New fluoride law forces city to change direction — Delray Beach City Manager Terrence Moore told city commissioners at their May 20 meeting that the city is preparing to halt the fluoridation of its water supply by July 1 following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing of a bill prohibiting the additive.

The Florida Legislature passed SB 700 after the DeSantis administration used data that it said showed an impact on cognitive function for children who drank water with fluoride. Those studies, however, were from India, where the concentration of fluoride was much higher than that used in the United States.

DeSantis dispatched Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to try to convince municipalities to ban fluoride earlier this year. But after hearing from dentists in February, the Delray Beach City Commission voted 3-2 to continue the practice of adding fluoride to the city’s water supply.

However, with the new law, the state has preempted self-rule for municipalities on the issue, joining Utah in banning the additive.

Moore told commissioners the city will save $100,000 in capital equipment costs related to fluoride treatment and another $100,000 in annual cost savings.

Proponents of fluoridation of the public water supply — a decades-long practice — have long argued that fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. 

New driver’s license policy emerges after train-fire truck collision — One of the consequences of a Delray Beach fire truck’s collision with a Brightline train on Dec. 28 was the revelation that 10 of the city’s Fire Rescue employees had allowed their driver’s licenses to lapse in recent years.

Under a new policy, employees who operate city vehicles or receive car allowances must sign a consent form for continuous license monitoring, City Manager Terrence Moore told the City Commission in his May 15 information letter. Human Resources will be responsible for maintaining and supporting all related sensitive information.

The firefighter at the wheel of the December crash — David Wyatt — had his license suspended for a period in 2023 when he failed to attend a mandated class after he ran his vehicle into a tree on an Atlantic Avenue median. 

In the train crash, Brightline video shows the aerial fire truck Wyatt was driving going around lowered train crossing gates before being struck. Wyatt has since been fired. 

The suspended driver’s licenses among Fire Rescue employees led briefly to the paid suspensions of Assistant Chief Kevin Green and Division Chief Todd Lynch before an independent investigation found that city policy was really to blame.

— John Pacenti

By John Pacenti

The Delray Beach City Commission is reeling as a leaked document, social media outrage, and defiant statements followed the revelation that a whistleblower complaint had been filed over the potential strong-arming of a new city director over a code violation at a popular restaurant.

The whistleblower complaint remains sealed while an independent investigation is conducted, but a redacted page from it, under the subject “Code Enforcement Concerns,” has been leaked to The Coastal Star.

Trouble in the Code Enforcement Division first surfaced in October when an officer was arrested and charged with shaking down a resident selling ribs out of his home — the case remains open, though state prosecutors so far have declined to file charges.

Then it came to light that a supervisor had liens removed from a home she owned after resolving long-standing code violations—without alerting city officials that it was her property. The supervisor resigned in February.

An investigation by the city’s Human Resources Department didn’t look at the arrest of the officer or the allegations of conflict of interest by the supervisor until Commissioner Juli Casale insisted.

Whatever problems were lurking in Code Enforcement were supposed to be excised by the hiring of Jeri Pryor as the director of Neighborhood and Community Services, who oversees the division.

Leaked document

But now it is Pryor who has filed the whistleblower complaint in the form of an email to City Attorney Lynn Gelin, sources say. 

The City Commission at a special meeting on April 29 instructed Gelin to retain a private firm to investigate the whistleblower allegations. Gelin told commissioners the allegations are exempt from public disclosure and that no one should be talking about the matter while it is under investigation.

Vice Mayor Rob Long recused himself from the discussion and vote on hiring an outside firm to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, but he did not elaborate at that time on the reason for his decision.

The redacted email that was leaked does not show Pryor’s name but is from a city director — overseeing code issues — who started Jan. 21. That’s the same date that Pryor was to begin her new position, according to City Manager Terrence Moore’s Jan. 10 Commission Information Letter about her hiring. 

“I regret to inform you that I am sending this email to address conflicting directions I have received,” the whistleblower writes in the email to Gelin dated April 29. When contacted for comment by The Coastal Star, Pryor deferred any questions to a city spokeswoman. 

In the email, Pryor said she took the job that oversees the Code Enforcement Division “despite the division’s unfavorable public history.” 

Moore, according to the email, called her on Feb. 20 to talk about a local restaurant, Dada, which had been issued a violation for using an A-frame sign for its valet services. Pryor said she told Moore that code enforcement officers were cracking down on all businesses that were using the A-frame signs, which are not allowed.

Dada is a restaurant owned by Rodney Mayo and has been a mainstay of downtown for nearly a quarter century. His Subculture coffee shop on Federal Highway has also been the subject of much discussion by commissioners regarding alleged code violations. It was a topic in a heated commission workshop, also held on April 29.

Though Long’s name does not appear in the unredacted portion of the email that was leaked, he has issued a statement — in response to The Coastal Star questions — that he was on the Feb. 20 phone call with the city manager and the employee.

After a five-line redaction in the leaked email that comes as the phone call is being mentioned, the whistleblower wrote to Gelin: “I am only doing what I was told to do and it sounded like selective enforcement and I won’t do that.”

Moore then told her to “be more educational and not automatically issue notice of violations,” according to the email.

Long’s statement

Long’s statement to The Coastal Star said an accusation contained in the whistleblower complaint — one that is not visible on the redacted page — that he threatened the job of the employee with the phrase “if you want to stay here” is false. 

“To be clear: I have never — and would never — threaten a city employee or direct staff outside of the City Manager or City Attorney, and only then as part of commission consensus,” he wrote. “I remain committed to integrity, transparency, and serving the people of Delray Beach.”

Long said the call in question was initiated by Moore while he was meeting with the city manager in person.

“I was completely caught off guard by the accusation, which was made over two months after the referenced conversation,” he said.

Long said the complaint has been “weaponized” with details — exempt from public disclosure — made available to the media.

“The whistleblower process exists to protect people from retaliation when serious wrongdoing occurs — not to be used as a vehicle for malicious attacks cloaked in confidentiality,” Long said. “Undermining that process threatens its credibility when it truly matters.”

Mayo, in an interview, said that his businesses are caught in the political crossfire. “This whole thing has absolutely nothing to do with Subculture, right? We are caught in the middle,” he said.

The perception, Mayo said, that he and Long are best friends and “doing all this bad stuff” is false. He said commissioners Long and Angela Burns responded to his efforts to reach out to the city to solve any code issues with the coffee shop. “Obviously, I met with Rob. I met with Angela right away,” Mayo said. 

Mayor Tom Carney, at the April 29 workshop, accused the staff of “subverting the will” of the consensus of the commission when it came to Subculture. The mayor said staff was directed in January to come back to the commission, but instead instituted a new occupational use for the establishment.

Previous complaint

Though never officially named by the city as the whistleblower, Pryor has been the subject of social media posts after the announcement by Carney that the complaint had been filed.

A 2024 newspaper article surfaced about Pryor when she was working as chief of staff for Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Warren Sturman. She filed a complaint against Commissioner Steve Glassman there for using an expletive in her presence on Jan. 9, 2024, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Sturman told the outside investigator that Pryor used stationery with his letterhead — on which she wrote her complaint — without his permission. Pryor accused Glassman of “violent, hostile and aggressive behavior.”

The investigator ended up recommending that the Fort Lauderdale City Commission adopt a code of conduct, concluding that Glassman’s comments did not constitute harassment or bullying.

Delray Beach social media erupted over the posting of that story. 

“I’m deeply concerned that someone is trying to expose and discredit the whistleblower in the matter involving a Delray Beach City Commissioner — before any investigation has even started,” Ingrid Lee, administrator of the Facebook group Delray Matters, posted.

“It suggests someone in power is trying to shut this down before the truth comes out.”

Reaction to leak

The leaked confidential document took center stage during the commissioners’ statements at their May 6 regular meeting. 

