Workers lay asphalt in Gulf Stream’s Core area on July 27. The work is part of a two-year capital improvement plan. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Steve Plunkett

Just as Roadway Construction LLC was about to lay the final asphalt on streets in Gulf Stream’s Core area, town commissioners were looking ahead to paying for similar work in Place Au Soleil.

Meanwhile, town commissioners for the sixth consecutive year set the tentative property tax rate at $3.67 per $1,000 of taxable value for the upcoming fiscal year.

The capital improvement plan “continues to drive the budget with the transition from analyzing the impacts of the two-year project here in the Core to planning for the engineering work and construction of the Place Au Soleil project,” Town Manager Trey Nazzaro told commissioners July 10.

The tentative tax rate will generate $7.53 million, up about $544,000 from the current year, Nazzaro said. Taxable property values rose 7.9% to $2.05 billion.

Commissioners spurned the rollback rate — the rate that would have collected the same amount of taxes as this year, except for new construction — that would have generated $6.99 million.

“I think it’s important to maintain the millage rate as it is,” Mayor Scott Morgan said. “We have been financially responsible for over a decade (and) more now, building reserves without raising the millage rate.”

Nazzaro said Gulf Stream now has $6.7 million in undesignated reserve funds.

The roadwork in the Core area still had $1.4 million left to pay. The Place Au Soleil construction will cost an estimated $2.8 million. 

In addition, Nazzaro will take $1.2 million from the water enterprise fund to pay for a planned connection with Boynton Beach’s water plant, which he said will take place in spring 2027.

The town now anticipates completing both projects without having to borrow money.

Nazzaro also proposed a 4.5% cost-of-living raise for the town’s general employees to match the step raise being given to police officers.

“Investing in quality personnel and maintaining them is of utmost importance to the town to continue our efficient provision of services,” Nazzaro said in a memo to commissioners.

Under the tentative tax rate, the owner of a house with a $1 million taxable value would pay $3,672 in town property taxes in addition to county, school and other levies.

Commissioners can lower that tax rate but not raise it at public hearings they scheduled in Town Hall for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 11, after their 4 p.m. monthly meeting, and for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 23. 

By Rich Pollack

Barring last-minute changes, Highland Beach town leaders will keep their tax rate for the next fiscal year the same as it has been for the past four years.

Town commissioners in July approved a maximum tax rate of $3.58 per $1,000 of taxable value, a rate that has been the same since 2023.

That rate will generate $14.7 million in property taxes, about $900,000 more than for the current fiscal year, or just shy of a 5% increase. Those tax revenues cover about 73% of the town’s $20 million general fund budget,

The total proposed budget of $30.3 million includes the water and sewer funds as well as the building fund.

Town Manager Marshall Labadie said that he and the town staff kept in mind the possibility of revenues falling in the beginning of the 2028 fiscal year, should a proposed increase in the homestead exemption get 60% statewide voter approval this November.

“The preliminary FY 2027 budget reflects a balanced and conservative financial approach focused on maintaining service levels, preserving reserves and preparing for potential legislative changes that may impact municipal revenues in future years,” he wrote in his monthly communication with residents.

While the town’s tax rate remains the same, most property owners will likely see an increase in their municipal taxes due to an increase in property values, with the town seeing a 4.1% increase in total property values.

Labadie said that the town’s tax rate is the third lowest in Palm Beach County.

He also pointed out that a large portion of the town’s overall costs go toward staffing and maintaining the police and fire departments.

“The budget prioritizes public safety, employee retention, infrastructure maintenance and long-term financial sustainability,” he wrote. “Public safety, including police and fire rescue, represent about 67% of the general fund expenditures, reflecting the town’s continued commitment to resident safety and emergency services. The town continues to keep a mindful eye on the increasing costs of providing public safety services.”

The proposed budget shows the Police Department expenditures at $5.55 million, a slight decrease from the current year, while the Fire Rescue Department budget is $530,409 over the current year’s $6.93 million in expenditures, or up about 7.6%.

The town continues to maintain a significant amount in reserves, with a total fund balance in the general fund projected to be a little more than $12 million, an increase of about $500,000.

In his budget message to residents, Labadie explained that should the proposed constitutional amendment — Amendment 3 — get 60% voter approval, the town would lose about $1 million a year in 2028 and $1.5 million beginning in 2029. The legislation would increase the homestead exemption — currently at a little more than $50,000 of a property’s assessed value— to $150,000 in the 2028 fiscal year budget and $250,000 in 2029.

He said the town’s “strong reserves, conservative budgeting practices and five-year financial forecast place the town in an excellent position to adapt to these changes while continuing to protect the quality of life our residents enjoy.” 

By Patrick Sherry

Residents of Delray Beach could see the city’s tax rate rise for a second straight year — following a dozen years of dropping tax rates that culminated with a “no new taxes” budget in 2024. 

Officials attributed the proposed increase to rising operating costs and the years of reduced rates.

Commissioners voted 4-1 at their meeting on July 21 for a tentative operating tax rate of $6.4371 for every $1,000 of taxable value, a 4.5% increase from the previous year, to support a proposed $219.8 million general fund budget. 

City property owners will also pay taxes to cover debt from bond issues previously approved by voters, for a tentative total city tax rate of $6.446 per $1,000 of taxable value, up 4.1% from the current rate.

The owner of a home valued at $451,411, who receives a homestead exemption, would pay about $2,578 in city taxes, an increase of about $175.

Except for 2024, when the commission approved that year’s rollback rate that meant no new taxes except for those from new construction,  the commission’s decision to slight tax rate reductions in other years still led to tax increases for most residents because of rising property values. City officials said government operational costs and inflation continued to rise, so they needed to bring in additional revenue.

“As our taxable values kept increasing, we lowered the millage rate to offset some of that increase, so that the actual taxes paid by the citizens were less than just the increase in the real estate values,” Chief Financial Officer Henry Dachowitz said at the budget workshop.  “Now we’re working to try to catch up from where we have been.”

