Architect Stephen Schwartz, set to appear Jan. 25 in Delray Beach, uses Legos to build a symbolic version of old Jerusalem as a teaching tool to reach children. Photo provided

You can’t build Rome in a day, but you can build the Old City of Jerusalem, if you have help and you use Legos. 

Architect Stephen Schwartz brings one of his projects — using Legos to build a 20-foot-by-20-foot depiction of the Old City of Jerusalem — to Cason United Methodist Church on Jan. 25, and you are invited to help. 

“This program is not just for kids,” said Emily Popolizio, the church’s director of family ministries. “It’s meant to be interfaith and intergenerational.” 

The display is part of a learning module for Cason Kids Care, a group that Popolizio started three years ago to teach Christian principles of kindness and service to kids aged 5-11.

The group meets on two Saturdays a month, and the project for this month is centered on learning more about Jerusalem as the home of four religions and in light of the war. 

“If we cannot learn to respect each other, it’s not a world I want my granddaughter to grow up in,” she said. “That’s the whole point of Cason Kids Care — raising caring kids.” 

The depiction, which is laid out on a large drawing that re-creates the ancient city, has a Lego wall and Lego structures, from the eight gates of the city to the Kotel, Tower of David and Beit Hamikdosh. Many other landmark elements are included. 

Schwartz is the founder of Building Blocks Workshops LLC based in Livingston, New Jersey. He is a graduate of the School of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis.

He has years of experience as a licensed architect in more than five states and a CV full of civic and educational volunteer work, but now he reconstructs cities and notable places out of Legos. 

Schwartz will lead the activity from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 25, at 342 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Free. Info: 561-276-5302 or casonumc.org. 

The city will be on display until the afternoon of Jan. 26. 

Note: LEGO is a trademark of the LEGO Group of Companies, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs.

Unity of Delray to host traditional new year rites

Unity of Delray Beach, at 101 NW 22nd St., hosts two popular new year ceremonies in January. Both are free and open to the public. 

The ceremonies are:

The Burning Bowl Ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. Jan. 8. The Burning Bowl is a satisfying way of releasing old hurts and anger into the universe by writing the hurt on a piece of parchment and burning it in a special bowl blessed for the occasion.

This makes room for divine love, healing and acceptance. This is usually followed by a prayer for prosperity and success in the new year.   

The White Stone Ceremony is at 7 p.m. Jan. 15. This is a special evening of self-awareness that has its roots in an ancient practice of selecting a new name, which was written on a white stone tablet and signified one’s freedom from the past.

As they begin a new year, participants make a commitment and declare what their focus will be by calling forth a new name. Some people write on the stone what they want to achieve: Peace, Perspective, Balance, Forgiveness, Hope. 

For more information, call 561-276-5796 or visit unityofdelraybeach.org.

Guest theologian coming to First Presbyterian 

First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach welcomes its first Distinguished Preacher of the new year when the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Walton comes to the pulpit at 9 and 11 a.m. Jan. 12.

Walton is an accomplished author, ethicist and religious scholar and is the president of Princeton Theological Seminary. He has taught at several universities and colleges, including Princeton University, the University of California, and Harvard.

He formerly served as dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity. 

First Presbyterian Church of Delray is at 33 Gleason St.; 561-276-6338 or firstdelray.com

B’nai Torah Congregation’s 2025 Concert Series begins

Tickets for B’nai Torah Congregation’s 2025 Concert Series are on sale. The four performances take place in the sanctuary at 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. A virtual option is offered. Performances are: 

• Jazz pianist and composer Leonid Ptashka at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15.

• ABBAFAB, The Music of ABBA at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12.

• Cantor Shai Abramson at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26.

• Cantor Magda Fishman, Maestro Tomer Adaddi and Friends at 7:30 p.m. March 11.

Tickets range from $30 to $80 for members and $40 to $105 for guests at www.btcboca.org/cs. For more information, call 561-392-8566 or visit btcboca.org.

Martin Luther King Day celebrations in Boca 

The City of Boca Raton joins with Temple Beth El and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church for a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 20. 

A community breakfast takes place at 8-10 a.m. at Ebenezer, 200 Ruby St. Sponsored by Developing Interracial Social Change, the breakfast has the theme “Don’t Give Up on the Dream.” 

A Unity March takes place at 10 a.m. from the MLK Jr. Monument at 200 Ruby St. to Mizner Park Amphitheater. The march will feature the Boca Raton Community High School Band & Color Guard. Trolley service is available for people requiring assistance.

At 10:30 a.m., the ceremony begins at the amphitheater with keynote speaker Dr. Alisha Winn. A mayoral proclamation, speeches by community leaders, poetry, music and the presentation of the humanitarian award are also planned. 

The Unity Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. features rides and games, a craft station, community booths, performances, and food and drink for purchase. tbeboca.org/event/the-city-of-boca-raton-hosts-mlk-jr-day.

Afternoon with Gershwin set for First Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach invites you to spend the afternoon with George Gershwin’s music performed on piano and by a chamber orchestra and some of South Florida’s best singers.

At 4 p.m. Jan. 26, you’ll be transported by the “Fascinating Rhythm of George Gershwin,” featuring the most popular selections from the Gershwin repertoire. Tickets are $30 each at firstdelray.com/concerts/reserve-concert-tickets.

The church is at 33 Gleason St.; 561-276-6338 or firstdelray.com

Annual Grace Race taking registrations 

Registration is open for the annual Grace Race 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk at 8 a.m. Feb. 15. One hundred percent of the race proceeds benefit 4KIDS of South Florida’s work in helping families in crisis; Trail Life Troop FL 0633, a father-son program; and the outreach efforts of Amped Student Ministries.

Hosted by Grace Community Church Boca, the race is for all ages and fitness levels. The event features food, refreshments, a bounce house and music by a DJ.

The race begins and ends at the church, 600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton. For more information, call 561-395-2811 or visit graceboca.org.

Register for the Grace Race ($30 for the 5K) at runsignup.com/Race/FL/BocaRaton/GraceRace5KRunWalk

Boca church seeks helpers in hosting world summit  

The annual summit for WorldLead will be held Feb. 13-21 at Boca Raton Community Church, 470 NW Fourth Ave.

Pastor Bill Mitchell started WorldLead with BRCC in 2011. Today, WorldLead works with more than 100 leaders in 39 nations on six continents to develop Christian leaders. “WorldLead is a leadership process, not a leadership program,” its website says. 

As part of BRCC’s international ministry, the church hosts the annual summit, which brings leaders to Boca for special training.

WorldLead and the church need your help. Volunteers are needed to host international guests, provide transportation to and from the airport, purchase snacks from Costco, provide baked goods, and set up and tear down for various events. If you can help, contact the church at 561-395-2400 or bocacommunity.org/this-week.

— Christine Davis

Larissa Cerant, of Delray Beach, plans to study at the University of Florida. Her work at Atlantic High has earned her special recognition from the Rotary Club of Delray Beach. Photo provided

By Faran Fagen

When Larissa Cerant imagines the foster kids staring at their reflections in the mirror and spraying perfume onto their necks as they face the day, she smiles.

“One volunteer experience that shaped my life was when I donated items like perfume and lotion to foster kids,” said Cerant, a senior at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach. “It taught me the importance of giving and how small gestures can bring happiness to others. Volunteering is important to me because it allows me to help others in my community and make a positive impact.”

Cerant, 17, has been an honors student at Atlantic since the start of her high school career.

She has devoted 600 hours of volunteering through club and outreach programs and was recently named Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Delray Beach for the fall of 2024.

She plans to attend the University of Florida to study nutrition science and/or business management, aiming to have her own business.

“I want to inspire others to pursue their dreams and lead healthier lives by providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed,” Cerant said.

