Shop in Plaza del Mar keeps a mom-and-pop flavor even with owners as guardians of booming industry

Rich and Heather Draper sample their product from behind the counter of the Ice Cream Club shop in Manalapan's Plaza del Mar. Rich opened the store in 1982, and Heather is financial director.  Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

It’s been happening now for nearly five decades. Customers come from all over to the Ice Cream Club in Manalapan’s Plaza del Mar.

Why??? Have you tasted the ice cream?

“I love it,” said Sammilia Wells, a home health care provider who had been introduced to the store from a client on Palm Beach. 

“And even though she passed on, I still would take my husband, my kids, and would try to introduce them, because it’s just really good ice cream,” she said.

Adam and Donna Goldstein got a taste of the Ice Cream Club’s offering at the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival in December and just had to have more. Adam is an ice cream aficionado and even went on an ice cream diet (he swears he lost weight).

“I love that it’s a mom-and-pop space, and they started years ago and they’re still here,” Donna Goldstein said.

The storefront that Rich Draper started in 1982 with two buddies turned into an ice cream wholesaler with a plant in Boynton Beach that supplies independent shops throughout the eastern seaboard and the Bahamas. You won’t find Ice Cream Club at your local grocery store. You have to find a boutique parlor that carries it. 

“We made ice cream in the store for the first, I don’t know, seven or eight years,” Draper said. “It was in the back of the store and people would come in, you know, from different parts of the country.”

Heather Draper, his spouse of 18 years, is a former regional bank president who is the Ice Cream Club’s financial director. If you don’t appreciate ice cream, you will after talking to Heather.

A town institution

“It’s not just getting the ice cream, it’s an experience,” she said outside of the Manalapan store on a sunny afternoon. “I have so many people telling me about how they came here with their grandparents or their parents. There’s a lot of good stories behind it.”

The Ice Cream Club is renowned for its flavor profiles (more than 125), plus hard-packed yogurts, no-sugar or non-dairy desserts, and soft serve. The store has the flavor Garbage Can with seven different brand name candy bars, but also Butterscotch Bomb that keeps up with it, Blueberry Cheesecake and Harry’s Brew (with a wizardly treat). And the classics, of course, the velvety chocolate and the buttery vanilla.

The ice cream is made in a plant in Boynton Beach.

The Ice Cream Club couldn’t be in a better place. The store was the first to inhabit the Plaza del Mar shopping center in 1982. It is across the road from the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa and nestled in a sweet spot for people who live along State Road A1A in several municipalities.

When the store opened, it was across from the Eau’s predecessor, the private La Coquille Club. The members were some of the first dedicated customers.

The backstory

Rich Draper grew up in Springfield, Illinois, went to college in Champaign and migrated to Chicago — but as a young man he wanted to get down to the Sunbelt. He made $12,000 on a real estate commission and that was the seed money for the Ice Cream Club’s shop. 

He opened the store with Tom Jackson and Mike Scott, the latter a friend he had known since kindergarten. Both are still with the company. Jackson is senior vice president and Scott is vice president.

The three amigos did find trouble getting ice cream to stock in the store. Then Rich Draper went to a restaurant show in Chicago and met a guy selling ice cream makers and the rest is history. 

Members of La Coquille Club, down from the Northeast on vacation, would tell Draper about ice creams they enjoyed. “So we just tried a lot of different flavors,” he said.

A scoop on the business

Heather Draper said ice cream is a pretty good business, proving to be “recession-proof, Amazon-proof and pandemic-proof.”

The store can offer more than 100 flavors, whether you buy a 3-gallon bucket or a sugar cone with sprinkles.

“Overall, with the cost of everything today, it’s still an inexpensive treat. And so you see people yearn for that experience,” she said. “We’re providing them with a unique product, they can’t get anywhere else.”

And it’s not just the business proper into which the Drapers put their effort. Food safety is a big priority. They are on multiple committees, helped develop websites, and do all sorts of speaking engagements on the subject.

“Food safety is job number one, right?” Rich Draper said. “It’s the foundation. Everything else is nothing without that.”

The Ice Cream Club is involved in www.safeicecream.org, a group of industry and education experts that was brought together by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

“These smaller companies, mom and pops, they don’t have a team of 75 people in quality control,” Heather Draper said. “How do we make food safety pre-competitive? How do we give them every tool to be physically compliant and to make sure it’s safe for their customers to do it?”

And helping these boutique ice cream shops succeed is seen as a winning strategy for the wholesaler. It comes as a service when the clients sign up to buy the ice cream.

“We help them with store layout, help them with equipment selection, training, we do all these things just to help them get started,” Rich Draper said. 

He also stressed that the company values its employees, now up to 70 with an average tenure of 23 years. He said many are “diamonds in the rough.”

“Maybe young men and women that hadn’t really had a good start in life, but end up being like super smart and can do a lot of great things,” he said. “And we’ve seen them come along. You’ll see someone be able to buy their first house for their family.”

Lantana residents (l-r) Joe Sweat and his wife, Vell Sweat, share a banana split with Keri Sweat, Joe’s sister,  at the Ice Cream Club in Manalapan.

