Twins Viktoriya and Oksana Gruzdyn, originally from Ukraine, run a South Florida-based company that focuses on cellular health and recovery. They are known on social media as the Scuba Twins because they have completed more than 40 dives, including shark dives. Photo provided

By Jan Engoren

Palm Beach County is becoming a magnet for next‑generation health and wellness. Two new ventures — each taking a different approach to longevity — have opened their doors, bringing advanced research and applied technologies to local residents.

Twins Viktoriya and Oksana Gruzdyn have founded a longevity and cellular health practice called the rapid immunocellular repair program, a science-backed, supplement-free approach designed to help the body repair itself.

The twins, originally from Ukraine, work to help the body repair itself by reducing immune-driven inflammation and restoring cellular function through therapeutic nutrition. 

Rather than managing symptoms, they aim to remove what is damaging to the body and provide cells with the raw materials they need to heal.

Members of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, the two focus on the intersection of biology and nutrition, using strategies to reverse inflammation, chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders and hair loss, while increasing energy.

Oksana Gruzdyn studied at Wayne State University in Michigan, and, as an immunology researcher, has published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers.

“We believe that at the lowest level of our bodies, we are all made out of the same cells,” she explains. “Once you fix the cells, the whole body heals.”

The twins say their approach can help reduce inflammation and support people over 40 with chronic conditions.

The sisters work with people with autoimmune diseases, using diet and food to create healthy cells in the body. 

“Our mission is to help create an optimum environment so the body can heal itself,” Oksana says. “We work to improve our clients’ lifestyle with a custom, scientific and all‑natural approach, identify what’s causing the illness or inflammation and create the right environment for healing on a cellular level.”

For more information, visit viktoriyaandoksana.com.

Another new entrant to the county is taking a different approach to longevity.

Radence, a concierge science venture, brings the latest scientific and technological advances into its precision medicine practice backed by RA Ventures, a health care incubator focusing on personalized disease prevention and early detection.  

The company works with patients’ current physicians, providing access to research and precision data most physicians don’t have. 

Using advanced testing protocols, AI-informed risk mapping and disease interception strategies, Radence partners with a clinical advisory board that has affiliations at Mount Sinai Health System, Weill Cornell Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, among others.

Focusing on the top four disease categories responsible for most premature mortality and morbidity — cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction and neurodegeneration — the practice will open its first Precision Health Hub in West Palm Beach in May.

The membership-based practice seeks to identify and intervene on disease risk earlier than traditional models. Radence has a team of 50 MD/PhDs who review the latest medical and scientific literature daily, to provide the latest treatment options.

“This is our secret sauce,” says David Medvedeff, CEO of Radence. “A typical practitioner can’t keep up with the volume of research published on a daily basis.  Our team brings us the most impactful results, and we integrate them into the treatment plan for our patients and help find the right specialist for them.”

While the membership price is quite high ($50,000 annually and another $50,000 as a one-time initiation fee), Medvedeff feels that eventually prices will come down and the practice will “democratize.”

Some critics of such precision medical practices point to the high cost of membership and/or services, and whether the outcomes justify the cost. There are also privacy concerns with so much data being collected.

These high-ticket practices widen the health care gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” reinforcing the belief that health care is more of a luxury than a right.

If cost is not an issue, these concierge services can also provide an emotional benefit — a feeling of being cared for individually, a relief from worry and a sense that the latest in cutting edge medical care is at your disposal.

After all, who wouldn’t want the reassurance of knowing their health is being examined with a fine-tooth comb? 

Currently, Radence’s  membership includes a dedicated concierge and full care coordination, including transportation to appointments, in-home blood draws, proprietary testing and risk profile development, health monitoring and data integration, as well as genetic testing and counseling.

Medvedeff says what distinguishes the company from competitors is its ability to provide customized services, from scheduling appointments and reviewing results, to collaborating with the client’s doctors and providing access to a network of specialists.

“We want you to be the healthiest version of yourself for as long as you possibly can,” he says.

The company has plans to expand and is recruiting both locally and nationally. 

For more information, visit Radence.com.

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

BeninMed, a medical practice founded by Dr. Samantha Benin and Dr. Andrew Benin, will welcome patients at 9250 Glades Road, No. 108, Boca Raton, this summer. 

The couple’s practice combines traditional internal medicine and cardiology with a proactive approach to prevention, longevity and overall wellness. 

Samantha Benin specializes in cardiology and internal medicine with a focus on preventive cardiology and cardiovascular risk reduction. 

Co-founder Andrew Benin is an internal medicine physician focused on preventive care and the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.  

— Christine Davis

Frank Schmidt (front right) and members of the Lighthouse Point Saltwater Sportsman Association with the lionfish they caught spearfishing on local coral reefs. Photo provided

By Steve Waters

April can be a tough month for divers who love to hunt for lobster and shoot grouper with their spearguns.

Florida’s lobster season closed April 1 and remains closed until the two-day sport season, more commonly known as lobster miniseason, at the end of July. And the grouper season has been closed since Jan. 1 and doesn’t open until May 1.

That makes this month a good time to have all your dive gear serviced or upgraded so you’ll be ready for miniseason, which is July 29-30, and the regular lobster season, which opens Aug. 6.

After everything is good to go, why not test out your dive equipment by jumping in the water and spearing some lionfish?

Native to the Indian and southern Pacific oceans, lionfish were first documented off South Florida in the 1980s, the result of an aquarium owner dumping the fish.

Spread by ocean currents, lionfish now range from North Carolina to South America and are in the Gulf of Mexico and much of the Caribbean. They’re also in Florida Bay, the Loxahatchee River and the Indian River Lagoon.

The exotic species takes a toll on native reef fish such as baby yellowtail snapper, hogfish and grouper.

“Lionfish can eat anything that’ll fit in their mouths,” said Stephanie Green, a lionfish researcher at Oregon State University.

On reefs where lionfish are plentiful, there has been a 95% decline in some native populations. Local divers can do their part to help native species by spearing as many lionfish as they can. And not just bigger lionfish that are easy to fillet for dinner.

“It’s good to kill the little ones before they become big ones,” said Dan Kurt of Pompano Beach. He shoots every lionfish he sees, no matter how small. “Think of the damage those [little ones] would have done.”

The big ones do have thick, firm, mild-tasting fillets that Frank Schmidt of Lighthouse Point has a delicious way of preparing. He sautés them in a skillet with olive oil, salt and pepper. The fish also make a great ceviche.

Care must be taken when keeping lionfish because they have 18 venomous spines, 13 on the top and five on the bottom. The pectoral fins, which are not venomous, give the fish its name because when they’re fanned out in the water, they look like a lion’s mane.

