The Florida League of Cities has named Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, City Council member Yvette Drucker and Deputy City Manager George Brown as 2023 Home Rule Heroes for their work to protect the ability of city leaders to make decisions for their communities.

Boca Raton was the only city in Palm Beach County to have three leaders so designated. Lake Worth Beach and Lake Clarke Shores each had two. No other city leaders in southeastern Palm Beach County were recognized.

“Home Rule Heroes are some of our biggest advocates in protecting local decision-making,” the league said in announcing those recognized. “… This year’s Home Rule Heroes continuously advocated for their communities throughout the 2023 legislative session.”

Drucker noted the difficulty of the task.

“Now more than ever, local communities are having to fight even harder to make local decisions in the face of new pressure from Washington and Tallahassee,” she said.
For many years, the state Legislature has gathered more power by chipping away at the authority of city leaders. Legislators were particularly aggressive in usurping local control during the 2023 session.

— Mary Hladky

By Mary Hladky

The city’s 2024 election season already has begun.

Three candidates are seeking to replace Deputy Mayor Monica Mayotte, who is term-limited from running again in next year’s municipal election.

Andy Thomson, who resigned from the City Council on Nov. 7 to make an ultimately unsuccessful run for the Florida House District 91 seat, has filed to run.

Also filing for Mayotte’s Seat D is Brian Stenberg, who was defeated by Mayotte in the 2021 election.

Perennial candidate Bernard Korn, who has never won office, has also thrown his hat in the ring again.

Thomson, after losing his race for state representative against Peggy Gossett-Seidman last year, said he would seek elected office again but did not know then which one. He was forced by the state’s resign-to-run law to give up his council seat.

Stenberg has remained in the public eye since losing his race. He was appointed to the Boca Raton Housing Authority board and, most recently, campaigned against a city charter change that would have increased City Council members’ terms of office from three years to four.

That change, proposed by Mayor Scott Singer, was soundly defeated by voters in the March 14 city election.

As of April 30, Thomson had raised $22,500 in campaign contributions.

Stenberg had loaned his campaign $500.

Korn, who filed paperwork for both Seat D and council member Yvette Drucker’s Seat C, reported receiving no contributions. He gave as his address the downtown post office at 170 NE Second St.

BOCA RATON — Gary John Tiesenga died on May 13 in Boca Raton as a result of complications from diabetes. He was 63.

He was preceded in death by his brother, James Tiesenga; and his father-in-law, Richard Brueneman.

Lovingly remembering Mr. Tiesenga are his wife of 13 years, Patty; stepsons, Brandon (Christina Warycha) Morrison and their three children; Christopher (Tierney) Morrison and their two children; parents, Andrew and Elaine Tiesenga; brothers and sister, David (Jane) Tiesenga, Deb (Roger) Offringa, Steve (Tanya) Tiesenga, Mark (Dee) Tiesenga; sister-in-law, Deb Tiesenga; mother-in-law, Judy Brueneman; many nieces and nephews.

Formerly of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Tiesenga graduated from Ferris State University in 1982 with a degree in finance and data processing. He had an accomplished career as an information technology executive with Marathon Oil, Deloitte, Computer Sciences Co., and TJX Companies. His career brought him to locations like Findlay, Ohio; Dearborn, Michigan; Nashville; Pittsburgh; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; and Boston.

While in Chicago, Mr. Tiesenga met Patty in 2006 through a mutual friend. They married in 2009 and he became an amazing husband, stepfather and grandfather.

He never missed a chance to cheer on Manchester United, NASCAR, the Chicago Cubs, the Nashville Predators, and anything University of Michigan. After retiring to Boca Raton,

Mr. Tiesenga most of all enjoyed playing golf, winning several club tournaments, and providing leadership in technology strategy for the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.

He and Patty traveled extensively, enjoyed many live sporting events, and especially enjoyed road trips from Florida to Cincinnati, Michigan, New York and Boston to see the kids, and family and friends.

The funeral service and burial were in Grand Rapids on May 22. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org.

— Obituary submitted by the family

HIGHLAND BEACH — John F. Rand, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died May 4 at his home. He was 99.

Mr. Rand was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and married his high school sweetheart, Ingeborg Schmitz, in 1946 upon his return from military service. They were married 68 years, until her death.

John was a WWII veteran who joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1942 as a member of the radio communications team for U.S. and Allied forces. He was on one of the famous “Liberty Ships” in an aircraft carrier task force to transport troops and materials to the Southeast Asia theater. He also provided reliable communication links with “Merrill’s Marauders” in Burma to communications headquarters for Gen. Douglas MacArthur and worked in support of the Flying Tigers in Kunming, China.

After the war, he went to the City of New York College and, with language skills in Chinese and Spanish, joined Credit Suisse Americas. He would go on to become the first American in charge of the U.S. main office in New York for North and South America.

John and Inge moved to Highland Beach 40 years ago and bought a home in Bel Lido. He was later elected commissioner and served as vice mayor on the Town Commission.

The couple had three children, son John W. Rand (deceased), (wife Drucilla Rand also deceased) and daughters Linda Ladolcetta (Gary Ladolcetta) and Ingrid Sorensen (Michael Sorensen); six grandchildren, Michael Ladolcetta (Abby), Lauren Nelson (Sean Nelson), Susan Smith (Terry Smith), Elizabeth, Kelly and John P., as well as four great-grandchildren (Terry, Blake, Kara and Logan).

Interment is in South Florida National Cemetery.

— Obituary submitted by the family

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach residents, who have enjoyed low rates for garbage pickup for at least 10 years, will see a huge jump in their bills this month.

In May, town commissioners reluctantly signed off on a new five-year contract with Waste Management Inc. of Florida that will boost rates for single-family and small multifamily homes by 82% and for individual condo owners by 69%.

Single-family homes and multifamily homes with under four units will see the rate go from close to $16 a month to just less than $30.

Condo rates will increase from $10.30 per month to $17.46.

