Whatever its official name, this century-old passage
has a sea of personal stories to tell

1925: When the bridge over the Boynton Inlet was first under construction, it included arches on either side of State Road A1A. The arches were eliminated when the bridge was replaced decades later. Then as now, the man-made channel's official name was the South Lake Worth Inlet. Photo provided by Boynton Beach City Library Local History Archives

By Ron Hayes

We regret to inform you that the Boynton Inlet is not the Boynton Inlet.

Officially, it’s the “South Lake Worth Inlet,” a noble title that, alas, gets very little respect.

This 130-foot-wide, man-made channel between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon is bordered on the north by the town of Manalapan, but do we fish at the Manalapan Inlet?

We do not.

It is bordered on the south by the town of Ocean Ridge, but do we picnic at the Ocean Ridge Inlet?

No.

2025: The Sea Mist III has been using the inlet for decades to take out drift boat anglers. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

We fish and picnic at the Boynton Inlet.

Janet Naughton is a professor of U.S. history at Palm Beach State College and the author of a dozen books about Palm Beach County history. But for her January appearance before a full house at the Boynton Beach City Library’s Brown Bag Lecture Series, even she titled her slide show, “History of the South Lake Worth (Boynton) Inlet.”

“They could both be right,” Naughton says. “The inlet is halfway between Lantana and Boynton Beach, and directly across from the Boynton Beach boat ramp.”

Just when and how the official “South Lake Worth Inlet” became popularized as simply the Boynton Inlet is anyone’s guess. In the 1920s, newspaper accounts of the inlet’s dredging and bridge construction are consistent. It’s the South Lake Worth Inlet.

 But by the early 1960s, charter boat fleets were advertising themselves as at “Boynton Inlet.” Somewhere along the way, the voice of the people took control. And let’s face it, “Boynton Inlet” is a lot quicker and easier to say.

 Either way, as Naughton made clear in her Brown Bag lecture and a longer chat later, the South Lake Worth (Boynton) Inlet is a picnic of social, economic, environmental, legal and recreational history.

•

So, where’s the North Lake Worth Inlet, you ask?

That’s the inlet with Palm Beach to the south, Palm Beach Shores to the north, and Peanut Island straight ahead.

Officially, it’s the “Lake Worth Inlet,” so naturally everyone calls it the Palm Beach Inlet.

Created in 1866, that inlet merged the Atlantic Ocean’s salt water with the freshwater Lake Worth, and by 1913 the waters were brackish from both the ocean and growing development around the lake.

Gee, people said, maybe we should have another inlet at the south end of the lake to let that polluted water out.

But the bridge came first.

•

The South Lake Worth Inlet was still being dug when the bridge that would carry motorists over it opened on Sept. 2, 1926.

“New South Lake Worth Span Opens Tomorrow

“This beautiful bridge, which is of the rainbow arch type, is entirely of concrete with a wide roadway flanked on either side by walkways for pedestrians.”  — The Palm Beach Post

•

The inlet arrived a year later, on Wednesday, March 16, 1927.  

“Waters Of Atlantic And Lake Worth Mingle At South Inlet:

“Waters from the Atlantic Ocean glided in from a tiny cut, shoveled in the sand, and mingled with the waters of  Lake Worth for the first time at this point.

“Dozens of spectators lined the bridge and at 11:18 p.m. the waters ‘glided’ in from the Atlantic and ‘mingled with the waters of Lake Worth.’ Dozens watched from the bridge in the glare of large searchlights.”

— The Palm Beach Post

•

And then came the lawsuit.

Col. Robert R. McCormick, owner of The Chicago Tribune, was a staunch conservative who compared FDR’s New Deal to communism and opposed America’s entry into World War II.

He was also a very rich man.

On Thursday, Oct. 30, 1930, McCormick paid $650,000 cash for a 4,916-foot stretch of ocean-to-lake property, with the northern boundary just 780 feet south of the South Lake Worth Inlet. It was the largest real estate deal in Palm Beach County at the time.

Five years later, in June 1935, he sued in an attempt to shut down the inlet.

The southward drift of the ocean was causing sand to accumulate along the inlet’s north jetty and causing erosion by McCormick’s property.

He sued in federal court in Miami asking that the inlet be closed and the jetties removed.

He did not succeed, but two years later, a sand transfer plant — the first anywhere —was installed by the north jetty to pump sand beyond the inlet to the south.

The first sand transfer plant in the country was installed in 1937 at the inlet to keep up the flow of sand along the beach. Photo provided 

•

In January 1941, a beach club with an almost world-famous name opened just south of the inlet.

No, not that Mar-a-Lago.

This was the one without an “A.”

The Mar Lago Beach Club was built by Leon A. Robbins, an Ohio native who arrived in Ocean Ridge in 1926.

In 1946, he was elected mayor of Ocean Ridge and served for five years. The Mar Lago was torn down in 1974 to make way for the county’s Ocean Inlet Park.

The Mar Lago Beach Club stood for a few decades before it was demolished and replaced with Ocean Inlet Park. Photo provided

•

Surf’s up. Maybe.

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1967, Ocean Ridge commissioners passed an ordinance banning surfing “except in authorized areas.”

No areas were authorized, but surfers had always ridden waves by the inlet without any trouble.

Tom Warnke, a senior at Seacrest High School (and now archive coordinator for the Delray Beach Historical Society), fought back. He and his fellow surfers formed the Cripple Creek Surf Club, and Warnke designed the club’s logo, which featured the inlet bridge.

The club sponsored a beach cleanup by the inlet to convince the politicians that surfers were not responsible for all those beer cans on that small island in the lake just north of the inlet.

Wild parties, underage drinking and worse were alleged to be going on there — so much so that the former Pine Island had become known as Beercan Island.

Not us, the surfers said, and apparently the politicians agreed.

Surfing survived at the inlet.

“It was great when we won,” he says now. “It motivated me all my life to protect the image of surfers.”

Warnke is 76 now, and executive director of the Surfing Florida Museum.

Beercan Island is now Bird Island, a privately owned wildlife sanctuary.

•

The inlet’s bridge, that beautiful bridge with the rainbow arches, lived for 48 years and died on April 1, 1974, of old age and increasing costs.

The inlet remained open to boats, but for nearly a year traffic was diverted across the Lantana and Boynton Beach bridges while a new inlet bridge was constructed.

The new span opened 11 months later, on March 1, 1975, without those rainbow arches.

A visual hazard, the authorities said. But there had been rumors that motorcyclists enamored of the famed daredevil Evel Knievel would speed their bikes over the arches.

This has not been confirmed.

Maintenance is a constant where the ocean meets the land. In a major 2010 project the north jetty and sea wall inside the inlet were repaired. Coastal Star file

•

In 2013, Janet Naughton wrote an application to have the South Lake Worth Inlet named a Florida Heritage Site. The historic marker stands in Ocean Inlet Park with text by Naughton.

So, call it the Boynton Inlet if you want, but officially it’s the South Lake Worth Inlet. End of story.

Or is it?

There is one more high authority we should consult.

Type “South Lake Worth Inlet” into Google Maps and you’ll be told: “Google Maps can’t find South Lake Worth Inlet.”

Now try typing in “Boynton Inlet.”

Case closed. 

Boca Chamber President Troy McLellan with Snow fund trustee Van Williams. Photo provided

Guests at the George Snow Scholarship Fund benefit are encouraged to embrace the theme with big-buckled belts, denim tuxedos, fringe jackets and, of course, boots and hats. Time is 6 to 11 p.m. Cost is $350. Call 561-347-6799, ext. 114, or visit scholarship.org/events. 

Delray Beach Home Tour committee members (l-r, in front) Kim Truesdale, Amy Antoniak, Bianca Pucci, Linda Umbdenstock, Sherry Davis, Shelly Likosar, Julie Peyton, (in back) Deborah Dowd, Melinda Webster, Kimberley Trombly-Burmeister, Erin McLaughlan-Graham, Cheryl Forman, Kari Shipley and Noreen Payne. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

The Marina Historic District will serve as the scenic backdrop for this year’s Delray Beach Home Tour benefiting the Achievement Centers for Children & Families.

The owners of six homes will open their doors during the 22nd annual event, giving visitors a chance to see the well-appointed interiors and resplendent gardens of each selected residence.

“We really try hard to get a variety of homes — historic, contemporary, beach,” Co-Chairwoman Kari Shipley said. “We really try to switch it up so there’s something for everybody.”

The March 11 event marks the first time the tour has taken place in the Marina Historic District. Another new twist is the inclusion of an old military church that has been preserved and turned into an event center. A catered luncheon will take place on the grounds of a seventh home fronting the Intracoastal Waterway. A team of 100 volunteers will work to make the daylong fundraiser a success.