Commissioner Tom Markert suggested using a polygraph to determine who on the dais or immediate staff leaked the document to The Coastal Star. “When we have material breaches like this, we need to get to the bottom of it — however we have to do it,” he said.

Burns said the “breach, in my opinion, was not an accident. It was willful, premeditated and intended to cause harm. It was the equivalent of placing individuals before a firing squad.”

Casale said that the leaked document had additional redactions and asked for an investigation by the city attorney. “So someone took it, altered it, and sent it out to people with the sole purpose of impacting the whistleblower,” she said. “I am absolutely shocked.”

Casale said the additional redactions were “pretty telling.”

Long felt Casale was saying he was behind the leak and pointed the finger back at his political rival. “You see in the press who has lots of quotes about things we are not supposed to talk about,” he said.

Casale shot back, “If I leaked it I wouldn’t have taken your name out of it.” There was further sniping between the rivals at the May 20 meeting over who leaked the complaint.

In a May 15 memo to the commission, Gelin said her staff ran an email search and determined the whistleblower email was “forwarded” by Carney, Deputy Vice Mayor Burns and Moore. The memo does not say to whom they forwarded the email.

Gelin said her staff could not determine who disseminated the redacted version of the complaint that deleted the reference to Long on the city’s computer server. 

By Steve Plunkett

Briny Breezes will borrow an extra $500,000 to kick-start the modernization of its drainage system.

Town Manager Bill Thrasher at first proposed getting a $2.5 million loan to cover the costs of the town’s ambitious project to upgrade its drainage system and raise its sea walls.

“This budget is anticipating a $3 million loan,” he told Town Council members on May 22.

Why the higher number? “Because of some costs involved with loan processing and some legal hoops that we have to jump through,” he said.

Thrasher had already alerted the aldermen of his plan to raise the town’s property tax rate by 80%, from $3.75 per $1,000 of taxable value to $6.75, to build reserves to pay back the money.

“We can handle a $3 million loan,” he said.

In the fiscal year 2026 budget, which begins Oct. 1, Thrasher said he anticipates using money already earmarked by the Resilient Florida program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay for permitting and design of the drainage work.

The estimated construction cost is $3.3 million. He will use almost $1.4 million from FEMA, nearly $1.7 million from the state program and $268,266 from town reserves.

While some residents have wondered whether the town can delay doing the projects if circumstances change, Thrasher assured the council that he did not consider that an option.

“I want everybody to know that I have no intention whatsoever to shelve this project,” he said.

Thrasher has repeatedly said he plans to obtain other grants and accept donations to keep the cost to residents minimal.

Aldermen were scheduled to authorize Mayor Ted Gross to sign agreements to hire a bond counsel, accept the Resilient Florida grant and direct Engenuity Group to create construction drawings. But action on those items was postponed until the council’s June 26 meeting.

Also postponed was a discussion of resurrecting the town’s website. 

GULF STREAM — Michael M. Mullin III died on April 26 at his home in Florida.

Mr. Mullin, or “Moon” as he was known to those who loved him, was born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, in 1939.  He grew up in the shadow of the Westside Tennis Club and was a ballboy at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship when it was still held at the club. Michael had a penchant for all racket sports and was well known in New York City as a junior tennis champion. 

Mr. Mullin graduated from the University of Heidelberg while serving in the U.S. Air Force. 

In 1967, Mr. Mullin moved to Delray Beach when he became the sales rep for the Izod Lacoste clothing company for Florida and the Caribbean. His whole world would change forever when he left the Sail Inn Tavern to see Susan Stokes Swem driving up in her purple Corvair convertible. Perky Frazer introduced them on the spot, and they were married exactly one year later across the street at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church.

They would settle down on Palm Trail, where they would start their family. Starting in 1972, and over the next 51 years, the Mullins lived at Froggy Bottom in Gulf Stream.

The couple kept an open-door policy there for all tennis players to come over for a little refreshment after a hard day on the Gulf Stream Bath and Tennis Club courts. 

The home was filled with backgammon by the pool, daiquiris of any flavor and the occasional reggae band on the roof. The parties were plentiful, and Mr. Mullin would be the center of attention with a great story, funny joke and a huge warm smile. 

Summers belonged to Mr. Mullin’s second love, Osterville on Cape Cod — where he spent a great many summers at Aunt Tempy’s Cottage on the Wianno golf course, enjoying chipping and putting well past dark. The Wianno Club offered the tennis, golf and casual friendships that Mr. Mullin loved so much.  

The ultimate salesman, Mr. Mullin took friends’ suggestions he move from selling shirts to selling homes and thus a career in real estate began. He spent 34 years selling and developing residences from Manalapan to Boca Raton. More than anything else Mr. Mullin loved to show people the many aspects of why southern Palm Beach County is the best community in Florida. 

In the last months of his life, Mr. Mullin was still working for Premier Estate Properties, which supported him with unconditional love through his long battle with cancer. 

The last chapters of Moon’s life were devoted to philanthropy and giving back to those less fortunate than himself. Mr. Mullin was a devoted supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County since joining the board of directors in 2003. He served faithfully on the executive committee and alongside his beloved wife, Susan, made an immeasurable impact on the Delray Beach club and the wider community. Mr. Mullin’s leadership and generosity not only strengthened the organization but touched countless lives. 

“Michael’s unwavering dedication and kindness will continue to inspire us every day,” said Jaene Miranda, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.

Mr. Mullin served on the board of the Bethesda Foundation from 2009 to 2017. The organization gives the caregivers of Bethesda Hospital the resources they need to provide best-in-class care. Mr. Mullin was also instrumental in the creation of the Bethesda Hospital East Benefactor Pavilion.

One of his proudest achievements was helping to save the Australian pines that adorn the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway in Gulf Stream. The canopy created by the trees gives the main thoroughfare of this little enclave a feeling all its own.

This was just one of a great many chapters that could be written on the random acts of kindness and little things Mr. Mullin did for the place he called home.

Nothing was more important to Mr. Mullin than his friends. By combining his love of golf and the friendships created on the course, he founded a group of men known as the “Coconuts.” The Coconuts would travel around the country — and occasionally the world — for a long weekend of competition and good cheer. 

All that being said, nothing got Mr. Mullin more excited than cheering for his beloved Miami Dolphins. Having moved to Florida in their second season, he attended hundreds of games both home and away over the last 50-plus seasons.

His favorite day, which he accomplished on multiple occasions, was a mid-morning round at Indian Creek followed by a big pile of stone crabs at Joe’s in Miami Beach in preparation for Monday Night Football at the Orange Bowl or Hard Rock Stadium.

Mr. Mullin was predeceased by his parents, Michael Matthew Mullin Jr. and Maryanne McCoy Mullin, and his brother, Edward “Woody” Mullin.  

In addition to his adoring wife of 58 years, Susan, Mr. Mullin is survived by his son, Michael Matthew Mullin IV, and daughter, Jennifer Warwick Mullin, sister Mary Louise Norton, sister-in-law Cindy Mullin, daughter-in-law Justine Ambrecht Mullin and grandchildren Susan Sloane Mullin, Michael “Quinn” Matthew Mullin V and Ireland Ambrecht Mullin, and his devoted labradoodle, Fritz. 

The family requests that donations be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County (800 Northpoint Parkway, Suite 204, West Palm Beach, FL 33407).

 A celebration of life will be held later this year, date and location to be announced to family and friends.

— Submitted by the family

Former town police chief dies — The South Palm Beach Town Council held a moment of silence at its May 16 meeting to honor former Police Chief Carl Webb, who died April 16. He was 71. Webb served as chief from 2014 to 2018 and was with the town’s force for 30 years. The town switched in 2019 from having its own police department to having the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office provide police services.

