Mary Kate Leming's Posts

Ocean Ridge: Signs sought to aid pedestrians

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 15:10

OCEAN RIDGE — Signs that warn motorists to stop for pedestrians, set for four crosswalks on A1A, got the go-ahead from commissioners in June at a cost of $2,000. The panel wants to install the signs in the middle of the road on breakaway poles at lower than seven feet high, and still has yet to determine whether the Florida Department of Transportation will allow it. The crosswalks are perilous without signage, commissioners said, because motorists aren’t aware they are required to stop for pedestrians. — Margie Plunkett

Pedestrians skip crosswalk in favor of jay walk

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 15:08

By Ron Hayes DELRAY BEACH — What if they built a crosswalk and nobody came? Last November, workers from the state Department of Transportation resurfaced State Road A1A by Atlantic Dunes Park. They added new sidewalks, new bike paths, and a new crosswalk between the parking lot on the west side of the highway and the beachfront park on the east. Nine months later, the new road is being driven on; the bike paths are being biked. But the crosswalk? Not so much. “What you see is pedestrians crossing anywhere to get over,” says Jim Smith. “They cross at the southern end and use the entrance road, and they’re crossing where the old crosswalk used to be.”

A resident of the Banyan House condo just north of the park, Smith is also the chairman and co-founder of a group called Safety As Floridians Expect. Founded in 2003, SAFE takes credit for a petition drive that brought bike lanes and sidewalks to stretches of A1A, as well as an ongoing effort to monitor traffic accidents and reduce flooding. Now he wants something done about that new crosswalk. Before the resurfacing, two crosswalks helped beachgoers move from the parking lot to the park. When the state said one must go, both the city and DOT agreed to put the new crosswalk about 100 feet north of the parking lot, at a point where it would deliver users directly to the bottom of a wheelchair ramp into the park. A second crosswalk from the parking lot to steps rising into the park was removed. However, two short, city-owned cement paths on either side of the road, leading from the parking lot to the road on the west side and the road to the steps on the east, remain. “Delray Beach needs to take out those pathways and put a hedge in,” Smith insists. In other words, he wants the city to remove the old concrete paths, which he says encourage jaywalking, and install some sort of barrier — a bamboo fence, a tall hedge — to steer people north from the parking lot to the new crosswalk. On one point, Smith is clearly correct: Beachgoers aren’t using the crosswalk. On a recent weekday afternoon, he and a reporter spent about 45 minutes watching the foot traffic. Perhaps one in 10 people crossing A1A actually used the crosswalk. The rest looked both ways, and then crossed wherever they found it most convenient, usually at the site of the former crosswalk. Among them was a fellow named Richard, who declined to give his last name. “I'm smart enough not to jump in the street if something’s coming,” Richard said. “I don’t have to worry because I’m a grown person. I know how to cross.” Smith also complains that few drivers slow for the new, pedestrian-operated yellow blinkers by the crosswalk, and he’s right again. Indeed, most cars didn’t even pause to watch for pedestrians, including a Broward County sheriff’s cruiser. “I want a red light installed,” says Smith. But the city and state say, “Wait a minute.” “On the one hand, people are crossing where they shouldn’t cross,” concedes City Engineer Randal Krejcarek. “But on the other hand, it hasn’t been a safety issue. It’s a jaywalking violation, but does that mean that everywhere along A1A where someone is jaywalking we’re supposed to put a barrier?” To be effective, Krejcarek says, any barrier would have to be installed on the swale between the sidewalk and the road, and that would require DOT approval. But while the city has devised a landscaping plan for the swale, it hasn’t been submitted for the state’s OK. “I have no problem with a barrier on the west side,” Krejcarek said, “but no, it’s not a big priority.” As for a red light to replace the yellow blinker, Jonathan Overton, DOT’s assistant traffic operations engineer for the district, points out that the stretch of A1A south of Atlantic Avenue already has several yellow blinkers. Replacing them with red blinkers, which require all vehicles to stop, would hamper traffic flow unnecessarily. “We’re trying for a balance between safety and mobility,” Overton says. "We don’t want a proliferation of traffic signals that at the end of the day aren’t used.” But he does offer a possible compromise. If the city is willing to meet a few conditions, which he declined to describe, Overton said the state might approve a flexible yield sign, a 3-foot reminder to be placed on the double-line in the middle of the crosswalk. But, Overton said, he’s waiting for the results of an independent study, expected shortly, that monitored crosswalks with flashing yellow lights. “My personal opinion,” Overton said, “is that in-road signs are relatively effective. They remind the drivers who has the right-of-way. But the big problem will be maintaining them, and I want to be able to say it’s worth the maintenance.”

Gulf Stream: New permit rates aim to cover town costs

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 15:06

GULF STREAM — The town set out a new schedule of building permit application fees designed to ensure that Gulf Stream’s costs are covered. “It’s not a mechanism to generate more revenue,” said Town Clerk Rita Taylor, “but to cover our costs.” The new sliding schedule for application fees is in increments of $5,000, $50,000 and $500,000 of construction value and starts at a minimum of $85 for construction valued at up to $4,999. A sampling of fees within the schedule: $750 for value of construction of $100,000 to $149,999; $3,000 for value of $1 million to $1.5 million; and $7,500 for $5 million plus. Other fees covered in the resolution include demolition and lift station applications. Fees cover time spent by Gulf Stream staff processing and reviewing applications, monitoring construction and conducting inspections, among other things, according to the resolution passed at Gulf Stream’s June meeting. — Margie Plunkett

Ocean Ridge to resume summer spraying for no-see-ums

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 15:05

By Margie Plunkett OCEAN RIDGE — Ocean Ridge will resume barrier spraying to combat no-see-ums for three months through the end of the summer season at a price of up to $18,650. The commission’s vote to proceed followed a lengthy debate that spanned several meetings: Issues included residents’ discomfort, environmental harm and whether no-see-ums were a public or private nuisance. The town had decided not to spray this year, but public protest against being eaten alive by no-see-ums, which live in the mangroves and make a blood meal of Ocean Ridge residents, grew as time passed. All but one commissioner voted to temporarily spray, with Terry Brown the lone dissenter. Brown had argued — in addition to environmental concerns — that the spraying was benefitting a limited number of residents, therefore using public funds for a private purpose. Mayor Ken Kaleel, however, disagreed, noting the spraying benefitted far more residents than the 46 property owners whose land will be sprayed. Spraying for the three months will give Ocean Ridge a better idea of whether the backpack treatment alone — without a truck spraying weekly via roadways — will be effective against the pest, he said.

Delray Beach: Unified design sought for beach area features

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 15:02

By Margie Plunkett DELRAY BEACH — There may be no harnessing the power of the sea, but the Beach Property Owners Association would at least like to design around it. The Beach Property Owners Association proposed to Delray Beach commissioners during a June workshop that they support an effort to create a master plan for the beach area, to set a design and concept for the oceanfront park as the city has done with areas like Pineapple Grove. Commissioners embraced the concept of creating a master plan. “It’s a good idea. We have a lot of jewels in our city, and the beach is certainly one of them,” Commissioner Adam Frankel said. Commissioner Fred Fetzer agreed, adding, “I would be very supportive of working on the beach master plan.” The objective of the master plan is to establish a sense of place through design elements reflecting the unique charter of the beach, Andy Katz, vice president of the Beach Property Owners Association, told commissioners during his presentation.

