By Hector Florin
Will longer docks on the north end of Manalapan create eyesores and bring bigger boats to town? That’s a question being mulled as the town considers allowing dock lengths to extend, in some cases, to 100 feet, depending on the size of the property. Town commissioners debated the code change on Jan. 27, stemming from discussion by the Zoning Commission in November, but decided to postpone any decision for one year. Commissioner Robert Evans led the charge to study the effects before making any changes, questioning whether allowing longer docks will alter the town’s pristine charm.
“I think our model should be more Gulf Stream and Hobe Sound than I do our larger cities,” Evans said. “We are Old Florida — quiet, tasteful. I don’t think huge docks further that model.”
The change is being considered for the R1-C district north of 1020 S. Ocean Blvd. because this part of the Intracoastal Waterway is wider. As proposed, the code change would allow dock terminuses to extend six inches for each foot of property line, although they cannot surpass 100 feet. Zoning laws in the district now allow a maximum of 50-foot dock terminus length, but can reach up to 75 feet if the property line is greater than 300 feet. Evans said residents south of the line would wonder why they wouldn’t be allowed to build a longer dock. Town resident Terry Taylor is seeking a variance to expand his dock length.
His attorney, Ron Kolins, told commissioners that not everyone will seek to build the maximum size and questioned whether they would look unsightly.
“Docks are low to the water,” he said. Commissioners voted 4-1 on the one-year postponement, with Tom Coffman dissenting and Peter Blum and Tom Thornton absent. It’s still a bit of a mystery why the 50-foot terminus rule was set about a decade ago. While Taylor is seeking the variance, one commissioner said it is a rare circumstance.
“This is the first time that anyone’s questioned the size of docks,” said Vice Mayor Kelly Gottlieb, a commissioner since July 2002.
The Town Commission also addressed the following at its Jan. 27 meeting:
• A1A reopening: Announced the opening of State Road A1A through the town, with construction officially completed on Jan. 26. Lane-striping work was scheduled early in the morning on Feb. 1, Mayor Tom Gerrard said. Meanwhile, Gerrard and Police Chief Clay Walker said more cars have been seen speeding on the road. “Traffic enforcement will intensify to bring driving behavior within safe limits,” Walker wrote in a report.
• Iguana appearances: Will consider a plan at the Feb. 24 commission meeting to remove iguanas from the town. Commissioner Tom Coffman said he saw two of the creatures near his home about six months ago, and now believes there are four. “It’s probably a good time to get rid of the four,” he said.
• Well construction: Approved an $811,000 contract with All Webb’s Enterprises Inc. to construct a deep-water well. The town piggy-backed on a 2006 contract between the Jupiter-based company and the Seacoast Utility Authority. Under contract terms, the work would be done in 210 days.
• Ritz Carlton deadline extension: Approved a request by the hotel to extend completion and compliance of its expansion until March 31, 2009. Also approved increasing the number of hotel rooms from 309 to 311.
• Decorative street lights: In response to some residents who said the decorative street lights on A1A can emit too much light, the commission will consider next month whether to switch from the current acorn-style lights to others that shield some of the light and point it down. La Coquille residents said three of the nine decorative lights in town affect them, and a representative of the club agreed to have one light switched with another type of fixture to see if the problem is solved.
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By Ron Hayes
BRINY BREEZES — Not long after Paul and Joan Ruopp moved to Briny Breezes in 1993, a stranger knocked on their door, bearing a golf bag and a smile. “I hear you folks are from Ocean Grove,” Paul McCarthy said. “So are we.”
For the next 15 years, the two Pauls played golf almost every week, both in Florida and New Jersey.
“I’m going to miss him terribly,” Ruopp said.
Mr. McCarthy died peacefully Jan. 19 in Scottsdale, Ariz., after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 85.
A resident since 1986, Mr. McCarthy found time for more than golf. He was affectionately known as one of “the raisins,” a group of friends who met daily on the beach to chat and work on their tans.
Mr. McCarthy raised the community’s American flag in memory of his twin brother, Jack, a U.S. Navy paratrooper killed in October 1944. Mr. McCarthy was also a veteran of World War II, serving with U.S. Navy in the South Pacific.
“And he was a big blood donor,” said his daughter, Kerry DeVito. “During his lifetime he donated 34.75 gallons of blood to the South Florida Blood Banks.”
Born in Bradley Beach, N.J., Mr. McCarthy retired as an executive in an electrical manufacturing plant. His wife, Claire, passed away in 2005.
In addition to Mrs. DeVito, he is survived by two other daughters, Tara Crewell and Holly McCarthy; two sons, Edward III and David; and nine grandchildren.
A private Mass was held in Scottsdale on Jan. 22. Memorial services will be planned in Briny Breezes and Bradley Beach, N.J., at a later date.
The family asks that donations be made to the Briny Breezes Memorial Fund or the South Florida Blood Bank.
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Re-zoning might give vacant mall near Gulf Stream better shot at development, Boynton hopes.
With hopes fading for a new residential and commercial development at the shabby, vacant strip mall at the northwest corner of Gulfstream Boulevard and Federal Highway, Boynton Beach commissioners have made the property strictly commercial again.
Plans for 166 residences and 19,000 square feet of commercial space, known as Heritage Club, have tanked and property owners Thirty Six Hundred Holdings LLC say the land has a better shot with the new land use and zoning.
“We have received more interest from people for a commercial use,” said James Knight of the Knight Group Real Estate & Development Company, a partner in Thirty Six Hundred. “It certainly wasn’t in our pro-forma or plan to be sitting for this long…. We don’ t have anything imminent that’s a definite done deal.”
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By Hector Florin
LANTANA — Upset over the possibility that a state agency could force the halt of the beach seawall’s construction, Lantana Town Council members rushed a vote last month to build an unbuilt portion of the wall 13 feet farther away from the water than previously planned.
During the town’s Jan. 26 meeting, Town Manager Mike Bornstein told the council that comments made by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission about the wall’s placement could lead to a legal battle, delays and costs surpassing the current $1.5 million price tag.
While town officials said the state’s Department of Environmental Protection seemed fine with the wall’s design, the Fish and Wildlife Commission worried the wall was being built too close to the shoreline and could have an impact on sea turtle nesting.
“My concerns when I visited the site yesterday were that the siting extends too far seaward into the nesting habitat, in areas that would be used for nesting by sea turtles,” wrote Robin Trindell in a Jan. 15 e-mail. “I hope it is possible to site the seawall farther landward.”
Council members blasted the commission for their comments, saying it was holding the town hostage for necessary work that benefits beachgoers, buildings and businesses and is not believed to have ever posed a threat to sea turtles.
“We have done everything. We have tried to do everything right,” Vice Mayor Elizabeth Tennyson said. “I love turtles. But I don’t think we’re robbing turtles of habitat by building the seawall there. We’re creating this seawall to protect the public’s beach.”
Even Town Attorney R. Max Lohman blasted the commission’s decision, calling it “garbage” while acknowledging that “it’s a tough, tough position” it put the town in.
