I am writing to emphasize the urgent need for blinking lights at pedestrian crossings along A1A in Ocean Ridge. This busy stretch of road, with its limited visibility, presents a significant danger to pedestrians.

Whether residents are out walking their dogs, jogging, or simply enjoying a stroll, the risk of accidents is far too high, especially during low-light hours or inclement weather.

Blinking lights at crossings would offer a crucial warning to drivers, making pedestrians more visible and helping to prevent avoidable collisions.

This simple yet effective solution has been successfully implemented in other communities with similar traffic concerns. It’s time for Ocean Ridge to prioritize pedestrian safety by adopting these lights at key crossing points.

With increasing vehicle and foot traffic in the area, this proactive measure would go a long way toward reducing risks and ensuring a safer environment for everyone.

— Victor Martel
Ocean Ridge

While I can appreciate the artistic and educational value in the recycling of the bottle caps picked up along the beach (Coastal Star, January 2025: Beach walker turns bottle caps into art), it should not escape acknowledgment that these are the result of a multitude of careless polluters of our beautiful beaches.

I, too, pick up trash not only on the beach but along the old road and A1A. It is disheartening to see how much trash pollutes our environment to the detriment of our water, flora and fauna.

— Martha Lowther,
Ocean Ridge

By Mary Hladky

Brightline soon will “reintroduce” a commuter pass after it discontinued one in June, a move that angered South Floridians who used that monthly pass to get reduced fares.

In a Jan. 10 announcement, the rail service said it expects to launch the new pass in March, but offered no cost specifics, saying only that it is “designed for the frequent traveler” and is “expected to save daily commuters money.”

Brightline, which has a station in Boca Raton, said that more information would be posted to its website, but did not say when that would happen.

The company eliminated three types of passes in June, including one aimed at commuters that offered 40 trips per month for $399, which worked out to $10 for a one-way trip and $20 for a round-trip.

Instead, it offered passengers a new 10-ride pass for $350 at the regular Smart fare or $550 at the Premium fare. So, the cost of a Smart fare one-way trip went up to $35, or $55 for Premium.

The announcement came after Brightline was awarded a $33.8 million Federal Railroad Administration Restoration and Enhancement grant that will allow it to increase the number of coaches on each train from five to seven to carry more passengers.

In canceling the initial commuter pass, Brightline de-prioritized riders who use the train as a commuter service in South Florida in favor of those making long-haul, and more profitable, trips to Orlando.

Once it has more coaches, Brightline will be able to accommodate at least some more commuters.

Brightline characterized its new commuter pass as a way to bridge the gap until a true commuter service can be offered on the Florida East Coast Railway tracks. Efforts to create such a service have been underway for many years but remain a distant dream.

Brightline’s long-haul ridership to and from Orlando has set records, but short-haul riders dropped from 112,423 for the month of November 2023 to 90,624 last November.

During the first 11 months of 2023, 1.6 million short-haul riders used Brightline, but that dropped to 1 million in the first 11 months of 2024, according to a Brightline passenger report.

A pair of up-and-coming Americans coming off impressive showings at the Australian Open will attempt to battle their way through qualifying to reach the main draw of the 2025 Delray Beach Open. Qualifying is Feb. 8-9 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center.

Learner Tien, 19, won three matches in qualifying to reach the Australian Open’s main draw in January. He then won three more matches, including a five-set victory over No. 5 seed

Daniil Medvedev, to become the youngest man to reach the fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Nishesh Basavareddy, also 19, was given a wild card into the main draw, then won the first set against 10-time Aussie champion Novak Djokovic before falling in four sets.

Two-time defending champion Taylor Fritz and Boca Raton resident Tommy Paul headline the ATP 250 event, which will be staged Feb. 10-16.

For tickets or more information, got to yellowtennisball.com.

— Brian Biggane

By John Pacenti

Delray Beach commissioners appeared to be ready to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water, a practice that has been in place for 36 years but is now facing scrutiny amid concerns about potential health risks, such as lowering the mental acuity of children.

“I would support intelligence over fluoride teeth,” Commissioner Angela Burns said at the Jan. 7 meeting. “For those children that are underprivileged, I would prefer to have them be able to function in school and be able to function in the world that’s before them, and they can take care of their teeth some other way.”

Fluoridation for decades has been seen as a public health success, substantially reducing tooth decay. Yet, a comprehensive federal study confirmed previous findings that fluoride may be linked to lower IQ scores in children.

The study — published in JAMA Pediatrics on Jan. 6, the day before commissioners discussed the subject at their meeting — concluded there is a link between exposure levels of the additive and cognitive function.

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, who has made numerous statements on vaccines that have been challenged by other medical professionals, in November recommended against water fluoridation due to neuropsychiatric risk.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and who has made numerous suspect medical claims, is also opposed to the practice.

Kennedy said in November that Trump would advise municipalities to remove fluoride from public water.

The state Department of Health reports more than 70% of Floridians receive fluoridated water. Other Florida municipalities, such as Melbourne, have stopped the practice.

Commissioner Rob Long said the practice of adding fluoride to municipal water supplies may have outlived its usefulness.

“It seems a bit odd to me that the government is still in the business of tooth care through our utilities … even if there’s just a chance that that could be detrimental health-wise,” he said.

Utilities Director Hassan Hadjimiry presented a historical overview of water fluoridation, emphasizing its role in improving dental health, and noting the American Dental Association’s recommendation of putting fluoride in water.

He said the city is looking to spend $200,000 to revamp its fluoridation system and wanted guidance from the commission before taking on the task considering the new findings on IQ scores.

