Delray Beach commissioners denied a waiver that would have allowed this three-story, 7,330-square-foot house at 1006 Brooks Lane. The house would have exceeded the maximum square footage for the property. Image provided

By John Pacenti

The Delray Beach City Commission stood firm on development on the coast, denying a request to exceed the city’s building code for a proposed three-story, 7,330-square-foot house along the Intracoastal Waterway.

The unanimous vote at the Feb. 24 meeting gave a victory to the Beach Property Owners Association. Its president, Hal Stern, argued that the commission stick to the ordinance it adopted in March 2024 with input from coastal residents.

“Those standards were enacted in direct response to widespread neighborhood concern over oversized, out-of-proportion, three-story buildings,” Stern said.

He said the proposed single-family home at 1006 Brooks Lane “would be incompatible with the established neighborhood context, and therefore fails to meet the waiver requirement of adverse impact.”

Stamm Development Group, the owner, asked for the waiver to exceed the city’s Floor Area Ratio — or FAR — that measures a building’s size in relation to the overall size of the property. The proposed home would be 1,724 square feet over the maximum adopted two years ago.

For the commission, this was a messy conundrum because a permit to build an even bigger home on the property was issued before the new FAR was adopted. 

“This is a complicated one, no doubt about that, all the way around,” said Commissioner Tom Markert.

Stamm said $40,000 was spent to obtain a building permit in June 2023, before the new ordinance was adopted.

The city in January 2025 then notified the owner that the permit was issued in error, and new applications would need to adopt the current land development regulations, or LDRs.

Ownership appealed to Tallahassee. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a letter stating that, under state statute, the city could not revoke an extended building permit, according to a presentation by Stamm to the commission.

In January, the builder met with city staff to reach a compromise. The waiver request reduces the home’s design area from 9,112 square feet to 7,330 square feet. The city’s regulations allow for a maximum 5,606-square-foot building on the property.

“We don’t feel that it does adversely affect the neighboring areas,” said Sean McAllister, director of development for Stamm.

Besides BPOA opposition, Tom Kustura, who owns the property immediately adjacent, framed the matter as both a compatibility and a legal fairness issue. 

“If you approve this waiver, I’ll be the next in line asking for a waiver to enlarge my house,” he said. “Where does it end?” 

Joe Chalal, who said he was representing homeowners on both Brooks Lane and White Drive, pushed back on the builder’s claim. “There’s definitely an impact. And it’s not a minor deviation,” he said.

Chalal told commissioners he had gathered signatures from nearby residents opposing the waiver and warned the decision would be cited in future requests across the barrier island.

Mike Stamm, principal in the development firm, told commissioners he feels there is a valid permit. 

But Anthea Gianniotes, the city’s development services director, pushed back on the claim that the original permit is valid. She said ownership of the 0.2-acre lot moved from Dr. Boris Zusin, a restorative dentist, to an LLC in August and Florida law stipulates that owner-builder permits cannot be utilized by a company.

“This permit that they’re trying to travel under is no longer valid because the ownership has changed,” she said.

The commission remained steadfast in adhering to the LDR.

“I do think that this will affect the neighborhood,” said Commissioner Angela Burns. “So it’s not consistent with the code.”

Commissioner Juli Casale added, “While I appreciate your situation, and I feel it’s unfortunate that you find yourself in front of us asking for this, I can’t agree to it.”

Mayor Tom Carney said his issue was that the owner-builder permit became invalid when the deed of property changed to the LLC.

“I’m not worried about the precedent here,” Carney said. “There’s too many special facts and circumstances to try to duplicate this.” 

This image highlights a proposed multimillion-dollar renovation for Lantana Beach Park. Council members are mulling over the project, but some residents say they don’t want it to wind up like local beachfronts they consider overdeveloped. The numbers denote proposed amenities such as a playground (11), splashpad (12), event lawn (25), and space for a future parking garage (29). The beach is at the bottom. Image provided

By Patrick Sherry

The Lantana Town Council is considering a multimillion-dollar, major renovation project for Lantana Beach Park, but residents say they don’t want it to turn into another overdeveloped beachfront. 

Town staff invited residents to give their feedback on a new Lantana Beach Master Plan at a well-attended community workshop on March 14. The plan includes building more amenities on site and improving landmarks that have been around for decades. 

Council members first discussed the renovation project during a 2024 visioning session. Last year, they reprioritized the project because of the aging facilities at the park. 

“We can kind of have a Band-Aid approach, if you will, just kind of repair things as they break,” Town Manager Brian Raducci said. “Or we can take a comprehensive look at the entire 7.19-acre site and do something a lot more comprehensive.”

CPZ Architects, which has worked on a few town projects, was hired to create a conceptual proposal. Its plan would rebuild the boardwalk with new small shops, move the Dune Deck Café a bit farther west, add a parking garage, and construct a pier on the south side of the beach. Several attractions, including a splashpad, sand volleyball court, amphitheater, and picnic area, would also be added. Developers aim to build all this while maintaining the area’s existing tree canopy and dunes as much as possible. 

Before moving forward with any of this, town officials wanted residents’ opinions. More than 30 people spoke at the workshop, with most of them opposed to the project’s added developments, saying it would go against the small-town character for which the beach is known. 

“Who wants to take this lovely space and change its use; who gains from this change?” Jerome Burke said. “It looks to me like many, many people, couples and families have much to lose if this park changes.”

The council doesn’t know how much the project will cost yet, but it is expected to be expensive. It has already allocated $1.2 million for it, and external partnerships and financing will be needed to cover the rest of the cost. To fill any funding shortages, Raducci also presented the idea of selling three town-owned vacant parcels that are worth about $3.6 million.  

Residents appreciated the town staff’s willingness to hear their opinions and adjust the project based on their suggestions. 

“I do believe that there could be some things added or subtracted based on the feedback from the survey; you’ll have data to be able to adjust appropriately,” resident Tammy Gianfortune said. “As a first step, I think this will be a good starting point from which that data will guide you to improve the plan as we move forward.” 

Town officials conducted an online survey to get more input from the public. The survey asked respondents what improvements and additions they would like to see and what should be removed from the current plan. Their input will be considered in future revisions.

The results of the survey will be presented at the April 10 Town Council visioning session at the Finland House. 

L-R: Alicia Taylor, Alan Hoover and Cindy Demma sing ‘Hey, Baby (I Wanna Know If You‘ll Be My Girl).‘ Photos by Jerry Lower/The Costal Star

By Ron Hayes

“Live from Briny Breezes, it’s … !”

Tuesday night, actually.

Tuesday night, March 17.

This is not NBC’s legendary sketch show, Saturday Night Live.

This is St. Paddy’s Night LIVE! And not to brag, but the town’s annual Curtain Raisers variety shows have been around even longer than NBC’s fabled half-century show.

Saturday Night Live debuted in October 1975. The Briny Breezes library has Curtain Raiser photos dating to 1950.

What is a Curtain Raisers variety show?

It’s 80 minutes of sketches, songs, dances and a generous helping of corny jokes you’d have to live in Briny to appreciate.

