The ‘chocolate salon‘ is a feature of Norman Love Confections, which just opened a new shop in Delray Beach. It has seven stores in Florida, with plans for 10 more. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Let’s talk breakfast. Restaurant prices have soared, and dinner out has become more of a special occasion. That has made the morning meal, or brunch, somewhat trendy and easier on the wallet.

Several places offer more than just the typical eggs or pancakes, too, though Americans love that standard.

At Costa Delray on Atlantic Avenue, diners will find organic, gluten free, paleo and traditional fare to kick off a day. Extras on every dish elevate flavors and nutrients.

The P.B. Nana pancakes are griddled paleo cakes with caramelized banana and peanut butter, drizzled with maple syrup. Diners can choose a cassava wrap to make the Farm Fresh Burrito gluten free. It wraps up organic eggs, nitrite-free bacon, and a tomato-and-chipotle aioli sauce.

Trumpet mushrooms, hemp hearts, micro greens, nut “mylks” and other health foods are on the menu that’s served till noon here.

Diners dot the landscape in each town, each with its own personality. Full parking lots hint at favorites.

The Diner on Gateway in Boynton Beach is popular for its friendly servers, varied menu and breakfast served all day.

Five-egg baked omelets can be custom made with a field of ingredients, or chosen from a long list. For those wanting healthier fare, egg white frittatas, described as open-faced omelets, have similar options.

You’ll also find peameal bacon, the cornmeal-crusted favorite of Canadians, along with eggs Benedict several ways, steak and eggs, and a “lite” menu with quinoa, avocado toast and veggie scrambles. Giant fluffy pancakes come in stacks of two or four. Servers recommend two even for hearty eaters.

Boca Beach House, a family-owned spot on East Palmetto Park Road, was closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but has rebounded nicely.

Unique additions and upscale offerings keep diners recommending it. Coconut pancakes (you can add Nutella) make for a twist on the common stack. Breakfast tacos or huevos rancheros in tortillas with black beans, cojita and jalapenos will wake you up.

A lobster and blue crab “egg scramble” is served with hollandaise and avocado. Smoked salmon elevates the avocado toast.

If it’s traditional Scandia pastries you prefer, Palm Beach Bakery and Cafe in Lantana is the one. The owner is the baker, turning out traditional cardamom bread, with or without almonds and raisins, danishes filled with a variety of fruits, strudels, honey buns, marzipan tarts and the unique Finnish cheesecake, rahkapiirakka.

The breads include the dark Finnish rye, a bestseller, Swedish limpa, and mysli — a honey, fruit- and seed-studded bread.

A selection of espresso coffees rounds out this small spot just off Ocean Avenue.

Here are some other longtime favorites to consider:
John G’s in Manalapan. The new owners kept many of the breakfast favorites from the former ex-Detroit owners. Try the corned beef hash.

The Green Owl in Delray Beach. Traditional breakfasts reign. Mickey cakes (with ears) and peanut butter as a side option make it kid-friendly.

Sande’s in Delray Beach. Go for the service alone: friendliest around, and it’s an everybody-knows-everybody spot. Traditional diner fare with breakfast all day. Creamed chipped beef on toast and kielbasa hash are here.

Saquella Cafe in Boca Raton. Italian touches: prosciutto and ciabatta egg sandwiches, zucchini omelets, overnight muesli, and several bottomless cocktails all day — served with potatoes.

Dune Deck Cafe in Lantana. With ocean views and open-air dining, it’s the place to take out-of-towners (especially in winter). A crab cake Benedict is a favorite, and savory crepes are worth a taste. Bloody marys also notable.

East Ocean Cafe in Boynton Beach. A tiny cafe with pet-friendly sidewalk seating and a few seats indoors; be prepared to wait, especially weekends. Quiche of the day, shrimp and grits, and a signature gooey cinnamon roll topped with bacon are among the nontypical dishes.

Love comes to Delray
Chef Norman Love is coming home, sort of. The acclaimed artisan chocolatier and pastry chef, owner of Norman Love Confections, opened a “salon” in Delray Beach in September on Federal Highway south of Linton Boulevard.

It is No. 7 in the brand’s shops, with 10 more planned in Florida. The shop serves artisan chocolates, gourmet desserts and pastries as well as drinks and savory sandwiches.

Love grew up in Hollywood and started in pastry at various restaurants and hotels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

“L.A. was where cuisine was happening, so I moved out there,” he said, “then came back and became the corporate pastry chef for Ritz-Carlton.”

As the hotel expanded internationally, Love had a chance to experience the best foods in every culture.

When he left the Ritz to open his own chocolate and pastry business, he drew from premier ingredients, he said, with a goal of creating the top chocolates in the country, while using his artistry to make them beautiful as well.

It was a success. Norman Love Chocolates has won countless awards, and was named best chocolate in the country 2002, exploding his brand. He’s won the same title five times since.

His innovation has swept the chocolate world.
“I was the first chef to put color on chocolate. My friends thought I was crazy: ‘You can’t put red or green on chocolate.’ But I did and they were an instant hit. They look like jewels,” Love said.

