Jan. 18, 2013: Viewers of this heated event will see teams of volunteers in the kitchen with pots, pans, forks and knives competing in cooking contests and table-setting designs to benefit Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum. A four-course dinner will be served with wine pairings. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. Tickets cost $175. Call 395-6766 or visit www.bocahistory.org. Photo: Iron Chef Competition Co-Chairwomen Kimberly Rosemurgy (left) and Allison Lane, with Executive Chef Andrew Roenbeck. Photo provided

10th Annual Trunk Show Committee
Front row:  Melissa deBaptiste, Dolly Steinman, Susan Mullin, Marg Williams
Middle row:  Bettina Young, Pat O’Grady, Doli Rodriguez, Lynn Wilkins, Kathie Walker, Sandra Powell, Jane Gleason, Muriel Losee. Back row: Jenny Mullin, Deb Wrazin, Nini Ijams, Kathy Fay, Bessie Vance, Mona Wolter. Not shown:  Cackie Austin, Metha Barton, Julie Hagnauer, Judy Hodge, Cody Jones, Marina Kaiser, John Lynch, Patsy Randolph, Boyd Schoeller, Kari Shipley, Barby Sloan, Jamie Snyder, Liza Vanneck, Nonie Wyckoff and Victoria Wood. Photo provided

By Lucy Lazarony
    
The annual Holiday Trunk Show, benefiting the Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys and Girls Club in Delray Beach, has become the place to shop for distinctive holiday gifts.
“It’s all about holiday giving, Christmas and Hanukkah and all that good stuff,” said Susan Mullin, a co-chairwoman of the committee that planned  this year’s trunk show.
The trunk show, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, features everything from jewelry, toys and clothing to housewares, linens and stationery.
The 40 vendors featured in the trunk show come from all over the country, said Kari Shipley, who served as a co-chairwoman for the organizing committee.
    “What we try to do is rotate one-third of the vendors every year so there are new vendors all the time,” Shipley said.
    The trunk show has gotten so popular among businesses that there’s a constant waiting list of vendors who want to get in, Shipley said.
The appeal of the trunk show for shoppers is the variety and quality of the goods.
“We have a lot of different things, and they aren’t things you can find in a mall,” Shipley said. “There are a lot of $20, affordable items.”
The 10th annual Holiday Trunk Show, which will take place at The Seagate Hotel and Spa, at 1000 E. Atlantic Ave. in Delray Beach, kicks off with a preview cocktail reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3. Tickets for the preview party are $85 per person and include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
The show is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5. Admission is free. The trunk show is sponsored by The Seagate Hotel and Spa and the law firm of Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart and Shipley.
All proceeds help support programming for more than 300 children who attend the Delray Beach Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys and  Girls Club.
For more information or to buy tickets, call Deb Wrazin, Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, at 683-3287 or visit www.bgcpbc.org.     

If you go
The 10th annual Holiday Trunk Show, benefiting the Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys and Girls Club in Delray Beach
Where: The Seagate Hotel and Spa, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.
When: 6 to 8 pm Dec. 3 for preview cocktail reception;
9 am to 5 pm Dec. 4 and 5 for trunk show
Tickets: For reception tickets,  call Deb Wrazin, Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, at 683-3287 or visit www.bgcpbc.org.

Courtney del Filen (No. 120) loses the first of both shoes during the Delray Beach Stiletto Race, held Nov. 16 on Southeast Fourth Avenue.  The race, presented by Vince Canning Shoes and Achievement Centers for Children & Families, raised more than $5,000 to benefit programs of the Achievement Centers. 42 runners participated. 

Photo slideshow

Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

Everybody’s clucking over the haute henhouse in the Neiman Marcus Holiday Book. One of the top luxe items listed this year in the retailer’s annual holiday catalog is a custom-designed chicken coop.
    For a mere $100,000, you can become a dandy chicken farmer — providing you can buy off the zoning folks in your neck of the woods.
    The coop will be designed and installed by Svetlana Simon, a Boynton Beach farmer who sells fresh eggs, honey, goats’ milk and yogurt at the Delray Beach Green Market each Saturday. The eggs are plucked from the nests of Cooco Marans and Chilean Araucaua hens she keeps at her Heritage Hen Farm.
    The catalog’s fantasy fowl palace is multilevel and includes a “living room” chandelier, a broody room for the pampered hens, and protected bedchambers — er, nests. It may be the most over-the-top roost anywhere.
    Simon also will plant raised beds for herbs or vegetables around the hen manse. And the chickens — three to 10 — will be chosen to thrive in the specific environment.
    If you’re not into getting up with the chickens, the Holiday Book also lists a special edition red McLaren 12C Spider. It’ll set you back a cool $354,000. Hardly chicken feed.
                                              ***
    Get a jump on all those sugarplums dancing around in your head at the second annual Bake for the Rescues at the Sundy House Dec. 3, 6-8:30 p.m.
    Twenty celebrity bakers will bring their best baked goods to compete for the grand prize and help Dezzy’s Second Chance Rescues in the process.
    Along with samples of desserts and pastries, chefs from the Sundy House will provide food stations and hors d’oeuvres. Dog bones will be handed out as well for four-legged friends. A silent auction and raffle, along with giveaways, are part of the activities.
    For tickets or info, call (954) 588-7045 or go to www.dezzyssecondchance.com.
                                              ***
    A box of macaroni and cheese or a can of soup can get you off the hook for library fines in Delray Beach this month. The unique Food for Fines program returns to the Delray Beach Public Library (100 W. Atlantic Ave.) offering those who’ve kept The Da Vinci Code a few years past the due date to come clean by bringing a nonperishable food donation along with any overdue item.
    One-for-one is the deal — one box or can of food for every returned late item, and your slate is wiped clean. Without food, you must then pay fines on any late returns.
    The program is good for Dec. 3 to 23 only — so bag up your foods and dig out those late books, CDs, movies or games and see the clerks at the circulation desk to be credited.
    Food donations are welcome without late books, too — just drop off nonperishables at the circulation desk.
                                              ***
    Coming soon to a theater near you: Frank McKinney as … Jesus. The self-described “real-estate artist,” author and “philanthro-capitalist” was tapped to play “The Man” in the upcoming indie release, Infidel.
    The faith-based movie is listed as a “psycho-spiritual thriller,” with McKinney portraying a modern-day Jesus.
    Written and directed by George Monteiro, the film was pitched to McKinney as an audition by way of a Facebook message. He writes that he was seconds away from sending his “no” answer when the theme of one of his own motivational books “tapped” him to at least read the script.
    The story of a gunman who bursts into a church and challenges a congregation to renounce their faith or die moved him, he says in a blog post.
    It’s been years since he’s acted — he had bit parts in Miami Vice and a Chuck Norris film while in his 20s.
    On his blog, he tells of being nervous about auditioning against pro actors, yet he “nailed” the role, according to the director.
    The short film will debut with a red carpet premiere in 2013 — McKinney’s website frank-mckinney.com will have details.
                                              ***
    Longtime restaurateur Dennis Max (Max’s Grill, Max’s Harvest) and his partners go south of the border with his new restaurant, The Mexican, in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Place.
    Growing up on the Pacific coast where Mexican street food was common gave Max the basis for the menu at the “cocina and tequila bar” he has long been planning. Through his spokeswoman, he said, “Mexican food is dear to me, having grown up in Southern California during the 1950s and ’60s. Border town cuisine is part of California’s fabric, much in the way that Italian food is part of New York’s culture.”
    Max’s new approach to restaurant fare, using sustainable, locally sourced food, is touted on the menu.
    Dishes include a ceviche del dia, sopa de tortilla, a variety of tacos including crispy pork belly, shrimp al pastor, carne asada, and beef and pork meatballs. Fajitas and enchiladas also are on the menu, along with rotisserie chicken and Rancheras — short ribs. Other small plates, salads and desserts round out the list. A wide tequila selection is on the bar menu.
    Indoor and outdoor seating is available at the 4,000-square-foot restaurant, open for lunch and dinner.
                                              ***
    Afraid to party in public on New Year’s Eve because of the drive home? The Boca Raton Resort & Club is planning a Countdown New Year’s Eve Poolside Bash, and for the price of the party — which includes a DJ at the Tower Pool, open bar and hors d’oeuvres, dinner buffet, party favors and the Champagne toast — guests get a deluxe room and a late New Year’s Day checkout.
    Separate parties for kids under 12 and for teens (they get dinner and a two-hour catamaran cruise) are planned.
    The one-night-only party package is $499 for two. More info and reservations at www.bocaresort.com.
                                               ***
    No Santas are allowed to march in the Delray Holiday Parade set for Dec. 8 along East Atlantic Avenue. That’s because the Fire Department has the jolly old elf covered — he’ll arrive at the end in ’80s pop style. Put on your Prince costume and wave them on.
              ***                                
    The Arts Garage in Delray Beach is planning festive groups this month, focusing on jazz and blues. The Chassidic Jazz Project performs Dec. 8 in a Hanukkah celebration. Susan Behar, Ian Maskin and Jose Luis present a night of world music, with a touch of classical, flamenco and Latin rhythms. Mac Arnold, crony of B.B. King, James Brown and Otis Redding, among others, plays the blues guitar Dec. 15. Antonio Madruga, an award-winning 18-year-old jazz pianist, performs Dec. 22. Dec. 29 wraps up the Garage jazz performances with the Dr. Lonnie Smith CD Release Party. The keyboardist has been named organ keyboardist of the year five times by the Jazz Journalist Association. His new album, The Healer, debuts here. Tickets and information on the Arts Garage at www.artsgarage.org.