Council members also acknowledged the recent passings of former town Police Commander Rob Rizzotto, who died in February; Rene Canning, a member of the town’s Community Appearance Advisory Board who died in April; and Pope Francis.

Town manager’s contract extended — The Town Council approved a two-year extension of Town Manager Jamie Titcomb’s contract through June 2027 with a 9.8% hourly wage boost.

Titcomb receives no fringe benefits, insurance coverage, pension, retirement contributions, or other provisions a town manager usually has in a work agreement. A special contract was created so Titcomb could serve under a “part-time” status, as he came back to work out of retirement.

He is compensated at a higher hourly rate, with his total hours capped at an average of 25 a week. Titcomb was paid $82 per hour; the council amendment increases Titcomb’s contractual hourly compensation to $90 per hour, which would amount to as much as $117,000 annually at 25 hours a week for 52 weeks.

A1A sidewalk in need of repair — Residents complained to council members at the May meeting about the condition of the State Road A1A sidewalk in town. The path has been described as “ugly” and “dangerous” — even after some repairs were completed.

Resident Olga Serafimova provided proof that she has been in contact with several people at the Florida Department of Transportation, who she said kept referring her to other people. Resident Rafael Pineiro said the sidewalk is “non-compliant with ADA. We have people who fall weekly.” He asked who has the responsibility to ensure that the sidewalk is in compliance.

Mike Melendez, an FDOT District 4 representative, was invited to attend the meeting. Although he said he is sensitive to the concerns, he stated that if the intent is to have maintenance replace the entire sidewalk, there may be intermediate measures the department would say meet the requirement.

Council member Raymond McMillan told Melendez that “I don’t really care how it gets done; I want it all done.”

— Hannah Spence

Edward Hillery Jr., who served as Ocean Ridge’s police chief for 17 years — and police chief of Boynton Beach before that — died May 13. He was 85.

Hillery, a U.S. Air Force veteran, took over as chief in Ocean Ridge in 1993 and retired in 2010. He also served 23 years with the Boynton Beach Police Department, rising through the ranks to become chief and retiring there the day before he started in Ocean Ridge.

Hillery worked quickly to improve morale in the department, whose prior chief had resigned in a financial scandal.

— Larry Barszewski

A metal extension on top of a concrete wall raised the barrier from six feet to 10 feet on Tony Robbins’ property, seen from neighbor Louis Capano Jr.’s home. That exceeded the town’s height limit. Robbins was allowed to keep a security hedge and opaque gate. Photo provided

By John Pacenti

Self-help author Tony Robbins stresses the importance of taking action to achieve desired outcomes. Raise your standards, he says, to reach goals.

Well, when it came to his Manalapan oceanfront house in the 700 block of South Ocean Boulevard, Robbins indeed did raise standards — in this case, a 10-foot wall between him and his not-so-happy neighbor. He also exceeded permissible heights on a side hedge from the ocean wall and installed a new opaque security gate — all without permitting.

This asking for forgiveness rather than permission worked when it came to the hedge and the gate, but not so much with the wall. The Town Commission at its May 20 meeting told Robbins either to remove the wall or work it out with his neighbor, Louis Capano Jr.

Robbins, a Manalapan resident since 2013, has sold over 15 million books and 50 million audio programs worldwide. But since the pandemic, his reach on the internet and social media has been extraordinary. 

Mark Timm, the deputy director of field operations for Robbins’ security detail, told commissioners that recently, 800,000 people tuned in for an internet event hosted by Robbins.

Furthermore, his spouse — Bonnie Sage Humphrey Robbins — has developed a following and recently had 400,000 women virtually attend an event she was hosting, Timm said.

One effect is desperate fans. “They think that the Robbinses are their last chance to fix something that’s wrong in their lives,” Timm said.

One of those fans showed up May 17 at the gate, demanding to speak to Robbins. Someone also recently flew from Germany unannounced, looking for an audience with the motivational speaker. The security measures also were taken, Timm said, because the Robbinses have a small child who has no public photographs of her published.

“From a protective detail standpoint, if people can’t see into the property, we firmly believe that is the best way to deter these unwanted visitations, as we’ll call them,” he said.

The wall was extended from a six-foot concrete barrier between the properties, estate manager Taylor Jantz said, because a hedge would not grow in that spot due to the salt air.

Capano said a few years ago that the Robbinses put in a chain-link fence — again for security — on Capano’s side of the property. After he complained, the power couple removed the fence.

“Unfortunately, I have to be here, and it’s really kind of absurd, but the Robbinses have a habit of doing things that they just want to do,” Capano said.

He said the metal wall installed about three months ago with a plastic hedge is “ridiculous. ... I don’t see how it could possibly help their security issues, if they have any, because someone to go over the wall would have to come onto my property,” Capano said.

He said the issue isn’t security but that one of his upper-floor bedrooms looks out over the Robbinses’ property.

As for the hedge, the town has restricted heights to six feet so hedges do not impede the view of neighbors, Capano said. “People who spend a lot of money to live on the ocean, can look at the ocean, not just in a tunnel vision on an angle,” he said.

Jantz said she had just come aboard as the new estate manager and wanted to make sure the Robbinses’ home was in compliance by seeking variances after the fact.

Commissioner David Knobel said he understood the hardship in regards to paparazzi and supported variances on the gate and the hedge — but not the wall. He said there is no hardship because of a “neighbor looking into a property.”

The commission agreed, but in denying the variance for the wall, Mayor John Deese expressed hope that the two neighbors could find a solution.

“We are more than happy to work with the Robbinses,” Town Manager Eric Marmer said.

Jantz said, “The Robbinses have not been in communication with our northward neighbor, and they would love to connect with said neighbor on their opinion, or what would please them visually, you know, moving forward.” 

By John Pacenti

Consultants told town commissioners that Manalapan water and sewer rates haven’t gone up in 11 years. Elected leaders rectified that quickly at their May 20 meeting with a significant increase.

While increases will vary among homes and businesses, rates will rise 80% on average, a consultant told the commission.

Town Manager Eric Marmer, hired last year, said that bringing water rates up to speed is necessary. “When I got here, you know, my whole thing was to right the ship and put things on the right path,” he said.

Marmer said a tiered rate system that increases over time is now required as part of the permitting process to encourage conservation.

Commissioner David Knobel asked that residents receive some information on how to curb their water usage before the rate hike goes into effect on Aug. 1.

“I would just like a communication going out to the residents, explaining to them the different methods and ways that they could reduce water, including a meter change, including sprinkler head changes and sprinkler head control systems,” he said.

In 2020, the town lost water rate revenue when the town of Hypoluxo switched its water provider from Manalapan to Boynton Beach. The Hypoluxo service account, in place for 60 years, had made up 57% of the town’s water service revenue at the time, Marmer said.

Meanwhile, the rate of inflation and construction and chemical costs have risen.

Water rates for the town are based on pipe size for a property. The larger the pipe size, the greater demand on the system. Nearly all Manalapan residences are served by either a one-inch or two-inch pipe.

New rates, included in the May 20 agenda packet, would increase for homes with a one-inch pipe, on a per meter basis, from $107 to $172 on Aug. 1. That figure would go up to $204 by October 2028 — nearly twice the current rate.

Homes with a two-inch pipe would see an increase, per meter, from $278 to $532 on Aug. 1. By October 2028, the price would increase to $634.

Most homes are on septic systems in Manalapan, but 13 wastewater accounts are primarily commercial and would see a 40% increase in their rates come August for a one-inch pipe. 

Manalapan’s beach committee of three sitting town commissioners disbanded at the commission’s May 20 meeting.

Town Manager Eric Marmer said it was determined the committee was duplicative and matters involving the beach can be handled by the full commission.

“We have to come back and report that stuff to the commission anyway,” Marmer said. “So we’re doing double the work for no reason.”

