By Brian Biggane

Acknowledging that its Town Hall has been deteriorating in recent years amid anticipation of a new building to replace it, the South Palm Beach Town Council authorized Town Manager Jamie Titcomb to begin the repair and renovation process as soon as possible.

After the May 12 council meeting, however, Council member Sandy Beckett reiterated her concern that the decision not to move forward on a new structure ignores the future wants and needs of residents.

Titcomb and Town Attorney Gemma Torcivia informed the council at the start of discussion on the topic that, while only just over $487,000 can be spent on renovations without also requiring the decades-old Town Hall to undergo the costly work of coming into compliance with all existing code and construction regulations, the proposed repairs would not count against that figure.

Titcomb presented a list of 10 items that would fall under that category, with the most pressing and expensive being a new metal roof that he estimates will cost $125,000. Also on the list are turning four bathrooms into three ADA-compliant bathrooms ($60,000 to $75,000) and replacing a metal fire stairway and railings ($19,000 to $25,000).

Other needed improvements include painting both the exterior and interior; replacing carpet and tile; addressing the unused front garage “knee wall”; removing a “lean-to” on the north side of the maintenance office; replacing two fire exit doors; putting in new landscaping; and repaving the parking lot. No estimates were given for any of those projects.

Council members joined Titcomb for a walk-through of the building a week before the meeting and determined repairs need to be made — and soon.

“The bathroom looked apocalyptic, like the urinal was disgusting,” Vice Mayor Fran Attardi said. “It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in like 1,000 years. It was crazy.”

Having said that, Attardi expressed confidence the repairs and improvements can make a significant difference.

“I see the building will be beautiful. Like you said, the bones are there in this building.”

That reference was to a comment Mayor Rafael Pineiro made about the last engineering study done in 2018 that said the building had “good bones,” meaning it was structurally sound. Of course, as Beckett pointed out, that was eight years ago and whatever repairs were needed since were mostly ignored as previous councils worked toward a new building.

“Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s falling apart, but as people have said, it doesn’t meet our needs,” Beckett said. She, along with Council member Ray McMillan, were members of the previous council that had been on the verge of soliciting contractor bids before three of its members were voted out of office in March, giving Pineiro and his allies the power to change direction.

“Whether they are legitimate needs or not, our town wanted more exercise space, space where we could have different events going on at the same time,” Beckett added. “Not where you have to cancel one to have another.

“What really discourages me is that it’s almost like the previous council wasn’t working, whether anybody was paying attention. If you weren’t coming to meetings, if you didn’t look at the website, if you weren’t reading The Coastal Star and you didn’t know what was going on.”

Pineiro, who based much of his campaign for mayor on refurbishing and restoring the current building as opposed to building a new one, was the council member who made the motion and it passed 5-0.

Titcomb said he planned on getting to work on the fixes immediately but reminded the council that his financial limit to approve a contract is just $25,000, meaning he will have to wait until monthly council meetings to get most of the work approved. He also pointed out the estimate for all the improvements mentioned in the 2018 study was in the $2 million to $4 million range.

Titcomb also said he expects Mock Roos, the company contracted to build the new lift station, to present an updated status report on the project at the June 9 council meeting. He said efforts are underway to secure help from both national and local government agencies to help defray the estimated $4 million to $5 million cost. 

Sunshine Law update — South Palm Beach Town Attorney Gemma Torcivia delivered a lengthy but necessary annual update on the Sunshine Law, which requires almost all meetings of public bodies to be open, with notice given to the public. Key requirements of the law include open meetings, reasonable notice and no binding actions taken unless done in public.

Budget on the agenda — The arrival of summer means budget hearings can’t be far behind. The council agreed to hold a budget workshop on Aug. 10, followed by the first budget hearing on Sept. 8 and the final budget hearing on Sept. 14.

Beckett volunteers for post — The town needed a representative on the Palm Beach County Issues Forum and got a volunteer for the job when Council member Sandy Beckett offered her services. Beckett said her interest was piqued when the forum was asked to address transportation issues in the county.

Edmunds contract passes — Darrin Love, regional sales director for Edmunds GovTech, made a presentation offering the town his company’s services for a cloud-based accounting software, after which the council approved the long-discussed move for $41,800 per year. Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the town had been in discussions with Edmunds for years and the move was a step up from its previous accounting model.

Council appointments — Bernadette Schultz was appointed to the Community Affairs Advisory Board and Eric Schultz to the Architectural Review Board. The council also voted to dissolve the Code Enforcement Board and continue the use of a special magistrate, which has been Town Attorney Gemma Torcivia, to rule on code issues.

— Brian Biggane

Shark fishing from shore restricted — Manalapan town commissioners passed a new ordinance — designed to reduce shark fishing from shore — that prohibits fishing activities that “may endanger the health and safety of swimmers or other beachgoers.”

While the state preempts local governments from regulating saltwater fishing, Manalapan officials went after the activities that attract sharks, such as chumming or blood baiting, because of the safety risk the sharks would pose to people in the water. They expect the ordinance to stand up legally because it ties the restrictions to health, safety and welfare concerns — not to fishing itself.

Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Palm Beach also have targeted restrictions seeking to limit shark-attracting activities while attempting to stay within the boundaries of what the state will allow. The Manalapan commission approved the ordinance at its May 12 meeting.

Dancing the night away — People looking to beef up their moves on the ballroom dance floor will be able to get their lessons in Manalapan if they want. The Town Commission on May 12 approved allowing a Fred Astaire Dance Studio at the Plaza del Mar shopping center. 

