By Dan Moffett

Ocean Ridge commissioners aren’t buying a recommendation from a citizens advisory panel that the town should turn over its water pipes to Boynton Beach when a contract between the two communities expires next year.
In October, the town’s Septic to Sewer Citizens Advisory Committee voted 4-1 in favor of giving some 85,000 linear feet of pipes to Boynton Beach.
Boynton Beach provides water to Ocean Ridge but is not responsible for maintaining the pipes or repairing any problems.
As part of the recommendation, the committee stipulated that Boynton Beach should take full responsibility for maintaining the pipes “in perpetuity” at no cost to Ocean Ridge and to give the town preferred in-city water rates, the same as Boynton residents.
When the idea came before the Town Commission in November, commissioners and staff balked at the prospect of surrendering an asset that Town Manager Tracey Stevens says is worth at least $3.8 million.
And during their Dec. 2 meeting, commissioners decided the responsibility for pursuing answers to their inquiries and working out financial details of the water contract should shift back to the town manager and directed staff to negotiate directly with Boynton Beach so the town’s bargaining positions stay out of the public forum.
That move reflected the commission’s opinion that the advisory committee’s focus had become narrower.
Previously, in a memo sent to the committee after the Nov. 4 meeting, Stevens outlined eight questions for the committee to address including assessment of the condition of the pipes and valves, how much it costs annually to maintain the town’s pipes and how much it would cost to replace them.
The commission requested more information about ownership and liability of three water pipes under the Intracoastal Waterway that connect Boynton Beach’s pipes to Ocean Ridge’s.
The commission also wanted the committee to explore the process for repurchasing the pipes down the road if necessary and to provide information on how nearby Manalapan and Hypoluxo are handling the issue of pipes as Hypoluxo splits from the Manalapan water system.
At the Nov. 4 meeting, Vice Mayor Don MaGruder called the advisory committee’s recommendation on the water pipes “premature. I don’t think the Septic to Sewer Advisory Committee is really on a very good track there.
“They’re doing a really good job, but I think this came to the commission too quickly. They haven’t been able to do a lot of the research they wanted to do and that they still need to do.”
Mayor Steve Coz agreed, saying the main reason the committee was created was to look at ways to finance septic-to-sewer conversion — not to get “dragged into” water contract issues between the municipalities. The current agreement expires next November.
Commissioner Kristine de Haseth said the committee needed more guidance to stay on track. “Staff has to be very conscientious and clear on what you’re asking the committee to do,” she said. “With a $3.8 million capital asset, to give it away for nothing is fiscally irresponsible.”
Stevens said the recommendation raised potential unintended consequences that have not been fully explored. “We have a lot of questions that still need to be answered,” she said.
  During the Dec. 2 meeting, committee Chairman Neil Hennigan said the panel wanted to come before the commissioners and explain the reasoning behind its recommendation. He also asked for clarity on the advisers’ role.
Although the commission rejected the idea of a presentation on the water contract, Coz said he does want a presentation and a written report when the Septic to Sewer work is done. The committee plans to meet again Jan. 9.
In other business:
  • The commission is about to make another attempt at using signs to curb beachgoers’ bad behavior and trespassing on private property.
Commissioners approved language for four signs to be erected on the town’s beachfront: on the beach south of Ocean Inlet Park; north of Hammock Park; south of Oceanfront Park, and north of Briny Breezes.
The signs will say: “End of Public Beach. Please Respect Private Property. Thank you.”
The town’s logo will appear beneath the message.
• MaGruder told the commission on Dec. 2 he will not run for a second term in the March 17 municipal election because he is moving to North Carolina next year.
“This month I celebrate my 33rd year as a resident in Ocean Ridge,” he said. “By my count, there’s been 11 mayors, four police chiefs and at least seven town managers. … I just wanted to tell you all how much I appreciated you electing me to the commission. I love this town. I’m going to miss it.”
Besides MaGruder’s seat, the one held by Commissioner Susan Hurlburt may be contested. Candidate filing dates run until noon Dec. 13.

Rich Pollack contributed to this story.

The hall, a half-block off Atlantic Avenue on Southeast Third Avenue, will have 36 vendors and focus on ethnic cuisines. The market is expected to open in spring 2021. Rendering provided

By Christine Davis and Jan Norris

The trendy food hall concept broke ground in Delray Beach in November, with the shovels ready for the Delray Beach Market.
Menin Development is behind the 150,000-square-foot, four-story building that will consist of a parking garage for 220 vehicles plus the market on the bottom floor.
The market will be a half-block off Atlantic Avenue on Southeast Third Avenue, with the railroad tracks just west of it.
Longtime South Florida restaurateur Dennis Max, as director of hospitality, will oversee the 36 vendors expected to fill the hall.
“Craig Menin and I are old friends. He came to me with the idea already formed, and I gladly joined his team,” Max said.
Growing up in Los Angeles within walking distance of that city’s Farmers Market, which predated his childhood, played a huge role in influencing Max’s life in the food business, he said. He hopes to replicate parts of it in downtown Delray, as well as parts of other successful food halls such as the newer Time Out in Miami.
He’s curating a group of entrepreneurial vendors who will prepare dishes at the hall and in some cases sell ingredients or partial meals for people to prepare at home.
The focus is on ethnic cuisines prepared by people for whom they are heritage foods.
“Our mission statement is to be genuine and pure, authentic and fresh. There will be no chains here,” Max said. “We’re looking for real people who live in the community, who are first, second or third generation — it doesn’t matter. But to have that sort of background, be it Japanese, South American — anywhere, it doesn’t matter, and be authentic and pure, that’s what we want.
“J.P., our publicists, said it best: It’ll be a casual setting where you can get first-class, quality food options from around the world without having to travel, or commit the time to a traditional restaurant meal.”
The goal, he said, is to have as many foods prepared on site as possible for customers. “Also we want them to buy things to take home for the rest of the week for their meals,” Max said.
One example he gave was of the wurst maker who will offer sausages and wursts packaged for the home cook as a butcher would do.
“We will represent all this diversity, from Mexico and Italy, Spain, all around the world,” he said.
The food hall is an ideal venue for would-be restaurant owners for whom a brick and mortar space is prohibitive in both cost and labor. Food truck “graduates” are the ideal candidates, Max said.
“We love food truck people. There’s a natural progression from a food truck to a space at a food hall. It’s virtually impossible to open a brick and mortar restaurant, even a small one, for someone with a modest business.
“The food truck business owner is able to get the business concept and handle the efficiency of being a vendor in a busy hall. He or she already does that in the truck.”
Max and his team now are vetting each potential vendor in advance of the anticipated spring 2021 opening. Vendors are coming to the test kitchen at his office, or bringing around their food trucks for the team to sample. Those that are deemed authentic and good quality get the thumbs up.
Menin will remain the landlord and put up the money for all the equipment in the hall for the cooks: stoves, refrigerators, tables and small appliances. The vendor is therefore not out his life savings, Max said, if things don’t work out.
“It is a business venture,” he said. “The landlord needs to have control. I equate it to a sports team: The owner needs to be in control of the players. He needs to be able to let a team member go if they aren’t working out. This way, they can walk away with the time and labor they put in without losing all that money for equipment.”
The hall will be laid out with take-out window vendors such as Seed Coffee of Boca Raton occupying the west side with sidewalk seating. These vendors could stay open late and open early with the rest of the food hall opening later.
Inside, seating for 650 will be scattered throughout, both individual and communal spots. Vendors will have counter seating in their areas.
Outdoors, there will be seating for 150. That includes on the east side of the building, an indoor/outdoor beer garden with a patio.
Two bars, one on the mezzanine level and the second downstairs, will serve liquor; another craft brew bar will be indoors.
“Most food halls control all the alcohol but we’ll let our vendors sell beer and wine. A few each, so you don’t have to run all around after you get your food to get your drinks,” Max said.
A market with carts of fresh farm produce might be in the works for Saturdays.
“We’re looking to help entrepreneurs make that leap from a food truck to a food hall, and maybe to their own restaurant. There are great stories of this out there,” he said.
Menin is committed to the project and is hands-on, involved in all the decisions, unlike many market owners, Max said. He said he’s privileged to be paired with someone who isn’t in it for just the money.
“It’s like making a movie with the best director and best producer you could have. It’s really a labor of love,” Max said.
The Delray Beach Market will be at 33 SE Third Ave. It’s expected to create about 280 jobs during construction, and 250 or more permanent jobs.