The large bump, said Town Manager Marshall Labadie, is the result of the relatively low rate that residents have paid under a favorable 2014 contract that increased only 3% a year since 2019.

“What we had was a bit of a sweetheart deal,” Labadie said.

To help reduce the financial impact, Highland Beach cut its administrative fee — which covers the cost of billing and revenue collection — from 12% to 5%.

“Because the increase was so high, we did everything we could to mitigate costs to residents,” Labadie said.

One of the sticking points in the new contract, for at least one member of the Town Commission, was the annual increases it includes.

Under the new contact, the cost of garbage pickup will increase 7% a year for the next five years with a two-year optional renewal. That means the bill for single-family and small multifamily homes will grow by 2027 to $38.19 and for condos to $22.87.

That portion of the contract drew some pushback from Vice Mayor David Stern, who thinks the agreement doesn’t reflect a potential drop in the cost of living from the current high rate.

Stern said he would have liked to see the agreement stay at 7% for the first two years and then drop back to the cost of living for the remainder of the period.
He also expressed concern about the large initial increase, saying he thought it would have been better to spread that over the term of the contract.

“My concern is that we have a jump in price that in my opinion is excessive,” he said. “Highland Beach had a very good arrangement, and what they did is put us at a par with others in one shot.”

Stern praised the town for its efforts to negotiate a deal that would be more favorable to residents and recognized that there was little room for give and take. The town had put its garbage contract out for bid and got only two responses, with the one from Waste Management being the more reasonable.
Speaking to the commission in April, Barbara Herrera of Waste Management’s government affairs team said that much of the price increase was due to labor issues and supply-chain concerns.

“It’s very difficult to hire individuals who want to work on a rear-load truck,” she said, adding that many applicants would rather drive the truck and remain in the air-conditioned cab than work in the heat.

With that in mind, she said, the company has increased wages and benefits including college tuition assistance for employees and some family members.

She said maintenance costs have also increased, with the company having to pay more for qualified mechanics.

The collection schedule will stay the same under the agreement. Waste Management will collect solid waste twice a week from single-family homes and twice a week from condo and small multifamily units, with the condo trash collection expanding to three times a week from Nov. 1 to May 31.

The company will also pick up yard trash and bulk trash twice a week from single-family, small multifamily homes and condos. Recyclables will be collected twice a week from condos and once a week from single-family homes and small multifamily units.

It could take months before turtles are back at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. File photo

Letters to the Editor: Nonprofit chair hails ‘exciting times’ ahead for Gumbo Limbo|Retired leader of turtle facility laments ‘black eye’ for city|Former volunteer saddened by lapses at Gumbo Limbo

By Steve Plunkett

Eight weeks and counting since Gumbo Limbo Nature Center lost its permit to treat ailing sea turtles, the big question — when will its marquee rehab program get going again? — remains unanswered.

The Boca Raton City Council approved an agreement April 25 letting the nonprofit Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards take over all responsibility, operation and financing of the nature center’s sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, research and release efforts.

But before voting, council member Yvette Drucker wanted to know, “How quickly are we going to bring the turtles back to the center?”

No one could say for sure.

“The first step is getting the permit. That might be where we see some time,” Assistant City Manager Chrissy Gibson said. “It’s my understanding it could take a couple of months, and then once we have it,” the Coastal Stewards “will start the process to get the turtles back or be open for rehabilitation.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wanted the city and the Coastal Stewards to sign the agreement before the nonprofit group could apply for a turtle research and rehabilitation permit, Gibson said.

Another sticking point to resuming the rehab might be the search by the Stewards, formerly known as the Friends of Gumbo Limbo, for veterinarians to replace Gumbo Limbo’s longtime vet Maria Chadam and her backup, Mike Chouster.

Chadam, who was paid by the Stewards, on Feb. 13 gave 30 days’ notice of her intention to resign, citing her diminished optimism for the future of the rehabilitation program. The nonprofit ended the contract the next day.

At the council meeting, John Holloway, president and CEO of the Stewards, said the search was continuing.

“The team that has already been hired is in the process right now of interviewing veterinarians. … The role of the veterinarians is to be placed on the permit. Those positions are currently being hired,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to hire one when you don’t have a facility or a permit to go for it. So we’re in that process right now.”

Chadam’s resignation set off a downward spiral for Gumbo Limbo’s turtle rehab unit. Whitney Crowder, the program’s coordinator, and her assistant, Emily Mirowski, were put on administrative leave on March 13, and the next day under FWC orders nine sea turtles were moved to other facilities.

It appears likely that few of those turtles will return to Boca Raton. The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, which took in six, has already nursed four back to health and released them in the ocean. Another one, a baby with extensive eye damage, was euthanized.

A 10th turtle, taken to Juno Beach on March 26 after being hit by a boat propeller in the Intracoastal Waterway near the Spanish River Boulevard bridge, sustained a wound that was listed as “looking good” by early May, but the turtle’s prognosis was “still guarded.”

Also still at the Marinelife Center is Morgan, one of Gumbo Limbo’s two “resident” sea turtles that are not able to survive in the ocean. Cane, the other resident, was taken to the Florida Oceanographic Society in Stuart.

And one of the two turtles transported to Zoo Miami died from post-surgery complications, a spokeswoman said, but the other is doing well.

Manjunath Pendakur, a Florida Atlantic University professor emeritus who chairs the Coastal Stewards board of trustees, hailed the written agreement between his organization and the city as a “historic change.”

“We’re committed to doing everything in our power to succeed in this effort as we like to say, one turtle at a time,” he told the City Council.

The agreement also permits the Stewards to charge fees for special experiences and programs. The city took over the door donations that used to go to the Stewards on Jan. 1.

Admission to the turtle rehabilitation tanks will continue to be free.

Also unchanged is the sea turtle conservation program, which is managed under a separate FWC permit held by city staffer David Anderson. The program includes the turtle nesting survey, turtle walks to see mother turtles lay their eggs, and hatchling releases.

