GULF STREAM — Robert Eugene Glennon Jr. of Gulf Stream and Arlington, Virginia, died Aug. 7 at his home in Arlington. He was 75.

Born on April 23, 1948, in Bement, Illinois, the son of Robert Eugene Glennon Sr. and Martha Chapman Glennon, Robert worked his way through the University of Illinois, earning his bachelor’s in 1971.

A participant in the ROTC program, he joined the U.S. Army after graduation and achieved the rank of captain. Following his Army service, he enrolled at the University of Florida’s Levin law school, where he was a proud “double Gator,” earning both his JD in 1974 and his LLM in taxation in 1975.

Mr. Glennon, who often credited the law school with changing his life, later served on the UF Law board of trustees. In honor of his late wife, he also endowed the Helen Blechman Award, given annually to the graduating senior who has amassed the most pro bono hours.

After earning his LLM at Florida, Mr. Glennon served at the university as an instructor of tax law. Days before he was set to accept a full-time professorship at a Midwestern law school, the D.C. lobbying firm Williams & Jensen offered him an interview. He joined the firm in 1976, where he was mentored by the legendary Texas-born tax attorney and lobbyist J.D. Williams.

This role launched a near half-century career in legislative policy and strategy work and led to Mr. Glennon’s becoming a partner at Williams & Jensen and subsequently at the global law firms Mayer Brown and Hogan Lovells. He held the position of senior counsel with Hogan Lovells at the time of his death.

Mr. Glennon was involved in every major tax bill brought before the U.S. Congress in the last 45 years. He was distinguished for his legislative lobbying work around such complex issues as corporate tax policy, environmental, land and historic conservation, and legislation related to cancer and mental illness.

Throughout his career, he actively supported a wide array of local and federal electoral efforts and political candidates of both parties.

Mr. Glennon was consistently recognized by clients, peers and the national media as one of the preeminent tax legislative attorneys and one of the best lawyers in the United States.

He married Helen Blechman in 1983, and in 1986, the couple welcomed a son, Michael, to whom Robert was a loving and devoted father. Following Helen’s death in 1998, Michael and Robert formed an extraordinarily close bond that not only endured until Robert’s death, but also transcended generations and passed to his grandchildren, Helen (Ellie) and Lily.

A lifelong country music fan, Mr. Glennon was happiest in Gulf Stream, listening to music by the pool, or in Napa Valley, California, sampling wines with family and friends.

He is survived by his son, Michael (Anna), and two granddaughters, Helen and Lily, of Gulf Stream, as well as three siblings, Lorraine Glennon, Mary Glennon and Edward Glennon. A celebration of life will be held this fall in Washington, D.C., at a date and time to be determined.

Friends and family can honor his memory through a gift to the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where the family is establishing a scholarship focused on tax law. Donate at https://bit.ly/RobertGlennon (Robert Glennon in honoree line) or via check, noting its purpose in the memo line, to Office of Development, Levin College of Law, 309 Village Drive, Gainesville FL 32611.

— Obituary submitted by the family

By Jeff Perlman

DELRAY BEACH — Entrepreneur and philanthropist Carl A. DeSantis died Aug. 10. He was 84.

Born in Boston in 1939 and raised in South Florida, Mr. DeSantis attended college at Florida State University in Tallahassee. He returned to Miami to begin his career managing retail drugstores before becoming an ambitious entrepreneur at a young age.

With a strong work ethic and boundless energy, he was the founding force behind Rexall Sundown. Under his leadership, the company became a global powerhouse offering a wide array of nutritional supplements. His dedication to quality, innovation and consumer trust became the hallmark of the company’s success.

Beyond Rexall Sundown, Mr. DeSantis saw the potential for a healthier alternative to sugary beverages, and played a pivotal role in bringing Celsius energy drinks to life.

His commitment to promoting well-being and offering products that contribute positively to people’s lives remained unwavering.

Mr. DeSantis was also a generous philanthropist, contributing to educational, spiritual and cultural organizations and institutions, including Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Nova Southeastern University and Bethesda Memorial Hospital.

The recently formed Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation has been active supporting local nonprofits that offer help to children in crisis and mentor those who need a helping hand. It also makes major donations to support Alzheimer’s research.

Mr. DeSantis’ legacy is one of inspiration, innovation and determination. He leaves behind a devoted family, friends and colleagues, and millions of consumers touched by his work.

His infectious laughter, warm smile and genuine interest in others endeared him to everyone he met. He was devoted to Delray Beach and lived for many years on the barrier island.

CDS International Holdings, the family office, will remain headquartered in Delray Beach.

He is survived by his children: Deborah (Mark) Colbert, Dean (Laura), and Damon (Cynthia); the mother of his children, Sylvia DeSantis; his sister, Dorothy (Joseph) Greene; his six grandchildren, Kyle (Adaliz), Cameron (Kelli), Katelyn Rowan-Miller (Campbell), Katie, Conor (Karissa), and Carson (Matt) Glasheen; his seven great-grandchildren; and nephew Brett and nieces Shari (Bryant) Pasley and Audrey.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 22 at Ascension Catholic Church in Boca Raton, followed by entombment at Our Lady Queen of Peace Mausoleum, Royal Palm Beach.

Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association online at www.alz.org.

By Sallie James

BRINY BREEZES — He was the beloved Briny Breezes dock master whose seasoned ear could pick out the sound of a misfiring boat engine from the front porch of his home, day or night. Boaters knew the slightest hint of trouble on the water would send Doug Baumgarten running toward the dock to jump aboard and lend a hand.

Helping others was what “Dock Master Doug” loved best.

The longtime Briny Breezes resident, whose vibrant enthusiasm landed him in the ocean instead of on a boat deck at least once, died of complications related to cancer on July 7 at home surrounded by family. He was 83.

Mr. Baumgarten loved boats, planes and family and made sure all three were always a major part of his life. Relatives remembered him as a handsome man with a big smile who loved to tell cheesy jokes.

His parents were among the original settlers of Briny Breezes.

“He was very popular and outgoing,” said his daughter, Dawn Baumgarten. “He would literally just hear (boats) out of our window because you could see everything, and anytime something went wrong, he would run out and help. He would also keep a lookout and if you weren’t from Briny you were not allowed to be anywhere near the boats, or park near the boats or the water.”

Born Sept. 10, 1939, in the suburbs of Chicago, Mr. Baumgarten spent his early years in Warrenville and Wheaton, Illinois. He met Linda, the love of his life, in high school.

Upon graduation, Mr. Baumgarten joined the U.S. Navy, where his passion for boats and the ocean took hold. But despite his sense of adventure, he worried that Linda would fall for someone else, so he wrote her regularly for three years to make it clear he was still interested.

“He was very concerned she was going to marry someone else,” Dawn Baumgarten said. Linda waited and the couple married in 1961.

After spending three years as a sailor, Mr. Baumgarten became a student at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He then turned his sights to the skies. After graduating from college, he went to flight school and became a pilot for United Airlines, where he worked until he retired.

Mr. Baumgarten traveled a lot because of his job, but made time for his two young sons and daughter. He involved all three children in scouting and served as a Boy Scout leader, making sure his daughter had access to the same opportunities as her brothers.

Camping, fire building, dirt bike racing, dance, swimming and ballet were all part of his kids’ childhoods. Mr. Baumgarten’s life revolved around family: He named his boat the MiaKai after his two granddaughters, Mia and Kai, and carried a pinup-style photo of a young Linda in his wallet to the day that he died.

“She had one leg up and one leg down, a very sexy pose. It was a little racy for that time,” Dawn Baumgarten said. “He had that picture all that time. They just never stop loving each other.”

Mr. Baumgarten and his wife were active members of the Briny community. He belonged to the Jaycees, and was an avid tennis player who transferred his skills to pickleball. A week before he was hospitalized, he was on the pickleball courts hitting balls, his daughter noted.

Mr. Baumgarten had a sense of humor, adventure and responsibility that stemmed from his youth, when he caused a ruckus with a few cans of paint.

As the story goes, a new water tower had just been erected and the mischievous high schooler coyly told his parents he was going out one night to “paint the town.” What he really did was paint the water tower, with high school-themed graffiti that caused an uproar in the school district.

When the school threatened to cancel prom because it could not track down the culprit, Mr. Baumgarten came forward and fessed up.

“He confessed because he didn’t want everyone to miss prom,” his daughter said, laughing.

Always a forward thinker, Mr. Baumgarten donated his body to science in the spirit of learning and research.

Mr. Baumgarten is survived by his wife, Linda; a daughter, Dawn Baumgarten, and two sons, Douglas and Todd Baumgarten; two sisters and a brother; and two granddaughters.

