Firefighters extinguish a blaze on a boat at Delray Harbor Club Marina. One man died in the fire. Photo courtesy of Delray Beach Fire-Rescue

By Rich Pollack

The 32-foot cabin cruiser, The Quarterdeck, had finished refueling at the Delray Harbor Club Marina on the Monday right after the new year began, but the strong smell of gasoline still lingered in the air.
Fuel had apparently spilled into the water, according to state investigators, and a dock attendant quickly put a containment plan into action.
Just a few minutes later, all hell broke lose as The Quarterdeck exploded, erupting into flames.
Two of three men onboard made it into the water and were later taken to a local hospital.
A third person, 67-year-old Robert Romanelli of Orange Park — apparently trapped below deck — never made it out. Investigators later found his body in the boat’s charred debris.
The fatal boat fire is still under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the state Fire Marshal’s Office and the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown. What is certain, and what the incident underscores, is that in Florida boat fires are a constant threat.
In 2009, the last year in which data is available, the state Fire Marshal reported 229 boat or other water-vehicle fires, responsible for $7.7 million in lost property. Although none of those fires involved a fatality, 14 people did suffer injuries, according to state records.
While the leading cause of boat fires is equipment failure, according to the state Fire Marshal’s Office, it is the combination of gasoline fumes and electrical equipment on board a boat that should be a major concern for all who enjoy boating.
On boats, it’s possible for gasoline spilled during fueling to find its way to the bilge, the area below the deck that is similar to a crawl space under a house.
Because there is little ventilation in the bilge, fumes can build up and become a serious threat to safety.
“All it takes is one spark, one little spark, and a boat can go up like a Roman candle,” says Delray Beach Mayor Woodie McDuffie, a veteran boater. 
According to the state Fire Marshal’s Office, one of the best ways to prevent explosions is to avoid spilling fuel or overfilling a tank. A funnel is often helpful in avoiding a spill should a sudden wave tip the boat. 
To be on the safe side, fire officials recommend letting your engines cool before fueling and turning off all electrical systems while at the pump.
Ventilation is also important and fire officials say it’s imperative for boaters to run blowers to clear out any fumes in the bilge and to also check for any gas fumes before starting engines or electrical systems.
Here are some other fire-safety tips for boaters from the state Fire Marshal’s Office:
• Keep your boat in good repair and be on the lookout for leaky fuel lines and frayed wires.
• Do not use portable electric or propane heaters onboard.
• Keep aisles clear and store fuel-powered equipment in a separate storage area that is well-ventilated.
• Make sure batteries are properly installed and not damaged.
• Be sure to have a fire extinguisher onboard. A multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher is the preferred option.
• Make sure you have a way to communicate in an emergency available at all times.
Boaters who want to learn more about fire safety aboard boats can take advantage of safe boating courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. 
Classes are offered at the Boynton Beach Boat Club Park on the last Saturday of every month.
There is a $36 fee for the classes, which start at 8:15 a.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m. with a break for lunch.
To find out more, call Jerry Schnue at (561) 966-2158 or contact him at capthook21@msn.com.                          

Lisa Mills (left) and C.C. Currie star in the Delray Beach Playhouse production of Always ... Patsy Cline. Photo by Jerry Lower
By Ron Hayes