“Like in the past, nonprofit members (and city residents) get a discount and the opportunity to get tickets a week early,” Anderson said in an email.

Reservations for the turtle walks opened in April; some spots were still available May 2 when The Coastal Star went to press. Reservations for the hatchling releases will begin May 9 for residents of the city and the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, and members of the Coastal Stewards, and on May 16 for all others. Details are online at www.myboca.us/2133/Turtle-Walks-Hatchling-Releases.

The Stewards had said they would announce in early April the new hires for the rehabilitation team. In a separate interview with The Coastal Star the day before the council meeting, Holloway said he had hired a full-time program manager, full-time biologist, part-time volunteer specialist and, contrary to what he told council members, a part-time veterinarian. But he declined to name them, saying the hires were probationary.

“While they’re in that 90-day period of probation and onboarding, we’re going to hold off on that anticipating that once we do get the FWC permit and the turtles are back, we intend to have a kickoff and an introduction of all of those folks,” Holloway said.

While the circumstances are different, it took the Loggerhead Marinelife Center almost five months after it lost its FWC permits in April 2022 to resume treating turtles.

The city owns Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and the surrounding Red Reef Park; tax dollars from the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District cover all salaries, operations and improvements except for the turtle rehab costs that the Coastal Stewards will now pay.

Once home to Addison Mizner’s headquarters, the Addison restaurant and events venue is a shining example of the Mizner design with barrel tile roof, elegant archways held aloft by columns, pecky cypress soffits and tile floors. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton is about to make changes to the ordinance governing downtown development that will loosen the grip that famed architect Addison Mizner has on building designs.

The ordinance, enacted in 1988, was critical to the creation of Mizner Park — which breathed new life into a moribund downtown — and everything that has been built since. But it is outdated, city officials agree, and needs a major overhaul.

A total update of that massive ordinance, however, would be “an extremely time-consuming and difficult exercise,” Deputy City Manager George Brown said at the April 20 Planning and Zoning Board meeting.

So, at the request of Mayor Scott Singer, the city will start with a limited set of changes to the ordinance’s architectural standards that planning board member Joe Panella and several others attending the meeting called a “baby step.”

Some of those changes would give builders leeway to make “more contemporary reinterpretations of the Mizner tradition.”

But they also would be able to forgo the reinterpretations. The city would “encourage” treatments that are “appropriate to the overall architectural character of a building.”

“We are not trying to throw Mizner out,” Brown said, “but we are trying to take the focus away from that specific style of architecture and allow for more flexibility in interpreting the characteristics that his architecture exemplified, which is something we like in our downtown.”

Veneration of Mizner, who died in 1933, runs deep in the city’s blood. He designed its most iconic buildings, including the Cloister at The Boca Raton.

When the downtown development ordinance was created, it required building designers to incorporate elements of his architectural vision, but not literal copies of his work.

The result is that when any new downtown building is proposed, architects take pains to explain how they have done so, even though their designs bear little resemblance to a Mizner building.

Two prominent Boca Raton architects, Juan Caycedo and Derek Vander Ploeg, supported updating the ordinance to give architects more flexibility. Vander Ploeg said some of the proposed changes are long overdue and Caycedo called them a step in the right direction that would open the door to different types of architecture.

Caycedo said that building materials and technology have changed substantially since Mizner’s day, giving architects many more options to create great buildings. He urged the city to make more than the 10 proposed changes.

Caycedo noted a beautiful Chicago building that would not now be allowed in Boca. In seeming frustration, he blurted out, “Who is Mizner anymore?
‘The city is more IBM than Mizner. The city is what IBM and Arvida created. We should be looking forward.”

More suggested changes will be coming, Brown said, describing the 10 as “a start.”

The list includes eliminating the requirements that no more than 40% of building exteriors can be made of glass, that building exteriors must be in light and pastel color and that roofs must be Spanish clay tile or something else that is reminiscent of the Mizner style.

The planning board was poised to vote, but Joe Peterson, a member of the city’s Community Appearance Board that is charged with vetting the architecture and aesthetics of proposed buildings, said the CAB had not been consulted on the proposed changes.

The planning board quickly corrected that oversight. It unanimously voted to recommend that the City Council approve the changes after the CAB provides its input.

The council is expected to consider the matter at the end of May.

A privacy fence was installed around the site of the new fire station as construction began last month. The project means a temporary loss of about 25 parking spaces at Town Hall, and the town is working on solutions for that issue. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach is 12 months away from starting Palm Beach County’s first new fire department in 30 years and now the first visible signs of the town’s break with Delray Beach Fire Rescue are starting to show.

Last month crews began construction on a more than $8 million fire station on what was the parking lot in front of Town Hall.

The new station, which will be home to 24 firefighter paramedics and two chiefs, is targeted to be completed by the time Highland Beach begins providing fire service next May.

The start of construction means a rerouting of vehicles entering Town Hall and the disappearance of about 25 parking spaces.

Until last month, cars entered the Town Hall complex from the north and exited at the south end. With construction taking up the parking area in front of the police station, vehicles are now entering and exiting the town property at the south end.

The town is working to develop possible flex work schedules for some employees to offset challenges that come with the loss of parking spaces, Town Manager Marshall Labadie said.

In addition, events at the library will be moved to evenings when most employees are no longer at the town complex and more spaces are available.

Labadie said the town is also looking at other parking options including nearby private lots.

Once completed, the new station at the south end of the town’s municipal complex will include two stories of living space and a two-bay garage housing a ladder truck and a rescue vehicle. A backup rescue vehicle and a backup fire truck will be housed on town property nearby.

Additional parking spaces will be added back onto town property once partial demolition of the existing fire station is completed. That station, Labadie said, was too small and too old to continue using once the town takes over fire service.

One challenge the town faced in building the new station was increased costs due to inflation and supply chain issues.

Under a contract with Kaufman Lynn Construction, the price tag for the station is not to exceed $8.6 million, which is in excess of $1 million more than the town first anticipated.