Her most impactful volunteering experience came on Halloween. She set up games for little kids during the spooky holiday and assisted with cleanup afterward.

“Seeing the children enjoy themselves and knowing I contributed to a memorable event for them made it a meaningful experience,” Cerant said. “Helping those in need brings me a sense of purpose and fulfillment.”

Cerant, who boasts a high school grade point average of 3.75 (3.96 weighted), encountered her own share of obstacles on her journey to achieving her goals.

They included bullying, the loss of her grandpa this past year, navigating an individualized education plan, and struggling with self-confidence.

“To overcome these challenges, I sought therapy at my school and practiced daily affirmations to build my self-esteem,” Cerant said. “These steps helped me grow stronger and more resilient.”

Cerant also received accolades outside of Atlantic High.

At McDonald’s, where she has worked since the summer of 2023, she was awarded Employee of the Month for exceptional drive-thru cashier service, and processing orders efficiently and accurately.

She was recognized for academic excellence by the National Achievers Society, was named senior point recording secretary for the National Honor Society, and has been a multiyear runner for the Eagles’ cross-country and track teams.

As a Safe Schools ambassador, Cerant intervened in incidents of bullying and cyberbullying, and in promoting a safe and respectful school environment.

She also educated peers on the importance of kindness and inclusivity, reducing instances of mistreatment.

In addition to her 600 volunteer hours — the equivalent of 25 full days — she’s proud of being named Student of the Month, earning No Tardy of the Month, and achieving perfect attendance.

“These accomplishments reflect my dedication and consistency throughout my high school journey,” Cerant said. “I believe I earned Student of the Month because I made an effort to get along with my teachers, stay consistent with my work, and always be open to trying new things.”

As far as advice for underclassmen, Cerant said to “be yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things. Stepping out of your comfort zone will help you discover your strengths and passions.”

Cerant lives near downtown Delray Beach with her family, which includes mom Lifaite Boulin, dad Michelet Cerant, and brothers Rony Jean and Michael Cerant.

On her résumé, she lists these skills: leadership, collaboration, customer service, time management, problem solver, communication, Google C-Suite, Canva, Instagram Reels and Video Editing.

Above all, if you look at all she’s accomplished as a student, Cerant is a volunteer who wants to help others. 

Jeera Shenoy enjoys the mind-calming effects of working in a Boca Raton community garden. Photo provided

By Jan Engoren

From Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking to the Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness, and songs such as Annie’s (The Sun’ll Come Out) Tomorrow, or Monty Python’s Always Look at the Bright Side of Life, much has been written about the power of optimism. 

The Harvard Health newsletter reports that people with an optimistic outlook enjoy healthier and longer lives. 

A study published in 2019, in the journal PNAS involving more than 70,000 people, found that those who rated themselves as having high optimism were more likely to live to age 85 or older compared with less optimistic individuals.  

And, while an optimistic or pessimistic outlook may be partially genetic, researchers believe that it doesn’t have to be a life sentence — people can learn to improve their outlooks  and thus their health outcomes.

Dr. Raphael Wald, a neuro-psychologist with Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health in Boca Raton, notes that if our minds didn’t play a role in our well-being there would be no such thing as the placebo effect.

“If I get the flu, instead of dwelling on how sick I feel, I think, OK, this is an opportunity for me to rest for a couple of days,” Wald says. 

“There’s no other time when I can sit in bed. If I have a positive approach, I feel better faster.”

To improve your cognitive, physical and psychological outlooks, Wald recommends walking at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

“Walking is also one of the greatest ways we have to combat, delay or prevent dementia, depression and anxiety and improve heart and overall health,” he says.

For Boca Raton resident Jeera Shenoy, 43, a mother of seven, it wasn’t walking, but gardening that helped her through a difficult period.

Suffering from domestic violence abuse for seven years, she separated from her partner this past year and found healing in gardening.

Due to the abuse and stress, she developed panic attacks, wasn’t able to drive on Interstate 95, couldn’t venture more than a mile from home, would cry, and developed ulcers and gastrointestinal distress.

“Gardening saved me,” Shenoy says. “I turned to gardening and community service to keep me grounded.”

She has a garden plot at the Pearl City Community Garden in Boca Raton and hopes to volunteer along with her oldest daughter at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center butterfly garden. 

A student of biology, Shenoy collects rare herbs and carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps, pitcher plants and sundews. 

She helps homeless people she has met near her garden find low-cost hotels, medication, shoes and electric scooters to use. Under the name “iAmSomebody” on TikTok, she calls herself, “Mom supporting Boca’s homeless with hope.”

And while it can be hard to let go of negativity, Shenoy says, “Go outside. Ground yourself.  Look at the sky.  Look beyond yourself.”

She recommends tuning out extraneous noise and distractions.

“Turn off the TV and radio, turn off your phone and focus on you and your potential,” she says. “Be thankful, count your blessings and realize what you do have.” 

Also counting her blessings is neonatal ICU nurse Kaitlyn Nasto, 22, originally from Boynton Beach and now working at a hospital in Orlando.

Nasto, who knew she wanted to be a nurse since ninth grade at Santaluces High School, works the overnight shift from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. three times a week and sees many sad moments, but also joyful times.

“I fell in love with the NICU,” she says. “I found my calling; I was meant to be here.”

Now, after graduating from UCF College of Nursing and working for a year, Nasto still has the same excitement and passion for her work.

“I feel so grateful to have this job,” she says, while home in Boynton Beach for the holidays.

She’s a firm believer in holistic nursing — incorporating both the mind and body in healing — and believes in staying positive when working with patients and families.

“A positive attitude creates a more positive environment and a better space for healing,” she says. Noting that babies, even premature ones, can pick up on your stress, Nasto believes in “being a light in a time of darkness.”

A spiritual person, Nasto prays to stay grounded, does affirmations, keeps a positive mindset and celebrates the little milestones of her charges.

She remembers a preemie under her care who wasn’t taking a bottle and was in poor health. She wasn’t sure whether the baby would be able to go home without a feeding tube.

She and the parents talked to the baby and encouraged him, stayed positive and celebrated small victories. Over a course of weeks, the baby was able to finish a bottle and go home sans feeding tube.

Nasto, who likes to spend time with family and friends when not working, has this advice for staying positive: “Focus on the things that are meaningful to you and make you happy.”

“We only have one life,” she says. “It’s so much better to have a positive mindset and focus on the joy.  It can reduce stress and improve your health.”    

Tips to become more positive: Focus on the good; practice gratitude; laugh; spend time with positive people; practice positive self-talk; smile; start each day on a positive note. Your outlook may not change overnight, but with practice and mindfulness, you can learn how to improve it.

Jan Engoren writes about health and healthy living. Send column ideas to jengoren@hotmail.com.

Dr. Yoel Vivas (fourth from left) with assistants at Delray Medical Center’s Electrophysiology Department. Vivas performed an atrial fibrillation operation that destroyed problem areas in the heart and implanted a device to block clots. From left are Jeanna Goudey, Dora Jean-Charles, Darcy Nikes, Vivas, Abigail Catalano, Jorge Molina, Sima Ramsi, Juanita Walker, Antonia Stypelkoski and Brianna Mezter. Photo provided

Delray Medical Center now offers a procedure to treat patients with atrial fibrillation — a condition that causes irregular heartbeats — by combining two treatments in one surgery. 

A-fib causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat in an irregular fashion, preventing blood from freely flowing to the lower chambers of the heart.

This can cause a blood clot to form in the heart’s top left chamber. If a clot forms and breaks off in the bloodstream, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. 

The first procedure of this kind at the hospital was performed by Dr. Yoel Vivas, a cardiologist and heart rhythm specialist who serves as the director of Delray Medical Center’s Electrophysiology Department.

He used the hospital’s Farapulse pulsed field ablation system to target and destroy the problem areas in the heart without damaging nearby tissues. 