During the day, C.C. Currie is a cat-scan technologist from Sunrise.
At night, she’s Louise Seger, a star-struck country music fan from Mississippi.
During the day, Lisa Mills is a visual merchandising manager at Macy’s in the Aventura Mall.
At night, she’s Patsy Cline.
Add a six-piece band and they’re Always … Patsy Cline, a musical memoir running through Feb. 20 at the Delray Beach Playhouse, and a bit of a first for the community theater’s 64th season.
“We’ve never done anything quite like this before,” says Artistic Director Randolph DelLago. “Most of our musical programs have been about Broadway composers like Kander and Ebb or Harold Arlen.”
But with help from a double bass, a fiddle and a steel guitar, the musical review is as close as country music lovers can get to an evening with the woman who turned Walking After Midnight, I Fall To Pieces and Crazy into country classics and juke box perennials.
Ted Swindley’s play, which debuted in 1993, is inspired by a chapter in Honky Tonk Angel, Ellis Nassour’s biography of Cline.
A long-time fan, Seger finally met her idol at Houston’s Esquire Ballroom in 1961. She invited Cline back for a home-cooked meal. They remained friends and exchanged letters — signed “Always, Patsy Cline” — until 1963, when the 30-year-old singer died in a plane crash and a music legend was born.
In the play, Currie as Seger addresses the audience directly, recalling her friendship with Cline and serving as a narrative thread through the show’s 24 songs.
“I get 90 percent of the talking, and Lisa gets 90 percent of the singing,” Currie says.
And, oh, what singing.
On a Wednesday night in early January, Currie and Mills stood on the theater’s empty stage as DelLago sat on a stool at the front, helping them shape a scene.
With no band and no mike, Mills broke into an a cappella rendition of Crazy and sounded, no doubt about it, perfectly Patsy.
“I would give five years of my life to be able to sing like that,” DelLago murmured.
In a blue cowgirl dress, white hat and boots, Mills looks like Patsy Cline, and sounds like her, too. And Currie’s giant bouffant wig and molasses drawl is a perfect echo of the early ’60s.
Neither is a professional actress or singer, though both performed in college and occasional local theater.
But with DelLago offering tips on when to turn, how to interact, the two moved easily through the rehearsal. Perhaps that’s because they’ve already worked together, performing Always … Patsy Cline at the Lake Worth Playhouse in April 2009.
“Rarely will you find such a uniquely expert cast,” says DelLago, “so it’s like a month in the country for an old director. This will be as close to a professional production as we’ll see here for a while.”
After a wrenching performance of Three Cigarettes And An Ashtray, they relaxed backstage.
What is it about Patsy Cline that’s lasted, after so many long-gone stars of the Grand Ole Opry are forgotten?
“I think it’s that her voice is very plaintive, and yet she brings so much feeling to it that everybody who hears her knows what she’s feeling,” Mills said.
And what is her favorite Patsy Cline song?
“One?” she protested. “I don’t know. Faded Love …? You Belong To Me …?”
Finally, she gave up.
Trying to choose a single favorite Patsy Cline song
would be … crazy.         

Always … Patsy Cline

is on stage at the Delray Beach Playhouse through Feb. 20. For information or tickets, call 272-1281.

Frank Maguire Jr., an owner of Quigley-Maguire of Delray Beach, has designed an office space in the 2011 Red Cross Designers’ Show House in West Palm Beach. This is his fifth year participating in the show house.
Photo by
Jerry Lower

Are designers born or made?
Frank Maguire says “born.” Maguire is a self-taught interior designer whose eye for design developed as he grew.
He thinks he may have gotten it from his French grandfather, who founded the family business that Maguire later managed, catering to the inventive minds on Madison Avenue. Over the years Maguire’s innate design sensibilities worked their way into interior design and down to Palm Beach County. Today, when you step into the home furnishings store Maguire co-owns in Delray Beach, it becomes abundantly clear: Design is in his blood.
Which is why, for the fifth year, Maguire has been asked to lend his talents to the American Red Cross Designers’ Show House fundraiser.
Now in its 35th year, the fundraiser invites nationally recognized designers to collectively transform a local residence, and then invites the public to tour it in exchange for a small Red Cross donation.
“It’s really a lot of fun with all the designers converging here, each creating his or her own unique space,” Maguire says.
This year’s Designer Show House is at 3000 N. Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach — a large house on the Intracoastal with plenty of separate spaces for the 16 participating designers to transform.
 Maguire interpreted his assigned space as an office for the woman of the house, with a mix of old and new furnishings, Florida-themed art, and soothing tones of green. To create a mood of quiet contemplation, he covered the walls and ceiling with green-gray paint (color: Vapor, from Benjamin Moore), accented with classic white crown molding.
The room reflects Maguire’s trademark style: eclectic. He likes antique wood pieces alongside contemporary wicker and metal. Glass and ceramic art next to soft, colorful fabric. Décor splashed with oceanic blues and greens.
Maguire, who lives in Manalapan, currently divides his time between clients in Palm Beach County, New York City and the Hamptons. He is grateful to have commissions in South Florida that he expects will keep him busy through the rest of the year.
“Down here,” he says, “people want someone to be their eyes and ears. They need help putting their homes together. I really enjoy doing it.”
                                                                                                                                                    —  Paula Detwiller
10 Questions

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A. I grew up in Rye, N.Y.  I had a predictable upbringing that taught me both to value tradition and rebel against convention.