It’s 48 men and women, most in their 70s and 80s, who have written, rehearsed and are about to perform five skits, five songs, two dance performances, one stand-up routine. All supported by a dedicated backstage crew to work the lights and sound and carry the rocking chairs, fake palm trees, and make-believe campfire on and offstage.

Mostly, though, a Curtain Raisers show is a full house of friends and neighbors having fun watching their friends and neighbors have fun.

The laughter is loud, the applause frequent, and none of the performers ever need fear being booed.

There are men and women performing on Broadway who only dream of having this much love come at them across the footlights.

One night only

The woman charged with bringing all this together and keeping it there for one night only is Kathy Hoover, the Curtain Raisers’ artistic director.

“I was heavily recruited three years ago because of my experience,” she says.

A third-generation Brinyite and retired English teacher from Columbus, Ohio, Hoover was part of the Ohio State Arts Initiative and participated in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Stand Up For Shakespeare” program in Stratford-On-Avon, teaching teachers how to teach Shakespeare.

The Curtain Raisers are not Shakespeare, but Hoover has her challenges.

Before Monday’s final dress rehearsal, for example, she had to reassure Andy Abraham of the town’s maintenance crew that they would be done in time for him to set up the tables for Bingo Night.

And they were.

Cindy Neureuther with her husband, Andy. The show was held in memory of Andy, a longtime Curtain Raiser who died in September at 84.

In memory of ‘a ham’

At 6 p.m., Sherry Tauber and Deno Langel entertain the line waiting outside the auditorium with live music.

When the doors open at 6:30 p.m., Len Drapeau plays jazz piano onstage as the auditorium fills. Every seat.

The shamrock green program notes that tonight’s performance is “In Memory of Andy Neureuther,” who died last September at 84 after being a Curtain Raiser for 19 seasons. He sang, he acted, he danced, he worked the sound board and lighting.

“He was a ham,” said Cindy Neureuther, his wife of 46 years, who is in the audience. “He taught at UC Berkeley and played tuba in the faculty club celebrations. He loved Briny and looked forward to coming here every year.”

In welcoming the audience, Hoover reminds them that the show is for Andy. She sends up a prayer that he has a front-row seat in heaven for tonight’s show.

And now, showtime!

A gag about ‘trailers‘ ... 

In 2024, the show was A Magical Place, a parody of The Wizard of Oz.

Last year was A Briny Cruise On The SS Iguana.

This year it’s St. Paddy’s Night LIVE! but apart from the green lighting, the Irish music between scenes and an Irishy dance finale, this is an old-fashioned variety show.

Judith Kraft plays the part of a woman under hypnosis who is speaking into her new ‘i-Sandal’ phone and arranging a date with Brad Pitt.

Ron Vaughn, as The Amazing Ron in black hat and cape, “hypnotized” four ladies and ordered them to yell “mobile home!” every time he said “trailer.”

Apparently, those who reside in mobile homes do not like to have their dwellings called trailers.

“Mobile home!”

That became a running gag throughout the show, and the audience soon joined in.

The most elaborate skit of the night was “The Pursuit of Warmth & Abundant Sunshine,” with Alan Hoover, president of the Curtain Raisers club, as George Washington, future president.

Sitting with his fellow soldiers around a campfire outside Valley Forge, the father of our country mused on a future day when Florida would be part of the country. In a place called Florida, George predicted, Yankees would pull their trailers to a little park called Briny Breezes.
“Mobile home!”

Jan Burkhart and Marj Cline sang a parody of that Drifters classic Under The Boardwalk.

“On The Briny Porch, 

in a rocker with my baby, 

that’s where I’ll be.”

When Brinyites announce they are going to the beach, they mean they are going to sit in a rocker on the clubhouse porch and look at the beach.

Annie Harkness made her 19th appearance as a Curtain Raiser with a solo rendition of Little Old Wine Drinker Me.

Along with Harkness, Michele Tysse, Toni Alexander and Camille Scrip became “The Briny Girls,” their version of “The Golden Girls.”

Sam Cooke’s Chain Gang provided background music for a tribute to the men who unload the attic of donations for each year’s Briny Bazaar, and Cindy Demma and Alicia Taylor sang a powerful version of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

... and a sketch on old age 

If the performers were nervous onstage, it wasn’t because they can’t laugh at themselves. They are old, they know it, and they don’t mind joking about it.

In “Later Daters,” a sketch about online dating, Grant Perry and Becky Jones bantered after meeting via the internet.

“Why is someone calling so late? It’s almost eight-fifteen.”

“What do you want in a partner?”

“Someone who can drive at night.”

“Can I get your number?”

“It’s 120 over 70.”

The show closed with Diane Butler, who is clearly a trained singer, performing My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic.

“Near, far, wherever you are,

I believe that the heart does go on.”

No doubt the Brinyites who put on those early shows 75 years ago are gone, but the Curtain Raisers go on.

This month the players will begin dreaming up ideas for next year’s show. Back North for the summer, they’ll email ideas around for reactions, and when they return in December, the work gets underway.

A script will be distributed in January 2027, and for the final six weeks before the show, the acts will rehearse the skits for an hour a week.

And then, a year from now, it’s showtime again.

What is a Curtain Raisers show?

The Amazing Ron put it best.

“We’re just a bunch of old people up there making fools of ourselves,” he said, “but Briny Breezes is the best audience in the world. They’ll laugh at anything.” 

By John Pacenti

The Florida Legislature’s war on home rule has now left municipalities paralyzed on — of all things — synthetic turf.

The result for residents: install at your own risk. 

The problem is a Tallahassee two-step that left the Ocean Ridge Town Commission tied up in knots for two meetings.

The legislature in 2025 took the first step to block local governments from enforcing any ordinance that prohibits single-family property owners from installing synthetic turf, provided it meets statewide standards. 

The rub is the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has yet to take the second step to incorporate those new standards to fit the new law — rules that could sometimes take years to hash out.

“All towns, all cities are not enforcing their turf laws at this time because everybody’s waiting to see the preemption that comes from Tallahassee in its final state,” Ocean Ridge Town Manager Michelle Heiser said at the Feb. 2 commission meeting. “So here we are in a predicament.”

It’s another example of the state Legislature cutting into the self-determination of cities, towns and villages. And you can blame “Big Turf” — manufacturers of synthetic turf and developers who contributed to the sponsors of the legislation and then hired powerhouse lobbyist firms to make sure the legislation passed. 

Proponents argued that uniformity on turf installation was needed throughout the state.

“Tallahassee is really trying to change the culture in some cities and towns away from overregulation and having community standards that are so strict that it’s very much like an HOA,” Heiser said at the February meeting.

Two former town commissioners didn’t like the idea of the state or the town easing up on artificial turf when the issue resurfaced at the March 2 meeting.

“This is bad stuff. It’s ugly. It doesn’t do all the stuff they say it does,” Terry Brown said during public comments. “It’s successful lobbying by large manufacturers.”

Betty Bingham, another former commissioner, added, “They don’t even really know whether it’s environmentally sound. As it gets older, it makes fumes. It could cause various diseases. It doesn’t absorb water. I don’t see any benefits to artificial turf.”

