The Royal Swedish Navy vessel welcomed aboard dozens of U.S. and Swedish dignitaries for an official visit attended by local business leaders who enjoyed a luncheon and a dinner with Honorary Consul of Sweden Per-Olof Loof. ABOVE: Albin Jacobsson, Kathy Dickenson, Jerker Schyllert, Asa Lena Loof and Jacob Eriksson. Photo provided by Janis Bucher

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County honored its best and brightest during an Academy Awards-style evening of performances staged by Andrew Kato, producing artistic director of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. A record-breaking number of tickets were sold, and the event raised nearly $200,000 to help fund arts-education programs for local students that their schools otherwise could not afford. ABOVE: Peg Greenspon, with Boca Museum of Art Interim Director Irvin Lippman and Norton Museum of Art CEO Hope Alswang. Photo provided by Jacek Photo

More than 750 members of the local community came out to celebrate the good things the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County does in the area — and to hear special guest speaker Mandy Patinkin. Patinkin, an actor and singer, talked about his Jewish journey amid anecdotes from his varied career. ABOVE: Bryan Drowos, Doug Horn and Gary Lesser and David Baer. Photo provided by Jeffrey Tholl Photography

More than 400 attended Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse’s Heart of a Woman Luncheon featuring keynote speaker and Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis and honoring Jan Savarick, president of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, as well as the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University and First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach. Proceeds from the seventh-annual event will benefit the crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing facility and outreach programs. ABOVE: Gloria Pierson, Dukakis, Barbara Schmidt and Carolyn Cunningham. Photo provided

The 10th-annual fundraiser for Women’s Circle raised more than $200,000 and featured dinner, dancing and a silent auction attended and enjoyed by 200-plus guests. Pastor Julien Harris, of Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, was one of the inspirational speakers. LEFT: Gay Vela and Phyllis Spinner, with event sponsor Peter Blum. Photo provided by Barbara McCormick

The Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation Guild has raised $1 million through its musical lunches during the last decade, and the 2014 series concluded with a presentation by guild President Dorothy Lappin to foundation board Chairman Simon Benson Offit of a check in that amount. ‘We never dreamed when we started the luncheons 10 years ago that we would be able to raise $1 million for these talented students, but with your help, we’ve done it, and we will keep going,’ Lappin said. ABOVE: Charla Bernstein, Barbara Cohen and Pearl Hazan. Photo provided by Lucien Capehart Photography

More than 50 guests attended a special luncheon in honor of the recently launched Gardens Conservancy. Gardens Conservancy Founding Chairwoman Frances Fisher served as hostess of the event that took place amid the rare palm trees and lush landscaping in the 1.7-acre sanctuary. Paul Milsom, director of horticulture for the gardens, was introduced for the first time after taking on the newly created position made possible by the conservancy. ABOVE: Gardens Conservancy member Sally Soter, with Jack Staub. Photo provided by Lucien Capehart Photography

Thomas and Barbara Murphy of Gulf Stream and Daniel Casey Shedrick of East Hampton, N.Y., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Holbrook Shedrick, to Peter John Polidoro, son of Roger J. and Gwynne Polidoro of Floyd, Va.
A late summer wedding is planned.
Hannah is a Gulf Stream School alum and a graduate of the University of Vermont with a master’s degree from American University. She teaches in Washington, D.C.
Dan Shedrick was the founder of Score Baseball and Pinnacle Sports Cards and is a New York City-based investor.
The prospective bridegroom is a graduate of Cornell University and received a master’s in Robotics Engineering from Stanford University. Peter is with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Photo provided