                                              Food Trucks, Manalapan

Janie Ely (left) Fiona Altearn and Eva Schuckman share a couple of orders of BFF Fries during the Gourmet Food Truck Expo at Plaza del Mar. The girls were on break from a class they are taking at the Plaza Theatre’s conservatory. More than a dozen gourmet food trucks prepared a variety of cuisine. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

    The Delray Beach Garlic Festival organizers have announced the headliners for the 14th annual “stinkiest” fest, slated for Feb. 8-10, 2013, in downtown Delray Beach.
    National acts include Lifehouse, performing Feb. 8, and Pepper, playing Feb. 9. They’ll join local and regional bands including the Killbillies, the Fabulous Fleetwoods, Andy Childs, the Jay Blues Band, Captain Reese with Son of Man, Turnstiles and The Long Run.
    The festival includes a Garlic Chef Stadium, which will feature a garlic cook-off among local chefs, craft and food vendors and beer and wine.
    For tickets and information, go to the website, dbgarlicfest.com.
                                               ***
    The Sunshine Blues Festival is taking over Boca’s Mizner Park Amphitheater Jan. 19, with the Tedeschi Trucks Band (Derek Trucks  and his Grammy-nominated wife, Susan Tedeschi) as one of the headliners.
    Dr. John, one of New Orleans’ star piano players, and slide-guitar legend Sonny Landreth also are scheduled.
    Others on the bill are Walter Trout, formerly with the Bluesbreakers, Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe and his Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Brit blues strummer Matt Schofield, The Wood Brothers, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Joe Louis Walker, Bobby Lee Rodgers and Sean Chambers.
    Tickets are $49.50; order at livenation.com or call (800) 745-3000.
                                               ***
    Political debates are over, but diplomacy isn’t at Florida Atlantic University. The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team will end its Tribute Tour at FAU Stadium Dec. 15, facing off against China’s team.
    The U.S. women won with a 6-0-0 record at this year’s London Olympics, bringing home their third straight gold medal and fourth in the sport.
    Expect to watch stars Abby Wambach and Hope Solo take on China as the teams meet for their 49th playoff.
    Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or ussoccer.com.
                                               ***
    In other sports news, the 23rd annual Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised $600,000 for Evert’s charities — all youth- and child-focused.  The tournament draws thousands to the Delray Tennis Center each October.
                                      

Seafood Festival, Delray Beach         The crowd eagerly awaits fried seafood from Bayou Boyz during the Delray Beach Seafood Festival. The Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted its First Annual Delray Beach Seafood Festival on Nov. 10 and 11 on East Atlantic Avenue. Participating Delray Beach restaurants included Caffe Luna Rosa, 50 Ocean, Boston’s on the Beach, Candyfish Gourmet Sushi, Sundy House and La Cigale. A variety of traveling vendors also participated. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

You can step up to the plates at Caffe Luna Rosa with a little lighter step, thanks to new menu items they’re cooking up.
A first for one of the oldest Delray restaurants, the healthy additions include vegan, vegetarian and Weight Watchers-inspired dishes, along with low-cal cocktails.
“The older generation is now eating healthier. I had to lose weight, and after going on Weight Watchers, I realized I couldn’t eat in my own restaurant,” managing owner Fran Marincola said.
His wife is a vegetarian, and her choices also were limited.
The foods used in the restaurant are in many cases organic, but all are free of hormones. Vegan choices include the Luna Rosa Seven Vegetable Burger served in a cucumber wrap, or vegetarian pizza and omelets for breakfast.
Marincola says the regular menu is still in place for those who want their favorites. And the chef is still baking his fall pumpkin bread loaves — you can buy a slice or a loaf through early January.
The restaurant also has been refurbished and freshened up cosmetically. A newly painted façade, new bistro chairs, a mahogany ceiling and a new awning dresses up the building’s entrance.
Also new is Caffe Luna Rosa’s Rewards Program — diners earn a point for every dollar spent before tax and tip, and can redeem them for dining certificates.
                                               ***
    Mozart Café, a kosher-dairy Israeli restaurant with three other locations in South Florida, recently opened in the Fountains Center in Boca Raton. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant serves no meats and focuses on healthful Mediterranean dishes, such as fish, sushi, salads, pizza and more.
    Seating is at the bar and tables indoors, and in the courtyard, decorated with water elements.
    In a unique program, once a month children with special needs will serve as greeters, kitchen workers and servers. Proceeds from the monthly event benefit Friendship Circle, an organization that helps families with children who have special needs.
                                               ***
    Culinary stars are aligning in Palm Beach for the newly expanded Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival, Dec. 7-11.
    New this year are daytime events and expanded collaboration with Food Network personalities. Also new is the charity component — Chefs Dish Back, which will support the participating chefs’ charities of choice; 100 percent of the net profits will go to the charities.
Events include a golf tournament with a food truck contest at The Breakers golf course, a burger bash beachside at the Four Seasons, a pig roast at Pistache in West Palm Beach, a sustainable seafood dinner at PB Catch Seafood & Raw Bar, a wine and champagne food pairing at Virginia Philips Wine Academy in West Palm Beach, a collaborative chef’s dinner at Buccan, and the Grand Tasting with the Chef’s Throwdown at 150 Worth.
    The tribute dinner Saturday night at The Breakers honors Sirio Maccione, of New York’s famed Le Cirque. Chefs cooking include Daniel Boulud, Jacques Torres, David Burke and Marc Murphy, working with The Breakers chef Jeff Simms and sommelier Virginia Philip to prepare the multicourse meal.
    Tickets and information are at www.pbfoodwinefest.com.

