First Care Women’s Clinic recognized its most faithful supporters at a special reception that welcomed them into the new Imago Dei Society. The Imago Dei Society includes those who are committed to the clinic’s mission — assisting women with crisis pregnancies and empowering them with information and support. Each was given a Tiffany bowl, filled with candies, as a gift of gratitude. TOP: Scott and Lori Weber. ABOVE: Barry and Loretta Amsdell. Photos provided by Tracey Benson Photography

The Faulk Center for Counseling celebrated its annual gathering to honor local leaders John Crean, Pam Leal and Pamela Higer Polani. Proceeds from the event provide free and low-cost services to at-risk children, disadvantaged families and uninsured adults, none of whom is turned away because of inability to pay. TOP: (l-r, seated) Crean, Polani, Leal, (standing) Sandy Vanegas, Stephanie Cook, Joni Webster and Osvaldo Garcia. ABOVE: (l-r) Doreen Yaffa, Susan Wandersman, Tracy McDonough and Laureen Pannullo. Photos by Tina Valant

Florida Atlantic University recognized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. with the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Making Waves Award. The award, presented during a lecture with the activist, attorney and author, was given in honor of Kennedy’s public engagement. ‘Kennedy represents the values we cherish in our democracy and that we hope to instill in our students as active citizens in our country,’ college Dean Michael Horswell said. ABOVE: (l-r) Dick and Barbara Schmidt, Kennedy, Michelle Maros and Lauren Shawcross. Photo provided

Members and guests of the Elks Lodge 1770 in Delray Beach ceremonially reopened the extensively renovated lodge. The $400,000 project added new flooring and carpeting, reinvented the bar and put in a fresh stage and sound system, among other changes. Roger Cope, an architect, did the design work pro bono. ABOVE: (l-r) Lori Stoffer, chaplain; Maureen Gour, trustee; Cecil Broderick, esteemed leading knight; Mike Sinneck, past grand exalted ruler; Mayor Shelly Petrolia, soon to be an Elk; Cope, esteemed loyal knight; Richard Snyder, exalted ruler; James Eaton, trustee; Carol Eaton, treasurer;  and Jeb Conrad, president and CEO of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. Photo provided

Co-chairs Anne Vegso and Jeannette DeOrchis both have pins recognizing their volunteer work on behalf of abuse victims. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

Two leaders of South County’s philanthropic community have stepped up to co-chair this year’s Heart of a Woman Luncheon in Boca Raton.

Anne Vegso and Jeannette DeOrchis will lead the annual fundraiser for Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, or AVDA. Both have received the Woman Volunteer of the Year Award — one of the most competitive awards of the season — from the Junior League of Boca Raton for their work on behalf of the Delray Beach nonprofit.

“It is going to be amazing,” said Vegso, who won the award in 2005. “We have a great group of women on our committee, No. 1, and it is a fabulous organization, No. 2. Jeannette and I both feel very strongly about our mission and that we really are making a difference in the lives of these victims.”

AVDA promotes violence-free relationships by offering programs and services that help women and children in harm’s way. Proceeds will benefit its 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional-housing facility and educational outreach efforts in Palm Beach County schools.

“The money goes straight to where it needs to be,” said DeOrchis, who was named Woman Volunteer of the Year in 2018. “It’s really a hand up instead of a handout.”

She should know. From age 4 to age 12, she was abused by her father and, as a young adult, married a husband she feared was going to kill her.

“I wondered if I would make it out of childhood alive. I wondered whether I would make it out of my marriage alive," DeOrchis said of her first marriage. I decided that for the rest of my life, I would help these poor women and children so that they would no longer have to feel that way.”

She joined AVDA’s board in 2010.

“It gives me great peace and happiness to know that I’m helping women and children who are in even more desperate circumstances than I was,” DeOrchis said. “So many women are understanding that they don’t have to take it anymore.”

Keynote speaker is Tarana Burke, founder of the MeToo movement, who will share the story behind its genesis. Recognition will go out to survivor and activist Julie Weil, Palm Beach County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center, and Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services.

“We talk about the wonderful triumphs we have with the shelter and how many people we’re saving,” DeOrchis said. “It’s a real atmosphere of hope."

If You Go

What: Heart of a Woman Luncheon

When: 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28

Where: Royal Palm Yacht Club, 2425 W. Maya Palm Drive, Boca Raton

Cost: $175

Info: Call 265-3797, ext. 100 or visit avdaonline.org.

Thanks to more than 1,000 guests who attended the third annual fundraiser, the Palm Beach County Food Bank will continue its mission to feed hungry people this season. The family-friendly event invited supporters to ‘eat simply, so others can simply eat.’ Participants shared in a basic meal of water, bread and soup, and each received a symbolic bowl. ABOVE: Food Bank Executive Director Karen Erren and Patty Jones. BELOW: Marla Garchik and Shelley Menin. Photos provided by CAPEHART

Palm Beach residents James and Sue Patterson were guests of honor during a pre-concert event for supporters of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation. Prior to the Prism Concert, the school’s annual holiday affair, the Pattersons were lauded for underwriting it, giving nearly 400 music students the opportunity to perform in a world-class venue. ABOVE: Marti LaTour and George Elmore. Photo provided by Jacek Gancarz

Family and friends gathered at the home of Neil and Doris Gillman to raise money to provide beds for children in need. More than 200 supporters of Sweet Dream Makers turned out for the affair and helped raise $200,000-plus. Since incorporating in 2016, the organization has donated 2,500 beds for youths. Studies show that youths demonstrate significant improvements in academic performance and behavior when they are well-rested.

ABOVE: Suzanne Broad, executive director of Sweet Dream Makers, and Honorary Chairman Marc Schiller, CEO of City Mattress, which provides beds at reduced costs with free assembly and delivery. Photos provided

The Gillmans

(l-r) Christina Lewis, Kathy Hillier, Cindy and Peter Dahl, Tim Lewis and Tim Lewis Jr.

Alejandra Lippolis, Christine Midwall and Jessica MacFarland

The Plate: Cracker Jack

The Place: Kona Bay Café, 310 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana; 429-3606 or konabaycafe.com.

The Price: $6

The Skinny: This is one of life’s little bargains — two eggs (any style), two strips of bacon, served with your choice of side and toast, all for $6.

The scrambled eggs were fluffy and the bacon was crispy, though the hash browns appeared to be prefab. Service at Kona Bay Café, just west of the Lantana Bridge, always is friendly. After all, this is a neighborhood spot.

You can watch the sun rise, commune with your neighbors at the counter and begin your day with a hearty breakfast for under $10. Who could ask for anything more?

— Scott Simmons

By Jan Norris

They’re playing shuffle-the-restaurants in the plaza on Woolbright at South Federal Highway.

It’s Phase 1 of the Isram Realty project Riverwalk, in progress at the southeast corner of the intersection where the old Winn-Dixie once served the neighborhood.