Pointing to Pineapple Grove as visually successfully, Katz said that in design, even the small touches count, such as attractive trash cans and benches. Attractive turquoise metal trash cans adorn Pineapple Grove, he said. Clicking through his PowerPoint presentation, Katz showed a current trash can at the beach; he described this one as resembling a roll of toilet paper. The master plan would incorporate, among many things, a balance in design elements with manmade features and landscaping complementing the natural setting of open ocean vistas, according to the presentation. The association also envisions wide, unobstructed eastern sidewalks with naturalistic art-scapes, nature and science displays and historical markers. The east side could also include beach showers, gazebo and pavilion, exercise stations and a public meeting place, Katz said, and beach entrances could be made more inviting. These, as well as a host of other issues — including official beach park designation and naming — would be addressed under the master plan, according to Katz. As the Delray Beach area has grown more upscale over the years, “patrons appreciate a little more polished neighborhood, too,” Katz said. Residents, city officials, other local organizations and businesses, along with the Beach Property Owners Association, are possible participants in creating the master plan. Funding for the park could come from grants; business and public donations; and county, state and federal money, Katz said. “This is the most important park we have in town,” said Bob Currie, a Beach Property Owners Association trustee.

Delray Beach: Yacht Club plans for restaurant not slowed by foreclosure

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 15:00

By Rod Proctor A recent foreclosure action against owners of The Yacht Club at Delray Beach has not slowed plans to expand amenities and services at the Delray Beach landmark, according to the club’s membership director. Efforts continue to open a restaurant and tiki bar at the club’s aquatic center, and remodeling remains on tap for the marina’s main building, said membership director Chris Cantwell. “We’ve got eight of the nine permits we need and we’re working with the city to get final approval,” he said. Once the city signs off, he said, the bar and restaurant could be ready for business in 60 days. Work on the main building would involve a new roof and the remodeling of the upstairs banquet area into a new lounge called the Captain’s Room. The club has suspended the marketing of full marina memberships, he said, but Aquatic Center memberships remain available. Cantwell touted the recent popularity of new programs offered at the aquatic center, including swim clinics, water aerobics, life-saving classes, all open to members and non-members alike. “The more we offer,” he said, “the more people come. And the more people come, the more we’ll offer.” Club owners Capex Properties of Palm Beach Gardens and Kentucky-based David Hocker and Associates were sued early in June by Naples-based Orion Bank over an $18.8 million mortgage taken in early 2006. Plans had been made for the addition of townhouses to the 3-acre Intracoastal Waterway site, with presales marketing being handled by Premier Estate Properties. But according to Warren Heeg, estate specialist with Premier, those efforts ended more than a year ago and the firm no longer has a relationship with the club. Cantwell characterized the foreclosure as part of a continuing process to “work out terms beneficial to both parties,” and said the final permitting issue with the city is not associated with the foreclosure. While unable to mention specifics, he described a late June meeting between the owners and the bank as “favorable.” The marina’s 44 boat slips remain heavily used, Cantwell said, with occupancy rates hovering at about 65 percent. Once remodeling is complete and regular membership sales resume, he said, the club hopes to see long-term occupancy rates of about 85 percent. The marina welcomes non-members, he said, with slip rentals available on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Resale therapy: Area thrift shops help you stretch your dollars

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 14:30

By Scott Simmons I love my Robert Graham shirt. But I didn’t love the big $200 price tag it carried new. So I was thrilled to find it for $15 — unworn — at a local thrift shop. I’m not alone. As the economy continues to tighten, more folks are turning to thrift and vintage shops to replenish their wardrobes. And those shops are filled with items worn once or twice, or not at all. In this world of reuse and recycle, it also is good for the environment, as well as your pocketbook. How green! And, the green you might spend at some chain store stays close to home, helping local charities and businesses. Here is a sampling of local places open this summer: Delray Beach: The Bethesda Bargain Box 12 NE Fifth Ave. (southbound Federal Highway), Delray Beach Phone: 278-2401

The Bethesda Bargain Box has been in its current location since 1962, and it has no plans to move. The shop, which recently renovated the main portion of its store, is busy converting its furniture “barn” to the rear into an honest-to-goodness barn, complete with red walls and white trim that would make Old MacDonald jealous. “It’s more of a boutique shopping experience with thrift store prices,” says manager Michelle Esposito of the renovated space, which is a major fund-raiser for Bethesda Memorial Hospital’s auxiliary. It’s light, bright and clean. Tiles in Bethesda’s trademark blue cover the floors. The front of the store is now filled with clothing from such companies as Lilly Pulitzer and St. John, whose knit suits are priced at $39 to $49 (those suits go fast, Esposito says). Buy a wedding gown for $49 to $59 — the store even had a maternity gown during one recent visit. The shop has expanded to add baby and children’s clothing, and the barn is home to furniture, antiques and accessories. Nothing goes to waste, either. “What we can’t sell is given to a mission church,” Esposito says. Frugal Fashionista Resale Boutique 825 N. Federal Highway (just north of George Bush Boulevard), Delray Beach Phone: 865-7857

Ladies, you have it made. This recent addition to the resale scene is a treat. Owner Amber Ortoll has an eagle eye for quality women’s clothing, priced right. Most items in her bright, immaculate shop are priced at $20 and less. Frugal Fashionista carries such mainstream brands as J. Crew, Banana Republic and Chico’s, as well as that South Florida favorite, Lilly Pulitzer. You can buy $800 Chloé shoes for $50 at Ortoll’s shop, and the shoes look barely worn. She also has a great selection of purses, and fun vintage accessories. Ortoll adjusted a navy blue straw hat with matching bag. “Did you see the recent Vogue?” Ortoll asked. “The models were wearing these hats.” Swank, vintage and fun. Dressing up doesn’t get any better than this. Goodwill 1640 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach Phone: 278-3205 This Goodwill has a vintage shop to the rear with a small selection of clothing, but we’ve made some of our best finds in the main part of the store. Over the years, we’ve found everything from Jhane Barnes shirts to Coogi sweaters. A recent visit netted us a cool Tommy Hilfiger shirt for less than $4. Also on the rack: a funky pair of orange Escada slacks for less than $5. The store also has the usual mix of furniture, dishes, glassware and other home accessories, as well as children’s clothing. The Turnover Shop 10 NE Fifth Ave (just south of the Bethesda Bargain Box), Delray Beach Phone: 276-2073

