; Yakitori Sushi House; and Winebow.

A number of luxury items and experiences, including a Goodyear blimp ride, are on the block for a live auction that benefits the museum’s programs and exhibitions as well as a planned expansion.

Tickets are $200 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to morikami.org/taste-of-asia.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. 561-495-0233.

Where to take your sweetie out on Valentine's Day
Braving the restaurant scene for Valentine’s Day? We bow to you.
(Major tip: Make reservations before you get to the end of this article if you want to eat out on Feb. 14.)

A few places have noted specials:
Something unique is the lunch special at the Morikami Museum’s Cornell Cafe. For $14, get lunch for two: mimosas, egg rolls or veggie spring rolls, shrimp dumplings or veggie dumplings, and California or veggie rolls. Stroll the relaxing gardens afterward.
Museum admission is required to dine here.

Le Colonial in Delray Beach is offering a special three-course dinner, with choices for appetizers and entrees at $115. A sexy atmosphere is a plus.

Elisabetta’s in Delray Beach is offering a featured menu item, cacio e pepe — a spaghetti dish to share a la Lady and the Tramp. Elisabetta’s “brother” restaurant, Louie Bossi’s in Boca Raton, will feature tagliarini al limone, another special pasta dish with lemon, mascarpone, pistachios and basil.

At City Oyster in Delray Beach, chef Jordan Stilley prepares a lobster risotto. The special ($68) comes with a half bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne.

A chocolate fondue dessert bar will top off the evening at the Atlantic Grille, inside the Seagate Hotel in Delray Beach. Specials include lobster bisque, a gin and beet salmon crudo, fettuccini carbonara, and wagyu surf and turf.

In brief
Unexpected restaurant closures marked the beginning of the year. Del Fuego, a restaurant many believe is in a jinxed location on the east side of the Intracoastal in Delray Beach, closed in mid-January after only a six-month run. High rent vs. empty seats may have been the real downfall of the Mexican restaurant. ...

Also closed: Burger Fi on the beach in Delray Beach. The chain underwent rapid expansion before 2020, as well as gobbling another chain, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. Other Burger Fi’s have closed as well. ...

Still closed, and awaiting a new tenant, possibly: the Delray Market food hall. After debuting in the middle of the pandemic as the state’s largest food hall, the massive space struggled to gain a viable footing amid the fierce downtown competition for diners.

By Janis Fontaine

When tragedy or terror strikes in Delray Beach, after the police and fire rescue crews roll out, they call the police chaplain on duty. Father Bernie Pecaro supervises the clergy who respond.

The job of police chaplains is twofold: They support the public on what is often the worst time of their lives, and they serve the first responders directly by counseling them and providing comfort to their families.

“We’re there for all of them,” Father Bernie said, wherever they are needed. Their calming presence is welcomed.

The Rev. Bernard J. Pecaro, as he’s formally known, is associate rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and chief chaplain for the Delray Beach Police Department. He supervises six chaplains (including one rabbi) and is trying to recruit more.

Right now, the team doesn’t have a Catholic member, not that it matters. Chaplains minister to all people of all faiths. A chaplain is on call 24/7, Father Bernie said, and if the first on-call person can’t come, the second person goes. But a chaplain always shows up.

Like many chaplains, Father Bernie first served as a military chaplain. He received his commission into the Navy, Chaplain Corps, Reserve, in 1987, and he ministered to the Sea Services of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard until his retirement in 2014.

In 1996, Father Bernie helped establish the chaplain’s role at St. Paul’s, reaching out to serve police and fire rescue personnel.

He moved to Pompano Beach as rector of the Parish of St. Martin in 1998, returned to St. Paul’s as associate rector in 2021 and has been working for the chaplaincy since.

Chaplains are volunteers, usually from a local church, synagogue or mosque. They are called to this type of ministry — where they may face intense, violent, hate-filled and often heartbreaking situations daily.

Chaplains are usually trained to handle these volatile situations, and their strong faith helps them. Police officers are grateful for their support in making death notifications, visiting hospitals and offering support at debriefings after traumatic events.

And the officers need it. Most of us are exposed to “police-specific traumatic events” once or twice in our lifetimes (never if we’re lucky), whereas they are part of the job for police. These traumas include seeing homicide victims and traffic fatalities, being first on scene with victims of rape and assault, and rescuing abused children, which officers say is the hardest thing to see and is especially difficult for women.

A study in the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health published by the National Library of Medicine reported that 60% of male and 46.4% of female police officers witnessed or were involved in five or more different traumatic events in the past year.

Sometimes these officers suffer a post-traumatic stress disorder unique to first responders and military members: cumulative PTSD.

“Cumulative PTSD can be even more dangerous than PTSD caused from a single traumatic event, largely because cumulative PTSD is more likely to go unnoticed and untreated,” according to a story published on “In Public Safety,” American Military University’s blog.

“We receive all faiths and those with no faith at all,” Father Bernie said. “We listen with an active ear” — the best thing anyone can do. People without a sympathetic release valve have a tougher time. Most officers don’t want to bring their work home to their families. That’s one reason suicides among police officers are high and life expectancies are low.

First H.E.L.P. (Honor, Educate, Lead, Prevent) has been compiling a list of U.S. corrections and federal officers of all duty status lost to suicide since 2016. In 2019, First H.E.L.P. began collecting suicide data on all first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and 911 telecommunicators.

According to First H.E.L.P. figures, suicides were down in 2023 by about 25%, from 216 deaths in 2022 to 162 in 2023. The worst year for law enforcement was 2019 with 255 deaths by suicide. Police chaplains are on the lookout for signs of chronic and acute stress.

