John and Diane Brewer, Empty Bowls Delray Beach event chairs. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

More than 130,000 local households experience food insecurity — not knowing where one’s next meal or meals will be sourced — according to the Palm Beach County Food Bank.

The large nonprofit that distributes 13 million pounds of food to the needy each year serves not only those 130,000-plus but also 70,000 additional neighbors facing hunger.

“Palm Beach County is one of the richest counties in the nation, and at the same time we have this food disparity,” said John Brewer, event chairman of Empty Bowls Delray Beach, a fundraiser for the food bank. “The main thing is to get more people aware and more people involved and to understand that this is a problem in our backyard.”

Set for Dec. 9, Empty Bowls Delray Beach invites attendees to enjoy a wide variety of soups from area restaurants, freshly made breads from Old School Bakery and bottled waters. The theme of the three-hour affair is to “eat simply so others may simply eat.”

“It’s a great day of friendship and fellowship for a good cause,” Brewer said. “If everybody gives a little bit, it really can make an impact.”

In its eighth year, Empty Bowls Delray Beach will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trinity Delray. Handcrafted bowls will be available for purchase, and music and entertainment will take place as aproned volunteers ladle out the hot stuff for guests.

“It’s such an amazing event and a way to bring the community together,” said Diane Brewer, John Brewer’s wife and event chairwoman. “Unfortunately, with inflation and everything else that is going on — I even balk at some of the prices at Publix when I go shopping — I can’t imagine what it’s like to feed a house full of kids on a limited income.”

The Palm Beach County Food Bank houses food in a 28,000-square-foot building in Lake Worth Beach. The distributions are made possible by nearly 200 partner agencies. Food pantries, soup kitchens and housing programs work to connect families and the elderly population with products procured from farmers, stores and wholesalers that include culturally appropriate food.

Jamie Kendall, the food bank’s CEO, explains the last bit: “It means serving a variety of neighbors from many different backgrounds and ethnicities and holding space for the cultural practices around the preparation and consumption of the food.”

As Hanukkah and Christmas approach, the issue of food insecurity becomes that much more apparent, Kendall said.

“The holiday season can come with stress for a lot of families,” she said. “It’s up to us and Empty Bowls participants to ensure they have a holiday meal to put on the table and that they are nourished going into the new year.”

If You Go
What: Empty Bowls Delray Beach
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9
Where: Trinity Delray, 400 N. Swinton Ave.
Cost: $35
Information: 561-670-2518 or pbcfoodbank.org

Special Olympian Margie-Lee Rodriguez created a collection of Holiday Joy cards. Photo provided

The Arc of Palm Beach County is offering a creative collection of handmade holiday greeting cards crafted by its talented clients.

Proceeds from sales of the cards support their makers through an earned commission with every purchase.

“The Arc is spreading holiday cheer through personalized art that also gives back to our gifted clients,” CEO Pamela Payne said. “Our artisan program brings people with disabilities together to create unique artwork throughout the year, including mosaics, acrylic paintings and mixed-media pieces.”

The Artisan Program this year features Margie-Lee Rodriguez, a Special Olympics gold medalist. Margie-Lee designed her Holiday Joy collection in her signature folk art style of painting, including vibrant motifs and custom stencil designs.

To buy cards, visit The Arc Shop at arcpbc.org/artisans. For more information, call 561-842-3213.

Arts Garage, Impact 100 get drums to student band
In 2014, Impact 100 Palm Beach County awarded a $100,000 grant to Arts Garage in part to develop a dynamic youth drumline.

For six years, the audience-rousing percussionists went through multiple iterations at the Delray Beach theater prior to the coronavirus shutdown.

Now, Arts Garage is partnering with the philanthropic group to get some more noise out of the dormant program.

“After locating the drums this past summer, I contacted JoAnne Greiser, grants management adviser at Impact 100 Palm Beach County, to which ownership of the drums had reverted, to discuss what to do with the valuable instruments,” said Marjorie Waldo, Arts Garage’s president and CEO.

“After they were inspected … we collectively decided to donate the 18 drums and uniforms to the Boynton Beach High School Band.”

Waldo added, “Receiving the original $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Palm Beach County was a real blessing, and we are very pleased that together we can keep the generous drumbeat going strong in the years to come.”

For information about Arts Garage, call 561-450-6357 or visit artsgarage.org. For information about Impact 100, call 561-336-4623 or visit impact100pbc.org.

Boca Helping Hands appoints board member
Dr. Sarah Lochner, a nearly decade-long volunteer at Boca Helping Hands, has joined its board of directors.

Lochner has worked closely with the agency’s job training department, identifying companies that align with its mission for potential partnerships. She also has scouted employers that can offer job placement for clients and prepare them to meet industry requirements.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Lochner join the board of directors,” said Greg Hazle, Boca Helping Hands executive director. “She has been such an outstanding volunteer with our organization for years and has made such a difference for our clients. Her knowledge and talent will be an asset to the board.”

For more information, call 561-417-0913 or visit bocahelpinghands.org.

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

The performing arts center organized a welcome-back party for its board members, life trustees and committee volunteers to kick off the 2023-24 season. More than 100 gathered in Dreyfoos Hall for cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. CEO Diane Quinn welcomed guests and acknowledged reception sponsors Mitchell Rubenstein and Laurie Silvers. ‘Tonight, it is my honor and privilege to thank each of you for your commitment to the center,’ Quinn says. ‘Through your time, talents and your treasures, we are able to welcome more than 300,000 audience members through our doors. You make this possible.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Jim Coleman with Katherine and Gary Parr. Photo provided by Capehart

The Junior League of Boca Raton honored Lee Williams, of 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast, as the 2023 Woman Volunteer of the Year. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Betsy Owen, of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach. ‘Lee Williams and Betsy Owen are an inspiration to our community,' says Meghan Shea, league president. ‘We are so grateful to the support of our community in recognizing women volunteers.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Mark Larkin, Shea, Williams, Owen, event Chairwoman Nancy Dockerty and Mayor Scott Singer. Photo provided

The Boca Raton Airport Authority has partnered with FAU to honor the brave men and women who serve the country and the community through the Hometown Heroes initiative. One such man is Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. J.R. Wigfall, who was recognized on the football field during homecoming. ‘As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Boca Raton Airport, we take great pride in honoring Sgt. Wigfall as a Hometown Hero,’ says Clara Bennett, executive director of the BRAA. ‘We thank him for his hard work and the sacrifices he has made to help our community soar.’ ABOVE: (l-r) BRAA Vice Chairman Randy Nobles, board member James Nau, Bennett, Chairman Robert Tucker, FHP Lt. Indiana Miranda, Wigfall and BRAA officials Scott Kohut, Robert Abbott, Florence Straugh, Hannah Oakland and Melvin Pollack. Photo provided

