Walkers along State Road A1A keep 6 feet away in front of Highland Beach Town Hall on April 10. Law enforcement advises against stepping into the roadway to provide appropriate social distancing. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Drive along State Road A1A in southern Palm Beach County and you’ll likely see quite a few more people than you normally might were it not for the coronavirus pandemic.

You likely will also see people practicing social distancing by walking along the shoulder of the road between the white line and the swale.

That, say some in law enforcement, is a bad idea — and in some places it’s also against the law.

“Please don’t walk in the roadway because we don’t want you to get hit by a car,” said Ocean Ridge Police Chief Hal Hutchins. “If a sidewalk is provided, stay on the sidewalk.”

Hutchins said he and his department are seeing a huge increase in the number of pedestrians on the sidewalk along A1A, in part because more people are working from home and because gyms, beaches and other popular exercise areas are closed.

That’s also the case in most other coastal communities with walkways, including Highland Beach.

With so many people outside, it can be difficult to keep the recommended 6-foot separation.

It can be accomplished however, Hutchins says, with common sense and common courtesy — and without having to step on the shoulder of the road.

Hutchins says people can step into a driveway or step on the grass if they see pedestrians approaching and want to keep 6 feet away.

“You should step aside if you have the ability to do so,” he said.

He also recommends wearing a mask if you’re walking along a heavily used walkway.

“We’re asking people [in Ocean Ridge] to wear a face covering so they don’t have to walk in the roadway,” he said.

In fact, he says, state law requires pedestrians to walk on a sidewalk if there is one available.

While the goal is to ensure the safety of pedestrians, keeping walkers off the road also can help with the safety of bicyclists.

Bicyclist John Shoemaker, who is also a new Highland  Beach town commissioner, said that pedestrians walking on road shoulders, which have essentially become bicycle lanes, can become a hazard for those on bikes.

“If pedestrians spill into the bike lane, then bicyclists have to go out into the roadway,” he said.

For his part, Hutchins believes everyone can be safer if they follow two simple instructions.

“Use common sense, and follow the state statutes,” he said.

The Town of Ocean Ridge Officials have been made aware of two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the south section of town.  We are unable to share exact locations or specifics due to health privacy laws. 

As such, we are urging all persons who are walking, biking, or exercising and away from their primary residence to immediately begin wearing face coverings to protect themselves against this deadly virus.  Repeating, please immediately begin wearing protective face coverings when outside and away from your primary residence in order to protect yourself, your neighbors, and the Town of Ocean Ridge first responders and personnel.

We appreciate your full cooperation in trying to stem the flow of this virus in our community.  Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines and wash your hands frequently.

Important COVID-19 updates and information from several sources are available for review on the Town’s website.

Tracey L. Stevens, Town Manager                               Hal C. Hutchins, Chief of Police

Delray Beach and Boynton Beach both have joined Boca Raton in the growing club of municipalities with 100 or more reported cases of coronavirus.
Boynton had 117 cases by afternoon April 2 and Delray had 100. Boca posted 135 cases.
The three cities' combined total was nearly half of Palm Beach County's 737 cases.
West Palm Beach was the only other city in the county to pass the three-digit threshold, with 109 cases.

— Steve Plunkett

By Mary Hladky

Shawn Turner was driving on Military Trail near Camino Real on Feb. 23 when he saw a white Kia Soul partly submerged in a canal.

The city municipal services employee didn’t hesitate, stripping off his sweatpants and jumping into the water.

Turner quickly saw that Molly Pedrone, 34, was incapacitated behind the wheel. He pushed down the window, squeezed into the car and released her seatbelt. As the car sank into the water, he and another good Samaritan got her out and to shore.

The City Council recognized his “selfless actions” on March 9, presenting him with a special commendation as city staff and the audience gave him a standing ovation.

“I am happy to report because of Shawn’s heroic actions, the driver is doing well today,” said city Facilities Manager Wayne Anderson. “Shawn, I couldn’t be more proud of you. You saved a life. Thank you for your dedication and making us all proud.”

Mayor Scott Singer said: “You put yourself in harm’s way without regard to your own life, and that deserves some special recognition.”

Turner could not be reached for comment after the ceremony. But he described the experience to CNN and WPBF 25 News.

“Scary,” Turner told WPBF. “The water is coming in all around you, and it’s brown water, and I’m in a black interior car. Scariest moments of my life.”

As the car started sinking, Turner’s two sons let him know his life was in danger even as one of them shot video.

“Hurry up! Dad! Dad! Get out! Dad! Jump out,” they yelled.

Pedrone regained consciousness as Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrived. She was briefly hospitalized.

She told CNN she has been epileptic for 13 years, but her last seizure was two years ago. She does not remember the incident or her rescue.

“Shawn is the hero,” she told CNN. “I’m so very thankful he did what he did. We should all be more like that, ready to jump into action.”

Turner says he isn’t a hero. “I didn’t do it for the appreciation. I didn’t do it for stardom or fame,” he told WPBF. “I just did it because I saw a bad situation and I knew somebody was in need of help.” 

By Dan Moffett

Developer William Swaim has opened a new front in his quest to conquer the submerged lands of Ocean Ridge.

After battling in court for six years with the town and Wellington Arms condo owners over property rights in the lagoon behind Town Hall, Swaim is focusing on the Sabal Island neighborhoods farther north now.

In January, some two dozen homeowners on North Ocean Boulevard, Sabal Island Drive and River Drive received letters from Swaim’s attorney, Michael Nullman of Palm Beach Gardens, informing them that their docks, boat lifts and boardwalks were “intruding” on canal property owned by McCormick Mile Investments and an affiliate, Coastal Energy Resources.

Swaim is listed as the corporate manager of MMI and Coastal Energy, according to records from the Florida Secretary of State. Both entities were formed late last year.

“At present, your Docking Facilities intrude upon MMI’s Canal,” the letters said. “Moreover, every time any of you, your guests, your invitees, your licensees, your successors or your assigns traverse the Canal en route and into the Intracoastal Waterway, each such occasion constitutes a trespass through MMI’s property.”

Nullman offered residents a deal, however. For a “non-negotiable” payment of $150,000 from each homeowner, MMI, Coastal Energy and Swaim would be willing to grant an easement for travel across the canal “in perpetuity.”

“We hope and trust that this matter can be resolved amicably,” the letters said.

The unexpected demand left residents incredulous.

“I think it’s a scam,” said Gilbert Panzer, who has owned his home on North Ocean Boulevard for 37 years. “It’s ridiculous. They can’t claim to control navigation on that waterway.”

“They’re claiming to own the entire canal,” said one homeowner who asked to be unnamed. “It’s absurd.”

At roughly the same time in January, town officials also received a letter from MMI, Coastal Energy and Swaim. It told them to cease and desist issuing permits for dock construction along the canal. The letter essentially put a freeze on waterfront permitting in the neighborhood — and real estate sales — as another round of legal conflict opened between the town and Swaim’s associates.

“We are still reviewing the matter,” Town Manager Tracey Stevens said of the impasse.

For Wellington Arms condo owners, the Sabal Island news is all too familiar. Six years ago, Swaim claimed ownership of submerged lots and demanded the condo residents remove their docks from the lagoon behind their buildings.

Earlier this year, Swaim and the condo group agreed to settle their dispute after dozens of court skirmishes and six-figure legal bills. The parties declined to disclose terms of the settlement.

Nullman said residents in the Sabal Island neighborhood have had little to say about Swaim’s offer to sell them easement rights.

“We have received surprisingly little communication back from the property owners in response to MMI’s correspondence,” Nullman said, “and zero substantive attacks on the merits of MMI’s position, because MMI’s position is legally sound. Nevertheless, MMI remains optimistic that this matter can be quickly and amicably resolved between all parties involved.” 

By Jane Smith

Newcomer Juli Casale edged incumbent Bill Bathurst in the Delray Beach City Commission elections for Seat 2.

Casale, who ran a grass-roots campaign that raised $34,963, won by 106 votes on March 17.

In comparison, Bathurst raised $95,140 in mostly $1,000 donations from developers, hoteliers, attorneys and restaurant owners doing business with Delray Beach.

In early March, Bathurst received two large donations from the Republican Party of Palm Beach County. The party donated $4,500 on March 2 and $1,500 on March 11.

Bathurst, a residential Realtor, could not be reached for comment, despite multiple voicemail messages left for him.

On March 26, he sent out an email blast: “I would like to congratulate Juli on her election and wish her the best of luck in serving on the Commission. I would also like to thank Jennifer Jones and Debra Tendrich for stepping up to run for public office. I hope you both continue to be involved in serving our community.”

“I feel great. I’m thrilled,” said Casale, a community activist. She says she worked hard to win by knocking on more than 5,000 doors.

“My Sable Lakes neighbors watched me work hard for two years,” she said.

Concerned about overall density in her section of Delray Beach, Casale led an effort to block a developer’s plan to build a 102-unit complex near her single-family community. The builder later agreed to construct 40 single-family homes. 

Delray Beach does not hold runoff elections.

That allowed Casale to win with 36.03% or 4,006 votes, Bathurst received 35.07% or 3,900 votes, businesswoman Jones tallied 20.11% or 2,236 votes and nonprofit owner Tendrich received 8.79% or 978 votes. In that race, 11,120 votes were cast.

Commissioner Shirley Johnson easily retained her Seat 4 with a margin of nearly 7.7 percentage points or 834 votes over challenger Chris Davey.

“So many factors helped me win,” said Johnson, a retired businesswoman. “They believed in the service I gave for the past three years.”

She also credited her outreach to the Haitian community in Delray Beach. “They really want to be part of the city,” Johnson said.

Johnson raised $63,199. Davey raised $25,775, mostly from self-loans, and public schoolteacher Angela Burns raised $9,635.

“Shirley ran a good campaign,” said Davey, a residential real estate consultant. “The anti-incumbent vote was split between two candidates.”

Johnson received 39.29% or 4,260 votes, Davey tallied 31.6% or 3,428 votes and Burns received 29.1% or 3,157 votes.

Also on the ballot was a city charter change that would allow the commission to receive salary increases without having to wait six months before an election. It failed by a nearly 2-1 margin, with 7,127 voting no and 3,729 supporting the measure.

Before election day, several polling locations were changed to protect people living in nursing or assisted-living facilities from the voters entering and possibly carrying the coronavirus. Older adults and people with existing medical conditions are the most vulnerable to the virus.

On election day, poll workers did not arrive in at least six Delray polling places. Most were older adults who likely feared contracting the coronavirus.

Voters were turned away, told they could vote a provisional ballot at another precinct or waited more than two hours to cast a mail-in ballot at the supervisor’s South County office in Delray Beach.

On March 31 at the commission’s annual reorganization meeting, Ryan Boylston was chosen as vice mayor and Johnson as deputy vice mayor.

Commissioners canceled their April 7 meeting. 

The city of Boca Raton is raising concerns about the safety of the proposed ‘diverging diamond interchange’ at Glades Road and Interstate 95. Rendering provided

By Steve Plunkett

City officials want to put the brakes on the plan to build a “diverging diamond interchange” at Glades Road and Interstate 95 until the state assures them the design is safer and better than other approaches.   