This sun-filled shop, run by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, is marking its second decade of bargains in its downtown Delray Beach location. The Turnover Shop, located in a vintage home, has been remodeled to reflect a “quality resale” approach, and it shows. You can shop for jewelry and accessories in the front room. A room to the side showcases clothing (lots of women’s wear, and a limited selection of men’s). And there always is an interesting mix of china, glassware and other home accessories. Money raised by The Turnover Shop goes toward community outreach and to support St. Paul’s mission and ministries. What the shop can’t use is donated to Caring Kitchen, according to the church’s Web site. Lantana: Silhouettes, 916 S. Dixie Highway, Ye Tower Plaza, Lantana Phone: 585-4343 “Our mission statement is ‘joy,’ ” says Silhouettes owner Sharon Kelly. “Our clothing is as close to new as you get.” Silhouettes literally brims with high-end labels. You’ll find women’s wear by Lilly and Coco (as in Pulitzer and Chanel) here, as well as Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Chico’s. The store has an extensive selection of handbags and shoes, too. Silhouettes, which is marking two decades in Lantana, is immaculate and well-organized, with clothing sorted by brand. Need to make some green? It’s a consignment shop, so you possibly can sell a few things. And items that don’t sell are donated to charity. Lake Worth: The Bees Knees, 704 Lake Ave., downtown Lake Worth Phone: 904-6725

The Bees Knees is the newest store to buzz into downtown Lake Worth. The store features “new and pre-loved” furniture and art, and clothing ranging from adult to infant. During a recent visit, the racks were full of tot-sized dresses and suits. The Bees Knees also carries women’s clothing and a small, but growing selection of menswear. A Tommy Bahama print shirt with tags still attached is priced at $20, much less than retail. Store owner Emily Regan said she was expecting a shipment of new men’s clothing from Italy. Regan said the store handles consignments, and offers a layaway plan for furniture, because of the economy. She said everyone who has visited the brightly lighted space has commented on how clean it is, adding, “I don’t carry junk.” Here are other resale shops worth visiting: Boca Raton This little cluster of stores in Plum Park, near Florida Atlantic University, has some of the city’s oldest shops. You typically can find high-end fashion at low prices here, especially during the shops’ frequent half-price sales: Levis JCC Thrift Shop, 141 NW 20th St., No. C9, Boca Raton; 368-3665 The shop supports activities of the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center. Florence Fuller Thrift Shop, 141 NW 20th St., No. C4, Boca Raton; 391-9379 Benefits Florence Fuller Child Development Centers Inc., which offers affordable child care, preschool, enriched afterschool and summer camp for low-income families. Hospice by the Sea Chest Thrift Shop, 141 NW 20th St., No. E2, Boca Raton; 338-4030 Helps the local hospice provide services to terminally ill people and their families. Center for Group Counseling Thrift Shop, 141 NW 20th St., No. E7, Boca Raton; 392-6356 The group provides free and low-cost counseling programs. Delray Beach The Haven Thrift Store and Charity Boutique, 955 S. Congress Ave., Suite 112, Delray Commerce Center, Delray Beach; 272-7636 Sales of secondhand and designer clothing and furnishings help support a shelter for boys ages 9-17. Paying It Forward, 2106 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 279-0180 Sales from the shop benefit women and children in crisis. United for The Mentally Ill Thrifty Shop, 600 N. Congress Ave., Delray Beach; 561-274-0350 Lake Worth Hab Center Thrift Shop, 4522 Congress Ave. (just south of Sixth Avenue South), Lake Worth; 967-5993 The shop, whose charity helps adults with disabilities, offers secondhand clothing and furnishings, and has a boutique with designer clothing. World Thrift, 2425 N. Dixie Highway, Lake Worth; 588-4050 The farmworker meets the socialite in this warehouse-style store, which has a little bit of everything, from high fashion to home furnishings, lamps to lawn mowers. West Palm Beach One More Time, Thrift Shop & Coffee Bar, 7600 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; 494-0125, Ext. 4412 Immaculate boutique, with high-end men’s and women’s clothing, plus furniture and accessories. Shop benefits The Lord’s Place, which helps the homeless.

Glass House condos get qualified approval from board

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 14:30

By Margie Plunkett

DELRAY BEACH — The site plan for the oceanfront Glass House condominiums got the go-ahead in June, following objections from opponents concerned that it was intended as a rehabilitation facility and that it was environmentally harmful. The Site Plan Review and Appearance Board conditionally approved the plan for the condominiums at 2225 S. Ocean Blvd. The property would have 11 units on 1.7 beachfront acres and would be a primarily glass building. The medium-density residential area allows six to 12 units on the property, with proposals requesting more than six subject to compliance with performance standards.

The 16 one-story residences now at the address, which were built in 1945 as Delray Villas, will be demolished. The Glass House would be built by Marc Andrea Musa, whose brother’s home borders the property on the south. The Musas formerly owned Eyeglass World. The developers and architects for the Glass House repeated several times that there was no intention of creating a rehabilitation facility or being affiliated with one. “I don’t know why people think we’d do that,” said developer Barry Globerman, noting each condo would be priced to sell for millions of dollars. “It’s too expensive. It’s not economically practical.” Skepticism rang out from the audience, however. When Dale Meaux of architects API Group said, “I’d like to reiterate this is not in any way a rehab center,” a voice from the audience said: “Yet.” And Globerman’s statement, “We’d sooner change the name than have this go on,” was met with “Then change it.” While it wasn’t clear where the issue of a rehabilitation center originated, the SPRAB staff report initially listed as a condition of approval that the Glass House won’t be a rehabilitation or treatment facility unless approved by the City Commission. Assistant City Attorney Terril Pyburn advised the panel to remove that statement, because it is illegal to include it. She also told the audience at the start of the review that the purpose of the session was not to determine who would occupy the Glass House condominiums. Environmental factors including dunes and sea turtles also were a focus, with complaints that the construction would damage the dunes and that the glass would reflect light — from condo interiors, the moon and elsewhere — which would distract the sea turtles. Members of SPRAB, however, noted the project will have to meet stringent state standards in those areas, and won’t be approved if it doesn’t. SPRAB member Shane Ames raised the issue of the condo’s excavated garage and questioned how the developer would deal with water issues because the garage is eight feet below the water table and 12 feet below high tide. “We do perceive this as a problem that has to be addressed,” Meaux said. The site plan passed with one dissenter and conditioned upon resolution of the water table concerns. James Borsos voted against the plan because it was incomplete. He also criticized the staff report, pointing to several shortcomings. Candi Jefferson, senior staff planner, said that while the staff at first had some of the same misgivings Borsos pointed to, it was advised to support the plan. Denying it would have allowed the Glass House to build only six units, which Jefferson said was unfair given the number of units in surrounding properties. “We did not want to deny the owner economic viability,” she said, adding the staff did attach conditions to its recommendations. Upon questioning by Pyburn, Jefferson reiterated that the project met all the minimum standards. “Otherwise, we would’ve been forced to deny the proposal.”

