The Mandarin Oriental hotel and condominiums on Aug. 31. Not much has changed in its exterior appearance in the past two years. The attorney for the developer says the condo units continue to attract buyers. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

As the completion date for the Mandarin Oriental luxury condos and hotel in Boca Raton continues to be pushed back, four couples and an individual who placed deposits on units have filed lawsuits seeking the return of their money.

Developer Penn-Florida Companies either did not respond to their requests for reimbursement, refused to return the money or said they were not entitled to get it, according to five complaints filed over the past two months in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Two of the complaints have been settled.

Penn-Florida announced it would build a 164-room Mandarin Oriental hotel and 85 branded residences in 2015, saying the project would be completed in 2017. Since then, the completion date has been delayed five times and now is slated for the end of 2025.

Boca Raton officials and residents initially were thrilled that Mandarin Oriental, renowned for its elegance and sophistication and operating in cities such as Paris, London and Geneva, would come to their mid-size city.

But construction has proceeded at a snail’s pace, with seemingly little progress made in the last year even as rumors swirled about reasons for the delay. Many residents regard the unfinished buildings just north of the intersection of Camino Real and Federal Highway as an eyesore.

“In fact, as of the date of this complaint, the entire structure of the (Mandarin Oriental) condominium is still just a few steps beyond a concrete shell and a closing is far off into the future,” several of the lawsuits state.

All along, Penn-Florida officials have insisted nothing is amiss. Speaking to The Coastal Star in 2023, Penn-Florida Chief Operating Officer David Warne said the COVID-19 pandemic did cause some disruption, but completion was only a few months behind schedule. Company officials also have said they have adequate financing.

Suits seek deposit refunds
Michael and Elyse Filon of Highland Beach filed suit on July 8 to recoup $697,500 in deposit money. They subsequently resolved the matter and voluntarily dismissed their suit on July 31.

Trisha and Michael Polk, also of Highland Beach, filed suit on July 29 to get back nearly $2.3 million in deposit money. They voluntarily dismissed their case on Aug. 19.
Attorneys for both couples did not provide specifics on how much compensation they received. Adrian Alvarez, who represented the Polks, said the settlement agreement was confidential.

Three cases remained open as of Aug. 29:
• Frank and Nancy Scala, now renting an apartment in Boca Raton, placed deposits totaling nearly $1.3 million and sued on Aug. 13.
• Robert and Brenda Needleman of Boca Raton filed suit on Aug. 22 to recoup nearly $1.8 million.
• Erinn Starcher, who placed deposits on two units totaling over $1.3 million, sued on Aug. 23.

More lawsuits may be in the offing.

James Ferrara, a former Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge who represented the Filons and continues to represent the Scalas, said he has additional clients who are attempting to get their money back. If that fails, he anticipated litigation.

After speaking with The Coastal Star on Aug. 16, he filed suit on behalf of the Needlemans and Starcher.

The defendant in each of the cases is Via Mizner Owner III LLC, which is Penn-Florida’s project name for the condo building.
Penn-Florida said in a statement that it cannot comment on pending litigation, but the company honored the terms of purchase agreements.
“The overwhelming majority of our future Residents are excited to be a part of this exceptional development,” the statement said. “However, we understand that, over time, circumstances may change for a small percentage of Residents. In such cases, we will continue to not only honor our agreements, but endeavor to be as flexible as possible in accommodating their needs, just as we have done thus far.”

Scale of complaints unclear
Because of its stance that it can’t comment on pending litigation, the company did not answer questions such as whether it had fully reimbursed buyers who had voluntarily dismissed their cases and how many other buyers have requested and received reimbursement without resorting to litigation.

Ferrara and Alvarez said they did not know how many other would-be owners sought and received reimbursement without filing suit.

But Ferrara has heard that other people did get their money back.

“I have been told through the grapevine it is very haphazard as far as who gets their money back. There was a couple that just got $2 million back yesterday,” he said on Aug. 16. “Their situation is no different” than that of the Scalas.
“Certain people get their funds back and others don’t,” he said. “That seems a little unfair.”

The lawsuits state that the purchase agreements the buyers signed specify that their units “shall be” completed and delivered within three years after the estimated completion date.

Failure to do so would place Penn-Florida in default of the agreements. The deadlines had passed before the lawsuits were filed.

The Filons signed a purchase agreement in 2018, with an estimated completion date in November 2020. The Scalas signed in April 2021 with an estimated completion date that June. The Polks signed in March 2021 with an estimated completion date that June.

The Needlemans signed a purchase agreement in August 2019 with the unit to be completed in June 2021. Starcher signed purchase agreements in June and September 2020 with completion dates in June 2021.

When Penn-Florida’s closing deadline passed for the Scalas on June 30, Ferrara sent a demand letter to Penn-Florida’s attorney. After getting no response, he asked when the money would be forthcoming.

In an email, that lawyer said, “We spoke to the client. They do not agree the buyer is entitled to the return of his deposits and are prepared to contest any legal action.” Ferrara asked the legal basis for that decision. When two weeks passed without a response, the Scalas authorized Ferrara to file the lawsuit, he said.

Anticipating they would be moving, the Scalas had sold their home and moved into a two-bedroom rental near the Mandarin Oriental project site. They can’t buy somewhere else without getting their deposits back, Ferrara said.

In the Polks’ case, their closing also was to take place no later than June 30. Their closing attorney made inquiries about getting the money back, but did not get a response. So litigator Alvarez took over, sending two demand letters on June 17 and July 1 asking for the money but also hearing nothing.

“We were left with no other option but to file a lawsuit,” Alvarez said. “My clients are simply enforcing their contract rights because they are no longer willing to wait.”
But it’s not just the long wait time, he said. “They had no idea when (the condo building) was going to be done.”

Company ‘confident’
Partially addressing why the condo building is taking so long to complete, Penn-Florida’s statement cited the complexity of the very large project encompassing more than 2 million square feet and “a variety of outside influences since COVID.”

Boca Raton attorney Robert Sweetapple, who represents Penn-Florida, said a clause in the purchase contracts allows for project completion delays that result from bad weather and difficulty getting construction materials such as cement and windows.

The pandemic caused supply disruptions and the huge size of the project necessitated more materials than suppliers could provide, he said.

If the case goes to trial, “our expert will establish June 30 was not the contract closing date,” he said, adding that he is “very confident” Penn-Florida will prevail in court.

The project continues to attract buyers, he said. For those who no longer want to complete their purchase, “the irony is these units are going to sell now for more” than the original purchase price.

“We have had limited requests to back out on the contract,” Sweetapple said.

Litigation against Penn-Florida is not limited to would-be condo owners.

In its Aug. 13 lawsuit, Areda Construction of Miami Lakes said it had not been paid $1.8 million for concrete work it started in 2021 and finished in 2023 on the Mandarin Oriental hotel building.

Strategic Group Builders of Miami, which was engaged to provide construction management services for the hotel and the condo building, filed its lawsuit on Aug. 23. The company said it has not been paid nearly $1.7 million for its work.

Both of those lawsuits were voluntarily dismissed on Aug. 29.

Alex Barthet, the Miami attorney representing Areda, said the company and Penn-Florida had reached an agreement “that is satisfactory to both sides.”

Besides restricting EV charging, the condo is supporting use of maintainers, such as the one condo President David Stern is holding. They keep batteries in gas-powered cars from overcharging. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

David Stern knows that the chances were extremely rare of a fire breaking out in one of the three electric vehicles that snowbirds parked in his condo’s garage last season.

He also knows that had one of them gone up in flames, the damage likely would have been catastrophic — not just to other cars but to the structure of the 45-unit Highland Beach building that stands above the garage.

“All it takes is just one fire,” he said. “We just don’t want to take a chance.”

With that in mind, Stern and fellow members of the Highlands Place condo board have taken the rare step of passing strict regulations that ban the charging of EVs inside the garage and prohibit batteries for electric bikes and scooters from being anywhere within the interior of the building.

“We’re being extremely proactive,” said Stern, who is president of the condo association and Highland Beach’s vice mayor. “We’re erring on the side of safety.”

Throughout south Palm Beach County, fire department leaders are spreading the word about the hazards that come with charging electric vehicles inside a garage and with keeping batteries for electric recreational vehicles indoors.

They are clear in their belief that EVs are safe and are not discouraging their use, but at the same time, they want to be sure the public understands what could — in very rare instances — happen.

“We just want the residents of multi-family buildings to be aware of the hazards and to take appropriate precautions,” said Highland Beach Fire Chief Glenn Joseph.

One of the most important steps that residents and condo boards can take to reduce the risk, according to Boynton Beach Fire Marshal Jon Raybuck, is to make sure all charging stations are installed according to recommended codes and are done with a permit.

“Unverified work may increase the chances of a charging station malfunctioning due to improper installation,” said Raybuck, whose department also provides fire protection service to Ocean Ridge and Briny Breezes.

If and when the charging station or rechargeable electric vehicle batteries malfunction, they pose a major threat to structures as well as to firefighters, who still haven’t figured out how to effectively extinguish the blaze.

“When the batteries go haywire, they go haywire in a big way,” Joseph said.

The fires in electric vehicles burn much hotter than most traditional fires and are so intense that the most prescribed method of putting them out is not trying to do it at all.