Three new pop-ups have signed short-term leases and are open at Mizner Park in Boca Raton: Wolf Gallery; Lululemon, which sells athletic apparel; and Bonita’s, a women’s clothing store.
Hästens, a bed and mattress store, and Cielito Artisan Pops, offering frozen treats and gifts, will open shortly as permanent tenants.
Other new tenants slated to open in 2020 include Calaveras Cantina, a Mexican restaurant; the Blue Fish, a sushi and Japanese restaurant; Lost Weekend, a bar featuring billiards, other games, arts and brews; Subculture Coffee; and Strike 10 Bowling.  

Death or Glory, 116 NE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach, planned to hold an Ugly Sweater Party on Dec. 2 as part of its Miracle Holiday Pop-Up Bar. The idea was for people who didn’t have sweaters ugly enough to bring in what they had, with Delray Beach fashion designer Amanda Perna gussying up those sweaters, for free.
Perna’s brand, the House of Perna, has been sold at retailers that include Anthropologie, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and BHLDN. In late 2018, she launched a second brand, Neon Bohemians, which debuted at Nordstrom. And in 2019, she published her children’s book, F is for Fashion.
Miracle Holiday Pop-Up Bar at Death or Glory continues to celebrate the holiday season through Dec. 31 and will sell glassware with 10% of sales donated to Action Against Hunger.
For more information, visit www.deathorglorybar.com or call 561-808-8814.

Lawn Love, a California app-based service for professional lawn care services, is launching in Ocean Ridge. Users of its service can schedule, review and pay for yard work via a mobile app or website, which uses satellite imaging software to review a property and generate a quote in a couple of minutes. 
Lawn Love has partnered with small lawn-care businesses across Florida, each having gone through a screening process to assess its level of lawn care experience. Services offered include mowing, weeding, aeration and gutter clearing. For more information, visit https://lawnlove.com.

Steve Schmidt takes part in CEO Build. Photo provided

In October, more than 100 CEOs and other senior-level business leaders took part in Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County’s third annual CEO Build to raise hammers and roof trusses on a Boynton Beach home for Gretta Ceasar and her family. They also raised $350,000.
Several also worked to revitalize the neighboring Maranatha Haitian Evangelical Baptist Church through the organization’s neighborhood revitalization program, presented by Vertical Bridge Holdings. Habitat’s “A Brush with Kindness” program reinvests in homes and other community assets. 
Among those who participated were Boca Raton residents Paul Adkins, Doug Fash, Forrest Heathcott, Rick Howard, David Isreal, Steve Schmidt, John Tolbert and Jay Whelchel; and Ocean Ridge residents Ken Lebersfeld and Scott Sullivan.
Fash, founder and CEO of Sunflower Landscaping and Maintenance, was the honorary chairman. Sponsors were Moraca Builders and Sklar Furnishings.

Boca Raton-based Pebb Capital purchased five Atlantic Avenue properties on 6.7 acres — which included acquisition of the Sundy House — for close to $40 million toward its plans to build a mixed-use project called Sundy Village in the Old School Square Historic Arts District. The sale closed Oct. 22, public records show.
The Delray Beach project will cost more than $100 million to develop and is in a federally designated Opportunity Zone.
The project will include nearly 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and about 70,000 square feet of office space, with construction to begin within a year. Marshall Florida Holdings was the seller.

Kimberly Vassalluzzo purchased an estate at 249 W. Alexander Palm Road in the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, Boca Raton, for $13 million on Nov. 15.
The six-bedroom home, with 11,401 total square feet, was built last year. Mikhail Avrutin, who is the owner and developer of Baltic Hotel Group, was the seller. Both Vassalluzzo and Avrutin were represented by David W. Roberts with Royal Palm Properties.

Richard Templer, the owner of a professional horse racing stable, and his wife, Diane, bought a waterfront home at 190 NE Fifth Ave., Boca Raton, for $12.15 million on Oct. 24. Jeffery H. Norman, the founder of JH Norman Construction, sold the home.
The custom five-bedroom home, with 180 feet on the Intracoastal Waterway, was built in 2018 by JH Norman Construction and designed by the Brenner Architecture Group.
Norman bought the property for $6.79 million in March 2017 before building the house, records show. The D’Angelo/ Liguori team of Premier Estate Properties represented the buyer and the seller in the deal.

Walgreen Co., based in Deerfield, Illinois, sold the 14,362-square-foot store at 3200 S. Federal Highway in Delray Beach for $6.54 million in October, property records show. The buyer is WBAFL001 LLC, a Delaware company. Public records also show that Walgreens now leases the property from WBAFL001.
WBAFL001 is tied to Oak Street Real Estate Capital of Chicago, a private equity firm that manages commingled funds and accounts, according to its website. The Delray Beach property last sold in 2001 for $4.2 million.

Mitchell Robbins, co-founder of Robbins Property Associates, bought a 7,997-square-foot house at 461 S. Maya Palm Drive in the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, Boca Raton, for $5.5 million.
The home, built in 2016, has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and two half-bathrooms.
The sellers, Robert and Suzanne Noble, bought the property for $5.825 million in 2016.
David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the buyer and the seller in the deal.
Robbins Property Associates was founded in 2009 by brothers Mitchell and Steve Robbins to acquire multifamily communities. The firm merged with North Palm Beach-based Electra America in late 2016.

CDS Investments, a Florida limited company led by Carl DeSantis and William Milmoe, paid $3.1 million for the 10,000-square-foot building at 401 W. Linton Blvd., Delray Beach, on Oct. 24. Brokers William Cunningham and Christopher McInnis of Park View Realty represented the buyer, while Marcus & Millichap represented the seller, Callisto Realty LLC.
Callisto Realty paid $2,475,000 for the property in March 2007. The third floor of the building will soon be available for lease.

Broker Jeffrey Ray joined Compass Florida in November. He has opened an administrative office, Jeffrey Ray & Associates at Compass, 2875 S. Ocean Blvd., Suite 200, Palm Beach, and is assembling a team.
Ray, a Manalapan resident, founded Jeffrey Ray & Associates in 2008, specializing in luxury real estate from Palm Beach to Miami, with more than $300 million in closed sales to his credit. For info or to apply to join his team, email him at Jeffrey.ray@compass.com.

Atlantis resident Amy Snook, a partner in the All About Florida Homes team of Lang Realty, conducted training sessions for the Women’s Council of Realtors Leadership Academy in Chicago and Orlando. The Chicago program addressed membership development and how to bring value to members of an organization. In Orlando, participants received training for overall and event budget planning.

Kurman and McIntyre

True Floridian Realty, led by Noelle McIntyre, and FurBaby Real Estate, led by Adrianne Kurman, have merged to form the FurBaby Group at True Floridian Realty.
True Floridian Realty, founded in 2011, has more than 30 agents with locations in Jupiter, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Kurman created FurBaby Real Estate in 2017, with the goal of helping clients find homes that fit both their needs and their pets’ needs.
Both women are passionate about animals. True Floridian Realty and FurBaby Real Estate donated nearly $20,000 to pet rescue organizations in Palm Beach County this year. And for every transaction, the FurBaby Group donates to local animal rescue organizations.
For more info, visit http://truefloridianrealty.com/furbaby.
McIntyre’s Delray Beach Real Estate Co. has merged with Dina L. Branham’s Deluxe Properties in Delray Beach. The merger created the Deluxe Division of Delray Beach Real Estate, with eight agents who specialize in luxury real estate.
For information, visit www.delraybeachrealestateco.com/deluxe-division. Both new business entities have offices at 100 NE Fifth Ave.

