The Coastal Star writers and editors share their favorites of the season

Baseball and summer go hand in hand. Yes, 1989’s Field of Dreams is a baseball classic, but calling it just a sports flick doesn’t do it justice. ’It is also about redemption, about second chances, about family’ and more, our writer Rich Pollack says. Photos provided by the movie distributors

It’s August and it’s hot.

Why not escape to the movies?

You won’t need to drive to the cinema. Just plant yourself comfortably on a sofa or recliner in your air-conditioned home. 

What to watch? Here are our staff recommendations — the classics edition — for our first-ever Summer Movie Round-Up.  

Go get that popcorn popping and make sure to have cool drinks on hand. Milk Duds are optional.

Field of Dreams

—  Rich Pollack’s pick

“Hey, is this heaven?” an incredulous Shoeless Joe Jackson asks in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. 

“No,” says protagonist Ray Kinsella, “it’s Iowa.” 

That iconic line from what is considered a quintessential summer movie is so good that it is actually repeated one more time, toward the end, when Ray meets a younger version of his father, which heals many old wounds. 

Several elements make Field of Dreams a great movie. First and foremost, it’s about baseball and about how baseball transcends time. If you love the game, you have to love the movie. 

But it is also about redemption, about second chances, about family and about taking a chance on something that sounds crazy. What really makes it great is that it’s a very well-done feel-good, family friendly film that leaves you smiling as the credits roll by at the end. 

Available on Hulu and YouTube TV with a subscription, or on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango for a rental fee.

Bill Murray has a hilarious tussle with a gopher in 1980’s Caddyshack. Our writer Brian Biggane says this quirky homage to golf is ’as enjoyable as a birdie on the 18th hole.

Caddyshack

— Brian Biggane's pick

Ask golfers — including me — to name their favorite summer movie and chances are they’ll answer with one that’s as enjoyable as a birdie on the 18th hole: Caddyshack (1980).

Bill Murray has played a lot of great comedic roles, but his stint as groundskeeper Carl Spackler is hard to top. Most of his appearances are technically little more than cameos, but the one of him proudly showing Chevy Chase his dumpy living quarters is classic.

Ted Knight as the smug rich guy Judge Smails, Rodney Dangerfield as the overbearing Al Czervik, and Chase as Ty Webb team up for what ESPN has called “the funniest sports movie ever made.”

Also, it doesn’t hurt that I played the course a few years after the 1980 release of the film when it was called Rolling Hills down in Davie. 

Available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Paws Up for Pets columnist Arden Moore can't get enough of 1996’s Independence Day. It feels good to see the entire world ’unite to battle menacing alien invaders,’ she says.

Independence Day

— Arden Moore’s pick

Thirty years ago — July 4, 1996, to be exact — I opted to celebrate Independence Day by heading to a movie theater in Philadelphia to catch the sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day. It felt fitting to watch this flick starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum in the country’s first national capital. That added to my feeling of patriotism. 

I also loved the plotline: All of us — the entire world — unite to battle menacing alien invaders. It was one of the first large-scale disaster flicks. It’s been 30 years. Time for me to re-watch it at home enjoying my own homemade popcorn. Highly recommend! 

Available on Hulu and YouTube TV.

1986’s Stand by Me is ’a journey through self-discovery and the loss of innocence,’ Tots & Teens columnist Faran Fagen says.

Stand by Me 

— Faran Fagen's pick

Directed in 1986 by the late great Rob Reiner, Stand by Me is not only a wonderful summer film, it is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Set in 1959, it follows four young friends who embark on a trek along train tracks to find a missing boy’s body, only to discover a deeper bond and inner strength.

It takes place right at the end of summer as the four boys are set to enter junior high. These best friends know things will change and “cherish these moments” of a journey through self-discovery and the loss of innocence.

But the most endearing feature of this film is the close bond of the four boys and the beautiful friendship only young boys can feel. The boys know each other so well and will do anything for each other. Anyone watching this movie will remember their closest childhood friends and revel in the nostalgia as summer wanes. Available on Amazon Prime

Finding Faith columnist Janis Fontaine says the 1987 love story Dirty Dancing is also ’a story about families, how they grow and change.’

Dirty Dancing

— Janis Fontaine’s pick

Dirty Dancing (1987) was set in 1963 at Kellerman’s, a grand resort where wealthy families summered in luxury in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Thick woods opened up to spring-fed lakes so pristine you could drink from them.

For most, this movie is a love story. But for me, it was a story about families, how they grow and change, and I fell in love with Jerry Orbach as Dr. Jake Houseman, Baby’s father. Even though he favors the villain (Robbie) and misunderstands Johnny, he proves he trusts his daughter when he lends her a lot of money, no questions asked, and when she needs him later, he’s there, coming to Penny’s rescue with compassion. The scene where he jumps out of bed and runs up the wooden steps to Penny’s cabin is one of my favorites. 

After, he and Baby argue on the porch in the rain. She says, “If you love me, you have to love all the things about me.” We understand love is imperfect.

Then, at the end of the movie, Dr. Houseman does something extraordinary: He apologizes to Johnny. “When I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong,” he says. A real man admits his mistake. 

Available on Hulu with a subscription or available for rent through Prime Video. 

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in 1953’s Roman Holiday. Dining columnist Jan Norris says the flick ’makes my heart smile and tweaks my journalist's sensibilities.’

Roman Holiday

— Jan Norris’ pick

Roman Holiday (1953) is a William Wyler movie that makes my heart smile and tweaks my journalist’s sensibilities.

Seeing it as a teen, I found it funny and romantic, and with Italy all the rage for fashion, travel and culture, Rome was a dreamy destination, even in black and white.

Reporter Gregory Peck and his photographer buddy Eddie Albert stumble onto the story about a hooky-playing, naive princess sightseeing in Rome as a commoner. 

Audrey Hepburn, in an Academy Award-winning role, sneaks away from her embassy’s royal handlers to explore the city’s landmarks, guided by her cunning new “friends” who are recording her every move. Peck and Albert set her up in numerous photogenic situations — dollar signs in their eyes.

But (spoiler alert), she must return to the embassy. Peck grows a conscience, and a payoff is eschewed in the end. 

The ballroom “reveal” is one of the great movie endings. Wyler is a genius at pacing.

It’s a fairy tale and escapism to be sure, but funny and poignant in all the right places. 

And … Rome. By all means, Rome. 

Available on YouTube, Google Play and Fandango.

Our writer Ron Hayes has nothing but admiration for Charlie Chaplin in 1940’s The Great Dictator, which he finds both ’deadly serious’ and ’very funny.’

The Great Dictator

— Ron Hayes’ pick

For a quarter century, Charlie Chaplin was a slapstick tramp with a bowler hat and a funny walk, moving through a silent world.

And then in 1940, he wrote, produced, directed and starred in The Great Dictator.

For the first time, Chaplin spoke on screen, and what he had to say was still very funny, but in between the puns and pratfalls, deadly serious.

Chaplin plays two roles — Adenoid Hynkel, dictator of Tomainia, and a nameless Jewish barber. Jack Oakie is Benzino Napaloni, Il Duce of Bacteria.

The Great Dictator is a withering attack on Hitler, Mussolini, Nazism, fascism and antisemitism.

And it’s also very funny.

In his 1964 autobiography, Chaplin wrote that if he had known about the Holocaust then, he would not have been able to make the film.

We know, and that makes The Great Dictator all the more moving, especially the final moments, when Chaplin breaks character and speaks directly to the camera, to you and me, and to the future. 

Available on HBO Max, as well as the free Kanopy streaming service and  from the Boca Raton Public Library. DVD copies are available at Palm Beach County Library branches and the Delray Beach Public Library.

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Copy editor Victoria Preuss says Body Heat (above) had ’sizzling chemistry’ and, for her, a paycheck (below).

Body Heat 

— Victoria Preuss’ pick

The 1981 film Body Heat nudged up the Fahrenheit with sizzling chemistry between William Hurt and Kathleen Turner and, allegedly, humid Florida summer weather.

Except the latter was movie magic.

The bandshell scene where the characters Ned Racine and Matty Walker first meet was filmed on Hollywood’s beach one night in November 1980, and I was there as an extra.

The hundred or so of us had been told to wear summer/beach clothes, so folks were in bathing suits, shorts and tank tops and the like. I wore a Hawaiian shirt and shorts — and carried a thick Irish sweater.

Not only did we not face summer heat, but it was downright cold and windy as take after take was filmed and the night wore on.

A combo on the bandshell stage repeated the same few bars of music while the scene played out — over and over. Extras on the benches fanned themselves with a printed “program” — an attention to detail that I loved. 

Between takes, I pulled my sweater up around my shoulders. Each time cameras started to roll I shoved it down behind me on the bench.    (Truthfully, though, I was in the middle of the “audience” and not visible on screen at all.)

Some extras got to walk in or out of the seating area or along the nearby shops while Ned chatted up Matty. 

Luckily, the shops stayed open for real, and during longer breaks I got some hot tea.

My Central Casting pay stub shows I took home $33.10, less taxes, for my night of memories.

I spent it all on cold medication. 

Available for rent on YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple TV, Fandango and Amazon Prime.

Men Giving Back, a Boca Raton-based membership organization supporting nonprofits throughout south Palm Beach County, has chosen 12 organizations that provide services in one of four fields within Men Giving Back’s charitable focus areas: mental health, children, education and food security. 

Each finalist is guaranteed a 2026 MGB grant of at least $12,500 and will be in the running for the large grant awards of up to $100,000, which are determined at the 2026 MGB Golden Evening at Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club in November. Men Giving Back has contributed more than $3 million to a number of charitable organizations throughout the region.

Finalists are: Best Foot Forward, Delray Beach Public Library, Homesafe, Clinics Can Help, Caridad Center, Feed the Hungry, Literacy Coalition, Roots and Wings, Volen Center, Boca Raton Rotary Fund, Bound for College and Fuller Center.

“As our organization continues to grow, the selection process becomes increasingly more competitive,” said Dr. Nathan Nachlas, a founding member of Men Giving Back and head of its grant committee. “We are extraordinarily appreciative of every organization that took the time to apply for a grant and for the work they do in our community.”

Achievement Centers earns 20th year of accreditation 

The Achievement Centers for Children & Families has been recognized by Nonprofits First for maintaining continuous accreditation since the accreditor’s founding in 2005, marking 20 years of commitment to accountability, transparency and nonprofit best practices.

Nonprofits First is a West Palm Beach-based coalition of public and private funders.

In a letter to Achievement Centers, Nonprofits First President and CEO Trudy Crowetz wrote: “Achieving accreditation for one year is a noteworthy achievement — maintaining it for two decades is exceptional.”