The system, which received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January 2024, uses electric fields, not heat. 

In the same procedure, Vivas placed a Watchman implant in the patient’s left atrial appendage.

This device helps block blood clots from forming and may reduce the need for blood thinners. Over time, new heart tissue grows over the implant, permanently sealing off the area and lowering the risk of stroke.

JFK Hospital receives specialty treatment honors  

HCA Florida JFK Hospital has received several specialty excellence awards from Healthgrades. The hospital placed among the top 5% nationally for surgical care, spine surgery and overall orthopedic services.

It placed among the nation’s top 10% for cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, cardiac services, pulmonary services, coronary intervention and treatment of stroke. 

The hospital was also rated five stars for 18 services including colorectal surgeries, gallbladder removal, treatment of sepsis, respiratory failure and diabetic emergencies. 

Additionally, JFK Hospital was ranked No. 4 in Florida for orthopedic and spine surgery. 

Delray Medical lauded for  vascular care 

In December, Delray Medical Center was identified as a Carotid Care Quality Champion by the Society of Vascular Surgery’s clinical registry recognition program. 

“This recognition is only awarded to facilities that are demonstrating their commitment to quality through use of our carotid registries and leveraging real-world data to inform needed adjustments in care delivery,” said Dr. Jens Eldrup-Jorgensen, the registry’s medical director. 

In 2018, Delray Medical Center completed a trans carotid artery revascularization, performed by Dr. Joseph Ricotta. Since then, the hospital has been designated a TCAR Center of Excellence every year by Silk Road Medical, the manufacturer of the TCAR. 

In 2020, Ricotta received the national TCAR Clinical Operator of Excellence distinction, also awarded by Silk Road Medical. He has been named a Castle Connolly “America’s Top Doctor” 13 years in a row and earned a position on Newsweek’s “America’s Best Vascular Surgeons 2024” list.

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

— Christine Davis

By Steve Waters

Whether you’re looking to catch multiple sailfish in a tournament or want to catch only one of South Florida’s iconic sport fish, there are many little things you can do to put the odds in your favor.

Sailfish typically migrate to the region in late fall and early winter, with January through April a prime time to catch them.

Although the fish will bite trolled lures and chunks of dead bait, no serious sailfish angler would leave the dock without live bait.

Many of the 50 boats competing in the West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s Silver Sailfish Derby, which is Jan. 9-10, will go out on Lake Worth Inlet each day with several dozen live baits. 

And they might need them all. 

Over the years, the tournament has had some incredible catches, with a one-day record of 36 sailfish releases and a one-day average of 14 fish per boat.

Capt. Skip Dana of Deerfield Beach, who has numerous tournament victories to his credit, likes to use a variety of live baits such as goggle-eyes, threadfin herring and sardines.

If there’s enough wind, he’ll fly a fishing kite, which has fishing lines attached to get them far away from the boat. Dana likes to put out two kites with three lines on each. 

The goggle-eyes, which are bigger, will go on the far kite lines because they stay in the water better. The herring might be on the middle kite lines or short lines, and the smaller sardines will be on the short lines.

Most anglers want their kite baits splashing on the surface because that attracts sailfish, but some say they get more bites with their baits several feet under the surface. 

Capt. John Louie Dudas of Miami, who has won countless sailfish tournaments, has a sensible reason why he fishes his kite baits on top or just below the surface.

“If a bait is 6 feet down,” Dudas said, “a fish can get tangled in the leader.”

Standard sailfish tackle is a conventional outfit with 20-pound monofilament line and a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. 

Most anglers put a foam float or tie a ribbon on the main line above the swivel that is connected to the leader so they can keep track of the kite baits, but Capt. David Doll of Lighthouse Point does not. 

That’s because he once hooked a big kingfish on a kite line marked with a chartreuse ribbon. As the fish swam away, taking the ribbon under the water, a second kingfish came along and bit the ribbon, cutting the line.

Hooking sailfish is fairly easy with circle hooks. Instead of yanking back on the fishing rod when a sailfish grabs a bait, you only need to reel to set a circle hook. Just don’t start reeling too soon, because that can take the bait out of the fish’s mouth. 

Dudas said to make sure the fish is swimming away from you before you reel. “You want some type of angle,” Dudas said, “so if the fish is coming to you, don’t reel.”

All sailfish anglers agree that you want your live baits to be lively. If you’re kite fishing, you can reel the baits into the air to make sure they’re wiggling.

If they look tired, replace them, because fresh baits react naturally to sailfish. If a sailfish approaches a lethargic bait that doesn’t try to get away, the sail instinctively knows that something isn’t right and won’t bite.

To make his baits act as natural as possible, Doll uses small 3/0 and 4/0 circle hooks instead of the more typical 5/0 to 7/0 sizes.

“The idea is to have baits as lively and unencumbered as can be, so when a sailfish comes up, the bait reacts and triggers a strike,” he said. “When they’re biting like crazy, it doesn’t matter, but when fishing is tough, it does.” 

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

Built by Dan Swanson, this property offers a formal stone-floor foyer with a spiral staircase and traditional stained-glass windows and lighting that merge timeless elegance with modern sophistication. There is also an elevator available for access to the second floor.

Spanning more than 12,400 square feet of living space and offering more than 18,000 total square feet, the main residence of this estate has a new roof and offers five luxurious ensuite bedrooms.

A separate guest house has three bedrooms, three baths and a living area with kitchen and dual entrances. The combination provides the ultimate flexibility for today’s contemporary lifestyle. 

The first floor showcases breathtaking ocean views through all major rooms. The ocean-facing living room is anchored by a beautifully crafted fireplace with detailed millwork. 

The chef’s kitchen is equipped with custom cabinetry, two large islands, and top-tier appliances. Adjacent to the kitchen, the spacious loggia with summer kitchen and bar is framed by French doors, allowing an effortless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, while providing an uninterrupted connection to the outdoors for entertaining.

Upstairs, the primary suite serves as a private retreat with his-and-her, spa-like bathrooms, spacious walk-in closets, a sitting area with a fireplace, and a private balcony with stunning ocean views.

The second floor also includes four additional ensuite bedrooms and a cozy sitting area. Additional estate amenities include impact windows, a five-car garage, motor court, elevator, and a full-house generator. Offered at $32,995,000. 

Contact Candace Friis at the Corcoran Group, 561-573-9966; 400 Royal Palm Way, Suite 110, Palm Beach, FL 33480. candace.friis@corcoran.com; or visit candacefriis.com

A Delray Beach Fire Rescue ladder truck sits demolished along the Florida East Coast Railway tracks downtown after being struck by a Brightline passenger train on Saturday morning. Three firefighters and a dozen train passengers were taken to the hospital. Fire hoses litter the the tracks alongside the hard-to recognize body of the fire truck. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

A northbound Brightline train crashed into a Delray Beach Fire Rescue ladder truck Saturday morning, sending three firefighters and a dozen train passengers to the hospital, officials said.

The crash occurred at the Florida East Coast Railway crossing at Southeast First Street, a block south of busy East Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach, at about 10:45 a.m., according to a city news release.

“Three Delray Beach firefighters were transported to a local hospital, where they remain in stable condition,” according to the official release. “Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provided assistance, transporting 12 individuals from the train to the hospital with minor injuries.”

Two Delray Beach firefighters walk past a portion of the fire truck's ladder, which was broken in two and knocked off the top of the truck.

The accident and investigation have led to traffic back-ups downtown. Both Southeast First Street and Atlantic Avenue near the FEC tracks were blocked to traffic as of early Saturday afternoon and police are advising downtown motorists to use Southeast Second Street or Northeast First Street to cross the FEC tracks.

Officials said an active investigation is underway involving the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Delray Beach police and officials from Brightline.