Labadie said that the town will be using a portion of about $2 million in federal money to help keep total start-up costs under $10 million, the amount voters approved for the project.

While the fire station is just beginning to come out of the ground, much preparation for this milestone in the town’s public safety evolution has been going strong behind the scenes.

“I think we’re right on track,” said Fire Chief Glenn Joseph. “The next major milestone is recruiting firefighter/paramedics.”

Joseph expects to start that process this month and said several firefighter/paramedics have expressed interest.

“The response has been positive,” he said.

Joseph is also finalizing the hiring of an assistant chief for community risk reduction, who will assess risks and hazards, such as obstacles in a home that could lead to falls, and find solutions. An administrative coordinator is also being hired.

Another focus, Joseph said, is on developing policies and procedures and record-keeping software.

Highland Beach commissioners voted in April 2021 to sever the contract with Delray Beach, believing they could provide improved service at less than the estimated $5 million a year Highland Beach pays to the city.

Barry Donaldson’s winning design. Rendering provided

By Rich Pollack

When Highland Beach commissioners came up with the idea for a welcome sign contest to get residents more involved in the town, they hoped for a strong show of support.

But they were still surprised when they discovered that more than 700 ballots were cast to select a winner from five finalists — only about 150 fewer than were cast in the municipal election just a few weeks earlier.

In all, about 710 votes were submitted, some by email and some in person at a ballot box in Town Hall. And when the votes were counted, the entry by Barry Donaldson — a former commissioner — received the most.

With 394 votes, Donaldson’s conceptual illustration collected more than twice as many as the four other finalists combined, making it a clear winner. The town did not tell voters in advance the identity of the artist behind each entry.

“I was surprised by all the votes that came in and I was surprised by how the winning design won by such a large margin,” said Mayor Natasha Moore, who took the lead in working with town staff on the contest.

The winning design, which includes the town name, its logo and the slogan “Three Miles of Paradise,” will be incorporated into entry signs on State Road A1A at both the north and south ends of Highland Beach.

Donaldson added the slogan in part as a tribute to former Mayor Doug Hillman, who died in March. Hillman frequently referred to the town as “three miles of paradise.”

Both Moore and Town Manager Marshall Labadie viewed the contest as a success toward improving communication with residents.

“It showed how much the community cares,” Moore said. “The contest allowed people to get involved in determining the vibe you sense when you drive into town.”

As a result of the contest, the town added about 400 names to its email list, which it uses to send messages to residents. That list is now about 2,000 names long.

“It was a really good community project,” Labadie said. “It drew people to participate and get involved.”

In all, more than 30 designs were submitted, and town commissioners selected the five finalists. The other four were from Joseph McGranahan, the Maraj family, Mitchell Hersh, and Steve and Ching Satter.

Donaldson said that in creating his entry he wanted to design a sign that fit in well with the town’s aesthetics.

“The idea behind the sign design was to acknowledge the shift to the more modern designs we are seeing in Highland Beach, so the design needed to be responsive to that trend to have relevance in the future,” he said.

He said that each element of the sign was inspired by town colors and its key features.

“The yellow around the logo is expressive of the sun,” he said. “The blue bands represent the water that borders us to the east and west, and the texture on the sign is light and is meant to evoke the sand on the beach, our turtle nesting ground.”

Now that the design has been selected, the town will move forward with transforming it into actual signs.

Labadie said that could take six months to a year because of the permitting and the bidding process for a firm to finalize the design.

City Council members on April 11 unanimously adopted a resolution that denounces and condemns all types of racism and bigotry, including an “alarming” rise in antisemitism.

The resolution was requested by Mayor Scott Singer, who is Jewish. He cited a March report by the Anti-Defamation League that said 3,697 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism targeting Jews were reported to the ADL in 2022, the highest number of antisemitic incidents since the league began tracking them in 1979 and a 36% increase from 2021.

As of last year, more than 1,000 governments across the country, including those of Florida and 29 other states, had passed similar resolutions, he said.

“It was important to lend our voice here, particularly as we see antisemitism coming closer to home,” Singer said. “It is always a great opportunity to decry bigotry and hate.”

Antisemitic flyers have been thrown on driveways in Boca Raton several times in the last year.

Singer’s fellow council members all spoke in favor of the resolution, as did Lisa Beers, president of the American Jewish Committee board of directors.

“Thank you for standing up for antisemitism,” she said.

During a March 31 organizational meeting after Singer, Fran Nachlas and Marc Wigder won council terms without opposition, council members unanimously agreed on how to divvy up responsibilities.

Monica Mayotte was chosen as deputy mayor, replacing Andrea O’Rourke, who was term limited from seeking office again.

Wigder is now chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency and Nachlas is vice chair.

Yvette Drucker and Nachlas are the council’s representatives on the county Transportation Planning Agency and Drucker is the city’s delegate to the Palm Beach County League of Cities. 

— Mary Hladky

The Planning and Zoning Board has recommended the City Council approve plans for a 70-unit residential building at the southwest corner of Palmetto Park Road and A1A. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

After years of negotiations and design changes, a 70-unit luxury residential building with ocean views is headed to the Boca Raton City Council after a crucial city board recommended on April 20 that the council approve the project.

One South Ocean, on 3.5 acres at the intersection of Palmetto Park Road and State Road A1A, was expected to be a condominium. But when nearby residents asked for clarity on that at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting, project attorney Bonnie Miskel said it would be an apartment building.

Speaking later to The Coastal Star, Miskel said plans for the building are not firm, and it could become a condo.

Katie Barr MacDougall, president of the Riviera Civic Association, which includes residents of the Riviera, Por La Mar and Sun & Surf neighborhoods, said her organization does not object to luxury rentals with traditional leases.

Civic association members have long negotiated with landowner Ramon Llorens and architect Jorge Garcia of GarciaStromberg over their objections to the seven-story project.