The proposed budget shows salaries and benefits increasing  by 8.8%, to a total of $131.4 million, including $1.9 million for employee cost-of-living raises. The city will be increasing firefighter pension contributions by $589,000 and police pension contributions by $724,000. Operating expenditures will also be growing, with public works street maintenance increasing by $500,000 and fleet fuel and lube costs by $370,000. To balance the budget, staff proposed drawing from the city’s reserves. 

The proposed budget was also put together with an eye to November and the possibility voters in the state will approve Amendment 3, which will slash property taxes for homesteaded properties, leading to reduced tax revenues for municipalities, counties and other taxing agencies. 

“We are trying to balance not just for this year, but also looking forward. … It’s also positioning us well in case the referendum passes,” Dachowitz said at the workshop.

The city could lose about $7.4 million in tax revenue in 2027 if the amendment passes and nearly $12.8 million in 2028. To mitigate revenue loss, additional fees to residents — including fire and EMS fees — may be implemented in the future. City staff will be conducting studies and fiscal impact analysis exercises to see where they could recoup some of the lost revenue if Amendment 3 is approved. 

“The only legal avenue above and beyond increasing the millage rate to the extent that [municipalities] possibly can, would be to consider fee-based revenue streams, and it is straight regressive,” City Manager Terrence Moore said at the workshop. “That’s a bit of a downside. Nevertheless, municipalities don’t have any other choice if there’s an interest in maintaining the level of service and covering operational expenses.”

Commissioners may lower the maximum property tax rate before a final rate is approved during public hearings scheduled for Sept. 8 and 22. 

Larry Barszewski contributed to this story.

By Larry Barszewski

In a desire to open Boynton Beach’s waterfront along the Intracoastal Waterway to greater public access and to more water-related businesses and activities, the City Commission has approved new zoning rules to encourage such growth.

The Marina Overlay District, as the city is calling it, stretches along the west side of the Intracoastal from Gateway Boulevard to south of Woolbright Road. It was approved unanimously at the commission’s July 7 meeting.

New developments along the water in the overlay district are required to provide a minimum 12-foot-wide promenade accessible to the public. The idea is eventually to create continuous stretches of public walkway along the water by linking promenade spaces on adjoining properties.

City Planner Tyler Tornese spoke about the motivation behind the district at the commission’s June 16 meeting, saying the idea emerged from a joint City Commission/Community Redevelopment Agency workshop in November.

“We want to encourage marine uses. We want to attract new businesses. We want to — most importantly — activate that public waterfront along the Intracoastal,” Tornese said.

“We do not want to focus on dense residential development,” he said. “We want to focus on commercial uses with accessory hospitality and recreation uses,” such as hotels or marine-oriented businesses. Heights would be limited to a maximum of 60 feet to 80 feet, or roughly six to eight stories. 

The new regulations also allow for more intense development — increased square footage of buildings on site and up to 20 feet higher buildings — on properties that provide more waterway benefits. Such properties would be those that do at least three of the following:

• Have a portion of the promenade be wider than the required 12 feet;

• Provide public docks, fishing piers, or kayak/paddleboard launches;

• Include public plazas or space for events and public gatherings;

• Implement environmental restoration features, such as a living shoreline; and/or

• Have a water taxi or ferry stop, including floating docks, boarding areas, seating, shade structures and lighting.

The district also offers eligible developments reduced on-site parking requirements of up to 30%, but those spaces would have to be replaced by shared parking agreements and valet services — and the development would have to include public waterfront access amenities.

While the overlay district does not apply to residential zones, a major goal behind the city’s effort is to step away from the dense residential developments that have been attracted to the area. For instance, it allows hotels but drops the maximum allowed height from 150 feet to 60 feet, a 60% decrease.

It also permits enclosed dry docks for boats in the overlay district, while prohibiting auto dealerships, automotive repair shops and new merchandise developments such as supercenters, discount and department stores and pet care spots.

The overlay district doesn’t automatically rezone any properties, offer density bonuses for residential development, or reduce any environmental protections or regulations, officials said.

It encourages mixed-use commercial developments that activate the waterfront for the public, including marine-oriented businesses and industries, and it promotes private investment in the city’s waterfront infrastructure, officials said. 

By Mary Hladky

The owners of the Town Center at Boca Raton want to demolish the former Sears store that has been closed since 2018 and redevelop 31.6 acres in the northwest corner of the mall to create a “live, work, play” destination.

Under plans presented to the city in May, the Simon Property Group proposes an eight-story, 197-key hotel, a 374-unit luxury multi-family building, 157,170 square feet of retail and restaurants and a 629-space parking garage. The seven-story residential building would sit atop ground floor retail.

The project would create “a transformative, vibrant, walkable and high-density environment where residents and visitors can live, work, play, stay, and shop within a single, cohesive campus,” the application states.

The “heart of the redevelopment” would be a walkable “Main Street” that would connect the hotel, residential, retail and restaurants. It would also feature an open plaza with water features and shaded arcades.

The former Sears building footprint would become green space.

The redevelopment generally would be located at the southeast corner of the intersection of Glades Road and St. Andrews Boulevard.

Simon’s application follows a trend among mall owners to reinvigorate their properties with mixed-used development that drives traffic to the mall stores.

The proposal is in the initial stage of the city review process, and no hearings are yet scheduled before the Planning and Zoning Board or City Council.

The council got an early look at the plans at a February meeting. 

Stuart Kerr of Highland Beach with his wife, June. Together, they created AppealArmor, a free tool that drafts formal appeal letters for people who have been denied health insurance claims. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

An entrepreneur and sales and marketing executive for software companies for many years, Highland Beach resident Stuart Kerr has a passion for business. So, why quit working? 

He didn’t. After retiring three years ago he dove into ChatGPT and created an AI strategy consulting business. 

In addition, he and his wife, June, sponsor a dozen women in Asia who are attending college through the charity U-GO University.

