Nearly 250 of the performing arts center’s major donors attended a special evening in their honor. It featured a cocktail reception, a three-course dinner and a performance by Michael Feinstein. ‘Thank you for your continued support during our Kravis 2020 capital campaign,’ CEO Judith Mitchell said. ‘There is no doubt the Kravis Center is a unique cultural and economic landmark recognized worldwide as a source of the finest entertainment for all Palm Beach County residents and tourists.’ Mitchell welcomed new founder members James and Laurie Bay, Robert and Meg Biscup, Peter and Stephanie Lamelas, David Moscow, Donna Kesselman Raggio, Lynda Rothstein and Leonard and Beth Wilf. INSET: Stephanie and Peter Lamelas. Photo provided by CAPEHART

The Boys & Girls Club of Delray Beach celebrated its eighth annual event by honoring dentist and philanthropist Dr. Craig Spodak and Youth of the Year Widnie Marcelin while raising more than $100,000. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and a meal featuring a special performance by youth violinists. Dr. Spodak received the Forrest and Frances Lattner Community Impact Award for his years of support. The evening wrapped up with a live auction that raised more than $20,000. ABOVE: Widnie, 17, and BELOW: Dr. Spodak. Photos provided by Tim Stepien Photography

The 18th annual Boca Bacchanal attracted 1,400-plus attendees and raised more than $275,000 for the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum. In all, four events celebrated the best in food and wine: Bacchus Beckons, Bubbles & Burgers, a series of vintner dinners and the Grand Tasting. ‘We are honored to be supported and embraced by so many residents and visitors,’ museum Executive Director Mary Csar said. ‘We are also proud that our events keep getting better each year. As one of the oldest and most popular food and wine festivals in South Florida, it is very gratifying that the Boca Bacchanal remains the gold standard for introducing people of all ages to outstanding restaurants, talented chefs and noteworthy wineries.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Al and Joni Goldberg with Thom and Joyce DeVita. Photo provided by Michele Sandberg

Dogs will need to rediscover alone time once home isolation ends for their owners. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

There is no argument that our pets love us tremendously and unconditionally. But after more than two months stuck spending 24/7 with us in our homes, dogs and cats may be running out of patience with us and clamoring for some me-time.
They may express this by acting out. Just like us, our pets are adjusting to this new norm created by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Your calm dog may now unleash a bark barrage every time an Amazon delivery person puts a package on your porch. He may feel the need to be extra vigilant because you are homebound.
Your usually affectionate cat may now let out a hiss or dash away when you approach to pet him for the 10th time of the day. In his feline way, he is saying, please let me enjoy an uninterrupted nap.
Changes are noticeable even in the homes of pet behavior experts.
“My dog, Maverick, is thoroughly enjoying the increased opportunities to beg for food and clean up the floor as we are eating most meals at home,” says Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who runs the Florida Veterinary Behavior Services in West Palm Beach and is the co-author of a best-selling book, From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog from Anxiety, Fears and Phobias. “I think that he will miss this most when we all go back to work and school.”
And what about her cat, Chewie?
“Our kitty was very attached before, but now he has become our shadow,” says Radosta. “We are trying to make sure that he is very enriched and spends some time away from us each day because we are concerned that he will have a bit of separation anxiety when we go back to work.”
Lack of mental and physical stimulation can prompt some pets to become hyperactive, engage in inappropriate chewing (like on your coffee table legs), paw your leg for attention, engage in marathon barking or meowing, surf kitchen counters and other unwanted behaviors.
Solution: You need to find the “joy factor” in your pet. That idea motivated Radosta and her team to launch an online learning program called Dog Nerds. It is available to anyone in Palm Beach County and beyond who seeks help to keep dogs feeling happy and secure.
You can get your paws on her free e-book, Stuck at Home with a Bored Dog, at https://therealdognerds.com/site/. Here is a sampling of the 27 tips she shares to bring out the best in your dog:
1. End mealtime boredom by scattering his dog food in your yard or hide piles in your home for your dog to find to bring out his inner hunter. On occasion, go bowl-free at mealtime for your cat and have him hunt for his kibble pieces in a closed room like a bathroom.
2. Try different walking routes so your dog can experience novel sights, sounds and smells.
3. Relax your dog (and cat) by playing specific relaxing music, such as classical, reggae or soft rock. Music can also mask environmental sounds that cause some dogs to stress bark, such as a ringing doorbell.
4. Redirect your gotta-dig dog away from your garden or sofa pillows by making or buying a snuffle mat. These mats work a dog’s brain and tap his strong sense of smell as he searches through the mat for hidden food or treats. Here’s a link if you want to create your own snuffle mat: https://iheartdogs.com/diy-let-your-dog-dig-for-food-and-treats-in-this-entertaining-mat/.
As we take steps to resume our work and travel schedules interrupted by COVID-19, use this time to help your pets make this transition for their sense of security — and to reduce their feelings of separation anxiety or frustration.
Radosta offers a win-win plan for you and your pets.
“Now is the time to prepare for what is coming,” she says. “For our dogs and cats, that is about independence and enrichment. We want to make sure that they have things to do which do not involve the pet parent so that they are not completely reliant on the pet parent for happiness.”
Start now by putting your dog in his crate or carrier or closed spare room for about 15 to 60 minutes a day with a favorite stuffed food toy. Or take a walk without him.
“Try to shoot for some independence for your dog,” Radosta says. “We want your dogs to know that you are still leaving sometimes, and they will be OK.”
Cats also need time away from us each day. I have resisted the temptation to wake up my orange tabbies, Casey and Rusty, when they are cuddling together on the couch.
“They have been lying on our laps 24/7 for more than six weeks now,” Radosta says. “Get to shopping online for toys that will occupy your cat. Catit (https://usa.catit.com) makes some great toys. Save the boxes and packing material for your kitty. These can provide them with hours of fun.”
I recently adopted a stray small dog during this pandemic and named her Emma. As much as I love spending 24/7 with her, I have followed Radosta’s savvy advice. As I write this column in our backyard office, Emma — and the rest of my furry Brady Bunch — are napping in the main house.
And I now limit tossing tennis balls to Kona, my terrier mix, to two or three times a day.
Everyone, including pets, needs and deserves some me-time. Emma, Kona, Casey and Rusty definitely.