The celebration of city visionaries and black-tie dinner dance honored the Boca Raton Airport Authority with the 2023 George Long Award. ‘We are immensely proud to have been honored at this year’s Boca Raton Mayors Ball,’ BRAA Executive Director Clara Bennett says. ‘We have been fortunate to be part of the community for the past 75 years and look forward to soaring to new heights in the future.’ The Faulk Center for Counseling and philanthropist Marta Batmasian also were honored. ABOVE: (l-r) Bennett with Batmasian and the Faulk Center’s Gwenesia Collins and Jonathan Price. Photo provided

A new initiative launched by Lois Pope in conjunction with the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute provides free vision screenings and eyeglasses for children ages 2 and older from schools and youth organizations in Palm Beach County. ‘My mother suffered terribly for years from macular degeneration,’ Pope says. ‘I saw firsthand how vision impairment affected her physical and emotional well-being. Can you imagine what it does to a child? ... They may feel stupid because they can’t see and read. No child should ever have any barrier to learning.’ ABOVE: Pope with Bascom Director Dr. Eduardo Alfonso. Photo provided by Capehart

The Witches of Delray’s Halloween event raised $33,000 for the Achievement Centers for Children & Families. Taking flight on a new seaside route, the 12th annual spectacle unfolded on A1A and was highlighted by an awards presentation for the best costume (Brandy Lee), the best witch cackle (Luba Fry), the best decorated broom (Dr. Francesca Lewis) and the best group theme (Living the Dream Witches). More than 400 witches participated. ABOVE: (l-r) Dr. Diana Carrau, Lewis and Marisa Randazzo. Photo provided

The Jed Foundation’s fourth annual affair raised $200,000 to benefit mental health and suicide prevention programs for area students. Nearly 200 guests attended the special event, including celebrities, educators and mental health advocates such as former Miami Dolphins player Rob Konrad, who served as emcee. The foundation honored youth ambassador Adison Schwartz and insurance brokerage and benefits consultant NFP Corp. with leadership awards. ABOVE: NFP Chairman and CEO Doug Hammond and Konrad. INSET: Dr. Elvis Grandic with Florida Gala Chairwoman Alissa Sklaver Rabin. Photos provided

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s fifth annual fundraiser had a record-breaking year, bringing in more than $374,000 to help the nonprofit’s hunger relief initiatives at its Boca Raton location. ‘It was an incredible night of giving and support from so many within our community who truly care about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County,’ Chairwoman Michelle Hagerty says. ‘The attendees were moved by the emotional stories from the Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, and it showed with the record-breaking donations we received.’
ABOVE: Michelle and Michael Hagerty
INSET: Matt Liebman and Michael Passeroff
Photos provided by Colby Kessler

House-made chicken gyoza, Nanban chicken and spicy cauliflower highlight the menu at Ramen Lab during one variation of the Craft Food Tours in Delray Beach. BELOLW RIGHT: Anthony Guzman and Matt Guidice, the company's co-founders. Photos provided

By Jan Norris

Choosing that great gift can be a conundrum. For a food lover, it might be easier if you consider a few experiences.

Try a cooking class that benefits a top hunger-relief organization in South Florida. Feeding South Florida is offering cooking classes at its warehouse kitchen in Boynton Beach.

Choose from two classes stretching into next year: Beef (Beet) Wellington class, where students learn to prepare a cranberry feta dip with pistachios as an appetizer, then a beef Wellington (or the beet version for vegetarians) as an entree for a holiday meal; or the Homemade Pasta class, where participants make pasta dough, then roll and cut it by hand into fettuccini noodles. It will be paired with a pistachio pesto sauce.

The instructor is Susan Taves, director of culinary services for Feeding South Florida.

The Beef Wellington class is 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. The Homemade Pasta class is 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 17.

Participants must be at least 18 years old, and cost for each class is $60. A portion of the money supports FSF’s programs to end hunger in South Florida.

Classes are at the Feeding South Florida Community Kitchen, Palm Beach County Warehouse, 4925 Park Ridge Blvd., Boynton Beach. To sign up, go to feedingsouthflorida.org/events/

***

Sur La Table offers cooking classes in its Mizner Park store for adults and kids. The cooking equipment retailer has group lessons throughout the year.

Upcoming for the holidays are classes on Holiday Paella (Dec. 5); Family Fun: Baking Together (Dec. 7); Build and Take: Bouche de Noel (Dec. 10), and Holiday Entertaining: Hors D’Oeuvres (Dec. 19).

A gift-and-class idea? Buy a chef’s knife from the store, and take a class in knife skills (Dec. 9). Date night classes for couples include An Evening in Thailand (Dec. 7).

For a full schedule and prices, click on the calendar of classes for Boca Raton at surlatable.com/in-store-cooking-classes/ or call 561-953-7638.

Eat, walk, learn
Maybe there’s a newcomer to South Florida on your list. Consider giving a food/history tour.

Through Craft Food Tours, you have choice of a food and drinks tour or a dinner and drinks tour. Discover some off-the-beaten-path eateries on the lunchtime three-hour walk around Delray Beach's Pineapple Grove area, about a mile in all.

It kicks off at El Camino restaurant, and the group visits places offering Mexican, Asian and other street foods. Any age is welcome. A history of the “Village by the Sea” that’s become the “Most Fun Small Town in America” is given in the walk-along lecture.

The Night Out in Delray Dinner and Drinks tour provides samples of eight foods and four craft beverages, with demos along the way. It’s approximately a 1-mile stroll along Atlantic Avenue, rain or shine. Your meet-up restaurant is given on the ticket.

Tours are unique, with restaurant visits rotating based on availability. Dietary restrictions or allergies can usually be accommodated; post them on the registration form. Groups are limited to 14 people, ages 13 and older, though private tours and corporate events are available.

Cost is $99 per person, and gift cards never expire.

For more information, go to craftfoodtours.com and click on the tours drop-down.

Eat, drink and be merry
If a food gift is on your list, several specialty shops have unique items for the holidays.

Palm Beach Bakery & Café in Lantana bakes up Finnish and Scandinavian traditional foods for the holidays. One of our favorites is the cardamom, raisin and almond loaf.

But other traditional foods are available, popular among Scandinavian friends, including rye breads, Danish pastries and the runeberg torte — a rum and almond torte with a ring of raspberry atop. The Karelian rice pies also are favorites (served with egg butter) and hard to find.

A number of imported foods are available, too.

The café is at 206 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana. 561-585-0222 or palmbeachbakeryandcafe.com

***

Find solid chocolate Santas, cats, dogs, sea shells, and our favorites — little alligators — hand-dipped at Scheurer’s Chocolate in Boynton Beach. These make fun stocking stuffers.