Boynton library goes green with book sales

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 13:34

By Ron Hayes BOYNTON BEACH — Every book is a new book if you haven’t read it yet. Now the Boynton Beach City Library is recycling old books in a new way. While local libraries might sponsor periodic used-book sales, or find a spare table here or there to unload redundant or damaged copies, Boynton Beach boasts the area’s first public library to open a real, self-contained used-book store. “We’ve always accepted used books,” says administrative assistant Karen Abramson. “We had a small area near the checkout desk, but that overflowed into the program room.” In other words, the used-book shelf has grown into a used-book store. Operated by the all-volunteer Friends of the Boynton Beach City Library and situated just inside the main entrance at 208 S. Seacrest Ave., the glass-walled Friends Bookstore offers hundreds of pre-read books in better-than-average condition for cheaper-than-average prices. Hardcovers published after 2004 go for $2 each. Earlier titles are $1, and paperbacks 50 cents and up. Here’s a fine copy of Audition, Barbara Walters’ recent bestseller, for a mere $2. Or slightly older titles by John Irving, John LeCarre, Carl Hiaasen, Garrison Keillor and Philip Roth for a buck. The store also offers coffee-table art books at slightly higher prices and note cards for only 10 cents each. “Since opening on April 13, we’ve made over $3,000,” reports volunteer Sol Barnett, “and you have to understand, this is 100 percent profit.” Actually, that’s not surprising for this group. With about 500 members, 20 of whom volunteer in the bookstore, the Friends have raised more than $100,000 over the past decade, some of which bought new furniture for the library’s recent 63,000-square-foot expansion. Among the newer volunteers are Ann Kimlicka and Jeannette Lees, both of Briny Breezes. “I'd been ill and had to give up some of my previous activities,” Lees said recently, “so I prayed to find something else I could do to stay active. I saw a story in the newspaper that the Boynton library needed volunteers, and I’m having so much pleasure. I’m finding things to read I never knew existed.” Because the small Briny library has no book sale of its own, Lees occasionally carries a few of that library’s discarded titles over to Boynton Beach. “Right now I have two I’m taking, and I’ve taken more than a dozen or so,” she says. “It adds up.” A real plus for the true booklover is that, unlike so many volunteer efforts, the store’s titles are actually shelved by subject and alphabetized for happier hunting. “Well, it’s alphabetized as best we can,” cautions Friends President Judy Barnett. “We’re not professional librarians.” Still, there’s John Grisham right among the G’s, and Ruth Rendell with the R’s. And the books are notably lacking in broken spines, yellowing pages and doodled margins. “The books we accept have to be in good condition,” says Barnett. “No bugs and no cigarette smell.” An early effort at selling used magazines and romance novels for 10 cents each proved unprofitable, but the store still has a backroom backlog waiting for shelf space on which to be displayed. And the Friends are always happy to accept tax-deductible donations of used books, Barnett notes. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed Friday and Sunday. For more information, call (561) 742-6390.

Make your own ice cream

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 13:22

Under her mother's watchful eye, Lana Valdez from Delray Beach concentrates on shaking a mixture of sugar, milk and vanilla for 15 minutes to freeze the ice cream at the 2nd Annual Ice Cream Social at the Schoolhouse Children's Museum in Boynton Beach on June 13. Photo by Mary Kate Leming Recipe: What you'll need: 1 Tablespoon sugar 1/2 cup milk or half & half 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 6 tablespoons rock salt 1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc) 1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag Ice cubes How to make it: 1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag. 2. Put milk, vanilla and sugar into the small bag and seal it. 3. Place the small bag inside the large one and seal it again carefully. 4. Shake until the mixture is ice cream. How long does it take????? 5. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy! (recipe courtesy the Schoolhouse Children's Museum in Boynton Beach)

You scream, I scream for ice cream!

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 13:13

By Jan Norris It’s always sundae at the local ice cream shops – especially in summer when melting residents look to ice cream for a chill thrill. July is National Ice Cream Month, so parlors and shops around the country celebrate the frozen treat. Get in on $8 gourmet sundaes at the Ritz-Carlton throughout the month. Ice cream has a long and sweet history in the U.S. – it was served in the colonies as early as 1700, when Maryland’s Governor Bladen dished it up for his guests. That was, of course, long before freezers; the treat was definitely a luxury for those who had ice available to make it. New York City was the site of the just-born nation’s first ice cream parlor in 1776, serving what the Colonials dubbed “iced cream.” The origin and namesake of the syrup-topped sundae is sketchy. Syrups were more popular than fudge back then, and most likely, it came from an Ithaca, N.Y. druggist who prepared a dish of vanilla ice cream with soda syrup on it and topped with a cherry for a local pastor – on a Sunday. An ad for a “cherry Sunday,” a “new ice cream specialty” selling for 10 cents, appeared around 1893. (Fast fact: More ice cream is sold on Sunday than any other day of the week.) A good deal of evidence links some enterprising vendors at the St. Louis World’s Fair to the popularity of the ice cream cone. They used a waffle to wrap around the ice cream, making a portable, edible container. Cones were much smaller then – as were most people and their appetites. Today, ice cream remains one of America’s top sweet treats. In a cup, cone, dish, or on a stick, it’s scooped up to the tune of around six gallons per person annually. Favorite flavors remain vanilla and chocolate, but our local ice cream shops report some exotic and combo flavors that the lickers go for. At the Ice Cream Club in Manalapan, it’s the “Garbage can sundae” that’s a hit – a vanilla ice cream base with seven different chocolate bars embedded in it ($5.75). moose tracks is one of the best selling cone flavors – it’s a vanilla ice cream studded with chocolate covered mini peanut butter cups and laced with fudge. Ice cream lovers at the Village Homemade Ice Cream shop in Boynton Beach, butter pecan does the trick – or maybe cookies and cream (creamy vanilla studded with chocolate cookies floated with vanilla icing). Sundaes there are popular in those flavors as well – and start at $5.95. For Kilwin’s in Lake Worth, it’s the toasted coconut that tops the chart. Coconut ice cream is crammed with flecks of chocolate-covered coconut shreds and then dipped in dark chocolate – think a frozen Mounds candy bar. Their sundaes come in hot fudge, caramel and marshmallow – your choice of ice cream ($5.06, tax included). A banana twist cone gets attention at the fairly new Eye of the Storm Ice Cream Bar next door to Hurricane Alley in Boynton Beach. It’s a banana soft serve ice cream dipped in chocolate – you could get it in a cup with wet walnuts on top. The sundae of the moment there is a Cheesecake sundae: chocolate and vanilla ice cream, hot fudge or caramel sauce, with cheesecake pieces and white and chocolate chips ($6.50). Serious “adult” ice creams are served at the Casino Dairy Bar in Lake Worth across from the pier. This handmade ice cream comes in the popular Malibu coconut rum flavor – a creamy coconut ice cream made with 100 percent Jamaican rum. Their most popular sundae is made from this flavor, too – with chocolate drizzled over top, and garnished with chocolate jimmies ($4). Kids go for the “crazy cake” cone – vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and bright blue icing, with pieces of vanilla spongecake throughout. Ben and Jerry’s, in Delray has a roster of popular flavors, but that old favorite, Cherry Garcia, still rocks the house. Their 50-50 sundae, made with 2 chocolate chip cookies and one scoop of any flavor ice cream with a bunch of gooey toppings is $5.95.