Arthur Metzger is surrounded by family and friends on a parade through Mizner Park ahead of his 99th birthday. The march, which urged residents and politicians to make the planet better, was Feb. 29, before the coronavirus halted such gatherings. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Margie Plunkett

A small group armed with signs such as “Think About the Grandchildren” marched through Mizner Park in late February, singing and chanting to bring attention to how we should leave the world for those who follow. A 99-year-old World War II veteran led the rally, which coincided with his birthday March 3.
Arthur Metzger, in a wheelchair powered by his son, was joined by his family and friends, all supporters of his wish to urge politicians and residents to do what’s right for coming generations.
“We had little ones from 2 years old to 99 — Arthur — singing these songs and carrying the banners,” said Metzger’s wife, Carole Weller.
After all was said and done, Metzger said he hoped the event, with about 50 participants, made an impact “on some of the politicians who were on the borderline.”
The rally was sparked by a family discussion in Metzger’s living room of the environment and other pressing issues that ended in a challenge by Weller to her husband: “What are you going to do about it?”
“He said he was going to get a sign and walk with it,” Weller recalled. “Every one of us perked up and said, ‘What? What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I think we should do something.’
“He was genuinely worried about the world that we brought our children and grandchildren into,” Weller said, adding that they have a blended family of seven children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. “It doesn’t matter the cause — they all needed addressing.”
Weller said that looking at Metzger’s past helps explain his wish to make a better world.
He was born in a small town outside Nuremberg, Germany, to a well-to-do family who fled the Nazis in 1936, arriving in New York City practically penniless. Metzger was 15. He finished high school in America, began working and then enlisted in the Army. When officials there found out he wasn’t a U.S. citizen, they naturalized him.
He took part in the landing at Normandy, France, during WWII and went on to fight in France and Germany until the war ended.
“He was a big hero,” Weller said.
Metzger recalled that during his four-year Army stint, he was promoted to lieutenant by the end of the war and was decorated for his service. His decorations and citations included the World War II victory medal, American campaign medal, European African Middle Eastern ribbon with two battle stars and the bronze star.
When Metzger returned to the United States, he became a pioneer in the plastics industry, building a global company called Amco Plastics International in New York. With his background as self-made — knowing what it was like to be practically homeless and penniless — he became a very charitable man, Weller said. He was involved with a long list of issues, including his children’s education, Jewish causes and politics nationally and locally.
Metzger stopped actively working at his company nine or 10 years ago, remaining as chairman of the board for another five years. The company was run by his son, Gary, until about five years ago, when it was sold.
“Arthur was playing tennis, golf and bridge until he was 92,” Weller said, but failing eyesight, Parkinson’s disease and other ailments caught up with him.
Nothing stopped him from leading the rally, however, and trying to make a difference.
“Our hope was that people along the way would see the signs and think, ‘What are they talking about?’” Weller said.
“Maybe it would dawn on them that we should be thinking about our future and what we should do about it. That was the whole idea. We felt it was successful.”

Arthur Metzger kisses his great-granddaughter Ciena Parisi after the march.

By Christine Davis

Tenet Palm Beach Health Network’s Palm Beach hospitals resumed elective care on May 4, as the state lifted the relevant executive order related to the coronavirus. “Many patients have postponed medical care or are in need of treating new symptoms. Our health system is ready to safely provide this care to our community again,” says Tenet Palm Beach Health Network CEO Maggie Gill. “The Palm Beach Health Network is committed to the universal protection and safety of our patients, physicians and staff.
“We have rigorous infection prevention protocols in place, and they are working. We have well-trained and experienced staff. We have clear pathways to care for COVID-19 patients separately from those with other illnesses. We have also invested in rapid testing capabilities and personal protective equipment.”
Delray Medical Center is a part of Tenet Palm Beach Health Network.

Baptist Health South Florida began to reopen its facilities on May 6 for elective surgeries, endoscopies and interventional procedures. Enhanced protective measures, including mandatory face masks, social distancing guidelines, and entranceway screenings, will continue to be utilized.
Baptist Health also notes that patients should call their doctor’s offices for the status of appointments that were canceled because of the pandemic. Regularly scheduled appointments with Baptist Health Medical Group physicians are going as planned, though visitor restrictions are in place.
“We want people in our communities to know that Baptist Health has taken all the necessary precautionary actions to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe and healthy,” said Anexis Lopez, R.N., manager of infection control at Doctors Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida. “The steps we have taken are consistent with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Baptist Health is also working closely with local and state public health officials.”
Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Bethesda East are part of Baptist Health South Florida.