Jan Norris writes about food and South Florida news on her blog, jannorris.com. Email her at jan@jannorris.com.
Thom Smith is on assignment working for FEMA in the Northeast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  He will return to his Around Town column in the coming months.

Pay it Forward is a calendar designed to celebrate the many philanthropic events in the community from October through April each year. Events in this listing are current as of 11/25. Please check with organizers for any changes.

DECEMBER 1

Saturday - 12/1 - Hair Saving Event in Support of Cancer Patients at Lifestyles of Lynne in Royal Palm Place, 284 Esplanade, #52B, Boca Raton. Volunteers will shave their heads to show support for those with cancer. 10 am-1 pm. Donations benefit St. Baldrick’s Foundation. 347-2933 or www.royalpalmplace.com.
12/1 - Christmas Designer Showcase House at Cason Cottage Museum, 5 NE First St., Delray Beach. The Delray Beach Historical Society’s special preview of the Christmas Designer Showcase House will help support society projects, including education programs for elementary-school students. 6:30 pm. $75. Following the preview, the house will be open to the public through 1/1. 274-9578 or www.delraybeachhistory.org.
12/1 - “Lady in Red” Gala at The Mar-a-Lago Club, 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Tonight Show host Jay Leno and Sultans of Swing headline a fundraiser for Leaders in Furthering Education.
6 pm. $700. 865-0955 or www.life-edu.org.

DECEMBER 2-8

Monday - 12/3 - Bake for the Rescues at Sundy House, 106 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Join 20 celebrity bakers and help raise money for Dezzy’s Second Chance Animal Rescue. 6-8:30 pm. $25-$30.
954-588-7045 or www.dezzyssecondchance.com.
12/3 - Holiday Trunk Show Preview Cocktail Reception at The Seagate Hotel & Spa, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Support the Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys & Girls Club and the more than 300 children it serves by getting a sneak peak of items offered at the Holiday Trunk Show. 6-8 pm. $85. 683-3287 or www.bgcpbc.org.
Tuesday-Wednesday - 12/4-5 - Holiday Trunk Show at The Seagate Hotel & Spa, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. More than 30 vendors will offer everything from jewelry and accessories to Christmas ornaments and holiday décor. Funds from sales will benefit Naoma Donnelley Haggin Boys & Girls Club. 9 am-5 pm. Free. 683-3287 or www.bgcpbc.org.
12/5 - Mental Health Association Annual Meeting and Silent Auction at Cha Cha’s, 150 Worth Ave. #235, Palm Beach. Partake in fresh tapas and fruity sangria to raise money for association programs. 5-7 pm. $40. 832-3755 or www.mhapbc.org.
Thursday - 12/6 - Sandler Family Major Gifts Event at St. Andrews Country Club, 17557 W. Claridge Oval, Boca Raton. Listen to presentations by a CBS News correspondent and an Israeli intelligence expert while lauding Harvey and Phyllis Sandler for being the largest donors in the history of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Annual Campaign. 6 pm. $125. 852-3333 or www.jewishboca.org.
Friday - 12/7 - 4th Annual Sea Coast Toast at Rooftop Terrace at the Spanish River Library, 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton. Support Gumbo Limbo Nature Center with an evening under the stars featuring hors d’oeuvres, drinks, tropical music and auctions. 6-9 pm. $55. 544-8605.
Saturday - 12/8 - River of Grass Gala at The Colony, 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach. Support the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation for the Everglades by attending a “green-tie” affair. 6:30 pm. $350. 233-9004.
12/8 - 12th Annual Caridad Center “Wrapping up Your Holiday Wishes” Gala at Four Seasons Resort, 2800 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. An evening of auctioning, dining and dancing will honor four dentists for their 20 years of volunteer efforts at Caridad Center. 7 pm. $250. 582-2800.

DECEMBER 9-15

Sunday - 12/9 - Sip & Shop at Evelyn & Arthur, 277 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Guests are invited to the newly redesigned store to peruse winter merchandise, luxurious sweaters, stylish accessories and other couture. Proceeds from sales benefit Palm Beach Habilitation Center. Noon-5 pm. Free. 572-0900 or
www.evelynandarthur.com.
Thursday - 12/13 - Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service Annual Gala and Auction at St. Andrews Country Club, 17557 W. Claridge Oval, Boca Raton. Take a glamorous journey to the classic elegance of Hollywood Ruth and recognize the recipients of the Ruth and Norman Rales Humanitarian of the Year Award. $500. 6:30 pm. 852-5013 or www.ruthralesjfs.org/gala2012.
Friday - 12/14 - Jingle Bell Ball at The Breakers, 1 South County Road, Palm Beach. Participate in a festive evening of dinner and dancing to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. 7 pm. $600. 683-3287 or www.bgcpbc.org.

DECEMBER 16-22

Thursday - 12/20 - National League of American Pen Women Luncheon and Discussion at Delray Beach Golf Club, 2200 Highland Ave. John Cutrone, director of the Jaffee Center for the Book at Florida Atlantic University, will serve as guest speaker for the benefit supporting college woman in the arts. Noon. $25. 865-9756 or
www.bocapenwomen.org.

DECEMBER 23-29

Saturday - 12/29 - Red Cross Beach Bash at The Beach Club, 755 North County Road, Palm Beach.  The next generation of philanthropic leaders will gather to benefit the American Red Cross. 8 pm-midnight. $150-200.  650-9133.