For host gifts, check out a box of mini Yule logs made from chocolate-coated marshmallows. A number of petit cups, and mixed boxes of caramels or creams, satisfy the chocolate-lover’s list.

Other sweet specialties such as licorice, jelly beans, chocolate mocha beans and hard candies are available at the shop, though not made on site.

A Boynton Beach chocolatier for 40 years, Scheurer’s Chocolate is at 640 E. Ocean Ave. 561-649-4412 or scheurerschocolate.com

***

Two Fat Cookies has all the baked sweets you desire: cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cakes and mini desserts for parties.

Try the raspberry molten: a flourless chocolate truffle topped with a fresh raspberry and white chocolate drizzle. Did we mention it’s gluten-free?

Serious cookies are here: The chip monster is a chocolate chip walnut cookie sandwich filled with chocolate ganache. The dirty cookie is a shortbread base with eggless cookie dough, salted caramel and ganache topping.

Mini cheesecakes and Key lime tartlets, strawberry mousse cups and Boston cream tarts are among the one-bite wonders. Cake pops and rice krispy treats make for easy party goods.

But create your own flavors. The store will take on custom orders if it can make them.

As with all bakeries and specialty shops at the holidays, order well in advance.

Two Fat Cookies is at 32 SE Second Ave., Delray Beach. 561-265-5350 or twofatcookies.com.

***

Stone crab claws are that perfect Florida seafood at the holidays.

Captain Clay and Sons Seafood Market gets fresh loads from the Keys in season.

Look also for Atlantic seafood such as triggerfish and others you don’t find at many seafood counters, along with Florida lobsters, snappers and the sweet lionfish.

Captain Clay and Sons is at 1319 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. 561-266-2068 or captainclaysseafood.com

***

Need caviar, or maybe all the seven fishes for your Italian seven-fish dinner?

Hit up Capt. Frank’s Seafood Market, where scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, fish fillets and all things seafood can be found. (Order ahead!)

King crab legs and stone crab claws are ready to eat; just fix a sauce and you have a ready-made appetizer for a pot luck. Sushi is made fresh daily, making it great for a casual party take-along.

Also available for gifting: wines, including champagnes, and prepared food items including Stonewall Kitchen’s famous jams and dips.

Capt. Frank’s Seafood Market is at 435 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach. 561-732-3663.

***

Hot buttered rum and traditional punches such as the Tom and Jerry are trending this year.

Ingredients for your drinks and some mixology advice are available at the Wine Room Kitchen and Bar, where you can taste any number of wines before buying full bottles.

The servers are knowledgeable, and the chef knows pairings as well.

You also can put together a charcuterie board from the selections of cheeses and meats, or buy one already made for takeout.

The Wine Room Kitchen and Bar is at 411 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-243-9463 or thewineroomonline.com/delray-beach.

And for people who can’t decide, or the procrastinators, call your favorite restaurant or market and order a gift certificate. Make it generous enough to cover two meals — nobody likes to dine alone.

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

Milo Manheim and Fiona Palomo as Joseph and Mary in Journey to Bethlehem. Affirm Films photo

By Janis Fontaine

The film Journey to Bethlehem, a musical retelling of the Nativity story, begins with a disclaimer: “Inspired by a true story — the greatest story ever told.”

Director Adam Anders’ goal was to make a family movie that tells the story of the birth of Jesus and competes with the best Christmas movies.

By filling the film with catchy pop songs and comedy gags (and a devoted donkey named Fig), the movie strays a bit from biblical accuracy, but the writers were careful not to abuse their poetic license. Their carefully diluted version makes an otherwise terrifying story of Roman soldiers killing newborns and teenage fugitives on the run palatable enough for a PG rating but engaging enough to appeal to adults.

Nearly 20 years ago, Anders realized that a void existed in Christmas movie fare. A musical not centered around Santa was missing from the genre. Then five years ago, producer

Alan Powell and Monarch Media came on board.

Powell and Anders had Glee in common and both were deeply Christian. Powell — who has a degree from bible college and was founder of the successful pop-Christian band Anthem Lights — says, “I believed in Adam, and I believed in the story, so I poured gasoline on it.”

Film companies hesitated, largely for financial reasons. Was it good business to make a movie about the Nativity? How much profit could they really expect to make on a Christian musical? But Powell, who says real magic happens when music and film come together, kept pushing until Sony Entertainment’s Affirm Films bit.

Powell says making a musical is about finding a balance of song and story. The rule, Powell says, “is that a character only sings when words can no longer do justice.”

Anders’ gift is his ability to slide the song into the dialogue so organically that you almost don’t notice the actors have started singing.

The soundtrack features 12 original songs written by Anders with his singer/songwriter wife, Nikki Anders, and songwriter/music producer Peer Astrom (High School Musical).

For Anders and his wife, whose first date was writing a song together, the release of the film is the fulfillment of a dream — a deeply personal undertaking where they felt God’s hand on theirs. Consider this: Anders was in Spain preparing to shoot the movie and they had not cast Mary. At 2 a.m. one day, Powell’s phone rang. Anders had found her: Fiona Palomo, a relative newcomer, is a Mexican-born actress who had appeared on the teen drama Outer Banks in 2023. “She never even had a callback,” Powell said.

Some would say she was a godsend.

“Our goal was to show these characters with some meat on their bones,” Powell said. And by flushing out the shadowy figures behind a well-known story — like Joseph, whom Milo Manheim portrays with such tender authenticity — the filmmakers illuminated the story in a new way. A touching moment comes when Mary tells Joseph that she was not the only person chosen for this. From that moment, his devotion and support and his love for Mary animate his every move.

The songs stand alone as lovely, lively, fun and even a little scary, and fans of Glee will surely recognize Anders’ signature on the musical. This is a film made by musicians in search of another way to tell the world about their love for Jesus Christ. The vocals are outstanding, even from the cast’s non-singer, A-list star Antonio Banderas.

What others are saying
The Christian Film Review said, “This is a must-see film and is not to be missed. Full of joy, hope and truth, it has to be one of the best and most epic Christmas movies of all time.”

But the National Catholic Register wasn’t so positive. Its criticisms of the film point mostly to the missing elements, like Mary’s fiat: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

But in the film Mary is more conflicted: What will people think? Will this bring shame upon my family? Completely understandable reactions. But as Catholics revere Mary, the Blessed Mother, only the most pure and chaste of Marys would do. So the more the writers tried to humanize her, giving her real doubts and fears, the less Catholics were going to like it.