He also runs a team of volunteers to provide AI training to 10,000 scholars through U-GO University, which funds higher education scholarships to talented women in low-income countries.

His latest venture: Kerr, with June, launched AppealArmor in July, a free AI-based tool that arms consumers to fight insurance claim denials. 

“Fewer than one in 500 denials are ever appealed,” he said. “So, by definition, when the insurance company denies you, it wins. It’s a claim not paid — a great deal for the insurance company, a terrible deal for people who pay their health care benefits and then can’t get the health care they expected, especially while they’re going through a health scare. 

“We essentially built a solution that takes your denial letter through a sort of AI-based jujitsu, where we take all the insurance company’s arguments against doing it, and build an entire argument that shows why their denial was wrong. And while you’re at it, you can go one step further and escalate an appeal to file a complaint with your state’s insurance commission. That will put the insurance company on notice and force it to actively reconsider and respond to your appeal letter in a timely fashion.”

He began building AppealArmor a year ago, based on his and his wife’s experience in dealing with denial letters over many years. When Stuart, 62, and June met 25 years ago, she was a single mother with 10-year-old triplets. Rachel, Zoe and Matthew just celebrated their 35th birthday. 

Actually, the babies were quads, born so early that about 27 doctors were in the delivery room. But a daughter, Erica, developed a staph infection and died within 48 hours.

June was caring for preemie triplets while mourning the loss of Erica. That’s pretty unthinkable. But preemies often have body challenges that come with not being carried to term, and the triplets have totaled 16 surgeries.

Before marrying Stuart, June had already navigated 10 of those surgeries and was expert at dealing with insurance denials.     Recently, a friend who was denied a claim asked June for help. “She said to me, ‘I’m done with this. There is no good solution when a person gets denied. We need a system to fight back, and you’re someone who can help.’”

In response, Stuart built AppealArmor.com.

Here’s how it works. After you upload a photo or PDF of your denial letter, AppealArmor makes a package that includes a draft of an appeal letter citing specific legal and clinical guidelines that insurers respect. It generates a state regulatory complaint letter and calculates appeal deadlines, then delivers a ready-to-sign, ready-to-mail packet in minutes that otherwise could take hours to compile manually.

He estimates an appeal’s success rate to be 40-60%, because you can be denied for legitimate reasons, he said. “The thing to remember, ‘one in 500 people appeal,’ so your odds are infinitely better than zero.” 

AppealArmor is free to use for consumers and takes five minutes. The system uses different AIs to validate information, and the tool is secure. “Your information never leaves your side of the web browser,” Stuart said. 

— Christine Davis

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?

A. Cherry Hill, New Jersey, just outside Philadelphia. My family helped run a local soda company, Frank’s Soda, and that business taught me early on what it means to be part of a community. You knew your customers, you showed up for your neighbors, and you understood that a business could be a way of serving the people around you, not just a way of making money. I went on to get my MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, but that hometown lesson never left me.

From there, life took me to Chicago for 20 years, where I met my wife, June — she’d recently been through a divorce and was raising 10-year-old triplets, Matthew, Rachel and Zoe, on her own. We built our life together on Long Island, raising the kids there until they left for college, and 11 years ago we moved to Highland Beach, which has been home ever since. It’s a long way from Cherry Hill to Highland Beach, but that same instinct — show up for the people around you.

Q. What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

A. I got my start in sales and marketing for software companies, and that background shaped everything that came after — you learn early how to read a room, tell a story with data, and understand what a customer actually needs versus what they say they need. That grew into more than 30 years as an operating executive and entrepreneur. 

Over that time, I’ve helped build more than a dozen software companies — including taking two of them public, Vitria and Fleetmatics, both of which reached valuations over $1 billion. I’ve also helped sell five companies and served on the board of four more. More recently I founded ISO Vision LLC, where I help enterprises use AI to automate business processes. 

But if you’d asked me a year ago what I was proudest of, I’d have given you that corporate answer. Today it’s different. My wife and I just launched AppealArmor.com, a free AI tool that helps people fight back when their health insurance denies them care. 

Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today?

A. Don’t chase the job title — chase the problem. 

Q. How did you choose to make your home in Highland Beach?

A. We landed here about 11 years ago after our kids headed off to college and June and I found ourselves with a chance to choose our next chapter together. Part of it was family — my parents, Burton and Hope Kerr, were in West Palm Beach, and June’s parents, Bob and Elaine Eisenberg, were in Boynton Beach, so Highland Beach put us close to both.  

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Highland Beach?

A. Honestly, my favorite part is watching June swim. She’s an active open-water ocean swimmer — she’ll walk out our back door and swim several miles in open water, several times a week. There’s something amazing about a town where your backyard is the Atlantic Ocean and your spouse gets to live her passion just by stepping outside. 

Q. What book are you reading now?

A. I just finished a phenomenal book called There Was a Time, written by a colleague of mine, John Lipsey. It’s coming out later this fall.

Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?

A. When I need to relax or feel nostalgic, it’s ’80s music — Sting and The Police, that whole era. When I’m heads-down working, I put on progressive house — no words, just a groove, so it doesn’t pull my attention away from the screen. 

Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions?

A. “You only have one shot at life — don’t spend it living somebody else’s.” I’ve always paired that with Steve Jobs’ idea of being a maverick, of trying to make a dent in the universe. The point isn’t ego — it’s that we’re only here once, and we owe it to the people we love to actually make an impact while we can.

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions? 

A. My heroes aren’t in a boardroom — they’re in my house. My wife, June, and our kids.

Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?

A. George Clooney, hands down. I grew up watching his career, and years ago I actually got to be an extra on ER while it was filming — I’ve felt an affinity for him ever since. And hey, it doesn’t hurt that he’s a pretty great actor, too.

By Patrick Sherry 

A proposed townhouse-style condominium development on North Federal Highway will return to the Delray Beach City Commission for reconsideration after being denied approval in July. 