“Our concern obviously is safety No. 1, but also if they’re going to do a project that is going to be in place for 30 years, we want it to be successful and beneficiary, as [opposed] to detrimental and doesn’t work and causes a bigger problem long term,” City Manager Leif Ahnell said.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s original concept, presented to the city in March 2016, included a “flyover” ramp that would divert westbound traffic on Glades headed for the interstate away from the intersection with Airport Road.

That intersection has one of the highest traffic volumes in the city and one of the highest crash incidences, Zach Bihr, the city’s municipal services director, said at the March 9 City Council workshop.

With a flyover, “This traffic is separated from the rest of the vehicles traveling on Glades and removed from the intersection of Glades and Airport Road,” Bihr said.

Prince Contracting, the design-build firm spearheading the DDI design, was supposed to present its plan for final approval to the FDOT’s central office and the Federal Highway Administration on April 23 provided the coronavirus battle did not affect the schedule.

Bihr said he wanted to know that the DDI design is as safe as the flyover concept with the grade separation for the interchange. He also questioned the benefits touted by FDOT of the diamond design’s reducing left-hand turns and the number of traffic signal phases.

“The interchange in its existing configuration does not have left-turn movements in any direction onto the interchange,” Bihr said.

He also said a Federal Highway Administration report recommended no less than a 45-degree angle between opposing approach lanes but said the DDI plan uses approaches of 15, 17, 19 and 25 degrees.

“Staff is concerned that too flat an approach angle may lead to inadvertent maneuvers down the wrong way of an interchange,” Bihr said.

City traffic engineer Maria Tejera added that she does not understand how the diamond interchange’s level of service will be better than that of the original concept where the flyover took traffic out of the intersection.

She said the FDOT should provide traffic simulations for each peak period for the entire project corridor so she could see how Boca Raton would coordinate red lights.

Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers wanted to skip to the bottom line.

“Where does that leave us?” he asked. “Can we put the stop on this? Where do we go from here?”

Mayor Scott Singer said Boca Raton should ask its state and federal lobbyists to help. Council member Andy Thomson agreed.

“I was under the impression, this is just the way it’s going to be. Yes, we’re going to come tell you, city of Boca Raton, and we hear you, but put your comment in the comment box,” Thomson said. “If that means calling in the government relations folks, we absolutely have to do that.”

In a diverging diamond interchange, drivers switch sides of the road at multi-lane X crossings guarded by traffic signals at either end of the diamond. The synchronized signals “facilitate the smooth flow of traffic, reducing delay times and minimizing conflict points,” the FDOT said. A DDI would decrease travel time, improve safety and mobility at the interchange and handle expected traffic increases through 2040, the agency said.

Its diamond interchange in Sarasota, the first in Florida and the largest in the nation, won the American Council of Engineering Companies’ National Recognition Award in April 2018.

The Glades Road interchange, part of a $148 million project to add express lanes to Interstate 95 through Boca Raton and into Delray Beach, is scheduled to open in late 2023. 

The typically bustling scene at Max’s Grille is just a backdrop for a single bicyclist in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park. Max’s closed in reaction to the coronavirus threat. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

At the start of this year, Florida’s economy was humming and the state’s unemployment rate had dropped to an all-time low of 2.8%. Hotels and restaurants reported a strong tourism season.

By mid-March, COVID-19 had turned all that on its head.

As customers retreated to their homes and with anchor stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom closing, the Town Center mall in Boca Raton, The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens and the Mall at Wellington Green shuttered.

Iconic Palm Beach County hotels, including The Breakers in Palm Beach, the Eau Palm Beach in Manalapan and the Boca Raton Resort & Club, temporarily closed as room occupancy rates dropped precipitously.

County restaurants tumbled like dominoes after Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 20 ordered them to close on-premises dining. But many tried to grab hold of the one lifeline he held out, allowing them to offer meal delivery and takeout service.

His order to Palm Beach and Broward counties also closed bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, auditoriums, gyms and beaches and gave county administrators leeway to add to the list.

The impact of these and other closures across the state and nation was felt quickly, with job losses mounting by the day.

Nationally, 3.3 million people filed unemployment claims during the week ending March 21, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. In Florida, 74,021 people filed for unemployment, up from 6,463 the previous week.

But the national and state numbers do not show the full picture. Many more people tried to file but failed because the avalanche of claims overwhelmed unemployment systems.

“This is the worst I have ever seen,” Peter Ricci, director of Florida Atlantic University’s hospitality and tourism management program, said of the impact on business and the economy.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, people continued to eat out and travel, but “not now,” he said.

“The impact was immediate and disastrous on hotel workers and restaurant workers,” Ricci said. “The effect on Florida is also disastrous because we rely so much on visitors. It has impacted our tax collections gravely.”

“It is an economic crisis,” said Troy McLellan, president and CEO of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. “We are throwing a health crisis on top of that. This is exponentially worse.

“9/11 was a one-time event. You’re able to recover,” he said. “We can’t recover because we don’t know what the damage is. Right now, we are living day to day without knowing the end to this.”

The situation is so unprecedented that “there is no playbook for this,” McLellan said.

In 2019, 8.2 million people visited Palm Beach County, and 2020 started out strong, said Glenn Jergensen, executive director of the county’s Tourist Development Council.

“We were having a very good year. We were hitting all our key performance measures” through February, he said.

And then it all crashed.

“We have been putting all advertising on hold. No one wants to know how great your property is,” Jergensen said. “It is something we have never seen before. We really don’t know when it will stop and flatten and turn around.”

Worst case: Jolt lasts years

FAU’s Ricci said that if the crisis abates in six weeks, Palm Beach County will be able to rebound this year.

“Six weeks is the breaking point,” he said. “If we go beyond that, we are in for a rough ride for multiple years.”

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases exponentially in Florida and the nation, the likelihood of a fairly quick recovery grows dimmer by the day. Business groups are bracing for the worst and have pleaded for a massive bailout.

Congress approved a historic $2 trillion stimulus bill on March 27, but it was unclear if money will come quickly enough to stave off disaster for many businesses.

“The coronavirus epidemic is the greatest crisis our industry has ever faced,” the National Restaurant Association said on its website.

It estimates that restaurants and the food service industry could lose $225 billion and eliminate up to 7 million jobs over the next three months.

A March 17 analysis by the U.S. Travel Association projects that decreased travel will inflict an $809 billion hit on the U.S. economy and eliminate 4.6 million travel-related jobs in the United States this year.

The picture is no brighter for hotels. The American Hotel and Lodging Association estimates nearly 3.9 million total jobs either have been or will be lost in the next few weeks. Since mid-February, U.S. hotels have lost $2.4 billion in room revenue.

The restrictions on restaurants have inflicted pain across Palm Beach County. While many are trying the take-away model, they say it brings in only 10% to 20% of their normal revenue.

They don’t know how they can sustain that if the pandemic is not brought under control soon.

Layoffs at restaurants, bars

The Death or Glory bar and restaurant at 116 NE Sixth Ave. in Delray Beach closed voluntarily on March 17 for at least 30 days and laid off about 25 employees.

“We had noticed how bad this could get if people don’t quarantine,” said co-owner Annie Blake. “We thought it was the prudent thing to do.”

She is now trying to bring in some revenue with take-away. Customers pay online in advance and pick up their packages without contact with employees.

While Blake laid off employees to allow them to collect unemployment, she tried to soften the blow by giving each $1,000 to help them pay living expenses.

“They were understandably nervous to be out of work, but they thought, as do we, the better we can contain this, the sooner we can get back to work,” she said.

Luke Therien, whose family owns Prime Catch and Banana Boat in Boynton Beach, temporarily closed his Intracoastal waterfront restaurants on March 18 and laid off about 250 employees.

“There’s a lot of good people who will be out of work for a while. That is very concerning,” he said. “A lot of our employees are family people. … They are all worried about this [virus]. There comes a point where safety was more important. It was definitely time.”

But Therien is not trying to retool as a take-away business because it would take a lot of work for very little financial reward.

“People want to enjoy their experiences at the restaurant,” he said. “They want the best, the freshest food. … It is not food meant to be tasted 25 minutes later.”

Customers would likely say, “This doesn’t taste the way it did two weeks ago when I was sitting with an icy margarita,” he said. “We don’t want that kind of perception.”

Hotels adapt or close

While some hotels are closing, others are struggling to find a way to stay in business.

Cathy Balestriere, general manager of Crane’s Beach House in Delray Beach, has adjusted and readjusted operations as the business environment has changed.

She has pivoted from the leisure market to extended-stay guests, perhaps those who have nowhere else to go, or planned a cruise only to find out cruise sailings have been canceled, or don’t want to return to a place with rampant infection rates.

All of the 28 rooms in her privately owned boutique hotel, located between the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway at 82 Gleason St., have full kitchens, which makes the idea feasible. The pool remains open, with lounge chairs spaced far apart. Staffers sanitize the hotel hourly, and hand washing and hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the hotel.

Guests have no contact with staff, and check in by phone. Guests choose the time they want housekeeping services, or can forgo them and ask for towels and sheets to be dropped off outside the room.

And although hotel rooms go for more than $400 a night in her area, Balestriere has dropped the price to $129.

As of March 20, 18 rooms had guests, a far better occupancy rate than the 15% or less elsewhere in the county.

“People are reading a book, sitting by the pool. They feel comfortable and safe,” she said. “Seeing people relax made us feel good.”

One of Balestriere’s goals is to not lay off her 23-person staff.

A Palm Beach County emergency order effective March 26 requires hotels not to accept new reservations from anyone who is not a “critical lodger.” These include health care professionals, first responders, law enforcement, airline crew members and patients’ families.

But it also allows for displaced residents or visitors and people who are temporarily unable to live in their homes, which seems to include the guests Balestriere is seeking.

The Eau Palm Beach took a different course in deciding on March 25 to close because business came to a “screeching halt,” said public relations director Nick Gold.

“We feel we will be closed for at least six weeks,” he said. “If we can open sooner, that would be the best news ever.”

The nearly 600 full-time and part-time staff members will be paid 80% of their salaries and retain health insurance for six weeks.

While other hotels might be able to tweak their operations, a five-star resort “is all about service delivery, and we weren’t able to reinvent our business model,” Gold said.

Charities see greater need

COVID-19’s financial impact is a wide one, and those affected include nonprofits.

Boca Helping Hands canceled its April 18 Monopoly Event and Casino Night fundraiser due to limitations on events that would draw large crowds.

The charity, which provides food, medical and financial assistance, expected the fundraiser would bring in as much as $300,000, or 10% of its budget.

Instead, Executive Director Greg Hazle would like to schedule a virtual event like a silent auction to make up some of that lost revenue.

Hazle hopes supporters will understand that they will be asked to do more at this time. But he also realizes the stock market plunge might curtail giving.

The coronavirus has caused additional disruptions. Volunteers who felt they were susceptible to infection backed away. But Hazle said others were willing to step up.

“We are taking advantage of people’s willingness, and obviously people have a little more time on their hands,” he said.

