Bethesda Hospital audiologist Rona Ackerman works with Ocean Ridge resident James Weege. Photo provided

By Joyce Reingold

Adults experiencing hearing loss let an average of seven years tick by before going for professional help.

This impairment can affect “nearly every dimension of the human experience,” the Hearing Loss Association of America says, and as the years wear on, hearing-impaired people can become isolated, sink into depression and face the risk of accelerated cognitive decline.

But not Walter Hart. The Realtor from Boynton Beach has worn hearing aids for 20 years, ever since the first sign of trouble.

“When I was younger, I had the ability to sit and talk to you and know what was being said around me,” says Hart, now 80. “It got to a point when I had buyers in my car, in the backseat, I was missing out on their conversations. I said I need a hearing aid.”

Statistically, Hart is the one person in five who needs and uses hearing aids. The other four also need the devices but don’t use them, according to the Hearing Loss Association.

Reasons may include denial, financial constraints, perceived social stigma, or previous bad experience. The hearing aids of yesteryear didn’t exactly recommend themselves to today’s active adults.

“People remember their grandmother’s hearing aids or Poppy’s hearing aids that whistled. They say, ‘I don’t want that,’” says Roy Binder, Hart’s hearing aid specialist.

Binder and his wife, Debra, own The Ear Man, a mobile business that takes them from Boynton Beach to Pembroke Pines to fit customers with hearing aids they fine-tune to each individual’s environment.

The good news is that with 21st-century technology, yesterday’s bulky, noisy hearing aids are just memories and relics. “Now you’re wearing computers in your ear,” says Bethesda Hospital audiologist Rona Ackerman, who has fitted patients with hearing aids for 35 years. “It’s amazing what they can do.”

Today’s devices are unobtrusive, sleek and modern-looking, with names like Styletto from the Signia company and Evoke from Widex. Many models have lithium-ion batteries that can operate for hours on a single charge, and some newer models last for several days. Some come in hues to match hair color.

Bluetooth-compatible devices stream music, phone calls and TV programs straight to the ears. Apps let users control variables like volume and sound balance on their smartphones.

Ackerman promises you need not be a tech whiz to go this route. She tells her patients, “Trust me, you’ll be able to do it.” 

Veterinarian Dr. James Weege of Ocean Ridge, one of Ackerman’s patients, first tried hearing aids more than 20 years ago, but didn’t become a believer until digital technology arrived.

“It’s been phenomenal,” he says. “My hearing improved 1,000 percent. I could finally enjoy going to restaurants and having dinner with friends again.”

Via the app on his phone, he can adjust his hearing aids to reduce background noise so he can better enjoy the conversation at his table.

Improved functionality and a discreet size address two principal objections. But what about the cost? Medicare and most insurance plans don’t cover hearing aids, a possible hurdle for folks living on defined incomes.

Ackerman says the devices Bethesda offers cost between $2,400 and $7,000, with technological advances available through the entire range.

“Good, mid-level technology can be programmed to be just as good as the high end,” Binder says. His clients’ hearing aids on average cost between $3,000 and $4,000.

Multiple price points help lower another barrier, which leaves denial — sometimes a tougher nut to crack. But oftentimes it’s just a lack of awareness.

Age-related hearing loss is gradual, Binder says, starting at around age 35. “People don’t know they have any deficiency in their hearing. They deny it because they’re unaware. They make the TV a decibel louder, and as a little time goes by, a little louder.”

If that sounds familiar, the experts say don’t wait.

“Just go get a test,” Ackerman says. “It’s painless.”

The entire screening process, from intake to results, takes just an hour, she says.

“The sooner a person feels that a hearing aid might be needed, the easier it will be for them to adapt to it, and the happier they will be because of the ability to hear better and clearer,” Hart says.

There’s an adjustment period for anyone fitted with hearing aids, and they require important maintenance at regular intervals.

“It’s not like putting on glasses, where you immediately see clearly, and it’s wonderful,” Ackerman says. Her patients typically make a follow-up visit two weeks after the initial fitting. “Usually by 30 days, they’re happy, and they’re keeping them. Some may need longer to learn how to listen with hearing aids.”

Seventy-five percent of Binder’s clients are “the oldest seniors,” he says, who often have transportation issues that prevent them from getting to appointments. In-home service is a particularly good fit for these citizens. “We go to their homes … dig in with them and keep at it until it’s right.”

The journey to improved hearing and a full, healthy engagement in life takes commitment. Satisfied customers like Weege and Hart feel strongly that the relationships with their trusted professionals are the key to their success with hearing aids.

And they leave no doubt it’s worth it.

“Some people say they don’t want to wear them, but I say I wouldn’t be caught without them,” Weege says.

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

The Grass River Garden Club presented former U.S. Rep. Tom Evans of Delaware with an honorary membership. Evans helped guide into law the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982, which provides protection for barrier islands on both coasts.  ‘Just as you have done in your life, the founding members of our club chose conservation to be our primary focus,’ Co-President Patsy Mayer said. ‘Your Coastal Barrier Resources Act has proven to be significant legislation, more important and relevant today than when it was enacted.’ ABOVE: Evans with Co-President Ginna Donnelly (left) and Mayer. Photo provided

The Ocean Ridge Garden Club hosted a fundraising art show and raffle during a reception at Town Hall. Much of the artwork was created by local artists. The inaugural event was sold out, raising more than $4,000 to support the club’s funding of scholarships and community outreach. ABOVE: Jackie Reed, Carolyn Cassidy, Carol Besler, Sunny Otto, Lisa Ritota, Pat Saunders, Kimberlee Pompeo and Sylvie Glickstein. Photo provided

More than 350 guests attended the Boca Raton Garden Club’s juried Flower Show last month.

The show, with a Mother Goose theme, featured outstanding horticulture, floral designs, whimsical botanical arts, exciting entries from talented youths and educational exhibits.

“This Flower Show was the garden club’s gift to Boca Raton and our way to let everyone know what we are about as a garden club,” show Chairwoman Rebecca Stallard said. “The entire club pitched in and got involved to make it such a success.”

Drs. Jeffrey and Stephanie Karpf examine a cat in their West Palm Beach clinic. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

Since childhood, I’ve always had at least one cat. However, Casey is the first orange tabby I’ve ever adopted and he meets the common attributes associated with this colorful feline: outgoing, mischievous, friendly toward dogs, quick to learn and playful.

He aced his training to become a certified therapy pet so he can walk on a leash or ride in a pet stroller for our goodwill visits to schools, hospitals and nursing homes. And, in his role as Pet Safety Cat Casey, he purrs while students wrap him in towels, place him correctly inside pet carriers or check his pulse during the veterinarian-approved pet first-aid classes I teach all over the country.

But Casey is no Goose. For those of you who have watched Captain Marvel, you will know what I am talking about. Goose is the scene-stealing orange tabby in this blockbuster movie that stars Oscar-winner Brie Larson. And, he just may boost the popularity for cats all over, much like what happened for Labrador retrievers with the release of Marley and Me, or Great Danes when the movie Marmaduke was unleashed.

