DELRAY BEACH — William Strucker, who opened Gulfstream Pharmacy in Briny Breezes almost 70 years ago — a business that remains family-owned and -operated — died on March 27. He was 94.

Born May 12, 1930, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Howard and Helen Strucker, he had a brother, Richard Strucker.

After graduating from Temple University in 1952 with a bachelor of science in pharmacy, Mr. Strucker served two years as a pharmacist in the 57th Field Hospital in Toul, France. Following his service, Mr. Strucker started Gulfstream Pharmacy in 1957.

He married Virginia Foht, also of Erie, on July 8, 1967, and they settled in Delray Beach.

A devout Christian throughout his life, Mr. Strucker was an active member of his church as early as his teen years and served as master councilor in the Order of DeMolay and received its Legion of Honor Award. While a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, he served on several committees including the Vestry.

Mr. Strucker is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Virginia; his three beloved daughters and their husbands, Elizabeth and Jason Meador, Erin and Thomas Craig, and Alison and Peter Goodridge, all of Delray Beach; and three grandchildren, Lexi Craig, Drew Craig, and Chase Goodridge.

There will be a funeral service at a later date at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.

Remembrances may be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or Shriners Hospitals for Children.

— Submitted by the family

Dr. Peter Bonutti points to ruts adjacent to a sea turtle nest on the beach in Manalapan. Photos provided by Peter Bonutti

By John Pacenti

Manalapan officials are trying to get to the bottom of which mechanical beach raking company is leaving deep ruts near turtle nests in town. Two companies that clean the beach of debris are pointing the finger at each other.

Dr. Peter Bonutti, who is Manalapan’s liaison with the county on beach erosion, sent photos to the town on April 6 showing what he said were tractor tracks 11 inches deep directly adjacent to a turtle nest.

Town Manager Eric Marmer, in an April 6 email to a program administrator at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, said, “Where are the DEP staff that are supposed to police these violations Dr. Bonutti is reporting? Any guidance for the town?”

Ginger K. Shirah — environmental administrator for DEP’s Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection — responded to Marmer on April 7 that the department met with David Rowland of Beach Keeper Inc., the company that rakes private beaches in Manalapan at homeowners’ expense.

Rowland told DEP that it was another company, Universal Beach Services, leaving the ruts with a very heavy tractor after he had already cleaned the beach.

“We have requested a meeting with Universal, as they do not have a permit from DEP to beach clean in this area,” Shirah wrote in her email to Marmer.

A request for comment from Shirah was passed to the DEP’s spokesperson, who did not provide a statement.

Rowland told The Coastal Star that Universal Beach Services was leaving the ruts after servicing condos in South Palm Beach, driving along the beach through Manalapan, and exiting at the public access point at Ocean Inlet Park.

“He’s driving a lot higher than what the permit should allow us, and because his tractor is so massive, it’s leaving these huge ruts,” Rowland said. “They’re not abiding by the guidelines that have been set for the town.”

Palm Beach County permits beach raking only below the high-water mark.

A closer photo shows how deeply the ruts cut into the sand.

Universal denies it is leaving the ruts and points the finger back at Beach Keeper.

“It’s really much to do about nothing, in my opinion,” said Clayton Peart, president of Universal. “The simplest explanation would be, you’ve already got your guy on that beach working, that would be the obvious person.”

He said he has to traverse Manalapan beach maybe once every two or three weeks, but does so at low tide in the “wet beach area,” so any tracks would be washed away.

Bonutti says mechanical beach raking causes erosion because it removes the unsightly wrack — the seaweed and natural detritus that come from the ocean.

“It destroys the beach, destroys the dunes,” he said.

Bonutti said mechanical raking also is detrimental during sea turtle nesting season from March through October. He said beach raking — mechanical or manual — is prohibited from going deeper than two inches in the sand during turtle season.

He said Beach Keeper’s 4½- ton tractor can’t help but to penetrate deeper.

Bonutti said he believes only manual raking should be allowed during turtle season.

Manalapan’s Beach Committee has discussed the issue of mechanical beach raking, but it has been mainly focused on the sand transfer plant and beach erosion. Marmer has suggested that a more balanced approach is needed, saying that while a pristine beach is aesthetically pleasing, some natural elements might help prevent erosion.

To be fair, having residents upset over tractor tracks on the beach isn’t new. The Coastal Star has covered the issue numerous times, such as in October 2018 when a resident in Highland Beach installed poles and ropes in the sand to keep the tractors at bay.

Marmer said the schedules of the beach raking companies are not consistent, which makes it hard for the town to get to the bottom of who is actually causing the ruts.

He said that Manalapan has met with DEP and is working toward best practices for mechanical beach raking — such as having the town alerted when it occurs.

While some residents believe — like Bonutti — that mechanical beach raking is harmful, others do not, Marmer said.

“A lot of people, they want to have the beach raker because they see it as a good service that provides clean beaches so their kids, or whoever, even themselves, don’t go to their beaches and step on glass bottles or whatever,” he said. 

The owners of Evelyn & Arthur women’s clothing boutique are closing the Manalapan location due to 'rising prices.' Plaza del Mar was sold in December. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Christine Davis

Evelyn & Arthur women’s clothing boutique will close its Manalapan location at Plaza del Mar on May 17. 

All merchandise is already marked down 50%, and customers will receive another 50% off that price at the register. “That’s about as special as it gets,” said Fred Weissman, chief financial officer of the company. Fixtures are also for sale, added his wife, Adrianne Weissman, Evelyn & Arthur’s president.  

The store is closing because of rising prices following the sale of the plaza in December, Fred Weissman explained.

“The cost of doing business there got to be too high from what it used to be to what it is today,” he said. The Weissmans decided in early April to close the Plaza del Mar store and a sign went up on the storefront notifying the clientele by mid-month.

Plaza del Mar’s new owners say they tried to get the store to stay. “Evelyn & Arthur had a renewal term in the lease that they had negotiated with the previous ownership and we made it clear that we value their tenancy and that we would honor that renewal at the same terms and conditions set forth in the lease,” said Scott Loventhal, managing member of Manalapan Plaza del Mar LLC, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Garden Commercial Properties.

“The tenant was unwilling to renew under the terms they previously negotiated, and we then indicated our willingness to work with them on new renewal terms. Tenant indicated that they were considering reducing the number of stores they have as they consider the future of their overall business model and declined our offer.”

The Weissmans said that all of their other stores will remain open, and that Manalapan employees will go to stores in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens.

Closing this location is bittersweet for them, Adrianne said. “It’s sad to close it. Had the management not changed, we would still be there. We’ve had a loyal client base there and hopefully they will go to our other locations and shop online.” 