Heiser first broached the artificial turf issue at the Feb. 2 meeting, saying a homeowner on Harbour Drive North wanted to install some artificial turf after cooperating with the town on a drainage field. 

Homeowners in beachside communities are familiar with that patch of property that gets battered by the elements, where nothing seems to grow.

“We’ve got a handful of very patient homeowners,” Heiser said. “I’m just looking for a common-sense approach.”

Multiple considerations ...

The existing code requires artificial turf to appear grass-like, meet a minimum permeability standard, and have an eight-year manufacturer’s warranty. It cannot be installed in the front yard and is limited to 25% of a lot’s size.

In anticipation of FDEP adopting new standards, the commission considered getting rid of the location and size requirements. It also considered just not enforcing the current ordinance, knowing it will be changed once FDEP makes its decision.

“Every local government is going to have to pivot,” Town Attorney Christy Goddeau said at the Feb. 2 meeting.

FDEP is deciding the technical and environmental rulebook for synthetic turf statewide — how permeable it must be, how it’s installed, how it affects drainage, heat, water quality and trees.

“Doesn’t it seem crazy to enforce an ordinance that we know is going?” Vice Mayor Steve Coz asked at the Feb. 2 meeting.

Commissioners then discussed just ignoring its own code. Such a policy seems to be becoming the Ocean Ridge way, as the town has taken a similar approach regarding hedges and the trimming of coconut palms. 

Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy wasn’t a fan of carving out exceptions for certain properties. “If we allow one homeowner to go ahead, I mean, how long before the builder, who was forced to rip it out of the front yard very recently, comes in here making noise about it?” she said.

That’s when commissioners said residents could be informed that they could install artificial turf, but would be at the mercy of the FDEP once new rules were handed down.

Goddeau interjected at the March 2 meeting, “I do not recommend adopting something and telling people you could do it, but if it doesn’t comply with the final DEP rule, then what are we going to do? Take code enforcement and go to people’s houses, require them to rip out what they installed?” 

... but decision is to wait

Mayor Geoff Pugh said he was never a fan of the town’s artificial turf ordinance. Still, he pressed for a mechanism that keeps the town accountable for what gets installed — floating the idea of a no‑fee permit so the town can at least track products and advise residents on risks as rules evolve.

In the end, the commission punted. It decided not to change its ordinance and to revisit it in July, when FDEP will possibly have its new requirements.

Commissioner Ainar Aijala Jr. put things in perspective a bit, saying it’s not like the whole town will soon be carpeted with artificial turf like Ford Field in Detroit.

“It’s not like there’s a whole lot of our citizens who are going to be put out by this. So let’s just wait,” he said. 

The new seal keeps the leaping sailfish and incorporates other artistic elements. Images provided

By Michael Cook 

From a vintage logo made of cut-out lettering and a hand-painted sailfish, Briny Breezes’ Town Hall is now getting a brand-spanking-new seal to represent the town. But the juicy scoop is that artificial intelligence helped design it. 

Town Manager Bill Thrasher admitted he used AI to draft the logo, then worked with a graphic artist to polish the final version. The new seal is a riff on the older one, still featuring a navy-blue sailfish. 

It will replace the current seal, which hangs in front of the council table in the Town Hall. “It’s old and faded. But it has institutional feelings to it, so we’ll save it,” said Thrasher, pointing out that some of the paper lettering is hanging by a thread. 

The original town seal of Briny Breezes used cut-out letters for the type.

The Town Council approved the seal at its March 26 meeting. The next step is to order a round plaque with the artwork at a cost of no more than $850. 

There is some deep meaning behind the logo’s design, meant to represent the small town vividly, with parts spelled out in the Town Charter. 

The circular seal features six stars meant to symbolize the elected officials, and the date 1963 is inscribed to mark the town’s official incorporation. The imagery is mostly inspired by the marina and boat life in town. A gold rope border surrounds the seal, featuring a sailfish, ocean and sun in the center.

“More importantly, in the background is the sun, which is not very bright, and wasn’t intended to be bright. It’s symbolizing the warmth that we have in our community,” said Thrasher, explaining that it is supposed to represent the town’s “family-oriented” atmosphere. 

Newly appointed Mayor Bill Birch said this is a “major upgrade,” and it will help others differentiate the town from others. “The story will be told, and everybody will get into it,” said Birch, stating that he would like to see this logo plastered around town in the future. But for now, it will just be hung up in the Town Hall room. 

By Michael Cook 

Voters in Briny Breezes didn’t have an election in March, leaving most of the work of deciding the town’s “elected officials” to the Town Council.

Only one candidate met the qualifying deadline in November — incumbent Alderman Jeff Duncan. He won election without opposition and was sworn in March 17. 

That left two empty seats, as outgoing Mayor Ted Gross and Alderwoman Holly Reitnauer chose not to run for reelection.

Alderman Bill Birch said he’d like to be mayor and was appointed by the council at its regular March 26 meeting. And Reitnauer, Birch’s wife, had a change of heart about continuing on the council. The council appointed her to take her seat again.

She originally opted not to run for health reasons, but said she is now in a better state to serve the town. That still leaves another opening, with Birch’s former seat needing to be filled. 

Town Attorney Keith Davis said the main requirements to fill the seat are to be a registered voter, a Briny Breezes resident for at least six months of the year, and available to attend Town Council meetings. 

Gross left the mayor’s position after serving in it for a single term, citing the weak-mayor system as a reason he could not execute his initiatives. 

The new mayor, Birch, said he will continue to represent neighbors’ voices. 

“I just like the idea of being able to go out and meet with people,” said Birch, using those conversations to inform his council decisions. However, his former position as alderman has one advantage over his current position as mayor: An alderman gets to vote on the council; the mayor doesn’t. 

By Patrick Sherry

The Lantana Town Council says the way food trucks operate has changed, so they need stricter rules. 

“Food trucks were not the thing that they are now, so we need to get a handle on what’s allowed [and] what’s not allowed,” Mayor Karen Lythgoe said at the council’s March 9 meeting. 

The council passed an ordinance with slight changes on its second reading that restricts food trucks in all zoning districts in the town. At three previous workshops, the council discussed implementing more regulations for these types of vendors to protect brick-and-mortar businesses. 

The new ordinance prohibits food trucks on commercial or industrial properties, but owners can still have non-food roadside vendors on site for no more than eight hours a day. 

Food trucks would only be allowed during town-sponsored events designated by the town manager.

Residential communities and private property owners can hire food truck services for community events for one day every quarter. 

“This is a living document,” Lythgoe said. “If we find we have restricted it too much or not enough, we will come back and do it, but we’re trying to bring things up to this day and age.” 

Council members begin new terms — Lantana Town Council members Chris Castle and Mark Zeitler were sworn in to new terms in March after winning election without opposition. Zeitler took his oath of office at the March 23 council meeting, while Castle was sworn in March 20 and attended the meeting by phone. The new terms run through March 2029.

Castle, a Lantana resident of 15 years, was chosen by the council to serve as vice mayor.

