Impact 100 Palm Beach County has named the 2025-26 semifinalists that will vie for $100,000 grants aimed at bringing innovative initiatives designed to strengthen and uplift South County.

"Each of the nominees represents one of Impact 100’s five focus areas: arts, culture and historic preservation; education; environment and animal welfare; family; and health and wellness:

• American Association of Caregiving Youth

• aZul — Fashion, Art & Design

• Back to Basics

• Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts

• Best Foot Forward Foundation

• Boca Raton Museum of Art

• Boca School for Autism

• CityHouse

• Delray Beach Public Library

• Dress for Success

• Flipany

• Florida Atlantic University Foundation (College of Nursing)

• For The Children

• Fresh Rx

• In Jacob’s Shoes

• Marine Education Initiative

• Nova Southeastern University

• Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League

• Restoration Bridge International

• Rise and Shine Christian Academy

• Soil & Soul

• St. Ann Place Outreach Center

• St. John Community Promise

• Take Stock in Children Palm Beach

• The Reef Institute

• The Soup Kitchen

• The Synergy Network

• Visual Adjectives Seeds of Creativity

• YMCA of South Palm Beach County

The finalists will be selected April 7, and the Grand Awards Celebration is set for April 28 at Boca West Country Club.

“We are honored to recognize this impressive class of semifinalists,” President Janean Mileusnic said. “Their dedication reflects exactly why our members come together — to fuel lasting, transformational change.”

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

The Boca Raton starts new foundation

The Boca Raton resort has launched a foundation, adding a nonprofit arm that formalizes the property’s commitment to philanthropy.

Inspired by the vision of President and CEO Daniel Hostettler, The Boca Raton Foundation for Charitable Giving channels a culture of service into one of grant-making. It will target education, food security, and women and children.

“I believe that true luxury carries a responsibility to uplift the community around it,” Hostettler said. “This foundation reflects that belief. It empowers our associates to champion the organizations that have shaped their own lives, and it allows us to deepen our impact in a meaningful, lasting way.”

For more information, call 561-447-3000 or visit thebocaraton.com/foundation.

Food-distribution project gets green light

A unanimous vote by the Boynton Beach City Commission has enabled Feeding South Florida to move forward with construction of a 32,000-square-foot warehouse on Park Ridge Boulevard in Quantum Corporate Park. 

The warehouse will mark the final phase of the nonprofit’s campus expansion and will enable more people who face food insecurity to get help. The facility will include dry storage, cold storage, freezer storage, loading docks and administrative office space.

“This expansion strengthens Boynton Beach’s role as a regional hub for nonprofit operations and community services,” according to a statement issued by the city. “Feeding South Florida continues to be a vital partner in addressing food insecurity across our region, and the city is proud to support their mission through responsible economic development.”

For more information, call 954-518-1818 or visit feedingsouthflorida.org.

Arts Garage honors legacy of builders  

A permanent Legacy Wall has been installed at Delray Beach’s Arts Garage to recognize members of the new Legacy Board.

The inaugural honorees of the board — a distinguished bunch whose leadership, vision and generosity have shaped the organization’s success and sustainability — are Ronnie Dunayer, Lynn Ferguson, Chuck Halberg and the late Steve Weber.

“Our Legacy Board members have given so much of themselves — time, talent and treasure — to ensure Arts Garage continues to thrive as a home for creativity and connection,” President and CEO Marjorie Waldo said. “Their leadership has built the foundation on which we stand today. This recognition is our way of saying thank you for their extraordinary commitment and for helping us make the arts accessible to everyone.”

For more information, call 561-450-6357 or visit artsgarage.org.

Take a ride through Delray Beach history 

For its 25th anniversary, the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is bringing back the popular bus tours of Delray Beach neighborhoods.

The tours, highlighted by narratives about the development of the city, are 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 31, and 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 5 and 19, March 12 and 28, and April 18 and 30. Cost is $45. 

