Florida Atlantic University athletics has received a $5 million gift from Michael and Michelle Hagerty of Boca Raton that will result in a series of improvements, renovations and upgrades.
The Hagerty Family Athletics Village will be designated by signs and other means of recognition of the couple’s generosity.
“We cannot thank Michelle and Michael enough for this incredible gift,” said Brian White, FAU vice president and director of athletics. “We have nearly 450 student athletes at Florida Atlantic, and every one of them will reap the benefits of this gift. This gift will truly be transformational for many of our facilities and sports programs.”
The Hagerty Family Athletics Village includes:
• The Hagerty Family Track and Field Complex
• The Tom Oxley Athletic Center
• Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
• Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center
Still available for naming rights in the village are the swimming facility, softball, soccer and baseball stadiums and the beach volleyball complex.
For more information about donating to FAU athletics, call 561-297-2683 or visit https://fauf.fau.edu/paradise-club.

Gift to aid support services at Lynn Cancer Institute
Arline and John McNally’s seven-figure donation to Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Lynn Cancer Institute will help with the organization of support programs and ensure that they continue to thrive. The gift creates the McNally Family Foundation Center for Patient Support Services.
“Boca Raton Regional Hospital considers itself extremely fortunate to have philanthropists like Arline and John,” said CEO Lincoln Mendez said. “Their giving is steadfast and focused on the true well-being of our patients. Arline and John’s personal involvement at Boca Regional and other select organizations is testimony of paying it forward.”
For more information on the institute, call 561-955-5966 or visit https://baptisthealth.net/locations/coe-hubs/lynn-cancer-institute---boca-raton.

Boca West Children’s Foundation gets grant
The Boca West Children’s Foundation has been awarded $5,000 as recipient of one of the American Fundraising Foundation’s Golden Pear grants.
The announcement described a record-breaking $250,000 distribution of funds and an additional $100,000 of in-kind donations.
The Boca West Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit that funds projects in Palm Beach County to help at-risk children and their families.
“We are absolutely delighted to receive a Golden Pear grant,” Executive Director Pam Weinroth said. “This will enable us to help even more children in need in Palm Beach County.”
For more information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.bocawestfoundation.org.

Company gives makeover to Achievement Centers

Achievement Centers for Children & Families in Delray Beach has a newer look thanks to more than 100 employees of Gables Residential who took part in the company’s Day of Service there.
Projects included a book drive, a food drive, reorganizing the library, installing blinds in all classrooms, cleaning the gymnasium, providing new furniture for the staff lounge, painting, building a bench for the playground and landscaping.
“ACCF benefits greatly from its many community partnerships and is so grateful for Gables’ support and generosity,” Chief Development Officer Jessica Hall said.
Gables Residential is a real estate developer and manager.
For more information on ACCF, call 561-266-0003 or visit www.achievementcentersfl.org.

--Amy Woods

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

A total of $221,000 in proceeds from the fourth annual affair will boost the Boys & Girls Club of Delray Beach’s hunger-relief program. The program strives to serve 100,000 nutritious meals to children in the community. ‘We are so excited that this year’s Cocktails for the Club event was a huge success with a record-breaking year,’ co-chairwoman Virginia Costa said. ‘This event brought the Delray community together for a social and fun night to support the club that is near and dear to all of our hearts.’
ABOVE: (l-r) Jorgette Smith, Jennifer Coulter and Costa. RIGHT: Marc and Melissa deBaptiste. BELOW: Susan and Michael Mullin. Photos provided

The Hanley Foundation’s second fundraiser chaired by John and Michelle Makris unfolded before a sold-out crowd of 250 guests. The brunch took place in honor of the Makrises’ son, Brice, who died at age 23 from an overdose. Funds raised will benefit the foundation’s Brice Makris Endowment Fund. One highlight was the presentation of the inaugural Brice Makris Community Spirit Award to Max Weinberg, longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen. ABOVE: Weinberg and April Lewis. RIGHT: Dana and Steve Clarfield. BELOW: Andrea Levine O’Rourke and George O’Rourke.
Photos provided

Carly Yoost was named Woman Volunteer of the Year at the Junior League of Boca Raton’s 35th annual extravaganza. Additionally, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Barbara Richardson. Nonprofits from across South Florida nominate one of their top volunteers each year to be considered for the honor at an affair that includes a New York-style fashion show and usually sells out. ABOVE: Nominees Kirsten Stephenson and N’Quaveh Velasquez. Photo provided

The 20th annual benefit for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County recognized George Elmore and others whose achievements have helped shape the character of the region. Monies from the evening support the society’s educational programs and the preservation of its collection, which inspires exhibits at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum. ABOVE: Marti LaTour and Elmore. RIGHT: Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein.
Photos provided

Bartender Matthew Swig displays a Mariposa, a gin-based drink with butterfly pea flower, at the Butcher and the Bar in Boynton Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

Area mixologists are on double-time stirring and shaking up delectable love potions in anticipation of Valentine’s Day.
Colorful, seductive and meant to complement food and atmosphere, the drinks are a range of flavors.
At the Butcher and the Bar in Boynton Beach, Eric Anderson and his team concocted the Mariposa.
With an edible butterfly pea flower as a garnish, the passion-purple shaded drink is made from a special black gin from Spain, Puerto de Indias.
“Our bartender fell in love with the gin and really wanted to make a drink with it, so he came up with this,” Anderson said. “It’s the flavor profile of a creamsicle. He pretty much hit it.”
Along with the vanilla-scented gin, made dark from molasses, the drink contains lime juice and orange cream bitters. A subtle sweetness comes from the simple syrup infused with the butterfly pea flower, which is sourced locally, Anderson said.
“We spray the inside of the glass with vanilla extract, and use egg whites for the foam. A pea flower is used as garnish.”
Meant to be served in a stemmed glass, it’s a decidedly seductive drink. The bar has this as a special, Anderson said, which is changed out every few weeks. What’s Valentine’s Day without some bubbles?
At the Sea Spray bar in the Waterstone Hotel in Boca Raton, mixologists have created the Sun of Venus, a nod to the goddess of love, often seen in a seashell. It marries the waterfront theme of the bar overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Deep pink, from the herbal Campari, this drink gets its kick from Codigo mezcal and touch of sugar from sweet vermouth.
It’s served with a playful orange twist.