Cocoa butter is colored and airbrushed onto the surface, giving the chocolates a shiny, jewel-like appearance.
“Americans eat with their eyes,” he said.

But Love said that when he began, Americans had to be taught about artisan chocolates.
“In Europe, you go to a chocolate shop to buy chocolates. Not a grocery store or a drugstore. Our chocolates have no preservatives, nothing artificial. Pure chocolate and the finest ingredients. They have a shelf-life of a few days. They’re meant to be consumed right away.”

He also knew American palates and designed flavors they recognized.
“They want easily identifiable foods,” he said. “They don’t want to have to think ‘what am I eating?’ It’s difficult to eat a chocolate and not know what it is you’re tasting.”

So Love focused on single-flavor profiles, but the most intense he could make them, knowing that sensory or flavor associations that take you back to happy childhood memories sell products.
“If you go into an airport, and smell cinnamon baking, wafting from a counter, you’re remembering that scent from your mom’s or aunt’s or grandma’s kitchen. It’s a happy memory. So now you’re going to go get a Cinnabon, no matter how unhealthy it is,” he said.
“So how do you create a flavor profile inside a chocolate with that same reaction?”

By using intense flavor coaxed from myriad ingredients — even peanut butter and jelly.
“My friends called me out on that one, and thought I was nuts,” Love said. “But you bite into the squishy center and it all mixes together. You’re taken right back to your childhood. It’s one of our most popular flavors.”

His personal favorite is the Tahitian vanilla caramel, made with a top vanilla, and finished with flakes of fleur de sel. Simple, he said, yet complex.

He credits his team members for his success and empowers them to create new products while maintaining the favorites.
“They come to work wanting to do something right every day,” Love said. “We are focused on the best ingredients, and making a consistent product.”

For now and in the foreseeable future, he’ll keep his main production factory in Fort Myers, but will ship several times a week to this coast. He figured out temperature-controlled packaging early on.

He supplies hotels, restaurants and other shops with his upscale products.

Shipping is the crux of his business, but he’s building 10 more salons in Florida with a focus on the east coast. Boca Raton is next; it will be on the periphery of Town Center mall.

He said he’s glad to be back on this coast, and Delray Beach has been welcoming.
“We want to be part of the community. We give back, and are looking forward to being here,” Love said.

Norman Love Confections, 1911 S. Federal Highway, Suite 104, Delray Beach. Phone 561-749-9049; normanloveconfections.com. Open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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

Some simple diagnoses can be accomplished with your pet and a laptop connected to a veterinary professional. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

Veterinary clinics and other pet professional businesses in Palm Beach County are unleashing a new way to provide health care. Welcome to the emerging era of veterinary telehealth.

Yes, help for your cat, dog or other pet may be just a computer click, phone call or text away, any time of the day or night. Think of it as house call Version 2.0. Expert advice may come from a veterinarian or veterinary tech who is not in an exam room with you or even in the same city or state as you.

“There is the convenience of speaking to a veterinary team by telephone, text or video at any time,” says Dr. Lowell Ackerman, DVM, an in-demand global expert on pet health care. “It can be used for prescription requests, virtual examinations and post-surgical checkups.”

Veterinary telehealth delivers speed and convenience.

“Telemedicine serves the needs of all ages,” says Dr. Hazel Carney, DVM, past chair of the American Association of Feline Practitioners’ guidelines committee, who is based in Emmett, Idaho. “I have older clients who can no longer physically drive and bring in their cats. I also have younger clients who grew up with technology and are more comfortable communicating about their cats via a live chat with their veterinarians.”

In doing a quick look online, I discovered that all Banfield Pet Hospitals in Palm Beach County are now touting virtual office visits and a service known as Pet Chat. Clients can get questions answered by veterinary teams 24/7 online or on the Banfield app. The service is available for no extra charge to clients who have Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans.

Imperial Point Animal Hospital of Delray Beach recently announced its connection with Airvet, founded in 2018 by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM, and his son, Brandon Werber.

“Airvet has been a game changer for veterinary medicine,” says Dr. Werber, based in Los Angeles. “Airvet offers clients access to affordable veterinary care 24/7. Clients love having access to talk to veterinarians one-on-one any time of the day or night.”

Regal Animal Hospital in Lake Worth Beach now offers BetterVet, an online service in which virtual veterinarians help pet parents determine if their pets need an in-home exam, urgent care appointment or evaluation at an emergency clinic.

Even non-veterinary clinics are offering veterinary telehealth services to their practices. Woofie’s, a pet company offering mobile grooming, pet sitting and dog walking in several states, recently partnered with a telehealth company called Pet Vet Connection.

“In doing a snout-to-tail inspection on a dog, one of our groomers may find a hot spot or a tick or a lump or bump,” says Liz Gibbs, general manager for the Woofie’s in Delray Beach. “Having immediate access to veterinary telehealth services gives our clients that much-needed peace of mind.”

She shared two recent situations requiring access to a veterinary team. One involved a shih tzu named Dilbert, a newly adopted rescue dog whose body was covered in mats.

“While grooming him, we discovered a wound by his eye that was open and bleeding,” says Gibbs. “It had been covered underneath the mats. Pet Vet Connection gave us advice on how to provide him with immediate care and keep him comfortable. His owner was able to take him to her personal veterinarian shortly after the groom.”