They welcomed the fact it would replace dilapidated townhomes and an old office building, and praised the project’s design. But they wanted changes that would protect neighbors from noise, and were pleased that Llorens and Garcia were willing to grant many of their requests.

Eliminated from the project were a ground-floor restaurant and bar that would have been used by residents and their guests, and a children’s recreation area.

The only entrance to the property and the main exit will be on A1A, which will reduce traffic on Wavecrest Way. Drivers also will be able to exit by turning right onto Wavecrest Way.

The pool was relocated from the fourth to the seventh floor and will have a bar and small cafe. Two ground-floor lap pools were eliminated and replaced with a fitness terrace and gardens.

With significant landscaping, 53% of the site is green space — far more than the city requires.

Ten-foot-wide sidewalks will be installed along A1A and Palmetto Park Road, and 8-foot-wide sidewalks along Palm Avenue and Wavecrest Way. Power lines will be placed underground, but only on the owner’s property and so will not affect power poles west of the property on Palmetto Park Road.

Four people who live in the Marbella condo on the east side of A1A voiced objections about noise at the planning and zoning meeting.

But Linda Sommer, the property manager of the Meridian condo on the north side of Palmetto Park Road, had a different take.

“We think the changes are awesome,” she said. “Our residents are very excited.”

The Residences of Boca is a 12-story, 190-apartment complex that’s set to rise just west of Federal Highway between Southwest Third and Fifth streets. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

The City Council has unanimously approved a luxury residential project in the downtown, the first large downtown development to get a green light since the Camino Square apartments were approved in 2019.

The 12-story Residences of Boca, located on 2.1 acres just west of Federal Highway between Southeast Third and Fifth streets, will be a 190-unit apartment building.

The property comprises four parcels, three of which are owned by a group of five lawyers that formed DMBK LLC. Three of the lawyers practice with the Dunay, Miskel Backman firm that is well known for its representation of developers. The fourth nearly half-acre parcel is owned by developer Compson Associates.

Two alleys and a portion of Southeast Fourth Street cut through the property. City abandonment of that land, totaling nearly a half-acre, allows the project to span the four parcels.

The developer is Hunter Monsour, vice president of investment and development for West Palm Beach-based Wexford Real Estate Investors.

Name partner Bonnie Miskel said the group decided to sell its land because her law firm, whose offices at 14 SE Fourth St. are on the property, had outgrown its space and needed to move.

Her firm’s offices and other buildings on the property, all built during the 1960s, will be demolished to make way for the new building, which is designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica.

The project was opposed by residents of the nearby Arbors office condominium and by the Boca First blog. Arbors residents complained that they would lose easy access to South Federal Highway, and as a result, their condos would lose value.

Some of them and Boca First also contended that the city would be giving away the abandoned land to a developer.

City officials saw things differently. They noted that the area is dilapidated and in need of redevelopment and said the abandonments would be in the best interest of the city.
Miskel said the developer would spend $1.4 million on upgrading water, sewer and electrical utilities, while also adding sidewalks and a significant amount of landscaping to an area that has virtually none.

Some of the criticism was muted when Miskel proposed a change that would allow the condo owners to keep their access to Federal Highway.

City Council members, sitting as heads of the Community Redevelopment Agency, quickly approved the project on April 24, saying it would improve the area.

“It will make it a nicer and better experience for everyone,” said council member Fran Nachlas.

By Mary Hladky

As concerns about carbon emissions mount and electric vehicles gain in popularity, the Boca Raton City Council has unanimously approved an amended ordinance that increases the number of parking spaces in the city that must be equipped to charge them.

Boca Raton will now require the EV spaces throughout the city, except in single-family neighborhoods. That includes all city-owned buildings.

The city already controls how many regular parking spaces developers must provide, depending on the size of the project. But now, the number of required EV spaces able to charge cars will increase to 5% of the total, up from 2%.

The revised ordinance says that 35% of the parking spaces in new developments must be either capable of charging cars or able to be converted to do so. Of that total, 5% must be capable of charging a car.

City officials noted that it is far more expensive to convert a regular space to one equipped to charge a car than it is to provide at the outset infrastructure that is easily convertible.

Council members had a host of questions when the revised ordinance was first considered in March. City staff offered clarifications at the April 25 meeting, but that didn’t answer all their questions.

Council members considered delaying action, but Deputy Mayor Monica Mayotte, a strong environmentalist, pleaded for the council to act. The revised ordinance, she said, could be further clarified or amended as needed.

“We need to get this done,” she said. “This is not something we can ignore.”

In a memo, City Manager Leif Ahnell said that projections show that by 2030, up to 30% of passenger vehicles will be electric. Major manufacturers have promised large increases in production, with General Motors committing to a 100% electric vehicle fleet by 2035.

Hundreds of watercraft jammed into Lake Boca on April 30 to participate in Boca Bash, the annual alcohol-fueled bacchanal loosely organized on social media.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers arrested 18 people for boating under the influence and five calls were received from people needing medical help, said Mark Economou, public information manager for the Boca Raton Police Services Department.

Lake Boca falls under state jurisdiction, and the city does not sponsor or endorse Boca Bash.

An FWC spokeswoman did not have a crowd size estimate as of May 2, but last year’s event drew between 7,000 and 9,000 people.

Prior to this year’s bash, the FWC warned that its officers and Boca Raton’s would conduct heightened enforcement targeting anyone boating under the influence. Twenty percent of fatal boating accidents are related to alcohol or drug use, the agency said.

The city closed Wildflower Park, partially closed Spanish River Park and allowed no pedestrian access to Silver Palm Park during Boca Bash. The closures at Wildflower and Silver Palm were to avoid crowds gathering to try to hitch rides on boats, Economou said. All three parks serve as staging areas for fire rescue and law enforcement.

— Mary Hladky

A bridge connects the 164-room Mandarin Oriental hotel to the building that will house 85 residences on the left as part of the Via Mizner complex at the northeast corner of Federal and Camino Real. The 366-unit apartment building at right opened in 2016. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

The ultra-luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel and branded residences will open by the end of this year, eight years after Penn-Florida Cos. announced plans for the downtown project.
Both buildings will be completed during the fourth quarter, Penn-Florida Chief Operating Officer David Warne said in late March.