LEFT: The Aikou from Akira Back in Delray Beach. RIGHT: The Sun of Venus from the Waterstone in Boca Raton. Photos provided

At Akira Back in Delray Beach, the bartenders will be shaking up the Aikou, a gin-based drink mixed with pomegranate puree to give it a pink glow, topped with a rosé for bubbles.
A butterfly is poised on the rim of the glass, made from a rose petal.
The mixologist shared the recipe:
Aikou
1 ounce Roku gin 
½ ounce lemon juice 
½ ounce simple syrup 
splash of pomegranate purée
pomegranate seeds, for garnish
rose petal, and mini wood clothespin, for rim
Shake together with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a flute or coupe. Top with Moët Rosé. Garnish with pomegranate seeds. For the butterfly on the glass rim, use a rose petal pinched to wings with a mini clothespin
Makes 1 drink.
Other restaurants, such as Seagate Hotel’s Atlantic Grille, will offer special cocktails, a dining menu and extras such as take-home gifts. The B in Love cocktail is made with Don Julio reposado tequila, beet shrub, lime and agave. The hotel will feature a special $85 three-course, prix fixe menu, along with a chocolate dessert buffet.
At the Hospitality group of restaurants, a special Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu includes a welcome cocktail and a drink with the multicourse meal. Prices vary by locations. They include Lemongrass Asian Bistro (Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach), the Sea Kitchen (Delray Beach), and Ramen Lab Eatery (Boca Raton, West Boca Raton and Delray Beach).
The same restaurant group is bringing unique experiences to Valentine’s Day at its concept, Eat District in Boca Raton. Lead chefs will give hands-on workshops for couples, teaching sushi rolls, pad Thai or dumpling making.
Along with the classes, $59 per person, guests get welcome appetizers, premium sake tasting, the main dish as lesson and meal, with dessert.
Dates for classes are Feb. 10, dumplings; Feb. 11, sushi, and Feb. 12, pad Thai.
Contact the restaurant for more details at 561-576-2046.

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The dining scene in Lantana got a boost with the opening of Dua, a champagne and wine lounge at 118 E. Ocean Ave.
Albanian owner Diana Boga named the restaurant after her native phrase Te Dua, meaning “I love you,” or just Dua — “want.” Her love of hospitality and interest in charcuterie and wines brought her from New York to open a brick and mortar restaurant.
Small plates to accompany the wine choices include caviar, charcuterie boards, cheeses and olives. Dips, mezze platters and appetizers such as truffle steak crostini are on the menu.
The restaurant hosts special wine tastings and flights, as well as a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a DJ spins music on weekends for late night entertainment.
Open-air seating is available.
Dua, 118 E. Atlantic Ave., Lantana. 561-629-7979, or www.dualantana.com

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Tickets for the Savor the Avenue street-long dinner in Delray Beach are on sale. Ten restaurants are listed on downtowndelraybeach.com/savortheave for the March 27 dine-under-the-stars event down the middle of Atlantic Avenue. Menus and information are online from the participating restaurants; tickets must be purchased from the restaurants. Seating is limited.

In brief
Le Colonial is a French Vietnamese restaurant going into the new Atlantic Crossing mixed-use site at Atlantic Avenue and Sixth Avenue in Delray Beach. Opening date is expected within the month. ...
The former Ellie’s ’50s Diner on Federal Highway in Delray Beach is now home to an outpost of the Bees Knees diner, which offers an upscale version of many of the old diner’s favorites. Bees Knees also has locations in Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach.

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

By Arden Moore

Welcome to February, when millions spend millions to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Candy and flowers are great for your mate, but show your cats or dogs just how much you adore them by stepping up your at-home dental care on them.
Yep, February is also National Pet Dental Health Month. For decades, veterinarians have unleashed this startling stat: By age 3, more than 70% of all dogs and cats show signs of dental disease.
Yikes.
Dental woes don’t just stay put in the mouth. They can also signal serious issues in the body, such as diabetes, kidney disease or gastrointestinal issues.
“If your pet is dropping food a lot, losing weight, drooling excessively or bleeding from the gums, please alert your veterinarian,” says Dr. Michael Wiegand, DVM, DAVDC, a board-certified veterinary dentist who operates the Florida Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center in West Palm Beach and Stuart. (www.floridaanimaldentistry.com)
Definitely do not ignore dreaded doggie breath in your canine or feline pal. It may be due to something wrong inside the mouth or in the gastrointestinal tract, Wiegand adds. Foul breath does not vanish on its own.

Regularly be on the lookout for these other health warning signs:
• Loose or missing teeth
• Tartar buildup on molars
• Shying away from being touched on the face
• Face pawing
• Messy eating, leaving kibble scattered on the kitchen floor
• Chronic vomiting.

Adult dogs sport 42 teeth, but the size of the dog often impacts the type of dental issues they face, says Wiegand.
“The smaller the muzzle, the more prone to periodontal disease because these small dogs have 42 teeth jammed in a smaller space than big-dog mouths and food can get stuck in between their teeth.”
He says large-muzzled dogs are more apt to need his dental expertise for addressing broken teeth caused by chewing on bones and other hard objects like ice cubes and flying disks.
“Do the knee test before selecting a chew for your dog,” he says. “If you hit the chew against your knee and it hurts, don’t give it to your dog. Nylon bones and bully sticks are not good for their teeth and ice cubes can break teeth. Give your dog a chew that is pliable and has some give, such as a Kong toy that you can stuff with treats or peanut butter.”
Cats have 30 teeth, 16 in the upper jaw and 14 in the lower jaw. Unlike dogs and people, cats don’t get cavities because of the shape of their teeth. Their main dental issues are halitosis, excessive drooling, bleeding from the gums and a painful condition known as tooth resorption.
“Cats do not chew food and tend to swallow whole,” says Wiegand. “Tooth resorption literally means a hole in the tooth. The cat’s body starts to break down a tooth and its roots and absorb them. That can cause pain and muscle spasms.”
And, because cats are both prey and predator, they don’t like to show any signs of vulnerability or pain for fear of being hunted, adds Dr. Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service in West Palm Beach.

If you are ready to begin regular dental care on your pet and make it struggle-free, here are some tips:

Don’t be in a hurry. Initially, spend just a minute or two massaging and rubbing your cat’s cheeks or your dog’s muzzle. This action helps your pet get used to you touching his face. Finish by doling out a healthy treat.
“Be slow, steady and patient,” says Radosta. “Teeth brushing is something completely unnatural to cats, so start by just touching the face.”