A virtual memorial service for Mr. Baumgarten is being planned. Friends who would like to participate or contribute should send an email to jenniferlcerulli@gmail.com with the title “Wacky Wings” in the subject line, and include an email, a preferred phone number and a note explaining how you knew Mr. Baumgarten.

DELRAY BEACH — Fish market and restaurant owner Robert “Bob” Griek died Aug. 6. He was 86.

Born in Long Island, New York, on Sept. 24, 1936, to Nicholas and Nellie Van Essendelft Griek, he had two sisters — Betty Atherton, his twin, and Marilyn Carraretto.

Mr. Griek joined the Navy in 1953. After four years in the service, he was part of a team that figured out how to artificially inseminate oysters, clams and other bivalves.

In 1960 he moved to Delray Beach with his parents and sisters and opened a retail fish market named Delray Seafoods.

In 1961 he married his dream girl, Moreva Chalaire. They bought property in Cashiers, North Carolina, in the early 1980s and built their vacation home on 23 acres.

They also opened a restaurant in the next town, called Highlands Seafood and Smokehouse, which he ran for many years. The restaurant, although not owned by the family, is still in business today.

The family ran the fish market together for 48 years until retirement in 2008.

Mr. Griek was a fixture in Delray Beach for over 50 years. He was a great storyteller and a real jokester, as all his customers would know when they went into the market. He was well-known around town with his big smile, bright blue eyes and dark tan, and made friends wherever he went.

Mr. Griek was also a man of Christian faith, kind, happy and always helping strangers when they needed it most.

He is survived by Moreva, his sister Marilyn, his children Amanda and Christopher, five grandchildren — Savanna, Luke, Kaitlyn, Kylie and Payton, who adored him as “Poppy” — as well as nieces and nephews.

Above and Beyond Community in Boca Raton hosted a celebration of life on Aug. 24. Lorne and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Donations in Mr. Griek’s name are suggested at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or online at https://raise.stjude.org/RobertGriek.

— Obituary submitted by the family

By Tao Woolfe

The Pierce, a residential/commercial project considered crucial to Boynton Beach’s downtown revitalization, could be delayed for as long as a year while two lawsuits make their way through Palm Beach County Circuit Court.

The lawsuits came to light at a Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency meeting on Aug. 8 when Jeff Burns, founder and CEO of Affiliated Development, asked for an extension of the Aug. 11 deadline for obtaining a building permit from the city.

He said Fort Lauderdale-based Affiliated has had to cease all pre-construction work because an adjacent property owner — F. Davis Camalier, of 209 N. Federal Highway — filed suit against Affiliated and the city. Boardwalk Italian Ice & Creamery leases space at that location.

Camalier is claiming that the city improperly abandoned three roads to accommodate Affiliated’s winning bid to build The Pierce, a $100 million development that will contain 300 apartments.

Camalier says in the complaint that the city did not conduct its own analysis before agreeing to shut down the rights of way and incorrectly concluded that the closed alleys and streets “would not adversely affect traffic.”

On the contrary, the complaint says, granting the application would increase traffic, impair ingress and egress and “grossly limit accessibility by customers as well as first responders.”

The abandonments would vacate a portion of Northeast First Avenue; a portion known as North Alley; and the full length of another alleyway known as South Alley. Camalier’s lawsuit asks the court to review the abandonments.

Affiliated, meanwhile, has filed a countersuit claiming that Camalier is engaging in “extortionate behavior, tortious interference and abuse of process.”

“This is nothing but a shakedown effort by Camalier and his entities,” to force “an inflated purchase price for his adjacent property or receive a portion of the deal/project to which he has no right,” the suit says.

The Affiliated suit alleges that Camalier has used similar legal tactics in the past.

“This is an unfortunate thing,” Burns told the city commissioners who were serving in their roles as CRA board members on Aug. 8. “It is our job to persevere and see it through — and we will. Our interests are aligned.”

Burns had asked the board for at least a year’s extension to pull a building permit. He said he did not want to have to start all over and resubmit the site plan for approval.

The CRA board agreed, although Mayor Ty Penserga asked that the matter be fine-tuned by city attorneys.

The Boynton Beach City Commission in February approved some site plan changes to The Pierce — originally envisioned as a $73 million downtown complex of apartments, restaurants, retail stores and green space at 115 N. Federal Highway.

Burns has said the project cost is now estimated at $100 million.

Affiliated Development received the city’s blessing on Feb. 21 to rezone the 2.3-acre complex to a new mixed-use downtown core designation; tweak the master and site plans; redesign the parking garage; and abandon some alleyways.

The Pierce will offer 150 units each of workforce and market-rate luxury rental apartments. It will have 17,000 square feet of commercial area that will accommodate restaurants, office space and retail stores.

It will feature public art projects including murals and a large, perforated metal corner treatment on the south parking garage emblazoned with nautical images and lettering that says “Welcome to Boynton Beach.”

The restaurants, including a freestanding new building for Hurricane Alley, and wide sidewalks will provide “an active, engaged area with day and night activity,” Burns said.

The new Hurricane Alley building is also now on hold.

The garages will offer 450 spaces, 150 of which will be for public parking.

The commission in February and March approved many of The Pierce’s requested changes, but asked the developer to work with merchants, especially the owner of the Ace Hardware, to ensure that if the rights of way are abandoned, delivery trucks have enough room to get in and out.

Burns agreed.

By Rich Pollack

Facing a maximum sentence of life in prison on murder charges, the woman who detectives say tossed her newborn daughter into the ocean in 2018 instead pleaded guilty to two lesser charges and was sentenced to 14 years behind bars.

Arya Singh, 30, who was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of her child — named Baby June by sheriff’s detectives — pleaded guilty on Aug. 2 to aggravated manslaughter of a child and abuse of a dead human body.

As part of the sentence, Judge Howard Coates credited Singh with 231 days for time served in the Palm Beach County Jail, where she had been since her arrest late last year, and ordered that she serve 10 years of probation following her release.

Singh’s guilty plea came more than five years after the 2-day-old girl was found floating near the Boynton Inlet by an off-duty firefighter.

The intensive search for the infant’s mother ended in December when Palm Beach County sheriff’s detectives, using the latest DNA technology available, zeroed in on Singh.

Investigators believe that Baby June was born in a hotel room. They discovered that Singh had searched online for hotels in the Boynton Beach area eight times during a two-hour period the morning of May 30, 2018, the day the baby was born.

They also found that Singh had conducted numerous searches of news sites for about a month after Baby June’s body was discovered.
In August 2022, shortly after Singh was identified as a suspect, DNA found by undercover detectives on a discarded coffee cup confirmed that Singh was indeed the mother of Baby June.

Investigators did a subsequent DNA test and conducted several interviews to be certain of their findings before filing charges against Singh in December.

In court records, detectives said they believed the baby was born alive but was already dead when she was placed in the water. Although prosecutors accused Singh of killing the child by asphyxiation, they believe the homicide was not premeditated.

Investigators believe that Singh acted alone and that the child’s father was unaware of the baby’s birth.

As part of her sentence, Singh was ordered to pay just over $700 in court costs.

TOP: Private jets make up a huge share of traffic at Boca Raton Airport. RIGHT: A sign greets travelers at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility. Coastal Star file photos

By Christine Davis

Boca Raton Airport is marking the fifth anniversary of its U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility. Since its 2018 opening, the 4,400-square-foot facility has cleared about 7,900 international flights and welcomed visitors from nearly 70 countries.

Designed to meet all Department of Homeland Security standards for international arrivals, the facility is staffed by federal law enforcement officers with access to a trained K-9 unit. In addition to providing customs clearings, it participates in the Small Vessel Reporting System and conducts federal inspections for boaters.

Before this facility opened, international travelers going to Boca Raton Airport had to go through customs at other South Florida airports. By enabling the customs procedure to be completed in Boca Raton directly, this facility has reduced the number of low-altitude flights over surrounding neighborhoods and has made Boca Raton a more accessible location for international visitors, helping to enhance the city’s tourism.

***

Bryn Mawr Capital Management, a subsidiary of WSFS Financial Corp., has opened an office at 980 N. Federal Highway, Suite 110, Boca Raton.

“We purchased the assets and acquired the client relationships and associated assets under management from Bell Rock Capital,” said Eric Springer, WSFS integrated communications manager. “We assumed the previous lease, and Jackie Reeves, director of retirement plan services, is in the area and has established presence” as Boca Raton office manager.