Days after the Jan. 26 meeting, an S-shaped curve had moved the wall back, Bornstein said. While the 640-foot wall’s construction starts 24 feet away from buildings threatened by erosion, it is being moved closer in.
The decision to move the wall in another 13 feet in came after Bornstein talked to DEP officials. The hope is it is a satisfactory distance to appease the Fish and Wildlife Commission. About 100 feet remained to complete the wall’s construction by the end of January; other work associated with the wall is expected to be completed in March.
Council members rushed to make plans to build the seawall late last year, seeking an emergency declaration after storms washed away a chunk of the beach and threatened The Dune Deck Restaurant and other buildings. The declaration allowed the town to start the project while concurrently seeking state permits. Construction started the second week of January, while at the same time, the county began — and completed — dune restoration on the beach.
Though Tennyson was worried about changing plans suddenly without studying the effects, she joined others to support the new plan in a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Lynn Moorhouse opposed. He also expressed concerns about changing plans so quickly.
The council had reservations about a potential legal battle. Still, they would be reluctant to have any other obstacles thrown into the seawall’s way.
“This is the line in the sand,” Mayor David Stewart said. “They will not come back and ask for anything more.”
The Town Council also addressed the following at its Jan. 12 and Jan. 26 meetings:
• Ethics pledge: While announcing all town employees have signed an ethics pledge, Stewart suggested that vendors doing business with the town also sign it, and council members agreed. Over the two January meetings, Stewart asked the town’s external auditors, janitorial company and seawall builders to sign the pledge.
• Independence Day fireworks: Approved a maximum $35,000 contract with Zambelli Fireworks for the town’s Fourth of July celebration next to Bicentennial Park. One resident opposed the idea because of the town’s financial crunch, but council members defended the event as uplifting and a way for residents to get together.
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The developer of a downtown Delray Beach boutique hotel and a neighboring property have reached a settlement to allow the project to move forward, City Manager David Harden confirmed early February.
Legal battles mired Vista Del Mar's plan to build a 70-room hotel and 50-space parking garage at 64 S. Ocean Boulevard just south of Atlantic Avenue, with Ocean Properties, the owner of Boston's On The Beach next door, appealing a city advisory board's decision.
Representatives for Ocean Properties and Vista Del Mar did not return phone messages on Feb. 3 seeking comment on the settlement.
-Hector Florin
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By Joanne Davis
With the advent of the fig whitefly outbreak, we now have a great excuse to stop being so boring in our landscapes, and to offer something we knew all along and somehow forgot: Plant the natives. These plants will take what nature dishes out and reward us with delight every time we see a painted bunting, a cardinal or a warbler working the trees and shrubs to find food for its journeys. Suddenly, our backyards can become, well, comfortable and fascinating.
Here are few native Florida hedge options:
Cocoplum — This plant grows to 12–14 feet, becomes dense, and is ornamental with lime green, pink or red new growth. It’s salt- and drought-tolerant, and will grow on its own with no additional water once established. It prunes extremely well and can be sculpted into nearly any hedge form. It is a wonderful bird plant, providing shelter and nesting opportunities. Foxes relish the fruits, which are edible to humans as well.
Crabwood — This is another nice native hedge plant. It is very well-behaved and will form a dense, 10- to 12-foot shrub that rarely needs pruning. Wind-, salt- and drought-resistant, it is less-known, but worth seeking out.
Florida Privet — The fruit is a food source for wildlife and migratory birds. These thin out a little in winter, but it prunes well and can be maintained in a formal hedge.
Marlberry — Has fragrant while flowers when in bloom. It’s rather slow-growing, but easy to contain. It will grow in shade.
Myrsine — Similar to marlberry, but does not have fragrant flowers. It, too, takes pruning and is drought-, salt- and wind-resistant. This, too, has a moderate growth rate, but can be pushed with fertilizer.
Saw Palmetto — This plant is not often thought of in traditional hedge terms, but nonetheless makes an exceptional barrier that will take all kinds of abuse. Drought, salt, wind, fire, flooding, cold — nothing bothers it. It sports a nifty green- or blue-to-silver patina and as its name implies, has saw teeth along the edges. It is emblematic of Florida, once found from coast to coast, from the front dune to the edges of deep swamps. It has been referred to as “Florida’s skin,” supporting multitudes of wildlife and holding onto soils. Once established, it is virtually indestructible and needs only periodic maintenance to remove dead fronds and keep it in check. It is excellent for color, privacy and protection. It is outstanding as an accent plant in a mixed run of other natives. Saw palmetto’s sweet, delicate, almost haunting fragrance signals Florida’s subtle springtime.
Seagrape — The seagrape is symbolic of coastal vegetation and does well on the dune front. It has large, round leaves and edible fruit. It’s not very wind-resistant unless it is kept well-pruned, but it is drought-tolerant. These thin in winter and are messy during leaf exchange in late winter/early spring. The leaves turn bright red in cold weather. It will grow as big as you let it.
Silver Buttonwood — Has a moderate growth rate, a showy coloring, and prunes well.
Simpson Stopper — This plant produces very dense growth that birds love for nesting. They also love the fruit. It has fragrant flowers in the spring, and is one of the best small-leaved shrubs for making hedges: It prunes well, is a moderate grower and is drought-, salt- and somewhat wind-resistant. It probably won’t reach 14 feet, but who really needs a 14-foot hedge anyway?
Spanish Stopper — Needs pruning to stay dense. Doesn’t have real flowers, but the fruit is attractive to birds. It has a mild skunky smell.
White Indigo Berry — A heavy, hard wood. It’s a very attractive shrub suitable for pruning into hedge form. It has a moderate growth rate, attractive and fragrant flowers, shiny leaves, and interesting fruits that birds love. It sports some thorny attributes that make it wonderful for nesting and sheltering, but these vary in their intensity. Some are very sharp, while others have no noticeable spines.
Every time we plant natives, our lives are enriched. We see things we never saw before, and it’s automatic: Plant it and they come. We can have the same amount of privacy with a mixed run of natives as exotics, yet natives provide habitat for our birds and other wildlife. In addition, we will see a beautiful palette of native Florida, with all its subtle color, texture, fragrance and charm, inviting us to watch the birds and butterflies up close.
Joanne Davis is the owner of Joanne Davis and Associates Design. Located in Lake Worth, she specializes in the installation of fine native landscapes, 582-8128.Read more…
By Bob Leone
Now that we've got ’08 behind us — all of it — the joyful holidays and the depressing bank statements and jobs reports, we can look forward to a (hopefully) better ’09.
A good way to start the New Year is by planning for the most romantic holiday of all — Valentine’s Day.
Anyone can make reservations at fancy hi-end restaurants, but to really impress your significant other take the time to find a secluded piece of beach or make the arrangements for the baby sitter without being asked. Then make a quick stop by your favorite wine and food shops and put together your own very personal Valentines Day repast.
