A Manalapan house bought by singer Billy Joel for $22.1 million in 2015 is now on the market through Christian Angle Real Estate for $64.9 million. Photo provided by Realtor.com

By Christine Davis

Piano man Billy Joel has listed his ocean-to-lake estate at 1110 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, for $64.9 million. Joel, using an ownership company, bought the compound in 2015 for $22.1 million from Texas banking businessman Donald A. Adam.
Built in 2010, the nine-bedroom, 20,838-square-foot house sits on 1.6 acres with about 150 feet of frontage on the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.
The compound includes a guest house and staff house.
The property went on the market in November. Details in the main house include a theater room, a pub room and bar, paneled library, 12-plus-car garage and wine cellar with a wet bar and tasting table. Broker Christian Angle of Christian Angle Real Estate holds the listing. 

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Mark Sherman’s estate at 1140 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, was listed for $59 million with Douglas Elliman agents Pier Paolo Visconti and Claudia Llanes.
Sherman, CEO of Green Wave Electronics in Atlanta, with his ex-wife, Isabella Sherman, paid $8 million for the house in December 2000.
The $59 million price tag will be for a finished renovation that has been underway on and off since 2017 with a few permit extensions. According to Visconti, the renovations are expected to be completed in 14 to 16 months.
When finished, the residence, on 1.61 acres with 150 feet of waterfront on the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, will have seven bedrooms and 12,420 square feet. Features will include a gym, library, home theater, a game room, wine storage for 1,000 bottles, and a garage that can be configured to accommodate 12 cars.
Prospective buyers have other purchase options, said Visconti. “If the buyer wants to buy it as is, obviously the price will be lower. Another possibility, we just made plans to build a 3,500-square-foot guest house on the property, and for that, the price would be adjusted as well,” Visconti said.

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Investors Bernard and Margaret Palmer sold the house at 404 E. Coconut Palm Road in Boca Raton to a trust managed by Lake Wales-based attorney Mark Warda for $18.6 million in November, according to public records.
The Palmers bought the property for $4.6 million in December 2020, demolished the existing house and commissioned Boca Raton-based SRD Building Corp. to build an 8,731-square-foot, six-bedroom estate, which was completed in 2022.
David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the sellers, and Susan Rindley of One Sotheby’s International Realty represented the buyer.

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James and Kimberly Caccavo made two moves in the local real estate market in 2022. The more recent focuses on a Manalapan spec house, 71 Curlew Road, which they bought for $10.5 million in a deal recorded Nov. 30.  
The seller was listed as an LLC named for the address managed by Stephen Varga of Varga Homes, who bought the half-acre property, with 178 feet of water frontage, for $1.9 million in 2020. Varga tore down the house and built a 10,500-square-foot home, which was completed in 2022.
Nick Malinosky and Randy Ely of Douglas Elliman represented both the buyer and the seller.
In June, the Caccavos flipped an oceanfront Gulf Stream estate at 3565 N. Ocean Blvd. to James and Estee Sausville for $27.5 million, almost double what they bought it for the year prior.
James Caccavo is the founder and managing general partner of the California-based Steelpoint Capital Partners, a private equity firm. Kimberly Caccavo is founder of Face Your Grace, a motivational e-learning platform.

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Darielle Singerman, who operates RedCon1 Gym in Boca Raton, sold her home at 4400 Sanctuary Lane to Andrew Cook and Fanjun Dai as trustees of the Zhang Family Trust for $10.2 million. The deal was recorded Dec. 5.
Singerman bought the five-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot estate, with a pool and dock, for $8.65 million in April 2021, records show.
Senada Adzem of Douglas Elliman had the Boca Raton listing, and Jeff Daly of Realty Home Advisors International brought the buyers, according to Realtor.com.
Singerman and her husband, Aaron Singerman, own a home at 4100 Sanctuary Lane, which they purchased in October 2021 for $6 million, and a home at 16598 Fleur de Lis Way, Delray Beach, which they bought for $2.3 million in 2016.
This current sale comes just after Aaron Singerman’s release from federal prison on Dec. 1. He served a fraction of his 54-month sentence, which was handed down in January 2022, for selling illegal steroids through his brand, Blackstone Labs.

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Selkirk Sport, an Idaho manufacturer of pickleball paddles and accessories, made an endorsement deal in November with James Ignatowich, 22, of Delray Beach.
Ignatowich is a newcomer to pickleball after playing tennis in the junior ranks and at Vanderbilt University.
He competed on Major League Pickleball’s Team Ranchers in 2022 and has won several pro medals, including the gold in men’s singles at the Beer City Open in July in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
He defeated Zane Navratil, 14-12, 12-10, for the championship after beating JW Johnson, Federico Staksrud and Navratil on his way to the final.
Then in August in Newport Beach, California, his Team Ranchers won the league championships, defeating BLQK, 3-0, and Ignatowich walked away with $25,000.
Ignatowich, now a senior at Vanderbilt, said he switched from tennis to pickleball because “it’s way more fun, and it’s way easier to get started playing and you can get to the top really quickly. I am already one of the top 10 players in the world.”  
When he’s home from college, he practices at Caloosa Park in Boynton Beach.
As one of Selkirk Sport’s lineup of brand ambassadors, he will be equipped with Selkirk’s paddles and outfitted in branded Selkirk Sport apparel.
His two favorite paddles are the Vanguard Power Air Invikta and the Project 002 Invikta. “They provide a great amount of power and spin,” he said.
Of interest to all those pickleball enthusiasts out there, he’s posting tips and instructional videos on his Instagram, @jamesignatowich.

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For people who have muscle cars and like showing them off, listen up and sign up.
Stingrays, Barracudas and other 1950s through 1970s muscle cars will be at Delray Beach’s Old School Square on March 4 at the Muscle On the Beach car show.
This benefit for the Sandoway Discovery Center will be hosted by Mike Brewer of the Discovery/Motor Trend TV series Wheeler Dealers.
“A few years ago, we had an idea to raise money for the Sandoway Discovery Center’s new stingray garden by gathering another kind of stingray — Chevrolet Corvettes,” said George Walden, who is volunteer co-producer of the event with fellow classic car buff Jack Barrette.
“Now we’ve got the best examples of American muscle cars coming to downtown Delray,” said Alex Ridley, president of Sandoway Discovery Center’s board of directors. “The children of Palm Beach County need fun, interactive educational opportunities now more than ever — this event is a great opportunity for the community to support our work, and a lot of fun for attendees and volunteers.”
For people who want to show their muscle car/truck/hot rod, or to be a sponsor or vendor, call 617-312-4701 or email Barrette at info@muscleonthebeach.com.