Instead, firefighters, armed with the knowledge that pouring water on the fire or trying to smother it won’t work well, will find a way to get the vehicle out of a parking garage and then just let it burn itself out.

“Right now, we’re working on a better process to put the fire out,” said Dave DeRita, the fire marshal for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, which provides service to South Palm Beach and Manalapan.

Unlike traditional batteries, those used in EVs and e-bikes and scooters have their own internal fuel source and don’t require oxygen. If those battery fires can be put out at all, they often will reignite hours later.

“It’s a very hot fire and a very bright fire,” said Highland Beach Fire Marshal Matt Welhaf. “Fire sprinkler systems can’t keep it in check. There’s not enough water.”

Those hot fires — which can be triggered by overcharging, long-term exposure to standing water or other damage to the battery — spread rapidly and often create damage that can harm a building’s structural integrity.

One of the problems for fire prevention officials, Welhaf and others in the fire safety business say, is that battery technology is moving so fast that it’s difficult for them to keep up.
“Our suppression techniques haven’t caught up with the technology,” Joseph said.

At the same time, manufacturers are focusing on ways to keep the batteries from going up in flames.
“As the battery technology improves, the hazard will be reduced,” Joseph said.

One manufacturer, according to the county’s DeRita, is developing a solid-state battery, which will be less likely to cause a fire.

Until that happens, fire department leaders are recommending that condo boards and others in multifamily buildings install car-charging stations outdoors.

“We rather they not be in a garage,” Welhaf said. But if that is where they need to be, they should be easily accessible to firefighters who will need to pull them out. “The difficulty for us is access.”

Batteries for electric bikes and scooters should not be kept indoors at all, fire safety officials say.

“Improper use of these devices, charger failure or the utilization of incorrect charging cables may increase the risk of fire associated with them,” Boynton Beach’s Raybuck said.
Batteries on electric bikes and scooters are more exposed than those in electric cars and more susceptible to damage, such as when the bike falls. The damage could cause failures.

Because electric car batteries are more protected, they are less at risk of being damaged but are still at risk of overheating when charging.

While fire safety officials and building officials have building and electrical codes that can be used to ensure chargers are installed properly, there are no statewide or county regulations regarding where chargers can be placed or where electric bikes and scooters can be placed.

“There’s not a code that regulates the charging unit,” DeRita said.

Welhaf said that could be changing, but not for a few years.

The Florida Legislature has authorized the Division of State Fire Marshal to begin the process of drafting rules, but that takes time, Welhaf said.

Still, the topic remains a big issue for people in the fire safety industry and will be discussed this month during a statewide symposium organized by the marshal’s office.

In the interim, Stern and his board have stepped in and passed requirements and are working with residents to implement them in a way that is acceptable. Highlands Place is the first condo in Highland Beach to implement such restrictions and possibly the first in Palm Beach County.

To accommodate the residents with electric vehicles, the condo board is making space available outside the garage for a leased charger. Residents who use the charger will pay for the electricity they use and the cost of installation will be covered by a resident who volunteered to foot the bill.

Any resident with electric bikes or scooters will be required to store the batteries outside the building. Should they wish, they can purchase a fireproof battery locker that will be installed on condo property. Wheelchairs and similar items are exempt from the restrictions in order to comply with ADA rules.
Highlands Place, at 2901 S. Ocean Blvd., also now requires residents of gasoline-powered vehicles to use battery maintainers, rather than trickle chargers, to keep the battery from dying. The maintainers automatically shut off when the battery is charged. Condo maintenance will check the maintainers every two weeks to make sure they’re working properly.

Stern said that residents have been in agreement with the changes.

“The pushback has been nonexistent,” he said.

Stern said the building has been working with Welhaf and others in the fire department and hopes other buildings will follow Highlands Place’s lead.
“We want to be an example of safety first,” he said.

By Rich Pollack

Hoping to streamline the code enforcement hearing process and ensure cases can be heard in a timely manner, Highland Beach commissioners last month approved a two-tiered system utilizing a magistrate for complex violation cases and a code board for less complicated matters.

Under the new system — which Town Attorney Len Rubin says may be unique in Palm Beach County — cases such as parking code violations, trash issues and landscaping that doesn’t meet town restrictions can be heard by the Code Enforcement Board, which is made up of residents selected by the commission.

More complex issues, such as violations of the town’s construction code, work being done without a required permit and violations of the Florida Fire Prevention Code, will be heard by a magistrate.

Previously all cases were handled by the quasi-judicial Code Enforcement Board, which on occasion struggled to have a required quorum. Under the new system, Rubin said, the magistrate can be available to handle cases that would go before the board if not enough members were available.

The board and the magistrate will both have the authority to impose fines.

“What I like about this is that it gives us options,” said Commissioner Evalyn David, who is one of two attorneys on the commission along with Judith Goldberg.
Earlier this summer, the Town Commission approved an agreement with attorney and FAU political science professor Kevin Wagner to serve as the town’s magistrate at a rate of $190 per hour.

Wagner already serves as a magistrate for several communities, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Gulf Stream and West Palm Beach.

As part of the revamped processes, the town attorney will provide training annually to members of the Code Enforcement Board in an effort to ensure consistency.

That training includes an overview of the procedures applicable to the board and will cover the rules governing the conduct of the hearing, the role of board members as impartial decision makers, the required disclosure of ex parte communications, and ethical requirements set by the state and Palm Beach County.

Town commissioners also agreed to seek candidates for the enforcement board who are residents and have experience in specific areas. If possible, the commission will look to appoint an architect, an engineer, a general contractor, a subcontractor, a business person and a real estate agent.

If they can’t find such representatives, commissioners have the option to appoint a resident who they believe is most qualified.

Commissioners, in approving the changes, said they believe the changes will help ensure the process is efficient and equitable.

“This is an effective way of dealing with code enforcement,” Goldberg said.

By Rich Pollack

Information can be critical for first responders racing to an emergency. The more comprehensive the information, the better.

Knowing who lives in a house — pets included — before they respond to a fire can help emergency crews ensure everyone is out safely.

Knowing the code to a gate or which neighbor has a key to an apartment can make it possible for paramedics to access a patient sooner; and knowing what medications a patient is on can help establish a possible protocol while help is on the way.

Now Highland Beach Fire Rescue is among a small group of departments in the area pioneering a new technology that allows residents to provide what could be lifesaving information into a secure database that will automatically pop up on a screen first responders see when responding to an emergency call.

Called First Due Community Connect, the new system is entirely voluntary and makes it possible for the fire department to store information that can eliminate surprises and unexpected obstacles.

“Community Connect helps us provide residents with the best level of service based on their needs if information is given to us before an emergency,” says Assistant Chief for Operations Tom McCarthy.

In responding to a call, firefighters and paramedics often have information provided to them by dispatch operators who are trained to ask callers pertinent questions. With Community Connect, however, the information available to first responders is much more detailed and includes what residents think rescuers need to know.

An example, McCarthy says, is information a resident can provide to let emergency crews know if there is someone in a house or apartment who has special needs. If someone is in a wheelchair or bedridden, for example, it will help first responders en route to a fire know that they’ll have to focus on helping that person out of the building.

“It helps us on our game planning,” McCarthy says.

Residents who register can enter information in four areas. Under “household information,” the system asks if there are residents under 18, if it’s an apartment building, and does it have an elevator or pool. The system also asks if there is a meeting place, perhaps outside the home, where everyone will gather in case of an evacuation.

The system also allows residents to put in any additional information about the home they think first responders should know.

Residents can also provide information about home medical equipment, including oxygen, and pet information, including photos and veterinarian contact information.

McCarthy says that one of the biggest changes in the ability of firefighters and paramedics to respond faster has been technology that makes it more efficient to access patients.

Since Highland Beach Fire Rescue launched in May, firefighters and paramedics have walked through all the buildings in town, getting familiar with all the access points and possible obstacles.

Community Connect, McCarthy says, puts that information at the fingertips of emergency crews.

“Being able to gain rapid access is important,” he says. “All of these things can help eliminate ‘time bandits.’”

The cost of the system to the town is about $20,000 a year, and McCarthy says that the Highland Beach department is one of the first to use it, although other area departments have expressed interest.

Residents can sign up for Community Connect at www.communityconnect.io/info/fl-highlandbeach.

By Mary Hladky

The number of commuters using Brightline continues to slide downward, exacerbated by the company’s decision to eliminate on June 1 a reduced-fare monthly trip pass.

While long-haul ridership to and from Orlando sets records, short-haul riders dropped from 149,536 in June 2023 to 84,062 this June. In July, they fell to 76,907, according to Brightline’s ridership and revenue reports to bondholders.

Brightline’s prioritizing long-haulers has prompted commuter complaints — and raised questions about whether the rail line’s Boca Raton station actually is the economic boon to the city that its leaders expected.

City officials, however, want residents to know that Brightline is not letting the city down.

“Brightline is a catalyst that has allowed us to re-envision” part of downtown, Mayor Scott Singer said at an Aug. 26 Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. Its benefits should be measured in years and decades rather than short periods of time, he said.

“To say Brightline is a failure is a completely inaccurate statement,” said Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker.

“Brightline certainly is not a failure,” said Council member Marc Wigder, adding that it creates opportunity for the city.