A senior-aged English bulldog named Rocco, known for having arthritis, fell and had trouble getting up during a recent Woofie’s visit.

“We immediately did veterinary telehealth, and they asked for videos of him walking and how he was acting to rule out any neurological impairments,” says Gibbs. “They recommended pain medications and solutions for his pain.”

The rules surrounding veterinary telehealth are evolving. Depending on state laws, telemedicine providers can evaluate, diagnose, consult and provide treatment for pets. And they must establish what is called VCPR. That stands for veterinarian-client-patient-relationship.

In Florida, a new law went into effect on July 1. The PETS Act lifted the ban on veterinarians from practicing medicine or prescribing medications unless they have examined the animal in person.

To learn more about telehealth, see these two sites:
• Veterinary Virtual Care Association: https://vvca.org
• American Veterinary Medical Association: www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/telemedicine

Telehealth options
Here is a rundown of some companies offering veterinarians and veterinary technicians 24/7 by phone or app. The services and fees vary.
• Airvet: www.airvet.com
• Dutch: www.dutch.com
• Pet Vet Connection: www.petvetconnection.com
• Pawp: www.pawp.com
• Pet Chat: www.banfield.com/services/pet-chat
• BetterVet: https://bettervet.com
• Pet Desk: www.petdesk.com
• AskVet: www.askvet.app

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

By Jan Engoren

Pooja Garg, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist at Delray Medical Center, has a simple warning for people: “Don’t take your eyesight for granted.

“Your vision is part of your overall health — be preventive and proactive,” she says. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The National Eye Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health, says vision loss can hurt people’s quality of life, creating challenges in everyday life and causing fear, stress and anxiety.

Eye health is of particular interest this month since Oct. 10 is World Sight Day, according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

Some serious eye conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal diseases, do not display noticeable symptoms until significant damage has already been done.

Among her older patients, Garg said cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are most common. Symptoms of retinal diseases may include spots or floaters in vision.

To maintain eye health, Garg recommends getting annual checkups; eating green leafy vegetables and fatty fish such as tuna and salmon; avoiding tobacco use; and wearing UVA and UVB eye protection to block harmful sun rays, which may cause cataracts.

She notes that wearing wraparound sunglasses or polarized lenses can reduce glare and she touts the benefit of contact lenses with UV protection, something she uses herself.

As a vegetarian, Garg doesn’t eat fish, but takes an omega-3 supplement that can promote eye health and help with dry eyes. She also recommends wearing protective eye gear if you’re playing sports, or working in construction or with dangerous chemicals that might splash in your eyes.

She advises using a blue light filter for computer screens and setting your phone screen on the night setting to reduce the blue light. Using any digital devices, including TVs, computers, phones or tablets, can cause dry eyes and eye fatigue.

“If you are spending a lot of time on your computer, rest your eyes periodically and add any over-the-counter brand name of artificial tears,” Garg said, noting it’s best to use a reputable brand name and not a generic or store brand. 

According to the American Foundation for the Blind, vision loss falls within a spectrum, ranging from total blindness to so-called low vision, which can’t be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery.

More than 50 million American adults experience a degree of vision loss, as indicated in the government’s 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Of these, 3.89 million adults have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses, and 340,000 cannot see at all.

By 2050, the National Eye Institute expects the number of people with visual impairment or blindness to double.

Besides a healthy diet and annual checkups, what can you do to maintain eye health? Here’s some advice:
• See your ophthalmologist when you have flashers or floaters.
• See your doctor if you experience sudden blurry or fuzzy vision (especially in one eye). This can be a sign of age-related macular degeneration or a detached retina.
• If straight lines suddenly appear to be wavy, check with your doctor. This is also a sign of ARMD.
• If you experience double vision, especially in both eyes, call your doctor. This may be an indication of a stroke, or, if you are also experiencing sudden eye pain, a symptom of glaucoma.

Visit nei.nih.gov or retinaeyedoc.com to learn more.

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

Delray Medical Center completed its 100th ION robotic bronchoscopy procedure this summer. 

A robotic-assisted platform for minimally invasive lung biopsies, ION can help to diagnose lung cancer earlier and with improved accuracy.
“Performing over 100 ION procedures means that we are on the front lines of catching cancer early, which gives our patients the best chance of a good outcome,” says Delray Medical Center CEO Heather Havericak. “We look forward to the continued success of our ION program and investing in some of the latest medical technologies.”

This system features an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung, and its stability enables the precision needed for biopsy compared to manual techniques.

The ION procedures are performed by Dr. Stephen Milan, Dr. Carlos Gutierrez, Dr. Joshua Lung and Dr. Jeffrey Newman.

For more information, contact Carolyn Kern, patient navigator, at 561-716-2654.

***

Dr. Joseph Ricotta, chairman of the vascular surgery program at Delray Medical Center, earned a position on the Newsweek America’s Best Vascular Surgeons 2024 list, which includes only 200 doctors in the country. The surgeons were determined based on evaluations of how they conducted procedures, recommendations from peers, and their certifications.

