By Jane Smith

Drivers who use the Old School Square parking garage in Delray Beach soon will be told where the empty spaces are.

On Dec. 4, city commissioners approved spending $260,000 for a parking program from Park Assist, based in New York with regional headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.

Jorge Alarcon, the city’s parking manager, said drivers no longer will have to risk driving to the roof without finding a space.

“We hope to start converting the garage to the Park Assist program in 90 days,” Alarcon wrote in an email after the commission meeting. “They will have it completed in four to six weeks.” 

The parking program tracks occupied and unoccupied spaces by using smart camera sensors that light up green when a space is available and red when the space is occupied, according to Alarcon. The Old School Square garage has 525 spaces on five levels, he confirmed.

“The system will reduce customers’ frustration of looking for parking and help improve traffic congestion of moving motorists quickly into and through the garage,” Alarcon wrote.

In June, the city issued a request for proposals for a parking count and guide assist system for the garage. Eight vendors submitted bids.

Park Assist claims to be the largest South Florida parking guidance company, with six garage installations, including Miami-Dade Transit, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Sawgrass Mills mall.

For the Old School Square garage, the program will provide parking use trends, including current and historical occupancies and length-of-stay information.

When Are You Coming to Visit? ­­— which spent eight years on display in Boynton Beach — was designed to have a limited lifespan because it depicted an old woman. Photo provided 

Artist Melissa Markowitz holds part of her crumbling work on the night it was decommissioned. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Thurwachter

A cadre of art aficionados gathered between warehouses in the Boynton Beach Arts District to say goodbye to the old woman who made her home behind Boynton Beach City Hall for eight years. She was an ordinary woman, by design, but not a real one. Still, onlookers shed real tears at her farewell ceremony.

The woman was an unglazed ceramic sculpture, a public art piece called When Are You Coming to Visit? (aka The Old Woman). Her creator, Lake Worth artist Melissa Markowitz, says the piece depicted an old woman who “waits and waits for someone to come visit her and nobody comes. As time passes, she crumbles.”

That is precisely what happened to The Old Woman.

Even if the decay hadn’t caused the artwork’s demise, it wasn’t going to stay put much longer, says Boynton Beach’s Public Art Manager Debby Coles-Dobay.

“With the Town Square’s redevelopment project, public artworks were either relocated or decommissioned,” she says. “Other pieces have been placed in storage. The Old Woman was not an artwork that could survive relocation and served its purpose.”

In talking about the sculpture, Markowitz said this:

“Everything ages with time — loved ones, ideas, passions and goals. My sculpture is a reminder for us not to procrastinate and remind us what was formed before us.”

The pieces of When Are You Coming to Visit? rest in a storage box. The decommissioned sculpture’s remains will be buried on the grounds of Boynton Beach’s new town square.

On the evening of the farewell ceremony, Nov. 17, the sculpture, shattered into dozens of pieces, could be viewed in a plastic storage box. Markowitz, who donated the work to the city in 2010, invited everyone to send off the sculpture’s remains with written statements on sticky notes that will eventually be buried with the remains within Boynton Beach’s new town square.

“Write down your forgotten dreams and goals to start anew and encourage everyone to live their life to its fullest potential,” the artist said during the gathering.

Sculptor Melissa Markowitz, then 26, was booed offstage when she appeared in costume as an old woman on America’s Got Talent. Photo provided

A performance artist who studied at Appalachian State University, Markowitz, 34, researched how society treated the elderly by dressing up as an old woman and immersing herself in the community. “People didn’t pay attention to me,” she says.

Months after When Are You Coming to Visit? was dedicated in Boynton Beach, Markowitz again dressed up as an old woman and auditioned for America’s Got Talent. “I was booed off the stage,” she remembers.

When word of The Old Woman’s decommissioning was announced on Facebook a few months ago, people who had been moved by the sculpture expressed dismay.

“I wish she could be saved,” one woman wrote. “Why isn’t she being relocated?” asked another. Some wondered why she couldn’t be moved to the senior center.

But “everything about this sculpture was carefully thought out,” Coles-Dobay says. The artist wanted the sculpture placed in an out-of-the-way location so that people would need to go out of their way to find it. “She wanted to have a piece that would decay over time.”

Not all public art is made to last and this was one of them, Coles-Dobay explains. “Even in getting the artwork off the pedestal, it crumbled.”

There is no doubt that Markowitz’s short-lived work resonated with people.

Coles-Dobay and others monitored the sculpture since it was installed. Over time, the sculpture aged through the seasons, and that affected the colorization of the sculpture’s surface.

During the rainy seasons, mold grew. Plants sprouted in the cracks and crevices. Ants and bugs found a home in the sculpture’s cavities as the ceramic expanded.

“One day, the public works director brought her hand to my office,” Coles-Dobay says. “It had fallen off.” 

No one rushed to glue it back on. The Old Woman was, after all, destined for decay. “She had a public arts DNA,” Coles-Dobay said with a laugh. “But she did have many visitors.”