The roads are expected to reopen to traffic once the investigation and any necessary cleanup are complete, officials said.

--Staff report

A Brightline train came to rest blocking Atlantic Avenue after striking a Delray Beach fire truck. The train's cracked windshield and pushed-in front showed the power of the impact.

 Correction: An earlier version of this story had incorrect street listings due to misinformation on city social media accounts.

An assortment of businesses, including beauty salons, jewelry and clothing stores, and restaurants offer a variety of goods and services at the Plaza del Mar shopping plaza, 201 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

Tenants say they have been informed that Manalpan’s shopping center, Plaza del Mar, is being sold.

Rumors had been rampant for weeks of the sale of the 102,000-square-foot property across from the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Opened in 1982, the plaza is known for its upscale shops, unique dining and the closest Publix for residents along the coast.

An owner of a restaurant and an owner of a boutique said they have been told the buyers are K&K Developers. No official record of the sale has been recorded with the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office as of Wednesday, and no additional information was known about the buyer.

The property is owned by the investment entity MSKP Plaza del Mar and managed by Kitson & Partners. Kitson did not return phone calls for comment. MSKP Plaza del Mar bought the property in 2006 for $37.7 million, according to property records.

The Palm Beach Property Appraiser's Office lists its 2024 market value at $20.4 million.

Plaza del Mar with the Atlantic Ocean and the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa at top, and Ocean Avenue on the left. Photo provided by Katz and Associates

Jeannie Drummond, owner of Jeannie's Ocean Boutique, said she had been asked to sign documents on Dec. 17 “just confirming how many years our lease is, etc., etc. Just insignificant questions.”

A veteran retailer, Drummond has been in the plaza for a decade.

She had also heard the rumor last month that billionaire Larry Ellison, who bought the Eau in August for $277 million and an estate in town in June 2022 for a state-record $173 million, was looking to purchase the plaza. However, the tenants — who spoke on and off the record — say they don’t believe K&K Developers is tied to Ellison.

There is a lot of uncertainty among tenants. “I think they are probably going to tear it down,” Drummond speculated. “I don't know what's going to happen. No idea. We'll just sit tight and they’ll let us know eventually, I guess.”

Publix, the large anchor store in the Plaza del Mar shopping plaza, opened in 2018.

The plaza is an integral part of the surrounding community. Without the Publix, nearby residents along the coast would need to go over the bridge to Lantana Road for groceries. There is a Chabbad. Evelyn & Arthur, a women's clothing retailer, holds charity events in the store as well as a fashion event across Ocean Avenue for residents in memory care at The Carlisle.

Fran and Ed Guzile were enjoying eggs at John G’s Restaurant at the plaza on Wednesday.  “There is a lot of nice retail here,” Fran Guzile said. “People can walk here for their groceries.”

“The Jewish community, because they have to walk to the shul, you see them walking through here,” Ed Guzile added.

On the other side of the plaza sits Hedy McDonald’s Art Basil Restaurant. She also heard the buyers are K&K Developers and is an optimist.

“The idea of somebody that buys the plaza and wants to be a little more involved is extremely exciting. We'd be building for the next thing,” she said.

There are currently two retail locations being offered for rent at Plaza del Mar.

The plaza was built on submerged lands and has tension cables in its foundation, she said. McDonald learned this when a plumber refused to do work in her restaurant out of fear of snapping one of the cables.

She noted that there is also easy access to Manalpan, South Palm Beach, Ocean Ridge and Boynton Beach from the plaza.

A friend of McDonald in Palm Beach was considering buying the property but said it was out of his price range. 

“He's like, it’s because that piece of dirt is awesome. There's nothing like it around,” McDonald said. “It’s basically a plaza on the beach.”

By Steve Plunkett

Two men are dead and two others are hospitalized after an early-morning shooting Dec. 10 in Lake Worth Beach following a holiday party.

All four men worked at the Old Key Lime House restaurant in Lantana.

Restaurant owner Ryan Cordero could not be reached for comment. But he told television station WPTV-Channel 5 that his employees went to The Rock Irish Pub at 614 Lake Ave. after a company party at nearby Lilo’s Streetfood & Bar.

Deputies were sent to the scene at 1 a.m., the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said.

“The preliminary investigation is believed that an altercation occurred inside the establishment resulting in the shooting,” PBSO said in a news release.

Cordero told the TV station that the hospitalized workers were his kitchen manager and one of his line cooks. The dead men were a young military veteran and a barback, he said.

PBSO is asking anyone with information related to the case to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477).

Mary Thurwachter contributed to this story.

Diver Shane Cooper was one of many volunteers and first responders who tried to rescue 15-year-old Prestyn Smith at Gulfstream Park. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Family beach outing turns deadly for teen; unpredictable surf kills five in county

By John Pacenti

Sherry and Glen Smith exchanged vows at the beach at sunrise and for the last eight years took their children to greet the day at Gulfstream Park. It was a weekly tradition for the Lake Worth Beach family.

So Sherry Smith took the four children to the beach as usual on Sunday, Nov. 10, with her husband to join the family a bit later in the morning. Then everything inexplicably changed.

“It happened so fast,” Sherry Smith said.

The eldest of the children, Prestyn, disappeared in the surf. The 15-year-old who liked to build computers, who easily picked up his dad’s carpentry skills, a budding artist, a young man who never complained about doing his chores — he was one of five drowning victims in Palm Beach County’s coastal waters in November.

As her two oldest boys played in the surf, Sherry Smith sat with her 13-year-old daughter around 7 a.m.

“My daughter says to look, there’s some jellyfish or something. And so I turn around to take a picture of it. I looked back at my sons and I didn’t see Prestyn’s head. So I run and I jump to go get him. And that was pretty much how it happened.”

The ocean, which for so many is such a blessing in South Florida, takes lives every year through rip currents. It takes and it takes.

About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.S. beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. More than 80% of beach rescues annually involve rip currents.

The deadly month started at a Singer Island beach on Nov. 2 when a 64-year-old man drowned.

The next day Maximilian Sadowski, 34, of Lake Worth Beach drowned near the Boynton Inlet. Experts say inlets, piers, jetties, and even rock croppings are notorious for rip currents.

The third was Gerald W. Julian, 50, a Canadian resident of Niagara Falls, Ontario. He took a swim on Nov. 6 in Ocean Ridge near the Colonial Ridge Club with a friend.

“The wives were at the pool, and I guess the two men decided to go down to the ocean.

“It was as rough as can be,” Ocean Ridge Police Chief Scott McClure said. “The rip current got to one and his friend lost him.”

Another drowning occurred the very same day that Prestyn perished — a 55-year-old New York man vacationing with his fiancée at Tideline Palm Beach Ocean Resort. Rip current warnings were posted for the Palm Beach County coast later that day.

Two volunteer divers, Ocean Ridge police and Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies convene on the beach at Gulfstream Park, where a teenager drowned Nov. 10. Gulf Stream police and Boynton Beach fire rescue personnel also were involved in the search and rescue.

Exhaustion and panic
Sherry Smith dove into the water where she last saw her son next to his 11-year-old brother. Soon she found herself in the same predicament.

“At this point, even though they’re rescuing me, I’m screaming, ‘Get my son. Get my son.’ And they’re trying to calm me down,” she said. “I’ve never been in any water like that. That’s my first time dealing with that.”

Gulf Stream Police Sgt. Bernard O’Donnell, searching for Prestyn, broke the news to the family.

“The officer that pulled me out, they got him out, and he’s out and he’s sitting on the sand, and he’s like losing it. He’s crying, and he’s saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,’” Sherry Smith recalled. “And I’m like, ‘Did you see my son?’ And he’s like, ‘Yes, I saw your son, and I’m so sorry.’”