***

Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital now uses high-intensity focused ultrasound for patients suffering from essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking. The HIFU technology uses concentrated ultrasound waves to heat the brain tissue and block signals causing the tremor. No incision or general anesthesia is used. 

Call 561-955-4600 or visit https://baptisthealth.net/services/brain-and-spine-care/services-and-programs/neurology/movement-disorders/hifu to learn more.

***

Studies conducted by researchers from Florida Atlantic University and two other schools found that a little bit of leisure time during business trips helps employees adjust to their travels, boosting overall job satisfaction.

The studies included a pre-COVID travel study at airports in North and South America and a post-COVID online data collection of business travelers to determine how leisure time might mitigate the impact of travel stress during international business trips.

The findings have implications for how companies might adjust work trips for their employees and ways the travel industry can adapt for these business trips, researchers said.

***

CHG Healthcare Services, a Utah-based staffing company that provides placement for health care professionals, will soon shut down its RNnetwork travel nurse unit, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice the company submitted. CHG will separate from 56 employees who work at or report to its Boca Raton location at 4700 Exchange Court, Suite 125.

This entire business unit eventually will close permanently. Employee separations are expected to begin during the 14-day period starting on Nov. 8 and will occur in phases.

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

Interfaith Committee volunteer Sandy Rowland works in the laundry truck, cleaning and folding clothing each Tuesday and Friday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Judy Fenney and Kathleen Megan met 10 years ago at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach. Fenney mentioned to Megan that she was interested in volunteer work, and Megan put her to work immediately.

Their camaraderie and friendship grew, and they made a good pair with their positive attitudes, ready smiles and calm demeanors. They stepped up whenever and wherever they were needed — and they still do.

Seven years ago, the duo started the Interfaith Committee for Social Services to fill the void left by the scaling back of the CROS Ministries Caring Kitchen.

The Interfaith Committee generally meets twice a month at St. Paul’s Episcopal, the same place it had its first meeting, on Nov. 15, 2017.

One of the first projects was to find a shower truck where homeless people could bathe on a regular basis. In 2018, the committee acquired a well-used truck that still had some life in it and offered the homeless population a place to shower twice a week.

Then in June, the committee raised enough money for a new four-stall (each with a toilet and vanity) shower truck, where up to 25 people shower each Tuesday and Friday outside St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Fenney said.

At a September committee meeting, representatives from St. Paul’s, St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Spanish River Church, Recovery Church, Temple Torah, the Delray Beach Police Department, plus Shona Castillo from the Caring Kitchen and Jackie Ermola from Eat Better Live Better, were present. The program focused on unhoused veterans, a growing issue.

The percentage of homeless who are veterans is rising, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a veterans advocacy group, reported in April. “Specific to veterans, Florida also has the third-largest population in the nation, approximately 1.4 million. With 7% of the nation’s homeless veteran population, Florida is also ranked one of the five worst states for veteran homelessness.”

Homelessness is increasing across the board, for both single people and families. Rising housing costs and increases in homeowners association dues are pushing some fixed- and low-income folks over the edge.

Ermola sees it. “We’ve always had need, but I’ve never seen need like this,” she said.

But Delray Beach is special, Fenney and Megan say. An attitude of cooperation and ability to operate as a cohesive unit instead of component parts make a difference.

“We want to do more than pay someone’s electric bill. We want to help people become self-sufficient,” Fenney said. But it’s hard when the cost of being self-reliant keeps going up.
Another problem they have is letting people know when and where they can find services. “We’re known as the shower truck people,” Fenney said, “but we do so much more than that.”

For example, volunteers wash, dry and fold laundry, serve sandwiches and provide a caring outlet for people who want to talk.

Rodrianna Antoine, an intake specialist for the Delray Beach Police Community Outreach team, signs people up for the services and helps them navigate the government rules and paperwork as painlessly as possible.

Sandy Rowland volunteers on the laundry truck, using two stackable washer-and-dryers nonstop to clean her clients’ clothing. Volunteers use a military method of putting all one person’s clothing in a drawstring bag with a two-part tag. One stays on the laundry and the other stays with the person. Turn in your tag, then pick up your laundered clothes.

Rowland used to run a beauty salon before COVID killed that business. She’s happy she found a way to serve. Of her fellow volunteers she says, “It takes someone with passion to serve the homeless. I think the volunteers are the winners.”

Jonathan Pereira Neves is one of just a few employees and he does the heavy lifting, moving boxes of donated clothes, fixing broken equipment, and cleaning up the lot after everything is put away, all in good humor.

Some of the unhoused like to enjoy breakfast at Cason United Methodist Church at the corner of Lake Ida Road and Swinton Avenue, and if it’s raining like it was on a recent Tuesday, the church brought the people down to the shower and laundry vans at St. Matthew’s.

Interfaith is about helping each other, making contacts and building relationships, Father Bernie Pecaro of St. Paul’s said. The former Navy chaplain reminded everyone at the meeting that St. Paul’s Veterans Ministry is committed to helping both veterans and active duty in need.

In 2022, the Interfaith Committee, along with CROS Ministries Caring Kitchen and the Delray Beach Police Community Outreach, won the Community Collaborators Award given by Nonprofits First. It was a testament to the work they do together to make positive change in Delray.