Coles-Dobay once discovered a bag of groceries in the sculpture’s lap. “It had decaying food in it, so it was discarded. A fresh bag with emptied cigarette cartons and grocery containers were then placed in her lap. Occasionally, a soda or beer can was placed in her hand. When it was cold, someone gave her a jacket to stay warm. Another time, a ball cap was placed on her head.”

Coles-Dobay suspects that many street people sympathized with The Old Woman.

“This sculpture provided a call to action that was realized by visitors once they read the plaque and understood the artist’s intention,” she said.

Temporary art frequently has a strong impact, says Rolando Chang Barrero, director of the Boynton Beach Arts District. 

“Ephemeral art poses a deeper cathartic experience for the viewer as well as the artist,” he said. “Whether the work is in your private collection, in a public art space or even in [the] art studio of its creator, a connection is made — a relationship of sorts between viewer and object. The loss or termination of that union between the two will at best thrust the viewer into a state of joy for having the benefit of the prescribed time, at worst into a deep melancholic state. It is akin to the experience of a eulogy of an elder in one’s family.”

Connie Markowitz of Parkland (the artist’s mother), Lianna Slater of Delray Beach and Lauren Blodgett of Boca Raton view the decommissioning ceremony of the sculpture When Are You Coming to Visit? Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Among those who gathered to bid farewell to the sculpture was Kim Weiss, chairwoman of the Boynton Beach Arts Commission.

“So often we attend events celebrating art in the new, launching phase, but it’s a rare occasion to acknowledge the end of an artwork’s life,” Weiss says. “When Are You Coming to Visit? evoked emotion as it stood next to City Hall and evoked even more at its disassembling ceremony. The artist, Melissa Markowitz, brought tears to our eyes as she explained the significance of her work.

“I’m pretty sure everyone standing in that circle could draw a personal connection to something — or someone — in their own lives or family who we wished we were more attentive of. When art evokes emotion, we know it’s working.”

Once the new town square is complete, the sculpture will be buried on the grounds. Those who remember visiting When Are You Coming to Visit? will be able to pay respects at her final resting place. 

Boynton Beach, which has become known in recent years for its kinetic art displays, has more than 80 public art pieces, some of them part of development projects. For more information, visit boyntonbeacharts.org.

Quantum Foundation has distributed $750,000 to 94 grassroots nonprofits in Palm Beach County that provide for society’s most basic needs.

Grants were announced during a breakfast celebrating the eighth-annual Quantum in the Community initiative. The grantees represent all corners of the county, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

“Quantum Foundation is a health foundation,” said Donna Mulholland, board chairwoman. “We always keep our focus on health because that’s what we were founded to do. But this annual campaign acknowledges that if we don’t meet people’s basic needs, it’s not possible for them to stay healthy.”

President Eric Kelly said that “as we celebrate 20 years of impact in Palm Beach County, we want to take an upstream look at health. We know that our medical community can’t heal the body without having healthy societal and external factors in place. These grants support organizations helping the whole body and the whole community.”

Lang Realty donates to fight breast cancer

Lang Realty turned “pink” in support of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program by donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each home closed in October to the charity.

The donation totaled $11,793.

“This was a company-wide effort that included donations from each closing contributed by our agents,” said Scott Agran, Lang Realty’s president. “Many of our own agents and staff have personally battled this disease or have gone through this with loved ones. We are delighted to support this worthy cause.”

Impact 100 receives tax-exempt status

Impact 100 Palm Beach County’s 501(c)(3) status is official. The women’s philanthropy organization has received a determination letter from the IRS — a major milestone in its seven-year history.

All members who paid in 2018 soon will receive tax-donation letters.

“We’re pleased to tell you we determined you’re exempt from federal-income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3),” the letter reads. “Donors can deduct contributions they make to you under IRC Section 170. You’re also qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfer or gifts under Section 2055, 2106 or 2522.”

Grant enables Sandoway to expand program

Sandoway Discovery Center in Delray Beach has received a $7,500 grant from parcel-delivery company DHL. The funds will support the junior naturalist program.

The program addresses the need for science-, technology-, engineering- and math-based education, taught through real-world connections that enhance classroom learning. It targets Palm Beach County Title 1 schools and aftercare facilities focusing on at-risk children.

“We are very excited to be able to teach Title 1 students about climate change, biodiversity and conservation through our junior naturalist program,” said Danica Sanborn, the center’s executive director. “Through the grant from DHL we will be able to reach hundreds of students that otherwise could not afford to visit the center to receive a much-needed environmental education, and we are increasing the chances for a healthier environment for generations to come.”

Restaurant competition raises $3,000 for charities

In November, before everyone was too stuffed from holiday meals to eat another bite, Crane’s Beach House Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas in Delray Beach welcomed 300 hungry fans and friends to its seventh-annual Best Bite restaurant competition.

Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub won the popular vote for the second year in a row, and previous champion Caffé Luna Rosa was the top choice in the VIP judges’ annual taste-off competition.

The event raised $1,500 each for HOW Foundation of South Florida and Project Holiday.

Other competing restaurants were Avant, City Oyster & Sushi Bar, Pizza Rustica and Salt 7.