Q. How/when did you get into the interior design business?
A. I got into the business gradually, first by designing my own homes, then helping out family and friends.  Later, I opened a home furnishings store with my partner, Karen Quigley, and Quigley Maguire Collections in Delray Beach was born. 

Q. Have you had other careers (or hobbies)? What were the highlights? 
A. In my former life, I owned and managed Horan Imaging Solutions, a print production facility that served advertising agencies in New York for over 70 years.  The highlight was being part of the “Got Milk?” campaign.  The creative energy was fantastic and the longevity of the campaign made it lucrative!

Q. How did you choose to have a home in Manalapan?
A. I chose to live in Manalapan due to its proximity to both Delray and Palm Beach and because I found a beautiful property on the water that I had a lot of fun renovating.

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Manalapan? 
A. Living in Manalapan feels like I am living in a resort. One thing is every morning outside, watching a different sunrise, while reading the paper and having coffee.  It’s hard to get me to leave here because it doesn’t get any better than this.

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?
A. I have been very lucky to have been surrounded by a great family and friends, but I can name three people I have looked up to the most.
First, my late grandfather Julien J. Soubiran. He was born in Hell’s Kitchen in New York City and later founded our family business. In spite of his success, he always remained humble and never forgot his roots. Second, my father, Frank, who gave me trust and support throughout my life, and third, my son, Frank, who gives me the vision for the future.

Q. What book are you reading now?
A. Hell’s Corner, by David Baldacci.

Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions? 
A. “Keep it simple.”

Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
A. Vince Vaughn, because my wife thinks he’s sexy.

Q. Who/what makes you laugh?
A. The previous question—and my answer to the previous question.

IF YOU GO
2011 Red Cross Designers’ Show House
When: Through Feb. 19
10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Where:  3000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach
 Admission: $30
For more information:
Maura Nelson
American Red Cross
(561) 650-9131
nelsonm@redcross-pbc.org

By Tim O’Meilia

SOUTH PALM BEACH — Leon “Lee” Sol Zimmerman, a former vice mayor and councilman and one of the founders of the town’s popular music and lecture series, died Jan. 23. He was 90.
When Lee and Bernice Zimmerman settled permanently in South Palm Beach in 1985, they brought with them decades of experience in the printing business.
They put that expertise to good use by launching The Sandpiper, the town newsletter. Mr. Zimmerman helped found the town’s Community Affairs Advisory Board in 1995 and served on it, including seven years as chairman, until he became a town councilman in 2002.
Mr. Zimmerman served six years on the council beginning in 2002, never facing opposition, including four years as vice mayor, chosen by his council colleagues. The town’s three-term limit forced him off the council in 2008.
“He was a very innovative person,” said former Mayor Maurice Jacobson, who served on the council with Mr. Zimmerman. “He was totally dedicated to the town. And you can’t speak about Lee without Bernie. They were a team.”
Mr. Zimmerman designed the CAAB’s flyers for town events, including the music and lecture series which he nurtured from their beginnings. One of the reasons the Town Hall was expanded was to make more room in the council chambers for lecture and music audiences.
In 2001, he engineered an appearance by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, the most highly attended lecture ever in the town. When Reno decided to run for governor, Mr. Zimmerman and town officials were forced to scramble and erect a huge tent on the Town Hall property to accommodate the hundreds who attended.
“We’ve lost a good man for our town,” said former Councilman Joseph Kolbowski. “He was very active and took his job very seriously. He was very appreciative of older councilmen even when I might have disagreed on some issues.”
Councilman Joseph Flagello, who came on the council when Mr. Zimmerman stepped down, was impressed with his forward thinking. “One of his ideas was to Wi-Fi the whole town. It didn’t happen, but it was a great idea. He was a great marketer for the town,” he said.
Mr. Zimmerman was born and grew up in Philadelphia, where he attended the Charles Moore Price School of Advertising. He married the former Bernice Shapiro.
He served in the Navy during World War II and after the war the couple moved to Baltimore, where he owned a printing company. They were part-time residents in South Palm Beach beginning in the 1970s until they made South Palm Beach their permanent home in 1985.
Mr. Zimmerman is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bernice; a son, Donald “Duke” of Baltimore; a daughter, Rosanne Zimmerman of New York City; a sister, Elena Newman of Cherry Hill, N.J.; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial was held Jan. 26 at the Town Hall. A funeral will be held in Baltimore. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the Palm Beach Cancer Institute Foundation, 1411 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 8900B, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

