As the city adds events to bolster its centennial year celebration, Boca Raton City Council members approved spending up to $1.25 million to bring in a headliner and possibly supporting musical artists for a May 24 centennial concert.

The city has hired live entertainment promoter AEG Presents to book artists and handle ticketing and production services for the concert at the Mizner Park Amphitheater.

Mayor Scott Singer garnered council members’ support when he proposed a concert with “nationally known artists” during an October council discussion about centennial events, with Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker saying the city should “showcase paradise.”

Concert specifics are still being worked on, and ticket prices have not yet been set. 

— Mary Hladky

City is sued in Little League Park dispute — Boynton Beach may have made peace last year with the East Boynton Beach Little League over operations at the city’s Little League Park, but another party in the long-running saga over facility improvements there isn’t ready to bury the hatchet.

Primetime Sports Group, which is run by Phil Terrano and which once had a contract to construct a training facility at the park, filed suit Jan. 31 against the city. Primetime claims the city breached its contract in numerous ways, including by negotiating with one of Primetime’s subtenants, Mike Barwis, to take over the project despite Primetime’s contract.

The city ended its contract with Primetime in February 2024, saying a financial consultant determined Primetime “has not demonstrated the ability to procure the funds needed for the construction of this facility.”

The suit contends Primetime had the ability, but that the city kept changing the size and scope of the project. This prevented the company “from finalizing the plans and specifications in order to obtain approvals and permits and secure financing,” the suit said.

— Larry Barszewski

Adam Hasner, an executive at private prison company The GEO Group and a former majority leader of the Florida House, became the eighth president of Florida Atlantic University in February.

“Florida Atlantic University is a shining example of what a modern university can achieve — academic excellence, cutting-edge research, student access and success, all while maintaining a strong connection to the communities it serves,” said Hasner, who has a law degree from Florida State University.

As a Republican state representative from 2002 to 2010 representing southern Palm Beach County and northern Broward County, Hasner was chosen to be majority leader by then-House Speaker and now U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He counts among his legislative accomplishments leading the efforts to secure funding to establish FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and securing $43 million for the university’s current College of Engineering building.

Hasner will make a base salary of $875,000 with performance bonuses up to $150,000. He succeeds John Kelly, who announced his resignation in 2022, and Stacy Volnick, who served as interim president.

Hasner and his wife, Jillian, who is executive director of a nonprofit, live in Boca Raton.

— Steve Plunkett

Resort downsizes its expansion plans — The Boca Raton wants to build an eight-story building that would contain 60 condo units on the resort site, according to a proposal submitted to the city. The project would include an underground parking garage.

The single-building project appears to be a change in plans since last year, when the resort’s owners proposed two eight-story buildings with a total of 80 units and a five-story parking garage.

The latest proposal calls for a 100-foot building, which would exceed the current 85-foot limit. The Boca Raton plans to seek an amendment that would allow the taller structure. 

Currently, The Tower, one of the hotels in the resort, is over 130 feet tall.

The Boca Raton is owned by MSD Partners, the investment arm of Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell, and merchant bank BDT & Co. MSD and BDT merged in 2023. MSD Partners bought the resort in 2019 for $875 million from Blackstone.

Camino Square wants 400 more residential units, not retail — The Camino Square project was first proposed as being developed in two phases, one with two eight-story apartment buildings and the second with retail. Now, Kimco Corp., the owner of 9 acres at 171 W. Camino Real, wants to swap out retail for more residential on the site that once was a retail center anchored by a Winn-Dixie grocery store.

The completed first phase on the eastern portion of the site, approved by the City Council in 2019, has 350 apartments and two parking garages. The second phase was slated to have nearly 38,000 square feet of retail. But in an application to the city filed by land use attorney Ele Zachariades with the Miskel Backman law firm in late 2024, Kimco is seeking to build 400 residential units in two eight-story buildings and a parking garage.

The Camino Square project was controversial when first proposed. While residents wanted to see redevelopment of the derelict shopping center where Winn-Dixie closed in 2010, they opposed plans by the developer FCI Residential Corp., an arm of sugar producer Florida Crystals.

Their chief concern was that the project would add traffic to roads in the area.

— Mary Hladky

Moratorium on some Atlantic Avenue development — There is little disagreement among stakeholders and elected leaders the time is now to preserve — as Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney calls it — the charm, the feel, the scale of downtown Atlantic Avenue. It’s how to do it that is up for debate.

While Vice Mayor Juli Casale and Commissioner Tom Markert campaigned on supporting a downtown historic district, Carney has gone his own way. He added a resolution at the last minute to the Feb. 18 commission meeting agenda to implement a zoning in progress status for the avenue, which would stop any aggregation of properties east of Swinton Avenue and would prohibit any facade or architectural changes while the city crafts new zoning rules for commissioners to consider.

Casale and Markert objected, saying they wanted to read the resolution and vote on it at a later time, but Carney had support from Commissioners Angela Burns and Rob Long.

“This is a time-out, and all it does is, essentially, it’s going to protect the direction of the commission, and for a period of six months, we are able to extend it if we’re still actively working on these ordinances,” explained City Attorney Lynn Gelin.

The resolution unanimously passed after Gelin said time was of the essence in case a property owner wanted to try to knit together multiple properties or make facade changes before the city adopts stricter standards.

Carney, outside the meeting, said his main concerns were big-box stores buying up properties and turning what makes downtown Delray Beach unique into another shopping mall.

Carney said it is to be determined whether aggregation of properties along the six blocks could be prohibited or if there could be a requirement that each parcel must have a different facade. “It’s going to be done through discussion with stakeholders, discussion with staff and discussion with commissioners,” he said.

Supervisor in code enforcement resigns — A Delray Beach supervisor in the city’s troubled Code Enforcement Division resigned the same day a commissioner demanded an outside investigator get to the bottom of how she had resolved three liens on a property she owned.

Danise Cleckley, the assistant neighborhood and community services director, resigned on Feb. 4 after allegations surfaced that she should not have resolved the liens without alerting the city that she owned the property at 624 SW Fourth St.

An internal Human Resources investigation by Paul Weber said the liens were a result of a clerical error by the Palm Beach County clerk of courts. City Attorney Gelin, in an email to Weber, said the question remained whether policies and procedures were followed.

Cleckley also faced a 2021 lawsuit claiming the home on Fourth Street was deeded to her by an owner who could not read or write.

Vice Mayor Juli Casale at the Feb. 4 commission meeting questioned the independent investigator with Calvin, Giordano & Associates who was giving an update on his findings. 

