City Manager George Brown received high marks from Boca Raton City Council members for his performance in the city’s top job during a June 11 evaluation that came five months after longtime City Manager Leif Ahnell’s retirement.

In his self-evaluation, Brown, the city’s deputy city manager before his promotion, said he has endeavored to be efficient, responsive to council inquiries and resident issues, and that he believes he has done a good job maintaining the day-to-day operations of the city.

He faulted himself only for needing to get better at delegating authority to city staff members and empowering them to act in a supportive environment.

“I express my sincerest gratitude to all staff at all levels,” he said.

While Ahnell always was praised by the council in annual evaluations, particularly for his financial stewardship of the city, his relationship with city staff went unmentioned.

This time, council members quickly responded to Brown’s comment on staff empowerment, saying they had already seen evidence that ranking employees feel more comfortable with offering their ideas and analysis.

“I am very pleased with the culture of empowerment that you are working towards with the staff and the team,” said Council member Marc Wigder.

During the annual strategic planning sessions held with the council and staff in May, Wigder said that, in a departure from the past, “many staff were really part of the conversation.”

Council member Fran Nachlas said she appreciates that Brown is doing this.

“I think that staff is invigorated,” said Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker.

“Keep delegating where you can so for the big-picture stuff we have coming, you are the tip of the spear,” said Mayor Scott Singer.

— Mary Hladky

Three veteran commissioners of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District will spend four more years in office after no one filed last month to run against them.

Staying on the dais will be Steve Engel, first elected to the board in 2012, and Craig Ehrnst and Erin Wright, who joined in the 2016 election.

“We didn’t have to do election campaigns this year, so that’s a bonus for sure,” said Wright, who chairs the board.

Commissioner Bob Rollins congratulated his colleagues during the board’s June 17 meeting.

“It’s a whole lot easier working with people who have been here rather than trying to start from scratch on things,” Rollins said. “And now we’re all seasoned and we have great working relationships, so I’m just delighted to be able to continue working with the three of you.”

Beach and park commissioners are paid $80 for each meeting they attend and usually meet twice a month. They oversee a $79 million budget. The elected terms begin Jan. 1.

— Steve Plunkett

By Mary Hladky

The Center for Arts and Innovation has received a $1 million appropriation from the Florida Legislature that will go toward completing the cultural center’s design and cultural program planning.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 12 vetoed $32 million in art and culture grants that lawmakers included in the state budget, shocking cultural organizations across Florida that had expected to receive grants after lawmakers approved the budget in March.

But that action did not affect the Boca Raton project because it did not receive grant funding. The appropriation was sponsored by state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, and state Rep. Mike Caruso, R-West Palm Beach. It was approved by the Legislature as a separate item and DeSantis did not veto it.

Harrell was unavailable for comment in late June, and Caruso could not be reached by then.

Although state Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, was not a sponsor, she said in a statement that the appropriation will help provide a cultural hub to foster innovation, economic growth and the arts.

“I was proud to support and advocate for the project during the past legislative session and look forward to seeing its extensive positive impact,” she said.

The center got another financial boost when it received an $865,000 grant from the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.

“As we forge ahead on our efforts to deliver a world-class creative campus in the heart of downtown Boca Raton, support from our governmental partners is of the utmost importance and a recognition we do not take lightly,” Center Chair and CEO Andrea Virgin said in a June 4 statement.

Virgin had wanted the center, projected to cost at least $140 million, to break ground in 2025, Boca Raton’s centennial year, but that has now been pushed back to the first quarter of 2027.

Her public relations firm said that delays are common for projects of this size and complexity, but did not provide details.

The center, which will be located in Mizner Park and is being designed by the prestigious Renzo Piano Building Workshop, will contain multiple venues for cultural programming, a piazza, rooftop terrace and underground parking.

State funds FY2025
Three Boca Raton projects received money in the state budget that took effect July 1. The city received $1.4 million for drinking water transmission and delivery, $1 million for widening of Northwest/Southwest Fourth Avenue, and $300,000 for drainage improvements on Northwest 35th Street.

Condo owners at Tower 155, a 127-unit complex located at 155 East Boca Raton Road, have filed suit, asking for damages to pay for repairs or rebuilding. Photo provided

By Mary Hladky

Tower 155 condominium owners have sued the 4-year-old building’s developer, contractor, architect and 21 other companies, alleging shoddy construction and design that has left them footing the bill for extensive repairs.

Tower 155 Condominium Association’s lawsuit includes a six-page list of deficiencies in the 127 condos and throughout the downtown Boca Raton high-rise, including improper installation and building materials, which have caused water intrusion, corrosion and unsafe conditions, among other problems.

The lawsuit, which is seeking an unspecified amount of damages to pay for repairs or rebuilding, names as the main defendants Boca Raton-based developer Compson Associates, Delray Beach-headquartered contractor Kaufman Lynn Construction, and the Boca Raton architectural firm Vander Ploeg and Associates, led by Derek Vander Ploeg.

A unit owner said he and association board members would not comment on the litigation at this time.

Compson Vice President Carl Klepper said company officials have had “very amicable discussions” about matters the association would like to have corrected.

“We are aware of the complaints,” he said. “We have been working civilly with the association. If there are things to be corrected, the contractor and subcontractors will resolve them.”

Derek Vander Ploeg said virtually all of the alleged deficiencies are related to construction, not building design.

A Kaufman Lynn official did not respond to an email requesting comment.

The defects were not obvious to condo buyers and they discovered them only after moving in, the suit says.

It alleges that the building was not constructed in compliance with the state building code or good design, engineering and construction practices.

Vander Ploeg said the claim that the building does not comply with the state building code is “simply wrong.” Tower 155 complies with the code in effect when it was constructed, but the code has been revised since then, he said.

Building code violations, however, are cited in a Dec. 2, 2022, report on Tower 155’s condition prepared by Miami-based Pistorino and Alam consulting engineers after Tower 155 was turned over by Compson to the condo association on March 29 of that year.

The 166-page report lists a long litany of problems and repeatedly says the conditions are not in compliance with or are prohibited by the state building code.

The 12-story Tower 155, located at 155 East Boca Raton Road, was completed in 2020 during a downtown building boom that drew the ire of many residents who said overdevelopment was ruining the city’s character. They criticized a number of projects as being too large and certain to worsen traffic conditions.

The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 30, 2023, in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, is in the early stages of litigation and the court file does not yet contain detailed responses from the defendants.

But in their affirmative defenses, a standard pleading in civil litigation, Compson, Kaufman Lynn and Vander Ploeg denied the allegations against them.

Since Tower 155 was completed, Compson and Vander Ploeg have teamed up again on the Aletto at Sanborn Square, to be built across East Boca Raton Road from the condo.