“We want to help the homeless find out where their next step is going to be,” Fenney said. And, she added, if they can intercede early enough, maybe they can prevent homelessness.

The Interfaith Committee has limited funds to help with necessities like bus passes and bike locks, but it does provide a place to get mail for people who have no address — and they can count on the shower truck being at St. Matthew’s, 404 SW Third Ave., from 9 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday.

How to help
Cash donations: Are used exclusively for the nonprofit’s program operations, supplies and expenses.
Clothing donations: Needs include men’s boxer briefs, shorts, and jeans in sizes 32, 34 and 36. Backpacks are also needed.
Volunteers: Are needed to help in a variety of positions, such as sorting donations, doing clerical tasks and manning special events.
Info: interfaithcommittee.com

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

After serving St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach for more than two decades, Father Marty Zlatic has donned his pilgrimage jacket to walk a different path, with the Lord and his wife, Dee, by his side.

On Sept. 3, an official announcement appeared on the church’s Facebook page:

“We give thanks to God as we bid farewell to Father Zlatic, who is retiring after 26 years of faithful service as an Episcopal priest. His ministry at Saint Joseph’s and within our diocese has touched countless lives, guiding many closer to Christ.
“As Father Zlatic enters this new chapter, we pray that God blesses him with joy, peace and time well spent with his beloved family. His legacy of faith and love will continue to inspire us all. Thank you, Father Zlatic, for your unwavering dedication!”

On Aug. 31, the church hosted the “Father Marty and Dee Celebration Dinner” at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton Beach. Father Marty was known for openly sharing his love of good food, exotic travel destinations and music with his congregation, and this was a fitting tribute.

When he spoke to the congregation the next day for the last time, he talked about how “St. Joseph’s is our thin place.” A thin place, he said, is where the veil between heaven and earth, between man and God, is very thin.

Father Marty also told a story of how when he arrived at St. Joseph’s in 2001, he had to borrow a pair of Father Michael Cassell’s shoes. They were huge, he said. He told the congregation at the time, “I will not attempt to fill these shoes and I hope you do not expect me to.” Then he continued: “I carry that image to you today because I do not leave my shoes behind.”

The departure of the pastor and his wife, who led the children’s ministry, is not the only change going on at St. Joseph’s. The Rev. Mary Ellen Cassini, called “Mother Cassini,” has stepped in as associate rector, along with the Rev. Michael McManus, the interim associate priest.

Of Father Marty, Cassini said, “We are so grateful for his service. He is a man of great integrity, honor and love for the Lord. We wish him the best.”

St. Joseph’s offers a traditional service at 9:30 a.m. and an “Unplugged Service” with the band at 11:45 a.m.

St. Joseph’s is at 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. 561-732-3060 or www.stjoesweb.org

EJS Project fills vacant school space at St. Joe’s
Finally, there will be teaching and learning, playing and coaching, laughing and new friendships filling the buildings and grounds of the former St. Joseph’s School on Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach, which closed in 2023.

On Sept. 16, the EJS Project, founded 10 years ago, hosted a ribbon cutting at the former school. The move is a big step for the organization whose stated mission is “to provide a safe space for teens throughout Palm Beach County while creating and empowering tomorrow’s leaders.”

Dozens of advocates for children, donors, volunteers and other supporters lined up to have pictures taken with the founder, Emanuel Jackson Jr.. The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, which featured food, speeches, a formal ribbon cutting and a lot of happy people.

“This new space will help us further our mission to educate, empower and inspire the youth of Palm Beach County,” Jackson wrote on the EJS Project Facebook page, a message he echoed in his welcome speech.

Jackson, known as “Dupree,” grew up in The Set, the historically Black community in the heart of Delray Beach, between Interstate 95 and Swinton Avenue, north and south of West Atlantic Avenue.

Jackson’s bio on Facebook says he has always had a passion and a skill for connecting with at-risk youth. After getting an associate’s degree at community college, he “earned a full athletic scholarship to North Dakota State University where he studied communications and minored in psychology. Upon his return to Delray Beach, Dupree noticed youths needed more mentors, and the idea for the Emanuel Jackson Senior (EJS) Project was born.”

Jackson lives in Delray Beach with his wife, Janay, and two daughters.

Next up for the EJS Project is its benefit gala “Journey Through the Decades,” from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at The Addison of Boca Raton, 2 E. Camino Real. The suggested dress is 1940s fashion in memory of Emanuel Jackson Sr., for whom the project is named. Individual tickets are $350 and sponsors are needed.

Visit ejsgala24.givesmart.com or contact Adrianne Kurman at Adrianne.kurman@ejsproject.org or 561-400-4720.

Flea market coming up at St. Paul’s Episcopal
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is hosting a Flea Market & Fall Boutique from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.

The sale will feature new and gently used furniture, quality clothing and shoes, fine and costume jewelry, framed artwork, small appliances, fine housewares and linens, home décor, sporting goods and holiday décor.

A 50-50 raffle takes place Oct. 19. Raffle tickets are $5, or three for $10 or eight for $20 or 20 for $40. You do not need to be present to win. A silent auction is also planned.