City Manager George Brown agreed. “We are very fortunate to have it here,” he said. “It is being used.”
Singer aggressively lobbied Brightline officials to build a station in Boca Raton. Council members agreed to a long-term lease of 1.8 acres of city-owned land to the rail line for $1 per year where the station now sits and paid the $10 million cost of a parking garage.

Brightline does not release ridership information for each of its stations, so it’s not possible to know if fewer people are traveling to and from Boca. But it seems likely that if fewer commuters are using it, that affects the city.

Another problem commuters have faced, in addition to higher fares, is that Brightline’s overall ridership has grown to the point that often there are not enough seats for all who want to ride.

Brightline now says it will be getting new passenger cars soon that will increase the number of cars per train to five from four.

Regardless of any uncertainty, the Brightline station remains key to the city’s plan to create a transit-oriented community (TOC) for the area around the station and the adjacent 30 acres of city-owned property where City Hall and the Police Department now sit.

The idea is to allow for residential, retail, entertainment and recreation, as well as city functions, in the TOC. The city also anticipates a public-private partnership with a developer that would bear at least some of the cost of redevelopment.

Council members are now figuring out exactly what they want to see in the TOC.

CRA chair Fran Nachlas asked her colleagues on Aug. 26 what each envisions.

They offered general ideas that have been floated before, but no concrete plans.

Singer wanted residential, office, retail, restaurants and great landscaping “to create a vibrant district,” along with a new City Hall and Police Department. Others generally agreed with that.

He also suggested building affordable housing for city employees to help attract and retain them.

“I have a very open mind on what the campus should look like. That extends to where things go,” Council member Andy Thomson said. But city employees need a new City Hall to replace the crumbling, 60-year-old existing one, he said.

Singer and Nachlas said they, too, are open-minded.

“Everything is on the table,” Singer said.

By Mary Hladky

The historic Singing Pines Children’s Museum building will move to Meadows Park despite pleas by museum lovers to keep it at its current location near Boca Raton City Hall.

The City Council unanimously voted on Aug. 27 to reverse a decision by the city’s Historic Preservation Board that the museum should remain at 498 Crawford Blvd.

City officials early this year decided to relocate it to make way for a new building administration and code enforcement building. The Boca Raton Historical Society had no objections.

But some who cherish the museum took to social media to press the city to change course, and the preservation board sided with them at a July 18 meeting.

Among the board’s reasons were that the city should not “shove it into a park that nobody uses,” according to minutes of the meeting. Members also said that the city should incorporate the building into its plans to overhaul its government campus and surrounding areas by creating a transit-oriented community.

But city staff pushed back. When the city designated the building as historic in 1988, it was not because of its location. The current site is not the original one.

It is historic because of its architectural design, association with the city’s pioneer era and its history as the home of significant citizens. Moving the building changes none of that, staff concluded.

With little discussion, council members overruled the board.

The Singing Pines house was built in 1913 or 1914 at 301 SE First Ave. It is the second-oldest home in the city that still exists. It was built by William Myrick on property purchased from Henry Flagler’s Model Land Co.

The museum opened in 1979, but closed in 2019 as operational costs increased. The COVID-19 pandemic stalled efforts to reopen it.

No date has been set for the move to Meadows Park, located at 1300 NW Eighth St., near Boca Raton Middle School.

Motorist rescued from Intracoastal — Boca Raton police and fire rescue rescued a 75-year-old Boca Raton woman from water near Silver Palm Park on Aug. 22 after she called police late at night saying she was lost and her car was filling with water.

Mary Chauvin was transported to Boca Raton Regional Hospital with life-threatening injuries, Boca Raton police said. She remained hospitalized as of Aug. 27.

When officers arrived, they saw her white Buick partially submerged in the Intracoastal Waterway, moving northbound with the current.

Witnesses told the rescuers that Chauvin drove into the water from a boat ramp in the park, located at 600 E. Palmetto Park Road along the west side of the Intracoastal.

Online map shows where to find public art — Boca Raton has launched an online interactive map that shows the location and photos of public artworks and information on the artists.

Current public art includes that on the Mizner Park Amphitheater stage doors, sculptures at Sanborn Square and Wildflower and Silver Palm parks, and murals on beach tunnels at Spanish River Park under State Road A1A.

“The new interactive map is a fantastic way for everyone to experience the public art that enriches our city,” Veronica Hatch, the city’s public art coordinator, said in a release.
Boca Raton’s public art program, a priority of former Deputy Mayor Andrea O’Rourke, was launched last year with the hiring of Hatch. The city will create a master plan and establish a public art fund that includes city contributions and private funding.

A survey of city residents this year showed that 46% thought public art was very important and 36% said somewhat important.

The interactive map can be accessed at myboca.us/2452/Experience-Public-Art.

‘Glass House’ project approved — The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency unanimously approved on Aug. 26 a developer’s plan to build a nine-story, 28-unit luxury condominium in the heart of downtown at 280 E. Palmetto Park Road.

It will replace a vacant bank and office building on the 0.62-acre site.

While many downtown projects have drawn vehement opposition, the so-called Glass House drew very little negative comment.

The ground floor will include a lobby, fitness center, lounge, and steam and sauna room. The roof deck will have a pool and spa, covered outdoor seating, cabanas, fire pit and landscaping. Parking is underground. Two-, three- and four-story condos are priced between $2.5 million and $6.9 million.

Developer 280 E. Palmetto Park Road LLC is managed by Brandon Chasen, CEO of Baltimore-based Chasen Companies, and Paul Davis, Chasen’s managing partner and chief investment officer. The architect is GarciaStromberg of West Palm Beach.

— Mary Hladky

The 2600 N. Ocean home design has two living floors, basement and rooftop terrace with pool. Renderings provided

The proposed 2600 N. Ocean home as viewed from A1A.

By Steve Plunkett

The city and a developer that for years has wanted to build on a vacant parcel east of State Road A1A have put two contentious lawsuits behind them and agreed to decide within 90 days whether to allow the home to go up on the beachfront.

The City Council on Aug. 27 authorized a “full settlement” of the lawsuits and other legal matters with Delray Beach-based Azure Development LLC and its affiliate 2600 N Ocean LLC over property the developer owns at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd., which is east of the Coastal Construction Control Line.

“Importantly,” Assistant City Attorney Joshua Koehler wrote in a memo to council members, “approval of the settlement agreement does not constitute approval of the CCCL variance, with the City Council reserving its regulatory and review authority throughout the process.”

Council member Andy Thomson emphasized that fact before voting in favor of authorizing the settlement.

The resolution authorizing it “does not in any way indicate that I by voting for it or not, support a variance for this underlying piece of property. I’ve not formed an opinion on that application, nor can I until we hear evidence at a public hearing,” said Thomson, who voted to deny Azure/2600’s first request for a CCCL variance in 2019.
“And I don’t think, speaking for myself, it would not operate as a bias in favor of or against the application for this applicant if we were to approve this (settlement agreement) today,” he said.

Mayor Scott Singer and the other council members concurred with Thomson.

“It will be the first time that I would be hearing this application, so I agree,” Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker said.

Notable in the settlement is this statement: “The City recognizes that 2600 is entitled to construct a single-family home on the Property, subject to satisfying the CCCL variance criteria as set forth in the City’s Code of Ordinances and all other zoning, building and other applicable regulatory requirements.”

In 1971, state legislators created the Coastal Construction Setback Line, which banned construction seaward of the line. That was altered in 1978 to become the Coastal Construction Control Line, which does not prohibit such construction but puts the buildings under increased review. The line is supposed to preserve and protect beaches from construction that can harm the beach-dune system, speed up erosion, endanger adjacent properties or interfere with public beach access.

Boca Raton passed its own coastal construction line in 1981. With that resolution, the city also scrutinizes any oceanfront projects within its borders.

To get a variance to build seaward of the CCCL, an applicant must meet six criteria, including that special and unique conditions exist that are peculiar to the case and that those special and unique conditions are not directly attributable to the actions of the applicant.

The settlement calls for both sides to pause legal activity for at least 90 days or until the City Council makes its decision on the CCCL variance. If the variance is denied, the settlement becomes void and legal action will resume.

The agreement also calls for the developer and the city to pay their own attorneys’ fees and costs. Boca Raton lawyer Robert Sweetapple, who represents Azure and its affiliate, has said the legal tabs on his side exceed $1 million.

“Obviously we’re pleased that we’re moving forward,” he said after the council’s vote to settle.

The Azure team is waiting to see the city staff’s report on Azure’s current variance application either this month or in October, he said, then for hearings before the city’s Environmental Advisory Board and the City Council itself.
“There’s nothing else to be done other than those hearings,” Sweetapple said.

Azure originally wanted to build a duplex on the parcel with four living floors, an uninhabitable basement and a rooftop terrace with pool. It now wants to construct a single-family residence with two living floors, the basement and rooftop terrace with pool. The four-bedroom home would have 6,931 square feet of air-conditioned space. The rooftop would also have a gym room, a summer kitchen and a spa.

The new design has 2,550 square feet of glass facing the Atlantic Ocean, down about 29% from the original plan’s 3,600 square feet.