The project initially was to include office space, luxury apartments and a parking garage, but plans changed in 2022 when apartments were eliminated in favor of only Class A office space. The City Council approved the project one year ago.

It also drew strong objections from nearby residents, including Tower 155 owners, who said it is too massive for the 1.3 acres on which it will sit, would increase traffic on already overcrowded streets and would harm nearby Sanborn Square.

When the BocaFirst blog wrote in early February that “word on the street” and “more than rumors” suggested that Compson planned to change course and add residential units, Klepper denied it when he appeared before the City Council later that month.

In a June 17 interview with The Coastal Star, Klepper reiterated that the Aletto remains an office project and said he expects to break ground before the end of the year.

Mizner Park is one of the destinations where the Boca Connect stops. Photo provided

By Mary Hladky

People wanting an easy way to get around downtown Boca Raton without driving their cars now can use BocaConnect, an EV shuttle service operated by Circuit Transit.

The June 17 service launch was accompanied by a ceremony in Mizner Park attended by City Council members, other city officials and members of the business community who then boarded a Circuit six-seat electric vehicle for inaugural rides.

Circuit “will be a major connector for transportation in the downtown and surrounding areas,” Council member Fran Nachlas told the crowd. “It will reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, multiple short trips, congestion and parking demand.”

Circuit partner Jason Bagley said: “At Circuit, we are on a mission to make short-range travel easier, connecting communities, boosting economic development and creating a sustainable impact.”

The city is marketing the new service on its website, social media platforms, newsletters, flyers and more.

Residents apparently knew to look for the start of service. While the ceremony was underway, Circuit’s app stated that “service is very busy” in Boca Raton.

To book rides, download the Circuit app, available on both iOS and Android platforms, and type in the pickup address and destination. Wait times for a ride are expected to be 10 minutes or less and riders will be updated on when the shuttle will arrive.

The total shuttle service area runs from Glades Road to the south city limits, and from Interstate 95 to Fifth Avenue/Royal Palm Way.

All rides must begin or end in the heart of downtown, which includes the Federal Highway corridor, Downtown Library, Brightline station and Wildflower and Silver Palm Parks.

Rides within the downtown are free.

Rides that start or end outside of downtown will cost $2. Each additional rider will cost $1, with a fare cap of $5.

As an inducement to ride, Circuit is offering two free rides until July 14.

The hours of services are Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The service is starting as a one-year pilot project and adjustments can be made during that time based on demand.

The city also is open to expanding the service area to include locations such as the Yamato Road Tri-Rail station, Florida Atlantic University, and oceanside parks. Beachside residents in the Sun and Surf, Riviera and Por La Mar neighborhoods already are lobbying to be included.

The city will pay Circuit $395,728 for its first year of operation. The amount can be recalculated in future years.

The Fort Lauderdale-based company operates in many South Florida cities.

Reefs off Palm Beach County are in cooler water at greater depths and are washed by the passing Gulf Stream, giving them a better chance of survival than the shallow reefs in locations like the Keys. Photos provided

Palm Beach County’s coral reefs are faring much better than some farther south that are plagued by bleaching from warming waters

By John Christopher Fine

Chris Deen — licensed captain, veteran diver and ocean explorer based in Boynton Beach — has the Atlantic for his aquarium.

Despite threats facing Florida’s coral reefs from pollution and warming waters, Deen and other area dive boat captains say the reefs off southern Palm Beach County are holding up remarkably well.

“Coral growth here will be the last coral in Florida. We have the depth and the Gulf Stream and we protect it better,” says Deen, who operates Starfish — a 34-foot Crusader — out of Boynton Harbor Marina daily, weather permitting.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in May that designates the northern portion of Florida’s barrier reef, known as the Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area, as a state aquatic preserve, which offers it the maximum amount of protection available from the state.

The 105-mile-long preserve stretches from the St. Lucie Inlet south to Key Biscayne. The new law took effect July 1.

The state is also investing $57 million in its new budget for coral reef restoration and coastal protection.

The threat from runoff
For Deen to get to the reef, he navigates Starfish out through the Boynton Inlet. Not originally meant as a passage to the ocean, the inlet was cut to allow sewage effluent from canals and local discharges to get out into the Atlantic Ocean at tide change. The cut prevented Lake Worth Lagoon — that part of the Intracoastal Waterway that passes through the area — from becoming a noisome, dangerously polluted sewer.

All manner of harmful and toxic discharges come out of canals that crisscross Florida, finding their way to the Intracoastal and ocean. Agricultural runoffs including fertilizer, insecticides, pesticides, urine, feces and other chemical wastes wash through the canals, as do lawn and yard treatments from more urban areas.

Discharges containing nitrogen act as nutrients. Fishermen realize fish congregate around sewer pipes, eating what is flushed out. Some of this has been curtailed by court order, but some municipalities still use large diameter sewer pipes that protrude a mile out into the ocean when heavy rains make holding stormwater impossible.

The nitrogen-heavy wastewater also promotes algae, which can cover and smother sensitive coral.

The threat from warming waters
Water temperature also plays a role in the health of coral.

Recent observations in the Florida Keys, as well as islands throughout the Caribbean, reveal large-scale deaths of stony corals. The diver’s paradise in Grand Cayman Island has dead hard corals with vast areas of bleached coral, attributed to high ocean temperatures.

What Deen has observed diving is what researchers worldwide have reported. Warming seas, with sustained temperatures well over 90 degrees recorded in places such as the Florida Keys, have resulted in coral ejecting the symbiotic plant that lives inside its theca or calcium carbonate shell. Without Zooxanthellae or Symbiodinium, a dinoflagellate, coral bleaches white and eventually dies.

But that’s not the case offshore in South County. “Boynton Beach offers the best reef dives in Florida. There are ledges. The Gulf Stream sweeps in here,” Deen said.

Those findings are echoed by Palm Beach Zoo’s Scientific Dive Team, which is part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Disturbance Response Monitoring program. Last year, during the spring and summer, the zoo’s dive team studied the conditions off Looe Key, where it observed “bleached, paling, unhappy coral everywhere,” dive team member John Towey said.

“When we returned to the reefs in Palm Beach County, we were happy to see the reefs were faring better than in the Keys,” Towey said. “Water temperatures were higher but not to the extremes being recorded by our friends and partners elsewhere.”

The Gulf Stream makes difference
While Towey said the local reef is far from perfect, it “may be the saving grace the rest of the reef relies on.” He described it as “a silver lining in an ocean of white.”

Palm Beach County’s offshore areas are affected by strong eddies of the predominantly northward flowing Gulf Stream. The current can be mild or at times run as fast as 4 knots.