Members of the National Society of Arts & Letters’ Florida East Coast Chapter celebrated the Annual High Tea at the home of Jay and Marilyn Nelson. Chapter President Shari Upbin welcomed patrons and performers to enjoy artisan breads, fresh fruit, sandwiches and scones. A musical program followed. On Feb. 16, the chapter sponsored its Career Awards Competition for woodwinds-flute, clarinet and oboe. The competition took place at Lynn University in Boca Raton. Winners included Anna Maria Brumbaugh, John Hong, Jessica Esposito and Kelsey Page Maiorano. ABOVE: Cellist Doniyor Zuparov, pianist Feruza Dadabaeva, Alyce Erickson and Jon Robertson at the Annual High Tea. BELOW: Robin Johnson (seated), with Judi Asselta at the Annual High Tea. Photos provided by Lucien Capehart Photography

A little princess, Rosavita Gilken, 4. Photo provided

By Shelley Gilken

    The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum in Boynton Beach offers children a glimpse of South Florida history from a time when water was pumped into a basin and milk was delivered in a bottle. But on one upcoming Saturday, the museum is transforming into a party reminiscent of Central Florida attractions.
    We’re talking princesses and superheroes.
    The museum, which has hosted many princess and superheroes at private birthday parties, is hosting its first official Princess and Superhero Party on April 12.
    “We’re calling all superheroes and princesses to put on your capes and tiaras and come out and have fun,” said Suzanne Ross, development officer for the museum. ”The primary focus is to have fun.”
    The party is geared toward children ages 2 through 6, but older siblings are welcome, Ross said. In keeping with the current craze among the preschool set, she said the party will include a sing-along to Let It Go, the Oscar-winning song from the Disney movie Frozen. It is almost assured that little princesses and superheroes alike will be belting out the now-familiar refrain: “Let it go, let it go. Can’t hold it back anymore. Let it go, let it go.”
    An estimated 300 children are expected at the museum for the event. There will be photo opportunities with five princess guests and two superhero guests, as well as a DJ, activities and crafts.
    The party caps off a typical week full of activities at the museum. Classes continuing in April include A Story ’N More, Amazing Art, Alphabet Adventure and Discovering our World.
    “Pretty much every day there’s something going on,” Ross said.  The museum is a nonprofit based in a 1913 former schoolhouse. The museum is two floors and the exhibits are interactive. They are designed to teach children about aspects of South Florida’s history and culture such as the railway, agriculture and post office. The activity centers allow little ones to explore life in early 20th century for early settlers, which includes visiting a replica general store and doctor’s office. There is also a display on the legendary “Barefoot Mailman” dropping off mail from Lake Worth to Miami without wearing shoes.
    The most popular exhibits, Ross said, are the life-sized cow that produces “milk” in the form of white ping pong balls, as well as the full-size train car the children can sit in.
    “Between ‘milking the cow’ and the number of times we hear ‘All aboard’ tooting the train horn, we know the kids love those,” she said.
    And for the year-round princesses, there is always time for a tea party at the Boynton Hotel station.
    “There are a lot of great tea parties in Boynton Hotel,” Ross said. “For little people, it’s great fun.”
    She said that from her vantage point, she gets to see wonderful bonding moments as parents and other caregivers engage their child in a tea party.
    “It is joyful to watch dads and granddads having tea parties,” she said.
    Parties fit for a princess — or a superhero.

If you go
What: Princess and Superhero Party
Where: Schoolhouse Children’s Museum
129 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach
Date:  Sat., April 12
When: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $3 for members. For non-members, $5 at door or $4 in advance

Unofficial results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

Unofficial results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

Unofficial results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

Unofficial results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

Gulf Stream candidate Martin O'Boyle (2nd from left) reacts as a Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections official reads the unofficial tally of votes cast at Gulf Stream Town Hall.  O'Boyle was unsuccessful in his campaign, but gathered 122 votes according to the final election results.

Unofficial results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.

