On June 19, 1865, news of freedom made its way to Galveston, Texas, where the enslaved finally were informed of their emancipation by Union troops more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum helped commemorate the moment in history by raising funds for future Juneteenth celebrations. ‘We are raising $100,000 or more for the continuation of our programs, events and exhibits, which serve every resident of Palm Beach County with arts, history, culture and education,’ said Elizabeth Burrows, the museum’s board president. ‘Please join us in raising funds, so that the house still stands.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Colleen Rhodd, Mary Aperavich and Yvonne Prince. BELOW: (l-r) Singleton Cox, Michelle Brown and Burrows. Photos provided by MasterWing Creative Agency

Graciela Lara Valverde of Delray Beach has breast cancer and started using Road to Recovery in May 2024 when treatment left her feeling too weak to drive. ’It makes everything easier for me,’ she says of having a driver. Photo provided

By Hannah Spence

Every 15 seconds on average, somebody discovers he or she has cancer. Imagine struggling to find a way to get to lifesaving treatment on top of receiving the diagnosis. Fortunately, there is Road to Recovery, a program that provides free transportation for cancer patients to and from their medical appointments.

Launched in 1981, Road to Recovery was recently highlighted at Fork Cancer — a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society — which celebrated its fourth year at West Palm Beach’s Norton Museum of Art. The event raised almost $101,000.

Operating costs associated with the ride program, such as background checks and coordination with volunteer drivers, are covered by ACS and its donors. 

“I think Road to Recovery is an amazing program,” said Jonathan Duerr, Fork Cancer event chair, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer. Whereas his family was able to take turns getting his father to appointments, “not everybody is that fortunate. That’s why it’s important to continue to help in the fight,” he said.

According to Duerr, the event saw a 25% increase in funds raised from last year and driver Tim Sharp of Delray Beach was recognized for providing more than 60 rides in six months.

Road to Recovery has more than 5,000 drivers nationwide and has seen exceptional success in Palm Beach County, where almost half of ride requests are granted. All drivers are trained volunteers. 

One of them is 82-year-old Joe Ludwig, who lives in Boca Raton part of the year.

“I know I’m doing something meaningful and helping people out,” said Ludwig, a three-time cancer survivor himself. 

Road to Recovery offers flexibility, allowing volunteers to schedule their availability. They also have the option of just taking a patient one way or both to and from the appointment. 

Drivers and patients communicate through a website called Roundtrip. Patients say when they need to be picked up and drivers receive alerts when rides are in their designated areas. Once drivers accept the rides, they typically receive information about patients, such as phone numbers and if special assistance is needed. 

Ludwig said he tries to contribute at least a few hours a week and prefers to drive the same patients multiple times, so he can develop strong relationships with them. 

Ludwig has bonded with Gay Snider of Boynton Beach. In addition to cancer-related issues, she has Parkinson’s disease and uses a walker.

Snider, 81, said her son used to drive her to health appointments, but it became difficult for him to do so after having major surgery. She turned to Road to Recovery five years ago and has no regrets. 

“They’ve been wonderful,” said Snider. “I’m trapped here and it’s very depressing and very difficult. But the positive interactions I’ve had with these volunteers have made a tremendous impact in my life.” 

Snider illustrated ways certain drivers go out of their way to show her kindness, such as Ludwig’s checking in on her and committing to drive her on dates that are far off. 

Cancer treatments can leave some patients too debilitated to drive, even if they do have cars, like Graciela Lara Valverde, who has breast cancer and started using the service in May 2024. 

“I was very weak and had low blood pressure,” said the 70-year-old Delray Beach resident, who was concerned she could faint behind the wheel. “I thought not only am I going to kill myself, I’m going to kill someone else. 

“It makes everything easier for me,” said Lara Valverde, adding that the service saves her at least $30 each way on a rideshare service. “I wasn’t so stressed out thinking, ‘OK, how am I going to get to the doctors.’ And the drivers sometimes get personal … it puts me at ease.” 

Snider agrees.  

“It’s good to talk to someone who gets it,” she said. “If I get better and I could drive, I would become a driver because I see what a difference it makes in your life.” 

For rides or to volunteer, call 800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/drive.

Gear up for savings as many restaurants initiate summer specials. In addition to $29 and $39 prix fixe menus, expect a wide participation next month when Flavor South Florida hits and restaurants add special lunch and dinner deals to their menus. For now, check online prices to see if your favorites are offering deals. 

Quite a dustup happened online, after Le Rivage, a 21-year-old French restaurant in Boca Raton, shut its doors last month. In a farewell letter to customers, the owners blamed the closing on angry, rude customers who berated the servers, ran out on their checks and groused about the bread. “We hope this will make happy people,” they said in their post, “who wanted us to close … and told us this directly!”

A new gastropub, Pomona, opened in Lake Worth Beach last month in the former Callero’s spot on Lake Avenue at K Street. It was most recently the site of a Todd English restaurant, Lula’s. Pomona is owned by Alexandra Dupuis, owner of Ravish in Lantana. Inventive snacks (Cheetos chickpeas, guava cheese croquettes), salads and sandwiches (fried green tomatoes), and main shareables (miso corn bucatini carbonara) are on the initial menu.

— Jan Norris

Jill Merjeski suggests taking shorter walks with cool-down breaks when temperatures rise above 85. Photo provided 

By Arden Moore

Dealing with hot temperatures comes with living in South Florida. But especially these summer months, we need to truly be our dogs’ best health allies.

As a master certified pet first aid/CPR instructor and founder of Pet First Aid 4U, I am constantly alerting my students about the dangers of pets getting too hot and developing heat stroke. Be aware that heat stroke can occur quickly — in as little as 30  minutes — in any dog exposed to warm or hot temperatures. 

When you are out with your dog, watch out for these warning signs:

• Excessive panting

• Red or pale gums

• Drooling

• Rapid heart rate

• Sweaty paws

• Vomiting

I reached out to two pet professionals in Palm Beach County who also do their part in protecting dogs during hot temperatures: Jill Merjeski, CEO of Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, and Shay Maimoni, professional dog trainer and owner of Woof Dogs.

“Our professional pet sitters are taught the importance of heat stroke symptoms and know to look out for excessive panting, lethargy, drooling and other signs,” says Merjeski, whose company is based in Boca Raton. “When temperatures rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor time and walks may be shortened. Or walks may be divided into two sessions with a cool-down break indoors and fresh water provided. We try to stay in shaded areas and avoid hot pavement to protect sensitive paws.”

Maimoni’s company is based in Loxahatchee, but he serves clients in Palm Beach County and beyond.

“Here in South Florida, we’re no strangers to extreme heat, and our dogs feel it even more than we do,” he says. “Whether we’re training service dogs or household companions, keeping dogs safe from heat exhaustion and heat stroke is always priority one.”

Never leave your pet in a vehicle, as the temperature inside can quickly rise to a deadly level. Rachel O'Hara/The Coastal Star 

Be safe out there

He offers these safety tips:

Time your walks and outdoor training sessions. His team members schedule sessions before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. They always test the pavement and other surfaces with the back of their hands. “If it is too hot for us, it’s too hot for their paws,” he says.

Drink up, doggy. Make sure dogs drink water before heading out, and then take a portable water bottle and collapsible bowl with you to provide additional water on walks. “You can add a splash of low-sodium bone broth or tuna water to encourage water intake,” he adds.

Head for the shade. Aim to take your dog for walks in grassy areas and on shaded walking paths.  

Unlike us, our dogs do not have skin pores that enable them to regulate their body core temperatures when exposed to hot weather. They try to fend off the heat primarily by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.

“That makes dogs especially vulnerable to heat stroke and other dangerous symptoms, which can be fatal,” warns Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Society. 

Dog Days are here

Ganzert reached out to us at The Coastal Star to unleash these additional weather-protecting tips:

• Check for early signs of dehydration. Excessive panting and heavy breathing can indicate a dog is becoming dangerously dehydrated. Check for dehydration by gently pinching and drawing up his skin by his shoulders. If the skin does not plop down quickly, he may be dehydrated and need water immediately.

• Protect breeds at high risk for heat issues. French bulldogs, pugs, English bulldogs, boxers and other brachycephalic breeds sport short, flat snouts and narrow nostrils. These features make it harder for them to control their body temperatures during heat and humidity than dogs with regular-sized muzzles like Labrador retrievers and German shepherds.

• Never leave your dog in a parked vehicle — even for just a few minutes. Temperatures inside a car, even with windows open a bit, quickly soar and can escalate your dog’s body temperature and potentially cause death.

How to lower the heat

If your dog is getting overheated, you need to act quickly. Here are some tips I give my pet first aid students:

• Do immediately bring your dog to a shaded area or inside where there is air conditioning.

• Do dip each paw — one at a time — in cool water to slowly bring down the body core temperature.

• Never give your dog ice cubes or ice cold water to drink because it can cause blood vessels to constrict and interfere with the body’s attempt to cool down. A hot body coming into contact with ice can also result in shock.

• Do use a cool, wet towel to lightly dab on and off under the armpits and on the abdomen. However, do not leave a cool wet towel on a dog’s hot body because that will trap the heat and speed up heat stroke.

• Transport your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic and alert staff members you are en route so they can be ready to treat your pet immediately. 