“Aboard an air-conditioned bus, riders will learn about the personalities and events that shaped the city’s growth and character,” according to a news release. “From historical markers to signature neighborhoods, the ‘Ride, Remember & Discover’ bus tour explains the significance of each stop with accuracy and authenticity.”

For more information, call 561-279-8883 or visit spadymuseum.com/historical-tour.

This is Amy Woods' last Philanthropy Notes column.

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

By Amy Woods

The keynote speaker of the Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch is an Atlanta native, a Morehouse College graduate and an Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brother.

Bill Nix, the former vice president of marketing and government affairs for the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, shares each of those things in common with the man he will be talking about at the Jan. 19 fundraiser for the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.

“Our families have known each other for a long, long time,” Nix said, noting that his grandparents knew Martin Luther King Sr., his father knew Martin Luther King Jr., and his mother knew Martin Luther King Jr.’s sister, Christine King.

When King was assassinated in 1968, Nix was a senior at Morehouse, a men’s liberal arts school, and served as a member of the honor guard surrounding the casket.

“I’ve not ever given the story of what happened the night he was shot, but I have given parts of the story of Martin Luther King’s ascension into who he became,” Nix said. “I need to tell that story, especially for this generation, right now.”

The 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch not only will feature Nix’s powerful address but also the theatrical talents of the Core Ensemble, whose actors will portray Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston during a series of reenactments. The signature community event attracts more than 300 guests.

“I sincerely hope my presentation moves the room,” Nix said, adding that he also is going to discuss the 60 years of progress made possible by the Voting Rights Act. 

“If we don’t like what’s going on, it’s the one thing we can and should do to change the country. We need this year, really, and every year, actually, to get out and vote. People died because of this.” 

If You Go

What: Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch to benefit Spady Cultural Heritage Museum

When: 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 19

Where: Indian Spring Country Club, Boynton Beach

Cost: $55

Information: 561-279-8883; spadymuseum.com

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County hauled in an impressive $290,000 in one night to support youth programs at the Boca Raton club. The elegant evening had a nautical ‘Horizon of Hope’ theme and featured live and silent auctions as well as dueling pianos that kept guests entertained. ‘As the need for the Boys & Girls Club in Boca Raton continues to grow, so does the incredible support from this community,’ President and CEO Jaene Miranda said. ‘The funds raised will not only strengthen current programs but will create a lasting, generational impact for countless children.’ ABOVE: Donna and Barry Goldberg. Photo provided

Jeannine Morris, nominated by Place of Hope at the Leighan and David Rinker Campus, was named Woman Volunteer of the Year at the Junior League of Boca Raton’s annual luncheon. Morris was chosen from among 40 outstanding female volunteers for the prestigious award. More than 900 attended the lavish affair. ‘Congratulations to Jeannine Morris for this well-deserved honor, and thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this an outstanding event,’ said Victoria Matthews, league president. ‘We so appreciate our sponsors, committee, co-chairs and honorary chair.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Mark Larkin, Co-Chairwomen Namrata Israni and Racheal Petullo, Morris, Matthews, Maureen Mann, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, Paige Kornblue and Glenn Glazer. Photo provided by Coastal Click Photography

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties welcomed nearly 70 donors to its annual event, which recognized members of the Legacy Society and the Scholarship Society and celebrated the generosity of the foundation’s philanthropic partners and the impact of their work. The organization provides charitable expertise to engage investors and, since 1972, has distributed $250 million in grants and scholarships aimed at closing opportunity gaps. ABOVE: George Elmore and Marti LaTour. Photo provided by Tracey Benson Photography