Easter sunrise service — First Baptist Church of Lantana received permission for free parking at Lantana Beach from 5 to 9 a.m. April 5 for its annual community Easter sunrise service and breakfast. The standard fee is typically $2.50 per hour per car for visitors without a resident’s pass. “I’ve gone for the last 30 years, and it’s very nice,” Mayor Karen Lythgoe said as the Town Council unanimously approved the request. The service starts at 6 a.m.            

    — Sephora Charles

By Steve Plunkett 

A Gulf Stream resident is charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older, battery of the man’s wife and animal cruelty after confronting two former neighbors at the beach and allegedly kicking their dog.

Mika Michaels, 51, was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on $7,000 bond on March 24 after spending the night behind bars. Circuit Judge John Parnofiello ordered Michaels to have no contact with the alleged victims “and their pets” or with two witnesses.

Michaels, who lives at 4227 N. County Road, also was ordered to stay away from the town’s four northernmost beachfront properties: the Ballantrae condos, 4001 North Ocean condos, Bellamar House and Gulfstream Manor timeshare resort.

Victims Brian and Fiona Roberto, who once lived in a Sea Ridge condominium neighboring Michaels’ residence, said they were trying to exit the beach with two dogs on Sunday morning, March 22, and “were blocked from exiting on the stairs” by Michaels, according to a Gulf Stream police report. 

Michaels told the Robertos that the stairs behind 4001 North Ocean were “only for residents” and they started arguing over who has the right to use the beach access, the report said.

When Fiona Roberto tried to pass by Michaels, he pushed her back. Brian Roberto, 68, said, “Do not touch my wife,” and Michaels kicked one of their dogs, according to the report.

“When this happened Brian and Michaels got into a physical altercation,” the report said. “During this scuffle Brian and Fiona said Michaels punched Brian in the face with a closed fist.”

Police Sgt. Bernard O’Donnell arrested Michaels on March 23 after observing a red mark on Brian Roberto’s left cheek, a cellphone video of the confrontation taken by Fiona Roberto and photos she took of her husband’s bruised chest.

O’Donnell also reported that Michaels had “prior law enforcement encounters” and that Brian Roberto said he knew Michaels “from previous negative encounters.”

One of those encounters led to Fiona Roberto paying a $100 fine and $28 costs after Michaels complained that her dog ran into his yard while chasing a cat in June 2022. 

“Witness (Michaels) observed this from inside his home,” O’Donnell, again the investigating officer, reported.

Fiona Roberto admitted the dog got away from her but blamed it on a loose collar clip, O’Donnell wrote on the citation.

Michaels is scheduled to return to court on April 22.

The Robertos sold their Sea Ridge condo in May 2024, county property records show, after they bought a single-family home in Boynton Beach west of Military Trail that April. 

Manager given used police SUV to take home — Catching up to his peers, new Gulf Stream Town Manager Trey Nazzaro will have a take-home police vehicle instead of a monthly fuel allowance.

The vehicle already has 100,000 miles on the odometer but “is currently in good operational condition and does not have a cage, light bar or other police-specific equipment installed,” Nazzaro wrote in a memo to the Town Commission.

“It would not take a lot to decommission it,” Police Chief Richard Jones said. “It was previously my take-home car.”

The vehicle would have fetched only about $3,500 if traded in, Nazzaro said. “Given the relatively low trade-in value and the vehicle’s remaining useful life, retaining the vehicle for administrative use is considered a more cost-effective option.”

Many managers in the area already have take-home vehicles, Nazzaro said. Commissioners unanimously signed off on the deal March 13.

— Steve Plunkett 

Highland Beach resident and recording artist Deborah Silver at home with her Morkie, Sugar. Silver attended the 2026 Grammy Awards as a nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for her collaborative Basie Rocks! Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Recording artist Deborah Silver of Highland Beach hit a recent high note, walking the red carpet at the 2026 Grammy Awards as a nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for Basie Rocks! — her collaboration with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. The album was announced as a nominee in November 2025. 
Music has always been a part of her life, she said. “My dad was a businessman, and he also had his own band where he played the saxophone. My mother [an opera singer] is a soprano and has a beautiful voice.”  

Her parents, Robert and Sondy Berman, started Deborah and her two sisters, Marjie Berman Block and Sheri Berman Spector, in music lessons from when they were little, and her mother taught them operas. “We were the only children probably in this entire state of Mississippi that when we went to an opera, we could follow it in another language and knew the story.”

Silver’s children are also involved in the arts. Her son, Spencer, 28, sings and plays many instruments, while her daughter, Madison, 27, is a painter and graphic artist. 

Her husband, Larry, on the other hand, “can’t sing a note,” she said. “But he is the one who usually gives me most of my ideas about the songs that I put in my performances and on my albums.” 

In her early music and entertainment career, Silver won the title of Miss St. Louis in the Miss America Pageant when she was a senior in college and, after graduating, she performed at venues in St. Louis and California.

After the birth of her second child, she suffered an illness that left her in a wheelchair for a year, and upon recovery, she devoted herself to raising her children, eventually transitioning back to music.

“When my kids got old enough to start calling me from their bedrooms on their cellphones, I said, ‘Mommy’s going back to work,’” she said.

Since then, she’s recorded the album Pure Silver to raise money for the cure for ALS, the disease her sister Marjie has. Then she went on to make The Gold Standards, Glitter and Grits, Asleep at the Wheel and an EP, Sunny Side.

About Basie Rocks!, she said: “We took rock ’n’ roll songs and reimagined them with the big band. It was produced by Steve Jordan, the drummer for the Rolling Stones. Even Peter Frampton played on it. Peter heard my version of Baby, I Love Your Way and called me up and told me that he wanted to play on it and he played the most beautiful guitar solo I’ve ever heard.”  

Also, the album includes Fly Like an Eagle with guitarist Bill Frisell and Joy to the World, with Silver and Trombone Shorty singing. Other artists taking part included trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and Latin percussionist Pedrito Martinez. 

“We all poured our hearts and souls into it. It took us four years to record it,” she said.

“The Grammys was such an incredible experience,” she added. “I was welcomed and treated like part of the family. I am very fortunate to have received a seat at their table.” 

What’s next for Deborah Silver? “Let’s just say that I still have quite a few surprises up my sleeve,” she said. “I am forever pushing creative boundaries. I’ve never been comfortable inside the box. I don’t follow lanes. I build them. And tradition inspires me, but it doesn’t confine me.” 

— Christine Davis

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

A. I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and was raised with strong Southern values — kindness, hard work, faith and community. Being surrounded by genuine people shaped who I am. My early schooling was in Jackson, and I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, working hard for my perfect straight-A grades. My upbringing gave me resilience and heart. It taught me to appreciate where I come from, stay grounded no matter how far I travel, and always use my voice — not just to sing, but to uplift others. Those roots still guide everything I do.