“We encourage them to let it out in healthy ways,” Father Bernie said.

But PTSD is tricky, and sometimes it takes time to show up. The stoicism that seems ingrained in police officers can hide their emotions from the people with whom they should be sharing feelings. “They keep the negative stuff in,” Father Bernie said. “But eventually, you can see it coming out.”

Father Bernie says he’s seeing more volatile behavior than ever before. “I’m experiencing more anger, frustration and fear from the community,” he said.

Almost 7 in 10 pastors surveyed believe a growing sense of fear exists within their congregations about the future of the nation and the world, according to Lifeway Research.

That makes the chaplaincy ever more important because a chaplain’s presence on scene can improve the outcome.

The usual call-out is for a death, Father Bernie said. It’s one of the hardest. He remembers a call to see the family of a Haitian boy who had drowned in a pool. “The mother was inconsolable,” he said.

There’s no formula for dealing with that kind of grief, no panacea, no magic words, he said. “You just have to rely on your faith.”

Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com.

“Jerusalem and the Disputed Territories: Definitive Sovereignty in International Law” is the topic of Dr. Jacques P. Gauthier’s lecture at 11 a.m. Feb. 18 in the Friedberg Auditorium at FAU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.

Gauthier is a Canadian lawyer and international law expert who may be the foremost authority on the San Remo conference, which laid the legal infrastructure for the Jewish state in 1920.

The description of the lecture says, “The answers to the question of Israel’s entitlements in respect to the City of Jerusalem and the disputed territories under international law depend on certain prior legally binding decisions which are reflected in international legal instruments.”

Find out about the political arguments devoid of legal merit and the false narratives surrounding this issue. Improve your understanding of international law and the territorial sovereignty entitlements of Israel.

This event is hosted by the Gross Family Center for the Study of Antisemitism and the Holocaust. Register at https://grossfamilycenter.org/event-schedule.

Talks to focus on history of U.S. presidency, Israel
The Larkin Symposium on the American Presidency at FAU presents “The U.S. Presidency, the Holocaust and the State of Israel,” on Feb. 21-22 at FAU’s Lifelong Learning Institute.

The symposium opens with the keynote lecture “Retrospective Blame: FDR, the Jews, and the Holocaust,” by famed election predictor Allan Lichtman on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m.

On day 2 of the symposium, which lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., “The U.S. Presidency, Jewish Refugees, and the Holocaust” is the topic of the lecture from 9-11:30 a.m. From 1-3 p.m., “The U.S. Presidency and the State of Israel” is discussed, including Truman and the founding of Israel.

For more information, go to www.fau.edu/artsandletters/larkin/symposiums. Get tickets at www.fauevents.com or 561-297-6124.

Concerts and services
The St. Olaf Choir performs at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 as part of its 2024 national tour. Conducted by Anton Armstrong and consisting of 75 mixed voices, the choir is considered one of the premier a cappella ensembles. The church is at 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach. Tickets: $45 adults, $10 students at stolaf.edu/tickets/choir or 800-363-5487.

The Delray String Quartet will perform on Feb. 7 and Feb. 25 at St. Paul’s. Photo provided

Music at St. Paul’s has a full schedule in the next month beginning on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m., when the Delray String Quartet performs “Postcards From Vienna” featuring quartets by Mozart and Brahms. The concert takes place in the round at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Tickets are $50 and $60 and reservations are required at 561-278-6003 or https://musicstpauls.org.

The Delray String Quartet performs again at 3 p.m. Feb. 25 for a program called “All About That Bass,” which showcases guest artist Juan Carlos Peña. It includes String Quartet No. 3 (Popcorn) by Heitor Villa-Lobos and String Quartet in G-major, Op. 77 by Antonin Dvorak.

Music at St. Paul’s at 3 p.m. March 3 features Bailey Michelle Collins, the bronze medal winner at the 2023-24 Nina Simone Piano Competition. Collins is known for her “thoughtful interpretations and rich sound” and her “lyrical touch and keen sense of rhythm.”

A donation of $25 for adults and $15 for students is requested for each of the Sunday concerts.

The ArgenTenors, four Argentinian cantors, perform a medley of “Jewish Music and Beyond” at 1 p.m. Feb. 11 in Beifield Auditorium at the Levis JCC Sandler Center, 21050 95th Avenue S., in Boca Raton. Enjoy a performance combining harmony, culture and spiritual connection with songs performed in Hebrew, Yiddish, Aramaic and Ladino. Tickets: $20-$50 at https://levisjcc.org/events or 561-558-2520.

Soul to Soul performs at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. The second concert of the season combines centuries of the musical traditions of Ashkenazi Jews and African Americans. Created by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, the lyrics and music are designed to deepen connections and celebrate differences. A virtual option is offered. Tickets start at $30 for members and $40 for guests at www.btcboca.org/cs.

A Kol HaNeshama Service in the Round is planned from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Temple Beth El’s Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. This Welcome Shabbat begins with the congregation sitting in the round in the chapel and uses niggunim (wordless melodies) to deepen the connection and welcome Shabbat with a peaceful mind and an open heart. All are welcomed. www.tbeboca.org or 561-391-8900.

Special events
Rummage Sale! First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach is hosting its annual Step-Above Rummage Sale from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 8-10. Find treasures at bargain prices. All proceeds support the ministry and missions of the church. First Presbyterian is at 33 Gleason St. https://firstdelray.com or 561-276-6338.