The band 33 Years and the Atlantic High School Drum Line provided entertainment.

Parkinson’s Foundation to host golf tournament

Parkinson’s Foundation South Palm Beach County Chapter will host its annual Leo Geller golf tournament Feb. 4 at Boca Rio Golf Club.

Players will begin the day at 11 a.m. with lunch before hitting the links for a 1 p.m. shotgun start. At the end of play, there will be a raffle, awards, a cocktail reception and dinner.

Geller is this year’s honorary chairman, and the co-chairs are Roy Cohen and Ciaran Swords.

The cost for a foursome is $1,250; cost for an individual player is $325.

The event is sponsored by Florida Peninsula Insurance Co. and will benefit Parkinson’s Foundation programs that help those in the local community living with Parkinson’s disease.

For information, call 962-1702.

Send news and notes to Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net.

Les Girls of Palm Beach, a group of multinational women who have met for the past 46 years to foster friendship and understanding and exchange ideas among various cultures, enjoyed a holiday gala in Ocean Ridge. Henya Betras, Andree Dowling and Carlene Kolbe organized the event. ABOVE: (l-r) Sophia Isaac (England), Roshan Massoumi (Iran), Rita Sullivan (Spain), Kolbe (U.S., Poland), Betras (Poland) and Kathryn Diamond (Greece). Les Girls of Palm Beach has 54 members representing 31 countries. Photo provided

Jeannette DeOrchis won the annual Junior League of Boca Raton award from a field of 50 nominees recognized for their charitable endeavors. DeOrchis volunteers for Delray Beach-based Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse.  ‘Every year, we are inspired by the accomplishments and commitment of the nominees,’ said Nikki Stelzer, luncheon chairwoman.  ‘Jeannette and her fellow nominees are once again outstanding examples of selflessness in our community.’ ABOVE: DeOrchis accepts the award. Photo provided

Henry and Marsha Laufer welcomed opera supporters and guests into their residence to usher in the new season. The evening featured a three-course dinner and an intimate recital. Scheduled performances this year include La Traviata, running Jan. 25-27, Don Giovanni, running Feb. 22-24, and Die Fledermaus, running March 22-24. LEFT: Palm Beach Opera General Director Daniel Biaggi with Marsha Laufer. Photo provided

Friends, patrons and special guests cheered the Caridad Center’s 30th year of service in Palm Beach County and its Call to Heart Ball fundraiser, set for Jan. 26 at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Throughout the evening, amid the colorful gardens and low-lit ambiance on the outdoor patio, supporters mixed and mingled with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music. ABOVE: (l-r) Sanjiv Sharma, Laura Kallus and Jose Duran. Photo provided by Mitchell Zachs

More than 200 supporters of the Food for the Poor nonprofit attended the inaugural affair, which was highlighted by a Neiman Marcus fashion show and an inspiring talk from Michael Tonello, author of Bringing Home the Birkin, the story of her pursuit of a coveted handbag. Proceeds will benefit the charity’s Angels of the Poor program for children and families in need in the Caribbean and Latin America. ABOVE: (l-r) Bloom Luncheon committee members Katherine Cathcart, Elizabeth Macey, Joan Marie Veesaert, Noelle Kahan, Elena Lawlor, Stefanie Rosenzweig and Lori Guarini. BELOW: Ayelet Mullen with Leslie Farber. Photos provided

The church’s Council of Catholic Women put on a philanthropic affair to celebrate children during the weeks leading up to Christmas. More than 90 guests collected hundreds of articles of clothing for infants, as well as stuffed animals and toys. The items were donated to Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach’s Birthline/Lifeline program. ABOVE: (l-r) Council Vice President Ann Mongon, secretary Ronnie Svenstrup, Presidents Michelle DeGennaro and Rose Marie Amato, Birthline/Lifeline marketing director Karen O’Neill, the Rev. Raul Cardenas, Birthline/Lifeline director Katherine Bowers, treasurer Lee Russo and parliamentarian Pat Lynch. Photo provided

Blue skies and manicured greens were the perfect backdrop for the Child Rescue Coalition’s second links event, which attracted more than 70 golfers and raised $46,000 to help its mission: rescuing youths from sexual abuse. Attendees enjoyed cocktails and a barbecue buffet while bidding on silent-auction items such as getaways and luxury gifts. ABOVE: (l-r) Megan Buck, Child Rescue Coalition founder and CEO Carly Asher Yoost, Jennifer Broderick (holding a golf-ball launcher) and Carly Bellis-Salom.

Photo provided

ABOVE: First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach creatives had a fun time at the annual affair, which featured a Holly House interpretation of The Night Before Christmas with a mermaid and an elf. Marie Buss’ story about hands reminded guests how important their hands are. Suzanne Morris wrote a Christmas poem about Holly House, a church women’s group. Instead of exchanging presents, the group donated money to Milagro Center for the purchase of bookcases. BELOW: (l-r) Courtenay Szakats, Gail Benson and Gina Logan.