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The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum has announced several special happenings.
Jan. 7 kicks off the museum’s Free Fun Saturdays, a continuing program slated for the first Saturday of every month in 2023. The admission fee will be waived on those days for all visitors.
Because the new Brightline station has opened, the museum will offer a $2 discount off the regular admission to anyone with a Brightline ticket.
On Jan. 12 at the museum’s Town Hall Talk, author and Lynn University professor Dr. Robert Watson will make a presentation on his book Escape: The Story of the Confederacy’s Infamous Libby Prison and the Civil War’s Largest Jail Break. The talk will start at 6 p.m. with check-in and refreshments. The lecture begins at 6:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $10.
Open through the end of June, the temporary exhibit MiMo in Boca Raton: Mid Century Modern Style, and the Architecture of Howard McCall offers a look through architectural drawings and photos of the works of the longtime architect whose commercial and residential works helped shape Boca Raton.
McCall opened his office in Boca Raton in 1958 and was joined by partner Pat Lynch in the 1960s. McCall designed St. Gregory’s Church, the Church on the Hill, and Advent Lutheran. He also developed the first Fifth Avenue Shops, local gas stations, commercial buildings and mid-century condos. The partners also designed most of the Camino Gardens models and the original houses of Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club.
The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, at 71 N. Federal Highway, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and free for members and children 4 years old and under.

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The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County will host Verdenia C. Baker, county administrator of Palm Beach County, at its Hot Topic Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 18.
Baker oversees 6,800 positions and balances a $6 billion annual budget. Since becoming county administrator, she led the voter-approved 2016 Infrastructure Sales Tax initiative that will generate $2.7 billion for new and renovated schools, roads and facilities over a 10-year period; led initiatives such as the Mandatory Inclusionary Workforce Housing Program and Community Land Trust; and reimplemented the small/minority/women business enterprise program in 2019.
The luncheon will be held at Mel’s Way Bistro, 3536 Via Poinciana, Lake Worth Beach; price to attend is $35. Registration must be made at https://lwvpbc.org/event/jan-hot-topic-state-of-the-county/.

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Florida Atlantic University’s 2023 Alan B. and Charna Larkin Symposium on the American Presidency presents “A Conversation with Laura W. Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush” at 4 p.m. Feb. 11. The lecture, which will be moderated by presidential historian Timothy Naftali, will take place in the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, FAU Student Union, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Tickets are $35-$125 and can be purchased at www.fauevents.com or via 561-297-6124. 

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FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters will hold its third Culture, Arts and Society Today party at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Polo Club of Boca Raton, 5400 Champion Blvd.
Tickets for this fundraiser are $250 and can be purchased at  https://fauf.fau.edu/2023CAST or by contacting Gail Vorsas at 561-297-2337.
The 2023 CAST party will honor Marta Batmasian and Marilyn Weinberg for their contributions to the arts in South Florida.
“The faculty and students in FAU’s School of the Arts are world-renowned for their artistry,” Batmasian said. “We are incredibly lucky to have them in our community to provide outstanding exhibitions, concerts and theater and dance performances.”  
To become a sponsor, contact Laurie Carney at lcarney@fau.edu or 561-297-3606.
 For more information, visit www.fau.edu/cast-party.

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

Hundreds of European starlings, known as a murmuration, take flight at sunset at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge west of Boynton Beach. Photo by Susan Wasserman BELOW RIGHT: Five young gallinules huddle near the shore of Lake Ida in Delray Beach. Photo by Peter W. Cross

By Rich Pollack

Slip into the hidden Lantana Nature Preserve, sandwiched between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, and you might catch a glimpse of an American redstart or even a bay-breasted warbler.
Stroll the boardwalk at the Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands and there’s a good chance of observing a roseate spoonbill or maybe a least bittern or sora rail.
Stake out a spot on an aging wooden-planked dock along the eastern shore of Delray Beach’s Lake Ida and an osprey, red-shouldered hawk and — if you’re lucky — a bald eagle may soar in the sky above you. Sprinkled throughout southern Palm Beach County are a few parks, refuges and natural areas that have become favorite hangouts for resident birds as well as migrating species pausing as they flee the Northern chill for the warmth of South and Central America.
Those places have also been a magnet for people who enjoy the challenge of spotting a rare species, as well as those who find joy just seeing birds in their natural habitat.
“South County has some excellent birding spots,” says Chuck Weber, a longtime Palm Beach County birder, who coordinates the Christmas Bird Count for Audubon Everglades, the local branch of the national organization.
The Christmas Bird Count, held Jan. 2, encompassed an area 15 miles in diameter, including parts of the barrier island and a large chunk of South County.
While the consensus is that the number of birds in North America is down, Weber says that too many variables make it difficult to determine if this is the case here, although it is likely.
Still, last season there were 146 species identified in the count, similar to previous years, with the likelihood that the numbers will be close this time around.
One reason South County and the whole of Palm Beach County remain popular among birds is the diversity of habitat, which provides food, shelter and safety for many species.
For coastal shorebirds, South County offers miles of beaches, including some that do not get a lot of human visitors. Songbirds can find homes in coastal hammocks, while wading birds flock to both natural and man-made wetlands.
Local government agencies, says birder Sue Young, deserve a healthy dose of the credit for ensuring that natural habitat remains accessible to wildlife — and to people who enjoy witnessing them in action. “When we preserve these areas, the birds are going to show up,” she said.
Tucked between condos, townhomes and residential neighborhoods throughout South County are also small nature preserves, including the Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area, Ocean Ridge Natural Area, the Seacrest Scrub Natural Area in Boynton Beach, the Delray Oaks Natural Area in Delray Beach, and the Pondhawk Natural Area in Boca Raton.
These spots provide habitat for many critters and don’t always have the abundance of birds found at more recognized locations, but they are on many birders’ lists of spots worth visiting occasionally.
Here are several popular birding spots in southern Palm Beach County.

A prothonotary warbler. Photo by Chuck Weber

Lantana Nature Preserve
440 E. Ocean Ave.

Drive too quickly along Ocean Avenue as you head west from State Road A1A and there’s a good chance you’ll scoot right past the entrance to the Lantana Nature Preserve, a 4.6-acre man-made oasis that has become a magnet for birds traversing the East Coast.
“We think of it as a migration hot spot,” says longtime Palm Beach County birder Chuck Weber. “It’s a beautiful little spot.”
Weber credits the town of Lantana for creating the preserve — just west of the Carlisle home for seniors — using mostly Florida trees and shrubs to transform a site that had been overgrown and strewn with litter into a peaceful refuge for birds and birders.
“They did a great job of creating a native coastal hammock,” Weber said. That’s important, he says, because birds generally prefer native plants and trees for shelter and food.
What makes it special: The Lantana Nature Preserve is small and easily accessible. You’ll find an abundance of native trees — from strangler figs and gumbo limbo to poisonwood and mangroves — that draw mostly smaller songbirds during migrations.
What you’ll see: Many of the birds you’ll see at the preserve are usual suspects found in the area during migration periods, including blue-gray gnatcatchers, a variety of warblers and painted and indigo buntings.
In the fall, you might see a chestnut-sided warbler.
Rare sightings: A red-legged thrush was sighted there a few years back, and so was a La Sagras flycatcher. “For such a small place, it has an impressive list of rarities,” Weber said.