“In keeping with the city’s suggestion to maintain modest home designs, the house has been thoughtfully designed to harmonize with its surroundings,” the project’s architect wrote in his submission to the city’s Development Services Department.

2600 N Ocean LLC appealed the City Council’s 2019 denial of a CCCL variance to the Palm Beach County Circuit Court. In September 2020, a three-judge panel ordered a rehearing of the CCCL variance request and disqualified then-Council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte from voting on it based on email messages they sent to constituents and to each other that showed they were not impartial.

Also in 2019, Azure sued the city alleging a violation of the state’s Public Records Act over its late or non-production of officials’ electronic messages. Last February, Circuit Judge Donald Hafele in a case concerning public records requests said Facebook Messenger messages that then-Council member Jeremy Rodgers sent to a constituent also showed bias against the Azure proposal.

The judge noted that “timely production of the Rodgers Facebook Messenger exchanges might well have led to a determination that a majority of Council members had prejudged 2600’s application” and ordered the city to pay Azure’s attorneys’ fees.

In a separate matter brought by the owner of 2500 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton’s only other undeveloped beachfront parcel, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith disqualified O’Rourke, Mayotte and Mayor Singer from involvement in future issues regarding development there, similarly citing bias on their part. Smith’s final judgment in that case was handed down in March.

Letter carrier DD Price shares a laugh with Mavis Benson at the Avalon Gallery on Atlantic Avenue.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
— Unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service

By Ron Hayes

East Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach doesn’t see a lot of snow, and the mail is delivered before sundown, but there is rain, and lately way too much heat. Sometimes thoughtless drivers spray puddles. Sometimes tourists ask directions, then contradict you when you offer them. And once there was this dog.

None of that has stayed the courier from her appointed rounds.

On Oct. 3, Denise Diane Price of the U.S. Postal Service will have been delivering the mail along East Atlantic Avenue for 43 years.

“Letter carrier is the correct term these days, but little kids used to call me Aunt Sam. You know, like Uncle Sam?” she says with a laugh. “I’ve seen kids grow up around here.”
Everyone who knows Denise Diane Price calls her DD — no periods, just DD — and everyone seems to know DD Price. “I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else,” she says. “People greet me. They beep their horns at me. I don’t always know who it is, but I always wave.”

Her hair color has changed since this picture from the early 1990s, but Price’s radiant smile is still present. Photo provided

She was 23 when she started the job. She’s 66 now.

“I grew up in Stuart,” she begins. “We had one red light.”

After high school, softball got her to Palm Beach Junior College on a scholarship. “They paid me $400 a month to play shortstop for the Palm Beach Pacers.”

She earned an associate’s degree, worked as a lab technician drawing blood at Bethesda Memorial Hospital, left to work for UPS. And then, on Oct. 3, 1981, she was hired by the U.S. Postal Service and started delivering the mail on East Atlantic.

DD Price make her way through the lobby of the Colony Hotel.

Getting in her steps — for miles and miles
In those early days, her route reached from Swinton Avenue east to the Intracoastal Waterway, then all the side streets up to Northeast Fourth Street.

“They put me on this route because it was 14 miles and nobody else wanted it,” she says. “They wanted to slide their arm out of the truck and put the mail in a curbside box.”

DD walked the route, and walked, and walked. The town grew. More buildings went up, more people moved down. More people meant more mail, so more carriers were needed, and DD’s route grew smaller. Today, she delivers from the railroad tracks east, but only up to Northeast Second Street, five or six miles a day.

“I’m at the main post office on Military Trail by 8 a.m. and I hit the street by 11 a.m.”

She pushes a three-wheel cart bearing four bags of mail, one bag each for letters, parcels, flats, and outgoing. Down the south side of Atlantic, back up the north, and then the side streets.

“I punch out about 4:30 p.m., and I never go to a gym.
“I never work out. This is my exercise.”

She’s seen a lot of changes, walking the avenue for 43 years.

“So many people use email now, the loads are lighter than when I started,” she says. “The other day I heard a little boy ask his mother what the blue box was. He had no idea what a mailbox is.”

She’s seen the street transformed from attorneys’ offices and travel bureaus to trendy restaurants and boutique art galleries.

“When I started, there were seven travel agencies,” she recalls. “The attorneys used to open their offices about 9:30 and they wanted their certified letters. Now the avenue doesn’t really start kicking until 11.”

No one had cell phones when DD began. They had beepers. Now she carries a GPS scanner that records the bar codes on packages.

“That’s how the tracking number can tell you when I delivered it,” she says.

Price stops to chat with Shannan Robinson at Lilly Pulitzer on Atlantic Avenue. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Aggravation abounds, but so does gratification
Yes, there are aggravations.

“I’m easygoing,” she says, “but one thing that pisses me off is being splashed by dirty street water. Some people just don’t think anymore.”

Tourists can be both frustrating and funny.

“They ask me for directions, and I give them directions and they say, ‘No, that’s not the way, I was just there.’”

She laughs. “I’ve actually seen tourists run out of the ocean because it’s raining.”

And there’s weather to deal with, of course. Torrential rain. Sweltering heat.

“If it rains, I get wet,” she says. “If I feel in danger, I stop. Lightning, I sit in the truck. But I’m a Floridian. I’m used to the heat, but it’s been brutal lately. As soon as I wake up, I drink 16 ounces of water.”

The businesses along the avenue offer her water, and Restroom for Customers Only doesn’t apply to her.

Over the years, addresses became names and names became friends.

When Hand’s Office at 325 E. Atlantic closed in June 2021 after 87 years, owner David Cook lamented the changes on the avenue, but treasured the memory of old friends like his letter carrier.

“If you wanted to know what was really going on along the avenue,” he says, “you could ask DD and she would always tell you.”

DD was knowledgeable, and she was reliable.

“When it was her day off, she’d warn us because some other person would deliver, and we’d get everybody else’s mail. Then we’d redistribute it until DD was back. It was comical.”

DD has been delivering mail to the Northern Trust bank at 770 E. Atlantic Ave. for nearly three decades, and Senior Vice President Stacey Hallberg has known her for 20.

“While we value her service,” Hallberg says, “it’s DD’s friendship and daily positivity that we love most. It’s much more than just mail. It’s mail with a smile!”

Personal connections extend beyond the job
She had already been delivering the mail for 23 years when John and Mavis Benson opened their Avalon Gallery at 425 E. Atlantic in 2004.

“People complain that they’re just a number,” Mavis Benson says, “but having DD as our mail person you’re a number and a name.”

After their gallery had been open a year, DD invited the Bensons to a 2005 Thanksgiving breakfast at her house in Del-Ida Park.
“Her yard was set beautifully with linens and china and silver, and nothing but tables filled with her friends,” Benson remembers. “Good Southern food, and I was like, This is it. This is the place to be, the people to know. She gives us a sense of community.”

Benson once told DD that when DD retired, she would too. That’s not likely to happen any time soon.

“I’ll retire when I wake up some morning and say, OK, that’s enough,” DD says. “I enjoy my job. What are you if you’re not out meeting people and seeing what they’re going through? Delray Beach isn’t the old, cracked sidewalks anymore, and I’m growing with the avenue.”

And besides, in all her 43 years of delivering mail, Denise Diane “DD” Price has been attacked by a vicious dog only once.

“I opened the door to hand a lady the mail,” she explains, “and their dog ran out and grabbed my ankle and wouldn’t let go.

“It was a Chihuahua.”

About that motto
“Neither snow nor rain...” is not the official motto of the U.S. Postal Service. However, it is chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the James A. Farley building at Eighth Avenue and 33rd Street in New York City.
The sentiment comes from book 8, paragraph 98, of The Persian Wars by the Greek historian Herodotus.
During the wars between the Greeks and Persians (500-449 B.C.), the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity.
According to the USPS, the firm of McKim, Mead & White designed the Post Office building, which opened to the public on Labor Day in 1914. One of the firm’s architects, William Mitchell Kendall, was the son of a classics scholar and read Greek for pleasure. He selected the “Neither snow nor rain …” inscription, which he modified from a translation by Professor George Herbert Palmer of Harvard University, and the Post Office Department approved it.

The George Snow Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships and scholar services to 375 local students this year, marking the largest financial commitment and class size to date. ‘Each scholarship we award is a reflection of the generosity and goodwill that makes up our community,’ says Tim Snow, president of the fund. ‘We owe a special debt of gratitude to our scholarship donors for making education possible. Their contribution to our Snow scholars will leave a lasting impact on the lives of our scholars, propelling them forward in their future careers.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Madison Ciccone, Jennifer Ciccone, Leslie Cornwell, Channon Ellwood, Tim Snow, Natalie Capiro, Austin Havass, Nikki Hamilton, Amy Greene and Jay Brandt. Photo provided

Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County CEO Kristin Calder (top left) is joined by board members and directors (l-r, front) Nicole Rocco, Ken Spillias, Sharon Hill, Dr. Regine Bataille, Matthew Criscuolo, Debra Ghostine, Bernadette O’Grady, Grace Halabi, (back) Telsula Morgan, Carol Rose, Valrie Martin Buchanan, Lindsay Reinhart, Debbie DeHoog, Janel Williams, Kelly Starling, Maggie Dickenson, Andrew Loewenstein, Caleb Bowser, Laurie Gildan, Alma Horne and Pierre Deltor. Photo provided

At its annual meeting, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County announced its 2024-25 officers.
They are: Dr. Regine Bataille, president; Grace Halabi and Sharon Hill, vice presidents; Aurora Arthay, secretary; Caleb Bowser, treasurer; Chris Duke and Laurie Gildan, members-at-large; Matthew Criscuolo, immediate past president; and Debra Ghostine, Len Gray and Bernadette O’Grady, parliamentarians.
Working together as an executive committee, they will support the Literacy Coalition’s adult and family programs, children’s programs and the AmeriCorps program, all aimed at helping clients achieve literacy.
Call 561-279-9103 or visit literacypbc.org.