Photos provided

Chiara Clark and Jennifer Schmuckler, co-chairwomen for Laugh With the Library, look at comedian Billy Crystal’s 2013 book about his turning 65 that year. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Amy Woods

The 13th installment of Laugh With the Library will hit the books Feb. 1 to benefit Delray Beach’s beloved Atlantic Avenue institution.

It turns out that the superstitious number is a lucky one for the featured guest, Cory Kahaney, who will take the stage as the event’s first female headliner.

“When Chiara and I were asked to chair this event, we decided that we wanted to just do something different,” said Jennifer Schmuckler, referring to Chiara Clark. “We wanted to make sure we had the best comedian we could find because that’s really the highlight of the event and what draws patrons.”

As the two searched for national talent online, the booking agent for a performer they thought they were going to select led them to the standup star whose act caught fire after she reached the finals on NBC’s Last Comic Standing.

“It was all the stars aligning, and we found Cory,” Schmuckler said. “We liked the idea of having a female comedian.”

Kahaney has appeared on ABC’s The View and Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher and CBS’s Late Show With David Letterman, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and The Late Late Show With James Corden. She performs regularly in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

Her show will kick off at 9 p.m. at the Delray Beach Marriott. Doors open at 7:30 for drinks and dinner by the bite, plus a presentation by radio personalities Mo Foster and Sally Sevareid.

“We’re super excited,” Schmuckler said. “In the past, the event has been extremely successful, but we feel strongly that we want to make sure that Laugh With the Library stands out as a premier event in the Delray community.”

Proceeds benefit programs and resources such as a coding lab for children and teens, a graphics-design, image-editing and music-recording studio for teens and adults and an Appy Hour class on how to install and use cellphone applications.

Job seekers can access résumé-creation software and interview-coaching videos, and those who speak English as a second language can improve their proficiency by logging on to Mango Languages.

The library also provides thousands of free meals to schoolchildren during the summer.

“Chiara and I both want to raise as much money as possible to help enhance and create new initiatives at the library,” Schmuckler said. “The way that we want to do that, and the way that we need to do that, is to let people know that the library is the soul of their community.”

Clark agreed, saying the library does not discriminate and is a home to everyone it serves.

“Without the library in our community, the community as a whole would struggle,” she said. “I want people to be aware of what a special gem the Delray Beach Public Library is, and without it, many people would suffer.” 

If You Go

What: Laugh With the Library

When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1

Where: Delray Beach Marriott, 10 N. Ocean Blvd.

Cost: $250 per ticket, $2,225 per table of 10, $3,000 per party table

Information: Call 266-0798 or visit delraylibrary.org/laugh

Union 27’s dining spaces reflect a ‘beach chic’ ambiance.

By Jan Norris

A social dining club, with paid membership, opened quietly in Boca Raton in October. Union 27 aims to be the hot spot in east Boca, with a “beach chic” atmosphere, an upscale-casual menu — and a membership option.

The club/restaurant is in the former 13 American Table and Lilly’s space at 451 E. Palmetto Park Road.

The couple running it are Cinzia Gaglio and spouse, Tim — who came from the now-closed Osteria Salina in Delray Beach. Their experience includes restaurants in the Northeast as well.

A chic nautical blue leatherette and white marble interior evokes coastal vibes. Seating is at high communal bars or banquette tables. Patio and sidewalk seating also are available.

The menu, limited to appetizers and seven main plate choices along with specials of the day, includes a black squid ink linguine with lobster; handmade fettuccine; a “butcher’s cut” meat of the day; a fish of the day; lobster thermidor; rack of lamb; and an organic oven-roasted chicken.

Prices range from $12 for sides to $58 for a 20-ounce prime New York strip steak.

George Patti of Boca’s M.E.A.T. Eatery has a role but not in day-to-day operations, he said.

Union 27, unique in Boca Raton, offers a membership for discounts, priority seating, member-preferred events including guests, and more.

The initial membership was $1,200 but rose to $2,400 after Dec. 15.

That also gets members in on special dinners and wine tastings, preferred corkage, a pop-up brunch to “taste test” a new menu in the summer and more.

Union 27 is, however, open to the public otherwise, Tuesday through Sunday for happy hour and dinner.

Phone 338-8606; union-27.com.

Organizers of the 2019 Boca Bacchanal, set for April 4-6, have given the popular food and wine weekend a boost and announced a new venue and more events this year.

Along with the traditional vintner dinners held in homes around the area with noted chefs preparing multi-course dinners, a Bubbles and Burgers event is planned April 4 as a kickoff at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, the new location for the fest.

Before the Grand Tasting at the resort on April 6, a VIP party is scheduled for dockside, where guests will get to tour a 90-foot Cheoy Lee yacht.

More than 20 restaurants will serve dinner-by-the-bite at the dine-around, where 130 wines will be sampled from a number of noted wineries. Live and silent auctions are part of the night’s event.

Tickets are on sale through April 6 for individual events and as packages.

Proceeds benefit the Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum.

For more information on tickets and events, go to bocabacchanal.com or bocahistory.org.

Oliv Pit’s new chef, Ayal Kitches, has introduced a fresh menu. Photos provided

New owners have put in a new chef and menu at the Oliv Pit Athenian Grill, a casual Mediterranean restaurant on Southwest 18th Street in Boca Raton.