Related: What it’s like being caught by a panic-inducing rip current

 Rip currents are exactly what they sound like — a tear in the continual wave action coming ashore. Waves create a sandbar that eventually gives way — often no wider than 10 feet. This creates a river flowing out to the sea, like uncorking the ocean, said Robert Molleda, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service’s Miami office.

You don’t need to be a lifeguard to spot a rip current. It’s where there suddenly are no waves. You could spill dye on shore and it would simply be sucked out up to eight feet per second.

For the swimmer, often exhaustion sets in, then panic. The solution is to swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the rip current — but that needs to happen before exhaustion and panic.

“We have rip currents that are usually on breezy to windy days,” Molleda said. “It doesn’t have to be extremely windy. Even a moderate onshore wind like a 15-mile-an-hour could be enough to cause rip currents.”

On Nov. 10 the wind was gusting in Gulf Stream at 20 mph. Yet even as a helicopter searched for Prestyn above the surf, the beaches were packed and people were in the water.

In Florida, rip currents can occur year-round. “Especially on the east coast of Florida where we have that easterly wind,” Molleda said.

In June, six people drowned in rip currents in two days, including a couple vacationing on Hutchinson Island from Pennsylvania with their six children, and three young men on a Panhandle holiday from Alabama.

Surfers know about rip currents. They are often out on windy days when the surf is rough. But even experienced swimmers can be caught unaware.

“My 15-year-old, his favorite thing is to build sand castles, that’s his thing. He grew up on the beach. I mean, we’ve been going to the beach since I was pregnant with him,” said Sherry Smith.

The question remains with rip current deaths going unabated, can something more be done?

“I’ve beat myself up over the last 10 to 12 years that I’ve worked on the coast, trying to figure out how we could potentially warn people of these dangers,” Gulf Stream Police Chief Richard Jones said.

“Unfortunately I think some people don’t take the conditions of the ocean seriously and they don’t realize the dangers that lurk beneath the surface of the water.”

Billy Blackman, an avid surfer who lives near Gulfstream Park, spent hours on his paddleboard looking for and eventually helping to recover the 15-year-old who had drowned. He was one of many volunteers who helped in the effort.

Look for lifeguards
He said the solution is always to swim at a beach where there is a lifeguard and keep abreast of public warnings. Sound advice, but why has it proved so impractical?

One reason could be that invincibility is hard-wired into the human psyche. No other animal finds a way to put itself intentionally in harm’s way.

Ocean Ridge Mayor Geoff Pugh said when he was a teenager he and his friends would snorkel the Boynton Inlet, where the spearfishing was unparalleled back then. Yet, the sheriff’s deputy not once but twice had to run them out of the dangerous inlet water — the second time he went out in his boat to get them.

“He takes the boat all the way down to the Lake Worth Pier, and he drops us off and just goes, ‘Now walk back and if I catch you again I’m going to throw you in jail,’’’ Pugh said.

Another reason that the messaging could be failing is that a lot of beaches — emphasis on a lot — do not have lifeguards.

“There’s hundreds of miles of beach in Florida and there’s a lot of condos and what, and they’re basically private accesses to the beach,” said Tom Mahady, ocean rescue chief for the city of Boynton Beach.

It is not unusual for a sunbather to start at a guarded beach only to walk down to one in front of a condo and find trouble where there is no lifeguard within a football field, he said.

The signs at the main entrance to the beach at Gulfstream Park offer a barrage of information for visitors.

Palm Beach County’s beach lifeguards arrive at 7:30 a.m. and do training and daily preparations before manning their towers at 9 a.m. It’s during those preparations that they will post if necessary a red-flag warning, meaning dangerous conditions.

“I came to understand this was the third incident in one week that we had no knowledge of,” Sherry Smith said. “If they would put out flags before they open the gate that would be the easiest and quickest fix.”

Glen Smith said he thinks the park shouldn’t have been open with conditions persistent the previous week.

“We’re thinking the gates are open, it’s safe, you know. And there’s no flags, there’s no signs that said don’t go in the water,” he said. “You’re assuming that it is safe to go in. So my thing is, if the water is not safe, just don’t open the gate and let people in.”

The guru of rip currents is Dr. Gregory Dusek, a senior scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service in Washington. He said technology may be key to finally putting a dent in the rip current fatalities.

The idea is to use artificial intelligence to detect rip currents by either their visual appearance — dark gaps in the breaking waves — or by tracking how water moves in videos on the surface.

“We can use these detections to potentially help monitor hazardous conditions in real time, as well as improve our NOAA rip current model to provide even better rip current predictions,” Dusek said.

Sherry Smith wants the public to take heed but also wants them to know her son was so much more than another drowning fatality.

“He was the kind of soul you’d call too good to be true,” Sherry Smith said at her son’s Celebration of Life in Lake Worth Beach on Nov. 18. “Such souls often don’t stay with us for long.”

Steve Plunkett contributed to this story.

The ocean’s pull

Rip currents, rip tides and undertow may be used interchangeably, but they are different phenomena. They can all be deadly.

Undertow — Especially dangerous to small children, the undertow is created by big waves breaking on the beach, generating a large uprush and backwash of water and sand. Waders can feel like they are being sucked underwater when the wave breaks overhead. The pull, however, goes only as far as the next breaking wave. Time your escape between waves.

Rip tide — A powerful current caused by low tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach. Rip tides can also occur in bays and lagoons. Swimmers should avoid inlets and the waters around them as these powerful tidal jets carry large amounts of sand. A bather’s best bet is to wave for help from boaters.

Rip currents — Powerful, concentrated channels of water moving quickly from shore. They are prevalent around inlets and other structures that jut out into the water, such as piers and rock croppings. Generally 10 feet wide, they can be difficult to escape as the ocean runs through the channel. Don’t fight the current; swim parallel until you are out of the ocean’s pull.

Source: State University of New York

Related: Family beach outing turns deadly for teen; unpredictable surf kills five in county

By John Pacenti

Author John Irving called it the “Under Toad” in his classic novel, The World According to Garp, a monster who dwells under the surface to grab unsuspecting children swimming in the ocean and pull them to its Neptunian netherworld.

Call it the undertow, a rip current or a rip tide — all different depending on the water’s dynamic — the ocean’s grip can be terrifying.

Being caught in a rip current in South Florida is to know pure helplessness. I know because nearly 20 years ago, I experienced that desperation. There’s a fish out of water and there is the opposite — we humans flailing in the water against a force so much larger than us.

It happened when I joined my wife, my in-laws, and my daughters at Boca Raton’s Red Reef Park, which is known for its rocky outcropping that depending on the tide and ocean conditions can be teeming with fish.

I was snorkeling around the rocks and then ventured about 30 yards off the wedge-shaped rock cropping near the shore. Watching my children play on the beach — about ages 4 and 8 at the time — I decided to head back and join in the fun.

But I wasn’t heading back to shore. I was going the other way.

The realization that you are helpless against the ocean leads to panic. I didn’t know what was happening, even though I had been schooled on rip currents as a reporter covering tragic drownings. Being caught in one myself was a different story.

What snapped me out of my growing anxiety was the whistle. Now on the beach a lifeguard was waving his arms and tooting away. Certainly, it couldn’t be me that he was trying to signal, was it?

Oh yes, it’s me. I’m the problem. It’s me.

He motioned me to swim parallel to the shore, around the rocks, and then to swim in. I remember the lifeguard telling me as I thanked him that it was not unusual for snorkelers to get caught in that particular rip current.

I am no Olympic swimmer but I was in my 30s and knew the fundamentals of freestyle, butterfly and backstroke.

Yet, I didn’t even know I was in a rip current. I just knew I was going nowhere fast.

Tom Mahady, ocean rescue chief for the city of Boynton Beach, told me recently that it’s the exhaustion and panic that lead to tragedy. He said the swimmer “gets out of rhythm” and becomes so confused that breaths for fresh air are taken underwater.