The committee certainly made news as it explored whether Palm Beach County’s sand transfer plant at the Boynton Inlet was siphoning beach away from Manalapan. It also explored best practices to combat coastal erosion.

The committee appointed Dr. Peter Bonutti — spouse of Vice Mayor Simone Bonutti — to be a liaison among the town, the county and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Bonutti also resigned from his volunteer position at the May 20 meeting, saying he felt he could be more impactful as a citizen.

Recently, Peter Bonutti has raised alarms of how beach rakers were endangering turtle nests.

The main result of the beach committee was Marmer’s taking the initiative to hire the same company tapped by Highland Beach — where he previously worked — to do a study on what could be done in Manalapan to replenish the beach.

An obstacle for the town is that Manalapan has no public access to the beach, meaning it cannot obtain grants like other municipalities to replenish sand.

— John Pacenti

Related: Lantana: Council to consider allowing sargassum removal from town beach

Don’t be surprised if seaweed starts showing up on south Palm Beach County beaches in even greater piles than have already been washing ashore this year.

The amount of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic Ocean hit a record in April only to be topped again in May, when scientists said total sargassum in the Atlantic — including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean — went from 31 million tons to 37.5 million tons.

“As in most previous years, June is expected to see continued increases in most regions,” says the outlook put out May 31 by the University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab. “Sargassum inundation will continue to occur in most of the Caribbean nations and islands as well as along the southeast coast of Florida.”

Despite the historic seaweed level in the water, some local beaches still could catch a break. The report says that “whether a beach or small region receives record-high Sargassum inundation depends not only on the offshore Sargassum amount, but also on local factors that are difficult to predict, including winds and ocean currents.”

— Larry Barszewski

Eat Better Live Better in Delray Beach is worried about filling all the bags it needs to supply the 1,500 households it serves each month. ‘We were able to come up with June, but we’re not sure about July,’ says board member Jackie Ermola. ABOVE: Volunteer Frank Cottone (l-r), staffer Wesley Hinds-Francis and volunteer Delio Molina pack up. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

When it comes to serving people in Palm Beach County who struggle to put food on the table, the perfect storm is swirling right over the horizon.

Some say it is already here, driven in large part by the dramatic escalation of food prices over the past few years combined with demand that grows as people struggle to meet the rising costs of housing and other basics they need just to get by.

Consider this: Five years ago, CROS Ministries, which serves almost 122,000 people a year through its food pantry program in Palm Beach and Martin counties, paid $19.56 for 12 jars of peanut butter. Last year that same case of 18-ounce jars cost the nonprofit $24.49, or 25% more.

“We are getting less food for the money in our budget,” said Ruth Mageria, CROS Ministries executive director.

Two or three years ago, Eat Better Live Better — a Delray Beach-based nonprofit that feeds about 1,500 households per month — paid $35 for 12 canisters of oatmeal. Now that same case costs $58, almost a 66% hike.

And for Boca Helping Hands, a food box with six meals and snacks — provided each week during the school year to 1,500 kids in 16 county schools — increased in just two years from $10.59 to $13.15, up 24%.

Food costs are also a factor for the Palm Beach County Food Bank, which has seen prices increase similarly to the national estimate of about 23% since 2020.

“That means we can’t stretch our food dollars as far as we used to, just like everyone else who goes to the grocery store,” said Jamie Kendall, chief executive officer of the food bank, which provides food to organizations that directly serve people in need.

In addition to prices, one of the other major concerns of those running programs that provide food is the uncertainty and inconsistency surrounding government funding.

Cutting back
Eat Better Live Better, a small operation with just two full-time employees that serves 4,000 to 7,500 individuals per month, saw a cutback in the amount of food provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in May, leading to worries about whether it would be able to fill all the food bags it provides.

After it had completed its distribution at the beginning of May, staff and volunteers looked around and saw mostly empty shelves.

“We had no food left,” said Jackie Ermola, an executive board member and the volunteer director of social services. “We were able to come up with June, but we’re not sure about July.”

Ermola said the crisis was averted thanks to donations from several organizations and food drives.

At Boca Helping Hands, a big chunk of a 40% reduction in the amount of food it received from food banks — as well as the USDA and private donations — came as a result of the federal government cutback.

The organization estimates that USDA donations dropped by about 100,000 pounds from March 1 last year to March 1, 2025.

It now appears that Congress has approved cutting food stamp programs, a move that many say will greatly burden organizations already facing heavy demand.

Like most other organizations that provide food, Eat Better Live Better has seen a significant increase in the number of people it serves.

Growing demand
“Right now, we’re serving at least three times as many families as we were three years ago,” said Debra Tendrich, the founder of Eat Better Live Better, who is also a state representative. “New families continue to walk through our doors on a regular basis.”

At CROS Ministries, there have been significant increases in the number of people it serves. In 2022, the number of individuals served at the food pantry was about 112,000. In 2024 that number rose to almost 122,000.

At Boca Helping Hands, there were 18,500 clients served by the organization’s food pantry in 2019 and by 2024 that number had jumped to about 27,000.
Driving that increase in demand is the rising cost of food that each household has to buy at the grocery store as well as the cost of housing.

“So many people pay their housing costs and then come to us looking for food,” said CROS Ministries’ Mageria.

CROS, which also operates the Caring Kitchen in Delray Beach and provides more than 36,000 prepared meals, is seeing a trend that other organizations have also noticed: an increase in the number of seniors looking for food.

“Seniors are sacrificing their food budgets in order to cover other major expenses,” said the county food bank’s Kendall. “Food budgets are the easiest one to cut.”

A community effort
What are organizations doing to offset the high cost of food and potential government cutbacks? Most are relying on the community to help with monetary donations, food donations or volunteer efforts.

“We have to work extremely hard to get more revenue in and to get more donations,” Tendrich said. “We’re lucky we have a lot of good relationships set up.”

Food drives and food donations from companies that Eat Better Live Better works with have helped keep the bags it provides full, but Ermola worries about the future if the USDA cutbacks continue.

“If we don’t get donations, then we’ll have to buy food at an increased cost from three years ago or the bags would have to be smaller,” she said.

Already the organization is operating a little leaner, agreeing not to fill a position after it became vacant. The organization is also scaling back on the food it provides to a summer camp for low-income children.

“We have to have all our funds go to food,” Tendrich said.

At CROS Ministries, Mageria and her board are hoping for more donations, especially now with the onset of summer when school lunch programs aren’t available and donations shrink as seasonal residents have returned home.

With questions about where the economy is going leading to more cautious philanthropic giving, organizations may want to increase collaboration to strengthen their buying power, Mageria said.

At Boca Helping Hands, which offers medical and financial assistance and job training programs, providing food is a priority and food drives conducted by businesses, places of worship and individuals are extremely valuable.

For the Palm Beach County Food Bank, which provides food to about 200 partner agencies, the ability to buy in bulk means it can do more with a donated dollar than an individual can do by going to the grocery store.

Like most organizations, the food bank also looks for help from volunteers.

With food prices not likely to drop and uncertainty around government programs such as food stamps, organizations continue to seek ways to keep up with demand and are looking toward being more creative in raising funds, Mageria said.

“My biggest concern is what’s going to happen in the future,” she said. 

How you can help

Some ways to help nonprofit organizations serving people in need in south Palm Beach County:

Financial donation — Financial support is welcomed by local organizations, many of which have the ability to buy in bulk at a significantly lower cost than that available to retail customers.

Donate food — Individual food donations are welcomed by many organizations, but there may be some restrictions and some preferences on the types of food they request. It’s best to visit an organization’s website or call first.

Host a food drive — Food drives are an important way for organizations to replenish their supplies. Some organizations will sometimes seek a food drive for specific products, such as peanut butter.