Fluoride is available in toothpaste and as an additive, Hadjimiry said. “It’s not like it was 67 years ago when it wasn’t available.”

Burns added that fewer people drink tap water these days anyway.

Mayor Tom Carney acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying he wanted to make sure the commission had all the facts before making a final decision.

Neither Boynton Beach nor Boca Raton adds fluoride to the water supply, noted City Manager Terrence Moore.

“We have always taken our water quality very seriously in Delray Beach. This decision requires careful consideration of all aspects — the potential benefits and risks — to ensure we’re making the best choice for our residents’ health and well-being,” he said.

Vice Mayor Juli Casale said she knows local dentists want fluoride in the water but said she was open to learning more about the recent study. She told Carney, “It sounds like you’ve got three (votes). Take it out right now.”

“I’m not ready to take it out,” Carney responded. “I’d like to have some information.”

Moore directed Hadjimiry to find experts to come in and brief commissioners on the pros and cons of fluoridation in the modern age.

By John Pacenti

Delray Beach has launched a mobile app feature to help drivers find available parking spots downtown. The “My Delray Beach” app allows users to see a map of the city’s paid parking areas and view which spaces are currently open.

The parking feature on the app has been available since mid-December. There is a caveat: It works only for city-owned lots, not private ones. Also, the city’s lot by the railroad tracks at 25 NE Third Ave. is currently not incorporated into the system.

Public Works Director Missie Barletto called it a game-changer at the Jan. 7 City Commission meeting, saying that the feature “will help with people reducing the amount of time they drive around looking for parking spaces.”

The system is similar to the one used by Florida Atlantic University, Barletto said, where it has met with great success.

The app uses sensors installed to detect when a car has pulled in or out. This real-time data is then displayed on the app’s map, showing green for open spots and orange for occupied ones.

“It’s so simple and so easy to use,” Barletto told commissioners.

She said for parking lots there is one sensor that tells how many cars are going in and out. On-street parking has sensors for individual spaces.

The railroad lot proved troublesome, Barletto said, because it has numerous entrances and exits. “So we will be going out there and putting the individual parking sensors in the railroad parking lot as soon as we’re able to do that,” she said.

The My Delray app also allows residents to check out beach conditions, events, and obtain permitting, as well as information on the new Creative Arts School. It also allows residents to “report an issue” on building code violations, potholes, noise and other concerns.

New Manalapan Police Chief Jeff Rasor’s wife, Kimberly, pins his new badge to his uniform. Rasor previously served with Delray Beach police. John Pacenti/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

Manalapan celebrated the retirement of long-serving Police Chief Carmen Mattox and welcomed the arrival of new Police Chief Jeff Rasor at the Jan. 14 Town Commission meeting.

Mattox was honored with a Distinguished Service Award for his 23 years and 7 months of dedicated service to the Manalapan community.

Mayor John Deese praised Mattox’s tireless work ethic and commitment, noting, “I’m not kidding, 24 hours a day. If you call him and he’s there and he’ll answer, he’ll assist you, even if he’s up to North Carolina with his kids.”

Stepping into the job of Police Chief is Jeff Rasor, who brings more than 22 years of law enforcement experience, most recently serving as assistant chief of police operations in Delray Beach.

According to the city of Delray Beach’s website, Rasor started his career in the Miami Police Department before coming to Delray Beach in May 2002. As an officer, he created the Criminal Justice Academy at Atlantic Community High School.

Rasor was promoted to sergeant in 2009, to lieutenant in 2019, captain in 2021 and then to assistant chief the following year. He served in about every capacity as a police officer and supervisor in Delray Beach: overseeing community patrol, serving as a high school resource officer, and as a member of the Clean & Safe Downtown unit, among other positions.

He earned his criminal justice undergrad degree at Florida International University and earned a master’s degree at Florida Atlantic University in educational leadership.

In his remarks to the commission, Rasor emphasized his core beliefs in hard work and professionalism. “That’s what I’m bringing to the town of Manalapan, and that’s where I’m going to lead this department,” he stated.

Rasor’s spouse, Kimberly, pinned his new badge to his uniform. The Commission Chambers were filled with Delray Beach police officers in attendance, including Chief Russ Mager, to witness the passing of the torch.

Town Manager Eric Marmer voiced his excitement about the new leadership, stating, “I always say Manalapan deserves the best and with your selection, I really think we got the best, and I really look forward to working with you over your career here.”

The Coastal Star asked the 61-year-old Mattox what was his most vivid memory and he said when the town got battered by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. “All the sea walls were crashing down,” he said.

Mattox will retire to McIntosh, southeast of Gainesville. He is an avid bird hunter and he said he plans to spend some of his free time hunting quail.

City center proposals: Boca Raton City Center, Namdar Group, Related Ross, RocaPoint Partners

By Mary Hladky

Four developers vying to redevelop 30 city-owned acres around City Hall presented their proposals to Boca Raton City Council members on Jan. 27, giving residents attending the meeting in person or online a first detailed look at what is envisioned for the city’s top-priority project.

Two had submitted unsolicited proposals in October for public-private partnerships to remake the area. But council members did not want to be limited to those two and approved a bidding process in November that drew two more submittals.

City officials provided general guidelines, saying they wanted a new City Hall and community center to replace the existing buildings that are old and crumbling, along with mixed-income housing, office, hotel, retail and recreational facilities. They did not give specifics so that developers could be creative.