A Mandarin Oriental leadership team that includes a hotel manager and heads of food and beverages and finance is now in place, he said.

The project, which Boca Raton-based Penn-Florida says is valued in excess of $1 billion, rose from the ground slowly, but the pace of construction picked up at the end of last year.

When the hotel and residences were announced in 2015, the company said they would be completed by late 2017. Over time, that date was pushed to 2019, 2020 and 2022.

But Warne does not acknowledge delay, saying that while the COVID-19 pandemic did cause some disruption, completion is only a few months behind schedule.
“It is a large and complex project,” he said. “Nothing slowed it down, really.”

When the three-building project, known as Via Mizner, was announced, the downtown was in the midst of a building boom that stirred the ire of many residents who complained of overdevelopment and unwanted changes in the downtown’s character.

But the 12-story Via Mizner was spared their wrath because many saw a Mandarin Oriental hotel and residences as highly desirable additions to the city.

Relatively few cities can claim that distinction. Mandarin Oriental has 36 hotels worldwide, while nine residences are in operation and 12 are in development.
The project’s first phase was 101 Via Mizner, a 366-unit luxury apartment building at the intersection of Federal Highway and Camino Real. It opened in 2016.
The 164-room hotel is immediately to its north and includes a luxury spa and private Via Mizner City Club. Members will have access to the hotel’s rooftop pools, spa, restaurants and bars.

The 85 residences north of the hotel range in size up to more than 10,000 square feet and feature private elevators, terraces, outdoor kitchens and a skybridge that connects the residences to the hotel.

More than 90% are sold, Warne said. About half of the owners are locals and the rest are from the Northeast and California who flocked to Florida during the pandemic.

“We are very fortunate with in-migration and growth in south Palm Beach County which will benefit our project,” he said. “We think the timing is outstanding.”
The condo owners will have access to all that the hotel provides, including use of concierge, cleaning and valet services. They can get room service or have a chef prepare meals in their units.

The Via Mizner Golf Club, redesigned by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, is about 3 miles west at 6200 Boca Del Mar Drive. It features an 18-hole championship course, driving range, putting green, pro shop and professional instruction, with no tee times required.
Rounding out the project will be 65,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. Penn-Florida aims to create an impressive shopping area that will attract patrons from throughout South Florida.

Warne did not divulge any specifics but said announcements about tenants would be coming later this spring or summer.

“We are talking to luxury brands and high-end retail,” he said. Ú

BOCA RATON — Barbara Ruth Finesmith died on April 20 in Dedham, Massachusetts. She was 91.

A longtime resident of Boca Raton, formerly of Worcester, Massachusetts, and Great Neck, New York, Mrs. Finesmith was the beloved and devoted wife of Max Finesmith for 50 wonderful years before he preceded her in death.

Mrs. Finesmith was the loving mother of Mark and Sandra Mazur and proud grandmother of Ethan Mazur. She was the daughter of the late Eva (Krock) Berg and Louis Berg, sister of the late Burton F. Berg, and sister-in-law of Lois (Rozefsky) Berg and the late Sarah (Mazur) Goldstein.
Born and raised in Worcester, Barbara loved traveling the world. She and Max enjoyed boating on their long-distance trawler, “The Lady Barbara.” She enjoyed painting, art, fashion, cooking and music. Mrs. Finesmith was an excellent cook and particularly loved baking homemade cookies with her grandson Ethan and with many friends’ grandchildren.

Mrs. Finesmith was a gifted artist, had a great sense of style, always looked impeccably dressed and was a true free spirit. She loved to entertain family with funny stories, and had a mischievous sense of humor. But most of all, Mrs. Finesmith loved spending quality time with her beloved family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at Justice Resource Institute, 160 Gould St., Suite 300, Needham, MA 02494.

— Obituary submitted by the family

Echo, the white dog, and Rollo, the standard poodle, wrestle at the Dog Park at Lake Ida West in Delray Beach, but it’s all show. Monica Swift, Echo’s companion, supervises the activity, so it doesn’t get too rough. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Companion, confidante, comforter, comedian. Your dog gives everything to you. Want to pay him or her back?
Here’s what Brienne, my 2-year-old rescue dog, and I have planned this month to strengthen our relationship and fulfill my dog’s needs:

1. Visit a dog park
Dogs are social animals: They want friends, and they need socialization. Since she was 4 months old, Brienne, a 90-pound Belgian Malinois-boxer mix, has romped and wrestled with dogs at the Dog Park at Lake Ida West.
The tree-filled park has areas for small dogs (under 30 pounds) and large dogs (over 30 pounds), and the diversity of the dogs and the people makes the experience like going to a different dog show every time.
In the morning, the park is quiet and the air is fresh, clean and bright. In the evening, a cooling breeze blows in off the lake, and folks, weary from a long day, rest on benches and watch the sun set and the dogs play.
Not a fan of dog parks? Try doggie day care or set up a doggie playdate with a friend or neighbor.

Leashes hang on the fence at an off-leash park.