A roseate spoonbill. Photo by Sue Young

Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands
12800 Hagen Ranch Road, Boynton Beach

Wakodahatchee Wetlands
13270 Jog Road, Delray Beach

When Sue Young wants to show off Florida wildlife to visitors from the North, her first stop is typically Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
“The sheer spectacle of nesting birds there blows everyone away,” she says, explaining that wood storks, great blue herons and great egrets have created close-up rookeries hard to find anywhere else in the area.
Like its neighbor Green Cay, Wakodahatchee is a man-made wetland filled with water from nearby county-operated water treatment plants. Both have boardwalks winding through them that escort visitors up close to avian visitors as well as an occasional alligator.
“They’ve taken Florida habitat and shrunk it down to a manageable size,” Young says.
While Wakodahatchee is smaller and may have birds in greater concentrations, the 100-acre Green Cay has a bigger variety, partially because it includes a larger woodland habitat. Young has seen as many as 50 species in one day there.
What makes them special: The boardwalks bring visitors close to the birds, and over time, the wildlife have accepted people passing by.
“You have a chance to see natural behavior from a bird that would normally get spooked and fly away,” Young said.
What you’ll see: Both locations have a similar assortment of wading birds and ducks, while pied-billed grebes, common gallinules, tricolored herons, great blue herons and great egrets are abundant. At Wakodahatchee, you’ll see more wood storks and great blue herons, while at Green Cay you’re likely to see more warblers in the woodland areas.
Rare sightings: Green Cay has had barred owls and eastern screech owls visit, and a pair of Chuck-will’s-widows have taken residence this season. In the past, Green Cay has seen a La Sagras flycatcher, a least grebe and a reddish egret. At Wakodahatchee, a golden-winged warbler — normally seen in South or Central America — was spotted several years ago, creating international interest among birders.

A piping plover. Photo by Kenny Miller

Spanish River Park
3001 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton

There are few remaining places for birders in Palm Beach County the size of Boca Raton’s expansive Spanish River Park.
Coastal shore birds are in abundance east of State Road A1A, and migratory songbirds find shelter in the old Florida growth on the west inside the oceanfront sanctuary.
Not far offshore you’ll find seabirds such as gannets, and on the west side of the park mangroves will attract an occasional egret or great blue heron.
“Spanish River Park is a great place to see birds because there’s so many different species, both on the beach and in the park, on any given day,” says birder Kenny Miller, who can be seen many mornings on the beach before sunrise and in the park shortly thereafter.
He is always on the lookout for hard-to-find species. During an October visit, he counted 49 bird species, including a rare, white-crowned pigeon.
The nearly 95-acre park — which has three tunnels, making it easy to navigate between the two habitats — also includes two trails winding through the coastal hammock.
There is a $35 daily charge for parking inside the park and metered parking is available on Spanish River Boulevard at $2 per hour.
What makes it special: Spanish River Park attracts a diversity of wildlife found in two very different habitats. Several species of coastal shorebirds patrol the beach while the coastal hammock draws songbirds and others during migration.
What you’ll see: On the beach, you’ll see laughing gulls, herring gulls, royal terns, sanderlings and an occasional willet, as well as a handful of other species. Peering out over the ocean, you’ll see seagulls, gannets, perhaps a common loon and even a scoter. Migratory birds, including many species of warblers, can be found inside the park.
Rare sightings: The first Florida sighting of a hermit warbler took place at Spanish River Park several years ago. A mangrove cuckoo was discovered there, and piping plovers have been seen on the beach.

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach

Susan Wasserman often walks along the levee and marsh trails of the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge just before the sun sinks over the wetlands. She searches the trees and wetlands for elusive birds.
Wasserman tends to avoid the boardwalk that twists through a small hardwood portion of the park where the Everglades meets urbanization, preferring solid ground instead.
“You’re not walking over the wetlands, you’re walking in them,” she says. “I don’t feel like an observer of the wildlife. I feel like I’m among it.”
A natural Everglades ecosystem, the refuge “is a mosaic of wet prairies, sawgrass ridges, sloughs, tree islands, cattail communities and a 400-acre cypress swamp,” according to the park literature.
To enter the refuge, a $10 daily entry fee per car or a $25 annual pass is required. The park offers a variety of recreational activities and includes a nature center.
What makes it special: This national wildlife refuge, covering over 225 square miles, is home to about 250 species of birds, including the Everglades snail kite, an endangered species.
What you’ll see: Sandhill cranes, large pileated woodpeckers, wood ducks, monk parakeets and nanday parakeets are frequent visitors. Owls, including a great-horned owl and barred owls, also have been seen.
Rare sightings: Birders flocked to Loxahatchee a few years back when a vermilion flycatcher was spotted. But to make even a routine trip unforgettable, they can watch the hundreds, maybe thousands, of European starlings seemingly dance on cue through the sky — creating a murmuration at sunset.

An osprey carries off a largemouth bass for its breakfast. Photo by Peter W. Cross

Lakeview Park
1100 Lake Drive, Delray Beach

It wasn’t until the pandemic that retired photojournalist Peter W. Cross started paying attention to the birds visiting this small park tucked into the Lake Ida neighborhood.
During early morning visits with his yellow Labrador retriever Roxy, Cross noticed common wading birds such as egrets and herons. But as he became more attuned to the bird life around him, he recognized other species, including woodpeckers, warblers and even raptors.
“When the pandemic happened, all this wildlife came out,” Cross said. “You’ll see just about every type of bird.”
The park is easily accessible on the eastern edge of the natural lake and since the water is home to several species of fish — including peacock and largemouth bass — it is a favorite for birds, including an occasional raptor, Cross said.
What makes it special: The park is a hidden gem, where visitors can stand on a dock at the water’s edge and see several species of resident birds, as well as a few migrating species.
What you’ll see: Osprey, red-shouldered hawks and Cooper’s hawks are frequent visitors, as are many types of warblers and woodpeckers common to the area. Limpkins pulling apple snails from their shells are often seen, and a roseate spoonbill may make an appearance.
Rare sightings: The park has attracted a spot-breasted oriole, and Cross has caught a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring over the lake, hunting for a morning meal.

More images from Lake Ida
Photos by Peter W. Cross

A juvenile gallinule creates an image of itself as it takes off from the lake’s placid waters.
A red-eared slider turtle fends off a curious great blue heron.
A spot-breasted oriole glows in the early morning light as it searches for a meal.

Feb. 14-16: The Wayside House fundraiser, supporting addiction-treatment services for women, will feature dozens of vendors from throughout the United States selling upscale merchandise. Time is 5-7 p.m. Feb. 14 for a preview party and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16. Cost is $125 for the party and free Feb. 15 and 16. Call 561-268-0055 or visit www.wayside house.net and click on ‘events.’ ABOVE: Co-Chairwomen Lisa Jankowski and Martha Grimm. Photo provided

OPAL awards chairs and honorees include (l-r) Neil Saffer, Amy and Mike Kazma, Terry Fedele, Greg Hazle, Jan Savarick, Christine Lynn, Pia Giannone and Spencer Siegel. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

Whether a billionaire philanthropist or a public-school teacher, any recipient of the Rotary Club of Boca Raton’s Outstanding People and Leaders award exemplifies “service above self.”
The club’s motto not only has inspired its 80-plus members to come together and make the city a better place to live, work and play, but also forms the basis for honoring the citizenry.
“We honor people in the community who are the ones who make Boca Raton, Boca Raton,” Co-Chairman Neil Saffer said of the annual OPAL awards. “The presentation itself: We try to make it as Grammy Award-ish as possible, with giant LED screens, to give these honorees their finest hour.”
The major fundraiser will take place Jan. 14 at Boca West Country Club. Festivities include a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, a high-end auction and an uplifting program complete with videos celebrating the lives and achievements of the 2023 honorees.
“The food, drink and entertainment are always as good as it gets,” Saffer said. “Everything about it is first-class.”
Honorees are community leader Terry Fedele, Boca Helping Hands Executive Director Greg Hazle, philanthropists Mike and Amy Kazma and theater impresario Marilynn Wick. Rotarian Pia Giannone also will receive an award.
Proceeds will benefit one of the club’s most important missions: to fund scholarships at FAU and Palm Beach State College for students in both academics and trades.
“It’s wherever we can make a difference, whether someone wants to be a plumber or someone wants to get a college degree,” Saffer said. “We have helped hundreds of students whose parents are happy, proud and grateful.
“It’s a wonderful event, and it’s dual-purpose,” he said. “Those we honor support missions like ours and often become advocates for missions like ours. Some even guide our students if not hire them.”