Take baby steps. Do not attempt to brush all of your pet’s teeth the first time. Remind yourself that the goal is to build up a positive association from your pet with brushing teeth.
“Start slowly and take lots of breaks,” says Radosta. “If you have a partner to help, have the partner pet and cuddle the cat during the process.”

Dip the brush into broth. Before using pet-safe toothpaste, try dipping the bristles of a pet toothbrush or a finger brush into either tuna water or low-sodium chicken broth and encourage your pet to lick the juice off the bristles.

Get into proper position. Position yourself at the side or behind your pet’s head. Hold your pet’s head and lift the pet’s upper lip with one hand. Then place a finger brush on the index finger of your other hand. Briefly touch the pet’s gums and teeth with this finger brush and then exit. Offer a treat reward.

Start in the back. As your pet gets used to having his mouth opened and gums touched, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle on the back teeth. Move in a circular motion and slowly move toward the front teeth. Finish by delivering a treat and praise.

Here’s a possible bonus benefit: Cats and dogs who become accustomed to having their teeth brushed tend to be more accepting of needed pills or liquids should they develop a medical condition.
However, if your pet still resists the toothbrush or you don’t feel confident performing this task, know you have other options.
“Keep the process positive and don’t force your pet,” says Radosta. “Ask your veterinarian about science-based pet products that can reduce the need for brushing, such as dental chews, foods and additives. Some pets just aren’t comfortable with mouth handling, and for these pets, we need alternative options to maintain their dental health.”

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.

Father Bob Benko was installed Oct. 23 as pastor at St. Mark Church in Boynton Beach by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito (left). Photo provided by the Diocese of Palm Beach

By Janis Fontaine

St. Mark Catholic Church of Boynton Beach has welcomed a new priest, Father Bob Benko.
“He’s young and full of life,” parish secretary Margaret Askar said. “We’re just very excited about the new energy that he brings to our parish.”
St. Mark is a Conventional Franciscan Parish and Benko is a Franciscan priest and a member of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, based in Maryland.
Boynton Beach is his fourth assignment — he’s led parishes in New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia — and he requested Florida because he prefers warm weather.
Growing up in New Jersey can do that to you.
Benko, who will turn 59 this month, was born and raised in the Garden State. He went to Catholic elementary and high schools and then to St. Peter’s College (now University), a private Jesuit school in Jersey City, where he earned an associate degree in business administration.
Although Benko had grown up in the church and been active in the youth ministry in his teens, he had never thought of himself as priest material. Known as a quick learner and a leader, he thought the business world would be his field. He got a job in real estate working as right-hand man to a developer, doing whatever needed his attention. Benko learned a lot, but he wasn’t fulfilled.
In his mid-20s, he heard the call. A calling is like an invitation from God asking you to fulfill your life’s purpose, and to follow God on your path to your destiny.
Benko entered the seminary in Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in Franciscan studies and another in English literature. After that, he moved to Staten Island to enter the novitiate for the Franciscan Order, a yearlong program of prayer and discovery before you make your first vows as a Franciscan.
The Franciscan is one of many paths (or orders) within the Catholic church. Some of the most popular are Franciscans, Carthusians, Jesuits, Benedictines, Salesians, Dominicans, Carmelites and Trappists, each with its own focus.
The Franciscans take vows of poverty, meaning they don’t own things such as cars or homes and they attempt to put others before themselves. Their values, beliefs and traditions of the Catholic faith — like the importance of charity, benevolence and selflessness — govern all they do.
So, when the church leaders asked Benko to learn Spanish and go to Central America, he said, “Sí.” He traveled to El Salvador and then ended up in Costa Rica. (“Not that Costa Rica,” he says to people who have visited the luxury resorts and rain forests — the tourist face of the country.) Most of the country is incredibly poor “but full of faith,” he said.
That strong faith is shared by the members of his new parish. Now fluent in Spanish, Benko publishes his weekly message in English and Spanish and is comfortable pastoring in both languages, a real asset with his diverse congregation.
St. Mark was established in 1952 and implores the faithful to never be timid in the profession of faith. In its mission, the St. Mark congregation proclaims, “We believe that we are called to be peacemakers, to be people of hope and compassion. We welcome those that are searching for God in their lives.”
The parish has more than 1,900 member families, which translates to about 4,800 people. Like other houses of worship, a declining congregation is one of its biggest concerns.
Benko is just getting to know his parish, its people and what they think is important. He is recruiting members to serve on a pastoral council that articulates the parish goals and finds ways to achieve them.
“We’re asking, ‘How do we want to express our Catholic faith? What is the personality of our church?’” Benko said. He says pastoring without a vision is like rowing a boat with one oar. It’s a lot of work and you don’t really get anywhere.
“How do we use our grace — our God-given gifts, talents and abilities — to make a better world?” Benko asks.
His answer? Baby steps.
First, become a better person (“the person God wants me to be”), then a better spouse and better parent. From there we get a better neighborhood, city, state, nation and, ultimately, world.
“As a priest, I’m trying to show the world a different way,” Benko says. “A better way. I want St. Mark to be the church people are talking about.”

St. Mark is at 643 St. Mark Place (NE Fourth Ave.), Boynton Beach. Mass is celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday; and 8 and 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. Call 561-734-9330 or visit www.stmarkboynton.com.

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

A volunteer examines some of the treasures that will be available at First Presbyterian Church’s Step-Above Rummage Sale. Photo provided

First Presbyterian’s annual rummage sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 9-11, at the church in Delray Beach.
The organizers call it the Step-Above Rummage Sale because of the quality of the items. New and gently used items are all you’ll find. Some items will still have store tags attached.
In Fellowship Hall, shoppers will find women’s and kids’ clothes, hung on racks and sorted by department. There’s a comfortable sitting area to try on the shoes — no hopping on one foot! — which are organized by size. All clothing and shoes are $3. Accessories cost less.
In the courtyard, shoppers will find men’s clothing and shoes, all $3, hung up and sized. There also will be an eclectic assortment of books, craft supplies, toys, sports equipment, bicycles, luggage, electronics and tools.
In Holly House, home of the popular Holiday Gift Shop, jewelry, purses, accessories, lamps and art will be available. You’ll also find the linen department and housewares there. Sales specialists will be on hand to assist shoppers and answer questions.
Cash and checks are accepted for payment. First Presbyterian Church is at 33 Gleason St.. For more information, call 561-276-6338 or visit www.firstdelray.com/upcoming-events.