“I enjoyed the movie because it was a cat, not a dog, who was featured, but I predict there will be a sudden uptick in orange tabbies named Goose,” says Stephanie Karpf, DVM, who operates the For Cats Only veterinary clinic with her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Karpf, in West Palm Beach.

“We discovered that a lot of families who have dogs and cats would not take their cats to the veterinarian and that is simply tragic,” says Stephanie, who met her husband while they earned their veterinary medicine degrees at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, N.Y.

In fact, seeing an unmet need is what inspired the couple to take over the For Cats Only practice four years ago from a retiring veterinarian after a decade of doing pet house calls and working in a dog-cat veterinary clinic.

“There is no wagging tails or kisses to your face because the patient went for a car ride, as it is with many dog patients, but I love the atmosphere of our cat-only practice that is quiet with classical music playing,” says Karpf. “I think I am a better feline veterinarian because of the greater sensitivity I have to know what a cat needs to get through an examination.”

Most felines are treated to half-hour visits. Inside the exam rooms, they are placed in or handled with towels spritzed with feline-pleasing pheromones that human noses cannot detect. The staff employs handling techniques designed to reduce stress, fear and anxiety — especially in what Stephanie Karpf describes as “spicy” cats.

“We get a lot of spicy cat referrals from other clinics because they may be deemed dangerous to handle due to elevated stress levels,” says Karpf. “For these cats, we give them a quick, light sedative so we can do the necessary treatments and then give them a shot for them to wake up and go home without being stressed out. We book hour appointments for these cats and try to give plenty of time to answer any questions clients may have about them.”

Educating clients is an ongoing mission here. Each month, the clinic’s website features the Karpfs’ white-and-gray cat who inspires the popular Nigel’s Blog, written from the cat’s point of view. Recent topics include causes of skin disease, the real meanings of purring, the pros and cons of pet probiotics and the dangers of string toys.

The Karpfs adopted Nigel, now 3, from a second-chance foster group. Stephanie had hoped Nigel would become the office cat, but his desire to ambush ankles of visitors and staff got him the safer position of cat blogger. He now stays at home with their other cat, Cecil, a black-and-white cat who loves to cuddle and lounge on laps.

Karpf dispels two myths about cats:

Myth 1: Dry food is best

“It is a myth that cats need to eat dry food to keep their teeth clean,” she begins. “Most cats swallow kibble whole, so there is no direct impact between kibble and dental health. However, cats who eat canned food are less likely to have urinary tract infections, kidney disease or be overweight. They get water in the canned food so they are less likely to be dehydrated than those cats who only eat kibble.”

Myth 2: Cats act out of spite

“People mistakenly think that when their cat pees on the rug or their bed, it is because they are mad or full of spite,” Karpf says. “But when cats start urinating outside the litter box, it is due to a urinary problem or a behavioral issue. Both warrant talking to your veterinarian to resolve this issue before it escalates.”

2019 may be designated as the Year of the Pig, but the pet popularity title these days belongs to cats. Sorry, doggies.

“I find cats so relaxing,” Karpf says. “If I have had a tough day, I can count on Cecil to climb in my lap and start purring. I can feel my blood pressure lower.”

More cat-only veterinary clinics are popping up around the country, and the latest trend in professional pet-sitting is to cater only to feline clients.

And that suits cats named Nigel, Cecil, Casey and yes, probably even Goose, just fine.

To learn more about the For Cats Only in West Palm Beach, visit vetforcatsonly.com.

Arden Moore is an animal behavior consultant, author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts the Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting ardenmoore.com.

Jett and Luke Justin, 11, founded the Boca Raton Cereal Drive Alliance to collect cereal to give to Boca Helping Hands for distribution to underserved people. Last month the drive collected more than 2,700 boxes from seven schools to go with more than 2,500 that General Mills donated. Photo provided 

By Janis Fontaine

Eleven-year-old twins Jett and Luke Justin of Boca Raton have extra-large spirits of giving for their age.

Since they were 7, the youngsters have volunteered for Boca Helping Hands, a nonprofit in Boca Raton that feeds hungry people, provides job training and mentoring and distributes vouchers for medical and dental care.

Jett and Luke, along with their parents, Eric and Lukana Justin, would spend a few hours most Fridays after school filling pantry bags with food for underserved people in the community. Luke and Jett noticed that there were more lunch and dinner foods than breakfast foods. Where was the cereal?

The boys were concerned.

“We knew that eating breakfast helps with academic performance,” Luke said.

“And the kids were missing out on the deliciousness of cereal,” Jett added.

The boys decided to hold a cereal drive at school. They asked their classmates at Calusa Elementary to donate boxes of cereal that the boys could deliver to Boca Helping Hands so it would end up in the pantry bags they and other volunteers packed.

The first year they collected 500 boxes of cereal. If the average box of cereal provides 10 breakfasts, that’s 5,000 times kids were assured tasty meals.

That made the twins feel good. But it also made them want to do more.

Last year, Jett (older by 30 seconds) and Luke reached out to four other elementary schools. The brothers went to the schools and spoke to students about the cereal drive, which they renamed the Boca Raton Cereal Drive Alliance. That year, the alliance collected 1,800 boxes of cereal.

Last month, from March 1 to 8, the twins held their annual cereal drive. The alliance is now active in seven schools — Calusa, Addison Mizner, Boca Raton Elementary, Del Prado, Sandpiper Shores, Sunrise Park and Verde Elementary — and it collected more than 2,700 boxes of cereal.

Then, on March 12, the fifth-graders were summoned to Boca Helping Hands on a ruse and got a huge surprise when General Mills showed up with a donation of its own: six pallets of cereal — more than 2,500 boxes. The donation was so big they needed a forklift to move it.

The cereal was hidden behind a big truck, which then was moved to reveal the stacks of cereal the company was donating to these champions of Cheerios.

“We were shocked,” Jett said.

“And so thankful,” Luke said.

The boys had written three letters to General Mills asking for a small donation of cereal and received no reply. The folks reading the mail at General Mills get a lot of letters from people asking for help. The Justins stood out for their persistence and their age,  but what got the attention of decision-makers was that the boys were doing something to make changes, not just writing letters to ask for help.

“The letter from Luke and Jett stood out,” said Mike Siemienas, brand media relations manager for General Mills. “We were really impressed with what they were accomplishing. They created the cereal drive and it’s grown over the last three years. One of General Mills’ missions is to be a force for good, so we wanted to recognize Luke and Jett. Their efforts show that no matter how old you are, you can make a difference in your community.”

Greg Hazle, executive director of Boca Helping Hands for the past 18 months, said, “I didn’t know they were a legend. It’s so heart-warming and inspiring to see kids so young learning lessons about helping other people.”

Boca Helping Hands would prefer that all the cereal donated be the best nutritionally, meaning low in sugar, but right now, the twins aren’t thinking about that. They want donations and will take what they can get. Jett loves Lucky Charms (loaded with sugar), but Luke loves classic Cheerios (much better nutritionally), so the difference is on their radar.