Trio added to board of Community Foundation
Marti LaTour, Kevin Powers and Kenneth West II began their three-year terms July 1 serving the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
The agency facilitates partnerships with donors, organizations and the public with the goal of solving chronic problems and addressing emerging issues.
“We are pleased to welcome three fantastic additions to our board of directors,” Chairman Jeffrey Stoops said. “Marti, Kevin and Ken are wonderful advocates for their respective communities, and each uniquely brings a wealth of experiences in business and philanthropy that will strengthen our work at the Community Foundation now and into the future.”
Call 561-659-6800 or visit yourcommunityfoundation.org

New development director joins ACCF in Delray Beach
Gina Griffin has been named to the key fundraising position of director of development at Achievement Centers for Children & Families in Delray Beach.
Griffin, who has 25-plus years of experience in the charitable community, is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County and a member of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches.
“I'm ecstatic to be joining the team at Achievement Centers for Children & Families because of its mission, my early interactions with the organization through the Junior League and the team members I have already gotten a chance to meet,” she said.
Stephanie Seibel, the organization’s CEO, added, “With Gina’s wealth of experience in the nonprofit world, I know she will contribute significantly to the continued success and growth of the organization.”
Call 561-266-0003 or visit achievementcentersfl.org

Truist Foundation awards $55,000 to YMCA
The YMCA of South Palm Beach County received a generous grant that will help more than 950 teens involved in programs and services.
The funds totaling $55,000 came courtesy of the Truist Foundation and are to be shared between the Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca Raton and the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA in Boynton Beach.
“Investing in our teens is one of the most impactful commitments we can make,” said Bryan Hunt, executive director of the Peter Blum Family YMCA. “At the YMCA, we see firsthand how these programs empower young people to grow into confident, capable leaders.
“By providing a supportive environment and opportunities for personal development, we help teens build the skills and resilience they need to succeed and contribute positively to their communities.”
Call 561-395-9622 or visit ymcaspbc.org

Children’s museum to benefit from bash
The wild, wild West will come alive at the Back to School Country Bash to benefit the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum, a Boynton Beach nonprofit whose programs and exhibits enable children and families to explore, play and learn.
The fundraiser, a signature event for the museum, will saunter into town Sept. 20 at Benvenuto. Proceeds will be used to update the museum’s farm exhibit. Tickets cost $150.
“Curiosity flourishes most in young minds, and wonder is the spark that ignites a lifelong love of learning,” said Miriam Naranjo, museum assistant director. “Our Family Farms exhibit is designed to spark that curiosity by allowing children to explore and experience what life was like for Florida’s early pioneers — through play, imagination, and hands-on learning.”
Call 561-742-6787 or visit schoolhousemuseum.org

‘Toasts, Tastes & Trolleys’ tour returns to Boca Raton
The Boca Raton Historical Society/Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum has announced the return of a much-anticipated event Sept. 27 at The Boca Raton.
The end-of-summer celebration — Toasts, Tastes & Trolleys began in 2012 — offers an immersion into the city’s rich history and vibrant lifestyle. Participants embark on trolleys at the resort and travel to intriguing destinations to enjoy light bites, interesting trivia and special toasts. Tickets cost $150.
“Each stop provides a blend of historical insights and delightful sips, creating a memorable evening for all attendees,” according to a news release. “The evening will conclude at The Boca Raton where guests may enjoy nightcaps at a cash bar.”
Call 561-395-6766 or visit www.bocahistory.org/toasts-tastes-trolleys

Have a ‘ball’ celebrating Boca Raton centennial
Dubbed as the don’t-miss event of the season, the ninth annual Mayors Ball benefiting the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton is set for Nov. 16 at Boca West Country Club. The gala will recognize the city’s 100th anniversary in 2025.
Tickets go on sale this month for an affair that attracts hundreds of attendees, including elected officials, dignitaries and corporate leaders.
“Proceeds from last year’s gala helped 17 nonprofits through our Service Above Self grants,” said Jeff Weber, chairman of the club’s fund. “Thousands of lives were touched, and we anticipate an even greater impact from the generous giving of those attending this year’s black-tie event.”
Call 561-289-0436 or visit rotarydowntownbocaraton.org

Send news and notes to Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net.

Suzanne Perrotto, owner of Rose’s Daughter in Delray Beach, recommends buying a propane grill or stove for use when the power is out, and stocking up on water and non-perishable foods. Photo provided by Libbyvision

By Jan Norris

Floridians know what this month brings — more storm watches. It’s peak hurricane season, and time to get serious about preparations — if you haven’t already.

While a major storm may not hit, it’s possible that even a blow-by can take out power long enough to cause trouble. But with advance warning, there’s time to prepare.

Local chefs have planned and readied for several storms and emergencies and have tips for people who may be new at this.

First and foremost, use the tracking notices for storms to create a timeline, says Jimmy Everett of Boynton Beach’s Driftwood. Focus on perishables, and shop judiciously.

“Plan on using all your perishables and buying only what you can use for a short time ahead of the storm. The biggest threat is the power goes out afterward,” he said. Expect to be without refrigeration and a freezer.

“My wife is from Puerto Rico,” Everett said. “They get storms all the time that knock out the power. If there’s a storm on the way, you’ll see everybody baking cakes or breads and using up all the perishables. You’ll have baked goods for days.”

If you have capacity to preserve some of the fresh foods by canning or pickling, that’s ideal.

“We keep a few pickle juices on hand,” Everett said. “Just boil them and pour them over the foods.”

Sliced root vegetables such as carrots, as well as cucumbers or cabbage, green beans, okra — all can be pickled, and will last outside refrigeration when done properly. (Use a pickling guide such as the Ball Blue Book for safety.)

Freeze water, or buy ice ahead of time, and fill the freezer to capacity to keep food cold during an outage. “Don’t open it just to check on temperature,” Everett said.

Equipment that should be on everyone’s list is a propane or charcoal grill, or small propane stove that runs on canisters, the same ones sold for camping, said Suzanne Perrotto, owner of Rose’s Daughter and Brulee in Delray Beach.

“Those are wonderful to have anywhere,” she said. “You can cook eggs, soups, stews; if you have a propane grill, you can even bake bread in it by covering it up.”

She also has a “ton” of wood for her outdoor pizza oven.

Water is essential. “I have a lot of bottled water and buckets to catch water if I need to. I remind all our staff to make sure they have plenty of water on hand this time of year. And have food in reserve, too.”

Perrotto sells sourdough starter at The Pantry, an offshoot of Rose’s Daughter. “You can have bread every day if you keep a starter. No refrigerator needed.”

Store-bought tortillas can sub out for bread and they will last for weeks, she said.

Having a store of dry foods to eat or reconstitute with boiling water will go far toward preparing full meals. “Quinoa, rice, and those ramen noodles in a pinch,” Perrotto said.

Adding herbs, spices and flavorings such as bouillon powder or dry soup base will make basic canned foods palatable.

“I have Patriot meals,” she said. These military-style rations last for a year and are found in various forms online or in some sports stores. “I have a 100-hour candle, too.
“I use fresh herbs from my garden, but you can use dried herbs — thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley — to boost flavors,” Perrotto said.
“I do use a lot of Asian spices at home, such as curry powder. Coconut milk, dried mushrooms, a variety of peppers — these can all add flavor. Garlic lasts for a long time.
“Vinegar and oils, you’ll need those, too,” she said.

These help digestion and boost nutrition.

Canned soups, meats, black beans, chickpeas, canned tomatoes and other vegetables can be made into cold salads, soups or stews and provide protein.

Perrotto keeps green juices in reserve, to get nutrition in a glass and move beyond bottled water. She also has “lots of instant coffee and coffee creamer on hand. I can’t live without my coffee.”

When buying canned goods, smaller is better, she says. “Once they’re opened, you’ll need to avoid leftovers or have refrigeration available.”

Proteins may be hardest to obtain, Perrotto said, but “guess you can always eat an iguana. I’m just kidding. But we really have to do something about them.”

More hurricane prep tips
Prepare for a power outage — the most common threat, even after a minor storm — as well as flooding.
To stock:
• Manual can opener
• Matches or grill lighters
• Propane stove and canisters, or tanks for grill
• Ice chests filled with drinks to avoid opening refrigerator
• Foil pans for cooking on grill
• Lantern and batteries for cooking area
• Contractor-strength trash bags — use as small tarp, containers for dry foods, or covering counters stacked with appliances
• Disposable plates and utensils
• Shelf stable dairy products: milk, pudding, cheese
• Shelf stable bacon, cured meats, canned proteins
• Juices and coconut water
• Canned foods — buy small cans so no leftovers

To do:
• Pack up cherished recipes or cookbooks to store with important papers.
• Fill all spaces in the freezer to keep it cold longer.
• Bag up any meltable foods such as ice cream or popsicles.
• Freeze large bottles (gallon and half-gallon) of drinking water and store in top of freezer.
• Use up perishables in a stew, but package in small containers to avoid waste.
• Buy farmer’s eggs, which don’t need immediate refrigeration.

