DELRAY BEACH — Mark Warren Vlasek, born in Lansing, Illinois, to William and Mary Vlasek, died Oct. 18 on his back porch surrounded by family, friends and nature. He was 75.

His legacy continues through his beloved wife, Gail Nardiello Vlasek, his two sons, Robert Brett Vlasek (Stephanie) and William Vance Vlasek (Patrick); his granddaughter, Charlotte Jeanne Vlasek; his three siblings, Bill, MaryAnn and Diane; his dear friends and his entourage of nieces, nephews and protégés.

A born athlete and trailblazer, Mr. Vlasek cut his teeth playing sports on Chicago’s South Side with anyone who would compete, regardless of race, color or creed — remarkable in the 1950s and 1960s.

He continued his love of sport playing basketball at Florida Atlantic University, a lifetime of recreational games and coaching multiple teams at Boca Raton Middle School and his own children’s leagues.

He was a teacher both professionally and personally, giving grounded guidance, attention and love to anyone under his wing. He lived love, giving it freely and teaching it by example.

As a young man he worked the Midwest steel mills, as did his father.

Realizing early that this path was not for him, he took an eye-opening pilgrimage out West with his friends, living and working in Colorado, then California. Afterward, he returned to Illinois briefly with fresh eyes, then quickly moved to Florida, a state that better suited how he wanted to live. Many of his loved ones followed.

He earned a degree in education at Florida Atlantic University and went on to teach physical education at Boca Raton Middle School. There he met the math teacher/model who would become the love of his life, Gail.

Their romance bloomed through adventures, honesty, shared values, play and devotion. They were wed in the summer of 1982. Their love manifested as their two sons, Brett and Vance. Mr. Vlasek wanted to provide as best he could for his growing family, so he transitioned to a career in real estate.

He eventually founded his own real estate brokerage and earned great success through hard work and sacrifice, all the while remaining devoted to his family life.

After retiring, he suffered through multiple spinal surgeries and chronic back pain. He had to give up his beloved athletics and live a more mellow life. Even through his intense pain, his joyful spirit blazed on. The playfulness that once existed in his body doubled in his mind.

Always there with a joke, Mr. Vlasek was a great source of laughter, strength and support for many. He touched their hearts and minds by living unapologetically in his authentic ways. His timeless spirit of joy, mischief, camaraderie, care, freedom, friendliness and love lives on through those privileged enough to experience them. He will be wildly missed, highly celebrated and never forgotten.

Please honor him by living in freedom, truth and love.

— Obituary submitted by the family

By Steve Plunkett and Mary Thurwachter

Three Old Key Lime House workers have died following a shooting Dec. 10 in Lake Worth Beach after a company holiday party.

The men were among four of the Lantana restaurant’s employees who were shot in the incident. Two of the employees died soon after the shooting and another Dec. 28 in the hospital.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office identified the two initial deceased as Christopher Allen, 32, and Steven Stratis, 25.

Deputies charged Morey S. Pinard III, 23, of Delray Beach, with two counts of second-degree murder with a firearm and two counts of attempted second-degree murder with a firearm. Also charged was Michael B. Vititoe, 29, of Boynton Beach, with simple battery and accessory after the fact-homicide.

Almost three weeks after the incident, Reginald Gordon, 50, succumbed to his injuries, the Sheriff’s Office said. The appropriate charges are forthcoming, the office said. Restaurant owner Ryan Cordero told television station WPTV-Ch. 5 that his employees went to The Rock Irish Pub at 614 Lake Ave. after a company party at nearby Lilo’s Streetfood & Bar.

Deputies were sent to the scene at 1 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office said.

“The preliminary investigation is believed that an altercation occurred inside the establishment resulting in the shooting,” PBSO said in a news release.

The dead men were a young military veteran, a barback, and the restaurant’s kitchen manager. The other man shot, Daquan Sigler, was a line cook.

Gordon’s nephew, who was at the pub, was punched in the face by Vititoe, according to the arrest report. Gordon stepped in and attempted to stop the fight and that’s when Pinard, who was with Vititoe, began shooting, the report said.

At the Dec. 10 Lantana Town Council meeting, Mayor Karen Lythgoe shared the news that it was employees of the restaurant who had been shot in the incident.

“I asked everyone to keep the victims, family and friends in their thoughts,” Lythgoe said.

Old Key Lime House held a fundraiser for the victims on Dec. 22.

By Steve Plunkett

The Briny Breezes Town Council has its third husband-and-wife team in 14 months, but with a difference — this time both spouses can vote.

Council members selected Holly Reitnauer to be an alderwoman, replacing Kathy Gross, at their Dec. 12 meeting. Reitnauer, who married Alderman Bill Birch in April 2022, immediately joined him on the dais.

Gross, the wife of nonvoting Mayor Ted Gross, resigned her seat on Oct. 25, the day after the council’s monthly meeting. She gave no reason for leaving.

Reitnauer, 69, submitted a letter of interest in being appointed Seat 2 alderwoman shortly after the Briny Bugle posted news of the vacancy.

“I am familiar with the workings of the town because I previously held a seat on the board of directors (of Briny Breezes Inc.) for several years,” she wrote.

Reitnauer and Birch are the third married couple to sit on the council in a short time. Then-Mayor Gene Adams and Council President Christina Adams resigned in October 2023 rather than disclose details of their personal finances as was going to be required by a new state law. A court later paused the requirement to file a Form 6 disclosure.

Replacing Gene Adams was Ted Gross, who often grumbles about his position lacking a vote and aldermen ignoring his views.

Kathy Gross joined the council in March 2018 as an unopposed newcomer and most recently was elected, again without opposition, to another two-year term last March. The Grosses have been full-time residents of the town since 2014.

Reitnauer has lived on both sides of Briny Breezes’ stretch of State Road A1A, having bought a mobile home on west side Cardinal Drive in 2011, on east side Ruthmary Avenue in 2013 and on west side Flamingo Drive in 2016, according to Palm Beach County property records.

The only other resident who sent in a letter of interest for Seat 2 was Thomas Hickey, who bought his home on Bamboo Drive in March 2022, property records show.

Coming to the dais in March will be a new face for Seat 1, David Duncan White, who won automatic election when no one else filed to run for the seat during November’s
qualifying period. 