Keep cats cool, too

Finally, let’s not forget about our indoor cats. Many cats seek sunny spots for naps. Locate any window cat perches on windows facing north and south — not east and west — to avoid the most intense sunlight. Provide them with fresh water daily.

“If the home temperature is too hot when we come for a pet-sitting visit to a home, we reserve the right to lower the thermostat to a more comfortable setting for the pets,” Merjeski says. “The comfort and safety of every pet — especially in extreme heat — is our top priority being a South Florida business.” 

Arden Moore writes about pets and can be reached at fourleggedlife@gmail.com.

Our experts  

Shay Maimoni is the owner and professional dog trainer of Woof Dogs based in Loxahatchee. His website is woofdogs.com.

Jill Merjeski is founder and CEO of Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, based in Boca Raton. Her website is jillsnext

door.com. 

Robin Ganzert is the president and CEO of the American Humane Society. Visit this group’s website at american

humane.org.

Father Andrew Sherman is celebrating his 20th anniversary at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church with a special brunch hosted by the Episcopal Church Women Ministry in honor of him on Aug. 10 at the church at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 

Sherman is a book lover who once said, “A perfect hour of free time involves a quiet corner and a good book.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from American University and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Virginia, then his Master of Divinity Degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. 

Now St. Gregory’s senior pastor, Sherman began his ministry as rector there in 2005. An active voice in the community, he and his friend Rabbi David Steinhardt are active in the Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association. He’s a founding board member of Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, an interfaith ministry to homeless families with children. He and his wife, Anita, have two children. 

For details about the brunch, call 561-395-8285.

Registration open for day retreat at Unity of Delray 

Unity of Delray Beach is offering a summer day retreat of spiritual renewal from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 9 in the church sanctuary, 101 NW 22nd St. “Pathways to Presence: A Day of Inner Renewal” with the Rev. Jeanmarie Eck will include meditation practices, gentle yoga, an indoor labyrinth walk and a vegan lunch. 

The cost is $49. All are welcome. Register at the Bookstore or call the church office at 561-276-5796 or visit unityofdelraybeach.org. 

Spanish River offers class to prepare for baptism

Spanish River Church, 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, is offering a class to prepare people for baptism who have not been baptized before. The class meets at 9 a.m. Aug. 17 in the Connect Center Room 4, followed by baptisms at 11 a.m. Aug. 24 at the church. 

Baptism is the last step in the membership process at Spanish River Church. All teenagers and adults must go through the membership process and be approved for membership before they are eligible for baptism. Child care is provided. Registration is required by Aug. 10. Visit spanishriver.com/baptism.

Prayer Night offered at Boca Community Church 

Boca Raton Community Church hosts a Community Prayer Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the sanctuary at the church, 470 NW Fourth Ave. Come together to pray for the church family, the needs of our community, and our brothers and sisters around the world. Visit bocacommunity.org.

Bring mat to Yoga Mass held at St. Gregory’s 

A combination of prayer and yoga is offered again in a Yoga Mass from 4 to 5 p.m. Aug. 23 in St. Mary’s Chapel at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren and Father Andrew Sherman lead. All levels are welcome. Bring your own yoga mat. St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd. Call 561-395-8285.

Game Night at St. Joseph’s Episcopal is fun for all 

Get the kids in the car! The next Game Night at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church takes place at 6 p.m. Sept. 5 in Parish Hall. Bring a dish to share and your own beverage. St. Joseph’s is at 3300A S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. Call/text Lynne at 561-704-7043 or visit stjoesweb.org.

HAZAK senior programs  to be offered at B’nai Torah 

HAZAK is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s organization for mature Jews and it sponsors a variety of online and in-person classes for adults 55 and older at B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton.

HAZAK is an acronym for Hokhmah (wisdom), the zayan for Ziknah (maturity) and the kuph for Kadima (looking ahead), and it also means strength. Classes are designed to strengthen the spiritual, emotional, educational and physical health of participants through chair yoga, strength and balance training, brain fitness, breath work and mindfulness, and Zumba Gold. 

Classes begin in September and registration is required. Classes are free for HAZAK members and $54 for nonmembers, which includes access to all HAZAK’s programs. Find info online at btcboca.org/hazak-senior-programming or email liz.singer@bnai-torah.org or call 561-392-8566. 

St. Jude chapel offers Eucharistic adoration 

The Adoration Chapel at St. Jude Catholic Church is now open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The chapel is a place for quiet prayer, reflection and contemplation, but its special meaning comes from the presence of the Holy Eucharist,  which is on display in a special monstrance and protected by a plexiglass shield. 

Catholics believe the Eucharist — the Communion wafer — is the literal body of Christ, not a representation or a symbol of it as many Christian religions believe.

Having the body of Christ exposed for prayer, for “Eucharistic adoration,” has profound religious significance.

Certain rules apply in the chapel: Dress modestly; enter and leave quietly; be silent in prayer (turn off your phone).     

A gift from the Bardaro Family Foundation made the Adoration Chapel possible, along with assistance from the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Beacon Carmel, Ray DeVerona, Beatrix Stevens, Luisa Comuzzi, Chris Golas, Gnatt Construction and Moroney’s Religious Goods.

Days and hours will be extended in the near future. St. Jude is at 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-392-8172 or visit stjudeboca.org.

New program offers gifts to fight homelessness 

The Interfaith Committee for Social Services announced a new program to help nonprofits serve their clients. The Homeless Prevention Program is designed to provide a one-time gift to help an individual or family in South Palm Beach County that is on the verge of becoming homeless.

Judy Fenney, who helped establish the program with Kathleen Megan, said that in a previous trial, 17 individuals and families were helped with past due utilities, first and/or last month rent, security deposits, move-in expenses, household necessities and appliances. Allocations ranged from $600 to $3,200. 

Requests for assistance must come from a partner agency, congregation, or civic group. Personal requests will not be considered. Checks are issued to the requesting organization, or directly to the organization providing the service like the landlord or utility. 

Decisions are made based on where the recipient lives (only South County residents are considered at this time), the amount of the request, the probability of the success in preventing the recipient from becoming homeless, and the commitment from the requesting organization to follow up and report. 

The Interfaith Homeless Prevention Request form to complete is available at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY24JsFvbTZmKV0B3UCW8jaWc1MYV14_gbrtCdIPz7LMC53w/viewform

Questions can be emailed to judyfenney1@gmail.com. 

Women’s group offering back-to-school supply drive 

The Episcopal Church Women of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church are hosting their Back-to-School Supplies Drive to support students at Forest Park and Galaxy Elementary, both Title I schools. The deadline to donate is Aug. 31. St. Joseph’s is at 3300A S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. Visit stjoesweb.org or call 561-732-3060.

Sisterhood of St. Lucy seeking members 

St. Lucy Catholic Church is calling for women of the parish to come together and become a part of the Sisterhood of St. Lucy. Father Brian Horgan wrote a pastoral invitation in the church’s bulletin.

He wrote: “The Sisterhood has been prayerfully and thoughtfully created as a space where the women of our parish — of all ages and backgrounds — can come together in faith, fellowship, and fun. More than just a group or organization, it is a movement of the heart, calling each woman to look beyond herself and to discover the gift that she is, and the gift she has to offer.” 

For more information about the sisterhood, call the church at 561-278-1280. You can also sign up online at stlucy.net/ccw-sign-up. 

St. Lucy Catholic Church is at 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. See Father Horgan’s complete message about the importance of the sisterhood at files.ecatholic.com/35077/bulletins/20250713.pdf?t=1751997219000. (page 5.)                                    

— Janis Fontaine

Lorraine Funk (left) of Lake Worth Beach and Kellie Quinn of Boynton Beach take instruction from Katelyn Eisenberg of Boca Raton during yoga at the Delray Equestrian Center. The horses are Memphis and Rocky. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Engoren

Under the July full moon, quarter horses Memphis and Rocky peered out of their stalls as life coach and longtime equestrian Elizabeth Constantin welcomed her class of yoga enthusiasts at the Delray Equestrian Center in Delray Beach.

Her Wild Palm Ranch & Wellness, offering yoga and meditation classes, is on the same grounds as her other business, the Boca Riding Club, which offers English horseback riding.

The idea, which draws on equine-assisted therapy, is that doing yoga in the presence of horses enhances the experience and the bond between horses and humans.

To Constantin, 42, an independent mother of two who lives in Delray Beach, the facility is as much a sanctuary as an equestrian center.

“People come to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the wisdom of nature — all with horses as their guides,” she says. “I’d like to build a community of like-minded practitioners.”

She plans to offer yoga twice a month.

Constantin traces her love of horses and riding back to her childhood and family traditions. She is following in the footsteps of her mother, Lorraine Funk, 65, owner of Rodeo Ranch in Lake Worth Beach, and her mom’s husband, Marc Funk.

One of her goals is to create a space where healers, coaches, bodywork practitioners and other holistic and wellness professionals can come and use horses as a healing modality in their practices.

“When you stand in the presence of a horse, something shifts,” Constantin says. “You don’t have to explain yourself. You just have to be.”

On this full moon night, approximately 10 yoga and horse devotees gathered beside the horses, spread their yoga mats, splashed on some lavender water to repel mosquitoes, and prepared for a gentle vinyasa and yin yoga flow.

Taught by Boca Raton resident Katelyn Eisenberg, 30, of Rooted in Harmony Yoga, class began with a gentle child’s pose.