Commissioners voted 3-1 to allow the applicant to come back with new evidence to support the application for 47 three-bedroom townhouses in the 2400 block of North Federal, adjacent to the town of Gulf Stream’s Place Au Soleil single-family home community. Mayor Tom Carney recused himself from the vote on the application because of a brother’s investment with the project. 

Neil Schiller, a lawyer representing Ultra Luxury Townhomes LLC, asked the commission for reconsideration during the public comment section of the commission’s July 21 meeting after the project had failed at its July 14 meeting on a 2-2 vote. 

“If we do have the chance to come back, we will make a salient, concise presentation, and proffer conditions of approval that make the project a little bit more compatible,” he said. 

The 4.25-acre commercial site has been vacant for 20 years, with the former commercial buildings having been demolished. Developers submitted an application to build 39 two-story and eight three-story townhouse-type condo units with two-car garages on the property. 

“It will not hinder development or redevelopment of nearby properties,” Jeff Costello, land planning and development consultant at JC Planning Solutions, said at the July 14 meeting. “This is a redevelopment initiative, and a redevelopment area that needs attention and investment.”

The property is near Federal Highway’s northern gateway into the city, where officials have been encouraging redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties. Gulf Stream officials supported the project. 

“We believe the current proposal is a thoughtful, appropriate, and far better outcome for both the surrounding neighborhoods and the city than the previous application,” Gulf Stream Town Manager Trey Nazzaro said at the July 14 meeting, reading from an email sent by Gulf Stream Commissioner Robert Canfield, who lives in Place Au Soleil. 

Delray Beach commissioners who supported the proposal said there is no commercial activity on the site, so redeveloping it into a residential area could be the next best option. 

“I campaigned in favor of keeping businesses, and I hate to think of something where business could go to residential,” Commissioner Judy Mollica said on July 14, before voting in favor of the project along with Vice Mayor Angela Burns. “However, this particular parcel has sat there for 20 years, and no business seems to want to go on there.”

Commissioner Juli Casale, who voted against the project with Commissioner Tom Markert, disagreed. She pointed out the City Commission had approved multiple residential projects that have not been built yet and wanted to preserve commercially zoned land. 

“Because that area is going to flourish and develop, with all the development going around it residentially, that commercial is necessary,” she said. “I very much worry about not protecting and preserving our commercial tax base.” 

Casale said she agreed to the reconsideration motion as a courtesy to Burns, who made the motion, and to Schiller, who said new evidence would be forthcoming — but she did not indicate her opposition to the project had changed. The reconsideration is scheduled for the commission’s Aug. 18 meeting.

While Carney recused himself from the discussion and vote on the project, he had come under criticism earlier for reaching out to some Planning & Zoning Board members — prior to that board’s 7-0 May vote supporting the project — regarding the development that he previously represented and which his brother now has a stake in. 

By Christine Davis

Lang Realty marked National Bring Your Dog to Work Day on June 26 by celebrating dogs owned by Lang agents that ride along to showings, keep their owners company during late-night contracts, and quietly anchor the workday from their owners’ home offices. 

Amy Snook’s doodles, Stormie and Addison, are fixtures by her side from morning coffee to late-night emails. “They may not know a contingency from a closing date, but they know exactly when I need a break,” said Snook. “Having them around reminds me to slow down and enjoy the little moments.” 

For Joanne Loud, working from home has always included her “co-worker” Miss Roxy, a quiet, steady presence through calls, contracts and client emails. When the workday runs long, Roxy handles the reminder: It’s time for a walk or a lunch break. 

Blake Morris’s “co-worker” Teddy, a terrier mix, doesn’t know anything about real estate, Morris says, but he knows exactly how to make a client feel at ease. “There’s something about having a dog around that just lowers the pressure and makes people feel at home.” 

Maria Kovachev, an advocate for both dog and cat rescue, shares her home with four German shepherds, all adopted from local rescues. “When we give a little love to these four-legged sweethearts, they shower us with love right back,” Kovachev said.

Snook works out of the east Delray Beach office. Loud works out of Lang’s east Boca Raton office, while Morris and Kovachev work out of the central Boca office. Lang’s community outreach initiative Lang Cares makes animal welfare a priority. Lang agents volunteer at shelters, collect supplies and direct resources to no-kill rescues throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties. 

*** 

WeatherTech founder and CEO David F. MacNeil has been busy amassing nearly 8 acres of ocean-to-Intracoastal property in Manalapan for a combined $136 million.
In the latest transaction, MacNeil paid Ralph and Mary Gesualdo $36 million for their 1.88-acre estate at 1920 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. The Gesualdos bought the property from Billy Joel for $10.3 million in 2020.

William Raveis agent Jack Elkins represented the sellers, with Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt representing the buyer. MacNeil already owns the estate to the south at 1940 S. Ocean Blvd., which he purchased for $68.3 million in February. In June, it was also reported that MacNeil and billionaire Larry Ellison were splitting the 4-acre lot at 1960 S. Ocean Blvd. between their properties, with MacNeil purchasing the northern half closest to his home for $32 million.

Ellison’s expected $35 million purchase of his portion of the split lot, on top of the $173 million he paid for the adjacent 2000 S. Ocean Blvd. lot in 2022, would bring the total for his contiguous lots to $208 million.

***

Building.Florida.Home LLC, managed by Gabe L. Newell, the Seattle co-founder of game developer Valve, paid $70.85 million for a Manalapan estate at 1660 S. Ocean Blvd. Manalapan. Morgan Stanley Private Bank provided him with a $46.05 million mortgage. The sellers, Ronald G. McMackin, the president of Pan-Pacific Mechanical, and his wife, Town Commissioner Cindy L. McMackin, paid $38.88 million for it in 2020.

Situated on a 2.06-acre property with 150 feet fronting the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, the seven-bedroom home features a wellness wing, 240-bottle wine cellar, eight-car garage, guest apartment, a private beach tunnel under A1A, a fitness room, a summer kitchen, a beach cabana house, an office, a game room, a bar and staff quarters.