“Each home has six to 10 volunteers,” Shipley said. “They learn about the house, the artwork, the decorator, the history of the house and any other interesting information. They’re like docents.”

The tour was conceived more than two decades ago by ACCF board members Anne Bright and Barbara Murphy, both of whom recruited Shipley.

“We had a friend in the beach area and asked if we could put her home on a tour,” Shipley explained. “Then we called our friends and asked them to come. It started mushrooming. It just grew and grew and has been wildly successful.”

Today, more than 600 visitors from as far south as Miami as well as from out of state buy tickets.

“We have people who come here on vacation for the tour,” Shipley said. “They call us to make sure they have the dates.”

Proceeds — the 2024 take was $200,000 — fund ACCF’s early learning, after-school and teen programs and summer camp that touch 700 local children.

“We are grateful for the support of all our hardworking volunteers, the homeowners who are graciously allowing visitors into their homes and, of course, our dedicated sponsors,” Shipley said. 

If You Go

What: Delray Beach Home Tour

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 11

Where: Marina Historic District

Cost: $150

Info: 561-276-0520 or achievementcentersfl.org/events/delray-beach-home-tour

The Butterfly Boutique is a newly opened thrift store on southbound Federal Highway at Northeast Fifth Street in Delray Beach. The store benefits Wayside House, which helps women overcome addiction. Photo provided 

By Amy Woods

Bargain hunters now can purchase pre-owned designer women’s clothing, jewelry and handbags at a newly opened thrift store in Delray Beach.

The Butterfly Boutique benefits Wayside House, a local nonprofit that has been helping women overcome addiction for more than 50 years. The goal is to generate additional funds so treatment services can expand.

“I believe we should do whatever it takes to ensure that women who want and need our help can receive it, whether they have the financial means or not,” said Martha Grimm, a Wayside House board member who spearheaded the development of the boutique.

Located at 500 NE Fifth Ave., which is southbound U.S. 1, the shop operates from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Most items are priced between $20 and $40, and many have original tags attached. The public is welcome to donate merchandise.

For more information, call 561-278-0055 or visit waysidehouse.net.

Boca Helping Hands gets donation for new truck

The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller’s Palm Beaches Commandery is donating $50,000 to Boca Helping Hands for a refrigerated truck.

The vehicle will help the nonprofit with its food pantry outreach and is another deed of goodwill by the order, a longtime supporter of Boca Helping Hands.  

“One of our first donations was Boca Helping Hands’ first refrigerated truck,” said Isabelle Paul, commander of the order. “We have come full circle with helping to purchase a 26-foot refrigerated truck to add to the other trucks needed to pick up food for BHH’s pantry program.”

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

Families First welcomes networking pro to team

An experienced recruiter and nonprofit leader has been appointed to the foundation board of Families First of Palm Beach County, which focuses on intervention and prevention programs to help children.

Lynn Radice officially joined the team in September. Radice is a career coach, motivational speaker and published author.

“Her passion lies in helping the communities in Palm Beach County and paying it forward,” Families First CEO Julie Swindler said.

“Her extensive and diverse network and connections, plus her expertise in engaging diverse communities, can facilitate strategic partnerships that could enhance Families First’s services and expand their impact in the community.”

For more information, call 561-253-1451 or visit familiesfirstpbc.org. 

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

The Blue Anchor is a popular spot for St. Patrick’s Day, because you can combine access to food, drink and the parade all in one location. File photo by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

That annual beer-drinking festival arrives this month — St. Paddy’s Day. 

You may be taking in Delray Beach’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, where you’ll need the luck of the Irish on that parking spot if you haven’t camped out all day. 

It’s at noon Saturday, March 15, with hundreds of marchers from east to west on Atlantic Avenue. Public lots fill up fast.

The Avenue and its connecting intersections are blocked off from the Intracoastal Waterway to Northwest Fifth Avenue ahead of the parade, so plan your drive accordingly. 

Tips: Don’t park in a tow zone. Those towing signs are enforced with vigor. U.S. 1 is the last big intersection to shut down. But plan to walk a mile or pay $25 or more to park in a private lot if you’re intent on going to that spot. And take a chair. The parade is long. Dogs are allowed, but consider the noise from sirens that may set them off.

It is one of the largest parades in Southeast Florida celebrating the Irish, so if weather cooperates, go just to say you’ve been. Expect lots and lots of fire trucks, bands, green beads and commercials in the form of business floats in between.

Look for the pig — the mascot from the inaugural street parade.

Other details are at www.delraybeachfl.gov/our-city/st-patrick-s-day-parade.

Eat like an Irishman

Want to taste some Irish cooking? Hit a pub or bar. 

Many people will take advantage of the weekend and start partying March 15 and 16. If you don’t like crowds, don’t show up this weekend. Smart diners know the food is usually best any time other than days around March 17; most pubs curtail their menus to offer only a few items.

First, a glossary of Irish dishes you may find:

• Potato leek soup: creamy potatoes cooked with leeks. 

• Shepherd’s pie: lamb pie with dark (sometimes Guinness) gravy and vegetables. Typically mashed potatoes atop, but sometimes pastry as well. Baked.

• Steak and Guinness pie: chunks of beef, mushrooms and bacon — and Guinness. Sometimes, raisins. Baked in a two-pastry crust.

• Cottage pie: ground beef (sometimes small chunks) and vegetables in gravy, with a mashed potato topping. Baked.

• Boxty: potato pancakes, made from leftover mashed potatoes, with raw, grated potato for coating. 

• Bangers and mash: sausages with a thin onion gravy, served with mashed potatoes and green peas. 

• Corned beef and cabbage: not Irish fare, but Irish-American fare. Corned beef is braised, with torn cabbage, carrots and onions. Simple and to the point. The best of it: corned beef sandwiches the day after. A good time to order that sandwich, actually.

• Irish soda bread: a quick bread made with buttermilk. No yeast. Sometimes studded with dried fruit.

Now, the pubs and bars:

Tim Finnegans Irish Pub: 2885 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. 561-330-3153; timfinnegansirishpub.com

With a name like that, you know what to expect — the biggest crowds in the area. And a highly rated corned beef sandwich, as well as sausage rolls in a pastry. The pub pulls the requisite perfect 20-ounce glass of Guinness, and has Tullamore Dew and Jameson on the shelf as well. Irish music all the time — not just this weekend.

O’Brian’s Irish Pub: 51 SE First Ave., Boca Raton. 561-338-7565; obrianspub.com.

The menu is American, with shepherd’s pie a nod to Irish fare. O’Brian’s is noted for its wings and friendly bartenders. The bar is energetic, doubly so for St. Pat’s Day. Always decorated to the hilt for the holiday. Live music all the time.

Blue Anchor Pub: 804 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-272-7272; theblueanchorpub.com

A pub supposedly haunted by its former patron in England, this old place is thick with character. Why an English pub on this day? The food — which is more Irish than many others. Boxty and Buffalo blue potato skins are the bomb. The roast beef sandwich with the Guinness au jus and horseradish should be mentioned. So should those pies — shepherd’s and cottage are staples — along with fish and chips. Try the chicken Balmoral — and eat like the queen. Dark and friendly as a pub should be, just right.

The Irish Brigade: 621 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach. 561-585-1885; Irishbrigadepub.com

On a busy corner, the open-air pub is a gathering spot for Liverpool football fans, but shines on St. Pat’s weekend, packed in all its rooms. Food is a notch above the average pub fare — fig and brie flatbread, an example. But the bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie are not to be overlooked. Friendly servers and space to walk around. Plenty of pluses.

Crazy Uncle Mike’s: 6450 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561-931-2889; crazyunclemikes.com

This has more upscale food than most bars and is American based, with items such as pork belly bites, tuna nachos and grilled cobia sandwich. But Uncle Mike’s turns it over to the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and includes corned beef and cabbage. Bands are the big deal here; look for tribute bands and more playing nightly. 

The Lion and Eagle English Pub: 2401 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561-447-7707; thelionandeaglepub.com

From breakfast, with Irish bacon, bangers and black pudding — and a nod to England with baked beans — to mash and shepherd’s pie, this place has Irish fare. The pub gets into the swing of things with a weekend full of party plans. It's open till 2 a.m. daily.

Deck 84: 840 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-665-8484; deck84.com.

The waterfront view makes this the place to take the out-of-towner for a drink. But don’t discount the bites. An American menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, including General Tso’s cauliflower. Also: coastal crispy shrimp tacos, brisket tacos and in the bar, housemade beer are among the offerings. A St. Patrick’s Day party is planned.