Call Ann at 904-710-2416 or Kari at 609-619-9234 for more information.

Flag retirement ceremony at St. Lucy Catholic Church
Father Brian Horgan will lead an official “Flag Retirement Service and Ceremony” on Nov. 10 at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.

Sometimes called a Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags or a Ceremony of Final Tribute, this solemn event is especially important to Horgan, who joined the U.S. Air Force and became a commissioned officer serving as a social and trauma counselor. He rose to the rank of major while earning a doctorate in philosophy and psychology.

The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. and refreshments will follow. Anyone with an old/worn/used flag is asked to bring it or, if you can’t attend, you can drop your flag off at the Rectory Office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Call 561-278-1280.

Patriotic concert set at First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach will host its final concert of 2024 with a salute to the United States of America at 4 p.m. Nov. 10. To honor veterans and celebrate our nation, a performance including This Land Is Your Land and God Bless America is planned at the church, 33 Gleason St.

Tickets are $20 at firstdelray.com/concerts/reserve-concert-tickets. Call 561-276-6338.

The Challah Prince teaches his craft
More than 250 women gathered for a special lesson in challah making from Idan Chabasov, more commonly known as Israel’s Challah Prince. The sold-out event was hosted by B’nai Torah Congregation’s Women’s League in partnership with the congregation’s social action group, the TLC Program.

Challah is a special bread in Jewish culture that is eaten on ceremonial occasions like Rosh Hashanah, which started Oct. 2. Chabasov’s lesson included how to braid a challah, the proper prayer to say before eating a challah, and how the challah should be presented.

The challah dough was prepped at Lenny’s Pizza, a Kosher Pizza restaurant in Boca Raton, which donated the space and equipment for the event. Chabasov’s challah were auctioned off to support women and children’s charities in Israel. More than $1,800 was raised.

B’nai Torah Congregation is the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida with more than 1,300 membership families.

For information on B’nai Torah Congregation’s Rosh Hashanah celebrations, visit https://btcboca.org.

— Janis Fontaine

Samantha Maynes wrote an award-winning news feature highlighting mental health issues that today’s teens face. Photo provided

By Faran Fagen

Samantha Maynes hopes her stories create a safe space for her readers — a space where they feel “they’re not alone.”

Continuing that narrative, Maynes’ award-winning story in last year’s Boca Raton High School Paw Print, “Addressing Stereotypes,” shed light on teen mental health.

“I’d like to think that what resonated with my story was how honest I made it,” said the senior managing editor of the Paw Print newspaper. “Schools should not be afraid to talk more about these topics.”

Her story, which featured mental health issues such as pressure, isolation and anxiety, won first place for feature writing in the South Florida Sun Sentinel annual high school journalism contest.

Aurora Dominguez is teacher adviser for Paw Print and former Boca High teacher of the year. She said Maynes is one of the most dedicated students she’s ever taught.

“She understands and cares about student and teacher mental health and is aware about how a healthy mental state is crucial to live a healthy life,” Dominguez said.

Part 2 of Maynes’ mental health series is in the works. This time, she’s working on a story to help her readers better understand the autism spectrum.

Her cousin is on the spectrum, and although he misses social cues, he’s made huge progress.

She hopes to educate her readers about the similarities they share with people on the spectrum, and how the latter have strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else.
“Everyone has a different neurodiversity. It’s just something someone has and it doesn’t have to define them,” she said.

Maynes, 17, has a 5.1 grade- point average and is ranked in the top 10% of the senior class at Boca High.

She’s entrenched in a plethora of extracurricular and volunteer activities, including the Boca Bash at Boca Middle School (where Maynes is an alumna). As a volunteer, she has coordinated the cakewalk part of the event for three years.

Maynes’ own middle school years were during the coronavirus pandemic, so she missed out on Boca Bashes in seventh and eighth grades. Now, she returns as a mentor.

Her favorite aspect — in keeping with advising her fellow students — is answering questions from the middle schoolers on how they can succeed in high school.

Maynes is also president of Project Women. This school club works to empower and support women, creating a safe space to be open and celebrate achievements. The club holds bi-weekly meetings during lunch, with guest speakers sharing their roads to empowerment. Hands-on self-defense classes promote confidence building, so young women go into college safe and prepared.

However, her favorite volunteer activity is at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Her mom, Dawn, took Maynes to Gumbo Limbo when she was younger, and Maynes promised to volunteer there one day.

As soon as she turned 16 — the required age to volunteer at the center — she filled out an application.

Her top tasks at Gumbo Limbo are taking care of the hermit crabs and tortoises. She also befriended a puffer fish.
“If they built a second story, I’d live there,” Maynes said.

As she prepares to head to college — so far, she likes the Florida Atlantic University Honors College in Jupiter and Nova Southeastern University — she’s thinking of majoring in one of her three main passions. They are marine and environmental science, writing, and psychology.
“I want to do something that brings happiness to my life,” she said.

The same attitude has infused the mental health articles she’s written that have made a difference at Boca High.
“Most mental health stories are education,” Maynes said. “I usually get lost in the people I interview. It’s another layer of perspective I don’t think I could have gotten otherwise.”