Not surprisingly, the day I was whistled to safety I was doing one of the top no-no’s in Mahady’s book. With my children watching, I ventured too far from shore. Kids are apt to ape their parents’ actions, Mahady said. “Monkey see monkey do” can be deadly when it comes to rip currents.

“Parents, sure, some of them are great swimmers, ex-lifeguards. But don’t create the herd effect by diving under the water, body surfing, that type of thing,” Mahady said.

Of course, it was all drama for the children and the in-laws — the wife just rolled her eyes. Yet, I don’t know what I would have done if the lifeguard hadn’t been doing his job and whistled me to safety.

It’s not surprising that a lot of drownings occur when there is no lifeguard on duty. So that is the first rule: swim in the presence of a professional. If rip currents are present, the lifeguard will hoist a red warning flag.

If you realize you are in a rip current — raise your hand or wave — but don’t fight the current. Float on your back. The National Weather Service says a rip current will take a swimmer out between 50 and 100 yards — then you can paddle parallel to the beach and then come to shore.

And be prepared. Before even heading to the beach, check the NWS forecast, which can be accessed at https://www.weather.gov/tae/ghwo_ripcurrent.

Reports are first step toward recertification

By Rich Pollack

Time is running out for several dozen remaining area condo associations that are required to file state-mandated inspection reports by the end of the year.

Under a state law passed in the aftermath of the 2021 collapse of Surfside’s Champlain Towers South, condominium buildings that are over three stories in height and more than 30 years old must submit a Milestone Inspection Report prior to Dec. 31.

The requirement affects more than 200 coastal associations from Boca Raton to South Palm Beach.

Those that miss the deadline could — in most cases — face penalties imposed by the municipality they are in, which is responsible for collecting and reviewing the reports.

A survey of south Palm Beach County coastal communities shows that Boca Raton and Highland Beach — both of which passed their own ordinances that are more detailed than the state law — have had the most success in getting reports from condo communities filed on time.

In Highland Beach, for example, Building Official Jeff Remas says that all 49 of the condos that needed to file reports have done so.

El Cortijo Condominium in Gulf Stream had yet to provide its milestone report this year as of late November, according to the Highland Beach building officials who handle inspections for Gulf Stream. Work was being done on El Cortijo last month (above). Larry Barszewski/The Coastal Star

Still needing to file
In Boca Raton, city officials say that 52 of 55 buildings in one coastal area had filed their milestone reports by late November with three asking for extensions. In the second coastal zone, 37 of 42 buildings filed their reports, with five asking for extensions.

In Highland Beach 14 buildings have become recertified, meaning they have completed all repairs identified in the milestone report as well as in a Phase 2 report that identifies structural deficiency.

In Boca Raton, six buildings had been recertified as of late November.

In Delray Beach, 15 of 25 buildings submitted milestone reports as of mid-November with three of those buildings required to complete Phase 2 reports.

Under the state law, which is not as strict as the ordinances in Boca Raton and Highland Beach, those buildings that have completed their Phase 1 reports without major structural issues being identified will not need to be reinspected for another 10 years.

While the bigger communities have been successful in collecting Milestone Inspection Reports, some of the smaller communities are awaiting reports.

In South Palm Beach, 14 of the 24 buildings that need to be certified had completed the process through the end of November. In Ocean Ridge, only one of the seven buildings required to file milestone reports had completed the process by late November.

South Palm Beach Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the town will wait until after the deadline to pursue outstanding reports unless state criteria require specific follow-up.

In Gulf Stream, which contracts building inspection services to Highland Beach, two of nine buildings had filed their milestone reports as of late November, according to town reports.

Associations that do not file on time could face fines through the local municipalities’ code enforcement process, according to the state law.

Reports have benefits
Highland Beach’s Remas says that many of the buildings that were recertified are receiving benefits as a result of the work that was done.

“We’re seeing that some of these buildings are benefiting with their insurance,” he said.

Another advantage, he says, is that many of the buildings will not need extensive repairs the next time they’re inspected — every seven years for those over 40 years old in Highland Beach and 10 years for those less than 40 years old — because much of the work will have been done already.

To remove some of the burden from condo owners, state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R- Highland Beach, has been pushing for changes to the state laws requiring condos to do inspections and collect additional reserves for anticipated repairs. She and other South Florida lawmakers, along with Gov. Ron DeSantis, have focused on extending deadlines for inspection reports and reserve studies — that spell out when and how money to do the repairs must be raised — as well as related requirements.

She sees another advantage to having the inspections done.

“There were a lot of buildings with unknown issues that were discovered in this process,” she said. “Who wouldn’t want to make sure their building isn’t going to fall down in a few years.”

Down year for nests hints at another surge in 2025

By Steve Plunkett

Following a record-breaking 2023, people who monitor sea turtle nests up and down south Palm Beach County’s coast faced an easier workload this season. And the season, which officially ended Oct. 31, isn’t over yet.

While South County sea turtle nests were down almost 40% this year from the year before — from 4,851 to 2,995 nests for the 14 miles from Boca Raton into Ocean Ridge — those who monitor the marine mamas were not surprised.

Instead of focusing on the decline, “one could also ask: Why such a big year last year?” said David Anderson, who leads Boca Raton’s sea turtle conservation team at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

Green sea turtles kept to their usual roller-coaster pattern in digging far fewer nests than the year before.

Boca Raton, for example, had 328 nests by greens in 2023 and only 72 this year, said Anderson.

“They broke their high year/low year pattern the last few years, but since this year was so low, we expect nesting numbers for greens to be high again next year,” Anderson said, referring to their tendency to nest every other year.

Nearby monitors reported similar declines, with greens dropping from 283 to 84 in the southern part of Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes and Gulf Stream, from 96 to 14 in Delray Beach, and from 530 to 127 in Highland Beach.

“But the very exciting news for us is that we had a very late nester,” Highland Beach monitor Joanne Ryan said.

Volunteers (l-r) Suzie Hiles, Joanne Ryan and Jayne Elder on Nov. 22 monitor and straighten the stakes of the last remaining turtle nest in Highland Beach from the 2024 season. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

“After no new nesting since Sept. 3, we thought we were done. But a green turtle decided to come up and nest on Oct. 12, so we will be checking on that nest right into the beginning of December,” she said.

“And funny, but Ocean Ridge had one about a week after us.”

Delray Beach’s season had a more customary finish.

“We documented our last nest on Aug. 23, the last crawl on Sept. 17 and removed the last marked nest from our area on Oct. 16, just in time for the end of daily monitoring on Oct. 31,” said Grace Botson of Ecological Associates Inc., which monitors turtle nests for the city.

A portion of the turtle stakes that Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton uses to mark the nests it monitors. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

As for loggerhead turtles, it was “an average year,” Anderson said.

“We finished 2024 with 824 nests, which is about average considering the last five to 10 years of data,” he said. His five miles of beach had 1,038 loggerhead nests in 2023 and 898 nests in 2022.

“Loggerhead nest numbers were declining for decades, bottoming out in 2009 for a lot of beaches. Since 2010, there has been a steady increase (overall) in loggerhead nest numbers,” Anderson said.

Still, as in Boca Raton, the loggerhead totals this year were down from last year’s stellar numbers: from 989 nests to 795 in Highland Beach, from 406 to 292 in Delray Beach, and from 1,051 to 724 in Gulf Stream, Briny Breezes and the south of Ocean Ridge.

Anderson said each year is unpredictable, primarily because loggerheads take 20-plus years to reach sexual maturity, an individual female typically nests every two or three years, and each female deposits anywhere between four and eight nests during the season.

For leatherback sea turtles, the nesting totals were mixed.