The Boca Real Estate Investment Club’s annual holiday party will be on from 6-8 p.m., Dec. 12 at Saltwater Brewery, 1701 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. The cost to attend is $20. For information, call 561-391-7325 or visit www.bocarealestateclub.com.

Brightline, soon to be Virgin Trains, was selected as the Project of the Year by the Urban Land Institute Southeast Florida/Caribbean as part of its 2019 Vision Awards. One of five finalists, Brightline was awarded the honor during a ceremony in October in Miami. The award recognized Brightline for its transit-oriented development in South Florida. Launched in 2018, Brightline operates in Florida between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with plans to expand into Orlando.

Boca Raton-based Florida Peninsula Insurance Co. and its subsidiary, Edison Insurance Co., announced that their president, Clint Strauch, was unanimously voted to serve a three-year term on the Florida State University risk management and insurance executive council board.
FSU’s Dr. William T. Hold/National Alliance Program in Risk Management and Insurance was recently ranked No. 3 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
The council supports and funds initiatives that provide students an industry perspective on the knowledge and skills needed to work in the field.
Strauch’s background also includes a stint as general manager of his own Allstate Insurance agency.

Jan Norris contributed to this column.

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

Delray Beach tennis star Coco Gauff shocked the world and herself with a Wimbledon victory over Venus Williams. Photo provided

By Brian Biggane

Local tennis fans hoping to catch Delray Beach sensation Coco Gauff in action will get their chance when Kevin Anderson and First Serve present the Courtside Cause at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club in Boca Raton.

Anderson, who reached a career-high No. 5 in the ATP rankings in July 2018, and Gauff will be joined on court by twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful doubles duo in the history of American tennis. Stand-up comedian Michael Kosta, a fixture on The Daily Show, will serve as emcee.

Gauff, 15, was the biggest story in the tennis world this year. She defeated Venus Williams in her first main-draw match at Wimbledon before advancing to the fourth round, then reached the third round of the U.S. Open two months later.

Gauff recently won the Linz Open in Austria, making her the youngest winner on the WTA Tour since 2004.

Anderson, a Gulf Stream resident whose wife, Kelsey, recently gave birth to their first child, a girl named Keira, was a finalist in both the 2017 U.S. Open and 2018 Wimbledon. He has battled injuries of late and underwent knee surgery in September. He still compiled an 11-4 record in 2019 that included a victory last January at an ATP event in Pune, India.

Proceeds from the event go to Dezzy’s Second Chance Animal Shelter and the Ocean Conservancy.

Tickets are $300 per person, or $5,000 for a group of eight that includes reserved seats, dinner and champagne. For more information visit www.courtsidecause.org.

Singer Diana Ross will perform at the Jan. 3 event.

By Amy Woods

Diana Ross and Rita Rudner return to The Breakers on Palm Beach to entertain an elite crowd at the Lady in Red Gala.

The Jan. 3 affair serves as an encore to the 2019 gala, at which the music icon and acclaimed comedian performed, drawing record attendance.

“Just like last year, L.I.F.E.’s 26th annual Lady in Red will be supreme,” said Lois Pope, chairwoman of the event and founder of Leaders in Furthering Education.

Ross, whom Billboard magazine declared “Female Entertainer of the Century,” and Rudner, who has the longest-running solo comedy show in Las Vegas history, will headline the gala, with the Palm Beach Symphony playing during the cocktail hour. The Danny Beck Party Band will take over after dinner.

Proceeds from the $1,000 ticket will benefit Pups4Patriots, a L.I.F.E. program that trains shelter dogs so they can be partnered as companions for veterans with disabilities.

“Our goal, as always, is to raise as much money as possible because the need is so great,” Pope said, adding that the United States has more than 4 million disabled veterans.

“It is estimated that upwards of 20% of these veterans suffer from PTSD, and we know that about 20 veterans commit suicide each and every day.

“We also know that having specially trained therapy and companion dogs has a profoundly positive impact on these veterans — helping them cope with the challenges of trying to reintegrate into society while still dealing with the physical and emotional scars of war.”

The cost to train one Pups4Patriots dog exceeds $20,000.

“The reason we have the freedom to have a gala such as the Lady in Red, that we have the freedoms that we enjoy so much in this country, is because of the courageous men and women who serve in our armed forces,” Pope said.

“We have a collective obligation to express our gratitude to them. So, the more money we raise, the more dogs we can train and then give them free of charge to the veterans.”

If You Go
What: Lady in Red Gala to benefit Pups4Patriots for disabled veterans
When: 6 p.m. Jan. 3
Where: The Breakers, 1 South County Road, Palm Beach
Cost: $1,000
Information: 561-582-8083 or www.life-edu.org

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

By Amy Woods

Shannon Eadon unanimously was elected by the board of Old School Square in October as the center’s president and CEO. She fills a vacancy left by Rob Steele, who resigned in May 2018.

Eadon hails from New Jersey, where she led a nonprofit theater in Englewood.

“I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “The staff at Old School Square have poured their hearts into this center, and I’m excited to foster their growing creativity.”

Board Chairwoman Elise Johnson said, “Eadon has a thorough understanding of the needs of our community, our visitors and our staff. I have no doubt that she is the right person to take the helm at Old School Square and lead us into a new decade as the community’s cultural center.”

New executive director at children’s foundation

Boca West Children’s Foundation has appointed longtime Boca Raton resident and community leader Pamela Weinroth as executive director.

Weinroth will oversee collaborations with the 25 local organizations the foundation supports in addition to fundraising projects.
“We are thrilled to welcome Pam as our executive director,” Chairman Arthur Adler said. “This is the perfect person at the perfect time to help us continue our mission to aid children at risk in our area.”

For information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.bocawestfoundation.org.

Pugh to lead philanthropy at Community Foundation

Vicki Pugh recently was named vice president of philanthropic giving at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

Pugh, who previously served as vice president for development at Palm Beach Atlantic University, will be in charge of connecting donors to philanthropic causes and facilitating legacy and planned gifts. She also will work with staff members to advance the foundation’s giving program.

“Vicki brings over 30 years of nonprofit experience to her new role,” President and CEO Bradley Hurlburt said.

“Her passion and expertise align wonderfully with our mission to advance the well-being of our communities. We look forward to the strategic direction she will provide in supporting our charitable giving efforts.”

For information, call 561-659-6800 or visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org.

Community Caring Center names directors

The Community Caring Center of Palm Beach County has named its 2019-20 board of directors: Doreen Robinson, president; Nancy Flinn, vice president; Joyce Portnoy, secretary; and Patricia Saunders, treasurer.

New board members are the Rev. Joseph Dawkins and Steve English, who join returning board members Everlene Baker, Larry Dilijohn, John McGovern and Arturo Witman.

“These are exciting times for the Community Caring Center of Palm Beach County, and I look forward to working with our new officers and the entire board to build a stronger organization while we remain focused on feeding and serving families in need,” Executive Director Sherry Robinson said.

For information, call 561-364-9501 or visit www.cccpbc.org.

Public-private partnership forged for mentorship

Boca Raton-based Office Depot has launched a community-investment program called the Mentorship Movement, through which hundreds of at-risk youths are paired with adult mentors.

The program — in partnership with the United Way of Palm Beach County — involves Office Depot associates who guide, inspire and support young clients of the following nonprofits: Compass, Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, Milagro Center, Path to College Fellowship and Take Stock in Children.