Panic buying in supermarkets didn’t help, reducing food donations by 70%. Hazle hopes that is temporary.

He also has changed how Boca Helping Hands distributes free meals at a feeding center. Because of the need for social distancing and efforts to eliminate crowds, the nonprofit is operating a drive-thru where meals are given out. The same goes for distribution of food pantry bags.

“We may not be a first responder. But I guess we are a next responder, responding to the folks who are losing their jobs and income,” Hazle said. “It feels to us we are an important part of the response community.”

Another casualty of the coronavirus was the March 14 Bethesda Ball at The Breakers, Bethesda Hospital’s biggest annual fundraiser. It was expected to raise more than $600,000 for upgrades to the emergency room, registration areas and the women’s center, among other projects.

“We take the health of our community very seriously, and it was the right thing to do for our community,” said Barbara James, executive director of the Bethesda Hospital Foundation.

But many Bethesda Ball sponsors volunteered to help. “We have been blessed that many have said, ‘Keep our sponsorship money.’ That is taking a little bit of the ouch out,” James said.

She hopes the foundation will end up with at least $200,000, and she will look for other ways to raise funds.

“This is a generous community that knows having preeminent health care in their backyard is important, and it is especially needed at a time like this,” she said. 

In an effort to help Delray Beach residents who have been without reclaimed water for weeks, employees like Curtis Duscan (center) and city contractors Clay Carroll (left) and Anthony Coates have started watering lawns on the barrier island. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Related: Standard safeguards usually stop mix of drinking, recycled water

By Jane Smith

As the lawns of coastal residents continued to parch, Delray Beach pushed the timeline for restoration of reclaimed water service from early March to the end of April, according to city plans.

The 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.

But due to causes the city continues to investigate, the partly treated sewage water cross-contaminated regular drinking water in a small number of houses, which sickened some residents and left a foul smell emanating from some kitchen faucets.

Delray Beach, focused on efforts to contain the coronavirus, now plans to restore the reclaimed water service citywide in phases, with the two public and two private golf courses returning to service first. The courses are west of the interstate. Then, the city would restore the barrier island service in six phases, reversing the order of how the lines were installed.

On March 25, Delray Beach employees distributed door hangers to scores of reclaimed water customers.

It noted that “the majority of potable meters at locations serviced by reclaimed water had the appropriate backflow protection. However, some metered connections had inadequate backflow protection or were not accessible for inspection.”

In those instances, the reclaimed water was locked out of the property.

“There’s some cause for optimism,” said Ned Wehler, a barrier island resident who hand-watered his plants throughout the hot and dry March. He noted this line in the city notice: “Please be advised that it may take up to four weeks for your property to be tested.”

The last time the city watering service stopped by his house was March 7.

But barrier island resident Bill Petry was puzzled by the notice.

In the second paragraph, it said, “The City will perform on-site cross-connection testing of individual properties.” Petry thought the cross-connection inspections were done. Cross-connections can create a health problem because they can possibly allow reclaimed water to mix with drinking water.

“What does it mean? It was not comforting at all,” said Petry, who serves on the board of the Beach Property Owners Association. He and his wife are seasonal residents who planned to return April 1 to New England.

Delray Beach turned off its reclaimed water system on Feb. 4 to avoid a citywide boil- water order that the Florida Department of Health wanted. As of March 31, the reclaimed water lines were not working to the barrier island. 

The last part of the barrier island system began operating in October 2018, but was flawed from the program’s start in 2005, according to notes from Christine Ferrigan, an industrial pretreatment inspector in the city Utilities Department. 

Ferrigan found the reclaimed water system was not installed or monitored properly by outside contractors, according to her notes released by the state Health Department under Florida’s open records law. 

Doing so cross-contaminated an unknown number of drinking water lines between October and December 2018 and potentially exposed residents to hepatitis A, Giardia, fecal coliform and other contaminants, according to Ferrigan’s notes.

The Health Department does not have a standard it uses when people claim to be sickened by poor water quality, according to Alexander Shaw, its spokesman. The department relies on the individual health providers to make that determination.

The Health Department was alerted to the Delray Beach situation on Jan. 2 by a concerned resident.

Neither Ferrigan nor Marjorie Craig, who was the utilities director in 2018, could be reached for comment.

As a result of the resident’s complaint — backed up with Ferrigan’s notes — the Health Department asked Delray Beach to issue a citywide boil water order.

Citywide action averted

City Manager George Gretsas, though, was able to persuade the department not to take such drastic action by ordering the reclaimed water system shut down and having all 1,326 reclaimed water connections inspected.

Although no cross-connections were found, city staff discovered that 237 reclaimed water customers citywide did not have backflow preventers, Gretsas said on March 2.

The devices prevent the reclaimed irrigation water from mixing with the drinking water supply, important because the city drinking water is supplied at a lower pressure. Water quality experts, though, say drinking reclaimed water — while not recommended — will not sicken a healthy person.

Delray Beach still has 13 barrier island locations to examine to see whether the drinking water meters have backflow devices, according to Gretsas’ March 16 letter to the Health Department.

He admitted that the city does not have dates that each property was connected to the reclaimed water system. “All available information was collected,” Gretsas wrote on March 16.

“If the city of Delray Beach is found to have failed to notify the DOH as required [of the possibility that residents became sick from drinking poor quality water], then that would be a violation,” wrote Shaw, the county Health Department spokesman. Because of the variables involved, Shaw could not say what the penalty might be.

When it’s finished complying with the Health Department, Delray Beach will hire a forensics firm to review the entire reclaimed water program, according to Gretsas.

“We spent a lot of the taxpayers’ money on city staff time and hiring contractors,” Gretsas said in February. “We want to find the cause before we point fingers.” 

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We’re all in this together. 

In our lifetimes, this adage has never been more true. How we act as individuals can have life or death consequences for us all. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and keep 6 feet away from each other — even while walking the dog, picking up takeout, or standing in line at the grocery store. It could save a life — or many. Although it’s the health concerns of this pandemic that keep us awake at night (we each have family members with serious health conditions), the economic fallout is casting a dark shadow of its own. Small businesses all over are struggling and many won’t survive. The same holds true for arts venues and nonprofits. When marquees go dark, the community grows dim. When organizations that help those in need aren’t there to respond, the safety net begins to sag. 

At The Coastal Star our advertising revenue for this edition dropped by more than 50%  — and April should have been one of our most profitable editions, one that would help   us make it through the lean times of summer. We expect  the next few months will be even more severe.

All local businesses count on the abundance of the season to make it through the off-season. Consider the restaurants, family-run hotels, dry cleaners, salons and personal service providers. We are all searching out the fine print in the recovery act to see if there is a lifeline available to keep us operating. At press time it was too soon to tell.

In the meantime, we’re asking our coastal neighbors to assist their favorite local businesses (including this newspaper) by purchasing advertising until the pandemic subsides.

Here is how you can help

Support the advertisers you see in this edition. They are our neighbors and business partners. Thank them for supporting The Coastal Star through this economic downturn.  Purchase advertising space for your favorite local businesses suffering during this difficult time. Help them keep their messages in front of the coastal community. Support local arts organizations or nonprofits by underwriting advertising that helps relay their messages as they reschedule and adapt to meet the perilous conditions. Purchase advertising space in memory of a loved one or to celebrate some family, club, school or neighborhood event.

Or simply purchase advertising space to show your support of community journalism. We’ll donate our design time to create these ads, if you’ll underwrite the ad space.

With your support we can make it through the next few months — together.

Sincerely,

Mary Kate Leming, Executive Editor

Jerry Lower, Publisher

Chris Bellard, Advertising Director

Dr. Evan and Stacey Packer stand in front of a painting by Marin Majic inside their Boca Raton home.  The Packers served as co-chairs of the 70th Anniversary Gala for the Boca Raton Museum of Art. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Margie Plunkett

The couple met as teens in Hollywood, Florida, where they worked at the same record store. Today, music is a mainstay in their lives — and Stacey and Dr. Evan Packer routinely attend concerts in a group of friends fondly called the Bocachellas.

“What we love more than anything — and this dates back to the day we met in the music store — is music,” Stacey Packer said. Dr. Packer “probably knows more about music than anyone I’ve ever met. I swear, if he could come back as anyone, he would be in the music industry.

“It’s funny. The path he chose is so the opposite of that,” she said.

Dr. Packer is a neurosurgeon and managing partner at the Brain and Spine Center in Delray Beach, practicing at both Delray Medical Center and Boca Regional Hospital. The path the couple has taken since those Hollywood days has led to the family they’ve established in Boca Raton and their active support in the community, primarily aimed at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers and Pine Crest School.

After meeting in Hollywood, the Packers maintained a long-distance relationship during college. She got her bachelor’s at the University of Maryland, he from Michigan. They both headed to Tampa when he went to the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine for his medical degree. Stacey joined Tampa General Hospital’s marketing department, and later became vice president of development at its Foundation. Meanwhile, Dr. Packer did his residency through USF at Tampa General and received advanced training in neurosurgical oncology at Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center and Research Institute.

In 2005, the couple moved to Boca Raton for family, and Dr. Packer joined the Brain and Spine Center.

“We slowly got involved in the community,” Stacey said. “I got to meet some great people who got me involved at our kids’ school at first.”

The Packers’ children, Julia, 21, and Isabel, 16, both attended Pine Crest School in Boca Raton through eighth grade and then its Fort Lauderdale high school. Julia is now a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Packer, an alumnus of Pine Crest, today serves on its board.

Stacey describes Pine Crest as a community to her. She met her closest friends there. Through Pine Crest, she got to know the people at Florence Fuller, where she began to volunteer, joined the board and is serving her third and final year as chairwoman. She praised Florence Fuller for its dedication to providing access to education to people who can’t afford it.

Through their common interest in art collecting, the Packers, who are both 48, met people at the Boca Raton Museum of Art who ultimately asked whether Dr. Packer was interested in joining the board. “It’s just amazing that the folks involved with the museum have made it a priority to support a facility like that,” Stacey said. “They teach my husband and I so much. It’s stimulating in a very different way.”

The Packers co-chaired the museum’s 70th Anniversary Gala this year, a record-breaking fundraiser. Dr. Packer “says I’m kind of a connector,” Stacey Packer says. “I try to connect the dots between people” and put people together whose interests may be synergistic. She brought that quality and her fundraising background to the gala, asking for two more co-chairs — “to bring in people with different strengths.”

“I’m good at raising money, but I have a friend, Carrie Rubin, who knows how to put on an event. I don’t have to worry about that,”  she said. Packer also asked John Tolbert of Boca Raton Resort & Club to host because of the goal to increase attendance this year.

“John is so community minded,” Packer said.

“You have to connect people. Friends give to friends. Friends support friends.”

Music and charities aside, Packer spends her leisure time ballroom dancing — an interest spurred by a friend’s participation in Boca’s Ballroom Battle. She dances four times a week at Fred Astaire Studio and competes throughout the state. Dr. Packer is pursuing a business degree, traveling once a month to Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Family is most important of all to the Packers. The couple is close with their daughters and their large, extended family. “We have an awesome one. If the family is OK, then bring everything else on,” she said. The family includes two dogs that Dr. Packer calls “chompsters” — Bailey, a rescue Lab mix, and Stella, a King Charles.