They asked, “Where is her Magnificat? If ever there was a place in a musical version of the Nativity story for a major song, this is it,” the National Catholic Register aid.

But Mary sings the ballad, “Mother to a Savior and King,” where she asks, “How can I carry your son when I need you to carry me?” and “Should a miracle feel like an anchor?”

It’s not very Catholic, but it’s very real and reminds us how brave Mary was.

Other critics called out Banderas’ acting as the evil Herod, saying he got too much screen time and that the lyrics of his song, “It’s Good to Be King,” could be seen to “dangerously border on the blasphemous.” And many audience members were confused by the appearance of Antipater, Herod’s first son, who isn’t part of any of the scriptures and is not the same Antipater Christians do know as the executioner of John the Baptist.

Grammy winner Joel Smallbone, who records and tours with his brother Luke as the Christian pop duo For King & Country, portrays Antipater Herod. Lecrae, a Christian rapper/hip-hop artist who won a Grammy Award in 2013 for Best Gospel Album, the first time that a hip-hop artist won, portrays a stunning Angel Gabriel.

Last word from producer
A diverse village of people brought this carefully crafted film to the screen, a concerted team effort, and one Powell is proud of. The married father of six said, “My hope was we’d make a family movie that people will watch together and laugh and sing and dance along to. I think the timing is right for this movie.

“But then, there’s never a wrong time to spread a message of love.”

Journey to Bethlehem is rated PG. It was filmed in and around the coast of Spain. Its runtime is 1 hour, 38 minutes. It’s in theaters now.  

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

Pastor’s review of movie
By Andrew Hagen

As a committed Christian and pastor, I never tire of the story of the birth of Jesus. Our faith community believes that God saw the darkness of our lives and sent his son as a savior.

The mode of his arrival as a baby born to a poor family in a backwater village only reinforces the power of his identification with our lives and experiences.

Journey to Bethlehem succeeds when it reinforces that message and fails when it distracts from it.

It succeeds in showing us a young girl confused and apprehensive about being the mother of the long-awaited savior. It succeeds when it reminds us that her fiancé, Joseph, could have condemned her to stoning for the unexpected pregnancy. It succeeds when it portrays a king so evil that ordering the murder of mothers and babies is no great matter to him.

And it succeeds in reminding us of the lowly circumstances and location of Jesus’ birth.

Sadly, it fails when it makes Mary and Joseph’s romance far more important than the child they are bringing into the world. It fails when the three Wise Men are turned into the Three Stooges as comic relief. It fails when it inserts a strange “daddy issues” turn for Herod Antipater (although he did later plot to kill his dad). And it fails when the holy family heads off to Egypt as happy travelers rather than hunted refugees. And I really missed the shepherds.

Journey to Bethlehem is a good family outing to be followed up with reading the actual story and heading to church on Christmas Eve.

It is so much better than all the holiday movies that deliver Christmas without the Christ. For those who barely know the story, it may make them curious to make their own “journey to Bethlehem”: where a baby and good news await.

Andrew Hagen is senior pastor of Advent Ministries in Boca Raton.

By Janis Fontaine

Boca Beach Chabad brings Alex Clare to Sanborn Square in downtown Boca Raton at 7 p.m. Dec. 13, the seventh night of Hanukkah.

Clare is a devout Orthodox Jew who has chosen his faith over the music business over and over again.

To some, the sacrifices were astronomical: He said no to joining Adele on tour because too many dates fell on the sabbath or holy days. His record label dropped him because he wouldn’t work during holy weeks. But the singer/songwriter, who once dated Amy Winehouse, was stalwart and secure in his faith and trusted God to take care of him and his family.

Clare charted an unexpected hit record when his song “Too Close” was featured in some ads for Internet Explorer. Listeners sought out the song and it hit No. 7 on the

U.S. Billboard Hot 100. That success brought Clare back into the record business, and he made a second album, Three Hearts, in 2014, and a third album, Tail of Lions, in 2016.

But again, feeling too separated from his faith, he moved with his wife and child to Israel to reconnect.

Clare’s life may be full of prayer and religious study, but his music is solidly secular, of the “blue-eyed blues” genre with raspy vocals and a growly low range. Clare calls it music for the soul. His most recent release, 2021’s “Why Don’t Ya,” is a lamenting lost-love song, which is likeable enough with a catchy refrain, written for his wife.

At first listen, his music doesn’t seem to have anything to do with faith; it does simply because his life does.

Clare said “Why Don’t Ya” was his way of encouraging his wife to properly “acknowledge her feelings” following the death of her grandfather around the same time that one of their children was sick in the hospital. He said in an interview with BBC.com that “As a songwriter you’ve got to channel your emotion or your empathy or your pathos, whatever it’s going to be, without a filter. The song is the filter.”

He closed by saying, “Everyone really just wants to have their sense of oneness and sameness — that’s what people relate to and what people connect to. And the more that we can see our similarities with each other, as opposed to all the divisions and things that separate us, the better.”

Which is a perfect holiday message, no matter what holiday you celebrate.

If You Go
What: Alex Clare in concert
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 13
Where: Sanborn Square, Boca Raton
Cost: Free; reserved seating, $36; VIP, $180
Info: chabadbocabeaches.com, click on events

Seraphic Fire performs Dec. 12 at the Kravis rather than at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton. Photo provided

Seraphic Fire changes venues this year
The Seraphic Fire choir, which features professional singer-scholars from around the country, usually performs around the holidays at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, but church renovations have forced a change of venues.

You can see the choir perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Kravis Center. The concert, “A Seraphic Fire Christmas,” also serves to celebrate the release of the choir’s new album of Christmas music.

The Kravis Center is at 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $50 at kravis.org/events/seraphic-fire-presents-a-seraphic-fire-christmas/

Littering sentence can be hate conviction next time
Jon Minadeo II, the leader and founder of the antisemitic Goyim Defense League, was sentenced to 30 days in jail in November for littering.

Minadeo and his minions were arrested for tossing antisemitic literature into yards around West Palm Beach from the back of a pickup in March. Police arrested the men, and “we used this charge of littering because it was the only tool in our arsenal against these hate-mongers,” Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said in a news conference.

Since then, the state has put a new law on the books. House Bill 269, sponsored by Rep. Mike Caruso, makes it a felony to distribute hate speech.

Under the new law, “If a person … intentionally dumping litter onto private property for the purpose of intimidating the owner, resident, or invitee of such property and such litter contains a credible threat, the person commits a felony of the third degree.”

The state doesn’t have to prove that the person making the threat had the intent to actually carry out the threat.