If You Go
What: Rotary Club of Boca Raton OPAL awards
When: 6:30 to 11 p.m. Jan. 14
Where: Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton
Cost: $300
Information: 561-477-7180; opalawards.com or rotaryclubbocaraton.com

Florida Atlantic University has kicked off the public phase of its first comprehensive campaign in more than 20 years.
“Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University” is an ambitious plan to raise $600 million for the school and will focus on three fundraising priorities: health, the environment and scholarship/student success.
“Private support has played an important role in the genesis, development and growth of FAU,” said Chris Delisio, vice president of institutional advancement and CEO of the FAU Foundation. “Transcend Tomorrow provides us with an opportunity to focus our fundraising priorities as we plan and prepare for the needs of the future.”
For more information, call 561-297-6144 or visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.

Closing literacy gap
The Golden Bell Education Foundation, together with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and the School District of Palm Beach County, has distributed kits to Boca Raton Elementary School to kick off a reading program.
The kits are part of the S.P.I.R.E. program, for Specialized Program Individualizing Reading Excellence.
In addition, members of both foundations came together to present the district with a $40,000 donation.
S.P.I.R.E. is a communitywide initiative to help close the literacy gap for underperforming students in kindergarten through third grade at all 13 public elementary schools in Boca Raton.
For more info, visit www.goldenbelleducationfoundation.org or call 561-395-4433, extension 232.

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

The Ocean Ridge Garden Club kicked off the holiday season with a hat-wearing event that put all who attended in the spirit. Members reflected on the season and everything they accomplished, including raising money for the Ann Cody Camp Wekiva Scholarship Fund. Looking ahead, the club is planning field trips and environmental initiatives in 2023. ABOVE: (l-r) Jill and John Shibles, Jen Pekowski and Virginia Sigety. INSET: Mary Ann Cody and Helen Smith. Photos provided

The YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s 50th-anniversary gala drew 700-plus guests and raised a record-breaking $2 million. ‘We are so proud of the role that the Y has played in the transformation of Boca Raton over the past 50 years and look forward to even bigger contributions to all ages of our community in the future,’ Chairwoman Terry Fedele said. Funds will help purchase buses and support a teen arts initiative and a cancer-care program. ABOVE: (l-r) Bill and Mary Donnell, Renee Feder, and Kathy and Paul Adkins. BELOW: (l-r) Francesca Daniels, YMCA President and CEO Jason Hagensick, and Myrna Gordon Skurnick. Photos provided by Carlos Aristizabal

Dorothy Taylor (in front row) was recognized for her 100th birthday during a Town Commission meeting. Taylor, a nurse, was divorced when she moved to Florida from Illinois with her daughter in the 1960s. She became one of the first single women in Palm Beach County to apply for a permit to build a single-family home. She fought for a construction loan from the banks and to find an architect and contractor who took her plans seriously for her Ocean Ridge home, which was completed in 1969. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

The Dreyfoos School of the Arts staged its ninth-annual extravaganza, featuring more than 400 young musicians performing holiday classics. The 90-minute, sold-out show highlighted band, piano, orchestra and vocal students. Underwritten by James and Sue Patterson, the concert and its proceeds benefit the school’s music department.
TOP: (l-r) Nancy Hart, George Elmore and Marti LaTour. RIGHT: Lisa Marie Conte Browne and Ellen Liman. Photos provided

The Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton presented its seventh-annual black-tie affair highlighted by a pair of live flamingos befitting the theme: ‘Boca Raton, A Tropical Paradise.’ More than $320,000 was raised to support health and wellness needs in the community. Auctions, dancing and an awards ceremony rounded out the evening. ABOVE: Honorees Cliff and Eda Viner. Photo provided by Gina Fontana

Dress Circle members of the performing arts center were honored during a special dinner attended by more than 250 supporters. After dinner, everyone enjoyed music by the duo Black Violin, a violist and a violinist who combine their classical training with hip-hop influences. ‘Our 30th anniversary season is a great time to celebrate the Kravis Center’s past, present and future,’ CEO Diane Quinn said. ‘Annual giving is a substantial part of our operations each year, and we simply could not offer the caliber of our educational programming without your support.’ ABOVE: Katherine and Gary Parr. BELOW: Cindy and Ron McMackin. Photos provided by CAPEHART

The Boca Raton Historical Society / The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum welcomed more than 100 supporters and dignitaries to the annual ceremony and reception honoring volunteers and organizations whose service has enriched the city and its residents. Honorees were Steven Abrams, Marta Batmasian, John and Arline McNally and Lynn Russell. The Addison received a special Historic Preservation Award.
ABOVE: (l-r) Society Chairwoman Olivia Hollaus with Zoe Lanham, Rochelle LeCavalier and Rebecca DeMonte. Photo provided by Tracey Benson Photography