Here are a few food and wine pairings you can use to create a memorable "Lovers Day:"
If you are lucky enough to find that lonely stretch of beach, pack a chilled container of pre-made Bellinis (Prosecco and peach nectar), or a chilled Rose Champagne like the fabulous Billecart-Salmon Rose ($80). Add some smoked salmon sandwiches with dark bread and fresh dill dressing and a few fancy cookies to finish. You’ve now created a personalized, quiet moment for two, and you wont have to make conversation with your neighbors at the next table who made the same 8 o'clock reservation.
Or keep it really simple and have your romantic dinner at home: Fix your loved one’s favorite meal, or make a call to one of the areas great caterers and let them do all the food work for you. Then all it takes is finding the perfect wine to compliment your special meal.
Speaking for myself and my many carnivorous friends, nothing beats a dry-aged, prime cut New York Strip done to medium-rare, accompanied by a big, robust California Cab like Caymus ($70), Darioush ($90), or one of my new favorites, 2480 Cab ($100).
If steak is not your thing, try a steamed lobster dinner accompanied by a lush, rich Chardonnay like Mer Soleil ($35) or Beringer Private Reserve ($30). Or maybe Lobster Thermador — a rich decadent dish you could pair with Montrachet la Guiche ($300); a wine of equal decadence.
To bring your memorable evening to a close, present a slice of Italian cheesecake paired with a bottle of Chateau d'Yquem ($200+) — the greatest dessert wine in the world.
Of course none of these wine suggestions is cheap, but it’s Valentine’s Day and making your significant other happy can be priceless.
Until the next time: Drink and eat well — if not often. Ciao, mi Amici.
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French and Italian — the languages of romance — are also the languages of romantic food. All the restaurants are tweaking their menus on Feb.14 to include a few tricks from these cuisines, so expect French Champagne, oysters, pastas, fancy pastries and plenty of chocolates.
Locally, we picked four romantic dinners to choose from — all offering some woo-worthy feature.
First is a newcomer to the scene, the Culinary Café in Delray Beach. Chef/owner Dominick Laudia brings his talents, and a pastry chef, from his former job at the Boca Rio Country Club to the cozy boîte.
With only 12 tables and a small bar in a room with taupe walls and dark woods, the Café has an intimate feel despite the open room. Laudia will serve his full menu, which includes a spicy Asian tuna tartare, a jumbo shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon appetizers; charcoal-grilled fillet mignon, rack of lamb, braised short ribs, a crispy duck breast and twin jumbo crab cakes. Entrees range from $14 to $30; beer and wine are served.
A special Valentine’s five-course dinner also is offered at two seatings — 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The special dinner includes an appetizer “tasting” plus Champagne, a soup, a salad and a choice from four entrees, plus a chocolate truffle “heart” cake for dessert. The special meal is $55 plus tax and tip and other beverages.
If it’s a sea view with open-air tables that delight, consider Caffe Luna Rosa. The Delray Beach oceanside Italian boasts a full bar, and open–to-seaview seating from the dining room and sidewalk.
The chef is planning a few specials, including the seafood-laden pasta, Caccuico di mare, but, as he puts it, “All our food is romantic!”
“Chef Ernesto’s family recipe” is used for one of the house specialties — veal and beef meatballs cooked with a San Marzano tomato sauce. Veal scallopini in marsala sauce, a pan-roasted fresh Atlantic salmon with brown butter sauce over a crispy polenta cake and served with broccoli di rabe, or the house-made creste di gallo alla vodka — the “rooster’s crest”-shaped pasta served with a pink vodka-tomato sauce with seared pancetta and fresh basil are typical of other choices. A special dessert may be on the list. No timed seatings here, but reservations are suggested.
In Lake Worth, La Bonne Bouche, a French charmer that has a burgeoning lunch crowd, will have a four-course candlelit dinner special perfect for a tête-à-tête.
The charm of a French cafe is that it appears effortless to achieve romance in one — tiny candles glowing on the starched linen-topped tables, a French chaunteuse warbling softly through speakers, a lushly landscaped patio with a fountain for soft water sounds — a best bet if stars are out and the weather’s nice. Start by nibbling on the teeny, imported Nicoise olives brought gratis to the tables. Chef/owner Eric Regnier, from Nice, insists these are the most flavorful. French onion soup follows, served with a brioche, a classic egg-dough bread — all baked goods are made on site. A choice of escargot or a salad is next, with a choice of fish or fillet for an entrée. The dessert is the classic opera cake — almond cake soaked in espresso, with a bittersweet chocolate ganache and espresso buttercream fillings. It’s unctuous and rich beyond belief — definitely romantic. Plenty of French Champagne will be on hand as well.
This is another small space — 14 tables indoors and 12 on the patio; reservations are a must.
If nature and lush gardens with twinkling lights remind you of a private tropical island, make reservations for the Sundy House — the top outdoor dining experience in our area. This sublime piece of paradise is one of the top dining attractions in Delray Beach.
The exotic landscaping, full of edible and flowering plants and trees, is softly lit at night, and with a meandering stream throughout (manmade, but it works), it’s a transporting setting for those with amour on their minds.
A four-course dinner is planned for Feb. 14 — with multiple choices throughout. Start with oysters three ways, or a pair of soups — tomato basil and porcini mushroom veloute. Move to a salad of jumbo shrimp on a citrus salad, or lolla rossa salad with candied walnuts and roasted garlic. For an entrée, choose from several dishes, including a tomato-goat cheese ravioli with asparagus coulis and caramelized cauliflower, or Chardonnay-poached halibut with creamed spinach, and a brioche crostini, or lobster ravioli with black truffle pasta, morel cream sauce and buttered lobster tail meat.
Best for last: desserts are chocolate-covered strawberry mousse with a vanilla crème fraiche; chocolate cake, or Bailey’s crème brûlée with caramelized bananas and dulce de leche cream with plantain chips.
Dinner seatings are from 6 to 10 p.m.
If you go:Culinary Café 1832 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach (Southwest corner of Federal Highway and Linton) (561) 266-8976 Full menu Special five-course menu is $55, plus tax, tip and alcohol. Two Valentine’s Day dinner seatings: 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
La Bonne Bouche 516 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth (561) 533-0840 Special four-course meal is $45, plus tax, tip and alcohol. Serving from 6-8 pm. Reservations required.
Sundy House 106 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach (877) 439-9601 Special four-course menu is $75, plus tax, tip and alcohol. Serving from 6-10 p.m.; reservations required.
Caffe Luna Rosa 34 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach (561) 274-9404 Menu specials; full menu and bar available. Dinner served from 4:30-10 p.m.
Reservations required; call 561-274-8898, ext 12.
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Here’s a thought: Get away from it all for a romantic weekend – right here, where others pay major money to come in the wintertime. You’ll save on travel costs and can use the extra cash for a dinner or shopping splurge instead.
Our suggestions include the historic and recently renovated Colony Hotel and Cabana Club in Delray Beach, the stately Breakers in Palm Beach, with concierge treatment that will make you want to move in permanently, and the Old Florida oceanside charmer, Wright-by-the-Sea in Delray Beach.