Nonprofits First recognizes organizations that demonstrate strong governance, sound financial oversight, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and a commitment to operational excellence.

Achievement Centers serves more than 750 children and families each year across Delray Beach and surrounding communities through such programs as early learning, Out-of-School Time, teen leadership, family support, and enrichment opportunities.

For more information about Achievement Centers for Children & Families, visit achievementcentersfl.org or call 561-266-0003.

Connections Inc. honors dads with special week

Community-Based Connections Inc., dedicated to youth development, family strengthening and providing community empowerment services to underserved populations, concluded Fatherhood Week 2026 with a multiday opportunity for fathers, father figures and other men throughout the region to focus on mental health awareness, economic empowerment, family connection, domestic violence awareness, mentorship and community support.  

Fatherhood Week is tied to CBCI’s nationally recognized fatherhood program, Awesome Dads Awesome Men, a mentoring program funded by the Jim Moran Foundation for fathers and men in Broward County.  

CBCI’s Fatherhood Week was held in collaboration with Palm Beach County, the city of Riviera Beach, the Department of Health and Human Services, Riviera Beach SBA, The Lord’s Place, Palm Beach County Clergy Alliance, Saint Paul AME Church, AVDA, YWCA, Destiny by Choice and D.R. Hair Studio in West Palm Beach.

Green Blazer Awards

CBCI also has announced this year’s Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration honorees: Kirk Brown, CEO of Handy; Carol Hylton, president and CEO of CareerSource Broward; Brian C. Johnson, founder of Community-Based Connections and president and CEO of the Minority Builders Coalition; and Newton Sanon, president and CEO of OIC of South Florida.

These community leaders will each receive a commemorative and branded green blazer for their contributions to improving the quality of life for children and families at the gala at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

Proceeds benefit CBCI’s Awesome Dads Awesome Men fatherhood mentoring program, The Beacon of HOPE-Intact Family Navigation Program, Family Strengthening Program, and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring safety plans, as well as Early Achievers at Markham Elementary, Young Believers, Club Elevate, Haven, and Healing Space. 

Tickets are $150 per person; a table is $2,500. Reserve seats at communitybasedconnections.com/green-blazer-awards/.

Lynn to host Women’s Leadership Symposium

Lynn University, in collaboration with the Boca Regional Chamber, will host the inaugural Karen S. Lynch Women’s Leadership Symposium, an event bringing together nationally recognized executives and thought leaders from organizations including the New York Stock Exchange, Revlon and Walgreens. 

The symposium is presented by the Dandelion Foundation, founded by best-selling author, mindfulness teacher and Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life co-founder Barbara Schmidt. It is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 7 at Lynn’s Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center.

Designed to inspire, educate and empower current and aspiring leaders, the event will include conversations on leadership, career advancement, workplace wellness, knowing your value, salary negotiation and strategic risk-taking.

Featured speakers scheduled to attend include:

• Lynch, an author and former president and CEO of CVS Health

• Amy Bricker, executive vice president of Walgreens

• Anne Phelps, principal at Deloitte & Touche

• David Ko, former CEO of Calm and strategic adviser to the board

• Eileen Auen, chairman of Point32Health

• Lynn Martin, president of NYSE Group

• Michelle Peluso, CEO of Revlon

• Russ Miller, founder and CEO of ClearBridge Compensation Group

Attendance is limited to 300 participants. Tickets are $295 and available for purchase. Visit business.bocachamber.com/chamber-events-calendar/Details/women-s-leadership-symposium-1635701.

$75,000 grant expands food access for seniors

The Palm Beach County Food Bank has received a $75,000 grant from Quantum Foundation to support its Groceries for Seniors program, part of the Food Bank’s broader Senior Hunger Initiatives.

The Food Bank gets food from grocery stores, farmers, distributors, wholesalers and other sources and distributes it to more than 200 community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens and schools.  

During 2025, PBCFB distributed more than 10.6 million meals to more than 194,000 residents.

The Quantum Foundation grant will also help advance plans for nutrition education sessions led by a registered dietitian. Seniors interested in participating in the Groceries for Seniors program, as well as caregivers and community partners seeking additional information, can learn more, view participating distribution sites and determine eligibility by visiting pbcfoodbank.org/senior-hunger-initiatives.

Girl Scouts donate 6,560 pounds of food

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida led a councilwide food drive called Feeding Florida Together to work toward a hunger-free community. Eight hundred-forty girls from 82 troops in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties clocked 327 volunteer hours and donated 6,560 pounds of food to 45 pantries and collection centers.

The girls learned the importance of giving back to their communities and helping those who are less fortunate. 

According to Feeding South Florida, 1 in 7 people and 1 in 5 children face hunger in Florida. 

“At Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, we instill community stewardship, volunteerism and leadership in our members of all ages, from 5-year-old Daisies to high school senior Ambassadors,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. 

Weston-based Troop 10055 volunteered 150 hours at CROS Ministries and Boca Raton-based Troop 24626 donated 338 pounds of food to Boca Helping Hands in Boca Raton, more than any other troop.

Send news, photos and notes to Lou Ann Frala at philanthropy@thecoastalstar.com.

A giant U.S. flag was lifted into the air to begin the festivities in Delray Beach as the city celebrated America’s 250th birthday. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Sloane McDonald 11, reads a portion of the Declaration of Independence. She was one of a group of citizens, students, and historians representing the Delray Beach Historical Society who read the document.

The Junior League of Boca Raton has installed Melody Cobbe as president, along with a new board of directors. Cobbe, a member since 2012, is the founder of Cobbe Law, with a focus on helping small businesses navigate legal matters. The Junior League this year features the theme ’Anchored in Purpose, Moving Together.’ ABOVE: The 2026-27 Junior League of Boca Raton board of directors (front, l-r): Darina Bowerman, Lise Orr, Cobbe, Anne Grigsby, Karen Liu, Shannon Moriarty; (back, l-r) Lisa Warren, Alexandra Scheiber, Daniele Jean, Donna Capparelli, Alyson Reeves, Jackie Reeves, Jill Merjeski and Kristin Martin. Photo provided by Coastal Click Photography

The Boca Raton High School marching band performs at the National Museum of the United States Army. Members and support staff chalked up their experience in  Washington, D.C. as an important life lesson about perseverance and determination. Photo provided by Jenn Girdlestone

By Faran Fagen

Boca Raton High School brass musician Stephin Restivo and his 49 bandmates were shocked to find out at 10:15 p.m. on July 3 that the Independence Day parade they had worked so hard to prepare for in Washington, D.C., was canceled.

But the Bobcats didn’t travel more than 1,000 miles from South Florida to the nation’s capital for the country’s 250th anniversary for their instruments to stay silent.

When extreme heat forced the cancellation of the National Independence Day Parade on July 4, the students and their band directors joined forces with three other high school bands to organize an impromptu patriotic concert inside the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

“When we got the news the parade was canceled, people were sort of in shock and thinking what this meant for the rest of the trip or if it was going to be replaced,” said Restivo, 17. “It also bummed out many people since it was going to be such a big event. The change to the museum was a very quick turnaround, so everyone quickly hustled back together so we could prepare.”

The four bands were each selected to be in the National Independence Day Parade, an honor reserved for invited bands nominated by state officials. The students had come far and paid a lot of money to attend.

The performance at the National Museum of the United States Army was actually set up by a band parent of a band from Washington state, which invited Boca High and the other schools (from California and Wisconsin) to perform. At 4 p.m., the music began, and the 307 student musicians from four high schools played.

“We’re extremely grateful that we got the opportunity to perform at all, and honored to perform in the Army museum,” said Boca High band director Jenn Girdlestone. “We’re so proud of our students for the way they performed.”

The Bobcats played the same material that they had planned for the parade. Each band took about 10 minutes and had the opportunity to watch and listen to the other bands from across the country.

“Even though we didn’t get to march and play in the parade like the original plan, it was still a great experience to be able to play for people and show our appreciation,” Restivo said. “I think it also shows our perseverance as a band that even on short notice we were able to come and perform for everyone. Personally, I think it gives a really good sense of hope.”

Restivo plays the mellophone, which has the sound of a French horn but is shaped more like a trumpet so that the sound can be projected toward the audience during marching shows.

The extreme weather conditions made the trip a challenge. Tours of monuments and the National Mall were outdoors. Other events moved indoors.  And then lightning delayed the fireworks on the Fourth.

The concert reflected a collaborative effort involving the Army museum, U.S. Rep. Emily Randall of Washington state and members of her staff, and Chimacum (Wash.) High band director Daniel Ferland, along with the other band directors, students and supporters from each participating school.

More than a patriotic performance, the concert became a powerful reminder that when circumstances change, determination, teamwork and music can still bring people together.

The upcoming fall semester brings marching band season for Boca High. The Bobcats are excited about supporting their football team and competing in the Marching Band State Championships the weekend of Nov. 14.

Restivo, who has been in band since the seventh grade, says his goals for his senior year are to “just have fun and do what makes me happy.” 

He’s in jazz, symphonic, as well as marching bands, which all have a different feel. In college, he plans to pursue a criminal justice major with a minor in music, and of course, play in the university and local bands. 

“The band community is by far one of the best communities people can be a part of,” Restivo said. “No matter where you go, you will be able to find others who enjoy the same things as you and had similar experiences. It’s almost as if we’re all part of one big family supporting each other.” 

By Jan Engoren

While Tiger Woods is one of the best golfers in modern history, he’s also known for the golfing injuries that have sidelined him: back surgeries, knee problems, an Achilles tendon tear and more. He’s not the only one.

While golf is considered a leisurely sport, injuries are common even among lesser players. Poor form, shaky fundamentals, improper swing form, or limited mobility and strength can all take a toll.

According to the market research website Gitnux, males aged 30-50 have the highest back injury rate among golfers at 45%. Seniors older than 65 account for 35% of ER visits related to golf. Poor swing mechanics contribute to 70% of back injuries. 

To combat those statistics, it’s important to stretch before playing, stay hydrated, warm up and focus on proper swing mechanics, advises Berkcan Akpinar, an orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Medical Associates in Delray Beach.

“The game of golf has a lot of torque built into it,” says Akpinar, who occasionally hits a few balls on the driving range. “The trunk of your body is prone to injuries from a repetitive golf swing, including your spine, the muscles flanking the spine and the obliques.

“Stretch, make sure you use appropriate equipment, take your time, make sure your technique is good and then go out and have fun,” he advises.