Volunteer — Volunteers are always needed by most organizations to help with everything from sorting food to filling boxes or bags, or picking up or delivering food.

One idea is to move the 117-year-old Andrews House (above) near the historic Magnuson House and turn them into a downtown historic destination. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Tao Woolfe

No decisions have been made about preserving two historic Boynton Beach pioneer homes, but ideas for their use are cropping up like fissures in old- growth timber.

The Community Redevelopment Agency board on May 13 heard many of those ideas, from turning the 117-year-old Andrews House into a luxury coffee spot, to creating a destination enclave of the Andrews House and the 1919 Magnuson House where people could enjoy a light lunch with a side of history.

Even Manuel Mato — the developer who owns the land at 306 SE First Ave. upon which the Andrews House currently sits, and who was apparently ready to demolish the structure just before Thanksgiving last year — has come up with a proposal for saving and reusing the city’s oldest home.

He has suggested to the city and the CRA that the Andrews House be moved to the north side of his First Avenue project site, just west of the railroad tracks, and used as a coffee shop or eatery in the planned mixed-use Villages project. He would add a commercial kitchen.

Preservationists are not in favor of Mato’s idea because it calls for a complete renovation of the building, an abandonment of any historic designation effort, and asks the city to provide planning assistance and pay moving costs.

City commissioners, acting in their roles as CRA board members, dismissed Mato’s suggestion as premature since the CRA staff has not finished its research.

“Let the CRA run interference, run down the options, and bring it back to us,” Commissioner Woodrow Hay said.

Hay summed up the consensus of the board: He is in favor of preserving the old houses, but wants to see a complete breakdown of costs and benefits.

A $200,000 coffee shop proposal for the Magnuson House by Allison Boettcher, owner of Blue Mountain Coffee House in West Palm Beach, was also jettisoned by the CRA board members on May 13 as premature and underfunded.

Boettcher, who described Blue Mountain coffee as the “rarest and most sought-after coffee in the world,” was encouraged to reapply when plans are more settled.

Preservationists have been advocating for the city to save the Andrews House for more than 10 years. The matter came to a head in November when neighborhood residents noticed a yellow demolition excavator sitting on the home’s site.

The panicked neighbors pleaded successfully with the mayor and commissioners to persuade the property owner to scuttle the demolition. The Andrews House and the Magnuson House have been a hot topic ever since.

At a Jan. 14 City Commission meeting, Assistant Public Works Director Richard Hoffer said the city and CRA staff are looking at three potential locations for the Andrews House: a city park at Northeast Sixth Avenue and Northeast Sixth Court, the 211 E. Ocean Ave. site currently occupied by the Magnuson House, and a large, CRA-owned lot at North Seacrest Boulevard and Northeast Third Avenue.

Hoffer added that city staff had consulted with contractors and had determined that it would cost $100,000 to $150,000 to move the Andrews home to a new site, $75,000 to $100,000 in construction costs, and $50,000 in consultant fees for a total of about $375,000, which also included a 25% contingency.

The project would take at least 14 to 16 months to complete — including the design, permitting and ultimately procuring historic designation, Hoffer said.

At that meeting and at all subsequent meetings — and on surveys that have been conducted — residents have said they prefer having the Andrews House on the same parcel as the Magnuson House to create a downtown historic enclave.

At a meeting in February, the city agreed to set aside $300,000 to use for preservation. Residents are hoping some of the money can be used to move the Andrews House and to renovate the Magnuson House, at least partially.

At its most recent meeting, the CRA board members and staff were urged by residents to come up with a solution quickly.

“I don’t know why we’re continuing to delay this — and giving the developer a chance to knock it down,” longtime resident Susan Oyer said of the Andrews House. “We need to be moving forward.”

The Andrews House once belonged to the daughter of Major Nathan S. Boynton — the city’s founding father. The Magnuson House was built right after World War I, by Oscar Sten Magnuson, the husband of one of the city’s first clerks. He grew ferns and mango and avocado trees, and after his death in 1959, the property became a plant nursery, according to published reports.

Barbara Ready, chairman of the Historic Resources and Preservation Board and president of the Boynton Beach Historical Society, said after the May meeting that she and other preservationists plan to continue their fight to save both buildings and keep them together somewhere.

“We’re not giving up,” Ready said. “We don’t need more condos and concrete. We need — and deserve — a little, peaceful, historic enclave. It should be income-producing — with light food, like salads, cookies, and ice cream — so it’s not an albatross.”

The Andrews House was completely renovated several years ago and has survived many storms and major hurricanes, historian Ginger Pedersen has said.

“Its significance goes beyond its age; the structure embodies the craftsmanship and character of Florida’s early settlers,” Pedersen has said. “It’s a very cool little house.”

Downtown project finally underway — The northern portion of The Villages, a mixed-use project planned for downtown Boynton Beach, is officially underway following a May 9 ground-breaking at the development site at 405 E. Ocean Ave.

The 3.37-acre first phase, which will include 336 apartments, 668 parking spaces and 8,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, received site plan approval from the city in September 2023. The project will also include two plazas and a linear park along the Florida East Coast Railway right-of-way — doubling as a pedestrian walkway between Boynton Beach Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.

A separate project phase is planned for a 1.8-acre portion to the south of Ocean Avenue.

Senior housing development draws interest — A proposed affordable housing development for older adults — 62 and above — may get financial assistance from the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency as a way to attract even more dollars from the state and county.

Miami-based Landmark Developers Inc., which is proposing the 92-unit City View Apartments with subsidized rents for the southwest corner of Southeast Fifth Avenue and Federal Highway, requested assistance from the CRA board at its May 13 meeting. Board members, who are the City Commission, said they were supportive of providing more living options for older adults on limited fixed incomes and directed staff to bring back potential financial incentives for the board to consider at the CRA’s June 10 meeting.

Developer Francisco Rojo, whose firm is developing the project in partnership with the West Palm Beach Housing Authority, said the project would probably need a minimum $2.4 million grant (forgivable loan) commitment from the city — and possibly as much as $4.35 million — depending on the level of financial support it’s able to attract from Palm Beach County and the state.

Eliminating eyesore carries steep price — City commissioners say the Inn at Boynton is a blight on a main entry into the city’s downtown — Boynton Beach Boulevard at Interstate 95 — and needs to be redeveloped, but they told the hotel’s owner they’re not willing to pay the $9.1 million he’s asking for a hotel that they’d just end up tearing down.

At the CRA’s May 13 meeting, some commissioners said even the lower, appraised value of $8.5 million is more than they think the hotel site is worth, especially since there’s no clear idea about what would take its place.

Owner Ajit Asrani said a hotel may not be the highest and best use of the property and he has considered the possibility of building multi-family housing under the state’s Live Local Act. That law allows denser development for residential complexes that include at least 40% affordable housing.

Commissioner Tom Turkin said he would not like to see apartments there because of a nearby single-family neighborhood. However, he said while preventing such a development would be a reason for purchasing the property, the current offer was too high.

Town Square gets financial boost from CRA — Hoping to get the city’s long-planned downtown Town Square project off to an earlier start, the City Commission acting as the CRA board agreed to the developer’s request to be awarded up to $35.2 million in tax increment financing funds. The project is on the east side of Seacrest Boulevard south and north of City Hall and the Old Boynton High School building on Ocean Avenue.

The money, which comes from tax revenues that are generated from the increased value of the property due to development, includes up to $20 million for the first-phase portion to the south and up to $15.2 million for the second phase to the north.

Commissioners were told by representatives for developer Time Equities Inc. that the revenues should make it easier for TEI to complete its financing arrangements sooner, which should help speed up the start of construction.

In addition, TEI has committed to providing additional retail space — to be rented out at 50% of market rate for 10 years — and pay $50 a square foot toward the buildout of that interior retail space for its first renters. The company will also hire local artists to paint murals in the retail plaza portion that are part of the north phase.