Eisenberg, who calls herself “an energetic and embodiment coach,” says, “This is a way for people to create community connections.”

Despite the heat and some rumbles of thunder, Eisenberg led the class through a series of stretching and warrior poses, with a few downward-facing dogs thrown in for good measure.

Rhonnie Robins-Smith, 69, a colon hydrotherapist who worked in Boynton Beach, came out for her second time to the class.

After seeing it on Facebook, she previously came on June 22, the anniversary of her daughter Korah’s heavenly birthday.

“I had one of the most memorable experiences,” she says. “The skies opened up just as we finished our practice and it was so beautiful.”

Robins-Smith says she likes being outdoors and communing with the horses.

Also among the group was Kellie Quinn, 59, a personal trainer from Boynton Beach, who came with Lorraine Funk.

Of her first visit, she says, “I sensed the energy from the horses, and I feel pairing them with the gentle yoga deepened the relaxation.

“I will definitely come back.” 

Constantin says the horses provide a healing component to the class.

“Horses have five times the electromagnetic field of humans, and when we are in proximity to them, our heart rate, blood pressure and nervous system begin to regulate — reducing anxiety and promoting wellness.

“It’s not just calming,” she says. “It’s transformative.”

Research bears this out. Equine-assisted therapy is growing and is estimated to grow 15% this year, according to Sundale, a veterinary research company. Sundale says that 75% of trauma survivors experience symptom reduction after equine therapy.  

People only need to be in a horse’s presence to feel a sense of wellness and peace, according to the PTSD Association of Canada, citing research that shows lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased levels of beta-endorphins, decreased stress levels, and reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety.

Additionally, people experience improved social functioning, more feelings of empowerment, trust, patience and self-efficacy — all from being in the presence of horses.

“I opened The Wild Palm Ranch & Wellness because I believe people are craving real connection,” Constantin says. “Not just to each other, but to themselves. The horses help us remember who we are.”

While she is a firm believer in research that supports the physiological benefits of equine therapy, Constantin also believes in ancient rituals.

That’s why, as the yoga class came to an end and dusk settled in, she hosted the group in a fire circle. As the fire burned a deep red and orange, so the sunset emerged in colors of the same palette.

Constantin calls it “a ceremony for your heart,” where participants mingle with the horses and “burn off negative energy in the fire, leaving them feeling lighter and more balanced.”

Kara Payne, 44, an artist from Boca Raton who paints biblical verses as well as portraits of horses, grew up riding horses outside of Pittsburgh.

“I miss being around horses,” she said as she guided Hazel, a 20-year-old paint quarter horse, through the group. She was looking for a way to reconnect with them when she found Constantin.

Although Payne hasn’t ridden in years, she says she likes to be surrounded by horses and feel their energy.

“Liz has found a great way to combine wellness with the gentle energy of horses,” she says.

With plans to create a sanctuary for growth, expand her offerings and bring in more holistic-health practitioners, Constantin hopes The Wild Palm will become a center for healing and connection.

“Come as you are and leave a little more connected to the truth of who you are,” she says.

Jan Engoren writes about health and healthy living and can be reached at jengoren@hotmail.com

If You Go

What: The Wild Palm Ranch & Wellness offers equine-facilitated yoga and meditation sessions and more.

Where: 14830 Smith Sundy Road, Delray Beach

When: By appointment

Cost: $85 for horse yoga 

Info: 561-305-2855; thewildpalm.com

Drs. G. Peter Gliebus, Amy Laitinen and Frank Vrionis (l-r) were recently named participants in the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation’s inaugural scholars program. They are accompanied by hospital CEO Lincoln Mendez (rear) and (l-r) Wendy Elliott, Dr. Warren Selman and Dr. Jack Ziffer. Photo provided 

By Christine Davis

Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation recently hosted a ceremony and reception in celebration of its inaugural scholars program.

The evening’s honorees, neurologists Drs. G. Peter Gliebus, Amy Laitinen and Frank Vrionis, are now able to learn more about disorders that affect the nervous system, thanks to funds from the Marcus Foundation Inc.

“The research that will be performed by Drs. Gliebus, Laitinen and Vrionis will significantly improve patient care,” said Mark Larkin, president of the foundation. “It is our intent to have all our scholars represent an ideal convergence of commitment to clinical excellence, scholarly inquiry and leadership in medicine. 

“Continued funding for future scholars programs at our other institutes is vital to building a solid foundation not only as a compassionate and competent physician, but also as a contributor to the advancement of medical knowledge and delivery of care.” 

New robotic system helps treat enlarged prostate

Delray Medical Center has acquired the Hydros Robotic System, an advancement in aquablation therapy for the treatment of an enlarged prostate. The minimally invasive system uses real-time ultrasound guidance and water-jet technology to remove excess prostate tissue while preserving vital structures.

Hydros has advanced AI treatment planning, enhanced imaging and a streamlined surgical workflow, helping to improve both patient and surgical team experiences.

Senior clinical director appointed at Caron

Manuel Garcia was recently appointed senior clinical director in Florida for nonprofit Caron Treatment Centers, including one in Delray Beach. He will oversee Caron’s new insurance-based Core program, as well as the existing Caron Renaissance and mental health programs. 

“I am passionate about providing access to care to all who need it, and I’m excited to work with the incredible team here at Caron,” Garcia said. “Cost is often a barrier for seeking addiction treatment, and working in partnership with insurance groups enables us to create affordable, evidence-based programs that help people enter and remain in recovery. 

“The programs here will build on what Caron has learned by developing in-network programming in Pennsylvania, while also leveraging the experience and world-class expertise available at Caron in Florida.”

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

Capt. Tony DiGiulian holds up  a nice wahoo on a recent fishing trip. DiGiulian, who likes to troll for wahoo, says anglers looking to reel in the speedy gamefish should pay attention to the position of the moon. Good times are when the moon is directly overhead or when it's just above the horizon, whether it’s rising or setting. Steve Waters/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

Wahoo can be caught year-round in South Florida, but the absolute best time of the year to catch them is around the full moon in August.

With a full moon on Aug. 9, offshore anglers should target the speedy, tasty gamefish from now through most of the week after the full moon.

“We’ve caught them on the day of the full moon, but if I had to choose, I’d probably fish Thursday and Friday, and Sunday through Thursday,” Capt. Tony DiGiulian said. 

Live bait such as goggle-eyes will catch wahoo, but among the best baits this time of year are small bonitos and skipjack tunas. 

It’s not unusual for anglers to be fighting those species when they feel a thump and reel in fish heads.

“We’ve all reeled them in cut in half,” said Tom Greene, who added that anything from a 1- or 2-pound bonito to a 15-pounder can be used for bait. “Think of any one you reeled in cut in half, that’s how big a bait you can use.”

Greene is the former owner of Custom Rod and Reel in Lighthouse Point, who got his start in business as a teenager working at Boca Tackle. He said to look for small bonitos flipping on the surface and troll a quill rig below the surface to catch a few.

He rigs the bait by running a wax loop behind its nose and securing it to a J-hook, which can be as large as an 11/0 for a big bonito. A second hook attached by a piece of wire to the front hook is lightly hooked in the skin of the bait near its tail. A 4- to 6-foot wire leader tied to a 10- to 15-foot 60- to 100-pound monofilament leader completes the rig.

Greene said the long leader provides better control of a wahoo when it’s at the boat and added that the boat should be moving forward as you gaff the fish to prevent the wahoo from going under the boat.

DiGiulian, who likes to slow-troll live baits on downriggers, noted that wahoo slice their prey in half, then spin around to eat both pieces, so anglers need to pay attention.

“If you get a wahoo bite and it’s a short bite, if you free-spool the bait back immediately, that wahoo will come back and eat it,” said DiGiulian, of Fort Lauderdale.

DiGiulian also trolls double-hooked bonito strips and bellies and ballyhoo for wahoo. He rigs the baits behind a mylar Sea Witch, available at local tackle stores.

“The more waggling of the bait that you can get, the better off you’re going to be. We break the backbones of the ballyhoos so they’re more flexible and pliable and we use big strips,” DiGiulian said.

When trolling, DiGiulian uses planers, which get the baits well below the water’s surface. He’ll zigzag the boat between 130 and 300 feet of depth. Fishing around schools of small bonitos or blackfin tunas and where flying fish are being chased can produce wahoo, which DiGiulian said often “hunt and eat in big packs.”

“When trolling, when you catch a wahoo, you want to make sure you go over the same spot many times.”

Given the hot weather, early morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times to fish. Ideally, DiGiulian said the start of an outgoing or incoming tide is best.

He also pays attention to the position of the moon. Good times are when the moon is directly overhead and just above the horizon, whether it’s rising or setting.

The daily bag limit for wahoo is two per person and there is no size limit, but one big fish will feed a lot of people. And you don’t even have to cook it.

“Wahoo raw is hard to beat,” DiGiulian said. “My favorite way is to sear it on the outside and slice it thin so it’s raw in the middle.”

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

By Faran Fagen

A new Jewish studies program encourages parents, grandparents or guardians to attend each week alongside their children, making Jewish learning a true family experience.

“It’s a chance for kids and parents and their families to learn together,” said Rabbi Joyce Siegel, program director and founder.