As an orthopedic surgeon, he often operates on golfers who need shoulder replacements and says that, in addition to focusing on the back and core, it’s important to stretch the shoulder muscles. Rotator‑cuff tears or sprains, tendinitis and arthritis are common, as are wrist injuries.

Akpinar stresses the importance of proper club fittings in staying healthy.

“If you’re playing 18 holes, you might swing at the ball 80 to 100 times over that course, so it’s important to make sure it’s done with proper ergonomics and properly fitted clubs,” he says.

Another recommendation is to use a pushcart or golf cart instead of shlepping a heavy bag for 18 holes, which can strain the spine, shoulders and hips.

Akpinar suggests using your clubs as a stretching tool before you start your round — doing adductions or external rotations to warm up the shoulder muscles.

“Be creative,” he says.

A golf pro’s advice

While Akpinar treats the injuries once they happen, golf pro Christian Czaja focuses on the habits that help prevent them long before a golfer feels the first twinge.

If you look at Czaja’s Instagram, you’ll see the PGA Teacher of the Year for the South Florida Section and golf pro at Boca West Country Club giving putting lessons.

Wearing red, white and blue harlequin pants, Czaja demonstrates proper putting technique: how to keep your lower body inert and swing using only your upper torso.

“Professional golfers can spend up to one hour warming up,” says Czaja, who has played in three National Club Professional Championships. “It’s important to warm up, do 15 minutes of light stretching and start off with relaxed swings, to avoid injuries.” 

He also emphasizes the importance of good fundamentals, which allow you to repeat an action numerous times without sustaining injury.

Often, weekend players are more prone to injuries, Czaja says. To stay in good golf shape, Czaja bikes, does other cardio and works out with weights to keep his core strong.

Gitnux reports that core strengthening can reduce the risk of back injuries by 45% and a good warmup can decrease the chances of strain by 60%. Also, physical therapy can resolve up to 85% of golfer’s elbow.

Other tips include drinking plenty of liquids, strengthening key muscle groups and listening to your body.

Keeping body in balance

Some injury prevention begins long before you set foot on the golf course. It starts with balance in the body, says Kim Hough, owner of Relaxed Living Yoga, Massage & Nutrition in Delray Beach. A golfer and competitive tennis and pickleball player, Hough takes a holistic approach to keeping golfers, including herself, healthy on the course and beyond.

One of her favorite tricks to minimize repetitive‑motion injuries is to counterbalance your movement.

“I tell all my golf clients that when they are waiting to hit the ball, swing the club in the opposite direction,” Hough says. “If you swing in the other direction, it will engage and stretch the muscles on the other side of your body, providing more balance.”

She believes in the mind‑body approach to staying healthy in sport and in life.

“There’s a lot of spokes on the wheel,” she says. “It’s important to see the bigger picture to maintain optimum health and be able to continue these sports as you age.”

She credits her own health to a mix of nutrition, massage and daily yoga — all aimed at reducing inflammation and keeping the body in balance.

In her yoga classes, she emphasizes exercises to keep the spine healthy and flexible, such as rotation, extension and flexion — something she does every morning and before hitting any golf balls.

She believes yoga is one of the best things you can do for back issues, which golfers often develop from rotating during their swing.

So, whether you’re chasing a hole in one, taking a mulligan or simply out for the exercise, the key to a good golf game is staying fit and avoiding injury. 

Keeping your mind and body in shape — through good nutrition, flexibility, proper technique and well‑fitted equipment — can make the game safer and more enjoyable. And with a little preparation, a little awareness and a little creativity, you can stay on the course longer, playing the sport you love. 

“Maintaining optimum health and fitness and an active lifestyle can help you keep doing the sports you love well into your later years,” Hough says.

To learn more about Hough’s practice, visit relaxedliving.org or call 561-715-4573.

To contact Czaja, go to Christianczaja.com or call or text 561-213-9213.

To learn more about NYU Langone services, visit nyulangone.org/locations/nyu-langone-medical-associates-delray-beach.

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

Nigel Williams received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses less than a year after entering the profession. Photo provided 

Nigel Williams has received the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses, an international recognition honoring nurses who provide exceptional clinical care and compassion to patients and their families. 

Williams, a member of HCI College’s 2025 graduating class, earned the award less than a year after entering the nursing profession. 

Williams serves on the Three East acute care unit at JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach, where he was nominated by a patient’s family for his attentiveness, professionalism and commitment to patient-centered care.

“I was totally shocked,”  Williams said in a news release. “I treat every patient the same way. I take the time to listen, answer questions and make sure they feel cared for. To be recognized for something that I try to do every day is incredibly meaningful.” 

Before pursuing nursing, Williams worked as a pharmacy technician while balancing a second full-time job. He selected HCI College because its flexible scheduling allowed him to continue working while completing his education. 

Williams credits HCI College faculty and clinical instructors with helping shape his approach to patient care. 

“A big thing our professors taught us was to always take the time to treat the patient with empathy and care,” Williams said. “Nothing else matters. That’s why I take the time to talk with my patients, learn their story and understand what’s going on in their lives.” 

Williams, who lives in Greenacres, plans to continue advancing his career in psychiatric nursing and ultimately become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. 

HCI College offers career-focused health care education programs designed to prepare students for success through hands-on training, experienced faculty and real-world clinical experiences. For more information about HCI College’s nursing programs, visit hci.edu.

Dean of FAU nursing school recognized for work 

Cameron G. Duncan, dean of Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in recognition of his work in advancing health care, nursing practice, research, education and policy. 

Duncan has focused on research that bridges evidence-based findings with practical clinical applications. Duncan’s research interests include integrating mental health services into primary care settings, advancing health care policy, supporting the nursing profession and addressing substance use disorders.  

Surgeon completes heart procedure with new device

Delray Medical Center cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jeff Newman recently completed a procedure using AMDS Hybrid Prothesis. This device, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is a new treatment option for aortic dissections. The prothesis is designed to treat acute DeBakey Type I, especially when the blood flow is blocked. 

— Christine Davis

Michael Stember is executive chef and a co-founder of Fletchers, opening soon in Boca Raton. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Private membership supper clubs and bars are the latest in “eatertainment,” and Boca Raton is getting a new one in Fletchers.

The luxe dining, lounge and membership experience is scheduled for a fall opening in downtown Boca Raton at 133 SE Mizner Blvd.

It’s being billed as a five-star menu dining room that morphs into a high-energy upscale nightclub later at night.

A rendering of the private dining area. Rendering provided

While Fletchers will be open to the public, its Members Club card will give people access to a private area and lounge space with exclusive amenities.

Creating the menu is executive chef and co-founder Michael Stember, who ran track for the United States in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

After gaining international fame for his pop-ups called Sushi Belly Tower, he started a brick and mortar, Ponyboy, in Brooklyn.

Fletchers’ other co-founders are Sam Meitus and Jake Marr, South Florida entrepreneurs. They watched the growth of companies drawing young professionals to the area, and felt Boca Raton was overdue for an experiential upscale restaurant.

Marr wrote in a news release, “We see a demand from discerning diners in Boca who are looking for a sophisticated sanctuary for members to connect, relax, and enjoy bespoke services. Boca Raton is the perfect locale for our first venture, given its vibrant community and appreciation for luxury.”

***

Josie’s Ristorante in Boynton Beach is progressing with its move to a stand-alone, two-story building of its own on Federal Highway.

The planned 55,000-square-foot restaurant, about 1.5 miles south of Josie’s current site, will include outside dining and, to the relief of its manager, its own parking lot. A sign is on the new shell of the building.

“The parking now is a nightmare at this place,” said Dante Setticasi, the son of owner Steve Setticasi. Josie’s shares parking with numerous other businesses, including its neighboring restaurant, Prime Catch.

He said the current restaurant rented in the rebuilt plaza at Woolbright Road and Federal was a leftover from the “Kmart parking lot” era.

“A lot of this stuff was retrofitted,” Dante Setticasi said.

The owners are looking forward to a building of their own, from the ground up.

A new pizza oven, new kitchen, bar and dining room will be exciting, he said.

But the staff will come from the old place.

“A lot of the staff we’ve had for a long time,” Setticasi said. “It’s a long-standing crew here. I really don’t know too many restaurants who have kept the same staff for so long. We have had very little turnover.”

Josie’s opened in 1992, and it sold to Steve Setticasi a year later. It gained a large following for its Italian menu.

The addition of James Beard Award-winning chef Mark Militello a decade ago brought a menu makeover and new clientele. He kept recipes simple and built on the classics using fresh, local ingredients and fresh bread.

The new restaurant will grow with at least 50% more seating, Dante Setticasi said.

“It will be substantially larger, and with a bigger bar. I know there are plans for private dining,” he said.

A small market selling breads, pizza and sandwiches will be part of the new build-out, accessible from a separate entrance.

The website lists a late October grand opening, but that depends on construction and permitting, as well as equipment deliveries — all nuances that go into a new restaurant build-out.

“We’re aiming for late fall, early winter opening,” Setticasi said.

***

Rivalries, a sports pub with banks of TVs and a video arcade for kids big and little, opened in June in the former Butcher and Bar space on East Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach.

The pub menu touts “oil-free” foods from an air fryer — including crispy chicken wings — and healthier versions of pub food in general. A vegetarian option, Buffalo cauliflower appetizer, is listed among others. They cover most of the sports bar must-haves: burgers, nachos, pressed paninis.

These are served in loud, energy-spiked rooms where TVs can show every game, match and race available. Tables have bar games to keep diners amused.

Live music is scheduled, and happy hours are 3-6 p.m. daily, with beer and wine deals. Special events are planned; patrons can sign up for alerts online.

Rivalries, 510 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. Phone 561-345-1834; rivalriessportspub.com

In brief

Still open: Hurricane Alley Raw Bar and Restaurant, which plans to relocate from its Ocean Avenue home in Boynton Beach, isn’t moving yet. 

Manager Tiara Heal wanted to let patrons know the Boynton fixture is open and going strong at the same location, at least for a few more months. 

The move, she said, “is dependent on so many variables — construction, a lot of other variables.” 

The casual seafood spot will move across the street from Bud’s Chicken on Boynton Beach Boulevard at some point as part of the downtown revitalization plan that involves a live-work space, The Pierce.

 It will become a two-story restaurant with patio and balcony seating. Early plans called for it to open around 2027.

Closed: Pigsty BBQ on Boynton Beach Boulevard. Road construction that impeded customers from getting into the plaza was cited as the reason for the closure.

Coming soon: Another outlet for Le Petit Pain, the wholesale French bakery based in Lantana, is set to open on East Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach. A coming-soon sign is on the window at 618 Ocean Ave. The bakery has numerous takeout and pickup shops from Vero Beach to the Keys, including one at 410 Boynton Beach Blvd. They also sell at all the local green markets in season.