The Colony Hotel and Cabana Club
Opt for a corner Queen or King room in this 1926 hotel, though any of the 70 rooms or two-bedroom suites would be ideal. All are individually decorated and recently renovated, all featuring tasteful tropical touches. Skylights illuminate the lobby, filled with vintage wicker furniture.
Only two miles and a bike-ride away is the Cabana Club on the ocean, which sports a saltwater pool, lushly landscaped private gardens, and a “serenity circle” for meditation or just getting lost in the quiet.
Situated on Atlantic Avenue, there are plenty of opportunities for guests to stroll and browse a plethora of shops, many offering one-off Florida gifts or art. Dining choices range from quick pizza slices, Thai, a steakhouse, and several sandwich shops. The Green Owl – a classic mid-century diner nearby, sits across from Mercer-Wentzel, a landmark department store.
The friendly staff can help you make dinner plans in advance (do this the day you make reservations) and set up other activities in the area.
Eco-friendly guests will be happy to know the hotel was certified a Florida Green Lodge in 2006 and practices conservation daily.
The Breakers
The luxury of luxury – it’s all about service at this unique Italian Renaissance resort. You get it with the lowest-end rooms at this grand seaside hotel with more history than most others in South Florida.
For romance, you just can’t beat it. The works of art, grand lobby and loggias – all the public spaces speak to romanticism. With its spas and now, the completely renovated beachfront, regroomed landscaping and natural habitats – all work to complete a honeymoon-like experience for couples. The staff mantra, “Friendliness with respect” is a welcome, less-formal approach than the stiffness and formality that can make guests uncomfortable.
There’s no end to activities available through the concierges who can book dinners, plays, eco-tours and other events if you choose. On site, there’s a relaxation pool overlooking the ocean, with two whirlpools, an oceanfront spa where you can get a couples massage, and the star attraction, private bungalows that sport their own “bungalow concierge.”
The Breakers is an all-in-one shopping event, too. A new jewelry boutique called Mix features one-of-a-kind jewelry, while clothing, gourmet food and wine and accessories are available at others on the property. There’s plenty to do recreation-wise on the grounds – golf, croquet, basketball and more. It boasts a number of fine restaurants to choose from -- L’escalier would have the most romantic tables for Valentine’s Day.
Choose from 540 rooms and suites
It’s pricey, but for romance, or just to be able to say you’ve stayed where royalty and notables have stayed – this is “The One.”
Wright-by-the-Sea
We are enchanted by Old Florida, and the epitome of beachfront hotels from the ‘50s is at Wright-by-the-Sea in Delray Beach. We even love their web site, which posts the weather right up front.
Each one of the 28 suites here has an ocean view – not even The Breakers can boast this. The cozy rooms and studio apartments are individually decorated with a beachy-cottage theme, and have comfy appointments like lounge-worthy chairs with ottomans and efficient kitchenettes. We favor the studio apartments for coziness, but a luxury suite with two baths and separate living room is available.
There’s a cute little palm-shaded heated pool overlooking the dunes, and private cabanas for sun worshipping or keeping the sand from ruffling your book pages.
De rigeur is the shuffleboard court – no ‘50s hotel or motel in Florida was without them – croquet, basketball, and Ping Pong tables for recreation.
For wooing, we’d take a bottle of wine, a couple of glasses and a blanket, and sit on the ocean observation deck to watch the shore.
It’s near everything in downtown Delray, but with its little kitchen, you wouldn’t have to leave the grounds.
If you go:The Colony Hotel and Cabana Club
525 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach
(561) 276-4123; www.thecolonyhotel.com/florida/
Rates: Two-night stay minimum for Valentine’s Day weekend; $259 per night, king room.
Wright-by-the-Sea
1901 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach
(561) 278-3355; www.wbts.com
Rates: From $255 for a studio, to $495 for a 1000-sq.-ft. suite.
The Breakers
1 S. County Road, Palm Beach
(561) 655-6611; www.thebreakers.com
Rates: $630-$690 for king rooms; up to a $200 credit toward amenities is available on their web site.
Note: All prices quo
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Chocolate for Valentine’s Day is almost too cliché.
We said almost. It remains the perennial favorite no matter who is buying and who is receiving. A few facts: More than $1 billion is spent in the weeks before Valentine’s Day for chocolate candy — most of it bought by men as gifts for women. But annually, women buy and eat more chocolate than men.
Chocolates as a love-gift is relatively new. It’s been popular only since around 1913, when a Swiss confectioner figured out how to fill chocolates with creams and nuts. Before that, Valentine exchanges were mostly flowers and handwritten notes.
Today, the chocolate doesn’t stop with the heart-shaped boxes; restaurant pastry chefs must have a chocolate dessert on the menu or face losing their jobs.
Some take the easy way out and just offer truffles as a lagniappe — a little something extra — in the form of chocolate ganache balls dusted with cocoa or dipped in dark chocolate. They’re simple to make at home, yet yield the same over-the-top richness as offered in restaurants. (If you dine at La Bonne Bouche on Valentine’s Day, you’ll get a couple with your Opera Cake — the standard chocolate cake in that bakery.)
We tasted a chocolate-dipped cheesecake “lollipop” at the Culinary Café in Delray Beach — and though neither of the two sweets is something we go out of the way for, together they were sublime. It’s another simple way to work chocolate into a dessert, and please those who like cheesecake, and only want a bite of chocolate. If you shape the “lollipop” into a heart, you can claim this as your own creative idea.
Here’s how it’s done: Make or buy a creamy — not cakey — cheesecake. You can get a chocolate cheesecake if you want it to be total chocolate. Freeze the cake, then use a heart-shaped canapé cutter to cut it into little heart shapes — 2 or 3 across inches would work best. Once frozen, push lollipop sticks into the center of each.
Melt some good quality dark or milk chocolate in a deep double boiler. Dip the cheesecake hearts into the chocolate, coating completely. Note that the chocolate will set up almost immediately on the frozen cakes; you may also have to reheat the chocolate as you work to keep it fluid. Set the lollipops on a non-stick pan or on a cookie rack to dry completely. Cover, and chill until an hour before serving; remove and let lollipops come to room temperature.
At the Culinary Café, they served a trio of these, including a white-chocolate version, with a raspberry sauce for dipping. A warm caramel sauce, from the ice-cream aisle, also would be delicious.
Lastly, I’m offering an unusual recipe for beet brownies. The recipe has made the rounds of cooks all over, but it’s not just the novelty that thrills — it’s the incredible moist texture and rich chocolate flavor in every bite of these brownies. Fear of beets? No worries. The absolute lack of beet flavor will win you over. Those who’ve cooked with shredded carrots and zucchini and other vegetables know how moist they make a cake. You don’t have to tell a soul what’s in them; only another beet-brownie maker might be able to guess.
Traditional chocolate truffles
These are named after the famous fungi sniffed out by pigs in France’s woodlands. The recipe is one I’ve used for several years from Ghirardelli Chocolates. It’s a messy job to make these; wear baker’s decorating gloves. Begin the truffles at least 4 hours before serving or up to two weeks ahead.