— Jan Norris

Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen is one of the eateries participating in Downtown Delray Beach Restaurant Month. Its deals include half off prices on the dinner menu and half off drink prices from 3 to 7 p.m. daily in September. Photo provided

Restaurant month in Delray and throughout county
September marks the ninth annual Downtown Delray Beach Restaurant Month. More than 40 restaurants are participating in the discount program that offers special menus or deals through Sept. 30.

In an effort to draw in new diners to their eateries, participants offer special drink pricing at happy hour, a prix fixe dinner or a special event.

Those offering prix fixe menus include Bounce Delray, 50 Ocean, Amar Mediterranean, J&J Seafood Bar and Grill, Costa by OK&M, The Office Delray, The Grove and others.

Cafe deals are served at Jonny’s Deli in Tony’s Market, Kilwin’s Windy City Pizza, The Pantry and Fit Food Express.

Special dinners and events are scheduled at Akira Back and Ramen Lab Eatery. A food tour is on the list, provided by Craft Food Tours.

Restaurants are added to the list with updates daily. For a list of all participating restaurants, prices and menus, go to downtowndelraybeach.com/restaurantmonth.

Flavor South Florida also returns in September and covers more territory. Restaurants in the discount program range from Port St. Lucie to Boca Raton.

Special prix fixe meals are offered for both lunch and dinner at more than 60 restaurants.

This year, staycation deals at local resorts cover both lodging and dining at a discount.

A wide variety of cuisines fall into the program such as Italian and French, as well as sushi bars, steakhouses and plant-based foods.

In Boca, look for menus from the Pavilion Grille, Sushi by Bou, Il Mulino and the Loch Bar.

Boynton Beach’s Driftwood and A’lu Mexican Cuisine are participating. In Delray Beach, Dada and The Wine Room are, too.

Polpo in Manalapan, and Cafe Boulud, Echo, Florie’s, Henry’s Palm Beach, La Goulue and others are offering prix fixe menus.

For a look at menus and an updated list of participating restaurants, visit flavorpb.com/restaurants.

With both programs, it’s a good idea to make reservations.

Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com.

Levoyd ’Catman’ Mitchell, of Delray Beach, holds one of the community felines that he feeds and cares for. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

This column is dedicated to people who help people who help cats. In particular, the spotlight shines on what people have done to transform the living situation for a Delray Beach man named Levoyd Mitchell.

But most people know him as simply Catman.

For years, Catman has gathered bags and cans of donated food to feed about 200 community cats in Delray Beach every day. He pedals to specific feeding spots morning and night. And the felines are waiting for him.

He is quiet-spoken. He prefers talking about cats more than himself. His focus is on helping cats who have been abandoned or born without homes.

“I have always loved animals, and I started feeding these community cats for a number of reasons,” he told me in a recent phone conversation. “Pedaling my bike with bags of food is good exercise and good for my health. And I love when the cats see me, come out and let me pet them.”

He is also a man filled with gratitude. With the help of many, led by Delray Beach Vice Mayor Juli Casale and Jill Merjeski, founder of Jill’s Next Door pet services in Highland Beach, Mitchell is now living in a furnished one-bedroom apartment and pedals a donated e-bike to feed the felines.

“I want to thank all who have donated food for the cats and to those who helped me find a place to live,” he says. “Thank God for them. They saved me because I would be homeless otherwise. I had nowhere to go.”

Organizers were able to fulfill the Amazon wish list 100% for his apartment furnishings.

Merjeski says, “This is a real miracle story. Catman has been fixing and feeding Delray’s community cats on his own accord for years. He is helping control our cat population while caring for legal homeless cats. He has a huge heart.

“This project reflects our community’s compassion and support by transforming his new space into a loving home,” she adds. “I’m honored to belong to a community that truly makes a positive impact on one another.”

Casale met Catman about five years ago, when efforts were underway to start a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return cat program in Delray Beach.

“This kind gentleman has been feeding our community cats every day,” she says. “He is hardworking and quiet. These cats rely on him.”

Casale’s home for the past two decades has always included rescued pets. Currently they are former street cats called Patrick and Peter.

Patrick was found on the streets with no fur due to mange and now sports a fluffy black-and-white long-haired coat. Peter followed Casale to her car for five days in a row. He had no microchip identification, and she estimates he was about 10 when she adopted him.

Catman knows that there are some people who don’t like free-roaming cats.

“Sometimes, people call the police on me because I am feeding cats in an alley, but fortunately, the police know me and what I am doing,” he says. “These community cats take care of lizards and snakes in yards.”

Casale agrees, adding, “With TNVR, these cats serve a service to the community. Community cats are not going away, and we should treat them with care.”

Quotes from Catman fans
Here are just some of the raves on his Facebook page: “The good guy comes out on top for a change. Way to go, Catman.” — Lori Meyers DiBacco
“I am so incredibly grateful to the village that came together to help a man who does so much for our beautiful cats!” — Susan Gilbert
“I’m so happy to see Levoyd in a safe and comfortable home of his own. Well-deserved.” — Sharon Casella
“It’s nice when good things happen to good people.” — Frank Malickson
“Thank you for doing what you do for the cats of Delray.” — Laila Petruzziello

How to help
Ship cat food donations to Levoyd Mitchell, 36 SW 12th Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444.
See updates on Catman’s crusade at: https://www.facebook.com/lloyd.mitchell.1460.

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Learn more at www.ardenmoore.com.

Lang Realty and Lang Management associates teamed up in July to do volunteer work at Tri-County Animal Rescue. The volunteers installed sod donated by M.B. Gardening Services LLC to restore the turf for the shelter’s dog runs. They also spent time with new rescues and donated dog supplies. ABOVE (l-r): Noreen Payne, Amy Snook, Talisa Roberts, Jill Levitt and Belkis Tenner. Photo provided

At 104, Marjorie Beall attributes her longevity to a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and a love of hot tea and murder mysteries. Photo provided

By Jan Engoren

Marjorie Beall, who turned 104 on Aug. 10, is an ideal illustration of aging well and could be the poster child for September’s National Healthy Aging month.
Beall, who has lived in Palm Beach County for 102 years, lived on her own in recent years until she moved into MorseLife Health System, a residential service for seniors in West Palm Beach, last year.

According to the NIH National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, healthy aging encompasses a balanced diet and exercise, learning new things, getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night, not smoking, volunteering, staying connected, minimizing stress, perhaps getting a dog and walking it — and signing up for a free virtual memory screening at https://alzfdn.org.

Coming to the “land of sunshine and oranges,” Beall arrived at age 2 with her parents —Thomas and Edith Robinson — and older brother, Colin, by way of Australia, New Zealand and England. They sailed from England to Havana, Cuba, and then boarded Henry Flagler’s ferry to Key West and then his overseas railroad to Palm Beach.

Looking for opportunity beyond the boom-and-bust Florida of the 1920s, the family traveled in an open touring car to Long Beach, California, and Seattle, then returned to Australia and England by ship.

Hearing once more of a land “more fertile than the Nile,” the family returned to Florida, and in 1926 survived the hurricane, even though their wood frame house in Northwood Village was destroyed.

“My father hollered ‘make for the beds!’ while my mother sang ‘Nearer My God to Thee’ as our roof was coming off,” Beall recalls.

The centenarian treasures a yellowed photograph of her at age 2 with Colin, then 6. The two are floating on a rickety handmade boat in a town known as Geerworth, near Belle Glade.

Beall can remember simpler times with no air conditioning, when people swam in the ocean to stay cool and listened to WIOD in Miami — the only local radio station back then.

She grew up on Palm Beach island, where her parents were caretakers in the Frazier mansion, home to socialite and “Poor Little Rich Girl” Brenda Frazier.
Beall, who has three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1938 and landed a job as a typist for $18 a week at a Worth Avenue real estate office.

In 1942 she married James Warner Beall, a U.S. Army Air Corps electronics officer who helped set up the Army Air Base in Boca Raton near the Bath & Tennis Club. The base housed military employees and worked with a top-secret technology known as radar.

Beall herself earned a top-secret military clearance from the U.S. government and was able to work as a secretary for $30 a week at the Boca Raton Club, which was used by the military for housing and classrooms from 1942 to 1944.

After the war, Beall and her husband built a home on a lake in the southern part of West Palm Beach, where she remained until last year. He died in 1979.

During the Korean conflict, with her security clearance still active, Beall went to the Philippines and worked for the government typing secret military communications.
“I’ve been very thankful for all of my life,” she says.

Her only son, James “Jim” Colin Beall, 81, a retired pediatric dentist in South Carolina, says, “My mom was always active and always worked. She became an avid walker and would walk with her companion, Mike Fischer, her former high school sweetheart.”

Involved in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach, Beall “loved cruises, reading and swimming and never smoked or drank,” according to her son.
“I credit this for her good health,” he adds, noting that Beall’s own mother lived until the age of 88.