Shredding Day! Cason United Methodist Church is holding another Shred-a-Thon from 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 17. The Red Shredder team accepts most papers and folders, but no boxes, cardboard, X-rays, food, newspaper, glass, magazines, plastic, dark-colored folders, metal objects or equipment. It’s $5 per bankers-size box or $10 for a bag. Cash is preferred. Credit cards require a $25 minimum. For more information, call Tricia at 561-788-2822.
— Janis Fontaine

Clara Geraci of Boynton Beach is a longtime volunteer: ’I do it for selfish reasons. ... It brings me joy.’ Photo provided

By Jan Engoren

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
— Mark Twain

We’ve all seen them — bumper stickers encouraging us to “commit random acts of kindness.” In fact, Feb. 17 is the official Random Acts of Kindness Day, a designation begun in the 1980s in the San Francisco Bay area by the nonprofit Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

A random act of kindness is doing something nice for someone else, without that person asking and without your expecting something in return.

“Kindness is the key to well-being,” says Karin Gellen, executive director of Kindness Matters 365, a nonprofit based in Boca Raton. “Kindness starts with kindness toward yourself, which then translates towards kindness to others and eventually leads to a kinder world.”

Founded by Boca Raton resident Laura Reiss in 2008, KM365 works in the school system to equip kids and teens with knowledge and skills for their social and emotional well-being. 

Science has shown benefits to being kind. Kindness increases the love hormone, energy levels, pleasure, serotonin and even your lifespan, while decreasing pain, stress, anxiety, depression and blood pressure.

Positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain, improving mood and making both the doer and the receiver inclined to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed begets another.

As Gellen knows, kindness is teachable and studies show people can build up their compassion “muscle” and respond to others’ suffering with care and desire to help.

Some kinds of wonderful

Clara Geraci 58, of Boynton Beach, helped feed up to 1,000 people a day for two weeks after Hurricane Ian in 2022, and went to Louisiana in 2017 after a hurricane there, working 12-hour days opening shelters and distributing supplies.

She has been a full-time volunteer with the Red Cross for 20 years and volunteers on Southwest Airlines’ animal transportation team.

More than once Geraci has come to a stranger’s aid on Interstate 95 after witnessing an accident — and in 2022 she helped the driver of an oil tanker that crashed and burst into flames on I-95 in Delray Beach, making sure everyone was safely out of the truck.

“I do it for selfish reasons,” she says. “It makes me feel good when I see the smiles on their faces. It brings me joy.”

Retired Boynton Beach stockbroker Joe Donadio, 69, was on the receiving end of kindness after fainting and falling off his bicycle last March. Rushed to Delray Medical Center, he needed six stitches to his head. He later learned three cars had stopped to offer assistance and one woman wrapped a blanket around his head to stanch the bleeding.

He posted on Nextdoor, but was never able to find and thank the Good Samaritans who stopped.

Christine Roberts, 66, the former assistant public works director for the city of Boynton Beach, practices small, daily acts of kindness: posting positive messages on her Facebook page, complimenting a stranger in the grocery store or giving boxes of toiletries to homeless people. She once raised $15,000 with her church to help a family in need.

She brought diabetes testing kits to work to test employees who were reluctant to visit a doctor.

One of the most gratifying moments came when an employee brought her a large bouquet of flowers as a thank-you for “being an angel and saving his life.”

“Kindness has rewarded me,” Roberts says. “I try to spread it wherever I go.”

’Learn how to feel good’

For Gellen, it’s not only the personal random acts of kindness that matter, but engaging the larger community.

“It’s a synchronicity between gratitude, kindness and compassion,” she says. “They all work together.”

At a personal level, Gellen says through her work teaching kindness to children and teens, she learned to become more self-aware and to practice self-care, which improved her own level of happiness.

“I learned to relate to people in a more authentic way,” she says. “This led to greater understanding, stronger communication and feeling more fulfilled.

“Through my work teaching kindness with KM365, I have experienced personal growth and unity with my community, and that feels really good,” she says.

Her best advice?

“Learn how to feel good, feel your best and spread kindness,” says Gellen. “Learn how to shine your light.”

Visit kindnessmatters365.org.

Jan Engoren writes about health and healthy living. Send column ideas to jengoren@hotmail.com.

The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University and Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine are partnering with Thema Brain Health, a cognitive brain health center at the Research Park, with the goal of preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias.

Thema Brain Health aims to empower patients to take control of their brain health and it provides information on taking early remedial action. Also, it is likely that Thema Brain Health will become a training site for the university’s medical students and resident physicians. 

Orthodontists open new practice in Delray Beach
Drs. Janet Stoess-Allen and Kevin McCaffrey have partnered to establish Delray Orthodontics, 10 SE First Ave., Suite D, Delray Beach. They are ranked as Diamond Plus Invisalign providers, and their practice uses cutting-edge technology. They aim to create a comfortable and efficient patient experience. They invite patients affected by the recent closure of Smile Direct Club to join them to continue their orthodontic treatment.

JFK Hospital opens doors for volunteer activities
After a long hiatus, volunteers are welcomed back to HCA Florida JFK Hospital.

Volunteers contribute by assisting in the lobby, taking on administrative tasks, providing companionship to patients and offering emotional support to families. Schedules are flexible.

Volunteers must be 15 or older, complete an application and background check, and attend an orientation. To learn more, call the hospital’s volunteer services manager, Christie Lee Geltz, at 561-548-1357 or email Christielee.Geltz@hcahealthcare.com 

Alzheimer’s drug trial put on hold by FDA
InMune Bio’s phase-two clinical trial for the Alzheimer’s disease drug XPro is on hold after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested additional information about its long-term potency. In a statement, Boca Raton-based InMune Bio reported that it will provide clarification to the FDA before the end of the year to resolve questions.