The Institute for Regional Conservation’s annual affair attracted nearly 100 attendees who joined to raise money for the nonprofit dedicated to environmental conservation. The evening featured creative bites, specialty drinks, live music, fun trivia and a successful silent auction. During the event, guests were invited to learn more about the IRC’s ongoing work, including restoration projects, education programs and efforts to prevent the loss of native plant species. ‘We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out for our do-good fundraiser,’ said Liz Dutra, conservation program manager. ‘The support of our community fuels the work we do every day.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Dutra, Jonathan Moreno, Stacy Brown, Eric Gomez-Gonzalez, Melinda Ogden, George Gann, Madison Robuck, Kayla Mosteller, Joel Otero and Keith Buttry. Photo provided by MasterWing Creative Agency

The Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum’s elegant affair shined a light on 25 local luminaries whose leadership shaped the city in the early 2000s. An all-new Centennial Plaque was unveiled — a historic addition to Mizner Plaza recognizing Boca Raton’s 100th anniversary — on which the honorees’ names will be permanently commemorated as a nod to a transformative era. ABOVE: (l-r) Marta Batmasian, Florida Atlantic University Dean Michael Horswell and President Adam Hasner. Photo provided

Impact 100 Palm Beach County marked its 15th year of collective philanthropy with an annual affair that brought together members and guests and provided an opportunity to reflect on the tangible results of the organization’s grant-making. Since its founding, a total of $7.7 million has been gifted through 124 grants, including 73 high-impact $100,000 grants and 51 merit grants. ‘This celebration reminds us that when women come together with purpose, meaningful change follows,’ President Janean Mileusnic said. ABOVE: Ann Brown and Helen Ballerano. Photos provided  

L-R: Mimi Meister, Kathryn Gillespie and Donna Glenn.

L-R: Holly Schuttler and Noreen Payne. 

The debut celebration organized by the Boca Raton Achievement Center showcased the abilities of children and young adults with special needs and lauded the families that support them. A highlight of the evening, attended by 80-plus, was a deeply moving speech by Suzanne Jarriel, a mother of two who shared her journey with her son’s autism diagnosis. ‘I had found our saving grace,’ Jarriel said. ‘BRAC is not just a school, it’s a community. It gives children and young adults with special needs a safe space and gives parents like me a network of support.’ ABOVE: Andrew Friis and Maxie Kaan-Lilly. BELOW: (l-r) Marta Batmasian, Linda Petrakis and Jen Caprio. Photos provided

It was a picture-perfect day for Clinics Can Help as enthusiastic players rallied around a day of camaraderie, community and competition, all while raising nearly $50,000. The funds will support the organization’s mission of empowering children and adults to achieve greater mobility, independence and dignity through access to essential medical equipment and supplies. ‘Watching this tournament grow and seeing the impact it has on our programs means the world to us,’ CEO Owen O’Neill said. ‘As Palm Beach County grows, so does the need, and we’re deeply thankful for everyone helping us meet it.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Patrick Daly, Tyler Jacobs, Evan Nuss and Nate Gates. Photo provided

The JCC kicked off its 2025-26 season with presentations by esteemed writers Jacqueline Friedland, Zibby Owens and Alyson Richman. The women spoke to a sold-out crowd of 650 about the importance and value of elevating Jewish voices. The annual event is a signature program of the Sandler Center and is part of its Myrna Lippman Literary Season, which is dedicated to sharing Jewish stories, perspectives and history. ‘Each year, this luncheon reminds us of the power of storytelling to connect, uplift and inspire,’ the center’s Stephanie Owitz said. ‘We are grateful to our authors for sharing their insights and to our community for showing up in such meaningful numbers.’  ABOVE: (l-r) Dana Clarfield, Nancy Marks-Small, Jill Poser-Kammet and Leah Spero. Photo provided by Wendy J Studios

Friends, colleagues and community leaders paid tribute to Mary Csar, the longtime face of the Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, during an evening that also marked the opening of the Cloister Inn Museum, an exhibit commemorating The Boca Raton’s upcoming centennial. Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas and City Council members Yvette Drucker, Andy Thomson and Marc Wigder presented Csar with a key to the city for her decades of service, preservation efforts and impact on Boca Raton’s cultural legacy. ABOVE: Mike Arts and Csar. Photo provided by LivingFla.com