Hazle says children volunteers are fairly common, but the twins took it a step further by offering a solution to a problem. 

During each cereal drive, Jett and Luke get to ride along when Boca Helping Hands vans go to pick up the donated cereal from schools. They like to personally thank the students who led the cereal drives at their schools.

Luke says he’s grateful that kids are so willing to help.

Jett’s the big-picture one: “Helping the poor in the community helps the community overall.”

To donate to Boca Raton Cereal Drive Alliance, visit cereal4all.org.

The boys are learning to code so they’re changing the site on a regular basis. 

The wall on the east side of the theater consists of panels with a variety of plants for color and texture. It gets attention from pedestrians and motorists alike. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

While many artists use their talents to brush paint on canvas, Debbie Kotalic creates wall-art fashioned from living plants. You’ll find one of her most recent creations on the east side of the new iPic theater complex in downtown Delray Beach.

In fact, this living wall, later added to the developer’s initial plans, was instrumental in getting the city to approve the oversized building.

“We liked the green wall because it helps soften the expanse of blank walls that the project proposed. And it turns out to be not only an aesthetically pleasing part of the design but also a feature that is iconic,” says Tim Stillings, development services director for Delray Beach.

Besides using her skills at this location, Kotalic has worked on green walls in England, Germany, Dubai, Kuwait and Australia.

“Some companies like simple walls because they add green space without taking up real estate. But our city wanted a living piece of art,” says Kotalic, director of artistic horticultural design for GSky, which makes the wall planting system and has an office in Delray Beach.

If you visit the wall located on busy Fifth Avenue, you’ll find a 22-by-80-foot mural consisting of more than 20,000 living plants in nine varieties.

The plants got their start in a northern Florida nursery, with a dozen plants set evenly in almost 2,000 1-foot-square panels. The plants in each panel took root in a synthetic growing medium called rock wool, which holds moisture. The various plants were set into the panels corresponding to where the panels would go in the final design.   

After 16 weeks of growing, the plant panels were delivered and arranged on the side of the iPic building to reflect the pattern Kotalic designed on paper. The installation took about three weeks. Irrigation is built into the wall.

In designing the wall, Kotalic realized that while some people would approach her art from the sidewalk or view it from across the street, most would be driving by it.

After standing in front of the blank wall, she was inspired. “I wanted it to take your eye and make interesting things flow and weave in and out all the way from one side of the wall to the other,” she explains.

To give her artwork that sense of movement, she used a curvilinear design crafted in a variety of colors, including burgundy, yellow, red and shades of green.

To attain those colors, she selected plant varieties such as golden alternanthera, Ficus elastica burgundy, and red and yellow corkscrew croton, which is the first croton she has used in her work. 

For depth and texture, she opted for minima jasmine that will be trimmed to keep it short, wort fern that grows a bit longer than some of the other plantings, and asparagus sprengeri with foliage that looks almost fluffy.

“When the plants finish growing out, some will appear taller, like they are going over others; some will look like they are going under others and the colors will weave in and out. There’s a lot going on here,” she says.

Since late February when the installation was completed, GSky’s work hasn’t ended. Ongoing maintenance will occur about twice a month, such as periodic cuts with hand-held pruning shears. “You don’t want it to get too leggy, lanky or woody,” Kotalic says.

The wall is fully lit at night. In fact, the developer liked the wall so much that lighting fixtures were added to the plan while the plants were being installed, as were a few palm trees along the sidewalk.

The lighting forced Kotalic to remove the top row of panels from her design, and she worries the palms may create shade interfering with the wall’s growth.

But after 15 years on the job, Kotalic has learned to take obstacles in stride.

“We usually get some surprises along the way and we’ve learned to deal with them,” she says.

And that’s good news for residents and visitors to this growing seaside village who will enjoy her living artwork for years to come.

Viewing tip

“As the wall grows and evolves, one of my favorite ways to look at it is from the side. From there you can see all the depth, dimension and texture created by the plants that make up the wall. You’ll see a lot of things you may not have expected.”

— Debbie Kotalic, director of artistic  horticultural design for GSky

If You Go

What: GSky Green Wall at the iPic Theater

Where: 50 SE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach

Hours: Available for viewing day and evening

Admission: Free viewing from street

Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley can be reached at debhartz@att.net.

Delray Beach City Manager Mark Lauzier listens during a special meeting March 1 regarding the results of a report submitted to the commission by the city's internal auditor. Lauzier was terminated with cause after commissioners unanimously expressed a lack of trust in his performance. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach city commissioners unanimously fired City Manager Mark Lauzier for cause after hearing that he hired inexperienced employees, provided them with top-dollar salaries and moving expenses, and rewrote the personnel manual so that it did not cover his direct reports. The findings were part of a report by the city's internal auditor.

City commissioners were not aware of most of Lauzier’s management moves.

At the March 1 special meeting, Vice Mayor Adam Frankel appeared via Skype while on vacation. Deputy Vice Mayor Shirley Johnson arrived in a wheelchair because she was involved in a pedestrian accident and has a broken left knee.

After commission discussion, Frankel made the motion “to terminate Mr. Lauzier with full cause.”

Delray Beach police escorted Lauzier to his offices on the second floor after City Attorney Lynn Gelin asked him to step down from the dais. Lauzier was hired Nov. 6, 2017. He earned $244,000 annually.

Gelin recommended that commissioners appoint an interim city manager. Commissioner Ryan Boylston made the motion to appoint Fire Chief Neal de Jesus as the interim position. The fire chief agreed to serve as long as the term was limited to 90 days.  

The commissioners agreed 4-0; Frankel had signed off Skype.

The special meeting gathered together several notable residents of Delray Beach, including Jack Warner, the city’s former chief financial officer; Mary McCarty, former Delray Beach city commissioner and later county commissioner who served prison time for honest services fraud during her time with the county; former city commissioner Jim Chard; Bob Victorin, president of the Beach Property Owners Association; Neil Schiller, development lawyer who represents Midtown Delray; Laura Simon, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority; Yvonne Odom, a retired educator who leads youth sports teams; and Bill Branning, a construction company owner who also is the chairman of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Public comment was taken before internal auditor Julia Davidyan detailed her findings. The findings had been posted on the city's website only about one hour before the start of the 3:30 p.m. special meeting. Gelin asked Davidyan to write a cover sheet stating her report was technically a review, not an audit.

Of the 16 people who spoke during public comment, most talked about their emotional connection to Lauzier. They had not read the auditor’s report. More than half live in the northwest or southwest neighborhoods.

“Take into consideration that his life is on the line,” said Timothy Boykins. “Have a heart.”

Former Commissioner Chard said, “The man is a student of cities.” Chard was on the commission that hired Lauzier.

“He had that people personality we all look for,” Odom said. “But if he’s done something so egregious, then fire him.”

Gelin said Lauzier had made “multiple violations of the city charter and the International City Managers Association’s code of ethics.” That behavior, she said, “supports termination with cause.”

The internal auditor position was approved by city voters in a 2016 referendum and reports directly to the commission.