“The hold will not impact our progress in completing the Phase II AD study on schedule,” CEO R.J. Tesi said in the statement. The clinical trial is still open in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, France and Spain and is expected to launch in additional European Union countries.

Send health news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.

Guy Harvey Foundation award winners Kezia Abraham and Ava Detassis.

By Faran Fagen

Her vision was to collect mass amounts of sargassum washing up on beaches before they rotted and use the piles as sustainable material in a not-so-sustainable fashion industry.

“Instead of using other materials that create waste and contain toxins, sargassum can be used as a renewable resource,” said Ava Detassis, a senior at Florida Atlantic University High School in Boca Raton.

Detassis and schoolmate Kezia Abraham, a sophomore, recently won awards from the Guy Harvey Foundation, which collaborates with local, national and international organizations to conduct scientific research and provides funding to affiliated researchers who share this objective.

Ocean Exchange, a leader in supporting the acceleration of innovative solutions for healthy oceans and the sustainable blue economy, announced the awards.
Detassis, of Boynton Beach, earned the 2023 Guy Harvey Foundation and Ocean Exchange Conservation Award of $1,000 and Nexus Art Award of $500 for her proposal, “Sarcasm for Sargassum: A Fashion Brand Sustained by Sargassum.”

Abraham, also of Boynton, took home the 2023 Guy Harvey Foundation and Ocean Exchange Scholar Award of $500 for her proposal “Use of Sargassum as a Formidable Agricultural Biofertilizer and Ruminant Feed.”

Detassis’ concept is to create a line that utilizes sargassum in the thread, dye and packaging materials of fashion.  

Ava’s ’Don’t be a Crab’ shirt features this design with a Florida blue crab.
Photos provided

Her shirt design for Sarcasm for Sargassum included a Florida blue crab and the phrase “Don’t be a Crab.’’

“The goal of Sarcasm for Sargassum is to provide a humorous and potentially educational clothing brand to fellow ocean lovers, while also providing another sustainable option in the fashion industry,” Detassis said. Abraham’s theory explains that sargassum-based fertilizers may help reduce the amount of farmland needed for livestock and usage of nitrogen-rich fertilizer. It enriches the soil, allowing crops to grow organically, and the feed acts as a diet supplement, making these uses of sargassum cost-effective products that can counteract global warming. Sargassum is also easier to digest than current diets for livestock and provides all necessary nutrients. 

“This project was a great passion of mine, as I love the environment and I want to help the community and our world,” Abraham said. “Helping our community goes further than maintaining our environment, a passion which I explore and want to explore as a physician.”

Abraham is dually enrolled at FAU and plans to major in biology and attend medical school, practicing as an orthopedic surgeon.

Abraham realized that the sargassum build-up on beaches was so plentiful that it almost looked like a field of grass. She thought to herself, why can’t it be? Ocean creatures eat seaweed like ruminants eat grass, so seaweed can be manipulated to imitate modern ruminant feed. And this feed can solve other problems faced in agriculture.

“It is so important for us to inspire, educate and engage the next generation of marine conservationists, and that’s what we aspire to do with the GHF Conservation Scholar and Nexus Art Awards,” Guy Harvey Foundation CEO Jessica Harvey said. “Kezia’s proposal aligns perfectly with our mission of finding solutions to conservation through scientific research. Both students are so dedicated to conservation and sustainability.”

As for Detassis, Harvey said, “I love that Ava combined sustainability and fashion in her proposal, since our brand is committed to making products that contribute to ocean conservation and marine education and, like her, we are focused on making responsible apparel that consumers can feel good about wearing.”

Detassis is contemplating a bachelor’s in architecture or interior design with a possible minor or double-major in studio art at a university in Florida.

“I’ve always been interested in design and different uses for creativity, but also the way our infrastructure affects the environment,” Detassis said. P

For more information on the Guy Harvey Foundation, visit https://guyharveyfoundation.org. Follow the foundation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @GuyHarveyOcean.

Dr. Lindsay Butzer with a client’s husky in the exam room. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

When it comes to holidays in February, Valentine’s Day tends to top the list. But to really show your pet love, consider embracing ways to participate in Responsible Pet Owners Month activities.

There are six four-leggers in my household and I am committed to bringing out the best in each of them — not just during this month, but every day of the year. I’m betting that you are the same with your pets.

So, what are some ways we can boost our levels of responsibility for our pets? For answers, I reached out to Dr. Lindsay Butzer, DVM. She practices veterinary medicine at the Clint Moore Animal Hospital in Boca Raton, and she is a PetMeds partner. She also represents a new breed of veterinarians who convey pet care advice in engaging ways on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and other social media outlets.

“I wish every day would be Responsible Pet Owner Day,” says Butzer, whose personal pets include six dogs and a few ragdoll cats.

She practices alongside her father, Dr. Brian Butzer.

“I grew up in a double-wide mobile home while my parents were building the animal hospital,” she says. “I would hold my dad’s hand and go with him at night when he would check on the dogs with IVs or ones who just had surgeries. Seeing him have such a passion for animals impacted me. I knew as a young child that I also wanted to be a veterinarian.”

Topping her responsible owner list? Booking your pet’s annual comprehensive exam. This exam should include a thorough head to tail inspection, the taking of blood, urine and fecal samples to be analyzed and administering of any necessary vaccinations. Also, make sure you give your pet preventives against fleas, ticks and heartworms.

“Our pets age faster than we do, and a lot can happen to them in six months and in a year,” Butzer says. “A physical exam by a veterinarian is important because we may catch something you don’t. Maybe we detect swollen lymph nodes around the neck, or dental issues or anal gland issues under the tail.”