The Bond & Smolders bakery, popular for its quiche and almond croissants, has just reopened around the corner from Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts — directly across the parking lot from its old location. Co-owner Irina Van Egmond said the breakfast and lunch spot would expand service to dinner with wine and beer soon. Permits are in the works, she said, and there will be a grand opening once they happen. A Sunday brunch also is planned. Meanwhile, new items are being added as specials daily, particularly on the weekends.

With the build-out for a new Sushi Simon almost in place, the popular restaurant plans to reopen in the new space Feb. 5 — Chinese New Year. “It’s a special day, so we want to be open,” manager Lucy Chen said. The restaurant has been operating in its original space, where Chen said it would remain until Feb. 4.

“Everything is new,” Chen said. While it looks smaller than the original, it’s because of the configuration and lighting; the size is the same, she said.

The new interiors feel similar to what the eateries’ old locations had. ABOVE: Bond & Smolders. BELOW: Sushi Simon. Photos provided

Walgreen’s has remained at the west end of the remodeled strip, where a covered drive-thru now accommodates its customers.

Nearby a stand-alone commercial space is being constructed. No word yet on tenants.

Two other eateries relocated away from the mall. Rice Fine Thai and Asian Fusion moved to Oakwood Square on Congress Avenue.

Primo Hoagies is now in the Cross Creek Centre on West Boynton Beach Boulevard.

The eastern strip of the plaza is being demolished and will become the retail strip plus a 10-story apartment building with parking garage and waterfront public area. Work is already begun to redesign the parking lot.

For now, Josie’s Ristorante on the east end of the L-shaped original plaza is staying put. Chef Mark Militello said, “They’re leaving us alone. They’ve decided we’re a neighborhood institution, so they’re building it around us.”

Prime Catch, also on the site, isn’t part of the project and will remain.

In Boca Raton
Take a food trip around the world at Flavors, the Junior League of Boca Raton’s big early-year do.

It’s the 10th anniversary of the organization’s food and wine extravaganza, said spokeswoman Caryn Morris — and the largest so far.

“This is our biggest amount of restaurants participating. We have 35 vendors coming,” she said. “We’re hosting 700 guests.”

The theme at the party Feb. 7 is “Jetset, a global celebration.”

Foods will represent continental dining from around the world. The ballroom at The Addison will be transformed into several rooms where diners will find different cuisines represented in each.

“This presents a chance for our sponsors to give back to the community,” Morris said.

Sponsors include Tito’s Vodka, which is responsible for the spirits at the event, and Eau Spa, donating the champagnes.

The event includes live performances, a silent auction and an open bar. Money raised goes to the Junior League’s programs to promote volunteerism, help women succeed in the community, and aid in community efforts such as hunger relief and child welfare.

Tickets are $85 for general admission and $125 for VIP. For more information, visit the Junior League website at jlbr.org.

If continental isn’t your style, go for seafood — with the family. A weekend-long seafood fest returns for its second year at the Mizner Park Amphitheater Feb. 8-10.

The Boca Raton Seafood & Music Festival has a number of restaurants and vendors preparing myriad fish dishes and sides for sale, while arts and crafts booths serve up a marketplace for shoppers.

Performers are scheduled throughout the weekend, with several local bands playing a variety of styles. Caribbean reggae and steel pan drum bands are highlighted.

General admission tickets are $5; the under-12s are free. Foods are priced individually. No pets are allowed within the festival site.

For more information, visit seafoodfestivals.com, or call 941-487-8061.

In brief
Newcomers in Delray include Tin Roof, a country bar and Southern eats spot that took over the Smoke BBQ location on East Atlantic Avenue; and Veg Eats, at 335 E. Linton, which has a solely plant-based menu. ... Jupiter Donuts puts its fourth location on Boca’s Northeast Spanish River Boulevard. ...

Joseph’s Classic Market will be added to the Town Center roster as the shopping mall continues its transformation. The 14,700-square-foot market will be in a wraparound space that formerly housed Piñon Grill and Blue Martini, on the southeast side of the mall. True Food Kitchen, Dr. Andrew Weil’s “health based” restaurant, and La Boulangerie Boul’Mich, a mix of French and Latin American foods and baked goods, will also open in the mall. ...

Chicago’s popular breakfast-lunch chain Yolk Park Place has put its first Florida location at 5570 N. Military Trail in Boca Raton. Look for unique breakfast items on its test kitchen menu — such as the Brussels Sprout Skillet with sprouts, sweet potatoes, ham and eggs, or Kentucky Fried Bacon with a bourbon glaze and blueberry barbecue sauce — to share.

Food writer Jan Norris can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com. Thom Smith is taking some time off and can be reached at thomsmith@ymail.com.

Dress is more casual and more activities are family-oriented, but club remains a prized spot for seaside dining and social functions 

NOW: Lunch at the Delray Beach Club means an ocean view and conversation for (clockwise from front left) Gwen ‘Lucy’ Drake, Nancy Graham, Joan Hurley, Claire Logan, Polly Cardozo and Mary McDougall. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

THEN: The Delray Beach Club about 1980. The exterior looks largely the same today. Photo provided

By Mary Thurwachter

As the Delray Beach Club prepares to mark its 50th year with three days of celebration Feb. 15-17, longtime member Carol Craig reflects on how things have changed.

Craig has a unique perspective, since she was both an employee — social director and admissions secretary for 20 years — and then a member after she retired in 1999.

The private club on A1A south of Linton Boulevard was a very different place in earlier years.

“It was different because the membership was mostly seniors,” says Craig, who lives in Boynton Beach. “It was mostly a dining club that was beautiful because it was set on the ocean. But the outside facilities were sparsely used.”

The private social club was much more formal than it is today. When it opened, it had 300 members. Today it caps membership at 600 and has a waiting list.

“It was men in jackets and ties every night, women in dresses — and formal evening gowns probably every two weeks,” Craig says.

Craig remembers calling her mother after a “casual” poolside evening years ago to tell her about it. “Mother,” she remembers saying, “do you know what these people consider casual? The women wore one string of pearls instead of two. The men were still in their jackets and ties and the women were in dresses, stockings and heels.”

Rayanne Gale and Heidi Ferguson head toward the beach on the Delray Beach Club’s boardwalk. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Not many outside activities took place beyond the pool and beach.

“Tennis was quite popular,” she says. “Everybody had their times when they played, and all the other players respected that time. If it was Wednesday at 9 o’clock basically you knew who was out on the court because they always played Wednesday at 9 o’clock.

“We only had one big tennis tournament a year, the Jerry Gobrecht tennis tournament, named after Jerry because he had a heart attack and died on the court at a relatively young age. He and his wife, Joan, were charter members and Joan is still very active.”