The McMackins were represented by Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt. They listed their new address on the deed as 1860 S. Ocean Blvd., a nearby mansion under construction.

Katie Casali of Ocean Sotheby’s International represented the buyer.

***

G. Robert Sheetz, through the 1992 Royal Palm Way Trust, sold his homestead property at 1992 Royal Palm Way in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club for $24 million. Sheetz bought the property in 2020 for $6 million. Sheetz’s family owns the Sheetz convenience store chain, which has more than 700 locations.

The new owners are John H. Slavik and Kathleen A. Slavik. The four-bedroom, 6,200-square-foot home is sited on 0.39 acre along the Intracoastal Waterway. David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented both sides in the deal.

***

Paul and Catherine Stile sold a home at 481 Thatch Palm Drive, in the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, for $15.5 million to the 481 Thatch Palm Land Trust, with attorney Thomas U. Graner as trustee. Situated on a 0.39-acre non-waterfront lot, the five-bedroom, 8,525-square-foot home was recently completed by SRD Builders. David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the sellers. Michelle Smith of PenderWhite Properties represented the buyer.

***

The Jean C. Marston Revocable Trust, with Jean C. Marston and Benjamin Lee as trustees, along with Benjamin Lee and Jeffrey Lee and Amy Lee, sold the property at 3070 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, for $15.1 million. The new owner is 3070 South Ocean LLC, managed by Antony Hine in Boca Raton. Shelly Newman of the Corcoran Group represented the sellers, while Steven Presson of the Corcoran Group worked with the buyer. Marketed as a land sale, the ocean-to-lake 1.2-acre lot offers 140 feet on the ocean.

***

Sigalit “Siggy” Flicker, formerly a main cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, and her husband, Michael Campanella, an auto dealer, paid $10.5 million for the home at 443 E. Alexander Palm Road in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. Axos Bank provided them with a $9.9 million mortgage.

The sellers were trusts that included the Frank P. Diassi 2009 Revocable Trust and the Marianne D. Diassi 2010 Revocable Trust. David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the sellers in the deal, while Joyce Schneider of Castles by the Beach Realty worked with the buyers.

The five-bedroom, 8,246-square-foot home, on a 0.37-acre site along a canal, features a summer kitchen, a pool, a dock and a bar.

Flicker hosted the VH1 series Why Am I Still Single? and was a featured cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey from 2016 to 2018.

The late Frank Diassi was an investor and executive in energy and chemical companies.

***

The Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry and Commerce has appointed four member volunteers to new leadership roles. Tammy Sirmons, CEO of Gracefully at Home Caregiving, is the director of new member relations. She will connect new Chamber members with an experienced Chamber member as a mentor for the first six months. Raquel Hernandez, owner of Clutter Crusher, and Bethany Castro, founder of The Stretch Concierge, were named as operations coordinators. Hernandez will support the planning and execution of Chamber events and assist with weekly member communications. Castro will focus on developing and refining best practices for the Chamber’s Ambassador Program and the social media program.

Dennis Paul, founder of Chronic Wellness, is the new chief strategy officer, focusing on initiatives that align with the Chamber’s goals for organizational growth and long-term impact.

Also of note: Roz Kodish, owner of Everything Logo, was named the Chamber’s ambassador of the month for April. Carol Petroski, property manager of Nexus Workspaces Executive Suites and Office Rentals, was named ambassador of the month for May.

***

Robert Loredo was recently named the executive director of Florida Atlantic’s Center for Quantum Technologies. In this role, Loredo will lead the university’s quantum computing efforts. Loredo brings more than two decades of experience in quantum education, curriculum development, and large-scale workforce training initiatives. His appointment, which began on July 1, comes as the university continues to build out its on-campus quantum computing infrastructure in partnership with D-Wave Quantum Inc.

***

Tal Ziv, daughter of developer Noam Ziv, has joined the sales team of Glass House Boca Raton as a sales executive with Douglas Elliman Realty. She has followed the project from its earliest stages. Before earning her real estate license, she worked in engineering and product development positions with GE Aerospace, Sierra Space and Spin Master. She holds a bachelor of science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University and recently transitioned into luxury real estate.

***

Samuel Cifuentes is now an intern at the nonprofit Institute for Regional Conservation through the Florida Atlantic University School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability Internship Program. Cifuentes, majoring in biological sciences at Florida Atlantic University, is interested in environmental science and ecological restoration. The IRC is a nonprofit dedicated to the protection, restoration and long-term management of ecological diversity.

***

The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County is launching Every Vote Counts!, a nonpartisan campaign of voter registration, education and candidate engagement for the statewide primary on Aug. 18 and the national general election on Nov. 3. Components will include voter registration and education events, VOTE411 voters’ guides, Election Expo, Meet the Candidate forums, Hot Topic luncheons, and how-to handcards. These can be accessed at LWVPBC.org.

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Eau Resort & Spa presents Red, White & Eau, offering a getaway in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. When reserving two or more nights between now and Sept. 30, guests will receive a $250 resort credit, a custom welcome gift and daily valet parking. To book, call 561-533-6000 or visit eauresortandspa.com/packages/red-white-eau.

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The Delray Chamber Education Fund is offering local businesses the opportunity to advertise on four highly visible billboards along I-95 exits (Linton Road north, Linton Road south, Congress Avenue north and Congress Avenue south) while helping fund programs and resources for students in all eight Delray Beach public schools serving grades K-12.

For $3,500 per quarter, each business receives billboard advertising that generates more than 1.1 million drive-by impressions every three months.

Every sponsorship helps fund programs benefiting students in STEM and technology programs, arts and cultural enrichment, early literacy initiatives, and wellness and support services, among others. To take part, email Info@Delrayeducation.org.

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Alina, of Boca Raton, was selected as one of seven luxury residential communities in the country to participate in a new program developed through a collaboration between FirstService Residential and Atelier CX, the consulting division of Forbes Travel Guide. The program is designed to bring hotel-caliber service standards to residential communities through customized service, staff training and workflow assessments focused on consistency, personalization and service excellence.