Getting stung by a spine can cause intense pain. I have watched Schmidt spear lionfish, and he has an effective technique to avoid the venomous spines. Holding the fish securely by putting his thumb in its mouth like you would for a bass or a snook, Schmidt removes the spear. Then he uses shears to cut off all the spines at the base, sticks the disarmed fish in his catch bag and resumes hunting.

Lionfish with their venomous spines sheared off. 

Schmidt told of a diver who had removed a lionfish from his spear, then used his hand to wipe the three-pronged spear tip clean. He didn’t realize that a spine was clinging to the tip and it pierced his Kevlar glove, sending him to the hospital, where he was told to go home and put his hand in hot water.

If you’re diving and get stung by a lionfish, Schmidt emphasized the importance of keeping your cool and not rushing to the surface.

“You’re in so much pain, you could forget your good rules of diving,” said Schmidt, who has been spined. “In 12 feet of water you’ll be OK, but in 60 feet you could get in trouble.”

Given the damage that lionfish can do to fish populations and divers, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has extremely liberal regulations. The season is open year-round, there is no bag or size limit, and a saltwater fishing license is not needed for recreational divers who use a pole spear, a Hawaiian Sling, a handheld net or any spearing device that is specifically designed and marketed exclusively for lionfish.

For more information, including a video on how to fillet a lionfish and a schedule of lionfish tournaments, visit myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish.

Lantana Fishing Derby

Early registration is open for the 31st annual Lantana Fishing Derby, which is June 6. In addition to kingfish, dolphin and wahoo, a snapper category has been added with a top prize of $500. The early entry fee is $250. After May 23 the entry fee is $350. Visit lantanachamber.com/lantana-fishing-derby.

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

Drs. Mitch Kolker and Julie Abrahamson and their daughter, Elena, snuggle with Ollie, whom they adopted after he was nursed back to health. Photos provided

By Arden Moore

Hannah Caldwell, Stuart and Crystal Shanefield, plus the wife-husband duo of Drs. Julie Abrahamson and Mitch Kolker do not know one another, but they share a special bond: They all love big dogs and they cannot lie.  

All have adopted large dogs and encourage others to do the same.

Sure, puppies are cute. And small breeds can put the “A” in adorable, but large dogs deserve consideration to be adopted.

Before we share the happy adoption tales, let’s separate facts from fiction about big dogs. 

Fact: Big dogs have tougher times getting adopted than Chihuahuas and other pint-sized dogs in animal shelters. Large dogs often spend three to four times longer at shelters waiting for adoption than small dogs, according to local and national shelter experts. 

To motivate people to consider adopting large dogs, Peggy Adams Rescue League in West Palm Beach conducts monthly big-dog adoption promotions.

“Our adoption fee for large dogs is $150 compared to $300 to adopt a small dog,” says Alex Serrano, director of operations. “We also occasionally waive the adoption fees for large breeds, such as pit bulls.” 

Fiction: Big dogs don’t do well in apartments or small dwellings. 

“The truth is that many large dogs tend to be couch loungers and spend a lot of time during the day napping,” says Sandra Dezelan, founder of Dezzy’s Second Chance Animal Rescue in Lake Worth Beach. She has rescued and successfully found homes for more than 9,000 dogs, with most of them weighing more than 40 pounds.

“Some of these dogs come to us in horrific shape, but we make sure they get the medical care they need and now these dogs are living incredible lives in loving homes,” says Dezelan. “They don’t tend to possess that high energy found in many small dogs.” 

Serrano adds that she wishes pet policies at housing developments were based more on the temperament of the dog and not the size.

Fact: Large dogs tend to be quieter and less easily rattled than small dogs.

Serrano’s own dogs include a Chihuahua named Tuna Tar Tar and a pit bull named Kiwi.

“When someone knocks on my door, my Chihuahua will go off with high-pitched yips, but my pittie will just deliver a deep bark or two,” she says. 

Fiction: All dogs are four-legged athletes.

If you love to run, hike or swim, large dogs are better built for these activities. 

Fact: Big dogs take bigger bites out of your wallet for food, but usually not for the adoption fee. 

“Sure, with big dogs comes the need for more food and of course, they produce bigger poop, but they are definitely worth being adopted,” Serrano says.

Red found a home and a pal when Hannah Caldwell adopted him and introduced him to Rusty.

Adoption success stories

Hannah Caldwell, of Boca Raton, recently adopted a senior large dog from Peggy Adams to join her 13-year-old rescued dog named Rusty.  

“Red is about 11 years old, about 50 pounds and we think he may be a chow/Labrador retriever mix,” says Hannah. “Red had a rough past, being found as a stray multiple times, but he bonded immediately with Rusty. They’ve quickly become good friends and I am grateful they both get to spend their senior years being loved and spoiled by me.” 

Dino is happy that Stuart and Crystal Shanefield adopted him.

Another success: a nearly hairless, full-of-mange Dutch shepherd dog found living in the streets of Miami. Dezelan’s rescue found him and worked with veterinarians to save his life. Then she reached out to Stuart and Crystal Shanefield, of Boca Raton, to tell them about this dog.

“When he was rescued off the streets, he looked like a dinosaur, so we named him Dino,” says Stuart. “He was left for dead, but Sandra saved his life. And today, Dino sports a beautiful brindle-colored coat, is very athletic and very lovable to us.”

He continues, “Dino now sleeps in our bed with his head on the pillow. We bring him on vacation in Pensacola because he loves dipping his paws in the ocean. Yes, our world now revolves around him and we couldn’t be happier.” 

Dezelan also alerted Dr. Julie Abrahamson, a dentist, and her husband, Mitch Kolker, a surgeon, of Wellington, about an emaciated and matted rescue she nursed back to health.

This dog turned out to be 100% poodle, now named Ollie, who sports a beautiful white coat and is enjoying a full life.

“Ollie is great,” says Julie. “We were looking for a hypoallergenic dog because our daughter, Elena, is allergic. Ollie is so affectionate, a real sweet dog.”

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

Where to adopt

Looking to adopt an adult dog, especially a large one? Reach out to these local groups:

• Dezzy’s Second Chance: Located in Lake Worth Beach; visit dezzyssecondchance.com

• Peggy Adams Rescue League: Based in West Palm Beach; visit peggyadams.org 

• Tri-County Animal Rescue: Located in Boca Raton; visit tricountyanimalrescue.org

Father Dennis Gonzales welcomes his congregation to St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Father Dennis Gonzales, pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, says Easter is always the busiest time of year, but he felt new energy at the church in 2026 as Easter Sunday approached on April 5.

“I think people are seeking for truth, are seeking for God in their lives and they’re coming back to church. Not only the Catholic Church, but I have friends who belong to other religious denominations, and they feel the same way. People feel the need for and the longing for God.” 