Recently, Kona, my 9-year-old terrier mix, underwent her comprehensive annual exam. Fortunately, her gums were healthy pink and there was no sign of tartar on her teeth.

However, she does have a front lower tooth that juts out.

My veterinarian instructed me to keep tabs on it and said that eventually, it may need to be removed. A day later, Kona’s blood, urine and fecal results came in with no detection of any health issue.

Putting a capital “R” in responsible pet ownership also includes making healthy food choices for your pet. Food is fuel. Fortunately, we live in a time where we have many options, from kibble and canned to freeze-dried, fresh and homemade diets.

For commercial diets, select a choice where the first ingredient listed is a recognized protein, such as chicken, salmon or beef — and not a long word that looks like it belongs in a chemical equation. And please get in the habit of measuring portions. It is hard to say no to those begging eyes, but obesity in pets can open the way for them to be at greater risk for diabetes, joint issues, heart conditions and more.

I confess I do a much better job in maintaining healthy weights in my pets — Kona, Emma, Casey, Mikey, Rusty and Baxter — than I do with my own weight.

A third way to demonstrate responsible pet ownership — not just this month but year-round — is to regularly stop and inspect each room of your house. Did you add anything that may be a danger to your curious pet, such as exposed electrical cords?

Stash medication bottles in your nightstand drawer. Never leave them out on a table or bathroom counter. A dog could easily crush open the bottle and swallow pills that could be toxic to his system.

Patrol the kitchen counter and remove any sharp knives or breakable bottles that could fall and shatter on the floor, cutting paws. If you enjoy baking that involves time for dough to rise, make sure you block the kitchen access to your pet. If it is swallowed, that dough will continue to expand in your pet’s chest and cause suffocation and even alcohol poisoning.

The fourth way to boost your pet ownership status is to engage in regular play and exercise with your pet. I do my best to take my dogs, Kona and Emma, on daily walks. I purposely vary the time and the route to allow them to experience new sights, sounds and smells.

“Dogs love walks,” says Butzer. “Walks are good for them so that they don’t go stir crazy being in the house all day. Walks also help you and your dog bond. Walks are good for flushing out a dog’s system and keeps the synovial fluid flowing in their joints. After the walk, they get drinks of water and may go to their crate or doggy bed for a nap so you can get work done. It’s a win-win.”

As for indoor cats, purposeful play keeps their lives enriched. My four felines love climbing up and down our sturdy cat tree, swatting spring toys across the kitchen floor and stalking a feather wand toy I wiggle down the hallway.

“Play time stimulates their brains and works their muscles,” says Butzer. “And for indoor cats, always make sure they have a view of the outside by providing a sturdy window perch. They love checking out birds, squirrels and other activities going on in your neighborhood.”

So, how do you plan to celebrate being a responsible pet owner this month? Your pet will appreciate you even more.

Follow Dr. Butzer
Catch entertaining and informative videos from Dr. Lindsay Butzer on social media. Here are her links:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@drlindsaybutzer
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@dr_lindsaybutzer
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindsaybutzerdvm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LindsayButzerDVM

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts a radio show, Arden Moore’s Four Legged Life (www.fourleggedlife.com), and the weekly Oh Behave! podcast on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.

This time of year can bring windy and wavy conditions that can cause seasickness in people who are prone to the malady. Photo provided

By Steve Waters

Offshore fishing in Palm Beach County can be terrific following winter cold fronts. But those same fronts that have everything from snapper to sailfish biting also make for rough seas that can ruin an angler’s day.

Getting seasick is a common affliction when the strong winds that accompany cold fronts create big waves. Experts don’t know exactly what causes seasickness or how to cure it. The only certainty is that everybody, at some time, in some way — whether it’s a headache, queasiness or gut-wrenching vomiting — gets seasick.

Fortunately, there are plenty of remedies for seasickness that range from medications to common sense.

Most people believe seasickness has to do with the inner ear and its mechanisms for maintaining balance. Basically, as a boat rocks and rolls on the water, a boater’s eyes perceive all kinds of movement. The brain tells the inner ear that the body is moving. The inner ear tries to compensate for that perceived motion. And the boater becomes seasick.

That explains a couple of general seasickness advisories — don’t go inside a boat’s cabin when you’re feeling sick, and try to keep your eyes focused on the shoreline. Sitting in a cabin, you sense that everything in the cabin is moving. Remaining outside, you see only waves and the unchanging horizon.

Sailors, divers and anglers can take several precautions before traveling. Among them are getting a good night’s sleep before a trip and not drinking alcohol.

Drugs combat seasickness by interfering with the signals received by the inner ear. Most anti-seasickness drugs were developed for other purposes, such as nausea from chemotherapy.

The most common side effects of anti-seasickness drugs are drowsiness, occasional dizziness and dryness of the mouth.

A prescription scopolamine patch, which is placed on the skin behind the ear, reduces the activity of inner-ear nerves that can cause the nausea and vomiting of seasickness (as well as anesthesia and surgery).

The downside is it can make a boater fall asleep, which actually is not a bad way to deal with rough seas. If you can sleep with or without the use of drugs when you feel sick, you usually won’t suffer the worst effects of seasickness.

Over-the-counter products such as Dramamine and Bonine can make you tired, but not as sleepy. The key with those medications is to take them well in advance of your trip when you know that the waves are going to be big.

Charter fishing captains, especially those who fish in tournaments when seas could be as rough as 5 to 8 feet, advise their anglers to take a pill the night before the tournament and the morning before getting on the boat. They say their clients rarely get seasick.