In support of the Delray Beach Public Library’s Retail Therapy Experience, the downtown French-Vietnamese restaurant opened its doors to more than 110 guests wanting to give back to their community. After enjoying food and drinks, attendees boarded private trolleys for an afternoon of shopping along Atlantic Avenue, stopping at several popular stores. The event concluded with a happy hour. All proceeds benefit the library’s programs and services. ABOVE: (l-r) Kim Beckett, Jaana Moisio, Rose Schuhmann and Colleen Schuhmann. BELOW: (l-r) MaryAnn Cody, Dianne Jayne, Linda Dean and Deidre Neal. Photos provided

A celebration of a quarter-century of bolstering youths in the area raised more than $400,000 and saw the 350-plus in attendance invest in the future of the Y. Proceeds will go toward program expansion so more children can be served. A highlight of the night was the announcement of a $250,000 gift from Abdol and Cathy Moabery earmarked for a new playground and splash pad. ‘We are deeply grateful for the generosity shown at this milestone event,’ said Shea Ciarletta, vice president of development. ‘As we celebrate 25 years of meaningful impact in Boynton Beach, we remain committed to building a stronger, healthier community.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Terry Fedele, Jerry Fedele and Pat Thomas. Photo provided by Carlos Aristizabal

The inaugural fundraiser for the Sandoway Discovery Center was a huge success — and a sellout.  It brought together locals, visitors and partner businesses for an unforgettable night that combined the city’s lively bar scene with marine conservation as each stop embraced the spirit of the event. Participants donned their shark fin headgear and raised awareness of the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems. The haul was more than $10,000. ABOVE: (l-r) Suzy Geller, Danica Sanborn and Christine Romines. Photo provided

Palm Beach Symphony members were treated to a preview of the 2025-26 season and a dazzling musical overview led by maestro Gerard Schwarz. ‘Once again this year, audiences will be enthralled by the incredible musicians that we are bringing to the stage,’ said James Borynack, the symphony’s board chairman. ‘I am so proud of our members, board, donors, supporters, music director Gerard Schwarz, our musicians and staff for their stewardship in bringing to life our mission to engage, educate and entertain the community through live orchestral music performances.’ ABOVE: Lois Pope and Bill Porter. Photo provided by Capehart

Rats! Several restaurants in downtown Delray Beach were shut down last month for sanitation and safety violations that involved rodent infestations.

Blue Anchor Pub, MV Take-Out Restaurant and Gou Lakay & American Taste were closed for service after state inspectors failed them for extreme violations.

All reopened within days of closing, after reinspections found only minor infractions.

Now they’ll have surprise inspections four times a year, based on the closures, said Barry Goldman, a recently retired inspector.

Otherwise, most restaurants get looked at twice a year, at random intervals, unless there are complaints.

“We can show up anytime during the day,” he said. 

Goldman inspected restaurants in Broward and Palm Beach counties for the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, restaurant and hotels division.

He also taught food safety as a chef-instructor for the former Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach. His résumé includes executive chef positions at several hotels in Miami Beach, including the Fountainbleu, and Hollywood’s Diplomat. He also was chef at New York City’s Playboy Club.

Although the presence of live creature activity — rodents or insects — gets a restaurant shut down immediately, it’s not always the biggest threat to  diners’ health, he said. 

“The biggest way people get sick is from the people who handle the food. You’re not getting sick from the hamburger, but the way the guy makes the hamburger.”

Common violations involve cooks who cross-contaminate fresh foods and raw proteins.

“Someone’s working the grill, and puts a raw burger patty on the grill, then with the same hand — gloved or not — grabs a bun. Or picks up cheese. Now the bun or the rest of the cheese is contaminated with raw meat. It has to be thrown out,” Goldman said.

The storage of raw proteins over fresh products eaten raw, such as raw chicken stored over mushrooms or lettuce, is a serious violation.