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

Cason United Methodist Church has removed three wooden crosses that were in front of the church for 50 years. Images provided

By Janis Fontaine

Change is afoot at Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach. 

If you’ve driven by the church at the corner of Swinton Avenue and Lake Ida Road lately, you may have noticed the three wooden crosses that have been standing in front of the church for five decades are gone. 

“As recognizable as the crosses were,” Pastor David Schmidt said, “they didn’t really draw people in. And you’d be surprised how many people look at the crosses and think of the KKK burning crosses, which freaks me out. But I’ve had people in my congregation say that it made them uncomfortable.”

There were other reasons church leaders advocated for a change. 

“I think the crosses made an important statement, but I think sometimes we focus too much on Jesus’ death on the cross. Why not focus on (Jesus’) 31/2 years of teaching and preaching and loving and showing a good example?” Schmidt said.

“We’re building a 10-foot-tall cross-and-flame sculpture that is the symbol of the Methodist Church, and around it will be a prayer labyrinth with benches. Anybody in the community can come and walk the labyrinth or just sit.”

As seen in this rendering, a labyrinth and sculpture of the cross-and-flame symbol of the denomination will replace the crosses.

Schmidt hopes the new curb appeal will make people think about visiting Cason. 

“The crosses really didn’t draw people in the way I hope this will,” he said. “The church is a place where there’s a great deal of belonging and graciousness. The old motto of the United Methodist Church was ‘open hearts, open minds, open doors,’ and I still love that. People find community, they find grace and they find fellowship.”

The cross-and-flame sculpture will be stainless steel, etched with black and red paint. Schmidt expects it will be delivered in time for Christmas. The church is looking for a company to do the labyrinth. 

Schmidt believes he got a message of support from a higher authority. 

“The center cross literally fell on Easter, which to me is a huge theological statement,” he said. 

Another important change came in June when he was officially ordained a minister. More than 25 parishioners along with his wife, Tricia, and two daughters made the 400-mile round trip for the ceremony in Lakeland. 

Pastor David Schmidt, ordained as a minister in June, with his wife, Tricia, at the ceremony.

Mearl Evans, 83, of Delray Beach, joined a dozen others on a bus that took them to the special service. 

“I love going on these trips,” she said by phone, “but I also wanted to support my pastor. Pastor David is one of us, and he makes you feel so comfortable, knowing that you can go to your pastor at any time, and he listens. He listens.” 

Evans, who has been a member of Cason since she moved to Delray Beach in 2019, said she “just felt compelled to go, and I was glad I was able to do so.” She said the words of Bishop LaTrelle M. Easterling renewed her passion and commitment to the church.

“I wrote something down when she was finished that I took from the Bible, what Jesus would have said. ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’ Her words to the congregation were encouraging, and much needed.” 

Schmidt felt blessed that so many people would give their time to support him. “It was very touching for me, because there was a lot of work involved,” he said. “It took seven years.”

Getting ordained isn’t as simple as passing classes and graduating from seminary, which Schmidt did in 2023. You still need to complete two years’ residency and ministry as a provisional elder before you’re finally qualified for ordination.

Schimdt spent hundreds of hours studying scripture, wrote thousands of pages of essays and papers, read more than 150 books and a survived a series of intense interviews in front of six stern theologians asking difficult questions. 

Now he works for the diocese, which could move him any time it wants, but he just had his position affirmed for another year. He’s grateful. 

On his desk, Schmidt keeps a bowl of little plastic Jesuses — he calls them “Jesi” — which he gives out to everyone who visits as a reminder: Jesus is with you. And he wants you to think.   

“What did Jesus do? He modeled the behavior that he wanted his disciples to follow. That’s exactly what we’re supposed to do: Model the behavior Jesus taught us. 

“Christianity is not about reciting tomes and scriptures. Christianity is about how we treat one another, how we show grace, how we show mercy, how we live our lives. If we do that enough, people will say there’s something different about those people. 

“They will know we are Christians by our love.”

Cason United Methodist Church is at 342 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Services are at 10 a.m. (casual, contemporary) and 11:30 a.m. (traditional) Sundays. 561-276-5302 or casonumc.org.

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

The Rev. Mary Ellen Cassini joined St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton on June 1 as the assistant to the rector, the Rev. Andrew J. Sherman.

Known as “Mother Mary Ellen” by her congregants, Cassini had been serving as the associate rector at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach since August 2024.

A native South Floridian, Cassini is the product of South Florida schools. She attended Miami-Dade public schools before getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees (in history and English lit) from Barry University in Miami Shores. She taught school for 20 years before she began her theological studies in earnest. 

Cassini completed a year of Anglican studies at Virginia Theological Seminary in 2005 and focused on furthering her education and expanding her vocational journey, which earned her leadership roles at the elite Saint Andrew’s School, St. Christopher’s-by-the-Sea Montessori School and Palmer Trinity School.

She was ordained a deacon in 2006 and then a priest in 2008 in the Diocese of Southeast Florida. In 2010 she earned her doctor of ministry degree in practical theology from Barry University. Cassini also served in the parish ministry at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church from 2011 to 2013. 

Father Andrew called Cassini, whom he has known for 20 years, “a gifted priest” and praised her “extensive ministry working with children in education.” 

“She brings such a rich array of experiences to this work,” he said.

Cassini is married to Charley Cassini, a retired philosophy professor. They have two grown sons and a cocker spaniel named Simba. 

St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 

Bryan Wexler, wife Rebecca and their children, (l-r) Meyer, Gavi and Eliana. Photo provided

Bryan Wexler appointed as senior rabbi at B’nai Torah

On July 1, B’nai Torah Congregation announced the appointment of Rabbi Bryan Wexler as its new senior rabbi. Rabbi Wexler assumes the role following the retirement of longtime spiritual leader Rabbi David Steinhardt on June 30.

Wexler earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and master’s degree in Jewish education from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2017. Prior to joining B’nai Torah, Wexler served for nine years as associate rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

“This is a congregation that values learning, embraces tradition and genuinely cares for one another,” Wexler said. I look forward to building relationships, celebrating life’s meaningful moments together, and helping create a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come.”

B’nai Torah Congregation is at 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. Learn more at btcboca.org.

’Lunch and Learn’ at Temple Beth El campus

The “Lunch & Learn” series continues at the Schaefer Family Campus of Temple Beth El with “The Poetry, Prayer and Music of the Days of Awe,” at noon on Tuesdays, Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25, at 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. Hear and discuss some of Judaism’s most beautiful and powerful prayers, poems and melodies that are part of the High Holy Days. 

Each week, a rabbi or cantor explores a different sacred text or musical piece. The program is available in person and online via Zoom. Get the link at tbeboca.org/event/lunch-learn-the-poetry-prayer-and-music-of-the-days-of-awe/2026-08-04/.

St. Gregory’s hosts ’Piano and Poetry’ in sanctuary

Join Tim Brumfield, director of the music ministry at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, for “Piano & Poetry” at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 in the sanctuary at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 

This program combines Brumfield’s skill on the Steinway with the world’s best poetry by greats like Frost, Shakespeare and Angelou. 

This celebration has a suggested donation of $25. RSVP by email at office@st-gregorys.com or 561-395-8285. 

Men’s Ministry gathers to discuss faith, serving 

First United Methodist Church, 625 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, is hosting a coffee-and-doughnuts fellowship for men at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month for faith-centered discussions, a bit of humor, and information on opportunities to serve. The next meeting is Aug. 8.

Contact Stan Belyeu at 919-624-1544 or sbelyeugt@gmail.com. 

St. Gregory’s members invited to vestry meetings

Vestry meetings at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, are open to all members.

Elected church leaders meet to discuss church business, letting members see how the church is run and giving them a chance to share ideas during an open forum. The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Harris Hall Conference Room. You can also participate via Zoom. Call 561-395-8285 or go to stgregorysepiscopal.org.

Temple Beth El offering volunteer opportunities

Temple Beth El’s Membership & Engagement Committee will hold a kickoff meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. If you’re looking for a way to get involved, the committee offers volunteer and leadership opportunities benefiting the temple community. 

Contact Elinor Josephson, director of engagement and programming, at ejosephson@tbeboca.org or 561-314-2833, or register online at tbeboca.shulcloud.com/event/membership-engagement-committee-kickoff-meeting1.html.

St. Vincent Ferrer seeks volunteers for programs

St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach, is looking for volunteers for a variety of programs, but two stand out. 

Volunteer teachers are needed for PREP, which offers Sunday morning religious classes for children at the church. Contact Father Emmanuel at 561-276-6892 if you feel called to serve children. 

The second group seeking helpers is the new SVF Events Committee, which needs help planning special events. Contact Ericka Ruiz at 561-276-6892, or email stewardship@stvincentferrer.com.

Other ministries always looking for participants include the music ministry (adult and youth choirs), the Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes, and the SVF Care Ministry. 

Second annual Tour de Friendship charity ride 

Start your training and fundraising now for the second annual Tour de Friendship charity bike ride on Nov. 15.

The inaugural ride, hosted by Friendship House of Boca Raton, raised $56,000 for children and adults with special needs. Organizers hope to beat that number this year.

Rabbi Sholom Kessler, founder and executive director of Friendship House, hopes to raise money and awareness by “creating an experience that brings together cycling, community and purpose while supporting children and young adults with special needs.”

There are two rides, a 30- and 60-miler. Both go north and back along scenic State Road A1A from Boca Raton. Last year 60 riders participated in the FHP-escorted ride with stocked rest stops. 

The finish line features a barbecue celebration for riders and their families, plus participants get custom jerseys, water bottles and socks. 

Registration is $150 and a commitment to raise at least $1,500 to support Friendship House programs. Sponsors are also needed. 

Founded in 2020, Friendship House, located at 17950 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, is a nonprofit dedicated to building an inclusive community for children, teens and young adults with special needs. For information on the work it does, visit bocafriendship.com.

To register for the bike ride, visit tourdefriendship.com.

— Janis Fontaine

Veterinarians at the Peggy Adams Rescue League spay/neuter thousands of unowned cats a year. The group’s Spay/Neuter Day is set for Aug. 15. Photos provided

By Arden Moore

People and groups are steadily doing their parts to bring out the best in kittens and cats in Palm Beach County. So, it is fitting to salute them this month since August has not one, but three special days focused on felines.

They are International Cat Day (Aug. 8), Black Cat Appreciation Day (Aug. 17) and Take Your Cat to the Vet Day (Aug. 22).