A newcomer to town politics, White, 66, bought his home on Lark Drive in February 2023. He spent the summer at his Colorado home and planned to return to Briny Breezes in January. 

By Steve Plunkett

Two surveillance cameras powered by artificial intelligence are being installed in Place Au Soleil to guard against thieves who walk into the community after dark.

Gulf Stream Police Chief Richard Jones said it was primarily vehicle burglaries and one vehicle theft that had occurred there in the last year.

However, he told town commissioners at their Dec. 13 meeting that the criminal behavior there is different. Place Au Soleil is “not as isolated as the island side of Gulf Stream,” he said. “And because of that, they are more prone to pedestrian-related activity from nonresidents coming into the community during nighttime hours and then obviously committing these types of criminal behaviors and then going undetected because it’s very difficult for us to be at the right place at the right time and happen to see this pedestrian activity.”

Jones proposed using Condor cameras from Flock Safety, the same company that provides the town its license plate reader system.

“We would kind of use the solution the same way we would license plate cameras and define what time frame during the nighttime hours we utilize the solution. And anytime a pedestrian either walking or cycling enters the community it would alert law enforcement to their presence and then a law enforcement officer would use the information that we see on the video — whether it’s someone wearing a hoodie, whether it’s someone trying to conceal themselves against the vegetation line when they enter or whether it’s someone pushing a baby stroller who may live there — and we would then make a decision as to whether we needed to respond and check that or whether we thought that it was more than likely a resident and everything was fine.”

Flock will charge the town $6,250 for the first year’s use of the two cameras and the same amount each following year. Jones said the company initially wanted to collect $2,000 to install the cameras but dropped it to zero after several days of negotiations.

“I think it’s a great idea because you have all kinds of commercial activity right there,” Commissioner Joan Orthwein said.

Jones said he met with the homeowner association for input “on whether or not they felt the cameras would be intrusive or if residents would be concerned about having additional cameras.”

“And we got completely the opposite — that it was very invited and that they would appreciate it,” he said.

New lift station delayed — Town Manager Jamie Titcomb reported that South Palm Beach fell short of receiving the required three bids for a new lift station, putting the long-delayed project on hold. Titcomb said the deadline will be reissued for a future date in order to meet the town’s request for qualification requirement. The bid packages that have been received will remain sealed until that yet-to-be-determined new deadline.

Architects remain on schedule — Joe Barry, representing the CPZ Architects firm contracted to build the new Town Hall, addressed the Town Council for the second straight month in December and said the project remains on schedule. Another round of meetings with council members regarding their design suggestions was scheduled for mid-December. Barry said he still expects town residents to be given an opportunity to provide their input at a meeting in February.

Piggyback contracts approved — The Town Council approved two motions to secure piggyback contracts with two Lake Worth Beach firms, B&B Underground Construction Inc. and Johnson-Davis Inc., for emergency services for water, wastewater and storm water. Titcomb and Vice Mayor Monte Berendes both gave high marks to B&B for an emergency repair it performed over the summer at Palm Beach Harbour Club.

Alternatives sought for garbage pickup — With the town’s 10-year contract with Waste Management for garbage pickup set to expire in September, Titcomb asked the council to discuss the possibility of bringing in new bidders and was given the go-ahead to do so. Berendes and Council member Sandy Beckett both said their buildings have had issues with trucks leaving “drippings” in driveways after pickups.

— Brian Biggane

By Brian Biggane

New South Palm Beach Town Council member Sandy Beckett wasted no time using her influence on the governing body, joining with Vice Mayor Monte Berendes and others to defeat a proposal designed to bring about a crosswalk just south of the town’s border with Lantana.

The proposal would have allocated $11,000 to have engineers put together a design for the crosswalk, which would have been located about 500 feet north of the corner of Ocean Avenue and South Ocean Boulevard, where a crosswalk and traffic light are located.

“I have reservations about doing it,” Berendes said. “I think it’s a waste of our money.

“If we’re going to do that, we should maybe spend more and put it in the middle of the town somewhere.”

Beckett concurred. She was sworn in by Mayor Bonnie Fischer at the start of the meeting last month to become the fifth council member.

“That isn’t going to really solve the problems of safety,” Beckett said. “I’m not sure what good it would do.”

The vote was 4-1, with only Council member Ray McMillan supporting the proposal.

Fischer was once a supporter of the plan, too. “I was initially for it but realized even if we had a crosswalk, it would be treacherous for people to walk north from there because there’s no sidewalk. So, I voted against it,” she said.

The long-simmering debate about a crosswalk intensified after resident Hatixhe Laiqi was killed while crossing State Road A1A in November 2023. Last January, Florida Department of Transportation official Jonathan Overton spoke before an overflow crowd at Town Hall and promised to address the issue as best he could.

FDOT subsequently lowered the town speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph and installed signage urging caution, while Fischer and Town Manager Jamie Titcomb entered discussions with Lantana Town Manager Brian Raducci about pursuing a location for the crosswalk.

Since the town owns no land other than the Town Hall property, it was determined the only feasible site would be the north end of the Lantana public beach. But even there would require a sidewalk be built on the east side of the road, as FDOT requires a crosswalk to run to and from sidewalks on both sides of the road.

Fischer said one alternative is to have FDOT redesign the road and add a sidewalk on the east side, but that her conversations with Overton have led her to believe that wouldn’t take place for several years at least.

For now, that leaves the crosswalk at the corner where Ocean Avenue meets A1A as the closest to town, and both council members and residents insisted that corner is far from safe.

“Where that crosswalk is now is very dangerous,” Fischer said. “I’m sure we’ve all had a situation where you try to turn and people come in front of you. I’m surprised there haven’t been more accidents.”

Fischer recalled that when the building housing the Hawaiian Inn was up for sale the town had an opportunity to buy it and thus would have had the land to build a crosswalk. Instead, the building was bought and renovated and is now the 3550 Condominium.

A Boca Raton police officer fatally shot a homeless man on Dec. 18 in the area of Northwest Second Avenue near City Hall and police headquarters.

Department public information officer Jessica Desir identified the deceased as 39-year-old Morey Clemmons.

The department subsequently identified the officer as Michael Super, who has served in the department since 2019. He was not injured in the incident.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.  FDLE often investigates officer-involved shootings if the local police department asks it to do so.