Boca Raton City Center, a joint venture between Coconut Grove-based Terra and Frisbie Group of Palm Beach, provided a mostly low-height and low-density project with the largest amount of green space. It includes a 10-story apartment building, three-story garden homes and a 150-room hotel.

Namdar Group, of Great Neck, New York, proposed 8,015 multi-family units, far exceeding the amount the other developers proposed. It also differed from its competitors by proposing a 10,000-square-foot synagogue that it would donate to the city and a 50,000-square-foot performing arts center. The proposal includes a 180-room hotel.

Related Ross of West Palm Beach, led by Miami Dolphins owner and Palm Beach resident Stephen Ross, placed its emphasis on office buildings, and plans three totaling 975,000 square feet because its team believes the downtown is in need of them. It also proposed the largest hotel, with 400 rooms. But its 650 residential units are less than what the others want to build.

RocaPoint Partners of Atlanta separated itself from the others by proposing a different development plan. Instead of building the entire project, it would construct the government buildings, including the City Hall and community center. But it would bring in another developer to build the rest, including apartments, condos, hotel and office.

The four developers have agreed to make affordable housing units a part of their projects, although so far only Namdar has included that in its proposal. They all are touting the amount of green space in their projects.

They all also said that they are willing to make changes to their plans if the city requests that.

CBRE, the city’s consultant on the project, said all four developers are well-qualified.

The city stands to gain a huge financial benefit from the project.

Three of the developers, not including RocaPoint, propose a 99-year lease of the city land that is projected to yield the city between $1 billion and $2.4 billion.

The city would also see a big jump in the tax revenue the property will generate once it is redeveloped and added to the tax rolls, although the exact amount is still being calculated.

Density concerns

Council members did not tip their hands on which proposal they preferred, but did express concern about the high density Namdar proposes, with the large number of apartments and two 15-story buildings and one 18-story building.

“What sticks out to me is the density in terms of the number of units,” said Council member Marc Wigder.

“I almost feel like you are trying to build a city within a city,” said Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker.

Namdar managing partner Ephraim Namdar said the number of units is high because they would be studios and one-bedrooms of no more than 700 square feet.

Drucker and Council member Fran Nachlas chastised Namdar for not meeting with them to outline his proposal.

“It is important to meet with us if you want to do business in Boca,” Drucker said.

Related Ross brought about 20 of its executives to the meeting, including Stephen Ross, who extolled his company as “really best in class” and committed to a rapidly growing Palm Beach County.

“We want to be part of that growth and lead that growth” in Boca Raton, he said.

Several council members praised Related Ross, with Andy Thomson saying it has “a very capable team” and Drucker saying its team has been readily available to speak with council members.

The four companies are proposing a public-private partnership, or P3, with the city in which the developer assumes the cost of constructing public buildings and the city leases the remainder of the land for redevelopment.

Rapid timeline likely

City officials have talked for years about redeveloping the government campus, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought planning to a halt. 

The idea was revived when the Brightline train station opened northeast of City Hall in 2022, as they eagerly anticipated that developers would want to redevelop the area around it. 

The project gained urgency last summer as word circulated that at least one developer was about to submit an unsolicited offer to remake the area.

That became reality in October when Boca Raton City Center and Related Ross submitted proposals and the City Council then cast a wider net for more.

Council members are moving quickly to get a deal done. They will rank the four developers on Feb. 11 and hope to have an interim agreement with the top-ranked firm on March 18.

Online reaction from public

Public reaction to the project is not yet clear, and it appears as if many city residents are not yet aware of it even though the city features the effort on its website and invites public comment there.

A review of about 25 initial comments showed that three residents strongly favored redevelopment. But many others opposed it, mainly citing concerns about overdevelopment and increased traffic on roadways.

“It will destroy the soul of Boca Raton and forever reduce the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods,” said one resident.

“The plans are trying to make it into another Brickell,” said another. “And that is just horrible.”

“Why do we need all this residential shoved down our face?” asked another. “Please reconsider this huge project and scale it down.”

The city planned to hold an open house and public forum to gather more resident input on Feb. 19 at the Studio at Mizner Park. 

By John Pacenti

A homeowner asked the Manalapan Town Commission to stop a neighbor from tunneling under State Road A1A during the height of the tourist season, but to no avail.

Mary and Ralph Gesualdo said the tunneling work for the properties at 1890 S. Ocean Blvd. and 1900 S. Ocean Blvd. violated a condition set by the commission that work on the tunnels would be completed by Nov. 15.

Tunnels are commonplace in Manalapan for people who live on the Intracoastal Waterway side of A1A and want to connect to the beach portions of their properties.

The Gesualdos said at the Jan. 14 commission meeting that doing work now with all the part-time residents in town poses a safety hazard because A1A will need to be shut down to one lane.

The homes in question are still being constructed on property owned by Jagbir and Sarla Singh. The Gesualdos’ property is next door at 1920 S. Ocean Blvd.

“But I guess my real question is, why now? Why during the season? Why for a house that isn’t even built yet?” Ralph Gesualdo said. “Why jeopardize the safety of the residents?”
Mary Gesualdo said since two tunnels need to be built that the work would be prolonged.

The Gesualdos’ attorney — James Gavigan Jr. — said the tunnels’ construction was approved on the condition that it be completed before part-time residents returned.

Town Attorney Keith Davis said that’s not exactly the case. The condition was that the Singhs make a good-faith effort to get the tunnels completed.

“My further understanding is that there were permitting issues with the Florida Department of Transportation,” Davis said. “Otherwise what could have been forward progression, in my opinion, cannot be put on the shoulders of the applicant.”