Felines can be trickier to figure out than dogs. Yes, cats can be fussy, fascinating, funny and a bit frustrating. It was my quest for this month’s column to salute individuals and groups that make life better for cats. 

Let’s start with the staff and volunteers at Peggy Adams Rescue League based in West Palm Beach. Right now, they are grappling with kitten season and now have more kittens and cats at the shelter and in foster care homes than puppies and dogs. 

“The summer months find us with more cats than dogs,” says Kelsey Otocki, Peggy Adams’ marketing manager, who shares her home with a pair of adopted cats named Bubbles and Ghost.

She highlighted some cat-related programs now underway:

Special adoption rates for the summer: Until the end of August, all adoption fees are waived for adoptable cats and a 50% adoption rate discount exists for kittens at the shelter.

Spay/Neuter Day on Aug. 15: Peggy Adams teams up with various organizations and veterinarians with the goal to spay and neuter 500 unowned cats in the community. Each cat will be sterilized, vaccinated and have their left ears tipped (the universal signal that the cat has been spayed/neutered).

Working cats: Not all cats want to live in homes. Some prefer living in barns, garages, warehouses and other places. For people willing to adopt these cats, the shelter waives adoption fees, offers free spay/neuter and vaccinations plus provides cat dens, bowls and starter food and litter. “These cats get rid of pests and can be your furry outdoor friends,” says Kelsey. “These are cats who do not want to come inside, but they need care.”  

Next up is professional pet groomer Aundrea Altman, from the Zoomin Groomin mobile pet company that serves Boca Raton and Delray Beach. Company owner Eric Berman says about 20% of pets they bathe and groom are cats.

Aundrea Altman, from the Zoomin Groomin mobile pet company, cuddles with a fluffy client.

Cats come in many coats, from the super thick and fluffy Maine coons and Himalayans to the hairless sphynx. Aundrea also bathes, grooms and trims nails for nervous cats, senior cats with arthritis and cats with mats.

“With cats, you need endless amounts of patience when grooming,” says Aundrea. “One of the best things I learned is the power of a towel! You normally don’t have to place a towel over a dog’s head to help calm them down, but with cats, I’ve found it can really help de-escalate the grooming process.” 

Her parting advice? “Do not wait until the matting becomes severe,” she says. “The earlier you address it, the more options the groomer may have and the more comfortable the process can be for your cat.”

Robin Zygelman operates the Puppers and Kitties by the Sea pet-sitting company that serves Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach. She estimates that 85% of pet-sitting services are for clients’ cats. 

She urges pet people to hire sitters like her who are insured and bonded. During the initial meet-and-greet, she pays attention to the cats’ habits and personalities. She notes favorite hiding places in the home for cats, and their behaviors. She encourages clients to share pet evacuation plans should hurricanes or other nasty weather strike while they are away. 

With cats, Robin has learned to practice patience to build their trust. 

“Cats need and like the interaction when you play with them, feed them and brush them if they allow while their families are away on extended trips,” says Robin. 

Since 2010, Kathleen Wright has operated KitKats Rescue, a nonprofit based in Delray Beach. She estimates she and her volunteer team have rescued and found homes for nearly 2,500 felines. 

They have also teamed up with veterinarians to trap-neuter-vaccinate-return with about 3,000 community cats. 

Her wish list? More people to foster kittens and cats in their homes, canned cat food, pine pellet litter and monetary donations to offset the veterinary bills to care for found felines.

Kathleen says the long days are worth it. 

“Many cats and kittens become more confident and affectionate when they are given consistent, positive interactions and given time to feel safe,” she says. 

Arden Moore is an author, pet podcast show host and master certified pet first aid instructor. Check out petfirstaid4u.com and ardenmoore.com.

Learn more

Check out in more detail how these people and organizations in Palm Beach County are helping cats:

Peggy Adams Rescue League: This West Palm Beach-based animal shelter offers many programs to benefit cats. Visit peggyadams.org.

Zoomin Groomin: This professional pet grooming company offers mobile grooming services to cats and dogs. Visit zoomingroomin.com/locations/florida/boca-raton-delray-beach.

KitKats Rescue: This Delray Beach-based nonprofit has been helping kittens and cats since 2010. Learn more at kitkatsrescue.com.

Puppers and Kitties By the Sea: This professional pet-sitting company serves Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach. Learn more at puppersandkitties
bythesea.com. 

An auto engine, a wheel and an overturned SUV litter the northbound lane of State Road A1A in Gulf Stream after a June 29 crash involving Ocean Ridge resident and former Miami Dolphin Rob Konrad. Photo provided by Gulf Stream Police Department

By Larry Barszewski

The driver in a late-night June 29 single-car crash on State Road A1A in Gulf Stream has been identified as Ocean Ridge resident and former Miami Dolphin fullback Rob Konrad. Police say he lost control of his speeding Land Rover SUV — they estimated it to be traveling at 80 mph — which then crashed into several trees and a water valve before flipping over.

Konrad was airlifted via Trauma Hawk helicopter for medical attention following the crash, which took place between the 4000 to 4300 blocks of A1A. He has been charged with reckless driving involving property damage and three civil violations. His medical condition was not available.

He entered not guilty pleas to all counts on July 13 in Palm Beach County Court and a case disposition is scheduled for July 27.

The crash is not the first time Konrad, 49, has survived a perilous situation.

In 2015, he fell off his 31-foot boat 9 miles from shore in the Atlantic Ocean. He spent 16 hours swimming what was later determined to be 27 miles — given ocean drift — before reaching shore in Palm Beach. He spent several days recovering in the hospital and later admitted “I shouldn’t be alive.”

A closer look at Konrad's car, where the front appears to be torn off. Photo provided by Gulf Stream Police Department

The A1A crash took place as he was heading northbound on State Road A1A a mile away from his Ocean Ridge home at about 11:20 p.m. June 29.

Gulf Stream Police Chief Richard Jones said one of his officers was stationed in a cruiser along northbound A1A when the officer’s car shook from the silver, 2024 Land Rover speeding past at what the officer estimated to be 80 mph.

“As he looked up, the car was about beginning to lose control,” Jones said the day following the crash. The car struck a large water valve and crashed into multiple trees before flipping over, he said. The car’s engine could be seen along the roadway, having been knocked out of the car.

After being shut down for several hours following the crash, A1A traffic was also detoured for about 4 ½ hours the following morning as crews for Boynton Beach worked to repair the damaged water pipe that had caused some road flooding.

A portion of a water pipe and street light damaged in the crash. Staff photo by Jerry Lower

Besides the reckless driving count, a first-degree misdemeanor, Konrad was also cited for careless driving, failure to drive in a single lane, and traveling too fast for conditions.

If convicted of reckless driving, Konrad could face punishment of up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. The three civil citations carry penalties of $166 each.

Konrad’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, was traveling July 17 and unavailable for comment. Konrad could not be reached for comment.

The crash occurred near the Ballantrae condominiums. Debris was scattered for several hundred feet, Jones said.

Konrad played fullback for the Miami Dolphins from 1999 to 2004, serving primarily as a blocking back for Lamar Smith (2001-02) and Ricky Williams (2003-04). Konrad now works as a financial advisor.

Drafted in the second round out of Syracuse University, he compiled only modest career statistics, rushing 38 times for 114 yards and one touchdown and catching 111 passes for 854 yards and six touchdowns.

Brian Biggane contributed to this report.

Holiday traffic in Delray Beach received a break for this Fourth of July thanks to the George Bush Boulevard bridge repair project finishing more than two weeks ahead of schedule.

The bridge, which has been closed for repairs since June 1, reopened to traffic at about 3:30 p.m. July 2, according to a post on Palm Beach County’s Engineering and Public Works Facebook page. The bridge hadn’t been expected to reopen until July 20.

The opening will provide holiday relief to the city’s island residents. Not only was the George Bush Boulevard bridge going to be closed, but the Atlantic Avenue Bridge is also set to shut down between noon and 11 p.m. July 4 for holiday festivities.

Atlantic Avenue will be closed between the bridge and State Road A1A during that time, as will traffic north and south of Atlantic on A1A.

The George Bush Boulevard bridge opening will help island traffic north of the downtown on the Fourth, providing another Intracoastal Waterway crossing just a short ways north of Atlantic. Previously, drivers north of downtown would have had to go to Woolbright Road to cross.

Related: Along the Coast: Tax roll grows from previous estimate

By Rich Pollack

Difficult decisions could loom large on the horizon should a proposed state constitutional amendment reducing property taxes for a giant chunk of Florida homeowners be approved by 60% of voters in November.

Yes, local government leaders will have to make tough choices, but the ripple effect of those decisions could mean higher costs for everyone — from business owners and renters to even soccer moms who could face higher league registration fees for their children to participate.

Proponents of the amendment say it will be a blessing for homeowners facing higher insurance costs and other affordability issues. They also see it as reining in local governments, whose budgets they say have been bloated thanks to increasing property values on which the taxes are based.  

At the same time, the proposed amendment is being portrayed by opponents as a potential nightmare for local governments that depend on property tax dollars to provide a variety of services. They say it could also create unwanted costs for businesses and landlords that could be passed on to consumers and renters.

“You’re opening doors for local governments to create other fees and taxes to offset the loss in revenue,” said Jeff Kottkamp, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an organization that is often on the side of keeping taxes reasonable. “It could ultimately lead to no savings at all.” 

The potential savings

Should the amendment pass, homesteaded property owners would see this year's $51,411 homestead exemption — up from $50,722 in 2025 — increase to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 the following year. 

That would be welcome news for homesteaded property owners in the state. Take, for example, a homeowner in Ocean Ridge whose property has a taxable value of about $1 million (see chart). That homeowner pays property taxes not just to the town of Ocean Ridge, but also to Palm Beach County and others including the county’s Children’s Services Council and the Palm Beach County Health Care District — a total of a dozen different property tax assessments. 

Should the amendment pass, that homeowner would likely see a tax saving of almost $1,800 over the two-year period, bringing the total tax bill down from about $18,500 to about $17,900 the first year of the increased exemption and to about $17,300 after the second year. The savings would continue into the future, with increases in the exemption tied to the Consumer Price Index.

For the town of Ocean Ridge, that homeowner’s reductions will translate into a tax revenue loss of $361 from the town the first year and about $725 the second year. 

The challenge for the town, and for most Florida municipalities, will be to figure out how to continue providing services with less revenue if the exemptions are increased. 

That, says Charles Chapman, a legislative advocate for the Florida League of Cities, is likely to cause a shift in footing the bill, with those without a homestead exemption being on the front lines. 

“If you reduce the number of people paying, those that remain pay a higher percentage of the taxes,” he said.