The Police Department has released little information about the encounter between Clemmons and Super and has not said why the officer discharged his weapon or whether he has been placed on administrative leave. Similarly, FDLE had released no information as of Dec. 24.

Clemmons had been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges in the past, according to court records.

Most recent, West Palm Beach police charged him in July with aggravated assault on an officer after a confrontation when he left a Publix grocery store with beer and food he had not paid for. Clemmons pleaded guilty, served 60 days in the county jail and was placed on probation.

He also was arrested twice in 2023 on felony charges of robbery and false imprisonment by West Palm Beach police. In both cases, no charges were filed.

— Mary Hladky

Elaine Lentz and two of her sisters recently opened La Tea Da, a high-end consignment store in Delray Beach. Lentz, who grew up as one of 11 children in Fort Lauderdale, is now a Highland Beach resident. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Elaine Lentz took on an unusual — and potentially difficult — task over the Christmas holiday: Flying to Kentucky to care for her seven grandchildren while her daughter and son-in-law headed off on a cruise.

“She was like, ‘Mom, are you sure?’ and I said, ‘I can handle it. It’s not my first rodeo.’”

Not when you grew up as one of 11 children, two of whom have joined Lentz in opening a high-end consignment store in Delray Beach named La Tea Da, which opened in June.

“Debbie was No. 3, I’m No. 4 and Liz is No. 7, and this has been brewing for six years,” said Lentz, 56, a Highland Beach resident. “One day Liz texted us and said, ‘OK, you guys ready?’ Her career had just ended, and I was ready because my kids were grown.”

The trio signed a two-year lease at a storefront on northbound U.S. 1 at 398 NE Sixth Ave.

“If the name catches on, we’re going to do a high tea,” Lentz said. “We’re going to do sip ’n’ paint, we’ve done an art exhibit for a local artist, things like that.”

Sister Liz (Lebrecht) is an accountant by trade. Debbie (Davis) refinishes furniture she’s already bought. That leaves the clothing to Elaine, who until recently managed her husband’s medical office.

“I try to take in name-brand stuff,” she said. “I’m pretty picky with the stuff I pick. The consigners come in and meet me.”

Although business was slow the first few months, Lentz said it’s been picking up with the season upon us.

“I was happy we started when we did so we could get our footing,” she said, “because none of us had had our own business before.”

Lentz is married to Dr. Robert Lentz, an anesthesiologist who has his own practice in Greenacres. She has two daughters: Brittany lives in Wellington and is married to an Army major, while the aforementioned Jenna lives in Kentucky.

Asked if she has hobbies or other activities, Lentz replied, “I concentrate on my kids. That keeps me busy, and the shop keeps me super busy.”

— Brian Biggane

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A: I grew up in Fort Lauderdale with 10 amazing siblings, each of us different and unique, but we are incredibly close. Our mother was an incredible role model — strong, loving, patient and hardworking. Growing up in a big family taught me the importance of family bonds, adaptability and collaboration.
It’s where I learned to appreciate diversity in people’s personalities and perspectives, which has carried over into every aspect of my life and career.

Q: What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
A: I’ve worked in finance, insurance and health care. While each of these industries taught me valuable lessons, I’m most proud of raising two strong, beautiful daughters and helping to raise three stepchildren from a young age. It’s one thing to excel professionally, but raising good humans is the ultimate accomplishment.
Recently, I’ve taken on a new adventure with my two sisters, Debbie and Liz, by opening our dream store. This project has been a culmination of our shared talents and passions, and seeing it thrive has been one of the most rewarding accomplishments of my life.

Q: What advice do you have for a young person seeking a career today?
A: Be open to growth and change. Your career path won’t always be a straight line, and that’s OK. Take every opportunity to learn, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Also, never underestimate the value of building strong relationships — with mentors, peers and even competitors. People are often the key to opening new doors.

Q: How did you choose to make your home in Highland Beach?
A: After our children had grown up, our house suddenly felt too big for just the two of us. We’ve always loved the beach and coastal living, and my husband’s passion for boating made Highland Beach the perfect choice. Weekends spent out on the water with friends and family seemed like a wonderful next chapter for us, and it truly has been.

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Highland Beach?
A: The beach, of course! I’ve always felt drawn to the water, and living in a coastal town feels like a permanent vacation. There’s something magical about waking up to the sound of waves and knowing that a peaceful walk on the beach is just a few steps away.

Q: What book are you reading now?
A: The Zen Monkey and the Lotus Flower, by Tenpa Yeshe. It’s a refreshing and reflective read that helps me find calm amid the chaos of daily life.

Q: What music do you listen to when you want to relax? When you want to be inspired?
A: My music taste is all over the map. When I’m relaxing, I’ll listen to Sade, Amy Winehouse, or Fleetwood Mac. For inspiration, it’s Lana Del Rey’s hauntingly beautiful lyrics or the timeless country sounds of John Michael Montgomery. I’m always up for a good mash-up of genres.

Q: Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?
A: One of the most important mentors in my life has been Dr. Sarah Knowlton. I worked for her many years ago, and she was kind, caring and taught me so much about bringing those qualities into our work in women’s health. She not only coached me professionally but has become one of my very best friends in the world.
Sarah grew up in many different countries and persevered through immense challenges. She left high school early to go straight to college and become a doctor, taking on significant loans that she paid off entirely on her own. She worked incredibly hard, breaking through the “good old boys club” to graduate from Vanderbilt and become a devoted OB/GYN. She later moved to Wellington, where she opened a female-focused practice in a region dominated by male counterparts. She has delivered over 2,000 babies and continues to be a trailblazer.
Above all, she is a God-fearing, kind and strong person, doctor, mother, daughter and my best friend. We’ve been blessed to share adventures together and support each other no matter where or what our lives were taking on. She has even been a part of one of life’s greatest joys by bringing some of my grandchildren into this world.

Q: If your life story were to be made into a movie, who would play you?
A: Sarah Jessica Parker. She has the perfect blend of humor, strength and style that I’d like to think I bring to life. Debbie would be played by Sandra Bullock because of her wit, charm and ability to be both funny and serious. Liz would be played by Julia Roberts for her warmth, heart and natural charisma. The movie could be called “When Life Gives You Sisters and Wine, Open a Store” — because that’s pretty much how it all began!