***

The ocean-to-Intracoastal estate on 1.3 acres at 3060 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan changed hands for $16.5 million, in a deal recorded July 21. The seller was the family trust of the late Dr. Gerald Kent Shortz, a former town mayor and commissioner, who bought the property in 1973 for $140,000. The new owner is Jorey Chernett, from Bloomfield Township, Michigan, CEO of Clearpath, which makes diagnostic imaging technology. Bank of America provided a $10.725 million mortgage to the buyer. Shelly Newman of William Raveis Real Estate represented the seller in the deal, while Vince Spadea Jr. of Douglas Elliman worked with the buyer.

The property had a 1942-era, 2,404-square-foot residence that has since been razed. “This property is one of the very few in Manalapan that you can potentially build east of A1A,” Newman said.

***

Marc Schneebaum, senior vice president and CFO at Avalyn Pharma Inc., and his wife, Mari, bought a waterfront five-bedroom, 17,083-square-foot spec mansion at 2909 Spanish River Road in Boca Raton from Catherine Stile for $14.75 million.

Stile bought the property in 2020 for $2.875 million and built the contemporary-style home with a Boca Raton firm, J.H. Norman Construction. It was designed by Boca Raton-based Brenner Architecture Group, with interior design details by Jack Lonetto of The Decorators Unlimited.

David Roberts and Kelly Brooks, agents with Sanctuary Realty LLC, represented the seller. Rona Namer, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, brought the buyer. 

***

The 40-year- old, 892,000-square-foot enclosed Boynton Beach Mall on 91 acres at 801 N. Congress Ave. is up for sale, according to The Palm Beach Post. The mall was being marketed by JLL brokerage for redevelopment as a new residential neighborhood with 1,700 housing units. In an email response, however, a representative of JLL wrote that “our team is unfortunately not available for comment.” 

***

The Tideline Ocean Resort and Spa in Palm Beach, which is owned by an entity connected to Palm Beach real estate investor Jeff Greene, recently closed, enabling it to complete $20 million in renovations.

“Tideline is becoming part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of hotels like the Ben (in Palm Beach), one of their four-star boutique brands,” Greene said. “They require a property improvement plan to bring it up to their very high standards. We didn’t have to do what we are doing, but since it was rebuilt in 2010, we decided it was time for a refresh. It will have all new flooring, furniture and tile work to make it beautiful. It will look like a brand-new hotel.”

Since all the work is cosmetic, with furniture and supplies ordered over the past year, he hopes the hotel will reopen within the next 45 days. “We’ve already finished a few floors,” he said.

***

The Delray Beach Housing Authority recently completed the Section 8 Management Assessment Program certification from the Department of Housing and Urban Development with a final score of 100%.

“To earn the rank of ‘High Performer’ from HUD, our agency demonstrated compliance with HUD regulations and proved efficient use of funding and resources while serving the greatest number of needy residents,” said Shirley Erazo, the Housing Authority president and CEO. “We are so proud of receiving this rating from HUD. This is a true reflection of our mission and what we stand for.” 

***

Jasmine Fisch is the new marketing manager for The Seagate Hotel & Spa, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Previously, she was the digital marketing manager at The Boca Raton, and brand partner and organic media director at LBV Fashion in New York City. 

***

The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County’s “Hot Topic Lunch” will host Michael Burke, superintendent of the School District of Palm Beach County, speaking on the status and future challenges of the local public education system. 

The luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 20 at Mounts Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 559 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Cost to attend is $25, and payment must be made online at https://lwvpbc.org/event/sept-hot-topic-2023/.

Send business news to Christine Davis, cdavis9797@gmail.com.

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton began extensive remodeling in May. St. Gregory’s leadership expects the work to finish by the end of November, just in time for the church’s 70th anniversary. Photo provided

Area churches restore stained glass, sanctuaries

By Janis Fontaine

When morning sunlight passes through the stained-glass windows at Church of the Palms, it ignites the sanctuary with color: yellow and amber, crimson and magenta, cobalt and cyan. A glowing vermillion cross on the floor creeps slowly toward the altar as the day progresses.

“Before it was just a diffused orange glow,” Pastor Todd Petty said. “Now when I walk in, I feel something divine. It’s peaceful. Worshipful.”

The Delray Beach church is among several in South County making much-needed updates and repairs in 2023. St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church of Boca Raton and St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach spent the summer renovating. These aren’t small projects. Church of the Palms spent nearly $300,000 repairing its east-facing frontage. The other churches spent more. All of the projects were complicated.

At Church of the Palms, it took months of delicate work to remove thousands of pieces of rare, mouth-blown sheet glass — the most expensive kind of stained glass manufactured in the world — label them, clean them and plan for their reinstallation.

The window of Church of the Palms in Delray Beach has been protected by hurricane glass. Photo provided

The stained-glass work fell to the fine craftsmen at McMow Art Glass in Lake Worth Beach with an assist from DeMattia & Son Construction on installing the hurricane-protective windows, the doors and the framing of the narthex.

McMow Art Glass, an artistic presence in Lake Worth Beach for nearly 50 years, had nine artisans working on the restoration, including Hans Maurer, a highly skilled master from Germany. The east-facing window had been spared storm damage, but a healthy fear of hurricanes (and the building code) demanded that the stained glass be protected by hurricane glass.

The church has unusual architectural characteristics that made the process both a joy and a challenge, said Shanon Materio, president and creative director of McMow. With its soft curves and glowing wood, Materio says, it resembles a mandolin.

The glass used in the intricate depiction of the symbol of the United Church of Christ is rare mouth-blown sheet glass manufactured by Lamberts Glass in Germany. Tiny bubbles in the glass make it even more luminous. Church records say it was crafted and installed by Nobis Studios from Canton, Ohio, in 1965.

Things have changed since then. In order to meet building codes, the whole tableau had to be rescaled — a geometric problem requiring precise calculations to maintain the integrity of the design. “The ratio had to be correct, which required a lot of time and effort,” Materio said.

Another arduous chore: Cleaning the windows of almost 60 years of dirt, dust and debris — soot from candles and incense, nature’s detritus and millions of exhaled breaths laden with impurities — revealed the truly spectacular quality of the glass, Materio said. “The fluidity of the glass, and the jewel tones. You cannot replicate it. There’s nothing better.”

When the glass was made in the early ’60s, there were lots of sources for stained glass, mostly in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. Today, there are few.

McMow downsized 18 months ago to devote itself to the craft of restoration and preservation of this fine art. “I like that we’re not throwing something away,” Materio said.

And there’s plenty of work to be done.

The cost of the project, the faithful provided. In January, the church bulletin read: “We are pleased to report that because of your faithful support — and a generous $75,000 gift from the Boynton Beach Church — our capital campaign exceeded its goal! We hoped to raise $275,000 to restore the stained-glass windows in the Sanctuary building and to install new front doors. Instead, we raised $340,850!”

That $75,000 gift did more than just help pay for the restoration.

Boynton Beach Congregational Church had sold its building in downtown Boynton and lost its pastor. It was looking for a new home. The church was welcomed by Church of the Palms. In May 2022, they began practicing a “cooperative ministry.”

With them, the congregants brought an artifact from the original church: a cross in the Dalle de Verre style, which is stained-glass pieces set in a matrix of concrete and epoxy resin. It was designed and fabricated by Conrad Pickel in his Boynton Beach studio in 1980.

McMow Art Glass gave it a new aluminum frame and mount and placed it in the Church of the Palms courtyard between the sanctuary and Friendship Center. The cross represents the joining of the two churches. It looks like it was made for the courtyard, Petty said.

Church of the Palms is at 1960 N. Swinton Ave. In-person worship takes place at 10 a.m. Sunday, followed by coffee in the Friendship Center. The virtual service streams at 4:30 p.m. Call 561-276-6347 or visit www.churchofthepalms.net.

Contractor Coy Eaton assembles the new pews, which are a bit darker than the old ones, at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

New this month ...
Nearby, St. Vincent Ferrer is undergoing its own upgrades.

In June, the church closed for the summer to give the sanctuary a face-lift. When parishioners return in September, they’ll be welcomed by shiny new pews, fresh paint, new lighting fixtures and neutral tile replacing the carpet. The church has held weekday Masses in the intimate and austere adoration chapel; weekend Masses were held in the school’s gym.

First, the space with room for 808 worshipers, was gutted. The old carpet and pews were removed, and the room was repainted a nice bright neutral cream color. New modern lighting fixtures were installed. Then the room was tiled with slip-resistant ceramic tile to match the altar.

Finally, on Aug. 7, a huge truck pulled up in front of the church and started the all-day job of unloading the new pews and materials.