Casale said his preliminary report was woefully inadequate.

Casale told the investigator he needed to look into Cleckley’s actions, among other problems that have surfaced in the division since an employee was arrested for allegedly taking bribes in October. No formal charges have been brought by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. 

— John Pacenti

By Brian Biggane

CPZ Architects Vice President Joe Barry presented the firm’s initial set of conceptual drawings for the new Town Hall to the South Palm Beach Town Council at its February meeting, with options of both a two-story and three-story building.

“The object today,” Barry told the council, “is to leave here with a consensus on a direction to further develop the design, get into the architecture, the aesthetic of the building, and then move the design forward.”

His presentation triggered a 45-minute discussion regarding the position of the building, the cost, and how all the wants and needs of the community can be addressed not only for the present but for the next 15 to 20 years or more.

The cost of the project amounts to about $6 million for the two-story building and $7 million for three stories. Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the funds are available, but if the town decided to opt for low-interest loans, those could be obtained through the Florida League of Cities or through a federal grant, though there could be strings attached to the latter.

Both designs featured ground-level parking that, along with the offices of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, comprise the first floor. The plan is to both raise the building above any potential flooding as well as complement the 17 existing parking spots behind the current building.

The square footage of the two concepts is similar, totaling 10,800 square feet in the two-story structure and 12,500 square feet over three stories. Barry said his firm has calculated the cost of about $550 per square foot, thus the $1 million discrepancy between the two concepts.

Following Vice Mayor Monte Berendes’ lead, most of the council members voiced support for the two-story concept. Sandy Beckett said she would much prefer that option as long as it would address all the needs of the community.

Barry said the second story of the two-story structure would be extremely flexible, with movable partitions creating rooms small enough for one-on-one meetings — or large enough to accommodate crowds of 100 or more — in addition to housing administrative offices.

Other spaces would be set aside for a small cafeteria, exercise room and terraces overlooking both the Intracoastal Waterway and State Road A1A.

The first story of the three-story plan would be almost identical, with the second reserved for town offices and meeting rooms and the third designated for the suggested public spaces.

Several of the dozen or more residents in attendance offered ideas for the next revision. Notable among them was Ellen Saith, who serves as chair of the Community Action Activities Board.

Saith pointed out that the technology the town has been using, such as collapsible screens to show movies, needs to be updated. Barry called her suggestions “great ideas” and said the latest technology would be featured.

When Barry mentioned that the plans called for some permanent seating in areas such as the council chamber, Saith responded quickly. “No, no, no, don’t think about it,” she said. “It’s going to be a waste of space. We need to convert space.”

Despite her objections, that matter remains open to debate.

After Barry said his plan was to move the building closer to A1A and a bit more south, as the footprint would be larger than the current building’s, there was more pushback and nothing was resolved.

Barry said another issue that needs to be addressed is an environmental assessment of the large fuel tank behind the building and what, if anything, needs to be done about it.

All parties involved reiterated the plan to present another set of amended drawings to a meeting of town residents sometime in March, but not before the next council meeting on March 11.

Trash contract extension appears likely — The South Palm Beach Town Council received an amended proposal to extend its 10-year agreement with Waste Management for trash pickup and appeared likely to pass it when it is formally presented by Town Attorney Ben Saver at the March council meeting.

One significant change is the agreement is for five years instead of 10, allowing the council to review it after the new Town Hall is completed. The company promises to haul away the debris from the demolition of the current Town Hall, which is expected to occur in late 2025 or early 2026.

Waste Management also offers to assist in two holiday events conducted by the town, such as Memorial Day and Fourth of July, and will contribute $5,000 annually to town functions as part of the deal.

Vice Mayor Monte Berendes and Council members Ray McMillan and Sandy Beckett all commended the company for improving its service to the community over the previous month.

Lift station plans advance — Town Manager Jamie Titcomb reported that the town had still received only two sealed bids for a new lift station and encouraged the council to move forward despite not having the three bids required by law. The council instructed Titcomb to invite the two firms to make proposals at an upcoming meeting.

Saver then suggested the council consider issuing a request for qualifications to attract engineering companies interested in being on call for future projects, along the lines of what is in place when emergency repairs are needed for the current lift station.

Height limit west of A1A criticized — Berendes said the rule that buildings on the west side of State Road A1A cannot be more than 60 feet tall needs to be changed, as no developer would undertake a project with that limitation. Berendes said a referendum should be on the ballot for the March 2026 election, which is the next time it can be addressed.

Titcomb contract extension encouraged — Berendes also noted that Titcomb’s two-year term as town manager is expiring and instructed Titcomb and Saver to meet regarding terms of an extension. Berendes and Mayor Bonnie Fischer both made clear they have been pleased with Titcomb’s performance.

— Brian Biggane

Ed Mileto and Jayson Koss have opened an office of Eightfold Ventures, their consultancy, off Federal Highway just north of George Bush Boulevard. Photo provided 

By Christine Davis

South County residents Jayson Koss and Ed Mileto created their company Eightfold Ventures, a consultancy/venture capital fund, with a portfolio limited to eight active specialty-brand companies, in 2023. Recently, the two opened an office at 709 Bond Way, Delray Beach.

Along with investing capital, Koss, 39, of Delray Beach and Mileto, 37, of Boynton Beach offer these companies step-by-step plans and advice based on the two’s entrepreneurial experiences. Starting his company Delivery Dudes by making deliveries on his moped in 2009, Koss grew it to operate in more than 40 cities, making thousands of deliveries each month.

He sold his company to Waitr Holdings in 2021. 

“Ed and I both had highly successful exits: Ed with Perfect Practice Golf and me with Delivery Dudes,” Koss said. “We’d done something exceptional and wanted to keep that going, but we didn’t just want to go the traditional VC [venture capital] route. We wanted to install our proven system into businesses primed for big growth.” 

Mileto, cofounder of Perfect Practice Golf, sold his e-commerce business in 2021 to a private equity-backed company. After selling only 25 Perfect Practice mats at the PGA show in 2019, he sold 10,000 at that same show a year later. 

“Jayson and I believe that good business is about more than money. It’s about creating and sustaining a brand that fills a real need in the marketplace, something that people really gravitate toward,” Mileto said. “We want our companies to achieve a successful outcome, sure, but we also want them to enjoy the trek getting there.” 