To kick off the program, the company presented a $30,000 check to the United Way of Palm Beach County to support the Mentorship Movement and other mentoring initiatives. The organization funds and oversees 24 such initiatives.
For information, call 561-375-6600 or visit https://unitedwaypbc.org.

In other Office Depot news, the company is providing volunteer mentors to students in Boca Helping Hands’ free job-training program.

The program prepares and certifies students for careers in health care, hospitality, technology and transportation. Mentors will work with students pursuing technology careers, providing insight into the field and ensuring the youths stay motivated.

“Office Depot is the first company to offer a corporate mentoring experience to our clients,” Boca Helping Hands Executive Director Greg Hazle said. “We need more of our corporate partners to consider adopting and mentoring students in our job-training programs.”

For information, call 561-417-0913, ext. 203 or visit www.bocahelpinghands.org.

NCCI’s campaign raises $230,000 for United Way

The National Council on Compensation Insurance wrapped up its annual campaign with the United Way of Palm Beach County, raising more than $230,000 for the agency and donating 1,000 hygiene bags to Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches and HomeSafe.

The campaign theme, “Hope Through Homes,” was selected to support the fight against housing insecurity in the community. Boca Raton-based NCCI worked with the United Way to make resources available to people struggling to obtain access to housing.

“No one should ever have to wonder where they will sleep at night,” said Allen Boyd II, NCCI’s campaign chairman. “Our team is proud to know that the money raised and supplies donated during our ‘Hope Through Homes’ campaign will make a positive impact on the lives of Palm Beach County’s citizens in need.”

Battle of Bands helps students prepare for jobs

The second season of the Golden Bell Education Foundation’s Battle of the Bands was all the rage this year as South County business leaders traded in their suits and ties for guitars and microphones to compete in front of 800 screaming fans.

The five amateur bands were Federal Highway, Game of Tones, Mechanical Solidarity (the winner), Rock Lobsters and The Stilettos. The battle kicked off with the winning band from last year, 180 Proof. Nearly $100,000 was raised for the Boca Chamber initiative, which funds programs promoting workforce readiness among students.

“The competing amateur bands worked hard all summer long to put on a memorable and entertaining performance, and it showed,” said Mariana Griswold, the chamber’s marketing and communications coordinator. “We are all so proud of their performances and the astounding amount of support we received from the community.”

Grant to fund upgrade for nature playscape in Delray

Achievement Centers for Children & Families recently received a $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties for the restoration of its nature playscape at the Nancy K. Hurd campus in Delray Beach.

The money will help turn the existing playground into one in which 125 preschoolers and their families can learn about the connection between nature and healthy living as well as the importance of environmental stewardship.

“Our children are beyond excited,” CEO Stephanie Seibel said. “They had input in designing the space by sharing their favorite outdoor activities, and we look forward to collaborating in offering new outdoor programming.”

For information, call 561-266-0003 or visit www.achievementcentersfl.org.

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

Jim Batmasian, Jo Anne Williams, Jim O’Neill and Debbie and Steve Schmidt. Photos provided by Gina Fontana and Jeffrey Tholl

More than 450 well-dressed guests danced the night away to support the health and wellness needs of local nonprofits at the fifth annual affair presented by Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton. The black-tie gala recognized elected officials who have exemplified Rotary International’s motto ‘Service Above Self’ and honored three visionaries: Lynn University President Kevin Ross, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers Executive Director Ellyn Okrent and Bluegreen Vacations CFO Ray Lopez.

Marisela and Adolfo Cotilla.

Patti Carpenter and Bill and Bonny Smith.

Brenda Medore, Patty Jones and Leanne Adair. Photos provided

Supporters of the Palm Beach County Food Bank gathered to celebrate the 4th annual Empty Bowls Delray Beach event, set for Dec. 8, and reminded each other how important it is to bring awareness to the almost 200,000 hungry residents in Palm Beach County. Hosts Craig and Shelley Menin, along with Chairwomen Stephanie Dodge and Marla Garchik, welcomed the crowd of more than 100 for an evening of cocktails and light bites. A silent auction of hand-painted bowls raised funds for hunger relief.

Kate and Josh Littlefield.

Garchik, Food Bank Executive Director Karen Erren and Dodge.

Hoskinson, of Roots & Wings; Reagan, of Bella Reina Spa; Mark Cassini, of Community Greening; and Marcie Young, of Young Dentistry. Photo provided by Emiliano Brooks / Studio B2

The Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce gave out well-deserved honors during its annual fundraiser and recognition event. This year’s winners are Ted Hoskinson, Crystal Palm Award for Community Service; Community Greening, Nonprofit of the Year; Young Dentistry, Business of the Year; Nancy Reagan, Business Person of the Year; and the late Bob Currie, Lifetime Achievement Award. ‘The whole crowd was excited to gather together to honor so many nominees for the Delray Beach Chamber’s annual award ceremony,’ CEO Stephanie Immelman said.

Amy Kazma, Lisa Warren, Cristy Stewart-Harfmann, Nancy Dockerty, Stanley, Nicole Mugavero and Renata Sans de Negri. Photos Provided

Nearly 1,000 guests attended the Junior League of Boca Raton’s annual affair, at which Michelle Stallone was named Woman Volunteer of the Year and Kirsten Stanley received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Stallone was nominated by Pink Ball, a nonprofit she founded to fund mammograms for uninsured people, and Stanley was nominated by the league and is its president-elect. The winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges.

Terry Fedele, Pat Thomas, Stallone, Jessica Kramer and Robin Mautino.

Alumni Association President Ranell Mason, Nancy Bayless and Stetson President Wendy Libby. Photo provided

Nancy Walker Bayless, Class of 1962, was honored for her commitment to and passion for Stetson University and contributions to enriching its core values. ‘My Stetson education was a gift that helped me to set standards for my personal and professional growth, ‘ Bayless said when accepting the award. Bayless and her husband, David, are part-time residents of Briny Breezes.

Ernie Simon with Allerton. Photo provided

The Crossroads Club benefited from the annual event, which raises funds for people suffering from addiction. More than 200 attended to support the nonprofit safe haven and honor Tony Allerton, its executive director. Guest speakers were State Attorney Dave Aronberg and best-selling author John Lipscomb. ‘The Crossroads Club provides a solution to help clients discover and maintain sobriety,’ said Delray Beach Mayor Shelly Petrolia, honorary chairwoman of the luncheon. ‘This nonprofit helps empower individuals to re-emerge as positive contributors to our city.’

Russell and Van Vechten

Photos provided by Kelly Boyle

A special birthday party became an opportunity for singers and dancers — including Kellye Cash, Johnny Cash’s niece, and Rob Russell, a local favorite — to support people with disabilities. The night benefits the Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities, set for March 1 in Boca Raton. In celebration of the 75th birthday of Jay Van Vechten, the bash’s director, a roster of legendary performers put on a show. Cash, a former Miss America, kicked off the evening with her version of ‘Ring of Fire.’ Nearly 100 attended.

Jane and Mark Hansen

  Kelly Boyle and Lowell Van Vechten

By Scott Simmons

The Plate: Smoked deviled eggs

The Place: Driftwood (in the former Scully’s), 2005 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach; 561-733-4782 or www.driftwoodboynton.com.

The Price: $7

The Skinny: News flash: Driftwood may be the best restaurant in Boynton Beach.

Oh, it’s not that the other places are bad, but Jimmy Everett and Ilia Gonzalez have kicked things a notch above their competition.
I stopped for a recent happy hour snack and an $8 cocktail.

About those cocktails — Tommy’s Margarita offers the right mix of sweet and sour, with El Jimador Blanco, agave and lime. El Bucho offered a savory punch, with Vida Mezcal, tamarind, lime, fresno and black salt.

But the star of my stop was the deviled eggs, which were at once rich and savory. The yolk was smoky and creamy, and it was garnished with a slightly sweet green tomato relish and a crisp of fried chicken skin — good, if not good for you.
A couple at a neighboring table recommended the pâté and the hummus, and said to order the swordfish any night it’s on the menu.