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Plastridge Insurance Chairman Emeritus Tom Lynch received the Florida Association of Insurance Agents’ Mitchell Stallings Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lynch served on the citizens board of governors in 2009 and was reappointed in 2011.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Lynch served as mayor of Delray Beach from 1990 to 1996, chairman of the Palm Beach County School Board and the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, on the boards of trustees for both the Delray Beach and Boca Raton Chambers of Commerce, and as a board member of the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County.

Send business news to Christine Davis at davis9797 @gmail.com.

By Patrick Sherry

The Delray Beach City Commission is hitting the brakes on creating an ordinance with safety rules for e-bikes. 

At the commissioners’ meeting on July 14, they agreed to wait until Palm Beach County passes its own ordinance addressing e-bike safety before they move forward with creating their own. Earlier this year, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that created strict regulations for e-bikes statewide. Gov. Ron DeSantis later vetoed the approved legislation. 

Local communities are now considering whether to create their own rules to address safety issues with the growing mode of transportation. 

“If the commission wants to go further, we can either draft our own ordinance … or just wait for the county to adopt theirs,” City Attorney Lynn Gelin said.

Most on the commission wanted to wait until county commissioners pass a countywide ordinance. They believe county rules would create uniformity between different communities and improve enforcement. 

“I personally think we would be best suited to be in alignment with our neighbors,” Commissioner Tom Markert said. 

County commissioners are expected to consider an ordinance on e-bike safety in August. 

By Jane Musgrave

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison wasn’t going to plunk down $35 million to add roughly 2 acres to his 16-acre $173 million estate in Manalpan until he was assured town officials would let him have four tunnels under State Road A1A and wouldn’t balk at other planned improvements.

The 81-year-old billionaire, one of the world’s richest men, got what he wanted on July 14 when town commissioners agreed to waive building codes so Ellison could have a fourth tunnel and could make other improvements, including the construction of what he termed an “engineering building.”

The commission’s approval will spur Ellison to follow through with plans to buy half of a lot immediately north of his estate at 2000 S. Ocean Blvd., said architect Roger Janssen, who represented Ellison. “The property will close within the next month or so,” Janssen told commissioners.

David MacNeil, founder of WeatherTech, in June paid $32 million for the other half of the roughly 4-acre lot that was owned by former Manalapan Mayor Stewart Satter. MacNeil plans to use the land to put a 20,578-square-foot addition onto the 17,558-square-foot house he owns to the north, town records show. When Ellison bought the former Ziff estate in 2022, it had three air-conditioned pedestrian tunnels under A1A. While the town code allows only one tunnel for each property, he was allowed to keep the existing tunnels.

However, the land he agreed to buy from Satter also has a tunnel. He needed assurances he could keep it as well.

Commissioners approved the request and another that allows him to build the engineering building near the Intracoastal Waterway on the land he agreed to buy from Satter.

The Ziff estate has a botanical garden with nearly 1,500 tropical species, a butterfly garden, tree house, swimming pool, tennis court and multiple guest houses. 

City going to rollback? — Boynton Beach property owners will receive preliminary tax bills showing the city plans to keep its tax rate the same — but city commissioners expect the final figure they set in September will reach the lower rollback rate.

Commissioners have said they plan to approve the rollback rate — basically a no-new-taxes rate — that amounts to a 4.1% drop from the current tax rate and would mean a drop of just under $100 in city taxes for a home with a taxable value of $300,000.

The city plans to offset some of that impact on city spending by raising its fire assessment fee $25 for a single-family home, bringing it to $170.

The city’s tentative tax rate is $7.75 for each $1,000 of taxable value. The rollback rate is $7.4257 per $1,000. 

— Larry Barszewski

By Henry Fitzgerald

Menorah and Christmas tree lighting ceremonies. More community events. A waterfront gazebo at Town Hall. Enhanced beach preservation. Various beautification projects. 

At the South Palm Beach Town Council’s visioning workshop held July 21, council members expressed these and other “visions” for the future of their town. 

Ideas ran the gamut, from the long-standing desires to improve Town Hall, repair an aging wastewater lift station, and improve the State Road A1A corridor, to boosting residents’ engagement in town affairs through social media and enhancing public spaces.

Through the entire two-hour discussion, one thing was clear: It’s OK to dream big. 

“These are priorities, specific goals and initiatives we are dedicated to executing for the community,” Mayor Rafael Pineiro said. “This being a workshop, it’s really the only opportunity we have to talk to each other. The whole concept is to be able to have a discussion, an open discussion, so we can build up agreement and have a plan going forward.” 

Overall, Pineiro numbered four areas upon which to start: critical infrastructure, having a transparent government, financial prudence and having an inclusive community.

Not surprisingly, critical infrastructure includes the fate of Town Hall. Pineiro, Vice Mayor Fran Attardi and Council member Adrian Burcet were swept into office in March on the promise of refurbishing Town Hall, in stark contrast to a plan by previous council members to raze it and build a new one. 

Pineiro’s vision echoes the five-point plan on which he ran for office, which includes: stopping Town Hall work and then determining if it can be renovated; building a new master lift station; working with the Florida Department of Transportation to upgrade the sidewalk running along A1A; and working with Florida Power & Light to bury power lines in town. 

These were echoed by other council members, but each also pitched his or her own ideas.

Council member Ray McMillan said when he was elected more than six years ago, his No. 1 thing was “trying to get more greenery, more trees planted,” he said. “And of course the sidewalk problem, which has been chronic for years and years.”

“Regarding the Town Hall, I believe we’ll be able to get where we need to get with the new council members to keep the existing building and be able to resurrect it. I believe we can really make this building work.”

Attardi says she sees South Palm Beach in five years as one of the most welcoming, engaged and desirable coastal communities in Palm Beach County. 

“I want us to be known not only for our beautiful location, but for our strong sense of community, transparent government and exceptional quality of life,” she said. “I want South Palm Beach to be a town where people feel connected to their neighbors, participate in town events and take pride in being part of the community.”