JANUARY

Friday - 1/4 - Hospice Evening at The Breakers, 1 South County Road, Palm Beach. Take in a champagne reception and fashion show by Carolina Herrera, followed by a black-tie dinner, to benefit Hospice of Palm Beach County. 7 pm. $450-$750. 832-8585 or www.hpbcf.org.
Saturday - 1/5 - Your Medical School Gala at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, 2425 Maya Palm Drive W., Boca Raton. A black-tie-optional reception, auction, dinner and dance will benefit “Compassionate Care Through Education” Medical Scholarship Campaign at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. $295. 6:30 pm. 699-7198.  http://med.fau.edu.
Wednesday - 1/9 - Bell Society Dinner at The Colony, 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach. Enjoy a black-tie event to benefit Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County. 7 pm. $500. 832-2755.
Friday - 1/11 - Caron and Hanley Treatment Centers Gala 2013 at The Breakers, 1 South County Road, Palm Beach. Ring in the beginning of a new year and stay through the night for the Young Friends After Party. 7 pm. gala; 10 p.m. after party. $500-$1,000. 841-1048 or www.hanleycenter.org.
Friday - 1/18 - Iron Chef Competition at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. Teams compete to benefit Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum. 6:30 pm. $175. 395-6766 or www.bocahistory.org.
Saturday - 1/19 - OPAL Award Gala at Boca Pointe Country Club, 7144 Boca Pointe Dr., Boca Raton. Honor five nominees for their tireless dedication to the Boca Raton community. 6:30 pm. $250. 477-7180 or www.rotaryclubbocaraton.com.
Monday - 1/21 - Kravis Center Annual Gala at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Experience a performance by Pink Martini with a pre-performance, black-tie reception. 6 pm. $375-$750. 832-7469 or www.kravis.org.
Wednesday - 1/23 - Amerian Red Cross Designers’ Show House Preview Party at 123 Santa Lucia Drive, West Palm Beach. Philanthropists, socialites and those with an interest in the design world will gather for an evening celebration. 6-
9 pm. $200. 248-2700.
Thursday - 1/24 - Fine Wines & Hidden Treasures Gala at The Mar-a-Lago Club, 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. A four-course gourmet dinner with wine pairing and silent auctions benefits Food for the Poor. 7:30 pm. $450. 888-404-4248 or
www.foodforthepoor.org.
Monday - 1/28 - 20th Anniversary Luncheon of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton. The celebration will include a keynote speaker, a reception, lunch and a presentation. 11:30 am-1:30 pm. $125. 995-6773 or www.ushmm.org.
1/28 - Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper “Time is of the Essence” Luncheon at Flagler Museum Pavilion,  1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach.  Speakers will be Dr. Robert Bast and Dr. Judith Reichman. 11:30 am. $325. 837-2285 or www.ovariancancerpbc.org.
Thursday - 1/31 - Palm Beach Wine Auction at The Mar-a-Lago Club,  1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Enjoy an elegant evening featuring a five-course wine dinner to benefit Kravis Center. 6 pm. $1,000. 651-4320 or www.palmbeachwineauction.org.

                  To submit your event, contact Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net.

Dec. 10: Delray Beach Library Association members are invited to attend the meeting, election and lecture at 5:30 pm at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W. Atlantic Ave. The meeting is free. Call 266-9490 or visit www.delraylibrary.org. Photo: (front row, from left) Nancy Dockerty, Lori Julian Murphy, Becky Walsh, Eula Broadnax, Dan Murtaugh, Sarah Flynn, (back row, from left) Michael Listick, Library Director Alan Kornblau, Library Board President John Burke, Heidi Sargeant, Wilbur Chaney and Bob Currie. Photo provided

Jan. 12, 2013: Guests at the 51st Annual Boca Raton Regional Hospital Ball will pay tribute to Elaine Wold and celebrate the transformation of the Emergency Department into the Wold Family Center for Emergency Medicine at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. They also will honor a team of outstanding physicians. The event begins at 7 pm at the resort, 501 E. Camino Real. Tickets cost $400. Call 955-4142 or visit www.brrh.com. Photo: Ball committee members include (front row, from left) Charlotte Robinson, Barbara Cohen, Debbie Leising, Joan Wargo, Holli Rockwell, Gail Wasserman, Kris Gregg, (back row, from left) Robin Rubin, Amy Kazma, Barbara Gutin, Jeannette Markus, Jane Ciraulo, Jan Savarick, Patty Soltis, Denese Brito, Kathy Adkins, Jo Ann Procacci, Shelly Himmelrich and Laura Stoltz.  Photo provided

Dec. 6: Join the Food for the Poor Building Hope Gala committee for champagne and hors d’oeuvres from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. A portion of proceeds benefit home-building efforts in Jamaica. Request an invitation by calling (888) 404-4248 or visiting www.foodforthepoor.org. Photo: Committee members (from left)  Allison Venditti,  Rene Mahfood, Michele Greene,  Julie Mahfood, Tashia Rahl, Kelly Brauner, Traci Wilson,  Ronda Ellis Ged, Becky Carlsson, Ronda Gluck and Patricia Wallace. Photo provided

With the help of more than 400 professional and medical volunteers, the Caridad Center provides comprehensive health and dental services to the uninsured, working poor families of Palm Beach County.

During its annual ‘Wrapping up Your Holiday Wishes’ gala Dec. 8, the Caridad Center will honor four dentists for 20 years of volunteer care. The Constance Berry 2012 Award recipients are: Dr. Fred Alfele, Dr. Paul Archacki, Dr. Frank Boyar and Dr. Phillip Crawford.

LEFT: Armida Salazar teaches a full waiting room about proper dental hygiene and the correct way to brush your teeth at the Caridad Center West of Boynton Beach.

Photos by Libby Volgyes/The Coastal Star

ABOVE: Dr. Paul Archacki looks at X-rays with Carlos Rivera of Boynton Beach after an extraction. Rivera has four more extractions to be done in future visits.

LEFT: Archacki comforts a nervous patient before extracting a tooth.

 LEFT: A freshly pulled tooth. 

Members of the Caridad Center 2012 Gala Committee meet to plan “Wrapping Up your Holiday Wishes,” featuring an evening of auctions presented by Neil Saffer, gourmet food and drink and dancing.
Photo: Committee members (front row from left) Shannon Powers, Luis Torres, Sonia Torres; (back row, from left) Mimi Haley Meister, Janelle Sloan, Valerie Coz, Julie Cudmore, Sugar McCauley and Ryan Morris.
Photo provided

IF YOU GO
The Caridad Center Gala 2012, “Wrapping Up Your Holiday Wishes,” will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, 2800 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Tickets are $250.
For more information, contact Mimi Haley Meister, mimihaley@aol.com, or call 213-2942.

The largest crowd ever — close to 200 — attended the Boynton Woman’s Club’s Fashion Show and Luncheon. Nine club-members-turned-models showed off a selection of designer clothes and accessories from Second Time Around, a Delray Beach consignment boutique. The fashion show raised $1,000 in scholarship money for Crossroads, a program for women who want to return to the workforce.
Photo: Organizers and models (first row, from left) President Kay Baker, Terry Markey, Jan Davis, of Second Time Around Boutique, Chairwoman Pat Waldron, model coordinator  Barbara Grimes, (second row, from left) Susan Thein, Barbara Wineberg, Yuko Hoshi, Pat Englert, (top row, from left) Carolyn Schoch, Nancy Conley, Ellen Morgan and Lillian Floyd.  
Photo provided    

Volunteers Louise Glover, Maria Ellingsworth and Sue Goodreds staff the table at the Delray Beach Public Library’s first Bargains & Books event. Eager shoppers browsed through antiques, boutique merchandise, novelties, crafts and books — all set up in vendor tents throughout the parking lot. The event raised more than $2,000 for the library. Photo provided 

Kirsten Stanley, Lisa Mulhall and Carrie Delafield show their support for Impact 100 Palm Beach County during ‘The Power of Women Giving as One’ event at Delafield’s local boutique. Ten new members joined the cause, pledging $1,000 each, for a total of $10,000. Impact 100 Palm Beach County seeks to advance philanthropy and community giving in South County through a network of volunteer-driven, action-oriented women. Photo provided   

Family and friends of Michael J. Metcalf honor him with a granite bench on Veterans Day during a memorial service at Veterans Memorial Park in Boynton Beach. Metcalf, an Army private first class, died in April trying to save four other soldiers while in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed when his Hummer hit a roadside bomb.
Photos by Tim Stepien / The Coastal Star

A monument to honor those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan is dedicated during services at Veterans Memorial Park in Boynton Beach.