By Emily J. Minor

OCEAN RIDGE — Joseph A. Piantedosi Sr., the retired president of the Piantedosi Baking Co. Inc., who moved to Ocean Ridge 20 years ago after first trying Boca Raton and deciding condo living wasn’t for him, died Jan. 9.
He was 87.
Mr. Piantedosi is legendary for steering the family-owned the bakery business into modern operation. The Piantedosi Baking Co. began when Salvatore and Mary Piantedosi — Mr. Piantedosi’s parents — emigrated from Italy, settled outside Boston, and began baking bread and delivering it by horse and wagon.
Along with his two brothers, Mr. Piantedosi began learning the family business at a young age, eventually encouraging mechanical manufacturing that was unheard of in those days. He brought automated conveyor belts to the family business, establishing the groundwork for what the company is today: an international bakery distributor.
“He was ahead of his time,” said his son, Joseph Piantedosi Jr., who now runs the family business with his two cousins. “The things that he did, they said they couldn’t be done.”
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Mr. Piantedosi traveled the world during the 1950s, snatching up ideas and equipment, said his son. He would bring it all home and cobble it together into a conveyor belt system, the likes of which are still used today.
Along with his savvy business acumen, Mr. Piantedosi loved both the mechanical and creative side of just about everything. The company began in the small town of Everett, outside Boston, and has its headquarters today not far away, in Malden, Mass.    Mr. Piantedosi was a devoted family man. When he died, he had been married to his wife, Elaine, for 61 years. Together, they embraced their Florida life after retirement, his son said.
While the couple did spend a few months at their home outside Boston each summer, they loved Ocean Ridge. Mr. Piantedosi especially loved tinkering with his boats, his son said.
“He loved maintaining the boat and cleaning it as much as he loved driving it,” his son said.
Besides his son, Joseph Jr., and his wife, Elaine, Mr. Piantedosi is survived by two daughters, Mary and JoAnn, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

The Devil’s Food Cake prepared by Ana Pheterson, pastry chef at 32 East. Photo by Tim Stepien

By Jan Norris

Who knows when chocolate began to be associated  with Saint Valentine’s Day? The history of that marriage is vague. Suffice it to say that today it’s the chocolatiers’ biggest day of the year, and heart-shaped boxes and fancy red-beribboned packages of the dark sweet stuff will fly off the shelves.
Chefs and others are getting creative with chocolate for Feb. 14 — it’s not just the candy makers. Check out these ideas for chocolate treats for your valentine.
At the Four Seasons Palm Beach, pastry chef Jason Morale is making a chocolate torta with a sabayon mousse. Everyone dining leaves with a special Valentine’s treat from the chef.
Also at the Four Seasons, they are offering a child’s dine-in special on Saturdays — and during special events — in which the kids will be fed and entertained while the parents dine (until 9 p.m.) Cost per child is $10 and available for kids ages 3-12.
A unique Chocolate and Red Wine Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach Feb. 12-14 will present an ultimate decision conundrum for chocolate lovers. Which to choose? Chef Ryan Artim says to sample each: the raspberry white and dark chocolate fondue with dipping sticks of other treats such as tropical fruits, madeleines, marshmallows and meringues; fudgey cheesecake bites or cappuccino whoopie pies; chocolate pot de crème, chocolate raspberry tart, lollipops.
Now, what drink to pair with them? A sweet, fruit-forward Banyuls or Ruby Port, Syrah, Shiraz, Cabernet, Malbec, Grenache, Merlot — or spicy hot chocolate? Champagne? Ladies will leave with a special chocolate valentine.