Easter Service taping
First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach is asking parishioners to be part of a taping by ABC that will precede the one-hour Easter Sunday service to air on April 9 on ABC affiliates across the nation, an estimated 20 million people.
The taped portion will be recorded at 11 a.m. Feb. 26. The Rev. Michael B. Brown will be guest pastor along with Dr. Doug Hood.
Donations to underwrite the production are also needed and donors will be credited during the broadcast. The church is at 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach. For more information, call 561-276-6338.

Night to Shine in Boca
On Feb. 10, St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Boca Raton plans to join more than 600 other churches from around the world to host 100,000 guests with the help of 200,000 volunteers at a very special prom night experience for people 14 and older with special needs.
Night to Shine is “centered on God’s love,” and is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. After two years of virtual events, the nonprofit is thrilled to host a live event this year. To make it extra special, guests get to walk the red carpet while paparazzi photograph them in all their prom finery. Buddies provide companionship so no one feels left out.
Reservations are required to attend Night to Shine at St. Paul, 701 W. Palmetto Park Road. Hours are 6-9 p.m. Visit https://nighttoshineboca.com for more information. Volunteers and donations are also welcome.

Fashion show and luncheon
The Highland Beach-based St. Lucy Council of Catholic Women presents “Love One Another,” a fashion show and luncheon, at noon Feb. 16 at Benvenuto, 1730 N. Federal Highway in Boynton Beach. Tickets are $75. Call Susan at 561-702-4975.

Empty Bowls returns
The 10th annual Empty Bowls Palm Beach fundraiser — its mantra is “Eat simply so others may simply eat” — will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. Proceeds benefit the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
Guests share a simple meal of soup, bread and water. The soups are prepared by local chefs and the bread is freshly baked by Old School Bakery. The simple meal is served by community leaders and local celebrities.
The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea is at 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach. Tickets are $30 in advance at pbcfoodbank.org/emptybowlspalmbeach. For more information, call 561-670-2518.

Anniversary Mass
The Most Rev. Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach, will preside over the 39th annual anniversary Mass for couples celebrating 25, 40, 50 or more years of marriage at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. A reception will follow in the parish hall. To attend, you must register through your home parish office no later than Feb. 6.

St. Mark rummage sale
St. Mark Catholic Church, 643 St. Mark Place (NE Fourth Ave.), Boynton Beach, is holding its sixth annual rummage sale March 18 and 19. Donations are needed. For drop-off dates and additional information, call the church at 561-734-9330.

Masking up?
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church of Boca Raton is just one church that has made changes as a result of the uptick in COVID-19 cases amid the highly contagious kraken variant.
St. Gregory’s policy update: “In accordance with CDC guidelines and at the advice of our COVID Advisory Team, the wearing of masks at St. Gregory’s is recommended for in-person gatherings. If you are feeling unwell, please view our services online at www.facebook.com/SaintGregorys.”
Experts advise carrying a mask and hand sanitizer and checking with the church you plan to attend for new recommendations.

— Janis Fontaine

The American Heart Association promotes seven steps for a healthy heart. Graphic provided by AHA

By Jan Engoren

Before you can give your heart to someone, you need to ensure yours stays healthy.
So, with Valentine’s Day at its center, February is American Heart Month, a time set aside to improve awareness about heart health and cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease and other cardiovascular issues such as stroke are the leading causes of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association, killing more than 800,000 people each year.
Cardiovascular problems are also the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.
In Palm Beach County, the most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure and irregular heartbeat.
Most risk factors for heart disease and stroke — such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity — are preventable and controllable. Controlling these factors may reduce risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 80%, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dubbed “Life’s Simple 7,” the AHA recommendations for a healthy heart are not smoking, physical activity, healthy diet and body weight, and control of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.
“Take time to think of your own heart health this month,” says Heather M. Johnson, 47, a preventive cardiologist at the Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
“February is a great month to pay attention to your heart,” she says. “Get to know your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers.”
A firm believer that people can control their health and destiny, Johnson encourages her patients to make lifestyle changes to their daily routines, which can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Simple things like staying active or just getting up and moving with moderate intensity is outstanding,” she says.
She recommends exercising 150 minutes each week, or 30 minutes/five days a week, as well as keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels low, eating a Mediterranean diet and avoiding excess sodium. And, if you’re a smoker, stop.
Johnson, a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, suggests additional screenings may be in order for men and women in high risk categories. For men over 65 with a history of smoking, Johnson recommends checking with your physician to see if an additional aortic aneurysm screening is advisable.
Other screenings may include a carotid artery scan, a coronary artery calcium scan, a cholesterol test, EKG or ECG.
In women, she says, artery changes can present in other ways and can even be found during routine mammogram screenings. Changes to arteries can raise the risk of a heart attack.
If there’s an indication of breast artery calcification it could be helpful to follow up with a heart screening assessment, Johnson says.
Johnson, who is married with one teenage son, follows her own diet advice and is dedicated to exercise. Her favorite workouts include aerobic exercise on the elliptical, treadmill and StairMaster machines, lifting weights or dancing at home to the music of Whitney Houston.
Johnson keeps her exercise bag in the car. She is partial to the Orangetheory Fitness studio in Boca Raton and schedules time for workouts on her daily calendar. 
“I like to mix up my workouts to keep them interesting,” she says, “and to avoid boredom.”
As a family, Johnson says, each is committed to working out and eating healthy.
“We hold each other accountable for diet and exercise,” she says.
“We take it seriously, but it’s OK to have fun with it, too,” says Johnson, who indulges in occasional pizza nights with her family. “Find a balance, keep a heart healthy focus, but allow yourself to have fun.”
For Valentine’s Day, Johnson plans to come home and relax and maybe even treat herself to a piece of heart healthy dark chocolate (after her workout, that is).
To highlight the cause and raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, the National Institutes of Health sponsors National Wear Red Day on Feb. 3. Visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/events/2023/national-wear-red-day-get-ourhearts-pumping.