Beall agrees, attributing her longevity to swimming, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, hot tea and a love of murder mysteries.

Her caretaker of three years, Magda Jean Noel, 43, is amazed by Beall’s resilience and positive outlook. 

“I’m so blessed to work with Marjorie,” she says. “It’s an honor.

“She always tells me to eat tomatoes and vegetables and to buy only what I can afford,” she says. “She’s so humble and loves people. You can see and feel it.
“Marjorie has a real heart,” Noel says.

These days, Beall reads and watches TV in her room and joins the other residents for meals in the dining hall. 
“I’m very thankful I’m still here,” Beall says by phone from her room at MorseLife.

Due to Hurricane Debby’s hitting South Carolina in August, her son wasn’t able to attend her 104th birthday party, thrown by the staff.

Does Beall have any birthday wishes? “To keep going a little longer,” she says. “I’ve almost reached the end of the road.”

She recalls traveling the world with her family and husband (“hundreds of thousands of miles”).

“He promised that if I followed him, he would bring me back to Florida for my golden years,” she says. “Palm Beach County has always been where my heart is.
“I’m truly blessed.”

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

Wazir Muhammad, a principal investigator and professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, received a $701,000 grant from Precess Medical Derivatives. He’ll use the money to personalize radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

Muhammad is leading a three-year project using artificial intelligence. His treatment creates a “digital twin” of each cancer patient to better understand the condition. The digital twin uses observational data to represent a patient’s current state of health and predict future transitions.

Delray Medical Center’s Carolyn Kern, an ortho/spine/oncology patient navigator, has been recognized as a Palm Beach Health Network 2023 Tenet Hero winner.
Tenet Heroes are the health network’s employees who go beyond their everyday duties.

Kern began her career at the hospital in 1996 as a physical therapist and quickly rose to clinical coordinator for orthopedic and spine services. She created educational materials and a video for patients who were considering joint replacement or spine surgery.

Recently, she became the oncology and lung navigator. Her mantra is, “What can I do to help?”

Additionally, Palm Beach Health Network announced a new hire and a promotion. Orthopedic spine surgeon Michael Stark, DO, has joined the network’s Physician Group and will be on staff at its Delray and West Boca medical centers.

Stark recently served as the orthopedic surgery chief resident at Jefferson Health New Jersey, in Stratford.

He earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University, where he was the recipient of a Howard Dunbar Scholarship, presented to the top five students for academic excellence.

He completed his fellowship in spine surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopaedics.

His office is at 9970 N. Central Park Blvd., Suite 400-A, Boca Raton, and his phone number is 561-430-4610. 

Derek Collins was recently promoted to Palm Beach Health Network’s chief strategy officer. Previously he was senior director of business planning at Tenet Healthcare’s corporate office. Prior to joining Tenet, he worked at McKinsey & Company and DaVita Kidney Care.

Delray Medical Center received the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus” quality achievement award. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home. 

Delray Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Elite Plus award.

To qualify, hospitals must meet criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy.  

In addition, Delray Medical received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award by meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke.

Delray Medical Center also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award for ensuring that patients with Type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date care when hospitalized due to stroke. Delray Medical Center also met guidelines as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, offering a system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

Delray Medical Center recently treated a patient with the new Nectero Endovascular Aneurysm Stabilization Treatment System.  
The procedure was performed by Dr. Joseph Ricotta, chairman of the vascular surgery program at the hospital, as well as national medical director of vascular surgery and endovascular surgery for Tenet Healthcare. The procedure, a potential treatment for small to mid-sized infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, can be conducted under local anesthesia, takes under an hour to complete, and leaves no implant behind.  

Delray Medical Center also opened its new kosher hospitality room, designed to support Jewish families visiting loved ones at the hospital by offering access to kosher food and a peaceful space for reflection.

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

The Chabad hopes its new home at 490 E. Palmetto Park Road will be ready in a year. Google maps

By Mary Hladky

After years of searching, Boca Beach Chabad finally has found a new home.

The Chabad in August closed on the purchase of a 30,000-square-foot office building located at 490 E. Palmetto Park Road, immediately west of Silver Palm Park.

That will allow the Chabad to move from its very cramped quarters at 120 NE First Ave., across the street from Sanborn Square.

“We are very excited,” said Rabbi Ruvi New. “Depending on how you calculate it, we really have been looking for a permanent site for close to 20 years. It definitely has been a long road and we definitely have taken the scenic path.
“It is very clear that God had a plan for us in mind and was testing our patience through earlier attempts that we made to lead us to this place at this time.”

New described the new location as “absolutely ideal and perfect,” as it is highly visible and accessible with plenty of parking spaces and near the Intracoastal Waterway.

The building “almost looks like it was meant to be a Jewish center,” he said. “It doesn’t look like an office building.”

The Chabad previously wanted to build a synagogue and Israel museum at 770 E. Palmetto Park Road on the barrier island. But nearby residents objected, saying the project was too large and tall for the location and would overburden streets with traffic. They also challenged a city zoning change that would have allowed synagogue construction.

The result was years of litigation that ended when the Chabad decided to abandon those plans after a promised donation of land was withdrawn.

The lawsuits spurred charges of antisemitism, which the Riviera Beach Civic Association strenuously denied at the time.

The association’s president, Katie Barr MacDougall, said Boca Beachside residents have no reservations about the new location.

“No one on the barrier island has any objection to the desired location west of the bridge,” MacDougall said in an email. “We wish them well.”

About a year ago, congregants heard that they might be able to lease the office building, New said.

That spurred a conversation about buying the property and the owner put it up for auction. The Chabad’s bid of $13 million was accepted in November.

To finance the purchase, the Chabad launched a capital campaign that raised $9 million in three months. A bank loan made up the difference.

“We are very grateful for the outpouring of support from the community,” New said.

Fundraising is continuing so that money is available to pay off the loan and renovate the three-story building. Renovation plans have been submitted to the city for approval.
Rabbi New plans to lease out the third floor and a portion of the ground floor. That will leave 15,000 square feet for the Chabad and synagogue.

If all goes as he hopes, New wants the renovations to be completed by next September in time for High Holy Days.

The religious center will be known as Boca Beach Jewish Center — Chabad.

While the Chabad won’t occupy the entire building, that could change. The number of congregants is growing, with more than 1,000 providing financial support or being engaged in some other way. New anticipates the new space will attract even more.

The growth started before the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, but that brutal assault has spurred even more.

“Oct. 7 definitely impacted the Jewish world in many ways,” New said. “There is a greater sense of connectivity to one another and the connection to Israel and the need for us to come together to be unified and strong, to be present and to be proud in the face of all this antisemitism.”

Boca Beach Jewish Center — Chabad “is very much needed,” on the east side of the city, New said. “It will be a hub for Jewish life for every demographic.” P

Hunger Action Month in September offers chances to stay active and slow down hunger in Palm Beach County. It is a nationwide initiative created by Feeding America to raise awareness. Feeding South Florida reports that in South Florida, more than 1.2 million people are food-insecure, with one in nine individuals uncertain where and when they’ll eat their next meal.

Hunger Action Month features myriad activities to encourage South Floridians to stand against hunger, including: 
• Participate in an online auction through Sept. 30.
• Make a cash donation that will be matched by Delta Airlines up to $25,000. 
• Start a food drive collecting non-perishables from your neighbors and friends.
• Volunteer to sort food at one of Feeding South Florida’s warehouses, or help prepare and cook meals for children and seniors at the organization’s Community Kitchen in Boynton Beach. 
• Wear “Go Orange” swag on Sept. 13, Hunger Action Day, and your “Hunger Heroes” T-shirt ($25 at www.feedingsouthflorida.org/ham2024).
• Join the Outrun Hunger 5K Palm Beach County, which takes place at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 21 at Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach. Walk or run with a team, with your family, friends or coworkers, or just go it alone to raise awareness and funds. Money raised provides meals for families facing hunger in our community. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. An awards ceremony takes place at 8:30 a.m. Registration is $25, or $40 with a T-shirt.

For more information on any of these programs or events, visit feedingsouthflorida.org.

Cros Ministries 5K run
Cros Ministries Hustle to End Hunger 5K takes place at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 5 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach. The run/walk also has a virtual option. All of the proceeds support CROS Ministries’ hunger programs. www.crosministries.org/events.

Congregation helps needy
Boca Raton Community Church takes the words of Jesus to heart: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. ... Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

On the fourth Saturday of every month, the church works from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Boca Helping Hands Food Center. The volunteers prepare and distribute between 300 and 350 meals to those in need and clean up afterward.

New volunteers are always welcome. The next event is Sept. 28 at Boca Helping Hands, 1500 NW First Court. Volunteers are asked to park in the lot across the street from the center. Closed-toe shoes with rubber soles are required for safety. Call 561-395-2400 or visit www.bocacommunity.org/detail/?groupID=266.

St. Gregory’s and Haiti
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church hosts a special dinner and presentation, Journey with Bondeau, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the church in Harris Hall, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. The event is in conjunction with the South Florida Haiti Project. Reservations required at 561-395-8285 or email office@st-gregorys.com

Birthline volunteers sought
Potential Birthline/Lifeline volunteers are invited to an “Interested Volunteer Orientation” from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and 16 at 212 E. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach. Register by calling 561-732-0570 or emailing Karen O’Neill at koneill@ccdpb.org.