Gesto pizzeria opens

A new pizzeria in downtown Delray Beach on the Avenue is the result of a vision by Nicolas Kurban, owner of Amar Mediterranean Kitchen and Bar nearby.

The 55-seat pizza spot, named Gesto, opened in February, with pizza master Garri Banar at the controls. 

A longtime pro baker who specializes in sourdough, Banar is using a naturally leavened formula for the sourdough crusts. Both traditional and contemporary pizzas are delivered from the wood-fire oven, including a fiery pepperoni and jalapeño, as well as classics such as the Margherita.

Gesto offers small plates and salads. House-made desserts include an orange cake and Banar’s sourdough chocolate chip cookies.

Craft and domestic beers, and a curated selection of wines, mostly Italian, are served.

“Pizza is a science, but great pizza is an art,” Kurban said. “It’s all about the dough. Garri and I share a belief that exceptional ingredients and proper technique are what make the difference.”

Those include Jersey tomatoes and imported Italian flour, Kurban said.

Gesto, 522 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-403-2665; gestopizza.com. Open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Indoor and sidewalk seating.

In brief

The Michelin Guide is coming to Palm Beach County. 

The guide, which awards up to three stars to restaurants of note, represents a certain standard and will be good to have in the area, says chef/owner Jimmy Everett of Driftwood in Boynton Beach.  

Everett has been a chef in Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, and says the stars are a good idea, but “not something I’ll chase.”  

He says he’ll offer quality food and service just to keep the restaurant open day to day, and if the guide recognizes him, “I’d be proud, but I’m not changing anything for it.” 

Restaurants that make the guide will be announced in mid-April in a ceremony in Orlando.

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

L-R: Francesca Daniels, Laurie Carney and Marta Batmasian.

FAU’s event recognized a $5 million gift from the Palm Beach Pops to transform music education at the school. Co-produced by Jon Lappin, Kevin Wilt and Michael Zager, it drew administrators, donors, friends and sponsors to the intimate Eleanor R. Baldwin House. Performances were given by Cornelia Brubeck, Ranses Colón, Frank Derrick and Phil Hinton. FAU faculty members Monica Berovides-Hidalgo and Courtney Jones also were part of the event. ‘This gift encompasses all the beauty a legacy can offer every highly regarded music student as they pursue their musical journey,’  Lappin said.  ‘From scholarships to exceptional instruments, master classes to fellowships, the funding will ensure the foundation of business acumen coupled with the nationally recognized music education will continue in perpetuity.’

Myrna Skurnick and Max Whittacker. Photos provided

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County welcomed nearly 200 supporters to kick off its annual fundraising event that will take place March 6 and 7. The evening was a stunning display of vibrant pink and orange hues complemented by amazing food, refreshing drinks and great company. Attendees had the honor of meeting two future homeowners who are partnering with the nonprofit to build better lives for themselves. ‘Women Build is about harnessing the power of community and inspiring action to create lasting change,’ said Jennifer Thomason, president and CEO of Palm Beach Habitat. ‘It’s a movement that breaks barriers, empowers individuals and builds brighter futures for families in need of affordable housing.’

ABOVE: (l-r) Kelly Burton, Rana Levy, Roxanne Marangos, Amber Mallory and Kristina Schmidt.

L-R: Julie Peyton, Thomason, Charlotte Wright and Teawanna Teal.  L-R: Tara Goldberg, Julia Murphy, who is Palm Beach Habitat’s chief advancement officer, and Diana Sierra. Photos provided by MasterWing Creative Agency

With 430 supporters in attendance and $662,000 raised, HomeSafe celebrated a high-energy evening with celebrity host Nicko McBrain and vocalist Mike DelGuidice. The festivities included a dinner program, silent auction and private concert. Kenny and Maggie Rosenberg were presented with the 2025 HomeSafe Hero Award. ‘Tonight, we have so much to be thankful for and to celebrate,’ CEO Matt Ladika said to the crowd. ‘In December, we completed five years of construction, which resulted in four brand-new campuses for our kids to live in. It means so much to these kids coming into our care knowing that they have their own safe space to heal from the abuse and neglect.’ 

ABOVE: (l-r) John Treiber, Denise Coyle and the Rosenbergs

Maria and Todd Roberti

L-R: Classic Rock & Roll Party Co-Chairs Steve Bernstein and Abby Bernstein-Henderson with McBrain Photos provided by Downtown Photo

Palm Beach Symphony took in $450,000 at its eighth annual fundraiser. The money will support community outreach and education. During the luncheon, the organization acknowledged an anonymous gift of $100,000. Guests were treated to a festive atmosphere filled with the sounds of the season plus a silent auction. Mickey Smith Jr., of The King’s Academy, was named the 2024 Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year. ‘Our programs touch the lives of thousands of students across Palm Beach County and beyond,’ Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont said. ‘We are so grateful to our donors and all who continue to support our mission.’

ABOVE: (l-r) Gerard Schwarz, Smith, and Carol and Joseph Andrew Hays. BELOW: Lois Pope and Bill Porter. Photos provided by Capehart

The 43rd annual Palm Beach International Boat Show will have more than $1.2 billion in products on display.  Photo provided

By Steve Waters

While the Palm Beach International Boat Show displays the latest and greatest in watercraft from superyachts up to nearly 300 feet in length to cruisers, center consoles, runabouts and inflatables, it also has a major economic impact.

An analysis of the 2022 show revealed an estimated statewide impact of more than $1.05 billion, including money spent on food, fuel and lodging, with much of that benefit felt in Palm Beach County.

The show itself contributed to more than $725 million in total sales of boats, marine electronics and other boating accessories.

The 43rd show is March 19-23 along Flagler Drive from Clematis Street to Lakeview Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach.

The city  authorized the show to expand to five days this year, bringing it into alignment with boat shows in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

More than $1.2 billion in products will be on display, including hundreds of new and used boats on land and berthed at miles of floating docks in the water, along with engines, safety equipment, clothing and artwork.

There also are venues within the show such as the AquaZone, which features demonstrations of innovative water-propelled toys as well as kayaks and standup paddleboards.

The seminar tent features experts sharing tips on a variety of topics, such as how to deploy a life raft and survive; crossing by boat from Florida to the Bahamas; how to catch swordfish; and selecting the perfect rod and reel. 

Don Dingman hosts his popular Kids Fishing Clinics, scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with youngsters receiving a free rod and reel combo.

Although numerous restaurants are within a short walk from the show site, the show will have more than 75 food concessions and bars, serving everything from seafood such as stone crab claws and oysters to street tacos, gyros and burgers to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Parking is available at more than a dozen municipal garages and privately owned lots, all accessible via a short walk, a free golf cart or a sprinter van ride to the show. Complimentary golf cart shuttles also are available from the West Palm Beach Brightline train station. 

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

If You Go

What: Palm Beach International Boat Show 

Where: Along Flagler Drive from Clematis Street to Lakeview Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach

When: noon-7 p.m.  March 19, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 20-22 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 23

Tickets: A one-day general admission adult ticket valid March 20-23 costs $36.23 and a two-day ticket is $65.21. A ticket for opening day on March 19 is $62.10 and a two-day ticket that includes opening day is $83.84. Daily tickets for youngsters ages 6-15 for March 20-23 are $17.60 

Info: pbboatshow.com

By Janis Fontaine

Choral Evensong, featuring the Choir of St. Gregory’s, is set for 6 p.m. March 16 at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church.

Accompanied by music director Tim Brumfield on organ, the choir will perform a tapestry of musical interpretations for the liturgy, including the Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis and the Psalms.

Choral Evensong is a sacred Anglican musical tradition dating back centuries. 

The service and parking are free. Evensong will also be offered on April 27 and May 25. 

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

Orchestra concert set at Our Lady of Lourdes 

Harmony Across Generations Family Orchestra Concert takes place at 3 p.m. March 23 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 22094 Lyons Road, Boca Raton. 

One piece to be played, called “To Change the World” and composed by orchestra pianist Robert Field, is featured in the documentary “Two Heads Are Better Than One.” It is about the relationship between 99-year-old Benjamin Ferencz (then the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, now deceased) and sculptor Yaacov Heller of Boca Raton.

The documentary is available on Amazon Prime, Apple Music and YouTube.

The mournful “Ashokan Farewell” from the Ken Burns documentary about the Civil War (and featured during Lee Dutton’s funeral in the TV show “Yellowstone”) is also on the set list.

The concert is by Florida Intergenerational Orchestra, in its 20th season. It features musicians of multiple generations.

Tickets are $20 or $40 VIP at Eventbrite.com or at 561-922-3134. Admission is free for children younger than 12.