If You Go: Ice Cream Club 278 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan (561) 582-0778 Village Homemade Ice Cream 100 N.E. Sixth St., Suite 108, Boynton Beach (561) 738-3121 Kilwin’s 512 Lake Ave., Lake Worth (561) 493-9249 also at 402 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach (561) 289-0808 Ben and Jerry’s 1155 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach (561) 272-3112 Casino Dairy Bar Four Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth (561) 588-0233

Meet your neighbor: Ed Manley

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:30

Caption: Briny Breezes resident and 101st Airborne Infantry Division, 502nd Parachute Battalion veteran Ed Manley returned to Normandy on the 50th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1994, to jump again.

Through good, bad and worse, he’s lived life ‘full tilt’
Ed Manley grew up in a foster home because his father was dead and his mother was too poor to take care of him. She visited him on weekends.
He learned life the hard way, he says: on the streets. But he has no complaints and considers himself a lucky guy.
Don’t get old. That’s his maxim.
Just add a good-sized dollop of luck, and there you have it — the path that Manley, 87, follows.
At 20, he signed up as an army paratrooper, and was assigned to 502nd Parachute Battalion. It was re-designated 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and joined by the 101st Airborne Infantry Division in September 1942.
With his regiment, he participated in three major battles during the war: the Battle of Normandy, June 6, 1944; Operation Market Garden in Holland, Sept. 17, 1944; and the Battle of the Bulge, Dec. 17, 1944, in Bastogne against the German Ardennes Offensive.
For D-Day, he was part of an 11-man team whose objective was to blow up four coastal cannons overlooking Omaha Beach. In September, the 502nd made its second drop in Holland; its mission was to seize roads, bridges and a key communication city, Eindhoven. In December, the 101st Airborne was ordered to Bastogne. While the 101st was fighting the Fifth Panzer Army, the 502nd held positions to the north and northwest portions of the envelopment. Manley was wounded in Bastogne on Jan. 3, 1945, captured and held at Stalag 12A for four and a half months before he escaped.
Manley received two Bronze Stars — from Normandy and Bastogne, a Purple Heart and two presidential citations. He’s still a lucky guy, he says. Just two months ago, he underwent a triple bypass. He taps his chest. “I heal fast. Nothing there.”
His doctors wouldn’t let him stay home alone after the operation. As luck would have it, some new friends offered to take him in.
“At their place, the whole back wall is glass,” he said. “I look at their swimming pool, grass, trees and all the foliage. What are the odds of that?”
At 87, he looks at life with gusto. Live life full tilt, be a participant. And when the end comes, he wants his ashes dropped in the Gulf Stream. “I’m taking the cheap seats back to Ireland,” he says. “My family and friends can spend the money on a party.”
— Christine Davis

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A. I was born in 1921. My dad died two months before I was born, and my mother was an orphan. She lived with showgirls and was the only one with a steady job — she put the food on the table. She got walk-ons on different Broadway shows, and that would get her $5. She shipped me out to a babysitter in New Jersey from the time I was 3 until I was old enough to go the Gould Foundation’s home in Harlem. I lived at the group home from when I was 5 until I was 11 years old. Then, my mother married my stepdad, and they took me out of the home. I went to Bayside High School in Bayside, Long Island.
I had to learn to be streetwise when I was at the home in Harlem. On Saturdays, all the kids from the home had 15 cents for the movies. The street kids knew it. On the way to the movies, I wandered away from my group, and this 13-year-old boy cut me four or five inches across the leg with a strap razor, but I was carrying a broken Coke bottle and buried it in his solar plexus. They took me home, cleaned me up and I went to the movies. On D-Day, we were an 11-man team and we were supposed to blow up four coastal cannons overlooking Omaha Beach. We were dropped eight miles from the location. I wound up being the point man to draw fire. The sergeant in charge wanted me to walk down this road. I took a few steps and saw there was no place to hide. Because of my street training, I decided I was going to walk behind the hedges, but the hedges didn’t start for 50 feet, so I walked a few feet, and I did a 90 degrees. My thinking was, if he shot me for diverting, he’d have to be the point man.
He followed the road. After I bypassed a T-intersection. I heard firing. I ducked through and saw the sergeant in a ditch firing his automatic, actually dueling with two Germans with Mauser rifles. One of the Germans was kneeling and the other was standing and they were taking turns firing at him. I picked them off. They were my first kill. The sergeant and I became best friends. How I grew up helped me a lot in circumventing things that the average youngster would walk into. I could see that stuff before I got there.
Q. What is your strongest memory of the war?
A. Watching guys that I couldn’t help. I was in three different invasions, in France, Holland and Bastogne. In Holland in particular, I had a friend who was 10 feet away from me. I tried to help him three or four different times, but the German machine guns kept me back and I watched him die. And at Stalag 12A: On Jan. 3, 1945, 240 of us, the D and F companies, went in (to Bastogne) and the Germans shot up our whole unit. Only 22 of us came out. If you couldn’t walk, the Germans — they were SS — shot you. They only took three of us who were wounded. I was the most wounded. I was a prisoner for four and a half months, and during that time, I had not received medical attention. I’m a very fortunate guy; the lice kept my wounds open. Hitler was going to make a human wall around Berlin and the Germans were going to use us as a buffer against the American advances, and one day, while they were marching us there, six of us escaped. Five of us made it through the lines.
Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today?
A. Work for the government. It’s the only steady job that you can get. If you are capable of going military, go military.
Q. After the war, what did you do?
A. When I first came home, I didn’t work for a year. For the first 52 weeks, I got $20 a week. I became even better at darts and with a cue, which I learned while I was based in England for our 11 months training for D-Day. Other than that, I’ve worked all my life. Then I took the New York state police test. While I was waiting to get in, I worked security at the Belmont Race Track.
While I was working for the state police, for extra money, I also worked as a flag man directing traffic in civilian clothes, because, by then, I had children.
Then I became a runner for a concrete company, dealing with their truckers. I worked on a tanker on the Great Lakes. I was a lumber salesman and a theater manager.
My wife, Dorothy Ann, died 25 years ago. I have three kids: James Edward, 53, Kimberly Ann, 51, and Scott, 49. Scott’s the guy now. He was a hard rock guitar player and he’s now a pastor in a church in Washington State.
Q. How did you end up in Briny Breezes?
A. When my wife passed away, I had a 24-foot sailboat, and I’d come to Florida from Ocean City, Md., in November. I’d take my boat out of the lagoon, and fuel the boat up. A guy there found out I was on my way to Florida, and he told me to give him a jingle when I got to Boynton Beach. So, I pulled in to Two Georges, and I’m having a beer, and called him up. He told me to come under the bridge, and he’d wave me down.
I had no intention of buying, but we walked across to the ocean and I saw Briny and I asked, “How do you get one of these things? And I bought the lot for $15,000. My lot in Delaware cost me $10,000.
They don’t come any luckier than me. Even when I got shot, it went through my leg, and didn’t harm any major bones or blood vessels.
Q. What is your favorite part about living in Briny?
A. I don’t want to sell. Where will you find a place like this? I have the ocean, and dockage when I need it.
Q. What book are you reading now?
A. I never read. I made a book report on Treasure Island three times. Swashbucklers — that was my trip. I have to live it myself. I want to be participant and I’m a hell of an adviser. I don’t go in partially. I go in full tilt.
Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?
A. The big bands. I like to dance. I like good music. I’m not big on vocals. I’m not a Frank Sinatra fan. I like instrumentation.
Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
A. Me.
Q. Who or what makes you laugh?
A. Life in general. I laugh every day. I can see humor. If you can’t, it’s so depressing. You have to laugh.