The program, Jewish Family Experience/Beit Mishpacha, begins Sept. 7 at Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County, 2475 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

The program aims to meet families where they are on their Jewish journey — whether just beginning or continuing traditions. Beit Mishpacha features project-based and experiential learning through music, storytelling, art, cooking, games and more.

Important goals will also embrace the traditional concepts of loving your neighbor and repairing the world. 

There are no temple membership fees — just one all-inclusive tuition fee per child. The fees are for tuition, supplies, teaching staff and the program itself. For families whose goal is a bar or bat mitzvah, the program will help prepare them for that path.

“Many families today don’t want to pay for membership and commit to one place,” Siegel said. “I wanted to reach out to families not part of the temple and give them the opportunity to participate.”

The program is open to families with children in grades K-7. All Jewish and interfaith families are welcome.

Beit Mishpacha’s curriculum will cover Jewish holidays, Jewish Lifecycle, Bible, Hebrew, prayers, Israel, tikkun olam and mitzvot. For the older students/families, the Holocaust and antisemitism will be included.

Small classes are offered with personalized attention.

Lynne Weinstein has been part of the leadership at Temple Sinai for more than 20 years and is past president of the congregation.

“Our senior rabbi, Steven Moss, Rabbi Joyce Siegel and our leadership are committed to fostering a robust Jewish community in a world with many challenges,” Weinstein said.

The new program at Temple Sinai is a creative approach to supplemental Jewish family education. Its primary goal is to offer traditional and contemporary families a shared learning opportunity to embrace many aspects of their Jewish heritage.

The Jewish Family Experience embraces families with a diverse Jewish heritage seeking balance in their parenting, professional and recreational lives.

“The experiential curriculum is designed for the students, parents and grandparents to learn together in classrooms and the community as well as continue the shared process in monthly home activities,” Weinstein said.

Families were invited to a free open house on July 27 where they met educators, toured the space, and enjoyed a hands-on taste of this approach to Jewish learning.

“Temple Sinai is so excited to welcome young families,” Siegel said. “Jewish learning should be joyful, welcoming and shared.”

Grades K-3 will meet twice a month on a Sunday morning for three hours, plus family shabbat dinner and service once a month.

Grades 4-7 will meet Sunday mornings three times a month, plus family shabbat dinner and service once a month. 

In addition, grades 4-7 will meet on Zoom for 30 minutes a week for a Hebrew learning experience.

Siegel’s goal is for the children to lead the shabbat services. The idea behind the program is something that Siegel has wanted to bring to fruition for many years.

“We’re really building a community — that’s my vision,” she said.

Enrollment is open. Visit jewishfamilyexperiencedelray.org or email info@jewishfamilyexperiencedelray.org. 

To learn more or schedule a visit, call Rabbi Siegel at 561-276-6161, ext. 119. 

Relax, Briny-ites! You still have privileges at the Palm Beach County Library System.

An email July 3 from the Bookmobile about the town’s 56 holders of library cards soon losing benefits ruffled feathers online.

“On June 26 the Town Council of Briny Breezes approved a motion to withdraw from the Palm Beach County Library District,” the email mistakenly said. “Due to this action, all Palm Beach County Library Cards issued to Briny Breezes town residents will expire on October 1, 2025.”

Trouble is, the council only approved having the town manager and town attorney investigate such a withdrawal. And the erroneous email was sent the day before the long July Fourth weekend.

“After clarification with the town, we will be sending out an updated email to card holders on Monday,” County Library Director Douglas Crane said.

—Steve Plunkett

Related: Gumbo Limbo loses its sea turtle hospital

By Steve Plunkett

A 2-year-old nonprofit started by two former Gumbo Limbo Nature Center employees is seeking a state permit to give veterinary care to sick or injured sea turtles.

When their application is approved, their Sea Turtle Care and Conservation Specialists LLC will become the second sea turtle hospital in Palm Beach County after the June collapse of the nonprofit Coastal Stewards’ rehab center at Gumbo Limbo.

The ex-employees, Whitney Crowder and Emily Mercier, lost their jobs helping sea turtles at Gumbo Limbo in March 2023 as Boca Raton transitioned turtle care at the city-operated nature center to the Coastal Stewards.

Also involved with the STCCS are fellow Boca Raton resident Samantha Clark, who spent eight years at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach caring for turtle patients; Dr. Maria Chadam, Gumbo Limbo’s former on-call veterinarian; Dr. Charles Manire, Loggerhead Marinelife’s former vet; and Kirt Rusenko, Boca Raton’s now-retired marine conservationist.

There has been no dialogue between the group and the city or the Coastal Stewards since the Stewards announced they were closing their rehab center.

“We have not been contacted by any city officials or Coastal Stewards people,” Clark said.

She said the STCCS handles “one or two (cases) a week, so it’s been pretty busy as it normally is at this time of year.”

The group rents space, not accessible to the public, at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach, according to its permit application to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It already installed two 2,000-gallon tanks there to rehabilitate turtles.

“The space includes a complete AZA-accredited hospital suite, state of the art hospital equipment, necropsy space, food preparation and storage,” Crowder wrote the FWC in May.

The group submitted final documents for its FWC application on June 24.

When the permit is issued, the STCCS rehab center will join Loggerhead, ZooMiami and the Turtle Hospital in the Keys as the only sea turtle hospitals in South Florida.

In filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the group reported raising $6,156 in contributions and having $4,546 in expenses in 2023, a healthier $61,571 in contributions and $35,807 in expenses in 2024.

“We’re very fortunate to have those donations coming in,” Clark said. “It’s crucial that nonprofits cultivate those relationships with supporters.” 

The group has a website, careandconservation.org, and a page on Facebook at “CareandConservation” where supporters can donate. 

Sadie Hawkins, a hawksbill turtle being treated at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in this June 13 photo, was moved to Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach after the nonprofit Coastal Stewards closed Gumbo Limbo’s sea turtle rehab unit. Of the 13 turtles being treated at the time of the closure, only three have yet to be relocated. One is to be transferred to another facility and two are expected to be released into the ocean this month. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star  

Related: Former Gumbo Limbo workers plan to open turtle hospital at Palm Beach Zoo

By Steve Plunkett

The gift shop at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is locked and empty, 10 of the center’s final 13 sea turtle patients have been transferred to other facilities or released, and no one can yet say whether a turtle rehabilitation unit will ever return to Boca Raton.

“We’re open to discussing potential new partnerships for sea turtle rehabilitation and we haven’t decided on how the gift shop space will be used,” said Deputy City Manager Chrissy Gibson. 

The rest of Gumbo Limbo remains open and operating.

The changes are the result of a surprise decision June 12 by the nonprofit Coastal Stewards group, which had run the rehab unit and gift shop since April 2024 but faced declining contributions and increased competition for donations.

“Like many environmental nonprofits, the Coastal Stewards has faced increasing difficulty securing consistent and sustainable funding,” Shivani Gupta, a member of the group’s Board of Trustees, said in a news release the day after the board’s vote.

Coastal Stewards staff transferred six turtle patients to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach on June 24, released two along Cape Canaveral’s seashore and dropped off one at the University of Florida Whitney Lab’s Sea Turtle Hospital in St. Augustine, said the nonprofit’s spokeswoman, Melissa Perlman.

One patient was taken to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon by Turtle Hospital staffers who were in the area for other reasons, said Lisa Thompson, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which regulates handling of sea turtles and other endangered or threatened animals.

That left three turtles — named Blossom, Sparrow and ReReRe — in the Coastal Stewards’ care, Perlman said. 

“Blossom and Sparrow will probably be cleared for release within about two weeks and both will be local,” Perlman said. “ReReRe is showing some clinical decline, unfortunately, and will likely be a medical transfer instead of a release.”

’I've done all I can do’

The nonprofit’s board of trustees June 12 meeting marked the unraveling of the Coastal Stewards in its present form. John Holloway, the group’s president and chief executive, tendered his resignation but agreed to stay on as a consultant while the Stewards wind down Gumbo Limbo’s turtle hospital.

“Currently the Coastal Stewards face challenges that reflect the broader crisis in the nonprofit sector,” Holloway told the trustees. “The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported nearly 20,000 nonprofit jobs lost in the last five months alone, underscoring the gravity of the situation.”

Drastic federal budget cuts have led to increased competition for dollars and reduced prioritization for community services such as marine conservation, he said.

Veterinarian Shelby Loos and rescue and rehabilitation coordinator Kara Portocarrero also stayed to care for the turtle patients but have accepted jobs elsewhere, Holloway said. He said he had fired the group’s chief financial officer and support staff.

“I’ve done all I can do, and the organization cannot afford a staffing,” he told the trustees.

Holloway, who joined what was then known as the Friends of Gumbo Limbo in 2020 as its first paid president, quickly faced the challenges of that year’s COVID pandemic and the city’s extended closure of the nature center and gift shop, as well as the city’s 2023 decision to keep donations collected at the door to run Gumbo Limbo rather than turn them over to the nonprofit.

Money issues

That resulted in “an immediate annual loss of approximately $350,000 to our operating budget,” said Holloway, who was paid $122,323 in 2023, according to Internal Revenue Service records.

Holloway’s estimates of the door donations were high. The city actually took in $133,741 January-September 2023, $164,270 October 2023-September 2024, and $176,671 October 2024-May 2025, according to Deputy City Manager Jim Zervis.

Another damper on fundraising efforts was a decision by the city attorney that names of any donors would be public records under the state’s Sunshine Law, he said.