If a restaurant has extreme violations, it’s shut down. The owners/operators can correct the problems and call for an inspection right away. If inspectors are satisfied, the restaurant can reopen, often the next day.

Temperature is vital

A number of violations can add up to citations, fines or closure, Goldman said.

Temperature problems are one big red flag.

“Somebody orders a piece of fish. It must be cooked to a minimum of 145 degrees. We get out our needle and check it,” he said.

To prevent any arguments over readings, the inspector’s thermometers are calibrated to the restaurant’s, Goldman said.

Reheated cooked foods must be warmed to 165 degrees then held at 135 indefinitely. They should be cooled to 41 degrees to hold overnight, then brought back to temperature.

Italian restaurants are terrible about taking care of leftover soups or pasta sauces to be reheated the next day, Goldman said.

“Where is it? ‘In the walk-in,’ they say. We go in, it’s in a big pot. Stick in the needle. They’re not under 41 degrees, so they’re not legally edible. It has to be thrown out.”

Checking a list

Inspectors have an 82-point checklist in their comprehensive sweep of a restaurant. 

From the temperature of the coolers and foods, to the condition of holding containers, to the sink handles, tongs for bar condiments, and ice machines — inspectors have a lot to look at.

They bring flashlights and gloves to inspect inside, over, under and around equipment.

“We’re looking outside the restaurant for flies,” Goldman said. “They’re almost worse than cockroaches. Flies transmit bacteria. They eat anything and everything and spit it on food.”

Cardboard is a breeding ground for roaches in the kitchens, he said. “Cockroaches have their own spas, we say.”

Removing grease buildup on hoods and stoves and sanitizing sinks and drains are important. Certain dish sanitizers must be used, and hot water must work at handwashing sinks.

Every restaurant owner is aware of all these things, Goldman said, through the state’s required training and certification for safe food handling and serving.

“Every single manager of a restaurant has to go to training. It’s a ServSafe manager’s certification. The managers must then teach all of their employees, and they get a certification as well.”

The employees have 90 days after hiring to get the certificate, or to bring one from a previous restaurant that’s dated. Certificates for managers are good for five years; for servers and food handlers, three years.

A restaurant is required to have a certified manager on duty at all times — and managers must present their certificates when an inspector pops up.

Step by step

Inspections are random, Goldman said.

“We can go in at lunch. The servers say, ‘But we’re right in the middle of service.’ That is usually the best time to see how food is being handled and served. We can observe the cooks surreptitiously while writing on our notebook,” Goldman said.

He starts with the appearance of the place, and the staff. 

Cooks must have hats or hairnets — even bald cooks, and if beards are long, beard guards. 

No jewelry, including watches, is allowed in the kitchen. “They harbor bacteria that can be transferred to the food,” Goldman said.

And no fake nails are allowed in the kitchen. 

“Servers can have fake fingernails. They aren’t touching the food,” Goldman said.

Aprons should be reasonably clean. The floor can have pieces of food, especially during service times.

“We’re not looking for something that was dropped during prep. We’re looking for food that was kicked under a table or stove and not cleaned up,” Goldman said.

All equipment is inspected. Slicers are problematic, because  the guards frequently get dirty. That merits a citation and can result in fines if enough violations pile up.

Bars get inspected, as well. Dairy products, such as heavy cream, must be stored at under 41 degrees and not left out behind the bar. Lemons, olives and onions have tongs or spoons for serving — no bare hands should touch them.

And, “the bartender is the only one who can touch a bare straw,” Goldman said. 

Every bar must have a three-compartment sink, for dumping, washing and rinsing glasses. They are then air-dried. 

“Think of towels used to wipe the glasses — they’ll wipe the bar and spread all the bacteria. So no. Air-dry only,” Goldman said.

In restroom inspections, the smelly ones get immediate attention. The odor has to do with drains backing up by not being sanitized properly.