Summer brings opportunities at close-to-home clubs

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:25

By Mary Thurwachter Despite a slumping economy, many private island clubs are sitting pretty this summer.

At the Delray Beach Club, a 40-year-old beauty designed by architect Samuel Ogren Jr., summer membership is up 20 percent over last year, said general manager Shane E. Peachey. “This is a very family-orientated place and people aren’t taking the trips this year,” he said. The club recently completed a $5 million renovation, adding a casual dining room and wraparound terrace. Summer members, who pay about $1,800 per family to use the club from May 1 though Oct. 31, are entitled to use all the club’s facilities, including the beach, pool, tennis courts, fitness center, bridge luncheons, poolside barbecues, valet parking and restaurants. On Friday nights, families can come to mix and mingle with live entertainment, specialty drinks and complimentary hors d’oeurves. “We have a limited number of memberships available to qualified individuals,” Peachey said.

Summer membership is up 15 percent at the Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis, according to general manage James Calhoun. “We’ve had a good year. People may be postponing overseas trips and a lot of them decided they wanted to be around home.” At The Little Club near Gulf Stream, a 41-year-old private club that offers guests use of its 18-hole, par-3 golf course and dining, summer membership is up 20 percent, possibly because of a price reduction. Hilary Roche, managing director of The Colony Hotel & Cabana Club, reports a 3 percent decline in summer membership over last year, although the club anticipates a membership increase. Family owned and operated since 1951, the Cabana Club mixes old-Florida charm with a modern color palette, Roche says.

The club offers 250 feet of private beach with a heated saltwater pool and a pavilion architecturally reminiscent of Florida coastal houses of refuge. Beach cabanas, umbrellas, chairs, chaises, bath houses, organic cotton towels and parking are all complimentary for members. Oceanside cabanas rent quickly and this year some pool cabanas are available. The club is pet-friendly and eco-friendly and, well, downright friendly. Lunch features grilled specialties, sandwiches and salads of locally sourced ingredients. Monthly full-moon parties with live music are popular with members and hotel guests.

The Seagate Club in Delray reopened in December after being closed to rebuild during the past two and a half years. While full-time memberships are being sought, only six summer memberships are being offered this year and four have been taken. Members have a reciprocal relationship with eight other clubs in the area. Summer fees include $2,500 to join plus a $2,500 redevelopment fee (refundable should members choose not to re-join next summer) and $2,500 in dues. The Ocean Club in Ocean Ridge declined comment on its summer program, other than to say it does have one. And last, but not least, La Coquille Club, with membership limited to Manalapan residents, offered no news of summer programs. Its clubhouse encompasses the 7 acres of the Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, which just completed a $130 million transformation including the addition of a 42,000-square-foot spa. Mary Thurwachter is a West Palm Beach freelance writer and founder/producer of INNsideFlorida.com (www.innsideflorida.com)

McCarty departs sentencing straight to jail

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:12

By Emily J. Minor Former Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty’s life as a public servant ended with emotion and a bit of surprise in early June when she was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in federal prison, then whisked off that very morning to begin serving her time. McCarty, 54, whose husband, Kevin, had already started his eight-month sentence in federal prison for failing to report his wife’s crimes, sat in court June 4, ramrod straight, her new dark hairdo a curiosity for the audience. A smattering of friends and family — including her brother, sister and her mother — were in the courtroom. But several attorneys said that McCarty had deliberately asked many casual friends to write the court instead of attending the sentencing hearing. The former commissioner — who served 18 years at the county level and before that was a prominent and influential Delray Beach city commissioner — had pled guilty to federal charges connected with her taking favors from a company she then helped to win the bid to build a convention center hotel downtown West Palm Beach. The hotel was never built. She also was accused of steering bond jobs to the company for which Kevin McCarty was the bond underwriter. Quiet, poised and holding her hands one over the other as she sat beside her attorney, McCarty did stand before U.S. District Court Judge Donald Middlebrooks to make a brief statement. She spoke slowly, as though that might ward off her emotion. But the reality of the moment was too much. McCarty’s voice cracked and she reached for a tissue several times. “This is obviously a very emotional day for me, so I’ve written down my thoughts so I can share them with you,” she told the judge. McCarty said the charges, her resignation from the commission and her guilty plea had “humiliated and humbled” her. “I never considered myself a criminal,” she said. “But I am one.” The sentencing, which took just under an hour, ended when Middlebrooks gave McCarty the three-and-a-half-year sentence — less than the five years sought by federal prosecutors — but then ordered her into custody right then. He also ordered her to pay $100,000 in fines. McCarty turned — in a bit of disbelief — to look at supporters who sat in the rows directly behind her, raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and gave her final hugs to family members. It was clear this timeline was not what she had expected. She is the third county commissioner to fall from grace in recent years. Tony Masilotti and Warren Newell are each serving federal prison terms on federal corruption charges. Masilotti is serving five years and Newell was originally sentenced to the same, but his sentence was recently reduced to three years for cooperating with federal authorities in other investigations. McCarty, though, was the only one of the three taken into custody the day of the sentencing. Masilotti and Newell each had a month to get their lives in order, and several friends said McCarty was expecting that same grace period. Her attorney, David Bogenschutz, asked Middlebrooks to arrange for McCarty to serve at a federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, but the judge said he wouldn’t “interfere” with that decision. Before announcing his decision, Middlebrooks — also reading from a prepared statement — referred to the failings of Masilotti and Newell and called McCarty’s crimes “less blatant and more subtle.” McCarty spent about a week at the county jail, and was then moved to the federal prison in Miami. That assignment was considered temporary until her final assignment from federal authorities.

Public hearing will air city’s definition of family: Delray Beach

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:10

By Margie Plunkett How do you define a family? Delray Beach’s version will be that a family is no more than three unrelated people living in a single-family house if commissioners vote to approve an ordinance at their first meeting in July. The ordinance, passed on first reading in June with dissenting votes, was one of three addressing transient housing uses that during public hearings generated debate on the government’s right to define family and about group homes and halfway houses in residential neighborhoods. The ordinances, all approved in the first round, come up for second public hearings July 7. The second ordinance in the group changes terminology to be consistent with the state, including using the term licensed service provider to replace convalescent home, home for the aged and alcohol and drug treatment facilities. The purpose, according to the ordinance, is to provide safe and sound housing for residents of community residential homes and group homes while assuring compatibility of the facilities with the area. A third ordinance prohibits transient residential uses in single-family and planned residential developments, but adds them to medium-density residential districts. It also limits the number of times a single-family home can be rented to six times annually. The “family” ordinance requires compliance by the expiration of the lease, or within a year, whichever is earlier. Those not in compliance can seek a waiver. Mayor Woody McDuffie and Commissioner Mackenson Bernard voted against the ordinance defining family, voicing concern that the number of unrelated people per household should be higher — at four. Part of McDuffie’s concern was that seasonal renters could be affected, citing examples of two unmarried couples who might want to split a vacation home. During the public hearing, residents including Pat Archer argued that the number four was more appropriate. Archer said four would allow for seasonal residents who rent. “You are driving seasonal people who support our town to the underground,” she said. Some speakers at the public hearing said they were offended by the very concept of a definition by the city. “I think it’s outrageous that the government can say what a family is,” said resident Kevin Chambers. And City Attorney Susan Ruby quickly stepped in at another’s suggestion the ordinance was intended to do away with safe houses in residential neighborhoods. “They are protected. We are not passing this about sober housing. It affects everyone,” Ruby said, noting that’s discriminatory. “One of the things I said it has to deal with is regulating commerce. A halfway house is commerce.” Archer, former city commissioner and 14-year member of the Delray Beach drug task force, said the task force supports the ordinances. “Many people who are speaking here have involvement in what would be called sober houses. … The Drug Task Force supports halfway houses, but there are none operating in Delray. It supports any zoning you can do to curtail illegal operations in residential neighborhoods.” One halfway house representative, Richard Joslin, said his houses are well maintained, don’t have more than five people living in them, allowed by the current ordinance, and limit the number of cars. Joslin said that he bought the homes with adjustable rate mortgages when prices were at a premium — and that he needs the number of people in the house to meet the bills. He added that his homes are not overcrowded like those of other “unscrupulous” operators. “I haven’t heard anyone say anything bad about us, except for the crack dealers, who don’t appreciate us being there,” he said. Another speaker, John Crane, talked about a housing situation that created a “hostile environment in my neighborhood.” People and cars came and went at all hours at the house occupied by college students, he said. Unrelated people are also motivated to live under one roof to afford the monthly bills, said one person, who noted today’s generation is different. “We’re not making $100,000 a year. We’re kind of gathered together to support each other. We’re in such a new state right now. That’s how we survive,” she said. Father Chip Stokes of St. Paul’s Episcopal said he was “concerned that this ordinance is acting in a discriminatory way.” It appears to target sober houses and have an effect on immigrant houses, he said, adding that it also acts that way toward gay and lesbian people, and couples who might want to rent together.

Obituary — Alice Nan Edge

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:06

By Mary Katherine Stump Hypoluxo Island — Alice Nan Edge, 80, a long-time resident of Hypoluxo Island in Lantana, passed away peacefully at her home on June 16 following an extended illness. Mrs. Edge was a life-long resident of Palm Beach County, having been born and raised in West Palm Beach, daughter of Wilbur F. and Lucile Weaver Divine, and graduating from Palm Beach High School in 1945. “She was a committed resident of Hypoluxo,” said Mayor David Stewart. “She was the type of person to call and let you know when she saw good things happen in her area, and when she saw things she wasn’t a fan of.” In 1956 Mrs. Edge married Donald Edge at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and spent the following years as a devoted wife and loving mother, her No. 1 priority. She later worked as the office manager for her husband’s business, Edge Group Architects. Mr. Edge was one of two chief architects in the 1972 redesign of the West Palm Beach courthouse. Mrs. Edge was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Wilbur F., IV “Bud” Divine. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Donald R. Edge; three children, Carol Edge, Karl Edge, and Nancy Davis (Chris); four grandchildren; in-laws, Audrey Divine, Ruth Edge, Tom and Margie Edge; several nieces and nephews; and many loving and caring friends. A memorial service was held on June 26 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Alice Nan Edge to a hospice or charity of your choice.

Obituary – Elizabeth Matthews Paton

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:04

By Ron Hayes DELRAY BEACH — During her 40 years in the area, Elizabeth Matthews Paton played golf at The Little Club in Gulf Stream, and she wrote its history. She enjoyed the beach, and worked to beautify it. Mrs. Paton, who died May 22, had celebrated her 90th birthday with a gathering of 20 family members on Dec. 6, 2008, at the St. Andrew's Club, where she had lived since 1994. A Par 3 course built on the site of a former polo club, The Little Club was already a decade old when Betty Paton joined in 1978, but two decades later, she would write The Little Club, 1968-1998, a detailed history of the club's first 30 years. She was not comfortable with the word, however. “The word history is far too pretentious a description of this small volume," she wrote in her foreword to the 44-page, illustrated booklet. But history it was, and throughly researched, beautifully written history, too. “She was a dynamo," remembers Gulf Stream Mayor Bill Koch, “a real lover of the club, who gave her time and effort to make it what is is.” Dot Riley met Mrs. Paton not long after she arrived in Delray Beach and the two remained best friends for the next 40 years. “We did crazy things together, and stupid things together, and good things together,” Riley recalled, “but we survived, and I shall miss her. She was a loyal person with very wide and varied interests.” In addition to serving as a governor and officer of The Little Club, Mrs. Paton was the secretary of the Beach Property Owners’ Association for 17 years, until her retirement in 1991. She was also a chair of the city's Beach Advisory Council and worked with the City Commission to add public walkways and showers to the oceanfront. After moving to the St. Andrew's Club, she served as president from 2000-2002. “Her dedication and devotion to the community are what's most expressive of what she was like,” said Pat Stewart of Gulf Steam, another longtime friend. “She was terribly bright, very articulate and devoted to her family and friends.” Born Nov. 23, 1918, in Montclair, N.J., Elizabeth Ann Hughes earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Rutgers University in 1940 and a master’s degree in communications from the American University in Washington, D.C., in 1959. Her first husband, William Henry Matthews, died in 1992 after 32 years of marriage, and she married William John Ross Paton in 1994. He died in June 1996. Locally, she is survived by a nephew, James Tim Hughes of Boca Raton, and a niece, Katherine Hughes of Delray Beach and London, England. She is also survived by two stepdaughters, Pamela Fulge, of Bethesda, Md.; and Miriam Munro, of Los Angeles, Calif., 10 grandchidren and 16 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held June 6 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, followed by interment next to her first husband in Greenwich, Conn. The family requests donations be made to the Memory & Wellness Center at Florida Atlantic University or Hospice of Palm Beach County.

Interfaith21: Obama’s speech in Cairo addressed many audiences

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 12:00

By C.B. Hanif There he was in Cairo, our president, stealing our lines: Uniting people of faith, or no particular faith, in the 21st century. President Barack Obama bestrode multiple worlds, representing Americans in ways that hasn’t happened since … ever. He affirmed that Islam and America “share common principles — principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.” He made clear that extremists and certain cultural practices no more represent Islam than cross-burning, lynching Ku Klux Klansmen represented all Christians; or Dr. George Tiller’s assassin represents all abortion opponents; or the murderer of U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum guard Stephen Johns represents all whites. In last year’s epic speech on race, candidate Obama reminded whites they cannot just ignore the generations of brutally enforced servitude and institutionalized second-class citizenship whose legacy impacts Americans of African descent. He also reminded blacks that “a similar anger exists within segments of the white community” among those who “don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race.” But now, as then, his message in Cairo was: “If we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward.” President Obama noted “civilization’s debt to Islam,” for “paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment,” and demonstrating “the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.” He said Western countries “cannot disguise hostility toward any religion behind the pretence of liberalism,” as in dictating Muslim women’s choice of dress. Yet he not only explained Islam to Americans, and America to a billion-plus Muslims, but also Islam to Muslims, for example citing the Quran: “Whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind.” Before a university audience, he illuminated for the world the fact that individuals and governments are claiming the mantle of Islam yet disrespecting its principles. He also invoked a key asset against extremism: America’s Muslims. They include millions who reverted to the faith of their forebears snatched into slavery generations ago; who maintain constructive ties with fellow citizens of whatever stripe; who rather than getting even, are helping stem man’s inhumanity to man. Thus a Christian, whose father “came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims,” conveyed in that timeless city “the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my county.” He began and ended with, “As salaam alaikum,” or “may God’s peace be upon you” — no doubt knowing the classic greeting obligates the recipient to respond in word and deed that is equal, if not better. C.B. Hanif, former news ombudsman and editorial columnist for The Palm Beach Post, is a freelance writer, editor, and media and interreligious affairs consultant. Look for more insights as he visits or speaks at synagogues, churches and mosques from here to infinity, seeking folks who are making the Golden Rule real, not just an ideal. Hanif can be reached at cbhanif@gmail.com or at his blog,Interfaith21.com.

Paws Up for Pets: Now flying is really going to the dogs

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 11:30

By Arden Moore Some of the best ideas are born during the worst economic times. The latest gem: an airline that caters strictly to pets — or, “pawsengers.” Pet Airways officially takes flight on July 14. Credit this new flying venture to the husband-and-wife team of Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder of Delray Beach. The pair adores Zoe, their 17-year-old Jack Russell terrier, who is just a tad too big to fly in a carrier under the seat in the cabin.

When the couple relocated from California to Florida a couple years ago, the San Francisco-to-Miami non-stop flight was anything but serene. “We were in a total panic with Zoe being in the cargo hold,” recalls Binder. “At 17.5 pounds, Zoe was a little too big to fit under the seat. We told ourselves that we never want her to have to fly in the cargo again. And, we wanted to do something to help other pets who need to travel by air.” But why start an airline when the economy is in a nosedive? “Why not? If you believe in something, you can do it,” says Binder. “Dan and I have served as consultants and recruiters for some successful high-tech start-ups. We love Zoe and saw that we had the chance to fill a void in airline travel.” Pet Airways officially began accepting reservations for its introductory fares of $149 one way on April 16 — yes, the day after income taxes are due. Eventually, fares will average up to $250 one way. And the response? “Our server crashed the first day of taking reservations — the response was overwhelming,” says Binder. “This was a good problem to have. We quickly were able to correct the problem. Think about it. With 87 percent of U.S. households with pets, there’s a definite market for this type of airline.” Combining their passion for pets with their business-savvy skills, they secured financial backing for a fleet of turbo-prop Beech 1900s that will initially offer service to a handful of airports in Baltimore/Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and New York City areas. Within two years, plans call for expanding to up to 25 hubs, including South Florida. Keep in mind that Pet is an airline strictly for pets, not people. The insides of these 19-passenger planes have been renovated to accommodate up to 50 pet carriers per flight. Gone are the passenger seats — replaced by a potty area and play area. The only two-leggers welcomed aboard are the pilot, co-pilot and a flight attendant who has a background in pet care.

Pet Airways offers climate-controlled cabins so pets can fly in any type of weather — an advantage over major commercial airlines that do not accept pets as cargo when outside temperatures hover above 85 degrees or below 45 degrees. Starting slowly, Pet Airways will fly each route once a week. People drop their pets off at pet lounges located at each of these five hubs. Overnight boarding is also available. If you miss a flight or get delayed for any reason, Pet Airways guarantees that your pet will be under the supervised care of a trained employee from drop-off to pickup. Alysa Binder and Dan Wiesel are betting that making the skies fur-friendly is an idea that will really take off. Learn more about Pet Airways by visiting its Web site: www.petairways.com.

Arden Moore, an animal behavior consultant, editor, author and professional speaker, happily shares her Oceanside, Calif., home with two cats, two dogs and one overworked vacuum cleaner. Tune in to her “Oh Behave!” show on Pet Life Radio.com. Contact her at arden@ardenmoore.com.

City of Delray Beach’s review process for renovating historic properties

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 2, 2009 at 11:09

Delray Beach has five historic districts, where the architecture is protected in order to maintain Delray Beach’s character: Nassau Park, east of the Intracoastal Waterway; Old School Square, the initial footprint of the town; the Del-Ida Park District, the city’s first planned subdivision; West Settlers District, north of Old School Square; and the Marina Historic District on the Intracoastal. A property is considered historic by the city of Delray Beach if it is at least 50 years old and holds significance for its historical associations with a person, event or trend in local, state or national history, or for its distinguished architectural merits, including unique craftsmanship, materials, artistic value or its status as the work of an architectural master. Outside of the historic districts, there are also homes that have been individually designated, like Virginia Courtney’s home at 212 Seabreeze, the Sewell C. Biggs House, designed by noted mid-century architect Paul Rudolph in 1955. When a homeowner renovates a designated property, Delray Beach’s Historic Preservation Board reviews and evaluates the exterior alterations or additions to the historic structure to ensure that it retains its historical and architectural integrity. “We look at everything, from paint colors to the type of siding that you are going to use to both large additions and new construction,” says Amy Alvarez, Delray Beach’s Historic Preservation planner. To encourage people to improve their older homes in designated neighborhoods, the city of Delray Beach offers incentives. First of all, there are county and city tax advantages, Alvarez points out. “For historic properties, the city offers a 10-year tax exemption based on the increased value that comes about from the interior and exterior improvements. “In addition, the city tries to accommodate homeowners by providing relief to setback requirements.” Alvarez would like people to take advantage of these benefits. “Studies have shown that the economic impacts of historic preservation are positive.” Only about a dozen people have taken advantage of them since they became available in 1996, she said. Recent news: In November 2008, Delray Beach was designated a Preserve America Community. “It’s a White House initiative and Delray Beach is the first in the county to receive it,” Alvarez said. In April 2009, the Nassau Historic District, originally designated in 1988 with a Period of Significance through 1943, was re-designated to extend the Period of Significance to acknowledge newer structures up to 1964. The Marina and West Settlers Historic Districts have also been re-designated. — Christine Davis