Of the eight companies that Eightfold Ventures works with, two are based in Delray Beach: DadFuel, a men’s nutrition supplement company, and NBT, a clothing line made for motorcycle riding enthusiasts. Eightfold Ventures helped launch DadFuel from its initial stages, and the brand has enjoyed success, with inventory selling out multiple times. NBT was brought on board a year after it launched and has grown its revenue sevenfold since adopting Eightfold’s strategies.

***
 

A trust in the name of David A. Frecka bought “Villa Oceano Azul” at 1400 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, for $49.12 million from Ramalinga “Rama” Raju Mantena and his wife, Padmaja, in February.

On a 1.84-acre lot with 200 feet on the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, the seven-bedroom, 16,174-square-foot home features a 50-foot dock with a boat lift, a six-car garage, putting green, two pools, summer kitchen, bar, office, fitness room, wine cellar and a movie screening room.

Mark Griffin of One Sotheby’s International Realty was the listing broker. Catherine McGlennon of Engel & Völkers represented the buyer. The home last traded for $48.37 million in January 2023.

Frecka is the founder and former CEO of Next Generation Films, which made plastic packaging. After a $1.07 billion merger in 2019, he retired from the company. He then founded Triple F Collection, a high-end performance vehicle business, with his sons, Jason and Jordan.

Rama Mantena is the founder and chairman of Integra Connect, a West Palm Beach-based health care services company. Previously, he founded and led P4 Healthcare and Icore Healthcare. Cardinal Health acquired P4 Healthcare in 2010, while Magellan Health Services purchased Icore Healthcare in 2006.

***

The Balinese-inspired estate at 1370 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, owned by Christopher C. Rokos, a British hedge-fund manager, was recently listed for sale for $150 million, furnished. Sited on 2.83 acres with 300 feet on the ocean and Intracoastal, the nine-bedroom, 34,498-square-foot compound has a movie room, library, game rooms, wine room, office and several flex spaces. Rokos bought the property in 2017 for $40 million. The property is listed by William Raveis South Florida agent Jack Elkins.

***

An estate on 2 acres  fronting 160 feet on the ocean and Intracoastal at 1160 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, has come onto the market for $87 million.

With eight bedrooms and 27,745 square feet of living space, the estate includes a main house, guest house, cabana and gatehouse. It has two swimming pools, a 13-car garage and a dock with two boat lifts. 

Bought in 2021 for $28 million by a land trust managed by City National Bank of Florida, the estate is completely rebuilt on the same footprint by Siobhan Zerilla, principal of Bluedoor Building.

It’s listed by Corcoran Group agents Candace Friis and Phil Friis.

***

Boca Raton Airport was named a recipient of a General Aviation Safety Award presented by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The award, made on Feb. 4, recognizes the Boca Raton Airport Authority’s commitment to safety practices and innovations in 2023.

“Our team has always put safety first and it’s gratifying to see the FAA recognize our efforts,” said Clara Bennett, the Airport Authority’s executive director.

Keys to the airport’s receiving the honor were its prioritization of safety in all aspects of the operation and 100% participation in its safety management system — a set of policies, procedures and practices that help manage safety risks.

Criteria for the General Aviation Safety Award are based on the development or implementation of a specific program or activity, or other special and unique accomplishments, involving the operation of an airport that resulted in enhanced safety, according to the FAA.

***

The Ark Dog Services celebrated the opening of its new location at 1406 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, with a “yappy hour” in January.

In 2019, The Ark provided a grooming service and operated out of a garage. In 2022, the company expanded to operate out of two garages and added day care and boarding services. 

***

The Boynton Beach Online Chamber of Commerce appointed Maria Rowley as its chief operating officer. Rowley is a personal stylist for J.Hilburn, a company that specializes in men’s custom clothing.

Christine D. Roberts-Kelly, founder and CEO of Intention Enterprises, was appointed executive vice president. Patti Ann Leonaggeo, a licensed insurance agent representing Aflac and owner of Leonaggeo Benefits Inc., was appointed chair of the Chamber’s Ambassadors. 

***

Joseph Colon was named concierge for El-Ad National Properties’ Alina Residences Phase Two in Boca Raton. Previously, he served as hotel concierge at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan. Ahmed Abbas was named assistant property manager for Alina 220. Previously, he was an operational manager for Harbour Investment Co. Ltd. in Dubai.

***

Joann Fabric and Crafts, which has 850 locations across 49 states, will be closing all of its stores in coming weeks, including the one at 1632 S. Federal Highway in Boynton Beach.

A spokesperson from the Boynton location said the store is expected to close at the end of March or when inventory is sold.

The company, headquartered in Ohio, has been the nation’s leader in sewing and fabrics with one of the largest arts and crafts collections. Joann filed for bankruptcy a second time in less than a year in January after first filing in March 2024.

The company initially said only about 500 of its stores would close as a result of a comprehensive sale process and auction, but the “winning bidders plan to begin winding down the Company’s operations and conduct going-out-of-business sales at all store locations,” Joann said in a Feb. 23 statement.

***

The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s “Cookies for the Military” program invites the community to donate boxes or cases of Girl Scout cookies that will be sent to service members stationed in the U.S. or overseas.

 Last year, nearly 58,000 boxes were donated, and this year’s goal is to donate 75,000 cookie boxes.  

The community can contribute by purchasing a box at $6 or a case for $72 through any local Girl Scout or by visiting www.cookiesforthemilitary.org.

Contributions also support the efforts of the Girl Scouts to foster financial literacy and leadership skills, including budgeting, customer service and goal-setting.

***

During 2024, 26 members of the Delray Business Partners, one of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s leads groups, generated more than $320,738 of gross sales by doing business with one another and by referring their colleagues to other potential clients.

For information on Delray Business Partners, visit delraybusinesspartners.com.

Rich Pollack contributed to this column.

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

 Whatever its official name, this century-old passage
has a sea of personal stories to tell

1925: When the bridge over the Boynton Inlet was first under construction, it included arches on either side of State Road A1A. The arches were eliminated when the bridge was replaced decades later. Then as now, the man-made channel's official name was the South Lake Worth Inlet. Photo provided by Boynton Beach City Library Local History Archives

By Ron Hayes

We regret to inform you that the Boynton Inlet is not the Boynton Inlet.

Officially, it’s the “South Lake Worth Inlet,” a noble title that, alas, gets very little respect.

This 130-foot-wide, man-made channel between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon is bordered on the north by the town of Manalapan, but do we fish at the Manalapan Inlet?

We do not.

It is bordered on the south by the town of Ocean Ridge, but do we picnic at the Ocean Ridge Inlet?

No.