Holloway thanked his staff members for their services, including his husband, Chad Farnum, “who stepped in to do half-price event planning.”

Earlier in the meeting, the trustees were told that they had $1,000,012 left in their bank and investment accounts after withdrawing $200,000 to pay the costs of closing the turtle rehab center and gift shop. That’s down from $3.8 million the group reported having in assets to the IRS in 2020.

The sudden closing surprised some people with close ties to the turtle hospital.

“That was a shock to me,” said Bob Rollins, vice chair of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, which reimburses the city for Gumbo Limbo’s operating and capital expenses.

“I think it was a mistake getting the chief executive,” said Beach and Park District Commissioner Susan Vogelgesang.

“I’m sad and disappointed, but totally unsurprised given what I know of decisions and directions the nonprofit took starting in 2020,” said Michele Peel, a former volunteer president of the Friends of Gumbo Limbo.

Holloway said he had contacted city officials in February about getting financial help and received no response. He tried again in May and got a reply that “the city is working on a response.”

The trustees’ moves came after the Coastal Stewards in April vacated their rented office space in an unincorporated county pocket between Ocean Ridge and Briny Breezes.

Visitors to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton could view patients in the sea turtle rehabilitation unit only from behind a gated fence June 13, the day after the Coastal Stewards decided to close the facility. These turtles have already been relocated.  

A troubling few years

The closure of the rehabilitation center does not affect the three “resident” sea turtles housed in outdoor tanks at Gumbo Limbo, which remain on display and available for public viewing. Boca Raton, which operates the nature center, holds the FWC permit for keeping the resident turtles, while the Coastal Stewards were given the permit for providing veterinary care.

Also still open are the city-run turtle nesting and hatchling programs, youth camps and community education, the butterfly garden, boardwalk and observation tower.

Boca Raton used to operate all facets of Gumbo Limbo, but it decided in March 2023 to fire its sea turtle rehabilitation coordinator, who held the FWC permit, and her assistant coordinator. The FWC then ordered all ailing sea turtles and resident sea turtles transferred to other facilities.

The terminations came as the city was developing a plan to transfer the rehab unit — including its financial obligations — to the nonprofit Coastal Stewards and a month after Maria Chadam, the unit’s on-call veterinarian, resigned.

Since then, the Coastal Stewards hired veterinarian Loos and two other employees full-time to qualify for a new permit.

The road to the permit was hampered by a series of missteps by both the Coastal Stewards and the city, and it wasn’t until April 26, 2024, that the first new sea turtle patient arrived.

From then through March 31, the Coastal Stewards admitted 54 sea turtles needing rehabilitation, roughly five per month, and all were under Loos’ care, the FWC said. 

Patrons’ confusion

The closure makes the Juno Beach center and ZooMiami the closest places where sea turtles in distress can get veterinary care. Ann Paton, the group’s onetime grants coordinator, told the trustees that raising money was difficult because everyone thinks the city and not the Coastal Stewards runs the rehab unit.

“As soon as you start to explain it, you can look into the eyes of the person you’re talking to, and within 30 seconds they’ve glazed over because they’ve always believed that that whole magilla, that whole beautiful institution, is one entity,” she said.

“In order for (the nonprofit) to move forward, it would need to have a board that was very focused on fundraising and able to bring people from the public to the table to discuss the nonprofit’s needs, so that the important education that it’s doing can move forward and benefit our community,” Paton said.

The agreement with Boca Raton calls for the Coastal Stewards to give 90 days’ notice if they want to terminate it. Holloway said he hoped the city would end it in 45 days.

Chadam, the former part-time veterinarian at Gumbo Limbo, said she heard in May that Holloway would be leaving by year’s end.

“He’s blaming the city of course,” she said.

But city officials, in her view, don’t care about sea turtles.

“I predict a pickleball court coming to GLNC,” she joked.

The Shannon brothers (l-r) Christopher, Charlie, William and Nicholas hoist the youngest sibling, Finn, after his graduation from the Gulf Stream School. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Related: Tots & Teens: Gulf Stream School Graduation — June 6

By Ron Hayes

William Shannon left first in 2010.

Christopher followed in 2013.

Then Nicholas in 2015, Charlie in 2016.

On June 6, Finn became the last of the five Shannon brothers to graduate from the Gulf Stream School.

They left an institution that has been a family to their family for 18 years, and took with them memories both happy and sad, and educations they treasure.

“Honestly, it’s been surreal every time I think about leaving Gulf Stream because it’s been such an important part of my life since I was 3 years old,” Finn Shannon, 14, reflected a few days after the graduation ceremony. “The school has done so much for me, my brothers, my mom. There’s always a connection.”

Now, before you ask, Finn was not named for Huckleberry. As the youngest Shannon, and the child born in Florida after the family moved to Gulf Stream from Montreal in 2007, Finn was given a name that reflected their new home.

“We wanted something to represent the ocean,” their mother, Anna Shannon, explains. “We thought of either Reef or Fin. So, we chose Fin and added an n.”

Ask him what kind of an education he received, and Finn doesn’t hesitate.

“Phenomenal, and it’s going to help me my entire life,” he says. “They focused on making sure we were ready for life. They taught us the difference between right and wrong, and how to be the best human being we could be, how to impact the world for the better.

“And the English teachers were always on the watch for a grammar mistake.”

In the fall, he will start ninth grade at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, which William, his oldest brother, also attended. The other three, Christopher, Nicholas and Charlie, went on to St. John Paul II Academy.

The family home is now in Delray Dunes.

Choosing St. Andrew’s for his high school years seems appropriate.

“Finn and Will have a lot in common,” their mother says. “The three in the middle all played lacrosse at St. John Paul. They’re more athletic. But Finn and William are more academic.”

The oldest, Will, and the youngest, Finn, would rather read than play sports.

“Will introduced me to Harry Potter,” Finn says, “and the Gulf Stream School really strengthened my love of reading.”

He was assigned The Giver and Lord of the Flies, both sophisticated dystopian novels. But his favorite subject was history.

“I took Latin for three years and it made me learn about Roman culture and mythology,” he says. “I learned how to speak some Latin, and our teacher would bring us out onto the field, and we’d have a Roman battle with pool noodles. It was very fun. Not much speaking, but a lot of screaming and laughing.”

The Shannon family was featured in The Coastal Star in May 2011: Anna Shannon surrounded by her loving sons and husband, Bill, then at their Gulf Stream home. From left, Charlie, 8, Chris, 12, Anna, Finn, 6 weeks, Will, 14, Nick, 10, and Bill.  Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

‘Mr. Shannon’s disease’

The school’s athletic field was not always a place for laughter.

Finn Shannon was only 3 months old in 2011 when his father, Bill, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

ALS is a progressive disease in which the motor neurons from the brain to the spinal cord slowly weaken, leading to paralysis and death. But to the boys’ fellow students, ALS was “Mr. Shannon’s disease.”

Bill Shannon was already using a wheelchair on Sept. 12, 2014, when the school proved it is more than a place to study Latin.

At 2 p.m. that afternoon, all but a dozen of the older students had their parents’ permission to stand in line and dump buckets of ice water over their heads in the popular “ice bucket challenge.” Participants were asked to donate $5. The event raised at least $700 for ALS research.

Two months later, Bill Shannon’s funeral service was held in the school chapel.

“Not to be too saccharine about it,” Anna Shannon says now, “but when Bill was sick and died, those teachers really rallied around the kids, and there was never a day, even in the worst of times, when they didn’t want to go to school. After Bill passed away, two teachers had them come in for tutoring, to keep them busy.”

Where are they now?

If Finn’s time at the school has prepared him for adulthood as well as it trained the older boys, his future is secure. 

William, 29, is the head of strategic itineraries for a company in Barcelona, Spain.

Christopher, 26, is an analyst at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Nicholas, 24, has just earned his MBA at Florida Southern.

And Charlie, 22, a Lynn University grad, is a superintendent for a local builder.

Institutions love to promote themselves as families. Employees are “family.” Family restaurants. Family entertainment. Family Dollar. But at the Gulf Stream School, the numbers don’t lie.

Of the 21 students in Finn's graduating class this year, 19 have a sibling who either graduated before them or is still attending the school.

“I just want people to know how much the teachers have done for me and my family,” Finn Shannon says, “and how important the Gulf Stream School was in all our lives.

“I know I can’t go back as a student, but I can always go and visit, just to see what’s going on. And when I have kids of my own, I want them to go there, too. I’m planning for the future.” 

By the time it’s completed, the project would bring massive changes to the 30-acre downtown government campus. Renderings provided

By Mary Hladky

Weeks after the Boca Raton City Council approved an interim master plan that will bring residential, retail and office to 30 city-owned acres, a group of residents is taking action to force the city to allow residents to vote on whether the project should proceed or be scrapped.

Save Boca is circulating two petitions that call for amendments to a city ordinance and to the City Charter, both of which call for an election. But organizer Jon Pearlman prefers the charter amendment, which he said would be the quicker and better way.

Both require petitions to be signed by a certain number of residents, with the charter change needing 6,112 signatures, he said. Petitions are being circulated by about 25 people, and are online at SaveBoca.org.

This effort was launched in the last half of June and the petitions were not available until the end of the month.

“The City Council and mayor have continued to push forward this plan at great speed,” Pearlman said. “We are taking control back to the citizens.”