Pheterson

At 32 East, Pastry Chef Ana Pheterson has concocted a fudgy rich Devil’s Food Cake. It’s layers of dark chocolate devil’s food cake with a cocoa reduction and hazelnut croquaunt and served with berries and micro greens.   
Pick up warm, buttery chocolate croissants for a valentine’s morning, or petits fours, or a rich Opera Cake from Tom Tchernia at the French bakery, Le Petit Pain, in Lantana. (Order these in advance for pickup on Valentine’s Day.)
You could order a special one-of-a-kind chocolate cake (white or dark chocolate, with a number of flavored fillings) or special cupcakes of your own design, from Maria Palavecino at Couture Cakes in Delray Beach. Once you win over your sweetheart, she’ll bake your wedding cake, too.
At the hip Cupcake Couture Sweet Boutique in Delray Beach, Pam Joyner and her staff will bake up fancy cupcakes decorated for Valentine’s Day. Also here are dark chocolate whoopie pies — with decorator colored centers — pick a hot pink for your valentine.
 If it’s real chocolates you want, Kilwin’s Chocolates in Delray Beach will offer cases, boxes and bags full of candies. To further tempt, they’ll decorate chocolate-dipped Oreos, chocolate-dipped pretzels and chocolate-covered Rice Krispie Treats with hearts and valentine motifs. For the kids, there are chocolate lollipops and their best-seller — chocolate fudge.

Chocolate ‘Smores Cake from the Boca Raton Resort & Club offers a decadent way to show someone you care. Photo by Tim Stepien

 At the restaurant 501 East in the private Boca Raton Resort and Club (members and hotel guests only), the pastry chefs have taken campfire favorites and combined them into a Chocolate S’mores Cake: two layers of chocolate fudge sandwiched between layers of chocolate cake, with a graham cracker crust — all topped with a thick layer of toasted marshmallow and sitting in a pool of chocolate sauce.

Bartenders at Boca Raton's ZED451 will prepare the Chocolate Kiss for Valentine's. Photo provided.

The bartenders at Zed451 in Boca Raton will be pouring the Chocolate Kiss — a drink worthy of any chocoholic. A mix of Godiva Chocolate vodka, Godiva Chocolate liqueur, Bailey’s Irish Cream and a scoop of Chocolate Guinness Ice Cream, this is the ultimate fix for a chocolate craving in liquid form.

At the Top of the Bridge at The Bridge Hotel, chef Dudley  Rich will prepare a Bavarian  Chocolate Torte set on a bed of dark chocolate and surrounded in berries. Photo provided.

At the Top of the Bridge at the Bridge Hotel in Boca Raton, chef Dudley Rich is making a beautiful Bavarian Chocolate Torte: a creamy mousse of chocolate, set on a dark chocolate layer, surrounded by a pool of raspberry coulis and fresh berries. (Hint, hint, guys: It’s a perfect dessert to have the chef bury a ring in.)
At any of the shops, get in early or you may be disappointed in selections.
For cakes and specialty baked goods, order by Feb. 7 to be sure of getting it by
Valentine’s Day.         

The Chocolate Connection

The Four Seasons Palm Beach

2800 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach.

582-2800;  www.fourseasons.com/palmbeach/

Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach
100 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan
533-6000; www.ritzcarlton.com/palmbeach

32 East
32 E. Atlantic Ave.,
Delray Beach
276-7868; www.32east.com

Le Petit Pain French Bakery
123 S. Third St., Lantana
582-5844; www.lepetitpainfrenchbakery.com

Couture Cakes
142 SE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach
279-1828; www.couturecakeshop.com

Cupcake Couture Sweet Boutique
328 E. Atlantic Ave.,
Delray Beach
276-2334; www.cupcakecoutureusa.com

501 East Restaurant at the Boca Raton Resort and Club
501 E. Camino Real,
Boca Raton
447-3000; www.bocaresort.com

Zed 451
201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton
393-3451; www.zed451.com

Top of the Bridge
at the Bridge Hotel
999 E. Camino Real,
Boca Raton
368-9500; www.bocaratonbridgehotel.com

Kilwin’s Chocolates
402 E. Atlantic Ave.,
Delray Beach
278-0808; www.kilwins.com/delraybeach

Dr. Tiffany Brown (left) holds Red Boy, a Bichon Frise, as his owner Clare Dana of Jupiter practices brushing his teeth. This was a follow-up visit at El Cid Animal Clinic after dental surgery.     Photo by Tim Rivers

