The series of events commemorating Boca Raton’s centennial last year gave the city an economic boost.

A May 29 city report detailing the impact of the events found that the programs generated about $16.8 million in spending benefiting the local economy, as well as media coverage valued at about $8.7 million.

About 50,000 people attended the events, most of them city residents.

Even if they did not attend, 76,500 residents were aware of the celebrations as were nearly 2 million Florida residents outside the city.

Most popular were the Holiday Street Parade in December, attended by 25,000, the Boca Street Fest in January 2026 attended by 15,000, and workshops or public art unveilings throughout the year.

Most of the spending, $14.2 million, was by people attending the events. That included money spent in restaurants, on food and beverages at event sites, on parking or fuel and for event admissions and tickets.

“These findings collectively illustrate the wide-ranging economic, cultural and visibility benefits realized by the community,” the report states.

— Mary Hladky

Lift station update — Thomas Biggs, executive vice president of Mock Roos, which is building South Palm Beach’s new wastewater lift station, updated Town Council members on the project at their June 9 meeting and assured Mayor Rafael Pineiro that the project is on track for a spring 2028 completion.

Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the town is seeking grant money from both federal and state agencies. The “early indications are we might have some success in both those arenas,” he said. 

Pineiro said he is hopeful Resilient Florida, which offers grants to mitigate the impact of sea-level rise and flooding, will provide $2.15 million of the expected $4 million to $5 million cost.

A1A planning timetable accelerated — Kim DeLaney, a representative of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, appeared remotely at the June 9 council meeting and offered details on a plan for the revitalization of the State Road A1A corridor that has been accelerated by nearly a year.

DeLaney in April had told the Town Council her agency anticipated the final planning to be completed by early 2028. After Mayor Pineiro said he hoped she could speed that up, she returned to say the planning phase would now be completed by March 2027.

“This schedule suggests the process could begin immediately to work with town staff … and council members and begin a very careful public engagement effort,” DeLaney said. “It’s a complex corridor to resolve the challenges the town is facing and it’s going to take a series of complex solutions.”

DeLaney said a number of entities need to be brought into the conversation, including FPL, her district, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Palm Beach County, neighboring municipalities and the town’s own condo associations.

After preliminary meetings with the various groups, the process is expected to include a public workshop in November, followed by an analysis of steps to be taken through next January, with a draft project report in February and a final report in March.

A significant question facing the town has been the struggle to find a place to create a crosswalk where residents could cross A1A safely. Pineiro said the Florida Department of Transportation owns 50 feet on either side of the center line of the road, opening up the possibility for a crosswalk to be created. DeLaney said she would research that and get back.

Sea wall markings to be considered — The Town Council is considering requiring all condominiums facing the ocean to be marked with the numbers of their address to make it easier to communicate to police and fire agencies more accurately the exact location of beach emergencies. About half the buildings have already taken the step. A proposed ordinance will be on the council's July 14 agenda.

Board appointments — The council approved the appointments of Donna Pallante and Susan Saluru to the Community Activity Advisory Board.

— Brian Biggane

Correction: The print version and an earlier online version of these briefs incorrectly stated the status of the town's plans on beachside address markings. The council has indicated it wants to consider requiring the address markings. 

A Boynton Beach priest has been placed on administrative leave, with the Diocese of Palm Beach announcing that “serious allegations” had been made against him. 

The Rev. Alex J. Vargas, pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church on Military Trail near Woolbright Road since August 2025, had his ministerial faculties withdrawn immediately on May 6 and he is prohibited from exercising priestly ministry.

The nature of the allegations has not been disclosed. The diocese has retained Renaissance Associates, Ltd., an independent firm, to conduct an investigation.

The allegations were reported to the Florida Department of Children and Families by Lisa Linnell, the diocese’s victim assistance coordinator, on June 18, according to a statement from the diocese.

Vargas had previously served the parish as an administrator and a vicar. He was born in 1971 in Honduras. The diocese appointed the Rev. Antony Pulikal as parochial administrator of St. Thomas.

The diocese encourages anyone who may have been a victim of abuse, misconduct, or criminal behavior by a representative of the church to come forward and report it through the diocese’s reporting line at 561-775-9558 or through the Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 800-962-2873.

— Janis Fontaine

‘The 14th Colony’ on display at museum

What: Discover Florida’s role in the American Revolution through ‘America 250: The 14th Colony,’ a special exhibition exploring the territory’s unique place in the nation’s founding story. While 13 colonies declared independence, Florida remained loyal to the British Crown. The exhibition examines this often-overlooked chapter of history through imagery, Revolutionary War artifacts from local collectors, period costumes on loan from The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum, interpretive displays and more.

Where: Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N. Federal Highway

When: Wednesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. through Aug. 27, with a Town Hall talk July 22 and a historical re-enactment for kids Aug. 1.

Cost: Adults, $12; seniors and youth, $8

More info: bocahistory.org; 561-395-6766

An anonymous donor has gifted a Tesla Cybertruck to the Manalapan Police Department, which will see if the electric vehicle is cost effective. Design image provided

By Jane Musgrave

When a Manalapan resident said he wanted to give a Tesla Cybertruck to the town Police Department, Chief Jeffrey Rasor was dubious.

“I didn’t want them to donate something that couldn’t be used by the agency,” he said.

With no police departments in Florida to turn to for advice, Rasor called the Las Vegas Police Department, which has embraced the futuristic tank-looking electric trucks that still turn heads even three years after their debut.

What Rasor learned was that it was worth a shot. Whether the cost of maintaining and charging up an electric truck will be less than a traditional police vehicle with an internal combustion engine, remains to be seen, he acknowledged.

“Vegas’ opinion was that it can’t be tested in a matter of months,” he said. But, he said, after it’s been on the road for a while, he will be able to determine if the cost savings are worth it.

The truck, which is to arrive in Manalapan in the next several weeks, will mark the first time a Cybertruck has been used as a patrol vehicle in Florida, Rasor said. Nearby Highland Beach has a donated Tesla sedan, but police don’t use it for routine work.

Rasor readily admitted the truck, with its huge front and rear windows and angular design, is going to attract attention.

As a police car, it will be outfitted with all the necessary equipment - flashing lights, sirens and the department’s logo on the side. Unlike its civilian model, with an unpainted stainless steel body, the police car will be white.

Electric vehicles are slowly being added to police fleets throughout the country. 

Like Manalapan, Vegas benefited from a gift. It got 10 Cybertrucks from a multimillion-dollar donation from tech venture capitalist Ben Horowitz and his wife, Felicia.

The trucks are expensive. The Cybertrucks in Vegas cost roughly $270,000 each after the police upgrades are added. That adds to the calculus of whether buying them is cost-effective.

Rasor said he didn’t know exactly how much Manalapan’s truck cost. The donor wanted to be anonymous.

The use of Cybertrucks is still somewhat rare. It’s far more common for police departments to add electric sedans to their fleets.

South Pasadena, California, made headlines in 2024 when it announced it had swapped out all of its cars for electric cruisers.

Rasor said there are still some kinks to be worked out. The delivery of Manalapan’s Cybertruck was delayed because there isn’t a smooth supply chain for the police upgrades that are needed.

But, he said, if enough police agencies begin using the trucks, that will change eventually. 

In the meantime, he has some math to do. “There’s still a question of whether we’ll see a big cost savings or not,” Rasor said. 

By Mary Hladky

Even if Florida voters in November approve massive property tax cuts placed on the ballot by the state Legislature, those cuts won’t take effect until the 2027-28 fiscal year.

So Boca Raton city officials, while mindful of what they could face and considering options to deal with revenue loss, are largely staying the course as they make budget and tax rate decisions for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Yet they have taken the first steps toward reducing spending. Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Jim Zervis said that in analyzing expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, staff identified cuts that could be made now and pared $1.27 million from the proposed budget.

The proposed tax rate is $3.66 per $1,000 of taxable property value, virtually the same amount it has been since the 2015-16 fiscal year.

But it actually is a minuscule tax cut of $0.001 per $1,000, or 0.027%, which is in keeping with the city’s practice of making a minor cut so officials can claim a tax rate decrease.

Residents owning a home with a taxable value of $450,000 would pay $1,648.76 in city property taxes.

A preliminary estimate shows that the assessed value of Boca Raton properties increased by $2.6 billion this year, a 6.6% increase from the previous year. The new general fund budget, which covers day-to-day functions such as police, fire rescue, and parks and recreation, is increasing to $276.2 million, a 7.7% jump.

That includes money for 22 new full-time positions — 12 firefighters, four fire lieutenants, four EMS captains, a budget analyst and a vehicle technician — at a salary and benefits cost of $3.9 million.

That will provide additional personnel to staff Fire Station 8, on Southwest 18th Street just west of Dixie Highway, which falls short of having enough to operate both its two fire and rescue vehicles 24 hours a day.

An increase in EMS captains would allow the city to provide the same service levels on the eastern and western sides of the city.

The proposed residential fire assessment fee is increasing from $155 to $224 to cover the cost of the new fire rescue positions.

The lion’s share of the general fund budget — 63% — pays for police and fire rescue services.

Property taxes pay for 52% of the general fund budget. The rest of the revenue largely comes from charges for services, licenses, and permits and franchise fees.

The separate capital improvements budget includes $7.5 million to begin improving Memorial Park in the downtown campus, including the existing buildings and recreation facilities, now that city voters torpedoed plans to redevelop the area in concert with a developer.

Told at the June 18 city workshop meeting that the money would pay for planning, design and engineering work, Council member Jon Pearlman challenged the expenditure, calling it “outlandish.”

City spending must be reined in, he said, now that the city faces steep revenue decreases.

City officials hastened to tell him that the amount also includes beginning work to refurbish some of the facilities.

But Pearlman was not mollified. The city, he said, is concentrating on how to spend money, and not on how to cut costs. Officials need to differentiate between “nice to have” and “have to have.”

“Is anyone willing to come forward and make tough decisions on behalf of taxpayers?” he asked.

Public hearings on the budget and tax rate will be held in September, and the City Council will finalize both by the end of that month.

By Jane Musgrave 

A month after the Manalapan Town Commission passed a law cracking down on shark-fishing from its shores, elected leaders learned they overstepped their authority.

Regulating fishing, even reeling sharks into shore, is the sole province of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Town Attorney Keith Davis told commissioners at their June meeting.

Peppered with letters from shore-based shark anglers, who claimed the measure passed in May is unconstitutional, Davis said he called the general counsel for the wildlife commission.

“He said, ‘The problem comes anytime you try to restrict activity on property you don’t own,’” Davis said. “We don’t have a town beach.”

In July, another measure will be proposed, Davis said. While he didn’t use the word repeal, that’s essentially what will happen.

The proposed measure will ban trespassing and creating a nuisance. It will rely on education of both town residents and anglers about what is allowed.

But, Davis conceded, without a municipal beach, the town can’t impose restrictions on shark-fishing. 

Such laws violate Florida’s 2024 constitutional amendment which guarantees state residents the right to hunt and fish.

Town commissioners thought they had threaded a very thin hook by not banning shark-fishing entirely. Instead, the measure bans fishing at any beach that “may endanger the health and safety of swimmers and other beachgoers.” It explicitly banned practices that attract sharks — such as chumming and blood baiting.

Creating such restrictions is up to the wildlife commission, Davis said.

“There are very strict regulations for shark-fishing activity,” he said. In fact, those shark-fishing from shore need special permits.

Town Manager Eric Marmer said the measure was needed because the town had become a magnet for shore-based shark fishing. Anglers were running baited lines hundreds of yards off-shore. More sophisticated anglers are using drones to chum the waters.

But anglers, who wrote the town to protest the law, said the threat was being exaggerated.  

Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Thomas Turkin said there is little risk to swimmers from shark-fishing.

“The overwhelming majority of land-based shark fishing along Florida’s Atlantic coast occurs at night, after swimmers, sunbathers, paddlers, and near-shore boaters have left the water,” wrote Turkin, who described himself as an “avid angler.”

Others pointed out that there is no evidence shore-based shark fishing has led to an increase in attacks on swimmers.

‘The overwhelming majority of documented shark bite incidents tracked by the International Shark Attack File involve swimmers, surfers, snorkelers, or other in-water recreational users — not at all where licensed surf anglers were fishing from shore,” wrote angler Christopher Dilecce, who operates a shark-fishing charter business in Brevard County.

Other coastal cities, including Delray Beach and Boca Raton, have passed measures to limit shark-fishing from their public beaches.

But other cities, including Miami Beach and Marco Island, were forced to abandon their laws when the wildlife commission said their efforts were unconstitutional. 

Delray Beach resident Ronda Gale, pictured with one her paintings, has used tragedy to steer her from tattoo art to fine art. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Delray Beach resident Ronda Gale has changed her career focus from her 30-plus years as a tattoo artist to pursuing fine art, a clothing line, writing, mentoring budding tattoo artists, and hatching plans for a reality TV show about tattooing. 

Through Sept. 27, her shell sculptures are being exhibited at Persistence of Matter at the Cornell Art Museum, “showcasing artists who transform the forgotten into the unforgettable.” 

Gale’s turn did not come lightly; she’s had three wake-up calls, with the latest a year ago. In a severe boating accident, she broke her neck and shattered her arm. 

“I’m not able to tattoo,” Gale, 57, said. “I’ve always been a fine artist, too, and the accident granted me the time to fully go into that route. So, I would say that’s my direction.”

In the 2017-2018 time frame, she ended her marriage and lost her parents, one of her brothers and a best friend. These events also caused her to rethink her work values.

“I’ve realized how precious time is with loved ones and family,” she said. “I was tattooing until 2 in the morning every day, and when I was invited to be on movie sets and go on shows, I’d be like, ‘No, I’m working.’ ‘No, I have an appointment.’ And my work really ate my life away.” 

In 2021, a fire at a pizzeria next door spread to her tattoo shop, destroying all her artwork, her collection of others’ artwork and books. That spurred her to create a new business, Hell Her, presenting her murals, paintings, sculptures and clothing line. Hell Her is used in the context of “hell” meaning bad times, and “her” equating to one’s elevated self. 

As Gale develops her new ventures, she recalls how her tattoo career followed a rich trajectory, starting with temporary tattoo transfers on the streets of New York City. “I was doing tattoos at street fairs, and I would set up at different bars and events and hire friends to paint on tattoos, and then I started to think about doing real ones,” she said.

“Back then, it was a very secret underground world,” she said. “It was mostly a male-dominated profession, and they’re tough, a lot of bikers and people like that. People didn’t want to teach you, and so it was very hard to get your foot into the door to learn it.” 

However, she persevered and did find some initial places that would accept her.

 After attending a summer program in Italy, Gale “stayed and tattooed,” she said. “I traveled to different shops and different places. It was such a different world. I loved it there. Everybody was so giving and sharing and nice.” 

There she was exposed to different styles. “I had been taught what we would call ‘single-needle,’ very fine-line tattooing; there, it was ‘seven-needle.’ The first shop I went to in Europe, their motto was ‘bold will hold.’ So, I learned a whole different aspect to tattooing that I didn’t know. It was an interesting transition for me.” 

Her favorite tattoos: “I love doing things that go with your body, things that flow with a part of your body, not just a small stuck-on tattoo.”

Her least favorite: eyeliner, eyebrows, beauty marks: “I’ve really stayed away from the cosmetic world,” she said.

She counts singer Rod Stewart, magician David Blaine and actress Sarah Michelle Gellar among her clients. 

Stewart wanted a thistle, the flower of Scotland, and a rampant lion, the symbol of Scotland. For Blaine, she tattooed his logo, a cherub and little initials. For Gellar, “I did a little piece, I don’t even remember. I think she got a Japanese kanji for patience,” Gale said. 

— Christine Davis

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?

A. I was born in Long Beach, New York. I grew up in Island Park, on the water. I always say I grew up in the water. Boat life, beach life and being surrounded by ocean was a great way to grow up, and it’s still a necessity in my life. I studied illustration at Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and lived in the gritty rock ’n’ roll streets of the Lower East Side, which shaped a lot of who I became creatively. 

While in school, I worked for Temptu, doing temporary tattoos and design work, including Robert De Niro’s tattoos for the film Cape Fear, which ultimately led me into tattooing professionally. Later, I studied painting in Florence, Italy, at Polimoda and spent years traveling and working throughout Europe as a tattoo artist during the early days of tattoo culture. Living in other countries and being surrounded by art, history, and different cultures really opens your mind creatively and personally. Growing up between the ocean and the intensity of New York gave me both grit and beauty, fast-moving and calm. I think that energy still exists in me and everything I create.

Q. What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

A. I’ve worked as a professional tattoo artist for over 30 years, as well as a painter, illustrator, muralist. Over the years, I’ve tattooed high-profile clients across music, film and entertainment, created public beautification projects and murals, exhibited artwork, and more recently began developing sculptural work using reclaimed shell fragments gathered from Delray Beach dredging and shoreline restoration projects.

I’m most proud of the recognition I’ve received throughout the years, from the Society of Illustrators while in college to more recent honors like winning the Woman of the Arts award in Long Beach, New York. Most of all, I love speaking to groups about transformation, mind-set, and overcoming adversity through creativity.

Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today? 

A. Do what you love, something you lose time doing, and it won’t feel like work. Find a way to create value from what naturally interests you. It’s important not to let other people’s opinions discourage your vision. Never tell yourself, “I can’t,” and don’t let anyone else dim your dreams, no matter how extreme they may seem. I did it for years, but I don’t allow myself to anymore. 

Q. How did you choose to make your home in Delray Beach?

A. I knew I wanted to live somewhere along the Florida coast where I could surf, and even though there’s not much of that here, nothing hit me like Delray Beach. I had artwork in an exhibit during Art Basel Miami Beach and spent a few days in Delray afterward. I instantly fell in love with “the Village by the Sea.” It reminded me of my hometown, Long Beach, New York, “the city by the sea,” but times a thousand. A few weeks later, on Jan. 1, 2025, I was living here.

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Delray Beach? 

A. I was drawn to Delray’s energy on the Avenue, the sense of community, and of course, the beach right across the street. Delray has a mix of nature, culture and excitement, and still somehow keeps a small-town vibe. In a lot of ways, it feels like a blend of my hometown beach life and the creative energy of New York City. You don’t find that just anywhere. There are always fun community, business, music, and art-inspired things to do, and great restaurants, too.

Q. What book are you reading now?

A. I usually read several books at the same time … and of course the Delray papers and magazines, too. I tend to bounce between psychology, spirituality, creativity, mind-set and business books. In the mornings, I’ll often listen to a Joe Dispenza meditation or creative visualization audio. Being a reiki master, I often refer back to reiki manuals by Nitya Vink. Right now, I’m also reading and following the work of local mind-set entrepreneurs Ryan Zofay and Tracy Litt.

Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax? 

A. When I’m creating, I usually listen to relaxing instrumental music with an upbeat, chill vibe. Dancing and movement always gets creative energy flowing. Classic rock and my secret love of old disco always does the trick.

Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions? 

A. “Don’t believe everything you think.” A lot of the negative things we think about ourselves were placed there by other people’s opinions and judgments, so recognize that critical voice in your head and don’t let it control you.

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?

A. I think we can learn something from everyone. The day we think we know it all is the day we stop growing. My parents, Jack Hoelzer and Judy Good, influenced me in very different ways. My mom was like an angel, always encouraging and supportive, while my dad, an artist himself, was a tough Marine and perfectionist who pushed me to do things “right.” My brother, Ken, has also been a huge source of strength in my life and has always been there for me.

Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?

A. I’d like to see Emma Stone or Leslie Mann play me … or back in the day, Bette Midler. They all have humor, quirkiness, and a strong edge with a little bit of chaos mixed in.

Construction work remains incomplete at the Mandarin Oriental. The condos, with plastering, are to the left and the hotel is to the right. Larry Barszewski/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

A Boca Raton couple who placed a $1.65 million deposit on a Mandarin Oriental condo unit that was unfinished by the expected completion date is slated to receive $2.1 million, plus interest.

Nilesh and Liliana Undavia settled their legal case in June against Via Mizner Owner III, an entity of condo developer Penn-Florida Companies, after an arbitrator determined that they were entitled to compensation and interest, according to court records.

The arbitrator found in favor of Via Mizner on claims that were unrelated to the termination of the Undavias’ agreement to buy the $5.5 million condo Unit 706.

The couple is to be paid by Jan. 7, or within 30 days of Via Mizner’s refinancing or obtaining additional financing for the condo construction.

If that doesn’t happen, they will be entitled to a consent judgment for breach of contract for the amount due to them, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs.

This marks the first time that terms have been revealed in court records for resolving disputes between would-be condo buyers and Penn-Florida, whose construction of the condo building is years behind schedule and remains incomplete.

“We are pleased to have reached a settlement with the developer and move on with our lives,” said Nilesh Undavia.

Their attorney, Alec Smith, declined comment.

Eight other buyers also have settled their lawsuits against Penn-Florida, but the settlement terms are confidential. An additional eight cases against Penn-Florida remained open as of June.

Over the past two years, people who placed deposits on condos that weren’t completed by the deadlines set in their purchase agreements have gone to court seeking help in getting their deposit money back. Deposits generally ranged from $1 million to $2 million.

Many signed purchase agreements in 2022 and expected to be able to move in no later than 2025. But their units were not completed by then.

When they sought return of their deposits, they either did not hear back from Penn-Florida or were told they were not entitled to get their money back, their lawsuits state.

When Penn-Florida announced the project in 2015, many Boca Raton residents were thrilled that a Mandarin Oriental hotel and condo would be built along Federal Highway just north of Camino Real.

But sentiment has changed as construction slowed to a crawl and all but stopped completely for stretches of time. Many call the project an eyesore.

In recent months, construction of the condo building has moved ahead a bit more quickly but the hotel remains a shell.

Meanwhile, the project has been the subject of two bankruptcy filings.

One case remains active. The other was resolved a year ago when Cardone Real Estate Acquisitions — led by real estate investor and social media celebrity Grant Cardone — purchased the adjacent Via Mizner apartment building for $235 million and creditors were repaid.

By Mary Thurwachter

Lantana Town Manager Brian Raducci told the Town Council during its June 8 budget workshop that although the town “is pretty far along” in its budget process, things could change if the Florida constitutional amendment on homestead exemptions passes in November.

“No one knows if it will or won’t pass,” Raducci said. 

The town is also dealing with the expiration of the county’s Infrastructure Surtax, which helped it pay for capital projects.

Raducci said the town will continue to spend money still in that account for planned projects. Those include paving, parks, library building improvements, and police classrooms, as well as the creation of an archive center in the town’s Bicentennial Building.

“Our 10 priorities haven’t changed much over the past four or five years,” Raducci said. “They include maintaining infrastructure — especially the utility plant, the sea wall at Bicentennial Park which should begin after the July 4 celebration, and we’ve got a major drainage project going on down on the island,” meaning Hypoluxo Island.

Other priorities include continued beautification projects, responsible development, attracting and retaining valuable employees, continuing to attract business along Ocean Avenue, promoting community engagement, continuing to support the library, resuming the dune restoration project, installing an ADA accessible ramp at the beach and financing public safety with state-of-the-art technology. 

Council members, during an April 10 visioning session, agreed by consensus to consider proceeding with the first phase of a $9.5 million Beach Master Plan. This includes boardwalk replacement, building a new two-story restaurant and event building, adding a new restroom on the north end of the beach and demolishing the existing restaurant and pavilion.

Finance Director Stephen Kaplan talked about the forecasted property tax revenue using the current $3.75 per $1,000 of taxable value tax rate, saying the town’s property tax revenue would be approximately $7.85 million. 

That would amount to a $477,000 increase in property taxes this year, while general fund revenues would also include a $47,000 increase in franchise taxes and fees and $79,000 more in metered parking (where a $1-an-hour fee increase is recommended).

Still, Kaplan forecast a $746,000 decrease in revenue compared to the current budget. This decline, he said, is primarily attributed to a one-time, non-recurring grant of $1.7 million received this year.

Kaplan said the budget accounts for a potential 15% increase in health and dental insurance premiums, alongside funding for tuition reimbursement and various departmental changes. 

Despite these rising costs, Kaplan said, “the inherent flexibility built into the budget allows the general fund to remain nearly balanced.”

The budget proposes to reduce the maximum employee merit-based salary increase from 5% to 4%.

Curbside garbage pickup is due for a 4% increase for property owners.

Kaplan also detailed the fund balances, saying $27 million is in reserves, with $15.7 million in the unassigned fund balance.

Town Council members agreed to move forward with taking the necessary steps to place a referendum question before voters regarding the sale of specific town-owned properties, future property sale authority and town leasing authority.

The second budget workshop, where the proposed millage rate will be set, is scheduled for July 13. Public hearings will be on Sept. 8 and 17. 

By Patrick Sherry

Lantana officials approved an agreement with the Town of Palm Beach for Lantana to oversee boat dock permitting for 15 waterfront properties whose docks are within the nearby town’s jurisdiction.

The Lantana Town Council unanimously approved the agreement at its June 22 meeting. Recent mapping of the town showed that the 15 properties at the northern end of Hypoluxo Island, along North Atlantic Drive, are in the town of Palm Beach’s jurisdictional waters. This prompted Lantana staff to request authority to process permits for boat docks, piers, pilings, boat lifts, floating docks, and related accessory structures. The agreement would allow Lantana officials to administer, process, review, and approve permits for any boat dock or related projects for those specific properties. 

Town staff will use its own permitting standards and code of ordinances when reviewing applications. The town will also indemnify Palm Beach from any claims or liabilities arising from its adherence to the agreement.

Either town can terminate the agreement with 180 days’ written notice; otherwise, it will remain in effect until terminated. 

Briny Breezes residents could see a big tax increase. Town Manager Bill Thrasher is proposing increasing the property tax rate from $3.75 to $6.75 per $1,000 of taxable value. 

If that rate is adopted this year, the owner of a mobile home with a taxable value of $150,000 would pay $1,012.50 in town property taxes, a $450 increase.

Thrasher said in an email to The Coastal Star that the increase is needed to help make payments on a loan the town is seeking from the state of Florida for capital improvement projects, which include drainage improvements and enhancing the town’s entire sea wall. Given the town’s current taxable value, the $3 increase will raise about $300,000 to cover debt service payments.

“The amount of the loan has not been estimated but will be as large of a loan as a $300,000-per-year payment will allow,” he said.

Thrasher made the same tax rate proposal last year, but he pulled back and recommended keeping the rate at $3.75 per $1,000 when be realized the town couldn’t get a loan in time. 

The town’s tax rate had been at the state-maximum $10 per $1,000 up until 2023, when it was reduced dramatically with some police costs shifted to the town’s corporation, Briny Breezes Inc., which then charged property owners an assessment. That was done to give room to raise the tax rate in the future for money the town would need to make debt payments on the anticipated loans. 

A tentative budget hearing is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Town Hall, 4802 N. Ocean Blvd. A final hearing is set for Sept. 24.

— Henry Fitzgerald

Town clerk resigns — Town Clerk Kathleen Dominguez announced her resignation at the June 8 Town Council meeting. Dominguez, a certified municipal clerk with a degree in public communications from Florida Atlantic University, has been Lantana’s clerk since January 2020.

Since July 2023, Dominguez has been working remotely from Nashville, Tennessee, where her husband is employed. Holding down the fort locally has been Maria Rios, the executive assistant to the town manager and deputy town clerk.

“It is a bittersweet transition,” Dominguez said. “But it was simply the right time for a new chapter. Lantana is a wonderful community, and I am certainly going to miss the town and the fantastic people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

Town Manager Brian Raducci said a determination on Dominguez’s replacement has not been made. “We are in the process of reviewing our needs and options,” he said.

— Mary Thurwachter

Palm Beach County tax roll data, updated since estimates were released on May 27, show that countywide taxable property values increased 7.35% from 2025 to 2026, up from the 6.9% increase forecast in May.

The taxable property values are based on market conditions as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The revised numbers, released on June 25 by the county Property Appraiser’s Office, continue to show that all southeastern Palm Beach County municipalities posted property value gains except for South Palm Beach, which saw a decline of nearly 0.5%. This is the second year in a row the town saw a drop.

The southeast county leader is Briny Breezes, with an 11.2% increase. It is followed by Gulf Stream, up 7.8%; Delray Beach, 7.5%; Lantana and Manalapan, both 6.9%; and Boca Raton, 6.6%.

The total market value of county properties is now $551.9 billion. New construction added to the tax roll was $5.5 billion.

Once the Florida Department of Revenue approves the tax roll, the county property appraiser will prepare notices that are scheduled to be mailed on Aug. 20.

The notices provide property owners with information about their property’s assessed value and taxable value, proposed tax rates and local government public hearing dates.

Local governments use the taxable value information to set their budgets and tax rates.

— Mary Hladky

Pompey Park project advances — Pompey Park is getting a new community center to replace its current facility. The Delray Beach City Commission voted 4-1 during its June 9 meeting to approve a guaranteed maximum price of $59.2 million for the project, which will be built by Core Construction. 

City staff also addressed community concerns about the condition of the park’s concession stand, determining that the building is not salvageable. Following construction of the new community center and demolition of the existing building, Core Construction will demolish the concession stand.

— Sephora Charles

By Steve Plunkett

A man hiding from police behind Town Hall hailed a ride-share company and fled Gulf Stream, only to be caught after a foot chase near the Boynton Beach water tower.

Ja’Quez McMillian, 23, drove into town June 11 around 3:45 a.m. in a 2017 Chevrolet with a temporary tag, and Officer Josh Basante immediately spotted the vehicle and “recognized it didn’t belong here,” Police Chief Richard Jones said.

McMillian, who was accompanied by Serrina Albert, 19, drove off but was later spotted by license plate readers entering the Core district of town, Jones said. He had backed the Chevy into a driveway on Old School Road. As soon as Officer Tiara Hawkins approached, McMillian, who had recently been released from state prison, took off on foot. Albert was apprehended there, but McMillian “ended up hunkering down in some vegetation” behind Town Hall and a home on North County Road, Jones said.

“We don’t know what his intentions were, but they weren’t positive,” the chief said.

The sheriff’s helicopter was called in and officers on the ground scoured the area but could not find the 6-foot-5, 185-pound suspect. 

“But an hour or so later, one of our Town Hall employees was paying attention to the cameras and noticed the individual enter a vehicle and flee the area in that vehicle — or attempt to,” Jones said as part of his report to town commissioners the next day.

McMillian had ordered the escape vehicle, a black SUV, from the Lyft ride-share service with his cellphone, the chief said.

“By the time we were able to catch up to the vehicle, we were in the city of Boynton Beach,” Jones continued. “I was actually the first one that spotted the suspect. He spotted me and we ended up in a foot pursuit down Seacrest near the water tower. This went on for a short distance before he went into a wooded area and was ultimately apprehended by a canine.”

At the Old School Road residence, Jones discovered the home’s power and phone lines had been cut, something he said burglars do to disable alarms and surveillance systems. 

Police from Delray Beach, Ocean Ridge and Boynton Beach assisted in the search and capture.

McMillian was charged with violating probation, loitering and prowling, trespass, burglary, striking a police dog and resisting arrest without violence. He remained in the Palm Beach County Jail in late June. Albert, who told police she had met McMillian at a party, was charged with trespassing and released on her own recognizance.

“We definitely did not want him here in our community having the opportunity to commit crimes, and because of the officers’ diligence and their quick response, he didn’t have an opportunity to commit crimes,” Jones said. 

Mayor Scott Morgan agreed.

“It could have been a bad situation and their diligence prevented any sort of untoward event. So our gratitude to them,” Morgan said.

McMillian’s criminal record includes two cases of robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. The chief said Gulf Stream residents were notified to shelter in place via PBC Alerts a little after 6 a.m. that day and the alert was lifted about an hour later. But an all-clear message did not go out until the afternoon.

“I just want to remind everybody that in a small town like ours, your police chief is actively involved. And therefore, I don’t have the opportunity sometimes to get those notifications with that courtesy information out as quickly as folks would like,” Jones said. 

By Sephora Charles 

A Palm Beach County Inspector General’s Office audit revealed that more than $11,000 of the town of Ocean Ridge’s credit card usage could not be fully verified because documentation was missing or incomplete. 

The audit, released June 2, reviewed the town’s credit card transactions from October 2023 to June 2025. The review was done as part of the Inspector General’s Office’s fiscal year 2025 audit plan after a survey identified that Ocean Ridge did not have written policies for its credit card program. It was the town’s first Inspector General audit since 2018.

The audit looked at 65 credit card transactions totaling $25,651.

Auditors examined whether credit card activities were properly documented, met applicable requirements and served a valid public purpose. While the report found most transactions met those standards, it revealed areas that needed improvement. 

Among the findings, auditors found $4,343 in purchases that lacked detailed receipts and $6,720 that did not include sufficient explanations showing how the expenses served a public purpose. The report also found that the town paid $276.56 in sales taxes on purchases despite being exempt from state sales tax. 

Some transactions appeared to be duplicated, but auditors could not verify that because supporting records were not available. 

The report also found that Lynne Ladner, the town’s former manager, approved her own purchasing card transactions. Auditors described the practice as “a lack of segregation of duties.” 

Prior to the audit, it was allowed for the town manager to make self-approved purchases, “as long as it was within and under the identified purchase authority,” Town Manager Michelle Heiser said.

The absence of written procedures made it unclear what purchases were permissible, what documentation was required and who was responsible for reviewing expenses. 

Auditors also found that Ocean Ridge lacked formal written policies for managing its information technology systems. While the audit noted that basic IT controls were in place, the report recommended adopting written procedures to strengthen tracking and oversight of technology systems. 

The Inspector General’s Office made four other recommendations to improve oversight, documentation requirements and avoid unnecessary sales tax payments.

The town adopted the suggestions, Heiser said. Ocean Ridge has adopted new policies requiring receipts for all purchases, written explanations outlining the public purpose of expenditures and independent review of credit card activities, according to the report. The town also created an IT policy meant to improve tracking and management of its systems. 

Ryan and Samantha Garvey recently held the grand opening for their flower shop, French Florist, in Boca Raton. The couple plans to personally hand-deliver many orders. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

French Florist, 5601 N. Federal Highway, Suite 9, Boca Raton, celebrated its grand opening in May. Owned and operated by Boca Raton residents Samantha and Ryan Garvey, the 1,000-square-foot boutique offers handcrafted arrangements, gifts and white-glove delivery service with the Garveys planning to personally hand-deliver many orders themselves.

“Flowers played a huge role in our relationship,” said Ryan Garvey, 38. “When we were long-distance, sending flowers was how I showed up for Samantha. Before she moved to Florida (joining him in 2022), I realized how hard it was to find arrangements that felt thoughtful and special. French Florist was everything we felt was missing in our community.”

Samantha Garvey, 34, has family roots related to a greenhouse in Dallas, where she worked in the IT industry. Ryan, who currently works both at French Florist and at Main Street Home Loans in Delray Beach, brings a personal tie to floristry as well.

His grandfather worked in a floral shop in Baltimore and later helped manage the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.

Now, the couple is excited to channel their combined experiences into their new venture.

French Florist provides same-day flower delivery in Boca Raton and the surrounding areas. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. For more info, visit frenchflorist.com/local/fl/boca-raton or call 561-493-3134.

***

Dr. Robert Fishel, through a trust in his name, sold his newly constructed home at 102 Basin Drive, Delray Beach, for $20.25 million in an off-market deal. The new owners are Randy and Dawn Lebowitz.

Fishel acquired the property for $1.91 million in 1998, demolished it in 2023 and hired Azure Development to build a new home. Designed by Randall Stofft, the five-bedroom residence, sited on 0.52 of an acre bordering the Intracoastal Waterway, spans 11,861 square feet. It features a club room, theater room, a service kitchen, an office, an elevator, a saltwater pool and a 90-foot dock.

Fishel is founder and president of Florida Electrophysiology Associates. The Lebowitzes own automotive and aviation companies. 

***

A company managed by billionaire Stefan Soloviev sold a 7,512-square-foot residence along the Intracoastal Waterway at 963 Eve St., Delray Beach, for $15 million, along with a neighboring 3,543-square-foot home at 964 Eve St. for $5.5 million.

Soloviev is chairman of Soloviev Group. The buyers were John and Ana Davie. John Davie is the CEO and owner of Boston-based Buyers Edge Platform and CollectivIQ.ai.
Coldwell Banker Realty agent Jonathan Postma represented the seller in both deals, while Holly Meyer Lucas and Roxanne Chirico of Compass Florida worked with the buyers.

The larger home last traded for $4.99 million in 2020. Soloviev picked up the smaller home for $3.75 million in 2023.

***

Jeff Norman, a general contractor and head of JH Norman Construction Co., sold the 0.41-acre lot at 2408 E. Maya Palm Drive in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club for $15.5 million.

The new owner is 2408 East Maya Palm Road Land Trust, with Steven R. Dingle as trustee. Dingle is the head of Boca Raton-based SRD Building.

Norman paid $23.5 million in 2023 for a 0.83-acre lot and split it in two. He sold the first lot for $13.5 million in 2024 and now he’s sold the second lot for $15.5 million, amounting to $29 million altogether.

***

The Seaside Deli property on State Road A1A south of Briny Breezes sold May 22 for $1.45 million. The 0.09-acre site with a 2,131-square-foot building at 4635 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach, was owned by Leonora and Rafael Belliard’s Ocean Blvd 14 LLC.

The buyers are KMG Holdings (with a 10.19% undivided interest) and Goyhberg Investments (with an 89.81% undivided interest). Both are Florida limited liability companies, with an address at 1311 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, and managed by Mikhail Vesselov.

The Coastal Star has followed the saga of this property and Seaside Deli, a business that was once owned by Randy McCormick.

Seaside Deli had been a 20-year local favorite, but a dispute between the Belliards and McCormick resulted in the latter’s January 2023 eviction. The deli reopened under new management the following month. That operation continued until the deli’s closing this April.

***

RealTrends Verified, a real estate performance platform, has published its lists of top agents from 2025, with agents and teams from south Palm Beach County recognized.

Nationally for volume, David Roberts, of Royal Palm Properties, Boca Raton, ranked No. 22. Among Florida agents, he ranked No. 7 with $408 million in volume.

Other south Palm Beach County agents who ranked in the top 50 for volume in Florida include: No. 13, Rochelle LeCavalier, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, with $206 million; No. 22, Michael Ledwitz, Engel & VÖlkers, Boca Raton, $161 million; No. 28, Alejandro Salazar, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, $136 million; No. 37, Kathy Koch Pitlake, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, $116 million; and No. 44, Larry Mastropieri, The Mastropieri Group, Boca Raton, $105 million.

Area agents who ranked in the top 50 in the sides category for Florida include: No. 4, Larry Mastropieri, The Mastropieri Group, Boca Raton, with 219 sides; No. 14, Michael Ledwitz, Engel & VÖlkers, Boca Raton, with 104 sides; No. 28, Rochelle LeCavalier, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, with 83 sides; and No. 46, Dylan Lamb, Compass, Delray Beach, with 73 sides.

Area small teams category winners for volume include: The Senada Adzem Team, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, placed No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in Florida with $444 million.

The Matt and Nick Team, Serhant, Delray Beach, placed 26th nationally and No. 5 in Florida with $324 million. The Candace Friis Team, Corcoran, Delray Beach, ranked No. 30 nationally and No. 6 among Florida agents, with $315 million. The Pascal Liguori Estate Group, Premier Estate Properties, Delray Beach, ranked No. 33 nationally and No. 8 in Florida with $308 million. The D’Angelo/Liguori Team, Premier Estate Properties, Boca Raton, ranked No. 37 nationally and No. 10 in Florida, with $272 million.

Additionally, Ina Bloom, Compass, Boca Raton, placed No. 39 in Florida with $99 million. Susan Demerer, Compass, Boca Raton, placed No. 49 in Florida with $86 million.

Small teams category rankings in Florida for sides include: No. 16, The Matt and Nick Team, Serhant, Delray Beach, with 118 sides; and Luxury Collective, Coldwell Banker Realty, Delray Beach, 95 sides.

Medium team for volume honorees include: The Exclusive Group, Douglas Elliman, Delray Beach, with $732 million, ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in Florida. Others in the top 50 for Florida are No. 12, Jennifer Kilpatrick Team, Corcoran, Delray Beach, $156 million; No. 34, The Buchbinder Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $95 million; No. 35 The Megann Lucaj Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $95 million; and No. 46, Bonnie Heatzig Luxury Group, Compass, $77 million.

Medium teams for sides rankings in Florida include: No. 19, The Exclusive Group, Douglas Elliman, Delray Beach, 132 sides; No. 24, The Julian Soffer Team, Keller Williams, Boca Raton, 119 sides; No. 45, Homes by Cusi Team, Keller Williams, Boca Raton, 97 sides.

Large teams by volume rankings in Florida: No. 8, The Jonathan Postma Group, Coldwell Banker Realty, $179 million; No. 23, The Modern Group, One Sotheby’s International Realty, Boca Raton, $117 million.

Large teams by sides in Florida include No. 33, The Karp Group, Keller Williams, Boca Raton, 136 sides.

Mega teams by volume include: No. 28 nationally and No. 4 in Florida, The Koolik Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $342 million; No. 31 nationally and No. 5 in Florida, The Premier Group, Compass, Delray Beach, with $331 million; and No. 20 in Florida, The Saperstein Group, eXp Realty, Delray Beach, $138 million.

Mega teams by sides in Florida: No. 11, The Saperstein Group, eXp Realty, Delray Beach, 353 sides. No. 15, The Premier Group, Compass, Delray Beach, 295 sides; and No. 26, The Koolik Group, Compass, Boca Raton, 234 sides.

For enterprise teams: Champagne & Parisi, Boca Raton, ranked No. 84 nationally and No. 9 for volume with $255 million. This team also ranked No. 16 in Florida for sides with 321.

The rankings were open to real estate professionals who chose to participate in the project, based on their reported sales volume and other criteria.

Under the rules of the survey, agents and brokers who handled both sides of a transaction — representing the buyer and the seller — were allowed to double the final dollar figure when they calculated their total volume for the sale.

***

Two years after Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison paid $277 million for the 310-room Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, he’s getting ready to give it a makeover.

If all goes as planned, in September work will begin to transform the guest rooms, hotel general manager Tim Nardi told the Town Commission on June 23.

The face-lift, which will take about two years to complete, will be done in phases, he said. Work will begin in the south tower, move to the north tower and then to the center tower.

Nardi declined to offer specifics or reveal how much the renovations would cost. The rooms will be modernized with the addition of state-of-the art sound-proofing and lighting and transformed with the use of teak and oak wood furnishings. A second “mini” presidential suite is planned. “It’s going to be really beautiful,” he said.

***

The Eau Spa at Eau Resort & Spa is offering two new treatments sure to please spa visitors. Photo provided

The newly updated Eau Spa at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is offering two new treatments: the Psammo Quartz Ritual, which combines quartz immersion, inversion therapy and sound healing, and the Coastal Contour body treatment that includes a toning scrub and massage. Visit eauresortandspa.com/spa.

***

Premier Estate Properties and Saunders & Associates recently partnered to connect two luxury coastal destinations. Premier Estate Properties, owned and operated by Gerard P. Liguori, Carmen N. D’Angelo Jr., and Joseph G. Liguori, has 50 agents across offices in Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Vero Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Led by founder and president Andrew Saunders, Saunders & Associates operates in The Hamptons with 200 agents.

***

Boca Helping Hands’ board of directors recently named Andrew Hagen as chief executive officer. Hagen, a Boca Raton resident, previously served as the nonprofit’s executive director and as a longtime volunteer.

Jane Musgrave contributed to this column.
Send business news to Christine Davis at davis9797@gmail.com.

Local soccer fans got the chance of a lifetime to see the World Cup’s smallest qualifier make a big splash in Boca Raton

A Curaçao player encourages four members of the Boca Raton girls 10-and-under team, which joined the World Cup athletes on the field after their practice on June 11 at FAU. Photos by Rachel O'Hara/The Coastal Star

By Brian Biggane

The World Cup has come to America, and Boca Raton and Florida Atlantic University have made sure it has also had its moment in Palm Beach County.

Curaçao, an island nation off the coast of Venezuela with a population (160,000) smaller than that of Fort Lauderdale, became the smallest country ever to qualify for the world’s biggest sporting event last November, whereupon FAU Athletic Director Brian White and the city of Boca Raton offered to become the team’s U.S. host.

Curaçao accepted, joining England and Portugal, both of which set up base in Palm Beach Gardens, in calling Palm Beach County home.

The team arrived on June 8, and the next day held its first practice on the FAU football field; two days later it staged an open workout in front of a crowd limited to 5,000 before heading to its first-ever World Cup game vs. Germany in Houston.

Players gushed over what they saw moments before their first workout.

“It’s beautiful here,” midfielder Juninho Bacuna said. “The pitch is amazing.”

“This is typical America,” goalkeeper Tyrick Bodak added. “You watch the movies and it’s always this kind of environment. It’s great to be here and feel it for myself instead of watching on TV.”

Alex Lessen (l-r), Daniel Nagle, Chad Sher and Aaron Sher hold up stickers they collected of Curaçao players while attending practice. Curaçao was part of the Netherlands Antilles chain until becoming independent in 2010. While a number of its natives have played professionally in Europe, Curaçao had never enjoyed even regional success prior to hiring legendary coach Dick Advocaat in January 2024.

Advocaat, who had previously coached the Netherlands and South Korea in World Cups, stepped down to spend time with his ailing daughter in February of this year but returned in May when her condition improved. He has become the oldest coach in World Cup history at 78.

After three wins and two ties in its first five qualifying matches, Curaçao faced host Jamaica on Nov. 18 needing only a tie to advance and got it with a 0-0 result.

“We ran on the pitch, jumping, shouting, crying,” Bodak said. “Every emotion you could have was there.”

That was away, but home fans — an estimated 6,000 of whom traveled to Houston for the first World Cup match — got to share in the excitement when Curaçao beat Aruba 4-0 in its send-off game.

“After that we drove to the hotel and people were lined up in the streets, singing, dancing,” Bodak said.

A number of blue Curaçao jerseys were on hand at the open practice at FAU — the team’s nickname is “The Blue Wave” — and many of the natives now living in Florida made a point to be there. Among them was Rustico DeJesus, who lives in Jacksonville but frequently does business in Riviera Beach.

Members of the Curaçao team practice with Boca Raton boys soccer players at the end of the June 11 training session at FAU.

A single goal is a victory 

Reminded that virtually no one expected the World Cup newcomers to advance from their group, DeJesus said his hopes remained high.

“They made it this far, so they have a chance. The first game some of the big teams stumble, so we’re hoping that happens. Just to get here is a celebration.”

Players also expressed confidence.

“If we get one goal it’s already a party,” Bodak said. “It’s our first time, so how is everyone going to react?”

As it turned out, they did get the one goal against Germany to forge a 1-1 tie midway through the first half of their game in Houston, prompting Fox broadcaster Ian Darke to say if they did pull off the upset it would be the biggest in the 96-year history of the World Cup. Four-time champion Germany regrouped, however, and ultimately went on to win 7-1.

Curaçao was much more competitive in its remaining two games, earning its first point in the standings with a 0-0 tie against South American power Ecuador and then falling 2-0 to Ivory Coast in its finale — failing to advance in the competition.

Christopher Ferreira and Lauren Francis display a banner showing the traditional spelling of Curaçao. The surname Korsou has historical roots in Eastern Europe, particularly within the regions that are now part of modern-day Poland and Ukraine.

Connecting with kids

Back at the practice, an assistant coach explaining the rules and narrating the action kept the crowd engaged. The players appreciated it.

“We felt the energy and atmosphere with a little taste of the island,” winger Kenji Gorre said.

About one-fourth of the crowd was made up of youth players, some intent on collecting stickers featuring World Cup stars that were part of a soft drink promotion. 

But one group stood out: Players on two Boca Raton 10-and-under teams in their yellow game uniforms joined the Curaçao players on the field for a joint workout afterward.

Gorre said he and his teammates embraced the opportunity. “It’s a huge opportunity, because you can impact the next generation.

“This is a story of hope; this is a story of making your dreams come true. And when that’s translated into the youth, it’s just amazing. We can show them that your dreams are possible. Anything is possible if you believe.” 

Boca watch party

What: Watch party for World Cup quarterfinal game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

When: Doors open at 4 p.m. Match begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 11.

Where: Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton.

Notable:  Event is part of Boca Raton’s Summer in the City series. Food and entertainment will be featured.

Admission: Free.

Dr. Herbert Wertheim is celebrated by supporters echoing his dress style at a news conference announcing his donation to Baptist Health. Photo provided

By Lou Ann Frala

Manalapan philanthropist Dr. Herbert “Herbie” Wertheim has given $100 million to Baptist Health South Florida to finance an expansion of cancer research, treatment and prevention. 

The largest single donation in Baptist Health’s history will allow additional services at the Miami Cancer Institute, to be renamed for Wertheim, and bolster the nonprofit’s care network, BHSF leaders said at a May 20 news conference. 

Wertheim, a billionaire who turned 87 on May 23, said, “My goal is to be able to do whatever I can to be transformative.”

The gift also will reinforce Baptist Health Research’s association with Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, named for the ophthalmologist/entrepreneur after he and his late ex-wife, Nicole, donated $20 million in 2009. 

Literacy Coalition announces officers

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County has announced its slate of officers for the 2026-27 board.

The executive committee is: President Chris Duke of Palm Beach Gardens, with Akerman LLP; Vice Presidents Aurora Arthay of Palm Beach Gardens, deputy library director at the Palm Beach County Library System, and Carol Rose of Wellington, community volunteer and retired The Palm Beach Post/Palm Beach Daily News editor; Secretary Bernadette O’Grady of Palm Beach Gardens, with WPTV Channel 5; and Treasurer Matthew Criscuolo of Boca Raton, with Cozen O’Connor. 

Members at large are: Caleb Bowser of Palm Beach Gardens, vice president and relationship adviser at Northern Trust; Grace Halabi of Boynton Beach, senior vice president at First Horizon; and immediate past president Dr. Regine Bataille of Delray Beach, with Gentle Medicine Associates. 

Parliamentarians are: Laurie Gildan of North Palm Beach, with Greenberg Traurig; Len Gray of Palm Beach Gardens, retired executive; and Sharon Hill of West Palm Beach, community volunteer and retired Palm Beach County librarian.