Q: Who/what makes you laugh?
A: My family. Growing up with 10 siblings, you’re constantly surrounded by humor and mischief. Even now, my siblings, kids and grandkids keep me laughing with their stories, antics and witty banter. There’s never a dull moment when you’re part of a big, loving family.

Brookfield Properties, the owner of downtown Boca Raton’s Mizner Park, is looking again to sell the iconic dining and retail destination.

Ruby Riley, downtown manager for the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, told City Council members on Dec. 9 that the property will go up for sale in January.

Asked for details, Riley said she had no additional information. Two spokespersons for Brookfield declined to comment.

As of late December, no offering memorandum had been issued, according to a real estate source. Mizner Park was last put up for sale in 2023, with at least three potential buyers wanting to acquire the property. The offers submitted were for as much as $290 million, The Real Deal reported. However, no deal was finalized.

It also went on the market in 2016 but was pulled off after pricing fell short of expectations, the Palm Beach Post reported at the time.

Brookfield owns most of the buildings in Mizner Park. The city’s CRA owns the land underneath them, which Brookfield leases.

The 5.2-acre property contains more than 500,000 square feet of retail and office space, a 272-unit apartment building and parking garages.

— Mary Hladky

Mizner Park to get pre-centennial refresh — Downtown Boca Raton’s Mizner Park will be spruced up as the city prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday.

The City Council on Dec. 10 approved spending $800,000 to refresh the parts of Mizner Park that the city is responsible for maintaining.

The enhancements include gazebo restoration and painting; repairing the fountains; painting the benches, light poles, bike racks and traffic sign posts; additional landscaping and sod; more pavers for pedestrian walkways; and electrical and irrigation upgrades.

Centennial events will be held throughout the year, but the official birthday party will take place on May 24.

— Mary Hladky

By Mary Hladky

Even though he’s an unflagging Boca booster, Mayor Scott Singer owns up to one city deficiency: a lousy city flag.

“It really doesn’t meet the high standards in flag design,” he said. The flag features the official city seal and green and blue stripes connoting Boca Raton’s parks and waterfront.

He thinks 2025, the city’s centennial year, is the time to correct the design.

“City flags, like all flags, are there to show community, to provide identity,” Singer told City Council members on Dec. 9. “If you do it well, you can encourage engagement.”

So, Singer and other city officials reached out to the experts at the North American Vexillological Association who have developed good flag design principles they have shared with cities and states.

For the uninitiated, vexillology is the scientific study of flags. NAVA claims the mantle of the world’s largest organization of flag enthusiasts and scholars.

And as it happens, city flag redesigns are a thing these days. Hundreds of cities have done so since 2015.

NAVA’s advice: Keep it simple, use meaningful symbolism, limit the number of colors on the flag to three, be distinctive — and never use a seal.

One example is Denver, whose flag has a yellow circle representing the city’s central location in the state, a white zigzag for the state’s Native American heritage, and red and blue for the earth and sky.

NAVA — at no cost to the city, Singer emphasized — came up with some options for Boca Raton.

Its color palette keeps the green and blue, but adds the city’s signature bright pink color. The waving color lines in four of the options are a nod to history by connoting architect Addison Mizner’s Spanish-inspired barrel roof tiles.

Singer is so enthused with a flag redesign that he spent $12.99 to buy the bocaratonflag.com domain that he is willing to gift to the city. He also paid for several of the designs to be crafted into flags to give council members a better idea of what they would look like.

He proposed promoting the redesign on the city’s website and inviting resident comments.

Other council members embraced the idea and agreed that residents should take part. The city’s centennial marketing consultant, Boca Raton-based Merit Mile, will help the city launch the project and get residents involved.

“I kind of think it is something we can do to get people’s input and get more people civically engaged,” said Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker.

Council member Fran Nachlas agreed, saying, “I would love to get some community engagement.”

“This is the time to do an upgrade, for sure,” said Council member Andy Thomson. 

By Steve Plunkett

A public workshop on the town’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan filled the Briny Breezes Community Center on Dec. 4 with even more residents attending via Zoom.

But for some residents, at least, the workshop did not resolve questions they had concerning the impact of the planned construction projects, nor their concerns about the costs they could incur should the town not secure enough grant money for the work — or if the actual costs will increase while the work is in progress.

Workshop leader Alec Bogdanoff, principal of Brizaga consultancy, announced that his firm and fellow consultants Engenuity Group Inc. had reached the 30% completion point on the conceptual plans for upgrading the stormwater and wastewater infrastructure and building new sea walls.

Lisa Tropepe of Engenuity said scientists predict a 2-foot rise in sea level in 25 years. Briny Breezes already routinely floods during king tides and strong storms.

Bogdanoff also praised Briny Breezes and the town manager, Bill Thrasher, for being ahead of other municipalities in already securing $9.5 million in federal, state and county money of an expected $15 million needed to do the work.

Thrasher has promised he will find other grants so that residents pay nothing for the upgrades.

But the postmortem reviews of the workshop were mixed.

Susan Brannen, president of the board of Briny Breezes Inc., thanked the Town Council at its Dec. 12 meeting.

“I know the corporation was very pleased with the turnout. (It was) quite a few people for us to crowd into the Community Center,” she said. “I think your folks did a great job in trying to keep the audience engaged without getting out of control, if you will, because we’re known for that sometimes.”

Mayor Ted Gross had a different take. He said the workshop was an important step in moving the infrastructure project forward. But it also highlighted some significant concerns and uncertainties among the stockholders, he said.

“It seemed no definitive answers could be given for the biggest questions stockholders wanted to know. And I’m saying no definitive, not because anybody failed, but we have 30% conceptual plans.

“The questions were, how high will the sea walls be — 5 feet? ‘Oh, that will be too high for me when I’m sitting in a chair on the ground. I won’t be able to see over it.’”

Other questions he included were: will some residents have to remove and rebuild their docks; how long will construction keep some residents from accessing their units; what happens if the money runs out before the sea walls are completed; will there possibly be an increased or special assessment; how loud will the pumps be, where will they be placed, and how much will it cost to maintain them; and do the projects require a vote from shareholders for a material change?

“These are all valid questions that I listened to as people asked. We weren’t able to give them any answer,” Gross said.

The mayor, who does not have a vote in council decisions but can use his position as an influencer, urged the council to make the process more transparent and less confusing by creating a shared understanding among the town, the corporation, the board of directors and the stockholders.

“By fostering open communication, establishing clear priorities and ensuring that everyone is on the same page, Briny Breezes can move forward in a direction that is well supported by all stakeholders,” he said.

Gross added that he is “not against this project by any means.”

“What I’m concerned about is, I’m confused. And I find other people confused as to what’s happening,” Gross said.

But Council President Liz Loper said Briny residents do support the project. “I’ve heard more people for than against it,” she said.

“So I must be out of touch,” the mayor replied.

Grants in the works for elevating homes
The state Division of Emergency Management has a new grant program, Elevate Florida, for people who would like to elevate their homes, Briny Breezes Town Manager Bill Thrasher announced Dec. 12.
“It does apply to mobile homes,” he said. “And they also have a grant program for elevator (boat) lifts in case that the dimensions of the lot are so small that it could not meet the slope requirements being made.”
Details of how and when to apply were not yet available.
Subscribe to receive communications by hitting “Sign Up” at www.FloridaDisaster.org/Subscription-Topics, submitting your email address and selecting Residential Mitigation Grant Communications.

By Rich Pollack

It may be more than 20 miles away from Mar-a-Lago, but Boca Raton Airport and some of its neighbors will be feeling the impact of presidential visits beginning as early as this month. 

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that temporary flight restrictions will be in place for small jets and planes taking off and landing within a 10-mile radius of Palm Beach when President Donald J. Trump is in town. 

Under those restrictions, most non-commercial passenger planes and jets wishing to land at Palm Beach International Airport must first clear at a gateway airport, including Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, or travel to another airport. 

If the past is any indication, those restrictions are likely to have an impact on the number of planes coming in and out of Boca Raton Airport as well as on residents living near the airport who are likely to have more jets flying overhead. 

“We do anticipate a pretty substantial increase in activity,” said Clara Bennett, executive director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority.  

Bennett said that during President Trump’s previous term in office, jet activity at the small airport often doubled when he was in Palm Beach, and there were several weekends when the airport had to close because there was no place for aircraft to stay. 

Weather, she said, played a part in that because bad weather kept some planes on the ground longer than expected, leaving no place for arriving flights. 

“We’re a relatively small airport,” Bennett said.

Flight restrictions will also affect the Palm Beach County-operated airport in Lantana, which Bennett says will also mean an increase of traffic at Boca Raton Airport as some plane owners move their aircraft to Boca Raton temporarily. 

Numbers provided by the airport from early 2017 when then-President Trump was in the area illustrate just how much of an impact the flight restrictions have on air traffic in Boca Raton.

On the last weekend in January 2017, there were 117 arrivals and 126 departures for a total of 243 flight operations. The following weekend, when the restrictions were in place, arrivals increased to 206, departures to 218 and total flight operations to 424.

Bennett said that the airport also saw an increase in international flights during the restrictions after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened in 2018 at the airport. 

Although Boca Raton is outside of the 10-mile radius for primary flight restrictions, there are still limitations on what activities can take place because it is within a 30-mile radius of Palm Beach. 

Aircraft operations at Boca Raton Airport are limited to aircraft taking off or arriving and no loitering is permitted. That means that the airport will be closed to flight training and touch-and-goes when the president is in Palm Beach. 

Bennett said the restrictions will also mean a change in flight patterns, with air traffic controllers having small jets and planes avoid flying over Palm Beach, which could lead to jets flying over areas they normally avoid. 

For those running the airport, the flight restrictions during Trump’s first administration have proved to be important in preparing for the latest restrictions.  

“Now that we have the benefit of the first four years, we’re more proactive in our planning,” Bennett said, adding that the goal is to better manage the flow of traffic to minimize disruptions. 

Bennett said that the airport authority has been working with the two companies that provide aviation services to aircraft at the airport — Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation — as well as with the FAA to put policies and practices in place to avoid problems. 

One example, she said, is that when it appears that the airport is getting close to capacity, the control tower will work to reduce the flow of aircraft into Boca Raton. 

One hitch that could complicate circumstances during the restrictions is construction at the airport, beginning in the spring of next year. Work will be done on the airfield at night, and that will mean no air traffic during that time. 

Work will also be going on at one of the two companies that provide aviation services. 

By Steve Plunkett

What is The Little Club up to?

While the members-only organization won approval of a croquet amenity and maintenance building at the Gulf Stream Town Commission’s Dec. 13 meeting, of more interest was a neighbor’s mention of the club’s plan to elevate its golf course as soon as a year from now.

Bob Donhauser, who lives in a Polo Ridge condominium just east of the staging area for Gulf Stream’s massive drainage and road project in the Core area, was at the meeting mostly to complain about dust from the construction work.

“We’re all worried about our HVACs. … It’s been a problem,” he said.

But Donhauser, who spends his winters in Gulf Stream, also fretted about having to live next to a construction zone beyond 2025, the scheduled end of the project.

“The Little Club, as you guys know, is planning to rebuild their golf course in ’26, and you should have a letter seeing that they’re planning on lifting their golf course and spending $5 million,” he said.

He and his neighbors have consulted real estate agents about the dust and the club’s plan.

“And so our concern … is that it could impact our values if this becomes a known construction site and we have this beeping and this constant thing going on forever and ever,” Donhauser said.

“What happens when The Little Club decides they want to raise their golf course and they want to have all this equipment over there and they want to put dirt — they need dirt, they need sand, they need all these things. Where else are they going to do it unless they leave it on site?” he asked.

Mayor Scott Morgan was quick to assure him that the end of the current construction is near.

“That’s a staging area for this project only. It’s not going to be permanent,” Morgan said.

Anthony Beltran, the town’s public works director, said The Little Club’s project would be self-contained.

“They’re going to have to do that on their site. They won’t be able to do it here,” Beltran said.

After the meeting, Town Manager Greg Dunham said although the club’s central portion often floods and club officials have spoken in vague terms about raising the course, they have not filed any plans to build with the town.

“We really don’t have a lot of information at this point,” Dunham said. “We don’t know if that’s one end to the other or just portions of it.”

In 2022, the town’s consulting engineers considered having the club enlarge one of the course’s lakes to trap more stormwater otherwise headed to Polo Drive.

But club officials balked, and the plan was revised to add exfiltration trenches along roads in the Core instead of rejiggering fairways to make the lake larger.