Butterfly snapper is one of the dishes offered at Benny’s on the Beach Oceanwalk in Lake Worth Beach. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Have you checked your dining check lately? In the past few months, diners may have noticed a service charge added to their bills, typically 18%.
That’s an automatic tip for what chef Jeremy Hanlon of Benny’s on the Beach at Lake Worth calls “support staff.” It’s a guaranteed amount for each table. Diners have the option of tipping more if they choose, and many do, Hanlon said.
Hanlon says all of the fee goes to people who serve, bus tables or tend bar. “If a server doesn’t make their numbers for whatever reason, the others that are tipped out from their tables aren’t losing out.”
At most restaurants, the fee used to appear only on checks for parties of eight or more. It’s now showing up on every check in many restaurants in Palm Beach County.
“This isn’t something new,” Hanlon said. “Miami’s been doing it forever. New York, other cities — it’s always there. I think diners are beginning to accept it.”
Service fees are but one way restaurant owners say they are coping with skyrocketing food costs, increased rent, and especially rising labor costs that are mandated by Florida law.
“It’s a tough business right now. I ran the numbers,” said Gary Rack. “The minimum wage increase over the next five years will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s labor alone for our three restaurants. And I’m just a small chain. It’s going to hurt a lot of smaller full-serve restaurants.”
Rack, CEO of the GR Restaurant Group, runs Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen in Boca Raton, and a Rack’s Farmhouse and Rack’s Fish House in Delray Beach.
He said it’s not only labor but food costs that have driven menu increases as well. “The consumer eventually is going to say, ‘I can’t go out.’ We’re a scratch kitchen. We use quality ingredients. But they’ve gotten out of control.”
One of the best sellers on the menu at Farmhouse is a cauliflower flatbread. He uses a lot of the fresh vegetable weekly.
“Two weeks ago, cauliflower was $95 a case — it used to be $45. Food costs are brutal,” Rack said. “Romaine lettuce was so expensive, we quit serving Caesar salads for a couple days because we couldn’t afford to put the salad on the plate to make any money. Now, romaine has come down, but every day it’s something. It’s completely out of control.”
George Patti, owner of M.E.A.T. in Boca Raton, said he’s back in the kitchen in his restaurants because of a labor shortage. “I put myself back on the daily schedule,” he said.
It’s a crisis for hospitality, he said, one that started during the pandemic and shows no signs of letting up. Not only a lack of workers, but responsible workers: “ones who show up.”
“It’s a younger generation. They don’t want to work. Silly kids. They want to play on their phone and make money. And guess what? They do. They stay at home and do TikTok or YouTube videos and make more than at a real job.”
Patti also cites food delivery costs as well as the fluctuating prices of the food itself, such as chicken wings — $185 for a 40-pound case a while back, then dropped to $80, but soon to rise again with the Super Bowl around the corner.
“We can’t sacrifice quality. Meat is our name,” Patti said. “But there’s no predicting costs. A 20-pound box of tomatoes is $64; it used to be $25. It’s crazy.”
To keep menu prices reasonable and within diners’ perceptions of fair value, he’s working in the kitchen, he said, and has signed up “with every delivery platform out there.”
Takeout and delivery reduce meal costs where labor is concerned, though he has a dedicated person in the small eatery to handle all the takeout orders and deliveries.
He’s adjusted again and found a niche in office deliveries and party catering. “We’ll do $400 deliveries at lunch to offices,” Patti said. “It’s definitely helped. We’re just trying to make it.”
Chef/owner Jimmy Everett of Driftwood, an 80-seat restaurant in Boynton Beach, has been trying for the last year “to figure things out. Things are changing all the time.
“It used to be there were industry standards that typically worked,” he said. “There was a good way to make a sustainable profit. You knew that a 28-to-30% food cost was good. Now, a 25% cost is what it takes to just survive. Labor is 50%. That’s terrible. We’re trying to figure out how to balance it all out. There’s no rulebook for this.”
Driftwood makes meals from scratch. Food costs are unpredictable, though a flexible daily menu helps, he said. It’s easier for him to adjust with a small restaurant.
But there’s a line when it comes to charging the diner more. “In a matter of less than a week our cost of cauliflower went from $45 to over $100. I can’t charge $22 for a Buffalo cauliflower app. Either we take it off the menu or we replace it with something,” Everett said.
Hidden costs that go into a meal, nonfood items such as appliance servicing and cleaning products and even ink and paper for printing daily menus, are straining budgets as well. “These are the things the diner doesn’t see,” Everett said.
But, he said, “My biggest concern is what’s happening with the minimum wage law changes. It will have a huge impact on every single full-service restaurant and the front of the house who serves their products.”
Florida’s law raises minimum wage to $15 for tipped workers over the next five years. That’s a dollar-an-hour increase each year for five years.
“All of my wait staff make more money than I do,” Everett said. “I’m fine with that. I know a lot of others won’t be.”
How to deal with it “will be a huge hurdle when it all plays out. I don’t have an answer.”
A service charge on the check is one thing he is considering, but it’s part of a dilemma pitted against raising menu prices.
“If we change our tip structure, that can cause issues with our customers. Or the wait staff. The crowd we have, sure they look at prices, but people here come in for more than a plate of food to fill their stomachs. It’s an experience.”
Either way, higher menu prices or a service charge, he thinks people will figure it out. “At the end of the day, they’ll say, ‘I spent this much at this place and it was this much, and I spent the same amount at this place with a service charge.’”
For Everett, “it’s making sure we’re being honest. I want it to be fair. I want people to feel like they’re getting value, whether they’re spending $20 or $200.”
He’s preparing for the possibility that diners will eat out less frequently. He can’t say it’s happening yet, though he’s observed that crowds may be thinner. Sales numbers are equal to last year’s, however.
Driftwood opened only two years before the pandemic, so Everett can’t compare sales records for years back.
“We’re constantly assessing everything, every day,” he said.

Benny’s goes to land
Benny’s on the Beach has expanded into the Lake Worth Casino plaza, taking over the spot of its former sister restaurant Viva La Playa.
Called Benny’s on the Beach Oceanwalk, the 200-seat seafood restaurant and bar is an adjunct to the original on the Lake Worth Beach pier.
“We’ve redone the interior, provided a slightly modernized atmosphere,” Hanlon said. “It will drive the beachside vibe all along the beach. But it’s Benny’s menu, with a few tweaks from my travels.”
While Viva La Playa had a “specialness” to it, he said, “we felt it was taking the focus away from Benny’s. We wanted to put all our eggs in one basket as a brand.”
The menu is all of Benny’s favorites, plus steak, more taco dishes, and some new style dishes Hanlon has concocted from traditional seafood dishes.
“We’ll have different flavor combos,” he said, representing his international cooking techniques and incorporating favorite flavors.
It is open for lunch and dinner, with reservations for dinner only at the moment. Breakfast is served on weekends starting at 10 a.m., but that may expand in season, he said.
Benny’s on the Beach Oceanwalk, 10 S. Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach. Open daily for lunch and dinner, breakfast Saturdays and Sundays. www.Bennysonthebeach.com.
In brief: According to a post on the Facebook page of the old Ellie’s ’50s Diner in Delray Beach, the owners of Bees Knees Diner of West Palm Beach are set to take over at Ellie’s, which closed in 2022. Stay tuned.

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

Lori Hill, founder of Pawsitive Dog Training, seen here with her dog Louie, offers programs that range from teaching manners to making your pet a ‘dream dog.’ Photo provided