“The pews are a richer color, a little darker than before,” office manager Ericka Ruiz said. They were chosen to coordinate with the wood ceiling.

Each three-piece pew had to be individually assembled, then the kneelers had to be attached, and the pews moved into position and bolted to the floor. The church raised about $800,000 for the upgrades in donations from parishioners.

At 5 p.m. on Sept. 7, Bishop Gerald Barbarito will celebrate a special Mass blessing the renovated church.

St. Vincent Ferrer is at 840 George Bush Blvd. Call 561-276-6892 or visit www.stvincentferrer.com.

... and coming in the fall
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church began extensive remodeling in May, and the church leaders expect the work to finish by the end of November, just in time for St. Gregory’s 70th anniversary.

In 1953, a few Episcopalians living in Boca Raton wondered if they really had to drive to Delray Beach to worship. They didn’t. The church first congregated in a single room furnished with an altar at one end and a kitchen at the other in a tiny building a block north of Palmetto Park Road.

In 1956, the Episcopalians broke ground for a building of their own on land donated by A.S. Weisman, a Jewish man who gave them two adjoining lots on the condition they build the church in two years. They did.

But within 10 years, they had to expand again. A much larger sanctuary and gorgeous stained-glass windows were added in 1966. During renovations in July, the team discovered several pieces of plywood signed by workers from Snow Construction, the company that built the sanctuary, led by George Snow of Snow Scholarship renown.

Now workers have stripped the church down to its bare bones and ripped up the tile and carpet from the floors. The Austin pipe organ (purchased in 1994 for $500,000) was removed and stored, and the remaining pipes were covered and protected. McMow Art Glass came on board to protect the stained glass during the construction.

Scaffolding was erected to restore the tongue-and-groove wood ceiling. The roof was repaired, and a new drainage system was installed to better protect St. Gregory’s stunning architecture from Florida’s unfriendly weather. Inside, a fire control room and fire sprinklers were installed.

It took until mid-July to finish work on the ceiling. While the scaffolding was up, the stained-glass windows were cleaned of years of dust and soot. Also in July, a steel beam was installed, and the columns removed from the old library hall, which will open up the sanctuary to natural light. A new entryway will welcome parishioners when the church reopens in the fall. In the meantime services will continue to take place in Harris Hall.

“It’s been a miracle,” parish administrator Kristen Chaney said, adding that so far, renovations have been covered by generous donations from parishioners.

In the Aug. 10 bulletin, the church leaders reported the best news yet: “Construction is progressing on time and within budget.”

If that continues, work should be completed by Thanksgiving. The estimated cost of the planned construction in the sanctuary is about $3.6 million.

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd. Call 561-395-8285 or visit www.stgregorysepiscopal.org.

The Boca Raton-based nonprofit that provides programs and services to educate and empower those with developmental and intellectual disabilities has five fresh faces.

Joining the JARC Florida board of directors are Jay Eisenberg, Marvin Greenberg, Cliff Hark, David Pratt and Richard Steinberg. The organization also named Howard Halpern as president.

“Our new JARC Florida board members and president each have the extensive leadership experience that is immensely important to fueling our future,” JARC Florida CEO Jeffrey Zirulnick said. “As our community needs are growing, our organization's board expertise continues to increase to best serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

For more information, call 561-558-2550 or visit http://jarcfl.org.

Gulf Stream residents join board of Bethesda Council
Caron Dockerty and Patrick Donovan have joined the board of Baptist Health Foundation’s Bethesda Hospital Council.

Both are Gulf Stream residents who have supported the foundation and the hospital since 2016.

“I first became involved with Bethesda Hospital through community events many years ago and have been a supporter since,” Dockerty said. “I look forward to making a difference for communities we serve.”

Added Donovan, “I love being a part of this community and now am even more excited to be a part of the Bethesda Hospital Council, which has a great philanthropic impact on delivering world-class care to Palm Beach County and beyond.”

Barbara James, the foundation’s vice president, said the two new forces will bring “great strengths” to the council.

“When we come together as one to actively serve our community, we unlock greater potential and increase philanthropic opportunities,” James said.

For more information, call 561-737-7733, ext. 84445 or visit https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-foundation.

Community Foundation awards scholarships
A total of 116 grants have been given to local college-bound students by a nonprofit that creates partnerships with donors in the community to solve civic and social issues. The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties’ scholarship committee said the average award for each grant was $10,000.

“This year’s scholarship committee had the great opportunity to review a plethora of scholarship applications from many deserving and impressive students in our community,” outgoing Chairwoman Lisa Morgan said. “We are pleased to report that one-third of the scholarship recipients will be the first generation in their families to attend college, and 88% graduated with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.”

Since 1985, the foundation has offered both need- and merit-based scholarships with an aim to improve access to higher education.

For more information, call 561-659-6800 or visit https://yourcommunityfoundation.org/about-scholarships.

Marta and James Batmasian have given a $1 million gift toward the renovation of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Photo provided

‘Keeping the Promise’ receives $1 million gift
James and Marta Batmasian will have an iconic sculpture named in their honor for their generous donation to the Keeping the Promise campaign for the renovation of Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

The piece will be located in the new Hagerty Courtyard and will be titled Drift.

“James and Marta moved to Boca Raton 40 years ago, and we are eternally grateful they made that choice,” hospital CEO Lincoln Mendez said. “We know of their outstanding generosity to so many causes and feel honored and privileged they selected Boca Raton Regional Hospital to be among them.”

Added James Batmasian, “We have said that we pledge to give much of our wealth to community-enrichment causes so that together we can share in leaving the world a better place than when we entered it. This hospital is a great example of an organization enriching a community.”

Keeping the Promise continues to soar thanks to the Batmasians’ pledge, even with the $250 million goal reached.

For more information, call 561-955-4142 or visit https://donate.brrh.com.

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

A crowd of nearly 50 gathered for a celebration of the first year of the Boca Raton Achievement Center at its fully expanded home on Northeast Spanish River Boulevard. The dedication ceremony for the nonprofit — a special-education school for students on the spectrum — was attended by leaders including BRAC board members Michael Bazinet, Lori Cabrera, Suzanne Ferguson, Patrice Huber, Jane Kaufman and Lori Lesser. The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce took part. ABOVE: (l-r) Pat O’Meara, Huber, Lisa Elkin, Kaufman, BRAC founder Evelyn Falconer, Lesser, Mayor Scott Singer, Cabrera, Gabby Weinstein, Roger McCartney, Laureen Pannullo and Dana Csutoros. Photo provided

The Gold Coast PR Council honored excellence among local marketing and public-relations professionals, handing out three special awards and 10 competitive awards as an audience of 100 watched. The awards have been bestowed since 2005 in recognition of outstanding marketing programs, public-relations campaigns and media coverage. ABOVE: Council board members (l-r) Linnea Bailey, Julie Mullen, Judy Joffe, David DiPino, Anne Dichele, Gary Schweikhart, Pilar Portela, Suzi McCreery, Celina Klee, Michael Turnbell, Sandy Collier, Lindsey Wiegmann, Daniel Benjamin and Rich Pollack. Photo provided by Jacek Photography

Charlie Robinson (seated) is surrounded by members of Lambda Alpha Alpha who painted and landscaped his home in Boynton Beach. Robinson has been caring for his wife as she recovers from a broken hip. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Ron Hayes

You know about the caregivers, those noble souls who care for the sick and disabled, the elderly, the needy. But who cares for them?

Where are the caregivers’ caregivers?

As temperatures rose toward the low 90s early one recent Saturday morning, they were in Boynton Beach, painting Charlie Robinson’s house.

The previous day they had painted the house gray, the trim white. Now these 18 men were back to touch up the wrought iron security door, the window frames and front porch railing.

They are members of Lambda Alpha Alpha, the graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi, an African American fraternity founded at Howard University in 1911. Martin Luther King Sr. was a member; Langston Hughes and Count Basie, too.

Florida Atlantic University has an undergraduate chapter, but these men, most in their 40s and 50s, are well beyond their college years.

In 2020, they initiated their Curb Appeal project to paint homes and upgrade the landscaping of seniors caring for family members in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.

The caregiver
“My wife broke her hip three months ago,” Charlie Robinson said, standing under the sweltering sun to marvel at all these much younger men beautifying his home without pay.

He is 80. His wife, Cheryle, is 76, and he has been caring for her as she heals. They moved into this house just off Seacrest Boulevard when they were first married, 46 years ago, and they’ve been here ever since.

“Words can’t explain this,” he said. “For a senior citizen, what more can you ask for? Volunteering their service and time? And it’s not just good for me but for the whole community.”