Jeanette Markus and Doug DeOrchis recall their first meeting warmly; now, they’re a couple. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Anne Rodgers
    
When Doug DeOrchis moved to Florida from Rhode Island four years ago, one of the first calls he made was to a girl named Jeannette whom he’d been sweet on almost three decades ago in college.
Little did he know that the separate paths they’d traveled were about to converge in a way that would lead to wedding vows on Dec. 1.
They met in Washington, D.C., on the Georgetown University bus: Doug, a self-described medical school geek, had no hope that the beautiful blond girl in the fourth row would even talk to him.
But she did.
She even shared her phone number when Doug said he was looking for someone to take to med school dances.
“I can’t have a girlfriend,” Doug told her, conscious of both his lack of money and a commitment to his studies.
But Jeannette, a finance student on full academic scholarship at American University with two part-time jobs, was stretched thin as well. Besides, she had a boyfriend back home in Delray Beach.
“As long as you don’t need a girlfriend, we’ll be good,” she answered.
When he called a month later and identified himself as “Doug from the bus,” he wondered whether she’d remember him.
Jeannette didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, it must be time to dance,” she said. “What time should I be ready, and what would you like me to wear?”
Doug recalls their first evening together with pride.
“I probably showed up in a blue seersucker suit, but she had on this knockout black outfit she’d made herself. It was more than nice-fitting. All my friends were whispering ‘Where did you meet this girl?’ ”
Jeannette, now 53, has fond memories of the night as well.
“What I remember was Doug dancing me around and around, and all I could do was look at him and see his wonderful smile. He was the only one I saw at those dances.”
Though they became quite fond of each other, college just wasn’t their time or place.
“Family expectations were very daunting back then,” explains Doug, now 56. “My family was not wild about any idea except me going back home to New England after college. We were following the paths of education our families had laid out for us long before.”
Yes, there was a moonlight kiss, one night in his parents’ back yard overlooking the Long Island Sound.
But soon Jeannette Pastore went home to Florida and married her boyfriend, while Doug embarked on a medical career that took him to Hartford, Conn., and then Brown University in Providence, R.I., where he founded Miriam Hospital’s stroke center. He married and had three children, while Jeannette had one daughter.
In 2008, shortly after a divorce, Doug joined the Boca Radiology Group and became director of the Stroke Center at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
While staying at the Marriott in Delray Beach during the time he was searching for a place to live, Doug opened his laptop to Google Jeannette, having no idea whether she even still lived in Florida.
“The last I knew, she was married and had small baby girl. I was so jealous of her fiancé back then that I remembered his name all that time later. His name — Markus — popped into my head; I used it and sure enough, Jeannette’s picture with Morgan Stanley pops up.
“When Doug called me up,” Jeannette fills in, “I had been divorced for seven years. I had dated sporadically, but I said to myself, ‘I am prepared to be alone for the rest of my life unless I meet someone very special and it’s spectacular. Otherwise I will not settle.’ ”
She recognized Doug’s voice right away. They determined that it had been 28 years to the month since their last contact, and then — amazingly — they discovered that they were only 12 blocks apart.
They agreed to meet for dinner on Atlantic Avenue, and when she spotted Doug through the evening throng, it was a magical moment.
“We hugged, and he lifted me up and spun me around in the air like a helicopter,” Jeannette gushes. “He gave me a big kiss and said, ‘You are still the woman of my dreams.’ Internally, I swooned. It was so wonderful.”
Their belated romance unfurled slowly and naturally; over the next three years they talked of marriage, but Doug didn’t officially propose until he was a patient awaiting heart surgery last Dec. 21.
Suddenly, he wanted things permanent.
Just one day earlier, he had been writing Christmas cards when he experienced chest pain.
Though he’d exercised, eaten sensibly and had no family history of heart problems, Doug’s expertise told him to play it safe and head for the hospital. Within a day, he had proof of 85 percent blockage on the left coronary artery and 65 percent on the right.
“I knew it couldn’t be stented,” he says. “I told my doctor, ‘I need open-heart surgery, like, right now.’ ”
His doctor agreed.
So when Jeannette and Doug were alone together just before surgery, Doug asked his sweetheart to marry him … if he made it through.
And this time, all the couple’s romantic dreams came true. Their wedding ceremony for 130 guests is planned for Dec. 1 at the Sundy House.
“I don’t take anything for granted,” Doug vows today, the picture of restored health. “We feel we’ve been given a second chance, almost a third chance.”
Jeannette agrees: “We attribute this amazing reunion to God. It’s all just too coincidental and extraordinary; we think it can only be God’s
plan.”                                         

Note: Events are current as of 11/23. Please check with organizers for any changes.

December 1

Saturday - 12/1 - Briny Breezes Christmas Bazaar is held at the Hobby Club behind Gulfstream Texaco on A1A. 8:30 am - noon. Free. 278-6738.
12/1 - Christmas Bazaar at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach continues at the Christmas House, 16 Bronson St. (on church campus) on Tuesdays and Saturdays through 12/22. 10 am-3 pm. Free. 392-2697.
12/1 - Holiday Appetizers at Whole Foods, 1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Learn how to whip up creative bites for any gathering or party. 1-2 pm. $5. 447-0000.
12/1 - Voices of the Season: Annual Holiday Concert by the Delray Beach Chorale at First Presbyterian Church, 33 Gleason St. Featuring Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and traditional songs of the holiday season. 3 pm. Reception follows. $20, $5/students. 800-984-7272.
12/1 - Holly-Days Lake Worth is held at the Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth (Corner of Lake Avenue and M Street.) Bounce house, pictures with Santa, stage performances and tree lighting. 6-9 pm. Free. 533-7363.
12/1 - Boynton Beach Holiday Extravaganza and Annual Holiday Parade is hosted by the Boynton Beach CRA at the Ocean Avenue Amphitheatre, East Ocean Avenue between Seacrest Boulevard and Northeast First Street.  Events include: 5 pm Parade - North on Federal Highway. From Southeast Twelfth Street to Ocean Avenue; 6:30 pm Tree Lighting Ceremony on Ocean Avenue between Seacrest Boulevard & Southeast First Street and 7 pm free concert by The Contours on Ocean Avenue between Seacrest Boulevard & Southeast First Street. Food and beverages available, no pets allowed.  Free. 742-6246.
12/1 - Concert: Voices of Pride: Hollydaze at the ArtsGarage, 180 NE 1st St., Delray Beach. Tickets: $35-$45/advance, $40-$50/at the door. 8 pm. 243-7129.
12/1-2 - Bowfire: Holiday Heart Strings at The Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. An all new sounds-of-the-season extravaganza featuring some of the world’s greatest fiddlers and violinists. All time holiday favorites, with added singing and step dancing. Sat.: 8 pm; Sat.&Sun.: 2 pm. $42. 243-7922, Ext. 1.