Under the agreement, construction on the southern portion is to start no later than Oct. 1, 2026, and by Dec. 31, 2031, on the northern portion.

— Larry Barszewski

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was training with Andrew Spruill (left) at Johnny O’s gym while staying in Boca Raton. The gym featured Kelce on its website. Photo provided 

By Christine Davis

There’s no shortage of real estate activity around Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club this spring. For starters, residents there have seen Travis Kelce out and about in the neighborhood. 

Numerous magazine and news stories report that Kelce, star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and boyfriend of Taylor Swift, is renting an 8,340-square-foot residence at the yacht and country club during the NFL offseason. 

Amenities include a home theater, 450-bottle wine cellar, private dock, and a primary suite with a Cristallo quartzite linear fireplace, morning bar and a balcony with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Deerfield Island Park.  

It is also reported that Kelce has been training with Andrew Spruill at Johnny O’s gym in Boca Raton. 

NFL preseason training camps begin in mid-July.

Also at the yacht and country club, AutoLenders President and CEO Michael J. Wimmer with his wife, Mary Louise Wimmer, sold their seven-bedroom, 8,671-square-foot residence at 144 W. Coconut Palm Road for $17.527 million. 

The new owner is the Coconut Palm Road Revocable Trust, with Buffalo, New York-area attorney Catherine B. Eberl as trustee. 

The estate previously traded for $24.5 million in 2021. 

David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the seller in the deal, while Charles Brumsted of Cristina’s Properties worked with the buyer. 

The home was first listed for $28.95 million in 2023, and the price was lowered several times before the listing was removed in 2024. It was listed again for $26.7 million in July 2024.

Another transaction in the community saw Andrew A. Whitmore’s trust buy the six-bedroom, 8,588-square-foot home at 1758 Sabal Palm Drive for $15.32 million. The seller was the 1758 Sabal Palm Land Trust with Carl Klepper Jr., a principal at Boca Raton-based developer Compson Associates, as trustee.

The property, which previously traded for $3 million in 2021, was developed by Compson Homes as a spec house designed by  the Boca Raton-based Be-Design Architects with interiors by Lesly Maxwell. 

Whitmore is the vice president of sales of Motivair, a cooling systems manufacturer headquartered in Amherst, New York. David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the seller in the deal, while Jacqueline Feldman of One Sotheby’s International Realty worked with the buyer. 

       ***                      

An Aventura-based investor, author and motivational speaker has bid $230 million in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the 101 Via Mizner Apartments in downtown Boca Raton.

Via Mizner Owner I LLC, an affiliate of Penn-Florida Companies, filed a motion on June 2 to declare Cardone Real Estate Acquisitions, led by Grant Cardone, the “stalking horse” bidder for the 366-unit luxury apartment building, at 101 E. Camino Real.

A hearing was scheduled for June 4 on the motion; an auction of the building had already been set for June 16.

Announcing a stalking horse bid prior to auction is a way to create a purchase price ‘floor,’ according to a filing in support of the motion.

Cardone is known for his “10X Rule,” which in part emphasizes the importance of setting and achieving goals that are 10 times greater than what one believes possible.

***                             

Sidney R. Ferenc, previously the chairman and CEO of San Francisco-based worker’s compensation insurer Applied Underwriters, sold his 12,557-square-foot oceanfront home at 2363 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach, for $27.05 million. 

The new owner is the 23 Ocean Family Trust, with Dr. M. Rahat Faderani as trustee. Faderani is an attorney and a doctor at Atlas Medical and Orthopedics in Pompano Beach. The property, which was listed in October 2024 for $33.95 million, last sold for $11 million in 2014. 

Built on a 0.96-acre lot with 100 feet on the ocean, the home features a wine room, an outdoor pool, an indoor pool and spa, a fitness room, two offices, a putting green, a balcony and an elevator. 

JPMorgan Chase Bank provided a $14.88 million mortgage to the buyer. Nicholas  Malinosky and Michael O’Connor of the Exclusive Group at Douglas Elliman brokered the deal. 

***                             

A mostly vacant 1.86-acre ocean-to-Intracoastal lot at 1800 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, owned by ADE 925 LLC and managed by R. Richard Yates Jr., sold for $25 million. 

“We decided to demolish the primary house on the Intracoastal parcel (west of State Road A1A) to show the high elevation of the property that allows spectacular views of both the ocean and Intracoastal from the ground up,” explained Corcoran Group real estate agent Shelly Newman, who represented the seller. 

There’s still a cabana house on the ocean side east of A1A, she added. ADE 925 LLC purchased the property in 2021 for $14 million. The buyer, LOKI2 Land Trust, was represented by Elizabeth Lary of Dodge Real Estate.

 ***                            

An oceanfront 1.11-acre lot at 939 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, owned by a limited liability company associated with billionaire Wayne Rothbaum, a biotech investor, sold for $22 million.

The buyer was 939 Ocean Delray LLC, managed by Coral Springs-based attorney Larry A. Rothenberg. 

Rothbaum purchased the property for $10 million in 2014. Miami-based City National Bank of Florida provided a $14.3 million mortgage to the buyer. Douglas Elliman agent Nicholas  Malinosky represented both the buyer and the seller.

***                             

Ónix Delray Beach, a new condominium project at 318 SE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, developed by 1112 Development and Black Star Construction Group, broke ground in May.

Ónix Delray Beach will include 26 two- and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 1,400 to 2,000 square feet with prices starting at $1.549 million. There will also be 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. 

The condominiums on southbound Federal are being sold by Douglas Elliman agents Lauren Mathews and Claudia Fisher. Unit details include 10-foot ceilings, glass balconies, natural wood flooring options and a coastal color pallette.  

Community amenities include a resort-style infinity pool, cabanas, summer kitchen, club room with prep kitchen, and a fitness center.

 For more information, visit onixdelray.com.

***                             

The Boca Raton/Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Boynton Beach First Responders Awards Luncheon in April at Benvenuto Restaurant. 

Honorees at the event included Deputy Sheriff Jayson Robbins, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, who was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Detective Sean Steele, Boynton Beach Police Department, was named Police Officer of the Year. Capt. John Prince, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, was named Paramedic and Firefighter of the Year. Firefighter/Paramedic Freddie Ramirez, Boynton Beach Fire Department, was named Paramedic of the Year. Firefighter Darren Clarke, Boynton Beach Fire Department, was named Firefighter of the Year.

***                             

Former Delray Beach Vice Mayor Ryan Boylston, founder of 2Ton, a digital marketing agency, was appointed as Urban Abundance’s chief executive officer. 

Urban Abundance, founded by Jack Sandquist, is a Jupiter-based company that specializes in installing and maintaining custom backyard fruit and vegetable gardens. 

The company expanded after aligning with Eightfold Ventures, a consultancy/venture capital fund, founded by South County residents Jayson Koss and Ed Mileto. Koss founded Delivery Dudes, and Mileto founded Perfect Practice. For more information, visit urbanabundance.com. 

***                             

Delray Beach artist Patricia Torras was the winner of Legacy Through Art, an initiative of the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority and the city of Delray Beach.

Legacy Through Art was launched March 6, with an open invitation to artists to create a watercolor illustration that represents Old School Square and will be used to design a new logo for the campus. 

More than 30 local artists submitted their original watercolor designs and a selection committee chose three finalists. Their designs were put to a public vote, with Torras receiving 4,006 out of the 10,000-plus votes cast. 

“I’ve lived and breathed Delray Beach for most of my life,” said Torras. “As a South Florida native, I’ve always drawn inspiration from the city’s color, architecture and community energy. To create something so personal and lasting for a place I love — that’s incredibly meaningful.”