New research by Barna Group and Gloo says Gonzales may be right. Their studies revealed a shift in church attendance. For the first time in decades, younger adults are surpassing older generations who have traditionally led in church attendance. Both Gen Z’s and millennials’ average attendance is approaching two times per month. Pew Research said about 67% of Americans say they attend services a few times a year or less.  

Father Dennis thinks the political climate, headlines about war in the Middle East and the rise of violent antisemitism both locally and nationally are behind the trend. He hears the fear behind people’s prayers for peace.  

As the first American pope, Leo XIV, prepared for his first Easter as the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics, he asked that they consider a new kind of fasting for Lent: “I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor.” 

Leo has been outspoken in his opposition to war, but Lent, he said, is about “listening, fasting and community.”

He further asked Catholics to listen more because only by listening can we “hear the voice of the oppressed” and the word of God. 

Father Kevin McQuone, an academic who shapes the curriculum for priests at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, said, “It’s a hard thing to have the government be in opposition with something that’s so fundamental to what we believe — that peace is the answer and diplomacy works.”

Father Kevin points to Paul’s letters where he tells us to pray for those who are in authority over us. “We are called to pray and fast for our leaders so that they make wise and just decisions.” 

First Timothy 2:1-2 says: “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”  

Certainly, a life of tranquility and dignity is what we all seek. To that end, Father Dennis said, “We need to pray for leaders of the world that the Holy Spirit, the risen Lord, will grant them guidance and wisdom.”

How listening helps

That addresses the big picture. Day to day, Father Dennis said, we need to rethink the way we communicate. And silence plays a part in that. 

“We call it the ministry of presence,” Father Dennis said. His parishioners, he says, don’t want their priests to quote scripture or repeat platitudes or offer solutions to their problems. They just want to be heard; for someone to be present and hear their expression of grief or anger without trying to quash it or explain it away. 

“Sometimes when we are confronted with difficulties, the tendency as a human being, we want to talk right away, we want to advise right away or we find solutions right away to the problem,” Father Dennis said. 

“But most of the time, what people need is just listening ears. When I go to ICU or hospice care, family members ask a lot of questions, but I don’t really have answers to those questions. But the most powerful thing that I witnessed was just being there to listen to them, they feel heard and that’s what the world is really looking for. Someone to listen to them. I think they know there’s probably no solution at hand at the moment. But we still need someone to listen to us.” 

Listening to our neighbors is good practice, Father Dennis said, because it also helps us be quiet so we can hear the word of God.  

But it takes commitment, Father Kevin said. If we want to builder a stronger, safer world, we need to start in our own backyards.  

“What the world needs is to develop trust between neighbors. If we have trust between neighbors, we don’t need to have a ready bomb. But that’s hard. It takes time. But love is patient, and you have to be willing to develop that level of rapport and trust.”

A time to reflect

Father Brian Horgan, pastor at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Highland Beach, wrote in his weekly note to his parish: “The holy season of Lent offers each of us a precious opportunity to pause, reflect, and renew our relationship with the Lord. It is about opening our hearts more fully to God, allowing His grace to transform us, and preparing ourselves to celebrate the great joy of Easter. I encourage you to bring a friend, invite a neighbor, or come as a family. The more we gather together in faith, the stronger our parish community becomes.”

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

From left, Craig Kindell of Spanish River Church presented a $40,000 check to Andrew Holmes, Alonso Williams and Tom Lukasik from 4KIDS to buy a van. Lynn Hogg and Keith Seago from the church joined the presentation of funds from the 2025 Ride4Orphans. This year’s ride is April 25. Photo provided

What goes around comes around, just like a bicycle wheel.

In 2025, more than 900 people pedaled in the Ride4Orphans charity bike ride, raising more than $100,000. 

Registration is open for the 2026 ride, and for the sixth year, Spanish River Church in Boca Raton will host the event, which starts at 7:30 a.m. April 25. 

The ride was originally founded in 2010 to benefit children in need abroad, including orphanages in Chad and Malawi in Africa, as well as Haiti and India, but it also helps local children. 

Some of the money raised last year bought a van for the nonprofit 4KIDS of South Florida. The van will be used by a home that serves teens with complex behavior and emotional needs. Other local charities that benefit from the ride include Place of Hope and CityHouse. The organization and its riders also support the local charity Jack the Bike Man. 

Registration is open for three rides: 15, 34 or 62 miles. The fee is $45 and goes up to $50 the day of the event. There’s also a family ride escorted by Boca Raton police officers followed by lunch, games, entertainment and a silent auction. Registration is $25, $20 for just lunch and activities.  

All adults and children must register to ride and are encouraged to attend a bicycle safety briefing prior to the ride. 

Info: ride4orphans.com or 561-994-5000.

Open House offers chance to meet church leaders    

Learn more about Spanish River Church and what it has to offer over a free dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 9. Meet the staff and leaders and discover ways to be part of the church family. The church is at 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. Visit spanishriver.com or call 561-994-5000. 

Documentary looks at poetry written by children

Temple Beth El presents a screening of the documentary Through Children’s Eyes, followed by conversation with the movie score composer David Shukiar, from 7 to 9 p.m. April 14 at the Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton.

This multimedia presentation took the poetry written by children imprisoned in the Terezin concentration camp during World War II and set it to music. The visuals display the art they made, their expressions of hope, fear and resilience. After the film, Shukiar will speak about the project.

Register at tbeboca.shulcloud.com/event/through-children39s-eyes-documentary-screening-followed-by-conversation-with-movie-score-composer-david-shukiar.html. Or call 561-391-8900. 

Participate in Yoga Mass and Sacred Movement  

St. Gregory’s Episcopal, 100 NE Mizner Blvd. in Boca Raton, continues to offer two programs that combine movement and prayer. At 4 p.m. April 16, Yoga and Sacred Movement mixes gentle stretching movements and breath work with reflection on scripture and prayer. Parishioner and yoga instructor Daphne Lombardo leads the program under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Robyn Neville. It is open to seniors and families. 

At 4 p.m. April 25, join YogaMass in St. Mary’s Chapel, a combination of graceful yoga, words of faith and contemplative meditation with Neville and the Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren leading. 

Bring your yoga mat and water for both events. Call 561-395-8285 or email rneville@st-gregorys.com. 

Lawyers’ lunch to feature prominent jurist, author 

Two legal giants will be honored with awards at the Project Nuremberg Annual Lawyers Luncheon at noon April 23 at Temple Beth El’s Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. 

Bryan Stevenson is founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, about his career defending the disadvantaged.

Bruce Reinhart is U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Reinhart signed the warrant that allowed agents to remove about a dozen boxes of materials from Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and formerly represented Epstein victims. Tickets start at $100 at tbeboca.org/project-nuremberg. For more info, contact Aileen Spilka at ASpilka@tbeboca.org.