Advice to anyone following in their footsteps: “It’s really important to have face-to-face honest relationships with people. Most of the great things we experience in this community start with a great friendship,” Stacey said. “It’s connection that can be so gratifying. That really creates community spirit. That’s what a community is — all the relationships that exist.” 

By Rich Pollack

Using reclaimed water for irrigation, especially in coastal communities, is generally a safe and economical way to keep lawns green and shrubs and flowers healthy.

As what happened with a few homes in Delray Beach shows, however, mishaps can occur, and they have the potential to create health issues.

Generally there are several steps that utilities take to prevent drinking water and reclaimed water from mixing together, according to Chris Helfrich, Boca Raton’s utility services director. 

In Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, reclaimed water from the South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is pumped to communities though main lines generally colored purple. It then reaches a home irrigation system through a metered line, which is inspected at the time of installation.

Drinking water arrives through separate force mains, usually colored blue, and is metered as it flows into the home through connections to the main line.

Water utilities have several methods of preventing drinking water and reclaimed water from mixing. First they make sure — through on-site inspections — that the two pipes coming into the home are separated.

A second step is to install backflow preventers on the fresh-water line to ensure the water flows from the main line into the home and no water flows from the home back into the main. A third way to prevent backflows is to ensure that drinking water pressure is higher than reclaimed water pressure.

In cases similar to what is suspected of happening in Delray Beach, a homeowner concerned about irrigation water pressure being too low connects the drinking water line to the reclaimed water line.

If backflow preventers are not installed and drinking water pressure is lower than reclaimed water pressure, the reclaimed water will flow into the drinking water at the home and eventually enter the main line.

State regulations are in place to minimize health problems from reclaimed water. Locally reclaimed water from the regional plant is treated to what is called advanced secondary treatment standards and is passed through a sand filter and highly chlorinated before it is distributed.

It is tested at least daily to ensure that all fecal bacteria and parasites are removed, with reports sent to state agencies on a regular basis.

Still, the reclaimed water coming to Delray Beach from the regional treatment plant is not considered suitable for drinking by state standards.

“Reuse water does contain higher nitrogen levels than most potable water, which is good for irrigation,” said Colin Groff, Boynton Beach’s assistant city manager for public services. “It could also contain small traces of heavy metals that are not harmful to the environment but could be to humans, which is why it is not used for potable water without a higher level of treatment.”

Groff, whose city along with Delray Beach oversees the operation of the South Central Regional plant on Congress Avenue, says some communities elsewhere in the country do have drinkable reclaimed water.

Could reclaimed water make people sick if they drink it?

The answer is yes — and no.

“It could,” says Helfrich. “It depends on a lot of variables.”

One of those variables is the health of the person drinking the water. Another is how individuals react to the nutrients in the water to which they might not be acclimated.

“I don’t have a fear of drinking reclaimed water,” Helfrich said, quickly pointing out that he doesn’t recommend it. “Reclaimed water quality here is better than drinking water quality in many countries throughout the world.” 

By Rich Pollack

Responding in part to an incident where anti-Semitic words and gestures were aimed at an out-of-town visitor, town commissioners last month unanimously passed a resolution denouncing “hateful acts of intolerance.”

Championed by departing Mayor Rhoda Zelniker, the resolution reaffirms Highland Beach’s position in condemning anti-Semitism as well as any other form of bigotry and hate.

“We need to let the public know that this town will not tolerate racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism,” Zelniker said.

The resolution spells out the town’s dedication to condemning acts of hate against members of the Jewish community and others who are targeted for their differences.

“The town of Highland Beach takes pride in its democracy, enriched by people of differing religions, races, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, ages and places of birth and origin,” the resolution states. 

Town Manager Marshall Labadie said the resolution strengthens and renews the position Highland Beach has always held against intolerance.

“It’s important from time to time for a community to reinforce its commitment to zero tolerance for racism, bigotry and hatred,” he said.

The resolution says the town will work with all law enforcement agencies to “apprehend any individual” who threatens the safety of the community.

Zelniker urged residents to speak out against racism and anti-Semitism and to call the authorities if they witness hateful acts.

The resolution also calls upon political, civic and religious organizations to denounce “forms of hate against people because of their differences.”

Highland Beach police are investigating an incident recorded on video several months ago in which a visitor riding a personal watercraft along the Intracoastal Waterway was on the receiving end of anti-Semitic comments and gestures from someone on shore.

“It needs to be publicly stated in this community that we will not tolerate violent acts or words against any people,” Commissioner Peggy Gossett-Seidman said.  

Highland Beach has a new mayor and a new town commissioner. In a short meeting last month, with attendance limited to just 10 people because of the coronavirus threat, departing mayor      Rhoda Zelniker handed the gavel to new Mayor Doug Hillman — but only after it had been cleaned with sanitizing wipes.

   Hillman and new commissioner John Shoemaker both took the oath of office during the meeting while Vice Mayor Greg Babij, who was out of town, was sworn in earlier in the day via Skype. All three ran unopposed.

   Babij was appointed late last year to fill the seat vacated by former Vice Mayor Alysen Africano-Nila and chose to run again to complete the final year of the seat’s three-year term.

   Zelniker, who served for six years — including slightly more than a year as mayor — said she believes the town will be in good hands.

   “I am leaving with a happy heart,” she said.

— Rich Pollack

Snapping a selfie of himself, Mayor Scott Singer enjoyed a safe celebration at home. Photo provided

By Mary Hladky

Mayor Scott Singer handily won re-election on March 17, trouncing repeat challenger Bernard Korn.

Singer captured 88.6% of the vote, while Korn drew 11.5%.

The outcome was never in doubt, and Singer declared victory about an hour after polls closed and the votes in 32 of 38 precincts had been tabulated. “I think it is safe to call this,” he said.

With the election coming in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Singer practiced what he has been preaching on social media to city residents: Stay safe by staying at home.

Instead of the usual election night ritual of gathering with supporters at a restaurant, Singer’s election watch party, broadcast on Facebook, was held at his home with his wife, Bella, and children Daniel and Rachel sitting with him on a couch. “Re-elect Mayor Scott Singer” campaign signs festooned the wall.

“I know this seems a little weird, but we are in a surreal world,” he said, holding a selfie stick to capture the action.

As supporters joined in electronically, Singer thanked them for their efforts on his behalf.

“I am so grateful and humbled for the tremendous support for my continued service to our residents,” he said. “Thank you to all who share a vision of working together to get things done. We need it now more than ever.”

Singer, 43, an attorney and businessman, was elected to the City Council in 2014. He was serving as deputy mayor when Mayor Susan Haynie was arrested on public corruption charges in April 2018 and suspended from office. Singer was named interim mayor.

Four months later, he won a special election to complete Haynie’s term of office. Haynie, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, now is expected to stand trial in July.

In the special election, Singer captured 63% of the vote, while Korn, 65, a real estate broker who raised almost no money and campaigned on stopping corruption in the city, got 3%. Activist Al Zucaro won 34%.

With Zucaro since stepping away from politics and his BocaWatch blog, Korn fared slightly better in the March election.

Singer will serve a three-year term and can seek reelection again in 2023.

Council members Andrea O’Rourke and Andy Thomson also were up for reelection, but they drew no opposition and were automatically returned to office.

“We need everyone to isolate,” Singer told supporters. “Stay home, please. We will pull through this together.” 

By Mary Hladky

 The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Boca Raton jumped to 103 on March 31, cementing the fact that the county’s southernmost city is so far seeing a higher rate of infection than other cities.

 But Boca Raton’s coronavirus status is not surprising, since the city sits immediately north of Broward County, which initially was the most severely impacted county in Florida. Miami-Dade County has since surpassed Broward in the number of confirmed cases.

 While the number of Palm Beach County cases has risen to 551, the number is well below Broward’s 1,219 and Miami-Dade’s 2,123, according to data posted by the state at 5 p.m.

But Palm Beach County leads the state in deaths, with 14 reported. Broward had 12 deaths and Miami-Dade had 7.

Based on confirmed case numbers, Gov. Ron DeSantis noted on March 30 that Palm Beach County is faring better so far as the first drive-thru testing facility in Palm Beach County was about to open at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

“Broward and Dade are by far and away the top,” he said. “Palm Beach County is a distant third.”

Even so, the three counties are considered the epicenter of the disease in the state.

DeSantis said the number of cases in the county would increase now that testing facilities are opening that can detect infection. Broward and Miami-Dade have had such facilities for more than a week.

Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer has urged residents for weeks to stay home and take all precautions, including frequent hand washing and practicing social distancing if it is absolutely essential to leave the house.

“There will be more cases here,” he told residents in a March 24 Facebook Live broadcast.

The city codified Singer’s advice by issuing a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” emergency order effective March 28.

The list of actions taken by the city to safeguard residents include declaring a local state of emergency on March 17 that closed bars and nightclubs and limited restaurants to offering food take-away and delivery, closing all city facilities, parks and beaches on March 18, and ordering the closing of non-essential retail and commercial businesses effective March 25.

Elsewhere in south Palm Beach County, Delray Beach had 72 cases as of 5 p.m. on March 31, up from 59 totaled just seven hours earlier. Boca Raton’s morning count was 98.

Two cases were reported in Hypoluxo, and South Palm Beach had one, both the same as in the morning.

West Palm Beach, the county’s largest city, had 82 cases up from 78 in the morning.

Florida had a total of 6,741 cases, and 85 deaths as of 5 p.m. That was up from 6,338 in the morning.

Coronavirus: summary of persons being monitored, persons under investigation, and cases

Data verified as of Jun 4, 2020 at 10 AM

Data in this report are provisional and subject to change.

Source: www.floridadisaster.org

Boca Raton: 660

Boynton Beach: 669

Delray Beach: 518

Hypoluxo: 7

Lantana: 66

Ocean Ridge: 1

South Palm Beach: 1

Palm Beach County (total): 6,688

Due to the current uncertainty regarding the coronavirus pandemic, all schedules and information are subject to change. Some organizations may add camps, some may cancel camps and some may change schedules, pricing and other important details. Although we will try to update this list as information becomes available, please check the status of all summer camps with the camp organizers. Their contact information is included.