Two lab technicians suit up to begin testing samples for COVID-19 on the campus of Miami Cancer Institute.
 
In mid-April, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for Baptist Hospital of Miami Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at Miami Cancer Institute to perform a new COVID-19 swab test in-house, which was developed at the Miami Cancer Institute. This testing allows Miami Cancer Institute to perform a number of tests twice a day and receive results within 24 hours. The lab is able to perform 40-80 tests per day, with capacity for more in the near future.

In early April, a team from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems rapidly produced protective face shields in response to a request from Baptist Health South Florida.
Making the inexpensive, disposable face shield requires only clear polyester plastic, elastic fabric bands, and a laser cutter, and it’s simple and quick. Baptist Health South Florida requested an initial order of 4,000 face shields, which the FAU team completed, and Baptist ordered 4,000 more. 

Henry Phipps, 5, working at home, was one of the students from A.D. Henderson School who helped make 3D face shields and other supplies for several hospitals. Photos provided

Another innovative solution, this one by Florida Atlantic University’s Cane Institute for Advanced Technologies at A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School: Through April, students ranging from ages 5 to 18, along with two faculty members, worked to create more than 1,200 3D printed face shields, 36 intubation chambers and 2,000 ear savers for several hospitals in Palm Beach County.
The intubation chambers, a unique form of PPE for hospitals, provide an extra layer of protection for doctors and nurses when they are intubating patients who need to be put on respirators.
Allan Phipps, district science coordinator at Henderson School and FAU High, was contacted by Giovana Jaen, an FAU High grad in her third year as a student at Schmidt College of Medicine, about doing this for a local hospital.
Phipps relocated the school’s 3D printing equipment to his garage and began coordinating the institute’s efforts, as well as manufacturing face shields and intubation chambers with his children, who attend Henderson School. Phipps and James Nance, a middle school science teacher, host social distancing drive-thrus in front of the school where students can drop off 3D printed face shields and ear savers they created at home.

Karethy Edwards, a professor and associate dean of academic programs, and Karen Chambers, an assistant professor, both in Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, are spearheading programs to provide PPE and health care services for homeless people and low-income individuals who live in a northwest neighborhood in West Palm Beach. On April 28, in collaboration with the Northwest Community Health Alliance board, Chambers and about 10 faculty and staff members distributed more than 400 face masks to residents in this community. An additional 150 face masks were to be distributed early May. 

On April 29, the HCA East Florida Hospitals of Palm Beach County announced its participation in a national study to determine if plasma from convalescent or recovered COVID-19 patients may benefit people hospitalized with severe or life-threatening cases.
As part of the effort, JFK Medical Center and Palms West Hospital are seeking eligible volunteers to donate plasma. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have since tested negative can help by donating plasma through OneBlood (www.oneblood.org/lp/covid-19-convalescent-plasma.stml) or the American Red Cross (www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html). For information, call HCA’s dedicated COVID-19 Plasma Phone Line at 833-582-1971 or visit hcahealthcare.com.

A team at Jupiter Scripps Research has found that an effective COVID-19 vaccine need not incorporate the entire spike protein that gives the novel coronavirus its crown-like appearance, according to an April 28 news release.
Rather, a vaccine containing one-sixth of the entire spike, just the tip, is sufficient to elicit an immune response in rodent models, and may be safer. This suggests that mass production of a potentially safer, less costly COVID-19 vaccine can be accomplished on a timeline shortened by several months.
The findings were published prior to peer review on the preprint site BioRXiv at www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.10.036418v1.

Throughout south Palm Beach County, residents and businesses are showing support for hospital workers and first responders on the front lines battling the coronavirus.

Sandi Savia, EMS liaison at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, blows a kiss through her mask to Boca Raton Fire Rescue crew members as they and more than 20 other first-responder vehicles parade past the Emergency Room entrance on April 17 as a show of support for hospital workers. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Delray Medical Center staff enjoyed complimentary ice cream in the hospital parking lot courtesy of Abbey Delray, Abbey Delray South and Harbour’s Edge, which partnered with Maypo’s Ice Cream truck in an effort to thank health care workers on May 2. Members of the hospital pharmacy staff pose for a selfie: (l-r) Graciela Almazan, Lourdes Black, Lisa Stephani, and Antonia Pasvantis, the assistant pharmacy director. The gesture is part of the communities’ Heroes in Health Care campaign, aimed at showing appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice of health care professionals during the pandemic. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

At 7 p.m. April 17, residents of the Boca Highland Beach Club & Marina in Highland Beach stood on their balconies to applaud first responders and health care workers for their work during the coronavirus outbreak. Pictured top to bottom (l-r): Irma and Seymor Andrus; Matthew Tyroler, 20, Richard Tyroler and Amy Tyroler; and Debbie Romanyk. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Joyce Reingold