Wear your favorite denim to Blue Jean Shabbat 

Temple Beth El on April 24 hosts a Celebrate Israel Blue Jean Shabbat featuring two services, a multimedia presentation from Project Heroes and an Israeli-themed dinner catered by Artisan Foods. 

It begins at 6 p.m. at 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of blue jeans and to bring a new pair of jeans in children’s sizes 4-16 for the Giving Tree’s clothing closet. 

The program is free. The optional dinner for members is $35 adults, $25 ages 4-12; and for guests, $40 adults $30 ages 4-12 until April 10, when prices rise $5. Register at tbeboca.org/blue-jeans or call Elinor Josephson at 561-314-2833. 

Choral Evensong offers music steeped in tradition

Under the direction of Tim Brumfield, director of music, organist and choirmaster, Choral Evensong is a beautiful service that features the choir of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church performing stirring music steeped in the Anglican tradition. Evensong takes place at 6 p.m. April 26 at the church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 561-395-8285 or stgregorysepiscopal.org. 

Nonprofit group to offer ’Ruth’ on stage in May

The faith-based nonprofit Torch & Trumpet Theatre Company, “where faith and artistry come together to create life-changing experiences,” presents a special performance of Ruth for Easter. 

This family-friendly production follows the improbable journey of Ruth and Naomi, two destitute widows whose faith in God — and in each other — ignites a chain of events that changes the course of history. The play offers the hope that no matter who you are or where you’ve been, God has a plan for you.

Performances take place at the Church at Deerfield Beach, 701 NE Second St. (Eller St.), at 7:30 p.m. May 1, 2 and 8, at 3 p.m. May 3 and 2 p.m. May 9.

Tickets: $30 adults, $15 children. 954-821-7292; torchandtrumpet.com

CityLead Boca offers chance to lead, influence

Boca Raton Community Church hosts CityLead Boca from noon-1 p.m. May 7 at the church at 470 NW Fourth Ave. This monthly event for the business community is designed to inspire leaders to use their influence to serve others and transform the city. Reservations are recommended. $20 includes lunch. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for networking. 561-395-2400; citylead.com/boca.

Event brings in guests to discuss antisemitism

The fifth annual Countering Antisemitism Summit 2026 was held March 16 at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach. Religious leaders, community activists and local residents came together to hear U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach); U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Naples) and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens. 

Honored guests at the all-day seminar included Segev Kalfon, who was held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza for 738 days following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel before being released in October 2025, and Shira Gvili, whose brother Ran Gvili was among the first Israelis taken hostage during the attacks and was killed in captivity.

Pastor Lydia Maldonado reminded a crowd of nearly 500 people that the fight against hate is everyone’s fight and there’s only one solution. “Education will kill ignorance,” she said.

The Palm Beach Synagogue hosted the event, which focused on the rise of antisemitic incidents and efforts to combat them. palmbeachsynagogue.org 

— Janis Fontaine

Ravish’s owner says financial struggles forced her to close the restaurant. Photo provided 

By Jan Norris

Ravish in Lantana has closed, a move co-owner Alex Dupuis calls “bittersweet.”

Open for three years under her management, the restaurant gained a following for its shareable-plates menu and lively atmosphere. Special events and parties staged at Ravish drew fans. 

“We were very lucky here and very grateful to everyone who supported us,” Dupuis said.

But this year the results of some rough times for the restaurant have caught up.

“We ran it as kosher as kosher could be for three years. But Hurricane Helene came through and damaged our walls,” Dupuis said. “They’re corrugated metal. We couldn’t keep the heat out or the cold in. This past summer, and this winter, we lost a lot of revenue. We had to shut down for days.”

Ravish struggled to recover, and asked to renegotiate with the landlord for a longer lease. But the rent would have doubled, Dupuis said.

Talks fell apart. “They wouldn’t do it,” Dupuis said.

Legal matters are involved; she declined to discuss them while they are ongoing.

She pointed to others on Ocean Avenue who have left recently, leaving large spaces open. Rents have jumped on the avenue, she said, forcing nearby small businesses out. 

“The Cheese Shoppe and the sunglass shop, Shades of Time, have both left within the last six months,” she said.

Lantana’s town officials have planned for improvements for Ocean Avenue for several years, but businesses have seen little action, Dupuis said. 

“I don’t know what happened, but things have stalled.”

Lantana Mayor Karen Lythgoe laments the closure.

“It was one of my favorite places. Everybody loved Ravish. It was my kind of place.”

The restaurant was a key piece to promote proposed development of properties across the street that have been bare or vacant.

“It’s a big loss,” Lythgoe said.

Some development plans were presented to the Town Council before the holidays, Lythgoe said, but for reasons unknown on the property owner’s side, fell through.

“We (the town) don’t plan — it’s the landowners.”

Lythgoe said she has no idea what Ravish’s landlord, Phyllis Small, might have in mind for the block-long building, but said there was much work to be done on the property after storm damage.

“I do know nobody wants to pour money into a property without an extended lease.”

Other restaurants on the avenue that have left include the expanded Oceana Kitchen in 2023, and Mario’s Italian in 2020. Both moved to Lake Worth Beach.

Sushi Bon, another longtime restaurant just west of the bridge, left in 2024 after its lease was up.

Dupuis is focusing on her new restaurant, Pomona, on Lake Avenue in Lake Worth Beach, which opened in July 2025.

“We’re growing Pomona. We’ll take a lot of favorite menu items from Ravish to Pomona and hope some of the fans will follow us,” she said.

“We’re doing a lot of events in Lake Worth. The city is very supportive of these.”

As for doing another restaurant, she said her energy is in Lake Worth Beach.

“We had a partner who wants to do the Ravish concept somewhere else, but nothing is set,” Dupuis said.

Blue Anchor blues

It’s been rough seas of late for the Blue Anchor British Pub in Delray Beach.

Last month, the landlord served its owner, Mark Snyder, with an eviction notice, citing rent due of about $70,000.

The state’s restaurant inspectors had closed the popular spot in the 800 block of East Atlantic Avenue in December after a rodent infestation was discovered.

The pub was cleaned up and reopened, then shut down again. This happened several times within weeks before the owner was cited with a stop-serve notice and ordered closed. 

However, the order was ignored and its doors remained open. The state then cited the restaurant for violating the stop-serve. Meanwhile, the eviction notice also was posted.

Repeated attempts to speak with the landlord and the owner have not been answered. As of late March, however, the pub had reopened for service.

The Blue Anchor opened in 1996, and featured an 1840s bar and fixtures brought over from London and reassembled here. It has been a mainstay for Brit food and drink lovers. 