2025: The Sea Mist III has been using the inlet for decades to take out drift boat anglers. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

We fish and picnic at the Boynton Inlet.

Janet Naughton is a professor of U.S. history at Palm Beach State College and the author of a dozen books about Palm Beach County history. But for her January appearance before a full house at the Boynton Beach City Library’s Brown Bag Lecture Series, even she titled her slide show, “History of the South Lake Worth (Boynton) Inlet.”

“They could both be right,” Naughton says. “The inlet is halfway between Lantana and Boynton Beach, and directly across from the Boynton Beach boat ramp.”

Just when and how the official “South Lake Worth Inlet” became popularized as simply the Boynton Inlet is anyone’s guess. In the 1920s, newspaper accounts of the inlet’s dredging and bridge construction are consistent. It’s the South Lake Worth Inlet.

 But by the early 1960s, charter boat fleets were advertising themselves as at “Boynton Inlet.” Somewhere along the way, the voice of the people took control. And let’s face it, “Boynton Inlet” is a lot quicker and easier to say.

 Either way, as Naughton made clear in her Brown Bag lecture and a longer chat later, the South Lake Worth (Boynton) Inlet is a picnic of social, economic, environmental, legal and recreational history.

•

So, where’s the North Lake Worth Inlet, you ask?

That’s the inlet with Palm Beach to the south, Palm Beach Shores to the north, and Peanut Island straight ahead.

Officially, it’s the “Lake Worth Inlet,” so naturally everyone calls it the Palm Beach Inlet.

Created in 1866, that inlet merged the Atlantic Ocean’s salt water with the freshwater Lake Worth, and by 1913 the waters were brackish from both the ocean and growing development around the lake.

Gee, people said, maybe we should have another inlet at the south end of the lake to let that polluted water out.

But the bridge came first.

•

The South Lake Worth Inlet was still being dug when the bridge that would carry motorists over it opened on Sept. 2, 1926.

“New South Lake Worth Span Opens Tomorrow

“This beautiful bridge, which is of the rainbow arch type, is entirely of concrete with a wide roadway flanked on either side by walkways for pedestrians.”  — The Palm Beach Post

•

The inlet arrived a year later, on Wednesday, March 16, 1927.  

“Waters Of Atlantic And Lake Worth Mingle At South Inlet:

“Waters from the Atlantic Ocean glided in from a tiny cut, shoveled in the sand, and mingled with the waters of  Lake Worth for the first time at this point.

“Dozens of spectators lined the bridge and at 11:18 p.m. the waters ‘glided’ in from the Atlantic and ‘mingled with the waters of Lake Worth.’ Dozens watched from the bridge in the glare of large searchlights.”

— The Palm Beach Post

•

And then came the lawsuit.

Col. Robert R. McCormick, owner of The Chicago Tribune, was a staunch conservative who compared FDR’s New Deal to communism and opposed America’s entry into World War II.

He was also a very rich man.

On Thursday, Oct. 30, 1930, McCormick paid $650,000 cash for a 4,916-foot stretch of ocean-to-lake property, with the northern boundary just 780 feet south of the South Lake Worth Inlet. It was the largest real estate deal in Palm Beach County at the time.

Five years later, in June 1935, he sued in an attempt to shut down the inlet.

The southward drift of the ocean was causing sand to accumulate along the inlet’s north jetty and causing erosion by McCormick’s property.

He sued in federal court in Miami asking that the inlet be closed and the jetties removed.

He did not succeed, but two years later, a sand transfer plant — the first anywhere —was installed by the north jetty to pump sand beyond the inlet to the south.

The first sand transfer plant in the country was installed in 1937 at the inlet to keep up the flow of sand along the beach. Photo provided 

•

In January 1941, a beach club with an almost world-famous name opened just south of the inlet.

No, not that Mar-a-Lago.

This was the one without an “A.”

The Mar Lago Beach Club was built by Leon A. Robbins, an Ohio native who arrived in Ocean Ridge in 1926.

In 1946, he was elected mayor of Ocean Ridge and served for five years. The Mar Lago was torn down in 1974 to make way for the county’s Ocean Inlet Park.

The Mar Lago Beach Club stood for a few decades before it was demolished and replaced with Ocean Inlet Park. Photo provided

•

Surf’s up. Maybe.

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1967, Ocean Ridge commissioners passed an ordinance banning surfing “except in authorized areas.”

No areas were authorized, but surfers had always ridden waves by the inlet without any trouble.

Tom Warnke, a senior at Seacrest High School (and now archive coordinator for the Delray Beach Historical Society), fought back. He and his fellow surfers formed the Cripple Creek Surf Club, and Warnke designed the club’s logo, which featured the inlet bridge.

The club sponsored a beach cleanup by the inlet to convince the politicians that surfers were not responsible for all those beer cans on that small island in the lake just north of the inlet.

Wild parties, underage drinking and worse were alleged to be going on there — so much so that the former Pine Island had become known as Beercan Island.

Not us, the surfers said, and apparently the politicians agreed.

Surfing survived at the inlet.

“It was great when we won,” he says now. “It motivated me all my life to protect the image of surfers.”

Warnke is 76 now, and executive director of the Surfing Florida Museum.

Beercan Island is now Bird Island, a privately owned wildlife sanctuary.

•

The inlet’s bridge, that beautiful bridge with the rainbow arches, lived for 48 years and died on April 1, 1974, of old age and increasing costs.

The inlet remained open to boats, but for nearly a year traffic was diverted across the Lantana and Boynton Beach bridges while a new inlet bridge was constructed.

The new span opened 11 months later, on March 1, 1975, without those rainbow arches.

A visual hazard, the authorities said. But there had been rumors that motorcyclists enamored of the famed daredevil Evel Knievel would speed their bikes over the arches.

This has not been confirmed.

Maintenance is a constant where the ocean meets the land. In a major 2010 project the north jetty and sea wall inside the inlet were repaired. Coastal Star file

•

In 2013, Janet Naughton wrote an application to have the South Lake Worth Inlet named a Florida Heritage Site. The historic marker stands in Ocean Inlet Park with text by Naughton.

So, call it the Boynton Inlet if you want, but officially it’s the South Lake Worth Inlet. End of story.

Or is it?

There is one more high authority we should consult.

Type “South Lake Worth Inlet” into Google Maps and you’ll be told: “Google Maps can’t find South Lake Worth Inlet.”

Now try typing in “Boynton Inlet.”

Case closed. 