Davidyan, who was hired in August 2018, never met with Lauzier despite repeated attempts on her part but said red flags were raised earlier this year. She noticed that several department head positions were open, Lauzier declared a partial hiring freeze in late January and two weeks later announced he hired his third assistant city manager.

That’s when she began to look into Lauzier’s operation, Davidyan said. According to her report:

*Shortly after being hired, Lauzier rewrote the personnel manual so that it did not cover his direct reports, including executive staff in his office and the department heads. He did not update the city charter as was required or post the changes. Only Lauzier signed the updated policy; the mayor did not (as is required by the charter).

*In January 2018, Lauzier hired India Adams to be assistant to the city manager. He worked with her in Tacoma, Wash. Adams listed one year experience as a management analyst II and two years of intern/fellowship experience on her resume. She did not list any supervisory or management experience and did not have any experience with budgets or special projects.

At the time, Lauzier said the job was “a downward classification of the vacant assistant city manager position at a substantial savings.” Adams was paid $82,492 annually plus benefits when first brought on staff.

Lauzier also established a “Team of Teams” concept and created a new organizational chart.

*On March 29, 2018, Lauzier hired Vince Roberts, with a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina, at an annual salary of $53,174, with a maximum of $3,800 in moving expenses and $1,200 in housing assistance. Roberts also received full city benefits.

That salary was 27.5 percent above the position’s minimum grade guidelines. Adams justified paying the increased salary in a memo that cited Roberts’ education and experience “serving multiple localities.” Roberts, though, listed only one three-month internship on his resume. The city's policy is to start people at the minimum salary grade.

*On May 1, the City Commission approved allowing Lauzier to change the personnel policies and procedures manual. He did not mention that his direct reports were not included.

*On Aug. 1, Lauzier promoted Adams to assistant city manager, increasing her salary to $120,000, more than a 45 percent increase. The promotion was not done as part of an annual performance appraisal. The City Commission learned about the promotion in a July 31 memo when Lauzier released a revised organizational chart.

Adams did not have the required five years of experience for the position. The “substantial savings” Lauzier had touted seven months before were eliminated with her promotion.

Lauzier frequently has said Adams would take over for him in eight years when he retires.

*On Jan. 30, while the city had a partial hiring freeze, Lauzier hired another assistant city manager, Susan Grant from Coral Springs. Grant's position oversaw finance, human resources, purchasing and information technology. According to the auditor's report this presented a possible conflict because the human resources director usually reports to the city manager. Lauzier never told the commissioners about the hiring freeze.

*On Feb. 5, Human Resources Director Sharon Liebowitz, who had reported directly to Lauzier, resigned. Davidyan could not confirm the reason for Liebowitz’s departure. Her personnel file did not contain a memo outlining why she left.

The report also said the organizational chart shows a city manager’s office that is top heavy with four assistants. At approximately $160,000 per assistant, that equates to a $640,000 payroll.

The changes in the personnel policies and procedures allowed Lauzier not to follow the usual method for selecting his direct hires, such as the recent hiring of the police chief.

Lauzier kept police, fire rescue, parks and recreation, communications and media, and neighborhood and community services under his direct supervision.

After hearing the auditor's report, Lauzier had his say.

“I have not violated any code of ethics,” he said, adding that he took over a city in chaos.

He defended Adams “as the most talented management fellow, who proved herself in the mettle. People have a problem with excellence.”

He asked for time to respond to the report or to allow him to work up an amicable separation agreement with the city attorney that could be reviewed at the regular March 12 commission meeting.

“It’s not appropriate to attack my staff and me and call me incompetent,” Lauzier said.

He ended his 15-minute speech by saying, “I love you guys (to the commissioners) and I love this city.”

The county Office of the Inspector General has requested a copy of Davidyan’s findings for review, Gelin said.

Goal is to stop clashing messages, redundant legal fees

By Rich Pollack

 In an effort to reduce confusion and communicate more efficiently, the Highland Beach Town Commission in February established a list of rules that govern its interactions with outside agencies, town staff and boards and with the town attorney.

Under a resolution passed unanimously, commissioners agreed to have all communications with other agencies and staff flow through Town Manager Marshall Labadie.

“The manager needs to be Tom Brady,” Town Attorney Pamala Ryan said at the meeting a few days after the NFL Super Bowl. “He needs to be the quarterback.”

Ryan and Labadie said the town needs guidelines to prevent an overlap of commissioners contacting the same government agency and not being able to communicate their findings with one another because of Florida’s Sunshine Law requiring open meetings.

They also said that some employees were complaining about interactions with commissioners.

“We need to have more of a regimented and reliable plan going forward,” Ryan said.

The confusion over communication with outside agencies reached a head in late January when Commissioner Peggy Gossett-Seidman received a letter from a regional Florida Department of Transportation official, apparently in response to a request from Gossett-Seidman.

In that letter, the FDOT’s Stacy Miller, the agency’s local director of transportation development, told Gossett-Seidman the department could accommodate a request to delay the resurfacing of State Road A1A for one year, a move that would make it possible for the town to delay a referendum on the issue if it wanted.

A few days later, however, newly appointed Commissioner Barry Donaldson sent a letter to Gerry O’Reilly, who leads the FDOT’s regional operation, saying Donaldson didn’t think the town needed the delay.

Donaldson and Gossett-Seidman said they were communicating as private residents and not as commissioners representing the town.

“I think the DOT is pretty much fed up with Highland Beach right now because they’ve heard so many different things from so many people, and that includes the commission and staff as well,” Ryan said.

Donaldson said he welcomed the new rules.

“It’s inevitable that we’re going to be falling all over each other if we continue doing it this way,” he said. “This was an excellent lesson for everyone. It has got to stop.”

The new rules specify that the Town Commission as a whole must agree if an elected official wants to interact on behalf of the town with an outside agency or business.

“The elected official must explain to the Town Commission the reason for the interaction, the scope, the time frame, the form of the interaction, and the cost, if any,” the resolution states.

Mayor Rhoda Zelniker said she agreed that rules needed to be in place.

“I’m just saying we shouldn’t work this way,” she said. “We need to go through Marshall, he’s the town manager.”

Gossett-Seidman said commissioners might have taken on more of an operational role because the town didn’t have a manager for several months before Labadie’s arrival in October.

With Labadie now in place, she said, it’s time to let him be in full control.

“I would like to give the town manager full authority,” Gossett-Seidman said. “I don’t want any more nonsense. I don’t want any more miscommunication.”

Under the new rules, commissioners are expected to work through Labadie before contacting Ryan with specific questions in an effort to avoid overlap and reduce legal costs.

Ryan, of the law firm of Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Ansay, charges the town $226 an hour, and the firm billed the town $24,621 for work it did in January.

During that period, commissioners interacted with Ryan 45 times, either by phone or email.

The resolution also lists sanctions, which include a reprimand, formal censure or possible referral to the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics or the Florida Commission on Ethics. Ú

Audience members listen before the Boca Council makes its final vote to reject the variance for the duplex. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Steve Plunkett

Living up to promises they gave voters and concerned residents for years, Boca Raton City Council members decided a four-story duplex could not be built on the beach east of State Road A1A between Spanish River Park and Ocean Strand.