Diners could get fish ’n’ chips, sausage rolls, bangers and mash, and a “royal brekkie.” The pub served Imperial pints of ales and lagers.

British football lovers around the county got up early to watch matches at the bar. The pub also sponsored World Cup watch parties, with fans crowding the pub and nearby parking lots.

The pub also was noted for its ghost stories connected to a departed pub resident of London.

New barbecue joint

Firing up barbecue lovers, Tropical Smokehouse is open in Delray Beach. 

A James Beard-nominated chef, Rick Mace, created the barbecue that’s won numerous awards, including Best Barbecue in Florida by Southern Living.

The restaurant, at 524 W. Atlantic Ave., serves up Mace’s own specialties, including spicy wahoo dip, mojo pulled pork, DemKota Ranch beef brisket, and for the vegetarians, BBQ jackfruit. Jerk chicken, spareribs, and a plethora of sides round out the menu.

The restaurant is a spin-off of the original in West Palm Beach. Meals are available for dine in or takeout.

Lynora’s is expanding again

Another Lynora’s Italian restaurant is coming south to Delray Beach. 

The locally owned chain started 50 years ago in Lake Worth Beach, and has expanded to six locations in Palm Beach, Martin and soon, Brevard counties. The nearest one in South County is in Boca Raton on Glades Road.

The Delray Beach location will be at 650 SE Fifth Ave., a former used car shop. The restaurant will be modeled after one in West Palm Beach in a former garage. 

Known for its fresh pizzas and pastas, meatball and cocktail specials, the longtime family-owned restaurants offer a casual setting with indoor-outdoor dining spaces and a lively atmosphere.

Expected opening is early next year.

Doc’s reincarnation coming 

Doc’s All American will rise once more. 

The iconic burger and dog joint that served downtown Delray Beach residents since 1951 at Swinton and Atlantic, is being renovated as part of the Banyan Group’s mixed-use project for that corner.

Called City Center Delray, the three-story complex will include offices, retail shops and at least one other restaurant, tentatively a steakhouse.

Doc’s will remain where it is, adjoining the larger complex.

Demolition for part of the land where Dunkin’ donuts sits is in the permitting process. A summer 2027 reopening is planned.

In other news ...

Cut 432, a steakhouse on East Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, will close at the end of April, according to an employee who asked to remain anonymous.

Cut 432, opened in 2010 by the Modern Restaurant Group, had a lively vibe and focused on prime meats. The group also owns Park Tavern on Atlantic Avenue and El Camino restaurants in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

A rent increase is said to be the catalyst. Cut 432 will be “closing temporarily at the end of April,” the employee said, and “owners are looking for another location — hopefully in Delray.”

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

The layout to this property is exceptional. The main residence has six well-appointed bedrooms, while the guest home includes two additional bedrooms, a full kitchen, a spacious living room, a private entrance, and a dedicated one-car garage that enhances its flexibility for guests, staff, or multigenerational living.

Designed for boating enthusiasts, the waterfront has been dramatically enhanced with a new 200-foot dock and a 24,000-pound boat lift. 

At the heart of the home, a waterfront executive office captures Intracoastal Waterway views and includes an adjacent lounge that creates a private, elevated environment ideal for work, meetings, relaxation, or quiet retreat. This wing stands out as one of the home’s signature spaces, pairing functionality with an intimate, luxury atmosphere.

The main kitchen showcases bespoke cabinetry, upgraded counters and Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, including four additional refrigeration drawers. Two newly built, temperature-controlled wine rooms — one featuring a lounge seating area — add architectural drama and a display opportunity for collections.

Offered at $24,995,000. Optional to be sold furnished and turnkey.

Contact The Matt and Nick Team: Matt Moser and Nick Gonzalez, Serhant Florida Realtor. Matt: 954-383-3422; Nick: 561-306-7220. mn@serhant.com.

A primary suite in the main residence is highlighted by luxury finishes, state-of-the-art technology and a large, sleek spa-like bath.

House District 87 includes most of Manalapan, the eastern part of Lantana, plus South Palm Beach and points north to Juno Beach.

Source: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office, unofficial results

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton mayoral candidate Mike Liebelson will not contest the election of Andy Thomson as mayor.

The race was so close that no winner could be declared when polls closed on March 10. Liebelson indicated at the time that he might challenge the results.

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link held both a machine and manual recount of the ballots on March 13.

The final result: Thomson won by only 5 votes, 7,572 to 7,567.

Liebelson did not immediately indicate if he would follow through on a challenge to the results.

But on March 23, the deadline to file a challenge, Liebelson said he would not do so.

“I got into this race with one clear objective: to help take Boca Raton back from the influence of big developers, support Save Boca, and return the City Council to the people who live here,” he said in a statement. “That mission was accomplished.”

Even so, Liebelson said the tiny margin of Thomson’s victory demonstrates the importance of every resident voting in elections.

“As an outsider candidate in my first race, coming this close sent a message,” he said. “People are paying attention. They want leadership that puts residents first, and they want real accountability when it comes to growth and development.”

But first-time candidate Liebelson continues to have concerns about vote-by-mail ballots that he said put Thomson over the top.

Florida statutes, he said, are insufficient to accurately determine the winner of a close election. The last batch of vote-by-mail ballots that were tabulated in the mayoral race were heavily skewed in favor of Thomson, he said.

“There are a number of anomalies related to vote-by-mail and same-day registration,” he said. “But it wasn’t something we wanted to pursue to contest the election.”

Doing so, he said, would potentially divide the community, obscuring the fact that Save Boca candidates swept City Council seats and voters also rejected the city’s plan to redevelop the downtown campus.

Liebelson also has filed a lawsuit against Thomson in which he restates complaints he made before the election that Thomson’s campaign consultant made false and misleading statements about him in political flyers sent to residents.

The lawsuit, filed on March 3, alleges that Thomson and other defendants in the case acted to “adversely affect his mayoral campaign.”

Thomson could not be immediately reached for comment.

Andy Thomson and his attorney Leonard Feuer review the results of the accuracy test that was performed on the tabulation machines prior to the official election recount Friday morning at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office.The elections office completed the final recount for the Boca Raton mayor's race shortly after 5 p.m. Following that process, Thomson was confirmed as Boca Raton's newly elected mayor. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

Andy Thomson has won Boca Raton’s mayoral race, narrowly edging out challenger Mike Liebelson.

In official results posted shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, Thomson had prevailed — but just barely — in both a machine and a manual count of the ballots.

The machine count showed that Thomson, first elected to the City Council in 2018, won by one vote — 7,568 votes to 7,567. In the manual count, Thomson received 7,572 votes to Liebelson’s 7,567.