He said the town had no authority to stop a lawful building permit. The tunnel project is estimated to take six weeks during which a one-lane bypass will be constructed. Workers with signs will permit traffic flow in each direction.

As for the safety issue, Town Manager Eric Marmer said it is his understanding that digging tunnels during the rainy season in the summer is more dangerous.

Commissioner Cindy McMackin said the commission might want to consider passing an ordinance that limits the construction of tunnels to the off season.

“This isn’t the time to have that discussion,” Marmer said.

The Gesualdos also complained they had not received proper notification from the town in its approving building plans for the next-door properties. “This project is causing us to install a retaining wall because he has lowered his grade on his property,” Mary Gesualdo said.

Marmer said that the town can only send out information; it doesn’t control if it is seen or not.

Davis reminded commissioners that the comments by the Gesualdos and others were made under public comments and that the issue of the tunnels was not on the meeting’s agenda. The Singhs were not present.

Mayor John Deese told the couple that he heard their concerns and that he planned to have a discussion with Marmer and his staff. “We’ll look at what options we may have and also look for future opportunities to improve communications,” he said.

Madson chosen for Planning Commission — Although the Planning Commission had two openings for alternate members, only one person applied. The Town Council appointed that man, Steven J. Madson, to a three-year term ending Jan. 27, 2028.

Alternate members attend meetings and are prepared to step in as full members when needed. Like all members, they are volunteers.

Madson, whose background is in telecommunications, replaces Annemarie Joyce, whose term ended on Dec. 13. She chose not to reapply.

Jorge Velazquez, whose term would have expired April 10, 2026, resigned in October. The town is seeking applications to fill that position.

— Mary Thurwachter

By Steve Plunkett

The last part of the first phase of Gulf Stream’s massive road, water main and drainage project got its first layer of asphalt on Jan. 10, and work began almost immediately — four to eight weeks ahead of schedule — on Phase 2.

Town commissioners approved the schedule change the same day and a $283,717 change order to pay for widening some road sections two more feet — an increase of $106,331 from a previous change order for the same work.

The need to do construction close to the Gulf Stream School when students are off for the summer is driving the altered schedule. Contractor Roadway Construction LLC plans to start work by the school on June 9, the Monday after classes end, and finish it on Aug. 24 before the students’ post-Labor Day return.

“That’s close,” Commissioner Joan Orthwein said.

To make it work, Roadway needed approval to begin Phase 2, the streets in the Core District east of Polo Drive, before it finished Phase 1, which covers Polo and the streets west of it.

“They have the capabilities of having separate crews; they have had separate crews here, up to three, four crews at a time,” said Rick Chipman, the construction project manager for Baxter and Woodman Consulting Engineers.

“The constraint of the school is problematic,” Chipman said, “because they need to get certain utilities and other items completed up to the boundaries of what we’re calling the school zone by the time they start working there so that they can complete that area while school is out.”

The change order pushed the date for “substantial completion” of the first phase from Feb. 18 to March 18. Roadway said it planned to restore all damaged irrigation, landscaping and mailboxes by the end of January, with other items to be finished in February and the rest by March 18.

Homes will be connected to the new water mains within 30 days of the Health Department’s inspection and approval of the project.

Roadway planned to start the second phase at the Golfview Drive end of Gulfstream Road and work north to Lakeview Drive, finishing that section by June 8.

“I’m all in to going forward,” Orthwein said.

“I’m sure the whole town is already tired of construction every place you look,” Chipman said, conceding that letting the crews work in new areas before they’re done with old areas “might be a tough pill to swallow.”

Last August commissioners approved a $177,386 change order to cover widening sections of Banyan, Lakeview and Gulfstream and all of Old School Road from 18 feet to 20 feet to match the Core’s other streets.

But Roadway had not reviewed that amount and said it should be the higher, $283,717 figure.

The original completion date for the entire project, before the change order was approved, was Dec. 13, 2025.

‘Reflections of Time,’ a sculpture welcoming people to Sanborn Square, is evidence that Boca Raton’s centennial celebration is underway. Larry Barszewski/The Coastal Star 

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton’s centennial year has begun, and the city celebration has moved into high gear.

Of course, a celebration can’t exist these days without a website, and Boca Raton’s official centennial site created by marketing consultant Merit Mile has gone live.

Click on boca100.com to learn about the city’s history, upcoming events, and how to participate.

If you are feeling the love and pride, you can make a tax-deductible donation. 

Another option is to become a sponsor or partner to get “valuable recognition and exposure” or to “take a strategic role in making this historic event a success and gain unparalleled visibility for your business.” And you can volunteer behind the scenes or at events.

But wait, you say. What about merch?

Boca Raton has it. Visit the website’s online store.

The virtual shelves aren’t well stocked yet, but more is promised.

For now, consider a Boca100 mug for $10 (11 ounces) or $15 (15 ounces), and branded coaster sets, golf balls, insulated water bottles or pickleball sets with prices ranging from $20 to $50.

You might want to wear your support for the city. Items include men’s and women’s branded polo shirts for $135 and $130, respectively.

Events have already launched.

In January, the city unveiled “Reflections of Time,” a 19-foot-tall sculpture in downtown’s Sanborn Square. Designed by Jodie Aznar and manufactured locally by Signsations, it welcomes visitors to the city with a sign that is inspired by a 1960s-era version that told residents and visitors they were entering Boca Raton.

The illuminated sculpture — crafted from steel, aluminum, concrete and stucco — transitions through the colors of pink, yellow, blue and green.