December 2-8

Sunday - 12/2 - Holiday Family Festival at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Enjoy an array of family-friendly performances and activities, while embracing holiday traditions of different cultures. 1-5 pm. $12/adults, $5/ages 13-21, free/members and children under 13. 832-5196.
12/2 - Holiday Concert  is presented as part of the ARTful Adventure Sunday series at The Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real. Family program features art workshops and live performances by actors, musicians or dancers. 2-3 pm. Free with paid museum admission. 392-2500.
12/2 - Special Christmas Lecture: Season’s Greetings From the White House by Mary Seeley at the Flagler Museum, One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. As a collector and historian, Mary Seeley has captured the Christmas traditions of nearly every first family since the start of the Gilded Age. $10/members, $28/non-members - includes museum admission and all Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities, which follow at 3 pm. 2-3 pm. 655-2833.
12/2 - Joyful Melodies: Celebrating Hanukkah with Klezmer Company Sextet at FAU’s Boca Raton campus, Wimberly Library, 777 Glades, Road. Maestro Aaron Kula and the Klezmer Company Sextet  perform a special holiday concert of Klezmer music and Hanukkah melodies. Potato Latkes and Hanukkah cookies will be served during a light reception. Sponsored by the Jewish Cultural Society at FAU. 3-4:30 pm. $20/members, $30/member couples, $25/non-members. 297-3921.
12/2 - Christmas Tree Lighting at the Flagler Museum, One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. Festivities include holiday music played on Whitehall’s original pipe organ and the 1902 Steinway piano. Special choir performances, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus. The event culminates at 4:55 pm with lighting the Grand Hall Christmas Tree. Organ and piano performances begin at: 3:30, 3:50 and 4:10 pm. Choral performance in the Courtyard begins at 4:30 pm. Free with admission: $18/adults, $10/ages 13-18, $3/ages 6-12, free for children under age 6. 3-5 pm. 655-2833 or www.flaglermuseum.us.
12/2 - Handel’s Messiah at FAU’s Boca Raton campus, University Theatre, 777 Glades Road. Annual presentation featuring FAU students past and present. 7 pm. $10. 297-3853 or www.fau.edu/music.
Tuesday - 12/4 - Holiday Runway Show is held in the courtyard of Plaza del Mar, 230 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Showcasing the latest fashions for holiday parties from local shops. Live entertainment. 1 pm. Free. 762-5340.
12/4 - Family Holiday Open House is held at the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. Make a winter craft, enjoy puppets and light refreshments. Sponsored by the Friends of the Boynton Beach Library. 6:45-8 pm. Free. 742-6390.
Wednesday - 12/5 - 42nd Annual Boca Raton Holiday Street Parade along Federal Highway from Southeast Eigth Street North to Mizner Park. 7:30 pm. Free. 393-7806 or www.myboca.us.
Thursday - 12/6-7 - Holiday Happenings at Town Hall presented by the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum at Town Hall, 71 N. Federal Hwy. Enjoy refreshments while you shop for unique gifts and holiday decorations. Th: Noon-7 pm; F: 10 am-4 pm. Gift shop admission is free (museum admission $5/adults, $3/students, free/members). 395-6766, Ext. 100.
Friday - 12/7 - Lantana Winterfest at Lantana Recreational Center, 418 S. Dixie Hwy. Features vendors/craft booths, face painting, hayrides, children’s activities, pictures with Santa. Food available for purchase. Christmas tree lighting ceremony: 6 pm; Santa arrives by fire truck: 6:30-8 pm; Bicycle drawing (ages 13 & under): 8 pm. Presented by the Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce, Town of Lantana and Hypoluxo-Lantana Kiwanis Club. 5-9 pm. Free. 585-8664.
12/7 - Boynton & Delray Beach’s Annual Boat Parade - The flotilla of brightly-decorated boats line up at the Boynton Beach inlet and travel south along the Intracoastal Waterway to the C-15 canal in Delray Beach. Viewing areas are located at the Boynton Harbor Marina and along the parade route. Please bring new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. Pre-party starts at 5:30 pm, featuring live music, pictures with Santa and more, at the Boynton Harbor Marina by Two Georges Waterfront Grille. Parade: 6:30 pm. 742-6246 or www.boyntonbeachcra.com.
12/7 - Friday Night Live: Holiday Sounds - Presented at Sanborn Square, 72 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton. Live themed entertainment, gourmet food trucks and more. 6:30 pm, live entertainment begins 7:30 pm. Free. 367-7070.
12/7-8 - Jolly Joyful Jamboree: A Holiday Celebration is presented at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Get in the spirit with four of the most talented professional performers in South Florida as they light the season ablaze singing and dancing to all of your favorite holiday hits. F: 8 pm; Sat.: 2 pm. $15. 586-6410.
Saturday - 12/8 - Breakfast With Santa at Lantana Elementary School, 710 W. Ocean Ave. Pancake breakfast and photo with Santa. Hosted by Kiwanis International. 7:30-11:30 am. $4/breakfast; $5/photo with Santa; $8/combination ticket. 585-8664.
12/8 - 22nd Annual Holiday Toy Drive is presented by  Delray Citizens for Delray Police/Kids and Cops Program at the Delray Beach Police Department, 300 W. Atlantic Ave. New, unwrapped toys (Please, no toy guns!) and store gift cards for boys and girls ages 5 to 16 years will be collected at various locations throughout the city through 12/12. Drop off unwrapped gifts at the Police Department from 8 am-1 pm. 243-7841 or www.mydelraybeach.com.
12/8 - 19th Annual Breakfast with Santa at the Children’s Museum, 498 Crawford Blvd., Boca Raton. Featuring real snow, pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa, train rides, multicultural crafts, sand art and entertainment. 8:30 am-noon. Tickets required: $10/person, free/infants. 368-6875 or www.cmboca.org.
12/8 - Breakfast with Santa at Brio Tuscan Grille at The Shops of Boca Center, 5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 239, Boca Raton. Enjoy breakfast and holiday activities including a visit with Santa, coloring contest, a goodie bag for each child and more. Guests are encouraged to bring in one new, unwrapped gift, which will be donated to Children’s Home Society of Florida. 9-10:30 am. $11.95/adult, $5.95/child. Reservations: 392-3777.
12/8 - Breakfast with Santa at Intracoastal Park, 2240 N. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach. A festive breakfast ushers in Christmas magic for young and old alike. Children can sit on Santa’s lap and share their wish lists. They can also bring in their letters and each child will receive a personalized letter back from Santa after the event. Every child leaves with a holiday treat. Register early as space is limited. 9-11 am. $7/person. 742-6221.
12/8 - Swedish Lucia and Christmas Celebration is presented by Swedish Women’s Education Association of South Florida at First United Methodist Church, 625 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Enjoy raffle, entertainment, Swedish Christmas decorations and food. 11 am-5 pm. $6.  305-205-2800.
12/8 - Santa’s Wonderland Workshop & Light Up the Night Parade are presented by the Kiwanis Club at the Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth (Corner of Lake Avenue and M street.) Noon: Bike giveaway, 6-8 pm: hometown style parade featuring local high school bands and floats with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cultural entertainment and more. Free. 533-7363.
12/8 - Hanukkah begins at sundown
12/8 - Hanukkah Candle Lighting at the Delray Center for the Arts, 51 N. Swinton Ave. 5:15 pm. Free. 243-7190.
12/8 - Delray Beach Holiday Parade presented by Delray Beach Parks and Recreation and the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. Parade begins on Atlantic Avenue at Venetian Drive and ends at NW Fifth Avenue (at the Fire Department). 6 pm. Free. 243-7277.
12/8 - 36th Annual Boca Raton Holiday Boat Parade - Intracoastal Waterway beginning at the C-15 Canal (Boca Raton/Delray Beach border). Bleacher viewing at Silver Palm Park & Red Reef Park. 6:30 pm. Free. 393-7806 or www.myboca.us.