The Literacy Coalition provides adult, family and children’s programs, plus the Literacy AmeriCorps program. For more information, visit LiteracyPBC.org or call 561-279-9103.

Fuller Center to celebrate 55 years of service to families

Purpose meets party as the Fuller Center prepares to celebrate 55 years of service to hardworking and underserved families and children across 60 ZIP codes in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

A decades-themed shindig is set to be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on July 11 at Crazy Uncle Mike’s, 6450 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton. 

Guests are invited to dress in styles from the ’70s all the way through 2010s and 2020s. There will be drinks, light bites and an auction to help the center support the more than 1,000 children it serves.

Tickets are $25 and $55 (VIP) and can be bought through secure.qgiv.com/event/livingourlegacy/

School supply drive now underway at Lang Realty 

Lang Realty and Lang Management have kicked off their annual school supply drive for the benefit of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. Through July 31, the public is invited to drop off new school supplies at any Lang Realty or Lang Management office throughout the county.

The Education Foundation’s Red Apple Supplies campaign stocks a free resource store where teachers in Title I schools can shop for classroom materials at no cost to them.

“Giving back to the students and families of Palm Beach County is something Lang has always been committed to,” said Scott Agran, president of Lang Realty. “This drive is one tangible way we can make sure every child walks into the classroom this fall ready to learn and ready to thrive.”

Requested supplies include: backpacks, colored pencils and markers (8–12 count), wide-ruled composition books, construction paper, crayons, dry erase markers, erasers (wedge), flip chart markers, glue sticks, highlighters, pencils, Scotch tape, student dry erase boards (small), headphones/earbuds.

All donations will go directly to the Red Apple Supplies store.

Teen-led food drive nets 11,079 pounds of cereal

Cereal4All was founded in 2016 by Boca Raton twins Jett and Luke Justin, now 18. Their annual spring cereal drive collected 11,079 pounds for families served by Boca Helping Hands.

Boca Helping Hands, which began as a soup kitchen in 1998, provided more than 3.5 million meals to people in 2025.

The twins, now at the University of Florida, volunteered at BHH and learned that breakfast foods are among the most needed, but least donated, items at food banks.

“Cereal is about breakfast,” Jett Justin said, “but it’s also about starting the day with a sense of normalcy and happiness. It bothered us that so many families were missing out on that, so we started Cereal4All to help fill that gap.”

Today, Cereal4All partners with more than 175 schools and 95 food banks across 22 states, Toronto and the Bahamas through the twins’ self-piloted “Oatmeal Airlift” missions. The organization has delivered the equivalent of more than 800,000 bowls of cereal, over $400,000 worth of breakfast food, and inspired thousands of students to volunteer. See cereal4all.org to donate or volunteer.

Woman’s club hosts tour of Overtown, Design District 

The Taste History Art & Culture Study Tours hosted 12th-grade debutantes of the Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club of Delray Beach for an immersive trip on April 18 to Overtown and the Design District in Miami.

The girls attend Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, FAU High School in Boca Raton, Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, and Park Vista High School in Greenacres.

Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer community service organization named in honor of Bright, an educator who came to Palm Beach County in 1899 and was the first Black woman teacher in Delray Beach.

The mission of the nonprofit Taste History Art & Culture Study Tours is to offer curriculum-based multisensory educational experiences for students.

Boca Garden Club reveals 2026 collectible ornament 

The Boca Raton Garden Club has announced that the 2026 commemorative ornament celebrates the Sugar Sand Park Carousel.

This year’s ornament, the 32nd in the collectible series commemorating landmarks in Boca Raton, is available for $28. Send a check, payable to Boca Raton Garden Club, to Ornaments, Boca Raton Garden Club, 4281 NW Third Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33431. Ornaments will be delivered in early October. 

Palm Beach Symphony announces three winners

The Palm Beach Symphony has announced the three recipients of the 2026 Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts. Instrumental musician Mickey Smith Jr. was named Performing Artist, dancer Heather Lescaille was named Performing Arts Educator, and choral musician Roberto J. Vidal was named Emerging Artist. 

Smith is associate director of instrumental arts at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach. Lescaille was appointed dean of the dance department at the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts in 2016. Vidal serves as the chorus director, vocal academy director and Fine Arts Department chair at Eagles Landing Middle School in Boca Raton. 

Nominations for the 2027 awards will open in November.

Heritage Month honors Boca’s Elliott Broidy

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Elliott Broidy, Nobel laureate Dr. Harvey J. Alter and Rabbi David Baron were honored on Capitol Hill on May 19 during the Jewish American Heritage Month celebration. The annual gathering of members of Congress, foreign ambassadors and trade ministers, and Jewish communal leaders recognizes the significant role Jewish Americans have played in the United States.

Broidy, of Boca Raton, was honored with the Visionary Award for his leadership in philanthropy, national security, Holocaust remembrance, Jewish communal life, and efforts to combat antisemitism and extremism.

Broidy is chairman and CEO of the private equity firm Broidy Capital Holdings, which invests in a range of national security and public safety technology companies.

White Coats-4-Care scheduled for Aug. 20

The 16th annual White Coats-4-Care reception will recognize philanthropy advancing Palm Beach County’s only medical school — Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine — while welcoming the incoming class of 80 future physicians. 

The evening will bring together health care, business, university, civic and philanthropic leaders to celebrate June Gelb’s 100th birthday. A portion of money raised will benefit the June and Ira J. Gelb, M.D. Endowed Medical Scholarship Fund.

The reception will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at The Club at Boca Pointe. Tickets are $350. Underwriting and sponsorship opportunities are available at fau.edu/medicine/white-coats-4-care.

Changing Lives of Boca hosts Unity Day expo 

More than 25 nonprofit organizations and community groups joined together April 25 for the Changing Lives of Boca Raton fourth annual Unity Day Expo Fair, offering direct access to housing assistance, health care, mental health services, food resources, legal aid and employment support.

Participating organizations included: Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Inc. (AVDA), Boca Helping Hands, Salvation Army, Feeding South Florida, the Palm Beach Health Care District, South County Mental Health Center, Developing Interracial Social Change (D.I.S.C.), Adopt A Family of the Palm Beaches, the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, Breaking the Chains Ministries, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Boca Raton Housing Authority, iThink Financial Credit Union, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Ovadia Law Group P.A., The Legacy Closet, Sunshine Pathways Foundation, Ask Nora, Palm Beach County Community Services, Vita Nova Inc., Genesis Community Health, YMCA, Drug Abuse Foundation, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, and People Engaged in Active Community Efforts (PEACE).

Changing Lives is committed to providing comprehensive services, including housing assistance, mental health support, employment opportunities and long-term stabilization programs for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Arts Garage raises funds for summer camp at ’70s party

Arts Garage, the visual and performing arts center in downtown Delray Beach, is celebrating 15 years of connecting the community through the arts, raising nearly $15,000 during a May 29 ’70s-themed anniversary party.

Proceeds will support scholarships, program resources and expanded access to arts education through Places!, the center’s immersive summer camp for aspiring performers ages 8-15. This program includes four weeklong sessions, July 6-31, led by theater professionals, each focused on a different area of training. 

To learn more, visit artsgarage.org/events/category/places/

Send news, photos and notes to Lou Ann Frala at philanthropy@thecoastalstar.com.