ACADEMIC

Henderson Summer Enrichment Program: Henderson University School, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Grades K-7. 4-week camp 8:15 am-5:30 pm. M-F 6/8-7/2. Morning focus is grade level skills in the core subjects: language arts, reading, social studies/science, math. Afternoon focus is creative and physically active: swimming, physical education, music/movement, cultural arts, tech-time. Full-day $900/4 weeks. Early care 7:30 am-8:15 am $50. Enroll by 4/24: 297-3970; adhus.fau.edu

ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

Canceled - Environmental Camp: Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Grades 1-9. Campers learn the importance of conservation through outdoor activities, hands-on lessons. 8:30 am-2 pm: M-F 6/8-7/24 (closed 7/3). $125-$156/week. Extended care 2-5:30 pm $75-$94/week (not offered 6/29-7/2). Bring lunch, snack, drink, hat, bug repellent, sunscreen. Limit one session per camper. 544-8611; myboca.us/1809/Camp-Boca

Canceled - Future Veterinarians Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 5-11. Participants “adopt” a plush animal to perform mock exams, surgeries, other procedures. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 6/13-17. $275-343.75/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Sea Turtle Camp: Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Grades 1-5. Campers learn the importance of caring for/protecting sea turtles, marine life. 8:30 am-noon M-Th. Session 1 grades 1-2 7/27-30; Session 2 grades 3-5 8/3-6. $125-$175/week. Bring lunch, snack, drink; camp shirt required every day. 544-8615; gumbolimbo.org

Canceled - Summer Zoo Camps: Palm Beach Zoo, 1301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach. Unique wildlife themes; zookeeping activities include animal encounters, exhibit visits, crafts, games. Zoo Camp age 5-10 6/1-8/7 $230-$260/week; Jr. Zookeepers age 11-14 6/15-19, 7/6-10 & 7/27-31 $280-$310/week; Conservation Camp age 11-14 6/222-26 & 7/13-17 $375-$450/week. 8:30 am-4 pm. Before-/after-care available at additional cost. Lunch (optional) $45/week. 533-0887, x229; palmbeachzoo.org

ARTS

Virtual - Armory Art Center Summer Art Experience: 811 Park Place, West Palm Beach. Age 6-18. Art education in various media. Ages 4-5: Thursdays 11am-11:30am $15 per class ($60 for 6/4-6/25); ages 6-11 live class Monday-Thursday 10am-11am $130 per week ($520 for 6/1-6/25); age 12-17 Monday-Thursday 11am-2pm $160 per week (6/1-6/25). 

Art-Sea Living Summer Camp: Art-Sea Living, 112 S. Federal Highway #7, Boynton Beach. 6/23-7/31 Ages: 5-13 T-F 10 am-2 pm $200/4 days; artsealiving.com

Canceled - ArtsCamp: Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion 2nd floor, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach. Age 9-11. Explore acting, dance, musical theater, technical theater, vocal music, culminating in an original performance. Interviews scheduled in the order applications received. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-19. Call for pricing. After-care available at additional cost. Enrollment limited: 651-4366; kravis.org/artscamp

Canceled - Project Fashion: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 8-15. For young fashionistas who want to learn to design, sew their own clothes. Different projects allow students to enhance their skill levels. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F. Age 8-15 6/22-26, 6/29-7/3 & 7/20-24. $260-$325/week + $25 materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Virtual - FAU TOPS Summer Arts Camps: Florida Atlantic University Arts & Humanities Building, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Grades K-12. Piano, creative writing. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/8-7/17 $300/week includes $50 non-refundable deposit & TOPS T-shirt. Registration begins 5/18 and is on-going until the end of camp. 239-634-7228; fau.edu/tops

Virtual - FOTOcamp: Palm Beach Photographic Centre, 415 Clematis St, West Palm Beach. Age 10-17. All areas of photography from basics to state-of-the-art digital imaging. 6/27-8/7. $125-$325. 253-2600; workshop.org

Canceled - Fun Chefs Mystery Cooking Challenge: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 6-13. Cooking, nutrition, culinary geography, etiquette. Make a kitchen craft each day, create a cookbook of recipes to keep. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 6/8-12. $330-$412.50/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Kids Need More Art Summer Art Series: Go Out & Play: Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach. Age 5-12. M-F 7/6-10 & 7/13-17. Express Day 9 am-3 pm $225/week; Full Day 8:30 am-4 pm $245/week; Extended Day 8:30 am-5 pm $255/week. 746-4576; kidsneedmoreart.com

Canceled - Kidzart: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 5-12. Draw, paint, create using multiple mediums/surfaces. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 6/15-19, 7/20-24 & 7/27-31. $275-$343.75/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Once Upon a Happily Ever After Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 9-12. Writing stories, books, fairy tales, more. 1:30-4:30 pm M-Th 7/20-23.   $200-$250. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Summer Art Camp: Boca Museum of Art School, 801 W Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton. Age 6-13. Explore artistic skills, expand connections to the natural world. Weekly themed camps. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-8/7. $290/weekly ($232 for 7/1-3 3-day camp); discount for museum members. Before-/after-care available. 392-2503; bocamuseum.org/artschool

Canceled - The Art Studio: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 5-12 Painting & sculpting using mixed media & recycled materials. Bring lunch, snack, beverage. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 6/1-5 & 8/3-7. $250-$312.50/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

CHURCH

Camp Keshet: Taubman Early Childhood Center at B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St, Boca Raton. Age 2-6. Trained specialists lead activities designed to develop physical, social, creative skills. Sports, swimming, Shabbat, arts, crafts, yoga, cooking, more. M-F 6/8-26, 6/29-7/17 (closed 7/3), 7/20-8/7 9 am-3 pm (half days available for age 2-4) 3-, 6-, or 9-week sessions. Before-/after-care available at additional cost. Registration fee, deposit, & security due 6/1. $735-$4,665. 750-9665; bnaitorahecc.org/camp-keshet

Canceled - Camp Mece: First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton, 625 NE Mizner Blvd. Age 2½ (potty trained) to 6. Arts & crafts, music, dance, computers, storytelling, dramatic play, explorations, sports, Bible time, field games, water play. 2-week minimum. Bring snack, lunch. 9 am-2 pm M-F 6/15-19, 6/22-26, 7/6-10 & 7/13-17. $150/week + $30 registration fee. Early drop-off available at minimal fee. 368-1215; meceboca.org/summer-camp

CROS Camp: Sunlight Community Church, 1325 N A St, Lake Worth or First Presbyterian Church, 235 SW 6th Ave, Boynton Beach. Grades K-8. Non-denominational Christian camp. 8 am-5 pm M-F 6/1-7/31. $35-$40/week, $315-$360/entire summer; sibling discounts; $25 application process fee/child. Fee includes T-shirt, field trips, special programming. Breakfast, lunch, snack provided. Before-/after-care available at some locations. 233-9009, x102; crosministries.org

Will Be Scheduled for a Later Date - First Presbyterian Vacation Bible School: 33 Gleason St, Delray Beach. Age 3 to completed 5th grade or youth helper 7th grade & above. Arts & crafts, Bible study, recreational activities. 9 am-noon 6/8-12. Free. 276-6338 x23; firstdelray.com

First United Methodist Boca Overnight Camp: Warren Willis United Methodist Summer Camp in Leesburg. Grades 4-12. Beautiful camp on Lake Griffin divided into age-specific areas. Worship, small groups, ropes course, archery, swimming, arts/crafts, more. Accredited by American Camping Association; staffed with trained/certified college students. FUMC Boca week 7/20-7/25. $430. 395-1244; fumcbocaraton.org/category/summer-programs

Virtual - First United Methodist Anchored Weekend Vacation Bible School - At-Home VBS: First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton, 625 NE Mizner Blvd. Drive by/pick up the Box of Awesome, access videos online. Age 3 (potty trained) to 5th grade. 7/31-8/2. $10. 395-1244; fumcbocaraton.org

Seacrest Christian School: 2703 N Seacrest Blvd, Delray Beach. Age 2-8. Arts, crafts, science. 8:30 am-3:30 pm M-F 6/1-7/30. Half day (8:30-11:30 am), 3 full days (M/W/F). Morning care 7:45-8:15 $3/day. After-care 3:30-5:30 pm $5/hour. Call for pricing info. 276-5552; seacrestchurch.com

St. Joseph’s Episcopal School Vacation Church Camp: 3300 S Seacrest Blvd, Boynton Beach. Age 4-11, 6/8-12, 9 am-noon, donations accepted. 732-2045; vcc.stjoesweb.org

SUNFUN Camps at Trinity Lutheran School: 400 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Grades K to 5. Adventure, sports, specialty camps. 6/8-7/31 (no camp 7/3). Call for prices. 276-8458; trinitydelray.org

West Park Baptist Summer Day Camp: 4004 Lake Ida Rd, Delray Beach. Age 5-15. Sports, daily chapel, games, crafts, etiquette, life-skills training, self-defense training, swimming. Before/after care available. 8 am-5:30 pm M-F 6/1-8/7 (closed 7/3). $120/week + $50/registration per camper. 495-2107; westpark-baptist.com

DANCE

Summer Dance Classes & Dance Intensives: Southern Dance Theatre, 1203 Knuth Rd, Boynton Beach. Summer Fun Dance Camp, includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop, ages 8-12 7/20-7/31 9am-1pm M-F $480; Intensive 1 (by invitation only) ages 8-18 6/29-7/17 9am-1pm M-F $735; Intensive 2 and 3 (by invitation only) ages 11-18 7/6-7/31 9am-1pm M-F $940; Intensive 4 (by invitation only) ages 13-18 7/6-7/30 4:30-8:30pm $940. Call theatre for audition date/time. 736-9097; southerndancetheatre.com

EQUESTRIAN

Boca Summer Horse Camp: 8656 Surrey Lane. Age 6-14. Equine care, balanced seat riding, horsemanship techniques. Bring lunch, snacks, beverages. 8:30 am-2 pm M-F 6/1-7/30. After-care available at additional charge. $250/week. 445-3946; staffordshireequestriancenter.com

Boca Riding Club Summer Camp: 16489 Winners Circle Dr Barn 4, Delray Beach. Age 7-14. Ride daily, participate in horse care, grooming, feeding. No experience necessary. Bring lunch, beverages. 9 am-2 pm M-F 6/1-8/7, no camp 6/29-7/10. $85/day; $225/3-day pass; $350/5-day pass. Sibling & multiple week discounts. 935-4938; bocaridingclub.com

GENERAL

Canceled - Afternoon Kids in Action Aftercare Program: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 5-15. Option for kids attending a specialty program at Sugar Sand Park. M-F 6/1-8/7. 1-5:30 pm $95-$118.75/week; 3-5:30 pm $55-$68.75/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - American Heritage Summer Day Camp: 6200 Linton Blvd, Delray Beach. Age 3-15 9 am-3 pm M-F Day Camp age 3-13 three 3-week sessions 6/1-7/31 $1500/session; age 3-4 half-day 9 am-1 pm $1,230/sessions. Art Camp age 6-15 nine 1-week sessions 6/1-7/31 $1500/session. Robotics Camp & Science Adventure Camp age 8-15 three 3-week sessions 6/3-8/2 $1,500/session. Science Adventure Camp age 8-15 three 3-week sessions 6/1-7/31, $1,500/session. Musical Theatre Camp age 6-15 6-week session 6/1-7/10 $3,000. Tuition includes lunch & snacks. Transportation/extended care available for a fee. Free morning care 7:45-9 am; Afternoon care 3:30-5:30 pm $15/day. 637-2440; ahsummerprograms.com

AquaNuts Summer Camp: Eau Palm Beach Resort, 100 S Ocean Blvd, Manalapan. Learn to cook, perform magic tricks, create amazing balloon art. New theme each week. Age 5-12. M-F. 6/1-8/7. 8 am-4 pm. Call for pricing and registration: 540-4833; eaupalmbeach.com/kids-teens