There’s always next time. …

— Scott Simmons

Adele Bulger of Ocean Ridge prepares Christmas cards with her daughters, Heidi, 14, and Maggie, 10. The Bulgers like to send family photo cards, and these include son George, 17. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Writing Christmas cards remains a beloved ritual during era of e-greetings

By Mary Thurwachter

For Adele Bulger, sending and receiving Christmas cards is a time-honored tradition and one she isn’t likely to give up. The Ocean Ridge wife and mother of three typically begins penning her holiday greetings after Thanksgiving and admits it’s sometimes a bit of a struggle to get all 150 of them out before Christmas. She includes notes in many cards, longer handwritten letters in some, and others go in the mail with just a signature.

“We are transplants, originally from Pittsburgh,” Bulger said. “We have friends from growing up; we have friends from college; friends from graduate school; and my husband and I lived in Cleveland for a while and we made some good friends there. So, it’s just a way to keep in touch.”

The Bulgers string up the cards they receive each year. “Everyone who comes into our home over the holidays looks at them and comments on them,” she said.

Sending out greeting cards for the December holiday is a tradition that originated in England in 1843, when Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant, began selling Christmas cards, unheard of at the time. The practice of exchanging Christmas cards grew quickly and spread to the United States by 1875.

Text messaging, email and social media have emerged to give cards a run for their money, and concerns that paper cards may not be planet-friendly have made an impact, too. But the tradition has found favor with enough folks to keep it alive.

More than 3,000 companies published greeting cards in the United States last year, the Greeting Card Association reported. Christmas cards account for about $2.25 billion in annual sales.

At Hand’s Office and Art Supply on Atlantic Avenue, in business since 1934, sales of Christmas cards have remained consistently high, according to general manager Roz Castle.

“They’re buying 100 at a time with their name printed on it and return addresses,” she said. “They come every year.”

But card sales have gone down drastically at some stores like Salutations, a 20-year-old gift and card shop in The Colony Hotel, also on Atlantic Avenue. Bulger buys her cards there and said supporting local businesses is important to her.

Diana Bush, whose family has owned Salutations since 2004, said that while her sales of small gifts have continued to grow, holiday card sales have declined greatly.

“People still do come in and buy boxed cards, but not anything like they used to,” Bush said. “We used to have people line up in August for them, but now if I do 10 (custom orders), I’m happy.”

Some people have stopped sending cards, Bush said, and many customers prefer photo cards (as do the Bulgers). “But many tend to order them online. They think they can do so much better online, but actually they can end up spending more.”

Like Adele Bulger, Palm Beacher Jason Arbuckle enjoys sending holiday cards — it’s one of the reasons he started his company, J.Falkner Cards, in 2011. J.Falkner cards are sold throughout the country.

J.Falkner, whose design center is in West Palm Beach, sells a new pineapple-themed card this year. Photo provided

“Come Christmas time, I sit myself down with stamps, address book, a favorite pen, a nice glass of red wine,” he said. “I generally get around 75 cards into the mail.”

This, he admits, may require a second glass.

“It’s the way I press pause during all the holiday frenzy and take a moment to appreciate the good fortune and great friendships of the year that’s just gone by.”

The market for cards has been changing, Arbuckle said.

“Everyone’s lives are getting faster, it seems, so that chance to sit down and send a card to everyone on your list is harder to find. And yet, because of Instagram, more than ever people want to create a beautiful holiday experience to post and share — and Christmas cards are a key part of that.”

The changes have made the card market even more interesting, Arbuckle said.

“While the conventional wisdom is that millennials don’t have time for old-fashioned things like cards, in fact the young audience has helped the card industry prosper,” he said. “While millennials might not buy boxes of Christmas cards to send to all their friends, they like to find single cards that are really special — and worth reposting on Instagram.”

Because his company is based in Palm Beach, “we like to bring a fresh, sunny twist to the season,” Arbuckle said. “Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we need to give up our bright colors and tropical motifs. Our colors for Christmas are bright and fresh, and palm trees and pineapples get the holiday treatment. These designs really connect with our base here in South Florida.”

The pineapples are new, and J.Falkner is producing some of its best designs in a different format this year — as deluxe holiday matchboxes. “These have been a huge success,” Arbuckle said. “They make a table look immediately festive and are great little gifts.”

For the Bulgers and others, the festive tradition of exchanging cards continues from generation to generation.

“My grandmother, God bless, she died when she was 96 and she sent them out until the year she died,” Adele Bulger said. “My mother addresses her cards the day after Christmas so all she needs to do in November and December is add in the notes.”

Time will tell if Bulger’s children continue the tradition. The kids helped their mom stuff cards in envelopes this year — which could mean an extra candy cane in their stockings.

Card sources
Hand’s Office and Art Supply: 325 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-276-4194, www.handsdelray.com.

Salutations: 535 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-266-6558, www.salutationsofdelray.com.

J.Falkner Cards: Headquarters are in Palm Beach and the design center is in West Palm Beach, but to find a store near you, see www.jfalkner.com. Salutations carries the cards, as do The Breakers, Four Seasons and Eau Palm Beach.

Brooke Diamond of Boca Raton honored Alex Morgenstern by working to put sunscreen dispensers in parks. Photo provided

By Joyce Reingold

A stuffed animal resembling a favorite pet. Water-resistant earbuds. A tween-sized fitness tracker. These are all suggested gift ideas for the 12-year-old set that would surely put smiles on many young faces. But when Brooke Diamond turned 12, she had other ideas.

The Boca Raton girl put out a call to friends, family and corporations asking for contributions of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing items, and money to buy two sunscreen dispensers to place at local parks.

It was the year leading up to her April 13, 2019, bat mitzvah at B’nai Torah, and she’d chosen melanoma awareness and prevention as a mitzvah project, her way of giving back to the community.

“I knew right away what I wanted to do,” she said, her soft voice filled with conviction.

When she was 10, she’d lost her beloved maternal grandfather, Alex Morgenstern, 73, to stage 4 metastatic melanoma. She wanted to do something meaningful to prevent others from developing what the Melanoma Research Foundation calls the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Brooke, now 13 and an eighth-grader at Don Estridge High Tech Middle School, is well-versed in melanoma facts and statistics. “On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns,” she said. “Regular daily use of an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces the risk of developing melanoma by 50%.”

While there is no cure for melanoma, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “most cases of melanoma could be prevented.”

Finding hope and purpose in prevention, Brooke watched as donations to her project, dubbed Peace, Love + Sunshine, began rolling in.

“We wrote letters to sunscreen companies and clothing companies,” said her mother, Lauren. “It was like the holidays. Every time you got to the door, there were boxes of sunscreen or boxes of the neck wraps fishermen wear.”

From the bounty, Brooke assembled 46 packages of sunscreen, SPF shirts and SPF hats for children at the Milagro Center in Delray Beach. And as the donations continued to flow, she delivered the same potentially lifesaving items to the dermatology department at the Caridad Center in Boynton Beach.

Brooke helped put together a 12-member team of friends and family — including her father, Harold — to take part in the SafeSun Foundation’s annual Run From the Rays 5K/1 Mile Run/Walk.

SafeSun, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and other skin cancers, donated the team’s registration fees to Caridad’s dermatology department.

Through Facebook fundraisers, Brooke raised $2,000. Del Prado Elementary — where Lauren teaches fifth grade — and its PTA contributed $500. Pride Air Conditioning donated another $500.

With $3,000 in hand, Brooke planned to acquire two automatic sunscreen dispensers she hoped to see placed near the carousel in Sugar Sand Park and by the tennis courts at the Swim and Racquet Center. Both were places where she and her brother, Mitch, now 11, had spent happy hours with the grandfather they called “Pop Pop.”