Additionally, she said she’d like to establish annual traditions such as holiday celebrations, pet-focused events and community gatherings. 

“Let’s have something for lighting a menorah, putting up a Christmas tree, or a Halloween event where we get our local businesses involved,” she said.

Council member Sandra Beckett said her priorities are the lift station and Town Hall renovations, but she doesn’t want to forget about budget priorities, especially if the state property tax amendment passes in November and affects the town. 

“We need to consider the impact, and we may need to modify and revise some things later if that passes,” she said. “Considering that, it’s important for us to be cautious with funding additional projects that would be very expensive. A huge priority is for us to continue to monitor and manage our monies responsibly.”

For Burcet, he wants the town to focus on environmental stewardship such as protecting coastal areas and the beaches.

“We should also focus on the amount of litter on the beach,” he said. “We all enjoy our beaches, but I’m seeing cans, I’m seeing cigarette butts. We’re a nesting area for sea turtles, so it’s very important that we work together to upkeep our beaches and protect our wildlife as much as we can.”

Plans for a few of these items on the wish list have already been put in motion. The town plans to launch an updated website soon, and preliminary meetings and discussions are already taking place for Town Hall, the lift station, the sidewalk and burying the power lines. 

“We believe that if we fix critical infrastructure, if we practice financial prudence, if we ensure a transparent government, then that protects and enhances the quality of our lives,” Pineiro said. “As an outcome, we inherently drive up property values and ensure South Palm Beach remains a premier residential community in the Palm Beaches.” 

South Palm Beach officials are discussing changing the Town Council meeting time from 2 p.m. to a later time of day. 

The potential move, they said at a July 21 workshop, will help make it easier for people in the town who work to attend the meetings and may even make it more appealing for residents who might consider running for office. 

South Palm Beach has historically held meetings at night, Mayor Rafael Pineiro said. From 1955 to 1969, they were held at 8 or 8:30 p.m. From 1970 to 2010, they were held at 7:30, and from 2010 to 2020, they were held at 7. The time was changed to 4 p.m. in 2020 during COVID-19, then to 2 p.m. in 2023 to accommodate board presidents and condo managers.

“When I was campaigning, this came up at every one of the meetings we had with people: What many people wanted was to move the meetings to later,” Pineiro said. 

As council members were unable to vote on the issue at the workshop, they chose to bring it up for more discussion and a possible vote at a future meeting.                          

— Henry Fitzgerald

Grants sought for lift station — The South Palm Beach Town Council passed a resolution on July 14 to allow for a grant application to Resilient Florida for a new wastewater lift station. Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the grant would provide $2.5 million in funds, roughly half the total cost of the project.

Titcomb also said that the town is having conversations with lobbyists in Washington D.C. to try to secure federal grants. He said that if things went right on that front, the project could potentially see a full reimbursement over multiple years. 

Town affirms waterfront permitting powers — The council passed a resolution that affirms the town’s permitting jurisdiction over docks, sea walls, piers and other waterfront structures within its boundaries. 

“This resolution reinforces our home-rule powers and commitment to processing these permits locally,” Mayor Rafael Pineiro said. “Which will allow our friends from Brittany, Concordia ... to proceed with their dock projects.”

A related ordinance was also read after the council passed the resolution to codify the process in which licenses would be granted. The ordinance passed on first reading.

Sea wall markings update — A public safety ordinance announced in June was given tentative approval at the July 14 council meeting. The ordinance would require condominiums facing the ocean to be marked with their address numbers to make it easier for emergency services to accurately locate beach emergencies.

Updated sheriff’s contract approved — The council approved a new contract with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office. The new $1.2 million contract is a 3% increase from the current year. The agreement is for the fiscal year that starts on Oct. 1. 

— Robert Haughn

MANALAPAN — Lisa Petersen, who served 18 years as Manalapan’s town clerk, died surrounded by family on July 21 after suffering an injury. She was 70.

Town Manager Eric Marmer said Mrs. Petersen was “a familiar, trusted presence to generations of residents, elected officials, and staff” in town.

“Throughout her many years of service, Lisa cared deeply about Manalapan and the people who call it home,” Marmer said in a message to town residents. “Her dedication, institutional knowledge, and commitment to the town left a lasting impact on our community, and she will be remembered fondly by the many people whose lives she touched.”

Mrs. Petersen was preceded in death by her parents, Jo Ann Swint and Robert L. Swint, her brother Richard Swint, and her son, John Thomas Petersen.

Lisa Swint was born on Nov. 5, 1955, in Columbia, South Carolina. She attended the University of South Carolina and graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising. She met her husband of 47 years, Thomas Petersen, at FSU. 

Mrs. Petersen lived in North Palm Beach and had a long career in Manalapan, retiring in 2022. In that role, she served as “concierge, referee, researcher, big sister, ambassador and, yes, municipal clerk,” according to a story about her retirement in The Coastal Star.

Former Mayor Keith Waters, who worked closely with her during his six years leading the town, called her “absolutely stellar and one of the more interesting people I’ve ever met.”

Waters recalled that “on an individual level, she knew the people.” She knew their addresses, too, she said in the story about her retirement.

“I have this thing for numbers,” she said. “I can tell you everyone’s house number. It’s terrible because I use valuable brain cells for information I could easily look up.”

The clerk’s job was not an easy one, Waters said. “She did it with such grace and style and calm. She was such a kind and compassionate person in every situation,” he said. “It didn’t matter what the problem was, she’d say ‘there’s a solution, don’t worry, we’ll get there.’”

Former Mayor Stewart Satter said she “helped shape the character of our town through her years of devoted service.” She “carried out her responsibilities with integrity, grace and genuine care for the residents she served,” he said.

Mrs. Petersen’s daughter, Erika Petersen, succeeded her as town clerk and still serves in that position.