The chef, Ayal Kitches from Tel Aviv, brought his recipes for pita wraps and hummus to the restaurant.

The new menu offers dishes for meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans, as well as those following a paleo or gluten-free diet.

Unique on the menu are dishes from the Blue Zones — places in the world where it’s not unusual to find people living over the age of 100 in good health. The zones have been identified by National Geographic.

The restaurant uses olive pit briquettes for grilling its meats — common in Greece but not found in the U.S., according to the owners.

The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Oliv Pit, Shoppes at Village Point, 6006 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. Phone 409-2049; olivpit.com.

Briefly: The Four Seasons Palm Beach resort is set to reopen its dining rooms at this writing, with Florie’s as the premier venue. Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, whose restaurant Mirazur in Menton, France, was named third best on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant List in June 2018, heads up the menu. …

Also new in Palm Beach is Hai House, an American-Chinese restaurant on the second floor of the Esplanade on Worth Avenue. It took the space of Costa, a Mediterranean restaurant, now closed.  ...

La Nouvelle Maison at 455 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, was one of four restaurants in Florida that made OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants in America 2018 list. 

Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com. Thom Smith is on leave.

The Place: Mario’s Osteria, University Commons, 1400 Glades Road, #210, Boca Raton; 239-7000 or www.mariososteria.com

The Price: $16

The Skinny: Let’s get this out of the way first — I was with a group of former co-workers the night we visited the very busy Mario’s Osteria. It was a large table, with multiple checks, and our servers handled it all with aplomb. It was lovely to see a team that was so well organized.

Fortunately the food matched the service. The half-dozen or so ravioli lived up to their “big” name. The tender, ricotta-packed pasta was served in a hearty, meaty Bolognese sauce that was loaded with tomato goodness.

— Scott Simmons

More than 250 new beds have been installed in Bethesda Hospital East. With one of them are (l-r) Dr. Daniel Goldman, the hospital’s chief medical officer; Chief Operating Officer Ela C. Lena; Jeff Lepior from manufacturer Stryker; and Roger L. Kirk, CEO of the Bethesda hospitals. Photo provided

New beds are in use at Bethesda Hospital East. The Boynton Beach hospital bought 234 medical surgical beds, 26 critical care beds, 13 labor and delivery beds and three bariatric beds, all manufactured by Stryker Medical. This is the 401-bed hospital’s largest bed investment in its 59-year history.

“This purchase underscores our commitment to providing an excellent environment of care for our patients and families,” said Ela C. Lena, chief operating officer of Bethesda Hospital East.

The new beds each have a system that tracks the patient’s position and alerts caregivers if the patient is at risk of falling, as well as mattresses specially made to reduce pressure ulcers.

Susan G. Komen South Florida named its 10 Warriors in Pink for 2019, part of a program supported nationally by Ford Motor Co. Komen South Florida Warriors took action, raised money and got involved to support the Jan. 26 Race for the Cure for breast cancer.

Of the 10, three are South County residents. Tara Gustman, 35, of Boca Raton, who was diagnosed within the last year, is using her story to inspire others through her Facebook group and blog,   LetMeGetTheseOffMyChest.com.

Kirsten Stanley, 42, of Gulf Stream, who has stage 4 breast cancer and goes for treatment every three weeks, still works full-time, volunteers and is active playing tennis and riding horses.

Rona Tata, 54, of Delray Beach, is a one-year survivor who is using her recent experience to walk her coworkers and friends through their fear of getting mammograms and teaching others about the importance of early detection.  She is the principal at S.D. Spady Montessori Magnet School.

The 2019 Warriors in Pink will share their experiences with the community throughout the year and have a special role at the Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure on Jan. 26 in West Palm Beach, where they will lead other survivors to the Meyer Amphitheatre stage during the survivor recognition ceremony. For information, visit www.komensouthflorida.org/race.

Delray Medical Center was given five-star ratings for cardiac, orthopedics, neurosciences, pulmonary and gastro outcomes, according to a study released in October by Healthgrades, an online resource for information about physicians and hospitals.

This achievement is part of new findings and data featured in the Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation. The complete report and detailed study methodology can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality.

The Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital has partnered with the West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center to establish a neurology and neurosurgery alliance in accordance with the VA Mission Act of 2018. The collaboration will open lines of communication to better track patient progress and outcomes. 

Maureen Mann, executive director of Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute and Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute, received the volunteer award for Excellence in Advocacy by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. This honor, awarded in October, recognized her efforts to enhance awareness of cancer research and treatment.

Mann was a leader in Florida’s successful effort to raise the state’s cigarette excise tax by $1 per pack in 2009, the first increase in more than two decades. She played a key role in defeating a proposal to cut millions from Florida’s tobacco control program earlier this year. She also helped grow the South Florida Policy Forum into one of the largest American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network fundraising events in the country.