“We go to some restaurants, they have an Out of Order sign on the door. They say it’s to keep outsiders from using their bathrooms. That’s illegal. Every restaurant must have working public facilities,” Goldman said.

All of this is to protect the diner, he said, not to punish a restaurant.

“We work for you. We represent the consumer.”

The public can anonymously report restaurants to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation online if they suspect problems. Inspectors are sent out for every report, Goldman said. 

If three or more reports come in from people reporting food-borne illness, it’s turned over to the county Health Department and is considered an outbreak. An investigation follows.

But the inspectors do a lot to keep the public safe and prevent this. Goldman said, “You’d be amazed at what we catch.”

Food and Wine series at Delray Beach Open

The Delray Beach Open is stepping up its popular Food and Wine series, with more chefs and mixologists coming to the culinary tent at the Tennis Center. 

The tournament celebrates its 34th year Feb. 13-22. 

New this year is “Serve & Savor: A Taste of Italy,” a tasting event on Feb. 21 featuring wines from official partner Caymus Vineyards. Returning are longtime fan favorites, including “Game, Set, Pour,” “Burgers, Bourbon & Brew,” “Tacos, Tequila & Tennis,” and the extravagant “Grand Tasting.”

All are ticketed events that sell out quickly.

Events involving more than 40 restaurants and beverage partners, with curated tastings, specialty cocktail offerings, and appearances by ATP players are scheduled.

Tickets and more information are online at Delraybeachopen.com/en/food-and-wine. Events are rain or shine; no refunds or exchanges. Most Food and Wine events are limited to people 21 and older.

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

Ben Frost and his daughter, Parker, of Delray Beach. Both were born with clefts and now try to help others. Photo provided

By Jan Engoren

Father and daughter Ben Frost and Parker Frost were both born with clefts — a defect affecting one in every 700 births, according to Smile Train, a global nonprofit that provides free cleft surgeries and care in more than 75 countries. 

A cleft is an opening or split in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate), or both.

While the condition can be corrected through surgery, speech therapy and other care, what defines this father and daughter wasn’t their diagnosis — it was their resilience at a young age.

“Being born with a cleft forces you to learn life lessons about the importance of feeling good about yourself,” says Ben, 51, an investment banker with Goldman Sachs who moved from New York to Delray Beach three years ago. “I’ve learned to be less concerned with how others see me.”

Born with a bilateral cleft, Ben Frost spent nearly one week each year in the hospital until age 13, undergoing surgeries to construct a hard palate, repair his lip and realign his jaw and teeth. He also attended speech therapy to relearn how to speak clearly — a process made easier by a nursery school friend who took the time to understand him.

Frost says his condition never hindered his ability to thrive: “I have a beautiful family and a wonderful job.”

His biggest concern was passing on the condition. While his older daughter, Alexa, does not have a cleft, a fetal 3-D ultrasound revealed that his second daughter, Parker, would be born with one, a unilateral cleft.

A senior at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Parker, 17, plays golf and beach volleyball and plans to study marketing and sports management in college. She and her dad are die-hard Yankees fans, though Ben is open to rooting for his adopted home team, the Marlins.

While Ben Frost’s childhood was shaped by hospital stays and speech therapy, Parker Frost faced an additional challenge: growing up with a cleft in the age of social media.

“It was hard to look in the mirror and see that you look different from your friends,” she says. “It took a toll on my confidence.”

She endured six major and several minor surgeries — each painful, each requiring weeks of recovery. 

“It was the hardest time in my life,” she says. “It takes a toll on the entire family.”

The most recent was last summer, to fix a deviated septum and help her breathe.

Now Ben Frost says he and daughter are both “totally fine,” with no serious ongoing issues. 

From an early age, Parker Frost wanted to help others with the same condition. Her family became involved with Smile Train. Over the past 25 years, Smile Train has supported more than 2 million surgeries, along with speech therapy, psychological support, and orthodontics.