Residents, particularly those who use city recreational facilities on the downtown government campus — such as the tennis center and skate park — have pressed the council for months not to move them off the campus to make way for redevelopment.

But this is the first time a group has emerged that wants the matter settled by an election.

“We have gotten a great response from a lot of citizens who are eager to protect our public land,” said Pearlman, a Realtor and co-founder — with his wife — of the Mission Lean fitness app. “It is gaining a lot of momentum.”

The proposed ordinance and charter changes both would not allow the City Council to lease or sell any city-owned land greater than one-half acre without going to voters in a referendum election.

The interim plan has three tennis court options: one with two courts, another with five, and the ’Maximum Tennis Facilities’ option, shown here, with six clay courts and two hard courts. 

At the same time, the City Council is moving ahead quickly with its plans to redevelop the downtown campus through a public-private partnership with Terra and Frisbie Group.

When they approved the interim master plan on June 10, council members took pains to characterize it as setting only basic project parameters.

The plan will continue to change over the summer before a final master plan is up for a vote on Oct. 28, Deputy City Manager Andy Lukasik said before the council voted 4-1 to approve the interim plan, with only Council member Andy Thomson — a 2026 mayoral candidate — dissenting.

Lone council dissenter
Thomson once again outlined concerns that he has shared with fellow council members and city staff for months.

He agrees the city badly needs a new City Hall, Community Center and other city buildings, but rejects the proposal put forward by Terra/Frisbie.

Even though Terra/Frisbie has responded to residents’ concerns by reducing the project’s density and increasing the amount of green space, Thomson said it remains too dense.

The project, he said, is being pushed forward too quickly. “It is too much, too fast,” Thomson said.

Too many existing recreational facilities will be moved out of the downtown land to parks and the project will generate too much traffic, he said. Beyond that, he said that he has a host of questions that have not been answered.

While Thomson has not said he opposes a public-private partnership, he questioned how this one is being structured, saying the city will pay for the construction of government buildings upfront and will only recoup the money years later.

“This is 30 acres of public land,” he said. “That makes it all the more important we do it the right way.”

Changes have been made
Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas, also a 2026 mayoral candidate, disagreed with Thomson, saying that Terra/Frisbie has listened to council and residents’ comments and demonstrated flexibility by making changes.

The developers have eliminated 217 residential units, reducing the total to 912, by eliminating one apartment building and several townhomes. Instead, they plan to build a second office building, bringing the project’s total office space to 350,000 square feet.

They also have boosted recreational space by 23%, which will be spread out over nearly 9 acres of the site, and have presented options to keep more recreation facilities downtown.

“I just don’t understand where all this is coming from,” Nachlas said of Thomson’s critique.

In downplaying the significance of the interim master plan, Lukasik said it only sets forth the size of new government buildings and the square footage of other project components.

Much still must be finalized.

City buildings
The council has agreed with staff that the new City Hall should be about 30,000 square feet, or roughly half the size of the current building. It would house City Council offices, as well as those of the city manager, city attorney, city clerk and a flexible-use council chambers that could be used for other functions.

A building that could accommodate all city departments would have required 131,000 square feet. The city has not yet decided where employees not in the new City Hall will be located.

The Community Center also will be 30,000 square feet, or about three times the size of the current one, and will include recreation facilities. A 10,000-square-foot police substation will be on site. A new police headquarters will be built on city-owned land east of the Spanish River Library.

Retail space will total 77,000 square feet; food and beverage, 75,000 square feet; and a 150-room hotel, 94,000 square feet.

The city has also accepted Terra/Frisbie’s revisions for residential units and office space.

As at previous meetings, some residents spoke out against the project.

Patricia Dervishi, who now is part of Save Boca, said council members always side with developers.

“Today is the day it stops,” she said at the June 10 council meeting. “We are going to get organized. We will elect new city officials.”

Resident Alexandra Abelow agreed.

“We need you guys to come down to earth,” Abelow said. “You are destroying the most beautiful city. We the people are against it.” 

Sale and development wouldn’t come easy 

Included in the property for the planned Milani Park in Highland Beach is Yamato Rock, a favorite spot for snorkeling so named because the area was used in the early 20th century by members of the Yamato Colony, a group of Japanese pineapple farmers. The historical link of the site to that colony could impact how the property is developed. File photo/Provided by Rodrigo Griesi

By Rich Pollack

When several Palm Beach County commissioners last month threw the proverbial monkey wrench into plans to continue developing the Milani Park property as a park, they left open the possibility that the property could be sold for residential development.

If that takes place, the county’s coffers would grow greatly from the sale and future property tax revenue, while the door would be open for a developer to benefit financially as well.

Anyone purchasing the 5.6-acre parcel at the south end of Highland Beach would have to overcome a series of obstacles, however, including a hefty price tag and more recent archeological findings that could limit where construction takes place.

“There are some challenges but they’re not insurmountable,” said Highland Beach Town Manager Marshall Labadie, whose Town Commission would have to change the zoning of the property from use as a park to residential.

Plans for the park, which has faced opposition from the town and residents for more than 30 years, seemed to be on track until early last month, when Cam Milani told the County Commission his family, which sold the land to the county almost 40 years ago, no longer wants a park built there.

That was an about-face of the long-term position of the family, which in the past had financially contributed to the campaign of at least one member of a previous County Commission who had pushed for development of the park.

In an email to The Coastal Star, Cam Milani said that the decision to oppose the park came because “resident opposition to the park has reached levels we did not anticipate. We want peace and harmony in our community as we live here and want to continue to live here.”

Milani’s comments at the June 3 meeting set off an often-tense exchange between Commissioner Marci Woodward, who supports the park and whose district includes the Milani Park property, and Commissioner Joel Flores, who had previously voted in favor of developing the park but was now questioning that position.

Woodward has pointed out that Flores’ political action committee received $30,000 in contributions from Highland Beach Real Estate Holdings, a company controlled by the Milani family. The Coastal Star independently confirmed that three $10,000 contributions from the company went to the political action committee Friends of Joel Flores in 2024.

“We are proud to support candidates who share the same values as our family and will continue to do so as we feel that is our civic privilege and obligation,” Cam Milani said.

Following the discussion last month, commissioners agreed to meet individually with county staff for updates on the status of park development before deciding on the park’s future. Those discussions are expected to continue through early July.

If the county agrees to sell the land, the Milani family has not ruled out making an offer. The family, under a 2010 settlement agreement, has the right of first refusal, meaning that it could buy the property with an offer that matches the highest bid.

“Should the county decide to sell the lands, we will determine at that time if it makes economic sense to exercise our right of first refusal to repurchase,” Cam Milani said. “We would also work and cooperate with the town and its residents to ensure a development that is beneficial to all parties.”

Obstacles to development
Two of the biggest obstacles facing a developer hoping to build on the property, should the county sell it, would be zoning and price, and the relationship between the two.

In a letter to Woodward dated April 2024, Highland Beach Mayor Natasha Moore wrote that the property had been appraised at $45.75 million by an independent appraiser based on medium density on the west side of State Road A1A and low density on the east side.

Multifamily low-density zoning allows for six units per acre, while medium density allows for 12 units per acre.

Were the property to be sold to a developer, the new owners would first have to go before the Highland Beach commission to apply for a zoning change since the property is zoned for a park.

Along with density restrictions, the zoning comes with height restrictions: Buildings would probably be limited to 35 feet above the finished first-floor elevation on the east side, if approved for low-density zoning, and as much as 40 feet above the first-floor elevation on the west side if approved for medium density.

Moore said she believes residents who have opposed the park have focused their concerns mostly on the number of parking spaces — about 100 — that the county plans to put on the west side of A1A.

“My understanding of what most residents want is that they would like to see a park with just a few parking spaces as opposed to development of more residential units,” she said.

Archeological issues
A buyer who might be interested in building on the eastern parcel of the property, which the county is planning to turn into a beach park, would also face a major obstacle due to the archeological significance of the property.

County planners have long known of the existence of a Native American burial ground on the property and the historical significance of the use of the area by members of the Yamato Colony, a group of Japanese pineapple farmers in the early 20th century.

Woodward said that as the county conducts an archeological study, it is discovering that the historical significance of a portion of the property is greater than originally thought.

“It’s a treasure trove,” she said, adding that it is the only undisturbed place in Palm Beach County where evidence of a Japanese colony still exists.

Bryan Davis, a principal planner with the county working on efforts to get the area registered nationally as a historic site, says the Yamato Colony’s link to the property makes it unique.

“Every other piece of the Yamato Colony is gone,” he said. “It’s the only parcel left that’s still identifiable as associated with the Yamato Colony.”

Davis said that the Native American burial ground is the last remaining one of seven similar mounds — from Riviera Beach to Deerfield Beach.

“I like to call the area a unicorn,” he said, adding that there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the county.

The county’s design for the park includes elevated walkways over the historically significant areas with educational material posted along the walkway.

“It is the best thing we could do to this land,” Woodward said.

The county has submitted a National Register of Historic Places nomination for part of the property, and the state division of Historical Resources has confirmed that it is eligible for listing on the national register. The county is providing additional information to the state as requested.

“I think there are limitations on what could be done on the east side,” Labadie said.

Potential next steps
Should the county sell the property, it could be at least four years before construction could be completed. The county estimates it would take nine months to sell the property once a decision is made, and the town estimates it would take six months to go through the rezoning process.