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach voters will be asked in March to give town leaders permission to spend up to $3 million on two public safety-related projects, should the money be needed. 

How much will be required for the projects — a dock for the town’s police boat and rehabilitation of the old fire station — has not been fully determined, but Town Manager Marshall Labadie believes the costs could be above the town’s $900,000 spending cap on each project. 

Highland Beach, unlike most surrounding municipalities, has a cap on how much town leaders can spend on a single project without going to a referendum. Voters raised that cap in 2024 from $350,000 to about $900,000.

“I hope we don’t need over $900,000 for each project,” Labadie said. However, he said that having voter approval in March could get the projects moving quickly once the costs are determined. 

The town created a marine unit in the spring of 2022 with the purchase of a police boat, but since then the town has been relying on a dock at a condominium complex in the south end of town that is not built to accommodate first responders.

Labadie said that having a dock with a boat lift behind the town’s library that is built specifically for helping first responders would improve their ability to help people in water-related emergencies, making it easier and quicker to get those injured onto land. 

The town is estimating the dock could cost $1.6 million to $2 million and is hoping to get a 50% match from the Florida Inland Navigation District. The town already has an estimated cost of the dock in its current budget, Labadie said. 

Labadie said the town is also hoping to demolish a part of the old fire station, just north of Town Hall, and upgrade the bay area where the town now keeps a backup rescue unit and a backup fire truck. 

Last year the town built a new fire station to replace the longtime station that Labadie said was too old, too small and below the flood plain. 

While there were discussions about possibly keeping the entire building, Labadie said that the living quarters section would need too much work. Instead, the town is getting cost estimates for work to fix the bay area and electrical storage areas and replace the roof. 

“We’re using the building for storage of $2 million worth of equipment,” he said.  

Labadie said the bay area, once improved, could be used for town social activities or ceremonies, with the backup vehicles being pulled up in front of the building.

The proposal to give the town the go-ahead to spend up to $3 million on the two projects is scheduled to come before the voters on March 11. 

By John Pacenti

When it comes to new construction on the barrier islands, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is requiring new houses to be elevated in response to climate change.

That means Delray Beach’s 6-foot height restriction on walls isn’t cutting it for the owners of some new coastal homes. 

Jordan and Megan Dorfman, who are building a two-story home at 319 Andrews Ave., came before the City Commission on Dec. 17 seeking a waiver to build a 10-foot wall to accommodate their newly graded property.

“So, this is a kind of a unique situation that’s been happening over on the barrier island,” said Gary Eliopoulos, the architect of the home. “When you start talking about a 10-foot-high wall, it’s kind of extreme, but I think it goes back to site-specific and it goes back to the criteria people are having to deal with.”

While the commission approved the waiver, Mayor Tom Carney and Vice Mayor Juli Casale suggested that the city look into implementing a “zoning-in-progress” approach as an interim measure that would address the new reality of elevated homes on the barrier island.

Carney said he worried about the drainage issue for surrounding properties but acknowledged the city doesn’t have a rule for elevated homes.

“This is my old neighborhood,” he said. “The concept of a 10-foot wall — I don’t want to look like Palm Beach.”

City Attorney Lynn Gelin indicated she would research the zoning-in-progress option and come back to the commission on how it could be applied.

Commissioner Rob Long said he tends to side with property rights and the city needs to encourage forward-looking construction like the Dorfmans’ future home.

“This is a very nebulous issue that we’ve been dealing with for a while, and we’re not going to figure it out tonight, and I don’t want to conflate what we’re allowing here with the ordinance or whatever that we’re going to end up passing,” Long said.

Development Services Director Anthea Gianniotes told the commission there needs to be a larger public discussion.

“How much fill is too much fill?” she said. “Or do we just understand we’re going to have to live with incompatibilities between properties for a while?”

By Mary Hladky

Architect Jessica Dornblaser, a member of Boca Raton’s Community Appearance Board since 2016, has become the fourth member to resign since Mayor Scott Singer proposed limiting the board’s authority.

Dornblaser submitted her resignation on Oct. 22 in a brief email to Singer shortly after the City Council approved an ordinance that stripped down the board’s responsibilities, including reviews of architectural designs, and handed them over to city staff.

Then-CAB Chair Tiery Boykin, an architect, and John Kronawitter, a contractor and architect, resigned last February after council members directed staff to propose CAB changes. Boykin said limiting CAB responsibilities is “an effort to be too friendly to developers.”

Michael Goodwin, the owner of Crazy Uncle Mike’s restaurant and brewery, resigned on Oct. 2 but said the ordinance did not prompt his decision. He had, however, criticized the changes during a February meeting with Erin Sita, the city’s deputy director of development services.

One flashpoint in the disagreement over responsibilities is that staff now will weigh architectural designs even though no architects work for the city. The seven-member CAB includes architects who had been conducting such reviews at no cost to the city.

CAB members were astounded when Development Services Director Brandon Schaad suggested last year that the city could hire an architect to conduct the reviews.

Dornblaser declined to comment on her decision to resign. She had argued against the changes during October meetings of the Planning and Zoning Board and the council.

The seven-member CAB, created in 1966, originally was tasked with evaluating the architecture, landscaping, signs and paint colors of proposed projects. Its members at present must include at least two architects and landscape architects. Others must be an engineer, planner, building contractor, real estate agent or broker.

After CAB approval, the planning board and the council consider proposals.

On Dec. 10, the council appointed two new CAB members. They are architects Jonathan Nehmer and Paola Morales, both of Boca Raton.

Fox News personality Sean Hannity bought this ocean-to-lake property in Manalapan for $23.5 million. Photo by Daniel Petroni Photography

By Christine Davis

Manalapan has a new resident with a familiar face. In November, Fox News host Sean Hannity, who moved to Florida from New York a year ago, spent $23.5 million for an ocean-to-lake estate at 1840 S. Ocean Blvd.

Hannity already owns a Palm Beach townhouse that he bought in 2021 as a vacation home and declared as his primary residence in 2023. 

The 20,106-total-square-foot Manalapan compound on 1.86 acres, built in 1990, was recently updated. The property is intersected by State Road A1A, with the ocean parcel and a guest house/cabana facing 150 feet of ocean frontage. The property also has 150 feet with a dock on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Details of the eight-bedroom estate include a formal living room with a fireplace, formal dining room, wine room, two-island kitchen, a casual living room with a bar, a luxury primary-bedroom wing, a rooftop observation terrace with a wet bar, and a resort-style pool and spa.