Minadeo, 40, is a longtime voice in the bastion of Neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers. Goyim Defense League’s flyers blame Jews for everything from 9/11 to COVID-19 to the immigration crisis. In May 2020, he co-launched GoyimTV, a video streaming platform focused on antisemitic content. In September 2022, he was arrested in Poland for hate speech after holding up derogatory posters at Auschwitz.

In May, RollingStone.com published a story about Minadeo that began, “When Neo-Nazi Jon Minadeo II encounters children on the video chat platform Omegle, one of two things typically goes down. Either: Minadeo subjects the kid to a torrent of abusive slurs. ... Or: He coaxes the child into making a heil Hitler salute, and attempts to groom them into adopting, and even promoting, his rancid ideology of racism and antisemitism.”

Other Hanukkah, Kwanzaa celebrations
Chabad South Palm Beach Hanukkah Celebration: 5 p.m. Dec. 10, Plaza Del Mar, 250 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. Food, music, games and a menorah lighting. www.facebook.com/ChabadSouthPalmBeach

Grand Delray Beach Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting: 5-7 p.m. Dec. 7, Old School Square Pavilion, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Join Chabad of East Delray and the City of Delray in a celebration of the first day of Hanukkah with a DJ and music, pizza by the Gifted Crust, latkes and donuts, bounce houses, face painting, crafts and games, all capped by the grand menorah lighting. See delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events/menorah-lighting

Kwanzaa: 2:30 p.m. Dec. 26, Spady Museum, 170 NW Fifth Ave., Delray Beach. Kwanzaa is a pan-African holiday celebrating African culture and heritage. Families make their own gifts and enjoy art activities, storytelling for children, and food outside on the museum grounds. To demonstrate umoja (unity), seven local families, consisting of three generations, share their perspectives on the seven principles. To demonstrate nia (purpose), ’Ms. Tea’ Tammeric Itson-Scurry from the Delray Beach Public Library hosts story time for the children and will read Seven Spools of Thread by Angela S. Medearis. Demonstrating ujima (collective work and responsibility), youths will create an African-inspired dwelling and decorate the interior walls with their own artwork; and demonstrating kuumba (creativity), Spady Museum’s Kuumba Village will be ready to help guests create gifts to give or keep. Free, but RSVP at 561-279-8883 or spadymuseum.com.

By Jan Engoren

It’s “the most wonderful time of the year,” but not for everyone.

While many people look forward to the holidays, for some the season brings up feelings of loneliness, dread, stress or sadness. Maybe you are single or without family nearby, or have experienced a recent loss of a loved one.

While others are making travel arrangements, partying, buying gifts or swapping cookie recipes, you may be struggling to get through the season without feeling sad, isolated or alone.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, holiday blues are temporary feelings of anxiety or depression that can be associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations or even memories that accompany the season.

Symptoms often begin in November and last until the start of the new year. A NAMI study showed that 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse.

Losing a loved one, especially a child, is never easy and the loss may be compounded during family holidays. This is the case for two families who share the premature loss of a loved one.

For part-time Fort Myers resident Suzanne Zafonte Sennett, who lost her son, Andrew, a talented musician and artist, in 2009 just before his 21st birthday during the Christmas season, the loss is especially acute.

He was celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday and, after mixing drugs and alcohol, he crawled into a friend’s bed to sleep and never woke up.

Suzanne and her husband, Peter, had plans to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary that January. Andrew and his sister, Brigid, were to act as witnesses at a vow renewal ceremony.

“Over the next years — the Christmas tree and decorations were mothballed,” she recalls. “We found ways to muddle through.”

It wasn’t until the birth of her first granddaughter in 2014, and later a second, that they began to feel joy and celebrate the holidays again.

“All of the old ornaments — with pictures of both my kids — hang alongside photos of my grandkids,” she says. “We have learned to allow our sadness to be intermingled with joy.”

Focus on helping others
John and Michelle Makris of Boca Raton have also learned that lesson.

They lost their son Brice in 2020 at the age of 23 to an accidental fentanyl overdose.

“We live with anticipation, but our grief is every day,” Michelle Makris says. They have found joy through their 2-year-old grandson who lives in Seattle, but “we always feel Brice’s presence.”

She has learned to give herself permission to feel loss, grief and sadness and to indulge in what she calls “Glamour magazine therapy,” or to indulge in regular massages, practice meditation and to be tended to.

To honor their son’s memory, they host an annual brunch each December to raise money for the Brice Makris Endowment Fund, which provides scholarships and addiction prevention programs at the Hanley Foundation in West Palm Beach. This year’s brunch is Dec. 10 at Boca West Country Club.

A focus on helping others helps the couple deal with feeling powerless over their loss, says Michelle Makris.

Celebrating both Jewish and Catholic traditions, for this holiday they plan to invite family and friends for the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve and will light the

Hanukkah menorah and say the blessing each night.

“We know Brice would want us to be happy,” John Makris says.

The couple have created a circle of strength, love and “warm feelings” with their support network.

“The best thing I can say is to be authentic, reach out if you need help and know that your friends want to be of service,” Michelle Makris says.

Stay in the moment
Tips for self-care during the holidays include getting enough sleep, taking time for yourself and spending time with supportive, caring friends or family.

Minimize excess food, alcohol or spending, get some exercise and set reasonable expectations for your holiday activities.

Set aside time to relax, meet with friends, write in a journal, do yoga, sing, dance or laugh, take a walk or plan something else you like to do.

Alli Jimenez, 36, a mental health counselor at the Hanley Foundation and mother of four in a blended family, says “holidays can bring up difficult feelings.”

She notes that blended families have to deal with differing traditions and separate visits such as splitting the holidays between parents.

She plans to have family and friends over for a low-key Christmas dinner and to enjoy it without feeling stressed.

“Family dynamics have changed a lot,” she says. “We don’t often talk about how this affects families.”

To cope with these stressors, Jimenez suggests staying in the moment.

“Be mindful of the good in your life, and what you do have,” she says. “Pause and reflect on the good and show grace and a bit of kindness to yourself and others.”

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

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently recommended getting COVID-19 vaccines that had been granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sept. 11.

These were issued to Moderna and Pfizer for their new and updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to combat the new variant that natural or acquired immunity does not confer protection.

In published commentary, researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine noted:

“The war on COVID-19 continues to be fought valiantly and selflessly by health care professionals in communities and hospitals across the nation,” said Allison H. Ferris, M.D., chair of the college’s Department of Medicine and director of the internal medicine residency program. “As competent and compassionate physicians, we must redouble our efforts to promote evidence-based clinical and public health practices, including vaccination of all eligible U.S. adults and children with the new vaccine.”

The updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available at most pharmacies. Sources can be accessed at vaccines.gov. 