Thomson and Liebelson could not immediately be reached for comment after the final count was announced.

The election results were so close that no winner could be declared after polls closed on March 10, requiring Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link to hold both recounts.

Left unclear, however, is whether Liebelson will challenge the results.

His attorney, Ricardo Reyes, sent a letter on March 12 to Link, saying he had found a “huge discrepancy” in vote-by-mail ballots.

When the final batch of vote-by-mail ballots were tallied on election night, 32 were for Liebelson and 63 were for Thomson. That difference, he wrote, was “highly unusual and concerning” since the overall election results showed Thomson and Liebelson were nearly tied.

“Accordingly, please be advised that, as of now, Mr. Liebelson intends to contest the results of the Mayoral Election,”… the letter stated.

Boca Raton mayoral candidate Mike Liebelson asks Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County supervisor of elections, a question about the recount process Friday morning at The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Liebelson did not respond to The Coastal Star to clarify his intentions after final results were posted on Friday.

Thomson beat back a challenger who was not a member of Save Boca but strongly supported many of that grassroots organization’s goals. Those included opposition to redevelopment of the downtown campus by developers Terra and Frisbie Group, which had rebranded as One Boca.

Thomson also opposed the redevelopment plan and called on fellow City Council members in September to allow residents to decide whether the project would go forward or be scrapped. They agreed the matter should be decided by voters.

The final tally after the last recount on Friday. It shows Andy Thomson won the mayor's race by five votes. Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Office

The vote results in the City Council races are clear that the council now is firmly in the hands of Save Boca members Jon Pearlman, the group’s founder, Michelle Grau and Stacy Sipple.

Current council member Yvette Drucker was not up for re-election.

Thomson is no stranger to a narrow victory. In 2018, following six hours of recounting, he won by 32 votes.

The election winners will be sworn into office on March 31.

By Mary Hladky

Mayoral candidate Andy Thomson gained seven votes when the final votes were counted in the city's election on Thursday, while opponent Mike Liebelson gained 11 votes.

As a result, Thomson, with 7,569 total votes, remains two votes ahead of Liebelson’s 7,567.

But such a slim margin doesn’t cinch the election for Thomson yet.

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office has at least one more recount to make -- and probably two -- that will take place on Friday.

The election results first posted after polls closed on March 10 showed Thomson trailing by 26 votes. But a final update that night showed him ahead by six votes.

That lead has now dropped to two votes.

The Thursday tally was done after determinations were reached on provisional ballots that had been cast on Tuesday, It also included problem mail-in ballots where voters "cured," or corrected, signature problems on their ballots by Thursday's 5 p.m. deadline.

The first Friday recount will be a machine recount of the votes. If the two candidates are still within 0.25% of each other after that, then there will be a hand recount of overvotes and undervotes. Overvotes take place when voters select more ballot choices than they are permitted to. Undervotes are when they choose too few.

The election was a watershed event for Boca Raton, with three City Council candidates backed by anti-development group Save Boca winning election.

Voters also soundly defeated the city’s effort to redevelop its downtown government campus and also killed city plans to replace its old police headquarters with a new police campus on city-owned land.

First-time candidate Liebelson is not a Save Boca member but supported many of that grass-roots group’s positions. Thomson is an incumbent first elected to the council in 2018.

In a strange twist of fate, Thomson also faced a recount that year.

Sixty-seven hours after the polls closed and following six hours of recounting ballots, Thomson won by 32 votes.

By Mary Hladky

New Boca Raton City Manager Mark Sohaney has revamped the city’s leadership in a massive executive-team shake-out.

Gone are Police Chief Michele Miuccio and Deputy City Managers Chrissy Gibson and Jorge Camejo, the city announced on March 12.

The city since has launched a national search for a new police chief.

“We are looking for a leader who understands the importance of service, community accountability, and relationships, and who can help guide the department into the future,” Sohaney said in a March 24 statement.

The position will be posted through the beginning of April. Assistant Police Chief Elizabeth Roberts has been appointed acting police chief and will be involved in the hiring process.

But the 20-year department veteran is not expected to stay with the city for long. She has received a conditional offer for a new professional opportunity, the city said.

Miuccio joined the Police Department 37 years ago and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief and then police chief in 2020.

Most recently, Miuccio had pressed for a new police headquarters to replace the current facility, which is old and in poor condition.

Voters in the March 10 city election voted down financing a new police campus on city-owned land at the intersection of Spanish River and Broken Sound boulevards. The new buildings, which also would have included a firing range and building to store evidence, would have cost as much as $190 million.

 Gibson is a longtime employee who served as assistant city manager until her promotion in 2024. She oversaw the office of city clerk, emergency management, sustainability, public art, and communications and marketing.

Comejo is the city’s former Community Redevelopment Agency director who left to head up Hollywood’s CRA before returning to the city last year. His focus was on Boca Raton’s CRA.

 The city’s announcement did not say why the three were pushed out. But it said that the city has conducted a review of its leadership structure over the past five months “to ensure it aligns with operational needs and long-term priorities.”

“These changes are being implemented as part of this strategic realignment to ensure continuity of service, maintain public safety, and position the city to move forward with a strong and effective leadership team,” the city statement said.

Sohaney joined the city in September, replacing City Manager George Brown, who retired.

Gulf Stream's incumbent town commissioners all won re-election on March 10. They are, in order of their finish: Mayor Scott Morgan and Commissioners Tom Stanley, Joan Orthwein, Michael Greene and Robert Canfield.

By Steve Plunkett

As they’ve done in the past, Gulf Stream voters March 10 chose to keep the five incumbents running for Town Commission.

Returning to the dais are Scott Morgan, Tom Stanley, Robert Canfield, Michael Greene and Joan Orthwein, all unofficially receiving at least 293 votes, according to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Newcomer Michael Glennon, who campaigned on bringing “a fresh perspective” to the commission, garnered 241 votes, more than double the 112 that Julio Martinez got in his losing effort in the last contested election in 2017, but 53 shy of winning a seat.

It was the first time Greene and Canfield stood for election after being appointed to the commission. Greene had 304 votes; Canfield 293.

Morgan, Stanley and Orthwein each received the most votes they’ve ever had. Morgan had 339, or 14 more than in 2014; Stanley clocked in with 332, up 15 from 2014; and Orthwein had 317, or 4 more than in 2014.

A PAC supporting the five incumbents took out an ad telling voters that “results require a team” and listing the commission’s accomplishments over the years, including zero tax increases for 10 years and 25% lower costs for drinking water once Gulf Stream switches to Boynton Beach’s system in 2027..

Commissioners will choose a mayor and vice mayor from among themselves on March 13.