Limited options

Delray Beach City Manager Terrence Moore agrees with the idea that there are really just three options available to the local governments. 

Elected officials could raise the property tax rate, called the millage; they could increase fees, or they could reduce services. They could do any combination of those or all three. The goal, Moore said, is to strike a balance between revenue generation and reduced expenses. 

Factor in the “pebble in the pond” effect, opponents of the amendment say, and negative impacts of the local government actions could be widespread. 

Chapman uses the example of his child’s soccer league to illustrate the point. The league pays the city to lease the playing field. If the city raises the cost of the agreement, the league may possibly raise the registration fees to a point where Chapman may have to decide whether to enroll his child in just two of the league’s three sessions. 

With the potential for large revenue cuts a reality, cities are already looking for ways to trim expenses, but where to cut could be a challenge politically, as could the idea of raising the tax rate to generate revenue. 

Highland Beach Town Manager Marshall Labadie points out that governments may be forced to be less responsive to the wishes of their constituents if the money isn’t there. “It’s difficult for elected officials to not spend money on services residents are demanding,” he said. “It’s challenging.” 

Public safety is one area where residents often demand the best service possible. An earlier version of the proposed amendment made it difficult for governments to reduce public safety funding, but that language is no longer in the amendment. 

Making cuts to public safety, however, is a choice elected officials typically avoid. 

How tax rate could increase

Local governments and taxing districts can raise their tax rates or millages up to $10 for every $1,000 of taxable value in order to generate additional revenue, but a new law requires a unanimous vote of the governing body to approve the tax rate increase if it is more than 10% higher than the rolled back tax rate, which is the rate that would raise the same amount of taxes as the previous year, except for taxes from new construction. 

A raise in the tax rate would impact most of a municipality’s property owners and could lead businesses to increase prices and landlords to increase rents. The same holds true for special taxing districts, such as the South Florida Water Management District. 

But even non-homesteaded properties will see relief from escalating property taxes. The proposed constitutional amendment would cap the maximum annual assessment increase at 5%, down from the current 10% maximum. 

Politically, elected officials say, raising taxes is never a good idea. 

Those familiar with the amendment say its genesis in part comes as a result of a belief that local governments spent more than they needed to because they were getting more property tax revenue as home values rose.

The amendment stops short of eliminating all property taxes for homesteaded properties — something Gov. Ron DeSantis has supported — but the referendum “requires, through general law, a schedule for full elimination” of those taxes.

Belt-tightening avoided?

TaxWatch’s Kottkamp, a former lieutenant governor and Republican legislator, says that too often governments looked at how much they had to spend and found ways to spend it, rather than figure out how much they needed and come up with the necessary funds. 

“Part of this is their own fault,” he said. “They have hidden behind the increased value and not exercised fiscal constraint.” 

Numbers provided by TaxWatch show that property tax revenue for three of the area’s largest cities grew by more than 100% from 2014 to 2024. 

Boynton Beach saw a 130% increase in property tax revenue. Boca Raton, according to TaxWatch, saw a 120% increase in tax revenue, while Delray Beach saw a 106% increase. The study does not include smaller towns in the coastal Palm Beach County area. 

State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, R-Highland Beach, a former town commissioner, says that some of the funds the local governments received could have been put into reserves, used to pay debt or used to reduce taxes. 

Gossett-Seidman, who voted to put the proposed amendment before voters, said that she has seen examples of wasteful and even illegal spending in communities outside of South Florida while sitting on the statehouse’s Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. 

“There are counties and cities that need to do better,” she said. 

Costs have increased

Highland Beach’s Labadie says that one of the reasons governments are spending more is that their costs have gone up as well. Insurance costs have increased and so have employee costs, especially in public safety.

A quick look on Google showed that starting salaries for police officers in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach increased dramatically between 2015 and 2025. The Google search showed that Boca Raton’s starting salaries increased from around $48,000-$50,000 to $91,000, while Delray Beach’s starting salaries increased from $40,000-$50,000 to $72,000, and Boynton Beach’s went from $48,241 to $73,632.

Chapman from the League of Cities points out that a fire truck that cost $500,000 to $600,000 in 2019 now costs $1.5 million. 

Is issue ripe for voters?

For its part, the League of Cities believes that a flaw in the proposed amendment is that it applies the same exemption to cities across the board, without taking into consideration the different conditions each faces. 

“Tax revenue is the bread and butter for how municipalities operate,” Chapman said. “It requires an understanding that one size doesn’t fit all.” 

Kottkamp from TaxWatch says that his organization is concerned that more time wasn’t spent on devising a property tax reform plan and believes lawmakers could have waited until 2027 when a constitutionally mandated Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will be meeting. 

“We love to see some property tax relief, but we’d like to see more time,” he said. 

Gossett-Seidman, who counters that legislators have been working on this behind the scenes for more than two years, says she thinks that one of the benefits of the amendment is that it has generated conversations about municipal finances. 

“It nothing else, it has got people talking,” she said. “I’m hoping taxpayers start looking at budgets.” 

What’s happening locally 

Boca Raton — Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Jim Zervis said the tax revenue loss will be “manageable” for the city. Nonetheless, the city will have to make budget cuts next year if voters approve the amendment.

No significant changes are planned in how the city approaches this year’s budget, though officials have already made $1.27 million in cuts proposed by staff.

Council member Jon Pearlman doesn’t think the city is going far enough this year given the potential for a steep revenue decline on the horizon.

Related: Boca Raton: Proposed property tax rate to remain almost the same

Boynton Beach — City Manager Dan Dugger said the city will have to look at other ways to fund discretionary programs using fees or assessments, or possibly creating special taxing districts like Boca Raton’s Beach and Park District.

He said if the amendment passes, programs that might be difficult to protect include subsidized senior services, neighborhood and social-service assistance, and free community events.

Briny Breezes — Town Manager Bill Thrasher is looking for ways to reduce expenditures, possibly refinancing town loans in hopes of getting lower interest rates, and is seeking other revenue options “if there are any.”  

Delray Beach — City officials are debating what budget strategy makes the most sense this year given November’s referendum and its potential implications. They could keep the property tax rate steady, borrow minimally from reserves and make more than $19 million in cuts — or possibly raise the tax rate, dip heavily into reserves, and reduce the amount of cuts needed to about $5 million. 

“I think there’s an argument to be made that we’re about to get handcuffed,” the city’s chief financial officer, Henry Dachowitz, said of the referendum at a June 9 commission workshop.

“You’re playing a game and you’ve got to look at the rules and do the best you can for the community,” he said. “I think hard times are coming. Taxpayers, when offered the chance to pay less taxes, will generally take it.” 

While officials said the city doesn’t need to make any immediate decisions related to the referendum, they also said they can’t wait until the referendum passes to start planning what to do.

Commissioners discussed creating “municipal services taxing districts” for services like parks and recreation, which would be among the most likely to see deep cuts. The taxing districts, which would require County Commission approval as well, would offset losses in city revenue from the referendum with new taxing districts on property tax bills.

Dachowitz said the city should also begin a major “cost-accounting” to develop what the fees for different services could look like if the commission goes in that direction.

Gulf Stream — Town officials say they aren’t overly concerned about the initial years of a forced property tax cut if it is approved by voters.

The town is facing minimal hits in 2027 and 2028 — the latter year amounting to about 3.9% of the town’s budget — because the average value of Gulf Stream’s 373 homestead properties is about $2.8 million.

“So even with a $250,000 exemption, the other $2.5 million is being taxed and would not be exempt. So that’s kind of our saving grace is having a very large per-property taxable value,” Town Manager Trey Nazzaro said. 

Officials are less certain past 2028, in part because it’s not clear what a “schedule for full elimination” of homesteaded property taxes mentioned in the referendum would look like.

Highland Beach — Town leaders are reviewing their five-year financial plan to see what the future holds for some capital projects. Town Manager Marshall Labadie says the town will be able to weather a new $150,000 homestead exemption with the help of reserves without having to make major cuts but that the second year’s exemption increase to $250,000 may be more of a challenge. 

Lantana — Town Manager Brian Raducci said vacant positions in town are temporarily frozen and may be eliminated through attrition because of the uncertainty around the referendum. 

Major capital initiatives, such as the Lantana Beach Master Plan project, will face re-evaluation as the town shifts to a strict “maintain and replace” infrastructure model if the referendum passes, he said.

Another proactive fiscal measure being proposed is to reduce the maximum merit-based employee salary increase in the new budget from the 5% allowed in the past to a 4% maximum. 

“The projected revenue drop will impact core departments like police, public services, development and the library,” Raducci said, if the referendum passes. “Services, and non-essential services, including park/beach maintenance and all major community events, will face severe reductions or elimination.”

Related: Lantana: Proposed budget includes continuation of capital projects

Manalapan — Town commissioners have been briefed on the amendment and the town will adjust if necessary. Manager Eric Marmer says the town will continue to evaluate its budget and look at additional revenue opportunities and possible savings if needed.

Ocean Ridge — The town is still determining the impact to its finances should the referendum pass, but Vice Mayor Steve Coz thinks it should still be in good shape given the strength of its property values. The town also benefits from having strong reserves, he said.

The town is changing its fee structure to meet new state requirements, including for building permits, so that the fees more accurately reflect the cost of the services being provided.

South Palm Beach — Town Manager Jamie Titcomb says the town is in good shape in the short term, having built up reserves that should allow it to continue funding planned capital improvements.

In the long term, local legislative issues will have to be decided on a case-by-case basis and on available funding. 

A team of reporters contributed to this report.

Q&A on Florida’s property tax referendum 

Q: Would I still owe property taxes if the taxable value of my homestead is less than $250,000 — the amount of the exemption in the second year? 

A: Yes. All property owners with homesteads worth more than $25,000 will continue to pay at least a school tax.

Q: Would my total tax bill go down if my homestead’s assessed value is over $500,000? 

A: More than likely. However, a number of variables could reduce the savings and possibly eliminate them, such as an increase in some of the tax rates you pay.

Q: Can local governments raise their tax rates? 

A: Yes, but for larger increases, a unanimous vote of a municipality’s governing body — or a public referendum — is required. 

Q: Can my city or town charge more for services that offset my tax savings?

A: Yes, governments are allowed to charge fees for a variety of services — including for parking, libraries and recreation programs — and they can also increase fines. 

Q: Why do proponents feel this amendment is necessary? 

A: Many think there has been wasteful spending by local governments as property values increased. They want to limit property tax revenue to core municipal services such as public safety and infrastructure.

Q: Will the assessed value of my property increase?  