Health care providers can reassure patients that the Affordable Care Act mandates that insurance companies reimburse the cost for the updated COVID-19 vaccine, as well as all other vaccines that are endorsed by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

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The JFK Breast Center team includes (l-r) Keziah Geneve, Lisa Addesa, Tonnica Sanassas, Maria Nieto, Dawn Paynter, Dr. Georges Hatoum, Dr. Beth-Ann Lesnikoski, Dr. Dianne Georgian-Smith, Sharon Wilson, Rolando Perez, Terry Eggenberger and Eunide Destine Joseph. Photo provided

HCA Florida JFK Hospital was recently named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for cardiac surgery, and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for cardiac care, orthopedic surgery and spine surgery by Healthgrades.

Also, HCA Florida JFK Hospital Breast Center was re-accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers administered by the American College of Surgeons. It has been accredited since 2010. Patients receiving care at this accredited center have access to comprehensive care, a multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options, and information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.

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Delray Medical Center achieved numerous five-star ratings for specialty care by Healthgrades. For treating heart failure, it has been a five-star recipient for 22 consecutive years. Achieving ratings for the first time for 2024, it is a five-star recipient for valve surgery, treating heart attacks, defibrillator procedures, and coronary intervention procedures.

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FloSpine, based in Boca Raton, has achieved 510(k) clearance for its KeyLift Expandable Interlaminar Stabilization System from the FDA.

This device addresses spinal stenosis, a condition that occurs when the spinal canal narrows, causing pressure on the nerves and leading to back and leg pain, weakness and numbness. Traditional treatment options for spinal stenosis have often involved invasive surgical procedures with long recovery times. The KeyLift system is a less invasive alternative and can be administered in an outpatient surgery center.

The design is the result of years of research, development and testing by the FloSpine team, anchored by the late Luis Escobar, lead design engineer.

FloSpine has also moved to a new location, said Andrew Duffell, president of the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University, expanding from the Global Ventures incubator into its own space at the Research Park.

FloSpine’s growth is “an inspiration to health-tech entrepreneurs and Florida Atlantic students who see their classmates excel in an exciting, growing industry,” Duffell said.

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Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing with Cross Country Healthcare has launched two new continuing education certificate courses designed to train health care professionals and caregivers on compassionate care of persons with dementia and nurses caring for patients in telemetry/progressive care units.

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

Director Liz Ryan (l-r), teachers Kathy Yates and Cary Tobias, retired director Patti Daniell and the Rev. Paul J. Kane were part of the 60th anniversary celebration at St. Paul’s Day School. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Faran Fagen

The children at St. Paul’s Day School took a collective deep breath before singing in unison: “I’ve Got That Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in My Heart.”

It was the apex of the 60-year anniversary celebration of the Delray Beach preschool that brought current and alumni families together on Oct. 29 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Since 1963, more than 1,200 families have entrusted their young children to the intimate classrooms at Children’s Village at St. Paul to begin a journey of learning, laughing, play and prayers.

“They say ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child,” director Liz Ryan said. “We believe that to be true, so St. Paul’s has provided the Children’s Village as the blessed environment for 3- and 4-year-olds in our community. We surrounded them with adults who help them learn to love school.”

St. Paul School’s teaching philosophy is to embrace the whole child, addressing social, emotional, intellectual and physical development while creating life-long learners. Cognitive, social and spiritual growth are evident in the way the children succeed when they move on to elementary schools, Ryan said.

In that spirit, one of the most important St. Paul’s values is “kindness matters.” Kindness awards are delivered each week to allow the children to learn what kindness is and inspire them to show it. The Children’s Village helps children build strong and lasting friendships.

The Day School is located on the serene campus of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on historic Swinton Avenue, two blocks south of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. A small school of approximately 34 students, it allows for individualized attention to each child’s needs.

St. Paul’s reputation is built on word-of-mouth recommendations from parents and alumni. Kathy Yates has taught there for 25 years, and her children and grandchildren have attended.

The 4-year-olds’ classes fall under the state’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education program, or VPK. The Day School has been accredited through the Florida Association for Child Care Management and has received its gold seal for quality of care.

Patti Daniell was director from 1995 to 2016, when she retired. She succeeded Rolene Gent, who was the first director from 1963 to 1995.

Longtime director Rolene Gent with a class of children in 1972. Photo provided

Daniell first became involved with the school in 1989, when her oldest son attended. In addition to the low teacher-to-student ratio (six faculty for 34 kids), she is most proud of the fact that St. Paul’s welcomes all faiths.

“They come to the chapel because it’s child-centered,” Daniell said. “Our mission is to reach young children and create an environment of love and learning.”

Both Daniell and Ryan have seen the classrooms augmented over the years, with “centers full of learning toys and materials and child-sized furniture to inspire curiosity, exploration and imagination,” Ryan said.

While the children are familiar with technology (and use it frequently at home), their primary development is advanced through play and discovery and hands-on learning.

“We reserve use of ‘high-tech’ tools for special units,” Ryan said. “Our educational model is ‘classic.’” 

The biggest change came in 2010 when they started the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education program.

Though the school does offer scholarships, the addition of VPK opened doors wider to families that couldn’t afford the school and allowed the school to offer after-care. Prior to offering after-care the school was open only from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

All the kindness, change and progress were celebrated at the anniversary just prior to Halloween.

On this Sunday, in addition to “I’ve Got That Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in My Heart,” the children sang “This is the Day that the Lord Has Made” and “My God is So Great.”

The children learn songs of all sorts each week in their music class, taught by Diane Gray, who imparts music terminology to enhance their singing.

Because the celebration fell right before Halloween, the children and alumni were invited to wear costumes. After receiving a Blessing of the Trick or Treaters, they were given special treat bags with candy “to start them off,” and a copy of the Blessing prayer. That was followed by a reception outdoors in the Day School playground and Trunk or Treat in the school parking lot.

“It was so wonderful and full of joy, and the church was full of life,” Daniell said. “Young children, parents, grandparents — all those generations in one place was so special.”
For more information about St. Paul’s Day School, visit https://stpaulsdelray.org/day-school.

For more information about St. Paul’s Day School, visit https://stpaulsdelray.org/day-school.

A cat named Cat cuddles with a resident at a senior center. Photo provided by Paige Finkelstein

By Arden Moore

The time is long overdue to salute a small but vital population group: certified therapy cats. Yep, it turns out that while these cats are small in numbers compared with therapy dogs, the impact they make on people is huge in terms of boosting our attitudes and more.

Just ask Paige Finkelstein, a medical doctor who has logged dozens of therapy visits at senior centers in Boca Raton and New York City with her tri-colored feline she named Cat.

Yes, Cat.