The tournament, Craig says, felt like a mini Wimbledon. Most of the members would come to watch. Carol Craig (shown here in 1986) worked 20 years at the Delray Beach Club. She joined the club as a member in 1999. Photo provided

“Now they have a tournament every other weekend,” she says. “But they still have the Jerry Gobrecht tournament. We’ve got two women’s teams and a men’s team that travels. It’s very, very different. It’s very, very competitive. We played for fun. Things change.

“There weren’t a lot of children because it was basically a club for those 60 and up,” Craig observes. “The activities we had were geared toward those people. There were dinner dances and there was a cocktail lounge. We had a guy who played the piano and organ, and after dinner everybody would go in the cocktail lounge and have an after-dinner drink. That was very, very big. In those days, it was hard liquor. Nobody drank wine. And they would have their highballs ahead of time.”

Members liked the club at 2001 S. Ocean Blvd. the way it was, Craig says.

“However, we would not have survived without the younger generation coming in,” she says. “They changed the ambience of the club tremendously. We needed that young blood to come in and revitalize the club.

“And with younger people naturally come changes. Their wants are different. The men don’t want to put on jackets and ties. They want everything casual. There is not as much drinking as there used to be — a lot of wine. However, there’s nothing after dinner. Everybody goes home.”

Changes through time
Indeed, younger members want different amenities, more family-oriented.

Kerry Filippone, president of the board of governors, has been a member for five years.

“We moved down here from Westchester County outside of New York and joined soon after,” she says. Her husband took a job in Boca Raton and she took her three children to the club often from their home in Delray Beach.

“Since I had children and was involved in the club, I started on the family committee and then the long-range planning committee and kind of went on from there,” says Filippone.

“The club is one of those places that if you want to get involved, everybody is very encouraging.”

The original pool (above) had much more grass around it than it has today. Photo provided

The club makes a real effort to involve all generations.

“There is quite an active family committee now that does a lot of programming geared toward the families with younger children,” Filippone says. “We offer babysitting on certain nights when we have events, which is a great feature.”

Seems there’s always something going on.

“We have family bingo outside, we’re doing stuff on the beach, and on Father’s Day last year we had a father/child surf camp,” Filippone says. “Last year we had a ladies night for all the women in the club. That’s a fairly new development.

“And we have games night for the family. My daughter attended with me and she’s 20 and there were women maybe in their 70s and 80s also participating. Many generations were participating together. And we have a men’s poker night once a month. There is real camaraderie among the men.”

Bridge has always been popular, but soon canasta will be on the agenda, as well, and perhaps mahjong.

“We have ladies fashion lunches,” Filippone says. “The exercise programs have grown considerably since I joined the club. Now they have yoga and pilates and exercising in the pool. We recently got upgraded equipment in our gym. That seems to be a big draw for people. And there’s the tennis program. It just seems like there’s stuff going on around the clock over there.”

In the beginning
Phyllis Kramer (formerly Spinner), a Delray Beach resident since 1955 and one of the club’s first members, says the Delray Beach Club was a godsend when she was raising her three children in the early days. They spent many hours at the pool.

Back then, club members especially liked the original Grille Room, a more intimate version of its current incarnation. It was, Kramer says, a “cozy, informal room open late at night,” and members enjoyed countless hours socializing as a piano player entertained.

Kramer’s first husband, John W. Spinner (called Jack), was a lawyer and a founder of the club in 1969. His father, Fred, a prominent developer, owned all of the surrounding land and developed the seawalls. Jack Spinner and close friend Bill Plum worked together to start the club. Some of the 10 investors came from Pine Tree Golf Club, where Spinner was a member.

Spinner and Plum, who had experience in banking, flew to Baltimore to talk to contractor Charles A. Mullen about building a beach club on land he owned.

To gauge interest in starting the club, the men put out one advertisement. They received more than 150 $200 checks toward a $500 initiation fee even before the site was finalized.

“We went looking for a chef and a manager,” Kramer remembers. “We went to Fort Lauderdale and Boca and had dinner at different places and interviewed different chefs. The club was very small then, and very nice. I loved it. The opening party actually was on Feb. 16, 50 years ago.”

This year on Feb. 16, a formal dinner with a band will mark the 50th anniversary. On Feb. 15, a cocktail party will be held, and the club will wrap up the celebration Feb. 17 with a family barbecue party beside the pool.

Esther Spinner, mother of founder Jack Spinner, and Clara Hauter, Phyllis Spinner Kramer’s mother, relax beside the club pool in 1970. Photo provided

Kramer says many pleasant memories were made at the club.

“We hosted many birthday parties there and I had a beautiful Christmas brunch there, about 100 people, years ago,” she says.

Last year she had a Christmas dinner for family members, including her three children and their children.

“I’ve made wonderful friends there,” Kramer says.

One of them was George Kramer. They married after she had been a widow for 18 years and Kramer’s wife had died. “He’s a wonderful man and we have a good time together.”

Mullen bought and developed the club, which architect Samuel Ogren Jr. designed. Plum was the first manager. The first gala dinner dance took place after construction of the 23,000-square-foot, two-story clubhouse.

The property, which includes the clubhouse and grill room, pool and tennis courts, was renovated in 2006.

The club offers complimentary beach and pool concierge service, locker rooms with saunas, two Har-Tru tennis courts, a fitness center and complimentary fitness classes.

Kenyon Investment Group of Greensboro, N.C., purchased the club in 1978, and in 1980 it became member-owned, as it remains today.

Shane Peachey has been manager at the club for 11 years. Members are still called “Mr., Mrs. or Miss” by the 77-member staff, and good times and camaraderie remain hallmarks of the social club by the sea.

A seven-story tower for patients is the centerpiece of the hospital’s expansion plans. Rendering provided

Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s $250 million campaign, launched in mid-January, is off to a good start. “Keeping the Promise … The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital” has already received large philanthropic gifts from Christine E. Lynn, Stanley and Marilyn Barry, Richard and Barbara Schmidt, Elaine J. Wold, and Louis B. and Anne W. Green.

“As always, our supporters have demonstrated their spirit, commitment, and unflagging devotion by helping ensure these plans become reality,” said Jerry Fedele, the hospital’s president and CEO. “We all owe them a debt of gratitude for the sophisticated level of health care we will all enjoy as we move forward with this transformative initiative.”

This campaign, the largest in the hospital’s 51-year history, has already raised $115 million.

Initial steps of the project include a new 180,000-square-foot, seven-story patient tower; investments in neuroscience programs and staff for the Marcus Neuroscience Institute; renovations in the current hospital building; and the addition of a 20-bed observation unit, as well as a 972-car parking garage.

“We’ve all come together in the spirit of Gloria Drummond, whose pioneering spirit helped build this hospital, to help take us to the next level as a health care provider,” said Lynn, donor and chairman of the board of trustees. “We hope and expect those who care deeply about sophisticated world-class health care will embrace this effort and help us bridge the gap between the $115 million we’ve raised to date and the $250 million we need to move forward. Our community has always been there for the hospital, as demonstrably as the hospital has been there for the community.”