Adrianne’s parents, Evelyn and Arthur Lewis, opened their first store in Palm Beach in 1985 after Arthur retired as a manufacturer of women’s sportswear in Manhattan. The Manalapan store subsequently opened in 1986.

Previously buyers for Macy’s NY, the Weissmans joined the Lewises’ business in 1986 and expanded the company to include seven stores across Florida, with an eighth location in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Evelyn & Arthur Manalapan is at 277 S. Ocean Blvd. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Lake Boca was the scene of a milder Boca Bash this April, with only four arrests made and none of the outrage of years past. The annual boating party, held on the last Sunday in April, drew its customary hundreds of boaters to the lake. The Instagram story @thebocabash had nearly 1,000 likes shortly after the event. Boca Raton police arrested two men for boating under the influence, as did officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, jail records show. Boca Raton Fire Rescue was dispatched on five medical calls. As it did in the past, the city closed Wildflower and Silver Palm parks in advance of the Boca Bash. Previous years included a notorious video of teenagers dumping trash into the ocean, a man being charged with attempted murder of his girlfriend, a drowning and often more than a dozen arrests. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

Delray Beach on April 10 announced it was firing David Wyatt, the firefighter who was at the wheel of the aerial fire truck struck by a Brightline train in December. Video released by Brightline showed the large fire truck maneuvering around a lowered railroad crossing gate as the train approached.

Wyatt, under the firefighters’ contract, had 10 days to request a meeting with City Manager Terrence Moore to plead his case. He did, and city spokeswoman Gina Carter said the meeting was to take place before May 1.

“The train collision on December 28 was more than a traffic incident,” Moore said in an email announcing Wyatt’s employment termination. “It was a moment that tested the integrity of our public safety system and shook the confidence of the community we serve.”

Wyatt has been on paid administrative leave while the city investigated. His termination was set to be effective April 28.

The crash left about a dozen train passengers injured — as well as Wyatt and fire truck passengers Capt. Brian Fiorey and firefighter Joseph Fiumara III. The fire truck was en route to a reported kitchen fire at a condo building at 365 SE Sixth Ave. However, according to dispatch recordings, another unit on scene had called in to say the fire was contained around the same time as the crash was reported.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office found Wyatt failed to use “due care” as he drove the ladder truck into the path of the passenger train.

In announcing Wyatt’s termination, Moore said the Brightline crash “revealed a pattern of carelessness and poor judgment that went beyond an isolated error.”

The Coastal Star in January reported about an earlier, off-duty crash involving Wyatt. In that June 2023 crash, he drove his car into a tree in downtown Delray Beach. Police investigated Wyatt for a possible DUI but said in a report that obtaining a breathalyzer or a blood test was not feasible because the firefighter had been transported to a hospital. 

He was charged with careless driving. There was no DUI charge.

Court records showed that Wyatt didn’t initially go to traffic school to resolve the careless driving citation, which resulted in his license being suspended. An independent investigation discovered he had driven Delray Beach fire trucks during the time his license was suspended in late 2023.

The report by the labor firm Johnson Jackson, released Feb. 25, said Wyatt should have taken leave to address the license suspension. The city discovered that 10 fire department employees had not reported having suspended licenses in the recent past.

Wyatt told the investigator that he was unaware of the license suspension until this year. The investigator wrote that Wyatt’s response “raises question(s) as to his credibility on this issue,” the report stated.

A call to a telephone number associated with Wyatt went unanswered.

After the city’s announcement of Wyatt’s termination, the firefighters’ union, IAFF Local 1842, wrote to Moore saying the city fired Wyatt without a formal hearing.

The union requested that Moore convene a panel of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The union’s statement was posted on its Facebook page. IAFF Local 1842 did not return a message seeking further comment.

Code enforcement goes 17/7 — The Delray Beach Code Enforcement Division plans to implement a new schedule to ensure enforcement every day of the week.

City Manager Terrence Moore announced in his April 18 memo to commissioners the new seven-day operation, with the plan to have code officers working from 7 a.m. to midnight, even on weekends.

Code enforcement over the weekends in the past had been dependent on overtime, according to an April 16 email from Jeri Pryor, the city’s new director of Neighborhood and Community Services, who oversees the division.

One of the priorities of the weekend patrols will be “to reduce and minimize light pollution on our beach affecting sea turtle orientation, through proactive code enforcement,” she wrote.

She said the new schedule is expected to begin on May 3.

Delray competes to be All-America City again — Delray Beach is a finalist for another All-America City designation, which honors communities that demonstrate exceptional civic engagement, collaboration and innovation in addressing challenges.

Delray Beach was named an All-America City in 1993, 2001 and 2017, as noted above the dais in the City Commission chambers.

City Manager Terrence Moore said a delegation of about 15 will travel to the National Civic League headquarters in Denver to represent the city in the 2025 finals competition June 27-29. Team members will participate in workshops and community meetings, said Janai Bowens, the education and external opportunities manager who is putting together the delegation.

— John Pacenti

The Manalapan Town Commission at its April 8 meeting passed — on first reading — new regulations for the construction of residential tunnels under State Road A1A.

The main thrust of amending the town’s ordinances is to prohibit the construction of the tunnels from the Intracoastal Waterway side of A1A to the beach side during the tourist season — Nov. 1 to April 14 — without advance approval of the Town Commission. The commissioners wanted to amend the town’s ordinances after receiving complaints and experiencing traffic backups the past few months because of two tunnels that have been under construction.

Applicants for tunnel construction also would have to submit a “maintenance of traffic plan” to be approved by a Manalapan building official. It would have to include a provision for at least one off-duty police officer.

At the April 8 meeting, commissioners asked Town Attorney Keith Davis to add language to state that the cost of traffic maintenance, including the cost of the off-duty officer, will be borne by the applicant. Commissioners also clarified a section requiring the installation of secure doors at each end of the passway to make it an optional accessory, changing the word “shall” to “may.”

The amended ordinance was passed with the new provisions. It will come up for a second reading and final approval by the commission, most likely at its May meeting. 

— John Pacenti

Fill-in successor is hired for six months at most

By John Pacenti

Lynne Ladner, Ocean Ridge’s sometimes embattled town manager, resigned after commissioners gave her poor evaluations, particularly hammering her on budget and fiscal responsibility, as well as leadership.

The commission, in a special meeting April 14, hired Michelle Lee Heiser, a former Port St. Lucie councilwoman and town manager for Sewall’s Point.

Heiser will be paid $18,670 a month for no more than six months — the same rate as Ladner’s $224,000 annual salary. She has offered assistance in finding a permanent replacement for Ladner.