Boca Chamber President Troy McLellan with Snow fund trustee Van Williams. Photo provided

Guests at the George Snow Scholarship Fund benefit are encouraged to embrace the theme with big-buckled belts, denim tuxedos, fringe jackets and, of course, boots and hats. Time is 6 to 11 p.m. Cost is $350. Call 561-347-6799, ext. 114, or visit scholarship.org/events. 

Delray Beach Home Tour committee members (l-r, in front) Kim Truesdale, Amy Antoniak, Bianca Pucci, Linda Umbdenstock, Sherry Davis, Shelly Likosar, Julie Peyton, (in back) Deborah Dowd, Melinda Webster, Kimberley Trombly-Burmeister, Erin McLaughlan-Graham, Cheryl Forman, Kari Shipley and Noreen Payne. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

The Marina Historic District will serve as the scenic backdrop for this year’s Delray Beach Home Tour benefiting the Achievement Centers for Children & Families.

The owners of six homes will open their doors during the 22nd annual event, giving visitors a chance to see the well-appointed interiors and resplendent gardens of each selected residence.

“We really try hard to get a variety of homes — historic, contemporary, beach,” Co-Chairwoman Kari Shipley said. “We really try to switch it up so there’s something for everybody.”

The March 11 event marks the first time the tour has taken place in the Marina Historic District. Another new twist is the inclusion of an old military church that has been preserved and turned into an event center. A catered luncheon will take place on the grounds of a seventh home fronting the Intracoastal Waterway. A team of 100 volunteers will work to make the daylong fundraiser a success.

“Each home has six to 10 volunteers,” Shipley said. “They learn about the house, the artwork, the decorator, the history of the house and any other interesting information. They’re like docents.”

The tour was conceived more than two decades ago by ACCF board members Anne Bright and Barbara Murphy, both of whom recruited Shipley.

“We had a friend in the beach area and asked if we could put her home on a tour,” Shipley explained. “Then we called our friends and asked them to come. It started mushrooming. It just grew and grew and has been wildly successful.”

Today, more than 600 visitors from as far south as Miami as well as from out of state buy tickets.

“We have people who come here on vacation for the tour,” Shipley said. “They call us to make sure they have the dates.”

Proceeds — the 2024 take was $200,000 — fund ACCF’s early learning, after-school and teen programs and summer camp that touch 700 local children.

“We are grateful for the support of all our hardworking volunteers, the homeowners who are graciously allowing visitors into their homes and, of course, our dedicated sponsors,” Shipley said. 

If You Go

What: Delray Beach Home Tour

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11

Where: Marina Historic District

Cost: $150

Info: 561-276-0520 or achievementcentersfl.org/events/delray-beach-home-tour

The Butterfly Boutique is a newly opened thrift store on southbound Federal Highway at Northeast Fifth Street in Delray Beach. The store benefits Wayside House, which helps women overcome addiction. Photo provided 

By Amy Woods

Bargain hunters now can purchase pre-owned designer women’s clothing, jewelry and handbags at a newly opened thrift store in Delray Beach.

The Butterfly Boutique benefits Wayside House, a local nonprofit that has been helping women overcome addiction for more than 50 years. The goal is to generate additional funds so treatment services can expand.

“I believe we should do whatever it takes to ensure that women who want and need our help can receive it, whether they have the financial means or not,” said Martha Grimm, a Wayside House board member who spearheaded the development of the boutique.

Located at 500 NE Fifth Ave., which is southbound U.S. 1, the shop operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Most items are priced between $20 and $40, and many have original tags attached. The public is welcome to donate merchandise.

For more information, call 561-278-0055 or visit waysidehouse.net.

Boca Helping Hands gets donation for new truck

The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller’s Palm Beaches Commandery is donating $50,000 to Boca Helping Hands for a refrigerated truck.

The vehicle will help the nonprofit with its food pantry outreach and is another deed of goodwill by the order, a longtime supporter of Boca Helping Hands.  

“One of our first donations was Boca Helping Hands’ first refrigerated truck,” said Isabelle Paul, commander of the order. “We have come full circle with helping to purchase a 26-foot refrigerated truck to add to the other trucks needed to pick up food for BHH’s pantry program.”

For more information, call 561-417-0913 or visit bocahelpinghands.org.

Families First welcomes networking pro to team

An experienced recruiter and nonprofit leader has been appointed to the foundation board of Families First of Palm Beach County, which focuses on intervention and prevention programs to help children.

Lynn Radice officially joined the team in September. Radice is a career coach, motivational speaker and published author.

“Her passion lies in helping the communities in Palm Beach County and paying it forward,” Families First CEO Julie Swindler said.

“Her extensive and diverse network and connections, plus her expertise in engaging diverse communities, can facilitate strategic partnerships that could enhance Families First’s services and expand their impact in the community.”

For more information, call 561-253-1451 or visit familiesfirstpbc.org. 

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

The Blue Anchor is a popular spot for St. Patrick’s Day, because you can combine access to food, drink and the parade all in one location. File photo by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

That annual beer-drinking festival arrives this month — St. Paddy’s Day. 

You may be taking in Delray Beach’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, where you’ll need the luck of the Irish on that parking spot if you haven’t camped out all day. 

It’s at noon Saturday, March 15, with hundreds of marchers from east to west on Atlantic Avenue. Public lots fill up fast.

The Avenue and its connecting intersections are blocked off from the Intracoastal Waterway to Northwest Fifth Avenue ahead of the parade, so plan your drive accordingly. 

Tips: Don’t park in a tow zone. Those towing signs are enforced with vigor. U.S. 1 is the last big intersection to shut down. But plan to walk a mile or pay $25 or more to park in a private lot if you’re intent on going to that spot. And take a chair. The parade is long. Dogs are allowed, but consider the noise from sirens that may set them off.

It is one of the largest parades in Southeast Florida celebrating the Irish, so if weather cooperates, go just to say you’ve been. Expect lots and lots of fire trucks, bands, green beads and commercials in the form of business floats in between.

Look for the pig — the mascot from the inaugural street parade.

Other details are at www.delraybeachfl.gov/our-city/st-patrick-s-day-parade.

Eat like an Irishman

Want to taste some Irish cooking? Hit a pub or bar. 

Many people will take advantage of the weekend and start partying March 15 and 16. If you don’t like crowds, don’t show up this weekend. Smart diners know the food is usually best any time other than days around March 17; most pubs curtail their menus to offer only a few items.

First, a glossary of Irish dishes you may find:

• Potato leek soup: creamy potatoes cooked with leeks. 