“The leatherbacks had a great season,” said Emilie Woodrich, data manager for Sea Turtle Adventures, which monitors the three miles of beach from Gulf Stream into Ocean Ridge. Her group found 19 leatherback nests, up from 15 the year before.

While Highland Beach also saw more, with 13 leatherback nests (up from seven last year), Delray Beach had only 12 leatherback nests (down from 30 last year), and Boca Raton had 19 (down from 28 last year).

“Leatherbacks are critically endangered, so it’s nice to see their nest numbers gradually increasing statewide over the last several decades,” Anderson said.

Overall, this year’s sea turtle nest totals were 827 in Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes and Gulf Stream, down from 1,377 the year before; 318 in Delray Beach, down from 532 last year; 935 in Highland Beach, down from 1,548; and 915 in Boca Raton, down from 1,394.

The bulldozer-like tracks that a female green sea turtle leaves in the sand will be seen again after the 2025 nesting season begins. Joan Lorne

Declining hatch success
Nest numbers are only part of the story of the survival of these threatened and endangered animals, Anderson noted.

“Not all eggs in sea turtle nests hatch,” Anderson said. “This year, out of over 700 nests inventoried post-hatch, we discovered only 56% of eggs hatched.”

On average, he said, hatch success has declined over the years.

“This can most likely be attributed to climate change. Sand temperature during the two-month incubation period often exceeds the thermal tolerance level of developing embryo.

The eggs cease from developing, resulting in an unhatched egg with a dead embryo inside,” Anderson said.

“In addition to 44% of all eggs not hatching, we lost 49 nests due to storms and high tide events, had 170 nests dug into by predators (most with no damage to eggs), and 88 nests that experienced hatchling disorientation events during hatch-out due to artificial light pollution,” he said.

The moral of the story, Anderson said, “is that total nest numbers can be deceiving.”

“A high number of nests doesn’t mean much when a small percentage of eggs hatch, nests are lost to predators and storms, and hatchlings never make it to the ocean because of light pollution.”

Reciprocity. A word that might be hard to pronounce, but whose definition seems especially appropriate during the holidays. If we understand that the giving of gifts almost always initiates a reaction, and we listen to, or observe, that response, we’ll understand the nature of the gift exchange — even if only in words, smiles or thank-you notes. Each of those responses is also a gift. Sometimes the most important of all.

Gift-giving does not have to be extravagant or costly. It can be, if you wish, but sometimes a gift made by hand or simply with love is the most welcome of all. Often a simple act of kindness can make someone’s day — especially those who are alone or going through difficult times.

Holiday events are already underway this month: Christmas tree lightings, parades, concerts, religious services. Whether wrapped, unwrapped or simply spread across a child’s face, gifts will be all around us.

This year, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins on the same day as the Christian holiday of Christmas, with Kwanzaa beginning only one day later. Each holiday provides its own special gift.

Inside this edition you will find many, many ways to celebrate this December. Take a look, then go out, take your visitors, enjoy the lights and beautiful weather. Reflect, praise, celebrate.

And if you give or exchange gifts this season, please consider both the spirit of giving and the reciprocity of thanks.

Happy holidays!

— Mary Kate Leming,
Executive Editor

Renee Basel sings in the parking lot of Gulf Stream Town Hall, where she is clerk. She says her car is a convenient place to sing and send out her image via phone (below). Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Hannah Spence

Renee Basel wears many hats, but her role as the Hump Day Hymn Lady has made her popular on social media.

Every Wednesday (or hump day), Basel graces people’s screens via TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, singing hymns a cappella. She mostly records herself in her car because it’s convenient.

Basel said the hymns “bring hope, and we need that in the day and age we live in. Music is healing and sometimes says things when you can’t. I think the hymns are good at filling a void that might be out there right now.”

She also sings in an effort to uplift listeners in the middle of the week.

“They’ve had Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and I come on and try to be joyful,” she said. “I go into the hymn and then I tell them to have a blessed rest of their week.”

Basel, 59, who lives in Boynton Beach, was inspired to provide the weekly posts by her son, Daren.

After she and her husband, David, started their Delray Beach church, Worship and The Word Fellowship, Basel was asked by one of the members to sing Because He Lives. When she looked at her son while performing, she noticed he wasn’t singing. She asked him about it later, and he told her that he didn’t know the song.

Basel explained that with all the new technologies used in churches, many no longer sing hymns. She wants the younger generation to be exposed to them. So, in 2019, she started posting videos of herself singing hymns, shedding light on the older verses. Now, people from all over the world watch her content.

Basel said that the name Hump Day Hymn Lady was coined thanks to a young fan with special needs.

“I have some friends in Pennsylvania who called and said their autistic son would say, ‘it’s the hymn day lady,’ when I was on,” said Basel. “I just took it and ran with it.”

Basel is the town clerk for Gulf Stream. She started working for the town almost nine years ago as a temp and within two weeks, she was hired as an executive assistant before later ascending to her current position.

“I’ve a wonderful, fabulous place to work,” she said. “It’s something new every day.”

Basel was president of the Palm Beach County Municipal Clerks Association and is vice president of the Florida Association of City Clerks.

Recently, Basel was contacted by a Grammy award-winning composer/conductor, David T. Clydesdale, after he saw her videos on Facebook. Clydesdale invited her to collaborate on a hymn album with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Basel first thought it was a scam, but later agreed to it after a phone conversation with Clydesdale.

She raised money with help from family and friends before going to Prague to record in October.

“I could just tell from the hump day thing that Renee was going to be a character,” said Clydesdale. “I thought she had lots of personality and that proved to be true. While in Prague together, I think we laughed 90% of the time.”

Although Basel was familiar with Clydesdale’s work before meeting him, having done his songs at her prior church in Michigan, the two had not met until their European trip.

“There was just something special in her voice,” said Clydesdale. “You could tell she believed it and she was trying to communicate the song.”

Although Basel has gained celebrity within the past few years, she had experience singing for spectators before becoming the Hump Day Hymn Lady.

“I was a voice major in college, so I always wanted to do this,” said Basel. “And before I got married, I was a backup singer for Larnelle Harris,” a gospel singer.

This month, Basel will go to Nashville to record the background singers, and finally she will do her lead vocals in February to complete the album. Clydesdale orchestrated all the songs.

The album will be available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon Music by next April.

Basel selected five of the 10 songs by asking her family what their favorite hymns were. The others are songs for which she developed a love throughout the years.

“I feel great when I’m doing this,” said Basel. “I feel like I am ministering Jesus to people. I want it to uplift their spirits and minister to their hearts, minds and souls.”

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I am in sympathy with the discontent and dismay expressed with regard to the omnipresent use of blowers. This ubiquitous tool can be heard anywhere and everywhere at any time.  Its unregulated use has become a public nuisance.

However, the article in your November edition blatantly omits other major issues: 1) The harm done to insect and bird habitat. 2) The potential harm to personnel wielding these machines, their hearing and exposure to exhaust fumes. 3) The cumulative cost of destroying habitat and nourishment for small creatures, derived from and within leaf debris, i.e. environmental health, and also human health.

Complaints about noise from a purely human perspective completely miss the larger picture. The degree of manicured perfection expected in Florida, indeed across the country — whether on individual properties or in public spaces — has driven this mania of blowing off the slightest unwanted droppings or clippings that naturally fall from trees and shrubs, or from mowing.

This “debris” feeds the soil! The very plants shedding their leaves, buds, flowers, etc. in turn feed the environment. This is a natural cycle.

The landscape aesthetic we demand is counterproductive. To compensate for the absence of leaf cover on beds or under trees, additional costs are then incurred with an application of mulch.

The noise complaint is essentially a complaint about the environment we ourselves have created, to maintain an aesthetic we demand, without regard to consequences to nonhumans. 

This is unsustainable. Time to reconsider priorities.