The project is funded by a $49,000 grant from local nonprofits Healthier Boynton Beach and Pathways to Prosperity. The money pays for the paint and the brushes, the buckets, the blowers, shovels and rakes, with the fraternity obligated to paint and repair 10 homes each spring and summer.

This year it did 12.

The caregiver’s caregivers
Tony Robinson — no relation to Charlie — is 52, living in Wellington and working in human resources for a hospital system. He graduated from Florida A&M University 31 years ago, but is still very much a frat brother.

“I support my fraternity,” he said. “Our values are Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift.”

He nodded toward the house. “This is the uplift.”

Dwayne Randolph (l-r), Ricky Petty and Dondre McCrary put the finishing touches on the wrought iron security door. ’I’ll probably wind up being a caregiver for my mom at some point, so this makes me happy,’ says McCrary, 29, an FAU graduate.

Dondre McCrary, 29, graduated from FAU last year and moved from Sigma Delta Delta, the university’s undergraduate chapter, to Lambda Alpha Alpha, the graduate chapter.

“This is my eighth project,” he said. “I’ll probably wind up being a caregiver for my mom at some point, so this makes me happy. Nothing makes you feel any better than working and being able to say, I did my good deed for the day.”

Most of these 18 men are wearing their signature purple Omega Psi Phi T-shirts, but one of them is different from the rest.

Lee Cohen is not African American.

He’s an attorney, 47, and white.

“No, I’m not Black,” he says with a good-natured laugh. “I had a friend who was in this fraternity, and we were at every event. I kept running into the brothers and joked that one day I was going to join.

“I became a member in November 2022, but this was never a Black/white issue. I joined because we believe in the same things.”

And what are those things?

The official motto of Omega Psi Phi is “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.”

But perhaps Charlie Robinson put it best as he braved the heat to admire what these Black brothers — and one white brother — had done for him and his wife.

“They don’t have to do this,” he said, “but they do it.”

Customers at Sandwiches by the Sea in Delray Beach wait to place their orders with Ali Tartacoff and owner David Hunt. The shop first opened in the 1980s. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

After 22 years or so of making sandwiches a block off the ocean in Delray Beach, David Hunt cleaned and locked up the tiny Sandwiches by the Sea for good last month.

It was a financial decision. When he took over the shop from Pat Lynch and his family, who had opened it in the 1980s, his rent was around $1,500. That was a lot for a 350-square-foot space, he said, but he had much less competition on Atlantic Avenue.

“We did just fine then,” he said.

Now, however, the landlord is raising the rent. “I think he’s asking $3,500. That’s a lot of sandwiches. I’m not working for the landlord,” Hunt said.

The shop’s many fans were sad to hear this.

“It’s sad. I had my last sandwich the other day,” said Joseph Vashlishan, a retired city employee. “My usual — a roast beef. I always had the roast beef. Well, sometimes I’d change it up and get turkey or tuna fish, but I always came back to the roast beef. They had the best beef in the city.”

He had been getting his lunch there since the 1980s when he moved from New Jersey, and recalls a much different, sleepier city. “I remember when Power’s bar was the only thing open on the Avenue after 6 o’clock,” Vashlishan said.

Once he found the sandwich shop, he remained a loyal fan for decades. “It’s pure quality and simplicity. They roast their beef there in a set-it-and-forget-it oven. Always consistent. You always knew what you were getting.”

Linda Prior works at the First Presbyterian Church that sits right behind the shop. The ladies who gather at Holly House, the church’s boutique and gift shop, often order from there. She was surprised at the news of the closing.

“Oh, no! I’m sorry to hear that. I love their chicken salad on a roll with extra veggies,” Prior said. The other reasons she liked the shop: “They are fast and pleasant.”

Sandwiches by the Sea owner David Hunt. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Hunt said the shop was so small, he had no choice but to be efficient. He had a limited menu of cold sandwiches and salads; no grill or flat top to make anything hot. He offered only one house-made drink — a frozen yogurt shake. It was simply frozen vanilla yogurt with or without strawberries, whirled in a blender with pineapple juice.

He did no catering. “It was just me most of the time,” with maybe a helper during the busiest times.

The most popular of the beach-monikered sandwiches was the Tidal Wave: roast beef, turkey, lettuce and tomato, Muenster cheese and Russian dressing on a sub roll. Another favorite was the Tsunami: corned beef, pastrami, lettuce, Swiss cheese and mustard.

The beef was roasted in-house, and all the sides and dressings made by Hunt, too. But not the bread. “It’s a secret. Let’s leave a little mystery for later,” he said.

Hunt laughed when talking about the Italian dressing that he went through by the gallons with teen customers ordering extra dressing. “I almost get mad at the kids — seems like they’re doing shots of it.”

At his busiest, he figures he turned out 400 sandwiches a day — probably in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. “There were lines wrapped around the building,” he said.

While other places took a hit during the pandemic, Hunt said he benefited by turning to takeout-only. He also worked with local companies to do delivery that year, but it became too much to handle and he quit it in season.

“We shut down the month of June 2020. I was absolutely wiped out,” he said. “I went home to Vermont.”

He said he noticed the last few years summer business has held steady. “More people are staying. And more are moving down from the Northeast.”

He had his regulars whom he knew not by name but by order. “Here comes roast beef, no lettuce, extra tomatoes.

“I have 200 customer orders in my head, but I’m terrible with names.”

Hunt was generous but quiet about it. “I didn’t want to make a big deal of it.” He’d feed people who came in looking down on their luck and hungry.

He recently was in Publix and a young woman called to him. He finally recognized her as someone he’d fed. She cried, he said, thanking him for helping lift her up.

Hunt gave a shout-out to all the kids who came in as youngsters with their parents and in later years brought their toddlers in.

“When you’ve been in one place 20 years, you get to know everybody,” he said. “A woman came in waving her daughter’s college essay — she wrote it about the shop.”

A chance of reopening elsewhere is possible, Hunt said, but for now, he’ll take some time off, staying in the area. He lives with his wife of 25 years in Delray Beach.

“I’m 46,” he said. “For now, I’m going to lay on the couch and ponder what I want to be when I grow up.”

Restaurant Month in Delray has dozens of participants. ABOVE: The Craft Food Tour makes stops at various restaurants. RIGHT: A burrito and side salad from Del Fuego, which opened this summer. Photos provided

Delray Restaurant Month
Twenty-two years ago this month, a group of restaurateurs got together to promote restaurants in New York City following the 9/11 attacks. It was an effort to boost the hospitality business with tourists absent.

In solidarity, cities across the U.S. joined in the movement, offering special deals of their own in September. It proved successful all around, and it’s become a tradition to find lunch and dinner deals on menus throughout the country for what has become Restaurant Month.

For the eighth year, a version of the promotion returns to Delray Beach, sponsored by the city’s Downtown Development Authority.

More than 35 restaurants and organizations are offering prix fixe lunches or dinners, discounts, or food experiences for Downtown Delray Beach Restaurant Month.

They include everything from a free cupcake with purchase at Two Fat Cookies to a special Dinner from the Movies — a multicourse meal at The Wine Room Kitchen and Bar on Sept. 28 with wines and cocktails inspired by great movie moments.

The program is a way to try out restaurants that are crowded in season, or that are new to the area such as Del Fuego. The Tex-Mex eatery on Atlantic east of the Intracoastal Waterway opened this summer to favorable reviews. Diners can get a three-course dinner there for $45 per person this month.

Restaurants range from fine dining as at Le Colonial, where a $65 three-course prix fixe is offered, to The Bridge Cafe, where a $10 breakfast sandwich with coffee is available.

BOGOs are on the list, too: At Death by Pizza, a Detroit-style pizzeria, there’s a BOGO on wings on Wednesdays. The chocolate shop Kilwins has BOGO on fudge pieces, and at the Original Popcorn House, you can buy one get one on mini popcorn bags and popcorn sundaes.

Get in on cooking lessons at Ramen Lab (dumpling making class, Sept. 28), or join the Craft Food Tour for either dinner or lunch at a special price.

For a complete list of participants and their deals, go to downtowndelraybeach.com/restaurantmonth.

Toasts, Tastes & Trolleys
The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum has brought back the popular fundraiser “Toasts, Tastes & Trolleys.” It’s a progressive-style dine-around, with trolley stops at six places around Boca and into Deerfield Beach.

Beginning with a reception at the Waterstone Resort & Marina, the trolley runs to Privaira Hangar, American Social, Sushi by Bou, The Boca Raton, and Cove Brewery before returning to the Waterstone.