She will collaborate with the DDA to create a set of logos for each Old School Square venue. Her style will inspire the final designs, which will be revealed early this fall as part of Old School Square’s Centennial Celebration. 

Torras will receive a $5,000 design commission, a Spotlight Gallery feature at the Cornell Art Museum, recognition across branding and media campaigns, and special honors at the unveiling event.

***                             

Boca Raton is celebrating its 100th birthday this year and noting this milestone, six Boca Raton hotels are offering limited-time Centennial Celebration packages that include perks, discounted rates and commemorative items. 

Participating hotels are The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real; Fairfield by Marriott Boca Raton, 3400 Airport Road; Waterstone Resort & Marina, 999 E. Camino Real; Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle; Wyndham Boca Raton, 1950 Glades Road; and Hyatt Place Boca Raton, 100 E. Palmetto Park Road.

Availability is limited, and blackout dates may apply. Guests are encouraged to book early and mention the “Centennial Celebration package” when reserving. 

For information on Boca Raton’s centennial events, visit  Boca100.com.

***                             

The Boynton Beach Online Chamber of Commerce partnered with the city of Boynton Beach in Adopt-a-Road, a nationwide program where individuals, businesses and organizations can partner with cities to remove litter on their adopted road segments. 

Those participating are recognized by signs posted on the roads they maintain. The chamber’s signs are on the north side of Gateway Boulevard at Publix and at the canal next to the Hampton Inn at 1475 Gateway Blvd.

***                             

Continuum, by Richard Erdman, is on loan to Alina Residences. Photo provided

On May 7, Alina Residences Boca Raton partnered with the Boca Raton Museum of Art to host a sculpture unveiling at Alina 220, 220 SE Mizner Blvd. The two bronze works unveiled were by Richard Erdman: Continuum (2005) and Belladonna (2005). Both sculptures were acquired by the Boca Raton Museum of Art in 2016 as gifts from Carole and Barry Kaye and are on loan to Alina Residences. 

Erdman’s works belong to collections that include the United Nations, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Princeton University, and the Rockefeller Collection.  

The unveiling aligned with Boca Raton’s commitment to public art through its Public Art Boca program. Notable installations include murals at Red Reef West and Spanish River Park’s beach tunnels, as well as sculptures at Wildflower and Silver Palm parks. 

***                             

Amanda’s Corner officially launched on May 3 at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County’s Delray Beach ReStore, with local designer and ReStore enthusiast Amanda Perna in charge. Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees browsed Amanda’s Corner’s selection of thrifted finds from the ReStore, designs by Perna and pieces from her Delray Beach boutique, House of Perna. 

Each month, Amanda’s Corner will showcase new treasures hand-selected by Perna, a two-time Project Runner contestant and HGTV Flea Market Flip winner. 

The Delray Beach ReStore is at 1900 N. Federal Highway.

                            ***                               

At the League of Women Voters Hot Topic Luncheon on June 25, guests will meet Palm Beach County’s new public defender, Daniel Eisinger. 

He began his career in the Public Defender’s Office in 2003 and was elected the county’s public defender in November. 

Eisinger has been instrumental in establishing court programs such as the Misdemeanor Mental Health Court, which connects low-level offenders suffering from mental illness with mental health professionals.

Eisinger, league member, also belongs to the national and Florida associations for criminal defense lawyers and the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County. 

The luncheon will be held at the Fountains Country Club, 4476 Fountains Drive in Lake Worth Beach. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and the lunch begins at 11:30. The program starts at noon. The registration fee is $40 for league members and $45 for nonmembers. The deadline to register is June 19, at www.lwvpbc.org.

Steve Plunkett contributed to this report.

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

Boca Raton’s 100th birthday was May 26 and the city avoided a conflict with Memorial Day by holding its celebrations on the Saturday and Sunday before the holiday.

Mizner Park — May 24

Enjoying the festivities at Mizner Park are (l-r) Anna Emanuel, 6; Alona Emanuel; Evan Drogosz, 4; 10-year-old Anton Emanuel (peering through the C), and Katina Drogosz. The Drogosz family, from Texas, was visiting the Emanuel family. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

The festivities featured a concert headlined by rock band Weezer with special guest Fountains of Wayne at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Photo provided

Drone show, BRiC — May 25

The centennial drone show offered a choreographed symphony of lights, color and movement, including this display of the city’s Historic Town Hall, now home to the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum. The setting for the show was the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, which is the birthplace of the IBM personal computer and serves as a symbol of the city’s pioneering spirit. Photo provided

This rendering of the proposed downtown government campus highlights the landscape in front of the new City Hall (upper right). The developer has reduced the project’s density and boosted recreational and green space. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

The joint venture of Terra and Frisbie Group that will redevelop Boca Raton’s downtown government campus has reduced the project’s density and increased the amount of recreational and green space as it responds to residents’ objections to its original proposal.

Terra/Frisbie’s winning plan was the least dense of four presented to the city in January, but residents wanted even less.

“We have worked very hard to incorporate the vast majority of the feedback we have received,” Frisbie Group co-managing partner Rob Frisbie told the City Council on May 27.

The developers have removed 217 residential units, reducing the total to 912 by eliminating one apartment building and several townhomes.

Instead, they have added a second office building that will be located adjacent to the Brightline station, bringing to 350,000 the project’s total office square footage.

They also have boosted the recreational space by 23% which will be spread over nearly nine acres of the 30-acre campus.

Bicycle lanes will be buffered to make riding safer, and roads will be designed to keep traffic speeds slow.

Terra/Frisbie also has taken pains to ease tensions over the city’s desire to relocate sports and recreation facilities on the government campus.

It has proposed three options that would include building as many as eight tennis courts, indoor pickleball and basketball courts, fitness room and locker rooms and shower.

But this remains a work in progress, with no firm plan agreed to yet.

Tennis enthusiasts are anxious to preserve the 10 clay courts now on the downtown campus, but they are unlikely to get their wish.

Council members are leaning toward having four clay courts on the downtown campus, and adding six clay courts to the existing two hard courts at Meadows Park, which is about one mile away from the campus.

Terra/Frisbie submitted its new interim master plan on May 12, and City Council members were asked to provide city staff and Terra/Frisbie direction on what passed muster and what should be changed.

Council members indicated they liked the plans, but did not give clear input on what should be altered. They are scheduled to approve the interim master plan on June 10.

Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas was the only one advocating to keep 10 tennis courts on the downtown campus.

Council member Andy Thomson renewed his previous objection that the project is too dense and is being pushed ahead too quickly.

He also said fundamental issues have not been addressed, such as whether a public-private partnership with Terra/Frisbie is in the best interests of the city.

“I am not sure we have enough information to approve a plan like this,” he said.

No other council member expressed agreement with Thomson’s concerns.

Instead, they focused on details, agreeing that the new community center, which will replace the current outdated one, does not need an indoor pickleball court, showers and locker rooms or a fitness center.

“We are continuing to evolve,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “We will continue to congeal and form.” 

Homeless man given life sentence for killing father — A homeless man was convicted of killing his father in a parking garage at the intersection of State Road A1A and East Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton.

Jared Charles Noiman, 31, stabbed and strangled Jay Noiman, who was 59, in a since-demolished parking garage at 1 S. Ocean Blvd. on Feb. 3, 2020. The son has a history of mental illness, drug abuse and violent outbursts, but last year was deemed competent to stand trial.

He was convicted of first-degree murder on May 15.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge James Nutt sentenced Noiman to life in prison on June 3.

The son confessed his crime to Boca Raton detectives, his arrest report stated. Noiman told police that he and his father were homeless and were spending the night in the garage.

Louie Bossi’s repairs fire damage — The popular Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria downtown remained closed seven weeks after a kitchen fire sent diners and employees scurrying for safety.

“We are temporarily closed at this time,” a telephone recording advises callers.