As COVID-19 began its aggressive spread and stay-at-home orders followed, cellphones went from being necessary, sometimes intrusive devices to becoming virtual lifelines. Friends and family members took to voice and video to pierce isolation and diminish anxiety — checking in, catching up and lifting spirits.
Doctors and mental health professionals quickly joined that virtual support network. Insurance providers like Florida Blue and Aetna offered telephone and video health care visits as a benefit prior to the pandemic. But with the coronavirus public health emergency declaration on Jan. 31, Medicare moved to expand its coverage of telehealth services for the duration of the emergency. Other insurance companies and health care providers followed suit.
Now, even as elective surgeries have resumed and access to medical offices is widening, telemedicine may well be part of the new normal.
That would suit Sara Greene just fine. While her doctors’ offices were closed, the Boca Raton woman said she had several productive telehealth visits, including one with her dermatologist to discuss a rash.
“It was basically, OK, here’s my issue,” Greene said. “She said, ‘Turn the camera around and let me take a look at it.’ Then she goes, ‘All right, what have you got in your medicine cabinet?’ OK, let’s go look. So, we went to the medicine cabinet and she saw what creams and stuff I had, and she said: ‘OK, use that one.’ It was that simple.”
For Greene, coordinator for the Department of Biomedical Science at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU, telehealth’s time saving is part of its appeal.
“I absolutely would continue to use it. For someone who works full time like me, to take an hour and a half off to go to a doctor’s appointment that’s going to take me five minutes, is a pain in the neck,” she said.
FAU Medicine’s primary care practice stepped into telehealth — diagnosing and treating nonemergency conditions — for the first time in March, said Dr. Leonard Berkowitz, lead physician. The practice maintained office visits only for patients with conditions that would be difficult to manage with virtual care, he said.
“I think what we’ve learned from this experience is that there are definite advantages to telemedicine. For someone who might have transportation issues, they’re able to be seen right from their own home. Also, for someone who might have a medical condition where they may not want to be exposed to other patients sitting in a waiting room,” he said.
“We’ve really covered a lot of the common areas that we treat in primary care: diabetes and hypertension management, rashes and skin conditions, sore throats, respiratory infections, and strains and sprains. We’ve also been dealing with mental health issues as well, like anxiety and depression. It’s been a very stressful time for a lot of patients.”
Ocean Ridge psycho-therapist Mya Breman welcomes the telehealth coverage expansion for just that reason. She sees, and hears, the anger, fear, anxiety and grief the pandemic is generating and wants people to find the support they need.
“I don’t think people are reaching out the way they do in normal times. And that’s a shame because now, more than ever, they should be reaching out,” she said.
“What you need is someone to talk this out with. And I think a best friend who knows how to listen is fine. But they have their issues, too. So, I think a practitioner, a professional, is now even more essential because you need someone who’s really going to listen, be rational, be on your side and really respond to your individual needs. You know … someone who is there for you 100%.”
But, as people meet up on Zoom or reach out by phone, Breman offered a meaningful way we can offer support.
“I think the main thing is to validate each other’s feelings because we’re all in this together. And it’s normal that we’re all feeling these things, whether it’s gee, I’m really happy to get off the Ferris wheel, or, oh, I’m so miserable. So, find people that can validate you and say you’re not crazy; it’s very normal to feel whatever it is that you’re feeling.”
Breman began offering telephone psychotherapy sessions many years ago, to serve clients who live across the country and around the world. She has since added video sessions but leaves the choice to the client.
“Telehealth really is very effective,” she said. “If you trust your therapist, there’s not much difference between telehealth and face-to-face, in person.”
“Obviously, telemedicine was here before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Berkowitz said. “But I think doctors are curious to see what role it will have afterwards. I would not be surprised if it’s a part of doctors’ practices moving forward. What part of it remains to be seen.”

Joyce Reingold writes about health and healthy living. Send column ideas to joyce.reingold@yahoo.com.

ABOVE: Delray Beach residents Jennifer Magi, Sue Magi and Jimmy Magi stop along A1A to watch the Easter sunrise. Easter Sunday usually draws hundreds of people on A1A just south of Atlantic Avenue for a nondenominational service, but not during the coronavirus pandemic. The Magi family has attended the Easter service for over 30 years. BELOW: Delray Beach residents Jim Reynolds and Sue Beil photograph the sunrise. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

This view of Lake Boca Raton on April 19 gives a small sense of the crowds that usually attend the annual Boca Bash on the state-controlled lake. BELOW: But a week later, FWC and Boca officers found no bash to police. Boaters heeded advice from an organizer and the city and stayed away. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Willie Howard

Fishing, diving and boating along the coast of Palm Beach County was tightly restricted for five weeks after Palm Beach County officials closed boat ramps and marinas March 22 to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
The reason: Many boaters ignored social-distancing guidelines by using their vessels to gather for shoulder-to-shoulder parties at popular raft-up spots such as Lake Boca and the Peanut Island sandbar.
County officials opened marinas and boat ramps April 29 — but with restrictions on boat occupancy and boater behavior.
As of early May, the public health restrictions for recreational boaters included:
• A prohibition on any marine recreational activity that does not comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines related to the spread of COVID-19.
• No anchoring of two or more boats within 50 feet of each other.
• No activity that results in a gathering of more than 10 people.
• No beaching, landing or anchoring on open shorelines or sandbars.
• Capacity limits for non-commercial boats. Boats 25 feet or smaller, for instance, are allowed to carry up to four adults, plus two youths age 17 or younger, a maximum of six people.