The Gulf Stream flow serves as a natural broom, sweeping waters offshore clean. Algae that proliferated due to high nitrogen content of wastewater discharges are often pushed off reefs by storms and surges.

“The reefs here are deeper,” Deen said. Depth as well as the Gulf Stream keep Atlantic Ocean temperatures off southern Palm Beach County at acceptable levels for coral. All but very deep-water corals require sunlight penetration for plants inside them to live.

Temperatures from about 68 to 80 degrees are ideal, as long as there is no sedimentation to choke coral growth. Sedimentation can occur with beach renourishment projects that dredge sand from deeper ocean areas and pile it on beaches that have been eroded by storms.

A veteran dive instructor from the Kyalami Scuba Club, which runs dive boats out of West Palm Beach and Jupiter, also attests to the health of the local reefs. Meme Edwards said “it is surprising how healthy our reefs are. There was some stony coral disease that has subsided. A little bleaching that was monitored by divers and conservation officials, but our reefs stayed healthy.”

During the hot summer months that killed corals in the Florida Keys last year, local reefs remained largely unaffected. “Ocean temperatures at the bottom were 69 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit at 60 feet. Surface water at the top ranged into the 80s. That was consistent all summer,” Edwards said.

Shaun Gallant, owner-partner of the Kyalami Scuba Club, said the reef remained healthy due to lower temperatures at depth.

“We see some brain coral here, not the most obvious, yet my observations showed it was healthy,” Edwards said. “There was no bleaching. Generally, our divers are pleasantly surprised after coming here from diving in the Keys. This is way deeper, from 50 to 60 feet on the shore side of the reef and 80 feet on the outside reef areas. Healthy coral equals healthy marine life. We see a hundred groupers aggregating, sharks, turtles.”

Divers play an important role

Gallant and Edwards described the importance of diver participation with dive operators in observing reef conditions.

“We are a small community. We monitor reef conditions. We notify government and reef conservation agencies if we see anything,” Edwards said. “We’ve helped with turtle entanglements and report any coral that we see dying. I bring people in that do research.”

Recent dives revealed healthy stony corals in the region’s ocean waters. Reef tops are about 50 feet deep. Depending on the area, local reefs are up to a quarter-mile wide.

Biodiversity abounds and a wide variety of corals thrive, enabling habitat and food for other species.

Deen and his wife, Julia, remain sentinels of the sea, as does Gallant, observers of an underwater realm that welcomes discovery. It is their passion as well as their means of livelihood.

“Kyalami is a Zulu word that means literally ‘My home,’” says Gallant, evoking the belief that when it comes to conservation, the ocean belongs to all people.
“Or symbolically: ‘my home, your home.’”

John Christopher Fine is a marine biologist who lives in Boynton Beach.

Ted Hoskinson and Mark Sauer. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

The founder of Bound For College, originally known as Delray Students First, and the founder of Roots and Wings, an organization that supports literacy programs, have joined forces.

Mark Sauer and Ted Hoskinson established the Hoskinson Fellowship with a $50,000 gift.

“Ted and I are working toward the same goal,” Sauer said of Hoskinson’s donation and his work at Roots and Wings. “Our missions complement each other at opposite ends of the public school spectrum. Ted is ensuring that under-resourced students attending local elementary schools are achieving grade-level literacy while gaining the confidence they need to thrive in school.

“Once those students reach high school, it is up to Bound For College to take over and support them with ACT/SAT tutoring and the mentorship they need to succeed with college applications and scholarship support. The new Hoskinson Fellowship helps Bound For College take that path another step further by awarding financial support to some of our college students who struggle financially once they are in college successfully pursuing their career goals.”

For information about Bound For College, call 561-819-9907 or visit weareboundforcollege.org. For information about Roots and Wings, call 561-404-0455 or visit rootsandwingsinc.org.

$200,000-plus raised at annual Boca Bacchanal
Boca Bacchanal, the cork-popping celebration of food and wine, was a sipping success this year, captivating hundreds of connoisseurs and enthusiasts.

The weekend’s worth of events raised more than $200,000 to benefit the Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum and delivered an unparalleled experience of cuisine and vino.

“This year’s Boca Bacchanal was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing the best of our community’s culinary talent while championing the preservation of our history,” said

Mary Csar, executive director of the society. “We’re immensely grateful to all who contributed to making this event a resounding success.”

In other news, the nonprofit has been honored with the Historical Society of Palm Beach County’s coveted Fannie James Pioneer Achievement Award. Established in 2003, the award recognizes significant contributions toward furthering the history of the area’s pioneering days. It is named for the late African-American founder of the post office in Lake Worth Beach that operated from 1889 to 1903.

“We are deeply honored to receive the Fannie James Pioneer Achievement Award,” Csar said. “This recognition reflects our commitment to preserving the rich and diverse history of our community, ensuring that the stories of our past continue to inspire and educate future generations.”

For more information, call 561-395-6766 or visit bocahistory.org.

Season ends successfully for Downtown Rotarians
The May 31 meeting of the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton was filled with love and kindness as the organization welcomed representatives from 17 local nonprofits and awarded each a grant.

A total of $80,000 was distributed, all of which was raised at the Boca Raton Mayors Ball.

“The Rotary funds will help us furnish 12 private bedrooms in our new residential group home in Boca Raton,” said HomeSafe CEO Matthew Ladika, one of the 17 grantees. “We are grateful for the Rotary partnership and investment in children’s futures.”

Other recipients were 4KIDS of South Florida, American Association of Caregiving Youth, American Disabilities Foundation, Best Foot Forward, CityHouse, Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, Faulk Center for Counseling, JARC Florida, Roots and Wings, Kindness Matters 365, Nutrition On Weekends (NOW), PROPEL, Spirit of Giving Network, Sweet Dream Makers, Villages of Hope, and YMCA of South Palm Beach County.

The club capped the season by providing a groovy time at the annual banquet June 12, themed “Love and Peace, Baby!” Members and guests wore festive attire in the spirit of the ’60s. A highlight of the affair was the club’s clinching of the Rotary Club of the Year at a district conference.

“It is the highest recognition from a Rotary governor, and we were selected from the 45 other clubs in our district,” club President Kim Champion said. “This prestigious honor reflects our community engagement, membership recruitment, participation at Rotary events and many other achievements, distinguishing us from other clubs.”

Another highlight was the installation of Bruce Spizler as the new president.

“I am enormously proud of the club and the tremendous commitment of our members who tirelessly give service above self in Boca Raton and beyond,” Spizler said. “Building on this year’s accomplishments will be my priority, along with my fellow board members, going forward.”

For more information, call 561-299-1429 or visit rotarydowntownbocaraton.org.