Unofficial Results from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections:

Gulf Stream Town Commission candidate Martin O’Boyle and the city of Delray Beach have reached at least a temporary agreement in his federal lawsuit over campaign signs.
 The city will stop removing O’Boyle’s signs as long as he puts them only “in any areas consistent with locations where other candidates (of any election) are permitted to place elections signs.”
 The “of any election” stipulation is significant because O’Boyle had charged the city with violating his First Amendment right to free speech by removing his signs because he was not a candidate in Delray Beach’s election.
 O’Boyle’s attorney, Ryan Witmer of Deerfield Beach, wrote in the lawsuit that the city was hurting his client’s candidacy by denying his constitutional right to political advertising and argued that it didn’t matter that he was running in Gulf Stream, not Delray Beach.
 U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks called off a Monday hearing on O’Boyle’s request for an emergency restraining order after lawyers from both sides worked out terms of the agreed order over the weekend.  The agreement also prohibits the city from “directing third parties to remove the signs” that O’Boyle puts up for the March 11 election.
 Middlebrooks is expected to sign the order Monday afternoon.

— Dan Moffett

Bicyclists head south on A1A in Highland Beach. Law enforcement agencies are on the lookout for cyclists riding in packs and motorists who do not give them clearance. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

    It is a war of words that has been going on for decades along State Road A1A as motorists and bicyclists struggle to co-exist on the narrow two-lane stretch of blacktop.
    Bicyclists complain that motorists don’t give them enough room and ignore the law that requires cars to be at least three feet away when passing a bike.
    Motorists pack town halls and call hotlines to complain about packs of bicyclists taking over the roadways and making it impossible to get by.
    Now, after more than a year and a half of brainstorming and studying the problem, a task force comprised of law enforcement officers and traffic safety advocates is about to launch an educational campaign that could result in drivers of vehicles with two or four wheels being pulled over.
    Within the next month or two, those driving cars or riding bicycles along A1A can expect to encounter groups of police officers from several agencies — some on motorcycles, some even on bicycles — who will be looking for people who aren’t following the laws designed to make roads safe for everyone — whether they’re walking, pedaling or driving.
    “The majority of bicyclists and motorists follow the rules of the road,” says Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann. “What we want to do is educate that small percentage who don’t or who may not be aware of the rules.”
    The safety initiative, which could include portable electronic signs along A1A touting the need to respect everyone’s right to the road, is being coordinated by the South Florida Safe Roads Task Force, which has been meeting for several months with the goal of reducing accidents and injuries.
    “The task force’s mission is to create an understanding and acceptance of the need to allow everyone to co-exist safely,” says Tara Kirschner, executive director of the Dori Slosberg Foundation, which works to make Florida roadways safer. “Through education, we hope to change the attitudes of motorists towards cyclists and cyclists toward motorists.”
    Along with the law enforcement-driven initiative, the task force is looking into other ways to make people using roads like A1A more aware of rules and the need to follow them for their own safety and for the safety of others.
    “Our whole aim is voluntary compliance from pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists,” says Highland Beach police Lt. Eric Lundberg, who helped get the task force started.
    Lundberg says that combining the efforts of law enforcement agencies will help send a message that all are united in the educational effort. Working together, he and others say, will also provide more consistent enforcement of laws.
    “We need to have a uniform presence,” says Ocean Ridge Police Chief Chris Yannuzzi.
    While the task force will focus on all violations, two priorities will be enforcement of laws that require bicycle riders to be no more than two abreast and that require motorists to give bicycles three feet of clearance.
    Yannuzzi, a serious bicyclist who sometimes goes for a ride down A1A on his lunch hour, says one major concern is with bicycle packs of 50 to 60 riders who sometimes take over a whole lane and have been known to even move into the opposite lane.
    “There are some rogue groups that just take over the road,” he said. “It’s no longer just a ride for them, it’s a race.”
In Boca Raton, where police officers do intermittent enforcement designed to improve safety for bicyclists and motorists, motorcycle officer Ross Bethard says the biggest complaint from motorists is about pack riding.  
    But he says most of the pack riders are following the law and those that don’t are reminded when he pulls up next to them.
    “As soon as they see me, they know what they have to do,” he said.
One of the problems for both bicyclists and motorists, according to Jim Smith, chairman and co-founder of SAFE (Safety As Floridians Envision), is the sheer volume on A1A.
    “There’s so many bicycles and so many cars in a confined area,” he said.
    Like those in law enforcement, Smith sees education and understanding as the solution to resolving conflicts between motorists and bicyclists.
    “This isn’t a No. 1 safety issue,” he said. “It’s a No. 1 getting-along-with-one-another issue.”