To learn more about the dispensers, Lauren spoke with Fran Nachlas, a founder of SafeSun. Nachlas had partnered with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department and the West Palm Beach-based Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation to place dispensers in other Boca Raton locations.

The Diamonds then reached out to the foundation, asking the 501(c)(3) to safeguard their funds until it was time to work together to buy the dispensers.

Stacy Ostrau, executive director of the RDK foundation, said, “We’re really proud of Brooke’s dedication to help raise awareness and support people being sun-safe. She was so passionate about it, because of her grandfather, and she really worked hard to get that done.”

On Oct. 7, Brooke and her mother stood before Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District commissioners, asking them to green-light Brooke’s request. In a real-life lesson in civics, Brooke saw commissioners embrace and amplify her proposal.

Commissioner Craig Ehrnst proposed, and the panel agreed, that the district absorb the cost of filling and maintaining the dispensers. Each dispenser cost $500, with another $500 needed to fill it with sunscreen — approximately 4,000 “squirts,” according to the RDK foundation.

With the district absorbing the sunscreen expense, Brooke was able to donate another dispenser to Sugar Sand Park and the Swim and Racquet Center, for a total of four, and keep funds in reserve for future installations.

In the chambers that evening, a proud grandmother Tamara Morgenstern donated $1,000, more sun protection for future park visitors.

Brooke’s desire “to make a difference in our community inspired the board,” district Executive Director Briann Harms said in a news release. “By supporting her project, we encourage youth to engage in outreach while simultaneously helping protect our community. We are proud of her and happy to support this important initiative.”

“I’d love to see this as more of a holistic project for all of the area,” Ehrnst said at the meeting. “So, if that means another way of doing it instead of us individually putting one up here, one there, I’d rather work with the city to see how we can do this across the city.”

He looked at Brooke. “I’m very supportive of your project, Brooke, and if we can make it happen on a bigger basis, I think that would be more exciting, don’t you?”

“Yes!” she replied, and later she called it “awesome.”

Brooke isn’t always comfortable in the spotlight, but when it comes to advocating for sun-safety and melanoma awareness, she stands tall. “I don’t want the attention,” she said. “But I want the message to be out there.”

Through Peace, Love + Sunshine, her tribute to her grandfather, the message, and his memory, live on. Watch this space for installation plans, which are still in the works.

“It was a part-time job helping to manage this project with Brooke, and nothing gave me greater pleasure to do it because I knew something good was going to come out of something sad,” Lauren said. “And we talk about my dad in some way, shape or form just about every day.”

SunSmart America guidelines
When the UV index reaches 3 and above, use these five SunSmart guidelines:
• Slip on sun-protective clothing. Wear loose-fitting, close-weave clothing that covers as much skin as possible during outside activities.
• Slap on SPF 30+ sunscreen. Apply SPF 30+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside to ensure maximum effectiveness. Reapply every two hours or more often if you’re involved in physical or water activities.
• Put on a hat, to protect the neck, ears, face and nose.
• Stay out of the sun as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Use shade whenever possible. UV radiation can reflect from surfaces such as water, sand and concrete, so it is important to wear a hat, appropriate clothing and sunscreen even while you’re in the shade.
• Slide on sunglasses. Exposure to UV radiation can damage the eyes. When practical, wear close-fitting, wraparound sunglasses that cover as much of the eye areas as possible. Look for glasses that block 100 percent of UV rays and that absorb most high-energy visible radiation, or blue light.
Source: Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation

Melanoma facts
• When it’s detected early, the five-year survival rate for melanoma is 99%.
• It’s estimated that the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed in 2019 will increase by 7.7%. 
• The number of melanoma deaths is expected to decrease by 22% in 2019. 
• The vast majority of melanomas are caused by the sun. One U.K. study found that about 86% of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
• On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns, but just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life.
• Help prevent melanoma by seeking shade whenever possible, wearing protective clothing, avoiding direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and using broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of at least 30.
Source: Skin Cancer Foundation

Joyce Reingold has a lifelong interest in health and healthy living. Send column ideas to joyce.reingold@yahoo.com.

Baptist Health and UnitedHealthcare have agreed to renew United’s network relationship with Boca Raton Regional Hospital, a Baptist property. Beginning Dec. 1, United members enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid benefit plans again had network access to Boca Regional.

The old agreement expired June 30, leaving plan members to find other providers or go out of network.

The BocaCare Physician Network has added neurologist Dr. Svetlana Faktorovich to the staff of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. She specializes in general neurology, neuromuscular medicine, and diagnosing and treating disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system. Those include myasthenia gravis, cervical and lumbar radiculopathy, plexopathy, peripheral neuropathy and myopathy.
Her expertise also includes electromyography/nerve conduction testing, skin biopsy for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy, and the use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of neurological ailments that include disorders of muscle tone and migraines.

Faktorovich, board certified in neurology, completed her undergraduate studies at Stony Brook University in New York and received a master of arts in medical sciences from Boston University School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. Her postgraduate training included a residency program in neurology and a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology with a focus in neuromuscular medicine, both at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. She is fluent in English and Russian.

Faktorovich is affiliated with the Marcus Neuroscience Institute and will see patients at 800 Meadows Road in Boca.

Tracy Edelstein was named vice president and chief nursing officer of Bethesda Hospital. Previously, she served as associate vice president of nursing services and interim regional chief nursing officer for Geisinger Health System in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She also served as an adjunct professor of nursing at Carlow University in Pittsburgh.

FoundCare Inc. health care center has been awarded $80,000 by the Promise Fund of Florida to start a program designed to help people with breast and cervical cancer get access to services. The program will cover education about breast and cervical cancer; it will link people at risk to screenings, such as mammograms and Pap tests; and it will help those diagnosed with cancer identify resources to facilitate their treatment and meet other daily needs. 

FoundCare is working with patients from Palm Beach County who receive primary care through FoundCare’s two locations, in central West Palm Beach and North Palm Beach. FoundCare accepts most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay is based on income and family size.

FoundCare was named a Health Center Quality Leader by the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2017 and 2018.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 561-432-5849 or visit www.foundcare.org.

Drs. Evan Bergmann and Christy Baggett have joined Cohen Medical Associates of Delray Beach.

Bergmann, a family medicine specialist, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida and graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine medical school. He served his residency at Palmetto General Hospital.

Baggett is board certified in family medicine. She was a member of the Student Honor Organization during her undergraduate days at the University of Florida. She earned her medical degree at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she also completed a pre-doctoral fellowship in osteopathic principles and practice, emphasizing the musculoskeletal system.

For more information, visit www.cohenmedical.com.

Joni Goldberg, Alyce Erickson, Arlene Herson, Betsy Fletcher and Vanessa Carosella. Photo provided

The Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum’s 23rd annual presentation honored four individuals and one institution for positively affecting the lives of others. Arthur Adler, Kerry Koen, the late George Barbar, the late Merrilee Middleton and Florida Atlantic University each received a special medallion. ‘I think that every person who attended the event feels very fortunate to be living in this community,’ Executive Director Mary Csar said of the 130 guests in attendance.

Prime Catch’s renovations include whimsical marine touches and brighter colors. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Phase 1 of the redo at Boynton Beach’s Prime Catch is complete, with a new dock, new decor, a new sign and some new menu items.

The doors opened Nov. 1 to the brighter and bigger space.

The owners, Luke, Pierre and Giles Therien, sons of the deceased founder John Therien, took advantage of the summertime slowdown and the ongoing plaza construction to jazz up the restaurant, which opened in 2004.

They rebuilt the dock, cutting its size slightly to accommodate what will be the 30-seat Prime Island Bar. The outdoor bar will have its own docks on the east side.

Manager Kim Edema said big boats are welcome. “We can accommodate three or four yachts at once at high tide.”