Junior League appoints new president, board
Nicole Stelzer will head the 2024-25 season of the Junior League of Boca Raton.

The new president has been a member of the league for 15 years, leading several committees, including Woman Volunteer of the Year, and serving four terms on the board of directors.

Regarding the board of directors, new members were installed at the annual May dinner meeting. They are Debbie Abrams, Michelle Coggiola, Gwenn Feliciano, Paige Gantt, Pattie Goldenberg, Victoria Matthews, Valentina Moretti, Amanda O’Brien, Barbara Sageman, Samantha Vassallo and Alex Welsh.

For more information, call 561-620-2553 or visit jlbr.org.

HomeSafe gathered a group of dedicated supporters for a celebration of its soon-to-be-reconstructed facility for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. The event honored Guardian Society donors — top contributors who have added to the success of the agency’s Healing the Hurt campaign. ‘Because of you, 12 children will be moving into their new home this winter,’ board Chairwoman Tarra Moten said. ‘These kids will be sleeping in their own bedrooms, having family dinners together around the table and playing together in the backyard with a renewed sense of love, safety, belonging and hope.’ ABOVE: Ken and Maggie Rosenberg. Photo provided by Tracey Benson Photography

Nearly $300,000 poured in for local children’s charities at the Boca West Children’s Foundation fundraiser headlined by Food Network chef Alex Guarnaschelli. The sold-out event included a discussion with Guarnaschelli, who shared behind-the-scenes stories. ‘Our guests thoroughly enjoyed Chef Alex’s entertaining, humorous and heartfelt stories,” said Pamela Weinroth, the foundation’s executive director. ‘We were delighted by the warm reception Chef Alex received and truly grateful for the generous support from our sponsors and attendees, all contributing to bettering the lives of children in our community.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Christina Irving, Ashley Craig, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Torrence and Weinroth. Photo provided

The third annual benefit for the Achievement Centers for Children & Families — and a few other nonprofits — hit the pavement and helped roll in crucial funds. More than 150 historically significant vehicles were showcased to thousands of car enthusiasts while live music played and family activities took place. ‘We are so pleased with the turnout of this event,’ ACCF’s Kerry Filippone said. ‘This partnership combines a love for automobiles and community outreach, creating the perfect mix.’ RIGHT: Delray Beach Concours d’Elegance board members (l-r) Josh Abrams, Filippone, Marc Grimes, Maxwell Zengage, Nicole Grimes, Christopher Nicotra and Alex Berry. Photo provided

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Forever Lions attended a packed event that recognized the philanthropists’ generous commitments — planned gifts or endowments of at least $100,000. Guest speaker Rachie Shnay, a renowned jewelry designer, had pieces on display and for sale. ‘These remarkable women, through their planned gifts or endowments, are not only securing the future of our Jewish community but also embodying the timeless values of tzedakah and continuity,’ said Randee Rubenstein, chairwoman of planned giving and endowments. ‘As we gathered to express our deepest gratitude, we honor not just their contributions but the indelible mark they leave on the tapestry of Jewish life.’ ABOVE: Forever Lions (l-r, in front) Michelle Merson, Suzanne Grant, Susie Sheftel, Karen Press; (in back) Daryl Mogil, Joanne Applebaum, Suzanne Hochberg, Susan Cohen, Susan Gringauz, Jennifer Koenig and Cathy Baer Haubenstock. Photo provided

Penelope’s brings the taste and vibe of New Orleans to Mizner Park in Boca Raton. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

From the prolific hospitality family of Rodney Mayo’s Subculture Group comes the new Penelope’s — correctly pronounced as the English do: PEN-a-lope’s.

“Our tagline is ‘Southern charm with a French kiss,’” said partner Vaughan Dugan. “It’s Southern food inspired by New Orleans.”

The restaurant takes over the former Kapow spot in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park. Kapow moved across the plaza last year.

Dugan said diners already were eager to sit again at the indoor-outdoor bar for which Kapow was noted, but “it doesn’t look anything like Kapow. Rodney’s done an amazing job, completely transformed it. I’m always impressed with his vision. He never reveals the whole picture, so you wonder, where’s he going with this?”

Mayo said Penelope’s has a cozy vibe, with 125 seats. The restaurant is named for his sister, who died a few years ago.

“It’s a running joke. She corrected everyone on the pronunciation. She thought the common Penelope was a child’s name — and insisted she was no child,” Mayo said. “So, there’s a picture of her as a child in the back.”

Walls also feature cat pictures and the colors of the French Quarter. Inverted parasols hang from the ceiling and move up and down.

“We tried to incorporate some of the Gothic weirdness of New Orleans,” Mayo said.

The menu is approachable, dubbed “New Southern Soul,” with familiar items such as chicken and waffles, pimento cheese dip, oysters a few ways, and burgers. Other dishes are gumbo, shrimp and grits, Jackson Square bouillabaisse, and for dessert, the famous Cafe du Monde-inspired beignets. All are from the hand of chef Kevin Avellaneda.

A nod to NOLA also comes with the cocktails like the Sazerac, Pimm’s cup, and Ramos gin fizz, along with twists on other classics curated by Dugan’s spouse, Angela Dugan, and Myles Robinson, the beverage program creators.

Also on the menu are vegan and gluten-free dishes and a list of mocktails.

Through September, Penelope’s offers dinner only with late night weekends, but a jazz brunch and lunch service are planned for fall.

Another restaurant from the group, Shaker and Pie — a bar and pizza spot — is under construction next door to Penelope’s, scheduled for a fall opening. About the frantic construction, Dugan joked, “It’s like having three babies in two years.”

More are to come, including another Subculture coffee shop in Delray Beach, and a new concept from Mayo for the former C.W.S. Bar and Kitchen in Lake Worth Beach.

Penelope’s, 431 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Open daily for dinner, 4 p.m.-midnight; till 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone 561-896-1038; online at penelopeofboca.com.

Who could resist this seafood display at Corvina’s in Boca Raton? Photo provided

Summer brings out the special menus, entertainment and deals at area restaurants.

At Corvina Seafood Grill (110 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton), there’s an early bird special. All drinks and dishes — wines included — are half price throughout the summer.

Diners must place their orders between 5 and 6 p.m. The emphasis is on seafood here from chef Jeff Tunks: branzino, whole red snapper, seafood towers, sushi, ceviche, plantain-crusted corvine, lobster and more. For menus and to make reservations, go to corvinabocaraton.com.

Also in Boca Raton, Il Mulino (451 E. Palmetto Park Road) has a $58 sunset menu, available Sunday through Friday. It’s a four-course prix fixe menu with specialty Italian dishes.