As one captain explained, taking a seasickness pill for the first time is like smoking a cigarette for the first time. Your body needs time to get used to it. And if you wait until you feel seasick to take a pill, it’s usually too late.

Other products that can work, and without side effects, are bands that press on an acupressure point in the wrist or deliver an electronic pulse to the pressure point.

Seasickness can also be psychological. A drift boat captain said he’s seen anglers talk themselves into getting seasick because they couldn’t stop worrying about it, even when conditions weren’t that bad.

My favorite example was a seasick-prone sailor who was on a boat in choppy seas and felt great. His amazed friends asked him his secret, and he said it was the patch behind his ear. Someone looked behind his ear but did not see a patch and told him so. When the sailor put his hand behind his ear and didn’t feel anything, he promptly threw up.

Outdoors writer Steve Waters can be reached at steve33324@aol.com.

The great room has floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that seamlessly open to a wrap-around balcony, which extends from the unparalleled ocean views to the sunsets over the Intracoastal Waterway.

This oceanfront penthouse is in the Palm Beach Hampton, a premier concierge building offering a 24/7 gatehouse, door attendant, on-site manager, fitness center, pool and tennis courts. It offers a single-family home living experience with more than 5,615 total square feet within its three bedrooms and four and one-half baths. The penthouse was completely renovated by Bluedoor Building and incorporates an array of natural materials and textures.

The interior includes two generously sized guest suites, each featuring a private balcony. The master suite features a tub, dual sinks, a private water closet and a custom-designed walk-in closet. Additionally, a den with a full bath offers extra sleeping quarters if required.

The great room/dining room has custom-designed millwork with a wet bar, wine storage, and refrigeration, all of which combine to create a stimulating atmosphere for entertaining. The home’s specialized bespoke features include pre-wiring for motorized drapes, custom millwork, white oak floors throughout, and Toto and Riobel plumbing fixtures. A private poolside cabana and two garage parking spaces are other amenities.

Offered at $10,400,000.

Contact Candace Friis at 561-573-9966 or candace.friis@corcoran.com; or Phil Friis at 561-706-1922 or phil.friis@corcoran.com

The building is east of A1A, just blocks south of the Lake Worth pier and casino.

Admiral’s Walk treasurer Collin D’Silva (l-r), property manager Daniel Gonzalez and condo board president Howard Somers talk out front of the condominium tower. Gonzalez says condo owners and buyers noticed work was underway at Admiral’s Walk while other places ‘were figuring out what they wanted to do.’ Photos by Tim Stepien/ The Coastal Star

Related: Highland Beach: Dalton Place recertification work began months before Surfside collapse

By Mary Hladky

Immediately after the horrific 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Admiral’s Walk condo board members and the building’s property manager swung into action.

The building’s 68 condo owners needed assurances that their 18-story building at 4545 N. Ocean Blvd. was safe, said property manager Daniel Gonzalez. He and the board also anticipated that building safety laws would be enacted.

“We wanted to make sure we were ahead of the curve,” he said.

They were right. Mayor Scott Singer proposed an ordinance that would require buildings in the city to be inspected for safety shortly after the Surfside tragedy.

Moving at lightning speed, city staff created one just 34 days after the collapse that claimed 98 lives. When the City Council approved it one month later, Boca Raton became the first city in Palm Beach County to enact such a law.

But the Admiral’s Walk board moved even faster.

Before the ordinance was on the books, the board had hired an engineering firm to inspect the building and a contractor to make any needed repairs.

In late November, Admiral’s Walk, built in 1974, became the first building in the city to get a building recertification, a designation that the building is safe.

“All the residents have been very happy we were proactive with this process,” said condo treasurer Collin D’Silva. “We are very pleased we got this done ahead of schedule.”

The process produced benefits beyond peace of mind for condo owners.

“We have sold a number of apartments in the past year,” Gonzalez said. “One of the things that gave the people confidence to buy into the building was that we were underway while others were figuring out what they wanted to do.”

The city has identified 242 buildings that meet the criteria for safety inspections. Single-family homes and duplexes are exempt. The ordinance divides the city into four zones, with buildings on the barrier island receiving the highest priority for review.

The first notices were sent to 14 buildings, including Admiral’s Walk, saying that inspection reports by structural and electrical engineers were due by Feb. 1, 2023. The final group of buildings must submit reports by Nov. 1, 2026.

The state Legislature passed a statewide condo inspection law in 2022 that also requires condo boards to set aside money in reserves to cover future repairs. The city ordinance was largely consistent with the state inspection rules, but officials made a few changes to it so it would conform.

When a building is 30 years old, or 25 years old if it is within three miles of the ocean, and three stories or taller, its owners must hire structural and electrical engineers to examine them and fill out checklists provided by the city. Any deficiencies are noted there.

A city-hired peer review team then examines the reports and checklists, and any comments are sent to the engineers, said city Building Official Michael DiNorscio.

Of the first group of buildings receiving notices, the Three Thousand South condo at 3000 S. Ocean Blvd. did not meet the deadline to submit reports. The city informed building officials they were not in compliance with the ordinance in August and said they must submit reports by Sept. 11 or face fines of up to $500 a day. Since then, an engineering firm asked the city for a deadline extension, saying that companies had been hired to repair concrete and replace the roof, with the work expected to be completed in December. The firm said the condo is structurally safe.

Reinforced columns in the parking garage were part of the restoration work.

As of the end of December, the city was attempting to confirm that the work had started. If so, the city could cancel or reschedule a Feb. 14 fine hearing before a special magistrate.

The buildings inspected so far, DiNorscio said, “are not compromised in a way we have anything to worry about and that needs to be addressed immediately.”