The writer scoffs at the use of rakes! But not the use or cost of fossil fuels and their pollutants — aside from noise. Why not consider the benefits of raking leaf debris under hedges, onto beds and under trees? Eliminate the nasty trick of blowing this debris onto your neighbor’s property, or the expense of hauling it off to yet another landfill.

End the harm and its consequent costs, end the noise, and help bring about a return to healthier environmental outcomes and enjoy far greater tranquility. Demand the greater good! 

Some neighborhoods of Palm Beach have succeeded in banning blowers, allowing their regulated use only on larger properties with fewer immediate neighbors who must endure the noise. Doesn’t that sound like a great idea?

— Ann Flinn,
Delray Beach

New City Hall talk being put on hold — Although Delray Beach is looking to build a new water treatment plant, a new Pompey Park complex, a new police headquarters and a redo of the municipal golf course, it will not seek to build a new City Hall.

City Manager Terrence Moore said in a Nov. 8 memo to the commissioners that the most cost-effective method is to renovate the existing space.

Public Works Director Missie Barletto says there is enough space in City Hall to meet the current departmental needs for the next 10 to 15 years. For residents, though, there is a pretty big caveat.

“In the meantime, we are looking at expanding staff that currently is housed in City Hall into the adjacent Community Center, which likely will require some operational changes for the current use of that facility,” Barletto said in a Nov. 8 email to Moore.

The next step, Barletto said, will be for Public Works to present construction plans.

City hires new CFO — The former chief financial officer for Norwalk, Connecticut, will now fill the same position in Delray Beach, City Manager Terrence Moore said in his Nov. 1 report to commissioners.

Henry Dachowitz also served as CFO in Wayne County, Michigan, and Nassau County, New York. “He likewise brings to the city of Delray Beach considerable and comprehensive experiences that directly align with our respective needs and expectations,” Moore said.

He also no longer will have to shovel snow.

Dachowitz is finalizing his pre-employment arrangements and is expected to start on Dec. 27.

He replaces Hugh Dunkley, who left the position in September to become CFO of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County.

— John Pacenti

By John Pacenti

One of Delray Beach’s top substance abuse recovery advocates said the community is outraged with the City Commission’s decision on how to spend $239,000 in opioid settlement money.

The city has vacillated on a plan since June on how to use what is now said to be $239,000, a pittance from the $50 billion nationwide settlement with pharmaceutical companies whose products killed millions and ruined the lives of countless families.

Lissa Franklin, executive director of the Delray Beach Drug Task Force, said the commission at its Nov. 19 workshop decided to use some of the money to fund DARE — a police program that she says research has shown not to be effective — and to spend $130,000 on Narcan for street boxes and restaurants when the medication can be obtained for free from the state.

“Their intentions started out well, and if they would have kept it in the community and with the community advisory board like originally discussed, more gaps would have been filled, and it would have gone a lot further,” Franklin said.

Delray Beach is expected to receive a total of $1.48 million through 2040. “These are not a tremendous amount of funds. The highest being about $92,000 a year,” said Assistant City Manager Jeff Oris.

Commissioners in the summer decided the plan was to allow stakeholders in the recovery community to decide as a committee what to do with the money on hand.

Then last month the plan was for city staff to decide what to do with the $239,000 now and have the advisory committee weigh in on future money that is received.

Mayor Tom Carney and City Manager Terrence Moore insisted a second workshop be held on Nov. 19. Commissioners were frustrated.

“I’ve been trying to do this for a year,” said Commissioner Angela Burns. “It’s been a year already, so I think that we should go ahead and formulate this advisory committee is not that hard. We have people who are qualified.”

Vice Mayor Juli Casale was more blunt: “Why are we having this meeting? This is our fourth meeting on the subject. … At some point, we have to wrap it up.”

“I know it’s a very small amount of money but it’s a very important issue to a lot of people,” Carney said. “I just want to get it right.”

Oris recommended restarting the DARE program that educates young people about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Franklin said there is plenty of research on how the “just say no” approach does more harm than good. She said the Living Skills program in the school system has shown to be more up-to-date and effective.

As for the Narcan boxes and distributing the anti-overdose medication to businesses, Franklin said the city staff failed to do its research for the life-saving drug that can be had for free from the Department of Children & Families.

She fears the Narcan money will end up laundered through the city’s budget — a process called supplantation where the opioid money would end up in the general fund.

Another group was supposed to make a presentation at the Nov. 19 meeting, Franklin said.

“The Palm Health Foundation was supposed to present why they should bring in qualified professionals to advise on how to spend the money instead of city employees. And that did not happen,” she said.

 The commission must still approve the plan at its regular meeting on Dec. 10 where again, if the past is prologue, it can change course.

By John Pacenti

The Manalapan Town Commission pushed back on a proposal by the Florida Department of Transportation to place markings on State Road A1A to indicate motorists must share the lanes with bicyclists.

Nadir Rodrigues, an FDOT traffic services engineer, said at the Nov. 22 commission meeting that the agency is proposing safety measures in the wake of the Jan. 4 accident when a 77-year-old driving a subcompact SUV struck a group of bicyclists on A1A in Gulf Stream, injuring six of them.

FDOT says it will look to resurface A1A in Manalapan so it can stencil what are called sharrow markings on the road, stencils of bicycles with two chevrons that indicate that bicyclists and motorists are to share the lanes. There is no room for separate bike lanes in Manalapan on A1A, Rodrigues said. The idea fizzled with commissioners and Police Chief Carmen Mattox.

“You put those down in the middle of the road like that, they’re going to think the whole road is theirs. It’s going to be backing up traffic, it’s going to make it more complex, and it’s going to be very difficult to enforce,” Mattox said.

He said he dedicates an officer on Saturday and Sunday mornings just to bicycle enforcement.

Commissioner Cindy McMackin said pelotons of up to 50 cyclists already block A1A. “They don’t care about the rules,” she said.

Town Manager Eric Marmer suggested FDOT educate the bicyclists by putting up signs instructing them to ride single file. “The drivers are very courteous in my experience here. It’s more so the bicyclists who are not following the rules of the road,” he said.

Rodrigues noted the bicycling community is organized and writes to FDOT frequently and will be protective of its ability to ride on picturesque A1A.

Commissioner Dwight Kulwin is a bicyclist and a trauma surgeon who has witnessed numerous car vs. bike injuries. He won’t ride his bike down A1A anymore, feeling it is not safe.

He doubts sharrow markings will help.

“I’ve never seen any data that shows putting things down like this has any measurable effect on decreasing accidents or really having any positive effect,” he said.

Marmer told Rodrigues the town would get back to the agency; however, the situation may be out of Manalapan’s hands since A1A is a state road. Rodrigues was, more or less, making a courtesy call.

“The signage that is going to go in other municipalities are to share the road,” she said.

All remains the same on the Manalapan Town Commission after it saw quite a shake-up a year ago.

Four seats — including the mayor’s — were up for grabs in 2025 and only the incumbents filed to qualify by the Nov. 19 deadline.

That means Mayor John Deese, 66, who took over the mayor’s duties following the resignation of former Mayor Stewart Satter, will enjoy another term, as will Commissioners Cindy McMackin, 57; Simone Bonutti, 50; and David Knobel, 66.

The seven-member commission did get a makeover beginning a year ago after Satter and four other members resigned, worried about new state financial disclosure requirements that were set to take effect but have since been stayed by the courts.

McMackin moved into Deese’s seat in March after he ascended to the mayor’s position. Orla Imbesi, Dwight Kulwin and Elliot Bonner were appointed to the commission in December 2023 to fill other vacancies and secured new terms in March because no one filed to run against them.

Deese said he was happy that no one else decided to run because the commission with its new members has been working well together in addressing the town’s needs.

— John Pacenti