DECEMBER 9-15

Sunday - 12/9 - Chanukah Family Fun Festival - Presented by the Kabbalah Centre at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Join a celebration of Chanukah: the Festival of Lights! Astrology readings, face painting, rock wall, bounce house, plus vendor booths featuring handbags, jewelry, essential oils and delicious foods. $10 and $20 coupon books available. 1-6 pm. $12/child age 3-12 gives unlimited rides and one meal combo. 488-8826.
12/9 - 10th Annual Gingerbread Holiday Concert by Lynn University Philharmonia Orchestra at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, Great Hall, 501 E. Camino Real. Celebrate the music traditions of the holidays. 3 pm. $35. 237-9000.
12/9 - Celebrate the Season: The Robert Sharon Chorale at The DeSantis Family Chapel, Palm Beach Atlantic University, 901 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. Join in song to start your holidays. Featuring classical, holiday, sacred and ethnic music. 3 pm. $15/adults, $5/children 12 and under. 319-0005.
12/9 - Service of Lessons and Carols is held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 100 N. Palmway, Lake Worth. The advent story told in short bible readings interspersed with the singing of hymns and carols. Following service, the church host its annual Christmas Cookie Extravaganza in the parish hall. Eggnog and punch served. 4 pm. Open to public. Free. 582-6609.
12/9 - Once Upon a Holiday is a musical who-dunnit performed at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. Holiday fun for the entire family. 5 pm. $15/adults, $12/children under 18. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Theatre Scholarship Fund. 272-1282, Ext. 4.
12/9 - 2nd Annual Madrigal Dinner at St. Jude Parish Life Center, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. Presented in conjunction with the department of music in FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. A renaissance evening full of pageantry, entertainment, succulent food and extraordinary music. 6 pm. $100 (includes dinner and a $70 tax-deductible gift to FAU’s Choral and Vocal Studies Program). Reservations: 297-2337.
12/9 - Young Singers of the Palm Beaches: Winter Tapestry 2012 at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Ring in the Holiday Season with Palm Beach County’s most talented youth in an evening of music and magic. Evening highlights traditional and contemporary holiday music combined with humor, artistic excellence and an audience sing-a-long. 7 pm. $10-38. 832-7469.
Monday - 12/10 - Holiday Cooking Fun for ages 5-9 at the James A. Rutherford Community Center, Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. Children learn basic cooking from scratch. Instruction includes kitchen safety, measurements, napkin folding, and table setting. Parents are not allowed in the classroom during class. 3:30-5 pm. $12/residents, $15/non-residents. 367-7035.
12/10 - Light Up The Holidays - Presented by the Town of the Highland Beach Library at the Highland Beach Town Hall, 3614 S. Ocean Blvd. Performances by Bariton Lou Galterio, Barbershop Quartet Lawrence of Florida Four Scissors, and Cantor Margaret Schmidt. Self parking available at St. Lucy’s parking lot. Cookies, hot chocolate and coffee will be served. 4:30-6:30 pm. Free. 278-4548.
12/10 - Paul Green and Klezmer East: A Hanukkah Concert to Light Up The Holiday at FAU Barry and Florence Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. A one-time special concert presented as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at FAU Lifelong Learning Society. Annual membership: $45. 7:30-9:30 pm. $25/member, $30/non-member advance, $35/non-member at the door. 297-3171.
Wednesday - 12/12 - Burning River Brass: Our Kind of Christmas at The Society of the Four Arts at the Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium, 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. Composed of 12 of the finest brass and percussion players in the country, this is an ensemble on fire! 8 pm. $40-$45. 655-7226.
Thursday - 12/13-16 - The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris - Presented by Parade Productions at the The Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, 2nd Floor, Boca Raton. Play relates David Sedaris’ experiences when he worked as an elf in Macy’s Christmastime Santaland display. Not recommended for children. Held again 12/20-23. Th-Sat.: 7:30 pm; Sat. & Sun.: 3 pm. $35-$40. 866-811-4111.
Friday - 12/14 - Holiday By The Sea is held at Ocean Plaza, 640 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. Kick start the holidays season by supporting local vendors, shops and businesses at an under-the-stars open house.  4-9 pm. Free. 735-8848.
12/14 - Light-The-Lights at Ocean Ridge Town Hall, 6450 N. Ocean Blvd. Featuring beverages and light snacks, bounce house and face paintings, Santa Claus and more! For Ocean Ridge residents only. 5:30-8:30 pm. 732-2635.
12/14 - Chanukah Under The Stars at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Special kids activities including bounces houses, a gourmet food truck expo, face painting, crafts and more. The Chanukah and Shabbat service begins at 7:30 pm with the temple clergy; Cantorial soloist Lori Shapiro, Rabbi Dan Levin and Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Brockman. Service will be a musical celebration that brings everyone in the community together to celebrate the beginning of the festival of lights.Presented by Temple Beth El.  Bring lawn chairs and blankets. 5-9 pm. Free. 393-7984.
Saturday - 12/15 - Breakfast with Santa at the Delray Beach Marriott Hotel, 10 N. Ocean Blvd. Includes gingerbread man decorating. Four seatings available for the $12/person breakfast: 8, 9, 10 & 11 am. Reservations: 279-1380, Ext. 17.
12/15 - Kindermusik Teddy Bear Holiday Party at Intracoastal Park Clubhouse, 2240 N. Federal Hwy., Boynton Beach. For ages 1-6 years. 11 am-noon. $5/resident; $8/non-resident. 742-6221.
12/15 - Tuba Christmas at Mizner Park Amphitheatre, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Help support the tradition of holiday music performed by tubas and euphoniums. Outdoor event, bring chairs or blankets. 5 pm. Free. 297-2595.
12/15 - Sounds of the Season is presented by the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce at the Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth (Corner of Lake Avenue and M Street.) A musical extravaganza featuring all types of holiday music. 6-9 pm. Free. 533-7363.
12/15 - Divas Christmas Party is presented at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth. Join your favorite divas as they celebrate the holidays as only the divas can. Songs, skits and a comically good time. 8 pm. $15. 586-6169.