Boynton plant churns on

The Ice Cream Club’s 18,000-square-foot plant is in Boynton Beach and it has a storage and distribution facility, opened in 2021, in Riviera Beach that holds up to 1,000 pallets of ice cream.

The Drapers, who live in Palm Beach, often drop in at the Manalapan store just to people-watch. They observe the grandparents or the parents come in with their kids, watching them get excited, and talking about what flavors they are going to get.

“This is probably their only outing of the day, if not the week, but they’ve chosen to come to us and relax,” Rich Draper said. 

“We take a lot of pride that we’re bringing joy.”

Impact 100 Palm Beach County's $100,000 award winners are (l-r, front) Andy Caesar, Achievement Centers for Children and Families; Renee Layman, Center for Child Counseling; Ted Hoskinson and Ashley Kluthe, Roots and Wings; Jeaneen West, Milagro Center; Bridget Langford, Delray Beach Children’s Garden; (back, l-r) Impact 100’s Janean Mileusnic with winners John Dyben, Hanley Foundation; Michelle Gonzalez, Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County; Kimberley Trombly-Bermeister, Baptist Health South Florida Foundation; and Impact 100’s Jeannine Morris. Photo provided by Warner-Prokos Photography

Impact 100 Palm Beach County awarded a total of $837,000 in grants to local nonprofits in five focus areas — arts, culture & historic preservation; education; environment & animal welfare; family, and health & wellness.

More than 450 members and guests gathered last month for the 14th annual Grand Awards Celebration, at which 12 South County organizations received financial support.

“This annual event represents the culmination of months of hard work, collaboration and connection,” said Kimberly Boldt, co-president of Impact 100 Palm Beach County. “What unites us is our shared belief in the power of giving and the future we’re building together for our community.”

Eight high-impact grants of $100,000 each were awarded to:

• Achievement Centers for Children & Families;

• Baptist Health South Florida Foundation; 

• Center for Child Counseling;

• Delray Beach Children’s Garden; 

• Hanley Foundation; 

• Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County; 

• Milagro Center; and

• Roots and Wings.

An additional four groups received merit grants: Community Greening; Move to Heal; Restoration Bridge International; and Volta Music Foundation.

For more information, call 561-336-4623 or visit impact100pbc.org.

Grants to YMCA will send kids to summer camp 

The YMCA of South Palm Beach County is making the dream of summer camp a reality for children and teens from the Caridad Center in Boynton Beach thanks to a pair of grants totaling $40,000.

A $10,000 grant from the Walter and Adi Blum Foundation will provide financial support for 65 youths from the Caridad Center to attend the Y’s program for free. Camp is June 2 to Aug. 6.

“Summer camp is more than just a fun escape from school; it’s an opportunity for personal growth, socialization and skill development,” said Barry Davis, executive director of the DeVos-Blum Family YMCA in Boynton Beach.

The Y also received a $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties to support camp scholarships for Caridad Center youth.

“Since 2005, this program has been a critical resource for families facing economic and social challenges,” Davis said. “This grant ensures that children who need it most can enjoy a safe, enriching summer camp experience that fosters learning, friendship and fun.”

For more information, call 561-237-0974 or visit ymcaspbc.org/summercamp.

Beach cleanups come with educational talks

The Coastal Stewards, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of marine life and the coastal ecosystem, had its monthly beach cleanup in Ocean Ridge where a team of 20 volunteers removed 300 pieces of debris.

The beach cleanup was led by Harrison Albert, the organization’s education officer, who taught attendees about the difference between macro- and micro-plastics and how small changes with regard to single-use plastics can make a massive difference in the environment.

The next beach cleanup will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. May 24 starting from The Coastal Stewards’ headquarters, 5112 N. Ocean Blvd. The public is welcome to participate. 

For more information, call 561-310-9921 or visit thecoastalstewards.org/events.

Women’s recovery group hits $1 million milestone

Since Her 2nd Chance incorporated in 2018, the nonprofit based in Boca Raton has paid more than $1 million in working wages to the women in recovery it serves.

The women create custom gifts for sale online and in the studio at 3100 NW Boca Raton Blvd., and learn career skills. “This achievement is more than just a number; it’s a testament to the resilience of the women we serve and the power of employment and economic opportunity in the recovery journey,” Executive Director Erin Sabin said. “By providing employment and support, we are helping break cycles of addiction, relapse and unemployment, one paycheck at a time.”

For more information, call 561-405-6346 or visit her2ndchance.org.

Send news and notes to Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net.

A photo caption in the April 2025 edition of The Coastal Star misidentified two of the women pictured at the centennial celebration of the Boynton Woman’s Club. The correct identification is, from left to right: Michele Walter, Lynne Freeman, Janet DeVries Naughton and Donna Artes.