1 /4 cup heavy whipping cream
8 ounces (two bars) of bittersweet or dark (or a combination) chocolate, broken into small pieces — see note
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 /3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
In a small pan over medium heat, bring the cream to a simmer — bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate and butter. Put a half-inch of water into another larger pan; bring it to a simmer. Set the saucepan of chocolate into the simmering water and stir the chocolate, taking care not to let any water or steam droplets get into the chocolate. Stir until all the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the mixture to a shallow bowl; cool to room temperature and then cover and refrigerate until firm, at least two hours.
Don gloves to complete the work. Pour the cocoa powder into a pie plate. Line an airtight container with waxed paper or parchment. Dip a melon baller or small spoon into a glass of warm water and scrape across the surface of the chilled chocolate mixture to form a rough 1-inch ball, using your other hand to help round it out. Drop the ball into the cocoa. Repeat with the remaining truffle mixture. Gently shake the pie plate to coat the truffles with cocoa. Transfer the truffles to the container, separating each layer with more waxed paper. Cover tightly.
Truffles will keep two weeks in refrigerator or, if frozen, for up to 3 months.
This makes about 16 truffles.
Note: I have used Scharffen Berger, Ghirardelli and Callebaut chocolates to make these; these high-quality chocolates are available at most gourmet stores.Beet brownies
Believe us when we tell you the beets will never be detected in these delectable brownies. You can cook your own beets for the puree, but organic canned ones work just as well.
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (chips or chopped bar)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, softened
3 /4 cup beet puree (boil beets to fork-tender then puree; or use 15-oz. can with juices)
3 /4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/ 2 teaspoons baking powder
1 /8 teaspoon salt
1 /3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
In a small bowl set over a simmering pan of water, melt chocolate and butter. Remove from heat and whisk in beet puree. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs and sugar until eggs are light yellow and sugar is incorporated. Stir in chocolate-beet mixture. Stir in vanilla. Use a rubber spatula to fold in flour mixture just until combined — do not beat. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch greased baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. A tester may not work for a fudge-like brownie; if a cake-like texture is desired, bake until tester in center comes out clean. Cool completely before cutting into bars or triangles. Serve with a raspberry or fudge sauce.
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The universe is so good, it is always giving us symbols of wonder and delight that we incorporate into our lives. For instance, sunrise — a perfect example of beauty, new beginnings, and the constancy of a power and presence greater than ourselves. Every morning we are assured that all is well in the world, no matter what latest drama or trauma has been broadcast. All is well in the world; the sun has risen in a most magnificent way.
The sunrise speaks to us daily and says, “Dare to be remarkable, make no small plans! Look at me, I show up daily in a most beautiful and spectacular way.”
The sunrise is telling us to seize the day and experience our magnificence. We were not created to live a life of mediocrity or to settle for less. Look at the wonder and beauty of each new day. We no longer need to live under the mistaken belief that life is hard. We can transcend any condition, situation or problem.
The sunrise tells us that we can transcend all of that. We have been given the power to make a fresh start, to turn over a new leaf, to have a second or third chance.
The past is over, both the victories and the defeats. This is a new day. Set your sights high, the higher the better. Make no small plans, don’t be afraid to choose; be bold! This is a new sunrise, a new year.
“Dare to be remarkable, make no small plans!”
The Rev. Nancy Norman is senior minister of Unity of Delray Beach. She wrote these thoughts for The Coastal Star.Read more…
Who hasn't longed to attend their own funeral? To hear the eulogies, to see who says what, to learn what people really think about, and are willing to say in public about your life's legacy. For the past week or two, it's as if I have been at my own funeral, and I have to say, it's not exactly the stuff of dreams. To be honest, my legacy isn't either.
When I resigned from public office I apologized to my fellow commissioners and the other public employees with whom I've worked for 18 years. Now it's time for me to speak to those I was elected to serve—the citizens of Palm Beach County.
It's taken me a while, but I get it. I'm a hypocrite. For years, I prided myself in holding public officials to an impossible standard. If they stepped even an inch out of line—I let them have it. I realize that I failed to hold myself to that same high standard. That's hard for me to say, believe me. But this is a process, and I'm coming around to the harsh reality that I have not lived up to the morals and standards I always held so high.
The crimes that I committed hurt my family and me. They brought a harsh and undue scrutiny to city and county employees who did nothing but what was best for their communities. The crimes that I committed have caused the government to scrutinize every opinion that I have voiced, vote that I have cast and bond issue that I have been associated with. I own that, and deserve it. But the problem I have is that good city and county employees who have never done anything wrong are assumed guilty of something simply through their association with me. It hurts to see the damage I have brought to the people and communities I love with all my heart. I know that, upon review, these people will be vindicated because, unlike me, they honored their obligations to the public.
I get it. By accepting free hotel rooms, rooms in hotels that many of my constituents could never afford to visit, I hurt people. By voting on bond issues that benefited my husband's employers, I hurt people. By violating my oath of office and failing to provide the honest services due each and every County resident, I hurt people.
Here I sit, in the corner, observing my own funeral, sickened by the fact that I should have gotten it a lot sooner. What can I do—what amends can I make? Unfortunately—my options are limited. All I can say is I'm sorry. From the bottom of my heart—I'm sorry.
Former Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty emailed this letter to The Coastal Star.
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By Thomas R. Collins
Barry University took over the license of the WXEL radio and TV stations 11 years ago — and seven years later, put up a for-sale sign.
The sign is still up. The four-year effort at a sale has left the future of Palm Beach County public broadcasting up in the air.
Now, there might be an end in sight.
The Palm Beach County School District is making a bid to buy the station. And Miami-based WPBT, which runs the public station Channel 2, says that a joint agreement between itself and the district would give WXEL, supported by many donors in the coastal towns of southern Palm Beach County, a bright future. “It is our mission to educate,” School District spokesman Nat Harrington said. “This is an asset that would allow us to program for numerous student groups simultaneously.”
WPBT’s president and CEO, Rick Schneider, said linking his station and WXEL makes perfect sense. “There’s no question in my mind that in today’s media environment these stations ought to be working together,” he said.
Deals have come and gone before. Barry initially sought to sell WXEL to a New York buyer for $5 million, but the deal fell through when the Federal Communications Commission decided it was best that the station not be sold to a group that wasn’t local.
The Community Broadcast Foundation, a group of local residents, also is now making a bid to buy the station. Harrington said the foundation would likely have a role in any deal the School District would strike. “With substantive financial support, we are bringing back local control of WXEL TV and radio, to ensure high-quality educational and enlightened programming continues to serve the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast,” the foundation writes in its proposal posted on its Web site. “We will cause the WXEL communities to galvanize behind its cause.”
The foundation’s leader, Murray Green, didn’t return repeated calls for comment.
The Palm Beach County School Board recently approved spending $4.5 million on a potential purchase of the WXEL license, over the objections of the teachers union, which called it a “boondoggle” that would come at the expense of teacher salaries. Harrington said one of the district’s main points in negotiating a deal is that, “We don’t want to have any operating expenses related to this station.”