The property was originally listed in February 2024 for $29 million and reduced to $25.95 million in October. Douglas Elliman agents Gary Pohrer and Nick Malinosky represented the seller, with Vince Spadea, also a Douglas Elliman agent, representing the buyer.

1840 South Ocean LLC, which is linked to Tom Del Bosco, vice president at the hedge fund Smith Management, bought the estate in 2021 for $18 million.

***

Recently sold in Boca Raton: Three Jays Ltd., with Jamey Hargreaves and John Jason Hargreaves signing as directors, parted with neighboring mansions along the Intracoastal Waterway for a combined $23.47 million.

The 8,222-square-foot, seven-bedroom home at 550 NE Fifth Ave., on 1.11 acres, sold for $19.025 million to the 550 NE 4th Land Trust, with 550 NE 4th LLC as trustee. The LLC is managed by Kim Berman in Pompano Beach. The Hargreaveses bought the property in 2000 for $5.875 million.

At the same time, the 5,011-square-foot home at 550 NE Fourth Lane sold to the same trust for $4.442 million. It last traded for $3.15 million in 2022. The deal included $13.75 million in seller financing covering both homes. Jamey Hargreaves and John Jason Hargreaves are among the children of John Hargreaves, who founded the Matalan chain of stores in Great Britain in 1985. 

***

Discover the Palm Beaches, the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, will be honored for travel marketing excellence by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International at the annual Adrian Awards celebration in Manhattan on Feb. 18. 

Discover the Palm Beaches campaigns that won gold awards include “Breaking Barriers: The Palm Beaches’ Commitment to Inclusive Marketing,” and “The Palm Beaches Collection.”

Campaigns that won silver awards include “A Pilot Influencer’s Sky High Adventures,” “Sea to Preserve,” “The Palm Beaches Welcomes Everyone,” and “The Pink Retreat.”

Campaigns that won bronze awards include “Entertainment Tonight in The Palm Beaches,” “Leisure Meets Luxury,” “Love the Palm Beaches,” “Record Breaking Video Series: Live Like a Local,” “Fashion Week NYC,” and “Conquering YouTube as the Nation’s Most Followed Destination.” 

The Adrian Awards, in their 68th year, are presented in advertising, digital, PR/communications, and integrated campaign categories. These include awards for digital creators, reputation management, affiliate marketing, and broadcast integration.

***

Thanks to grants from the cities of Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Miami Beach, along with help from its supporters, the nonprofit Institute for Regional Conservation, with 22 volunteer-led events throughout 2024, installed more than 1,500 plants representing 50-plus native species to repair ecosystem function and enhance native biodiversity and removed more than 5,000 pounds of invasive plants. For more information, visit www.regionalconservation.org/ircs/Events.asp. 

***

Andrea Keiser and Noah Hale were recently appointed to serve four-year terms as board members of the Delray Beach Housing Authority.

Keiser is the managing partner of Keiser Legal, PLLC, a Delray Beach firm specializing in the counsel and representation of property owners and real estate developers in land use and zoning. Hale is the managing director of development for Fairstead, a real estate firm headquartered in New York City with an office in Delray Beach. Fairstead builds sustainable communities nationally.

***

Duffy’s Sports Grill, a Lake Worth Beach-based restaurant group, recently made Joe Webb its chief executive officer. Webb had served as president for the past five years.

“I am honored to lead a company that values both its customers and employees,” Webb said. “I look forward to building on our legacy and maintaining our commitment to excellence that began four decades ago.”

Duffy’s Sports Grill, formerly Duffy’s Drafthouse, was founded in 1985 in Lake Park.

***

The Seagate Hotel in Delray Beach unveiled its multimillion-dollar, property-wide renovation in November, which included enhancements to its lobby, 157 guest rooms and suites, event spaces, pool, Beach Club and dining venues. These renovations were led by the Brooklyn-based interior design firm Watts & Dray and mark the first major upgrades to the property since it opened in 2009.

“Our vision for the reimagined Seagate was to create spaces that were structural, charming, worldly and art-filled, while being functional and comfortable for guests,” said Vanessa Watts, partner at Watts & Dray. “To achieve this design concept, we carefully selected world-class vendors to partner with to create custom and handcrafted accents and art pieces throughout the property. This approach allowed us to work with small vendors to create one-of-a-kind elements to elevate every corner of the resort.”

For example, Watts & Dray worked with Indiewalls for art and Marc Phillips for handmade rugs. The renovation of the hotel’s 18-hole golf course was headed by architect J. Drew Rogers. Bourbon Steak Delray Beach, with Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina, is slated to open this month.

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

Plaza del Mar with the Atlantic Ocean and the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa at top, and Ocean Avenue on the left. Photo provided by Katz and Associates

By John Pacenti

It remains to be seen if the beloved Ice Cream Club at Plaza del Mar will debut a flavor in honor of the Minnesota Vikings.

The family that co-owns the NFL team is linked to the $37 million purchase of the Manalapan shopping center, which was recorded Dec. 30 with Palm Beach County.

The fact that the plaza — essential to coastal communities around Manalapan — was being sold was one of the worst-kept secrets.

Tenants had heard rumors that billionaire Larry Ellison was purchasing the 21-unit center but instead, it was a corporation connected to the Wilf family, which built its fortune on owning shopping centers nationwide. 

Ellison recently bought the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa across the street for $277.4 million and an estate in town in June 2022 for a state-record $173 million. 

Records with the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office show the property was sold to Manalapan Plaza del Mar LLC, a Delaware corporation. It has the same New Jersey mailing address that is home to companies owned by the Wilf family, including Vikings Chairman Zygi Wilf, Vice Chairman Leonard Wilf and President Mark Wilf.

One of the companies at the address is K&K Developers, the company that had appeared on paperwork the plaza tenants received in December, they told The Coastal Star. The Short Hills, New Jersey, address is also home to Gardens Homes, the family development company founded by the fathers of the Wilf cousins who own the Vikings.

Company officials could not be reached for comment by phone at the New Jersey headquarters on Dec. 31.

Palm Beach connection
The Wilfs do have a connection in Palm Beach County.