There’s a 6-foot draw, and most boaters are aware that things get iffy at low tide, she said.

“But we’re now ADA accessible on the docks. We used to have two steps up to the ramp but we eliminated those.”

The dining room is now a lighter and brighter white, with windows opened up onto the Intracoastal, and aqua and silver accents throughout.

“We’re calling it Florida chic,” Edema said, laughing.

There’s a sea theme with a touch of whimsy: In the upstairs bar and dining area, reconfigured for more seating and better views of the Intracoastal, giant blue octopuses crawl on the wall murals. Down below, tendrils that reflect the light hang from the jellyfish-shaped chandelier.

New menu items include appetizers such as a bianca flatbread, fried calamari and artichoke hearts served with a marinara and house-made white bean hummus.

The most popular so far is the new chilled raw bar platter, Edema said, with chilled Maine lobster, clams, oysters, shrimp cocktail and tuna poke.

The poke is a lunch favorite, she said, and is available separately.

Old favorites are still on the menu. Prime rib Wednesdays are from 4 p.m. till close; Mondays are Maine lobster nights.

Construction continues in the plaza, but owners are expecting the Prime Island Bar to be open by New Year’s Eve.

Prime Catch is at 700 E. Woolbright Road. Phone 561-737-8822; www.primecatchboynton.com. Open daily for lunch and dinner; on Sundays brunch is served.

Dada in Delray Beach is going strong as it approaches its 20th year in 2020. Co-owner Scott Frielich said much has changed since it opened in the historic Tarrimore house.

“Delray was a sleepy little beach town, and we were kind of off the beaten path. Odds were that we weren’t going to make it,” he said.

“Then Delray started really booming and everything kind of grew around us.”

He’s wary of so much development, however. “I feel there’s a little too much. It’s taken away from what we came here for. There were a lot of art galleries and mom and pop stores. Development kind of chased that away.”

Frielich has been approached to do more restaurants downtown: “I’m hesitant to open more locations. I think it’s reached a saturation.”

Instead, he’s focused on keeping Dada, the second-oldest restaurant downtown (City Oyster has it beat by a year or so), fresh and appealing for the diners.

A chef change is helping the menu move forward.

Chef Jessie Steele, a Delray Beach native, replaced Bruce Feingold at the helm in January and has brought some new items to the menu, while refreshing old favorites.

“I didn’t want to change the soul of the restaurant,” he said. “It’s an icon. But I kind of wanted to make my own stamp on it,” Steele said.

He has updated the popular mezze plate, adding muhammara, a Middle Eastern walnut dip, and restoring tabbouli to make it more Mediterranean.

“I changed up the tuna tartare. It’s now a seared tuna, but still served cold. Added a ponzu sauce, changed up the plating — we got rid of those ring molds. They’re so ’90s,” he said, laughing.

Roast duck breast replaces a half-duck, and diners can order it to any temperature.

One of the most popular appetizers stayed, too, with a nod to Spain. “I kept the Dada dates — I couldn’t take those off. They’re still wrapped in bacon and stuffed with chorizo. But I added a manchego cheese with marcona almond crema on top. They sit on a sherry vinegar gastrique.”

He didn’t touch the crabcake’s flavor profile, but took out the lavosh cracker filling and made it with more crab.

Another change is to the main dishes on the menu, where it followed the popular formula of a protein, starch and vegetable of the day.

“Now, each dish is composed with its own sides,” Steele said. “It’s a lot more work, but I think the customers appreciate it.”

He credits time cooking with chef Nick Morfogen at the former 32 East for his mentorship, but says Dada’s owners, Rodney Mayo and Frielich, want a Dada twist to everything, so he must unlearn some of the classics he was taught.

“With everything I change I have to do a full tasting with Scott and Rodney,” Steele said. “Rodney will say, ‘It’s good … but is it Dada?’ ” The chef laughed. “It forces you to be more creative.”

Steele added a smoker where he’s cooking smoked pork belly burnt ends. “The process is, we get whole bellies in and cure them, then smoke the whole belly. We take it out, cube it, and smoke it again to give it a heavy smoke. When it’s ordered, it’s fried, then tossed in a honey barbecue sauce. It’s been really popular.”

Steele also bought two deep fryers — for a variety of foods, but mainly house-made fries with his burgers, and the new fried chicken sandwich that debuted on the new Sunday brunch menu.

Dec. 1, brunch became permanent every Sunday instead of sporadically. The fried chicken sandwich, using the Freebird brand that Steele calls the best he’s ever eaten, also is served Sunday night — “since Chick-fil-A doesn’t serve on Sundays. We do. Till it’s sold out.”

The chicken is brined in buttermilk, pickle juice and Frank’s Hot Sauce. It’s served on Old School Square Bakery’s challah bun with shredded lettuce, tart pickles and an herb aioli.

To do it all, Steele helped build the new kitchen with all new appliances and tools. Not much could be done in the postage-stamp kitchen in the historic house. “I took out the wall between the hot line and the pantry. It opens up a little more room. We can move a little more.”

Dada is at 52 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Phone 561-330-3232; www.sub-culture.org. It’s open for dinner daily, and at 11 a.m. Sunday for brunch and dinner.

If your dream has been to open a small food business, the free entrepreneurship classes at the Secret Garden Culinary Business and Job Training Center can put you on the right path.

Eligible students can move from catering for friends to going pro, opening a restaurant or operating a food truck. Makers of homemade food can take the students’ juices, salsas, hot sauces, baked goods, jams, oils or even dog food products to the shelves to compete with big brands.

There are classes for wedding planners, musicians, food truck hopefuls, wholesale buyers and others in the hospitality business.
Graduate from the class, and the center will pay money toward your business license, and give you $150 toward a food manager’s license.

Classes meet at the center, 410 E. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach, at 6 p.m. Monday and Thursday each week.
For information about the classes and to determine eligibility, call 561-386-4261.

In brief: Mizner Park is getting some new restaurants and spots for food. Lost Weekend, from the same owners as Kapow!, is coming next door to iPic Theater. Its original, a game room-lounge that serves handmade tacos, is in Miami Beach, and there’s another on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm.

Calaveras Cantina moves in, too; its other one is in Jupiter’s Harbourside Plaza.

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

Swabbing ears can prevent pain and itchiness, and Tim Vogel’s Scenthound shops aim to do such preventive care for $25 a month.  Photos provided

By Arden Moore

Of all the species on the planet, dogs definitely sport a capital D for diversity. Size-wise, they range from teacup Chihuahuas to mammoth English mastiffs. In terms of canine coats, there are silky Yorkshire terriers, double-coated Australian shepherds, curly poodles, wiry border terriers, corded komondors and hairless xoloitzcuintli.

Some breeds like the schnauzer, puli and bichon frise need frequent grooming to keep their coat styles mirroring their breed looks. Step into a traditional pet grooming salon and it’s a good bet you’ll see that the majority of dogs there have high-maintenance coats that need trimming, shaping or ridding of matted fur.

For those dogs an appointment takes three hours or more. It takes at least four hours for my groomer to brush out the mountains of excess black hair, bathe, blow dry and nail trim Bujeau, my 80-pound Bernese mountain dog mix.

But Tim Vogel wants to go beyond traditional grooming and focus on dogs’ overall health. As founder of the fast-growing South Florida-based Scenthound, Vogel is on a mission to make preventive care quick, convenient and affordable for people with dogs of all sizes and care needs.

Yep, his shops welcome all — including the yellow Labrador who just rolled in duck poo, the beagle with stinky breath and the golden retriever whose overgrown nails make tap-dancing sounds on the hardwood floor.

And Scenthound stores are strategically located in shopping centers with supermarkets so you can drop off your dog, complete your shopping and pick up your dog to head home together.