WXEL station manager Jerry Carr has said the up-in-the-air status of the station has made it tough to get big donations. Barry spokesman Mike Laderman said donations are down but that they’re down at many organizations because of the economy and it’s hard to know what’s due to the limbo status of the station.
“We’ve probably suffered some, but in terms of how much, I wouldn’t know how to calculate that,” he said.
He said there isn’t much to say about the negotiations with the Palm Beach County School District because it is so early.
“We want what’s best for the community up there as well as all the employees of the station,” Laderman said. “We don’t want to rush anything.”
Schneider of WPBT said he doesn’t expect any deal to be struck until “January at the earliest.”
He said that a partnership between WXEL and WPBT would mean less redundant programming and pooling the two stations’ resources to put together more quality products.
It would also allow each station to better target its core audience. “WXEL could truly be aimed at the Palm Beach County market and WPBT could do some things differently as well,” he said.
Teaming up in the non-profit sector is different from the for-profit sector, he said, casting aside comparisons to joint agreements between local newspapers and other media outlets that are widely seen as generating inferior news coverage
“I just think there is a benefit in combining resources,” he said, “and it is not a competitive benefit, the way it is in the commercial marketplace.”
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By Greg Stepanich
DELRAY BEACH — Four hours after the oath of office is administered to Barack Obama, a group of professional writers and everyday folks will gather around a microphone at the Crest Theatre in Delray Beach to read eight-line poems inspired by the event they have just witnessed, the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States.
Poems written to mark a society's public events are a tradition old as humanity itself, but they're something new for this fifth year of the Palm Beach Poetry Festival, which convenes at Old School Square for a six-day stretch beginning Jan. 19.
"Regardless of your political affiliations, Obama is facing horrendous challenges, and if there's an outpouring of support and good wishes from the poetry community, I think it will mean a lot," said Miles Coon, who founded the festival in 2004. From its origins as an offhand thought for Coon, an attorney and former chief executive officer of his family's apparel-store supply business, the festival is now a nonprofit corporation that runs poetry outreach programs year-round, and whose winter gathering of wordsmiths had an economic impact on the Delray Beach area last year that he estimates at half a million dollars. This year's festival features 13 American poets who have reached eminence in the profession through books, major arts awards and faculty positions at leading universities. They will run workshops for invited participants, give readings and lectures, and join in the evening coffeehouse party that will close the festival Jan. 24.
The advanced and intermediate workshops, which cost each participant $725 and $525 respectively, are reserved for the aspiring writers who have been accepted into those sessions, but the rest of the conference is open to the public, and includes nightly readings, poetry slams and the event that has proved most popular over the past years, a panel discussion hosted by the poets of poems that are their favorites or that had the greatest influence on them.
Ticket prices per event are $8 for students, $10 for seniors, and $12 for adults. The Obama inaugural event is free.
It is a great gorging of verse in a short time frame, and it's something that the festival's coordinator, Laura McDermott, is familiar with from her own efforts to get more people to hear, appreciate and write poetry. McDermott, 27, a Deerfield Beach native who holds degrees from Florida State and Florida International universities, discovered a love for poetry in the middle of her undergraduate years while taking an English course from poet David Kirby.
"I said to him the first day, 'I don't like poetry.' He said, 'Really?' I said, 'Yeah, and I guess it's going to be your job to make me like it,' or something like that," McDermott said. "And he said, OK, that's my challenge.' " McDermott, who's been the detail person for the festival for three years, found her mind totally changed by the poetry she encountered in Kirby's class, especially work by Denise Duhamel, one of this year's poet participants. One of the key reasons was that she was reading work that was quite unlike what she was used to from her pre-college days.
"It has a stigma that was set from high school. You know, it's always about flowers and love, and it's only by old dead white guys," said McDermott, who now teaches English courses at no fewer than four South Florida colleges. "Even when I'm teaching now, that's the same type of response that I get. That's how they describe it: The stuff you read in high school that wasn't necessarily appealing to this generation." Feeling that she'd found her calling, McDermott began holding regular poetry readings at the Luna Star Cafe in North Miami, well-attended gatherings that lasted for two years and won her the attention of the press and of Coon, who brought her aboard as coordinator in 2006.
Duhamel, who's been teaching at Florida International University for eight years, said it's easier to get people reluctant to read poetry into the art form by reaching them through contemporary writers, who have the same languages and same concerns, rather than starting with established writers of the past.
"Start with poets who are alive and work your way backward," she said. "Take someone like Gregory Orr (a festival participant this year). If you read him first, then you can go back to Robert Frost."
A poet who writes with a light, funny touch (Sex With a Famous Poet, On Being Born the Same Exact Day of the Same Exact Year as Boy George), Duhamel has frequently written about women's issues in her career, and admits to feeling "almost nostalgic for feminism." Her latest collection of verse, Ka-Ching!, is due out in February from the University of Pittsburgh Press.
Duhamel, who will do a reading Jan. 20 as well as teach, said she plans to give the participants in the five days of her workshop a combination of writing prompts and critiques of the work they've brought.
"People want honest feedback that can help them craft the poem they're working on at the moment, and they also want to know what their weaknesses are," said Duhamel, 47, who said she will attempt to make the writers "hyper-aware" of how they go about crafting their poems. "Not everyone is going to be wonderful at everything."
Duhamel, a Hollywood resident, said one of the most frequent topics for today's aspiring poets, in addition to childhood traumas and wordplay, is the natural world. "I think that's happening now because of the fragile environment," she said. "People feel this sort of tenderness about the earth and about nature."
Coon, who will turn 71 the day after the festival closes, came to poetry later in his career, when seeking a way for his self-described Type A personality to deal with the frustration of a corporate buyout that left him with plenty of money but no input in the business.
"I began writing short stories because I felt like I was living in one," said Coon, who was going to work every day as non-executive chairman of the firm he'd sold to an English company that never sought his advice. "But they kept getting shorter. My stories wanted to be poems." Soon, he was in an online poetry workshop of six people working with poet Marlena Morling, who participated in the festival last year, and began writing furiously. After working with poet Thomas Lux, a returning guest of the festival this year, Coon entered the master of fine arts program at Sarah Lawrence College, a two-year program that took him four years to finish because he took time off for winters at his home on Palm Beach, where he now lives year round.
"It was the happiest four years of my life," said Coon, whose work has been published in various literary magazines including The Cortland Review. The festival now has a budget in the neighborhood of $200,000, Coon said, and praised the donors, including investment bank Morgan Stanley, who have helped make the event possible. He also urged people who have had negative experiences with poetry in the past to come out to the festival anyway. "Come to one reading and see what you've been missing," he said.
For Coon, poetry has been a life-changing experience, even down to how it affected his marriage of 45 years to his wife, Mimi, an artist whose work will be on exhibit during the festival along with the work of painter Trisha Orr, wife of poet Gregory Orr. He was all business, she was creative, but after he found poetry, something happened to their relationship.
"When I got into poetry, we started to see the world the same way," Coon said, in part because the art form forces you to understand that "seeing is an active thing."