Her empathy extends to her taste in music. Maynes, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, loves Taylor Swift’s latest hit, I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.
“Just like her music, I want whatever I do to resonate with someone,” Maynes said.

Bowling for Bread
Boca Helping Hands welcomed 225 adults and children at its annual Bowling for Bread event on Aug. 25 at Bowlero in Boca Raton. BHH invited kids from children’s charities to attend for free and enjoy an afternoon of bowling, food, and prize giveaways. 

The event also raised enough funds to provide more than 41,000 meals for the BHH weekend meal program. 

Special guests from the Florida Atlantic University football team included offensive linemen Federico Maranges and Andre Lamas and punter Logan Lupo, who came out to cheer on the kids and bowl alongside them.

Trophies were awarded to the top three bowling teams and overall high scores.

Winners were:
• First place: Waypoint Residential
• Second place: Waypoint Residential
• Third place: Law Offices of Pamela Higer-Polani
 • The top score was 180, bowled by Dan Brede. 

Boca Helping Hands has operated the BHH Backpacks children’s meal program for the past 13 years.

Every Friday, the program provides food-insecure students with non-perishable, easy-to-prepare meals to ensure they get enough to eat on weekends.

During the 2023-24 school year, BHH Backpacks helped over 1,600 students in 13 schools, providing 181,362 meals and 60,454 snacks to elementary students in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. 

Bowling for Bread is part of Boca Chamber Festival Days — a series of events intended to raise awareness and money by pairing nonprofits with members of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

Upper-floor condominium units provide ideal observation points for anglers and their friends to keep an eye on migrating mullet and other fish activity. Steve Waters/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

Palm Beach County anglers look forward to this time of year because now is when schools of mullet swim south along the beaches from Jupiter to Boca Raton.

Fishing what’s known as the fall mullet run became much more efficient and enjoyable thanks to a single technological innovation — the cellphone.

As water temperatures along the state’s northern coastline start to cool, the baitfish migrate to South Florida as they get ready to spawn. A variety of predator species feast on the mullet, notably bluefish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, snook, jacks and sharks.

In the old days, anglers wasted a ton of time looking for and waiting for mullet schools to show up. The best way to find out the location of the mullet was to have reliable sources who lived in beachfront condominiums.

When those condo residents went out on their balconies and saw a school of mullet — which looks like a dark amoeba as it gyrates through the water — and the hungry gamefish crashing into the school, they would call their fishing friends.

Those anglers would hustle down to the beach with their surf-fishing tackle or head out the nearest inlet in their boats and fish around the schools. Their fishing buddies would find out that they caught some or all of the available species later that day.

Virtually no fisherman was going to take the time to go to a pay phone to call and say that the mullet were currently off Delray Beach or Boca and to get down there ASAP.

Cellphones changed all that.

You could be at work when a friend calls to say that the mullet are off Juno Beach and jacks and bluefish are busting up the schools. That sends the baitfish flying, and the stunned mullet are gobbled up by those and other gamefish, which also pounce on half-eaten mullet as the remnants sink to the bottom.

Although anglers no longer have to drive along A1A from one end of the county to the other in search of mullet schools, or head to a local beach and wait for the mullet to show up, they do need sources they can count on.

I had a buddy who was not at all reliable, which I didn’t discover until after several fruitless trips to the beach. He’d call me to say the mullet were off Juno or Boynton or Boca. I and a couple of other friends would drive there and trudge down to the beach with our rods, tackle boxes and coolers, only to find that there were no mullet and no mackerel or bluefish or jacks.

It was late in the afternoon on a day when we hadn’t even gotten a bite when one of my friend’s friends showed up. When I expressed my disappointment that the mullet hadn’t shown up, he said that he told my friend that the mullet had been at the beach every morning around 7:30.

My friend, who liked to sleep until 10 a.m., perhaps because he drank a bottle of wine every night, never told me that.

Happily, the reliable fisherman also said that one of his good sources said a mullet school was heading our way and to stick around.

Sure enough, as the sun began heading toward the horizon behind us, the mullet showed up. Casting a 5/8th-ounce silver Krocodile spoon — which is one of the most effective lures for fishing the mullet run because you can throw it a long way and it wobbles and flashes as you reel it back — we caught a bunch of bluefish.

As we packed up our fish and tackle, I exchanged cellphone numbers with that fisherman, and vowed to let future calls from my fishing buddy go to voicemail.

The classically inspired stairway provides a strong focal point to the home as it ascends to the second floor and the luxe primary suite, which has an angled glass wall and terrace overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. It serves as a calm retreat with an exercise room and a spa-inspired marble bath.

This Intracoastal estate, designed by architect Randall Stofft for his own family, has been detailed with the highest level of craftsmanship and appointed with the finest of finishes. It captures his style of a timeless design with endless interior and exterior experiences that interlace into a cohesive creation. This Bermuda-style residence covering 8,555 -/+ total square feet includes five bedrooms and five and one-half baths. The home has a gracious flow and numerous light sources. The first floor has three living domains. A sense of spaciousness and a light-filled ambience pervade the water-view living room, topped by an intricately coffered volume ceiling. The elegant formal dining room commands picturesque garden views. A gourmet center-island kitchen, with a breakfast room, functions as the heart of the residence. It is appointed with lustrous mahogany contemporary cabinetry incorporating a mix of stainless steel and glass doors that complement gleaming stainless-steel professional-grade appliances. Completing the layout are a first-floor guest suite, library, cabana bath, sauna, powder room and three-car garage.