Event to feature a host of beloved Broadway songs  

The First Delray soloists and friends return to the stage at 4 p.m. March 23 at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach for an afternoon of “All Broadway” music.

From showstoppers to romantic ballads, some of the most beloved Broadway songs will be accompanied by pianist Don Cannarozzi. This concert is sold out, but there is a wait list. First Presbyterian is at 33 Gleason St. Call 561-276-6338 or visit www.firstdelray.com.

B’nai Torah educator chosen  to lead group of teachers

B’nai Torah Congregation, the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida with 1,300 membership families, announced that Cathy Berkowitz, who has led the synagogue’s Mirochnick Religious School for over two decades, will serve as the next president of the Jewish Educators Assembly.

In recognition of her dedication, passion and leadership in Jewish education, Berkowitz will be  installed during the 73rd Annual JEA Conference on March 16. The JEA is the leading professional association for Conservative/Masorti education professionals.

Berkowitz, a mother of four and grandmother of two, has been an integral part of B’nai Torah Congregation since 2004.

For information about the congregation and the religious school, visit www.btcboca.org/learning/mirochnick-religious-school.

Teachers attend seminar for Holocaust educators 

Four Palm Beach County teachers participated in Advanced Seminar for Holocaust educators, a two-day academic program Jan. 18-19 in West Orange, New Jersey. The program hosted by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous brought together 21 middle and high school teachers with Holocaust center staff to explore topics related to the history of the Holocaust and antisemitism.

Local teachers who participated were Maureen Carter from Boca Raton High School; Julie Gates from Loggers’ Run Middle School in Boca Raton; Amanda Ladd from Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth Beach; and Bradd Weinberg from Carver Community Middle School in Delray Beach. 

For more information, visit www.jfr.org.

CROS Ministries luncheon to highlight food programs 

CROS Ministries, a Palm Beach County nonprofit that fights hunger every day, is hosting a Lunch and Learn from noon to 1 p.m. March 13 in Fellowship Hall at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach.

Representatives will speak about the work CROS Ministries does on the front lines of the war against hunger. The organization offers a myriad of food pantries and free meals for people who are hungry in Palm Beach County, and dozens of volunteer opportunities.

RSVP to Meredith Caldwell at mcaldwell@crosministries.org or 561-233-9009, ext. 103.

Magen David Adom gala to feature actor Lior Raz

The annual American Friends of Magen David Adom Palm Beach Gala will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 3 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. The keynote speaker will be Israeli actor and screenwriter Lior Raz. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a gourmet dinner, and dancing. For tickets, call 561-835-0510 or email palmbeach@afmda.org.

Princeton theologist to speak at First Presbyterian

The Center for Christian Studies presents “A School of Prayer” with C. Clifton Black, Otto A. Piper professor emeritus of Biblical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, at 4 p.m. April 6 at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason St. www.firstdelray.com

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

Anthony Mirisola, now at UCF, with Sgt. Danny Pacheco, the Kicks’ coach. Photo provided 

By Faran Fagen

Anthony Mirisola was 13 when he first attended soccer practice with the Delray Kicks, a team coached by police officers. Mirisola comes from a family of four, including his mom and grandfather.

The following year, Mirisola stopped coming to practice, and police sergeant/coach Danny Pacheco initially thought he had lost interest in the program.

A few weeks later, Pacheco stopped by Mirisola’s house to check on him and discovered that his stepfather had died. Mirisola no longer had a ride to practice, and he had taken on the responsibility of helping to pay the rent and other necessities. 

Despite the challenges, Mirisola excelled in school, particularly in ROTC and robotics.

“With the help of members of our Police Department and the community, we were able to support Anthony and his family through this difficult time,” said Pacheco, who arranged transportation and tutors for Mirisola.

Today, Anthony is attending the University of Central Florida with a full scholarship from the Bound for College organization. He is thriving in the ROTC program and doing well academically.

“He is an inspiration to our team and serves as a powerful reminder that anything is possible,” Pacheco said.

Pacheco started the Delray Kicks in 2021 as a way to forge a bond between the police force and the community it serves. The Police Department has been at Merritt Park in Delray Beach every Saturday night, coaching 32 players ages 7-16 in soccer, with drills in defense, shooting skills, passing, kicking and — above all — teamwork.

Two years ago, Pacheco was honored to receive an award from the Carl DeSantis Foundation as the Catalyst of Building Community. The Police Department also received a $32,500 donation to help support the program.

“I feel incredibly blessed as I’m constantly receiving donations from members of our community — not only monetary contributions, but also weekly snacks, drinks and countless cards of gratitude for my efforts,” Pacheco said.

The program has grown in many ways since its inception four years ago. The Kicks have won several games in a recreational soccer league in Delray Beach and have visited a theme park in Orlando and the Frost Science Museum in Miami. 

Several kids who started with the team have moved up to academy-level soccer, which opens up more opportunities.

The Police Department continues to support the team by providing fluorescent green jerseys with the Delray Kicks emblem on the front. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department offers Merritt Park free of charge.

Unfortunately, Pacheco recently lost two assistant coaches. One is pursuing a master’s degree, and the other transferred to a police position that limits his availability for public events.

Despite these changes, the program continues to grow.

The most rewarding parts for Pacheco are seeing his players’ smiles and knowing that for a few hours, the players are in a safe and supportive environment. 

But he doesn’t stop after the final whistle. He created a WhatsApp group, and he regularly checks in on his kids to make sure they’re staying out of trouble and keeping up with their homework.

“I absolutely love what I do as a police officer,” Pacheco said. “It’s been a total of 25 years in law enforcement for me, and seeing these kids grow and move on to better things in life truly makes me happy. We have had our ups and downs as a team. We have faced challenges, such as parents moving to other cities or counties in search of better job opportunities, but the kids still make the effort to come to practice.” 

Mirisola is one of those grateful to Pacheco and the Kicks. He joined the team when it was founded by Pacheco. At first, Mirisola thought it would be a cool thing to do on the weekends or after classes.

“Since then, it has become a huge part of my life and has helped me and my family in ways some people dream about,” Mirisola said. “Over the years, Coach Pacheco and Delray Kicks have given me rides to things unrelated to the team, like school events or personal things that my family wasn’t able to because we didn’t have a car.”

Mirisola said that Pacheco bought food for his family members when they couldn’t afford it, and always made sure they were supported around the holidays, whether via Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas trees, or Christmas gifts.

“The program hasn’t just done this for me, but for many kids in the community,” Mirisola said. “There have been many times over the years that one of the players needed something, and Coach Pacheco worked to get it for them. There was even a time when most players on the team were given bikes for transportation if they didn’t have one, and each bike came with a helmet and a lock.”

Having this support helped Mirisola become a first-generation high school graduate in his family and a first-generation college student. 

“This team has done more for me and other kids in the community than most people can imagine, and it’s something that I will always be grateful for and proud to be a part of,” Mirisola said. 

Pacheco needs soccer coaches and academic tutors in subjects such as math, science and English. Interested in helping? Contact Sgt. Danny Pacheco Jr. at 561-777-2267 or via email at pacheco@mydelraybeach.com. 

By Christine Davis

Dr. Tilak Pasala recently joined the Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group. On staff at Delray Medical Center, he is the medical director of the structural heart disease program.

Pasala has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, 12 book chapters, and served as principal investigator in several medical device trials. He is an expert in transcatheter procedures and complex coronary and peripheral interventions, including stent placement, atherectomy, and circulatory support. 

Pasala has offices at 5352 Linton Blvd. and 5035 Via Delray, both in Delray Beach.

Honor puts JFK in top 5% of hospitals nationwide 

HCA Florida JFK Hospital was named by Healthgrades as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2025, putting the Atlantis hospital in the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for clinical performance for the second year in a row. 

Also, HCA Florida JFK Hospital received recognition related to its patient outcomes in areas that included surgical care, cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, vascular surgery, stroke care and pulmonary services. 

’Future of spine surgery’at neuroscience institute

Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health at Bethesda Hospital West, west of Boynton Beach, now offers spinal surgery utilizing next-generation augmented-reality technology. 

The hospital’s first surgery of this type was done by neurosurgeon Dr. Timothy O’Connor, director of minimally invasive and robotic spine surgery. 

“The future of spine surgery is here. While performing this procedure, we can see the patient’s anatomy in high definition, with their imaging superimposed directly in our field of vision to allow real-time guidance when wearing the AR headset during surgery,” said O’Connor. “… By harnessing this innovation, we will be able to reduce recovery times, minimize pain and significantly enhance outcomes for our patients.” 