Last year, Parker Frost became a student ambassador and raised $1,500 by selling handmade beaded bracelets. “I wanted every bead to mean something,” she says. “Each one helped a child smile.”

Iva Ballou, 40, Smile Train’s community development manager, was born with a bilateral cleft. “I was that little girl who didn’t have a community,” she says. “And now I have one.”

Ballou says the cleft community is now speaking “loud and proud,” and she encourages others to listen. “We are funny, intelligent and resilient.”

Ben Frost, who spent most of his life not talking about his cleft, says he’s proud of his daughter for sharing her story.

“Smile Train is giving her the confidence to talk about it and connect with others,” he says. “She’s a great role model.”

He calls the surgeries life-changing. “With this surgery, every child can live a full and healthy life,” he says.

In November, the Frosts spoke at Cleft Con, an online seminar hosted by Smile Train.

“I never knew anyone else with a cleft, especially at my age,” Parker says. “Even though I learned a lot from my dad, I wanted to relate to people my age.”

She says peer support is essential. “I felt that no one understood what I was going through.”

In her role with Smile Train, Parker hopes to help others embrace their differences. “Recognize that it’s part of you,” she says. “But it doesn’t have to define you.”

And while the scar never goes away, she says, it’s her personality people remember. “Everyone has something they feel insecure about,” she says. “Learn to love that part of yourself.”

As Parker looks forward to college next fall, she carries with her the resilience she’s learned and the power to help others appreciate the beauty of imperfection.

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

Smile Train

To learn more about cleft treatments and support for cleft patients, visit smiletrain.org. Or join others at the seventh annual Cleft Con, which takes place virtually in November at a date to be announced and in person July 17-19 in Phoenix.

TrustHouse, a New York-based concierge nursing and care management company, has expanded its luxury in-home services to Palm Beach County, offering a team of nurses and concierge care for member clients. 

Its office is at 515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 350, West Palm Beach. TrustHouse nurses come from top hospitals and bring expertise in Parkinson’s, ALS, and acute and chronic care directly into the home. Some notable clients include Michael J. Fox and the late New York governor, Hugh Carey. 

TrustHouse membership provides private nursing and concierge health-and-wellness services for individuals and families. These include health management, early detection of health issues, 24/7 access to medical support and crisis prevention. Nurses will coordinate care, manage health and facilitate connections with physicians and urgent-care services.

Flexible care and membership options include an Essential Access Membership that offers monthly RN wellness visits, 24/7 telehealth RN support, tailored care plans and insurance coordination. TrustHouse also offers 24/7 care, 8- to 12-hour care, and hourly nursing visits. 

The company also offers outside-the-home services such as travel nursing, vacation-home support and patient advocacy in hospitals or care facilities.

For more information, visit trusthouse.care.

Delray center honored for surgical robotics work

Delray Medical Center has achieved the Center of Excellence in Robotics designation from the Surgical Review Corp. “Robotics can help reduce time in surgery, improve precision and reduce time recovering,” said Heather Havericak, the hospital’s CEO.  

JFK Hospital has two new vice presidents

HCA Florida JFK Hospital announced that Michael Schumacher is the hospital’s new vice president of quality and patient safety, and that Anthony Terranova was promoted to vice president of operations. Schumacher came from HCA Florida Northwest Hospital.

FAU studies link between cancer, consuming alcohol 

New research from Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine highlights the cancer risks of alcohol, even at moderate levels. 

Reviewing 62 studies with millions of participants, researchers found that both how much and how often people drink significantly affect the risk of cancers including breast, colorectal, liver and oral cancers.

Older adults, African Americans, those with obesity or diabetes, and lower-socioeconomic populations face disproportionately higher risks, even at similar or lower levels of drinking. 

The research also found that lifestyle, genetics and other health factors compound alcohol’s effects. Heavy, daily or binge drinking is strongly linked to multiple cancers, while following cancer prevention guidelines lowers risk.