Joel Cortes, the assistant public works director of Lantana, paints directions on the pavement at the public marina south of Ocean Avenue at the Intracoastal Waterway early on April 29. Pier anglers are required to keep at least 10 feet apart, and only one person at a time can be at the fish-cleaning station. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Other restrictions apply to charter fishing boats, dive boats and other for-hire boats in Palm Beach County.
Charter operators have been told to mark seating locations to maintain a minimum of 6 feet between customers.
Fish-cleaning tables are limited to one person at a time.
The captain, crew and patrons of for-hire boats are to wear protective gear such as face masks and gloves, according to the county’s emergency order.
Dive tanks are to be filled by appointment only and picked up curbside, according to guidelines in the county’s Emergency Order No. 5, signed April 27.
Personal watercraft are limited to one person per vessel — or one adult and one child who is an immediate family member.
Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are limited to one person unless two people can occupy them and still maintain 6 feet of separation.
At boat ramps, one boat should launch per boat ramp bay at a time to minimize contact with others.
On fishing piers, a distance of 10 feet between anglers must be maintained. Tackle shops and fuel docks are allowed to operate if they follow CDC guidelines.
For details, visit discover.pbcgov.org. Click on “updates” and look for Emergency Order No. 5.
As of early May, group fishing boats (head boats) such as the Lady K in Lantana were operating with restrictions.
The Lady K’s parent company, Bar Jack Fishing, limits trips to 10 anglers to maintain a 6-foot separation between anglers. The ticket price increased to $60 per person from $45. Face masks are encouraged, and anglers are encouraged to bring their own fishing gear.
The Living on Island Time head boat based at Palm Beach Yacht Center in Hypoluxo and the Sea Mist III based at Boynton Harbor Marina were offering fishing trips with the same restrictions: 10 people maximum at a cost of $60 each. Reservations are suggested.

Scuba diver killed off Palm Beach
A Melbourne diver died after being pulled under the boat and trapped March 29 off Palm Beach.
According to a preliminary report by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Mollie Ghiz-Flynn, 37, was diving from the Southern Comfort dive boat about 1.5 miles south of Palm Beach Inlet. She was pulled under the boat and “trapped by the propeller” while the captain was picking up divers.
Other divers freed Ghiz-Flynn from the propellers, pulled her on board and administered CPR. Firefighters met the boat at Riviera Beach Marina, where they pronounced her dead. The FWC is investigating.

Event updates
June 13: Saltwater Slam fishing tournament for kingfish, dolphin, wahoo, tuna and cobia. Early entry fee $401.25 through May 29. Call 954-725-4010 or visit www.bluewatermovements.com. Check Bluewater Movements Facebook page for updates on captain’s meeting and weigh-in.
July 11: Big Dog & Fat Cat KDW Shootout fishing tournament is planned, based at Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores. Captain’s meeting July 10 at Sailfish Marina. Entry fee $200 per boat through July 6 or $250 thereafter. Details at www.bigdogfatcat.org.
Postponed: No date had been set (as of early May) for the 26th annual Lantana Fishing Derby. For updates, call 561-585-8664 or visit www.lantanafishingderby.com.
Postponed: The Boca Raton-based nonprofit Marine Education Initiative (formerly Fishing for Families in Need) postponed its Cruise for a Cause fundraiser, originally set for April 4. The new date is Nov. 7. Tickets can be used on the new event date or refunded. For details, go to www.marineinitiative.org.
Canceled: X-Generation Anglers for Soldiers KDW fishing tournament, originally set for May 23. Organizers plan to hold the tournament Memorial Day weekend in 2021. Call 561-577-0706.
Canceled: This year’s Palm Beach County KDW Classic fishing tournament originally set for May 30. The next KDW Classic is set for June 5, 2021. Call 561-832-6780 or visit www.kdwclassic.com.
Canceled: This year’s Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, the annual Father’s Day fundraising paddle from Bimini to Lake Worth Beach. The next crossing is set for June 19, 2021. Details: www.crossingforcysticfibrosis.com.
Canceled: Palm Beach International Boat Show. A virtual boat show was scheduled for May 14.

Tip of the month
NOAA Fisheries and Salt Water Sportsman magazine have organized a fishing photo contest intended to showcase Americans’ passion for saltwater fishing.
Recreational anglers should submit a photo and the story related to their favorite catches.
Prizes include an expense-paid fishing trip to the Florida Keys.
Enter on Instagram at #NOAAsFavoriteCatch or go to www.saltwatersportsman.com/noaaphotocontest.

ABOVE: Recovered COVID-19 patient Alan Levy, right, with his wife, Lynne, and son Joshua Levy cheer from the balcony of their home in Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club during the Lag BaOmer parade on the May 12 holiday.
BELOW: Jeff Wasserman, front, and Jeff Bilfeld show support for Levy, a fellow Chabad of East Boca member. The Chabad celebrated the holiday by saluting health care heroes. The parade through Boca Raton ended with a ceremony featuring video footage of the team at Boca Regional Hospital, where Levy spent more than a month.
Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