"You have to be observant," he said. "We rush around, but poetry slows us down. It says, 'Hey, take it slow and look at what's around you.' .... In the business world, I didn't see anything around me. Now that I write poems, I'm more in tune with what's out there."
That's exactly the kind of thing Duhamel says poetry can do for people.
"It's a way to get at something weird and wonderful that you can't get through movies or TV shows, or the narrative arc of a story," she said. "It's a way to speak the unspeakable ... a way for people to get in touch with their deeper selves."
And McDermott added that poetry is an ideal vehicle of creative expression for today's economic times. In short, it's necessary.
"We need poetry," she said. "Now's the time. People are hurting. What better way to express your fears, your anger, than with words?"
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Meet Your Neighbor
Michiko Kurisu is committed to the idea of substantial, provocative art in public spaces. A 10-year resident of coastal Delray Beach, she has built a career in art, photography and design. Most recently she unveiled a permanent light-based art installation at the southeast corner of Veterans Park in Delray Beach — under the Atlantic Avenue Bridge. Michiko is a graduate of Brown University with coursework at the Rhode Island School of Design. She has lived and traveled in 16 countries.
Q. Where did you grow up, and how do you think that has influenced you?
A. I grew up on a ranch in Oregon. Growing up in open space with woods and creeks and ponies definitely makes TV pretty dull. Because so much of my growing up happened in relatively wild nature, places that I would return to throughout the seasons, a sense of connection to place, and place as narrative became second nature to me.
Q. What inspired your light project under the Atlantic Avenue Bridge?
A. I have always been attracted to creating site-specific work. The call to artists was for a site-specific installation, and I liked that. It was about creating not just an object, but a complete experience. Q. Are you involved in other artistic projects?
A. Yes. I photograph all the time, and am working on more light-based art.
Q. What is your favorite thing about working in the arts?
A. For me, making art is a response to life, to what living seems to require. What I love about the realm of public art is its utterly physically and psychologically democratic nature: Public art has the potential to reach audiences who may or may not give a hoot about art per se, and to transform their experience. I think the public realm is one of the most challenging places for art to exist.
Q. What advice do you have for a young person who wants to get into the arts today?
A. I am a young person! Carpe diem.
Q. Why did you select to live in coastal Delray Beach?
A. It was by accident, really. I came here to work on a one-and-a-half-year contract. That was about 10 years ago. There were no live/work loft spaces at that time, so I figured the beach would keep me sane.
Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
A. I don’t know, but I’ve been accused of acting like that squirrel in Over the Hedge. Occasionally I get mistaken for Lucy Liu and Pocahontas.
Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?
A. Argentine tango, classical Indian, João Gilberto
Q. What book are you reading now?
A. The BMW 3 Series Service Manual, 1984-1990, out of necessity.
Q. Who/what makes you laugh?
A. People falling out of chairs and Japanese candid camera.
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By Antigone Barton
GULF STREAM — The troubles that follow youth and wheels know no borders, and so, in December, Gulf Stream town commissioners discussed the need to crack down on those who would turn town streets into a playground.
The issue, here, however, was not drag-racing muscle cars or cruising Camaros, but golf carts. Or, as Mayor William Koch put it, citing a spate of recent complaints: “The problem of these kids driving golf carts down the streets, over lawns, some without driver licenses.”
Part of the problem was said to come from Gulf Stream School students seeking entertainment while waiting for their rides home.
“The problem is the parents aren’t taking it seriously,” Commissioner Joan Orthwein said. “The problem is the parents don’t think it’s a problem.”
But the wayward ways of youth and the indulgence of their parents was just part of the problem, commissioners found, as they considered a spate of dangerous-driving complaints that have been presented to the mayor and police chief.
Residents who drive golf carts while walking their dogs are another part of the problem. That answer to exercise-free canine ownership has led to reports of brake-slamming encounters when a startled car driver belatedly sees the leash connecting a cart on one side of the road to the dog moseying near the hedge on the other side.
“There are some people with disabilities who can’t walk their dogs without a golf cart,” one of two residents attending the December meeting offered, giving the example of a woman who relies on her golf cart to accompany her dog’s outings because “she can’t walk.”
This prompted a commissioner to inquire how she cleans up after the pet, to which the resident replied, “she walks over and picks it up.”
Enforcing town code, which permits only those with driver licenses to tool around in golf carts, could address at least half the problem, town Police Chief Garrett Ward said.
But, Town Attorney John “Skip” Randolph said, that code is unenforceable because it conflicts with state law that allows those 14 and older to ride the carts.
Commissioners agreed to revisit the issue, with an aim to reconciling code with law.
“If you banned them, that would be the end of it,” Ward suggested.
“I think you’d have a revolution if you banned golf carts,” Orthwein answered. “I don’t even want to go there.”
In the meantime, Koch promised a stern mention of the matter in the town newsletter.
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By Hector Florin
Calling CDS International Holdings’ redevelopment plan crucial to downtown’s makeup, city commissioners on Dec. 9 supported the first of several approvals to remake a two-block area on Atlantic Avenue west of Veterans Park.
Three of six proposed buildings in the office-condo-retail complex can go up to 60 feet high, or five stories, which is 12 feet above city guidelines. Other approvals are pending over at least the next three months, including a shift of Northeast Seventh Avenue and the project’s site plan. It will take at least three to five years until Atlantic Plaza II is completed. It consists of nearly 200 residential units, mostly condos, and more than 200,000 commercial square feet. Office space will make up more than half that area, with shops and restaurants also in the picture. Underground parking would be provided.
Three years ago, commissioners nixed plans for a larger development on a portion of this site, now expanded to 8.65 acres and more than two downtown city blocks. Residents opposed to that plan have toned their criticisms with the new proposal, though several who spoke at the meeting expressed concerns about its scale.
Ultimately, commissioners agreed this latest plan succeeds in linking the largely underdeveloped site with its bustling surroundings.
“We have been looking for quite some time to connect the areas along Atlantic Avenue,” Commissioner Woodie McDuffie said, voicing his support to add more than 111,000 square feet of office space along the thoroughfare. The existing Atlantic Plaza shopping center, a motel and two small businesses remain open, next to vacant buildings and a gas station.
Business owners nearby along Atlantic praised the CDS plan. “This is going to be a tremendous help to our community,” said Dagmar Hejda, who with her husband, Milan, owns Sonoma Café across the street from the site. Neighbors and residents, including some from Delray Summit, fleshed out concerns over building height and traffic produced by the project, which would extend to the Atlantic Avenue Bridge.
“It is not consistent with the village atmosphere that is slowly disappearing,” said Beach Property Owners Association President Robert Victorin. “Tall buildings do not fit in this neighborhood.”
And in times of such economic uncertainty, some wondered what the purpose was to approve the plan at this time. The project’s timeline allows opportunity to dodge the continuing economic crisis, project representatives said.
Atlantic Plaza II would require "significant modifications" in current water-sewer lines and establish new services, according to the city. Three water mains along Seventh Avenue will be removed. New water and sewer pipes will be added, including a 24-inch water main within Veterans Park.