By Arden Moore

With the holidays behind us, the schooling really begins … for you and your dog. The reality is whether you adopted a puppy or dog from a shelter, rescue group or reputable breeder, your four-legged roommate did not come with built-in manners.
I’m betting by now that the doggy honeymoon is over and you are feeling frustrated by your canine’s actions. Maybe he chewed your favorite pair of shoes, shredded your sofa pillow into confetti or regards leash walking as opportunities to yank and marathon bark at other dogs.
From a newly adopted dog’s perspective, he finds himself trying to adjust in a new home with new people and having to learn a new language — human. From your viewpoint, you fell for his cuteness, but were not prepared for his doggy ways.
Dog training challenges occur year-round, but it is fitting that after the rush of holiday pet adoptions, January is designated as National Train Your Dog Month by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. And, to mark its 10th anniversary, I reached out to a couple of professional dog trainers in Palm Beach County who were happy to unleash some savvy doggy advice.
Lori Hill, founder of Pawsitive Dog Training (pawsitivedogtrainingfl.com) based in Delray Beach, is a certified professional dog trainer and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator who offers private in-home programs as well as group classes.
“I am comfortable treating a myriad of behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety, marking, nuisance barking and chewing/mouthing,” she says. “Our dogs desire to please us. Just like with people, dogs can learn bad manners and habits if they don’t have the correct guidance.”
Dara Wittenberg is the founder of Rescue Me Dog Training (www.rescuemetraining.com), based in Delray Beach. She is a certified professional dog trainer and Animal Behavior College-certified dog trainer whose programs focus on problem-solving and offering various levels of training.
“The reason I got into dog training was to keep dogs out of shelters,” says Wittenberg, who was honored as Behavior Team volunteer of the year in 2016 at the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach. “I try to get people to understand life from a puppy’s perspective. My role is to teach people how to communicate with their dogs and teach their dogs how to communicate with them.”
Wittenberg is a major advocate for proper crate training for canines of all ages.
“Crate training should start as soon as possible and the use of the crate is about management and not about punishment,” Wittenberg says. “Associate the crate with positive things. Feed your dog in his crate with the door open at first and his bowl in the back of the crate. When playing fetch, throw the toy in the open crate for your dog to go in to retrieve the toy and then treat them.”
If a dog is still learning not to greet guests by jumping up on them, Wittenberg says ushering the dog into his crate and giving him a treat like peanut butter or frozen beef broth in a Kong proves to be a win-win. The dog is occupied and regards his crate as a welcoming safe place and the guests don’t have to dodge leaping paws on them.
Wittenberg says it is important to work closely with dog trainers and veterinarians to accurately identify the triggers behind an unwanted canine behavior. And, pay attention to how you react to these actions.
“Some dogs go crazy when they see another dog on a leash and the owner may hold her breath, hold tight on the leash and the dog then looks at his owner and senses something terrible may happen,” Wittenberg says. “Dogs are very sensitive. They pick up on our emotions. Instead, try to be calm, take a deep breath and do not wrap the leash tightly around your hand. If you are uptight, your dog will be uptight.”
At Pawsitive Dog Training, Hill offers a tiered-teaching approach that begins with what she calls the Well-Mannered Dog Program and accelerates to what she calls the Dream Dog Program.
The well-mannered program’s goal is to teach the person how to train the dog to master loose-leash walking and obey these vital commands: watch me, sit, come, stay, drop it. Behaviors, including peeing in the house, chewing/mouthing, jumping up on people and nuisance barking are also addressed.
Hill says loose-leash walking with your dog is critical for social time, enrichment and exercise. Her top cues are “watch me” (ensuring your dog is focused on you and giving you eye contact); “sit” (the please and thank-you from your dog); “come” (having a good recall is absolutely critical and could save your dog’s life if he gets loose); and “drop it” (getting dogs or puppies to release items in their mouths, especially dangerous items).
“I also value the ‘wait’ or ‘stay’ as a must-learn cue so your dog is trained to wait at the door, wait before crossing the road and before eating, as this teaches impulse control,” Hill says.
Hill describes the Dream Dog Program graduate as the well-trained, well-mannered dog “who is a delight in all circumstances and obeys even around heavy distractions.”
Canine graduates of this program have mastered 14 commands, eight behaviors and make good candidates for the AKC Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog status.
Hill’s parting advice is to identify what motivates your dog to learn.
“Some dogs like treats, tennis balls or praise,” she says. “And, your attitude is everything. Training should be a fun process for both you and your dog. Always focus on the training, and the last cue you give your puppy should be completed with success.”

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts a nationally syndicated 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.

Learn more
All dogs benefit by being properly socialized and well trained. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers sports more than 6,000 members who teach dog-friendly training techniques. You can check out articles, videos and other resources on its site at https://apdt.com.

Boca Raton Garden Club members Nancy Cavnar and Joan Witter prepare to do some gardening. Photos provided

By Jan Engoren

The Boca Raton Garden Club turns 70 on Feb. 4. To commemorate, the club, headquartered at 4281 NW Third Ave., will celebrate its history of gardening, horticulture, conservation and floral design with a community celebration.
The public is invited to join the family friendly festivities, including garden tours, free seeds and plants, informational exhibits, games for children and adults, and raffles and prizes, along with a proclamation from Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer.
With the theme of “70 Years Planting Seeds in Boca,” the club aims to stimulate knowledge of gardens among amateurs and to encourage civic beautification, maintain Florida’s natural beauty and further garden club programs.
“We’re very excited about our anniversary and celebrating it with the community,” says President Marie Young, 72. “We’re having a big bash and we want everyone to come, learn something new and have some fun.”
Young says that the club was established in 1953 “with the purpose of beautifying our town parks and improving the city’s landscapes, and we’re proud to carry on the legacy.”

Members (l-r) Dellie Krebs, Jeanne O’Leary, Pat Bird and Juliana Corrine attend a general meeting of the club.

The club boasts 150 current members. Young joined in 2012, after she retired from a 40-year career as a teacher at both Advent Lutheran School and St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Boca Raton.
Young attended an event at the club’s Holiday House. The craft, baked goods and plant sale — where people created and sold angel figures made from palm fronds — prompted her to think: “I’d like to be a part of this.”
The club cultivates 50 native orchid plants growing in trees, copperleaf hedges, crinum lilies, bromeliads, amaryllis, the tropical red passion vine, white alba begonia and Dutchman’s pipe vine, among its rose and butterfly gardens.
A member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs District X, the Boca Raton club participates in the Million Orchid Project created by the American Orchid Society and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami.
The club hosts a junior gardening program at Whispering Pines Elementary School in Boca Raton and a monthly garden therapy program at the FAU Memory and Wellness Center for Alzheimer’s patients. Funds raised from club events send students and counselors from Boca schools to Wekiva Youth Camp in Apopka each year with the purpose of instilling a love and respect for nature.
The club contributes to Boca Helping Hands and to Boy Scout merit badge projects. It partners with the city on conservation efforts and maintains the community garden.
Charlene Smith, 82, a former advertising and sales executive for a software company in Delray Beach, joined the Garden Club when she retired in 2012.
“My friends said, ‘now you have no excuse,’” jokes Smith, who is now head of the club’s publicity committee.
“I love every minute of it,” she says. “I made friends and learned to create flower arrangements, which I love to give to friends or keep in the house.”
Occasionally, she will bring her husband, Clarence Smith, 85, along to an event such as the “Paint & Pour” social in May, where members created paintings while sipping wine.
“Besides creating floral decorations, learning about native plants and visiting other gardens, the club is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. There’s a lot of camaraderie,” says Smith. “We look forward to seeing everyone on Feb. 4.”

If You Go
What: Boca Raton Garden Club 70th anniversary
When: 10 a.m-2 p.m. Feb. 4
Where: 4281 NW Third Ave.Info: 561-395-9376 or www.bocaratongardenclub.org.

Club meeting dates
• The Boca Raton Garden Club will hold its general meeting at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 in the BRGC clubhouse, 4281 NW Third Ave. Noted floral designer Susie Slater will present a program on “Traditional and Contemporary Spring Floral Designs.” This program is free and open to the public. 
• Visitors are welcome to attend all general monthly meetings at no charge. People wishing to join must attend two club events before they are eligible. These events can be general meetings or any community event or fundraiser. Dues are $50 a year in addition to a one-time fee of $12 that includes registration and a magnetic name badge.
• For more info, call 561-395-9376 or visit www.bocaratongardenclub.org.