Help to get out the vote
The Environmental Voter Project needs help identifying non-voting environmentalists so it can send postcards encouraging them to vote. This postcard campaign is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton after the morning services on Sept. 15 and 22 in the Parker Room at 2601 St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton. Snacks will be provided. Call 561-482-2001.

Adult Bible discussion
Lori J. Durante will lead a a four-week Bible discussion about Dr. Rosa J. Young’s remarkable history as a pioneer and the Black mother of Lutheranism.

Discussions will be held 9:45-10:45 a.m. on Saturdays in October at Cason Cottage at the Delray Beach Historical Society, 3 NE First St. Parking is available in the rear.

Bring your Bible. To prepare, watch the Dr. Rosa Young feature film produced by Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at https://vimeo.com/157626572 or go to lcms.org/thefirstrosa.

The program is free, but registration is required. Email Durante at ljdurante@aol.com.

Leadership conference
CityLead Conference 2024 takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at Boca Raton Community Church, 470 NW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. Participate in multiple leadership sessions and engage in meaningful conversations. Enjoy light refreshments, snacks, coffee and an optional lunch as Pastor Bill Mitchell shares his story of faith. Registration is $35 at www.citylead.com/boca.

Interfaith meeting
The Interfaith Committee for Social Services meets 9-11 a.m. Sept. 12 in the Guild Room at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.
The Interfaith Committee helps homeless people and provides social services and referrals for clients who need direction. New volunteers and donors are welcome. For more information, visit www.interfaithcommittee.com.

’Jesus Tour’ comes to Boca
PenFlorida Assemblies of God Youth Ministries is bringing the “Jesus Tour South East” to the Church of All Nations, Boca Raton, 1300 NW Fourth Ave., from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 21.

This free tour is a catalyst for both local and global youth missions and is designed to rally students and leaders to attend the regional youth conference Nov. 8-9 in Daytona Beach. The target audience for the tour and the conference is sixth grade and up. Everyone is welcome, from large groups to individuals. Tickets start at $80 for the Daytona Beach conference. youth.penflorida.org

St. Gregory’s on beach
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church will host a sunrise beach eucharist and beach cleanup at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 22 at South Beach Park at State Road A1A and Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. www.stgregorysepiscopal.org

Send religion news to Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com

By Janis Fontaine

On a hot Wednesday in August, more than 200 people gathered in the gym at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach to talk about politics. The lively crowd came from other local Catholic churches — St. Jude and St. Joan of Arc in Boca Raton and Holy Name of Jesus in West Palm Beach — to hear the program on Florida’s Amendment 4 hosted by the Respect Life Ministry.

Amendment 4, which will be on the ballot on Nov. 5, is a 49-word amendment that would change the state’s existing abortion law, which bans abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. Titled “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion,” it reads: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”

Father Dennis Gonzales welcomed the four speakers on the program: Sara Johnson, the statewide grassroots director of the “Vote No on 4” initiative; Dr. Anthony Dardano, medical director at Delray Medical Center; the Rev. Timothy Cusick, academic dean at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary; and Mary Rodriguez, the former program director for Birthline/Lifeline.

Johnson spoke about her campaign that would be traveling the state pushing its message. Dardano spoke in detail about what happens in the hospital when an abortion happens on its own — what we usually call a miscarriage. Cusick spoke about ethics in medicine. Rodriguez spoke about the rewarding work she did at Birthline, which offers free pregnancy care services to clients who meet basic criteria at five locations in Palm Beach County. A woman coping with an unplanned pregnancy can access counseling regarding adoption and alternatives to pregnancy termination. 

For this panel, any loosening of abortion regulations is in direct contradiction with their goal of a full abortion ban. Guests came to understand what the amendment meant so they could encourage others to vote “No” too.

The amendment will require a 60% “Yes” to pass. In a Florida Atlantic University survey prior to the Aug. 20 primary election, 56% of those responding supported the amendment and 23% of Floridians were undecided. The poll showed only 21% were “solidly opposed.”

A July 30 poll by the University of North Florida said 69% of those surveyed said they’d vote yes compared to only 23% saying no.

The materials distributed at the St. Vincent Ferrer event — at least five tables were covered with pamphlets and printouts, bumper stickers and buttons — were enough to convince some undecided voters to side with the audience and oppose the proposed amendment.

The Catholic Church is fully behind this movement and is investing significant time and money into defeating the amendment. So is Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis told the Tampa Bay Times that passing the amendment would mean the “end of the pro-life movement” in Florida and that he has raised millions to defeat it.

Amendment 4 is sponsored by Floridians Protecting Freedom, which describes itself as “a statewide campaign of allied organizations and concerned citizens working together to protect Floridians’ access to reproductive health care and defend the right to bodily autonomy.”

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski told the Catholic News Agency that “abortion is not a religious issue, it’s a human rights issue.” And it isn’t a red/blue issue either. FAU reported that Democrats are largely united with 80% in support of the amendment, plus 35% of Republicans. A closer look found 59% of independents, 62% of voters ages 18-49, and 59% of women polled support the amendment. It is also supported by the ACLU of Florida, Planned Parenthood, Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition, Florida Rising and others.

The amendment has been criticized because it fails to define several important terms, which could make it difficult for some pro-choice voters to get on board. What is the definition of “viable”? Who qualifies as a “health care professional”?

Moral questions — such as, is abortion murder? — can provoke soul-searching. The Bible doesn’t say that abortion is or is not a sin. As biblical scholar Melanie A. Howard wrote in 2022: “Christians on both sides of the partisan divide have appealed to any number of texts to assert that their particular brand of politics is biblically backed. However, if they claim the Bible specifically condemns or approves of abortion, they are skewing the textual evidence to fit their position.” (www.religionnews.com/2022/07/25/what-the-bible-actually-says-about-abortion-may-surprise-you/)

U.S. bishops wrote in November about the role of the Catholic Church in American political life, including in debates over the sanctity of life.
“Conscience is a means by which one listens to God and discerns how to act in accordance with the truth," the bishops wrote. "The truth is something we receive, not something we make.”

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

Angelo Sanders is headed to the School of Music at State University of New York at Fredonia on a full scholarship from Nat King Cole Generation Hope. Photo provided

By Faran Fagen

Music saved his life.

That’s the first thing Angelo Sanders thinks of when asked what playing his oboe has meant to him during his teenage years.

For the 18-year-old recent graduate of FAU High School in Boca Raton, music and the oboe fueled his emotional expression, creativity and purpose to overcome disabilities that could have threatened his musical potential and dreams.

“Without music, I don’t know if I’d be alive,” said Sanders, of Coral Springs. “I was in a dark space a lot of the time and music became my source of joy.”

Raised by a widowed mother on limited income, he suffered debilitating pain and complications of undiagnosed hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, along with anxiety and a sleep disorder that compounded physical and mental health issues.

The genetically based illness was finally identified only two years ago.

Despite that, Sanders earned a 3.83 grade-point average in high school, where he excelled on the oboe and English horn.

His musical exploits, along with his academic prowess, earned him the 2024 Nat and Maria Cole Memorial Scholarship, a full four-year grant sponsored by Nat King Cole Generation Hope, the Palm Beach County-based provider of music education for underserved children and teens.

“As our 2024 scholarship recipient, Angelo Sanders embodies the ideals of Nat King Cole, who cherished the privilege of bringing harmony to people with his music,” said Shanna St. John, executive director of Nat King Cole Generation Hope. “Music always motivated Angelo to keep going, and without a doubt, it always will.”

This fall, Sanders, now on a path to a classical music career, will attend the renowned School of Music at State University of New York at Fredonia, a training ground for the next generation of music professionals.

He aims to become a distinguished, first-chair professional oboist who will perform with leading national orchestras and chamber ensembles, as well as a college professor who will educate and inspire future virtuosos of his instrument.

“Music is my whole life and I hope to help others and do what I enjoy,” he said, adding that he wants to impart his favorite mantra of instruction when he plays — response, pitch, tone. Those are the three most important facets of oboe playing, in that order, he said.

Another way Sanders hopes to give back is through the reeds he uses to play the oboe. According to Sanders, if you don’t have a good reed, you won’t be able to play.

Sanders, who learned to scrimp and save at a young age (he did his own car repairs at age 16 so he had a ride to school), began making his own reeds to save money. Since his sophomore year, Sanders has bought wood and sculpted it with a knife for the desired reed shape.

He hopes to mass produce the woodwind reeds and provide them to young musicians for free.
“I like my reeds to be narrow and soft,” Sanders said. “Not sure why that works best for me, but it does.”

While attending FAU High School, Sanders participated in the school’s Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, Chamber Winds and Summer Concert Band, and volunteered more than 500 hours of school/music community service.

He also volunteered with Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida, preparing and tending to the horses and assisting the instructors.

His main goal is to become a professional oboe player, but as he begins his college journey, as long as it involves music, he knows he’ll be a success.

“I had to do music because I was miserable otherwise,” Sanders said. “When I didn’t know what to do or how to keep going, music gave me a place to belong.”