Left to Right: Florida Atlantic University’s library archivist, Victoria Thur, is joined by Susan Oyer, Boynton Beach resident and founder of the St. George’s Society of Palm Beach; Susan Watts, St. George’s Society member and donor; and Linda Golian-Lui, dean of FAU’s library, to celebrate the society’s donation of A King’s Story, a rare (only 385 copies) autobiography by Prince Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor. Edward gave up the throne to marry his beloved Wallis Simpson, to whom the book is dedicated. Tao Woolfe/The Coastal Star

The National Society of Arts and Letters’ Florida Chapter gala dazzled attendees with a showcase of talent from local students. The fundraiser bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award upon Jeff and Joanna Kaye for their contributions to the arts. ‘Our Star Maker Awards provides an extraordinary platform for the incredible young artists NSAL supports,’ said Kirsten Stephenson, chapter president. ‘Witnessing their performances is truly inspiring and deeply rewarding for our members and supporters who play a vital role in propelling these artists to the next level.’ ABOVE: (l-r) NSAL member Madi Guzinski, Stephenson and Marilyn Nelson. Photo provided by Amy Pasquantonio

 Left to Right: Simone Bonutti, Kristin Calder, Tammy Fender, Maggie Dickenson and Debra Ghostine.

George Elmore and Marti LaTour.

Pat Toppel and Robin Muir.

Left to Right: Janet Donovan,  Caron Dockerty and Brenda Medore.

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County hosted more than 600 literacy supporters, including New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray, who was featured at the event and interviewed by South Florida PBS ’Between the Covers’ host Ann Bocock. The luncheon, presented by Bank of America, raised more than $300,000 to support literacy programs throughout the county. Photos provided

Left to Right: Bobby Julien, Danita DeHaney, Jeff Stoops and Joanne Julien.

Russell and Mariam Hagan.

Bobby and Joanne Julien served as hosts of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties’ evening affair attended by several South County philanthropists. Joanne Julien is chairwoman of the foundation’s Scholarship Committee, and she educated those in attendance about the program and its impact on the community. Since 1972, the foundation has distributed nearly $250 million in scholarships aimed at closing  the  area’s opportunity gaps. Photos provided by Tracey Benson Photography

Stephen and Nicola Verses

John and Judith Temple

Boca Bacchanal, a benefit for the Boca Raton Historical Society/Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, uncorked in grand style during its kickoff celebration. Fine wine, gourmet bites and the highly anticipated reveal of this year’s chefs were on the menu. The night also marked a special moment in Boca Raton’s centennial celebration. ‘Bacchus Beckons is always a highlight of Boca Bacchanal, and this year was particularly special as we celebrate Boca Raton’s 100th anniversary,’ said Mary Csar, the society’s executive director. ‘The energy in the room was incredible, and we are thrilled to have officially kicked off Boca Bacchanal 2025 with such enthusiasm.’ Photos provided

The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County welcomed 200-plus friends to its annual event, which was packed with juicy dialogue between MSNBC reporter Katie Phang and author/historian Robert Watson. The league, a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, has a mission of empowering voters and defending democracy and strives to make sure voter turnout increases each election year. ABOVE: (l-r) Alice Munn, Trudy Wasserman, Darlene Kostrub, Marilyn Ricci and Linda Sorenson. Photo provided by Jacek Gancarz

Hundreds of members gathered at the Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research’s signature event, which celebrated creativity while supporting groundbreaking research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. In all, more than $120,000 was raised. The event featured an inspiring exhibition of artwork from members, local students and Dani Papa, a descendant of the pioneering Dr. Georgios Papanicolaou, who helped invent the pap smear test. ‘We were deeply moved by the outpouring of creativity,’ CEO Sally Berenzweig said. ‘Each piece reflected personal inspiration, making this a truly remarkable event for cancer research.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Barbara Eisensmith, Ilene Rand and Lori Margolis. Photo provided by Amy Pasquantonio

The Junior League of Boca Raton celebrated two decades of having the Countess de Hoernle Building as the organization’s headquarters. ‘We were delighted to celebrate this milestone,’ said Nicole Stelzer, league president. ‘The building has been such an incredible asset over the years to both the league and other nonprofits in the community.’ Peter and Anne Vegso were honored at the event. Pattie Damron was recognized for chairing Funding the Future, the center’s capital campaign. ABOVE: Dick and Pattie Damron. Photo provided

During a special evening that honored student achievements, celebrated orchestral music and recognized donors, the Palm Beach Symphony raised more than $850,000. Proceeds will support educational and community initiatives. The 400-plus guests in attendance were treated to a performance by the jazz band from West Boca Raton Community High School prior to the dinner and program, titled ‘A Standing Ovation.’ ABOVE: Tish Messenger and Steve Clawson. Photo provided by Capehart Photography

Classes start May 27: Sur La Table in Mizner Park, 438 Plaza Real in Boca Raton, is offering a series of four- and five-day cooking classes for kids (7-11) and teens (12 and up) throughout the summer, starting May 27-30. Cost is $289 to $349 for a series, which ranges from sweet and savory baking to ambitious recipes that teach techniques such as making stuffed pasta and yeast dough. Call 561-953-7638. Full calendar and descriptions are at surlatable.com/cooking-classes/kids-teens-summer-cooking-series. Photo provided  

Mother’s Day offerings in area restaurants include buffet brunches complete with mimosas and bloody marys, and sumptuous dinners such as the lamb curry dish at Le Colonial. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

May is all about Mom, and dishes designed for her on Mother’s Day menus span global offerings.

Consider a chicken française at Pavilion Grille in Boca Raton, or a vegetable lo mein for the vegetarians. 

On the buffet at the Seacrest Ballroom of the Opal Grand in Delray Beach is a charred peach salad; the Mediterranean station features a spicy Moroccan hummus bar. Rack of lamb is carved to order. A copious selection of dishes on the brunch menu makes this a favorite for discerning diners.

For something wildly different, check out Throw Social in Delray Beach. It will have a brunch, a dueling pianos show, and ax-throwing as entertainment. Details below.

Here’s a look at some of the restaurants serving Mother’s Day meals May 11. Reservations are required, and cost is before tax and tip. (Be extra kind to servers on this day. It’s beyond hectic at most places.)

Seacrest Ballroom, Opal Grand, 10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. Phone 561-274-3200; opalcollection.com/opal-grand.

A number of stations fill out this large buffet in the ballroom with ocean views. Choices of composed salads, cheese and charcuterie boards, a Moroccan hummus station, fruits and juices, a bakery display, egg and brunch dishes including omelets, Benedicts and waffles, a chilled seafood display, a carving board with prime rib, rack of lamb and grilled Atlantic salmon, a grand buffet station with numerous entrees and sides, and a dessert table. Serving 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $99 for adults and $29 for children under 12.

Pavilion Grille, 301 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. Phone 561-912-0000; paviliongrille.com.

Diners choose from six stations for this brunch buffet: salad, breakfast, omelet, entree, carving and sweets. Entrees include chicken française, eggplant rollatini, pulled pork sliders, penne a la vodka, vegetable lo mein and for kids, mac and cheese and chicken tenders. Carved to order are New York strip steak and plank salmon. 

Live music by David Morin. Serving 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $65 for adults, $39 for kids.

Polpo, Eau Palm Beach, 100 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Phone 561-533-6000; eaupalmbeach.com.

A three-course prix-fixe menu is served. It includes a pastry basket for the table, choices of Key West pink shrimp served with gazpacho, or avocado toast with a poached egg; yellowtail snapper or roast Cornish hen with sides, and for dessert, strawberry roulade. Serving 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; cost is $95 per person.

Latitudes, Delray Sands Resort, 2809 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. Phone 561-278-6241; opalcollection.com/delray-sands/restaurants/latitudes.

It’s an all-day, three-course, prix-fixe menu here, with starter choices such as a BLT wedge, classic Caesar, East Coast oysters, a watermelon burrata salad, lobster bisque and crab cocktail.

Entrees include prime rib and accompaniments ($98), surf and turf ($98), a “naked bird” free-range chicken ($88), rustic seafood stew ($92), crab-stuffed sea bass ($95), crispy skin-on branzino ($95), and lobster-shrimp fettuccine ($94). A number of desserts are on the last course list. 

Cost is based on the entree price. Serving noon to 9:30.

The Addison, 2 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Phone 561-372-0568; theaddisonofbocaraton.com.

Start with unlimited bubbles, bloody marys or wine. Move along to a buffet that features a harvest table with fresh fruits, grilled vegetables, smoked salmon and cheeses. A salad station has avocado or beet salads, roasted and grilled vegetables and mixed greens. Jumbo shrimp is the seafood. 

At a breakfast bar, you can have an omelet to order, potatoes, French toast, berries, sausage and bacon, and a variety of breakfast breads and pastries. New York strip, lamb, brisket, Atlantic salmon and Tuscan chicken are on the carving board with numerous sides. A Viennese dessert table ends the meal. 

Serving 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $160 for adults, $85 for children 12 and under.

Serena Pastificio, Mizner Park, 301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Phone 561-922-6699; serena-pastificio.com/locations/boca-raton-fl.

The fondutelli al tartufo, a version of pasta purses, are stuffed with fontina and taleggio cheeses, and served with braised leeks and napped with a truffle cream sauce — elegant. Buffet serving 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $65 adult, $25 children 12 and under.

Throw Social, 29 SE Second Ave., Delray Beach. Phone 800-561-0755; throwsocial.com/delray.

Mother’s Day will include a brunch buffet and special cocktails. But you’re coming for entertainment here. Tickets include the brunch, the dueling pianos live show and, of course, ax-throwing if you choose. All ages welcome for the buffet hours. Outdoor patio available.

Two seatings: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are good only for the time slot you reserve. Cost is $50 for a bar stool; $200 for a table for four; $300 for a table for up to six; and $500 for a VIP cabana for up to 10 people. 

Other options

Driftwood, 2005 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Phone 561-733-4782; driftwoodboynton.com. 

Specials along with regular menu served, 4-9 p.m. 

Le Colonial, 601 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone 561-566-1800; lecolonial.com/delray-beach. 

Specials for the day at lunch (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and dinner (4-9 p.m.) include squash dumplings, duck confit and crab salad as small plates. Large plates are mushroom and bok choy quiche, lamb curry and braised short rib clay pot. Dessert special is cherry-almond tart. The regular menus are available as well. 

Prime Catch, 700 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach. Phone 561-737-8822; primecatchboynton.com. 

Brunch specials include egg dishes such as a ham and cheese omelet, filet mignon scramble, eggs Benedict and more, with sides. Each is a la carte. The regular seafood menu is served. Waterfront patio dining. Brunch is served till 3 p.m.

Josie’s Ristorante, 650 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach. Phone 561-364-9601; josiesristorante.com. 

Free roses, and a free mimosa or glass of rosé are given to moms here at either brunch, lunch or dinner on Mother’s Day. At brunch, find crème brulee challah French toast. Dinner diners can try the new frutti di mare special. Cost is a la carte. 

Novecento, 116 NE Sixth Ave. (northbound Federal Highway), Delray Beach. Phone 561-450-6101; novecento.com/locations/delray-beach. 

The Argentinian-influenced restaurant offers a prix-fixe menu May 10-11. The special three-course menu includes a choice of appetizer such as charred octopus, an entree such as USDA prime sirloin, and a dessert, plus a complimentary glass of house wine, sangria or a mimosa. As a special gift for mothers, Novecento will present each party with a $20 gift card, valid through the end of May. Cost is $59 per person.

Cook with the kids

If you are looking for interactive classes with your child, check out the Mother’s Day Mommy and Me baking class at Hub at Space of Mind, after the holiday on May 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 101 NW First Ave., Delray Beach. 

Mothers and their mini chefs can bake up treats to take home: lemon sunshine cupcakes and strawberry shortcake. For children ages 5 and up, accompanied by a participating adult. Cost is $65. Details at yourccp.org/event/mothers-day-mommy-me-baking-class.

In brief

The 25-year-old Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Boca Raton shuts its doors this month. May 11 is the last scheduled day of service. No word on why, but a plethora of new steakhouses in the area may have had an effect. … A new nightclub opens early May in Delray Market downtown. It’s an import from Cleveland, a ’70s scene called Goodnight John Boy. Expect bell-bottoms, disco balls and trucker caps signifying a “dive bar” atmosphere. ... Nicholson Muir Distinguished Meats, a Boynton Beach market and steakhouse in the former Little House cottage on Ocean Avenue, is now sporting a “recommended restaurant” notation in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2025. The guide expanded its Florida picks this year, adding Palm Beach County to its coverage. That’s thanks to the county’s tourism board, which put $180,000 into a $1 million pool to draw the guide’s reviewers to South Florida. Distinguished Meats joins eight other eateries in Palm Beach County winning Michelin’s recognition.

Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com.

Jemimah worked at St. Paul’s for more than three years before she passed away. Photo provided 

St. Paul Lutheran Church & School in Boca Raton lost a beloved member of its ministry with the passing of Jemimah, the comfort dog, on March 12. 

For more than three years, the loving golden retriever brought the love and comfort only a dog can provide to many parishioners. She and her team visited nursing homes, ministered at schools and attended open houses, spreading joy. Jemimah comforted hurricane victims after Ian and Helene and was deployed to Georgia when a shooting took the lives of four students and staff at Apalachee High School in 2024. 

The church at 701 W. Palmetto Park Road is one of a handful of churches to bring in specially trained comfort dogs. The Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry is a national human-care ministry “embracing the unique, calming nature and skills of purebred golden retrievers.”

The ministry was started in 2008 and has more than 130 comfort dogs working in churches in 27 states.

For more information about the ministry, visit lutheranchurchcharities.org/k-9-comfort-dogs-about.html. 

’Celebrate Israel’ day of fun and food at PJ Library

The PJ Library in partnership with the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County invites families to its signature event, Celebrate Israel, from 1 to 4 p.m. May 4 at Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. 

The event features bounce houses, hands-on crafts, mitzvah projects, Israeli music, food trucks and special interactive activities with the Shinshinim, Israeli young ambassadors.

PJ Library provides free Jewish books to families with young children and creates opportunities for families to engage in Jewish learning and community events. This event is free and open to the public, but RSVP at jewishboca.org/pjisrael.

Temple Beth El ensembles to be featured at concert

Temple Beth El of Boca Raton hosts a free concert at 3 p.m. May 4 at its Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave. From Gershwin to Bernstein to Sondheim, enjoy an uplifting afternoon of inspiring music by beloved Jewish composers in this multi-generational performance by the music ensembles of Temple Beth El. Free, but registration is required at tbeboca.org/event/sounds-of-music-concert. 

Churches hosting events to celebrate Mother’s Day 

Ascension Catholic Church, 7250 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, will host a pre-Mother’s Day Tea at 11:30 a.m. May 10 in the family center. Tea, finger sandwiches, sweets and fellowship. Tea party attire. $12. RSVP to Leslie at snavely.leslie@gmail.com or call 561-997-5486. 

Celebrate Mother’s Day at The Journey Church, 2200 NW Boca Raton Blvd., at 9:30 or 11 a.m. May 11. A day celebrating women is planned. Guests can get a free individual or family portrait taken. For kids in grade 5 or younger, there will be bounce houses and Bible lessons hosted by Journey Kids. Info at bocajourney.com/events or call 561-420-0606.

Candlelight concerts offer classical, modern music 

Featuring tributes to both classical masters like Mozart and contemporary icons like Taylor Swift, Candlelight Concerts feature gifted professional musicians set against the backdrop of thousands of LED candles at St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church in Boca Raton. These concerts are planned: 

• The Best of Hans Zimmer at 8 p.m. May 16. Tickets start at $40.61. 

• Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 8 p.m. May 24 and July 11. Tickets start at $41.20. 

• Tribute to Adele at 8 p.m. June 20. Tickets start at $41.20. 

• Tribute to Queen at 8 p.m. July 25. Tickets start at $40.61.

• Rings and Dragons at 8 p.m. Aug. 15. Tickets start at $40.61. 

St. Mark is at 2100 Yamato Road. Get tickets at feverup.com/en/boca-raton-fl-us.

Journey’s recognition day to honor new graduates

The Journey Church hosts Graduate Recognition Day at 11 a.m. May 18 to celebrate high school, college or graduate school graduates. The Journey Church is at 2200 NW Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton. Register your student to be recognized and receive a special gift at bocajourney.com/graduate or call 561-420-0606. 

Help backpack brigade pack bags for children  

Boca Raton Community Church’s Boca Helping Hands Backpacks Outreach Group needs team leaders and packers to help for one to two hours on Tuesday afternoons to pack backpacks. These are distributed to local children in the National Free & Reduced Lunch Program to supplement students’ meals over the weekend. 

The Outreach Group also prepares and serves 300 to 350 meals from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the fourth Saturday of every month. Help is needed. The next meeting is May 24.

Volunteers will meet at Boca Helping Hands Food Center at 1500 NW First Court. Parking is available in the lot across the street from the center. For more information, visit bocacommunity.org/detail/?groupID=103

St. Vincent offers six-week Bible course for women 

St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, is offering a six-week Bible study course for women called “Living in the Father’s Love” beginning June 18. The class meets from 10 a.m. to noon in the St. Vincent Ferrer room. This course is part of Walking with Purpose (www.walkingwithpurpose.com). Contact Jeanne King at wwp@stvincentferrer.com to register. 

— Janis Fontaine

Pope Francis, who died April 21, was remembered as a pope for the regular people.

The Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach County, called the pope “a man of tremendous hope, which he lived to the end, and which provided joy to all of us.” 

On April 23, Bishop Barbarito spoke at a Mass of Remembrance and Prayer for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens. At the cathedral's Sunday masses on April 27, its bells tolled 88 times to mark each year of the pontiff's life.

St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Delray Beach had a memorial Mass for the pope on April 25 and St. Joan of Arc Church in Boca Raton on April 27. The Rev. Nestor Rodriquez, preparing for the Mass at St. Joan's, wrote that Pope Francis “was a holy and humble shepherd—faithful, courageous, and full of compassion."

During the Mass, a trumpet and choir performed hymns including “Ave Maria,” and in his homily, Pastor Rodriguez reminded more than 700 faithful congregants of Pope Francis' tender love for the least among us, and how he once said, “My name is Mercy.” 

— Janis Fontaine

May 24: A yoga Mass is offered at St. Gregory’s from 4 to 5 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel. The Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren and Father Andrew Sherman lead this combination of prayer and yoga practice. All levels are welcome. Bring your own yoga mat.  St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd. Call 561-395-8285. Photo provided 

By Janis Fontaine

All clergy are teachers, but few come with the academic pedigree of the Rev. Dr. Robyn Neville of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton. 

Neville, who says it’s perfectly fine to call her Robyn, brings more than two decades of academic study and service to her job as director of the new Center for Spiritual Formation at St. Gregory’s. The church describes it as “a learning center for adults seeking continuing education in theological studies, as well as formation in the history, theory and practice of spirituality.”

The center has been offering classes since January. 

“We have so much to teach each other,” Neville said. “I used to teach world religious cultures and medieval spirituality at the college and graduate level, so I’m especially interested in creating classes and programs that foster healthy discussion about different religious traditions and practices. Boca Raton is a diverse community in terms of religious affiliations and identities, and I hope we can share our differences and learn from each other, but also celebrate our strengths.”

Classes are offered both in person and via Zoom, which allows Neville to reach a wider audience. “I see the center as a unique opportunity, whether you’re religious or not, for people to learn about spirituality and their connection to the divine. Our programs are open to people of all backgrounds,” she said. 

“People join from all over the country,” Neville said. The curriculum “is rigorous, discussion-based and free. We see education as a service to the community because it’s hard to do spirituality on your own. We provide a sense of community and bonding, because there’s a group of us all looking for truth and meaning. We try to provide an experience with divine that lifts us up.” 

Neville says she’s a “perpetual student” as the best teachers are. 

Neville was raised in Alexandria, Virginia, the daughter of two college professors. Her father taught English literature, her mother, art history. A “cradle Episcopalian,” she earned her undergraduate degree in religion from William & Mary (founded in 1693 by King William III of England and Queen Mary II, it’s second only to Harvard as the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States). 

Neville is a theologian in the strictest sense of the word. She has a Ph.D. in historical studies in religion from Emory University, a master’s degree from Harvard in medieval historical theology, and a master of divinity with honors from Virginia Theological Seminary. 

Her interest in church history dominated her studies and earned her opportunities to study abroad. Her deep interest in religious history led her to serve on the board of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church in 2012 and as president from 2016 to 2022, and she continues to serve as its vice president. 

Neville was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2003 and has served the church as an assistant rector, a pastoral associate for Christian formation, and as the theologian-in-residence in parishes in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and Virginia. She has served as a hospice chaplain, school chaplain and youth minister, and she served for two years as the port chaplain at Port Everglades, where she ministered to sailors from all over the world. 

“Most of the sailors are from Indonesia or Southeast Asia or Africa,” she said. “We’d offer them literature in their own language and phone cards so they could call home and see to their medical and dental issues. As a chaplain, your job is part social worker. We would just encourage them to keep their faith, whatever it was.” 

Teaching people to forge a stronger connection with their faith inspires almost all of the classes the center offers. During Lent, Neville offered a course called “Medieval Monastic Spirituality: Harvest for the Soul” that explored five ways in which medieval spiritual seekers sought religious fulfillment. From the practices of Benedictine monks and nuns to Franciscan friars to female mystics, Christians have found ways to achieve a meaningful holy life. The course was designed to show ways modern society can use these practices.

Starting May 15, the center will offer an online class called “Always, We Begin Again: Benedictine Spirituality and the Rule of St. Benedict.” It meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and runs through summer via Zoom.

Some others in the works are “Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Spiritual Tradition,” both in person and via Zoom sometime in the fall; “Women, Heretics, Jews, and Others— Stories from the Margins of Christianity,” via Zoom in early winter;   “Greening the Household of God: Ecology and Holiness”; plus guest speakers and one-day seminars. Classes are free.

In her role as teaching priest, Neville said, “I’m hoping that we will meet a need here in Boca Raton.” Although all the courses are different and cover a wide swath of topics, Neville said, “I would say one of the questions we seek to answer is: How do we become better Christians?”

To learn more about the center, email Neville at RNeville@st-gregorys.com, call the church at 561-395-8285 or visit stgregorysepiscopal.org/spiritual-formation. 

Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com. 

Hunter Barron and Pasta Pantaleo show off a nice blackfin tuna. The fish are plentiful off Palm Beach County this time of year. Photos by Steve Waters/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

South Florida offshore anglers have their pick of species in May, and many of them put blackfin tuna at the top of their fish wish list.

Even though the grouper season opened on May 1, and fried grouper is delicious, those fish can be difficult to catch.

Blackfin tuna, on the other hand, are plentiful off South Florida this month, they can be caught on live bait and dead bait and by trolling lures, and they are exceptionally tasty grilled or seared in a skillet and served rare on the inside. 

Unlike grouper, there is no minimum size limit for blackfins, although most of them range in weight from 10 to 30 pounds. The daily bag limit is two tuna per angler or 10 per boat, whichever is greater. That means two fishermen can keep 10 blackfins and six anglers can keep a total of 12 fish. 

The first step in catching blackfins is finding water where they hang out. Some of the best tuna water is from Boca Raton Inlet to Boynton Beach Inlet. According to Capt. Skip Dana of Deerfield Beach, purple-blue water is ideal, but tuna can also be caught in green water. 

More important than the water’s color is the presence of baitfish.

“I tell people to find water that’s alive, where it’s got baits and activity,” Dana said. “If you find that good, alive water, the tuna will find you.” 

When he fishes in tournaments, Dana will drift with live baits such as pilchards, sardines and goggle-eyes on flat lines, which his crew casts out behind the boat, as well as live baits on kite lines, which splash on the surface suspended from a fishing kite.

“When the conditions are right, you want a full spread out,” said Dana, who also has his crew put chunks of sardines in the water to attract the tuna — but not too many chunks.

“I think some guys over-chunk,” said Dana, who uses frozen sardines sold by tackle stores. “Don’t get crazy. You want a slow, steady stream of chunks, but not too much.

“There are so many sharks, you can’t chunk that much, otherwise you’ll have sharks up in the chum, and triggerfish.”

Local anglers lose a lot of blackfins to sharks, often reeling in only the head of a tuna. So, after hooking a tuna, it’s essential to reel in the hard-fighting fish as quickly as possible.

Stuart Newman holds the remains of a blackfin after a shark got to it. That’s why anglers try to reel in the fish as quickly as possible.

If the tuna aren’t feeding like they should, anglers need to go lighter and smaller with their tackle. So, if you usually fish with 30-pound leaders and size 5/0 circle hooks, you might want to downsize to 20-pound leaders with a 2/0 or 1/0 hook.

Dana said most anglers would do fine using two 20-pound spinning outfits with 3/0 to 5/0 hooks. Using dead or live baits, he’d put one on the surface and the other down with a 1-ounce sinker and drift in 150-220 feet.

The time of day can be a factor in tuna fishing success. 

Capt. Mario Coté of Hollywood noted that blackfin tuna have big eyes that allow them to take a careful look at a bait. He uses 20-pound conventional outfits with 15-foot leaders of 40-pound fluorocarbon, which is invisible in the water.