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

A. I’ve worn many hats over the years — performer, spokesperson, actor, recording artist, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. My journey in entertainment spans decades, from early performance work to returning to music later in life with renewed purpose. Following life-changing complications from a pregnancy that left me unable to walk, my career was put on hold. Professionally, I’m most proud of staying the course — rebuilding my career after taking time off to raise my family and ultimately earning a Grammy nomination with my latest album, Basie Rocks! My return to music is living proof that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

My greatest purpose in music is helping others. Giving back is at the heart of everything I do, supporting various causes from helping cure neurological diseases to having a portion of the proceeds from Basie Rocks! go to the Jazz Foundation of America. I strongly believe those recognized in our industry have a responsibility to give back. Awards are special, but being able to help others is most meaningful to me.

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

A. Follow what lights you up — but pair passion with perseverance. Careers aren’t always straight lines, and success rarely happens overnight. Be willing to work hard and keep learning. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, but most importantly trust your own instincts. Don’t be afraid to take risks and don’t ever let anyone discourage you. Choose something that allows you to make a difference in this world, because fulfillment comes not just from what you achieve, but from how you help others along the way.

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

A. I love the beach and always wanted to live by the ocean. In my previous neighborhood, while walking my two dogs, we were suddenly surrounded by several large, ferocious dogs. I had to pull both of my dogs out of the other dogs’ mouths. I never wanted to go through that again. I came up with the idea I need to be at the beach. If I walk my dogs on the sand and see another dog running toward us, I could jump into the water with my dogs.

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

A. The ocean gives me peace, perspective and creative inspiration. I love it outside every second of the day!

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

A. This may sound funny, but everyone who knows me knows I rarely take time to truly relax — I try to put every waking moment to good use and purpose. When I do have downtime, I usually let others choose the music, especially my husband, who has a wonderfully eclectic taste, from the Great American Songbook to country. But when I’m alone, many times I don’t listen to music at all. Since music is such a big part of my daily life and work, I sometimes need quiet — it helps me focus on what I am working on so I can give my best to everything I do.

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

A. My daddy taught us many wonderful quotes growing up, but my favorite is one from Winston Churchill that echoes through our entire family as we continue to fight for a cure for my sister’s ALS: “Never, never, never give up.” It’s become our family mantra and keeps us hopeful no matter how hard the journey.

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

A. My greatest mentors and supporters are my family including my parents, my two sisters, my husband and my children who have always stood with me, offering honest opinions, which I truly value and trust.

Professionally, my mentors include the legendary arranger Charlie Calello, and my beloved friend and “stage mom,” Florida’s first lady of musical theater, the incomparable, late Jan McArt. Jan was the one who brought me back to the stage after a long time away from my career, and I will always be grateful for her belief in me.

Q. What’s your favorite cause and why?

A. I work diligently to support many causes, but ALS and neurological disease are especially personal to me. My sister was diagnosed 18 years ago, and walking alongside her through that journey changed me forever. It opened my eyes to how important research, awareness and compassionate care truly are. I’m also passionate about supporting fellow musicians through the Jazz Foundation of America. Giving back is at the heart of everything I do; using my concerts and recordings to help others is the most important part of my music. 

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

A. That’s a tough one, but I’d probably say Reese Witherspoon or Sandra Bullock. They both have strength, heart, and that perfect blend of grit and grace. I think they’d understand the resilience and the feeling of chasing dreams later in life — and hopefully they’d let me do the singing parts myself!

DELRAY BEACH — Devoted family man Leon Oliver Surles Sr. died Feb. 4. He was 72.

Mr. Surles was born in West Palm Beach to Mina Surles and Leonard L. Surles Sr. and was a lifelong resident of Delray Beach, where his family’s roots extend back generations. From an early age, Leon learned the values of faith, hard work and devotion to family — principles that guided him throughout his life.

Mr. Surles graduated from Seacrest High School in Delray Beach in 1971. Following graduation, he joined the family business — Surles Delray Rug Company — founded by his father in 1939. Leon took great pride in continuing the work his father began, helping carry forward a family legacy that remains in operation today.

Mr. Surles was a devoted husband, a present and loving father, and a proud grandfather who put his family first in all things. He loved God with his whole heart and followed him faithfully, teaching his family about God’s love through both words and example. To his grandchildren, he was lovingly known as “Pee Paw,” a name that reflected the warmth, love and joy he brought into their lives. 

Mr. Surles is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Lisa B. Surles; his brothers, Leonard L. Surles Jr. and Ernest M. Surles; his children, Carrie Surles Hutchinson (husband, Rick Hutchinson) and Leon Oliver Surles Jr. (wife, Cindy Surles); his grandchildren, Halee Buskirk, James Webb, Kyle Surles, Ryan W. Surles, Dylan Surles and Leon Surles III; and his great-grandchildren, Luna Surles and Ryan R. Surles. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandson, Luke Webb.

A celebration of life service was held in February. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Church of Sherbrooke, 8657 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33467.

— Submitted by the family

GULF STREAM — Longtime resident Georgie Williams Lewis died here Feb. 26. She was 103.

Born in 1922, she started coming to the area as a child in the 1920s and 1930s, when her parents, Eugene F. Williams and Marie Wight Williams of St. Louis, had a house on North Ocean Boulevard.

She was an active member of the Gulf Stream Golf Club, the Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis Club and the Little Club at Gulf Stream.

Her passions included traveling, socializing, golf and bridge. Her philanthropic endeavors embraced education, the arts and youth services. 

She is survived by several children and stepchildren and members of the families of her late brother and sister, Eugene F. Williams Jr. of St. Louis and Mamie Williams von Gontard of Greenwich, Connecticut.

— Submitted by the family

The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the 64th Delray Affair from April 10 to 12. Last year’s event (above) attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

Discover the Palm Beaches, the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, recently announced record-breaking 2025 visitor numbers.

According to its data, Palm Beach County welcomed more than 10.7 million visitors in 2025, surpassing the 9.9 million in 2024 and representing an 8% increase. 

Those visitors made a big impact on the economy. Preliminary figures show visitors spent $7.7 billion in 2025, up from $7.2 billion in 2024, and the 2025 total economic impact is about $11.7 billion, up from $10.5 billion in 2024. 

The gains came from marketing to new domestic travel markets, targeted efforts to bring in new groups and meetings, and stronger events, Discover the Palm Beaches reported. 

Offering some examples, spokeswoman Angela Cruz Ledford said that targeting emerging markets in Texas, especially in Houston and Dallas, paid off. Visitors from those cities “grew more than 20%. That’s huge, a massive jump in the tourism world,” she said.

“Traditionally, Texas residents like going to the Florida Panhandle. So, we ran marketing campaigns, like advertising and social media boosting, and we also [went to the target markets and] did interactive, fun events with travel writers, social media influencers, meeting planners, tour operators and travel agents, inviting them to explore why our destination is worth visiting. We did so many of these that we’ve seen a dramatic increase.” 

Based on JetBlue’s addition of nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Palm Beach International Airport, Discover the Palm Beaches is also focusing on Los Angeles as an emerging target, Ledford said.

 She also noted the Eudemonia Summit, a new wellness tech expo held at the Convention Center in November 2024 and 2025. 

“The first year, we sold 2,700 tickets and last year, we sold out,” she said. “That was 5,000 tickets. And these are high spenders because tickets cost $3,000. When they come for an event like this, they infuse their dollars into the local market.” 

Sister agencies also delivered results. The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County reported its 2025 grantees reached more than 3 million people.

The council also reported that Palm Beach County’s cultural activities generate more than $335.3 million a year. The Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission reported that production in 2025 generated more than $260 million in revenue, marking four consecutive years of record-breaking growth, a 3% increase over 2024. 

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission reported that about 1.6 million people attended 227 sport-related events last year, generating $496 million in visitor spending and filling more than 462,000 hotel rooms.

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The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the 64th edition of the Delray Affair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 10–11 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 12.

 Spanning seven city blocks of Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach, the free, open-air festival will showcase the work of more than 400 artists and crafters from across the country, plus demonstrations, workshops and interactive experiences. 

The Delray Affair, which traces its origins to the 1940s and 1950s as the Delray Beach Gladiola Festival, generates an economic impact of $3.4 million and usually attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year.

 The festival has garnered local, regional and national awards, and most recently, it was named the 2025 People’s Choice “evAward” winner for Best Art Show, determined by public nomination and popular vote. Launched in November, the evAwards recognize standout events nationally.

 For more information about the festival, visit delrayaffair.com.

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Holiday House Wellington, a philanthropic designer showhouse, is hosting special events and gatherings in support of breast cancer research. It features a roster of interior designers who have each created a unique space across two neighboring residences in Farrell Estates Wellington, a new development within the Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club. 

Among the two dozen designers participating, two are based in Boca Raton and Delray Beach: Wendy Lynn Interiors and Nikki Levy Interiors. The showhouse is open by appointment from April 6 through May 3. Tickets are available only online and must be purchased at least one day in advance. To purchase tickets, visit holidayhouse.ticketspice.com/holiday-house-wellington-2026.

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The Boca Eddie Land Trust, tied to actor and comedian Kevin James, paid $17.15 million for a new six-bedroom, 12,301-total-square-foot home on Sabal Palm Drive, in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. The sellers were Peter Ciregna along with Marco Capoccia and Maria Cervi-Capoccia, both from Primo Construction, and John Lombard. The home on the golf course includes a first-floor primary suite, clubroom, office, gourmet kitchen, catering kitchen and gym. Jackie Feldman with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty represented the sellers, while Jason Matouk with Douglas Elliman represented the buyer. James is best known for his roles in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups, The King of Queens, and Home Team.

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Three other properties also sold recently in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. The waterfront home at 298 W. Key Palm Road, with six bedrooms and 15,813 total square feet, sold for $21 million. The seller, attorney Philipp Kirschbaum, bought the property for $22.6 million in June 2023. The buyer is listed as Thomas U. Graner, trustee of the Coastal Property Land Trust. David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented both sides in the deal. 

The 207 W. Coconut Palm Road Land Trust, with Matthew M. Epstein as trustee, sold the 9,280-square-foot waterfront home at 207 W. Coconut Palm Road for $18 million. The buyer was the 207 Coconut Palm Trust, with Chicago-based attorney Michael Passananti as trustee. Epstein bought the property in 2021 for $5.64 million. Nick Malinosky of Douglas Elliman was the listing agent, while William Volpe of Serhant represented the buyer. 

Also, Frank and Lea Ann LoBello sold their six-bedroom, 7,628-square-foot waterfront home at 252 S. Maya Palm Drive for $11.4 million. The buyer is 252 South Maya Palm Drive Trust, with Shawn C. Snyder as trustee. The LoBellos bought their home in 2012 for $3.825 million. David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the buyer and seller in the deal.

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Glass House Boca Raton, developed by 280 E Palmetto Park Road LLC, received $70 million in construction financing from the New York-based Maxim Capital Group. 280 E Palmetto Park Road LLC is a partnership of Noam Ziv, who leads Red-C Group in Boca Raton, and Ilan and Ido Zaken, with Mira Properties in Philadelphia. 

Vertical construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year, with completion slated for late 2027. Arrow Real Estate Advisors’ Morris Betesh, Morris Dabbah and Louis Halperin helped secure the loan. The nine-story, 28-residence condo was designed by West Palm Beach-based Garcia Stromberg, with Delray Beach-based Kaufman Lynn Construction as general contractor. Units will range from 2,500 to 3,900 square feet, priced from $2.7 million to more than $8 million, with Douglas Elliman leading sales. 

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Christine D. Roberts, founder and CEO of the accounting and bookkeeping firm Intention Enterprises, was recently appointed to the Palm Beach County Small Business Development Advisory Board. 

Previously, Roberts served on the Office of Equal Business Opportunity advisory committee, helping expand opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses across the county.

Roberts holds leadership roles with the Palm Beach County Small Business Association, the Equity Entrepreneur Center and the Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry & Commerce. She is also the author of Wealth Whispers and founder of a nonprofit scholarship fund.

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Delray Beach resident Faye Weisberg has joined Premier Estate Properties as a broker associate at the Delray Beach office. With nearly three decades of experience in luxury real estate, she has closed high-end sales in both the Hamptons and Palm Beach County.

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French Florist has opened its first Florida location at 5601 N. Federal Highway, Suite 9, Boca Raton. A national brand, this local franchise is owned by Samantha and Ryan Garvey. 

Samantha was raised in Los Angeles with family roots tied to a greenhouse in east Texas. While Ryan’s background is in finance and mortgage lending, he also has a personal connection to floristry. His grandfather worked in a floral shop in Baltimore and later helped manage the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.  

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The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority and the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament launched the “Love at First Sight” storefront competition this year. 

Downtown Delray Beach businesses were invited to create tennis-inspired window displays using the tournament’s aqua-and-yellow color palette and romantic motifs tied to the event’s Valentine’s Day timing. 

After three weeks and hundreds of community votes, Nine Line Apparel, 530 E. Atlantic Ave., was crowned the People’s Choice Champion and received a cash prize presented live on stadium court on Feb. 18 during the 2026 Delray Beach Open. Beach Gossip, 331 E. Atlantic Avenue, finished a close second. 

With more than 60,000 fans attending the men’s professional tournament and broadcast exposure in more than 185 countries, the competition gave local retailers a high-visibility way to align with one of the city’s signature events.

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German Cabieses, general manager at Alina Residences Boca Raton, recently received the 2025 President’s Award from FirstService Residential, an honor that recognized his leadership across the company’s South Region portfolio. FirstService Residential manages more than 500 high-rise communities and 1,500 associations serving communities across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. The award was presented Feb. 5 at FirstService Residential’s third annual South Region Awards virtual event.

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On Feb. 25, iPIC Theaters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but announced that it will continue operating while pursuing a court-supervised process to restructure and maximize value for all creditors.

 The company on Feb. 26 notified employees of planned layoffs effective April 28, 2026. These included 51 employees at its Delray Beach theater, 25 SE Fourth Ave., and 98 staff members at its Boca Raton corporate office, 433 Plaza Real, Suite 355.

Christine Davis writes business news and can be reached at cdavis9797@gmail.com.

By Mary Hladky

New Boca Raton City Manager Mark Sohaney has revamped the city’s leadership in a massive executive-team shake-out.

Gone are Police Chief Michele Miuccio and Deputy City Managers Chrissy Gibson and Jorge Camejo, the city announced on March 12.

The city has since launched a national search for a new police chief.

“We are looking for a leader who understands the importance of service, community accountability, and relationships, and who can help guide the department into the future,” Sohaney said in a March 24 statement.

The position was to be posted through the beginning of April. Assistant Police Chief Elizabeth Roberts has been appointed acting police chief and will be involved in the hiring process.

But the 20-year department veteran is not expected to stay with the city for long. She has received a conditional offer for a new professional opportunity, city officials said.

Miuccio joined the Police Department 37 years ago and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief and then police chief in 2020.

Most recently, Miuccio had pressed for a new police headquarters to replace the current facility, which is old and in poor condition.

Voters in the March 10 city election voted down financing a new police campus on city-owned land at the intersection of Spanish River and Broken Sound boulevards. The new buildings, which also would have included a firing range and a building to store evidence, would have cost as much as $190 million.

Gibson is a longtime employee who served as assistant city manager until her promotion in 2024. She oversaw the office of city clerk, emergency management, sustainability, public art, and communications and marketing.

Camejo is the city’s former Community Redevelopment Agency director who left to head up Hollywood’s CRA before returning to the city as a deputy city manager last year. His focus was on Boca Raton’s CRA.

He will still be involved in  planning for the city. A day after the firings were announced, Camejo applied for a seat on the Planning & Zoning Board. The City Council approved his appointment at its March 24 meeting.

In brief remarks, he told the council that he thought his background and experience in development and redevelopment would be helpful to the board.

Sohaney’s announcement did not say why the three were pushed out. But it said that the city has conducted a review of its leadership structure over the past five months “to ensure it aligns with operational needs and long-term priorities.”

“These changes are being implemented as part of this strategic realignment to ensure continuity of service, maintain public safety, and position the city to move forward with a strong and effective leadership team,” the city statement said.

Sohaney joined the city in September, replacing City Manager George Brown, who retired. 

A couple poses for engagement photos at South Inlet Park in Boca Raton late last month. The restoration has raised the beach by about 6 feet, the city says. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

The 12-foot sand cliffs at South Inlet Park are now a distant memory.

Severe beach erosion in mid-February was the result of cold weather fronts and powerful tides.

The city’s dredge boat crew was able to begin correcting the problem almost immediately.

A sand bypassing operation has placed more than 14,000 cubic yards of sand on the beach south of the Boca Inlet since Feb. 17, city officials said in late March.

The elevation of sand surface has been raised by about 6 feet from the jetty to nearly 100 feet south.

The boulders that make up the jetty now are nearly completely covered.

The sand bypassing operation runs three or four days a week, and averages placing about 1,000 cubic yards of sand each day.

Access to the jetty and the adjacent beach area has been fully restored. 

Bypassed sand will gradually work its way south, building up berm width and height on South Inlet Park beach.

The city is coordinating with Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to safeguard turtles through the turtle nesting season.

Grading of bypassed sand to build up the beach berm near the dune and jetty will be considered when it can be done without any negative effect on turtle nesting, city officials said.

Boca Raton routinely nourishes its south beach every seven years, rotating the work with projects on its central and north beaches.

In April 2023, the city completed the sixth renourishment project of the shoreline adjacent to South Inlet Park.

Sand placement started at South Inlet Park and continued south to Deerfield Beach and Hillsboro Beach.

The 1.4-mile project was the first collaborative project among the three cities.

Boca Raton received a “Best Restored Beach Award” from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association for that work.

The three cities saved money on renourishment projects that they had conducted independently in the past. They used about 370,000 cubic yards of sand dredged from the ebb shoal just south of the Boca Raton Inlet. 

By Steve Plunkett 

A Boca Raton man has been acquitted of trying to strangle and hold his girlfriend underwater at the 2022 Boca Bash.

Cole Goldberg, then 23, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, domestic battery by strangulation and simple battery in the April 24, 2022, incident as hundreds of boats gathered for the Lake Boca Raton party held each year on the last Sunday in April.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge John Parnofiello found Goldberg not guilty of all three charges on March 12 after a three-day non-jury trial.

At the time of the arrest, witnesses said Goldberg and girlfriend Caroline Schwitzky, then 32, got into a heated argument before she jumped into the water to get away and he followed.

Goldberg, one witness said, “came up from behind her and grabbed her by the neck and pushed her underwater. He held her underwater and (another witness) pulled her away from him,” the arrest report said.

But inconsistencies in witnesses’ recollections at the trial troubled Parnofiello. One said Schwitzky was underwater 4 seconds, another said 10 to 15 seconds and a third “could not give a specific time,” the judge said. Two others could also not provide a time. A sixth witness said she was underwater “5, 6, maybe 10 seconds” and Schwitzky herself said she was submerged “30, 40 or 50 seconds,” Parnofiello said.

The witnesses also differed on whether Goldberg tried to hold Schwitzky underwater more than once, the judge said. And Schwitzky testified that “she was thrown around like a rag doll back and forth,” but there was no evidence of injuries consistent with such a violent manner, Parnofiello said.

Schwitzky had told the arresting officers that she and Goldberg had been dating for about a year. Schwitzky played a modeling agent in 2016 in the reality show 90-Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? on cable channel TLC. 

L-R: Police Officer of the Year George Reid, Paramedic of the Year Kyle Pavelka, Firefighter of the Year Ray Charafardin, and Tyrone Powell. Powell, a Highland Beach maintenance mechanic, is the town’s inaugural Employee of the Year award winner. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star 

By Rich Pollack

Officially, Tyrone Powell’s title is utility maintenance mechanic for the town of Highland Beach. 

Those familiar with Powell’s work, however, know that the better moniker would be “go-to guy,” since the Public Works employee is called on to do everything from emptying trash cans on the beach to fixing a leaky faucet or replacing a water meter. 

Now, after 10 years in Highland Beach, Powell has earned yet another title: Employee of the Year. 

Recognized for his teamwork and easygoing demeanor, Powell is the inaugural winner of the Employee of the Year award for employees not in the fire or police department. 

At a March ceremony, the town also honored Police Officer of the Year George Reid, Firefighter of the Year Ray Charafardin and Paramedic of the Year Kyle Pavelka. 

Town leaders say Powell’s commitment to the town and strong work ethic helped him earn unanimous support for the award from department heads. 

“Tyrone is always willing to help anyone at any time,” says Public Works Director Pat Roman, Powell’s supervisor. “He’s always smiling and never raises his voice. He’s just a pleasant guy to be around.” 

Originally from Jamaica, Powell has been in the United States for 40 years, working first in the New York area, where he did the same type of maintenance work he does for Highland Beach. 

He honed a variety of the skills he uses every day while growing up on the island. 

“When you’re in Jamaica you learn to do everything,” he said. 

Part of his job includes driving a cart down the beach Monday, Wednesday and Friday to empty trash cans, and over the last decade he’s gotten to say hello to many of the town’s residents. 

Being outside is where he prefers to be. 

“I don’t like office work,” he says. 