D’Silva and Gonzalez said they were not concerned that inspections would find major problems at Admiral’s Walk because they are proactive about maintenance and repairs. For example, the building is painted every five years and any concrete restoration that is needed is done along with the painting.

The inspections found the need for more support for a cooling tower enclosure on the roof and concrete restoration work, they said. Columns in the garage that is separate from the condo building needed to be reinforced.

The repairs were done in conjunction with building repainting and the total cost was about $1 million, D’Silva said. The cost of the work was covered by a special assessment.

The painting and repairs were completed this summer, he said.

The notification from the city that the condo had been certified was welcome news, Gonzalez said.

“As soon as we got that letter from the city of Boca Raton we were very happy to let our owners know,” he said. “It was a long process and a loud process. Our residents were very patient.”

The view from the 19th-floor rooftop of Admiral’s Walk looking north along Ocean Boulevard in Boca Raton.

Longtime Boca Raton City Manager Leif Ahnell, who retired Dec. 31, shares a light moment with his deputy and successor George Brown during an event for city staff. Photo provided

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton has profoundly changed over the last 24 years. But there was one constant: City Manager Leif Ahnell.

Ahnell’s long tenure, described by his longtime deputy George Brown as “unprecedented,” ended on Dec. 31 when he retired three months earlier than expected and Brown took over the reins.

Brown and City Council members paid tribute to Ahnell on Dec. 12, their last meeting of the year, highlighting what council member Marc Wigder said was his “financial wizardry.”

Council members past and present have lauded his financial acumen and credited him with maintaining the city’s strong financial position, finding creative ways to save the city money, and balancing the cost of the city’s growth with the council’s emphasis on keeping a low tax rate.

He tightened procedures in the budget office and helped establish long-range financial planning and dedicated reserves to meet future financial needs, Brown said.

City staff members recognized Ahnell’s work by creating a special cover for this fiscal year’s budget report.

“His 33-year commitment to financial stewardship not only influenced the advancement of Boca Raton as a beautiful, safe, and vibrant coastal community, but it also laid a strong foundation for the city’s prosperous future,” they wrote.

Ahnell joined the city as an accountant in 1990. He then served as controller/treasurer, director of the Office of Management and Budget and assistant city manager before becoming city manager in 1999.

In that job, he oversaw seven departments, 70 divisions, nearly 2,000 employees and a $1.1 billion annual budget.

He is a certified public accountant, certified public finance officer and certified government finance officer. He has two bachelor degrees, in accounting and finance, from Florida Atlantic University.

Ahnell’s final salary was $318,000 a year, compared to $291,000 for the city manager of larger West Palm Beach and $230,000 in smaller Delray Beach.

During his time in the top job, the city’s population grew from 73,000 to nearly 100,000, the roster of corporate headquarters in the city increased to 75 and the city’s demographics changed as young families moved to the city and children jam-packed its schools.

The city’s downtown was transformed by new condos, rentals and retail, a Brightline train station was built on the edge of downtown and a performing arts complex, the Center for Arts and Innovation, will invigorate Mizner Park when it is completed as early as 2028.

Leif Ahnell shunned publicity as manager but got consistently high marks. ‘So much of what he does is behind the scenes ... and in many instances never appreciated,’ says council member Fran Nachlas. Photo provided

Ahnell shied away from publicity and kept reporters at a distance. He did not respond to requests by The Coastal Star to interview him about his years with the city and future plans.

But that reticence did not extend to his dealings with council members, who praised him over the years for making himself available to answer questions and responding quickly to their calls or emails.

During performance evaluations, council members consistently gave him high marks.

“I struggle to find an area of improvement to even suggest,” then-council member and now Mayor Scott Singer said in 2017. “Mr. Ahnell succeeds in areas that I can’t even fathom.”

“We’re on worldwide lists of best places to live, work, go to school, all those things,” said then-council member Jeremy Rodgers the same year. “It’s a testament to you and a testament to your hiring and our great staff that you’ve brought here.”

Ahnell’s most recent evaluations, on May 9, came as council members knew he would be stepping down because his retirement plan required him to leave by March 31.

He once again was lauded.

“Financially, you are a genius,” said Deputy Mayor Monica Mayotte. “You always make sure our city is in great financial shape.”

Yet they suggested ways he could improve his performance. Several focused on the need for more proactive communication with them, citing a few instances when they felt blindsided by learning about issues or problems from people outside City Hall.

But in offering their tributes on Dec. 12, council members were only positive.

Ahnell was not present in person to hear them because he was taking earned time off during the holidays. Since the council decided in May that Brown should take over because of his experience and historical knowledge of the city, Ahnell has taken a less visible role in city governance.

“So much of what he does is behind the scenes, never recognized, never rewarded and in many instances never appreciated,” said Fran Nachlas.

“He leaves a lasting legacy,” Singer said. “It goes beyond the incredible financial position we have been in over the last quarter century, reflected in budgets, long-range planning, capital planning, the way we have maintained excellence in all departments.”

And Brown, who joined the city’s building inspection division in 1977 and has served as deputy city manager since 2004, offered his own praise.

“I think few people understand the complexity of the position of city manager,” he said. “Leif did a wonderful job. … It has been my honor to work with him for the past 24 years.

“And I want to express my appreciation to him for his support of me during my position at the time and letting me work on … complex, interesting things that we have managed to accomplish for the city under his leadership.”

By Rich Pollack

The 122-unit Dalton Place condominium completed Highland Beach’s strict recertification process in April 2022 — just six months after the town enacted new rules — thanks in large part to a $1.75 million renovation project that began prior to the collapse of Champlain Towers South.