Canceled - Boca Raton Recreation Services Summer Camps: Children entering grades 1-9 7:30 am-6 pm M-F 6/8-7/31. Pre-Camp (6/4-7) and Post-Camp (8/3-7) grades 1-5 7:30 am-6 pm M-F $42-$59/day. Traditional (Grades 1-5, 6/8-7/17 $899-$1,617 (week-to-week available $186-$273 only 7/20-31), Traditional Plus (Grades 1-5, 6/8-7/17 $988-$1299 (week-to-week available $186-$273) & Tween camps (Grades 6-8, 6/8-7/17 $1,218-$1,617 (week-to-week available $238-$295 7/20-31 only); Counselor-in-training (Grades 9-12, 6/8-17 ($308) or 6/8-26 or 6/29-7/17 ($156/session); Extended camp 7/20-31 $186-$273/week & Tween Extended camp 7/20-31 $238-$295/week. $20/registration fee, $10/school usages fee. Open House for camps at respective sites noon-2 pm 4/13. Themed camps w/age-appropriate activities meet at various locations: Boca Raton Community Center 150 Crawford Blvd; James A. Rutherford Community Center, 2000 Yamato Rd; Don Estridge High Tech Middle School, 1798 NW Spanish River Blvd, Boca Raton. Additional camps/specialty programs available. 393-7888; myboca.us/1810/Camp-Boca-Camps

Canceled - Boynton Beach Recreation & Parks Department Summer Camps: Age 5-12. Themed camps w/age-appropriate activities meet at various locations; Camp Boynton Traditional Summer Camp at Ezell Hester Community Center, 1901 N Seacrest Blvd 742-6550 & Carolyn Sims Center, 225 NW 12th Ave, 742-6641. 7:30 am-5:30 pm M-F 6/8-7/31. $650/resident; $815/non-resident; $25 registration fee per child. 742-6650; boynton-beach.org/recreation

Virtual - Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Summer Camps:  Grades K-12. Thursday live sessions 5:30-6:15pm starting 6/11. Check website for more information, sign up. 683-3287; bgcpbc.org

Canceled - The Breakers West Summer Camp: Breakers West Country Club, 1550 Flagler Parkway, West Palm Beach. Age 4-15 8:45 am-3 pm M-F 6/1-8/14 $365/week. Before/after care available. $65/registration fee per camper. Lunch & snacks included. Call for details: 653-6330; breakerswestclub.com/activities

Brighthouse Day Camp: Somerset Academy Canyons, 9385 Boynton Beach Blvd, Boynton Beach. Grades K-8. Field trips for 5th-9th grade weeks 4 & 8 at additional fees. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-7/31 $230-$245/week (2-week minimum). Leader In Training (9th grade) $160/week; Intern (10th grade) $70/week. $50/registration fee. Before-/after-care available. 738-1984; jointheyesmovement.com

Camp Destination: Boynton Beach Intracoastal Park Clubhouse, 2240 N Fed Hwy. Age 11-15. 7:30 am-5:30 pm 6/8-7/2 & 7/6-31. Per session $500/resident; $625/non-resident. 742-6222; boynton-beach.org

Canceled - Check website for alternative - Camp Shalom: Mandel JCC, 8500 Jog Rd, Boynton Beach. Age 2 to 10th grade. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-7/31 (closed 7/3) Camp Shalom $268-$374/week. Counselor In Training (grades 9-10) $509-$588/3 weeks, $173-$200/additional week. Specialty Camps $302-$364. Special Needs Camps $400. Yeladim Preschool Camp (732-7620) age 2-4. M-F, 9 am-1 pm ($205-$294), 9 am-4 pm ($263-$336). $36 registration fee before 5/6; $100 registration after 5/4. Before-/after-care available at additional fee. 259-3000; campshalom.org

Canceled - Criminal Justice Summer Camp: Florida Atlantic University School of Criminology & Criminal Justice, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Age 14-17 (must be entering 9th-12th grade by fall 2020). In partnership w/Boca Raton Police Department, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Miami office. Observe/participate in mock crime scenes, mock criminal trials; demonstrations of bomb squads, K-9 units, SWAT teams; visits to police marine units, 911 call centers, local FBI offices. Limited enrollment; first-come/first-served. 6/14-18 & 7/12-16. $700. 321-754-8112; fau.edu/sccj

DeVos-Blum Family YMCA Camp: in partnership with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation at West Boynton Park and Recreation Center, 6000 Northtree Blvd, Lake Worth.  Age 5-12. Regularly scheduled physical and educational activities. Experiences enrich cognitive, social, physical and emotional growth and help students develop interests, skills and knowledge in a variety of areas. The YMCA works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Camp Association to ensure all camp programs are operated safely under their guidance, as well as Florida's reopening framework and protocols. Financial assistance available through the YMCA; scholarships available through Palm Beach County Youth Services Department. M-F 8 am-6 pm through 8/7. Enroll: 395-9622; ymcaspb.org

Campuses closed; check website - Florence Fuller Summer Camp: East Campus, 200 NE 14th St, Boca Raton & West Campus, 10130 185th St S, Boca Raton. Age 5-12. Outdoor sports, swimming, field trips, arts/crafts, nature activities. 7:30 am-5:30 pm M-F Jun-Aug. Call for dates/pricing. Includes breakfast, lunch, snack. East Campus 391-7274; West Campus 482-3006; ffcdc.org

Canceled - Fun & Fitness! Activities Program: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 5-11. Hip hop, gymnastics, sports games, crafts, themed dress-up days, pizza party. 8:30 am-5:30 pm M-F 6/1-5, 6/15-19, 6/29-7/3, 7/6-10, 7/13-17, 7/27-31, 8/3-7. $205-$256.25/week + $15 materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Kids Choice Sports, Dance and Fitness Camp: 6500 W Rogers Circle, Boca Raton. Gymnastics, karate, cheer, dance, circus arts, sports conditioning, arts & crafts, more. M-F 6/1-8/7. Drop off begins 8:30 am. Age 3-4 ½ day 9 am-noon or 12:30-3:30 pm. Age 5+ ¾ day 9 am-3 pm or full day 9 am-5 pm. Full summer $1,987.87-$2677.54; Monthly rate 4 weeks $883.50-$1190.02, Per week $245.42-$330.56; per day $54.44-$73.46. Extended care 7:30-8:30 am & 5-6 pm $10/day. Registration fees range from $3/day to $60/annual family. 998-4225; gokidschoice.com

Gulf Stream School Summer Camp: 3600 Gulf Stream Rd. Grades Pre-K through 8. Academics, sports, technology, field trips, reading, more. Call school for brochure/schedules/costs. 276-5225; gulfstreamschool.org

Virtual - Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Believe In Summer Camps: 9801 Donna Klein Blvd, Boca Raton. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/8-7 /2 (closed 7/3) & 7/6-31. Themes vary by age. Early childhood camp age 2-4 $1,225-$2,150. Theater Camp age 7-15 $1,645/session. Upper Camp Grades K-9 6/8-7/31 (closed 7/3) $1,075-$2,850. CIT (Counselor in Training) age 16 $1,150. Before-/after-care available at additional cost. 852-5090; levisjcc.org

Levis JCC Marleen Forkas Camp Kavod for Special Needs: 9801 Donna Klein Blvd, Boca Raton. Grades preK-12. Designed to enhance social, motor, language, other life skills that promote greater independence. Families from all backgrounds/religious affiliations welcome; intake meeting w/Camp Director required. 9 am-4 pm M-F, 2-week sessions 6/8-7/31 (closed 7/3). $800/2-week session; before-and/or after-care/$50-$130. 852-3269; levisjcc.org

Music, Dance & Drama Camps: Boynton Beach School of Music, Dance & Drama, 9804 S Military Tr, E2, Boynton Beach. Age 5-11. Music, dance, drama, instrument playing w/performance of a Broadway-style musical last day of camp. Full day 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-26 & 7/27-8/7 $240/week. 2-week camp - Moana, Jr. 9 am-4 pm M-F 7/13-24 $580/session. Half-day camp age 5 9 am-1 pm M-F $140/week. 877-2435; boyntonmusicdance.com

Peter Blum Family YMCA Camp: in partnership with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation at West Boynton Park and Recreation Center, 6000 Northtree Blvd, Lake Worth.  Age 5-12. Regularly scheduled physical and educational activities. Experiences enrich cognitive, social, physical and emotional growth and help students develop interests, skills and knowledge in a variety of areas. The YMCA works closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Camp Association to ensure all camp programs are operated safely under their guidance, as well as Florida's reopening framework and protocols. Financial assistance available through the YMCA; scholarships available through Palm Beach County Youth Services Department. M-F 8 am-6 pm through 8/7. Enroll: 395-9622; ymcaspb.org

Virtual - Pine Crest School Summer Camps: 2700 St. Andrews Blvd, Boca Raton. Age 4-15. Band, dance, digital media, fine arts, strings, voice, Elevate, sports, swim, tennis, STEM. 9:30 am-3:30 pm M-F 6/8-7/31; before-care & after-care available. $450-$585/week. Includes lunch & snacks. 852-2823; pinecrest.edu/summer

Canceled - Pine Tree Summer Camps: Lynn University, 3601 N Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 3-14. Half-day, full-day, overnight, specialty programs. Sports, arts & crafts, circus acts, science experiments, computer skills, video production, more. 9 am-3 pm M-F 6/1-19, 6/22-7/10, 7/13-31. $670-$2,445/session includes hot lunch + instructional swim daily. Campers required to wear camp uniforms (available in LU campus store & online). After-care until 5:30 pm $335/session. Multiple session discounts available. 237-7310; pinetreecamp.com

Canceled - Virtual Options Available - Saint Andrew’s School Day and Sports Camps: Saint Andrew’s School, 3900 Jog Rd, Boca Raton. Age 3-15. 8:45 am to 3:10 pm M-F 6/1-7/31 (up to 9 weeks). Day Camp age 3-9 $405-$430/week (2-week minimum); Sports & Sports Travel Camps age 6-13 $405-$470/week (2-week minimum); Scots @ Night Overnight Camp age 6-13 6/1-12, 6/15-26 $805/2-week session (added to any day program); Adventure Camp age 10-13 6/1-7/31 $445-$470/week (2-week minimum); Surf, Skate & Create Camp age 7-15 6/1-26, 7/6-10, 7/20-24 & 8/3-7 $515/week; CSI Forensic Science Camp age 8-15 6/1-5 $515/week; Little Medical School age 6-10 6/8-12 $515/week; GenHERation Exploration age 10-14 6/8-12 $515/week; Marine Biology age 9-12 6/15-26 $1,030/2-week session; Underwater Robotics age 8-12 6/8-12 $515; Inventors Camp age 8-12 7/6-10 $515; Minecraft Camp age 7-12 7/13-17 $515/week; Art Camp age 3-13 8/3-7 $415; Sports Camp age 5-13 8/3-7 $415; Surf, Skate & Create age 7-15 8/3-7 $515; Young Inventors age 5-8 8/3-7 $515; Before-/after-care available at additional cost. 210-2100; saintandrews.net/summercamp