By Arden Moore

Foul odors coming from your ready-to-kiss-you dog should not be quickly dismissed as “dog breath.” And when is the last time you did a “down in the mouth” inspection of your cat’s teeth and gums?
As astonishing as it may sound, most cats and dogs show signs of dental disease by age 4, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. Many oral diseases can be avoided if we get in the same daily habit with our pets that we do for ourselves: Brush their teeth.
In honor of February being proclaimed National Pet Dental Month, I’m encouraging all of you to truly be your pet’s best friend by learning how to perform at-home dental care. By doing so, you can go a long way in keeping your pet healthy and in saving money on your veterinary bills.
Far too often, dental diseases such as tooth resorption, periodontal disease, stomatitis and oral tumors can also impact your pet’s heart, kidneys and other vital organs if untreated.
“Start early and get your pet accustomed to having his mouth opened and touched — much like getting him used to having their nails touched and trimmed,” says Tiffany Brown, DVM, a board-certified veterinary dentist who opened her specialty practice inside the El Cid Animal Clinic in West Palm Beach in October.
Up until then, Palm Beach County did not have any veterinary dentists and the closest one was in Hollywood. The entire Sunshine State only has five veterinary dentists, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Dental specialists like Dr. Brown go beyond routine dental cleanings by repairing jaw fractures, treating oral cancers, correcting malocclusions (teeth misalignment), gingivitis and more. Veterinarians in the county refer their most challenging cases to her.
“My first case in Palm Beach County involved a 1-year-old beagle-dachshund mix who was unable to close his mouth and was acting panicky,” says Dr. Brown. “He had teeth stuck together and needed multiple extractions. The surgery was successful. According to his owner, this dog was happily running and playing at the dog park three days after finishing his pain medications.”
Dr. Brown is a proponent of preventive care and shares these dental tips:
• Use toothpaste designated for cats and for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste because it contains fluoride. “Fluoride is not mean to be swallowed and our dogs and cats do not spit and rinse like we do,” she says. Pet toothpaste is intentionally sticky and contains enzymes that work on teeth.
• Avoid playing fetch with tennis balls. “The fuzz on tennis balls gets dirty and it is abrasive. It can file away the enamel on a dog’s teeth and lead to pulps being exposed and infection. I am a fan of soft, compressible, smooth-coated toys and Kong toys — they bounce and you can stuff them with something tasty,” she says.
• Skip giving your dog ice cubes or synthetic bones. “Believe it or not, dogs’ teeth are weaker than ours — they have much less enamel, but the muscles in their cheeks can generate a thousand more times pressure than ours,” she says. “If you can’t bend or break the chew toy, don’t give it to your dog.”
• Have your veterinarian or technician show you the proper way to brush your pet’s teeth. Make daily brushing a positive time for you and your pet and follow up with treats that have earned the stamp of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council; look for the VOHC on the product packaging.
• Refresh water in bowls daily. Provide a few drops of a water additive called OxyFresh, a pet oral hygiene solution that fights bad breath, plaque and tartar.
• In honor of National Pet Dental Month, treat your dog and cat to their own toothbrush, toothpaste and say goodbye to doggy breath and cats refusing to open their mouths.
Your reward: doggy kisses you truly welcome and cat purrs that signify pure contentment.
“If you want to keep your pet healthy, you need to be proactive,” says Dr. Brown. “Don’t hesitate to ask your veterinarian for help. We want your pets to live long, happy lives.”

Warning signs
Consult your veterinarian if your dog or cat shows any of these signs:
• Bad breath
• Chronic vomiting
• Becoming messy eaters, leaving pieces of kibble around the food bowl
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding gums (You might discover spots of blood on chew toys.)
• Resistance to being touched or brushed on the head
• Pawing at the face, sneezing or hiding

Arden Moore, founder of Four Legged Life.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author and professional speaker. She happily shares her home with two dogs, two cats and one overworked vacuum cleaner. Tune in to her Oh Behave show on Pet Life Radio.com and learn more by visiting www.fourleggedlife.com.