Nearly 100 patients get medical marijuana cards

More than 1,000 attendees joined MMJ Health, a medical marijuana clinic, for its Cannabis Carnival event on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach in January. The clinic provided free, on-site evaluations for eligible attendees, certifying nearly 100 patients for medical marijuana cards. 

Music was by Stryder, and food was available from Sophia Burger. Vendors included Curaleaf, Jungle Boys, the Flowery, Trulieve, and Sunburn Cannabis. Guests had the opportunity to purchase cannabis-themed Adirondack chairs and play yard games with Marijuandack, and learn more about liver cleanse powder from Love Your Liver. Guests also had the opportunity to participate in a movement activation workshop with Elizabeth Scheer from Passion for Posture and learn industry weed insights from Tatiana “WeedMap Tats” Millan.

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

Dakota Dawkins provides healing sounds with a rain stick during a yoga session at the Coco Market wellness event in January at Old School Square. Jan Engoren/The Coastal Star

By Jan Engoren

Coco Market, an immersive wellness open-air event in Old School Square, celebrated its third anniversary in January and takes place this month on March 2. 

Founded by yoga instructor Corey Heyman, the market brings together family and friends as well as small local businesses focusing on health and wellness to practice yoga, take part in family-friendly activities, browse the products and vendors and partake in a variety of food options.

“I felt a strong need for community after COVID-19,” said Heyman, 33, who had been teaching yoga on the beach in Delray Beach. She knew a lot of people who had started small businesses and said she wanted to create a space to support them.

“I wanted to make wellness accessible to everybody,” she said, and decided to include a free schedule of events.

At the third anniversary celebration in January, Leslie Glickman of Yoga Journey in Boca Raton taught a yoga flow class to a rapt clientele stretched out in corpse poses, their yoga mats covering the lawn at Old School Square.

Gong master and sound healer Mitchell Raisman of 1111 Gong provided healing sounds with two large gongs.

Also featured were live music by Flint Blade & Brielle Aguila; ecstatic dance by Pranava; Luis Capcha Vilchez on flute; Dakota Dawkins providing healing sounds with a rain stick during Shavasana (a relaxation pose practiced at the end of a yoga session); and more live music by OdoNata Sound.

On the main stage, Lab Method of Delray Beach provided an exercise class focusing on strength and conditioning.

In a booth along the “Healing Oasis” aisle, Boynton Beach chiropractor Tiah Sanborn promoted her business Euphoria, accompanied by her mother, Kerri Smith, a hairstylist. The two have adjacent businesses on Federal Highway in Boynton Beach.

Sanborn has been coming to the wellness market for eight months and says she enjoys the ambiance and meeting like-minded practitioners.

“I like the crowd,” said Sanborn, who was a track star at the University of South Florida.

“The Coco Market has a different vibe than the green market. I enjoy being in an environment that celebrates health and wellness.”

In the next booth, Natalie Elledge of Ananta Ayurveda & Wellness of Delray Beach, a practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine who studied in India, demonstrated an Indian healing therapy known as shirodhara. The technique involves an incense and concentrated herbal oil mixture and dripping the hot liquid onto your forehead.

“It’s very relaxing, relieves stress and can help with digestion,” Elledge said, adding that it often comes with a head or scalp massage.  

Ayurvedic medicine, she noted, is thousands of years old and is a holistic approach to wellness.

In only her second time at the market, she was impressed with the turnout and said, “It’s an opportunity for the community to come out and try and experience different healing modalities.”

Abbey Jo Shulkin of Delray Beach Laser Pain Center demonstrated another healing modality as she sat and applied a laser treatment to her knee, which she injured while roller-skating.  

With a motto of “ditch the drugs, skip the scalpel,” Shulkin advocates laser treatments for conditions such as sciatica, plantar fasciitis and knee and rotator cuff pain.

A wife and husband team, Kathleen Kraft and Agustin Ontano of Body Ambassadors from Boca Raton, demonstrated traditional massage as well as Eastern ashiatsu, a barefoot massage technique originating in Asia.

While Ontano provided a back massage to a client, Kraft walked barefoot on another client, using her feet to activate pressure points in the back while holding on to overhead bars for balance. 

She’s able to provide deep pressure using her feet and body weight to release tension and promote relaxation in her clients.  

The couple also has a studio in Delray Beach.

Other vendors in January offered merchandise for sale.

Curated by the Coco Market team, they included Eco Cork, which makes accessories out of natural cork; Boynton Beach resident Zeal Desai’s pop-up, Zealia, which sources eco-friendly products and handmade items such as earrings, beadwork and clothing from around the world; CasaBel, selling jewelry and clothing; HiKee essential oils; and Wandering Words pop-up bookstore.

Food vendors included Konscious Kitchen, Loxahatchee Food Co-op, Manka’s loaded empanadas, bison “smashburgers” from Bison Eatery, vegan soul food from Elite Fusion Catering, Nutra Diva cold-pressed juice, and LorLor’s Kitchen small-batch jams and pickles.

Delray Beach resident and physical therapist Felipe Picardo, 33, of Pinnacle Movement and Performance took advantage of the day and grabbed a cold brew coffee from Dialed In Coffee (“my only addiction”). He had a booth at the market in the past but said his business has gotten so many clients it is now “maxed out.”

“I just came out to soak up the ambiance and enjoy the day,” he said.

He was in good company.

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

If You Go   

What: Coco Market

Where: Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach

When: 9 a.m. -3 p.m. March 2, April 13, May 11

Admission: Free

Info: Cocomarket.org

Correction: A previous version of this story included a wrong date for an upcoming Coco Market. The correct dates are above.

Kaitlin Fitzpatrick of Boynton Beach with Peak, her Maine coon and adventure cat. Peak loves going on leashed hikes, riding on bikes, climbing rocks and even snow sledding. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

For people who enjoy taking walks in Ocean Ridge and Manalapan, seeing a happy leashed dog walking with his favorite person is a pleasant, but not surprising sight. 

But Kaitlin Fitzpatrick, of Boynton Beach, has come to expect stares, finger pointing and even a few gasps when she walks her pet, Peak, on sidewalks.

That’s because Peak is a cat — specifically, a beautiful Maine coon — who is proud to be part of a growing group of felines in the country. Peak is what you might call an adventure cat. 

Peak and other adventure cats are shattering the stereotypes associated with family cats — that they live inside, take long and frequent naps, hone their claws on scratching posts and beg for snacks whenever their favorite person enters the kitchen.

Adventure cats — as the name implies — revel in new experiences, new sights, new smells and new challenges. 

But not all adventure cats dig the same adventures.

“Adventure cats come in a lot of varieties,” notes Kaitlin, a former hospitality manager and now full-time social media manager for Peak. “Some adventure cats love riding on top of paddleboards. Some love to be on boats. Peak is the type of adventure cat who loves going on leashed hikes, bike rides, climbing rocks and, yes, even sledding on snow.”

Turns out that Kaitlin and her husband, Martin, split their time between Palm Beach County and Maine with Peak and his shyer feline sibling, Summit.

“We noticed that Peak loves jumping in empty delivery boxes, so we attached a rope to one of those boxes and I started pulling it around the house with Peak inside,” she says. “He begged me to pull him more. Then when snowfall hit in Maine, I put him on a sled, and he loved every minute of it.”

Peak’s adventures are gaining notice. He has more than 22,000 followers on Instagram (@acatnamedpeak) and growing. Kaitlin and Peak were invited to the international Cat Fanciers’ Association Expo last October in Cleveland that drew more than 17,000 attendees. Kaitlin served on a few panel discussions about adventure cats and fielded questions from attendees in Peak’s meet-and-greet session.

Peak, aged 2 1/2, is 20 pounds and expected to reach 35 pounds when he matures around age 5. 

“Peak is a Maine coon, one of the largest breeds of domestic cats, and this breed is known as being gentle giants,” Kaitlin says. “He is great with kids, super relaxed and is very much a ‘go with the flow’ type of cat. But, at 20 pounds, you definitely hear when he jumps down from a table or counter.” 

Think you have an adventure cat in the making? Or looking to adopt a shelter kitten or cat with the intent of having the pet join you on outdoor adventures?  

Kaitlin offers these tips:

• Pay attention to your cat’s personality. Adventure cats tend to be confident and curious — not tentative or shy.

• Practice patience in training sessions. “Never force your cat to do something he may not like to do or making the training session long,” says Kaitlin. “Keep training sessions short, fun and definitely rewarding. Peak loves getting treats.”

• Introduce your cat to wearing and accepting a harness attached to a leash in your home. “Make sure the leash is always connected to the harness and never to a cat’s collar to prevent them from choking, especially if the cat gets excited spotting a squirrel and tries to give chase.”