The Feb. 26 vote denying a variance to build east of the state’s Coastal Construction Control Line was a relief to observers who packed the council meeting and filled 50 or so seats in an adjacent overflow room.

At least 17 residents spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing; none supported the duplex.

Attorney Robert Sweetapple, who represented the landowner, showed a video of then-council member and now Mayor Scott Singer standing on a dune and declaring he could not support plans for a house on the beach. Sweetapple also had copies of emails that council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte had sent constituents saying they too would vote against variances for construction seaward of the CCCL.

The three rebuffed Sweetapple’s suggestion that they were biased and should recuse themselves from the variance petition.

Brandon Schaad, Boca Raton’s director of development services, outlined six criteria the property at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. would have to meet to win a variance, and then showed how it had failed to do so. 

“In any case the applicant has not established any special condition that would justify such a large project with such demonstrated insensitivity to this natural environment,” Schaad said.

Plans called for a structure approximately 49 feet tall with 14,270 square feet of habitable space.

Under questioning by Sweetapple, Dr. Kirt Rusenko, Boca Raton’s marine conservationist, said he had written a report perhaps two years ago saying that more turtles nest in front of large beachfront condominiums than in front of unlit Red Reef Park.

“These buildings shade the beach from the sky-glow of the development inland, creating more desirable nesting habitat,” Rusenko wrote.

That report was similar to a study John Fletemeyer, who supervised sea turtle conservation in Delray Beach for 31 years, presented last month to Boca Raton’s Environmental Advisory Board that showed turtles nested less frequently behind undeveloped Atlantic Dunes Park on A1A than behind the condos north and south.

At the end of Sweetapple’s presentation, Singer quickly moved that the variance be denied.

“Based on the competent and substantial evidence I see in the record and at the hearing today, I find that the criteria have not been satisfied for a variance,” the mayor said.

The council’s denial followed a Jan. 10 recommendation by the Environmental Advisory Board that the variance be denied.

“Environmentally the Coastal Control Line is there for a reason, and it was put there for a good reason,” board Chairman Stephen Alley said then.

Council members caused an uproar when they gave a zoning variance in late 2015 for a four-story beachfront home two parcels south, at 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice to proceed with that project, which still needs review by the EAB and another council vote.

Richard Caster and Brian Grossberg, doing business as 2600 N Ocean LLC, have a contract to purchase the property from New Jersey-based Grand Bank NA. Some residents in the audience said they believed, after looking at the property appraiser’s website, that the partnership bought the property for $100. But Sweetapple said Grand Bank had acquired the land in foreclosure and the price tag was in the millions.

An appraisal drawn up in response to city requests valued the parcel at $7.2 million.

Each side of the proposed duplex would have had a roof level with a pool, spa, fire pit and outdoor kitchen. Sweetapple said the building would have special glass facing the ocean that would transmit only 10 percent of interior light, below the city’s request for 15 percent, and have only 8 percent reflectivity.

Tom Tomasello, one-time general counsel for the state’s Department of Natural Resources and an expert witness for the developer, said city staff was making a big deal out of the fact that the proposal did not yet have a state permit, but said also that Boca Raton refused to provide a letter stating the project met city zoning and setback rules.

“I’ve never been in this situation before where a local government treats the Coastal Construction Control Line as a line of prohibition,” Tomasello said.

After the vote, Sweetapple said he would file documents in court asking a judge to review the proceeding, then file a lawsuit over Boca Raton taking the property from its owners.

“Dr. Rusenko actually proved our theory of the case. That’s why they didn’t call him,” Sweetapple said. 

By Steve Plunkett

The new Boca National Golf Club will cost taxpayers a whopping $27.6 million to build, on top of the $24 million being paid for the land.

The construction price, which Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District commissioners voted Feb. 25 to send along to the City Council, dwarfs an early estimate of $10.5 million just to move earth and plant grass to create the course.

That estimate stands; the bulk of the extra costs are a $3.5 million clubhouse, $2.8 million maintenance facility, $2.5 million tunnel and $2.3 million for maintenance equipment. Then add $1.5 million for lights at a driving range and short course; a $925,000 teaching facility, and $768,000 for on-course restrooms.

Beach and park commissioners want to schedule a joint meeting with the council in March to discuss how to finance the project. They will borrow money on their own if they must, but would prefer getting a lower interest rate through the city’s AAA bond rating — and would happily agree if the council offered to split the cost.

Arthur Koski, the district’s former legal counsel and executive director, who is spearheading the project, said the final cost could have been double the current estimate.

“We had an estimate from an architect for a 12,000-square-foot clubhouse. It was $30 million. Somebody [in the audience] said, ‘What?!’ That was my response too. I said there’s no way that’s going to happen,” Koski told beach and park commissioners at their Feb. 12 meeting.

Koski said the district will spend a little more than a tenth of that amount by using modular components instead of building the clubhouse from scratch.

“It will look similar in nature to the front of the clubhouse at the Old Course at Broken Sound,” Koski said. “You can’t tell the difference between stick-built and modular.”

The new tunnel will let golfers avoid traffic on Northwest Second Avenue as they drive carts from the clubhouse to the first tee. There is already a tunnel under Jeffrey Street connecting what will be the front nine holes to the back nine.

Boca National will offer a traditional 18-hole golf course; a family activity center with a free 75,000-square-foot putting course, an 11-hole short course similar to the Cradle at North Carolina’s famed Pinehurst resort; and a full-size driving range.

The clubhouse and learning center are envisioned as being built — and paid for — after the course opens to the public in September 2020.

The district is counting on greens fees and other revenue from the course to help pay for its purchase and construction.

“We’re trying to make this playable, affordable and produce as many rounds as possible,” Koski said.

The Price/Fazio design team hopes to get building permits approved by the end of June with construction starting in mid-July. In a Feb. 18 report to the district, the designers said cost estimates for the training facility and restrooms were based on normal concrete block or steel structures, but that those structures might be modular like the clubhouse.

“We will be refining the buildings in the coming weeks and at that time costs will be revised as well,” they wrote.

The city is selling its municipal golf course west of the Florida’s Turnpike to developer GL Homes for $65 million but has extended the date for closing the deal six times, most recently on Feb. 26 to make the transaction “not later than” Oct. 31.

Larry Portnoy, a GL Homes vice president, told beach and park commissioners Feb. 12 his company could easily wait until after Boca National opens in 2020 to complete the deal with the city. Ú

Highland Beach voters will go to the polls on March 12 to elect a commissioner for a three-year term.

Evalyn David

Personal: 69; bachelor’s and LLM (master of law) in taxation from NYU Law School; J.D. from Seton Hall Law School; full-time Highland Beach resident for eight years. Married, two grown children.

Professional: Retired; practiced law for 25 years with the Hannoch Weisman firm as well as having her own practice.

Political experience: None.

Positions on issues: Wants to see more transparency and fiscal responsibility in town government; concerned with buried utility lines in a town that floods; wants lighted crosswalks on streets with high traffic volume; wants more oversight on rainwater runoff costs and what she believes is a misguided plan to fund a park.