“Through this sculpture, we celebrate Boca Raton’s rich heritage and natural beauty while sparking a meaningful dialogue about the city’s future,” said Veronica Hatch, the city’s public art coordinator.

The city’s first major centennial celebration was Boca Street Fest on Jan. 25, a new annual downtown festival at the city amphitheater and throughout Mizner Park. It included live local entertainment, a community marketplace and beer garden.

The city will advise residents of additional events. 

Bicyclists head north on State Road A1A in Gulf Stream on Jan. 4 near the site of a crash with an SUV that injured six riders a year earlier. Florida Highway Patrol escorted the cyclists, who rode in remembrance of the crash. Jim Rassol/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

With a December bicycle fatality on State Road A1A in Boca Raton fresh in their minds, more than 300 cyclists took to that roadway in early January — commemorating the first anniversary of a crash in Gulf Stream that injured six riders.

The group hoped to raise awareness of the importance of sharing the road, and organizers said the ride was born in part out of the belief that more needs to be done to make the highway safer. They called for a cultural change among both motorists and bicyclists, even as they and other organizations push for road design improvements and other safety enhancements that are slow in coming.

“We want to bring awareness that we are here and that we are a huge part of the community,” said Jeanine Seeger, one of the leaders of the Florida Share the Road Coalition, which formed after the January 2024 predawn Gulf Stream collision in which an SUV crossed over the center line. “We can’t immediately change the road and we can’t change drivers who don’t care. The only thing we can immediately change is to make sure people are aware.”

Bikes vs. cars
The inherent conflict between bicyclists and motorists on A1A has been an issue for decades, with finger-pointing on both sides. While bicyclists say the motorists need to change their attitudes, law enforcement and people driving on A1A say bicyclists need to do a better job of sharing the road as well.

“There needs to be awareness on both sides, respect on both sides and following of the law on both sides,” said Seeger, who herself was injured in July when a car hit her bicycle from behind while she was riding in Boynton Beach.

At the same time, bicyclists leading safety efforts in Boca Raton say there need to be design changes to the road — such as buffered bicycle lanes.

Even all of those steps, in combination with better signage, might not be enough, says Gulf Stream Police Chief Richard Jones.

“All of these things are useless if people don’t understand the rules,” he said. “We have all different interpretations of the rules.”

One area where bicyclists and law enforcement often disagree is on whether bicyclists can ride two abreast on A1A like they are permitted to do on other state roads. While most in law enforcement say single file is required except when passing, some bicyclists interpret the statute to say that side-by-side is permitted on A1A.

Jones believes that more education of the public in general could be beneficial.

“The Department of Transportation could take a greater initiative in educating motorists and cyclists about the rules of the road,” he said, adding that outreach efforts, literature and even including more information about sharing the road on driver’s tests could be helpful.

Although A1A continues to be a popular roadway for bicyclists, there are indications that collisions with motor vehicles, including the Dec. 15 crash that killed a 41-year-old Boca Raton-area man, are discouraging some from riding there.

Survey measures attitudes
“The most recent crash has more people reluctant to ride on A1A,” said Les Wilson, a Boca Raton cyclist and contributor to the BocaFirst blog that is conducting a survey designed to provide data for decision makers involved in an upcoming Florida Department of Transportation A1A improvement project.

Among the questions asked in the survey were how often bicyclists have experienced near-miss collisions with vehicles, how often both cyclists and drivers have experienced road rage from the other group, and how often drivers have experienced cyclists in the travel lane disrupting the safe flow of traffic.

Wilson also included a question on bike lane smoothness vs. travel lane smoothness.

“Bike lanes on A1A are known to be rough by the cycling community and are one of the major reasons bicyclists leave the bike lane,” he said.

Wilson said that the participation in the survey from both bicyclists and motorists — which could be presented to Boca’s Citizens’ Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board as early as this month — has been “excellent.”

Leaders of the Florida Share the Road Coalition say public officials need to do a better job of improving safety of roadways for all users, and some improvements are in the works, according to FDOT.

Bicyclists, however, say they’re just not enough.

A plan released by the state in June showed proposed improved signage on portions of A1A to encourage sharing the road, including sharrows — markings on the pavement depicting a bicycle with forward-pointing arrows.

That plan, however, was shot down by Gulf Stream town leaders who have also indicated a reluctance to any widening of the road through town. Manalapan officials were also critical of the proposed signage and sharrows in their town.

FDOT road projects
Down the road in Highland Beach, work on an $8.3 million A1A road improvement project is under way, and that project will include 5-foot bike lanes on both sides of the road.

In Boca Raton, FDOT plans a $7.3 million project that will improve the nearly 5-mile stretch of A1A that runs through the city. Work is expected to start in the fall of 2027.

One component of the project is adding 6-foot buffered bike lanes — with a 1-foot buffer and 5 feet of bike lane — to better separate drivers and cyclists.

That, say Wilson and Jim Wood, also with BocaFirst, is inadequate and would not have prevented the December accident.

In the survey, BocaFirst asks for opinions of two alternatives. One alternative would include a 4-foot-wide marked neutral zone between a 4-foot-8 bike lane and the travel lane and the other would include a 7-foot bike lane with a 1-foot-wide buffer. Both alternatives would include reflective markers on the edge of the travel lane.

In addition to those proposals, the city’s Citizens’ Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board has proposed that when the bike lane approaches city parks along A1A, the lane should be routed into the parks. Such a routing through Red Reef Park, near where the December crash happened, could have prevented it, Wilson said.

Mary Hladky contributed to this story.