A: Most likely. However, the assessed value would still be limited to a maximum 3% increase annually for homesteaded properties. For other properties, the value could only increase a maximum of 5%, which is half the 10% annual increase currently allowed. 

Q: Would nonprofits be impacted? 

A: Yes. Local government funding to nonprofits would likely be cut or reduced. Special taxing districts such as Palm Beach County’s Children’s Services Council, which provides grants to nonprofits, would likely see a significant reduction in funding.

Agents see no end to run on town’s real estate with latest deals

Once viewed for development as a spec home, this lot was split between David MacNeil and Larry Ellison. Photo by Daniel Petroni

By Jane Musgrave

Fueled largely by two well-known multibillionaires who have invested heavily in Manalapan in recent years, real estate sales in the tiny coastal town have broken local, state and even national records in recent months.

The latest eye-popping purchase came in June when WeatherTech founder David MacNeil plunked down $32 million and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison agreed to pay $35 million to split a 4-acre ocean-to-Intracoastal lot that was to become home to one of the most expensive houses in the United States.

Former Manalapan Mayor Stewart Satter was the mastermind behind the idea of building a $285 million spec house on the land at 1960 S. Ocean Blvd. that he purchased in 2024 for $27.5 million.

Instead, the real estate entrepreneur abandoned plans to build a 50,000-square-foot custom-designed house and instead sold the lot for $67 million to the two business moguls, allowing them to become neighbors.

The new neighbors are both major supporters of President Donald Trump, who makes his home about eight miles north at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Trump nominated MacNeil to the Federal Trade Commission. Ellison has long been part of Trump’s inner circle.

Satter declined comment on the sale because Ellison hadn’t closed on his half of the property. But in the past, Satter has credited the real estate boom in Manalapan to the 81-year-old business tycoon who was known as the “bad boy” of tech as he built his fortune.

Satter called it the Ellison effect. He is one of the five richest men in the world, worth an estimated $201 billion to $238 billion, and people take notice of him, Satter said.

Ellison burst on the scene in 2022 when he paid $173 million for the 16-acre former Ziff estate immediately south of the 2 acres he is buying from Satter. It was the most expensive residential real estate transaction in Florida history, shattering the previous state record of $122.7 million.

Two years later, Ellison doubled down, buying the 310-room Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa for $277.4 million.

Other luxury real estate experts agreed that Ellison’s record-breaking land buys put Manalapan in the spotlight.

But, they said, Manalapan is unique.

‘No signs of slowing down’

“I think many buyers who can’t necessarily find what they want in Palm Beach have come down to Manalapan and realized they can get more,” said Nick Younker, of William Raveis Real Estate in Palm Beach.

Wealthy buyers fall in love with the large lots that stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway — property that doesn’t exist in Palm Beach, he said.

Margit Brandt, who represented MacNeil in the purchase of Satter’s land, agreed. 

“Manalapan continues to be the premier destination for ocean-to-lake transactions, attracting more and more discerning buyers year over year,” said Brandt, of Premier Estate Properties in Palm Beach.

To underscore her point, on the same day MacNeil closed on the deal with Satter, Brandt represented Pan-Pacific Mechanical CEO Ron McMackin when he and his wife, Town Commissioner Cindy McMackin, sold their estate at 1660 S. Ocean Boulevard for $72 million. 

The combination of MacNeil and McMackin gave Brandt a $104 million day, cementing her standing as the top-ranked agent in Manalapan for 2026.

But, Younker said, such days are no longer unusual. “There will have been multiple $100 million-plus sales by the end of this year,” he said. “It shows no signs of slowing down.”

Earth-moving equipment and workers are busy at 1960 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan on June 29. The work is taking place on David MacNeil's side of the property that he and fellow multibillionaire Larry Ellison agreed to split. Combined, the two men have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Manalapan real estate recently. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

MacNeil’s parcels

MacNeil, a car accessories magnate with an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion, has done his part to keep land prices in Manalapan sky-high.

The 2 acres he bought from Satter will allow him to more than double the size of the adjacent 17,558-square-foot fully furnished house that he bought earlier this year on land once owned by pop singer Billy Joel.

According to plans that he submitted to the Manalapan Architectural Commission, the 2½-story addition will add 20,578 square feet of living space to the home. Other plans include the addition of a second pool and spa with an overflow waterfall feature.

When MacNeil paid $68.3 million for the house at 1940 S. Ocean Boulevard, it was the most expensive residential sale in the country during the month of February.

Two months later, he set another sales record when he sold a 3.5-acre oceanfront lot for $105 million. The sale of the property at 1120 S. Ocean Blvd. is the most paid for vacant land in Palm Beach County history. 

When MacNeil bought what were two separate parcels last year, he razed two houses with plans to build a dream house for himself and his family. Instead, he sold the property to HSH-Sunshine Revocable Trust, pocketing $11.5 million. Hidden by the trust documents, the buyer’s identity is unknown.

MacNeil is continuing to expand his footprint. 

He is under contract to purchase a house on nearly 2 acres directly north of his recently purchased and growing estate for $36 million, the Wall Street Journal reported. The home is owned by car-dealership owner Ralph Gesualdo and his wife, Mary Gesualdo, who purchased the property for $10.3 million in 2020.  

The purchase would bring MacNeil’s total oceanfront compound to nearly 8 acres. 

By Larry Barszewski

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Palm Beach County residents wanting to visit a Revolutionary War battle site need only get in a boat and head a few miles offshore.

A historic naval battle, the last of the Revolution, took place there, though technically after the fighting had already ended. 

There are no GPS coordinates for the March 10, 1783, encounter between the victorious USS Alliance and the defeated HMS Sybil. Such technology was more than a bicentennial celebration away.

The battle for years has been described as having taken place off the coast of Cape Canaveral. There’s even a historical marker about the battle on nearby Merritt Island, where the battle is celebrated.

But a decade ago, when Cape Canaveral’s current staff historian went looking for additional information about the battle for an article she was writing, she found original navigational logs from the Alliance that showed the skirmish really took place between present-day West Palm Beach and Boca Raton.

“My article was not very well received by some of our local history organizations,” historian Molly Thomas now admits, but she says the logs and other ship entries don’t lie.

It appears the Cape Canaveral reference for the battle is a mix-up akin to the Revolutionary War misnomer of the Battle of Bunker Hill, which instead took place on Breed’s Hill. It turns out Cape Canaveral was one of the few easily identifiable coastal reference points for voyagers sailing between St. Augustine and the Florida Keys, Thomas said.

“Even for the most enthusiastic local historian to say that this location (more than 140 miles to the southeast) is ‘off the coast of Cape Canaveral,’ seems a bit of a stretch,” she wrote in her 2017 story in Brevard County’s Indian River Journal, which detailed her research.

Given her findings, some have given the fight an alternate name: the Battle of the Gulf Stream.

The USS Alliance. Image provided

The 14th (and 15th) colonies

Many people may not realize it, but Florida — then split between East Florida and West Florida — belonged to Great Britain during the Revolutionary War. The British got the two colonies from Spain in 1763 following the French and Indian War, and 20 years later — when the Revolutionary War ended — they went back to Spain.

Florida, despite its short history with Britain as its 14th and 15th colonies, was loyal to the crown and was enemy territory during the revolution. Many loyalists from the 13 original colonies made their way to Florida when the fighting started.

There wasn’t much here.

“Unlike the other British colonies in North America, East Florida literally had only one town,” St. Augustine, said historian Roger Clark Smith, who teaches at the University of Florida. 

He further explained, “St. Augustine was mentioned in letters by George Washington as a military target and a military concern — Congress authorized invasions into East Florida five times, three of which pierced our borders.”

Janet DeVries Naughton, a local historian in Palm Beach County, echoed that in research she has done.

“East Florida’s capital city St. Augustine served as a base of British operation against the south,” Naughton wrote about Florida’s short history under British rule. “The settlement had a fortification that included a garrison and a single British infantry regiment. This regiment successfully blockaded most invading rebels; therefore, few notable or epic battles were lost or won in the territory.”

It’s not surprising that the land that is now Palm Beach County played no role in the war. If Florida was inhospitable to the revolutionaries and revolution taking place to the north, the coast between the current Boca Raton and Palm Beach inlets was just plain inhospitable to all.

Some native Americans eked out an existence here, and historians say Spanish fishers occasionally camped along the coast, but that was about it.

The Gulf Stream connection

The Gulf Stream, however, brought the war alongside our coast. Its currents provided a lifeline between Great Britain and its holdings in the West Indies, with the Gulf Stream’s closest point to shore off the coast of present-day Palm Beach County.

Historians say those product-laden ships heading back to Britain from the West Indies were targets of marauding privateers — basically American pirates authorized by the government during the revolution to attack British ships and seize their goods. 

The coast, though part of loyal Florida, would provide no comfort to British crews forced to abandon ship. Reaching shore would just put them amid unfriendly natives in a miserably hot and  mosquito-infested landscape, overgrown with saw palmetto and mangroves. 

The final battle

The term Gulf Stream barely existed when the Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia in July 1776 to sign the Declaration of Independence. 

In fact, one of those Founding Fathers was the first to chart a map of the Gulf Stream only a few years earlier. Benjamin Franklin (of course!) managed the accomplishment when he wasn’t busy inventing the lightning rod, bifocal glasses or — yes, he did this, too — an improved urinary catheter.

In 1783, with a peace treaty having been negotiated, the seas were still not safe — and news of the armistice traveled slowly. Two American ships, the Alliance and the Duc De Lauzun, were transporting 72,000 Spanish silver dollars from Havana to Philadelphia needed to pay Continental Army troops that March. 

The Sybil and two other British ships came on the scene, with the Sybil chasing after the slow-moving and smaller Duc De Lauzun, which at one point threw its cannons overboard that were weighing it down so it could increase its speed. The Alliance, under the command of Capt. John Barry, reversed course to come to the aid of the Duc De Lauzun and face the Sybil broadside. Barry would later be appointed by President George Washington as the first commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, awarded the rank of commodore.

The 28-gun frigate Sybil was badly damaged in the fight with the 36-gun frigate Alliance and limped away after the battle that lasted less than an hour.

Thomas was able to track the sea battle thanks to logs available online through Villanova University.

“Every day, at noon, the Alliance crew would log their coordinates,” Thomas said. “That’s how you know where they were each day at noon and how fast they were going.”

In a different age, she mused, the fight could have been known as the Battle of Boca Raton. 

Highland Beach firefighter/paramedics Ricardo Robinson and Cale Brader raise the yellow and purple beach warning flags in front of Fire Station 120. The town is now raising daily beach condition flags at the fire station and at the town’s north and south entry signs to indicate water safety conditions. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach is now making it easy for residents and visitors to find out beach conditions thanks to flags that are flying in three locations — and a webpage that provides valuable information for those going to the beach.