The announcement of this campaign took place at the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute on the campus of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. 

In December, Boca Raton Regional Hospital celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Harvey & Phyllis Sandler Pavilion, a $73 million, 98,000-square-foot facility made possible through a $20 million lead gift from the Sandlers and other community philanthropists. The Sandler Pavilion houses the Eugene M. and Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute, which treats about 4,000 newly diagnosed patients each year.

And more good news: In December, officials at the hospital announced that Fitch Ratings has upgraded the rating of Boca Raton Regional Hospital bonds from BBB+ to A-. The rating outlook also improved from stable to positive.

Research fellows from the Florida Atlantic University Brain Institute collected grants totaling $1,137,227 from the Florida Department of Health’s Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program. That program supports research leading to the prevention and possible cure for Alzheimer’s disease as well as better prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Among the FAU Brain Institute award recipients are: Mónica Rosselli, Ph.D., assistant chair and a psychology professor in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; Henriette van Praag, Ph.D., an associate professor of biomedical science in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine; Ruth M. Tappen, Ed.D., a professor and the Christine E. Lynn Eminent Scholar in FAU’s  Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; Behnaz Ghoraani, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Jianning Wei, Ph.D., an associate professor of biomedical science in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine.

On Feb. 5 and March 5, Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center will offer free Rock Steady Boxing informational sessions, introducing its noncontact boxing program for people with Parkinson’s disease. On Feb. 14 and March 14, the center will offer free informational sessions on its FyzFit program. All informational sessions will begin at noon. Fyzical Fitness is at 7103 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth. For more information and to RSVP, call Nicole Chaplin at 432-0111, ext. 216.

The Future of Medicine Summit XII of the Palm Beach County Medical Society & Services will be held Feb. 7-8 at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion. Speakers will include Dr. Patrice A. Harris, president-elect of the American Medical Association; Dr. Corey Lee Howard, president of the Florida Medical Association; Dr. Marc Hirsh, president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society; Matthias Haury, Ph.D., chief operating officer of Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience; Tom Kodadek, Ph.D., professor and department chairman in cancer biology for Scripps Research’s Florida campus; Janet Robishaw, Ph.D., senior associate dean for research chair, Department of Biomedical Science, FAU; and Dr. Phillip M. Boiselle, dean of Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, FAU. For more information, contact Katherine Zuber at KatherineZ@pbcms.org or 433-3940, ext. 102.

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

Capt. Nick Cardella holds one of his favorite fishing kites, an SFE light-wind
kite, during a kite-fishing seminar. Photos by Willie Howard/The Coastal Star

By Willie Howard

Anyone who has fished the ocean off Palm Beach County — or even observed fishing boats from the beach — has probably seen fishing kites flying near boats.

Dangling live baits under fishing kites was popularized as a way to catch sailfish and other ocean game fish in the 1960s by Capt. Bob Lewis of Miami.

Suspending live baits under kites causes baitfish such as pilchards or goggle-eyes to thrash on the surface, attracting predators.

Fishing with kites also spreads baits out over a wide area and allows anglers to fish both sides of a boat while drifting.

But popular as kite fishing is, proficiency still eludes ocean anglers who don’t have the right tools or have not taken time to master the art.

Capt. Nick Cardella — a Delray Beach native, charter captain and member of many tournament fishing teams — sought to demystify the art of kite fishing by sharing tips during a Dec. 20 seminar at West Marine in Delray Beach.

A typical kite rig includes a ring above a brightly colored marker float and a small sinker to hold the float down in the wind.

A basic kite rod — a short fishing rod and conventional reel fitted with Dacron line and release clips. Photos by Willie Howard/The Coastal Star

Some background: Kite fishing consists of flying a fishing kite from a small rod (the kite rod). The line under the kite typically holds three release clips spaced about 65 feet apart. Fishing lines attach to the release clips with small ceramic or metal rings.

When a fish strikes and tugs the fishing line, the release clip opens and the fishing line drops free.

Windy winter days can create good conditions for kite fishing. Serious kite anglers carry several kites for a variety of wind conditions and attach helium balloons to their kites to hold them aloft when the wind speed slows.

Here are a few of Cardella’s tips for anglers learning to fish with a kite:

• Match the weight (used under the marker float on the fishing line) to the wind conditions. Cardella will use an ounce or more of weight to hold lines down in stout winds.

• For days with less-than-steady wind, use a heavy-duty balloon (available from tackle shops) filled with helium to hold the kite up. One place to find tanks of helium for balloons is Party City.

• Tie the helium balloon directly to the kite spar. The kite will tend to pull to the opposite side the balloon is attached to. That’s good. When using two kites, attach balloons so that one kite pulls to the left, the other to the right.

• Use a sea anchor to slow the drift and stabilize the boat, especially in relatively rough winter seas. An alternative is to hold the boat into the wind with the engines by bumping them in and out of gear.

• Monofilament leaders and circle hooks are standard tackle for sailfish. But when toothy fish such as kingfish and wahoo are severing leaders, have wire leaders ready. Cardella uses about 30 inches of No. 6 wire and a standard J hook when rigging live baits for toothy fish.

• If you plan to kite fish regularly, consider buying an electric reel for the kite rod. A power reel will save time and cranking muscles when you retrieve the kite.

• Even if you don’t need a helium balloon to keep the kite aloft, attach a regular balloon to the kite. If the kite winds up in the water, the balloon will keep it afloat.

• Adjust the yoke lines on the bridle to fit wind conditions. If a kite is flying too high or wobbling, move the bridle in toward the kite. If it’s flying too low, move the bridle out away from the kite.

Silver Sailfish Derby
Capt. Joe Garberoglio and his team on the Fragrant Harbor won top boat in the Silver Sailfish Derby, with 13 sailfish releases posted over two days of fishing Jan. 10-11.

The Fragrant Harbor team — including David and Lynne Henderson, Trent Glaub, Ryan Hullihan, Owen Buckman and Tim Smith — took an early lead on the first day, with nine releases, then caught and released another four fish on Day 2 to win by one release.

Two other teams — Native Son led by Capt. Art Sapp and Sparhawk led by Capt. Joe Ferrulle — finished the derby with 12 releases.

The fourth-place team, Singularis led by Capt. John Van Dellen, caught nothing on Day 1 but found the fish and scored 10 releases on Day 2, earning top-boat honors for the second day.

Billed as the oldest sailfish tournament in the world, the Silver Sailfish Derby was started in 1935 by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club and has been held every year since, except during the fuel shortages of World War II. Forty-three boats participated in this year’s 82nd derby.

Also noteworthy: Teams fishing in the Fort Pierce-based Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament shattered sailfish release records, including posting the tournament’s best single day of 709 releases by 27 boats on Jan. 10, Treasure Coast Newspapers reported.

Teams found most of the sailfish off Cocoa Beach.

Ashley Ramey holds the tagged 43-inch bull dolphin caught Nov. 23 south of Boynton Inlet from Capt. Chris LeMieux’s boat. When the fish was tagged and released June 10 off Cudjoe Key, it measured only 16 inches. Photo by LeMieux Charters

Mahi mahi catch
Most South Florida anglers who fish for mahi mahi know that they grow really fast.

A November catch by Kyle Veits and Ashley Ramey — clients of charter Capt. Chris LeMieux of Boynton Beach — demonstrates just how fast these dolphinfish can grow.

The 43-inch bull dolphin, caught Nov. 23 south of Boynton Inlet, had been tagged and released less than six months earlier as part of the Dolphinfish Research Program (dolphintagging.com).

When Capt. Don Gates tagged and released the fish off Cudjoe Key on June 10, it measured only 16 inches. The fish grew 27 inches in less than six months (166 days to be exact).

The take-away message, says Dolphinfish Research Program Director Wessley Merten: “Let them go and they will grow.”

Manatee deaths rise
Florida lost 824 manatees last year, well above the latest five-year average of 532, partly because of a strong red tide bloom on the state’s west coast.

Lee County had the largest number of reported manatee deaths in 2018 at 182, according to preliminary manatee mortality statistics compiled by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Thirteen manatee deaths were documented in Palm Beach County, including five related to strikes by boats.
Statewide manatee deaths included 121 related to the slow-moving marine mammals’ being hit by boats and other types of watercraft.

Another 321 of last year’s dead manatees tested positive for red tide exposure, the FWC reports.

Boaters can avoid manatees by obeying slow-speed zones, staying in marked channels and wearing polarized sunglasses that help them see manatees in the water.

Anyone who spots a sick, injured or dead manatee should report it to the state’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

Coming events
Feb. 2: Basic boating safety class offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the headquarters building at Spanish River Park, 3939 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. Fee $35 ($5 for youths 12-19). Register at the door. Bring lunch. Call 391-3600 and leave a message.

Feb. 14-18: Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show based at Miami Marine Stadium Park, 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway. Hours: 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. Activities include boat-handling clinics on the water and a conservation village featuring tips for protecting marine ecosystems. Advance tickets $25 ($40 on Feb. 14). Children 12 and younger free. VIP passes $150 ($175 on opening day). Call 954-441-3220 or visit miamiboatshow.com.

Feb. 23: Basic boating safety class offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the classroom building next to the boat ramps, Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park, 2010 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Fee, $20. Register at the door. Call 704-7440.

Tip of the month

Fishing for sailfish with live bait this winter? Be patient. Just because the reel clicks a few times doesn’t mean a sailfish is hooked.

Wait until the line is going out steadily for a few seconds before tightening the drag.

Most anglers targeting sailfish use circle hooks (required in billfish tournaments). The goal is to snag the circle hook in the corner of the sailfish’s jaw so it can be caught, photographed and released unharmed.

Hold sailfish in the water alongside a slow-moving boat, allowing water to wash through their gills, until they regain strength and are ready to swim free.

Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Reach him at tiowillie@bellsouth.net.

Paula Henderson was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer
on a new 3-D mammography unit. Photo provided

By Joyce Reingold

In fall 2017, Paula Henderson, special events and communications director for the Bethesda Hospital Foundation, met with Dr. Carol A. Adami, medical director of the Bethesda Women’s Health Center, to find out what was on her wish list.

The 63rd annual Bethesda Ball was in the planning stages and Marti LaTour, who was co-chairing the gala with George Elmore, wanted the event’s proceeds to fund a vital piece of equipment for the Boynton Beach-based women’s health center.

Adami’s recommendation? The Hologic Selenia Dimensions 3-D mammography unit and breast biopsy system, technology the FDA had just recently approved. Bethesda was the first in Palm Beach County to offer 3-D mammography, Adami said, and with this new unit would be among the first to add biopsy capabilities.

“The 3-D stereotactic biopsy unit allows radiologists to perform needle biopsies on cancers in the earliest stage, even before they are detectable on 2-D mammograms or ultrasound,” explained Adami, a board-certified radiologist who has been the center’s medical director since 2004.

The March 2018 gala raised almost $700,000, and the Bethesda Women’s Health Center got its cutting-edge machine. With a slightly looser schedule now that the major fundraising events for the season were over, Henderson, 46, made time for her annual doctor’s appointments.

Her personal visit to the women’s health center brought unsettling news. A mammogram performed on the 3-D unit yielded a suspicious result. “I remember Dr. Adami zoomed in and showed me a nodule that worried her. It looked like it had branches that came off it,” she said.

“It was a shock and not a shock,” said Henderson, who has had annual mammograms since she was 35 because her family has a history of breast cancer. “I have been very religious about doing them. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, and her sister did not survive it. I was very aware that the possibility was always there.”

Further tests, including two biopsies and an MRI, confirmed it was cancer. Last fall, Henderson had surgery, radiation and began an anticancer medication she’ll take for at least five years. Her prognosis is excellent, with a more than 95 percent survival rate. “Now I understand personally how important it is to have the best technology,” Henderson said. “If I’d had a regular mammogram, they wouldn’t have found it for another year. Catching it early is what made all the difference.”

The 3-D technology is such a vast improvement over the 2-D that “I can’t even describe how much better,” Adami said. “It finds cancers so much earlier and it’s easier to detect them. We also have about a 25 percent reduction in callback rate.

“In a 2-D mammogram, overlapping fibroglandular tissue can mimic a tumor. With a 3-D mammogram, we’re able to take apart the tissue layers to see whether this is a true mass or a pseudomass,” Adami said.

Here’s how it works: “The 3-D mammogram is a digital reconstruction by the computer. Instead of just taking one flat photograph, the X-ray tube sweeps across the breast in an arc, taking multiple images of the breast,” she said. “The computer reconstructs the X-ray image, like a CAT scan. Then we can scroll through the breast slice by slice, separating out layers of the tissue. We can identify cancers by distortion in tissue architecture even before a mass is visible.”

Adami said the center offers 3-D mammography to all of its patients. Medicare now covers the 3-D screening, and many other insurance companies have followed suit.

Henderson said she thinks back to first hearing Adami talk about the need for the 3-D mammography and breast biopsy system. “I didn’t realize it would become so personal. I’m so glad we had this technology to find this so early.”

“Finding the cancer sooner is always better,” Adami said.

Henderson worked through her treatment, missing just two and a half days for surgery. Despite feeling some fatigue during radiation, she said working was good medicine.

“Going to the hospital every day, to raise money for the important things we do, gave me even more encouragement.”
Henderson said she is not usually a “self-promoter,” but her story serves to remind women who may have forgotten to schedule, or skipped, a mammogram.

“Many of my friends immediately scheduled their 3-D mammograms locally and out of state,” she said.

“As women, we get busy, neglect ourselves, and let things slip off our calendar to do things for others. We can’t do that. We have to take care of ourselves.”

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

By Janis Fontaine

Do you think of God every time you open your purse or wallet, enter an ATM or use your credit card online? Is it a prayer that the transaction goes through? Do you feel sick to your stomach or have a tension headache because you and money aren’t getting along?

The Rev. Gregory Barrette, senior minister and chief executive officer of Unity of Delray Beach Church since October, says lots of us have money issues, and some of us have relationships with money that are toxic. Barrette (you can call him Greg) just wrapped up a four-week class in January based upon the best-selling book The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, by Edwene Gaines.

Barrette says our financial health is just as important as our physical and mental health, and an unhealthy relationship with money can complicate or worsen physical and mental health problems.

“Money is like energy,” Barrette says. It goes where it’s directed but if it’s not under control, it can cause chaos.

In some places of worship, the only time people talk about money is when they’re asking for it. Unity’s programs focus on providing practical solutions to real problems.

Barrette also teaches skills like meditation and dream interpretation that can help us find our way. As a teacher, he simplifies the work of theologians and complex thinkers like Eckhart Tolle for the rest of us.

“At Unity, we don’t believe the point is getting people into heaven,” Barrette says. “We want to help people live better now, in this moment. It’s about spiritual growth rather than being ‘saved.’”

Barrette doesn’t mean better as in richer or thinner or even more successful in your career. He means your soul has grown. Soul characteristics are universal: things like honesty, compassion, ethics, gratitude, humility, charity. That’s what our soul aspires to and it’s why, when people are especially wise about spiritual matters and the human condition, we call them “old souls.” They’ve had time to grow.

Barrette says meditation is an important tool that teaches practitioners to go deeper into themselves, “mining the depths of your soul. Meditation is a lot like exercise: Everyone thinks of it a little differently.”

And like exercise, the more you practice the better you get, but you’ve never fully realized your limits. You can always learn more, so Barrette drives a couple of hundred miles twice a month to see his meditation teacher.

Learning and growing spiritually is a process Barrette calls “unfoldment.” Some might call it “enlightenment,” but that sounds like there’s an on-and-off switch — you’re either enlightened or you’re not — whereas our spiritual lives happen on a continuum, expanding and evolving and moving toward perfection.

Perfection isn’t about what you’ve achieved in this life or how perfectly you achieved it, but how much your soul has grown as a result of it. Say you’re rich, but miserly — a real Ebenezer Scrooge! Rather than being visited by three spirits, Barrette says, one way to encourage your soul to grow is to pay attention to your dreams. In dreams, your soul and your subconscious aren’t censored.

They speak to you, often in symbols.

In February, Barrette will teach a workshop with simple instructions to “let your dream symbols speak.”

The process for taking control of your dream life is tailored to each person. And Barrette says anyone can do it.

Everyone has intuition to some degree. Some of us listen better than others, but we’ve all had those “feelings.” When someone sneaks up behind us, but we “feel” them coming, or we’re approaching an intersection and we slow down for no reason and some guy running the red light would have hit us but misses us.

Dreams are little vignettes from our subconscious mind that tell a cryptic story.

Barrette says solutions to our problems are in those symbols if we know how to read them. Barrette will teach a workshop called “Dreams: Letters from God” at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at Unity.

“In 90 minutes, I’ll teach participants why they dream and the importance of dreaming, how to remember your dreams and how to interpret them so they can be used to solve problems.  The simple, specific technique will allow them to interpret any dream.”

Register for the course by calling Unity at 276-5796, or visit unityofdelraybeach.org. A free-will offering will be taken.

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

Laura and Jay Laffoon, self-described ‘marriage edu-tainers,’
will perform Feb. 17 in Boca Raton. Photo provided

Some people think a sense of humor is one of the most important characteristics in a mate, and Jay and Laura Laffoon have put that to the test during 30 years of marriage.

Laughing together helps couples connect; connecting makes couples happy. This happy couple, who call themselves “marriage edu-tainers,” will share stories from their journey together, and you just might learn something while you’re laughing.

Their show starts at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 at Advent Lutheran Church in Boca Raton.

Tickets are $20; go to jayandlaura.com.

While you’re there, say congratulations to Advent School for 50 years of Christian education.

In November, Advent Lutheran Church celebrated its school with 200 guests, including alumni, past administrators and former teachers. The Rev. Dr. Ron Dingle, the school’s former director, shared his memories.

Advent’s school was founded in 1968 with a kindergarten class. Now the school serves children of all faiths from 6 weeks old to pre-K to eighth grade.

Advent School is a ministry of Advent Church at 300 E. Yamato Road, in Boca Raton. Call 395-3631 or visit adventschoolboca.org.

Constructive conversations
What do you do if someone tells you a sexist or ethnically or religiously offensive joke?

Sometimes it’s probably better to ignore it and to avoid that person in the future. But sometimes you can’t avoid it. You have to say something. But what? And how?

Allan Barsky (left) can help. He’s the guest speaker at the meeting of the Interfaith Café at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach.

He’ll offer suggestions on how to engage others in respectful, meaningful and constructive conversations.

Barsky is a specialist in mediation and conflict resolution and a professor of social work at Florida Atlantic University. He has a doctorate and a law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. He’s the author of several books on ethics and conflict resolution. His topic is “courageous conversations.”

Favorite Jewish composers
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton celebrates the work of Cantor Lori Shapiro’s favorite Jewish composers: Carole King, Carly Simon, Paul Simon and Burt Bacharach.

“Feelin’ Groovy” begins at 3 p.m. Feb. 10 at Temple Beth El, 333 SW Fourth Ave. Shapiro will perform with an assist from Dennis Lambert and Misha Lambert.

Tickets are $100 for reserved seating, $36 preferred, $18 general, $10 students. Call 391-8900 or go to tbeboca.org.

Stopping child exploitation
Mark your calendar for the Child Rescue Coalition’s fourth annual Eat, Drink & Be Giving Gala at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Delray Beach Marriott, 10 N. Ocean Blvd.

Founded by sisters Carly Asher Yoost and Desiree Asher, the Child Rescue Coalition is a partnership of child exploitation investigators, police officers, digital forensic experts, prosecutors, child welfare agencies, and corporate and private donors.

They work together to apprehend and convict abusers of children, rescue children in danger, and prevent abuse before it happens. They do it with state-of-the-art technology that targets abusers, pornographers and traffickers.

Tickets are $275 and are available online at childrescuecoalition.org.

— Janis Fontaine

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

When you think of a tree, chances are you envision a trunk with some foliage at the top that might shade your yard, become a home to birds and other wildlife, or provide your family with such sweet treats as mangoes or starfruit.

But when Mark Cassini and Matt Shipley see that same tree, they view not only the environmental benefits it can provide — such as cleaner air, shade and habitat — but the sense of community that it helps create.

About two years ago, the two founded Community Greening, a nonprofit in Delray Beach that works to improve low- to moderate-income communities through tree planting.

Since then they, with the help of community volunteers, have planted nearly 2,500 native and fruit trees in parks, school grounds, vacant lots and yards from Deerfield Beach to West Palm Beach, with their emphasis on low- to moderate-income areas in Delray Beach.

“At our plantings, all sorts of people are working together to improve a neighborhood — whether the volunteers live locally or visit a neighborhood, perhaps for the first time, to help plant at a park or a school. But after working together, all the volunteers — no matter where they live — think of that area and those trees as theirs,” says Cassini.

Consider, for example, a recent planting event at the K-12 Village Academy magnet school in an area of Delray called the Set. About 100 volunteers planted more than 150 trees 8 feet tall in only two hours, including slash pines, silver buttonwoods and dahoon hollies.

When the work was done, a food truck from Caesar’s Famous Ribs & BBQ arrived. “After the planting, we ate and the day turned into even more of a community event when playing basketball, skateboarding and dancing started. For me, it was the definition of a community party,” Shipley says.

Growing a community can happen in a variety of ways when it comes to planting trees. Consider what has come to be called the Grove in Catherine Strong Park, which is walking distance from Village Academy.

“We had visited the park in May 2017, soon after it was planted with about 75 fledgling fruit trees. But we recently returned to see how this Community Greening project is faring.

“Instead of an inactive vacant lot where people were dumping garbage, it’s now a place that’s giving back to people and nature,” Cassini notes. Today it’s a thriving grove with 10-foot-high fruit trees, many of which are already bearing fruit.

In fact, residents are welcome to visit the garden and pick whatever is ripe — including avocados, starfruit, guavas and sugar apples, as well as a variety of mangoes. There are even a couple of Madam Francis mango trees favored by Haitian residents.

The area is nicely maintained by Community Greening staffer Dre Dildy, who lives in the neighborhood and was hired as a tree steward after attending many of the Community Greening events as a volunteer.

The city maintenance crew that cuts the grass and helps with irrigation also has gotten involved.

“We’ve made more work for the city staff but they’ve become friends by volunteering at our plantings, looking out for the trees and giving us updates,” Shipley says.

The residents also feel attached to the park and its foliage, especially those who have adopted a tree in honor of a sick or deceased family member.

One woman who works near the Grove planted a mango tree in honor of her grandmother. She regularly drives by to check on its progress and returned with her parents a year after the planting to take pictures with the tree.

“We won’t start seeing many of the ecological benefits of the trees we plant until they grow a little more, but our planting projects that bring people together instantly create community,” says Cassini.

More about Community Greening
The tree-planting event at the K-12 Village Academy (400 SW 12th Ave.) in Delray Beach was made possible by a grant from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation as well as 75 Enterprise employees who volunteered.

The Grove in Catherine Strong Park, also funded by grants, is at the southwest corner of Southwest Sixth Street and
Southwest 17th Avenue in Delray Beach.

To learn more, find an events calendar or donate, visit communitygreening.org. Or contact co-founder Matt Shipley at 789-2005, mshipley@communitygreening.org; or founder and CEO Mark Cassini at 305-632-6211, mcassini@communitygreening.org.

Gardening tip
“After Hurricane Irma, we drove around and noticed that most of the native trees we’d planted didn’t have much damage. Some of them had been laid over, but we just brought them back up and staked them. Now they are doing fine. But we did notice a lot of damage on nonnative trees in the neighborhood. Some had fallen right next to the trees we’d planted. Luckily those falling trees didn’t take down any of ours.”

— Matt Shipley

You can contact Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley at debhartz@att.net.

February is Pet Dental Health Month, a good time to recommit to keeping your pets' teeth and gums healthy. Illustration provided

By Arden Moore

Many of us are spot-on when it comes to bathing our dogs and brushing our cats. And some of us have perfected the art of escaping injury by performing regular nail trimming, even on our feline friends. But how many of us regularly open our pet’s mouth, inspect the gums and yes, do a sniff test?
I’m betting not many. In fact, up to 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats sport some degree of dental problems by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
In honor of Pet Dental Health Month in February, I am advocating that you practice at-home pet dental care.
For starters, getting into this dental hygiene habit could keep your wallet fatter. If you pay regular attention to your pet’s teeth and gums, you can spot early warning signs of disease. By treating the dental issue promptly, you can save money on veterinary bills and keep your pet healthy and happy.
There is a direct connection between oral health and overall health in both pets and people. Periodontal disease causes chronic inflammation and makes the body’s immune system work overtime to respond to plaque and other issues in the mouth.
So, in order to identify uh-oh dental issues, you need to look, sniff and watch. Open your pet’s mouth and look for any evidence of bloody gums, tartar buildup (especially on the back molars), broken, loose or missing teeth and signs of swelling.
Second, take a sniff. Your pet’s breath should not be knock-you-back foul smelling. That could indicate not only a dental problem but possibly an issue with one of your pet’s organs.
And third, pay attention to your pet’s eating habits. If your chow hound is now turning down treats or spilling kibble from the food bowl, that could indicate he may be experiencing oral pain.
In the pet first-aid/CPR classes I teach around the country, I give my students an added reason to practice at-home dental care: You condition your pets that good things happen (translation: yummy treats and praise) when you handle their mouths. Successful teeth brushing sessions can improve your chances of administering needed pills or liquid medicine easily because your pet is less resistant to having his mouth handled.
In class, I sometimes put on a finger brush soaked in juice from canned tuna or dabbed in a soft cheese and treat Pet Safety Cat Casey and Pet Safety Dog Kona to a quick brushing. Both are happily trained to know that finger brushes equate to tasty treats. I also alert pet parents to choose a closed bathroom to minimize distractions in the house and prevent pet escapes.
Now, if you are like me and learn best by seeing and doing, an easy, step-by-step video from the AVMA on how to brush your pet’s teeth and condition him to welcome these hygiene sessions is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB3GIAgrTPE.
If you don’t feel comfortable brushing your pet’s teeth, you do have plenty of other options.
Among the toothbrush-free options are finger brushes, dental toys, oral gels and rinses, and treats that carry the VOHC seal of approval.
The Veterinary Oral Health Council consists of board-certified veterinary dentists who regularly evaluate dental products for quality. To find dental items that have VOHC approval, check out vohc.org/accepted_products.htm.
One word of caution: Please play it safe by using toothpaste, mouth rinses and other dental products that are made specifically for dogs and cats.
Never use human toothpaste on your pet for two reasons: Dogs and cats do not know how to rinse and spit, and fluoride in human toothpaste is not safe for dogs or cats. Human toothpaste also contains detergents and baking soda that can harm a pet’s teeth.
One of the best ways to show your pet how much you love him is by being his best health ally. And that includes regular at-home dental care. Your reward? Kisses of gratitude from your pet that are free of foul odor.
Please consider booking a dental exam this month for your pet. And check with your veterinary clinic. Some places in Palm Beach County are offering discounts on dental procedures in recognition of Pet Dental Health Month.

Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts Oh Behave! on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting ardenmoore.com.

Boca Raton High junior Casey Hill, who plays in the marching band, came up with a piston training device (below) to help trumpet players improve their fingering techniques. Photos provided

By Janis Fontaine

Boca Raton High School junior Casey Hill says her trumpet is like an extension of her arm. She feels more natural holding it and feels a little anxious when she doesn’t have it.

Musicians are like that.

Since Casey got started playing six years ago, her trumpet has been there for her. Now she plays about 20 other instruments, but the trumpet is her true love.

She plays trumpet in the marching band, where the intricate routines are designed to look beautiful as a whole. It can be tough to tell if you’re in the wrong place, so marching is demanding and strenuous.

But Casey says, “Marching band is a blast. It’s the most fun thing. You leave your blood, sweat and tears out on the field, literally.

But you learn discipline, and how to work well with all kinds of people, and you make connections that are strong and genuine.” Marching band is a huge time commitment. Rehearsals are twice a week to prepare for game day on Friday, and then competitions are held on Saturday. Casey says it’s worth every minute.

About two years ago, the 16-year-old experienced a happy accident that solved a problem for her and some other trumpet players. With help from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy sponsored by the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, Casey turned her idea into an invention — the Piston Trainer — and the invention into reality.

In music, technique is king and bad habits are hard to break. When Casey started playing trumpet, no one corrected her fingering technique, so that became ingrained in her muscle memory. It didn’t prevent her from playing well, from being a respected musician and an important member of the marching band, but Casey knew she could do better. One day at rehearsal, she forgot her “dot book,” a small spiral book on a lanyard that holds a dot chart, the schematic used in marching band to show you where to go.

Because she forgot her book, Casey had to fold the chart and hold it in between the valves of her trumpet. She noticed the papers made her keep her hands, especially her wrists, in prime technical position. When she started to slip back into her old ways, the dot chart reminded her not to do it.

When she got home, Casey kept thinking about how those sheets of paper had helped her. She did research in her spare time over the next 18 months, examining the 20 most common brands of trumpets, measuring them down to the millimeter and calculating the perfect dimensions for the Piston Trainer.

With support and guidance from the Boca Chamber’s academy, Casey created a business plan and learned to pitch her product to investors — to answer tough financial questions and explain the marketing plan needed to get her product in the hands of band leaders, teachers and trumpet players.

When she made her official pitch at the end of the Young Entrepreneurs class, the investors pledged $1,580 to fund her company.
In the old days — like the year Casey was born — making the Piston Trainer would require a prototype and a mold, pretty steep startup costs. But the costs of 3D printers that use plastic pellets are affordable now and Casey’s device was a perfect candidate for 3D replication.

In 2010, a 3D printing machine cost more than $20,000, but in 2013, the cost dropped to $1,000. So, she bought a 3D printer and had packaging made for the device, which she manufactures and packs at home.

Casey’s first goal was to get the PTs into the hands of young trumpet players, so she targeted Boca Middle and Western Pines Middle at the start of the school year, supplying kids who are just learning the instrument with the trainers. This, she said, is the time to correct and perfect technique, “before it gets ingrained.”

Casey plans to supply all of Palm Beach County middle schools with Piston Trainers over the next three years.

A search online for “help with trumpet fingering technique” returns finger weights for strength building and finger exercises to improve dexterity, but nothing like Casey Hill’s Piston Trainer, which is not patented.

Could it be that a high school student from Boca created the only significant piece of equipment for mastering trumpet valve fingering since the instrument was invented in 1500 BC?

Casey enjoys business, but she says she plans to study music therapy in college, a growing field with a lot of applications. “It’s using music to accomplish non-music goals,” Casey said.

For her, music is as important to her existence as breathing or eating, so to be able to share that gift and to help others is a great opportunity.

Casey sees playing music as a symbiotic energy exchange: “I give my instrument life and it gives my life meaning.”

Mayor: $15,000 payment saves untold legal fees

By Steve Plunkett

Gulf Stream and Martin O’Boyle have resolved the nine remaining lawsuits between them, with the town admitting that it violated the state’s Public Records Act in four cases and paying its litigious resident $15,000 to drop five others.
Both sides will go to mediation in hopes of deciding how much Gulf Stream will pay O’Boyle’s attorneys in the four cases settled in his favor. Each party will pay its own legal bills in the five dismissed suits.
“This is a business decision, and one that the [Town] Commission believes serves the best interests of the town by capping all legal fees,” Mayor Scott Morgan said as he announced the settlement Dec. 14.
The nine cases in the settlement were all that were left of 44 lawsuits that arose from more than 2,500 requests for public records by O’Boyle and resident Chris O’Hare, Morgan said.
The town and O’Hare signed a settlement in June 2017.
“In fiscal year ’17-18, we secured dismissals or victories in seven public records cases with one case decided adversely to the town,” the mayor said. “Previously, the town prevailed or secured dismissals in another 27 cases.”
O’Boyle and the town will continue to litigate the amount Gulf Stream must pay O’Boyle’s attorneys for the case he won. His lawyers have said they are owed more than $650,000; the town’s attorneys contend their rivals should get no more than $20,000.
Morgan credited Gulf Stream’s aggressive posture in the cases as essential to reaching the settlement and in changing state law on public records requests. Now judges in Florida can rule a request “improper” or “frivolous,” making the requestor liable for an agency’s attorney fees. Before, even if the agency won it still had to pay its own fees in all cases.
O’Boyle said what he considers biased news coverage of his lawsuits meant it took more time to settle the disputes.
“They would have been [resolved] a long time ago if The Coastal Star hadn’t written all those hit pieces which emboldened the town,” O’Boyle said.
Morgan said the settlement of any suit benefits both sides.
“This resolution hopefully brings an end to the public records abuse and the litigation abuse that this town has been subjected to. In that sense this is a win for the town,” Morgan said. “From Mr. O’Boyle’s standpoint, it brings an end to his emotional involvement, his expenses, and I think it’s a win for him in that sense as well.”
O’Boyle disputed the mayor’s characterization of his records requests as abuse.
“I don’t know how they can say it’s frivolous when they admitted that they wrongfully withheld documents in violation of the law,” O’Boyle said.
The town would have been better off paying someone $35,000 a year to handle such requests rather than spend hundreds of thousands on attorney fees, O’Boyle added. “I’m delighted that they have finally admitted wrongdoing,” he said.
As part of the settlement O’Boyle agreed to pay $250 upfront when he asks for public records in the future, with the money returned to him minus the town’s costs of responding to his request.
This “facilitation fee” was also in Gulf Stream’s settlement with O’Hare.
O’Boyle and O’Hare started flooding the town with requests for public records in 2013, eventually making more than 2,500 requests and filing dozens of lawsuits. The town raised property taxes 40 percent to pay for outside lawyers and additional staff and equipment to handle the requests.