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach town commissioners in January shied away from regulating “floating vessel platforms” — floating extensions of a dock used to keep boats out of the water when not in use — despite concerns from the owner of one home who fears the platforms can infringe on property rights.

At issue was whether the town had the legal authority to require setbacks up to 25 feet from the property line for the floating vessel platforms, which would have coincided with 25-foot setbacks Highland Beach imposes on docks. 

Several residents from the Bel Lido Isle neighborhood, which has a large number of homes with docks on lake-like basins, argued against any regulation of the platforms, pointing to several benefits. To bolster their case, they presented petitions with 75 signatures from 70 property owners.

Former Vice Mayor Greg Babij, a Bel Lido resident with a dock and floating vessel platforms, argued that most Palm Beach County waterfront communities have floating vessel platforms that are regulated by the state but unregulated by local government.

The platforms, which as their name implies rise and fall with the tides, have edges that are just 1 foot above the waterline, making them ideal for people pulling kayaks, jet skis, paddleboards and other recreational watercraft out of the water. They are also used to keep boats from sitting in the water, often in lieu of or in conjunction with fixed boat lifts. 

“It’s the only way to get on or off a kayak or jet ski safely,” Babij said. 

The issue came before the commission when a Bel Lido resident with a pie-shaped property on a corner lot raised concerns about a neighbor’s floating vessel platform, which the resident said infringes on property rights by blocking the view. 

The neighbor, who has a 38-foot boat on the floating platform, says the platform is on his side of the property line. He pointed out that his boat could be in the water all the way up to the property line since the town has no setbacks for boats. He also said he could use a fixed boat lift. 

While some commissioners appeared sympathetic to the concern about property values being diminished because the floating platform blocks the view, they also weren’t sure if they had the authority to impose setbacks, since the Florida Department of Environmental Protection had given the owner of the platform the green light to put it in. 

“We have so many things in place where you can’t infringe on a neighbor’s property rights,” Commissioner Evalyn David said. 

After doing research, Town Attorney Len Rubin concluded that the town could impose setbacks if the floating vessel platform is attached to a sea wall but not if attached to a dock and urged commissioners to be cautious if they decided to do so. 

“We would need to show significant justification,” he said, adding that the state law still leaves much unclear. 

Rubin told commissioners and audience members that the town has no authority to prohibit floating vessel platforms but could have the ability to regulate their location on a property. 

Attorneys for the neighbor with the floating platform disagreed, saying that since the state issued a permit, the local government’s regulatory authority is limited.

After much discussion, Mayor Natasha Moore — a Bel Lido Isle resident — said she felt the matter was best left up to the state. 

“I’m in favor of letting the state regulate floating vessel platforms,” she said. 

Irvin Lippman stands in the Ohnell Sculpture Garden, one of the improvements to the Boca Raton Museum of Art during his decade as executive director. The sculpture is ‘Music Power II,’ a 2002 bronze by artist Arman. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

The Boca Raton Museum of Art needed a new executive director, but Jody Harrison Grass was uncertain how to find the best person for the position.

Grass, then vice president of the museum’s Board of Trustees, knew someone she could turn to for advice: Irvin Lippman, who had retired as executive director of the Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale and returned to his home state of Texas.

As she spoke with him in 2014, Grass casually asked if he might be interested in the job. Yes, Lippman told her in an email the next day, he might.

In a stroke of serendipity, Grass placed that call to Lippman at the right moment.

“It was a cold winter day in Texas, so cold you could not go outside,” he said. “The thought of coming to Florida for six months was very appealing.”

Visiting the museum to discuss a short-term role, Lippman jotted down notes. Those notes, Grass said while laughing, actually were a list of more than 100 items that needed improvement.

In short order, Lippman was hired for the interim position and soon became the permanent director.

“I could see the potential of this museum,” he said. “I could see the enthusiasm of the board.”

Eleven years later, Lippman, 76, retired for the second time effective Jan. 31.

“It has been a wonderful partnership,” Grass said. “Irvin’s vision and humility and his commitment to the arts and art school, education and the community — there are not too many people I have met who have all the qualities Irvin holds.”

“He really brought the museum to what it is today,” said Dalia Stiller, president of the Board of Trustees when Lippman was hired. “He has the fortitude and the vision. I am grateful for everything he has done for the museum and the community.”

Replacement on board

Following a national search, the board announced in October the appointment of Dr. Ena Heller as the museum’s next executive director as of Feb. 3.

Heller previously served as Bruce A. Beal Director of the Rollins Museum of Art in Winter Park and, before that, executive director of the Museum of Biblical Art in New York City. She also has held positions in the Medieval and Education Departments at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“I think it is a wonderful choice,” Lippman said.

Before taking the helm at the Fort Lauderdale museum, which became the NSU Art Museum during his nine years there, Lippman served as executive director of the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio, assistant director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas, and in the education department of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Museum improvements

During Lippman’s tenure in Boca Raton, the museum in Mizner Park was transformed inside and out by a $5 million renovation financed by donors.

A significant change was the removal of the west colonnade of the adjacent city amphitheater, which had obscured the museum.

“We had a lot of problems with entrance visibility,” Stiller said. “We got a lot of calls from people who said, ‘We are in Mizner Park and can’t find the museum.’”

In other improvements outside the museum, the Ohnell Sculpture Garden was created and allowed artwork to migrate outside the museum’s walls. Landscaping and additional sculptures were added along Federal Highway that buffer the museum from traffic and allow for a pleasant stroll around the building.

Interior renovations include the lobby and Wolgin Education Center, where children can engage in art activities.

“I am most proud of achieving that,” Lippman said.