“I adopted her in 2020 from the Broward Humane Society and I named her Cat after the feline named Cat from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” says Finkelstein. “Cat has a great demeanor and greets everyone she meets with a loud, audible purr.”

Paige, whose parents, Pam and David Finkelstein, reside in Boca Raton, is now in New York City completing her surgical fellowship. She and Cat completed the therapy cat certification through Pet Partners, a major organization that has supported thousands of therapy pet-people teams all over the world.

“Cat did a great job in her therapy training and evaluation and is naturally well mannered,” says Finkelstein. “I take her on a pink harness and leash to senior living places. Some residents seeing and petting her begin talking about their cats that they loved so fondly. Therapy cats bring back happy memories.”

I, too, know the impact a therapy cat can make. Casey, my long-legged orange tabby, has been making visits to senior centers, schools, animal shelters and other places since 2018 with another national group called Love on a Leash.

Like Cat, Casey sports a loud purr. He loves learning new tricks and is always game to sniff out a new place and meet all types of people. On our second visit to a memory care center, one of the residents named Peggy spotted Casey entering the activity room. According to staff, Peggy rarely spoke, but her eyes lit up and she yelled, “Peggy loves Casey! Peggy loves Casey!”

The staff and I were stunned — in a good way — by this reaction. Since then, Casey has earned the nickname Pet Safety Cat Casey, as he teams up with Kona, my terrier mix, to conduct hands-on, veterinarian-approved pet first-aid classes with my Pet First Aid 4U program. Casey has traveled now to 15 states.

“Anecdotally, we’ve always known that people share meaningful relationships with cats, reflected in the number of requests we receive from facilities wanting therapy cat visits,” says Taylor Chastain Griffin, Ph.D., national director of the animal-assisted interventions program at Pet Partners.

Pet Partners recently completed a one-of-a-kind study on the impact therapy cat teams make by partnering up with Cat Person, a company that donates 1% of its sales of cat food and other products to study the connection between cats and people.

“We teamed up with Pet Partners to put data behind what we know to be true — that cats are loving, intuitive beings that improve the mental health and wellness of humans,” says Meghan Knoll, CEO of Cat Person.

Study researchers interviewed 63 certified cat therapy teams and received input from managers at senior centers and other places that welcome therapy cat visits. About 200 cat-therapy teams are certified through Pet Partners. In the study, most therapy cats were 6 years or older and had been adopted from a rescue group or animal shelter or found as strays.

“We are excited to have completed, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive study on cats as therapy animals and to share results that call for a greater appreciation of the cat-human bond,” says Griffin.

You can see the complete study by visiting petpartners.org and clicking on “publications.” It reports these key findings:

• None of the participants reported that they ever feel having a cat visit is more trouble than it’s worth. These included residential treatment centers, assisted living/nursing homes, schools and hospitals.

• Residential facility managers reported that depression and anxiety in clients decreased by more than two-thirds after therapy cat teams began making regular visits. By lesser margins cat visits increased verbalization among senior center residents and improved their willingness to eat.

• Both cat team handlers and facility managers noted that therapy cat visits increased the sharing of stories about their own cats among residents.
Griffin’s hope is that this study helps to dispel stereotypes that all cats are standoffish and unable to be trained.

For Paige Finkelstein, sharing her life with Cat provides her with daily benefits.

“Being in my surgical fellowship, my days are long and can be very stressful,” she says. “But when I come home, Cat is there doing her butt wiggles and being happy and excited to see me. She definitely helps me with stress relief.”

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.

Got a therapy cat in the making?

If you believe your cat has the temperament and willingness to be a goodwill ambassador to people in senior living centers, hospitals, schools and other places, here are two major therapy training organizations to check out:
• Pet Partners: https://petpartners.org
• Love on a Leash: www.loveonaleash.org

Each of these nonprofit organizations offers guidelines on their pet-people therapy team programs for dogs, cats, horses and other companion animals.

Boynton Beach Garden Club members decorated the 85th- birthday cake with leaves and blooms; dressed up the Boynton Hills park with a new sign and landscaping; and provided plants as gifts for the celebration’s raffle. Photos by Tao Woolfe/The Coastal Star

By Tao Woolfe

Linda Anderson, president of the Boynton Beach Garden Club, fretted about how to condense 85 years of accomplishments into a short speech.

Because they rarely rest on their laurels, garden club members are busy every week with myriad activities and civic responsibilities — and it has always been thus.

Anderson, clad in a white sundress dappled with peonies and roses, decided to allow the club’s historian to steal the show — which was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Boynton Beach on Nov. 14.

After welcoming the audience and speaking briefly about the club’s growth and enduring values, Anderson stepped aside to let Sonja Zalutko, the club’s historian, plant rows of colorful images in the minds of the 50 or so audience members.

Zalutko spoke about the club’s formation in 1938 by Bertha Williams Chadwell, and its mission to “encourage home and civic beautification.”

Many of the club’s efforts, she said, can still be seen throughout the city.

The club has planted notable trees — including two Ceiba pentandras, of the kapok family, that stood in the west yard of Boynton Beach High School. One of those trees is still in the yard of what is now the Arts & Cultural Center. The other tree was moved across the street.

In another beautification project, the garden club worked on creating a proper cemetery for the city, Zalutko said.

“Members worked tirelessly for many years clearing, planting and beautifying the grounds,” she said. “In 1952 the cemetery located at the southwest corner of Woolbright and Seacrest, which was presented and turned over to the city of Boynton Beach.“

During World War II, when Federal Highway was widened, 2 miles of that road were tended by garden club members, who also donated books on plants and gardening to the city’s first public library.

And in more recent years, the club has created public gardens that everyone can enjoy.

“A large component of our service to the community is a maintenance of two public gardens in Boynton Beach,” Zalutko said.

“In 2010 the club was asked to take on the responsibility for a garden plot on the east side of the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum on Ocean Avenue. Over many years of labor in love, a prized butterfly garden has brought pleasure to all that walk its path.”

In 2018, then-Mayor Stephen Grant asked the club to spruce up a small, damaged conservation area in the Boynton Hills neighborhood at Northwest Sixth Avenue and Seacrest Boulevard.

The former mayor attended the Nov. 14 luncheon. While Zalutko spoke about the club’s growing civic involvement, Grant looked through his cellphone photos to show other luncheon guests how time, and a hurricane, had affected the Boynton Hills neighborhood’s wilderness area.

It was wildly overgrown and the paint was peeling from the park’s white, wooden welcome sign. Another sign, announcing that the area was a community garden, lay broken on the weed-choked ground.

“You can see why I asked them to get involved,” Grant said.

And the garden club members relished the assignment, Zalutko reported.