By C.B. Hanif

The Chabad of South Palm Beach’s new center in Manalapan’s Plaza Del Mar is just plain welcoming.
“We really did try to create that feel,” said Rabbi Leibel Stolik. “We wanted it to be an inviting, warm, welcoming atmosphere, so that people can feel welcome, walk by and feel that everybody and anybody can come in. And this includes Jews and non-Jews as well.”
That initial consonant in “chabad” sounds closer to a “k” to some. “If you say ‘habad,’ you’ll be forgiven,” Stolik quipped.
The chabad movement within Judaism is characterized by its emphasis, he said.
“Chabad stands for the three intellectual parts of your brain: knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Basically, it means to incorporate godliness and the appreciation of godliness not only in your heart, but in your mind as well.”
There is much more to this philosophy shared by hundreds of thousands of people at thousands of chabad locations. Each is independently operated, has its own budget, fundraising, services, programs and so forth.
Stolik cited 10 to 15 chabads in Palm Beach County, including three in Boca Raton, two in Boynton Beach and one in Delray Beach.
The philosophy “is the idea of helping and reaching out to and caring for other people,” he said.
That’s what he, his wife, Shaina, and others have been doing for more than two years in various rented space and, since September, in the renovated storefront at 242 S. Ocean Blvd. in the Plaza Del Mar, next to the Cashmere Shop.
Although a chabad is primarily a religious organization, “whenever possible we try to help out people in the community as well,” he said.
That could mean volunteering in hospitals, helping the elderly or any of the host of social programs offered by a chabad.
The Chabad of South Palm Beach’s Jan. 23 “Open Air Jazz Concert” at the Lantana Nature Preserve drew more than 100 people. There are women’s and men’s activities. A Passover seder will probably draw other people.
“For most synagogues,” Stolik said, “and perhaps churches as well as mosques, there’s a certain need that members pull together and create a house of worship, and they bring down a rabbi or leader or minister or imam to serve their purpose.”
In this case, “There wasn’t an established membership that felt that there was a need to establish a new synagogue. We felt that if we open up our doors, and if we reach out to people and create this environment, we felt that this was a need for the community, that we were doing good for the community.”
Although the various education, holiday and community programs are going on as before, he said, the regular prayers services are still at their beginning and picking up.

Inside the entrance, prayer books and Bibles adorn bookcase shelves. There are prayer shawls — in this case blue-and-white. One usually dons these when entering a synagogue to pray, also usually wearing a kipah, the traditional Jewish head covering, “symbolizing that there’s an authority above us, there’s always something on top of us,” the rabbi said.
“Pure inspiration,” is how Stolik described the traditional 9:30 a.m. Saturday service during which a chazzan leads the prayer and a portion of the Torah is read. A recent reading featured the portion pertaining to the 10 Commandments, “so it was a very special week.”
Still, how does a storefront center exude such warmth of atmosphere?
“There were some people in the community that helped us set up the space,” said Stolik, “so maybe it’s a tribute to their skill in the layout and the design.”
And, of course, where good people gather, there’s usually a good spiritual vibe.
More information: chabadofsouthpalmbeach.org or 561-889-3499.

C.B. Hanif is a writer and inter-religious affairs consultant. Find him at www.interfaith21.com.

By Steve Plunkett

                  Uncertainty over how long Dale Sugerman will remain town manager led town commissioners not to change the employee evaluation system.

                  “I don’t think we should make changes of anything that would jeopardize whoever’s going to be there, whether it’s this town manager or some other town manager, until we have a commitment from somebody, some town manager, that they’re going to be here for a while,” Mayor Jim Newill said at the December commission meeting.

                   During budget discussions in August, Sugerman proposed a yearlong experiment of not having evaluations, saying he was the only town supervisor who routinely gave less than “excellent” ratings. In return, he said, some department heads threatened lawsuits.

                  The suggestion drew strong opposition from commissioners and residents alike. Someone spoke against the proposal at almost every meeting.

                  “You cannot operate any kind of a business without evaluations,” resident Joseph Asselta said in September.

                  “I think people need to be told what kind of job they are doing. If they are doing a good job, say so. If they are not, say where they need to improve and work on it,” former Mayor Arlin Voress said at another meeting that month.

                  In November, Commissioner John Pagliaro suggested forming a citizens advisory board to help devise a new evaluation form; Newill said hiring a consultant would be more effective.

                  The next month Newill said the problem was with the process, not the paperwork. He had met with department heads and none had a problem with the evaluation form, he said.

                  Sugerman offered an explanation. “Virtually all employees get virtually all ‘excellent’ scores from all department heads. And I think that’s why the department heads have no problem with the form,” he said. “They’re able to easily fill it out with minimal effort and virtually grant everybody ‘excellent’ in all categories.”

                  The town manager repeated that he was the only one to use the full range of ratings and said he had backed off his recommendation to suspend the program.

                  “I said, that’s fine. If all the department heads want to give everybody excellents all the time and give maximum raises, that’s fine, because that seems to be where the Town Commission is going,” Sugerman said.

                  Resident Joe Cannazaro said there still was a problem. “If you’ve got a system where everybody is rated the same, then you don’t have a system,” he said.

                  Questions over Sugerman’s tenure popped up when he told commissioners he would be a free agent after June 8 when his contract expires, Newill said. The contract can be extended in one-year increments, but commissioners don’t want to lengthen it before the March election so new commissioners can weigh in. But current commissioners will evaluate Sugerman before the election, Newill said.

                  Earlier in the meeting, commissioners approved the first reading of an ordinance that would enable a special magistrate to grant zoning variances. The town’s current system, decided by the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, has resulted in different rulings on similar cases, they said. A final hearing will take place in January.

Ramona Bean (left), Theodora Preston, Pat Koutrakos, Thelma Constantinou, Alice Cleary and Ann Chambertides staff the pastry booth at last year’s Greek Festival. Photo provided

Recipes: Kourabiedes | Moussaka

By Jan Norris

Six months of planning, and a few frantic days of cooking will culminate in South Florida’s largest Greek festival, held at St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton, Jan. 20-23.
“This is our 29th year,” said festival co-chair Pat Sourlis. “Our theme this year is Passport to Greece. It’s as much about sharing the culture as the food and festivities. We want to teach others about our heritage.”
The festival draws upward of 8,000 visitors and continues to grow each year. Most of the congregation is involved in it, all volunteering time and labor.
Though many of the original workers have died, family members have stepped into their places. Sourlis’ family is one of the 50 founding members of St. Mark, and they’ve been involved with the festival since the beginning. “I’ve seen the congregation grow from 50 families to 600. The festival work gives us a chance to get to know one another and make new friends.”
Along with food booths, there is a large boutique, dance exhibitions, musical groups and exhibits and church tours to show off the culture.
Traditional Greek foods, most prepared by the congregation’s cooks, are a highlight. This year, a trio of men is coming out of retirement to cook the lamb shanks, moussaka (an eggplant casserole), pastitsio (Greek lasagna), tomato-sauced meatballs ala Athens  and lemon-garlic chicken, Sourlis said. “It’s got a secret ingredient — and a lot of garlic!”
“The man normally in charge of this had health issues this year, and so these three guys who used to cook were happy to come back and help do it,” Sourlis said.
Val Petroff is overseeing the 25 to 30 women who will show up at the church over a period of three days to churn out more than 7,000 Greek cookies.
“We go through 100 pounds of butter,” Petroff said. “We make the cookies in an assembly line — certain women are in charge of various jobs. Some mix the dough in the commercial mixers, some roll out the cookies, some watch the ovens. We’ve learned from experience who is better at what.”
The women make a day of it, teasing and working together to bake and pack the cookies, Petroff said.
There are dozens of variations for the cookies — kourabiedes (powdered sugar cookies), finikia (honey-dipped cookies) and koulourakia (buttery twists). But the recipes the women use have been handed down from the original festival workers. “It keeps it simple — we know what we need,” she said.
The cookies are sold out every year. “They sell out so fast, it’s hard to say which are the most popular. I’d say it’s running neck and neck between kourabiedes and the koulourakia.”   

If you go:
St. Mark
Greek Festival
Jan. 20-23, St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 NW 51st St., Boca Raton
Hours: Jan. 20, 4-9 p.m.; Jan. 21-22, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Jan. 23, noon-9 p.m.
Tickets: $5
(Mention The Coastal Star at the gate and receive $2 off.)
(561) 994-4822;
www.stmarkboca.net

Other area
Greek festivals:
• St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, 110 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-833-6387. Festival will be in February.
• St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 815 NE 15th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; (954) 467-1515. Festival will be Feb. 11-13 at the church.