The event is 6-10 p.m. Sept. 22. Cost is $150 per person, and information/reservations can be made at Bocahistory.org or by calling 561-395-6766, ext. 100.

Third and Third closes
Third and Third, a popular Delray Beach hideaway restaurant open since 2012, has closed. A spokesman from the restaurant said the lease had expired and the cost would have gone up substantially. It has no plans to reopen or move.

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

Snarling at other dogs is one of the behaviors a reactive dog may display. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

It’s canine confession time for me. I am betting many of you can relate to my situation. Kona, my terrier mix, is a great dog. She aced several dog obedience classes after I adopted her from a shelter seven years ago. She is terrific four-legged helper in my pet first-aid classes. She sweetly greets cats and people of all ages.

When she is in work mode, Kona walks easily on a leash, heeds all my cues quickly and basically ignores other dogs in our classes held at dog training centers and doggy day cares.

But her personality shifted dramatically about two years ago when Bujeau, our mellow Bernese mountain dog, died at age 10. Kona always trotted nicely next to Bujeau on walks.

Now without Bujeau, Kona has morphed into 35 pounds of excitability when she spots another dog.

She isn’t aggressive. Rather, she is over-the-top, yanking on the leash, squealing and leaping in the air to try to say hi to that approaching dog. I find myself crossing the street, reversing directions and offering apologies to my neighbors. The minute she walks back into my house, however, she is back to being chill and calm Kona.

My name is Arden Moore and I have a reactive dog. I am not alone. Canine reactivity is real and far too prevalent. Fortunately, help is here. Meet “The Real Dog Nerds,” Dr. Lisa Radosta and Mindy Cox. Together, they have created a comprehensive reactive dog program.

“Canine reactivity is a blanket term that, depending on the dog, can be displayed as a dog being overly excited, extremely fearful, overly aroused or aggressive when on a leash,” says Radosta, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist who operates the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service in West Palm Beach and Coral Springs. “They may be afraid of stuff in the environment: cars, trucks, construction noise. Basically, reactive dogs have abnormal responses to normal situations.”

You could have a reactive dog if:

• Your dog gets quickly aroused when seeing usually normal happenings on a neighborhood walk: a squirrel, another leashed dog, a jogger.
• Your dog may respond in these situations by lunging, barking and even trying to bite his leash.
• Your dog becomes so consumed by these situations that he won’t sit or stay on cue and may refuse to eat treats.
• The routine of walking your dog has become frustrating and a struggle.

The Real Dog Nerds reactivity course features a stress ladder in four color zones. Red represents a very stressed, not-able-to-listen-to-you dog. In the orange zone, a dog stares intently, strains on the leash and sports a tense body. Dogs in the yellow zone may stop sniffing to focus on a distraction and need you to repeat a cue a couple of times before responding.

The ideal dog is in the green zone. This dog heeds your cues, walks happily with a relaxed body and easily accepts treats while ignoring distractions.

Cox, a certified dog trainer and certified animal behavior consultant, knows people are frustrated and may feel helpless on how to help their reactive dogs.

“It is important to know that this reactivity is not a choice a dog is making. The dog is out of control and emotions can control actions,” says Cox, a former veterinary hospital administrator. “How people react to their dogs can unintentionally make the situation worse.”

She shares a few no-no’s:

• Don’t yell at your dog when he is spiraling out of control.
• Don’t pull hard on the leash to get your dog to move backward.
• Don’t blame yourself or your dog to those you encounter on a reactive walk.
• Don’t take advice from well-meaning neighbors or those not certified in dog behavior and training.

If you think you have a reactive dog, Radosta suggests that you first get a thorough medical exam performed on your dog by your veterinarian. The real cause may be physical pain from an injury or ailment.

“Sick dogs can act weird,” she says. “I had a dog come into my center for reactivity. I could not touch him in the exam room because he was too aggressive. But I watched him walk and saw that he was shifting his weight off his left hind leg and his toes were splayed. We sedated him and discovered this dog had arthritis in both hips and in one elbow.

“I put him on pain medication, and he was no longer reactive. If your dog is scared or can’t be touched, please see your veterinarian. A medical condition may be the reason for your dog’s reactivity.”

Cox adds that each dog’s situation is unique. She shares a success story involving a dog reactive on walks. During the home consultation, Cox noticed that the dog became worried when he heard specific sounds from the outside.

“This ramped up his anxiety,” says Cox. “So, by the time he was ready to go outside for a walk, he was highly stressed. We worked on helping the dog become calmer, more zen inside the house. Then we worked on helping the dog stay calm when opening the door and going for a walk. This dog became 80% better and that is huge. Sometimes, it is hard to get 100%.”

As for Kona, she is my best friend. That is why I will be enrolling in this canine reactivity program. I know not to expect overnight results, but steady progress.

Parting advice from Radosta: “Accept this is not about you. It is about your dog who needs help. Don’t let guilt paralyze you. We are here to help you and your dog.”

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts a radio show, Arden Moore’s Four Legged Life (www.fourleggedlife.com), and the weekly Oh Behave! podcast on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.

Learn more about Dog Nerds program

The online ‘Reactive Dog Program: From Anxious to Zensational’ features 15 chapters, multiple video lessons and direct access to Dr. Lisa Radosta and Mindy Cox. You will be invited to join a private Facebook page on canine reactivity. You can enroll for free for the first seven days. Then the course costs $35 per month and you can cancel at any time. Visit https://therealdognerds.com/reactive-program.

The Hustle to End Hunger 5K, sponsored by CROS Ministries, is Oct. 7. ABOVE: The 2022 preparations. Photo provided

No matter how well the economy does, hunger does not go away.

According to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, nearly 160,000 people in our wealthy county are food-insecure. That means they’re not getting adequate nutrition. That means they’re hungry. And more than 50,000 of those people are kids younger than 18.

You can help.

CROS Ministries’ annual Hustle to End Hunger 5K takes place at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 7 at John Prince Park, 2700 Sixth Ave. S., in Lake Worth Beach. All of the proceeds benefit CROS Ministries, which has served the hungry in Palm Beach and Martin counties for 45 years.

Its food pantries, the gleaning food-recovery program, its Caring Kitchen hot meal program and summer camp for children from families with low incomes are just some of the programs that help our neighbors.

Registration for the Hustle is $40 per person until Sept. 6, then it’s $45. An untimed walk option and a virtual option are available. Register at www.adventuresignup.com/Race/FL/LakeWorth/Hustle2EndHunger5K.

CROS Ministries is also looking for volunteers for the Delray Beach Pantry/Neighborhood Resource Center at 141 SW 12th Ave. Volunteers are needed to check in clients on a computer and to pack bags of food weighing 25 pounds. Training is provided.

Contact Juanita Goode at jgoode@crosministries.org or 561-699-5113.

To contact CROS Ministries, call 561-233-9009 or visit www.crosministries.org

First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach’s Pennies from Heaven program has been fighting hunger 1 cent at a time since 2012. Lately, the organizers say, they’ve noticed that many families are experiencing food insecurity for the first time.

Rising costs for housing and insurance, water and electricity — and just about everything else — are taking a toll even on middle-class families earning decent wages.

According to the United Way of Palm Beach County, hunger is happening behind the closed doors of nice houses with nice cars in the driveway.

First Presbyterian began asking its parishioners to collect 5 cents for each meal eaten during the month and to donate that money to Pennies from Heaven on the last Sunday. The money collected goes directly to funding food programs in the community and supporting members of the congregation experiencing hard times.

In those 11 years, from the beginning of 2012 through 2022, the church collected more than $58,000. During the early pandemic, it took a break and collected only $2,500 for 2020 and 2021 combined. But in 2023, the church has already collected nearly $4,000.

This is an easy, painless way to help your neighbors, participants say.

Consider putting aside a few pennies and donating them to First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, to your own church, to the charity of your choice or the Palm Beach County Food Bank.

First Presbyterian is at 33 Gleason St. https://firstdelray.com/ or 561-276-6338.

Contact the Palm Beach County Food Bank at 561-670-2518 or www.pbcfoodbank.org.

Shana Tovah! (Have a sweet year!)
September is an important month for Judaism with both Rosh Hashanah (the new year) and Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) being celebrated. These highest of the High Holidays are marked with services at local temples, chabads and synagogues.

The celebratory Rosh Hashanah begins Sept. 15, and the solemn Yom Kippur begins Sept. 24. The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day of the year, are called the Days of Awe and are supposed to be a time for candid self-reflection.

The High Holidays’ themes of forgiveness and repentance mark a time of healing, fasting and breaking the fast with special meals and prayers.