How about some good news?
People are showing up at virtual church and temple in increasing numbers. While there are few (if any) places practicing public worship in Palm Beach County, many more people are seeking out a virtual spiritual connection.
When “coronavirus” was just a whisper, Rabbi Shmuel Biston, co-director of Chabad of East Delray Beach, closed the doors of his newly opened facility on First Avenue “almost immediately.” But Biston, an Apple watch-wearing millennial, made a seamless transition to virtual worship, which was easier for groups that already had a strong online presence through Facebook or YouTube.
Others scrambled.
St. Joseph’s Episcopal in Boynton Beach amassed every tool it could find, Father Marty Zlatic says. “We started a church Facebook page, we instituted a YouTube channel for the church, and we bought a subscription to Zoom. We’re investigating the cost of installing a permanent video broadcasting system so we can more easily offer livestreaming of our services even after the quarantine is over.”
Father Brian Horgan at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Highland Beach celebrates Mass every day, but he’s leaving the streaming to others. “So many others are doing it, and we don’t want to send out something that’s not as effective,” he says. He keeps in touch with the congregation through daily emails and he answers his cellphone. “We want the parish to know they’re not forgotten.”
Still, reopening is the goal.
Paul J. Kane, rector at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Delray, says, “I can’t imagine online becoming the normal means of worship. The church is a community. Being together in prayer, fellowship and service is at the heart of who we are. So, in that sense, I don’t think online church can ever become the norm. But this pandemic has certainly demonstrated the importance of the church having a strong, accessible presence on the internet.”
The quantity and content are changing too, local clergy said, along with its audience.
Zlatic says, “Since the day the quarantine started, we started posting a worship experience of some sort every day on our social media pages to give the congregation a touch from the church. It’s been a ray of hope to our congregation, especially those who are quarantined alone.”
Rabbi Ruvi New of Chabad of East Boca Raton says he’s seen a significant spike in participation in the daily prayers he offers, with as many as 1,000 viewers showing up from around the world.
“I’m inspired and humbled by it,” he says. “We’re embracing this disruption of life as we knew it. It’s about how we utilize the opportunities and make the most of it that matters.”
Kane says daily emails to parishioners (“spreading God’s love, not the virus”) have “become a sort of lifeline in the midst of a lot of loneliness and isolation.”
For a successful reopening, everyone agrees the key is to act responsibility and safely with new protocols in place.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach spoke to his flock and acknowledged that all want to reopen as soon as possible, but everyone must respect social distancing and follow policies in a “careful and thoughtful way.”
Horgan says that St. Lucy’s will follow the diocese’s lead. The church has taped off pews to enforce social distancing and removed all the books and hymnals. It is working on safe ways to offer the sign of peace, formerly a handshake or embrace, and Holy Communion.
“People need human touch,” Horgan says. “Our people are so willing to make changes, which is a tremendous blessing, but it’s been extremely hard. I can’t be a priest without people. But I’m optimistic about the future.”
Biston says, “We have to be cautious. We have a lot of seniors so even when it’s safe, we’ll keep attendance in check and take it one day at a time.”
No one is sure how places of worship will decide who comes. Reservations only? Maybe a lottery? Kane says that St. Paul’s will follow the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, which plans to take a phased approach to reopening.
“The next phase,” Kane says, “will likely involve having congregants wear PPEs, sitting at least 6 feet apart and not receiving Communion from the common cup.”
The biggest factor in determining what worship will look like six months from now will be the development of a vaccine, Biston says. But whether we’re asked to wear masks, check our temperatures at the door, provide proof of vaccination or other mandates, Biston says, “We’re humans. We adapt. We forge on.”
New says he expects a new appreciation for relationships and a lot of excitement around the communal nature of worship.
“That feeling of pooled energy, a greater sense of connection from sharing space,” are what we’re missing, he says. He expects people to be almost giddy. Right now, the feelings aren’t so positive.
But New says not to lose faith.
“My message is to relieve yourself of the burden of worry. God’s divine orchestrations cannot be understood by man. We are on the cusp of a better, brighter world,” New says.

Jessika Harvey and Rush Rashidi show the 103-inch broadbill swordfish they boated March 23 after a 24-hour fight. They hooked the swordfish off Palm Beach County on the evening of March 22 and drifted north in the current. The fight ended off Vero Beach. Estimated weight: 400 pounds. Willie Howard/The Coastal Star

Barricades block off metered parking on State Road A1A in Delray Beach, reinforcing the countywide public beach closure. Beaches are scheduled to reopen on May 18 with metered parking along A1A. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Delray Beach will reopen its municipal beach and Atlantic Dunes Beach on May 18 daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while lifeguards are on duty.

During this initial reopening, the city is limiting beach activity to walking, jogging and swimming. Surfing, sunbathing, playing volleyball or other group activities are not allowed. No chair and cabana rentals will be available.

The parking meters along A1A will be activated with four-hour limits. Free city resident parking will be available at Anchor Park where IDs will be required. People with handicapped plates can park for free along A1A for four hours.

No beach parking will be permitted in the barrier island neighborhoods.

The public restrooms will be closed, along with the main pavilion at Atlantic Avenue.

Delray Beach is the furthest city south in the county to reopen public beach parking.

“For that reason, our reopening will be ‘slow and cautious’ — allowing the City to solve any unforeseen problems before they overwhelm us,” Mayor Shelly Petrolia said in a May 17 announcement. “Restrictions will be enforced until more surrounding area beaches fully open.”

Petrolia’s statement also said, “We don’t want to repeat the mishaps made in Naples where after opening, they had to close their beaches.”

— Jane Smith

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach officials clarified their position on wearing face masks at a special City Commission meeting on May 9.

City Manager George Gretsas had sent information the previous day saying Delray Beach was lifting both its curfew and its mandate on wearing facial coverings to fight the spread of coronavirus. The memo seemed to indicate it was OK not to wear a face mask.

On May 9, he said although the mandate was rescinded as a result of Palm Beach County entering a first phase of eased restrictions on businesses, the city should follow county and federal guidelines that recommend wearing face masks in public.

Four commissioners supported urging people to wear face masks in the city. Deputy Vice Mayor Shirley Johnson wanted the mandate  to stand.

Riders who use Freebee and its drivers will have to wear face masks, commissioners decided. Freebee is a free transportation service that operates mainly east of the interstate.

By requiring riders to wear face masks, the city will be in sync with the county’s rules for its public transportation system requiring the wearing of masks.

Commissioners also agreed that parking along Atlantic Avenue west of the bridge over the Intracoastal will remain free when businesses reopen Monday at 25% capacity. But there will be a time limit on how long people can park there. At an earlier meeting, commissioners decided to charge for parking along State Road A1A once beaches are reopened.

City contractors check the reclaimed water connection at the corner of A1A and Rhodes Villa Avenue on March 2. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

 Related: Timeline of troubles | Standard safeguards usually stop mix of drinking, recycled water | City provides watering service after reclaimed water turned off | Restoration of reclaimed water service pushed back

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach's reclaimed water program was mismanaged from its start in 2006, City Manager George Gretsas told city commissioners on May 5.

“There was negligence and a lot of things that should not have happened,” Gretsas said. “The mismanagement is very clear. There was a decade of it … lack of contractor oversight. No records were kept. It was a real problem for us as we’re trying to fix it.”

He graded the reclaimed water program a D-minus. The system has been shut down since Feb. 4.

The city is turning on the reclaimed water in phases with approval from the Florida Department of Health. Of 613 reclaimed water customers, 46% have that service restored, Gretsas said. The remaining 54% are waiting.

Reclaimed water lines provide partly treated wastewater meant solely for lawn watering. The lines were installed as part of a settlement that Delray Beach reached with state and federal regulators to stop sending raw sewage into the ocean.

The city must reuse 3.85 million gallons a day by 2025, according to the settlement. Its current level is 2.85 million gallons a day.

Most of the city’s water customers on the barrier island have reclaimed water service for lawn irrigation. Golf courses, city parks and facilities, and master-metered communities west of Interstate 95 also use reclaimed water.

Gretsas, who started on Jan. 6, received a letter on Feb. 4 requiring the city to issue a boil water order citywide. The state Department of Health had received a complaint about cross-connections between the city’s drinking water and reclaimed water systems. He was able to get agency officials to agree that the city would shut off its reclaimed water system to investigate. Gretsas wanted to avoid a citywide boil-water order that would have affected the hospital and restaurants.

Delray Beach had to hire a contractor to create a geographic information system database showing the locations of the drinking water and reclaimed water meters and the backflow preventers and types on the drinking water systems.

“We were not doing the types of things that need to be done in asset management,” Gretsas said. “We just didn’t know where the devices were.”

In addition, Delray Beach went with backflow preventers that have only a five-year lifespan because they were cheaper, Gretsas said city staffers told him.

But that should change soon with new management, he said. Hassan Hadjimiry will start June 2 as the city’s water utilities director.

Gretsas said he did a national search and found the perfect candidate nearby. Hadjimiry retired May 5 from Palm Beach County as its deputy director of water utilities.

Hadjimiry, who started with the county in 1982, was the statewide Water Reuse Person of the Year in 2009. At the May 5 County Commission meeting, Hadjimiry received a standing ovation, Gretsas said.

After he comes on board, Delray Beach city commissioners will have options, according to Gretsas. They can select the types of backflow preventers installed, institute an inspection and replacement program or, if they prefer, go to injecting the reclaimed water underground, which would be more costly.

To the city’s reclaimed water customers, Gretsas said, “I’m sorry this happened to them and sorry it went on for a decade.”

COVID-19 Press Briefing Summary #12, April 27, 2020

During an afternoon news conference at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center on April 27, County Mayor Dave Kerner announced a coordinated plan to reopen limited recreational facilities and activities within parks and natural areas, marinas, boat ramps and docks, and golf courses on Wednesday, April 29. It may be a few days for some facilities, such as county-owned golf courses, to be fully up and running.

The following rules and restrictions for reopening recreational facilities were determined with the input and recommendations of local industry representatives. “These industries themselves will be partly responsible for enforcing these measures,” Mayor Kerner said, “but the public has a duty to understand and abide by them, as well.”

Boating – capacities are based on size of the boat:

25-foot or less: maximum 6 persons (4 adult passengers plus 2 children 17 & under)

26- to 36-foot: maximum 8 persons (6 adult passengers plus 2 children 17 & under)

37- to 60-foot: maximum 10 persons (8 adult passengers plus 2 children 17 & under)

60-foot and larger: maximum 10 passengers plus crew

-Beaching, landings, anchoring or mooring of vessels on sandbars, islands and open shorelines will be prohibited.

-Fish cleaning/bait stations limited to one person at a time

-Single riders only on rented personal watercraft

-Recreational charter boats, drift fishing and dive boats, marinas, boat docks, boat ramps and other launching venues will be allowed to operate in adherence with CDC and specific county guidelines.