2. Enjoy a dog beach
If you’re not fortunate enough to have access to a private stretch of beach, the only public beach that currently (and legally) allows dogs in South County is Bark Beach at Boca Raton’s Spanish River Park, between lifeguard towers 18 and 20. The swath of beach and the park’s hours are limited: 7-9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sunset during Daylight Saving Time. Dog owners also need permits. Annual fees range from $35 (residents) to $210 (nonresidents). Weekend passes are available for $15.
In the fall and winter, Boynton Beach opens Oceanfront Park (6415 N. Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge) to pups one Saturday morning each month. It usually starts in September and continues through January. Check www.boynton-beach.org and look for the calendar page under “Government.”
In northern Palm Beach County, Jupiter Dog Beach is 2.5 miles of off-leash dog heaven. It is the only free seven-days-a-week dog beach in the Palm Beaches. Jupiter Beach opened to dogs in 1989 and it’s been successful because it’s supported by the Friends of Jupiter Beach, a well-oiled machine when it comes to taking care of the beach.
Another beach option is Peanut Island, located in the Intracoastal Waterway in Riviera Beach, accessible by boat or shuttle. This dog-friendly haven requires a little planning because services are limited, although it has plenty of dog waste stations. The shuttle leaves from Riviera Beach Marina (adults pay $18; $9 for ages 9 and younger and Fido rides for free). Parking at the marina (200 E. 13th St.) is free.
The rules are the same as they are at all county parks where dogs are allowed; all dogs must be on a 6-foot leash. But reviews on Yelp and Bring Fido say things are pretty relaxed and they’ll likely stay that way until someone abuses the rules.

3. Teach new skills
“Learning a new trick can be more tiring than a long walk,” says Babette Haggerty, a second-generation dog trainer who lives and does private training in Boca Raton. (Her father was the renowned trainer Capt. Arthur Haggerty, who served as captain of the Army’s K-9 Corps on three combat tours.)
Even practicing a simple skill like how to wait builds impulse- and self-control in your dog, Haggerty says. And a trained dog is a confident dog. Getting your dog to come when he’s called, to sit and stay and to properly walk on a leash could save your dog’s life and save you or someone else from injury.

Brienne, Janis Fontaine’s 2-year-old rescue Malinois-boxer mix, loves to walk at the Dog Park at Lake Ida West in Delray Beach. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

4. Take a dog hike
There’s a difference between a walk and hike. When you’re walking your dog, he should be at a heel, walking beside you, waiting attentively for your next command. Walking is about traveling, and it reinforces your relationship and builds positive behaviors.
On a hike, let the dog’s primitive brain take over. Let him smell every bush, chase down that squirrel, pick up a stick, investigate the bird in that bush. A dog’s nose is as important a source of information to him as our eyes are to us. Letting him bask in new odors is like taking us to an action movie. And spending time in nature is good for you and your dog.

Dianna Scotto, owner of Scoopy Doo’s, prepares a bowl of ice cream for Scarlett, a black lab mix.

5. Enjoy a dog date
Doggie dining has become commonplace in eateries, but taking your dog to a restaurant isn’t about the dog.
Scoopy Doo’s on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach is all about the dog.
The store sells dog-friendly treats and other accessories, and it’s just fun to visit. Brightly colored, airy and clean, Scoopy Doo’s opened last October and has become the go-to for homemade pet-safe treats and, yes, dog ice cream.
“We wanted a mom-and-pop pet shop feel,” said Dianna Scotto, 56, who owns Scoopy Doo’s with her son, Kyle, 30. She’s a former police sergeant who retired to South Florida permanently a few years ago. Kyle is an e-commerce whiz who keeps online sales clicking.
“We came down eight years ago on vacation and the third week we bought a condo,” Scotto said.
When you enter Scoopy Doo’s, you and your dog will be greeted at the door by mother or son. Dianna or Kyle will walk you through the ice cream-tasting process and ask questions about your dog’s health, dietary restrictions, food sensitivities and illnesses.
“If your dog has diabetes or pancreatitis, we’ll know which treats are OK for them to have,” Dianna Scotto said.
You’ll be offered samples — really, your dog will with your permission — to see what flavors he prefers. The store has a wide variety of nature treats, including softer treats especially for dogs with bad teeth, a common problem with small breeds and older dogs. Knowing the nutritional value of its products is job one at Scoopy Doo’s.
“It’s not a people store,” Scotto said, “it’s a dog store.”
Though the store does cater to canines, cat treats and accessories are available, too. The team makes many of the treats on-site using natural ingredients, fruits and vegetables and organ meats as the main ingredients.
Got a birthday coming? Celebrate your dog’s birthday at the store or pick up party supplies to host a party at home. Scoopy Doo’s has more than 40 custom cakes, or pick up a premade cake you can freeze for up to six months. Ice cream comes already made in pints or in powder form to mix and freeze at home.
Now Scoopy Doo’s is adding grooming to its services. The store also hosts special events like dog adoptions for local rescues. “It’s all good,” Scotto laughs.
“But we’re not a store. We’re an experience.”
Scoopy Doo’s, 507 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-265-5362 or scoopydoosdelraybeach.com. 

Having fresh drinking water is more rewarding to a dog than all the hugs and kisses in the world. Want to make friends with a dog? Offer that pup a drink.

Places to take your dog

Off-leash dog parks
Canine Cove at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 12551 Glades Road, Boca Raton.
Dog Park at Lake Ida West, 1455 Lake Ida Road, just east of Congress Avenue and the I-95 overpass, Delray Beach.
Lake Woof at John Prince Park, 2700 Sixth Ave. S., Lake Worth Beach.

Municipal dog parks
Mizner Bark Dog Park — 751 Banyan Trail, Boca Raton. Small-, medium- and large-dog sections. A permit is required, but it’s free for residents, $355 annually for nonresidents, or $30 a month for nonresidents.
The Crowder Dog Park — 800 Renaissance Commons Blvd., Boynton Beach. Large-, small-dog sections. Dogs allowed off leash in designated areas. Free.
Maddock Park — 1200 W. Drew St., Lantana. Large-, small-dog sections. Dogs must be vaccinated and display current licenses. Any dogs that show the first sign of aggression must be immediately removed from the park. Free.

Dog beaches
Bark Beach at Spanish River Park — 3001 N. A1A, Boca Raton. Fee for residents is $35 per dog for a one-year permit (Oct. 1-Sept. 30). Nonresidents pay $210 per dog for an annual pass. Weekend passes are available for $15. Fees do not include beach parking. For that you’ll need a beach permit ($75/year for residents; $35/day others) or take your chances with metered parking on Spanish River Boulevard.
Jupiter Dog Beach — 2188 Marcinski Road, just north of Ocean Cay Park. Since dogs are not required to be on-leash here, only non-aggressive dogs that respond to voice commands from their owners are allowed. Free. Info: friendsofjupiterbeach.org.