Mrs. Petersen’s greatest joys were spending time with her daughter, playing with her grandchildren, enjoying live music and watching Atlanta Bravesbaseball. In her free time, she enjoyed volunteering at her grandson’s elementary school and participating in water aerobics. 

She is survived by her husband and daughter; her son-in-law, Julio Mejia; grandsons Soren Mejia and Holden Mejia; brother Robert A. Swint; and six loving nieces.

The family thanks friends for their generous support, as well as the ICU staff at St. Mary’s Medical Center for their exceptional care, compassion and support.

She will be greatly missed and forever remembered for her beautiful smile, the family said. The family will hold a celebration of life at a later date.

— Staff report

BRINY BREEZES — Joanne Garrott Long, a bridge player who shared her enthusiasm with friends old and new, died June 29. She was 96.

Born on Aug. 4, 1929, in Peoria, Illinois, to Ashton and Doris Johnson Garrott, she married Donald David Long on July 8, 1951. 

Since the 1990s, Mrs. Long resided in Briny Breezes during the winter months and Greenville, South Carolina, when it was warmer. She participated in many activities wherever she lived: tennis, bridge, chorus, and all kinds of volunteering.

Joanne received her bachelor and master’s degrees from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. She taught at Hines Grade School from 1959 to 1967 before becoming a guidance counselor at Washington Community High School in Peoria from 1967 to 1987.

She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and served as a deaconess, served with the UnityPoint Health proctor service auxiliary, and was a charter member of the Beta Eta Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was a former member of the Willow Knolls Country Club, the Illinois Education Association, the National Education Association, the Washington Education Club, the Kiwanis Club (president of Peoria North), and the Bradley University Alumni Board.

Mrs. Long was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and their son Douglas Donald Long, and brothers James K. (Barbara) Garrott and Jerry L. (Marile) Garrott.

She is survived by son David (Carol) Garrott Long and daughter-in-law Sally Long; four grandchildren, Ashley (Michael) Long Pastore, Sarah (Daniel) Long Assey, Ashton (Cassie) Long, and Matthew Long; and three great-grandchildren, Stella Joanne Pastore, Douglas Daniel Assey, and Walter Wayne Assey.

Two services were held in Mrs. Long’s honor. On July 9, a memorial service was held at The Woodlands at Furman, in Greenville. On July 13, a funeral service was held at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel, in Peoria. Joanne will forever rest next to her husband in Parkview Memorial Park in Peoria.

Her request was that any gifts be sent to the Wheels O’ Time Museum in Dunlap, Illinois, or ShrinersChildrens.org. 

                                                                         — Submitted by the family

By Mary Thurwachter

A trio of anonymous letters signed by “Concerned Residents of Lantana” have enraged the town’s mayor, council, manager and attorney. The missives, dated June 30 and delivered by snail mail that town officials received in mid-July, were given top billing at a workshop meeting July 24.

The letters — addressed to the Florida Auditor General, the town’s auditors, Grau & Associates, and the Florida Board of Accountancy — allege financial mismanagement and misappropriations by the Town Council, manager, independent auditors, legal counsel and various contracted consultants. 

The “concerned residents” want a forensic audit and, if appropriate, damages paid by outside consultants and criminal prosecution of officials “if financial misdeeds are as heinous as believed.”

Town Manager Brian Raducci said officials have no idea who wrote the complaints.

“The letters allege baseless claims that reference nothing specific,” Raducci said at the workshop. “They appear to be rambling. They’re all over the place. They talk about potential financial misappropriation or mismanagement and general failures to discharge constitutional duties imposed upon the town. Those are serious allegations. There’s no substantive evidence, merit or proof of any of this.” 

The letters cite “acres and acres of vacant retail and former residential sites,” including the former Kmart property, while “drug rehab centers abound up and down Dixie Highway.” They call town parks “a disgrace,” the Building Department slow-moving and question the rising cost of legal fees.

The authors say the town budgets don’t spell out the true cost of the legal fees paid, fees that they say have been routinely amended and increased every year since 2018.

“The base legal fee budget, combined with the annual budget amendments exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars,” the letters state.

Raducci defended Max Lohman, who has been town attorney for 22 years. “Yes, his fees have been up, and I’ll take responsibility for a lot of that as well because we’re doing a lot more work since I’ve been here.

“We’ve been doing a ton of infrastructure work. We get contracts and he has to review them. When we get a civil suit, that goes to him. Every ordinance change goes to him. He’s doing good work. Yeah, he has an hourly rate, and he raises his rate every year like everybody else does. But he doesn’t set his hours. We give him work to do.”

Lohman was livid, saying he has a “serious issue with the cowards” who wrote the letters and promised “a reckoning” if he finds out who they are.

“I will spend every penny I have to skin them in the courts,” Lohman said. “My professional reputation has been impugned and that is defamation and libel per se for which I can get punitive damages. I can’t wait.” 

Lohman charges the town $250 per hour, less than many other municipal attorneys, he said. “When I started representing this town it was $125 an hour. When I left my old firm 12 years ago, I froze Lantana’s rates for five years. It was $1.1 million over five years. That’s a really good number for your legal fees over five years.”

Mayor Karen Lythgoe also weighed in: “While there may be circumstances that justify confidentiality, the anonymous publication of serious allegations raises legitimate questions about credibility, accountability and the willingness of the accuser to stand behind those claims.” 

Public discourse is best when it is grounded in facts, transparency and accountability, and “those standards should apply equally to public officials and to those who choose to criticize them,” she said.

Derek Noonan, audit manager for the state’s Auditor General’s Office, said that although he hadn’t seen the letter, his office gets requests like this often.

“Because the auditor general is an audit agency, not an investigative agency, we have no authority to conduct an independent investigation of the situation outside of an audit,” Noonan wrote in an email to The Coastal Star. He suggested the letter writers contact the Palm Beach County Inspector General and the CPA firm Grau & Associates.

Raducci said he had spoken with the CPA firm, which had received the letter but did not have someone attend the July 24 meeting. 

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.