Leonard Wilf has an active voter registration in the county ­— at an address in the town of Palm Beach owned by a trust associated with him. Mark Wilf bought a townhouse in Palm Beach in 2016 and sold it for $7 million in 2020.

Plaza del Mar, which opened in 1982, is a 102,000-square-foot plaza known for its upscale shops, diverse dining and the closest Publix for residents along that part of the coast.

The property was owned by the investment entity MSKP Plaza del Mar and managed by Kitson & Partners. Kitson did not return phone calls seeking comment. MSKP Plaza del Mar bought the property at the height of the real estate bubble in 2006 for $37.7 million, according to property records, slightly more than its latest sale price.

Jeannie Drummond, owner of Jeannie’s Ocean Boutique, said she had been asked to sign documents on Dec. 17 “just confirming how many years our lease is, etc., etc. Just insignificant questions.”

Businesses in the plaza include beauty salons, stores for jewelry and clothing, and restaurants. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

What’s next?
“I think they are probably going to tear it down,” Drummond speculated. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. No idea. We’ll just sit tight and they’ll let us know eventually, I guess.”

Without the Publix, nearby residents along the coast would need to go over the bridge to Lantana Road for groceries.

The plaza also has a Chabad, and an Evelyn & Arthur, a women’s clothing retailer, that holds charity events in the store as well as a fashion event across Ocean Avenue for residents in memory care at The Carlisle.

The Ice Cream Club is a local institution known for its unique flavors with fun names. “Garbage Can” — full of different kinds of candy bars — is an original. Insta Graham (as in Instagram) is a new flavor that is catching fire with dark chocolate and, of course, graham crackers.

Fran and Ed Guzile were enjoying eggs at John G’s Restaurant at the plaza recently.  “There is a lot of nice retail here,” Fran Guzile said. “People can walk here for their groceries.”

“The Jewish community, because they have to walk to the shul, you see them walking through here,” Ed Guzile added.

On the other side of the plaza sits Hedy McDonald’s Art Basil Restaurant. She was optimistic about the new owners.

“The idea of somebody that buys the plaza and wants to be a little more involved is extremely exciting. We’d be building for the next thing,” she said.

The plaza was built on submerged lands and has tension cables in its foundation, she said. McDonald learned this when a plumber refused to do work in her restaurant out of fear of snapping one of the cables.

She noted that the shopping center is easily accessible from Manalapan, South Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge and Boynton Beach.

A friend of McDonald’s in Palm Beach was considering buying the property but said it was out of his price range. 

“He’s like, it’s because that piece of dirt is awesome. There’s nothing like it around,” McDonald said. “It’s basically a plaza on the beach.”

A mangled and split Delray Beach fire truck lies along downtown railroad tracks after being struck near Atlantic Avenue by a Brightline train on Dec. 28. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

In a dramatic collision that made national headlines, a Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck driving through a railroad crossing — despite the lowered gates — was struck by a Brightline train.

There were more questions than answers following the Dec. 28 crash at the Florida East Coast Railway crossing at Southeast First Street, a block south of busy East Atlantic Avenue. Three firefighters and a dozen train passengers were sent to the hospital.

“On behalf of Delray Beach Fire Rescue, our thoughts are with the passengers, Brightline team members, and everyone affected by this incident,” Fire Chief Ronald Martin said in a statement to the public released on Dec. 31.

“We are thankful there were no fatalities and remain committed to working diligently to implement improvements to prevent future incidents.”

Martin — who was just hired in October — said he intended to use the crash as a “turning point” for a department that has had a series of controversies, including a fire rescue officer mistakenly declaring a senior citizen dead and the firing of its last chief in May for mishandling resources — a move that has resulted in litigation.

But the act of maneuvering an aerial ladder fire truck — four times the length of an average vehicle — around lowered railroad gates was especially startling. The collision occurred at 10:45 a.m., leading to a daylong traffic backup downtown. Both Southeast First Street and Atlantic Avenue near the FEC tracks were blocked to traffic for hours.

Delray Beach spokeswoman Gina Carter said all three firefighters were still in the hospital on Dec. 30. 

Delray Beach Fire Rescue leadership is working with investigators from the Police Department, Brightline, and the National Transportation Safety Board as they determine the facts of the events, Martin said.

He has asked Human Resources to assign an investigator, as well.

Brightline released its video of the collision the same day as the crash, and CNN and other media took the story national.

The truck was heading east toward Federal Highway but there has been no official word about where the crew was heading. 

The video showed a southbound freight train had just cleared the crossing before the driver of the fire truck tried to work his way around the still-closed gates, where the oncoming Brightline train plowed into it. The fire truck was blasted into three pieces. 

The train’s engine showed significant damage, as well, with a shattered windshield and a large hole left in the front’s center. It appeared the engineer had to use the escape hatch.

The replacement cost with a similar type of truck is $2.3 million, according to a separate email obtained by The Coastal Star on Dec. 31 from Martin to commissioners.

The chief, however, recommended purchasing a smaller replacement with a 75-foot aerial device for $1.365 million.

The total costs of the crash to taxpayers remain unknown — such as any pending litigation or equipment carried aboard the truck needing to be replaced. Martin said insurance costs would go up because of the crash.

There is also going to be accountability, he said.

“Once causation is established, and if that causation demonstrates that there is a lack of regard for the safety of the public and disregard for public trust, I will be bringing forward the appropriate level of disciplinary action for your consideration,” Martin said.

All members involved in the crash were represented by the union, Martin told commissioners.

A request for an interview with Martin was pending at press time.

Delray Beach officials didn’t immediately respond on whether or how fire rescue service would be affected.

Questions remain about whether going around lowered gates was a matter of routine for the department or if some confusion unique to the railroad crossing occurred that morning en route to an emergency call.

The reality of the good fortune of no fatalities hit hard on Dec. 30 when Martin suspended the department’s ride-along Explorers program for city teenagers.

“Considering this weekend’s events, I would like to temporarily suspend all third-party ride-along and civilian observers, i.e. Explorers, until we have completed our investigation,” Martin wrote to City Manager Terrence Moore.

Martin said a student observer was riding with an uninvolved fire rescue unit on the day of the crash.

“This crash is a sobering reminder that emergency responders must always balance the urgency inherent in their work with caution, ensuring that the safety of our community remains our guiding principle,” Martin said in his Dec. 31 statement.