Powell, 69, says his job in Highland Beach is the best one he’s ever had, in part because the town’s leadership just lets him do his job. 

He is grateful for the Employee of the Year recognition and says it is the first time he’s work at a place that offers such an award. 

As for the future, Powell says he’s not thinking about retiring anytime soon. 

“I enjoy what I do here so I don’t see any reason to retire,” he said. 

Officer of the Year 

You would think that motorists would be unhappy when they get traffic tickets, but when the citations come from Officer George Reid, quite a few folks end up thanking him. 

In fact, a couple have even written letters to town leaders expressing their gratitude for the way Reid handled the traffic stops. 

“People love him,” Police Chief Craig Hartmann said. 

Reid’s determination to help make the town safer by encouraging compliance with traffic laws — and the way he handled a life-threatening situation — were key reasons why he was selected Officer of the Year. 

He led the department in several categories including traffic stops, citations, warnings, criminal violations and arrests. 

Reid also helped subdue and arrest a machete-wielding man who tussled with officers and was able to pull Reid’s weapon partially out of the holster and pull the trigger.

Firefighter of the Year

Harnessing the latest technology is crucial to the success of any fire rescue department and in Highland Beach, firefighter Ray Charafardin is playing an important role in helping get that technology up and running.  

“Ray helped implement technology that improves the quality of care and the implementation of that care,” Fire Rescue Chief Glenn Joseph said. 

Charafardin led the initiative to update the department’s reporting system, transferring information from the old system to the new one over a six-month period. 

He also helped with setting up the new EPOCH mobile laboratory system that makes it possible for paramedics to better diagnose medical conditions while with the patient. 

In addition, Charafardin helped with implementation of a mobile app that enables paramedics to navigate the protocols for specific patient conditions. 

Last year, Charafardin was named Paramedic of the Year.

Paramedic of the Year

In an emergency, having the right equipment — and knowing where it is — is essential for first responders. Paramedic Kyle Pavelka is making sure that’s what’s happening at Highland Beach Fire Rescue.

Pavelka volunteered to write two grants for additional equipment that the department needed, with one of those grants resulting in needed funding and the other still pending. 

He also took the initiative to make sure the equipment was easily accessible to firefighters and paramedics if and when they need it. 

“He completely redid the way we store and access equipment on the truck,” Joseph said. 

The chief said that Pavelka is there to help others in the department — including firefighters and paramedics — improve through training programs. He also focuses on his own training. 

“He’s very committed to improving his skills,” the chief said. 

By Rich Pollack

The 3.3-mile State Road A1A road improvement project in Highland Beach — which came in with a roar — is going out with a whimper as crews finalize the project that’s more than six months behind schedule and almost $1 million over budget. 

Florida Department of Transportation officials say that the resurfacing project with an original price tag of $8.3 million will cost about $950,000 more. 

In addition, state officials say that the original completion date of late summer 2025 has now been pushed back to sometime this spring, although much of the work remaining is part of a “punch-out list” with minimal disruption to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. 

Weather, according to an FDOT spokesperson, played a factor in the delays as did design revisions identified during construction that needed to be implemented. 

A significant contributing factor has been the need to raise and shift the roadway profile to tie into existing driveways and adjacent areas while making sure the work was following the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

“This effort introduced unforeseen challenges and contributed to the extended construction delays. These adjustments required additional coordination, redesign, and construction effort, ultimately contributing to schedule impacts and cost overruns,” the FDOT said in an email to The Coastal Star.

Also contributing were additional improvements such as an enhanced drainage system, pavement strengthening and roadway profile adjustments designed to improve the long-term performance of the highway, the email said. 

Those improvements were identified during the project. 

While the continued work is not having much impact on motorists, it is creating an issue for Highland Beach town officials who say they are waiting for the FDOT to complete the project before they can begin a massive sewer lining project along A1A.

Once it begins, that project is expected to be completed within a few months. 

The proposed Mizner Plaza has two stories of retail and restaurants below a 219-room hotel. The staircase between towers aligns with Mizner Park. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton’s Community Redevelopment Agency has approved a 12-story hotel and retail project directly south of Mizner Park.

The project received the go-ahead on March 23 with a 4-1 vote of agency commissioners, who also are City Council members.

Only then-CRA Chair Marc Wigder, who was defeated in his bid for reelection in the March 10 election, voted against the project.

Acknowledging the election results that swept three Save Boca members into office, Wigder unsuccessfully proposed a vote postponement until after new council members took office on March 31.

James and Marta Batmasian, the largest commercial property owners in the downtown, first proposed Mizner Plaza in 2023, but did not move forward with it at the time.

They revived it last year after making minor revisions and abandoning a request to buy a very small city-owned lot that is now used for parking.

Like all downtown development efforts, the project is controversial. Condo owners in Tower 155, located immediately south of the project site, were the strongest opponents.

The new Mizner Plaza would have two towers with retail and restaurants on the first two stories and a 219-room hotel above them. A 56-foot-wide and 20-foot-tall staircase would separate the towers and would align with the plaza in Mizner Park. Parking would be on two levels underground.

The staircase is intended to be a key feature that would be a gathering spot. But elevators and a pedestrian ramp also would be available.

A 10-foot alley on the south side of the project site would be expanded to 20 feet to accommodate two-way traffic.

To make way for the project, two one-story buildings — at 132 and 170 NE Second St. — and the downtown post office would be demolished.

Tower 155 residents derided the buildings as too big and too close to their building, creating a cramped effect. But Tower 155 also had strong detractors at the time it was proposed, largely because of its size and its tight fit on its lot.

Project attorney Ele Zachariades pushed back against criticism that Mizner Plaza and Tower 155 would be too close together, saying the building setback from Tower 155 had been expanded to 54 feet even though the city said no setback is needed.

The alley between the two buildings drew much criticism, with Tower 155 residents saying that it would be too narrow even after it is expanded to 20 feet to accommodate two-way traffic. They also feared it would be clogged during the day by service vehicles and delivery trucks.

“Just because a developer wants a big hotel doesn’t mean he should get one,” said Jeanette Oren, adding that the proximity of the two buildings would create “concrete canyons.”

But the project also drew supporters. They liked the fact that the staircase would be lined up with Mizner Park, which would encourage pedestrians to walk to restaurants and shops at both locations.

The addition of restaurants and shops also makes the area more of a true downtown, they said.

“I think it is a beautiful looking building,” said Stephen Newman. “I think it will add a lot to the downtown area.”

“This project is instrumental to the future of the city. It will change everything,” said Scott Kerner.

Marta Batmasian also defended the project. “It is incredibly beautiful,” she said. 

Speaking for herself and her husband, she said, “We are doing this for my grandchildren and you have to respect that.”

A council majority agreed the building’s architectural design is beautiful.

“It is a forward-looking design,” said then-Mayor Scott Singer.

Council member Yvette Drucker, who was not up for reelection this year, and then-Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas liked the project’s connection to Mizner Park and said it would add life to the downtown.

Then-Council member and now-Mayor Andy Thomson said property owners can’t legally be denied the right to build just because some think a building is too big — as long as the owners adhere to city ordinances.