Three new galleries are dedicated to African art and the art of ancient America, the museum’s collection of prints and drawings, and the celebration of artists from the local community.

Finally, the restrooms were renovated with Dutch tiles in colors inspired by the Everglades.

“That was my last frontier,” Lippman quipped.

The renovations created better space to host exhibitions, which are the lifeblood of art museums.

Popular exhibitions

Among recent exhibitions that proved wildly popular with the public were the 2021 international premier of “Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru,” featuring 192 artifacts from the Museo Larco in Lima that filled the entire museum, and the Art of Hollywood Backdrop in 2022. 

Those boosted attendance by more than 300%, allowing the museum to bounce back from a drop-off caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current exhibition, which coincides with the museum’s 75th anniversary, is “Splendor and Passion: Baroque Spain and Its Empire,” on view through March 30. It showcases 57 paintings from the Hispanic Society Museum and Library collection by artists such as El Greco, Velázquez and Murillo.

“I was there with my 90-year-old mother who said, ‘I feel like I am in New York City,’” said Grass, now the immediate past board chair.

Mastering relationships

Beyond the museum, Lippman has established a relationship with the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, the 132-acre former IBM headquarters.

BRIC provides a gallery for the museum’s annual Art on BRIC Walls, a juried exhibition that is open to South Florida artists.

“Rocket,” a 30-foot-tall gleaming sculpture of a rocket ship by the late artist Hubert Phipps, stands on the BRIC campus, thanks to Lippman. 

Phipps wanted to display “Rocket” at the art museum, but it did not have enough space. So Lippman said he suggested locating it at BRIC, which proved a great location because Phipps was an admirer of Marcel Breuer, who designed the iconic IBM building.

Asked what he considers his most significant accomplishments, Lippman first cites building a strong staff.

“One does not do this alone,” he said. “The most valuable thing in the museum is the staff. In many ways, the director is like a dean of a college where you are encouraging your staff, your professors, to always do the best they can. And that is always how I have taken this role.”

Stiller agrees this was among Lippman’s strengths. “He did a great job in hiring really competent people,” she said. “They were very eager to help and make the public feel welcome.”

Lippman’s retirement will stick this time, he said. He and his husband, William Harkins, will continue to live in Boca Raton.

“We are enamored of the life of the city,” he said. “And we have the good fortune of living across from the beach. … You realize what a very special piece of land it is.” 

By Brian Biggane

The possibility that South Palm Beach could end its trash pickup agreement with contractor Waste Management brought three representatives of the company to the Town Council meeting in January.

Council members engaged in a discussion about the prospect of ending the town’s 10-year agreement, despite the fact the contract runs through September. Members said they had heard complaints from fellow residents that the trucks left “drippings” after collecting their trash, and they were generally less than satisfied with the service.

The council ultimately asked Barbara Herrera, community affairs manager for the company, to put together a new proposal incorporating the results of their discussion in time to be considered at its February meeting. The proposal could then be voted on or, if not, Town Manager Jamie Titcomb would have sufficient time to solicit bids from Waste Management and competing companies.

Waste Management in January lost business from Gulf Stream, where the Town Commission voted to end a decades-old relationship with the company, citing a proposed rate increase.

Herrera was joined by District Operations Manager Carlos Diaz and Operations Manager Rafael Oropesa in laying out the company’s case to South Palm Beach officials.

Herrera held council members’ attention as she outlined the advantages of negotiating a new contract with Waste Management: What she described as the “seamless” nature of carrying on with what is already in place; the fact that the company’s Palm Beach County headquarters is only 4.6 miles from Town Hall; the 200-plus employees working in the Palm Beach district, and the 170 collection vehicles operating in the county.

“Any concerns that you have about our trucks or our maintenance procedures, etc., we are an open book to our partners,” she added.

Mayor Bonnie Fischer was first to engage Herrera, noting that the town’s makeup of nearly 100% condominiums featuring dumpsters rather than garbage cans should drive down the cost of the contract.

“Maybe you can sharpen your pencils a little more,” Fischer said. “It’s really easy, it’s five-eighths of a mile, compared to Lake Worth Beach or Manalapan.”

With the demolition of the current Town Hall imminent, Fischer also asked if Herrera could assure the council that all the construction waste can be removed by the company.

Herrera said that with the equipment at the company’s disposal that wouldn’t be a problem.

Vice Mayor Monte Berendes cited a story in the December issue of The Coastal Star regarding negotiations Waste Management had recently with Manalapan, saying that town recommended municipalities should solicit bids for the service as a matter of course.

“It’s like private insurance, you should go out every year and see what it’s like,” Berendes said. “I’m very happy with the service, but I don’t know what else is out there, and I think that’s what we should be doing.”

To that, Herrera responded that when agreements such as the ones between Waste Management and municipalities are not extended, it’s a case of the municipality being “very, very unhappy” with the service provided, adding, “We do not believe that’s the case.”

Gulf Stream ended the relationship after Waste Management proposed raising trash pickup rates by 62%. The commission chose to go with Coastal Waste and Recycling Inc., one of three companies to submit a proposal. The others were Waste Management and Waste Pro USA.

In South Palm Beach, Town Council member Ray McMillan presented what he termed a “beef” with Waste Management, saying residents at his Southgate building have witnessed trucks coming to unload dumpsters overloaded with trash, having the trash spill out while the dumpster is being unloaded and then driving off, leaving the overflow on the ground.

Herrera immediately apologized, pointed to her two colleagues, and promised to address that concern immediately.