Bicycle Regulations

Florida has several laws designed to improve the safety of bicyclists.

For bicyclists:
• Bicycles must follow all traffic signals and control devices, including traffic lights, stop signs and laws governing pedestrian crosswalks.
• Bicyclists may not ride more than two abreast if traveling at less than the normal traffic speed.
• Bicycles traveling at less-than-normal speed must ride in bicycle lanes or as far right as practical.
• When being used at night, bicycles must be equipped with a white lamp on front and red reflectors and lights on rear. Those lights may flash.
• Use of headsets, headphones or other listening devices, other than a device with a cell phone that is in only one ear, is prohibited when bicycling on Florida roadways.
• Bicyclist must maintain control of the bicycle and proceed in a safe and prudent manner at all times.

For motorists:
• Under Florida law, a motorist overtaking a bicycle must pass the bicycle at a distance of not less than three feet.
• When overtaking a bicyclist, motorists can cross the double yellow line or solid line, as long as the opposite lane is free of oncoming traffic for a significant distance.

SOURCE: Highland Beach Police Department

Wendy and Ken Prunier, Samantha Kline and Delaney Cattano try out the new furniture on Delray’s municipal beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Tim Pallesen

    A year of controversy has ended with beachgoers raving about the comfort of new oak chaise lounges with 3-inch-thick cushions.
    “We’re the first cushion testers. These are the most amazing chairs we’ve ever sat in,” college student Samantha Kline said as Oceanside Beach Services unveiled its new furniture on Delray Beach’s municipal beach on Feb. 22.
    “The seat cushion is perfection,” beach regular Francine Mitzman agreed. “This is absolutely phenomenal.”
    The jubilation signals a happy ending to the hard-fought question of whether the city could get a better deal on a beach services contract with a vendor other than Oceanside, which has been providing cabanas, umbrellas and chairs at the city beach since 2002.
    A previous city manager had extended Oceanside’s contract without competitive bids in 2012. Mayor Cary Glickstein and Commissioner Shelly Petrolia made competitive bidding a campaign issue when they won the March 2013 city election.
    Glickstein, Petrolia and Commissioner Al Jacquet voted to seek bids for the beach contract last May. Only Oceanside submitted a bid, offering $300,000 a year for five years, compared to $170,000 that it paid before.
    Commissioners voted 3-2 in October to accept Oceanside’s bid, with Glickstein and Petrolia objecting.
    Petrolia was still fighting Oceanside at a Feb. 4 meeting, when the new beach furniture hadn’t arrived as promised. But it arrived Feb. 22 and everyone, including Petrolia, appeared happy.
    “I showed people I’m going to do what I say I’m going to do,” she said. “Hopefully it’s been worth the wait. It certainly was an initiative that brought value to the city.”
    “Shelly is right,” Oceanside owner Mike Novatka agreed. “The city got more money and nice new furniture for the beach.”
    The first 100 groupings of two oak chaises, table and umbrella are now in place. Another 150 groupings will arrive March 21.
    They rent for $40 a day or $500 annually, up from $30 a day or $400 annually for bulky old cabana setups that will be phased out in March.
    The comfortable cushions come as the mayor says the political controversy over the beach contract must end.
    “Everyone wants to move on,” Glickstein said at the Feb. 4 meeting. “I believe we need to get past this.”
    “Sometimes business gets mixed up with politics,” Novatka agreed. “I’m happy that I’m still here.”
    At the beach, the happiness is all about the new 3-inch cushions.
    “You want to be comfortable,” explained Mitzman, who sunbathes with her husband, David, for six hours every Saturday and Sunday. “You don’t want to get up at the end of your beach day and have to say your back hurts.”