At lunch there’s a three-course version for $35, including branzino filet, or veal in a white wine and lemon sauce. Open for lunch, noon-3 p.m., dinner daily from 4:30 p.m.; multicourse brunch on Sunday, noon-3 p.m.

The restaurant was recently renovated. The popular Italian eatery from New York’s Little Italy got a modern look with art deco accents and upgrades to the seating and open bar layout. Also new: an air-conditioned patio outdoors.

In Delray Beach, Le Colonial (601 E. Atlantic Ave.) offers a $35 two-course prix fixe Monday through Friday before 6 p.m.

Diners can choose from several rolls, a beet salad or pan-seared chicken dumplings for the first course. Second course choices include roasted salmon, spicy chicken stir-fry, yellow tofu curry, or the signature fried rice. A dessert from the menu is an extra $10. Open for dinner daily from 5 p.m. The lounge is open at 4 p.m., with social hour 4-6 p.m. and piano nights Monday-Wednesday, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Caffe Luna Rosa (34 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach) has a special $24 menu most nights. Monday, it’s Cacciucco di Mare — a variety of shellfish and calamari with catch of the day and lobster in an herbed tomato sauce over fine linguine. Tuesday and Wednesday, it’s a lump crab-stuffed lemon sole with vegetables and rice. Thursday features beef tenderloin medallions with shrimp scampi and chef’s potatoes. On Sunday it’s rigatoni and gravy with a meatball and sausage. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

At 800 Palm Trail Grill (800 Palm Trail, Delray Beach), weeknight specials are in place for summer. Two-for-Tuesday means buy one entree, get one at half off. Must be of equal or lesser value. It’s half off bottles of wine under $100 on Wine-Down Wednesday. Thirsty Thursday means it’s Happy Hour throughout the restaurant open to close, with half off wines by the glass, beer, and most liquors. (This deal also applies to lunch, Tuesday through Saturday.) On Date Night Friday, get a free bottle of select wines with the purchase of two entrees. Open for lunch Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30-3:30; dinner Tuesday-Sunday at 5 p.m., and Sunday brunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Josie’s (650 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach) has daily specials, including Meatball and Martini Mondays, featuring $3 meatballs, $3.50 sliders and $4 off the full-priced martinis: watermelon, espresso and limoncello.

Tuesdays bring 25% off all entrees for takeout or delivery. Use code 25OFF. On Wednesday, it’s 40% off all bottles of wines under $80. There’s a BOGO offer Thursdays, takeout or delivery: Buy one entree, get one half-off. Use code BOGO. At lunch and until 4 p.m. daily, get a free bottle of French Rose All Day with two full-priced entrees. Open for lunch and dinner daily.

Art Basil in Manalapan’s Plaza del Mar (218 S. Ocean Blvd.) has summer specials such as steamed clams or mussels for $14; artichoke Francaise, $12; surf and turf, $15; mussels linguine, $26; lobster mac ’n’ cheese, $20; and seared scallop salad, $25. Other seafoods and salads are on special, as is a summer dessert, lemon cream cake for $9. Live music plays on the patio. Open weekdays for lunch, 11:30 a.m., and dinner daily at 4:30 p.m.

Ravish in Lantana (210 E. Ocean Ave.) features Martini Monday, 4 p.m. to close. Get $6 martinis and $2.50 oysters. Thursday is ladies’ night, with a never-ending happy hour on drinks. Half off select cocktails, beer and wine, plus discounted food. The restaurant continues its monthly spirits seminars and tastings. Recent ones included rum; an agave one is coming. Also, this summer includes the monthly Collab with Chefs — visiting chefs cook up special menus.

See ravishkitchen.com for more info. Open daily at 4 p.m.; Sunday brunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

In brief
Bella Reina Spa in Delray Beach will begin Teapot Tuesdays on July 16. A program of education about tea with a certified tea master features a lunch and tea service, with information about the flowers teas are made from, and a talk about the “glow” of teas. For reservations, call 561-404-7670 or email info@Bellareinaspa.com. ... Oceano Kitchen, which moved from Lantana to Lake Worth Beach last year, has closed till probably November, says owner Jeremy Bearman. It’s being renovated with outdoor modifications for guests’ comfort.

Related: Palm Beach County arts cuts

By Sharon Geltner

On June 3, Bill Hayes, producing artistic director of Palm Beach Dramaworks, was ecstatic.

That was the day the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce honored his West Palm beach-based theater company as Nonprofit of the Year.

“That was a nice lead-in to our 25th anniversary,” Hayes said.

But within 10 days, his joy turned to shock.

On June 12, for the first time in state history, arts and culture funding in Florida’s budget was zeroed out. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed not only the theater’s expected $70,500, but the entire $3.1 million in grants to support 51 Palm Beach County entities.

Statewide, $32 million in grants, in support of 610 arts and culture organizations statewide, disappeared in a literal stroke of a pen.

“We moved to the bottom of the national list of funding by states,” said Dave Lawrence, president and CEO of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. Less than 10 years ago,

Florida ranked third in the country.

The industry’s top advocate in the state, the Florida Cultural Alliance, saw danger signs in December, but misinterpreted the line-item vetoes, said CEO Jennifer Jones. The sole employee of the alliance, she works with an eight-person board of directors and a lobbying firm on annual retainer, she said.

“The governor recommended $0 for the arts in December 2023 when he released the budget,” Jones said. “I’m not saying I didn’t take it seriously, but I had a lot of faith the process would work, because these organizations are so well-vetted, with transparency and accountability. It was a little bit surprising.”

Jones assumed that when legislators debated and reduced the $77 million to $32 million last spring, that was the final number. “That is the area where we have the most influence.”

Longtime arts advocate and West Palm Beach gallery owner Rolando Chang Barrero had a different interpretation.

“The key individuals who saw this happening (in Tallahassee) are not fools. They look at everything going on. But they are in no position to call out the governor. They still need to work with him. Direct confrontation never works because these organizations can’t work without the state,” said Barrero, president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida.

“The long game is to get rid of all publicly funded programs, such as grants to bus kids to museums,” Barrero said. “They are trying to derail any culture [initiatives] because it is inclusive of anything that is not white supremacist. …They can’t get these groups to erase DEI clauses, so they stop funding.”

He added, “DeSantis is laying the groundwork to be worshipped by (former President Donald) Trump in case he wins.”

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said there is only one explanation for the unexpected cut in arts funding.

“The only reason is politics. It’s absolutely devastating. … The return on investment for arts and culture is that for every $1 spent, $9 is generated,” Eskamani said.

Calls and emails to Jeremy Redfern, Gov. DeSantis’ press secretary, were unreturned.

But in an appearance in Polk County on June 27, DeSantis said he zeroed out all arts funding because some of the money would have gone to several “Fringe Festivals,” which he said contained sexual content.