Heiser will guide the town as it hammers out the budget for the next fiscal year and sets the property tax rate.

In her April 3 resignation letter, Ladner said she has accomplished many of her goals for Ocean Ridge.

“I feel it is the right time to step aside and allow new leadership to guide the town forward,” Ladner wrote. “It has been a privilege to serve the residents and work alongside the dedicated staff and leadership of Ocean Ridge.”

Mayor Geoff Pugh and Vice Mayor Steve Coz thanked Ladner for her service at the April 7 commission meeting, but didn’t have much to add afterward. Commissioners, on the consent agenda, approved a measure that added three weeks of severance pay — a provision under the contract — for Ladner for a total of 17 weeks or $73,168.

Pugh declined to elaborate as to why the three weeks were added.

The Coastal Star obtained the commission evaluations of the town manager after a public records request. All were filled out in February and included evaluation score sheets for Ladner’s performance.

Budget concerns
Over the last six months, Ladner had been criticized by commissioners for her lack of organization, failing to provide pertinent information for meetings, and making critical errors when calculating the budget. She was a controversial hire, first serving as interim manager starting in August 2022, then rejected for the permanent position by one commission but hired by another after the March 2023 election.

“The last two budget sessions have been an exasperating struggle of missing information and incorrect numbers,” Coz wrote in his evaluation of Ladner. “Lynne has not embraced the fact that she is CEO of the town.”

The commission had to correct a mathematical mistake in the 2023-24 budget after the state called out the town for the error. It resulted in a $58,000 windfall — but commissioners said it could have gone the other way and affected projects in the town.

Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy said Ladner made the same mistake in an early version of the current fiscal year’s budget, using net values of property rather than gross values as the state requires, which would have overtaxed residents by more than $56,000. Ladner bristled at the criticism.

“I’m worried about the mistakes and the errors and the defensiveness,” Cassidy said at the Aug. 5 meeting. “So it’s just a great frustration.”

Evaluation scores
The evaluations rated Ladner on a scale from 1 (unsatisfactory) to 5 (outstanding) in nine areas: leadership, planning and organization, budget and fiscal responsibility, commissioner interaction, community relations, priorities, operations, staff development, and compliance.

Pugh did not write comments on his evaluation, but he gave Ladner an “unsatisfactory” score for community relations and a “needs improvement” for leadership.

A perfect score would be 45. Pugh gave a score of 21, Coz 24, and Cassidy 19. Commissioners David Hutchins and Ainar Aijala Jr. gave her scores of 23 and 19, respectively.

Coz gave Ladner a low score of 1.5 for budget responsibility and a 2 for priorities. He gave her 2.5 or 3 for other categories, which is a satisfactory mark, and a 4 for exceeding expectations for compliance with regulatory standards.

Coz said in his evaluation of Ladner last year that a new manager should be given two years to meet the challenge of facing “headwinds of institutional knowledge.”

“Unfortunately, in my opinion, this excellence has not occurred during this period,” he wrote in his recent evaluation.

Coz said Ladner failed to admonish staff when needed, thus “amplifying perceived grievances.” Ladner was a fierce defender of her staff and fought for equal compensation for administrative employees, clashing with commissioners.

Cassidy, though sometimes critical of Ladner, also worked closely with the town manager on issues of securing a lobbyist and on planning a kayak trail for land recently purchased behind Town Hall.

She gave her a score of 1 for budget and fiscal responsibility. Cassidy’s comments were extensive and detailed, praising Ladner for partnering up on finding a lobbyist but then saying, “However, when asked to obtain bids from lobbying firms, her efforts were minimal.”

Cassidy indicated she was still willing to work with Ladner, offering several suggestions for improvement, such as being more receptive to suggestions.

In conclusion, Cassidy wrote, “Please be more communicative about absences. Lynne is frequently not in the office. Health issues are understandable, but the absences seem to be excessive.”

Hutchins gave Ladner “needs improvement” scores of 2 in four categories. “Overall, her performance has been satisfactory, but occasionally she is less than prepared for the commission meetings,” he wrote, noting Ladner has failed to show up at Town Hall for work without explanation several times.

Aijala gave Ladner a score of 1 under the category of leadership and provided some of the most critical comments.

“Lynne demonstrated a complete lack of understanding that she works for the commissioners and residents,” he wrote. “Her approach is combative and defensive rather than supportive and helpful.”

Ladner proud of work
Ladner might have seen the writing on the wall, applying for the town manager position in Juno Beach in January, according to public documents. She noted in an email in that application that she declared bankruptcy in 2014 because of medical hardship. She used Pugh and Coz as references for the Juno Beach position.

Ladner has had similar positions in the small towns of Pahokee, Kenneth City in Pinellas County and in Michigan and Kansas.

Yet, her stay in Ocean Ridge has always been rocky. She was hired as a temporary town manager in August 2022.

Commissioners voted to make her position permanent in January 2023, but reversed themselves the next month over concerns that Ladner had acted at the urging of a minority of commissioners in asking departing Police Chief Richard Jones, who was resigning to take the same position in Gulf Stream, to leave quickly.

After an election the next month that put a new commissioner on the dais and shifted the commission’s balance of power, the majority gave her the job in April 2023.

Ladner, in her resignation letter, said she was proud of several accomplishments, including overseeing the implementation of new computer software, managing the bidding for the $2.9 million project to replace town water mains, and the $1.5 million purchase of land behind Town Hall for mangrove preservation.

“I leave this role with immense pride in what we have accomplished and with confidence in the Town’s bright future,” she concluded her resignation letter.

Ladner said after the April 7 meeting that she had employment opportunities but could not elaborate at the time.

New manager’s plans
The commission wasted little time pivoting, hiring Heiser after being wowed by her application, which included a 90-day action plan that looks to evaluate roles “to ensure the right people are in the right roles for the town’s current needs.”

Heiser seemed to be focused on improving staff morale to “cultivate culture and pride in public service focus.”

Pugh said Heiser was a candidate for the position two years ago but withdrew her name from consideration. She was recommended by Town Attorney Christy Goddeau.

“I thought she was terrific,” Coz said. “The interview went extremely well.”

On an extensive résumé, Heiser served as senior vice president of operations for National Vision from 2014 to 2018. She was a Port St. Lucie councilwoman from 2004 to 2016 and served as town manager for Sewall’s Point from 2019 to 2022. Recently, she has provided executive coaching.

Coz said that Heiser offered to go to the Florida City and County Management Association conference in Tallahassee from May 28-31.

“She said she knew a ton of people up there, and she could basically find us a permanent manager at that convention,” he said.

Heiser, reached on April 28, had yet to have one-on-one conversations with commissioners since her hire.