Dogs like gardens, too
Mounts Botanical Garden (531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach) is dog friendly 9 a.m.-4 p.m. the second Sunday of the month, or 9-3 out of season. Admission for your dog is free with garden admission ($15 nonmember adults; $12 age 65+, college students, and military with ID; $7 ages 6-17, free for ages 5 and younger). No retractable leashes. One dog per person. Bring water and treats. The next dogs day is May 14. www.mounts.org/dogs-day.

Columnist Janis Fontaine usually writes about religion. This month she wanted to share her pet story.

Vehicles lined up to enter Spanish River Park in Boca Raton to welcome the 14th Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities, the largest event of its kind for children and adults with special needs.
After a pandemic-induced absence from Spanish River Park, the bash’s return there was greeted warmly by thousands of returning families, vendors, partners, boat captains, costumed characters, performers and volunteers.
“This bash was never just for Jay or for me; it was and continues to be for everyone,” said Lowell Van Vechten, whose late husband, Jay, founded the daylong affair. “It’s an event about acceptance and inclusion and love.”
Presented by the American Disabilities Foundation, the March bash welcomed back Kechi Okwuchi, an African-American singer, motivational speaker and now author, as well as Kellye Cash, who served as the honorary mistress of ceremonies.
For more information, call 561-715-2622 or visit www.boatingbeachbash.com.

Impact 100 members select grant recipients
Members and guests of Impact 100 Palm Beach County gathered for the 12th annual Grand Awards Celebration chaired by Sarah Doyle and Renee Feder.
Eight $100,000 grants were awarded after the nonprofit finalists gave presentations and votes were counted.
“This also takes our chapter’s cumulative giving to over $6 million, including almost $500,000 in merit grant awards,” President Kelly Fleming said. “We have much to celebrate.”
The 2022-23 recipients are:
• 4KIDS Palm Beach
• Arms of Hope Community
• Digital Vibez
• Habilitation Center for the Handicapped
• Interfaith Committee for Social Services
• Morningday Community Solutions
• PROPEL
• Tomorrow’s Rainbow
“Together we empower local nonprofits to make changes that will strengthen every corner of our community and touch countless lives for generations to come,” Fleming said.
For more information, call 561-336-4623 or visit www.impact100pbc.org

Diaper Bank receives record-setting donations
The Boca West Children’s Foundation collected more than 250,000 diapers during its eighth annual drive for the Diaper Bank, part of the Junior League of Boca Raton.
The total set a record. By comparison, 180,000 diapers were donated in 2022, an increase over 2021’s 100,000 diapers.
“The diaper drive was an absolute triumph,” said Pamela Weinroth, the foundation’s executive director. “Our tall task was even more challenging because the price of diapers has soared since last year, and yet diapers continue to pour in.”
The Diaper Bank distributed the donations to nonprofits that care for infants and toddlers. The foundation has supported the Diaper Bank since 2016.
“In order for parents to work, they need to provide enough diapers each day in order for their children to attend day-care,” said Richard Zenker, the foundation’s board chairman. “Not only does the diaper drive help keep children healthy, it helps keep our economy going by making it easier for parents to work.”
For more information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.bocawestfoundation.org.

Familiar faces return to Hanley Foundation
A former Hanley Foundation CEO who served from 2010 to 2014 took the helm again in March. Rachel Docekal oversees board and donor relations while creating strategies to support programs and initiatives that help people battling addictions.
“Rachel brings a rare combination of business sense, creativity and the vision of seeing beyond the present to the possible,” said Chip James, board chairman. “She will determine where Hanley Foundation needs to be and how to get there to help us achieve our goals.”
Jan Cairnes, the previous CEO, is taking on a new role as national director of public policy. Cairnes will expand upon advocacy work nationwide, focusing on combating the stigma around substance abuse.
For more information, call 561-268-2355 or visit www.hanleyfoundation.org.

Rick Rodriguez (l-r), Barbara Stark and Mychael Mapp are preparing for the Motown-themed celebration to raise money for the Milagro Center children’s programs. Photo
provided

By Amy Woods

In planning its spring fundraiser, the Milagro Center opts for fun instead of formal, grace instead of glamour, and stylish instead of stuffy.
The Heart & Soul Celebration taking place May 13 in Boca Raton will roll out a Motown theme with a clever call to action: “Be the heart that transforms the souls.”
“This is going to be fun,” president and CEO Barbara Stark said. “It reflects who we are. Our organization is all about nurturing and feedback and arts and music. Our centers are filled with happiness and laughter, and the kids love being there. It is such a positive place, and that’s how we want our fundraisers to be.”
With live music from the Memory Lane Band setting the tone, the event will include an open bar, a full dinner and lots of dancing.
Attire is “Saturday night chic.”
“This is more like a party,” Stark said. “We’ll have a full house. People will have to respond quickly.”
The celebration will open with a cocktail hour featuring karaoke and a silent auction. The program will follow — a welcome, a video presentation and a live auction.
“The rest of the evening is all enjoyment,” Stark said. “This is going to be an awesome get-up-and-dance night.”
The celebration will have about 170 guests and is expected to raise between $80,000 and $90,000 to boost the Delray Beach center’s academic, cultural arts, mentoring, after-school and summer camp programs.
“There will be plenty of opportunities for attendees to make miracles that evening while having a funky good time,” Stark said.

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

Thanks to a packed house and generous supporters, the 32nd annual fundraiser benefiting the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County brought in more than $250,000. Nearly 600 attendees turned out to hear bestselling author Paula McLain, best known for the novels ‘The Paris Wife,’ ‘Circling the Sun’ and ‘Love and Ruin,’ give the keynote speech. ABOVE: (l-r): Mary Windle, Caron Dockerty, McLain, Brenda Medore, Casey Syring and Patti McKenna. Photo provided