Inside, framing for new walls in the dining area awaits drywall.

Big Time Restaurant Group, owner of the Italian eatery, filed for a building permit from Boca Raton on April 17, the day after the fire, estimating the damage at $55,000.

The restaurant is on the ground floor of the Hyatt Place hotel, at East Palmetto Park Road and Federal Highway. Louie Bossi’s has been a mainstay at that corner since 2017.

— Steve Plunkett

Boca Raton High School Naval Junior ROTC cadets perform a flag-folding ceremony in honor of deceased U.S. military members. The annual event typically draws hundreds of people, including participants from city police and fire departments. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Airport revenue has increased in 2025 because visits by President Donald Trump to Mar-a-Lago have diverted more traffic to Boca Raton (above). Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

President Donald Trump’s nine visits to Mar-a-Lago in the first four months of 2025 may have been disruptive to some — and costly to Palm Beach County — but they turned out to be good news for the Boca Raton Airport.

With temporary flight restrictions in place during the 31 days of presidential visits, most private jets and small aircraft were prohibited from taking off or landing within a 10-mile radius of Palm Beach, with many choosing to come to the Boca Raton Airport instead.

That led to 3,600 more takeoffs and landings from January to April than in the first four months of 2024, which then translated into an increase of about $162,000 in revenue from the previous year.

It’s also about $362,000 more than from the same time period in 2019 during President Trump’s first term, when he made only six visits to Mar-a-Lago.

“It’s wonderful to have additional revenue to offset the increasing cost of operating and maintaining the airport without having to pass that on to our tenants,” said Clara Bennett, executive director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority.

In all, flight operations at the airport brought in $977,161, compared to $815,306 during the same time period last year, or about 20% more.

The airport gets revenue from flight operations through a percentage of money collected from fuel sold by the two fixed-based operators at the airport and through U.S. Customs user fees.

In all, there were 22,000 flight operations in the first four months of 2025, compared to 18,410 in 2024.

The 2024 numbers include flight training and touch-and-go operations, which were not permitted during the temporary flight restriction periods.

Flight restrictions also affected the Palm Beach County-operated airport in Lantana, which is within the 10-mile radius of Mar-a-Lago. That factored into the increase of traffic at Boca Raton Airport as some plane owners moved their aircraft to Boca Raton temporarily.

Revenue from flight operations makes up about 23% of the Airport Authority’s overall $8.2 million budget, with the vast majority of revenue coming from lease fees collected from businesses operating on airport property.

The increase in revenue since 2019, Bennett says, represents a rise in fuel costs as well as the increase in flight operations.

One of the busiest times at the airport this year came in March when there were four presidential weekend visits resulting in about 1,900 flight operations.

The flight restrictions also resulted in a change in flight patterns with planes being required to avoid flying over Palm Beach. That led to planes going over areas that they don’t usually, resulting in some calls to the airport from residents whose concerns were minimized once they learned what was behind the change.

Despite the increase in air traffic and the need for space to park additional aircraft, Bennett said the airport was able to operate with minimal disruptions.

That, she said, was the result of lessons learned from visits during Trump’s first term.

“Better planning and better communication resulted in fewer surprises,” she said.

During Trump’s previous visits, there were times when the airport was unable to accept planes coming in because of a lack of space. Part of that was due to bad weather that delayed planes from taking off, leaving no room for arrivals.

This time around, Bennett said, the airport worked closely with air traffic controllers, including talking to those at the highest level even before the inauguration to manage the flow of aircraft coming into Boca Raton Airport.

She said that the airport also coordinated with the fixed-based operators, which provide parking space and a variety of other services to aircraft on the ground, to ensure space would be available before reservations were accepted.

“It went a lot more smoothly,” Bennett said.

Security for presidential visits has been estimated to cost Palm Beach County $240,000 each day, money that county leaders hope will be at least partially reimbursed.

By Rich Pollack

Just when it looked like Palm Beach County was on track to finally build a controversial park in Highland Beach, the question of whether to continue with plans for Milani Park — and if so, how many parking spaces to put in it — has once again blown up at a County Commission meeting.

County commissioners on June 3 heard an impassioned plea to reduce parking from 100 spaces to just 25 from Cam Milani, whose family sold the land for the park to the county almost 40 years ago. Milani now doesn’t want the park, changing the family’s long-held position, and suggested the reduced parking as a compromise.

That request spurred a tense discussion among county commissioners, with some apparently sympathetic to Milani and to many residents of nearby condos, while Commissioner Marci Woodward, who represents the area, pushed back. She warned that taking a step backward as plans for the park progress would be a mistake.

Commissioner Joel Flores, who attended a meeting in early April where residents spoke out against the park and said he was originally in favor of 100 parking spaces, said he changed his position after the meeting.

“We’re building a park that nobody wants,” he said.

County staff members and Woodward responded, saying that the park would serve residents from throughout the county, not just Highland Beach. Commissioners were also told that there were people at the meeting Flores attended who supported the park but were too intimidated to speak out.

The 100 parking spaces, according to Assistant County Administrator Isami Ayala-Collazo, are required under a 2010 settlement agreement with the town that followed a lengthy legal battle. To go to 25 parking spaces would require reopening the settlement agreement, she said.

Woodward said that ceasing plans for the park could clear the way for development of townhouses, with the possibility that the Milani family would build them, on a portion of the 5.6-acre parcel that straddles State Road A1A. Part of the property includes a Native American burial ground and has additional historical significance, Woodward said.

“I would caution this board against doing anything that would jeopardize this park moving forward,” she said.

In the end, the commission instructed staff to meet with each commissioner individually to provide additional information.

While debate continues at the county level, Highland Beach town leaders are going on record and making it clear that they believe more needs to be done to ensure the safety of pedestrians traversing A1A as they go to and from a parking lot.

“I’m concerned with the traffic flow of people crossing with 100 cars coming and going in and out of the park,” Town Commissioner Jason Chudnofsky said during a commission meeting last month. “It isn’t about Milani Park coming in, that’s a given.”

Chudnofsky’s uneasiness and that of many residents was echoed in a letter Town Manager Marshall Labadie sent to County Administrator Verdenia Baker.

“As a community, we are deeply concerned that the development of Milani Park will lead to additional conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles — an outcome no one wants,” Labadie wrote.

The town manager wrote that Highland Beach had commissioned a review of a traffic study that was done by the county, and that review concluded that the analysis performed was not adequate to assess the “real-world traffic and pedestrian safety risks.”

In their assessment, the engineers hired by the town recommended that three more studies be done: a spot speed study, a study of how much time elapses between each car, and a count of non-motorized activity — pedestrian and bicycle.

Labadie urged the county to conduct those studies.

“It is essential that we do everything possible to ensure that this park — while intended to be a countywide asset — does not compromise the safety of those who use it or live nearby,” he wrote.

Ayala-Collazo said a reply is coming and will include a plan to address the town’s recommendations.

Ayala-Collazo said that the county is taking several steps to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists in the area and is considering harnessing some of the latest technology available.

Design plans for the area include a crosswalk. The design team is taking steps to ensure pedestrians use that crosswalk by including landscaping and low-profile fencing or railings.

“These measures are intended to discourage mid-block crossings and reinforce intuitive, predictable pedestrian movement,” she said.

Ayala-Collazo said that there have been productive meetings with Florida Department of Transportation representatives who must sign off on any changes affecting traffic on A1A.

She said that while a full traffic light is not likely, pedestrian-activated signals like those in Boca Raton and Highland Beach are being considered. The county’s design team is also looking into the feasibility of embedded crosswalk lighting and motion-triggered pedestrian detection.

Also being considered are raised medians to provide pedestrian refuge, sidewalks that extend into the roadway to shorten the crossing distance, as well as high-visibility crosswalk materials and signage.