The second floor includes the primary suite as well as the loft/media room and two guest bedroom suites, one with a cupola sitting area and an adjoining 257-square-foot “secret room.” Offered at $14,900,000.

The outdoor living area consists of two covered terraces, a pool with spillover spa, summer kitchen and dock. The property is on a private yacht basin, which is set back 120 yards from the Intracoastal.

Contact the Pascal Liguori Estate Group, 561-789-8300. Premier Estate Properties, 900 E. Atlantic Ave., #4, Delray Beach; pascal@premierestateproperties.com

Each month, The Coastal Star features a home for sale in our area.
The House of the Month is presented as a service to our advertisers
and provides readers with a peek inside one of our homes.

Bedsheets cover the monument signs for the 365 Ocean boutique extended-stay hotel on State Road A1A in Boca Raton on Sept. 23, three days after gunfire in the hotel's parking lot killed two people from Oakland Park and hospitalized a third shooting victim. Police think the shooter and victims may have known each other. The hotel is at 365 N. Ocean Blvd., several blocks north of Palmetto Park Road.  Staff photos/The Coastal Star

By Larry Barszewski

The shooter and victims in a Sept. 20 double-homicide at a Boca Raton beach hotel may have known each other, police said Monday, adding that the assailant and at least two of the three victims were not from the city.

Mayor Scott Singer and Police Chief Michele Miuccio gave a mid-day briefing Sept. 23 on the status of the investigation, where they stressed that the altercation at the 365 Ocean extended-stay hotel across from South Beach Park was “an isolated incident” and that the city was a safe place to be.

The hotel is at 365 N. Ocean Blvd., several blocks north of Palmetto Park Road on State Road A1A.

Miuccio provided more details about the incident, saying the suspect fatally shot a man and a woman at close range, shot another man who had intervened and then followed that man as he tried to crawl away, shooting him again.

The suspect, identified by police as De'Vante Moss, took off in his Jaguar and fled to Georgia, where he was pulled over and taken into custody barely 12 hours later.

Police identified the deceased as Christopher Liszak, 49, and Chandler Dill, 32, both of Oakland Park. Police did not release the identity of the surviving male victim because he is a witness.

Moss, 30, of Boynton Beach, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and one count of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. Miuccio said more charges may be filed in the case.

Miuccio was able to give a detailed account of the incident — reported to police at 4:53 p.m. — because it was captured on surveillance video and confirmed by witnesses, police said. The video also allowed police to get the Jaguar’s tag number and confirm Moss’s identity.

The scene Sept. 20 as police investigated the shootings at 365 Ocean. 

Miuccio’s statement begins with Moss and Dill in her room at the hotel.

“It appears they had an argument and Moss fled the room carrying the victim’s purse,” Miuccio said. “[Dill] ran after him and yelled at him, give her purse back. She argued with him by the silver, four-door Jaguar and tried pulling her purse out of his arms.”

That’s when the man who survived came over and joined in the argument, the chief said. Moss then got out of the driver’s seat and got something out of the backseat, while the man ran to a truck and removed a small bag, she said.

At this point, Liszak had exited his room at the hotel and gone over, apparently to intervene, the chief said. “The male victim returned from the truck, opened the passenger side door of the Jaguar, and, after seeing Moss, quickly moved and took cover towards the rear of the vehicle,” she said.

It’s then that Moss “exited the vehicle, raised a pistol and shot [Dill] and Liszak at close range,” Miuccio said. He then “turned the pistol towards the male victim, who was by the passenger door, fired and shot him.”

The man began crawling toward the hotel and Moss ran after him, Miuccio said. “The male raised his empty hands up over his head and Moss shot him in the abdomen area.”

Police got a search warrant for Moss’s Boynton Beach residence, where his fiancé said “at 5:30 p.m. he had returned home, packed a bag, and said he was headed for Jacksonville for work,” the chief said.

Police were able to determine that Moss was heading for Georgia and alerted the Georgia State Patrol. A Laurens County deputy spotted the Jaguar around 5:20 a.m. Sept. 21, conducted a traffic stop and took Moss into custody without incident.

While she said it’s unknown what the relationship is among those involved in the incident, it appears they weren’t strangers.

“We can’t definitively say they were all friends, but it does appear that they did know each other and it wasn’t random that they were just somebody that was walking by that stepped in.”

Mayor Singer complimented the Police Department for its investigation and quick actions to identify, locate and have the suspect taken into custody.

“The crime was shocking because homicide is so rare” in the city, Singer said. “Let this atypical event be a clear reminder Boca Raton does not tolerate crime.”

Miuccio said crime is decreasing in the city.

“This is an isolated incident,” she said. “We’re fortunate to be in a city with a low incidence of crime. There’s been a continued decrease in violent crime in the last five years.”

 Mary Hladky contributed to this story.

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