“We were well under way with construction,” said Dalton Place’s board president, Ron Reame. “After what happened in Surfside, we just said, ‘Hey, we’re almost done, let’s get certified.’”

None of the 52 other buildings in Highland Beach that must be certified has completed the process, according to Building Official Jeff Remas.

Reame said that Dalton Place, a Boca Highland Beach Club and Marina building that began its renovation in March 2021, three months before the June 24 collapse of the 12-story condominium in Miami-Dade County, has been keeping up with major repairs, helping to minimize the work needed to receive the certification.

“We have everything tested every couple of years,” he said.

Remas said so far, 18 buildings have submitted paperwork for review. Two buildings are currently undergoing renovations but have not filed paperwork, and 15 buildings have not reached the deadline given by the town to file reports. The remainder are in the process of having their buildings inspected, he said.

Highland Beach has its own ordinance, which is stricter than the state requirements. The town requires an electrical inspection in addition to a structural inspection by certified engineers

The barricades to protect people from traffic on Federal Highway could be staggered to soften their appearance and be painted or covered with murals. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

The city has started work to improve the appearance and safety of Sanborn Square, making modest fixes until a major renovation project is launched in three or four years.

Council members have pressed staff to make changes, and increased the current fiscal year’s budget by $350,000 to get some immediate action at the downtown focal point where residents gather for weekend yoga classes, special events or simply to relax.

The 40-year-old square drew their attention when city crews installed temporary barricades along Federal Highway about two years ago to prevent drivers — by accident or intentionally — from jumping the curb and injuring people.

Those barricades were widely criticized as unsightly and a poor look for the heart of downtown, so city staffers said they would look for temporary alternatives.

The pavilion has been repainted, Assistant City Manager Chrissy Gibson said at a Dec. 11 council workshop meeting.

City staff proposed replacing the current barricades with concrete Jersey barricades that can be painted or covered with murals.

Instead of being lined up along the roadway, the barricades can be staggered in ways that soften the massing and appearance.

“Aesthetically, we think they are more pleasing to the eye than what we have there now,” Gibson said.

Once a full renovation takes place, at a cost of about $4 million, the Jersey barricades can be used elsewhere in the city, Gibson said.

But at a City Council meeting the next night, council member Yvette Drucker said she was strongly opposed to the Jersey barricades even if they were painted. She proposed discussing this further at an upcoming council meeting.

City staff has not yet made recommendations about whether to remove the square’s defunct fountain, replacing it temporarily with public art or an activities space, or how to improve the park’s landscaping.

The city will receive a $285,000 matching federal grant that will defray part of the project cost.

“Make it safe,” Mayor Scott Singer said about the square. “Make it look good.”

By Steve Plunkett

The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District will spend up to $10,000 to get copies of public records from the city for its fight to stop sending millions of dollars each year to the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency.

Briann Harms, the district’s executive director, asked district commissioners to authorize her to spend more than $5,000 on the records request at their Dec. 4 meeting.

“Originally the bill was close to $9,000 so I’m looking for a ballpark around there,” she said.

Commissioners settled on $10,000 and Harms said she would ask for more if need be.

The Boca Raton City Council unanimously voted in November to extend the district’s obligation to make annual tax increment funding payments until 2042. Harms said the decision would divert $60 million from the district to the CRA that could be used for recreation needs.

The district is asking for, among other things, a copy of all the requests the CRA made in the last 10 years seeking recommendations from the district on how to spend the tax increment funding, as required by the interlocal agreement between the district and the CRA.

Commissioner Craig Ehrnst asked whether the board should hire an outside attorney to make the records request, but Sam Goren, the district’s contracted legal counsel, said his firm could handle it for now.

The city has already tasked outside lawyer Jamie Cole as a special counsel on the issue, and Cole has already contacted Goren, he said.

“This board has made no public decision to sue anybody for anything,” Goren pointed out.

But, he said, “The city’s obviously paying attention to what you do on this dais.”

The district’s tax increment financing payments to the Community Redevelopment Agency have grown from about $70,000 in 1986 to $2.6 million this year. Harms pleaded with the City Council for an exemption from the TIF payments before the CRA’s lifespan was extended.

The TIF payments amount to the taxes owed to the beach and park district from increased property values in the CRA district, taxes which under state law are then paid to the CRA.Harms said the law would allow the CRA to reduce or eliminate the district’s payments.

The district thought the TIF payments would end in 2019 when the bond for building Mizner Park was paid off. That didn’t happen.

Then the district thought the payments would end in 2025 when the Community Redevelopment Agency was scheduled to sunset.

But in June, then-City Manager Leif Ahnell proposed extending the CRA to 2042, and with it the district’s obligation to make payments.

City hopes to improve streets for all — The City Council on Nov. 28 adopted a Complete Streets policy that will guide planning, design, operation and maintenance of streets so that they will meet the needs of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.
Complete Streets has been adopted by other cities and is supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city will make changes that include improving its engineering design standards and developing a new bicycle and pedestrian master plan.
The council has made improving the city’s mobility and connectivity a priority as residents press for improvements to existing streets, sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks.

Fines for polyfoam and balloon use enacted — The council established fines that people must pay if they sell or distribute polystyrene foam products or use balloons or confetti in outdoor areas on city property. Both activities were prohibited some time ago, but fines were not established at the time.
Violators will be warned after the first infraction. They then can be fined a minimum of $50 but have the right to appeal the fine.

Trash fines considered —Still under review are potential fines for construction activity occurring outside specified times of the day, and for bulk and vegetative waste being placed for pickup outside of required collection times or not in required areas.

— Mary Hladky