Space of Mind’s Summer at the Schoolhouse: 102 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Age 6-19. Campers explore their passions, discover new ones through the arts, music, movement, cooking, more. Experienced coaches create fun, personalized/exciting learning experiences for each child. Three available programs: Summer Discovery Camp and Summer Study Hall. M-Th 9 am-3 pm $300/week; Half-day M-F 9 am-noon $150/week; After Hours Open Studio M-F 3-5 pm $140-$175/week, $35/daily. 877-407-1122; findspaceofmind.com/summer-camp

Sessions 1 and 2 Canceled - Summer Adventure Camp 2019: Beth El Early Learning Center, 9800 Yamato Rd, Boca Raton. Age 2-5. Weekly nurturing program explores adventure, sports, water & outdoor play, music & movement, arts & crafts, gardening, zumba, Kidokinetics, Shabbat sing-a-longs. Mini-Camp 5/26-29 9 am-1 pm, 9 am-3 pm or 7:30 am-6 pm $85-$110/day. 6 day/time options each session: 3-week session 3 days 9 am-1 pm, 9 am-3 pm, 7:30 am-6 pm $664-$1,000; 5 days 9 am-1 pm, 9 am-3 pm, 7 am-6 pm $1,080-$1,440. Session 1 6/1-19; Session 2 6/22-7/10 (closed 7/3); Session 3 7/13-7/31. Hot lunch, mid-morning/afternoon snacks included. $75/child registration fee to hold a spot. 391-9091; tbeboca.org/early-learning-center

Canceled - Summer Outreach and Recreation Day Camp: Spanish River Christian School, 2400 Yamato Rd, Boca Raton. Age 3-10. Unique theme each week: indoor/outdoor activities, inflatables, camp cooking, arts & crafts, weekly field trip, movie day. Half day age 3-5 8:30 am-noon $136-$170/week; Full day 8:30 am-3:30 pm M-F 6/8-7/17 (no camp 7/3) $228-$285/week includes lunch. Before/after care available. $50 registration fee. 994-5006; spanishriverchristianschool.com/summer/soar-camp.cfrm

Virtual - Summer Youth Arts Program: Palm Beach State College Humanities Building, 4200 Congress Ave, Lake Worth. Age 8-16. Workshops in Art, Digital Design, Film, Photography, Theatre. 9 am-4 pm M-Th 6/8-7/23 (closed 7/3). $198/week. Before-/after-care 7-9 am & 4-5:30 pm available for a fee. 868-3646; palmbeachstate.edu

MUSIC

Canceled - Adventures in Music Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 7-13. Interactive hands-on camp, play instruments, sing, learn how to read music. No experience necessary. Bring lunch, snack, beverage. 8:30 am-3 pm M-F 7/20-24 & 7/27-31 $300-$375/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Arts Garage Set The Stage Summer Theatre Camp: 94th NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. Age 6-17. Music/theatre: voice, dance, acting. Visual arts/technical theatre: costume/scenic design, stage management, lighting, more. Bring lunch, snack. Session I Age 6-9 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-19; Session II age 10-12 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/22-7/10; Session III Age 13-17 9 am-4 pm M-F 7/13-31. Final show 2 pm day after last day of session. $600/session; after-care available for a fee. 450-6357; artsgarage.org/events/category/events/kids-classes

School of Rock Summer Camps: School of Rock South Palm Beach, 7433 S Military Tr, Lake Worth. Themed camps w/live performance finales. 9 am-3 pm M-F age 7-17 $395/week. One Hit Wonders Camp 6/1-5; British Invasion Camp 6/8-12; Rookies Camp 7/13-17; Songwriting Camp 7/20-24; Punk Camp 8/3-7. 855-2646; southpalmbeach.schoolofrock.com

Virtual - Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County Summer Camp: Palm Beach Atlantic University, 901 S Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach. Age 8-18. All orchestral instruments, all levels. Guest performance & field trip weekly. Bring lunch. 8:30 am-4:30 pm M-F 7/6-10 & 7/13-17. $350/week; $625 both sessions; early registration discount before 5/1. After-care 4:30-5:30 pm $30/week. Fees due by 6/1. 281-8600; yopbc.org

Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County Mini Mozart Camp: Rutherford Community Center, 7000 Yamato Rd, Boca Raton. Age 5-8. String camp for students w/limited or no experience. Recital on final day of camp. Bring lunch, snacks. 9 am-2 pm M-F 6/8-12, 6/15-19. Call for price. Registration/payment at myboca.us. 281-8600; yopbc.org

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Canceled - Animation & Digital Arts for Beginners: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 11-15. Animate, create 3D model, graphic designs, produce a video game environment in 3D. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 6/22-7/3. $400-$500/session. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Camp Bright & Smart - Stemicon Innovators: at Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Enchanted Worlds M-F 8:30 am-1 pm age 5-6 6/1-5 $270-$337.50 + $30 materials fee. Sea Lab Missions M-F 8:30 am-3 pm age 7-10 6/15-19 $390-$487.50 + $50 materials fee. Exploring Mars Missions M-F 8:30 am-3 pm age 7-10 7/6-10 $390-$487.50 + $50 materials fee. Engineering Gadgets M-F 8:30 am-3 pm age 8-12 7/20-24 $390-$487.50 + $50 materials fee. Drones & Apps M-F 8:30 am-3 pm age 9-13 8/3-7 $390-$487.50 + $50 materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Children’s Science Explorium Science Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 5-10. Age-based science themes. Grades 1-2 6/15-7/3 & 7/27-31. Grades 3-5 7/6-24. Entering K 8/3-7. 9 am-1 pm M-F. $118-$147.50/week. Check website for Science Camp Open House date/time. 347-3912; scienceexplorium.org

Digi-Camp Boca Raton: Young Makers Lab, 5455 N Federal Hwy #F. Age 6-12. Digital media technology, photography, film production, video game programming, maker camp, fabrication, engineering, coding, web building, robotics, drones. 9 am-3:15 pm M-F 6/1-8/14. $375-$700/session. Extended care 7-9 am & 3:30-6 pm $10/hour. 236-0938; digicamp.com

Canceled - Edible Science Camp: Sugar Sand Park, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Incorporate life science, biology, chemistry, solar system exploration, earth sciences into simple experiments. Age 6-12. 8:30 am-1 pm. M-F 6/1-5. $275-$343.75/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Virtual - FAU Pine Jog Summer Day Camp: 6301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach. Weekly themes: Aqua Adventures, Eco-Heroes, Energy Ventures, Grow Your Green Thumb. Age 5-12. Live instruction 10am-1:30pm M-F 6/8-7/2 $75 per child per week, 656-5430; pinejog.fau.edu

Canceled - Mind Games Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Improve academic achievement through STEM-based game play. Bring lunch, snack, beverage. Age 5-12. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 8/3-7. $250-$312.50. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

The Science Academy Summer Camp: Morikami Park Elementary School, 6201 Morikami Park Rd, Delray Beach. Productive, hands-on learning environment. Early, sibling, friend registration discounts available. Grades K-8. 8 am-5 pm M-F 6/1-7/31. $220/week, 2-week minimum; $50 registration. After-care $50/week. 285-7522; thescienceacademyinc.com

Science Summer Camp & Science Institute: Palm Beach Atlantic University Center for Integrative Science Learning, 901 S Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach. Grades 1-12. Daily laboratory experiments led by PBA faculty: physics, chemistry, biology, marine biology, nursing, pharmacy. M-F 6/1-5. Grades 1-5 8:30 am-3:30 pm, $275/week; pre-care 7:30-8:30 am & after-care 4-5 pm $15/child/day; bring lunch. Grades 6-12 8 am-3:30 pm, $350/week lunch included. 803-2603; pba.edu/camps

South Florida Science Museum Summer Camp: 4801 Dreher Tr N, West Palm Beach. Themed weeks: science lessons, laboratories, crafts, outside activities. 9 am-4 pm M-F. Age 4-12 6/1-8/7 $230-$255/week. Age 7-14 6/1-7/31 $280-$305/week. Age 10-14 6/1-12 $280-$305/week. Extended hours 7:30 am-5:30 pm $10/day. Virtual camp also available on website. 832-2026; sfsciencecenter.org

SPORTS

The Breakers Jr. Golf & Tennis Camp: 2 South County Rd, Palm Beach. Age 6-13 M-F Full day golf & tennis 9 am-4 pm; Half-day Golf 9 am-1:30 pm; Half-day Tennis 11:30 am-4 pm. 6/8-26 & 7/6-8/28. Call for details: 422-4914; thebreakers.com/jwga

Canceled - Camp Boca Junior Golf Camp: Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course, 8111 Golf Course Rd. Age 5-17. Games, competition, awards. Lunch/snacks included. 8:30 am-2 pm M-F; 6/1-19 & 7/6-8/7. $290-$350/week. 445-4042; myboca.us

Canceled - Camp Boca Junior Tennis Camp: Strokes, strategy, fitness. Weekly sessions M-F 6/3-8/9 (closed 7/4). Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Rd: age 3-16 9 am-12:30 pm or 9 am-3:30 pm $235/week full day, $136/week half-day, $60/full day, $39/half day. 367-7090. The Racquet Center, 21626 St. Andrews Blvd: 9 am-12:30 pm $136/week, $39/day; 9 am-3:30 pm $235/week, $60/day. Boca Raton Tennis Center, 271 NW Boca Raton Blvd: age 6-16 9 am-12:30 pm or 9 am-3:30 pm $235/week full day, $60/day full day; $136/week half day, $39/week half day. Lunch included for full day + pizza party F; 393-7978. Non-resident add 25%; sibling discount available; after-care available. myboca.us

Evert Tennis Academy Summer Camp: 10334 Diego Dr S, Boca Raton. Age 8-18. Students who aspire to play professionally, earn a college scholarship, or simply improve their game. 5/31-8/15. Boarders’ program 7 am-10 pm Sun-Sat, $1,595-$2,095/week. Non-boarders 8:45 am-3:30 pm M-F lunch included $1,095-$1,595/week. Half-day (mornings) $695/week. Multi-week discounts available. 488-2001; evertacademy.com

Canceled - Boca Raton Hurricane All Stars Cheer Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr. Age 5-13. Sportsmanship/teamwork. Cheers, chants, jumps, tumbling, stunts, dance, games, conditioning. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F 6/6-12, 7/6-10 & 7/13-17. $250-$312.50/week + $20 materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Owl Softball Academy: Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Age 6-18. Develop softball skills/fundamentals in competitive environment. Age 6-12 9 am-3 pm M-Th, 9 am-noon F 6/15-19, 7/13-17 $325. Age 13-18 T 9 am-4:30 pm, W 9 am-3 pm 6/9-10, 6/23-24 & 7/7-8 $300/2-day session. Campers must bring their own softball equipment, lunch. 251-5000; collegesoftballcamps.com/fau

Play by Play Broadcasting Camp: Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Age 10-18. Learn what it takes to make it in the sports broadcasting industry. Train with top professional sportscasters. Starting July (day TBD) 9 am-4 pm M-F $695. Lunch/snacks included. Overnight option available (arriving after 7 pm 6/7, $1,375/includes dorm room & all meals). 800-319-0884; playbyplaycamps.com