Quote: “I don’t believe spending $100,000 on holiday ornaments is a wise decision. This town has in excess of $13 million of debt and I don’t believe adding $45 million in bond issues for more proposed spending makes a lot of sense. Also if you’re in a flood zone with saltwater flooding, it’s not considered a great idea to bury your utility lines. This is a three-mile-long beach town with 3,600 registered voters and swells to about 8,000 people during the season. A planned park will mean $5,000 benches, $2,000 garbage cans and $10,000 water fountains. They want to put in 10-foot-wide sidewalks, which shouldn’t be that wide. They want to put in monuments and statues. That’s not what a beach town is all about.”

Elyse Riesa

(Incumbent)

Personal: 66; graduated from Queens College with a bachelor’s degree in education and got her master’s degree from George Washington University in government program management; 12-year resident of Highland Beach; married, two grown children.

Professional: Retired; was managing director and global vice president for AT&T (1972-2001); vice president of sales and development for Cable-Organizer (2001-2007); CEO of Value Tech Supply (2007-2012).

Political experience: Member of the Town Commission for two years; was a member of the Beaches and Shores Advisory Board from 2011-2015. Member of the Planning Board.

Positions on issues: Wants to preserve Highland Beach’s quality of life; advocates beach cleanup efforts; supports code enforcement; wants to maintain low tax base; opposes $45 million referendum proposals that address drainage, town beautification and underground utilities as too expensive.

Quote:  “As your elected commissioner, I am uniquely positioned to create a better environment for our community. I am dedicated to serving our residents by enhancing the quality of life in Highland Beach.”

Candidate profiles compiled by Steven J. Smith

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach residents will once again be voting at the Highland Beach Public Library when they go to the polls March 12. 

In addition to selecting a town commissioner, voters will be asked to authorize the Town Commission to issue bonds for three projects that would be done in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation’s proposed improvements on State Road A1A within the next four to six years.

The three questions are on the ballot because Highland Beach’s Town Charter requires that any project over $350,000 in any given fiscal year be approved by a majority of voters.

One of the ballot referendum questions will ask voters to allow the town to issue bonds of up to $16.55 million for a stormwater improvement project. Voters will also be asked to approve a bond issue not to exceed $11.25 million for improvements to the town’s multiuse walking path but with the caveat that the bonds will be issued only if the stormwater improvements receive voter approval.

Voters will also be asked to greenlight the issuing of up to $17.2 million in bonds for the installation of underground utilities.

All of the bond issues, if approved, would mature within 30 years of their issuance. 

Official Ballot Language Town of Highland Beach: General obligation bonds for

STORMWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Shall the Town be authorized to issue bonds, in one or more series, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $16,550,000, bearing interest rates not exceeding the maximum legal rate, maturing within 30 years from their respective issuance, payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes and/or other revenues to finance stormwater improvements, including drainage, removal/conversion of ditches, pipes, water quality treatment, a multiuse path, roadway improvements, and landscaped infiltration areas.

OCEAN WALK MULTIUSE CORRIDOR PROJECT

Shall the Town be authorized to issue bonds, in one or more series, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $11,250,000, bearing interest rates not exceeding the maximum legal rate, maturing within 30 years from their respective issuance, payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes and/or other revenues to finance roadway improvements, complete streets elements, park and recreational improvements, and gateway monuments; such bonds shall be issued only if the stormwater improvements are voter approved.

UNDERGROUNDING UTILITIES PROJECT

Shall the Town be authorized to issue bonds, in one or more series, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $17,200,000, bearing interest rates not exceeding the maximum legal rate, maturing within 30 years from their respective issuance, payable from unlimited ad valorem taxes and/or other revenues to finance undergrounding of electrical, cable, and communications utilities, and street lighting improvements along all public streets in the Town.

By Steve Plunkett

The possibility of medical marijuana dispensaries opening in Boca Raton inched toward becoming reality at the City Council’s Feb. 25 workshop.

Council members unanimously told city staff to begin drafting regulations to allow such retail shops.

Council member Monica Mayotte noted that 70 percent of city residents voted for the constitutional amendment that permits medical marijuana treatments in Florida.

“We were elected to further what our residents want, and they want these dispensaries in our city for the ease of use,” Mayotte said.

Senior planner Tamashbeen Rahman said Florida Department of Health figures show 101 dispensing facilities statewide. Nearest to Boca Raton are two dispensaries in unincorporated areas near Palm Beach International Airport and west of U.S. 441 west of Lake Worth, one in West Palm Beach on Okeechobee Boulevard, two in Lake Worth, one in Boynton Beach and four in Deerfield Beach.

Nick Hansen, a representative of Los Angeles-based MedMen Enterprises, said medical marijuana dispensaries are tightly regulated by the state and are vastly different from what the public might imagine.

“We can’t have marijuana leaves all over our walls. This is not a head shop,” Hansen said.

Dr. Dominik Chrzan said he prescribes medical marijuana to 600 patients in his practice west of the city.

“Here in Boca I think that we would benefit from having some dispensaries because it does help legitimize everything — they have a center to go to for education, for medication,” Chrzan said.

Boca Raton first had a moratorium on opening marijuana dispensaries, then passed an ordinance prohibiting them in October 2017. But council members at the time asked for continuing updates on the issue. The February workshop was an outgrowth of their October 2018 update.

Mayor Scott Singer was content that Boca Raton had waited to begin implementing rules so it could learn from problems that other cities have faced.

“It’s not that medical marijuana is a bad or good thing,” Singer said. “If we were to introduce any new thing and say you can open up an unlimited number of them, I think that would create some challenges for the way we traditionally zone.”

By Mary Hladky

Northwest 19th Street in Midtown will get a makeover.

The Boca Raton City Council at its meeting Feb. 26 supported a proposal by the two corporate owners of Glades Plaza to improve the street that bisects the retail center. Its tenants include Starbucks, Abe & Louie’s restaurant, Orangetheory Fitness and TooJay’s Gourmet Deli.

The Glades Plaza owners approached the city with their ideas to beautify the road because they plan to redevelop their property. They will make the improvements and maintain them.

Their conceptual plans dovetail with the city’s desire to improve the appearance of streets in Midtown and to improve their walkability.

Northwest 19th Street is among the roads the city slated for upgrades in the small area plan for Midtown. Some elements of the small area plan are included in a recently adopted city ordinance.

The roadwork will be done on the section of the street between Butts Road and Renaissance Way.

Glades Plaza wants wider sidewalks with pavers, crosswalks with pavers, on-street parking, and the addition of trees and other landscaping on both sides of the street. Additional landscaping will be between sidewalks and the two-lane street.

The City Council’s support of the project will allow city staff and the owners to finalize an agreement for construction and maintenance. Work permits will then be issued.

The Glades Plaza owners are L&B CIP Glades Plaza LLC and L&B CIP Glades Twin Plaza LLC. 