Outcome of mayor's race could still change

FAU students Owen Servetas (partly behind sign), Cameron Jones, center, and Tony Cedeno display “Save Boca” election signs to passing cars in front of Grace Community Church in Boca Raton. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

Save Boca trounced establishment candidates in the city’s March 10 election, with its own candidates sweeping City Council races and soundly defeating the city’s effort to redevelop its downtown government campus.

Voters turned out in droves to cast ballots in the most consequential city election in memory, with the almost 19,100 voters casting ballots — a 31% voter turnout — vastly outpacing the more typical city election turnout of about 12,000.

Initial, unofficial election results showed two council members vying to become mayor heading for defeat. First-time candidate Mike Liebelson, who is not a Save Boca candidate but supported many of its goals, appeared to narrowly edge out Andy Thomson, while Fran Nachlas trailed far behind.

Thomson, then seemingly losing by 26 votes, said he would seek a recount. But shortly thereafter, updated results showed him ahead by 6 votes.

The results become official once any ballots that have been mistakenly rejected are counted.

Because Thomson’s victory margin is so small — less than one-half of 1% of total votes cast — a machine recount is required. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections has scheduled it for March 13, beginning at 10 a.m. As of March 11, the office also planned to conduct a manual recount.

Thomson could not be immediately reached for comment.

“The citizens of Boca Raton have spoken clearly. They want our city to head in a new direction,” Liebelson said in a statement. “We need to make sure every vote is counted so citizens get the leadership they deserve.”

Andy Thomson, center, looks at his phone after his friend Alex Price, second in from left, tells him that the latest numbers have him up by 6 votes just a little before 10 p.m. on March 10 at Thomson's election night gathering at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in Boca Raton. After leading most of the evening, Thomson appeared to fall behind as the final votes were tabulated, only to move ahead in yet another elections office update. Rachel O'Hara/The Coastal Star

Besides Nachlas, also losing out was incumbent Marc Wigder, who was trounced by Save Boca founder Jon Pearlman. The third candidate in that race was Meredith Madsen, the founder and CEO of Sunshine & Glitter, which makes sunscreen and beauty products.

“We did it!” Pearlman said in a statement on Save Boca’s social media site on March 11. “Thanks to you, 75% of voters stood with us in the voting booth yesterday to Save Boca!

“Today, we celebrate this milestone in the fight to preserve the city we love. Tomorrow, the work begins to ensure City Hall responsibly manages our hard-earned tax dollars on the things that will best serve us, the residents of this city and not developers and private interests.”

Pearlman swept into Boca Raton politics last summer as he launched a grassroots effort to defeat the city’s redevelopment plans.

His supporters flocked to City Council meetings, demanding that the city scrap its plans. In short order, they managed to force significant changes that reduced the project’s size and density and preserved green and recreation space on the western portion of the city's 31.7 acre downtown campus site.

Save Boca also fielded two other election candidates.

Michelle Grau, a certified public accountant, convincingly defeated her two opponents, Christen Ritchey, a family law attorney and former member of the Planning and Zoning Board, and Bernard Korn. a real estate broker and a perennial candidate who has never won election.

Stacy Sipple, a clinical oncology pharmacist, easily prevailed over her two well-known opponents — former City Council member and County Commissioner Robert Weinroth and former Community Appearance Board and Planning and Zoning Board member Larry Cellon.

The defeat of the government campus redevelopment means that more than a year of city planning goes up in smoke.

Council members had promised residents that they would make the final decision on whether that project would live or die. Nearly 75% of voters killed it.

Now, the new council will have to decide, at the very least, how they will go about replacing the old and crumbling City Hall and Community Center.

If they do so, it will undoubtedly mean more modest and cheaper buildings than what the former council had envisioned.

Voters wait in line at Grace Community Church. Citywide, more than 19,000 people cast ballots, while a typical election draws about 12,000 to the polls. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Also killed decisively by the voters are city plans to replace its old police headquarters building by building a new $190 million police campus on city-owned land at the intersection of Spanish River and Broken Sound boulevards.

Nearly 55% of voters said they did not want to finance the construction by paying for most of it with a modest property tax increase.

The mayoral race determined who would replace term-limited Scott Singer. Singer now is seeking to defeat U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz to represent Florida’s 23rd Congressional District.

Nachlas supported the redevelopment, while Thomson is the only council member who opposed it. Liebelson also is opposed.

The mayoral candidates raised an astonishing amount of money for their campaigns, stunning election observers.

Nachlas and Thomson will top a combined $1 million in contributions once the totals raised by their political action committees are tabulated and reported in April.

Liebelson, who has had leadership roles with energy companies, has raised $203,390, mostly from loans and donations he had made to his campaign, as of year’s end. He said in March that his PAC had received another $25,000.

The city had entered into a public-private partnership with developers Terra and Frisbie Group, now known as One Boca, to implement the downtown redevelopment project.

After One Boca reduced the size and scope of the project several times to appease Save Boca, the developers would have leased from the city 7.8 acres on the east side of Northwest Second Avenue immediately east of the current City Hall.

Save Boca denounced the project as allowing overdevelopment, traffic woes and ruining the character of a beloved downtown property that would turn Boca into another Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

Originally, One Boca planned redevelopment across the entire 31.7-acre downtown campus.

Over time, the developers agreed to leave nearly 17.3 acres west of Northwest Second Avenue largely as recreation and park space. Their plans include turning a section of that land, known as Memorial Park, into an actual commemoration of veterans.

However, a new City Hall, Community Center and police substation would have been built there. Based on city project presentations, residents were led to believe that One Boca would pay for that.

It then turned out that the city would assume that $201 million cost, although  it would eventually have gotten that money back from land lease payments and increases in property valuations.

Development would have been confined to the east side land south of the Downtown Library and Brightline station.

It would have included an office building, grocery store, parking garage, hotel, four apartment buildings and a condo.

Source: Palm Beach Supervisor of Elections Office

March 13 update: After a machine recount on Friday, the South Palm Beach Town Council race stayed the same as it had been on election night on Tuesday. Adrian Burcet expanded his second-place lead to four votes, creating a big enough spread between him and third-place finisher, incumbent Sandra Beckett, so that a manual recount was not needed. Burcet and first-place finisher Francesca Attardi have been elected to four-year terms and Beckett will serve the remainder of a two-year unexpired term.

South Palm Beach Town Council member Sandra Beckett, center, listens intently to the details of how the recount would be handled Friday afternoon. South Palm Beach was part of the March 13 recount to settle the election results for Town Council. After a machine recount, the county canvassing board determined that newcomers Francesca Attardi and Adrian Burcet had won seats on the Town Council, and council member Sandra Beckett had won reelection. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

The final vote in the South Palm Beach Town Council race after the March 13 machine recount. The top three finishers were elected.  Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office

March 12 update: The Supervisor of Elections office will conduct a recount in the South Palm Beach Town Council race, where only three votes separate the second- and third-place council candidates. While both are elected -- newcomer Adrian Burcet and incumbent Sandra Beckett -- as there were three council openings, the second-place finisher will receive a full four-year term and the third-place finisher an unexpired two-year term.