• While training, never allow your cat to walk out the front door on his own, even if he is wearing a harness and a leash. Instead, always fit your cat in his harness, keep a good grip on the leash and pick up your cat and carry him outside to the car or onto a trail. “Otherwise, your cat can turn into a door dasher and rush out the door whenever it is opened,” Kaitlin warns.

• Ensure your cat is deemed healthy and up to date on his vaccinations by your veterinarian. Adventure cats should also be current on medicine to prevent fleas and ticks.

• Equip your cat with plenty of identification. He should have a microchipped ID that can be scanned with your information on it, as well as his name and your cellphone number on his collar and on the harness. Kaitlin goes a step further. “Peak also wears a little name tag with a QR code that can be scanned. Some adventure cats wear GPS trackers on their harnesses.”

• Bring water and food plus a first aid kit on hikes with your cat. Take a pet first aid class so you can know what to do if your cat gets injured. 

• Recognize signs your cat needs to rest or is getting fatigued. “Your cat may signal it is time to end the hike by acting moody, panting or sitting down a lot,” says Kaitlin. “Always bring a cat backpack so that your cat can ride inside the backpack while you finish the hike. Quality cat backpacks are well ventilated and have padding on the back for the person carrying it and straps you can secure to yourself during a hike.”

What’s the next adventure of Peak?  Testing his willingness to paddleboard.

“He loves to play with water in his water bowl at home and we are easing him to put his paws in the water along the shore. I definitely think he will be game to be on a paddleboard when the waves are not small,” says Kaitlin.

 Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.

More on adventure cats  

You can follow Peak the Adventure Cat on Instagram at instagram.com/acatnamedpeak. 

For more information on training tips, gear and other items for adventure cats, here are two well-established websites: adventurekittys.com and adventurecats.org

LEFT: With stunning interiors by Jeffrey Strasser, this residence sets a new standard for living beautifully. RIGHT: Two glass-enclosed, air-conditioned pavilions at the rear of the house open to the 30-by-60 oceanside pool. The resort-style pool is heated and has saltwater and sun shelves.

Masterfully crafted by renowned builder Mark Timothy Luxury Homes, a property of this magnitude brings expectations of exceptional features/finishes. Even so, this estate surprises with its scalloped glass-railed circular concrete grand staircase, under-lit drop tray ceiling, free-standing fireplace and après beach surfboard outdoor shower. 

This gated, walled oasis sits 19 1/2 feet above sea level on a manicured estate-sized lot, landscaped with privacy hedges, no-maintenance turf, tropical shrubs and coconut palms. It is also set back from 120 feet of direct beachfront behind protective dunes for maximum safety and beauty. 

There are six ensuites and a north and south wing in this 16,853-square-foot residence. The south wing includes the secluded ocean/pool-view primary suite with morning bar, expansive bedroom, sliders to the pool, his/hers spa-inspired marble baths amid boutique fitted walk-in closets. A powder room and second ensuite complete this wing. 

The second level includes a central loft game room opening to an ocean/pool-view covered balcony, two front guest ensuites, an ocean/pool-view VIP and guest ensuite, and a laundry. The 1,990-square-foot bonus room over the garages easily converts to a guesthouse. Offered at $74 million.

Contact the Pascal Liguori Estate Group, 561-789-8300. Premier Estate Properties, 900 E. Atlantic Ave., #4, Delray Beach; PLEG@premierestateproperties.com

The Boca Raton City Council gave top ranking to a joint venture of Coconut Grove-based Terra and the Frisbie Group of Palm Beach, which included the largest amount of green space of the four submitted proposals. Above is one image of what the joint venture said its project could look like. Rendering provided

Related: City center proposal: Boca Raton City Center

By Mary Hladky

The Boca Raton City Council has given top ranking to Boca Raton City Center to redevelop 30 city-owned acres around City Hall in what is touted as a transformative project for the downtown.

Four council members threw their support behind the company, a joint venture of Coconut Grove-based Terra and the Frisbie Group of Palm Beach. Only Council member Andy Thomson supported Related Ross of West Palm Beach, headed by Miami Dolphins owner and Palm Beach resident Stephen Ross.

Two other contenders, Namdar Group of Great Neck, New York, and RocaPoint Partners of Atlanta, Georgia, received little City Council consideration.

With Boca Raton City Center the clear favorite, the council unanimously voted to give it first place ranking, with Related Ross getting second place.

The city now will begin negotiations with Boca Raton City Center to reach an interim development agreement. Should that fail, the city will turn to Related Ross.

Boca Raton City Center and Related Ross submitted the most comprehensive proposals and heavily courted council members.

Related Ross clearly demonstrated it was in the contest to win. At a Jan. 27 presentation of plans to the council, about 20 Related Ross executives dramatically strode into the chambers and claimed the first two rows of seats.

Stephen Ross played a highly visible role, stepping to the microphone at two meetings to extoll his company, its expertise and the quality of its proposal.

“We have a very different and bold vision for this community,” Ross told the council at a final presentation the day before the council vote. “The world is changing, and we believe Boca can be the center of that change.”

All four of the developers proposed mixed-use projects featuring new civic buildings, including a City Hall and Community Center to replace the outmoded and crumbling existing ones, residential, retail, office, hotel and green space.

Related Ross set itself apart by emphasizing new office space. It proposed three buildings totaling 975,000 square feet.

But when the council questioned that amount, company officials quickly offered to substitute residential for one of the office buildings.

Even so, they insisted there is a huge market for office buildings in the downtown, and constructing them would attract more major corporations to locate in the city.

Boca Raton City Center proposed the lowest density project with the largest amount of green space, an attractive pitch in a city where residents complain of overdevelopment and ever increasing traffic.

Rob Frisbie, managing partner of Frisbie Group, made that the centerpiece of his proposal, noting that his project has a substantially smaller building footprint than the others and would generate less traffic than a project dominated by office space.

The City Council majority was unconvinced that a large-scale office project was appropriate for the downtown.

“Terra Frisbie won because it is the best choice for the community,” said Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker.

The public will continue to be able to comment on the project at upcoming council meetings. An open house for public comment will be held on Feb. 19 at The Studio at Mizner Park from 6 to 8 p.m.

While council members have chosen their favored developer, they have not given the go-ahead to a specific development plan.

Boca Raton City Center’s conceptual proposal almost certainly will be revised as the developer and city engage in negotiations to draft an interim agreement, which city officials hope to finalize by March 18.

Several council members said they want revisions, although they did not offer specifics.

After that, both sides will negotiate a comprehensive agreement over a period of several months covering matters such as financing and design. The next step will be finalizing designs and a construction schedule.

By Rich Pollack

Police are investigating a fatal crash in which a 71-year-old part-time Delray Beach resident was struck by two vehicles while crossing State Road A1A on Wednesday night.

The crash occurred just before 8:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of South Ocean Boulevard in an area of the roadway that is currently under construction.

Delray Beach police said the woman, whose identity was not released, was in a newly constructed crosswalk in between the north and southbound lanes when she was struck first by a northbound vehicle and then by a southbound vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The section of A1A was closed for about two and a half hours as police investigated. The drivers of both vehicles stopped and cooperated with police, who are continuing the investigation.

The fatal crash comes less than two months after a bicyclist on A1A in Boca Raton was killed after he was struck from behind by a Chevy Equinox shortly after 7 a.m.

The driver involved in the Dec. 15 accident was charged with DUI after police said he failed sobriety exercises.

Stephen Schwartz works with Addy Berry and Liam Spengler using Lego blocks to build the northern wall of the Old City of Jerusalem during a Jan. 25 presentation at Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach. Photos by Janis Fontaine/The Coastal Star

Delray’s buildings next up for architect whose Lego creations started with the Old City of Jerusalem

 By Janis Fontaine

Stephen Schwartz knew he loved architecture — that was his lifelong career — but he didn’t know he loved teaching about architecture even more.

In 1996 his daughter, Lana, a second-grade teacher, asked him to help her teach a lesson to her class. He came up with a lesson on how cities are built using one of the kids’ favorite toys: The colorful Lego.

Afterward he thought, “I can teach second-graders about city design, and they understand it!” He made such a strong connection with the students, and the value in what he had done was so obvious, he wanted to do it again.

Schwartz, who has wintered in Delray Beach the past six years, developed a program to teach mostly Jewish families about the Old City of Jerusalem. “Imagine a city 3,000 years old,” he marvels. He still gets excited talking about this amazing tract of land, where three of the world’s greatest monotheistic religions trace their origins. “The interfaith part is intriguing to me.”

His presentations on Jerusalem — including a Christian version of his lesson that visits the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the largest building in the city, and traces the Stations of the Cross, the landmarks path Jesus took on his final walk to the crucifixion — became the cornerstone of his new business, Building Blocks Workshops LLC, based in Livingston, New Jersey.

“Bunny and I have done well over a thousand presentations, all over the Northeast, in New York, New Jersey, Boston, Schwartz said.”

Emily Popolizio brought Schwartz to Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach on Jan. 25 to teach a learning module for Cason Kids Care, a group that Popolizio started three years ago to teach Christian principles of kindness and service to children aged 5-11.

 Lego creation of Delray in the works

Schwartz’s company followed up the Old City of Jerusalem with Lego models of Vatican City and the Warsaw Ghetto. Then tiny municipalities started expressing an interest in having models made. “We do about 10 cities a year to try to teach people about the architectural heritage of their town. We just did Stonington, Connecticut, and that one was huge, 24-by-34 feet,” he said.

For the last several years, Schwartz has worked with historical societies to preserve the history of their cities for posterity. He’s currently working with the Delray Beach Preservation Trust on a model of Delray Beach. It will have 50 buildings set among five historic districts. The family building program, open to the community, will take place in March (delraybeachpreservation.org/).

“I enjoy working with historical societies,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz tells the story of Jerusalem to a group of children at Cason United Methodist Church.

Old City of Jerusalem

The Jewish community is hungry for lessons on its history and culture, and Schwartz’s program is so casual and accessible, families flock to it like it was a day of play. “This program is not just for kids,” he said. “It’s meant to be interfaith and intergenerational.”

Plus, it’s fun. It’s a hands-on way to learn that gets moms and dads down on the floor with the kids snapping together pieces of plastic. The purpose of the families building is to give context to the city. The foreign becomes familiar as participants learn the name and location of each of the eight gates, the different sections where religious groups lived, the places of worship and the “directional orientation” of all these elements. Scholars say the program is especially relevant around the Jewish holidays of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Yom Yerushalayim, and Tisha B’av, which mark, respectively, Israel’s Independence Day in 1948, the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, and a day of fasting commemorating the destruction of the city’s first and second temples.

Building blocks of history

When Schwartz taught with his daughter, he used a big sheet of paper as his map, and the students built structures like city hall and the public library, stores and houses, streets and parks and parking lots. That sparked a conversation about zoning laws — among second-graders.

Teaching, Schwartz says, is about “engagement.” He believes as the participants are building the important Jewish landmarks like the Kotel (Western Wall), King David’s Tower and the Beit Hamikdosh (The Holy Temple), the work/play keeps them focused, and the history gets into their heads. They take a certain ownership in the final phase, as groups place their buildings inside the walled city.

Schwartz uses a large 20-by-20-foot vinyl mat to lay out Jerusalem. After about an hour and 45 minutes of building, the groups are finished. Then Schwartz asks everyone to sit down around the mat and leads a tour around the city. Now his stories have a new perspective and meaning. “It’s a new vision of Jerusalem,” he said.

 An insatiable curiosity

Schwartz’s display at Cason stayed up for just a day before it was packed up for its next gig. It’s a tough schedule, and Schwartz turns 83 this month. “I’ve always been energetic, able to handle pressure,” he says. But Bunny, who has helped him all these years, is ready to hand the torch to a new generation. Their son, Michael, has agreed to get more involved. He taught a program with Schwartz in December.

Like the director of a spontaneous orchestra, Schwartz conducts the construction using as many as 100,000 Legos. “Two hours is the perfect amount of time for a project. I can keep 150 people busy at the same time,” he says, “and the results are instantaneous and positive.”

Even at 83, Schwartz has an insatiable curiosity — and his passion for sharing that with others is what has made him so popular. Ask him if he enjoys what he does and he says, “Oh my God, I love it.”

Protecting beaches from erosion is difficult enough, but extra steps are needed when man-made structures, such as the Boynton Inlet, block the natural southerly flow of sand. On the inlet’s Ocean Ridge side, rock groins have been placed to slow erosion, and an outfall pipe is designed to carry sand from the inlet’s transfer plant. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Communities struggle to preserve beaches amid storms, shifting coastline

By John Pacenti

Ocean Ridge resident Betty Bingham had a bone to pick with the town’s neighbor to the north.

“I went to Manalapan the other day and it appears that they have gathered about 6 to 12 feet more beachfront,” Bingham said during public comment at Ocean Ridge’s Dec. 9 Town Commission meeting. “I was surprised at how much beach they had.”

Meanwhile, over at Manalapan, the opposite accusation surfaced in October. The general feeling was the sand transfer plant at the Boynton Inlet benefited Ocean Ridge and other towns to the south at Manalapan’s expense.

“They have no maximum amount that they can take from our beaches,” said Dr. Peter Bonutti — husband of Vice Mayor Simone Bonutti — at a meeting of Manalapan’s Beach Committee. Bonutti serves as the town’s liaison with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Palm Beach County on everything sand.

Beach erosion is a top-of-the-agenda concern from coastal Boca Raton to South Palm Beach, where shifting sands and passing storms continuously create the need for renourishment projects. Yet, beach renourishment is a Sisyphean prospect, an endless struggle, for Florida’s barrier island communities.

Related: Manalapan at odds with southern neighbors over sand transfer plant

Two South County inlets impact local beaches, blocking them from receiving sand that flows naturally from north to south. LEFT: Manalapan’s beach on the north side of the Boynton Inlet is wider than Ocean Ridge's to the south. A sand transfer plant offsets some of the loss that is due to the inlet. RIGHT: The Boca Raton Inlet is dredged regularly and the sand used to beef up the South Inlet Park beach, though the difference in beach widths north and south of the inlet is still noticeable. Google Maps

The Gold Coast
The granules of sand might as well be Krugerrands.

Tens of millions of federal, state and county dollars are poured into the beaches each year with full knowledge that the next drive-by hurricane or severe winter nor’easter can suck it all away over a bad weekend. Over the last 87 years, Florida has spent at least $1.9 billion on beach nourishment.

But it’s called Palm “Beach” County for a reason — a place where every other municipality follows suit. Nobody plops $50 million down on a palatial palace in Manalapan only to find nowhere to plant a beach umbrella.

On the other side of the economic equation, the public beaches in Lantana, Ocean Ridge, the County Pocket, Delray Beach and Boca Raton are part of Florida’s economic engine.

Tourists who come to the Sunshine State to loll oceanside pump $80 billion into the state’s annual gross domestic product, its GDP, according to the Army Corps — a big fan of beach renourishment projects.

The projects are a way of life for Palm Beach’s coastal municipalities — but each one is a snapshot in time, tiny pieces to a century-long puzzle. Town councils turn over, and town managers come and go.

“Human perspectives are short relative to geologic perspectives. The coast is changing over the course of decades and even centuries, but we have folks that may move in or out, or folks that aren’t familiar with what may have happened 30 years ago,” said Andy Studt, environmental program supervisor for the county’s coastal resource management.

Some recent work included the $5 million project in Ocean Ridge by the Army Corps in 2020. It replaced about 475,000 cubic yards of sand at Hammock Park and surrounding areas that had been lost to Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Delray Beach is about to launch a $29 million renourishment project to maintain its world-renowned beach — a remarkable story of coastal engineering.

Boca Raton has $15.1 million in its beach restoration fund this year. Recently, the city partnered with Deerfield Beach to replace sand at Palm Beach County’s South Inlet Park.

South Palm Beach and Highland Beach, where beaches abut private land and are not eligible for government grants, are the Blanche DuBoises of coastal communities, relying on the kindness of strangers — those being the town of Palm Beach and Delray Beach.

Luckily, Palm Beach has an $18 million project to restore dunes at Phipps Ocean Park, and some of the sand is to be trucked to South Palm Beach — though it’s not clear how soon that will be.

Lantana, with its public beach, had considered being part of the agreement, but balked last year when the deal changed and the town would have to pay for the sand it was to receive — instead of getting free sand in exchange for providing a beach access point, one that Palm Beach no longer needs.

Farther south, Highland Beach benefits from all the beach nourishment done in Delray Beach, sand that over time filters south to the town’s shoreline.

Florida allocated $50 million in 2024 for beach renourishment, bringing the total state investment to over $550 million since 2019.

It’s a lot of taxpayer money, but the beaches are a magnet for tourists with money to spend. The state saw 34.6 million visitors in 2024 and wants to keep them coming back. But that’s not all.

“Beaches serve as natural barriers against storm surges and protect coastal infrastructure. The economic benefits of maintaining them often outweigh the costs,” said Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, a coastal engineering expert with the University of Miami.

Shores take a beating
The bogeyman in beach renourishment is climate change.

Data shows a clear trend of increased intensity and frequency of larger storms —fueled by record-setting ocean temperatures — posing a threat to reefs that protect the coastline.

Predicted sea-level rise and a suspected change in the Gulf Stream current also pose longer-term threats.

“Last winter was a particularly rough, El Niño winter where we had consistent, strong winds, and we had more outreach from coastal municipalities across the county than we had had in 15 or 20 years because we were seeing similar types of damage,” Studt said.

Homes on Jupiter and Singer islands saw the beach erode right up to their back patios, sucking their backyards out to sea. And yet, there is no tipping of the hourglass here. A finite amount of sand exists in offshore borrow areas or inland mines.

The intervals between beach projects “will likely shrink and these projects will become more expensive as the borrow areas become less and less,” said Pepper Uchino, president of the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association in Tallahassee.

The armor of the coastline, Uchino explains, is supposed to be the barrier islands that change with the river of ocean sand moving — in South Florida — from north to south.

“Barrier islands, by their very definition are ethereal,” he said. “They’re not supposed to be in the same place over and over again.”

The barrier islands in South Palm Beach County are part of a coral ridge, making them more stable. But development has made barrier islands lose more of their ecological function and require artificial protection, Uchino said.

From the time of the first barrier island high-rises and mansions, the Army Corps did what it does: plumb Mother Nature. Inlets, jetties and cuts all have commercial reasons to exist, but disrupt the natural flow of the sand, Uchino said.

“As soon as any sort of development on a barrier island goes up, it has lost its ecological function and has gained a new function as some sort of economic engine,” Uchino said.

The Boynton Inlet plays a huge role in local beach erosion, disrupting the natural flow of sand from north to south. A transfer plant pumps sand from the north side of the cut to the south side, mitigating the sand blocked by the inlet that would have flowed to Ocean Ridge, Delray Beach and other municipalities to the south.

This 1973 photo shows the severity of beach erosion along State Road A1A in Delray Beach a block south of Atlantic Avenue. Delray Beach Historical Society

The Comeback Kid
Ocean Ridge Mayor Geoff Pugh remembers growing up in the area when Delray Beach didn’t have a beach.

“Delray, when I was in high school, when you parked and walked to the ocean there was no beach there. It literally went straight down to the ocean,” Pugh said. “That is how bad it was. And Palm Beach was like that, too. They had to rebuild.”

The impact of the Boynton Inlet, along with a series of hurricanes and storms, eroded Delray Beach’s shoreline right up to State Road A1A, and shrank the beaches of other communities south of the inlet. The town of Gulf Stream appealed for state and federal help in 1957. After that, the first beach renourishment projects started in the area.

Delray Beach has undergone 10 since 1973, placing 6 million cubic yards of sand along its 2.5 miles of coastline.

It has been a remarkable transformation, so much so that Delray Beach was named a Blue Flag beach destination in 2023 — an international honor that tells travelers the beach is renowned for its environmental, educational, safety and accessibility standards.

Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney, who spearheaded a 2013 beach renourishment project during his first stint as the city’s mayor, says there is simply no choice but to preserve the city’s main attraction. The city is pitching in $9 million for the renourishment project starting in the fall.

“We still have high tides, we still have wind, we still have storms. We have a lot of natural conditions that affect the erosion of the beach, and there’s nothing we can do about it,”

Carney said. “I mean, would I love to get rid of hurricanes? Yeah, sure.”

The beach is “our economic driver,” Delray Beach Vice Mayor Juli Casale said.

“Beach renourishment is a controversial subject. It’s expensive. It’s not a permanent solution, and it can disturb the ecosystem,” she said. “However, if we do not renourish our beach it will likely erode due to natural forces.”

The success of Delray Beach is also a result of the city’s building up its dune system. Uchino said dunes can be a cost-efficient way to protect the coastline. A strong dune system could extend the effectiveness of renourishment projects, Uchino said.

“I would say that beach design has come a long way,” Uchino said. Dunes are designed to be sacrificial, he said.

“They look like they’re these big, permanent sand mounds but their whole purpose, in an engineered system, is to take that wave energy so it doesn’t reach whatever critical infrastructure.”

There are efforts to keep the sand in its place — even if it’s a lost cause in the long run.

And allowing natural detritus to build up on the beach, to create what is called the wrack, is effective but may not be wanted by a municipality for aesthetic reasons. Those perfectly raked beaches are the stuff of tourist posters.

 Beachgoers in Boca Raton last month enjoy South Inlet Park, which received major restoration in 2023 in a city partnership with Deerfield Beach. Boca Raton has $15.1 million in its 2025 beach restoration fund. The park is just south of the Boca Raton Inlet. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

The Boca experience
Boca Raton was recognized in 2023 with a Best Restored Beach Award from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association for a multi-jurisdiction collaboration.

The city partnered with Deerfield Beach on a project that included replacing sand at South Inlet Park. It ended up extending the park beach by 100 feet — sand that eventually will make its way south to Deerfield Beach and points beyond. In addition, the inlet is dredged regularly and the sand used to beef up the beach to the south.

Boca Raton City Council member Marc Wigder said it’s important the municipalities don’t go it alone, that they realize the coast doesn’t stop at city limits.

“What I’ve learned is that it’s not just Boca that’s participating for the most part. It’s most of the cities and/or the county participating in the sections of the beaches that they own, and the fact that they’re all participating together is what’s so important,” Wigder said.

Just north in Highland Beach, where the sand is private, individual condo communities have been working to build up their dunes. In a 2023 beach restoration study, the town said it participated in a joint climate change resilience study as it mulled a $14 million project.

The Highland Beach shoreline retreated on average 1.2 feet annually — but it was worse on the south end of town. “The beach in the northern 1.85 miles of the town has benefited from repeated beach nourishments in Delray Beach,” according to the study’s summary.

Science to the rescue?
Another way to retain sand is breakwaters or artificial reefs. Associate Professor Rhode-Barbarigos of the University of Miami spearheaded the development of the SEAHIVE system — perforated, hexagonal concrete pieces that fit together like Legos.

SEAHIVE is designed to dissipate strong waves but also to allow marine life to thrive around it. The structure can be “tuned” to the particular coastline, he said. It can also be used right up against the coastline to create a living sea wall — an example can be found at Wahoo Bay park in Pompano Beach.

Carney is skeptical that an artificial reef system would work for Delray Beach.

“There’s a lot of science out there that says these artificial reefs and things do reduce the erosion effect, right? But I don’t know,” Carney said.

Ocean Ridge’s Pugh is open to breakwaters —structures built off the coast to absorb wave energy and protect shorelines — or artificial reefs. He said the 2020 project took an environmental toll, covering up patch reefs that have only recently re-emerged, he said.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection required the town of Palm Beach in 2013 to build artificial reefs and coral nurseries to offset reef damage caused by 2003 and 2006 beach fills at Midtown Beach.

The county has also used groins — stone or concrete structures — to keep the sand in place. Groins — as well as a staccato of a dozen artificial reefs offshore — are south of the Boynton Inlet.

T-groins, breakwaters and sand renourishment can be the subject of resident backlash. Palm Beach County ended up paying $605,000 a judge awarded in 2023 for placing a breakwater in the Intracoastal Waterway just south of the Toscana condominiums in Highland Beach without the private property owner’s consent. It was sued by Golden City Highland Beach LLC.

In 2022, the county removed 750 tons of rock it had placed in the water there in 2015 — and it is still in court over how much it will have to pay to cover Golden City’s attorney fees.

Renourishment projects, like this 2017 one at South Inlet Park, are expensive, messy and put machinery and beach-goers at odds. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Sand supply shrinking
And what about the sand? It’s not an endless supply and it has to be the right color, the right size, the right temperature. If not, it could affect the nesting and sexing of sea turtles— whose well-being depends on healthy Florida beaches.

“It’s not a shortage of sand. It’s a shortage of inexpensive sand,” Uchino said.

In 2019, Delray Beach commissioned a research vessel to look for borrow areas to dredge. Some communities have turned to trucking in sand from inland mines in places such as Clewiston. While Highland Beach’s report suggested trucking in sand, that would be up to individual oceanfront condominiums or single-family homes and not the town.

Studt, with the county, said beach renourishment is highly complex, having to take into account numerous regulations and requirements, habitat for sea turtles and other environmental concerns. The best solution, he said, remains “the placement of the highest quality sand we can get a hold of.”

But the fact is, Studt added, that near-shore sand resources are depleting, and interior sand mines are finite and very expensive to truck in. The future looks like more groins, breakwaters, artificial reefs and new technology.

“So I think in the long term, we’re going to be focused more and more on structures. We’ve seen tremendous benefit from the structures,” he said.