DECEMBER 16-22

Sunday - 12/16 - Holiday Family Fun Day at the Fountains Center office and retail park, 7600 West Camino Real, Boca Raton. Features children’s activitities, live music, food tastings, displays and raffles. Benefits the American Cancer Society - South Palm Beach Unit. 1-4 pm. Suggested donation: $5/child (over age 2) or $25/family. 954-482-3740.
Tuesday - 12/18 - Special Holiday Tour of the Boca Raton Resort & Club - Presented by the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum at 501 E. Camino Real. Not recommended for children under 12. This is a walking tour - wear comfortable shoes. 6 pm. $20/members, $25/non-members plus $11 valet fee per car. RSVP: 395-6766, Ext. 100.
12/18-23 - Holiday Evening Tours at the Flagler Museum, One Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. See Whitehall by the glow of the original 1902 light fixtures. Every visitor receives a traditional Christmas cracker following the tour. A choral group sings carols and holiday refreshments are served. 12/18-19: tours begin at 7:15 and 7:25 pm; 12/20-21: tours begin at 7:05, 7:15 & 7:25 pm; 12/22-23: tours begin at 6:50, 7:05, 7:15 & 7:25 pm. $25/adults; $15/children ages 17 and under. Advance purchase required. 655-2833.
Friday - 12/21 - The Artists’ Gift Box is held at Clay Glass Metal Stone Cooperative Gallery, 605 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth. Unique handmade gifts are wrapped by artists. Nogs and bites provided. 6-9 pm. 588-8344.
12/21 - Teen Winter Carnival for ages 12-19 at the Hobbit Skate Park, 505 SE 5th Ave., Delray Beach. Carnival type games for teens. Free popcorn, sno-cones and cotton candy. 6-9 pm. $2/person. 243-7158.
12/21 - Roots Holiday Concert: Christmas Featuring The Brass Evolution - Presented as part of the Free Friday Concerts series at the Old School Square Entertainment Pavilion, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Featuring gourmet food trucks. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets; rental chairs available. No pets or outside food/beverages. 7:30-10:30 pm. Free admission; cash bar. 243-9722 or www.delraycenterforthearts.org.
Saturday - 12/22 - Story Hour with Mrs. Claus in the Main Gazebo at Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. 3 pm. Free. 362-0606.
12/22 - Downtown Holiday Shopping Stroll & Holiday Concert in the Plaza is held at Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth (Corner of Lake Avenue and M Street.) Enjoy an evening of shopping and festive treats under the holiday lights and enjoy a holiday concert. 5-9 pm. Free. 533-7363.

DECEMBER 23-29

Sunday - 12/23 - A Global Christmas: St. Paul’s Choir - Presented as part of Music At St. Paul’s series at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. The annual Festival of Lessons and Carols presents music from cultures around the world. 3 pm. $20/preferred seating, $15/requested donation, $5/students. 278-6003.
Monday - 12/24 - Christmas Eve Services by Journey Church at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Family event featuring carols, candles and a special Christmas message. Two service times (identical program): 3-4 pm; 4:30-5:30 pm. Free. 393-7827.
Tuesday - 12/25 - Christmas Day
Friday - 12/28 - Holiday Magic Night At The Museum at the South Florida Science Museum, 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach. 6-10 pm. $11/adults, $7/children (3-12), free/members & children under 3. 832-1988 or www.sfsm.org.
Saturday - 12/29 - Champagne & Chocolate Stroll along Lake and Lucurne Avenues in Downtown Lake Worth. Celebrate early as local shops offer toasts to the new year. 5-9 pm. Free. 533-7363.

DEC. 30 - JAN.5

Monday - 12/31 - First Night 2013 New Year’s Eve Celebration is held at various downtown locations in Delray Beach. Bring the entire family to enjoy visual and performing arts in non-alcoholic venues. First Night buttons, which serve as admittance to all activities and venues, can be purchased for $10 in advance and $15 on New Year’s Eve. Buttons can be purchased in advance at the Famous 100-Foot Christmas Tree and the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. 4 pm-midnight. 279-1380, Ext. 17.
12/31 - It Was Fifty Years Ago Today: A New Year’s Celebration of the Broadway Musicals of 1962-63 - Hosted by Randolph DelLago at The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. Take a nostalgic journey back to Broadway as it was exactly 50 years ago! Each show includes a wine/cheese/Champagne reception. Two shows: reception 1pm, show 2pm, $40; reception 7 pm, show 8pm, $60. 272-1281, Ext. 4.
12/31 - New Year’s Evening Swing Time is presented at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. An evening of celebration, swing music, hors d’oeuvres and Champagne. Featuring Missy McArdle and the Glen Rovinelli Orchestra. 8 pm. $35. 586-6169.
Saturday - 1/5 - The Nightmare AFTER Christmas is held at Cultural Plaza in Downtown Lake Worth (Corner of Lake Avenue and M Street.) Divas Professional Drag Show mix of Halloween and Christmas. 6-9 pm. Free. 533-7363.

Frankel, Vice Mayor Tom Carney and commissioner Angeleta Gray voted for the delay. Mayor Woodie McDuffie and Commissioner Al Jacquet were absent.

— Staff report

Local artist Paul Slater installs  I Ching by artist Jeff Kahn of Lenshartsville, Pa. The sculpture was installed in front of the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum as part of the The 2013 International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium to be held Feb. 8-10 in Boynton Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Carol and Ian Barrett  dance to Across the Universe, the Ultimate Beatles Tribute band during the Center for the Arts initial Free Friday Concert, as the center unveiled its new name and look. The Barretts live in the United Kingdom and have a home in Cascade Lakes. They grew up near Liverpool and recall seeing The Beatles play at a local dance hall. They have been coming to Delray Beach since 1975, and plan to attend future Free Friday Concert events. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Delray Beach Public Library Development Director Kimberley Trombley Burmeister and Tandy Robinson enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of shopping for shoes and other accessories in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event, co-sponsored by the library and Bethesda Hospital Foundation, brought in more than $6,600 for each of their education programs. Photo provided

A shower dampened runners during the 13th-annual Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse 5K Run/Walk , 10K Run and children’s dash along A1A in Delray Beach.  The race benefited the organization’s 24-hour crisis hotline and emergency and transitional shelter. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

LEFT: Preschoolers Antonio Grillo, Ella Capri Spencer, Addison Terlizzi and Eleanor Dickenson react to the reading.

RIGHT: Gulf Stream Mayor Joan Orthwein takes turns with sixth-grader Andrew Young as they read ‘Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad.’ The event was part of a Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County program to celebrate the joy of reading. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star