Shmuel Biston of Chabad of East Delray says this is the perfect time to both ask for forgiveness and freely forgive others. It’s a time to evaluate ourselves as spiritual people, to look back over the year and ask how we did — not at earning money but in a spiritual sense.

These subjects are the focal point of the holiday worship services, including Rabbi Barry Silver’s “alternative to the traditional High Holy Day services.”

Silver, who has served Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor in Palm Beach County since 1996, founded “Cosmic Judaism,” which he calls “a wonderful new phase of religious evolution, guided by the prophets of old and the science of today.”

Based on the teachings of great Jewish and scientific thinkers and carrying on the traditions of his father, Rabbi Sam Silver, Barry Silver promotes interfaith harmony and “rational Judaism.”

They revere the Albert Einstein’s quote, “Science without religion is lame, and religion without science is blind,” which is at the core of Cosmic Judaism. Silver claims Cosmic Judaism will “replace walls of ignorance, conflict and hate with bridges of reason, understanding and love.”

Silver will lead his congregation’s High Holiday services at the Movies of Delray, 7421 W. Atlantic Ave. Tickets are $95, free for children younger than 18, available online at www.ldorvador.org.

For more information about Cosmic Judaism, visit www.rabbibarrysilver.com/rabbi-barry-s-writings/cosmic-judaism.

Volunteers needed for Diocesan Convention
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Delray Beach is looking for volunteers to help with the Diocesan Convention 2023 on Oct. 27-28 at the Chapel of Saint Andrew in Boca Raton.

More than 40 volunteers are needed for the registration desk, to be ushers and servers and fill several other jobs. If you can help, contact Father Paul Kane at revpaul@stpaulsdelray.org.

Knights of Columbus retreat set at St. Lucy
Father Brian Horgan and St. Lucy Catholic Church welcome the Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization, on Sept. 23 for the St. Padre Pio Retreat.

The Knights of Columbus, with more than 1.6 million members worldwide, is dedicated to charity above all else. The more members it has, the more good deeds it can do, so the Knights of Columbus is always looking for members.

Tickets are $25 and include breakfast and lunch. For more information, visit https://kofc17215.org.

Cason will shred your papers in fundraiser
Get ready for a new year by getting rid of those old papers!

Cason United Methodist Church is holding a Shred-a-Thon 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 4. The Red Shredder team accepts all kinds of papers and folders, but no boxes, cardboard, X-rays, food, newspaper, glass, magazines, plastic, dark-colored folders, metal objects or equipment. It’s $5 per “bankers box” size or $10 for a bag. Cash is preferred. Credit cards require a $25 minimum. For more information, call Tricia Schmidt at 561-788-2822. Cason is at 342 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. The Shred-a-Thon will be in the church parking lot.

Coffee and conversation after Ascension’s Masses
The Holy Grounds Cafe in the Family Center at Ascension Catholic Church is open after the Sunday Masses at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon. The cafe serves fresh-brewed coffee and donuts from Dandee Donuts. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available. If you’d rather serve coffee, volunteers are also needed. Ascension Catholic is at 7250 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561-997-5486 or https://ascensionboca.org.

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

By Jan Engoren

With Palm Beach County temperatures this summer regularly in the 90s and heat indexes well over 100, the question arises: How do you stay hydrated, especially in the relentless Florida sun?

“The best medicine is prevention,” says Daniel S. Gutman, assistant professor of medicine at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine and an internist at Baptist Health in Boynton Beach. An avid cyclist and runner, Gutman will usually mix 20 ounces of water with a sugar-free Gatorade to replace electrolytes lost during sweating.

“There is no magic number of how many glasses of water to drink,” he says. “I advise my patients to listen to their bodies. Drink before you’re thirsty.”

He recommends carrying water with you, exercising early or late in the day and staying on top of hydrating.

“Here in Palm Beach County, we like to remain young forever,” he jokes. “In addition to hydrating, remember to wear a hat, long sleeves and use UV protection.”

Susan Klein Overson, a retired park planner for the National Park Service whose parents lived in Delray Beach, offers one cautionary story. She was hiking in Costa Rica without an adequate water supply.

When she returned home she developed flu-like symptoms.

“I had nausea, a headache and felt weak and tired,” she says. “It can sneak up on you.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, our bodies are composed of 50-70% water and every cell, tissue and organ relies on water to function properly. A lack of adequate water can lead to dehydration, which can lead to serious illness.

Signs of dehydration include weakness, dizziness, sluggishness, fainting or heart palpitations.

Staying hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the vessels to the muscles and helps muscles work efficiently. Dehydration causes the heart to work harder.

The American Heart Association recommends drinking water before, during and after going outside in hot weather.

Like Gutman, the association says if you wait until you’re thirsty, you’ve waited too long.

When you sweat, you lose fluid and electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate.

Replacing these fluids and electrolytes is essential. But what is the best method to replace them and how much water should you consume?

The purpose of rehydrating is to put fluid back into your system so your organs can function properly. The amount of fluid you need depends on the climate, the type of clothing worn and the intensity and duration of your exertion. 

Opinions vary but a rule of thumb is for women to drink 11.5 cups of fluid daily and men to drink 15.5 cups, as recommended by the Mayo Clinic. Of course, if you are exercising in the heat or working outside, you may need to increase these amounts.

Most experts recommend consuming about half your fluid intake in water and the other half in an electrolyte beverage that contains some carbohydrates. But, watch out for excess sugar and artificial sweeteners.

One way to tell if you’re drinking enough is if your urine is clear in color.

Another simple method to stay hydrated is to eat fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, watermelon, grapes, spinach and cantaloupe. Houston-based artist Gregg Optekamp was in South Florida last summer selling his art near the beach. To prepare, he would eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of fluids, including Pedialyte.

When the heat became too intense, he poured ice water over his head, drank a liter of water and found shade to cool down in for 30 minutes.

“Balancing my time in the heat was a matter of survival,” he says. “I had to build stamina to withstand the heat.

“Shade and water are important to avoid overheating,” he says.

He freezes bottles of water and keeps a wet hand towel in a cooler.

Delray Beach artist Ari Hirschman, also a hiker and cyclist, says he has gotten dehydrated so many times “it’s not even funny.”

“But that’s what you get for biking and hiking in the Florida summer,” he says.

He had dry heaves from getting dehydrated and lost as much as 15 pounds after a day of hiking.

Now he drinks an extra two liters of water each day and takes a big plastic cup of water with electrolytes and ice with him to work and drinks another on the way home. He even takes one when he walks the dog.

“I’m not quite made for the Florida heat,” he says, “but I don’t ever stop doing what I love.”

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

Dr. Jeffrey Newman, cardiothoracic surgeon, cuts the ribbon as Delray Medical Center celebrates the start of its Ion robotic bronchoscopy program. Photo provided

Delray Medical Center’s Ion robotic bronchoscopy program represents a step forward in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Dr. Stephen Milan, a pulmonologist and advanced bronchoscopist at Delray Medical Center, recently performed the first procedure using the new system.

Under CEO Daniel Listi and a team of medical professionals, the innovative Ion robotic platform allows for enhanced precision, improved access to hard-to-reach areas of the lung and minimally invasive procedures.

The platform combines advanced robotics, real-time imaging and artificial intelligence to enable bronchoscopic procedures with exceptional accuracy and safety. 

The robot-assisted procedures take place in the medical center’s new operating room in its designated advanced bronchoscopy suite.

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The University of Miami’s Comprehensive Center for Brain Health will host a free educational conference open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Oct. 19 at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. The nonprofit organization aims to teach the community about dementia and brain health.

Conference speakers will talk about cutting-edge research findings on cognition, the brain and lifestyle, and how this information can be applied to improve brain health. Space is limited and registration is required. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Register at https://bit.ly/topicsinbrainhealth.

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

Instructor Christian Cooper from the Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida watches students in the troupe’s ‘Shakespeare Lives!’ workshop. From left are Kimberly Wilkinson, Kaelyn Gonzalez and Brayden Wartmann. Photo provided

By Faran Fagen

More movement and laughter.

That was the advice Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida actress Christine Chavers had for student Kimberly Wilkinson during her monologue of Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“I’ve always found acting a fun way to express myself, and I’m a pretty quiet person so it’s a great outlet for me,” said Wilkinson, of Boca Raton. “I’d like to pursue acting wherever I can, hopefully with the Shakespeare Troupe moving forward and opportunities at Florida Atlantic University.”

Wilkinson, a 19-year-old student at FAU, took part in “Shakespeare Lives!”, an intensive 10-day workshop created by the Shakespeare Troupe to offer students ages 13-22 the opportunity to study facets of classical acting.