“We want to make it fast, easy and affordable for all dogs, and be able to get your dog in and out of our groom shop in 20 minutes for a low monthly membership,” says Vogel, who is also a professional pet groomer. “We found that there is a huge unmet need out there of dogs and of people who like having clean dogs.”

Tim Vogel with his dog Lucy.

One-time monthly visits for members are $25, and that covers the cost for bath, towel drying, ear cleaning, nail clip and teeth brushing. Blow drying and haircuts are extra. The goal of monthly maintenance is fewer problems to deal with, allowing for short visits.

Call Vogel ambitious and definitely a lover of all dogs. He and his wife, Jessica, share their Jupiter home with Lucy, a full-of-love, happy golden-doodle. His aha moment in creating Scenthound occurred several years ago when he had a chat with a neighbor, who had a Labrador retriever.

“I could smell his dog’s ear infections and noticed his knuckles because of his overgrown nails,” recalls Vogel. “He told me his dog doesn’t go to a groomer because he doesn’t need a haircut. But what his dog and all dogs need are preventive maintenance. That’s when I realized there was a huge need to give all dogs the regular maintenance they need. All dogs benefit from bathed coats, trimmed nails, clean teeth and odor-free ears.”

Vogel selected the name Scenthound strategically, as “scent” contains “s” for skin care, “c” for coat, “e” for ears, “n” for nails and “t” for teeth.

“A dog’s skin as the largest organ is usually the first indicator of health issues,” he says. “One time, I was blow-drying a golden retriever and noticed a weird pattern on his skin. I urged the owner to see his veterinarian right away. The veterinarian told him that his dog was within 48 hours of dying due to a staph infection.”

As for haircuts and coats, Vogel is not a fan of shaving down to the skin. “A dog’s coat acts as an insulator, keeping the dog cool as well as warm,” he explains. “What does need being brushed out is the undercoat to allow air to flow through.”

Canine ears come in all sizes and shapes. Bloodhounds and cocker spaniels have heavy, drooping ears that can trap moisture and mites.

“Regular maintenance of swabbing out the ears every two to four weeks and removing excess hair in the ears can avoid discomfort, pain and itchiness as well as preventing that nasty yeasty smell,” Vogel says.

Overgrown nails can scratch some floors or get snagged in rugs, causing painful bleeding that requires veterinary treatment. Vogel is a fan of regular nail trims, including the dewclaws located on the inside sides of each front paw.

Another biggie in the canine health maintenance regimen is the mouth.

“Foods can leave a biofilm on teeth, and infection in the mouth can impact a dog’s heart, liver, brain and other organs,” he says. “By age 3, about 80 percent of all dogs have some form of periodontal disease — and stinky breath.”

Of the top 10 most popular dog breeds, only two — poodles and Yorkshire terriers — require detailed and regular haircuts. But all dogs need and deserve maintenance to their coats, teeth, ears and nails.

“We don’t do breed standard haircuts — we do puppy cuts instead,” Vogel says. “Our brand position is focused on the overall health of the dog, not on a haircut style. Our goal is not to have the dog look pretty, but to have the dog be snuggle ready.”

Learn more
Scenthound has locations in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Wellington. It plans to open new ones in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens by February. Plans call for 30 shops by end of 2020. To learn more and find a Scenthound near you, visit www.scenthound.com.

Arden Moore, founder of fourleggedlife.com, is an animal behavior expert and host of the Oh Behave! show on petliferadio.com. Learn more at www.ardenmoore.com.

This abstract holiday centerpiece uses dried mushrooms, nuts, moss, wire, stones and wheat. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

With the holidays fast approaching, the race to find perfect gifts has started. And for many, the winning selections will be floral arrangements and potted plants.

As a result, 70 million to 80 million poinsettias will be sold in the U.S. during this Christmas holiday season, according to Sundale Research’s “State of the Industry: Florists in the U.S.”

But you don’t have to limit yourself to those seasonal stalwarts including the traditional red, white and green floral arrangements you so often see, says Michael Mayer, owner of Tamara’s Flower Garden in Delray Beach for 15 years.

His boutique shop specializes in individually created floral designs that are predominantly made with high-end or “Dutch” flowers, including peonies, roses and tulips.

“These are things you can get from Holland that are better than what’s grown in other places,” he explains, adding that he works with many suppliers offering an international assortment of blooms.

Having grown up as a self-described jock living in New Jersey, he discovered his artistic side when he took an art class in college.
“When I started, my work looked like what my son hangs on the refrigerator from first grade,” he says. But it wasn’t long before Mayer’s work was shown in a campus gallery.

During his time enrolled at the New York School of Interior Design, he learned he wasn’t interested in the history and provenance of furniture, so he left. And that’s when he considered flower design to sate his artistic appetite.

After applying in person to over 65 flower shops on the upper East Side of New York, he heard from one. That was the well-respected Anthony Garden Boutique, and it taught Mayer the Victorian and French floral design in which the store specialized.
“This is where I got intrigued with the artistry of flowers,” he says.

From there he moved to shops that helped him discover other styles, including dish gardens, classical, tropical, Old World, whimsical garden and, his favorite, the clean lines of modern floral design.

On a recent visit to his shop, we were welcomed into his studio to watch as he worked his magic with blue and white peonies, bells of Ireland and even kale and thistle to create a floral piece for a client.

As he selected flowers and greenery out of the cooler and arranged them, he explained why he finds his work fulfilling: “I believe that flowers bring an energy with them and, if designed correctly, that energy becomes stronger and brings smiles to people’s faces.”

To help you design floral arrangements that create smiles this season, try these tips for purchasing an arrangement or creating your own:

Money matters: Mayer believes that if you are on a budget, it’s often better to create a smaller arrangement made with artistry and craftsmanship from higher-end flowers than to pack a large vase with the commonplace such as daisies, baby’s breath and carnations.

Creating a three-sided grouping can fill your gift-giving needs while helping to save money on flowers. But don’t forget about the appearance of the back of the arrangement, says Mayer, who is a stickler for detail. Hide the exposed stems by tucking leaves into the top of the vase to provide a more finished look.

Find the flow: When artistically placing the flowers, consider harmony of color, shape, including how each flower looks or “flows,” and texture. One way to gain texture is to use a flower with velvety petals alongside blooms with smoother ones.

Don’t waste space: Use the “real estate” inside the vase to add to the presentation. This is particularly true when using the glass vases that Mayer prefers for his modern designs. Try adding colored acrylic “gems,” shells, pebbles and/or loops of colored aluminum wire or curly willow to the empty vase before filling it with water and starting to create your arrangement. You’ll find some of these and other options at craft stores.

Men allowed: Mayer sees that more and more men are being sent potted plants and flower arrangements. For the man in your life, you might choose a darker container or a glass one, which Mayer often wraps with a bit of twine for a masculine accent. Then he suggests using darker, richer colored flowers such as those in shades of red and orange.

A final flourish: Clean the vase, especially if it is glass. You don’t want to leave a thumbprint or smudge that makes a bad first impression.

“It’s all these little extras that make a difference,” Mayer says, knowing that his — and your — attention to detail this holiday season will be appreciated.

Tips for longevity
“Before putting flowers into an arrangement, make a long diagonal cut at the bottom of each stem. The longer the cut the better, because it provides more drinking area for the flowers.

“Another way to increase the life of your arrangement is to change the water in the vase after arranging the flowers and before presenting them. This clear water not only looks better but helps keep the flowers fresh.

“And, if you receive a gift of flowers, be sure to keep the vase filled with water and change the water when it becomes murky. Use cool water to refill the vase, as warm water can accelerate the maturation of the flowers.”

— Michael Mayer, owner of Tamara’s Flower Garden in Delray Beach

If you go
Where: Tamara’s Flower Garden, 851 SE Sixth Ave., Suite 107, Delray Beach
Information: 561-243-0224; lmmfloralarts.com
Hours: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; closed Sunday.

Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley can be reached at debhartz@att.net.