Joe Zupo, dressed as St. Nicholas, is surrounded by (l-r) Angelica Aguilera, Elaine Borrelli, Jack Warner, Brendan Hughes, Allison Hughes and Courtney Hughes at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach. Photo provided

The parishioners at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church participated in a Christmas toy drive for about 350 children, most the children of migrant workers. The children have been attending CCD classes with Sister Mercedes Ysabel Dominguez, a Claretian nun at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Delray Beach.
Parishioners chose names off an “angel tree” and fulfilled the children’s wishes, returning festively wrapped, brightly colored boxes and bags to the church. The children received their presents at a celebration Dec. 17 that included a Christmas play.
Angelica Aguilera, director of faith formation, said it was hard to tell who enjoyed the gift-giving more, but she thinks the givers did.

Giving tree at St. Lucy benefits four organizations
The “giving tree” at St. Lucy Catholic Church of Highland Beach was adorned with donation requests for needy people for the holidays and no wish went unmet. The project was organized by the Council of Catholic Women of St. Lucy’s.
Generous parishioners chose names from paper angels that covered the tree, then shopped for their recipient or donated the items requested.
CCW President Eleanor Hoffmann said this year’s recipients were AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse); Birthline/Lifeline, which helps pregnant women and their babies; Fisher House, a veterans assistance group; and St. Mary’s Church of Pahokee.

Candace Tamposi (right) at the Children’s Enrichment Center ground-breaking. Photo provided

Children’s Enrichment Center breaks ground
The First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade staged a ground-breaking ceremony on the site of its Children’s Enrichment Center on Dec. 11. The existing building is crumbling and beyond repair, but each day a van transports children to the center, where they receive a hot meal, enjoy playtime and then sit down for tutoring, which incorporates Bible verses and character-building exercises. During the ground-breaking, community members gathered at the site where classrooms and a music room are planned. The 4,000-square-foot facility will provide after-school tutoring, computers and music and art space for children ages 5-12.
A playground and covered patio will be outside.
The project is gaining momentum thanks to South County businesses. Rick Gonzalez of REG Architects is on board as the architect. You may know Gonzalez as the leader of the West Palm Beach history walks for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. The contractors — Messam Brothers, originally from Belle Glade — expect phase one, consisting of two classrooms, to be completed by spring.
Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller (Sovereign Order), Creative Waves Foundation, and foundation co-founders Ali and Candace Tamposi of Ocean Ridge are spearheading fundraising with a goal of $1 million.
The new enrichment center will also get a boost from Les Girls of Palm Beach. The multinational, multilingual women’s club will gather Jan. 24 for a luncheon to present a donation to the Creative Waves Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to provide funding for underserved children and programs that emphasize the arts and the environment. The luncheon will take place in Palm Beach and the check will be given to foundation President Candace Tamposi. Many of the club’s 43 members from 31 countries are expected to attend. For more information, call 561-762-3052.

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

Father Kevin McQuone, formerly a parish priest in the Panhandle, has returned to his alma mater at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Here he looks at a statue of St. Vincent on campus. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

How do we give purpose to our lives?
For Father Kevin McQuone, the answer is serving God and the church.
This year, the 40-year-old priest will serve the church in a new way. Formerly a parish priest in Florida’s Panhandle, McQuone has returned to his alma mater, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, to educate and prepare seminarians to take on the demands of a parish in these volatile, changing times.
Located on 43 acres along Military Trail just north of Woolbright Road, St. Vincent de Paul’s is owned by the seven Florida dioceses. The seminary was established in 1963, became an archdiocesan seminary in 1971 and has been a regional seminary since 1981.
Named for St. Vincent de Paul, a pioneer in seminary education, it has graduated more than 650 priests and is the only fully bilingual theological seminary in the United States. For the 2022-2023 academic year, more than 120 seminarians are preparing to serve a parish.
The parish priest is where the rubber meets the road in the church. These men deal directly with the messiness of life and death among their congregants.
For McQuone, those challenges came in the form of Hurricane Michael, which devastated Florida’s Panhandle in 2018, and a worldwide pandemic in 2020. His work was even more difficult as the sole priest in a parish that usually had a second priest to help shoulder the load.
Only about 5% of the Panhandle’s population is Catholic, but much of the support after Michael came from Catholic Charities, which brought supplies and volunteer medical professionals. Most of the people McQuone helped were strangers to him, but not to his heart.
“We should see others as another self,” McQuone said.
True charity happens without judgment or criticism. The golden rule shouldn’t be exercised only when it’s convenient or you’re in the mood, and you shouldn’t love your neighbor only if he looks and believes exactly as you do, he said.

***

‘The moment I realized that God existed, I knew that I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone.’

— St. Charles de Foucald
(Father McQuone’s favorite quote)

***

In these socially charged times, it’s hard to know when and where the rules should be strictly applied and when they should be changed. The church often seems weighted down, even hobbled by its own rules.
Today’s climate runs contrary to some of what the church teaches. Consider its views on birth control, homosexuality and women priests.
“As priests, we wrestle with the gray areas and the messiness of life,” McQuone said. “Balancing truth and mercy should be our goal.”
When dealing with important personal relationships (the devout mother who loves her gay son or the father whose beloved teenage daughter gets pregnant), compassion is the best tool, he said. McQuone wants to mend and not sever, bind and not break, and answer yes as often as he can.
“I believe in meeting the person where they are,” he said.
No one is a perfect Catholic; a priest’s opus is to find common ground and light the way. Consider the intent and the circumstances, he said.
McQuone said he didn’t hear the call to the priesthood until he was in college. Born in Ohio but raised in Tallahassee, he got his undergrad degree in Spanish literature and international relations from Florida State in 2004.
While he was there, he became active in the on-campus ministry. The more active he became, the more he wondered about a life devoted to serving God. Finally, he asked himself: “What does it look like if Jesus is the center of my life?”
His parents and four sisters were surprised. Although the family faithfully attended Mass, the priesthood wasn’t a goal his parents ever suggested. He had always seen himself as a husband and father, a role he anticipated with joy and love.
His decision to forgo fatherhood hurt his sisters, who had always imagined family gatherings with his kids playing with their children. And he had doubts about living a life of celibacy and never being called Dad.
But the seminary’s goal is to graduate quality and not quantity in priests. It doesn’t mind doubts. Priests-in-training go through weekly therapy to be sure they’re suited for the job. Even though a seminarian’s tuition and room and board (nearly $50,000) are paid for by the diocese, it would rather lose the investment than graduate a priest whose heart isn’t pure.
McQuone estimates two or three out of 10 don’t finish.
St. Vincent de Paul graduated 187 priests in the past decade. That’s not enough to sustain the church. But it’s hard to attract candidates when the sacrifices are tremendous and the pool is small to begin with.
In addition to his classroom teaching, McQuone serves as St Vincent de Paul’s spiritual director.
He meets one-on-one with seminarians to discuss their prayer lives, given that a significant part of a priest’s time is spent in prayer and reflection, listening for God’s voice, McQuone said.
They discuss the seminarians’ joys and desires, fears and doubts, mental health and motivation.
Often these questions of faith are answered with more questions designed to access the very core of the person.
“We use all the tools we have to help sort out his experiences,” McQuone said.
These pastoral tools — skills like active listening, gentle corrections, mirroring and rephrasing, and asking delicately probing questions — are also the methods the seminarians will learn to help their own congregants some day.
“These are the practical skills of the ministry. They help us see around the blind spots,” McQuone said.
“Faith is like a muscle you have to exercise,” McQuone said. Like anything else we give our time and attention to, it grows, and moments spent in prayer, gratitude or reflection grow our faith.
McQuone has part of a verse he recalls when he is stressed, or afraid, or alone. “It helps me stay rooted on the path,” he said. It’s just five words from the Gospel of Matthew, 28:20: “I am with you always.”

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

By Jan Enorgen

Love ’em or hate ’em, New Year’s resolutions are a long-standing American tradition.
After the decadence of the holiday season, people commit to making changes in their physical, spiritual and mental well-being at the start of a new year.
Quitting smoking, going on a diet, choosing healthier options, heading back to the gym and cutting down on alcohol are among the top New Year’s resolutions.
But, is it a good idea to make these promises to ourselves or are we setting ourselves up for failure?
We asked a couple of experts.
Dr. Ashley Hall, a primary care physician in Boca Raton who specializes in preventive medicine, chronic disease management, obesity medicine and women’s health, sees no reason to wait until Jan. 1 to set goals.
Hall, who practices at Baptist Health Primary Care Boca Raton (Del Mar), advises setting a health or wellness goal once a month.
“Check in with yourself the first of each month to remind yourself of your goals and set manageable, realistic steps to attain them,” she says.
If you’re trying to lose 20 pounds, for example, set incremental goals along the way, she says. If you are trying to get a promotion at work, communicate with your boss in ways that will lead to the desired goal.
Her own goals include spending more time with family and her significant other, Dr. Ionut Albu, also a primary care physician in Baptist Health Medical Group, and better managing her work/life balance.
“My goal is to be more present,” she says.
Dr. Joanna L. Drowos, a professor at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine, says setting New Year’s goals “is a good idea.”
“Obviously, we can all make changes to make ourselves healthier,” she says. “The new year is a natural trigger to make these changes. Be thoughtful and make sure it’s something within your ability to attain.
“Don’t give up if you’re not perfect each day,” she says.
Drowos practices with FAU’s Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, which uses a holistic approach in making each patient a partner in health outcomes.
Based on the teachings of Dr. Andrew Weil, integrative health services include osteopathic manipulation and massage, yoga, meditation, culinary medicine and nutrition. Aside from the physical concerns, all of that is part of an effort to evaluate and treat the patient’s mental, emotional, functional, social and community health.
Drowos made a number of health-related changes in her personal life during the coronavirus pandemic.
The married mother of two adolescents, Drowos changed to a plant-based diet, installed a gym in her home and invested in a Peloton. She resolved to eat green leafy vegetables more often and to bring salads for lunch.
As a front-line health care worker, she purchased an Oura Ring, originally to flag signs of COVID-19. She now uses it to track her sleep and activity habits.
“It monitors my heart rate variability, body temperature and sends me messages if I sit too long,” she says. “It’s another tool to use in goal-setting for my health.
“It’s important to be a role model for my kids and patients and model good health habits,” says Drowos, who rides her Peloton three or four times each week. “Even though my kids hate it when I blast the music, I enjoy it.”
Drowos says a key component to making and keeping successful New Year’s resolutions is the motivation and “readiness to change.”
According to research, people who successfully change their behavior don’t do it all at once, they go through a series of stages. The first step is to recognize where you are in the cycle of change, so you can set appropriate goals and the steps to achieve them.
“In our program, we talk about setting smart objectives,” says Drowos. “Make specific changes. Set a measurable, attainable goal. Strive for something, know what it is you want and recognize when you achieve it.
“This makes it easier to move forward when you stumble,” she says. “Set your goal so you’re still able to move toward it; reward yourself for small goals and realize that it is not all or nothing.”
For example, Drowos says, “if you have a piece of cake, don’t punish yourself. Recognize you’re human. Give yourself space to have that treat and resume your goals the next day.”
Drowos believes in the power of support.
“Don’t go it alone,” she says. “Have other people to support your endeavors. Get your family, spouse, friends and even your physician on board. You can be more successful when you have a team to encourage and back you.”
What does Drowos suggest as ways to stick to your resolutions after January?
“Positive reinforcement such as coaching and support are useful,” she says. “Identify resources to keep you focused. Be aware of the barriers and triggers that will prevent you from being successful and find strategies to navigate them and keep your commitment to yourself.
“Arm yourself with the best resources, be prepared and practice forgiveness,” Drowos says. “If you match your goals to your readiness and stage of change, you will maximize your ability to be successful.”
For more resources, visit www.faumedicine.org and https://baptisthealth.net

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

Caron Treatment Centers opened its new Keele Center in Delray Beach. Kathryn Keele and Caron CEO Brad Sorte were on hand for the ribbon cutting Dec. 8. Photo provided

Delray Medical Center recently acquired the Viz Vascular Suite software that uses artificial intelligence to detect suspected pulmonary embolism, right/left ventricle dilation, aortic dissection and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
“Being able to identify a patient with a serious vascular condition, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, early — before they have an emergency — is a game changer and literally a lifesaver,” said Dr. Joseph Ricotta, national medical director of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at Tenet Healthcare, Delray Medical Center’s parent company.
“For example, there are roughly 1.5 million abdominal aortic aneurysms in the U.S. per year; however, only 10% get diagnosed and treated,” Ricotta said.
“We don’t often find out about them until it’s too late and, even then, there’s only a 25% chance of living through a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
“From my experience as an early adopter of this technology, the Viz Vascular Suite will help enhance screening and coordinate care across my vascular team.”
Call 833-769-4862 for a free physician referral.

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Caron Treatment Centers held a sneak peek and ribbon cutting on Dec. 8 of its new Keele Center, 4575 Linton Blvd., Delray Beach. 
Brad Sorte, CEO of Caron Treatment Centers, announced at the event that the nonprofit’s “Open the Door” campaign goal of $30 million for the Keele Center was achieved. It is named in honor of philanthropist Kathryn Keele. The new center includes a medical detox unit, 40 beds for residential treatment programming, including an older adult program, as well as neurocognitive services, research and medical education.  
For more information, visit www.caron.org/fl-medical-center.

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Palm Health Foundation will match donations to its Nursing Advancement Fund through Jan. 31 up to $150,000. People who want to support aspirations of low-income and first-generation nursing students in LPN, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs in Palm Beach County can donate between $100 and $5,000.
To donate, visit www.palmhealthfoundation.org/the-nursing-advancement-fund, or contact Carrie Browne, director of stewardship and strategic partnerships at carrieb@phfpbc.org or call 561-837-2281. 

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

More than 20 lifeguards from around the state took part in beach and open water training. ABOVE: From Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue (l-r), Capt. John F. Meskiel and lifeguards Eddie Black and Jonathan Price watch the exercises. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Eben Krigger, a Fort Lauderdale training officer, braces himself for impact after jumping from the bridge. Boynton Beach Fire Rescue dive team boat operator Chris Lemieux ensures the inlet is clear of other traffic.

A fisherman retrieves his bait so that lifeguards can swim past to the beach for debriefing.