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

Jennifer Shoemaker, RN, has been named chief nursing officer of Delray Medical Center.
Shoemaker began her career at the hospital in 2007 while she was a student at Palm Beach State College. After graduating, she was promoted to charge nurse, and then to clinical manager, and ultimately to director. In 2017, she was named administrative director of the hospital’s medical-surgical service line. She was promoted to associate chief nursing officer in 2020.

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Palm Health Foundation has received a $5,000 gift from Valley Bank, providing seed funding for the new Palm Beach County NeuroArts Collaborative. It includes the Florida Atlantic University Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.
The Valley Bank gift will support the collaborative’s launch and growth as it focuses on identifying local partners, programs, resources, and existing research to support the advancement of neuro-arts in South Florida.
For more information, visit www.palmhealthfoundation.org/our-work-advancing-brain-health.

— Christine Davis

One side of the new stingray tank at Sandoway Discovery Center enables visitors to see eye-to-eye with the rays. Photos provided

By Janis Fontaine

A peaceful energy washes over guests as they walk up the steps and on to the wide porch at Sandoway Discovery Center in Delray Beach. Just steps away from State Road A1A, life’s pace seems to slow down among the lush foliage and inside the Old Florida home. Even the staff appears to move with the grace of the species at the center of Sandoway’s newest exhibit: the magical stingray.
While the coronavirus was raging, Sandoway was remodeling. It redesigned the backyard, doubling the footprint by reclaiming unused space, built a new stingray touch tank, renovated the shark tank, and added new awnings to shade the entire area. The center also added a state-of-the-art filtration system, which is much quieter. When all the bills were paid, the backyard redo cost $300,000.
And as anyone who has lived in a house built when Florida was still wild can tell you, closet space is hard to come by, so everyone was excited about more storage space.
“I guess they didn’t have as much stuff back then,” said Danica Sanborn, Sandoway’s executive director. (That’s pronounced da-NEEK-a.)
Sanborn, who has a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s in marine biology, has overseen operations at Sandoway for 10 years. She loves her work teaching people of all ages about our unique marine environment.

At the other end of the tank, children can view and touch the six stingrays that reside there.

Sanborn’s goal — and Sandoway’s as well — is to create new stewards for the environment by teaching people about the habitats and species they are trying to save. Education is the key to conservation and the center is thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Sandoway family: six stingrays.
Three Atlantic rays (Dasyatis sabina) and three cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) share the 15,000-gallon tank. The new stingray tank has a peek-a-boo window on one side and steps leading to a touch and viewing area on the other side.
There are more than 500 species of rays, Alyssa Dorfman, Sandoway’s director of education, told visitors. She has containers of fish and shrimp she’ll feed the rays as she talks. The rays are curious and they swim to the surface and seem to wave at visitors. The rays have only one way of protecting themselves: the venomous barbs on the end of their whip-like tails. They have the tank to themselves for their own and other creatures’ safety.
Next to receive food is the nurse shark, Norma Jean, who swims languidly along the bottom of the pool she shares with a few other fish — ones she won’t eat — like the shiny silver lookdowns and puggy striped burrfish.
Dorfman feeds Norma Jean and the rays at 1 p.m. every day, and it’s not just something to see, it’s something to hear. Norma Jean makes a loud slurping sound — a nursing sound? — as she feeds.
Sanborn said nurse sharks are also called carpet sharks because they can lie on the bottom of the tank motionless, unlike other sharks which have to keep moving to breathe. Dorfman said Norma Jean figured out if she lies near the filter intake it will pump water over her gills, making life even easier for the 6-year-old.
These normally nocturnal swimmers are very docile and Norma Jean performs an underwater ballet as she sashays from one end of the tank to the other.
The mission with these new exhibits is to highlight the importance of sharks and stingrays in our environment.
The learning doesn’t stop at the tanks. The center has an Everglades room, a room for a living coral reef, the discovery room where you’ll find amphibians and reptiles, and the nocturnal room where you’ll learn about animals that come out only at night.
Don’t miss the Yvonne S. Templeton Shell Room Gallery upstairs, where the Albert and Ann Becker Shell Collection has 3,000 shells on display. The Becker collection totals about 10,000 in all, which their niece Linda Becker Dean’s family inherited and donated to the center in 2002.
More than 6,000 Palm Beach County students and 25,000 total guests visit Sandoway each year. Sandoway also offers after-school programs for students, including the RISE program for high school kids and internships for college students.
Sanborn says the facility always needs volunteers. Suitable candidates must be at least 15 years old and willing to work at least three hours per week for a minimum of six months.
Have an idea for Tots & Teens? Email Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.

Visit the stingrays
Sandoway Discovery Center
Where: 142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach
When: Noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Shark and stingray feedings: 1 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, plus 11 a.m. Saturday
Aquarium feedings: 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Animal encounters: 3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Admission: $10 for age 3 and older
Parking: Available in the lot of Ingraham Avenue or in the lot just north of the center
Information: 561-243-7263 or https://sandoway.org

Fundraising event
What: Muscle on the Beach car show fundraiser for Sandoway Discovery Center’s new stingray tank and hands-on learning experiences. Hosted by Mike Brewer, star of The Discovery Channel hit show ‘Wheeler Dealers.’
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 4 (rain date March 5), Old School Square, 51 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach
Admission: Free for spectators; $125 per registered vehicle, to include cars, trucks and hot rods of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s
Information: www.muscleonthebeach.com

The expansive, custom-fenced grounds offer abundant privacy, heated pool and overflow spa. A 50-foot dock on the Intracoastal has private gate access. BELOW RIGHT: Designed and built in 2018 to perfection and situated on an expansive lot, this house has stunning views over the manicured grounds and the water. Photos provided

Situated on an almost half-acre elevated lot, this estate has more than 220 feet of water frontage with protected dockage. With 6,847 total square feet, this fully furnished home features six bedrooms with a first-floor master suite; a second-floor VIP guest suite with private entrance and kitchen; a second-floor office/bedroom with full bath and balcony, and three additional en suite guest rooms.
A dramatic contemporary stairway with all glass railings and an impressive alcove runs between the two floors.
A decorative driveway leads to an air-conditioned three-car garage outfitted with two Tesla charger stations. Outdoors is an entertainer’s delight with a covered loggia and summer kitchen along with ample space for dining. The pool terrace has a living area and plenty of lounging space pool- and spa-side. A complete security system with cameras is installed throughout the property.