Call 4 Health will host Kevin Ames, Tanner Institute’s director of speaking and training, as keynote speaker at its fifth annual user conference on Jan. 16 and 17 at the Delray Beach Marriott. Ames will talk about the best practices for developing successful workplace cultures. 

“The annual user conference is our way of equipping industry clients and partners with the influential tools they need to thrive in the health care industry,” said Joseph Pores, CEO of Call 4 Health.

Conference sponsors include 1 Call, Compass IT Compliance, Commonwealth Purchasing Group, Crown Castle and Blue Stream. For information or to register, visit www.call4health.com and click on the user conference banner. Call 4 Health is a medical call center headquartered in Delray Beach.

Send health news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.

Ten years ago, we created our first holiday gift guide, inspired by tiny treasures.

This year, we looked to the sun, the moon, the stars and the sky for inspiration, finding presents large and small, both in size and price, that should appeal to just about anyone on your list.

If there is one thing we have learned over a decade of preparing these guides for the readers of The Coastal Star, it is this: Serving you is the greatest gift of all.  

Thank you, and happiest of holidays!

— Scott Simmons

Fabulous frock

This glittery Hannah Banana Cosmic Cutie dress evokes the fireworks and the cosmos, with its comets and stars that seemingly twinkle. There are roses and butterflies, too. Don’t want to see stars? Elegant Child of Boca Raton also has a large lineup of duds for the little lads in your life, as well as clothing for infants. 

This sparkly dress is available for $66. Elegant Child of Boca Raton is at 59 S. Federal Highway; 416-0152 or www.elegantchildboca.com.

Star light, star bright

We’re big fans of Pedro Maldonado’s designs at Jewelry Artisans. But if you ask us, this Victorian bangle bracelet also packs real star power. 

It’s a 19th-century antique made of 18-karat gold, with a cobalt fire enamel locket, perfect for hiding a picture of your loved one. It’s available for $8,900.

We’re also partial to an 18-karat gold cuff with over 2 carats of diamonds set in a star motif. It’s priced at $22,000.

Jewelry Artisans is at 247 S. Ocean Blvd. in the Plaza del Mar, Manalapan; 586-8687 or  www.jewelryartisanspalmbeach.com.

Specs appeal

That special someone will look like a Hollywood star with these “Lloyd” sunglasses by Linea Roma.

The unisex specs offer a green tint and gold-tone frames in a classic aviator style.

Buy these as a gift, or treat yourself — after all, you have only one pair of eyes. Why not protect them? 

Available for $235 at Eye Catchers Optique, 318 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton; 338-0081 or www.eyecatchersboca.com.

Behold, the world!

Forget the land. Forget global warming. Unlike a terrestrial globe, this solar-powered celestial Mova globe highlights the stars we see from beyond our Earth. 

The clear plastic globe perches atop a Lucite stand, and the planet spins inside. From what we saw, the brighter the light, the faster it spins. 

Kids of all ages will appreciate it, but at $195, it might be better suited to adults.

Available at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton; 544-8610.

Into a jam

Chinese lanterns and pagodas beam from these Shanghai pajamas by Jaye’s Studio.

The cotton sateen jammies offer pockets on the pants and a five-button closure, just right for perfecting a weekend lounge act. The whimsical Asian design will make the wearer smile each time she slips them on. Priced at $94 at Snappy Turtle, 1100 E. Atlantic Ave., Unit A, Delray Beach; 276-8088 or www.snappy-turtle.com.

Shine a light

Here’s an opportunity to invest in an heirloom.

The menorah is a key symbol of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights. The eight days and nights of the festival commemorate the rededication in biblical times of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

Lady Liberty beams from this menorah, created by Palm Beach County artist Debbie Lee Mostel, who is known for transforming found objects into fine art.

It’s available for $150 at The Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach store at the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, at 601 Lake Ave., downtown Lake Worth; 471-2901 or www.palmbeachculture.com.

Stable environment

This heirloom-quality crèche takes Christmas back to its beginnings, with Jesus’ humble birth in Bethlehem. The figures of this five-piece Italian set, made by Fontanini by Roman, are delicately hand-painted, and an angel holds a banner that reads “Gloria.”

This set is offered for $195. Larger sets also are available. They’re at Gulfstream Pharmacy, 4998 N. Ocean Blvd., Briny Breezes; 276-4800.

Taking flight

If there’s one thing we could use this time of year, it’s peace — both literally and as a concept.

These birds take to the heavens and remind us there is something beyond us and the Earth.

The pressed metal pieces, which are made in India, would be at home on a Christmas tree as they would be hanging on a wall. And at $12 for the larger and $8 for the smaller bird, you easily could fill either a wall or a tree with a flock.

Available at Sugarboo & Co., Mizner Park, 347 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 465-2407 or www.sugarbooandco.com.

It’s in the bag

A sea star shines from the top of this coral-colored patent leather clutch by local designer Sasha Lickle. The purse is perfect for day or evening use — picture this with your favorite Lilly Pulitzer print or paired with a little black (or white) dress. Simply stunning!

Priced at $168 at C. Orrico, 1045 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 278-5353 or www.corrico.com.