Soccer Academy for Girls: Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Age 5-14. Foundations for beginners, skill enhancement for competitive/travel team player. 9 am-noon or 9 am-3 pm M-F 6/1-26 & 7/6-17 $185/week half-day; $275/week full-day. Lunch, pool time included full-day only. 702-0837; fausocceracademy.com

Summer Skate Camp: Hobbit Skate Park, 505 SE 5th Ave, Delray Beach. Age 5-13. Skate instruction, field trips, non-skate trips, more. 7:30 am-5:30 pm M-F 6/8-7/31 $140-$150/week + $25/application fee. Campers must provide skateboard, helmet. Bring lunch, water bottle each day. 243-7158; mydelraybeach.com

Taylored Athletes Summer Basketball Camp: Grandview Prep School, 336 Spanish River Blvd NW, Boca Raton; Boys & girls age 5-16. 8:30 am-3 pm M-F 6/1-26 & 7/6-31. $200/week includes lunch & jersey. Sibling/early registration discounts available. 239-5470; tayloredathletes.com

YES Basketball Academy: First United Methodist Church, 6340 W Boynton Beach Blvd, Lake Worth. Grades K-8. 9 am-4 pm M-F 6/1-7/17 & 7/27-31 $180/week for member. $50/registration fee. Before-/after-care available. 738-1984; jointheyesmovement.com

SURF & WATER

Aloha Surf Camp: Loggerhead Park, US 1, Juno Beach. Surf Camp age 6-12 9 am-1 pm M-F 5/25-8/7 $220/week, $60/day. Water Sports Camp age 7-12 9 am-3 pm M-F 5/25-8/7 $300/week, $70/day. Teen Water Sports Camp age 12+ 9:30 am-3 pm M-F 5/25-8/7 $300/week, $70/day Early-/late-care 8-9 am & 3-4 pm $25/week. Includes all equipment. 543-7873; alohasurfingschool.com

Canceled - Summer Surf School: Red Reef Park South side, 1400 N A1A, Boca Raton. Age 5-14. No experience necessary; must be able to swim. 9 am-3 pm M-F 6/1-8/7 $329-$379/week, $89-$99/day. Surfing/snorkeling equipment provided. Sibling/multiple week discounts available. After care available at a fee. 367-7081; myboca.us/1814/Sports-Outdoor-Camps

Canceled - Camp Boca Fishing Academy Camp: 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd, west side of Spanish River Library. Age 6-13. Tie different knots, bait a hook, identify different fresh and saltwater fish in Florida, water safety. 9 am-noon M-F 6/1-5 & 6/22-26 $140/one-week session. Fishing equipment provided. All campers receive T-shirt, daily snack, prizes, rod/reel to keep. 367-7035; myboca.us/1814/Sports-Outdoor-Camps

Canceled - Hula Surf Summer Camp: Oceanfront Park, 6415 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge. Age 6-12. Surfing, ocean safety, beach cleanups. 8:30 am-1 pm M-F. $225-$275/week. Check website for dates. 877-321-4852; boynton-beach.org/camp

Canceled - Junior Lifeguard Program: Spanish River Park, 3001 N A1A, Boca Raton. Age 10-17. Conducted by Boca Raton Ocean Rescue lifeguard staff. 9 am-noon M/W/F 6/8-7/17 $225-$325. 393-7820; myboca.us

Canceled - Jr. Lifeguard Academy: John H. Denson Pool, 225 NW 12th Ave, Boynton Beach. Age 10-14. 8:30 am-5:30 pm 6/9-7/31. Per session $520/resident; $650/non-resident; $25/per camper registration fee. 742-6550; boynton-beach.org

Delray Beach Surf Camp: 500 S Ocean Blvd/1100 Casuarina Rd. Age 6-15. Surfing, skimboarding, boogie boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, stand-up paddling. 8:30 am-noon M-Th, 8:30 am-12:30 pm F. Check website for dates/costs. 703-7210; delraybeachwatersports.com/surf-camp

Ocean Adventure Camp: Spanish River Park, Boca Raton. Age 5-15. Fun/adventure through education/exploration of Florida’s waters. 9 am-3 pm M-F 6/15-8/28 $325-$409/week, $79-$91/day. Register in person at Boca Raton Community Center or online: JPinkocze@myboca.us; 367-7081; underbluewaters.com

SCUBA Camp: The Scuba Club Inc, 200 E 13th St Slip P14, Riviera Beach. Minimum age 12. Open Water class: certification, includes all equipment, 5 open-water dives. M/T 10 am-3 pm, W-F 8:30-11 am 6/8-12, 6/22-26, 7/6-10, 7/27-31 & 8/3-7. $450/week. 844-2466; thescubaclub.com

Summer Sail Camp: Palm Beach Sailing Club, 4600 N Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach. Age 5-17. Water safety, boat handling, teamwork, sportsmanship, sailing basics. Classes by age, weight, skill level. Basic swimming skills required. Bring lunch/snacks/water bottle. Age 5-17 M-F 6/1-8/7. Starfish Sailors, age 5-7, half day 9 am-noon, $225/week. Opti Sailors age 7-13, 9 am-4 pm, $350/week. FJ/420 age 14-17, 9 am-4 pm, $350/week. 881-0809; pbsail.org

Surf Adventures Camp: 142 S Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach. Age 5-15. Fun/adventure through education/exploration of Florida’s waters. 9 am-3 pm M-F 6/8-8/14 $295/week, $70/day. 715-0499; underbluewaters.com

Waves Surf Academy & City Surf Camp: Delray Breakers Hotel, 1875 S Ocean Blvd. Age 5-15. 9 am-2:30 pm M-F 6/1-8/14 $285-$300/week; $60-$70/day; $50/half-day (noon pickup); after-care $25/day (4 pm pickup). 843-0481; wavessurfacademy.com

THEATER

Canceled - Broadway Artists Intensive: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach. Age 14-21 by audition only. 3-week immersion in acting, voice, dance; taught by all-Broadway faculty including special guest artists. Live audition 4/5 10 am. Intensive 7/6-25. 9 am-5 pm. $1,750. Optional housing & meals available. 855-554-2929; thebroadwayartistsintensive.com

Canceled - Broadway Artists Intensive Junior Program: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach. Ages 9-13. Introductory session for all areas of performing arts: ballet, jazz, tap, vocal technique, acting, improvisation. No audition necessary. 6/22-26 9 am-4 pm. $450. 651-4376; thebroadwayartistsintensive.com

Canceled - Curtain’s Up! Theatre Performance Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 6-15. Sing, act, choreograph, dance. 8:30 am-3 pm M-F. Aladdin 6/1-19 3-week session $750-$937.50 + $50 materials fee. Cinderella 6/29-7/10 2-week session $500-$625 + $50 materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled- Delray Beach Playhouse Summer Camp: 950 NW 9th St. Age 6-16. Check audition/rehearsal schedule for times. Elf The Musical Jr. age 6-12 5/2-7/2, check website for dates/times. Disney’s Frozen Jr. age 12-18 5/30-7/25, check website for dates/times. $750/session. 272-1281 x10; delraybeachplayhouse.com

Canceled - Discover Magic Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 7-12. Learn magic tricks and develop communication skills. 1:30-3:30 pm M-F 6/22-26 & 6/29-7/3. $200-$250/week + $60/materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - LOL Film Making Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 6-14. 1-week sessions. 8:30 am-3 pm M-F. Film Making age 9-14 6/22-26 & 7/27-31. Lego Stop Animation age 7-10 6/8-12. Claymation age 10-14 6/8-12. $280-$350/week + $25 materials fee. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Canceled - Drama Kids Camp: Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S Military Tr, Boca Raton. Age 6-13. Sing, act, choreograph, dance. 8:30 am-3 pm M-F 6/22-26, 7/13-17, 8/3-7. 1-week session $260-$325/week. 347-3900; sugarsandpark.org

Lake Worth Playhouse Summer Performance Camp: 713 Lake Ave. All camps age 8-14, 9 am-4 pm M-F. One Week Wonder Craft Camp $150 a week 6/8-7/31. One Week Wonder Theatre Camp $210 a week 6/8-7/24. Musical Theatre Camp $420 for two weeks 6/8-7/31. 586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

Rocky Mountain Conservatory Theatre: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boca Raton, 2601 St. Andrews Blvd, Boca Raton. Age 5-18. 9 am-3:30 pm M-F. Session 1 Disney’s Moana Jr. age 5-10, High School Musical age 11-18, 6/1-20, performances 6/18-20. Session 2 Disney’s Beauty & The Beast Jr. age 5-10, Hairspray age 11-18, 6/22-7/11, performances 7/9-11. $925/1 session, $1,775/2 sessions. Bring lunch/snacks. Deposit required. Sibling discounts available. Before-/after-care available 8-9 am & 3:30-5:30 pm $7/hour charged in ½-hour increments. $25/registration fee. 962-1570; youthactors.com

Standing Ovation Performing Arts: 7429 S Military Tr, Lake Worth. Age 6-16. Weekly themes: acting, pantomime, improvisation, playwriting, crafts. M-F 6/1-7/31. $200/week. 3-week production camps. Camp Rock the Musical age 6-14 M-F 9 am-3 pm 6/1-19; Peter Pan Jr.  age 6-14 M-F 9 am-3 pm 6/22-7/10; Moana Jr. ages 6-14 M-F 9 am-3 pm 7/13-31; 13 The Musical age 10-17 M-F 10 am-4 pm 6/29-7/17. $675/3-week session, $150/non-refundable deposit due at registration. Registration fee $25/yearly. 734-0187; standingoh.com

Canceled - The Academy @ Palm Beach Dramaworks: at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St, West Palm Beach. Fugitive Songs grades 9-12 6/8-28. TheAcademy@pbd is by audition/interview only, for students in rising 9th through graduating 12th grades. Call for time/pricing information. 514-4042 x123; palmbeachdramaworks.org/academy

NOTE: With so many summer camps offered in our area, we selected those located between the Boca Raton Inlet and the Port of Palm Beach. We kept our listings mostly east of I-95, but there are a few exceptions. Not all summer camp schedules have been set.

Boca Helping Hands has cancelled its annual Monopoly Event & Casino Night due to coronavirus. The event was schedule for April 18.

The cancellation comes “in light of the CDC’s recommendation to cancel large in-person events,” according to a news release. The release said that in place of the Monopoly event, Boca Helping Hands “is planning a ‘non-event,’ which will provide an alternative way to support the organization’s operations and mission.” Details of the "non-event " were not yet available.

Boca Helping Hands is making packaged hot meals and pantry bags available to those in need only by pick-up or drive-through, it said. It was also screening potential emergency assistance recipients by phone and email.

“Our community needs your support now more than ever,” Greg Hazel, executive director of Boca Helping Hands, said in the release.  “We are working closely with our community partners, including the United Way of Palm Beach County’s Hunger Task Force, so that we can continue to aid our clients and the community in the midst of the current crisis.”

-Margie Plunkett