• Shepherd’s pie: lamb pie with dark (sometimes Guinness) gravy and vegetables. Typically mashed potatoes atop, but sometimes pastry as well. Baked.

• Steak and Guinness pie: chunks of beef, mushrooms and bacon — and Guinness. Sometimes, raisins. Baked in a two-pastry crust.

• Cottage pie: ground beef (sometimes small chunks) and vegetables in gravy, with a mashed potato topping. Baked.

• Boxty: potato pancakes, made from leftover mashed potatoes, with raw, grated potato for coating. 

• Bangers and mash: sausages with a thin onion gravy, served with mashed potatoes and green peas. 

• Corned beef and cabbage: not Irish fare, but Irish-American fare. Corned beef is braised, with torn cabbage, carrots and onions. Simple and to the point. The best of it: corned beef sandwiches the day after. A good time to order that sandwich, actually.

• Irish soda bread: a quick bread made with buttermilk. No yeast. Sometimes studded with dried fruit.

Now, the pubs and bars:

Tim Finnegans Irish Pub: 2885 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. 561-330-3153; timfinnegansirishpub.com

With a name like that, you know what to expect — the biggest crowds in the area. And a highly rated corned beef sandwich, as well as sausage rolls in a pastry. The pub pulls the requisite perfect 20-ounce glass of Guinness, and has Tullamore Dew and Jameson on the shelf as well. Irish music all the time — not just this weekend.

O’Brian’s Irish Pub: 51 SE First Ave., Boca Raton. 561-338-7565; obrianspub.com.

The menu is American, with shepherd’s pie a nod to Irish fare. O’Brian’s is noted for its wings and friendly bartenders. The bar is energetic, doubly so for St. Pat’s Day. Always decorated to the hilt for the holiday. Live music all the time.

Blue Anchor Pub: 804 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-272-7272; theblueanchorpub.com

A pub supposedly haunted by its former patron in England, this old place is thick with character. Why an English pub on this day? The food — which is more Irish than many others. Boxty and Buffalo blue potato skins are the bomb. The roast beef sandwich with the Guinness au jus and horseradish should be mentioned. So should those pies — shepherd’s and cottage are staples — along with fish and chips. Try the chicken Balmoral — and eat like the queen. Dark and friendly as a pub should be, just right.

The Irish Brigade: 621 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach. 561-585-1885; Irishbrigadepub.com

On a busy corner, the open-air pub is a gathering spot for Liverpool football fans, but shines on St. Pat’s weekend, packed in all its rooms. Food is a notch above the average pub fare — fig and brie flatbread, an example. But the bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie are not to be overlooked. Friendly servers and space to walk around. Plenty of pluses.

Crazy Uncle Mike’s: 6450 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561-931-2889; crazyunclemikes.com

This has more upscale food than most bars and is American based, with items such as pork belly bites, tuna nachos and grilled cobia sandwich. But Uncle Mike’s turns it over to the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and includes corned beef and cabbage. Bands are the big deal here; look for tribute bands and more playing nightly. 

The Lion and Eagle English Pub: 2401 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561-447-7707; thelionandeaglepub.com

From breakfast, with Irish bacon, bangers and black pudding — and a nod to England with baked beans — to mash and shepherd’s pie, this place has Irish fare. The pub gets into the swing of things with a weekend full of party plans. It's open till 2 a.m. daily.

Deck 84: 840 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-665-8484; deck84.com.

The waterfront view makes this the place to take the out-of-towner for a drink. But don’t discount the bites. An American menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, including General Tso’s cauliflower. Also: coastal crispy shrimp tacos, brisket tacos and in the bar, housemade beer are among the offerings. A St. Patrick’s Day party is planned.

Gesto pizzeria opens

A new pizzeria in downtown Delray Beach on the Avenue is the result of a vision by Nicolas Kurban, owner of Amar Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar nearby.

The 55-seat pizza spot, named Gesto, opened in February, with pizza master Garri Banar at the controls. 

A longtime pro baker who specializes in sourdough, Banar is using a naturally leavened formula for the sourdough crusts. Both traditional and contemporary pizzas are delivered from the wood-fire oven, including a fiery pepperoni and jalapeño, as well as classics such as the Margherita.

Gesto offers small plates and salads. House-made desserts include an orange cake and Banar’s sourdough chocolate chip cookies.

Craft and domestic beers, and a curated selection of wines, mostly Italian, are served.

“Pizza is a science, but great pizza is an art,” Kurban said. “It’s all about the dough. Garri and I share a belief that exceptional ingredients and proper technique are what make the difference.”

Those include Jersey tomatoes and imported Italian flour, Kurban said.

Gesto, 522 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-403-2665; gestopizza.com. Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Indoor and sidewalk seating.

In brief

The Michelin Guide is coming to Palm Beach County. 

The guide, which awards up to three stars to restaurants of note, represents a certain standard and will be good to have in the area, says chef/owner Jimmy Everett of Driftwood in Boynton Beach.  

Everett has been a chef in Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, and says the stars are a good idea, but “not something I’ll chase.”  

He says he’ll offer quality food and service just to keep the restaurant open day to day, and if the guide recognizes him, “I’d be proud, but I’m not changing anything for it.” 

Restaurants that make the guide will be announced in mid-April in a ceremony in Orlando.

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

L-R: Francesca Daniels, Laurie Carney and Marta Batmasian.

FAU’s event recognized a $5 million gift from the Palm Beach Pops to transform music education at the school. Co-produced by Jon Lappin, Kevin Wilt and Michael Zager, it drew administrators, donors, friends and sponsors to the intimate Eleanor R. Baldwin House. Performances were given by Cornelia Brubeck, Ranses Colón, Frank Derrick and Phil Hinton. FAU faculty members Monica Berovides-Hidalgo and Courtney Jones also were part of the event. ‘This gift encompasses all the beauty a legacy can offer every highly regarded music student as they pursue their musical journey,’  Lappin said.  ‘From scholarships to exceptional instruments, master classes to fellowships, the funding will ensure the foundation of business acumen coupled with the nationally recognized music education will continue in perpetuity.’

Myrna Skurnick and Max Whittacker. Photos provided

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County welcomed nearly 200 supporters to kick off its annual fundraising event that will take place March 6 and 7. The evening was a stunning display of vibrant pink and orange hues complemented by amazing food, refreshing drinks and great company. Attendees had the honor of meeting two future homeowners who are partnering with the nonprofit to build better lives for themselves. ‘Women Build is about harnessing the power of community and inspiring action to create lasting change,’ said Jennifer Thomason, president and CEO of Palm Beach Habitat. ‘It’s a movement that breaks barriers, empowers individuals and builds brighter futures for families in need of affordable housing.’