Another nine months would be needed for plan review and permitting, and then it would take about two years for construction.

Ron Reame, former president of Boca Highland Beach Club and Marina, which is adjacent to the park property, said he is hoping a compromise can be worked out with no more than 40 parking spaces at the park.

“I don’t think people realize what the alternatives to a park are and what the impact would be,” he said. 

 Carney’s letter to residents heightens years-old debate on cost of public safety

Related: Police chief resigns amid turmoil, takes top job in Longboat Key

By John Pacenti

The war of words between Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney and the Police Benevolent Association went nuclear in June. 

The mayor unleashed a scathing email newsletter to residents, saying that the union’s position on the stalled contract negotiations is “driven solely by personal gain rather than the department’s or taxpayers’ best interest.”

The Police Department’s lead union negotiator, in the meantime, says 26 officers — including seven near the end of June — have left since negotiations started a year ago, alarming some in the community who have pressured the City Commission to capitulate before the release of a mediator’s recommendations, expected this month.

Carney has given no quarter when it comes to the police union’s proposal for an extension of a special retirement program that would benefit, he says, only the top few in the department. That sticking point has stalled negotiations for months.

Carney has dared the union on several occasions.

“Let the members vote, because the new officers like this pay package, because what they’re interested in is being able to buy a house, they want to go on vacation, they want to buy a boat, they want to do something. They want some disposable income,” Carney told The Coastal Star.

The city has offered a $15.3 million increase over three years, raising starting salaries to $72,000 — up from $61,000. Third-year salaries will increase to more than $80,000, he said.

Carney went deeper with the late-night email on June 16 to residents, saying two union negotiators were trying to line their own pockets by bloating the compensation by $2 million each.

Not a DROP in the bucket

The issue is extending the DROP — the Deferred Retirement Option Program — that allows an officer eligible to retire to continue working while accruing retirement benefits for a fixed period of time. A participating officer earns the regular salary and a pension — with the latter going into a special account that’s paid out when the DROP period ends and the officer officially retires.

DROP is used as an incentive to retain veteran officers. Instead of officers retiring so they can begin collecting  pensions and start new jobs elsewhere, DROP allows them to keep working for the city while receiving pension benefits.

The union wants to extend the DROP program period from five years to eight years, allowing three years of additional pension to be deposited into a DROP account while an officer continues to earn a regular salary.

Carney, in his email, said the union two years ago opposed extending the DROP, arguing it would stifle promotions. The PBA has since changed its tune because the negotiators have skin in the game, the mayor said. “This blatant reversal underscores their hypocrisy.”

Battle tactics

The issue has become personal. The PBA trotted out mobile billboards — one during the St. Patrick’s Day parade — castigating Carney as allowing crime to skyrocket. The mayor says those are lies and produced crime statistics showing it is down in major categories from last year.

“They wanted to politicize it, just like they wanted to politicize the St. Patrick’s Day parade,” Carney said. “They want to politicize everything so that a few people at the top could get an extra three years of salary and benefits.”

In a show of support for the PBA, police officers came out in force at the commission’s Feb. 18 meeting, filling nearly every seat in the gallery. The tattooed officers — an intimidating presence in the view of many onlookers — puffed up their biceps as John Kazanjian, PBA’s Palm Beach County president, told elected officials the city is the second-lowest municipality in pay and benefits in the county and that officer morale is low.

“The city of Delray is that close to being in a crisis,” he said. “People need to realize this is no joke.”

Boca Raton, for instance, says it has one of the nation’s highest starting salaries for officers — $87,491 a year with a seven-year DROP. Boynton Beach has a starting salary of $73,000 and an eight-year DROP. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office offers a starting salary of $72,564 for deputies and an eight-year DROP.

The union’s side

The PBA has complained that the city hasn’t taken negotiations seriously since they started a year ago, with officials at the table who don’t have the authority to make decisions. In November, the PBA sent a letter to City Manager Terrence Moore complaining that he had not attended any negotiations.

Moore is not part of the city's seven-member negotiating team, which includes the city attorney.

Meer Dean, a sergeant with the Delray Beach Police Department and the treasurer for the PBA’s county chapter, said the mayor is engaging in the very politicking he criticizes. For instance, a Carney talking point about officers receiving “free” health care is just not true — they have paycheck deductions for their insurance policies like anybody else and have co-pays, he said. 

Whatever money the mayor thinks he is saving the city by opposing the DROP extension is countered by replacing and training those officers who have left — estimated to cost $362,000 apiece, Dean said. 

“Taxpayers are paying over $6 million to watch people leave,” he said.

Dean doesn’t mince words about what the failure to properly negotiate means for the city. “If the city doesn’t want to pay to attract and retain officers, then it might be time to have the commission ask Sheriff Bradshaw to give them a quote to contract police services in the city,” he told The Coastal Star, referring to Ric Bradshaw.

Casale teams with Carney

Commissioner Juli Casale — another target of the PBA’s billboards — says she believes Dean’s figures are incorrect, in part because he may be adding in the annual salaries of the new recruits.

Carney said the average length an officer stays in Delray Beach is 3½ years so attrition is normal. He said the city has five new officers in training.

Carney and Casale came into office last year without union endorsements — which increasingly are not carrying weight in Delray Beach.

“The union no longer has a commission stacked in its favor,” Casale told The Coastal Star. "The contracts are being reviewed and properly scrutinized. It's time for the union to bargain in good faith."

She doesn’t think residents are getting the full picture.

“This isn’t about politics. This is about cold, hard cash we don’t have,” she said at the June 3 commission meeting. “We have offered $15.3 million in increases. We are not going to get $15.3 million in revenue increases from property taxes this year.” 

Carney agreed, saying: “People don’t understand what’s been offered, what’s been asked.” He said commissioners don’t negotiate — they just accept or reject the proposed contract.

Long backs union

The PBA has an ally on the commission in Vice Mayor Rob Long, who at the June 17 meeting read a lengthy statement calling former Chief Russ Mager’s impending departure “a rupture” and an “indictment of how this city has handled public safety at the highest level.”

Long told The Coastal Star that Carney is desperate because the public is lining up in support of the union’s position as officers continue to leave. He said Carney and Casale are being “disingenuous and inaccurate” when they refer to the DROP as “double-dipping.”

Long said to remain competitive with other municipalities, the city needs to extend the DROP to eight years.

“What my colleagues are doing is based on ideology and it’s based on politics. It’s not based on what’s best for the city and what’s best for the residents and what’s best for our police,” he said.

Long said the department is now at its highest number of vacancies ever and it takes about a year to get a rookie trained.

As for the expense, Long said the city asked for a third-party analysis and was told extending the DROP would actually save $8 million. “Every single expert has told us the DROP extension will not cost us money,” he said.

Other voices

Commissioner Tom Markert — elected with Carney and Casale last year — is believed to side with the mayor, while Commissioner Angela Burns — who often votes alongside Long — sides with the union.

Markert didn’t return phone calls or texts. He said at the June 3 meeting that his family comes from law enforcement, yet he was critical of the union. 

“There is nobody up on the dais who cares more about law enforcement than I do,” he said. “I think some of the tactics have been hurtful, and I want it to stop, and I want it to be over, and I want to get back to the relationship with the Police Department that we always had and enjoyed.”

Burns says she doesn’t speak to the press but did say at the June 3 meeting, “My hope is the city and the union can come to a consensus on something that is fair and sustainable for everyone, and I'm looking forward to that.”

Paul Cannon, a member of the city’s police advisory board, spoke at the June 3 commission meeting:  “I’ve got one very simple ask, and that is, I want you guys please put your politics aside, let’s put the toxicity aside. Let’s get everybody in the room. Let’s have a conclave. Let’s figure this out, and don’t come out of that room until you’ve got a settlement, and let’s do it while we still have a Police Department.”

Former Mayor Shelly Petrolia says the real issue is that the city gave away the store to the fire union for its last contract and now the police want their share. She says these increasing contracts for police and fire — whose departments make up more than half of the city’s operating budget — are financially unsustainable.

“But the moment that you start saying anything about the police or the fire, you no longer care about safety. That’s what they do,” Petrolia said. “They start this whole campaign against you. …”

She said that is why so many commissioners — past and pre-sent — capitulate to the unions.

Fire union sees success

It appears the fire union has again gotten what it wants after doing a bit of politicking. IAFF City Local 1842 posted a photograph of a giant inflatable rat outside City Hall on its Facebook page before a June 10 commission workshop, claiming the administration was aiming to put public safety at risk.

Carney and the commission — possibly not wanting a two-front union war — gave its nod to the department’s proposed $52 million budget that would fund the union’s demands for three men per truck per shift.

“They made a compelling public safety argument. They needed it for public safety to save lives,” Carney said.

Political activist and observer Andre Fladell said the police and fire contracts should not be conflated — nor their political activism. The fire union is much more aggressively involved in local races, he said.

However, the PBA’s strong-arm tactics here have backfired, in Fladell’s opinion.

“The communication broke down between what we call the police union and the city electeds,” he said. 

“Why did the communication break down? Because for the first time, you had union reps that weren’t communicating. They were marching in the street, and they were doing things that were offensive, and the communication relationship levels broke down.” 

This time of year, when I set foot in my backyard, I’m greeted with the most beautiful floral bouquet — a large and magnificent frangipani tree. Fragrant five-petal white flowers adorn the tree. Some fall gracefully to blanket the green grass below. The scent is even sweeter after the lawnmower plows over them. And the tree looks so very pretty when covered with raindrops!

Summer treats are within easy reach. Neighbors share the bounty of their mango trees — and I can’t wait to turn them into mango smoothies or margaritas. 

Ah, the joys of summer in South Florida! Moments like these are part of the reason I look forward to the off-season, or the summer slowdown. I’ve learned to welcome summer, appreciating all its perks, including the blooming trees and juicy stone fruits.

The population dwindles, with many of our neighbors chilling in northern climes, or cruising aboard private yachts bound for the French Riviera, the Mediterranean or the Greek islands. 

But those of us left behind are not without benefits.

We don’t have to worry about reservations at our favorite dining spots. To sweeten the pot, restaurants are offering summer specials and discounted prices.

It’s also a great time for staycations, since many resorts offer discounted rates, too. 

Beaches are less crowded, but sea turtles are busy laying eggs and if we’re lucky we can participate in a turtle walk, giving us an exclusive after-hours look at the nesting process.

While both the temperature and humidity feel stratospheric now, we have ways of getting around that. Take in a theatrical performance or see a movie on the big screen. Icy air conditioning is complimentary.

Visiting an art museum is another option for indoor entertainment and elucidation. Check out the exhibits at Boca Raton Museum of Art or the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, which, by the way, offers free admission to county residents on Saturdays through Aug. 30. 

Of course, we’ll want to keep an eye on the tropics and stock up early with hurricane supplies. But we won’t let fear of a bad storm keep us from enjoying our summer.

Adiós for now. There’s a mango margarita with my name on it waiting on the lanai  — and the lounge chair beside it has a great view of my favorite frangipani tree. It’s happy hour at mi casa and you can guess where I’ll be hanging out. 

Please join me in toasting the off-season. ¡Salud!

— Mary Thurwachter, Managing Editor

Philanthropist Lois Pope’s latest donation — $10 million — went to further Alzheimer’s research at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine last month. Pope’s daughter Lorraine, 51, succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease last year. Photo provided by Laura Massa/CAPEHART

By Tao Woolfe

Sometimes a philanthropist chooses a cause to support, and sometimes pain drives the choice.

No one knows this better than Lois Pope, world-renowned philanthropist, Manalapan resident, primary heir to the National Enquirer fortune, and a mother who lost her youngest daughter to Alzheimer’s disease last year.  

Heartbroken, Pope donated $10 million to further Alzheimer’s research at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine last month. The gift will finance the Lois Pope Laboratory Wing in Memory of Lorraine Pope. 

“Alzheimer’s is an insidious disease,” Pope said. “Knowing how it robbed my daughter of any recognition of who I and other family members were, and who she herself was, couldn’t have been more heartbreaking.”

Lorraine Pope was born with Down syndrome. She nevertheless thrived at Cedars of Marin, a special facility in Ross, California, according to published reports. She joined the family for vacations around the world. She died last year at age 51.

“My daughter suffered for a number of years with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Pope, who is 92. “It was very difficult and very sad. I can’t think of anything more devastating to a mother than watching her daughter dying like that.”

Besides Alzheimer’s, university staff will study other neurological and neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, including ALS and Parkinson’s.

Pope’s gift builds on other donations to the university, including one for $10 million in 2000 to establish the Lois Pope Life Center. The center houses the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, which researches and treats spinal cord injuries.

Often a personal experience will suggest — or deepen — Pope’s commitment to a cause.

For example, Pope was moved to initiate the Miami Project’s spinal cord research after her friend Christopher Reeve, the actor, was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident in 1995.

Another $12 million went to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in 2018 because Pope’s mother suffered from macular degeneration.

And in describing her ongoing concern for disabled veterans, Pope tells this story:

Back in the 1960s, Pope was a Broadway performer. While giving a holiday benefit for patients at the Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in New York, she sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

When she got to the line, “Hold my hand and I’ll take you there,” she reached out to a soldier in the front row, but stopped when she realized he could not take her hands. He had no arms.

“After the performance,” she said, “I went over to talk to him. He shared with me that he had lost his arms from fighting in the Vietnam conflict. In fact, everyone in the audience was a disabled Vietnam veteran. … I promised all of them that if I ever had the resources, I would do something big and memorable for them, to honor their sacrifice.”

Pope became a full-time philanthropist after the 1988 death of her husband, Generoso Paul Pope Jr., founder of the National Enquire. Lois and Generoso had supported a number of charities together, most of which focused on children, animal welfare, art and community health. The couple had four children.

Lois Pope further winnowed her favorite causes into four categories — projects for disabled veterans, children, medical research and animal health. 

Her role models were her husband, who was a generous philanthropist in his own right, and her mother, who always set aside a little something for those in need.

“I grew up in Philadelphia amid the Great Depression,” Pope said. “My grandfather owned a small auto parts store, and my father worked there. My mother was a teacher.

“Times were tough, and we didn’t have much. But I can still vividly recall my mother saving coins in a jar so that when people came to the door looking for a donation … she would have a little change to give them.”

W. Dalton Dietrich III, scientific director for the Miami Project, said Pope’s largesse gives hope to those in need.

“Lois Pope’s generosity has touched so many lives all over the world,” Dietrich said. “We could not be more grateful for her continued belief in, and support of, the basic and translational research we conduct in the Lois Pope Life Center.”

Pope says she thoroughly enjoys her role as philanthropist.

“It has been my life’s privilege to have the resources and passion to do this,” Pope said. “It brings me great joy and satisfaction.

“I say to young people: ‘Find your purpose and pursue it. Yes, you want to do well in life, but it is equally important to also want to do good in life.’” 

NOMINATE SOMEONE TO BE A COASTAL STAR 

Send a note to news@thecoastalstar.com or call 561-337-1553.

Florida has eliminated its HOV lanes as of July 1, and ended the decal program that allows drivers of electric, hybrid or low-emission vehicles to drive for free on the Interstate 95 express lanes. The Florida Legislature passed SB 1662, which repealed the state law creating HOV lanes, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it on June 19.

The elimination of high-occupancy vehicle regulations — which limited the use of the designated HOV lanes to multi-passenger vehicles during weekday morning and evening rush hours — won’t have much impact south of the Congress Avenue interchange in Boca Raton, where single HOV lanes have been replaced by double express lanes in most areas. 

However, the change will free up solo motorists to use the innermost I-95 lanes north of the Congress Avenue interchange without fear of getting a ticket.

— Steve Plunkett

Sargassum piles up on Lantana's town beach in May. File photo/The Coastal Star

By Mary Thurwachter

Although Lantana hasn’t formally given the green light to raking sargassum off its beach, the town appears to be headed in that direction — but the earliest the raking could begin is in August.

That’s because the town needs approval from the sea turtle nesting monitors to be able to rake the beach during the summer and fall, according to Marc Fichtner, Lantana’s marine safety supervisor.

Although the town has a turtle monitoring service agreement with D.B. Ecological Services Inc., it had not signed up specifically for monitoring for mechanical beach raking, the Town Council learned at its June 9 meeting.

“They informed us that at this point in the nesting season, when no nest marking has occurred, mechanical beach cleaning cannot proceed until nest marking begins and a minimum of 65 days have passed,” said Maria Rios, executive assistant to the town manager. “This waiting period allows any incubating nests to emerge before any mechanical activities take place.”

Rios said the town would first need to enter into an agreement for sea turtle monitoring specific to mechanical beach raking, followed by a separate agreement authorizing the raking itself.

Town Manager Brian Raducci said the town would seek those necessary agreements, but that would mean raking couldn’t begin until August at the earliest.

“The monitoring would cost about $5,000 for the season,” Raducci said. “The raking would cost between $1,000 and $1,200 for twice-a-month service.”

Mayor Karen Lythgoe said the town wanted to do raking several years ago, but “it was not real popular.”

Lantana’s policy has traditionally been to limit raking and not to remove sargassum. The thinking was that seaweed was essential for marine life, kept replacement sand on beaches and provided nutrients to plants on dunes.

In April, freshman Council member Jesse Rivero asked for the subject to be revisited and in June that happened.

In advance of that, on May 12 Raducci had Fichtner share his views, based on his being at the beach every day, talking with experts and hearing from beachgoers.

Fichtner said he was seeing an increase in sargassum at Lantana Beach and that patrons were becoming progressively annoyed by it.

Fichtner had spoken with Brian LaPointe, Ph.D, a research professor at FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, who said 14 million tons of sargassum is expected in the Caribbean this year, the most ever recorded.

At some point, whether that’s June, July or August, some of that is going to hit Lantana’s beach, Fichtner related.

The bacteria that form from rotting sargassum are a problem, he said. One of the biggest things with that is hydrogen sulfide and ammonia produced by decomposing sargassum, which is toxic to animals and people.

Raking the beach, Fichtner said, could prevent that. It would also remove litter and other pollutants and would make it safer for sea turtle hatchlings, which can get trapped in sargassum piles while trying to get to the ocean, he said.

Vice Mayor Kem Mason asked whether hand raking could be done.

Raducci said he thought the town would be hard-pressed to find somebody to do it.

“Depending on the depth of the seaweed it could be incredibly heavy,” he said.