“Out of respect for them, I will wait to share any outcomes discovered,” she said. “I can say there is nothing extraordinary worrisome. The team is working well together and is energized for a good budget season.”

Volunteer patrol member Kenny Moskowitz hands a Delray Beach police sticker to a child, one way he and his colleagues engage with the public. Hannah Spence/The Coastal Star

By Hannah Spence

Delray Beach police are looking for a few good men — and women — to volunteer to be downtown and on the beach, welcoming visitors and residents alike, answering questions they might have. 

The department’s volunteer patrol teams engage in activities like recommending events and good places to eat, helping people find somewhere to park, and showing kindness to children. All volunteers carry stickers that resemble police badges that they give to the young people and residents they encounter while patrolling.

“Our job is to just be out there, show people that we care,” said Barry Tantleff, 83, who holds the title of volunteer major and runs the program. “We answer questions for them. It’s kind of like public relations work.” 

Tantleff was unsatisfied with retirement and started donating his time doing patrol work.

He says the patrol has a few dozen volunteers, but more are needed — especially with some of the current members heading north and not returning until fall.

Sam Fried, 73, who lives in the Palm Trail neighborhood, joined the volunteer program last December.

“It nourishes my soul to interact with people on the street,” he said. “Giving out these police stickers makes the kids so happy. When the kids are happy, the parents are happy.”

During his first week on patrol, Fried quickly realized he had made the right decision to join.

“Out on the beach, there was a dad with his 4-year-old son,” Fried said. “I approached them to give them a sticker, and without any prompting from the dad, the son looked up at me and said, ‘Thank you for your service.’ It was just wonderful.”

Sometimes, the volunteers never know who is going to need assistance. Patrol volunteer Kenny Moskowitz remembers the time a woman asked for his help finding her BMW on the same day someone had parked in the space for the golf cart he’s assigned while on patrol.

After asking her a few questions, he was able to confirm she had parked in his spot.

“I was originally going to find someone to give her a ticket, but decided against it,” said Moskowitz, 69, who lives west of the city. “She was a nice lady and did not see the sign saying, ‘Golf cart parking.’”

Moskowitz and Fried are among those heading north soon.

According to Tantleff, most of the people who now donate their time are male and of retirement age. He would like more diversity among the volunteers, and that they come “with a positive mindset” and want “to be a part of something different and interesting.”

Requirements to become a Police Department volunteer include filling out an application and submitting fingerprints for a background check. Once cleared, applicants must pass a driving test in the golf cart. They are also given a two-hour training session on volunteer duties. Participants must be at least 19 years old.

Tantleff’s group is  strictly volunteer, with no compensation, unlike the paid Downtown Delray Beach Safety Ambassador program paid in part through the Downtown Development Authority. 

Tantleff said patrol shifts are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Volunteers are required to do at least two shifts a week but can do more if they like. The golf carts patrol Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue east to the beach. Volunteers park their golf carts along the avenue while they get out and walk to better engage with the public.

The patrols also use a vehicle to go through shopping centers along Linton Boulevard and along the east side of Military Trail from Linton to Lake Ida Road.

At Unique Boutique on  East Atlantic Avenue, owner Karen Galvin appreciates the volunteers’ presence.

“The whole volunteer program is sensational because they keep us safe, and they make us aware of our surroundings,” said Galvin. “Just a great sense of peace and security on the avenue every day. The fact that these men and women are willing to do it for free, I think it’s fabulous.”

Last year, the volunteers started getting more involved with city events where they show their support while  dressed in their uniform of black bottoms and “Delray Beach police” shirts.

Recently, they participated in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, where they walked along the route and engaged with people.

Tantleff said being part of the police volunteer program “is more than just doing public service; it is being involved with a group of people that work together and form lasting friendship. Many of our volunteers tend to meet up for dinner or play a round of golf together. This program has been very good for me and my social life over the years.” 

To learn more

Please visit delraybeachfl.gov/government/city-departments/police/get-involved/delray-beach-police-volunteer-patrol 

As promised, the Ocean Ridge Town Commission passed an ordinance raising the fine for violating the town’s ban on dogs on the beach from $25 to $100.

A second offense rose from $50 to $200 and a third offense rose from $100 to $500.

“The $100 fine will at least hopefully dissuade someone from not respecting our town, and that’s the bottom line. It’s the respect factor,” Mayor Geoff Pugh said at the April 7 commission meeting.

Commissioner David Hutchins said that he had a run-in with a County Pocket resident insistent on taking his dog on the beach. When Hutchins said it was against the law, he said the man “got very close to violence. He was really upset. I mean, yelling at me in my face.”

The commission raised the fines after residents complained that dog owners didn’t mind taking the risk for $25. Police patrols looking for violators increased in March. There were 22 citations issued over five weeks before the fines were increased.

Police Chief Scott McClure at the April 14 special meeting of the commission said the first $100 citation was written that morning.

— John Pacenti

The Carlisle senior living facility in Lantana has changed hands and will undergo major upgrades, according to Max Newland of Ocean Ridge, part of the purchasing team. This will mean renovations to every unit, he said. Photo provided 

By Christine Davis

Eight years after its last sale, the Carlisle Palm Beach at 440 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana, has changed hands again. But this time the senior living facility sold for $67 million — $10 million less than the complex went for in 2017, when its sale price was $77.2 million.

The new owners are planning an extensive renovation.

New York-based Cerberus Capital Management and Ocean Ridge-based Newland Real Estate Capital purchased the 291-unit Carlisle in a deal recorded in April. The seller was Palm Beach FL Senior Property, care of Southlake, Texas-based Altus Group. 

Newland Real Estate Capital is led by Max Newland, who previously led senior living investments for Kayne Anderson Real Estate. 

One block west of the beach, and cater-corner from the Eau Palm Beach resort, the 235,071-square-foot Carlisle was built on the 7.15-acre site in 1999. 

Under the new ownership, Liberty Senior Living will be the property manager. The new owners plan to retain the staff.

“I acquired the building through a partnership that includes myself, Liberty and Cerberus Real Estate,” Newland said. “We are going to renovate 100% of the units and common areas that were not finished by the prior owner. We will be swapping old windows with an impact-rated product, upgrading elevators, repainting the exterior. We are reimaging the branding, too. The Carlisle has great bones and offers some of the largest units in the market. Its location and the market warrant a much nicer product, though.”

***

Casa Palm Tranquila Capital LLC, managed by Mike Gandolfo, bought the eight-bedroom, 12,421-square-foot oceanfront home at 2367 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach, in March for $28.5 million. 

The seller was Bos Property LLC, managed by Aogan D. Ohaolian. The house was built in 2001 and features a summer kitchen, pool, tiki hut, bar and a balcony. The home previously traded for $22 million in 2021. The seller was represented by Candace and Phillip Friis of The Corcoran Group. The buyer was represented by Jonathan Postma of Coldwell Banker Realty.

***                             

A trust in the name of David P. Pfeil, founder of Texas-based Southwest Consulting Associates, paid $15 million for a 12,786-total-square-foot estate at 4217 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. The sellers were real estate broker Robert C. Patek and Bianca Mercedes Patek, who were represented by Steve Gerken of Highland Beach Realty. 

The buyer worked with Michael O’Connor and Nicholas Malinosky of Douglas Elliman. The home, which was built on the 0.42-acre site in 1993, last traded for $2.8 million in 1998. 

***                       

ABC JS Auto Imports II LLC, managed by Christina M. Ribaudo of Las Vegas-based Superstore Auto Group, sold the 4.4-acre site at 2419-2613 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach, to Ultra Luxury Townhomes LLC, managed by Joseph Rocco, for $15 million in March. 

The deal included $7 million in seller financing. The land previously sold for $10 million in 2022. Ocean Delray Real Estate represented the seller.

***

The three-bedroom, 6,037-square-foot condo, unit No. 701, at 1000 S. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, sold for $13 million. The property was sold by Barry M. Smith, as trustee for the Barry M Smith Trust, with his wife, Neuza Pereira de Oliveira, who were represented by Douglas Elliman agent Senada Adzem. Smith bought the condo in 2013 for $7 million. The buyer, a Delaware LLC, 1000 Ocean Blvd 701, was represented by Jonathan Postma, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty.

***                              

A six-bedroom, 10,033-square-foot home with 123 feet of water frontage at 2525 Spanish River Road, Boca Raton, recently sold for $10.95 million. 

The seller was Carol A. Morse, who bought the property in 2008 for $10.3 million. The buyer is Parkwood Trust Co. as trustee of the 2001 Laurel Court Trust for the benefit of Anthony M. Beyer.

The home was designed by architect Carlos Martin and built by Frankel Estate Homes with interiors designed by Marc Michaels. Premier Estate Properties’ D’Angelo Liguori Team represented both sides in the deal.

***                             

The nine-story Glass House, 280 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, with 28 condominiums, broke ground in downtown Boca Raton with completion expected in the second quarter of 2027.

With units ranging from 2,504 to 3,865 square feet and priced $2.6 million to $7 million, it’s being constructed by 280 E Palmetto Park Road LLC, managed by Adam Gottbetter, Anthony Perera and Noam Ziv. 

Delray Beach-based Kaufman Lynn is the general contractor and West Palm Beach-based Garcia Stromberg is the architect. Douglas Elliman is leading the sales efforts for the project.

***                             

Facialworks, a facial bar and spa founded in 2013, opens it first Florida location in May at Mizner Park, 439 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. The brand operates five facial spas in Southern California. At the new location, in addition to having five facial bar chairs and two private treatment rooms, Facialworks sells products from its skin-care line created by Meghan Gilboa, master esthetician and Facialworks co-founder. For more information or to book an appointment, visit thefacialworks.com. 

***                             

Snitch, a Boca Raton-based startup launched in late March, offers residents a way to report local code violations.

 Addressing concerns stemming from Florida’s 2021 Senate Bill 60, which prohibits anonymous code enforcement complaints, Snitch can file accurate verified complaints from users under its name for a low fee, ensuring compliance with the law while protecting users’ identities.

“We’re not tattling — we’re fixing what’s broken, one report at a time,” said Chaz Stevens, who founded the Z Production Group that’s behind the company.

 For more information, visit JoeSnitch.com.

***                             

The Empire Development Group celebrated the opening of its new headquarters at 374 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, on April 17. The company’s founder and CEO, Marc Elkman, has already built and successfully exited businesses such as Fresh Meal Plan and 10 Orangetheory Fitness locations. With Empire Development Group, Elkman has self-capitalized and built more than $100 million in real estate inventory in just 24 months.

***                             

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown Merchant & Business Association hosts a Mother’s Day Orchid Giveaway through May 10. Shoppers who spend $200 or more at downtown businesses from May 1 to May 10 can receive a complimentary phalaenopsis orchid and enter to win a gift basket.

 For shoppers to pick up an orchid, they need to bring their receipts, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. May 8 to May 10, to any of the following locations: A Little Wyld at 157 NE Second Ave., Avalon Gallery at 425 E. Atlantic Ave., and KoKo Delray Shoe Store at 1049 E. Atlantic Ave.

 Receipts from restaurants, Green Market vendors, hotels or food/beverage venues are not eligible. For more information, visit downtowndelraybeach.com/mothersday.

***

The Boca Chamber will host its 2025 Business Awards Luncheon on June 6 at the Boca West Country Club. Three leaders will be honored for their innovation, leadership and community impact.  

Business Leader of the Year is Jason Aube, market president for Palm Beach County at Truist Bank. Business of the Year is The Boca Raton resort. Small Business Leader of the Year is Laureen Pannullo, owner of Confident Bookkeeping LLC.

 To attend the luncheon or for sponsorship opportunities, visit web.bocaratonchamber.com/events/BusinessAwards%20Luncheon-10633/details.

***

Heather Abbruzze has become a partner of Slatkow & Husak Public Relations. She oversees a team of five full-time and two part-time employees with managing partner Kelly
Husak, while helping to expand the company’s growth and client base. Abbruzze joined Slatkow & Husak PR as an account manager in 2013. She became the firm’s vice president in 2018. 

***                             

The Boca Raton-based home security company ADT appointed Fawad Ahmad as its chief operating and customer officer. Previously, Ahmad was State Farm’s chief strategy and transformation officer. ADT also named Omar Khan as its new chief business officer. Previously, Khan was senior adviser at Boston Consulting Group. These appointments follow the retirement of ADT’s chief operating officer, Donald Young, who will move to an adviser role during the transition.

***

Richwagen’s Bike & Sport, which has served generations of customers, celebrated its 65th anniversary on April 22. 

The family-owned business, at 298 NE Sixth Avenue, Delray Beach, sells everything from children’s bikes to high-end carbon fiber racing models, apparel and repair services. Also offered are daily and weekly beach cruiser rentals, along with high-performance road bike options.

 Albert Richwagen, operating manager, says working at the store on northbound Federal Highway is a labor of love.

“Delray Beach is home,” he says. “We’re proud to serve this community and look forward to continuing the legacy with great service, fair prices and expert knowledge.”

The business supports local nonprofits such as the Achievement Centers for Children & Families and plays a role in shaping Delray’s future. Richwagen serves on the Transportation Planning Agency Board, advocating for safer streets, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

The Richwagen family also operates Delray Beach Watersports Rentals on the south end of the beach.

Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Laura Simon, a Delray native, says Richwagen’s and other legacy businesses are the heart of downtown. “They carry the story of who we are,” she says. 

Richwagen’s is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit delraybeachbicycles.com.

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

When Ocean Ridge Police Officer Jimmy Pilon stopped a car on March 24 for having illegal window tinting, he was most likely thinking of issuing a routine warning or citation. 

Instead, Pilon noticed the smell of marijuana and a backpack. Inside the backpack were 20 grams of pot, $4,000 in cash and a loaded .40 semi-automatic handgun, said Police Chief Scott McClure.

“We sent that gun for forensic testing. It was involved in a shooting in Boynton and a shooting in Delray,” the chief said.

He announced the arrest at the April 7 Town Commission meeting. “So he was in your town,” McClure told commissioners. “So we got the juvenile in juvie hall and the gun off the streets.”

McClure said he could not offer further details because Pilon was in the process of obtaining search warrants and there were pending investigations in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

Pilon will be honored at the May commission meeting.

“It’s just good police work,” McClure said. Pilon “stopped over 100 cars last month and gave out 120 tickets. The traffic is just picking up. The car traffic and the foot traffic.”

— John Pacenti

Well, say one thing about the current iteration of the Ocean Ridge Town Commission: It’s a group of elected leaders who get along for the most part.

This was reflected in the unanimous vote to retain Mayor Geoff Pugh and Vice Mayor Steve Coz in their current positions at the April 7 commission meeting.

This is Pugh’s second stint as mayor. He previously served six years until resigning in 2018 to spend more time with his family. He rejoined the dais in 2021. He was reelected in March 2024.

Coz — who has previously served as mayor — retained his seat this year when nobody came forward to challenge him. He was first elected in 2016.

— John Pacenti

By John Pacenti

Emotions ran high at the April 8 Delray Beach City Commission meeting when a motion to strip $15,000 in funding from the Pride festival, which celebrates the LGBTQ community, was on the agenda.

Commissioner Juli Casale said she feared Gov. Ron DeSantis would eliminate state funding for the city if it continued to fund the June 14 Pride Festival & Concert.

Casale tried to remove the item from consideration at the start of the meeting, saying she wanted to explore if City Manager Terrence Moore could find private funding or if there were other options, such as just funding the concert.

Vice Mayor Rob Long wouldn’t let Casale remove the item, demanding a discussion. He said Moore put the item on the agenda after hearing a rumor about an attempt to lobby staff to cancel the event “without due process.”

“I got to be honest, I’m not comfortable with choosing which events we do based on what’s most politically expedient,” Long said. “I’m actually very disappointed that we’re even having this conversation.”

Casale said she helped bring the Pride event to the city and supports the LGBTQ community. She said she spoke to Delray Beach’s lobbyist, Mathew Forrest, who “expressed concerns.”

Forrest works for lobbying firm Ballard Partners, which has close ties to President Donald Trump and DeSantis — both of whom have supported policies and laws that have targeted the LGBTQ community.

Moore said at the April 8 meeting that he spoke with Forrest and that the lobbyist said “nothing terribly specific other than general observations, somewhat editorial.”

Forrest sent Moore an email the next day, saying Tallahassee would likely “not support organizations that it feels are using government funds to support programs, events, etc., that are inconsistent with policies of the State of Florida.”

Forrest cited a Feb. 24 executive order signed by DeSantis that created Florida’s version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency to report “unnecessary spending within county and municipal governments.”

Under such a policy, a municipality’s autonomy to sponsor events it deemed beneficial to its citizens would be subject to review by the hard-right DeSantis administration.

Casale said she was worried that DeSantis would cancel funding for projects in Delray Beach out of spite because the city financially supported the Pride festival.

DeSantis was behind the Parental Rights in Education Act, the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law that prohibited teachers from talking about LGBTQ subjects. When Walt Disney Co. opposed the law, DeSantis revoked its self-governing status.

Casale said she wanted to hear from Forrest how much funding could be at risk of DeSantis’ veto pen.

What was not discussed at the April 8 meeting, however, was the significance of LGBTQ tourism to Florida’s economy. While no estimates were available for Palm Beach County, 

Orlando alone says 6% of its total domestic visitors annually are LGBTQ and contribute more than $3.1 billion in direct visitor spending, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Long was asked if a boycott of Delray Beach because it pulled funding for its Pride festival would have a significant impact on businesses.

“Absolutely. I think the boycott would extend beyond just LGBTQ individuals,” he said. “I think there would be tangible implications to our business economy if we made that decision.”

Delray Beach resident Judy Mollica told the commission during the public comment portion of the April 8 meeting that she opposed any measure to pull financial support from the Pride festival, saying it would be a step backward to silence the LGBTQ community.

“It’s telling and deeply concerning that only one has been singled out. It feels less like a logistical decision and more like someone chose the easy target,” she said. “Pride isn’t just a celebration. It’s a statement of inclusion, acceptance and visibility.”

Mayor Tom Carney said he wanted to take a look at all city-sponsored events. Moore said that the events policy and city money allocated could be reviewed during the process to approve the fiscal year 2026 budget that starts in October.

Long, however, was steadfast in his views. “LGBTQ communities are under increasing attack,” he said. “It sends the wrong message for Delray Beach to even consider or even talk about pulling our modest support for an event that celebrates inclusion, pride and community spirit.”

Commissioner Angela Burns agreed, saying the issue goes beyond just the LGBTQ community. “We have created a tradition here in Delray Beach, and I don’t think that we should be retreating from those principles right now,” she said. “It reinforces a message of belonging and safety for all of our communities.”

Commissioner Tom Markert, though, said he wanted to hear from Forrest, the city’s lobbyist.

“We have an obligation, sitting up here as elected officials, to investigate data, and we had some data brought to us by a lobbyist,” he said.

By Mary Thurwachter

Slightly more than 2 square miles in size and with a population hovering around 12,000, Lantana may be small, but not without its charms. There’s that small “fishing village by the sea” vibe, for starters, a picturesque beach known to attract sunrise watchers and ocean swimmers, and a quaint downtown with enticing restaurants and shops.

“We may be tiny, but we’re mighty,” says Mayor Karen Lythgoe, She and other town leaders and staff holed up at the Finland House across the street from Town Hall for a visioning session on April 11.

Department heads and Town Council members took turns sharing their thoughts on what the town needs during the years ahead and where tax dollars might best be spent.

Town Manager Brian Raducci says the yearly session is a project he initiated after he came to Lantana in October 2021.

“This is a workshop,” he made clear, “so nothing we talk about today is set in stone.” A consensus by the Town Council, however, gave staff directions on what ideas to spend time pursuing.

One of those ideas, presented by Development Services Director Nicole Dritz — and receiving a consensus from the Town Council — was rebranding. Staffers from various departments have already formed a committee to talk about where the town is on branding and where it would like to go.

They talked about bringing in a marketing firm with experience in municipal branding to prepare guidelines and create a new logo. “More and more communities are moving away from using their seal as their logo,” as Lantana currently does, Dritz said.

The new logo would be used on everything from business cards and polo shirts to trash cans, bus benches and banners.

Bids would be sought for the work, which Dritz estimated would cost between $100,000 and $200,000.

There is research, Dritz said, that indicates good branding can help attract businesses, tourists and property owners.

Redeveloping downtown was also on the agenda, specifically four parcels on the north side of Ocean Avenue owned by sister-and-brother Marsha Stocker and Steven Handelsman. The town and the owners are seeking a developer to build a mix of apartments, shops and restaurants.

Since last year, the 12 decrepit cottages between Oak Street and Lake Drive have been torn down to make way for development, and a marketing firm has been secured by the owners.

“The owners want to develop the property and are considering a 49-year lease,” Raducci said. He said the council needs to be patient to find the right fit for the property.

While council members would like to limit the height of the buildings to four floors, they said they would consider five stories under certain circumstances.

Among other topics that came up during the workshop, council members:

• Agreed to investigate further development at the beach, considering what could be done with the entire 7 acres. Ideas included rebuilding the pavilion, relocating the Dune Deck, constructing an amphitheater and parking garage, and fortifying the boardwalk.

• Talked about selling three town-owned waterfront properties on North Lake Drive to help finance beach development. Selling the land, which Lantana purchased in 2012 for $965,000, would necessitate a change in the charter — and that would require a referendum.

• Suggested adding docks at Sportsman’s Park, an idea that also came up last year. Vice Mayor Kem Mason said the docks would be revenue producing.

• Considered adding video coverage of town meetings. Currently only audio coverage is available.

Stashing away cash for future needs — According to a report shared at a recent meeting by Lantana Finance Director Stephen Kaplan, the town has $14.4 million in reserves.

Last year the town added $2.6 million to the fund.

“When comparing this as a percentage to fiscal year 2025 budgeted expenditures, it can be used as a decent indicator of the town’s fiscal health,” Kaplan said. “The unassigned balance accounts for 87% of fiscal year 2025’s general fund originally adopted operating budget (not including debt or capital); however, even when including the total adopted budget, it still accounts for 81%.”

Kaplan said as the town grows the reserves, it will assist the funding of future years’ projects.

“In considering the budget for fiscal year 2024/25, the Town Council and management were conservative as to the growth of revenues and expenditures,” Kaplan said.

Having healthy reserves also helps Lantana secure better interest rates, should it need to get a bank loan.

Funding sought for sea wall — The council authorized sending in an application for money under the Florida Inland Navigation District’s Waterways Assistance Program. If approved, the funding would cover 50% of the costs associated with the construction of a new sea wall and upland park improvements at Bicentennial Park.

Employee of the first quarter honored — Tammy Reeves has worked in various divisions for the town for more than 20 years and is currently a key member of the Public Works Division’s maintenance team. On April 14, she was recognized during a Town Council meeting as the top employee during the first quarter of 2025.

Co-workers call her the town’s beautification specialist because she has a desire to make Lantana look its best.

Her bosses say she is one of the hardest-working and most outgoing members of the team.

— Mary Thurwachter

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton City Manager George Brown will retire at year’s end, ending a 43-year career with the city.

Brown, 74, announced his departure at the April 8 City Council meeting, allowing time for the executive search firm Mercer Group Associates to conduct a search for candidates to replace him.

Under the schedule laid out by Brown, council members would interview possibly as many as five candidates in July and finalize a contract with their top choice in September.

Brown’s retirement was expected. When he officially assumed the top job on Jan. 1, 2024, eight months after the council selected him to succeed Leif Ahnell, Brown indicated that he intended to serve a short time.

Yet Brown’s tenure will be long enough that, if all goes as planned, he will have overseen the completion of a final deal with Terra and Frisbie Group to redevelop the 30-acre downtown government campus — the city’s highest priority project.

The council heaped praise on Brown.

“Whoever comes in has big shoes to fill,” said Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas. “I appreciate your expertise, your knowledge and guidance.”

“What we have here is a person who has dedicated his life to the city,” said Council member Marc Wigder.

“You have done an enormous amount of fantastic service to this city,” said Council member Andy Thomson.

Brown quickly shared credit with city staff. “It is a team effort. It was not just me,” he said.

And he vowed to remain engaged.

“I am not going to be disconnecting from the city,” he said. “I intend to remain involved, committed. I can’t get it out of my blood so that is just something that is going to have to happen.”

Brown joined the city’s building inspection division in 1977 and rose through the ranks to become assistant city manager. He left for five years, but was recruited to return and became deputy city manager in 2004.

He has handled many of the city’s most complex matters, including the sale of the city’s western golf course in 2021 and the lease of city land in Mizner Park in 2022 that at the time cleared the way for construction of The Center for Arts and Innovation. That project, however, came to a halt earlier this year when TCAI was unable to meet city-set fundraising deadlines.

In another key administrative change, the city has hired Jorge Camejo as deputy city manager.

Camejo effectively will take over Brown’s responsibilities when he held that position, overseeing major projects — especially in the downtown.

Camejo has a 28-year history with the city, serving as executive director of the Community Redevelopment Agency, which oversees the downtown, from 1989 to 1998, and as director of development services from 1998 to 2010.

He left to become executive director of the Hollywood CRA, a position he held until his return to Boca Raton.

Rules governing downtown development expire in 2028 and the CRA will cease to exist in 2039. Camejo will have a major role in revamping the development rules and the city’s eventual takeover of the CRA’s functions.

Camejo’s ”vast experience in urban redevelopment and his deep understanding of our community’s vision makes him the ideal candidate to help guide growth and development in downtown Boca Raton,” Brown said in a statement.

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton’s disjointed efforts to make the downtown more vibrant, walkable and inviting are about to get a reset.

The City Council has hired Speck Dempsey, an urban design and planning firm, to help transform the downtown into a memorable destination. The five-year agreement is for $284,965.

The consulting firm is led by Jeff Speck, the author of Walkable City, who many consider to be the guru of walkable urbanism.

That’s what former Deputy Mayor Monica Mayotte repeatedly pressed her fellow council members to do before she left office, to no avail.

“I am overjoyed that Jeff Speck is now going to be engaged in this project for our downtown. He is the right person to do this,” she told council members at their April 7 meeting. 

“It makes me very happy the effort I started is now coming to fruition.”

That sentiment was echoed by architect Juan Caycedo, a member of a group of professionals known as Workshop 344+, who have created their own ideas for how to revitalize East Palmetto Park Road.

“We should have hired him to start with to design this street,” he said. “I am sure when we see the ideas from Jeff Speck, we will be looking at what we really need to do in our city.”

Former Deputy Mayor Andrea O’Rourke, who launched Workshop 344+, also was pleased.

“We are collectively very happy to welcome Jeff Speck on board as a consultant,” she said.

But Speck Dempsey won’t be working alone. The firm will be teamed up with Alta Planning + Design, hired by the city two years ago to re-envision East Palmetto Park Road.

While Speck Dempsey does work with other consultants elsewhere, the situation in Boca Raton is a bit awkward.

When Alta presented three redesign options in November, council members were so underwhelmed that they sidestepped a selection decision.

Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas indirectly noted that at the council meeting, saying, “We wanted to see something more significant. …

“I hope when you do come back it will really be what we are looking for — a sense of place, really iconic and a place that is a landmark for our city.”

She hoped the two consultants would “really work together” to do that.

“That is certainly our intent,” said Alta principal Alia Awwad.

The project, though, is about more than just East Palmetto Park Road.

Its scope has been expanded to include much of downtown, including the 30-acre government campus that is in the process of being redeveloped to include new government buildings, residential, retail, hotel and office.

Alta already is looking at additional downtown streets and parts of West Palmetto Park Road.

The two firms will do a downtown walkability assessment and traffic and mobility reviews of the government campus.

That will include reviewing traffic and mobility plans being drafted by Terra and Frisbie Group, the joint venture selected to do the campus project.

Saying the Terra/Frisbie proposal is “high quality,” Speck added, “We are excited to look at it, kick the tires a bit … to see if we can integrate it into the downtown.”

The firms will work with the city to hold a 21/2-day design charette, possibly to take place in June, that includes an open-to-the-public, half-day walkability tour along East Palmetto Park Road.

Savanna Cousino, 12, of Coconut Creek rides her skateboard April 27 at Tim Huxhold Skate Park in Boca Raton. The park is downtown on property slated for redevelopment. It has skateboarding, rollerblading spaces, and shuffleboard courts. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

As Boca Raton officials move quickly to redevelop their 30-acre downtown government campus, the most vociferous and sustained objections to the massive project have come from users of the recreational facilities there that will be relocated to free up space for a new City Hall, Community Center, residential units, retail, an office building and a hotel.

Avid tennis players who use the 10-court Boca Raton Tennis Center were the first to speak out, demanding the city keep and enlarge the tennis center where it is, or at least relocate it nearby.

They now have been joined by users of Tim Huxhold Skate Park, which also faces banishment to a new location.

Skateboarders and their parents have shown up in force at meetings of the City Council and the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, even though the district is not the agency responsible for the relocation decision.

“This is a passionate group,” District Commissioner Craig Ehrnst said at an April 7 meeting, adding that it would be a “shame” not to do something for them.

The next night, supporters spoke their minds to City Council members.

“There is a huge, passionate community that is going to lose a park when it closes for the new city development,” said Toni Fralliciardi, the mother of two skateboarders. “I really think investing in a place for them to call home is really important.

“We are one of the most underserved areas in the country per capita for skaters,” she said. “We need to build something state-of-the-art that brings people to Boca.”

“It is a beloved part of our city,” said Rachel Bennett, whose son has used the skate park since he was in kindergarten. “There is a whole community of skaters and they are going to miss that little park and deserve to have something bigger and better built.”

Supporters have come to realize that any effort to keep the park at its current location is doomed. So they have coalesced around the idea that this is an opportunity to get a new, better park, replacing one that opened in 1998 and is antiquated.

They have a long list of reasons why it is important to keep skateboarding in Boca.

It’s an Olympic sport, debuting in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Better skate parks are being built in many Florida cities, and Boca should not be left behind. The sport supports mental and physical health. It teaches kids resiliency. Good skate parks have become destinations, and boost the local economy.

The city is working with the Beach and Park District to find new locations for the skate park, tennis center and ballfields.

They are jointly developing a conceptual recreation plan focusing on parks that have enough space for new amenities and are analyzing where downtown recreation facilities could fit in.

Nothing is final yet, but it is all but certain the softball fields would go to Sugar Sand Park, at Military Trail and Palmetto Park Road. A location for the tennis courts hasn’t been decided, but City Manager George Brown has promised that the city will replace all the 10 existing courts.

District commissioners unanimously agreed on April 7 that they want the skate park in North Park, the former Ocean Breeze golf course site north of Yamato Road, and that the city should help them pay for the project.

The city supports the North Park location, and the city and district are now discussing how the cost will be split.

Platform Group, which designs and builds skate parks, has told the district that the cost of one ranges from $3 million to $3.6 million, but the actual cost of a new Boca Raton skate park will depend on its final design, said Briann Harms, the district’s executive director.

By Mary Hladky

Mayor Scott Singer proposed redesigning the city flag late last year as a way to bolster civic engagement and community pride during Boca Raton’s centennial year.

Instead, his idea rankled many residents, who thought the time and effort could better be spent on addressing city problems such as traffic congestion, homelessness and what many see as overdevelopment.

“Why is this important and why now?” resident Joe Majhess asked the City Council on April 8. “It is clearly not what the citizens want.

“Our message is simple. Enough. Enough of the madness, enough of the dissension and enough wasting taxpayer dollars.”

“Our flag is nice and historic,” said resident Paul Nolan. Holding up images of four of the proposed design options, he added, “That is hideous.”

City Council members, who had endorsed Singer’s proposal in December, heard the message and pulled the plug on the project on April 21.

The new design options “are fine,” said Council member Andy Thomson, “but not so overwhelmingly better than the existing flag to justify a change.”

The flag redesign is a “distraction” from other important projects, said Council member Yvette Drucker. “At this point, the flag is not a priority, at least not for me.”

“Sometimes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Council member Marc Wigder. “I am kind of in that camp right now.”

Singer felt the city flag did not meet current flag design standards and had enlisted flag experts to suggest alternatives. The city’s centennial marketing consultant Merit Mile was brought in to launch the project and get residents involved in the effort.

That’s when the negative comments started rolling in, surprising Singer.

But he declared victory anyway.

The project engaged residents, he said. “I consider this a success.”