ABOVE: (l-r) Kelly Burton, Rana Levy, Roxanne Marangos, Amber Mallory and Kristina Schmidt.

L-R: Julie Peyton, Thomason, Charlotte Wright and Teawanna Teal.  L-R: Tara Goldberg, Julia Murphy, who is Palm Beach Habitat’s chief advancement officer, and Diana Sierra. Photos provided by MasterWing Creative Agency

With 430 supporters in attendance and $662,000 raised, HomeSafe celebrated a high-energy evening with celebrity host Nicko McBrain and vocalist Mike DelGuidice. The festivities included a dinner program, silent auction and private concert. Kenny and Maggie Rosenberg were presented with the 2025 HomeSafe Hero Award. ‘Tonight, we have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate,’ CEO Matt Ladika said to the crowd. ‘In December, we completed five years of construction, which resulted in four brand-new campuses for our kids to live in. It means so much to these kids coming into our care knowing that they have their own safe space to heal from the abuse and neglect.’ 

ABOVE: (l-r) John Treiber, Denise Coyle and the Rosenbergs

Maria and Todd Roberti

L-R: Classic Rock & Roll Party Co-Chairs Steve Bernstein and Abby Bernstein-Henderson with McBrain Photos provided by Downtown Photo

Palm Beach Symphony took in $450,000 at its eighth annual fundraiser. The money will support community outreach and education. During the luncheon, the organization acknowledged an anonymous gift of $100,000. Guests were treated to a festive atmosphere filled with the sounds of the season plus a silent auction. Mickey Smith Jr., of The King’s Academy, was named the 2024 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year. ‘Our programs touch the lives of thousands of students across Palm Beach County and beyond,’ Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont said. ‘We are so grateful to our donors and all who continue to support our mission.’

ABOVE: (l-r) Gerard Schwarz, Smith, and Carol and Joseph Andrew Hays. BELOW: Lois Pope and Bill Porter. Photos provided by Capehart

The 43rd annual Palm Beach International Boat Show will have more than $1.2 billion in products on display.  Photo provided

By Steve Waters

While the Palm Beach International Boat Show displays the latest and greatest in watercraft from superyachts up to nearly 300 feet in length to cruisers, center consoles, runabouts and inflatables, it also has a major economic impact.

An analysis of the 2022 show revealed an estimated statewide impact of more than $1.05 billion, including money spent on food, fuel and lodging, with much of that benefit felt in Palm Beach County.

The show itself contributed to more than $725 million in total sales of boats, marine electronics and other boating accessories.

The 43rd show is March 19-23 along Flagler Drive from Clematis Street to Lakeview Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach.

The city  authorized the show to expand to five days this year, bringing it into alignment with boat shows in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

More than $1.2 billion in products will be on display, including hundreds of new and used boats on land and berthed at miles of floating docks in the water, along with engines, safety equipment, clothing and artwork.

There also are venues within the show such as the AquaZone, which features demonstrations of innovative water-propelled toys as well as kayaks and standup paddleboards.

The seminar tent features experts sharing tips on a variety of topics, such as how to deploy a life raft and survive; crossing by boat from Florida to the Bahamas; how to catch swordfish; and selecting the perfect rod and reel. 

Don Dingman hosts his popular Kids Fishing Clinics, scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with youngsters receiving a free rod and reel combo.

Although numerous restaurants are within a short walk from the show site, the show will have more than 75 food concessions and bars, serving everything from seafood such as stone crab claws and oysters to street tacos, gyros and burgers to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Parking is available at more than a dozen municipal garages and privately owned lots, all accessible via a short walk, a free golf cart or a sprinter van ride to the show. Complimentary golf cart shuttles also are available from the West Palm Beach Brightline train station. 

Outdoors writer Steve Waters can be reached at steve33324@aol.com.

If You Go

What: Palm Beach International Boat Show 

Where: Along Flagler Drive from Clematis Street to Lakeview Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach

When: noon-7 p.m.  March 19, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 20-22 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 23

Tickets: A one-day general admission adult ticket valid March 20-23 costs $36.23 and a two-day ticket is $65.21. A ticket for opening day on March 19 is $62.10 and a two-day ticket that includes opening day is $83.84. Daily tickets for youngsters ages 6-15 for March 20-23 are $17.60 

Info: pbboatshow.com

By Janis Fontaine

Choral Evensong, featuring the Choir of St. Gregory’s, is set for 6 p.m. March 16 at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.

Accompanied by music director Tim Brumfield on organ, the choir will perform a tapestry of musical interpretations for the liturgy, including the Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis and the Psalms.

Choral Evensong is a sacred Anglican musical tradition dating back centuries. 

The service and parking are free. Evensong will also be offered on April 27 and May 25. 

St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Call 561-395-8285 or visit www.stgregorysepiscopal.org.

Orchestra concert set at Our Lady of Lourdes 

Harmony Across Generations Family Orchestra Concert takes place at 3 p.m. March 23 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 22094 Lyons Road, Boca Raton. 

One piece to be played, called “To Change the World” and composed by orchestra pianist Robert Field, is featured in the documentary “Two Heads Are Better Than One.” It is about the relationship between 99-year-old Benjamin Ferencz (then the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, now deceased) and sculptor Yaacov Heller of Boca Raton.

The documentary is available on Amazon Prime, Apple Music and YouTube.

The mournful “Ashokan Farewell” from the Ken Burns documentary about the Civil War (and featured during Lee Dutton’s funeral in the TV show “Yellowstone”) is also on the set list.

The concert is by Florida Intergenerational Orchestra, in its 20th season. It features musicians of multiple generations.

Tickets are $20 or $40 VIP at Eventbrite.com or at 561-922-3134. Admission is free for children younger than 12.

Event to feature a host of beloved Broadway songs  

The First Delray soloists and friends return to the stage at 4 p.m. March 23 at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach for an afternoon of “All Broadway” music.

From showstoppers to romantic ballads, some of the most beloved Broadway songs will be accompanied by pianist Don Cannarozzi. This concert is sold out, but there is a wait list. First Presbyterian is at 33 Gleason St. Call 561-276-6338 or visit www.firstdelray.com.

B’nai Torah educator chosen  to lead group of teachers

B’nai Torah Congregation, the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida with 1,300 membership families, announced that Cathy Berkowitz, who has led the synagogue’s Mirochnick Religious School for over two decades, will serve as the next president of the Jewish Educators Assembly.