CDS President Bill Milmoe said the chance to redevelop two downtown blocks “is rare, and it’s crucial we get it right,” while CDS Chairman Carl DeSantis promised a successful project.
“I want the best, and I promise you that I will deliver the best,” DeSantis said.
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By Antigone Barton
The grinch who stole the economy left the holidays untouched in the season just passed, as towns took second looks at pay raises, but followed their standing traditions of glad tidings to staff members. In some towns that meant hefty stocking stuffers, but in some it meant that December was just another month. Falling into the first category was Gulf Stream, where the 17 staff members got — a lot. How much is as elusive as a Santa Claus spotting, as the gift comes directly from residents to an account set up by the Civic Association. It’s a town tradition that goes back about 60 years.
“Way back, people gave Christmas gifts directly to police officers,” said Civic Association President Bob Ganger. “And the Civic Association said, that probably isn’t right.”
In the years since, the association has instead collected and combined the gifts, a process that keeps the source of each, and the resulting total, known only to a scarce few. After a reminder goes to all residents around Thanksgiving, checks start arriving at Town Hall. At least 70 percent of residents give, Ganger said, with snowbirds who returned too late to chip in for this season’s greetings sending a check for the next year’s pot. “Most people who live in Gulf Stream view our employees as friends, first,” Ganger said.
If it is hard to put a price on friendship, it is harder in Gulf Stream, where the group effort is neither official act nor public record. When asked how it stacks up next to nearby Ocean Ridge’s $500 per employee seasonal staff bonuses, Ganger allowed it is “considerably more.”
Ocean Ridge commissioners agreed to their amount in December’s meeting; when given a choice of $200, $300, $500 or nothing, Mayor Ken Kaleel quickly recommended the highest number. While Commissioner Terry Brown dissented, on the grounds of sticking to the established budget, he stood alone. Commissioner Lynn Allison cited an exceptionally tough year in which clerk, manager, police and other staff operated from cramped trailer quarters, and pulled off an en masse move in October. Most of the town’s employees have worked for the town for 10 years or more; still, some commissioners raised the specter of Gulf Stream’s unknown amount as they said seasonal generosity can play a role in getting and keeping good workers. In towns on either side of Ocean Ridge, though, it is the thought that counts.
Manalapan employees haven’t seen a holiday bonus since 2005, after which legislative restrictions on taxes tightened the town budget to more provable necessities.
Briny Breezes did not have a paid town employee to give a bonus to, until the recent hire of a town clerk, and so had no tradition to follow. Lantana will, as usual, Town Manager Mike Bornstein said, give each of its 100 employees a $20 gift certificate to Publix.
And in Delray Beach, commissioners gave the gift of time, agreeing recently to add the day after Christmas off to the $100 bonus received by each of the city’s approximately 850 employees.
“What a surprise!” administrative assistant Rosanne Dechicchio said. “We were just thrilled.” And that is what every town wants, says Gulf Stream’s Ganger, who agrees with those keeping an eye on their neighbors’ holiday spirit, adding:
“There’s nothing better than contented and motivated people serving the town.”
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By Thomas R. Collins
BOYNTON BEACH — Drumroll, please.
After two years of meetings over how to change the Boynton Inlet in response to safety and environmental concerns, the answer is … keeping it the same?
Possibly. The Boynton Inlet Committee in December ranked a series of options — including either widening or deepening the inlet, or both — but the option that racked up the most points was that old standby choice: “Status quo.” Too many members of the committee were worried about hurricane storm surge that could flood their coastal towns when water rushes from the ocean through a wider or deeper channel.
The results make it less likely than ever that the inlet will undergo any major changes anytime soon.
The tally will now go to the Boynton Beach City Commission, which will consider the next step, if there is one.
The option that was ranked second was shifting the south jetty farther to the south. Third was a combination of shifting that jetty farther south and dredging the ebb shoal, which creates nasty waves for boat captains. Generally, the bigger the change, the lower the ranking. The most drastic change, making the inlet 200 feet wider and 10 feet deeper, ranked last.
Some members say the committee’s inability to come to any real resolution — one that, all at once, tackles safety and water-quality, and prevents worse flooding — shows that thinking about the inlet needs to get bolder.
Some say they should turn to more brazen ideas —even locks that could seal off the inlet if a storm comes.
“The process that we just went through really calls for this question to be asked: Is there an option that can address all of them together and not be mutually exclusive?” said Lantana Town Manager Michael Bornstein, whose Hypoluxo Island enclave would already be completely submerged in a once-in-a-hundred-years storm.
“We couldn’t find a way that would satisfy everybody because we couldn’t find a way that could address surge.”
Boynton Beach Mayor Jerry Taylor, one of the original proponents of examining changes to the inlet, said the results were “disappointing.” “It was an opportunity to really make something happen there,” he said. “I understand their concerns but I think we have the technology today to overcome those concerns.”
He suggested a series of gates or locks to protect the Intracoastal Waterway from surge should a storm hit.
“Let’s face it: We built the Panama Canal, we built the Erie Canal,” Taylor said. “There’s ways to control water.”
At a recent meeting of the inlet committee, engineers said such a project would be the first of its kind at such an inlet. It would also come at an enormous cost that no one has even begun to ponder.
Taylor’s response: “I think we ought to be at the leading edge of things.”
Three members gave “Status quo” the highest ranking — six points out of six — in every category, from environmental value to navigation safety, even though the existing inlet is considered unsafe. And those members — Ocean Ridge Commissioner Geoff Pugh, Briny Breezes representative Jerry Lower, and Charlie Frederick — gave almost every other option a zero in every category.
In reporting the results to Boynton Beach Public Works Director Jeffrey Livergood, engineer John Duchock of Boynton Beach-hired Applied Technology & Management said those tallies vaulted “Status quo” to the top. “We feel that this is a result of a skew in the ranking where three committee members favored the status quo and ranked the rest as unfavorable without consideration of the true merits of those options,” Duchock wrote in an e-mail to Livergood. “This is most likely driven by the perceived impact of storm surge changes.”
Bornstein said that the voting pattern doesn’t change the feeling of committee members that surge was seen as a “veto” issue.
“If one or two groups of representatives skewed the votes or the number, it doesn’t matter, because without them on board it wasn’t going to happen anyway from a political perspective,” he said.
Taylor held out hope for something to happen to the channel.
“We did a lot of work,” he said. “And I really think something needs to be done with the inlet.”
Editor’s note: Committee member Jerry Lower, an Ocean Ridge resident and Briny Breezes shareholder, is publisher of The Coastal Star.Read more…
Supervisor of Elections-Elect, Susan Bucher speaks at the annual League of Women Voter’s holiday event at the Gulf Stream home of League president Pamela S. Goodman on Dec. 22. Bucher spoke about the challenges of her up-coming position including the storage and handling of 1.7 tons of paper from the two-page ballots used in the last general election.
The invited League members, guests and some recently elected officials contributed money and food for the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County. Coalition executive director, Rita Clark spoke about the desperate need for a homeless shelter in Palm Beach County.
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