The town began flying colored condition flags on June 24 at the town’s north and south entrances on State Road A1A, and in front of the fire station at 3612 S. Ocean Blvd.

In addition, the town now has a dedicated beach conditions page on its website, highlandbeach.us, and a beach conditions tab on the town’s app home page.

Highland Beach is now flying beach condition flags to alert swimmers about the condition of the water in the wake of an apparent drowning earlier this year. Graphic provided

The decision to ensure residents have beach condition information came following the apparent April 4 drowning of Dr. Samuel Lang, who was swimming alone when he was caught in a strong rip current off the town’s coastline.

The town is also continuing to explore the possibility of adding more beach condition flags at several beach entry points.

Because all beaches in Highland Beach are private, there are no lifeguards and town fire rescue personnel have limited access to the beach.

Visitors to the town’s website can click on the “Community” tab at the top of the home page and then click on “Today’s Beach Conditions.”

Once on the page, visitors can access information including beach conditions, weather advisories and water quality information, as well as weather, tide, sunrise and sunset information and water and air temperature.

The same information is available on the app.

Patriotic fervor is on full display this month, with Fourth of July fireworks extravaganzas up and down the coast — including in Lantana, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton —  and even a reading of the Declaration of Independence as part of Delray Beach’s festivities.

It is quite a feat that America is still standing 250 years after that declaration was first read throughout the 13 colonies.

Let’s keep that exuberance going as we head into the fall and the upcoming election season.

Nothing is more foundational to the ideal that is America than the right to vote, giving each citizen a say in the direction our country takes.

It’ll be up to people like Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County’s elections supervisor, to make sure the rules are followed and the elections go off without a hitch. That’s no easy task when you realize that in Palm Beach County alone, there are close to 870,000 registered voters.

I attended an Elections Experience Tour in June that Link offered to teach “about the election process, voting equipment, ballot security, and the steps taken to ensure accurate and transparent elections.”

Link’s tour was impressive, detailing and demonstrating the steps taken during each part of the process to ensure the integrity of our elections. 

The system’s machines can move ballots at incredible speeds — yet still have time to weigh every ballot being mailed out as an added precaution — with built-in redundancies to verify an accurate count.

While the mailed-in votes zip through many parts of the system, the voter signatures on them are all checked manually by trained staff. When it comes to counting the vote, the results are tabulated by two separate systems, providing an automatic audit of every precinct’s results.

When irregularities or issues pop up, the county’s canvassing board — made up of Link, a county commissioner and a county judge — steps in to make a final determination.

But there will be plenty of places for confusion to pop up. 

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that states that allow mailed-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted can continue to count them.

Just remember, Florida isn’t one of those states. Florida elections supervisors can only count ballots from regular voters that arrive in their offices by Election Day. 

There are also battles taking place that could impact the vote here, such as over what exactly is a free and fair election.

It has to be that everyone eligible to vote — and only those eligible to vote — are allowed to vote. However, some people place the emphasis on making it as easy as possible for all eligible voters to be able to cast a ballot, while others stress the need for additional safeguards to find and stop any ineligible voters from doing so.

In the end, it’ll be up to the courts to determine what steps are OK and which go too far — and just how easy or difficult it should be for citizens to take part in the election process.

The founders didn’t create a perfect system. Each generation has struggled to keep the promise of America going. Two steps forward, one step back; that’s the history of our country.

We just need people willing to stand up for the rights and values that got us this far, especially the right to vote, to provide hope as America sets its sights on that next looming milestone — our tricentennial — 50 years from now.

— Larry Barszewski,

 Editor 

Ilona and Malcolm Balfour were instrumental in the creation and maintenance of the Lantana Nature Preserve and were honored by the Town Council for their service. Jim Rassol/The Coastal Star

By Mary Thurwachter 

A presentation during the June 8 Lantana Town Council meeting turned the spotlight on one of the town’s most beloved couples, Malcolm and Ilona Balfour. They were recognized for their dedication to the town, especially the Nature Preserve. 

Born in South Africa, the Balfours, now in their 80s, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary recently. Their life hasn’t always been easy (Ilona says her husband often worked multiple jobs to provide for the family), but has been marked with a love of community.They moved to Miami in 1968, where Malcolm, the son of a South African journalist, began writing for Reuters and UPI. One assignment had him covering a ball at the Breakers in Palm Beach, where he ended up dancing with Rose Kennedy. 

That news caught the attention of media mogul Generoso Pope of The National Enquirer, which was headquartered in Lantana. Pope hired Balfour, which brought the couple and their two small children to Lantana in 1972. By 1975, they had moved into the house where they still reside on Hypoluxo Island. Nestled between the beach and the newspaper, it was perfect for the young family. Malcolm rode his bicycle to work.

The location also put the Balfours in good position to overlook the Lantana Nature Preserve. It opened at 440 E. Ocean Ave. in 2000 and was practically in their backyard, with a small waterway between. 

The preserve hadn’t existed when the family first arrived. The Balfour kids waded through the water to play games on the property.

Ilona and other concerned residents were instrumental in the preserve’s creation. In the 1970s, Ilona and others founded Save Our Parks to make sure valuable town waterfront land wasn’t sold for development.

Other members of Save Our Parks included Rod and Elizabeth Tennyson, Andrea Babkie and Veronica Rauch, Ilona said at the presentation.

Save Our Parks’ first victory came with the creation of Bicentennial Park in 1976. It looked like the town mayor then was going to sell the land to build shops on the waterfront property. 

Save Our Parks rallied for a park and won. That same year, the Balfours, caught up in Bicentennial fervor, became U.S. citizens.

Next targeted for sale and development was the town dump, a 13-acre plot between the beach and Hypoluxo Island. Plans called for a luxury home community to be built on the site, but residents, particularly the Save Our Parks crew, lobbied and were ultimately successful in securing a park.

Developers built a luxury senior living home, the Carlisle, on 7.5 acres. 

The 6.5 acres beside it became the Lantana Nature Preserve, designed to look much like what pioneers who arrived in 1865 would have seen. 

As part of the negotiations with the developer, the Carlisle agreed to pay for maintenance. 

That fee has grown over the years. This year, the town will receive $65,000 to care for the park. Carlisle residents are regular park visitors.

“We visited every bar in town to get the local fishermen involved and filled the council chambers with people who wanted a park,” Ilona said.

Ilona is part of local tree lore. Folks say that when the preserve was being constructed, Ilona chained herself to a ficus tree to protect it from destruction as she held a sign that read “Leave my tree Ilona,” a wordplay on her first name. She didn’t actually do that.

“I threatened to tie myself to the tree,” she says. But the ficus wasn’t a native and had to go. It was replaced with a strangler fig. “The birds seem to like it,” she says.

Since it opened in 2000, the Balfours have been active visitors and staunch supporters of the preserve’s wildlife and conservation efforts. Malcolm was a member of the Town Council for nine years. Environmental and preservation issues remain part of his public service record. 

By the late 1990s, the town began clearing the debris and grading the terrain to mimic a coastal dune. Nonnative plants were removed and replaced with mangrove seedlings and coastal grasses.

The Balfours, as members of the Friends of the Lantana Nature Preserve, were active visitors and supporters. In the early years, Friends of the Lantana Nature Preserve sponsored educational tours for children to teach them about native plants. 

“We’d give them prizes when they correctly identified plants,” Ilona said. “Before Mother’s Day, we gave them each a butterfly plant to take home to their mothers.”

If a bathroom visit was necessary, they marched the children next door to the luxurious Carlisle. 

“The kids were more excited about the marble restrooms than the plants,” Ilona remembered.

Former Mayor Dave Stewart, who drove down from his home in St. Augustine to witness the presentation, said the Balfours were dedicated to preserving the small-town feel of Lantana.

“They have done their best to make sure the town was a pleasant, nice place for people to live, work and play,” he said. “They have always tried to do what is best.” 

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By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach has put the brakes on plans to ban electric bikes and other battery-operated vehicles from its 3-mile-long walking path on State Road A1A after learning that any such moves would have to be blessed by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Further knocking the town off balance is a proposed Palm Beach County ordinance that could be implemented throughout the entire county regulating the vehicles.

Highland Beach town leaders, led largely by Vice Mayor David Stern, have expressed concerns about electric bikes and other electric vehicles on the walking path, which is popular among walkers and people on non-motorized bicycles.

In response, Town Attorney Len Rubin drafted an ordinance prohibiting motorized scooters, e-bikes and other motor vehicles from being operated on the path, but he said it would be difficult to enforce without FDOT’s consent.

“The town could not enforce the ordinance or erect any signage warning operators of the prohibition without the approval and consent of FDOT,” he wrote.

Town Manager Marshall Labadie said the town will reach out to FDOT officials to see if it is possible to implement the ordinance on the walking path.

Rubin said that even a proposed county ordinance being circulated would most likely need FDOT approval if it was to be enforced on FDOT rights-of-way.

Regarding the electric vehicles, the draft of the county ordinance requires “operation with due care and prudence, having regard for pedestrian activity, traffic conditions, visibility and other attendant circumstances that does not endanger the safety of persons or property.”

It would also prohibit operation on sidewalks and shared-use paths within designated commercial or high pedestrian areas and would allow the designation of zones where electric vehicles are prohibited.

While that ordinance could be applied countywide, Rubin said that municipalities would have the ability to not adopt it.

Already several area municipalities have been considering ordinances regulating electric vehicles on sidewalks. Boynton Beach has discussed a proposed ordinance, but not adopted it, and staff in Delray Beach is doing research into possible regulation. Boca Raton relies on state law and prohibits e-motorcycles on sidewalks.

In June, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a proposed new state law that would have required e-bikes to go no faster than 10 miles per hour on sidewalks or pedestrian areas if a pedestrian is within 50 feet. The law also would have required those on e-vehicles to provide an audible warning, such as a bell, before passing a pedestrian on a shared-use path or park trail.

The law, that was passed unanimously by both houses of the legislature, would have also required riders under 16 to wear a properly fitted helmet.

In vetoing the bill, the governor said that it would be difficult for e-bicycles to measure their speed while safely operating the vehicle.

DeSantis also said that the new law would eventually lead to more public surveillance through radar or other devices.

“Certainly, I don’t want to anything that’s going to lead to more surveillance,” he said during a news conference on June 26.

In Florida, the legislature can override a veto with two thirds of members present in each house voting in favor. It is likely, however, the vote would have to come at the end of the next legislative session in 2027.