Classes were held in late July and early August at the Sol Theatre in Boca Raton. The program is spearheaded by Shakespeare Troupe founder Peter Galman.  

“I was able to help them overcome their fears and self-judgment and watch them grow with self-confidence through exercises and practicing the tools we gave them,” Galman said. “The end result was bigger voices and a stronger commitment to the actions of characters.”

Professional actors conducted master classes, teaching the principles of vocal projection, diction, text analysis, verse management, character portrayal and self-staging techniques.

The workshops — for up to 20 students — culminated with a staged reading of scenes from Shakespeare showcasing the trainees’ development and open to the public. Each student took away a classic monologue to use in auditions.

“We learned a lot about performing Shakespeare for a modern audience,” said Wilkinson, who has performed at the Sol Theatre since she was a child.

Instructor Sara Grant translated Shakespeare into modern terms and helped in Wilkinson’s scene from Twelfth Night to make sense of Olivia’s character.

“We also worked on applying subtext in scenes to really get the character’s message across,” Wilkinson said. “Christian Cooper helped us perfect our comedic timing and gave me some fun character choices to work with.”

Shakespeare Troupe teaching artists, who specialize in voice, movement and music, joined Galman in conducting the five-hour sessions.

The final presentations were assembled in the form of a showcase, which Galman said was “well attended and well executed.”

“The students were absolutely able to take the tools that were given them and skillfully use them,” said Galman,” who appeared on As the World Turns for five years while moonlighting on Broadway and off-Broadway in New York.

The idea for the program began last year. Galman wrote a grant and applied to the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. Upon receiving it, he contacted Grant, of the Sol Theatre, and she opened the stage to the Shakespeare Troupe.

“It turns out that with its small intimate space, the Sol is ideal for the presentation of workshop material,” Galman said. “What I see in their eyes is often sheer joy at their own discovery, and sometimes the realization of the gravity of the themes they are encountering.”

The troupe will have after-school workshops for teens later this school year, Galman said. “As we start booking Shakespeare in Schools in winter/spring of 2024, we will be offering paid internships for students to be further involved,” he said.

Tuition for the 10-day Shakespeare Lives! workshop is $250. Students are accepted through audition or video submission.

Founded by Galman in 2016 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the troupe participated in the weeklong intensive World of Shakespeare program in March 2017 at the Cushman School in Miami. In 2018-2019 the troupe toured and reached 10,000 audience members.

For more information, contact Shakespeare Troupe of South Florida at 754-228-7228 or anon@shakestroupe.org or visit www.shakestroupe.org. Sol Theatre is at 3333 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton.

Andy Rubin and Jim ‘Chiefy’ Mathie show off their crew’s first-day miniseason catch of lobsters and the new Chiefy snare by Lobster League that helped them catch those bugs. Steve Waters/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

Local divers have enjoyed a stellar start to the lobster season, beginning with the two-day miniseason at the end of July and continuing with the regular season, which is Aug. 6-March 31.

“I have no idea what the season’s going to be like, but so far it’s been great,” said Jim “Chiefy” Mathie of Deerfield Beach, who typically dives out of the Boca Raton Inlet.

A retired Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue division chief, Mathie never misses a miniseason, which is the first opportunity for recreational divers to catch lobsters once the regular season closes April 1.

The bugs, as they are known because of their insect-like appearance, are typically less wary during miniseason because they haven’t been poked and prodded by recreational and commercial divers for nearly four months. They’re also more plentiful because commercial traps have been out of the water during that same period.

Another major attraction of miniseason, which was July 26-27, is the daily bag limit of 12 lobsters for divers in Palm Beach and Broward counties, which is twice the regular-season limit.

Mathie and his five dive buddies had an excellent miniseason, catching their limit of lobsters both days. That included an extra lobster each day for Mathie because he shot more than 25 lionfish with his speargun. Lionfish are invasive, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages spearfishers to shoot lionfish by rewarding those who kill 25 or more with an extra bug during miniseason.

Diving the first day between Boca Inlet and Hillsboro Inlet on Relentless, owned by Steve Spiegel of Lighthouse Point, and the second day on Mathie’s boat, the Chiefy crew caught 73 lobsters each day.

“We knew they were in shallow the first day and we ended up finding them in 30 feet of water, on the west side of the second reef,” said Mathie, the author of the how-to lobstering book Catching the BUG: The Comprehensive Guide to Catching the Spiny Lobster. “On the second day, they weren’t there. So, we ended up catching them in the 45-foot depths.

“So the key was making sure that you have multiple spots that you can check in multiple depths, because you just never know. Hey, 146 lobsters aren’t bad for six guys for two days.”

Mathie’s regular season picked up where the miniseason left off. On several trips Mathie and his crew got their limit on their first dive and went spearfishing on their second dive, which was an accomplishment.

“You’re competing with the lobster traps, and also divers that are commercial guys can catch up to 250 lobster per day. So that’s a lot of competition for us recreational guys,” Mathie said. “That’s the challenge of the regular season, but people have to realize that it goes to March 31.”

Another highlight of the miniseason and early season for Mathie was having divers use the new Chiefy snare by Lobster League. Unlike most snares, Mathie’s is made from strong, lightweight aluminum and injection-molded plastic parts secured with stainless steel screws and springs.

All of the parts can be replaced, if necessary, instead of your having to buy a new snare. Its 44-inch length is the longest on the market, and the snare has a thick monofilament loop that retains its shape, unlike the wire loops of other snares.

Its unique mode selector allows lobster hunters to choose a lock-off or lock-on position. In the latter setting, when the snare’s loop is closed around a lobster, the lobster cannot escape. The loop loosens only when the thumb release button is pressed.

“It’s going well,” Mathie said. “A lot of folks that are using it are really complimentary of it and they’re enjoying it, so that’s really nice.”

The snares are available at a handful of area dive shops, including the Force-E stores in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach and Dixie Divers in Deerfield Beach.

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

By Rich Pollack

Since parts of a woman’s body were found in three suitcases floating in the Intracoastal Waterway, Delray Beach police have enlisted the help of nearby law enforcement agencies, residents with surveillance cameras and just about anyone else who might have information as they search for the victim’s identity and her killer.

Yet in a case that is so Florida that it could be the focus of a Carl Hiaasen novel, little information has come to light — at least that police are sharing — to help detectives answer the most essential questions.

Who is the middle-aged woman homicide victim — with brown hair and possibly tattooed eyebrows — whose body was divided into parts and stuffed into suitcases that were pushed into the waterway?

What happened to her that led to her death, and when and where did her apparent murder take place?

How did the three suitcases get in the Intracoastal Waterway and where and, perhaps most intriguing of all, who is responsible for taking her life and disposing of the body in such a manner?

Although much is not known, detectives have a few tidbits of information that could help them get closer to identifying the victim and perhaps her killer.

The floral tank top she was wearing is from the Betzabe brand, which investigators think is a Brazilian company.

Two suitcases were from uncommon brands, with one being a purple Palm Springs Ricardo Beverly Hills bag and the other described as a green-and-black polka-dot Charlie Sport bag. The third was a plain, brown bag.

In addition, detectives working with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s forensic imaging unit created an artist’s rendering of what the woman might have looked like and distributed it to the community.

Delray Beach police’s investigation began shortly after 4 p.m. July 21 when a construction worker discovered the first of the three suitcases just north of the George Bush Boulevard bridge.

Not long afterward, officers received calls of two more suitcases found about two miles to the south, near Casuarina Road and Southeast Seventh Avenue.

Soon officers from local police departments were joining investigators in a search for anything that might be helpful. Highland Beach police, in the department’s relatively new police boat, Boynton Beach’s marine patrol and law enforcement officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission all joined in the search.

By the next morning detectives and crime scene technicians were under the George Bush Boulevard bridge looking for clues, with the help of a police dog. Despite apparent digging, that search turned up empty.

Another dead end, at least at the time of a news conference three days after the suitcases were discovered, was a scouring of missing persons reports.

During that news conference, police asked for the community’s help, with Chief Russ Mager saying no information is too small.

Although it’s unknown where the suitcases entered the water, investigators appear to believe that took place within Delray Beach city limits. One theory is that if suitcases had been tossed in the Intracoastal in Broward County or Boca Raton or Highland Beach, someone would have seen them and called police especially since a body part — which police did not identify — was protruding from one of the bags.

While police teams scoured the area where the suitcases were found for any related relevant information, Delray Beach Detective Sgt. Casey Kelly said the size of that area made the effort “a very daunting task.”

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Mike Liberta, who can be reached at 561-243-7874.