Working alongside city parks and recreation employees, garden club members cleared hurricane-damaged trees and shrubs, defined planting areas using salvaged bricks, lined pathways with ferns and oyster plants, and replaced the welcome sign.

As their involvement deepened, the club members decided to go native.

“They introduced native plantings, including a Simpson’s stopper, the lovely beautyberry bush, the once-endangered coontie, wild coffee, aloe, vinca and croton,” Zalutko said.

Today, not only has the community garden been rejuvenated, the garden club is about to announce a new feature for Boynton Hills.

“The community garden is slowly being created into a small bird sanctuary for the neighborhood,” Zalutko said.

The unveiling will be held on Jan. 19.

Another commitment the garden club members enjoy annually is a post-Thanksgiving visit to veterans at an assisted living facility called Rustic Retreat. The garden club members bring poinsettias, doughnuts, magazines, books and puzzles they have collected for the veterans.

“We’re look forward to visiting Rustic Retreat,” Zalutko said.

Zalutko finished her history with a look at the future.

“We continue to work on our goals to expand the knowledge of gardening, cultivate an appreciation of floral arts, and realize beautification efforts in our community that impact our state and nation,” Zalutko said.

“We plant locally and think globally. We study, support and practice wise conservation measures, fight against pollution, and help protect our sensitive ecology in South Florida.”

A TowBoat US employee tosses a tow line to another employee to secure it on Delray Beach, where the 92-foot Viking sportfishing boat Pastime was beached on Nov. 3 after losing power. It took multiple attempts and three towing vessels to remove the boat on Nov. 5. Peter W. Cross/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

When a 92-foot Viking sportfishing yacht lost power and drifted onto the beach in Delray Beach last month, it raised questions of what boaters can do when such situations arise.

The first thing, said Capt. Chris Lemieux of Boynton Beach, is to drop your boat’s anchor to prevent a powerless boat from heading into the beach or drifting far offshore.

According to a statement posted on Facebook by Viking Yacht Co., the vessel lost power because of a fuel interruption to its generators and main engines. The boat’s crew was unable to manually release its anchor because it was “lodged into the deployment chute, rendering the anchor unusable.”

After several days on the beach, the boat was towed to the Viking Yacht Service Center in Riviera Beach, where it is being repaired and, according to the statement, will be “back fishing, hopefully by the New Year.”

Capt. Bouncer Smith noted that even after dropping anchor, boaters need to keep in mind that anchors don’t always hold the bottom. One of his close calls during the 54 years that he ran fishing charters out of Miami was when he anchored his 25-foot boat offshore and went to the back to fish for bait.

He tried to pull up the chum bag, which is used to attract baitfish, but it was hung on a fish hook. Smith didn’t know that and when he reached over to free the chum bag, the hook in the bag got stuck in his finger. Then the anchor broke free from the bottom.

“The boat was drifting toward the beach and I was hooked to the transom,” Smith said. “So I took my fishing pliers and grabbed the hook and yanked it out of my finger and ran and got the boat started before I got any closer to shore.”

The majority of boats in South Florida are a third of the size or smaller than the 92-footer and powered by one or more outboard motors. Lemieux, who runs fishing charters out of Boynton Inlet, said those boaters should be prepared in case their marine batteries die and the motors won’t start.

“I keep one of those cheap battery jump starters on my boat,” Lemieux said. “If you ever lose power offshore, you can attach it to the battery and jump-start your motor. For $50, it can save your day and get you back to the dock.”

Boats can also run out of fuel. Lemieux said that he’s seen fuel gauges go bad, indicating that his boat had more gas than it actually did. As a result, he fills his 27-foot center console with gas every time he goes fishing, or at least makes sure that he has enough fuel to fish offshore and get back to the dock.

Lemieux stressed the importance of keeping your boat’s engines in tip-top condition. A dirty motor that stops running and can’t be started might require your boat to be towed in.

“Be up on your maintenance and change your fuel separators frequently,” said Lemieux, explaining that the separator is a filter that removes water and particles from fuel. “Dirty gas, that’s usually what people have an issue with in motor breakdown. I change the filters every 100 hours” that he runs his outboard motors.

Both Lemieux and Smith said boaters need to watch the weather before they head offshore. If your boat or your boat-handling skills are not prepared to operate in rough seas, it’s better to stay home and wait for nicer weather to go boating.

“I can’t tell you how many boats I’ve seen sitting on the beach over the years, from freighters down to row boats,” said Smith, who recalled when hazardous conditions resulted in several occupants of a 21-foot boat drowning.

The tragedy was that the boat didn’t have a VHF radio or an EPIRB, an emergency beacon that, when activated, sends a distress signal to a satellite that is monitored by rescue agencies. Both provide location coordinates. The boaters used a cell phone to call the Coast Guard, but provided the wrong location, and it took too long for the boat to be found.

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

 The great room’s open floor plan evokes a comfortable lifestyle and has adjacent living and dining areas that overlook the covered patio through floor-to- ceiling impact glass walls. Photos provided

Influenced by the breezy architecture of Bermuda and the West Indies, the 14 home sites in Bluewater Cove at Place Au Soleil in Gulf Stream provide peaceful havens of ease and well-being. Developed and constructed by a collaboration between Courchene Development and Ironwood Properties, the homes range from single level to two-story and were designed by Affinity Architects.

The large covered patio has a complete outdoor kitchen for al fresco dining and entertaining. A custom pool and spa help to create a paradise for outdoor living.

The newly constructed home at 2911 Bluewater Cove is a 4-bedroom, 4½-bath, 2½-car garage design. It has hardwood floors throughout the main living areas and bedrooms and has crown molding throughout as well. A substantial mahogany front door with tongue and groove ceiling at the entryway welcomes you into the great room. Off to the right is the gourmet kitchen with island and Thermador appliances, including a 30-inch refrigerator and 30-inch freezer, dual ovens, six-burner gas cooktop and all the requisite culinary amenities including dual wine coolers and walk-in pantry.

The club room provides a secondary retreat to be utilized as a TV room and office.

The whole house is equipped with impact windows and doors, custom millwork and built-ins, as well as being a Smart Home featuring LED 4-inch-square recessed lighting, and a Crestron low-voltage lighting system.

The expansive owner’s suite has an oversized shower and free-standing tub. The suite overlooks a lush, private garden and has His and Her spacious walk-in closets with built-in shelving.

Offered at $4,875,000.

Contact Linda Lake, Sales Associate, Corcoran, 561-702-4898, linda.lake@corcoran.com or Kelley Johnson, Sales Associate, Corcoran, 561-703-3839, kelley.johnson@corcoran.com

Each month, The Coastal Star features a house for sale in our community. The House of the Month is presented as a service to our advertisers and provides readers
with a peek inside one of our homes.