Richard Kaplan says the library bench that remembers his granddaughter Meadow Pollack and the 16 other victims of the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High helps him focus on fond memories of Meadow. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Richard Kaplan sat pensively outside the Highland Beach Library on Feb. 14. It was the first anniversary of the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and the bench on which he rested has a bronze plaque with the name of his granddaughter Meadow Pollack and a tribute to the 16 other victims.

“The bench is a place where I can sit and feel close to her,” Kaplan said. “It gives me a place to be with her.”

Tucked away in a corner of the library’s front porch, the bench is a memorial erected by the nonprofit Friends of the Highland Beach Town Library and an individual donor.

Kaplan, who has been on the board of the Friends for many years, also stays in the figurative corner, as does his daughter Shara, Meadow’s mother. One of the few events Shara attended related to the tragedy was a private unveiling of the bench late last year.

It is difficult, Kaplan said, to see the constant reminders of the loss of his granddaughter when he reads stories in daily newspapers.

The anniversary on Valentine’s Day was especially tough. “The whole day was emotional,” he said. “When it happens to you it’s overwhelming, but we do the best we can.”

The bench helps, said Kaplan, a longtime Highland Beach resident.

“I find it a place of calmness and I can direct my thoughts to how wonderful she was in our lives,” he said.

His granddaughter was full of life and loved animals, Kaplan said. “Shara made sure her life was full of love,” he said.

For Kaplan, the library has been a refuge, helping him get through other tragedies — and helping him move forward.

After the death of his first wife, Kaplan went to North Carolina and stayed with another daughter for months as he tried to overcome his grief.

When he returned to Florida, he found himself feeling lost, but ventured to the library and to one of the town’s clubs where he had been a regular.

“The only place I was comfortable was at the philosophy club,” he said.

It was at a club meeting where Kaplan met his second wife, Cynthia.

“The library is important to me,” said Kaplan, 84. “It’s a treasure.”

That the library is welcoming and comforting makes it a truly special place. “There is a lot of loneliness, he said. “Not everyone likes to go home.”

The library, Kaplan believes, is the perfect place for the bench. “A library is a place for quiet reflection, and the bench just adds to the quiet reflection,” he said. 

BOCA RATON — Angela Madden, who with her husband, Thomas J. Madden, created and operated TransMedia Group, one of America’s leading international public relations firms, died Feb. 24 at her home in Boca Raton after a 10-year battle with breast cancer.  She was 78.

The firm she and her husband launched in 1981 in New York City today serves clients worldwide from its offices in Boca Raton and Rome, Italy, the country where she was born and raised.

TransMedia’s clients over the years have included some of the world’s largest organizations, from AT&T to the city of New York, for which it conducted an award-winning campaign promoting fair housing.

Ms. Madden is the daughter of Santa LaSorsa, who was born in the U.S., and Michael LoBasso, a decorated military officer in the Italian army who was a prominent Italian artist and sculptor. 

Ms. Madden came to the U.S. as a teenager and attended schools in Manhattan, where she was a singer who appeared on stages in such places as Carnegie Hall. The Maddens were married on Dec. 10, 1964, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in New York City.

Angela Madden is survived by her husband and two daughters, Adrienne Mazzone and Angela Madden; two sons, Andrew Madden and John Fiume Jr., and five grandchildren, Jake Mazzone, Sirena Mazzone, John and Brett Madden and Tristan Fiume. 

Visitation was held Feb. 26 at Glick Family Funeral Home, Boca Raton. She will be buried in the family plot in New York.

— Obituary submitted by the family

By Mary Hladky

Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Howard K. Coates Jr. has ruled that Boca Raton City Council member Andrea O’Rourke can be questioned by attorneys for Crocker Partners as part of the legal battle between the developer and the city over redevelopment of Midtown.

Crocker Partners also had sought to depose Mayor Scott Singer, Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers and other high-ranking city officials.

Coates’ Feb. 15 order states that Singer, Rodgers, City Manager Leif Ahnell and Assistant City Manager Michael Woika can’t be deposed for now.

Deputy City Manager George Brown and Development Services Director Brandon Schaad will be deposed because the city did not object. Schaad was questioned in January, but his deposition is not yet complete.

It is unusual for elected officials to be questioned as part of litigation because of legislative privilege, which protects them from having to testify about their actions while performing their duties.

But O’Rourke lost that protection, Coates held, when she wrote on her personal blog that a majority of council members voted in favor of her motion to develop a “small area plan” for Midtown and postponed a vote on proposed land development regulations that set a framework for how Midtown could be redeveloped. Midtown would be built just east of the Town Center at Boca Raton.

Coates’ order said that O’Rourke “made herself subject to deposition” by writing about the council’s actions on her blog. He allowed her to be asked questions only “with respect to the substance” of her Jan. 29, 2018, blog post.

“I am happy and proud to announce there was a 4-1 decision made to go forward with a city-generated vision of Midtown Boca …”  she wrote, in part. “This allows us to have city planners establish parameters with a workshop of the overall vision for this area, including community input.”

A deposition date had not been set as of Feb. 26.

“Her blog was rather expansive in its treatment of what her vision was for the development of the area,” said attorney Henry Handler, who represents Crocker Partners. “I think I have a right to inquire.”

Handler said Singer, Rodgers, Ahnell and Woika could be deposed in the future if case discovery reveals they have relevant testimony not covered by legislative privilege.

In another development in the case, the city filed a motion for summary judgment on Feb. 14 asking that the case be dismissed.

Handler said that motion would not block O’Rourke’s deposition.

The Jan. 23, 2018, council decisions on the small area plan and land development regulations prompted Crocker Partners and Cypress Realty of Florida, a landowner that had worked with Crocker Partners on Midtown planning, to sue the city.

Crocker Partners is seeking $137.6 million in damages. Cypress Realty is asking the court to require that the city process its development application.

Both contended that the city’s failure to adopt land development regulations stifled their ability to redevelop their properties. Crocker Partners said the regulation delay created an impermissible building moratorium that took away its property rights.

Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey Dana Gillen tossed out Cypress Realty’s lawsuit on Jan. 15, although he left open the possibility that the company could use a different legal method to press its case. Cypress Realty immediately appealed that order to the 4th District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach.

Cypress Realty principal Nader Salour did not return calls seeking comment.

City Council members met in executive session Feb. 11 to discuss Crocker Partners’ lawsuit, including possible settlement. City officials can’t discuss what transpired during that private meeting.

Three days later, the city asked that the case be dismissed.

The city contended that the case is moot because it has now adopted land development regulations for Midtown.

The city concluded work on the small area plan Nov. 14.

City staff incorporated some of the ideas from the small area plan into an ordinance that includes land development regulations for Midtown.

The City Council approved the ordinance on Jan. 8.

While Crocker Partners and Cypress Realty wanted to build residential units in Midtown, the ordinance does not include residential development. It focuses on improvements to streets, street lighting, parking, landscaping and crosswalks and would make the area more walkable. It also addresses building heights, setbacks and facades.

In its motion, the city contends it has enacted land development regulations by adopting the ordinance.