“We didn’t have control over how it was being given. So you’re having your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff,” DeSantis said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Jeff Perlman, former mayor of Delray Beach, described the local implications.

“Now, we’re ‘Wall Street South’… and bringing in companies which expect us to have world-class culture. It’s enormously shortsighted,” Perlman said.

He believes Delray may feel the brunt.

“Our economic revitalization was led by arts and festivals,” he said. With the Arts Garage’s decreased funding and “Old School Square being wounded because of politics, sophisticated donors may not write checks. It is a perfect storm.”

Marjorie Waldo, CEO of the Arts Garage, said “it’s very late in the game” to receive the news.

“While grant funding is unpredictable, and we never take it for granted, when you are steadily receiving funding for eight years, you assume it will continue at a similar amount,” she said.

Jill Brown, CEO at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach, noted that one in three cultural organizations closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, “and even more closed post-COVID.”

“Our cultural sector has been through so much in the last five years,” she said. “Arts and culture represents 3.1% of the state’s GDP, or $39 billion. That’s above and beyond tourism.”

Lawrence pointed out that 4 million people attended arts and culture events in Palm Beach County last year.

“That’s a staggering figure. We have a $335 million economic impact,” he said.

The industry lacks representation that others have as a matter of course. The late Bob Montgomery founded the Florida PAC for Art & Culture in the 1990s and asked Richard Rampell, a prominent CPA and philanthropist with homes in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, to volunteer as treasurer.

In 2013, Sherron Long, a West Palm Beach resident with several decades of art advocacy experience, became chair of the PAC. In the next six years, it raised a total of just $51,177 and disbanded in 2019.

Rampell said what the county’s arts and culture organizations are missing are towering, powerhouse figures such as Montgomery and the late Alex Dreyfoos, who led the effort to create the Cultural Council and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.

“The PAC started with a meeting in Fort Lauderdale with 20 wealthy guys, people who run companies and are interested in arts and arts education in schools. Bob was very generous to a lot of people and when he needed a favor and asked for money in return, they said yes,” Rampell said.

“We need someone like that with a big following. Bob could ask 100 people to give $5,000 and he would raise it right away. What the arts in Palm Beach County needs is someone who gets a group of people together to lead, go out and ask for money. Bob was never bashful.

“You can’t raise a ton of money in $25 increments,” Rampell concluded.

Similarly, there are no Palm Beach County advocates on the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, which advises Secretary of State Cord Byrd on grant funding. Broward has one, and Miami-Dade has two.

“This feels like spite. It’s anti-woke, anti-gay, anti-anything that seems affiliated with a certain group of people often associated with theater groups. I’m a straight man in the theater and I’m saying it,” said Hayes, of Palm Beach Dramaworks.

“I wish I had the words to articulate the disappointment and shock throughout the arts community,” Hayes said. “The loss of funding is a tremendous blow to every organization, and Palm Beach Dramaworks is no exception.

“But we will prevail despite the obstacles. We have a history of strong fiscal stewardship, which will allow us to remain steadfast in our mission to enrich lives through the transformative power of theater. We will find a way; we have no other choice.”

Joe Gillie, a board member of the nonprofit Old School Square Center for the Arts group, said the cuts will really hurt “small grass-roots groups, many of which are ethnically based. That’s sad.”

On June 27, the Florida Division of Arts and Culture met to discuss replacing the lobbyists who represent the Florida Cultural Alliance. According to the state’s lobbyist directory, Anthony P. “Tony” Carvalho and Megan Fay at Capital City Consulting and Capitol Hill Group are FCA’s registered lobbyists. Carvalho and Fay could not be reached for comment.

A week before the vetoes, DeSantis renewed the term of Lisa Burgess, owner of New River Fine Art Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, to the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

“I’m a supporter of Gov. DeSantis. I’m not a supporter of what happened with arts funding,” Burgess said. “A lot of people put a lot of effort talking to legislators, convincing them there should be more money for the arts, especially when Florida is operating on a surplus right now. I am extremely disappointed.”

She added that “Florida Council members need to do a better job.”

“We all need to work much harder,” she said. “We know that arts and culture are not the top priority at the highest levels of government. The state of Florida needs to do better.”
The youngest person interviewed for this story was the least surprised by the stunning turn of events.

“Honestly, this is exactly like what we went through here,” said rising Florida Atlantic University senior Trevian Javier Briskey, who has worked on DEI initiatives.

In May 2023, Briskey renamed the annual campus drag show “Owl Manor,” after Wilton Manors, because there would be no state funding if he used the word “drag,” he said.

“When it comes to multiculturalism, there are very strict restrictions,” he said.

Jones at the Florida Cultural Alliance said the “tradeoff” to getting grants might be “content.”

“In December, when I saw the $0 in the budget, I assumed it was a placeholder and not a priority. That was disappointing news,” she said.
“Now it is devastating news.”

Sharon Geltner is the author of Charity Bashed, a Palm Beach mystery and social satire, available on Amazon.

Scuba diver John Strunk shows off some of the big bugs that he caught during a previous lobster miniseason. Steve Waters/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

The most exciting time of the year for South Florida lobster lovers is the two-day miniseason, which is the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. That’s when divers get their first chance at catching a delicious dinner since the regular lobster season closed on April 1.

The absence of commercial lobster traps and not being poked and prodded by divers armed with snares, tickle sticks and nets for nearly four months usually results in an abundance of bugs that are less wary than normal for what is officially known as the lobster sport season.

As if that isn’t enough of a reason to go diving for bugs, as they are known because of their insect-like appearance, when the miniseason begins at 12:01 a.m. July 24 and concludes at midnight July 25, the daily bag limit in Palm Beach and Broward counties is 12 lobsters per person. That’s double the limit during the regular season, which opens Aug. 6.

The miniseason is more restrictive in the Florida Keys, where the daily limit is six bugs and no diving is allowed at night. This is intended to reduce the number of divers who descend on the Keys, where spiny lobsters are typically more plentiful, especially in the shallow waters surrounding the island chain. Many lobster hunters catch them in 6 to 10 feet of water using only a mask, fins and snorkel.

This year, Florida residents get an extra day of miniseason. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last month that as part of a $57 million coral reef restoration and coastal protection initiative, the lobster miniseason will include July 14, exclusively for Florida residents.

“Christmas came early!” said Jim “Chiefy” Mathie of Deerfield Beach, author of Catching the BUG: The Comprehensive Guide to Catching the Spiny Lobster, a how-to book available at many local dive shops and online.

“Adding an additional day on a Sunday before the normal miniseason for Florida residents will be a real shot in the arm for the dive industry. Dive charters and shops were already seeing an increase in demand, which will be a great economic benefit.”

Getting in the water before July 14 is now a priority for many divers. The popularity of the miniseason makes safety a critical concern, primarily because many scuba divers have not been in the water since last year’s miniseason. Their diving skills might not be as sharp and their dive gear might not work properly. Cracked hoses that leak air and mask and fin straps that are on the verge of tearing can endanger a diver’s life.

Safety first
That’s why it’s a good idea to go diving before the miniseason. Getting reacquainted with being under the water is also an opportunity to scout for lobsters. If your equipment needs to be repaired or replaced, now is the time to do that rather than waiting until a few days before the miniseason. That’s when dive shops are packed with frantic divers hoping they can get their gear inspected and repaired in time for opening day.

One of the biggest miniseason hazards is divers who run out of air. In their excitement to catch their limit, some divers who have enough air in their tank to safely get them to the surface see a lobster and decide to go after it.

Using a snare or a tickle stick and a net to coax a bug out of its hiding place in a reef or from under a ledge can take a while. When divers focused on catching one more lobster suddenly realize that they have used all of their remaining air, they typically speed straight to the surface and don’t do a three-minute safety stop to prevent decompression sickness, also known as the bends.

And some divers panic and never make it to the surface.

Some boaters, in their rush to get to their lobster hot spots, drive too fast and too close to diver down flags. Boats must make an effort to stay at least 300 feet from dive flags on open waters and proceed at idle speed inside of that distance.

Safety-conscious divers fly a dive flag on their boat and have a dive flag on a float that they tow behind them. That not only makes it easier for the person driving the boat to keep track of the divers in the water, it also allows drivers of other boats to see that divers are in the water and to stay a safe distance away.

Visit https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lobster for lobster regulations.

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

Mary Virginia Merrick, founder of the Christ Child Society, as a young woman. She died in 1955 at age 88. Photo provided

By the time she was 10, Mary Virginia Merrick of Washington, D.C., a devout Catholic, thought she would become a nun. But a fall from her playhouse severely injured her back and a couple of years later she was diagnosed with a musculoskeletal form of tuberculosis, meaning she was confined to bed or a recumbent wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Merrick, ever joyful, considered ways she could still serve her lord and savior Jesus Christ. Enamored with the Christ Child story, she decided to focus her attention on newborns and their mothers. She gathered her girlfriends together and told them they would be sewing and knitting clothes and blankets for a poor mother who hadn’t the time or money to make her own.

Her friends joined her with enthusiasm. Who could refuse a woman in a wheelchair who wanted to help someone else?

After the first gift of layettes, the get-togethers continued and Merrick’s legend, like her influence, grew. They say Mary Virginia struck up a conversation with a boy who delivered fresh vegetables from his family’s farm to the Merrick household most days. She asked him about his Christmas wishes. He told her his family was too poor for presents so he didn’t have any, but with a little prodding he told her what he’d most like was a red wagon to haul his vegetables.

Mary Virginia suggested that the boy write a letter to the Christ Child and leave it with her. She told him to encourage his friends to do the same. When the letters came, Mary’s friends found ways to fulfill the wishes, including a red wagon for one special boy.

Mary Virginia’s small acts of charity continue to grow, and the Christ Child Society was officially founded in 1887. She is under consideration by the Catholic Church for canonization, a slow and arduous process.

Today there are 45 Christ Child chapters in 22 states with more than 5,500 volunteers. Florida has five chapters: Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Naples and Stuart.
For more information, visit www.nationalchristchild.org.

— Janis Fontaine

Related: Society founder was confined to bed, wheelchair

By Janis Fontaine

On a Wednesday morning in June, 17 women from the Christ Child Society of Boca Raton gathered in the Community Room at the Downtown Library for some serious business. So why were they all laughing?

“We’ve become very close friends,” former President Scarlett Fave said. “We’re a nice bunch of ladies.”

Serving God by serving others is nothing new. Sages say our burdens become lighter when we share them. Mary Virginia Merrick, founder of the Christ Child Society, said, “Find a need and fill it.”

For these women, nothing is too much to ask if it helps a child. According to the Kids Count Data Center, 16% of all children in the United States — 11.6 million kids total — lived in poverty in 2022. The percentage of U.S. children living in poverty peaked at 23% in 2012.

Every day, new mothers take newborns home from the hospital. For some, everything is ready. For others, nothing is. Working with the Palm Beach County Health Department, social service agencies and hospitals, Christ Child Society members pack hundreds of layettes with essential supplies for new mothers each year, as they did again in June.

Each layette contains at least four onesies, two receiving blankets, a pair of leggings, a hooded towel and washcloth, two sleep-and-play sets, two packages of diapers and a container of wipes, a bib and bottle, a book, and a super soft and fluffy white baby blanket.

“The congregation of St. Jude Catholic Church in Boca Raton must be recognized for its contributions,” said Chris Wyns, president of the Christ Child Society of Boca Raton. The church hosts “baby showers” twice a year to encourage parishioners to donate clothes and diapers. “I picked up five huge bags full of stuff.”

This chapter is one of 45 in the United States. Each chapter welcomes nondenominational volunteers who can dedicate a few hours every month to serving the vulnerable children in the community. The Boca Raton chapter was founded in 1991 after eight members of the Palm Beach chapter split off into a South County chapter.

The Boca Raton chapter was chartered in 1992 and incorporated in 1996. Annual membership dues are $60.

Each chapter decides independently what project it wants to undertake, with guidance and suggestions from the national foundation. For Lorraine Gigli, a kindergarten teacher for 25 years, promoting literacy is key. She does this by ordering age-appropriate books for the layettes and cheerleading the group’s other annual project: the back-to-school backpack program, coming up this month.

Every school year, the chapter works with Boca Raton Elementary to fulfill its students’ specific school supply needs. The members fill backpacks using their tried-and-true assembly line and donate them to students at the Title 1 school.

The backpack program will meet at the library at 11 a.m. July 17. The program is fully funded through a legacy donation, but new members are always needed and welcomed. Of course, donations are never declined.

For more information about the Christ Child Society of Boca Raton, visit www.christchildbocaraton.org.

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

Scientists in the field of amyloid-related diseases recently discussed research and advances at the inaugural Amyloid Related Diseases Summit hosted by Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine. 

Amyloid proteins cause life-threatening diseases that can be present throughout the body, including the heart, kidneys, liver and brain.
The most common localized form of amyloidosis is in the brain. Cerebral amyloidosis, when symptomatic, usually manifests as either Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, or in stroke.

Treatments are very limited and there are no cures.

The Florida Venture Forum’s 2024 Early Stage Venture Conference, which was recently held in Orlando, awarded a total of $300,000 to six Florida-based startups, and two of the recipients were in South County.   

         
Boca Raton’s HelixVM, the grand-prize winner, received $50,000 from sponsor Florida Power & Light Co. to fund its business. HelixVM’s online medical marketplace matches people with physicians. Boca Raton’s NanoSense won the Collegiate Award and received $5,000 from both FPL and Space Florida.

NanoSense, based at Florida Atlantic University, makes a device that can detect compounds in a person’s breath that may indicate conditions like lung cancer and asthma.
Florida Venture Forum is a statewide support organization for investors and entrepreneurs. Funders for this competition were Florida Venture Forum members Space Florida, DeepWork Capital and FPL’s 35 Mules innovation hub.

On the 50th anniversary of National Emergency Medical Services Week, May 20 through 25, Palm Beach Health Network recognized emergency medical services professionals.

“They are the first responders of care for patients as they are transported to our hospitals,” said Maggie Gill, group president for Tenet Healthcare’s East Coast region, which includes Delray and West Boca medical centers.

“These brave people are first to answer the community’s call for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’re proud to take this opportunity to show them how much we appreciate their dedication.”

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

Pastor Bill Mitchell, of Boca Raton Community Church, filmed a thank-you to volunteers who helped with a packing event, sponsored in partnership by Food for the Poor and Matthew 25: Ministries, to distribute essentials to families during the COVID pandemic. Photo provided by Food for the Poor

Boca Raton pastor Bill Mitchell has been appointed to the board of directors of Food for the Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States.

Mitchell is coaching pastor at Boca Raton Community Church, a position to which he transitioned in 2023 after serving as pastor for 20 years.

He brings a wealth of experience, a commitment to service, and “a fresh perspective to the board,” FFTP President and CEO Ed Raine said.

Mitchell continues to facilitate CityLead, which engages local business leaders. More than 300 executives attend his monthly events focused on developing ethical business practices.

Mitchell first got involved with FFTP after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and says he immediately knew he wanted to work with FFTP as much as he could. Now, he’ll serve on the board of directors to pursue their common mission to fight hunger and poverty worldwide.

New shower and laundry trucks in Delray Beach
On June 7, the Interfaith Committee for Social Services hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reveal its new shower and laundry trucks at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach. Rabbi Steven Moss from Temple Sinai served as emcee, and Delray Beach Police Chief Russ Mager and Vice Mayor Juli Casale each made an appearance.

Casale praised founders Judy Fenney and Kathleen Megan of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for caring about homeless and other needy people. The committee began when they encouraged faith-based groups and congregations in Delray Beach to fill the gap left by the scaling back of the Caring Kitchen in 2017.

The money for the new trucks came from an Impact 100 grant for $100,000.

Fenney, who is at home nursing a broken humerus, credited all the volunteers. She said the shower truck replaces the old one, a donation from about five years ago. Fenney found a new home for it in Boynton Beach.

The new trucks are both air conditioned, an upgrade in the summer heat. The shower truck has four stalls, and the laundry truck has two industrial-size washers and dryers.

The truck is open at St. Matthew’s Episcopal (404 SW Third St.) from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.

The Interfaith Committee meets twice a month at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

How to help: Cash donations are used exclusively for the Interfaith Committee’s program operations, supplies and expenses. Clothing donations needed include men’s underwear and men’s shorts and jeans in sizes 32, 34 and 36. Backpacks are also needed.

Volunteers are needed to help in a variety of positions like sorting donations, clerical tasks, and special events work.

To donate money, volunteer or learn more, visit www.interfaithcommittee.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram.

Comfort dog ministry
If you’re struggling and need a friend with paws and fur for support, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 701 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, offers visits with Jemimah, a specially trained golden retriever. You can learn more about Jemimah the Comfort Dog and the national Comfort Dog program at www.facebook.com/JemimahComfortDog
To schedule a visit, email comfortdog@stpaulboca.com.

Special Events

Barbecue for young adults
The One Truth Barbecue, hosted by Pastor Jason Whitener from Grace Community Church in Boca Raton, takes place at his home from 7 to 9:30 p.m. July 10. The barbecue is geared to young adults ages 18-39. The event will have games, food and fellowship. Register at www.graceboca.org or email jasonw@graceboca.org.

Ultimate Frisbee anniversary celebration
For a decade, Ultimate Frisbee has had a home at Boca Raton Community Church, and to celebrate this long-standing association the club is holding the “Ultimate Frisbee: 10 Year Celebration” from 5 to 8:30 p.m. July 13 on the Blazer Athletic Field, 470 NW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton.

This family-friendly event features lawn games, refreshments, dinner (for purchase) and a Frisbee round-robin tournament for those who want to play. There’s plenty of seating for spectators. The event is free to attend, but please register at bocacommunity.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/868/responses/new

Shred-a-thon
Cason United Methodist Church hosts another Secure Shredding Event from 9 a.m. to noon July 20 at the church, 342 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Bring your old documents and let the Red Shredder team securely take care of them. $5 per bankers’ box size and $10 for a bag. Accepted items include paper checkbook statements, tax returns, bills, receipts and manila folders. No newspapers, X-rays, glass, magazines or food containers. Paper clips and staples are OK. Cash preferred; $25 minimum for credit cards. Call Tricia at 561-788-2822.

Workshop on dealing with fear

Dennis Merritt Jones, the award-winning author of seven books including The Art of Abundance — Ten Rules for a Prosperous Life, leads an experiential workshop at Unity of Delray Beach from 1:30 to 4 p.m. July 21.

The seminar is based on his latest book, released in May, When Fear Speaks, Listen: The 7 Messengers of Fear. Jones offers insights that come from his decades of research and writing, study and teaching. In this workshop he teaches mindfulness practices and principles that will help you listen to and learn from the seven messengers of fear: anger, worry, judgment, selfishness, shame, loneliness and uncertainty. 

The workshop is $25 if you register by July 14 or $30 at the door. Unity of Delray Beach is at 101 NW 22nd St. at Swinton Avenue. 561-276-5796 or www.unityofdelraybeach.org.

— Janis Fontaine

Celebrating Gulf Stream School’s 86th graduation, departing eighth-graders Grace Pellerin and Isabella Nazzaro perform ’The Climb’ in the Clough Chapel. 

With Head of School Gray Smith looking on, Patrick Donovan shakes the hand of his son, Nate, as he presents him with his diploma. Donovan is president of the school’s board of trustees.

Danielle Cooper poses with her newly graduated twins, Penton (left) and Maximus, by the old railroad bell following the ceremony. Danielle Cooper joined the Gulf Stream School faculty in 2006 and her sons were students there for 10 years.  Photos by Rachel O'Hara/The Coastal Star