Let the sun shine in

Or out ... with recycled metal art from the Caribbean, handcrafted of metal drums using hammer and chisel. The metal surfaces, in assorted sizes, are handpainted in vibrant colors by Haitian artisans.

Hand’s owner David Cook and curator Roz Castle have other unique, celestial items, as well as beachy hangings.

Prices range from $5.95 to $249.95 at Hand’s, 325 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 276-4194 or www.handsdelray.com

Handy accessory

Designer Karen Corcoran has an eye for objects that evoke the shore.

These delicate fingertip towels would be right at home in any coastal powder room.

The embroidered sea star’s colors evoke the pink and rosy hues of the sunrise.

It’s practical, pretty, and a perfect hostess gift.

Available for $38 at Details Design, Ocean Plaza, 640 E. Ocean Ave., Bay 1, Boynton Beach; 733-1447.

That about covers it

This Newfield cotton throw by Brahms Mount of Maine offers a little Down East comfort for those occasionally nippy winter nights in South Florida.

The heavy cotton herringbone-design throws have a flourish of hand-knotted and twisted rope fringe, and are finished with a true selvedge, which the company says only can be accomplished on an antique loom.

They’re available in a range of soft hues, but this blue reminds one of the South Florida sky. Offered at $243 by Quigley Maguire Collections, 301 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach; 450-7471.

By Lona O'Connor

In the glory that is Palm Beach, with its towering palms, tropical palaces and purveyors of precious jewels, who could possibly be seeking more happiness?

Well, in a private dining room at Bice on Peruvian Avenue, two dozen people (who, for the record, looked perfectly content with their lives) were ready.

They were attending a monthly meeting of the Happiness Club, which offers ideas and strategies for achieving the elusive state of happiness. The club is a subgroup of the Foundation for Women’s Cultural and Economic Literacy, a nonprofit educational group based in Palm Beach and New York.

The speaker was Minx Boren, a life coach and author based in Palm Beach Gardens.

No saccharine platitudes from “Coach Minx,” as she calls herself. She offered a bagful of tips that can be practiced anywhere, anytime.

“I don’t leave the mirror in the morning until I can walk out of that room with a smile,” she told the group. To keep each other honest, she and a friend regularly check on each other’s morning mirror smiles.

Two tips in two minutes. Not bad for the $20 admission. And Boren was far from done.

“It’s not how a day unfolds, it’s how we unfold our day,” she said. “We can unfold it with meditation, a prayer, a smile. We can look into the mirror and see our radiance.”

Boren studied with Martin Seligman, former head of the American Psychological Association and founder of the Happiness Project, now the World Well-Being Project, based at the University of Pennsylvania.

“He noticed that all the research was about what was wrong with us,” said Boren. “After World War II, people were coming back depressed.

“The ones who came back and got a life, got a wife, got a job — no one looked at the people who manage to get well and stay well.”

Seligman’s young daughter set him on the path. When she helped him in the garden, she spent as much time chasing butterflies as weeding. When he pointed that out, she replied, “Do you remember when I was younger I used to whine a lot? If I can learn not to whine, then you can learn not to be such a grouch.”

Seligman put his daughter’s lesson into practice.

“He began by looking at the cornerstones of happiness, but it’s more than happiness,” said Boren. “It’s fulfillment, having a fulfilling life.”

Boren and her husband had their own epiphany from their son when he was small.

“My husband and I always clink our glasses to happiness and my son thought we were saying ‘happy mess.’ That’s brilliant. Now we toast our happy messes.”

Boren asked the group at Bice to add to their lives the components of flourishing. She likes the word because it contains the idea of flowering and growing luxuriantly.

Those components include encouraging positive emotions, engagement with meaningful activities, relationships with others, a sense of purpose and accomplishment. 

She strongly recommends keeping a daily gratitude journal, and several members of the audience said they do the same.

“It’s the single most effective way to increase your sense of happiness,” she said.

She quoted the philosopher Voltaire’s advice to make the choice to construct a happy day, and she invoked what she called “the Beethoven factor,” referring to his continuing to compose great music after going deaf. 

“If Beethoven could manage, so can you,” she said. “I’m not about negating sadness, I’m not about putting on a happy face. I’m saying, turn off your cellphone and go for a walk in the woods, truly allow yourself to be fully connected. You will have a whole different perspective on life.”

Audience members had some ideas of their own on the subject of engagement: listening to the sound of waves on the beach, breathing deeply, swimming, being fully present when meeting a new person.

“Another word for engagement is savoring the moment,” said Boren.

She also suggests writing — and sending — “legacy letters” to friends and family, focusing on specific things that make those people precious. 

“On Saturday, I sat down and wrote legacy letters to my son and my daughter,” said Boren. “It’s the best gift I know how to give people.”

 At the end of the meeting, Boren encouraged the attendees to stay in touch and let her know they’re on the road to flourishing, asking for a show of hands. Only a few hands went in the air. Boren persisted. 

“I’m a coach and coaches challenge. Don’t just walk out and say I was dynamic. I want you to email me in a month. I want to know what you did and what shifted.”