Also at FAU in the area of medicine, two Florida Atlantic University researchers, Randy Blakely, Ph.D. and Gregg Fields, Ph.D., were inducted into the 2025 class of the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida, which honors top scholars whose innovations have significant scientific and societal impact.

Blakely is a neuroscientist whose work has advanced understanding of brain disorders. Fields is a biochemist known for making breakthroughs in protein research that inform disease treatments. 

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

Mike Surman holds a bass he caught with a crankbait at Lake Okeechobee. Bass will bite a fast-moving crankbait when air and water temperatures are cold. Photo provided

By Steve Waters

Depending on the fish you pursue, cold fronts can be a curse or a blessing. Cooler water temperatures can make bass stop biting and send bonefish and snook in search of warmer water. 

Meanwhile, sailfish and sea trout usually bite pretty well immediately after a cold front arrives.

If you have the luxury of timing your fishing trips, you’ll want to wait a few days after a front before targeting largemouth bass.

When water temperatures are cool, bass become lethargic. As the water warms, bass become more active and, considering that they haven’t eaten for a few days, usually feed heavily.

If you can only fish right after a cold front, the key is to not get discouraged. As long as you keep making casts, you’ll eventually put your lure in front of a bass that will bite.

It’s kind of like serving dessert to diners who just pigged out at an all-you-can-eat buffet. People will say they are stuffed, but keep putting that hot fudge sundae in front of them and eventually someone will dig in.

A standard cold-weather technique is to flip soft-plastic crawdad lures rigged on heavy jigs or with a hook and heavy worm weight in mats of thick grass, which is where bass hang out when water temperatures drop. Many tournaments have been won using that strategy, which might not produce a lot of bites, but the fish you catch are often big.

But I recall a Bassmaster tournament on Lake Toho, south of Orlando, where most of the anglers figured that with dropping air and water temperatures, the fish would be tucked in the grass until the weather warmed. Their game plan was to flip or fish a plastic bait slowly to entice bass to bite.

Former Bassmaster Classic champ Takahiro Omori shocked the field, catching most of his fish by quickly reeling a lipless crankbait over grass beds to win the tournament. Instead of patiently flipping a crawfish through hyacinths, hydrilla and lily pads in the hopes of dropping it in front of a bass, Omori went for what the pros call a “reactionary” bite: Make a lot of casts and retrieve a fast-moving lure quickly and eventually you’ll bring it past a bass that bites it.

Sailfish head south when temperatures drop

Cool temperatures offshore prompt migratory species such as sailfish to swim to South Florida. When they get here, that doesn’t mean you can simply head offshore with live bait and catch all the sailfish you want. 

Trends are important. Are the sailfish being caught in a few specific places each day or are they being caught a little farther south each day? If they were off Boynton Beach yesterday, they could be off Boca Raton today, unless you know that they’ve been off Boynton Beach for three or four days.

Once you get to the general area where the sailfish should be, you want to look for clues as to their exact location. Color changes, where the water goes from green to blue, are a good place to start. Most anglers fish the pretty blue water on an edge, but the cloudy blue water often holds sailfish.

One of the most effective ways to catch a sailfish is by suspending a live bait from a fishing kite and having it splash on the surface, but many anglers neglect to cover the rest of the water column. In addition to deploying a couple of kite lines, put out one or two flat lines and a deep line.

When you do everything right, especially when sailfish are on the move, multiple hook-ups are common. If a sailfish comes up and eats a kite bait, keep an eye out on the other baits, because chances are another sailfish is around.

Cold weather can have a negative impact on reef fishing. Sediment settles to the bottom when the water is cold. The clear water means that yellowtail, mangrove and mutton snapper can see your fishing line when you drop down a bait and they’ll ignore your offering.

The fishing will improve when the water warms and the sediment makes the water cloudy. That reduces the visibility and makes the snapper more likely to bite.   

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