Golf courses - There will be rules for the courses themselves, such as play limited to walking and single-rider golf carts only. Locker rooms will be closed except for restroom use. Limited warm-ups on driving ranges are allowed but congregating after play is not.

Tennis courts and community pools - Emergency Order 2020-005 also allows for limited play at outdoor tennis and racquet sports facilities as well as limited use of public and privately owned community pools.

Parks and natural areas will be open sunrise to sunset for one-way walking, running and biking, equestrian riding, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and use of lakes while practicing social distancing. Basketball courts are for individual practice only. Picnic pavilions are closed.

Beaches - Restrictions and conditions for reopening beaches are still being coordinated with Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. For now, all beaches remain closed.

The full list of restrictions in Emergency Order 2020-005 can be viewed at pbcgov.com.

Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health-Palm Beach County, said the decision to reopen parks and recreation facilities was based on analysis of scientific data. Since April 6, Palm Beach County has seen the COVID-19 positivity rate decrease from 17.8 percent to 11.1 percent. Further, daily hospitalization and ICU bed utilization rates are coming down to near the levels prior to the outbreak.

“This does not mean we are back to normal in any way, shape or form,” Dr. Alonso said. “We do not want those numbers going back up. Now more than ever we need to be wearing facial coverings and maintain six-foot distance from others.”

Commissioner Mack Bernard announced the Health Care District of Palm Beach County plans to open two new walk-up COVID-19 testing sites at C.L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics located at 1150 45^th Street in West Palm Beach and 411 W. Indiantown Road in Jupiter.

By Mary Hladky

While protests against stay-at-home COVID-19 restrictions have taken place across the country and in Palm Beach County, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer is urging a coordinated approach by four South Florida counties to determine when beaches, parks and businesses can begin opening up.

Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County leaders have been working together to decide how and when to loosen restrictions on people and businesses.

The intent of the collaborative effort is to avoid individual cities or counties acting on their own, which could make people less safe. If one city were to reopen beaches, for example, county leaders anticipate many people would flock to that city and, by violating social distancing rules, increase the chance of spreading the coronavirus.

“I believe that is the most essential and best way to continue to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Singer said of the regional approach at an April 21 news conference at City Hall.

All four counties now have virtually the same guidelines in place, he said.

While the federal government has announced a three-phase plan for reopening the country, Singer said Florida has not yet reached the benchmarks to do so.

“We will be guided by science and data to take the most responsible course,” he said.

He also acknowledged that it is important to begin loosening restrictions as soon as possible to get the economy back on track.

‘We know how essential it is that a strong business climate returns,” Singer said.

Boaters crowd Lake Boca on Sunday, April 19 — one week prior to the annual Boca Bash aquatic party on the lake. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Boca Bash an immediate concern

One matter of immediate concern to Boca Raton is the alcohol-fueled Boca Bash, scheduled for April 26. The annual event, which is not sponsored by the city, draws thousands of revelers to Lake Boca.

“Please do not think of coming out now to raft up with other boats and have a party,” Singer said.

The city does not control Lake Boca, which falls under state jurisdiction.

One person associated with the loosely organized event has discouraged boaters from congregating.

“We are strongly encouraging our local boaters to stay away from Lake Boca this Sunday,” he wrote on Facebook. “Please do not participate on Lake Boca this weekend and let’s respect our city and our fellow neighbors.”

But it is not certain whether boaters will heed this advice, especially since boaters have been congregating on Lake Boca on weekends without practicing social distancing.

Maj. Fred Rondeau, a commander with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said that his agency will have enhanced patrols on Lake Boca this weekend.  All recreational boats must keep 50 feet apart, with no more than 10 people on a vessel, he said.

Chamber launches reopening initiative

Troy McLellan, president and CEO of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is looking at how to reopen the local economy. Doing so will require a “delicate balance” and “methodical planning,” he said.

He announced a Moving Business Forward initiative launched on April 21 that will plan for reopening.

McLellan also said he hopes to work with the city on creation of a financial program to help small businesses in Boca Raton.

Not all agree with mayor's approach

While Singer favors a regional approach to easing restrictions, two other City Council members are urging that the city take action soon.

Council member Andy Thomson has said he will introduce a resolution at a special council workshop at 6 p.m. April 21 urging Palm Beach County to reopen beaches, passive public and private parks, tennis courts and private golf courses to the public “as soon as prudently possible” and in a way that will not expose city workers or the public to an increased risk of infection.

His announcement on Facebook provoked a strong response from residents, with some strongly favoring such action. But the majority expressed alarm and said they opposed a quick reopening while the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase in the state.

At council meetings on April 13 and 14, Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers advocated for reopening soon.

He also led the Boca Raton contingent in an April 19 car caravan to Delray Beach as part of a push organized by a Hollywood couple to reopen. More than 100 South Floridians from various cities participated.

Many of the vehicles sported Trump signs and paraphernalia, while the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported those in attendance included supporters of Q-Anon, a far-right conspiracy theory of a secret plot by the “deep state” against President Donald Trump and his supporters.

Rodgers told the Sun-Sentinel that he was acting as a private citizen.

A car caravan jams Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach on April 19 demanding the reopening of South Florida. All but essential businesses have been closed out of COVID-19 health concerns. Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers, acting as a private citizen, led the caravan's Boca Raton contingent. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star