The first-floor primary master wing has a bedroom with private loggia and luxurious bath. BELOW RIGHT: The master closet has an island along with plenty of space for storage and presentation.

As a part of the McCormick Mile community in Ocean Ridge, residents may join the voluntary homeowners association. Membership includes beach access with dune and use of the private beach house overlooking the ocean with kitchen, tables and chairs, showers and bathrooms.
Offered at $8,259,000. Nicholas Malinosky, Douglas Elliman, 561-306-4597. nicholas.malinosky@elliman.com

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

A gourmet kitchen has snack bar seating, a pantry, and top-of-the-line appliances, countertops, hardware and flooring.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office posted an eviction notice for Seaside Deli on Jan.12. The deli, on State Road A1A just south of Briny Breezes, plans to stop its operations at about 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. Photo provided

Related: Threatened end of Seaside Deli sparks anger, sorrow

By Joe Capozzi

The Seaside Deli will shut its doors Saturday, Jan. 14, the result of a dispute between the beloved County Pocket staple and its landlord.

“This will be our last weekend,” longtime store manager Chelsea Steen said Thursday afternoon, a few hours after the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office posted an eviction notice on the front door at 4635 N. Ocean Blvd., just south of Briny Breezes.

It was still business as usual as Steen continued to work the cash register, selling discounted items, during a brief interview with The Coastal Star.

“I haven't had a chance to process much. After I spoke with the [deputy], I came back in the store and just started working. I'm just a little frazzled.’’

The eviction notice takes effect around 11 a.m. on Saturday. That means Friday will be the last full day for customers to make their final purchases.

Store owner Randy McCormick told Steen to “start discounting everything so we can move it on out. I already started doing that today with wine. I will be out of food by [Friday],” she said, noting that the deli had already run out of corned beef, pastrami, egg salad and tuna salad.

McCormick could not be reached for comment, but he has said he is trying to find a new home for the deli, which has built a loyal customer base since 1993.

On Dec. 22, a Palm Beach County Circuit Judge ruled in favor of the owner of the deli’s building, Ocean Blvd 14 LLC, a company owned by former Major League Baseball player Rafael Belliard. The judge sided with the landlord’s claim that Seaside Deli hadn’t paid $40,279 in back rent.

McCormick has said he has tried to pay the rent but the landlord refused payments because the company plans to sell the building.

After the judge’s ruling, community leaders launched a campaign to “Save the Deli,” as a banner erected across the front says. More than 650 signatures have been collected on a petition.

The inside lining of Ken Daniels' sport jacket had pictures of his son, Jamie, who died of a fentanyl overdose in December 2016 while in a drug treatment program under the care of Delray Beach physician Michael Ligotti. Daniels wore the jacket to the Monday, Jan. 9, sentencing in U.S. District Court in Miami of  Ligotti to 20 years in prison on an insurance health care fraud charge. John Pacenti/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

A look at the Florida Board of Medicine’s website would find Dr. Michael Ligotti in good standing.

No emergency actions. No discipline. No public complaints.

No indication of any investigation – criminal or administrative – of the Delray Beach physician who stood at the apex of an insurance fraud scheme in Palm Beach County that illicitly exploited drug addicts looking to recover during the height of the OxyContin crisis.

It would take a Miami federal judge’s order Jan. 9 for Ligotti to surrender his medical license after he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for defrauding insurers of $127 million on a whopping $746 million his Whole Health Medical Center billed.

He must also pay back a yet undetermined amount of money.

“I simply lost my way,” said a tearful Ligotti in front of U.S. District Judge Rudolfo Ruiz II as his wife and family watched from the gallery. He said he “failed miserably” at upholding the sacred oath of a doctor - to do no harm.

It has been 2 ½ years since the osteopath’s indictment.

Ligotti’s business moved addicts around like chess pieces, transporting them in vans dubbed “drug buggies” to associated sober homes and drug rehab centers in order to bilk Medicare and private insurance through fraudulent tests and treatment.

Each one got paid through illegal patient brokering.

Lisa Daniels-Goldman and Ken Daniels lost their son Jamie in December 2016 under the care of Ligotti. He was 23 and aspired to be a lawyer or a sports agent. He was working a program of recovery, his parents said, and even had a job at a law firm but ended up dead of a fetanyl overdose under the care of Ligotti’s operation.

“We trusted a system, shame on us,” Ken Daniels told the judge. “We trusted Jamie was living in a safe and sober environment, overseen by qualified medical professionals and staff, only to find out after his death that Jamie had been used for financial gain, your personal gain, Michael Ligotti.”

How craven was the patient brokering system? Lisa Daniels Goldman said outside the courtroom that the person who had lured Jamie into the sober home where he died contacted the family afterward through their son’s phone. The man had some of Jamie’s prize possessions—jewelry, headphones—that he would return for a fee.

Ken Daniels outside of court opened his sport jacket. Inside were photos of his son and his daughter through the years. 

He is the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. The ESPN investigative news magazine E-60 did a story on Jamie’s death called the “Florida Shuffle.”

Ligotti joins a sad parade of those prosecuted under a crackdown on South Florida’s illicit addiction industry. He faced 13 charges of health care fraud and money laundering but pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to only one count.

He faced life in prison because his operation was so extensive—thus the plea bargain. He served as medical director for more than 50 sober homes, substance-abuse treatment centers and clinical testing laboratories, prosecutors said.

The bread and butter of the fraud was urine and blood drug testing of patients three or more times a week. The analysis was sent to labs, which billed insurers and paid kickbacks to sober home and treatment center operators. In turn, these businesses sent the patients to Ligotti’s Whole Health for additional testing and treatment.

Prosecutors said Whole Health billed one patient’s insurer more than $840,000 in six years.

In 2016, Ligotti sued an insurance provider for failing to pay him. He also would bully state regulators, writing to them in 2013 that he was outraged that accusations against Whole Health were made, claiming his name and license were used in an “unauthorized fashion,” according to the FBI’s arrest affidavit.

“We are happy to put an end to this tragic episode,” said Ruiz, noting the sentence was appropriate for the harm done.

He noted that Ligotti’s operation also undermined the faith families could have in drug treatment while costing all those with private insurance higher premiums.

But Ruiz did not remand Ligotti to custody. Like some others who have been convicted of sober home crimes, he will remain free to testify against others in trials this spring.

“This is nothing but privilege over justice,” said Maureen Mulroy Kielian, whose Southeast Recovery Advocates sounded the alarm about Ligotti long before his indictment.

She said most of South Florida’s drug treatment center woes can be laid at the feet of unscrupulous doctors.

“It’s not a sober home problem. It’s a treatment, medical director problem,” Kielian said. “There is no money without a prescription pad. It’s the same model as the pill mills. The minimum requirement is a Florida licensed provider.”

A check in the afternoon after Ligotti was sentenced showed no change in his status as a physician by the Florida Department of Health. His license remained clear and active.

Yasmany Palomino, Morgan Clark, Rocco Orlandella, Kevin Conrad, Kennedy Dryden and Gabe Pearson (l-r) work out and enjoy the dawn most mornings at South Beach Park in Boca Raton. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

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By John Pacenti

It’s a sight to behold.
Before dawn, these sun worshipers can be spotted streaming down Boca Raton’s Palmetto Park Road — on foot, bicycle and vehicle. Their destination? The gazebo that overlooks South Beach Park — one of the best spots in South Florida to watch Helios catch fire.
As Mars danced with the full moon to the west and the sandpipers played catch-me-if-you-can with the high tide to the east, dozens of early risers congregated at the gazebo and down by the ocean on a recent December morning.
Some were first-time visitors, attending a conference in Boca Raton, taking in the majestic Atlantic — which despite mild breakers had a lone surfer cutting a silhouette in a postcard homage.

Meghan Nesom and her son, Colin, watch the sunrise from South Beach Park in Boca Raton. They stopped as Meghan drove Colin to school. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

There also was a smattering of children there before classes, including 10-year-old Colin Nesom, who was there with his mother, Meghan, at the water’s edge. He was biding time before heading to Alexander D. Henderson University School.
“My husband usually takes him to school but he’s out of town. So I got to take him today and if I’m going to get up this early, it’s going to be worth it,” said Meghan, who held an SLR camera in her hand to get the perfect photo.
About 20 yards from mother and son were a group of seven fit Florida Atlantic University students and would-be entrepreneurs. They can be found at South Beach Park almost every morning, meeting the sunrise while doing their exercise routine of sprinting 1.2 miles and suffering through 120 pushups and 100 situps.
While not in class, these zoomers go door-to-door selling solar panel systems. But this morning ritual is all about manifestation and becoming one with nature.
“We pray and meditate and go into the water,” said Morgan Clark, 18, who hails originally from Jacksonville. “I encourage everybody to envision exactly what they want in life, exactly where they want to be.”
Clark is the de facto leader of this group and co-founder of Almanac Solar Power. He listed his dorm’s address as the business address. There also was Rocco Orlandella, 20, from Boston — who hates getting up early but doesn’t want to catch grief from the others.
Then there was Gabe Pearson, who is Clark’s business partner, aged 19, and also from Jacksonville. Kevin Conrad was the old man of the group at 21, hailing from River Vale, New Jersey.
Emil Epps, a 20-year-old from Jacksonville, insisted on being called Tarzan and ended up diving in the ocean while others worked out. Rounding out the dude contingent of the group was Yasmany Palomino, whose deets remained elusive during the group interview — which was akin to herding cats in the dark.
Kennedy Dryden, 19, was the lone female present this particular morning. The Portsmouth, Virginia, native says greeting the sunrise “creates mental clarity for me.” And as the members of the group left the beach, they each took at least one piece of trash.
“We just enjoy spending time out here in beautiful, beautiful, gorgeous nature. I mean, it really makes our day for sure,” Clark said.

The East Coast Sunrise Group (clockwise) includes Jett Frieder and his golden doodle Romeo, Rich Fitzgerald, Ian Levinson, Jane Bartley, Tony Fierro, Margie Richards and Robert Claveau. BELOW RIGHT: Shellman’ Ron Smaha and ‘Bucket Boy’ Brad Barnes. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Joe Capozzi  

They call themselves the East Coast Sunrise Group, a self-explanatory name for a dozen or so strangers who’ve become fast friends because of a shared passion for watching sunrises at Boynton Beach’s Oceanfront Park in Ocean Ridge.  
“I’m the chairman of the board — because I provide the beach chairs,’’ Tony Fierro, a Naples, Italy, native from Boynton Beach, said as he sat in the predawn darkness one December morning with Robert Claveau, a retired air traffic controller from Quebec City.
The others would be along soon — Jane, Rich, Ian, Nichole, to name a few. They’ll grab a folded beach chair from the stack Fierro leaves on the boardwalk east of the parking lot, then make their way to the sand as the darkness over the ocean slowly gives way to light.
“We meet here every single morning. We never miss a day,’’ Fierro said. “If it’s raining, we meet at Starbucks.’’ 
It’s been that way since about 2019, when Fierro showed up for sunrise one morning and befriended Rich Fitzgerald of Boynton Beach. The next day, they showed up again and met Jane Bartley. 
Before long, other sunrise watchers were joining them, from nature-loving snowbirds to strangers battling personal demons.
They all exchange phone numbers and text each other in advance about weather conditions or if they won’t be able to make it. 

Jane Bartley, Rich Fitzgerald, Nichole Angone and Tony Fierro (l-r) celebrate the sunrise on Sept. 24, the two- year anniversary of Angone’s sobriety. Photo provided

“We have grown together as a beach family and the sunrises have shaped me as a completely different person,’’ said Nichole Angone, 36, a recovering addict who said she has been sober since she first met the group on the beach 2 1/2 years ago.
“This group has really shaped me for who I am,’’ she said. “To go and watch these sunrises together has been so spiritual. It’s like our church.’’ 
One morning before dawn a couple of years ago, the group saw Ian Levinson struggling in the darkness on two crutches. They took him in and gave him a chair. Now, he’s a regular.
“It’s the best way to start the morning. We enjoy the peace and quiet and beauty,’’ said Levinson, 56, who said he suffered a spinal injury in a car accident the day after he graduated from high school in southern California. 

New members are always welcome. But fair warning to the ladies: Fierro can be a flirt.
“We start the day with a happy heart, meeting friends and watching the sunrise,’’ Claveau said. “We all sit around gabbing, then at one point we all shut up and watch the sunrise.’’ 
He was right: The morning a reporter visited, the group was chatting away about the World Cup and the Miami Dolphins and the muffins Margie Richards just brought from Publix when suddenly a streak of orange burst over the horizon. The group, sitting in a half oval, went silent and took out their smartphones to capture the first glimmers of the day. 
“It’s like watching a painting that changes every minute. It’s just spectacular and it’s different every morning. And we bust each other’s chops,’’ said Fitzgerald.
“It’s the best, cheapest entertainment you can get,’’ he said. “The sunrises are breathtaking and it’s great people-watching.’’
And they have nicknames for many of the people they watch — “Shellman,’’ “Bucket Boy” and other beach walkers and joggers who may not formally sit with the group but will stop by for a minute every morning to pay their respects. 
“Shellman” is 90-year-old Ron Smaha of Ocean Ridge, who strolls the shoreline at dawn in search of shells that his wife uses to make wreaths. 
“Bucket Boy” is Brad Barnes of Boynton Beach, who said he takes a sunrise photo every morning so he can text it to a friend who is dying of cancer. When he arrives at Oceanfront Park, he grabs one of the plastic buckets provided by the Beach Bucket Foundation and collects trash along the shoreline. 
“Those guys are a hoot,’’ Barnes said about the East Coast Sunrise Group. “They even have a gang sign.’’
He demonstrates by sliding the three middle fingers (the rising sun) of his right hand up the side of his horizontal left palm (the ocean horizon).
Once the sun has risen, they say their goodbyes and go their separate ways to jobs and families and commitments.
Until tomorrow morning. 
“It’s a breath of fresh air,’’ said Jett Frieder, who brings Romeo, his golden doodle. He laughed and said the sunrises offer another big perk: “Nothing bad happens this early in the morning.’’

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Bianca LaParl and Christian McKeon pose for photographer Danielle Morien at sunrise in Delray Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

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By Rich Pollack

Christian McKeon didn’t understand why his fiancée, Bianca LaParl, was waking him before sunup and telling him to get dressed and be ready to go out before the break of day.
Within 45 minutes, McKeon found himself on the beach in Delray next to LaParl, posing for engagement photos with a rising sun casting the backdrop.
“It had to be a surprise,” said LaParl, explaining it had been almost exactly a year since the two had decided to tie the knot but still hadn’t taken any quality engagement photos.
The timing also had to be perfect and luckily, they made it to the beach with just a few minutes to spare.
“The sunrise is about new beginnings,” LaParl said. “This is about us taking a step in the right direction.”
The idea for posing for the engagement photo on the beach came from Danielle Morien, LaParl’s close friend and a photography hobbyist who has a love for capturing beautiful moments with a camera.
As she and LaParl were planning the engagement photo, Morien knew that it had to be taken as the sun was rising over the horizon and that it had to be by the ocean.
“Seeing the sunrise from the beach is one of the most beautiful scenes in the world,” said Morien, who was born and raised in Delray Beach.
“The colors are never the same, they change every single day. Sometimes they are beautiful and vibrant, sometimes the sunrise is blocked with clouds, sometimes it is raining and sometimes you completely miss it because it rises so fast.”
To Morien, sunrise is symbolic of life and the challenges that come with it.
“I thought this would be a perfect start to their beautiful marriage,” said Morien, who brought her 4-month-old daughter to the beach with her that morning so she too could see the sunrise.

Greeting the sunrise, smartphone in hand, has evolved from a weekly to a daily ritual for Jeff Salviola. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

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By Rich Pollack

Stroll along the beach in Delray before the sun comes up just about any morning and you’re likely to see Jeff Salviola perched in his beach chair, just a few hundred yards south of Atlantic Avenue, anticipating another spectacular sunrise.
A frequent Sunday visitor to the beach for many years, Salviola started making everyday treks to the seashore soon after the start of the pandemic.
“Now it’s a daily ritual,” he says. “It’s kind of a habit.”
An early riser who has worked in the restaurant business for most of his adult life, Salviola says that watching the sunrise is the perfect way to welcome a new day.
“I like the brightness and the colors that start the day,” he says. “You get the feeling it’s OK now and that it’s going to be a good day.”
For a few years now Salviola has been sharing the beauty he sees in the sunrise with others online, posting photos on Instagram under the moniker of Jeffflorida.
His photos can vary from ordinary to extraordinary.
“Every sunrise is different,” he says, explaining that the formation and shifting of clouds add a bit of mystery.
Over his many days peering out east over the Atlantic Ocean, Salviola has come to expect the unexpected.
“You always wonder, ‘What’s it going to be like today,’” he says.
While the sunrise is the magnet drawing him to the water’s edge, Salviola says it’s also the peacefulness that comes with being by the ocean and the wonders of nature that keep him coming back.
“I just like to sit and listen to the waves,” he says, surveying the ocean and sky not long after watching a pod of dolphins glide through the water.

‘I’m here to thank God for one more year,’ says Fatima Steiner. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

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By Rich Pollack

Fatima Steiner hadn’t planned on spending her birthday on the beach in Delray waiting for the sun to rise.
Then the stars aligned and there she was, up to her ankles in seawater, her cellphone poised to catch a once-a-day magical moment.
“It was meant to be,” she said.
A Brazilian by birth, Steiner has lived in Delray Beach for half a decade but had never ventured out to the beach at the crack of dawn to see the sunrise.
“I always see the sunsets but it’s taken me five years to see the sunrise,” she said.
It could have taken another couple of years if her husband’s cardiologist hadn’t scheduled an angioplasty for 6 a.m. that early December day.
Rather than go back home, Steiner chose to head to the beach and take in the blend of rising rays of sunlight with the gathering of clouds.
It was, she says, one way to take her mind off her worries about her husband’s health, while at the same time, appreciate the connection between the sunrise and her birthday.
“The sunrise is the start of a new day,” she said. “My next year starts today with the sunrise.”
Watching the rising sun was also a bit of a spiritual experience for Steiner.
“I’m here to thank God for one more year,” she said.
Chances are she won’t be waiting another five years — or for her husband to have another early morning doctor’s visit — to be back on the beach waiting for the beginning of a new day.
“It’s just so beautiful,” she said.