Laura Opdenaker, who runs an events and public relations firm, brought a friend to share wine and hors d’oeuvres before the presentation. She likes the Happiness Club so much she just joined the board of directors.

“When I started coming to events, I loved listening to the people at my table,” she said.

“There’s a good energy in the room. The group is always very diverse. They are very supportive of each other. It wasn’t just another cocktail party.”

The Happiness Club meets at least once a month. Venues vary. For more information on the Foundation for Women’s Cultural and Economic Literacy, visit www.fwcel.org.

For more information on Minx Boren, visit www.coachminx.com.

Lona O’Connor has a lifelong interest in health and healthy living. Send column ideas to Lona13@bellsouth.net.

The Spontaneous Christmas Pageant at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church lets children come onstage as they wish when the pastor calls out the need for story characters. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Imagine a children’s Christmas pageant with no assigned roles, no director and no rehearsals. Chaos, right?

It is, but it’s charming chaos.

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach hosts its Spontaneous Christmas Pageant every year, and it’s so popular it’s standing room only. This is the 25th year for the pageant, which takes place at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve at the church.

Dee Zlatic brought the idea for the Spontaneous Christmas Pageant with her when she relocated from Tenafly, N.J., years ago. She’s the children’s minister now but at the time she was a volunteer, and everyone loved her idea for this avant-garde event. She suspects the church would have loved any idea, but this was a good one.

“We like it because there’s no work for the parents. They don’t have to commit to rehearsals or making costumes. Parents are busy enough,” Zlatic said.

Here’s how it works: It begins with the pastor on stage reading the story of the birth of Jesus from the gospel. Every time a character is introduced, the rector calls out, “We need” —  a soldier or a guard or an angel. The kids who want to play the role volunteer.

“All over the sanctuary hands shoot up,” Zlatic said. “They’re so excited.”

The children are chosen, randomly, to fill the roles. They come forward and while the congregation sings a Christmas carol, the kids are dressed in costumes and take their places on stage. Every child who wants to get up on stage gets an opportunity to do it. Kids can choose to play one of the animals  — there are roles for sheep, cows and even the donkey that Mary rides — but if they don’t want to participate, they can just watch.

“It’s fun because you never know what’s going to happen,” Zlatic said. “One of my favorite memories happened at my church in New Jersey. One of the little angels got in a tug-of-war with Mary over baby Jesus. She didn’t want to let go!”

Even though there are no rehearsals and the whole pageant takes place in less than two hours, volunteers have been working all year to build and paint the sets and make the costumes. The day of the pageant, about 10 dressers get dozens of little ones ready for their performances.

“Ray Mills’ work creating the sets and animals is so amazing,” Zlatic said. 

Zlatic said that some families come to church just once a year for the pageant, but that’s OK. She’s just glad they come.

“I hope what we offer the kids and youths helps the community,” she said. 

Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at janisfontaine@outlook.com

If You Go

What: The Spontaneous Christmas Pageant

When: 4-5:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Where: St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach.

Info: 732-3060; stjoesweb.org

Nativity comes to life 

Grace Community Church will hold its inaugural live Nativity on Dec. 14 and 15 on the church lawn. Live animals, Christmas story readings, music, kids’ crafts, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies are also planned. The church bulletin says the invitation is the same as it’s always been: “Come, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.” 

Take an hour or two to slow down and attend a family-friendly event that’s both fun and meaningful. You may even find a little peace.

Live Nativity — 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 14-15, Grace Community Church, 600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Info: 395-2811;  www.graceboca.org.

Chanukah Under the Stars

Don’t forget about Chanukah Under the Stars from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. The event returns after a hiatus to celebrate the Festival of Lights under the stars. The children’s area will have bounce houses, face painting, crafts and storytelling. A special Chanukah Tot Shabbat and songfest will follow.

From 5 to 7 p.m., visitors can sample the variety of traditional latkes and other food available.

The Chanukah Shabbat service will begin at 7:30 p.m., led by Temple Beth El Rabbi Daniel Levin, Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Brockman, Rabbi Greg Weisman, cantor Lori Shapiro and cantorial soloist Michelle Auslander Cohen.

Admission is free. 

www.tbeboca.org or 391-8900

Limmud Day comes to Boca

More than 600 people are expected to come to Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton for Limmud, a day of learning, on Dec. 9.

Limmud is all-inclusive and unaffiliated with any particular branch of Judaism. It’s an opportunity to broaden the mind and learn more about Jewish culture and identity in a positive setting designed for shared learning.

There are 120 classes offered in 10 categories. Each class lasts an hour and a full day includes seven classes meeting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Topics range from history to music to meditation and health to Torah and Talmud studies.

Classes are taught by local Jewish educators, rabbis, performers and lay people and are suitable for beginners and scholars.

A reception, grand menorah lighting and concert will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. A vendor shopping area, or shuk, is also planned.

There’s a $54 registration fee ($36 for students) that includes a kosher lunch and snacks, parking, the reception and admission to the concert.

Register at www.limmudboca.org. For up-to-date info, check the Facebook page at LimmudBoca.

— Janis Fontaine