Fischer raised one more point, citing recent TV videos stating that much of the recycling efforts being done across the United States instead wind up with the recyclables in landfills.

Herrera assured her that the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority runs a top recycling facility in West Palm Beach and does exactly what people would expect.

By Rich Pollack

A violent struggle between Highland Beach police and a man with a machete who had just cut a valet outside the Toscana condominium ended without major injuries, despite a gun discharging when the attacker attempted to wrestle it from an officer’s holster.

The valet required several stitches to treat the cut on his lip.

According to court records, Phillip Demercado Jr., 33, was arrested Jan. 23 on several charges including aggravated battery and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, following a six-minute wrestling battle that included the Coconut Creek man being tasered several times. 

Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann praised his officers for the way they handled the situation, which had the potential to have a much different ending. 

“The quick response and actions of the officers kept anyone else from getting injured,” he said. 

The struggle began shortly after 5:30 p.m. when police were called to Toscana by a security guard who told them that Demercado had cut the valet on the lip with the machete and that he was behind the concierge desk. 

Hartmann said that Demercado had come to Toscana to drop off an employee.

As officers approached, Demercado charged forward while holding an unsheathed machete.  

After being hit by the taser, Demercado dropped to the ground and the officer was able to kick the machete away. When police tried to subdue him, Demercado was able to unholster the officer’s gun and pulled the trigger, firing one round through the holster. The officer was able to regain control of his weapon. 

An additional officer tried to subdue Demercado as he continued to attempt to pull a gun — this time from the second officer’s holster — before he was finally handcuffed. 

“The taser was deployed multiple times by officers during the violent struggle but he continued to resist,” Detective Dwayne Fernandes wrote. 

Hartmann said that injuries to the officers and to Demercado, if any, were minor. 

Demercado was being held without bond in the Palm Beach County Jail. 

Appointments approved — The addition of Sandy Beckett to the South Palm Beach Town Council left several vacancies on town boards, and Beckett was credited with the initiative to bring the boards back to full membership. As a result, residents Lewis Saltiel, Maribeth Gagnon and Leslie Finnie were voted in as members of the Citizens Action Advisory Board, Peter Finnie to both the CAAB and Planning Board, and Steve Nordlinger to the Architectural Review Board and Planning Board.

More CPZ meetings held — CPZ Architects was not on hand to report on its progress in planning the new Town Hall at the January council meeting, but Town Manager Jamie Titcomb stepped in with an update. Another set of meetings was held in mid-January, and Titcomb said the plan was to present drawings to the public at a meeting in either late February or early March.

“My personal objective is to break ground in calendar year 2025 on a new facility,” Titcomb said, “so I want to keep pushing on the timeline to make sure we get there.”

Transportation plan approved — The Palm Beach County transportation plan was approved with little discussion. South Palm Beach is one of the 39 municipalities in the county being asked to approve the plan.

Hinterland payment approved — The council approved a payment of $52,012.80 to Hinterland Group Inc. for emergency work performed in late 2024 on the town’s lift station. The damage was from an impeller being destroyed in the sump pump station by a piece of equipment going through the storm system.

— Brian Biggane

Via Mizner apartments (right) will continue to operate during Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for the owner, an affiliate of Penn-Florida. The apartments are the only completed building in this rendering of a finished complex. Still under construction are the Mandarin Oriental branded residences (left) and hotel (center). Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

An affiliate of Penn-Florida Companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 15 to head off an auction of its 101 Via Mizner luxury apartment building in downtown Boca Raton.

The now-canceled auction of the 366-unit building at 101 E. Camino Real was to take place the day the bankruptcy petition was filed.

Penn-Florida faced losing ownership of 101 Via Mizner because it failed to pay off a $195 million senior loan provided by an affiliate of Blackstone Mortgage Trust in 2022. The Blackstone affiliate filed a notice on Dec. 1 that it had initiated a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure.

The apartment building will continue to operate as usual during the bankruptcy proceedings, according to a pleading in the case.

The Penn-Florida affiliate is Via Mizner Owner I LLC, whose manager is Mark Gensheimer, the founder and president of Penn-Florida.

The bankruptcy filing is a legal maneuver that gives Via Mizner Owner I more time to obtain refinancing.

At the time the auction notice was filed, Penn-Florida said that the Blackstone affiliate loan was in good standing, had recently matured and was in the process of being repaid in full in January through a refinance.

“To allow time for the refinancing to close, a reorganization proceeding is being utilized which will also provide for the building to continue operating in its normal course,” the company said in a statement.

The statement also said the refinancing is unrelated to the construction of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and branded residences that are located immediately north of the apartment building. The three buildings comprise the Via Mizner project.

In a very brief comment to The Coastal Star, Boca Raton attorney Bradley Shraiberg, who represents Via Mizner Owner I, said the company was going to propose a plan of reorganization and that a refinancing is likely.

A pleading he subsequently filed in the case says that Blackstone elected not to extend the loan to accommodate the refinancing. 

101 Via Mizner has been appraised at more than $250 million, but Via Mizner Owner I believes the value is significantly higher, the pleading states.

The Penn-Florida project is facing many headwinds.

 The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and branded condos were to be completed in 2017, but that date has been delayed five times and now is slated for the end of 2025.

A number of owners who placed large deposits on condos tired of waiting and filed lawsuits seeking return of their money. Two couples voluntarily dismissed their cases, indicating they had reached confidential settlement agreements with Penn-Florida.

Contractors also have filed suits, claiming they had not been paid for completed work. Two were voluntarily dismissed, while three are pending. 

The Town Council has five members who serve staggered three-year terms.

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