“Thus, any controversy between the city and the plaintiffs has been rendered moot, and the court has lost jurisdiction to issue a declaration,” the motion states.

Crocker Partners had not responded to the city’s motion as of Feb. 26. Handler declined to comment, saying he would file his response with the court.

A court hearing on the motion has been set for Aug. 2.

Crocker Partners managing partner Angelo Bianco did not immediately return a call for comment on Feb. 26. Ú

Related Story: Three ballot questions face residents

By Rich Pollack

With an election set for March 12, proponents and opponents of three Highland Beach referendum issues ramped up their efforts: Those in favor of issuing up to $45 million in bonds formed a political action committee while those against gathered more grassroots support.

Over the last few weeks of February, both sides took to putting signs up along State Road A1A, with those from the outspoken Committee to Save Highland Beach just saying “No.”

At the same time, referendum advocates in the political action committee Progress Highland Beach posted signs and hired a marketing consultant to help get their message out.

“The stated purpose of Progress Highland Beach is to promote the referendum in the short term and in the long term we want to continue looking at other issues,” said Commissioner Barry Donaldson, whose wife, Marlynn, chairs the PAC and is its treasurer.

Voters will be asked to give town leaders the green light to float bonds for three projects that would coincide with the Florida Department of Transportation’s plan to improve State Road A1A in three to five years.

The town is asking voters to give it permission to issue up to $16.55 million in bonds for a stormwater improvement project to alleviate frequent flooding, up to $11.25 million for improvements to the Ocean Walk multiuse path along the west side of A1A and surrounding areas, and up to $17.2 million to place utility lines underground.

The three proposed projects have divided the town — and the commission — and have led to packed meetings where residents have lobbed personal attacks at commissioners who support the referendum.

The state initially told the town that it needed to have its general conceptual plans for improvements submitted by the end of March, but early last month the town received a letter from FDOT granting a one-year extension.

Commissioners, however, in a raucous meeting last month — complete with boos, cheers and shouts of “recall, recall” from the audience — voted 3-2 to keep the referendum on the March 12 ballot.

Commissioner Peggy Gossett-Seidman, whose communication with the state helped to get the extension offer, told commissioners that going forward with the referendum now could lead to failure to get needed support from voters.

“If we extend it, we can save it,” she said.

Vice Mayor Alysen A. Nila, Donaldson and Mayor Rhoda Zelniker voted to go ahead with the referendum, while Gossett-Seidman and Commissioner Elyse Riesa — who is up for re-election March 12 — voted to delay it.

Donaldson said he saw no reason to postpone the vote since much of the work on a conceptual plan had already been done.

Perhaps the leading advocate of spending up to $45 million on improvements, Donaldson argues that the project will finally resolve issues discussed for decades. He also sees the plan as being part of the town’s vision for the future.

“If we live for just right now and can’t look three or four years down the road, that would be unfortunate,” he said. “A1A is going to be torn up. If we’re going to make improvements, now’s the time to do it.”

Unlikely opposition to the plan is coming from the town’s Financial Advisory Board, which has advocated for getting more information before taking the issue of money to the voters.

“I’m looking at the future, but we have to be mindful of the risk,” said Greg Babij, chairman of the advisory board. “We want progress, but let’s have well-thought-out progress and a complete plan.”

While the Financial Advisory Board is concerned about the large cost of the project — estimating it will reach $80 million after interest if no federal or state funding or other grants are found — Donaldson thinks the improvements will increase property values enough to offset the cost of the project.

“I don’t know of any community that’s ever seen property values go down as a direct result of a project like this,” he said.

But Babij says there’s no guarantee against falling property values, because other factors could put the town in a tight spot.

“Borrowing a massive amount means you leave yourself no room to maneuver,” he said. “Do you really want to use up all your borrowing ability?”

While some residents have expressed concerns about some of the preliminary plans presented to commissioners, Donaldson points out that much of the actual design of the projects will be done after the vote, if the referendum passes.

“This is far from finished,” he said. “This is a funding authorization and we’re not asking voters to approve a design. That’s where the misconception lies.”

Town Manager Marshall Labadie rescheduled a planned early March forum to update residents on the project. Instead, the town will get a summary report from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, which served as consultants — and make that information available to the public. Ú

Something new has been added to the Delray Beach Home Tour this year — outside art. Plein-air  artists will set up easels around the featured homes.

“The artists can paint whatever they wish, the houses or people going to look at them,” said event co-chairwoman Kari Shipley. “It really makes for a nice outing.”

This is the 18th year for the home tour, which will spotlight eight gorgeous homes in the Seagate neighborhood on March 7.

Guests will have a rare glimpse into a variety of designs and architectural styles, from traditional Intracoastal estates to historic Florida cottages to modern tropical chic. One of the homes was built in 1926 and moved to its current location by barge.

All the houses are within a walkable, four-block area, but participants may take a trolley from First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach on Gleason Street to the homes. 

Included in the ticket price are a tranquil catered luncheon on a tented tennis court next to a home on the Intracoastal Waterway, and a chance to bid on auction items and raffles.

Last year’s tour drew about 800 visitors and raised more than $130,000 for the Achievement Centers for Children & Families, a Delray Beach-based organization dedicated to serving low-income children and families. 

The tour started 18 years ago when Achievement Centers board members Anne Bright and Barbara Murphy came up with the idea to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Since then, the event has raised approximately $1.25 million.

Shipley, a board member and longtime supporter of the centers, says this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Achievement Centers for Children & Families. She has been involved with the tours for 17 years and her house was on the tour twice — but not this year. Her co-chairwoman is Noreen Payne.

“The home tour has not only become a signature Achievement Centers event, but one the community looks forward to,” Shipley said.

— Mary Thurwachter

This home on Seasage Drive seems built to show off the owner’s collection of artwork, including Yemassee Lounge, a 1990 painting by Jonathan Green. This year’s tour will also feature artists at work outside the homes. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

The guest quarters of one of the tour homes on Oleander Lane has the luxury feel of a master bedroom and functionality of an apartment. It has an en-suite bathroom and kitchenette.

Our Boat House, which sells home furnishings with nautical themes, did a design in blue and white for this home on Seasage Drive.

BELOW: The modest-sized dining room area of this home on Bucida Road reflects the scale of the original structure when the home was moved by barge in 1926 to its current location.  ABOVE: A 3,500-square-foot expansion in 1978 created this open entertainment area with a vaulted ceiling and fireplace.

A hammock hangs from a pair of palm trees framing a stunning view of the Intracoastal Waterway at this Oleander Lane home.  Pink chairs surround a small fire pit.

An open wood and glass staircase leads from the reception area to the second floor of this modern two-story home on Seagate Drive.

This two-story home on Seagate Drive is another example of contemporary design influence in the beach neighborhood.

Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

18th annual Delray Beach Home Tour

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 7

Where: Seagate neighborhood

Tickets: $125 per person, includes a tour through residences, complimentary parking and trolley service between homes.

Info: For tickets, visit DelrayHomeTour.com or call 266-0003.

Benefits: Proceeds go to Achievement Centers for Children & Families, AchievementCentersFL.org.