He recommended fishing for tuna early in the morning, late in the afternoon and on cloudy days, because that’s when the sunlight is less intense. 

“If you were in the water on a sunny day and you had to look up to see something, it wouldn't be easy,” Coté said. 

Coté fishes with live pilchards on two flat lines and two weighted lines, one down about 50 feet and the other close to the bottom. He hooks the pilchards through the nose, although other anglers hook the baits toward the tail so the pilchards swim down. 

No matter how you catch a blackfin tuna, and whether you marinate it in soy sauce or teriyaki sauce or sprinkle it with olive oil, salt and pepper before grilling or searing it, you’ll forget all about fishing for grouper once you taste it.

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

Arden Moore in this recent photo snuggles with Emma, who is now healthy and happy. Photos by Arden Moore/The Coastal Star

Nearly every day in some area of Palm Beach County, a dog darts out of the house, roams away and becomes lost. Or an unwanted dog is taken for a ride and then ushered out of the vehicle in a strange place miles away. Imagine the panic they feel.

If you came across a roaming dog who is clearly lost, what would you do? Your response depends on many factors. Ask yourself:

• Do you know how to safely handle a dog you do not know to avoid being bit?  

• Do you keep a spare leash in your car as well as pet treats and a water bowl to entice the dog to come to you?

• Can you secure the dog in your vehicle so that you can safely drive to your home or to the nearest veterinary clinic or animal shelter to scan the dog for any signs of microchip identification?

• Do you have a room in your home or a secure fenced area in your yard to keep this dog safe while you try to find its owner?

• Do you have other pets in your home who may be agitated seeing this newcomer?

• Do you even know how to report a lost dog?

All good questions. If you decide to help, please make sure that your safety is a top priority. 

Emma in 2020 shortly after Arden’s neighbors  found her. She was suffering from heartworms and needed treatment.

Some dogs roaming the streets may be escape artists. Others may have been abandoned. All depend on good Samaritans to provide a temporary safe place until they can be reunited with their families or placed in new homes via animal shelters or rescue groups.

Over the years, I have found and reunited countless dogs. Then came Emma. In April 2020, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, my neighbors phoned me about a very sick-appearing little gray dog sitting in their front yard. 

“Arden, come quick! We are trying to feed her, but she seems to be very sick,” my neighbor Monique relayed. “We saw on our security camera a car that pulled up in front of our house and pushed this dog out of the car and left.” 

When I arrived, this poodle-Chihuahua mix had no collar, no identification tags. Fortunately, it was during the day, so I took her to my local veterinary clinic to have the staff scan her for a microchip that could show her name, her owners and more details.

No microchip, but my veterinarian did say, “Arden, this dog is very sick. She is infested with heartworms.”

We agreed to care for this dog as she recovered from heartworms. Within two days, we had given her a name: Emma. It took several months and many treatments for her to recover. 

Like some of you, we didn’t plan for this dog, but we are so glad Emma is part of our family. She just celebrated her sixth birthday and is super sweet, smart and super healthy. 

So let me offer you some tips and resources to help you help lost dogs. 

If the dog sports ID tags on the collar, do not approach the dog face to face to read the tag info. Instead, just slide the tags to the back of the dog’s head so you can read in a safe manner. Local licenses or rabies tags can be used to find dogs’ owners.

Microchips, each about the size of a grain of rice, are often implanted between a dog’s shoulder blades. Animal shelters, rescue groups and veterinary clinics are equipped with wand devices that can scan and reach out to the dog’s owner. Unfortunately, it is estimated that more than 30% of dogs do not have microchips, or their people fail to update the chip information when they move. 

Let’s not overlook one of the most basic but vital game plans — posting “Found Dog” posters on telephone poles in your neighborhood as well as in businesses or on community bulletin boards. 

These posters should include a clear photo of the dog, where you found the dog and your phone number. It is believed that most lost dogs are found within a mile radius of home. And you can create missing-dog flyers using apps for iPhones and Android. 

With the dog safely secured at your home, rely on social media or file a report with the county (see box nearby). Popular sites posting lost and found dogs are Next Door and local Facebook pages. Be sure to include a clear photo of the dog, the location, and ask for help from those reading the post. 

Also reach out to shelters near where you found the dog, such as Tri-County Animal Rescue in Boca Raton and Peggy Adams Rescue League in West Palm Beach. Call ahead to see if you can bring the dog to these places, as they may not have space to take in lost dogs. But the information you provide may help in reaching people who have contacted the shelters while searching for their missing dogs. 

Lost dogs — and their families — will be forever grateful to people who step in and help reunite them.

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.

More resources  

• To report a lost or found animal to Palm Beach County Animal Control: palmbeachcounty.com/palm-beach-county-animal-control

• To post a notice about an animal: secure.co.palm-beach.fl.us/snap/founddogs  

• Tri-County Animal Rescue: tricountyanimalrescue.com/find-a-stray3F

• Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League: peggyadams.org/services/lost-found

• Petfinder.com  

• Missingpets.co  

• Lostmydoggie.com  

• Pawboost.com