In recognition of her dedication, passion and leadership in Jewish education, Berkowitz will be  installed during the 73rd Annual JEA Conference on March 16. The JEA is the leading professional association for Conservative/Masorti education professionals.

Berkowitz, a mother of four and grandmother of two, has been an integral part of B’nai Torah Congregation since 2004.

For information about the congregation and the religious school, visit www.btcboca.org/learning/mirochnick-religious-school.

Teachers attend seminar for Holocaust educators 

Four Palm Beach County teachers participated in Advanced Seminar for Holocaust educators, a two-day academic program Jan. 18-19 in West Orange, New Jersey. The program hosted by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous brought together 21 middle and high school teachers with Holocaust center staff to explore topics related to the history of the Holocaust and antisemitism.

Local teachers who participated were Maureen Carter from Boca Raton High School; Julie Gates from Loggers’ Run Middle School in Boca Raton; Amanda Ladd from Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth Beach; and Bradd Weinberg from Carver Community Middle School in Delray Beach. 

For more information, visit www.jfr.org.

CROS Ministries luncheon to highlight food programs 

CROS Ministries, a Palm Beach County nonprofit that fights hunger every day, is hosting a Lunch and Learn from noon to 1 p.m. March 13 in Fellowship Hall at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach.

Representatives will speak about the work CROS Ministries does on the front lines of the war against hunger. The organization offers a myriad of food pantries and free meals for people who are hungry in Palm Beach County, and dozens of volunteer opportunities.

RSVP to Meredith Caldwell at mcaldwell@crosministries.org or 561-233-9009, ext. 103.

Magen David Adom gala to feature actor Lior Raz

The annual American Friends of Magen David Adom Palm Beach Gala will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 3 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. The keynote speaker will be Israeli actor and screenwriter Lior Raz. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a gourmet dinner, and dancing. For tickets, call 561-835-0510 or email palmbeach@afmda.org.

Princeton theologist to speak at First Presbyterian

The Center for Christian Studies presents “A School of Prayer” with C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper professor emeritus of Biblical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, at 4 p.m. April 6 at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason St. www.firstdelray.com

Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com

Anthony Mirisola, now at UCF, with Sgt. Danny Pacheco, the Kicks’ coach. Photo provided 

By Faran Fagen

Anthony Mirisola was 13 when he first attended soccer practice with the Delray Kicks, a team coached by police officers. Mirisola comes from a family of four, including his mom and grandfather.

The following year, Mirisola stopped coming to practice, and police sergeant/coach Danny Pacheco initially thought he had lost interest in the program.

A few weeks later, Pacheco stopped by Mirisola’s house to check on him and discovered that his stepfather had died. Mirisola no longer had a ride to practice, and he had taken on the responsibility of helping to pay the rent and other necessities. 

Despite the challenges, Mirisola excelled in school, particularly in ROTC and robotics.

“With the help of members of our Police Department and the community, we were able to support Anthony and his family through this difficult time,” said Pacheco, who arranged transportation and tutors for Mirisola.

Today, Anthony is attending the University of Central Florida with a full scholarship from the Bound for College organization. He is thriving in the ROTC program and doing well academically.

“He is an inspiration to our team and serves as a powerful reminder that anything is possible,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco started the Delray Kicks in 2021 as a way to forge a bond between the police force and the community it serves. The Police Department has been at Merritt Park in Delray Beach every Saturday night, coaching 32 players ages 7-16 in soccer, with drills in defense, shooting skills, passing, kicking and — above all — teamwork.

Two years ago, Pacheco was honored to receive an award from the Carl DeSantis Foundation as the Catalyst of Building Community. The Police Department also received a $32,500 donation to help support the program.

“I feel incredibly blessed as I’m constantly receiving donations from members of our community — not only monetary contributions, but also weekly snacks, drinks and countless cards of gratitude for my efforts,” Pacheco said.

The program has grown in many ways since its inception four years ago. The Kicks have won several games in a recreational soccer league in Delray Beach and have visited a theme park in Orlando and the Frost Science Museum in Miami. 

Several kids who started with the team have moved up to academy-level soccer, which opens up more opportunities.

The Police Department continues to support the team by providing fluorescent green jerseys with the Delray Kicks emblem on the front. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department offers Merritt Park free of charge.

Unfortunately, Pacheco recently lost two assistant coaches. One is pursuing a master’s degree, and the other transferred to a police position that limits his availability for public events.

Despite these changes, the program continues to grow.

The most rewarding parts for Pacheco are seeing his players’ smiles and knowing that for a few hours, the players are in a safe and supportive environment. 

But he doesn’t stop after the final whistle. He created a WhatsApp group, and he regularly checks in on his kids to make sure they’re staying out of trouble and keeping up with their homework.

“I absolutely love what I do as a police officer,” Pacheco said. “It’s been a total of 25 years in law enforcement for me, and seeing these kids grow and move on to better things in life truly makes me happy. We have had our ups and downs as a team. We have faced challenges, such as parents moving to other cities or counties in search of better job opportunities, but the kids still make the effort to come to practice.” 

Mirisola is one of those grateful to Pacheco and the Kicks. He joined the team when it was founded by Pacheco. At first, Mirisola thought it would be a cool thing to do on the weekends or after classes.

“Since then, it has become a huge part of my life and has helped me and my family in ways some people dream about,” Mirisola said. “Over the years, Coach Pacheco and Delray Kicks have given me rides to things unrelated to the team, like school events or personal things that my family wasn’t able to because we didn’t have a car.”

Mirisola said that Pacheco bought food for his family members when they couldn’t afford it, and always made sure they were supported around the holidays, whether via Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas trees, or Christmas gifts.

“The program hasn’t just done this for me, but for many kids in the community,” Mirisola said. “There have been many times over the years that one of the players needed something, and Coach Pacheco worked to get it for them. There was even a time when most players on the team were given bikes for transportation if they didn’t have one, and each bike came with a helmet and a lock.”

Having this support helped Mirisola become a first-generation high school graduate in his family and a first-generation college student. 

“This team has done more for me and other kids in the community than most people can imagine, and it’s something that I will always be grateful for and proud to be a part of,” Mirisola said. 

Pacheco needs soccer coaches and academic tutors in subjects such as math, science and English. Interested in helping? Contact Sgt. Danny Pacheco Jr. at 561-777-2267 or via email at pacheco@mydelraybeach.com.