The latest South Palm Beach Town Council results released March 12. A recount will be held March 13 because of the closeness of the race for the second- and third-place spots. The second-place finisher gets a four-year term and the third-place finisher a two-year unexpired term.

By Brian Biggane

In a surprising vote that almost certainly puts the prospects of the South Palm Beach Town Hall project in jeopardy, mayoral candidate Rafael Pineiro and his slate of two other council candidates swept to victory in Tuesday’s town election.

While results from the Supervisor of Elections Office are unofficial, Pineiro ended the 11-year run of Mayor Bonnie Fischer with about 52% of the vote, while newcomer Fran Attardi led all five Town Council candidates and newcomer Adrian Burcet was second.

Pineiro and Attardi won four-year terms. Unless a recount changes the order of finish, Burcet as the second-place council finisher would also get a four-year term, while Council member Sandra Beckett, who finished third in the unofficial results of the council election, would serve the remaining two years of an unexpired term. Ray McMillan was the lone incumbent not up for election; his term runs until 2028.

None of the three newcomers have any experience in town government.

Vice Mayor Monte Berendes, who finished fourth in the council election, said the results caught him totally by surprise.

“I am in complete shock,” Berendes said. “This just blows me away. I did not expect this at all.”

Fischer, who had served on the council since 2011, including the last 11 years as mayor, was more subdued.

“It’s a disappointment,” she said. “We had a good council, working together, and it will be interesting to see now what happens with the town.”

The council spent much of the past two years working toward building a new Town Hall to replace the existing one. Fort Lauderdale-based CPZ Architects was hired and delivered drawings for a new two-story building expected to cost about $6-7 million. One of the agenda items for the upcoming March 17 meeting is to review bids from applicants for the general contractor position.

Pineiro, who did not return two phone calls or text messages asking for comment, made the focal point of his campaign a push to hire an engineering firm to study the possibility of renovating the existing building. He and his fellow challengers are expected to dismiss CPZ and essentially start over.

Berendes and Fischer have both gone on record in the past saying Pineiro didn’t have all the facts and that, after nearly 10 years of planning, the time for a new building had come.

“I feel like Rafael misled a lot of people,” Berendes said, “putting out a lot of misinformation on what was going on. But it’s on him now.”

“It’s just very unfortunate,” Fischer added. “We were finally moving forward. It’s just unfortunate to have this change in council.”

Fischer said she was “calmer than I thought I would be” upon getting the results and reflective as she looked back on her 15 years in town government.

“I’ve had a good run,” she said. “I would have liked to have done more, especially with the beaches and the things I was working on. I’ve spent many years on beach issues.

“I never looked at it being a burden, I really didn’t. I enjoyed it, My position allowed me to meet a lot of people I probably wouldn’t, and that’s very important to me.”

By John Pacenti

You’ve heard of the luck of the Irish? Well, now there’s the curse of the Carney.

Real estate broker Judy Mollica, a familiar face in local civic circles, defeated well-funded political newcomer Andrea Keiser Tuesday in a race she believed hinged on voter turnout and her long‑term ties to the community.

Her victory came in a three‑way race in which Mollica argued that roots and record should matter more than last‑minute campaign gloss. 

Mayor Tom Carney endorsed Keiser, saying she was the most qualified candidate on budget and policy matters. 

Mollica replaces Rob Long, who left the commission to become a state representative for District 90. Mollica captured 40% of the vote to Keiser’s 34%. A third candidate, Delores Rangel, a former executive assistant for the city, had 26% to finish third.

Commissioner Angela Burns won her seat without opposition.

“I think it’s just the work I’ve done in the community and that many of the residents saw my commitment,” Mollica said after the votes were counted. “I am incredibly grateful for the voters putting their trust in me.”

Mollica -– a member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Board -– got some key endorsements from the police and fire unions. She opposed the city's ousting of the nonprofit that ran Old School Square and praised the Downtown Development Authority, often criticized by Carney as wasting taxpayer dollars.

On coastal issues, Mollica campaigned that the city should pursue reef‑based shoreline protection guided by marine scientists, rather than relying solely on trucked‑in sand and offshore dredging. She also backed exploring noise‑camera technology to ticket modified exhausts on vehicles on State Road A1A and address a long‑running quality-of-life complaint on the island.

In an era where campaigns often measure strength in the number of lawn signs lining major intersections, Mollica intentionally bucked that strategy. She said she refused to “litter the world with lawn signs,” opting instead for targeted yard placements only where homeowners specifically requested them.

“I'm door-to-door every single day, and I’ve got groups making phone calls, so we’re fighting till the end,” she told The Coastal Star before the vote.

Mollica also openly questioned Keiser’s $102,000 investment of her own money in the race, saying it showed her opponent did not have name recognition or a track record of civil service in the community.

Mollica is president of Friends of Delray, which has the motto “accountable government, sensible growth and civic pride.” She said she closed the gap with some late donations but ran her campaign “on a shoestring budget.”

On the trail and in interviews, Keiser framed herself as the most technically prepared candidate for a commission that spends much of its time on development and budgeting. The land-use and zoning attorney has touted that she is a board member of the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County, which manages a $300 million budget with 5% administrative costs.

She also promised to address permitting delays for residents.

"Although this election did not end the way we hoped, I remain incredibly optimistic about the future of our city," Keiser said. "This campaign brought together many residents who care deeply about Delray Beach, and I look forward to continuing to stay involved in our community and working to make our city even stronger."

Rangel was hampered by the flu during a key stretch of candidate forums and struggled with public speaking, failing at times to get her positions across. However, in a one-on-one interview, Rangel showed her expertise on a wide range of issues.

At one point, a meme surfaced on Delray Beach social media circles asking, “Where’s Delores?” showing a Where’s Waldo scenario with Rangel in front of the “Invisibility Office.”

Rangel, before the election, told The Coastal Star that the direction of the city regarding development and policies was at stake. She said she was the “only candidate who does not have donors hidden in a PAC, and I’m not supported by any developers and special interest groups.”

Mollica says she has no hard feelings towards Carney – who sent out a long memo endorsing Keiser.

“I’m not one of those vindictive people,” she said. “I just want to work and get the work of the city done.”

Update: This story was updated to include post-election comments from Andrea Keiser.

Unofficial results

SOURCE: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

Downtown campus referendum

Unofficial results

SOURCE: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections

Police headquarters bond referendum

Unofficial results

SOURCE: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections