A five-bedroom, five-bath home celebrates the history of Delray Beach. The entryway and kitchen of this recently completed house have 11-foot ceilings and a street map of the community. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Achievement Centers for Children & Families hosts a full-scale Delray Beach Home Tour offering a peek inside houses between the ocean and the Intracoastal

By Mary Thurwachter

During the past three years, the Delray Beach Home Tour was a shadow of its previous self and the reason was the pandemic, of course. In 2020, the tour was simply a video event showing highlights of homes, enough to let fans of the popular annual event know they weren’t forgotten.
The following two years were mini tours, says Kari Shipley, longtime co-chairwoman of the fundraiser. “We had to limit how many people attended because people were still concerned about COVID.”
This year’s event, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 15, will return to its pre-pandemic scope.

This 1960s home has been fine-tuned over the years and displays many of the owner’s travel photos, including this one from New Zealand in the dining room.

“We’re opening up to full scale,” Shipley said. “We’re really excited. We’ve got great sponsors and eight distinctive homes in the beachfront North End neighborhood of Delray Beach. We’ve got everything from a 1940s cottage to a brand-new house where the owners moved in the 1st of January.
“Now, in the tour’s 20th year, we’re back to expecting 600-700 people and we’ve already sold 450 tickets,” Shipley said in mid-February. “With less than a month to go, we’re pretty sure we’ll reach our $130,000 goal. We’ve already got $118,000.”

ABOVE: This recently completed three-story home has a seating area in front of the main home, with panoramic views along A1A and the ocean. RIGHT: This screen-door insert has graced this Mid-century home for decades through multiple owners.

The North End neighborhood runs from the north side of Atlantic Avenue north to George Bush Boulevard, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.
Guests can look forward to a leisurely day exploring unique homes, a catered lunch and trolley service between homes, if they like. But Shipley says the seven-block tour is totally walkable for people who choose to hoof it.
“We tell everyone to wear your most comfortable walking shoes,” Shipley said.
Parking will be at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach on Gleason Street, just south of Atlantic Avenue.
That’s where people can catch the trolley.
Money raised will go to the Achievement Centers for Children & Families, a community-based organization that provides opportunities for under-resourced children to thrive in a positive environment.
The event runs smoothly, Shipley said, thanks to co-chairwoman Noreen Payne, volunteer coordinator Deborah Dowd, staff at the Achievement Centers Foundation office, and the 100 or more volunteers who are stationed at the homes, on the trolley directing people where to go, and at the buffet luncheon.
The lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the historical home of Frank McKinney at 610 N. Ocean Blvd.
“There’s a gorgeous big tree with decking all around it and a great ocean view,” Shipley said. “People will love having lunch there.”

ABOVE: Whimsical sculptures of dogs at play enliven the entrance to this home on A1A. BELOW RIGHT: A collection of family and celebrity photos highlights the living room wall of this Delray Beach home.

Another highlight will be the dozen plein-air artists who will set up easels around the featured homes and at various places on the route. Attendees can watch the artists work and even buy paintings from them. After the event, paintings will be on display at Chapel 4, a historical museum in a landmark building in the heart of the Marina Historic District downtown.
The tour started 20 years ago when Achievement Centers board members Anne Bright and Barbara Murphy came up with the idea to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Since then, the event has raised more than $1.6 million.

Tickets for the March 15 tour are $125. The event runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and includes lunch. Advance reservations are necessary. Tickets are available by calling the Achievement Centers Foundation office at 561-266-0003 or ordering at www.achievementcentersfl.org/delray-home-tour/.

Who could ask for a better oceanfront view than the one provided at this home on the east side of A1A?

The backyard of a two-story home on the Delray Beach Home Tour has a hot tub overflowing into the swimming pool surrounded by cut-coral pavers and privacy hedges.

ABOVE (l-r): Reilly Glasser, Amy Procacci and Ashley Cole in their black dresses. RIGHT: Luz Nieto and Laurie Daniel. The Junior League hopes to raise $20,000 in this initiative. Photos provided

By Amy Woods

The little black dress has become an icon. A staple in most women’s closets, it hangs ready and waiting as the go-to garment that can be worn on almost any occasion.
The Junior League of Boca Raton plans to capitalize on the ubiquity of the little black dress this month in an effort to raise awareness of the effect poverty has on choices and opportunities.
“Hopefully, the title makes people think,” league President Jamie Sauer said of the fourth annual Little Black Dress Initiative taking place March 27 through 31. “At the end of the day, the point is to feel a teeny bit of what it might be like to wear the same outfit every day for five days.”
The Little Black Dress Initiative not only will raise awareness of the restrictions poverty places on choices and opportunities, but also illustrate the struggles faced by more than one in 10 Palm Beach County residents living in poverty, the majority of whom are women.
“It’s been really successful for us in helping raising money for the community,” Sauer said. “It spurs the conversation so you can talk with people about it.”
A total of $15,000 was raised last year. This year’s goal is $20,000. Participants ask family members, friends and social-media followers for sponsorships, and proceeds go toward programs and services for women and children in need. Participants also don “Ask me about my dress” pins and post about their experiences on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms.
“For me, wearing the same black dress makes me realize, ‘What does that do for your confidence and how you feel each day?’” Sauer said. “It’s very humbling. It’s extra work. It’s extra laundry. It’s honestly a tough week. It’s a very tiny portion of what people with limited resources face.”

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, recently visited Delray Beach’s Wayside House — a women’s addiction treatment center serving the public since 1974 — and announced $1 million in new federal funding for the facility.
The money will go toward building additions and improvements to accommodate more clients.
“We are so grateful and proud to be recognized at the federal level for the critical role Wayside House plays in the war against addiction,” CEO Lisa McWhorter said. “We are indebted to Rep. Frankel for bringing our work to the attention of Congress.”
The investment is one of 15 local nonprofit projects Frankel submitted through a program that allows members of Congress to secure proceeds for specific initiatives in their regions.
“These funds will go a long way in helping Wayside House continue helping women rebuild their lives,” McWhorter said.
For more information, call 561-278-0055 or visit www.waysidehouse.net.

‘Keeping the Promise’passes $240 million
Steve and Marla Garchik have donated $1 million to “Keeping the Promise — The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital.”
The gift brought the total amount of funds raised to more than $240 million. The goal is $250 million.
“From the moment we walked through the doors, we believed you can truly feel this is a community-driven hospital,” Marla Garchik said. “The staff and facilities are a step above.”
The Garchiks, who moved to the area 11 years ago, have made multiple visits to the hospital for their parents’ care.
“Honestly, we feel so lucky to have found this special place of care for our family members,” she said. “We’re grateful to the extraordinary nurses, doctors, the foundation and the community outreach of the hospital. Therefore, our promise is to do everything in our power to support this special place.”
For more information, call 561-955-4142 or visit donate.brrh.com.

Achievement Centers appoints new CEO
The Achievement Centers for Children & Families, of service to the Delray Beach and South County communities since 1969, has appointed Adamma DuCille as its CEO.
Former CEO Stephanie Seibel has moved on to a new role as CEO of the organization’s foundation.
“Adamma and I will work collaboratively to develop and expand our programs,” Seibel said of DuCille, who joins the agency from the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, where she was the director of equity and organizational development.
“Through my new role, I will continue to lead the organization by spearheading long-term funding objectives, impact efforts and growth initiatives,” Seibel said.
For more information call 561-276-4561 or visit www.achievementcentersfl.org.

Jewish collective helps women juggle work, home
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County has relaunched the Professional Jewish Women’s Collective, a networking initiative dedicated to bringing together women of all ages and backgrounds to nurture each other’s careers.
The PJWC, on hold during the pandemic, provides personal connections, interactive programming and peer support to address the issues that come with balancing work and home. It plans to meet next on May 3.
“The PJWC was born from a shared space where a woman in business, with her own energy, can express her thoughts and ideas openly with a community of women that lift her up to become the best of herself personally and professionally,” PJWC co-chairwoman Jill Poser-Kammet said. “The experience is exhilarating.”
Co-chairwoman Lisa Friedman Clark said, “After moving to Boca in 2020, it became immediately apparent to me that I didn’t have a local network of professional ‘fristers,’ or friends who are sisters.
“Couple that with all the nuances and challenges of starting my third career, a brand-new family business, and you can understand why I jumped at the chance to chair PJWC.” For more information, call 561-852-3128 or visit jewishboca.org/professional-jewish-womens-collective-pjwc.

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

Former Apple CEO and Pepsi Vice President John Sculley addressed the crowd at the second luncheon of the season. Sculley discussed his career highlights during an interview by Kravis Center board member Jeffrey Stoops. More than 160 corporate partners and their guests attended, listening to the former executive talk about working at Pepsi in the ’70s when the brand became known for its marketing innovations and at Apple in the ’80s when the Macintosh was launched during the Super Bowl. ABOVE: Jane Mitchell and Stoops. Photo provided by Capehart

Good humor and laughter were in abundance at the Delray Beach Public Library’s 16th annual fundraiser. Angelo and Mari Bianco served as hosts of the event, which is a perennial favorite for its creative, casual, fun-filled night of comedy, cocktails, and supper-by-the-bite. James Austin Johnson of ‘Saturday Night Live’ headlined the show, which raised more than $330,000 and attracted nearly 400 attendees. ABOVE: (l-r) Lindsay Hays Saraj, Mari Bianco, Chiara Clark, Lynsey Kane and Jacqueline Owen. BELOW: (l-r) Bobby, Caron and Robert Dockerty. RIGHT: Donna Paolino Coia and Brenda Medore. Photos provided

Les Girls of Palm Beach President Martina Covarrubias presented a check to Creative Waves Foundation President Candace Tamposi for the construction of a new enrichment center in Belle Glade. During the gathering, Tamposi provided a history of the foundation and described plans for the facility to provide after-school activities and tutoring for children. A multinational, multilingual women’s club with 48 members from 31 countries, Les Girls of Palm Beach donates annually to a local charity. ABOVE: Covarrubias and Tamposi. Photo provided

Several guests attended the debut of the ‘Visualizing Climate Disruption’ exhibition highlighting more than 40 works from 17 Palm Beach County-based professional artists. On display through April 8, the show focuses on artists’ perspectives of climate change. With Florida on the front lines of sea-level rise, climbing temperatures, catastrophic storms, devastation of coral reefs and disappearing sea grasses, the exhibition aims to engage local audiences. ABOVE: Sandra Miller Swill stands before a collection of her work. RIGHT: Lorraine Rabin and Michelle Marra. Photos provided by Jacek Gancarz

The third annual GPA, benefiting the Eda & Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation, was a festive night of ‘funraising.’ Tyler Cameron, a contestant on season 15 of ‘The Bachelorette,’ made an appearance as a special guest. All proceeds will be earmarked for scholarships for accomplished students. This school year, the amount distributed totaled $860,000. ABOVE: (l-r) Elyse Cromer, Amanda, Cliff, Eda and Eric Viner, and Niki Knopf. Photo provided

Gary and Katherine Parr served as hosts of a party marking the Kravis Center’s 30th anniversary. The event honored members of the center’s education committee and celebrated the 3 millionth student served by the center’s education programs. ‘The education committee at the Kravis Center has a long-standing history of collaborating with different organizations in our community to bring the arts and learning to students of all ages,’ Katherine Parr said. ‘As we look at making the performing arts even more accessible, it’s an honor to work with the excellent team at the Kravis Center and an exceptional committee of dedicated community members.’ TOP: Katherine and Gary Parr. RIGHT: Dan Drennen and David Sarama. Photos provided by Mary Stucchi

The Boca West Children’s Foundation raised $1.1 million for projects serving at-risk youths at its annual gala. The event featured entertainment by the acclaimed late-night talk-show host and stand-up comedian as well as performances by Dreyfoos School of the Arts’ jazz band and dance department. ‘We were thrilled to commemorate our 13th anniversary and the significant impact the foundation has made in our community by supporting local children’s charities,’ foundation Executive Director Pamela Weinroth said, noting that since its inception in 2010, more than $18 million has been donated to 30-plus local charities. ‘The generosity of our supporters at the gala was overwhelming.’
RIGHT: (l-r) Emily Cullen, Eileen Rose, Peggy Smith, Bonnie Krich, Tracey Schwartz and Tina Patterson. Photo provided

Tony Vento, a longtime chef, puts culinary ideas to work in his offerings at Capt. Frank’s in Boynton Beach. Photo provided

By Faran Fagen

Capt. Frank’s new owner, Tony Vento, has traveled all over the Mediterranean, up and down the East Coast, and as far north as Quebec.
Every step of the way, he’s picked up ingredients for another slice of cuisine. To Vento, each region of the world he’s visited symbolizes a signature sizzle in the market’s style of sautéing.
“I’ve learned different cuisine, cultures and passion to food itself,” said Vento, who became owner of Capt. Frank’s Seafood Market in Boynton Beach in October 2021.
“After working as a chef for the past 23 years, I decided it’s time to take everything I’ve learned and bring it close to home.”
The 44-year-old lives in Boynton Beach with his wife, Diana, and their two young boys. He realized a dream when he took ownership of Capt. Frank’s.  Vento graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City and worked as a chef in that area until he moved to Miami, where he helped open the Ritz-Carlton in South Beach.
From there, he moved to the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach in Manalapan (now Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa).
“I worked with some great leaders and colleagues who I learned a great deal from,” Vento said.
Next, he became a private estate/yacht chef. This is where he met former Frank’s owner Joe Sclafani.
Sclafani and his team catered Vento’s events and charters. The food was a huge hit. Vento sought a way to combine his chef expertise with the warm feeling from Sclafani and his seafood market.
In the early ’90s, Sclafani sold his partnership in a seafood market in Rye, New York, headed to Florida with his family and bought Capt. Frank’s Seafood Market. 
A year and a half ago, he sold it to Vento. Sclafani still comes in once a week to pick up fresh seafood.
In his travels, Vento enjoys the cuisine of local chefs who carved a niche in the communities in which they cook. It’s something he’s sought since he took over the fish market at Capt. Frank’s.
“As a chef I celebrate my local chefs with their ideas,” Vento said. “From Chef Judine’s granola, Chef Elio chocolate from Colombia and Chef Jeff’s local smoked fish dips.” 
Of course, Vento has brought in some new ideas for locals to treasure. For one, you can come in and create a custom menu —from wine, cheese, caviar, fresh fish and meats to desserts.
One thing that hasn’t changed are the market staples, including the market’s famous stone crabs.
A variety of fresh seafood is available along with groceries selected by Vento that fill the shelves, coolers and freezers surrounding the seafood showcase. Customers get a mouth-watering view of what they might want to pick up for dinner.
The retail and wholesale seafood market does brisk business, with the high product turnover resulting in superior freshness, Vento said.
Vento’s hobbies — besides cooking — include gardening, spending time with family, and traveling.
Capt. Frank’s is open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. It’s at 435 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach. Phone: 561-732-3663.

Back next month
Food writer Jan Norris will return next month. Reach her at nativefla@gmail.com.

By Joe Capozzi

The Seaside Deli, the County Pocket staple that shuttered in January because of a landlord dispute, reopened on Feb. 10 under new management.  
Whether the place will return to its former glory remains to be seen. 
Missing, for now, is the actual deli where, under the previous management, friendly sandwich makers served up fresh food to customers they often knew by name.
Sandwiches are for sale at the new deli, but they’re pre-made, wrapped in cellophane and stored in a refrigerated pantry against the east wall. Also missing in the first few weeks since the reopening: beer, wine and cigarettes.  
Mohammad Amin, a clerk at the store, said Feb. 23 that the store was waiting for licenses to sell alcohol and cigarettes. He said a formal grand opening was planned in March on a date to be determined.  
Until then, plenty of soda and snacks are for sale. And Amin excitedly showed a reporter a new addition next to the register — an empty plexiglass display case awaiting a shipment of electronic cigarettes. 
Leonora Belliard, an officer in a company that owns the building and brought Amin and others in to reopen the deli, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

The Rev. Leslie Etheredge, associate Florida Conference minister for United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Todd Petty at his installation at Church of the Palms in Delray Beach. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Churches throughout the country are struggling with the same issues: how to attract new members and how to keep the members they have.
Two local churches are working together to address these issues to benefit both.
Church of the Palms in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach Congregational Church have been practicing a “cooperative ministry” since May 2022. They are affiliated under United Church of Christ.
“It’s going very well,” the Rev. Todd Petty, pastor of Church of the Palms, said by phone.
In the past few years, Boynton Congregational had undergone big changes: It sold its property to the city and moved to a smaller, leased site. Then it lost its pastor. Petty started leading worship at both churches a few Sundays each month.
Finally, it just made more sense to incorporate both churches at one site — Church of the Palms. The two churches haven’t officially merged yet, but it’s likely to happen this year.
In congregations affiliated under UCC — about 5,000 churches nationally with more than a million members — most decisions are made locally, rather than by a governing body such as a diocese. Individual churches decide how conservative or progressive they want to be.
United Church of Christ often calls itself the “church of firsts.” According to ucc.org, the church was “the first historically white denomination to ordain an African-American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry. We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and the Civil Rights movement.”
The three ideals the church holds above others are inclusiveness, progressive thought and community-mindedness, and the functioning of the two local churches as one for the good of the congregants is a testament to these ideals.
Petty came to Church of the Palms in January 2020, just as the pandemic began. It was a terrible time for all churches, but to Petty, who relocated from snowbound Michigan, keeping a positive attitude for his new congregation during the pandemic was important.
United Church of Christ prides itself on being “a church of extravagant welcome,” following Jesus’ example of “gracious hospitality.” Petty said people consider two things when they are looking for a new church: Was the message meaningful and inspiring and were the people friendly?
“Our commitment is to be open and affirming, especially to the LGBTQ community,” Petty said. “We consider ourselves a progressive church with traditional worship that’s community-minded.”
UCC is a democratic church. Church members get to vote on big decisions — like who the next minister will be — and decide what they want the personality of their church to be. “We say, ‘Our congregation speaks to us, but not for us,’” Petty said.
Petty said that the No. 1 reason people come to a new church is a personal invitation. Maybe a neighbor says, “Come check out my church,” or a colleague mentions something interesting about a sermon.
Certainly, people are checking out churches online and churches need a strong presence there. Church of the Palms has a Facebook page, which is one of the best ways to stay connected. Another is to hold virtual services as the church does.
Petty said churches in general have two congregations now: in-person and virtual. Some people love the virtual option and attend more often now that services are online. Other people like to come and sit in the pews.
Petty strives to serve both.
“We also allow our facilities to be used by 12 other churches,” Petty said. “We’re a ministry of space and we’re very proud of that.”
And if you’re looking for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Church of the Palms has one almost every day.
Petty says he committed himself to serving God in the fifth grade, but his mother knew even earlier that her son would grow up to serve God.
He comes from a long line of preachers: His great-great-great- grandfather was the first in the family. “It’s in my DNA,” Petty said.
Church of the Palms is undergoing two important beautification projects: The church is refurbishing the stained glass out front, and it will install in the church courtyard the dalle de verre stained glass cross that Boynton Beach Congregational salvaged from its original site.
Consider this your personal invitation to come by and see what’s happening.
Church of the Palms is at 1960 N. Swinton Ave. In-person worship takes place at 10 a.m. Sunday, followed by coffee in the Friendship Center. The virtual service streams at 4:30 p.m. Call 561-276-6347.

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

Dr. Michael B. Brown is scheduled to be guest preacher at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach the morning of March 19.
Then at 4 p.m., he’ll be joined by Rob Tanner to speak again on “Can Retirement Be Purposeful?”
Brown is an author (A Five-Mile Walk, Bottom Line Beliefs and The Love Principle: Daily Practices for a Loving & Purposeful Life), motivational speaker, adjunct professor, and the senior minister at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, America’s oldest existing Protestant congregation.
He is known for his “practical positivity” message and he’ll offer tips on mapping the retirement landscape.
The discussion will take place in the conference room on the second floor of the Center for Christian Studies. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are requested. Call Nancy Fine at 561-276-6338, ext. 10, or email nancyfine@firstdelray.com.
First Presbyterian Church is at 33 Gleason St.

Cason to celebrate 120th anniversary
Cason United Methodist Church celebrates its 120th anniversary at 11 a.m. March 19, with a special service that mirrors the 1969 dedication service of Cason’s campus at the corner of Swinton Avenue and Lake Ida Road in Delray Beach.
Following the service, a catered lunch is planned on the grounds of the church. Tickets for the luncheon are $30, and reservations are required. Tables are available for $275.
Call 561-276-5302. Cason is at 342 N. Swinton Ave.

B’nai Torah concert series to wrap up with two shows
The B’nai Torah Congregation 2023 Concert Series finishes with two shows in March.
Cantor Azi Schwartz performs March 15. Schwartz is the senior cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York and is known for his spiritually uplifting performances.
Cantor Magda Fishman performs March 22. The final concert of the season features Fishman with award-winning composer, pianist and music producer Maestro Tomer Adaddi.
Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. at B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. The shows will also be available virtually. Tickets start at $25 at www.btcboca.org/CS. For more information, call 561-392-8566.

Margaret Swinchoski (l-r), Donald Mokrynski and Ron Levy. Photo provided

Music at St. Paul’s trio to celebrate spring
Celebrate “Spring is in the Air” with the Palisade Virtuosi at 3 p.m. March 5 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Delray Beach. The program will feature works for flute, clarinet and piano performed by the Bergen County, New Jersey-based ensemble Palisade Virtuosi.
The founders are three friends — Margaret Swinchoski, flute, Donald Mokrynski, clarinet, and Ron Levy, piano — who had successful solo careers but enjoy playing in an ensemble.
They must. They’ve been together for 20 years.
Music at St. Paul’s concerts take place at the church at 188 S. Swinton Ave.
A $20 donation at the door is suggested. Admission is free for guests aged 18 and younger.
Other upcoming concerts are the Lynn University Chamber Music Competition finalists (April 16); “Four for Four,” featuring the Delray String Quartet (May 7); and “The Sound of Heaven,” music for organ, harp and violin, with David Macfarlane, Kay Kemper and Valentin Mansurov (May 21).
Call 561-278-6003 or visit www.musicstpauls.org.

Boca Raton seniors to celebrate b’nai mitzvah
Seniors in Boca Raton are preparing for their b’nai mitzvah, 70 years later. Nearly 80 people make up the new Eight-Three Club at B’nai Torah Congregation, and 20 members will be called to the bimah on March 25. Some will read from the Torah and others will carry the Torah, open the ark or read the prayer for peace.
It’s customary to celebrate an 83rd birthday with a second b’nai mitzvah as a sign of gratitude for living a long life. But some 83-year-olds will celebrate for the first time. Some are women who weren’t given the chance 70 years ago, while for others, life got in the way.
You can celebrate with the grateful group at 1 p.m. March 8 at B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton. Call 561-392-8566 or visit www.btcboca.org.

Italian Night dinner-dance coming to St. Lucy church
The St. Padre Pio Knights of Columbus hosts its second annual St. Lucy Italian Night Dinner Dance at 5:30 p.m. March 25 in the Parish Center.
A seven-course meal with beer, wine or soda is planned, with musical entertainment by Gino DeMarco and door prizes.
Tickets are $75 and are available after Mass on weekends or by calling Dominick Conte at 561-715-0017. St. Lucy Catholic Church is at 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.

Send religion news to Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.

Groomers Lindsee Lee Amsden (above) of Boynton Beach and Janaina Martins (below right) of Boca Raton are professionals when it comes to taking care of your pets’ coats. ‘There is definitely an art and a science to it,’ Amsden says. Photos provided

By Arden Moore

I’ve always had dogs with easy-to-maintain double coats or wiry coats. My at-home grooming and bathing requirements were accomplished easily and quickly. Then a few years ago, we rescued Emma, a poodle-Chihuahua mix, who sports a challenging silky, wavy coat and has a propensity for gooey eye boogers.
As I quickly learned, despite her being all of 9 pounds, Emma really needs regular “spaw day” sessions performed by a professional pet groomer. She also counts on me to step up my at-home brushing and bathing regimens between those appointments.
And I’m fine with that.
As a master pet first-aid/CPR instructor, I recognize that a dog’s skin is the largest organ. Neglected coats can become oily, dry, matted or sport nicks, scrapes and even painful hot spots that can take a toll on the other organs as well as the body’s respiratory and circulatory systems.
But I realized that I have a lot to learn and share with pet parents. That’s why I reached out to a pair of top professional pet groomers in Palm Beach County for tips and advice.
Lindsee Lee Amsden shares her Boynton Beach home with Cooper, her chow chow mix, and Harley, her tortoiseshell-colored cat. This professional pet groomer travels a lot up and down the Florida coast as director of education at two grooming schools: Pet’s Playground Grooming School in Pompano Beach and Woof Gang Academy of Grooming in Ocoee. She is also a competitive pet groomer in shows.
Her colleague Janaina Martins shares her home in Boca Raton with her well-groomed Pomeranian named Ciara. Martins divides her grooming time at Woof Gang as well as at the Mod Dog Salon in Boca Raton.
“When it comes to pet grooming, there is definitely an art and a science to it,” says Amsden.
Adds Martins, “I am always going to seminars, watching pet grooming videos and whatever I can to expand my knowledge so I can bring out the best in dogs over various breeds and to teach my clients about maintaining their dogs’ coats.”
Martins and Amsden share these pet grooming do’s and don’ts:
• Do get in the habit of looking, smelling and touching your dog from the tip of the head to the end of the tail at least once a week.
“We groomers are often the first to notice a cut or an infection on a dog, especially one with a thick or double coat,” says Martins.
• Do look and sniff inside the ears.
“Your dog’s ears should not smell like dirty socks or look red,” says Martins. “These can be possible signs of an infection that requires veterinary care.”
If your dog, especially one who may have herding-breed genes, comes inside from a romp in the backyard, look carefully inside the ear canals.
“If you see what looks like coffee grounds, it may be ear mites or it may be just dirt that entered when your dog was rolling in the dirt in your backyard,” says Amsden.
• Don’t reach for the scissors to cut out a mat on your dog’s coat.
“Always think safety first,” says Martins. “If your dog suddenly wiggles, you could accidentally cut the skin or nip an ear.”
• Don’t try to cut away the dirty glob on your dog’s face.
Amsden says, “The safest way to deal with eye boogers is to wipe them with a damp cloth or unscented baby wipes and then use a flea comb with tiny metal teeth to gently comb away the goo. Never use scissors, especially near your dog’s eyes.”
• Do recognize that dogs come in a variety of coats with different grooming needs. Coats may be silky, drop, hairless, double, combo, single, short, medium and much more, so consult your pet groomer about which brush and comb will work best on your dog.
“The best are metal combs and slicker brushes with metal teeth,” says Amsden. “If you have a longhaired dog, get a long-pin slicker brush. Got a shorthaired dog? Use a short-pin slicker brush.”
Silky, wavy coats, like the one my Emma sports, require more brushing and bathing than the wiry coat Kona has.
“Silky coats tend to soak up the oils off your hands when you pet them and odors when they come in contact with other animals. These coats can smell really nasty if not bathed enough,” says Amsden. “Wiry coats found in terriers like Kona are designed to be coarse and be slightly water resistant. Wiry coats tend to repel that dirt, that water, that muck on them when the terrier is digging to catch a weasel or a rat and therefore, do not need shampoos as often as dogs with silky coats.”
• Don’t rinse your dog’s head when he is looking up.
“You risk getting water in his ears,” says Martins. “Always put cotton balls inside his ears before a bath and always rinse with his head looking down so water will not get into his ears.”
• Do let your dog gleefully do a full body shake after a bath and before you attempt to towel him dry.
“Dogs love to shake, so let them,” says Amsden. “It makes the bath more welcoming to them and they are far more effective in getting water off their coats than we are with towels. Make it fun. I tell my dog, Cooper, ‘You’re a self-drying dog. You go, buddy!’”
Amsden’s final tip to pet parents: Recognize that dogs are very good at smelling our emotional state.
“If you’re nervous, your dog will be nervous,” says Amsden. “If you are calm, your dog will tend to be calm. Dogs can smell your stress level. Strive to be calm and upbeat, especially when you bring your dog into a grooming salon. We as groomers want to make the grooming experience pleasant and safe for your dog.”

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

Jared Smith was named CEO of Bethesda Hospital East and Bethesda Hospital West in Boynton Beach, effective late last month.
“For the past 25 years, Jared’s career has been focused on the South Florida health care market, including eight years in the Palm Beach market, and he has had great success in elevating the standard of care and leading engaged and high-performing teams like ours,” said Lincoln Mendez, north region executive for Baptist Health and CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. “He understands the unique needs of our community and is committed to delivering exceptional care and service.”
Previously, Smith served as regional CEO at Broward Health Coral Springs.
Smith is active in the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, where he serves as executive board chairman; South Florida Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee; and Coral Springs Economic Development Advisory Committee. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation from the University of Miami.

***

Damon Barrett is the new chief operating officer for HCA Florida JFK Hospital in Atlantis.
Barrett served in that capacity for HCA Florida Palms West Hospital for the past two years. Before that, he served as vice president of operations at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital. Barrett joined HCA Healthcare in 2014 at Mercy Hospital as director of rehabilitation services.
He began his health care career as a physical therapist. Barrett holds a bachelor of science degree from San Diego State University, an MBA from Chadron State College, and a doctorate in physical therapy from Northern Arizona University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

***

Dr. Kirby C. Janke has joined Delray Care Physical Therapy, 2645 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. He moved to South Florida three years ago after closing his practice, Skaneateles Spine and Sport, Inc., in Skaneateles, New York.  
His focus is in orthopedic, neurological, and sports medicine treatment and rehabilitation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from East Carolina University; a doctorate of chiropractic from Palmer-West Chiropractic College; a doctorate in physical therapy from Boston University; and a doctorate in orthopedics and sports science from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

***

Dr. Steven Hacker, a surgeon with Hacker Dermatology, Delray Beach, and founder of Nano Surgical LLC, has patented a reusable scalpel. Called Lumohs, it provides shadowless illumination of the surgical site and can be used for outpatient skin-cancer surgeries and most other routine procedures.
“The scalpel handle has not significantly changed since it was first introduced 100 years ago,” Hacker said. “This is a simple, yet highly effective solution that already is delivering safer, more efficient surgical procedures.”
Hacker, who has performed more than 50,000 skin cancer surgeries in 30 years of practice, said he realized the only way to better illuminate the surgical site was from inside the scalpel blade holder.
“Using Lumohs’ reusable battery cartridge, Lumohs eliminates shadows and blind spots that can obscure tiny, critical nerves and blood vessels that can be accidentally severed during surgery,” he said. “The result is improved surgical efficiency for Mohs, plastic surgery and other routine, office-based procedures.”
The scalpel costs $200.
Hacker Dermatology is at 230 George Bush Blvd., Suite B.

***

Delray Medical Center’s new cardiac concierge program aims to save lives by quickly identifying and treating patients experiencing chest pain and other heart symptoms. When a patient arrives at the emergency room, he or she will be met by a dedicated cardiac liaison.
Then, an experienced cardiac care team will implement a specialized plan to speed the patient’s diagnosis and treatment and will remain by the patient’s side throughout the hospital stay.  For more information, visit www.delraymedicalctr.com/services/cardiovascular/cardiac-concierge-program. 

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

Patty Perluke (l-r), Ronni Krasny, Claudia Rienzo and Mary Leroux work on the One Heart initiative. Photo provided

By Jan Engoren

Even before Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest on live TV gave the nation a lesson in the critical importance of immediate CPR and use of automatic external defibrillator machines, Colonial Ridge Club residents Sally Szumlas and Eileen Fiorina were on a mission to make first responders out of their neighbors.
The two, both medical professionals, are co-chairs of the Community Well-Being Committee. Szumlas, 60, has a Ph.D. in critical care nursing and Fiorina, 77, is a retired dietitian and clinical manager in a hospital in her home state of Pennsylvania.
“Even if we only save one life here, it is one life someone has to be with their loved ones,” says Fiorina, a 10-year resident of Colonial Ridge in Ocean Ridge who winters here and conceived the idea.
When Szumlas moved in next door, she knew she had an ally.
After they lobbied the board and raised about $7,200 to purchase the AED equipment, their initiative, titled One Heart, kicked off in February — American Heart Month.
The women aim to bring awareness to their community about the importance of having first-responder skills, including performing CPR and using AEDs, to provide lifesaving treatment to someone suffering cardiac arrest.
“We are proud to be able to support our neighbors by bringing our One Heart program and its lifesaving technology to our neighbors at Colonial Ridge,” says Szumlas, who comes down from Chicago each winter. “Data show that early intervention, including cardiac defibrillation, greatly improves the chance of survival from heart attack, and saves nearly 1,700 lives each year in the U.S.
“Everyone should be prepared to be a first responder in an emergency situation,” she says. “That means knowing how to recognize the trouble, having the confidence to intervene and the necessary tools to intervene with.”
As a result of their efforts and with help from Delray Beach business owner Ted David Paul of Med Tran Plus, two AED machines will be installed in publicly accessible areas in the community at 5505 N. Ocean Blvd.
In addition, CPR classes began in late February with the goal of training at least 50% of the almost 200 residents at Colonial Ridge Club, many of them 55 and older.
Szumlas notes that the community has had two incidents of cardiac arrest, in which one resident survived and one did not.
According to Szumlas, residents were trained in the American Heart Association’s “friends and family CPR certification,” a practice-while-watching technique. The committee held five days of training, with two sessions each day.
“We want to help people respond when faced with this situation,” she says. “We want to educate our residents on recognizing and getting the most important things to happen. No. 1, check to see if the person is breathing. No. 2, call 911. And No. 3, if there is no pulse, get the AED and follow the machine’s instructions.
“Besides saving lives, this is a way to bring our community together,” says Szumlas. “Plus, these are skills you can take with you. You never know when you might be in an airport, movie theater or supermarket and have to save somebody’s life.”

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

Andrew Dagher, a senior at Oxbridge Academy, shows the official patent certificate for his device, a metabolic charging apparatus. Photo provided by Dr. Sami Dagher

By Janis Fontaine

What if your Apple watch could charge itself by capturing your body heat? Some Ph.D. in Silicon Valley probably invented that, right?
Wrong. Andrew Dagher of Ocean Ridge, a senior at Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, already holds the patent on the invention.
The “metabolic charging device” produces an electric current because of the thermoelectric Seebeck effect: “A temperature difference between two dissimilar electrical conductors or semiconductors produces a voltage difference between the two substances.”
In the watch example, the difference in temperature from your body on one side and the cooler temperature on other side (outside vs. inside the watch) produces a current. The greater the difference in temperature, the greater the current produced.
Through a series of contracts with the Florida Institute of Technology, a prototype was produced. Patent law experts did a deep dive on relevant research. Andrew set up a limited liability company to own the patents.
These were complicated business dealings for a person who turns 18 on March 11, but Andrew was up for the challenge.
“I’m extremely curious,” Andrew said. He started reading his father’s medical books when he was just a kid, but admits he gets lightheaded at the sight of blood so becoming a doctor like his father just wasn’t going to work.
“Medicine is my favorite thing,” he said, but he plans to major in finance and mechanical engineering. In reality, “I’ll be acquiring all the tools I need to build a business.”
There’s no shortage of projects percolating in that fertile mind: “I have 30 ideas on my phone at various stages.”
He says he does some of his best thinking when he’s driving with Kodak Black, Kendrick Lamar or The Weeknd playing on the stereo.
But don’t mistake his intellect for introversion. In conversation, Andrew is leaning in, making eye contact and not checking his phone. People around Andrew feel heard and seen, a gift of a real leader. “I have tons of friends and I’m very social,” he says.
Right now, tennis is Andrew’s extracurricular focus, and he’s captain of the Oxbridge tennis team. He also enjoys a round of golf and likes to work out. He wants to set a good example for his teammates, so he eats right, shuns caffeine and tries to get enough sleep, an issue for a lot of teens.
Andrew’s family is close. His parents, Dr. Sami and Joumana Dagher, came to the United States from Lebanon and his father’s two brothers also live and work nearby, so Andrew has a robust family to enrich his life.
From them, he has developed a set of guiding principles such as “Always do what’s right” and “Follow your gut.”
When he’s presented with a baffling problem or an issue he can’t resolve on his own, Andrew seeks out his father first.
“My dad helps a lot of people,” he said. “He taught me to weigh the ramifications of my actions.”
His second call is to his priest, the Rev. Gabriel Ghanoum at St. Nicholas Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Delray Beach. “He’s the most giving man on the planet and one of my personal heroes,” Andrew said.
Next fall, Andrew will head off to college, he hopes at Boston College. Andrew says his strong Catholic faith fit best with the Jesuit university, which tops his list of 12 schools. “It has a familiar set of rules,” he said.
It’s hard to predict where the young innovator will be in five years. There’s no course or detailed map to follow. Andrew is keeping his mind and his options open: “I’m on my own path.”
“My quote from eighth grade still applies,” Andrew says.
That is: “I am ready to face any challenges that might be foolish enough to face me.” — Dwight Schrute, The Office.

The living room has multiple archways and a sweeping staircase to the second floor, as well as a decorative fireplace and volume, detailed ceilings. Photos provided

In one of the most sought after locations in South Florida, this extraordinary estate sits on the grounds of The Boca Raton. The 7,150 total square foot property with barrel tile roof boasts incredible views of the golf course, lake and grounds of the renowned resort.

The impressive gated entrance is surrounded by bougainvillea and framed with a pair of royal palms. BELOW RIGHT: The home (foreground far right) is one of the few single-family homes located on the grounds of The Boca Raton.

With five bedrooms and five full and one half baths, this three-story home (with elevator) has a formal dining room with a wine room, a breakfast area and a library paneled in rich mahogany with a full bath. The second floor has two large en suite bedrooms. The third floor consists of an entertainment area, bar and balcony.
Outside, the loggia contains a summer kitchen, great pool/spa with cabana and a separate one-bedroom, one-bath guest house for your visitors.
The property is completely fenced, has a two- car garage and is storm protected with complete impact glass. Offered at $10,499,000.

Call for details if you wish to purchase furnished. Joyce Schneider, broker/owner, 561-212-4403; Castles by the Beach Realty, 889 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432, 561-392-8770; www.castlesbythebeach.com or joyce@castlesbythebeach.com

ABOVE: The huge chef’s kitchen has abundant natural light and features custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, a pantry and a separate bar area.
BELOW: The first-floor master has a large sitting area adjoining, along with two master baths.

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

Michael and Clara Klein, who touted themselves as the first two visitors to Ocean Strand Park, walk through Boca Raton's newest waterfront park after its opening on Feb. 27.  The park is 14 acres of land between Spanish River Blvd. and Palmetto Park Road and stretches from the beach to the intracoastal waterway. Photo by Tim Stepien

Pedestrians, bicyclists and people in wheelchairs passing the formerly undeveloped Ocean Strand property had a surprise today: Its pedestrians-only gate was opened to the public for the first time ever.

The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, which owns the property in between Spanish River Park and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, opened the park in a “soft opening” with no advance publicity.

The district bought the property, at 2300 N. Ocean Blvd., in 1994 but did not turn it into a park until now.

The park has an asphalt path midway from State Road A1A to the Intracoastal Waterway and a mulch path from there to the Intracoastal. Another asphalt path connects to an old paved roadway to give access to the Intracoastal for bicyclists and wheelchair users.

-- Steve Plunkett