While some commissioners questioned if noise from the dance studio could affect nearby businesses and offices, town officials said those concerns were for the center’s management to consider when leasing the space, not the town.

The dance studio will take the place of a former dry cleaner at the plaza. A special exception was needed because a dance studio is not among the permitted businesses at the center.

Road-widening moving forward — The town is preparing to widen a portion of Lands End Road to improve safety there.

The stretch, near Audubon Road, is narrower than the rest of the street and can create bottlenecks, Town Manager Eric Marmer said. While Marmer said he was unaware of any reported accidents, officials have heard of close calls, including some involving bicyclists.

The project, which will cost about $30,000, is expected to take place before the end of June and should take three to five days at most to complete, Marmer said.  Residents will be notified ahead of the work, he said.

Meanwhile, officials are still finalizing the details of the new guardhouse on Lands End Road and hope to begin construction before the end of the summer. Final commission approval will be needed once the construction plans are finalized.

Manalapan’s own ZIP code? — Marmer said he will give it the old college try, but he’s making no promises regarding the commission’s desire for Manalapan to get its own personal ZIP code.

The town’s 33462 ZIP code typically carries the designation of Lantana or Lake Worth and is shared with Hypoluxo and Atlantis, too. Commissioners said the Lake Worth or Lantana designation might pop up at the FedEx office or when getting a driver’s license, causing confusion, but they also admitted it seems everyone in town is getting the mail and deliveries coming to them.

Septic-to-sewer grants and loans sought — The town has applied for low-rate funding through the State Revolving Loan Fund to reduce the cost of its planned conversion from septic tanks to sewers. It is also applying for state grants to cover some of the cost, which is expected to run between $14 million and $16 million, Marmer said. Though it could be a half-year or more before the town learns if it will receive any grants or low-rate loans, he told commissioners the project could realistically start in about a year.

— Larry Barszewski

Photos by Tim Stepien for The Coastal StarThe Memorial Day processional is led by the city of Boca Raton Police and Fire Rescue Services Honor Guard, alongside the Boca Raton High School NJROTC Color Guard and cadets.

Related: Boca Raton: On a day for remembrance, city sets the record straight

Related: PHOTOS: ‘A Day to Remember’ Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana — May 25

Members of the Boca Raton High School NJROTC perform the flag-folding ceremony.

(L-r) Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin Menting, his son Kevin Menting II and Jerry Edelman of the Coast Guard Auxiliary pay their respects during the national anthem.

Front-row attendees listen to speaker Mark Sohaney, a retired U.S. Navy veteran and Boca Raton’s city manager.

Delray Beach seasonal resident Elizabeth Koldyke Boolbol, pictured with Stella, is the founder of Partnership to End Human Trafficking, which seeks to help women recover from the trauma of human trafficking. She established the organization in 2016 in the Northeast and is working to expand its programs to South Florida. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

After raising her family, Elizabeth Koldyke Boolbol turned her attention toward helping others, specifically female survivors of human trafficking.

She had seen the “devastating and awful” effects of child trafficking during her international mission trips, which she said made her aware of a growing industry in places like Cambodia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. 

Originally, she assumed that child trafficking only happened abroad, but through her studies and reading the work of Nicholas Kristof, she learned that women and girls were disappearing and being trafficked domestically through online mechanisms. Also through Kristof, she learned about Thistle Farms, a Nashville, Tennessee, organization founded by Becca Stevens that addresses the needs of these women. 

Inspired after spending some time at Thistle Farms, Boolbol decided to create a nonprofit that replicated the Thistle Farms model. It included a residential home where survivors could live for two years and receive resources that they needed, as well as job training.

Following her Thistle Farms visits 11 years ago, Boolbol, who lives in Delray Beach and has homes in Manhattan and in Greenwich, Connecticut, began laying the groundwork to create a similar organization, focusing first on fundraising and educating others in her community about domestic human trafficking. 

In 2016, Boolbol founded her nonprofit, Partnership to End Human Trafficking. She and her team opened a drop-in center offering food and hygiene products in Bridgeport in 2019 and in 2021, they launched their Bridgeport residential house followed by the Greater Hartford house in 2024. Currently, nine women survivors are living in these two homes.

In addition to receiving a place to live and services for two years, the women develop work skills by creating products for sale through Partnership to End Human Trafficking’s shop. In May, the organization purchased a highly regarded gourmet specialty food shop and caterer, The Pantry in Fairfield Connecticut, for additional revenue for the nonprofit and to serve as job training.  

“Becca realized early on that if Thistle Farms only offered residential protection and programming and recovery, after 24 months the women had no economic independence, no skill set and no ability to find a job,” Boolbol said. “These women typically have not gone to college or (finished) high school, and they often have criminal records, so it’s very hard for them to find employment. So, they’ll go right back to sex trafficking. Becca realized that in order to give them a chance, they had to be economically independent.”

This year, Partnership to End Human Trafficking (peht.org) marks its 10th anniversary. Since 2020, more than 110 survivors, women ages 22 through 60, have gone through the program. Additionally, other women have received assistance in the way of emergency hotel housing and legal aid through the nonprofit’s community outreach program. 

Boolbol, 61, eventually plans to expand her program to South Florida. “Human trafficking is happening in every single state in the union. Florida is the third-worst state for sex trafficking in the country, so Florida has a real problem,” she said. 

“We’d love to bring our model here. But it’s one of those things that takes time. You have to meet the stakeholders, understand the need and understand if your model would fit.” Already she has offered educational events, with more to come next season.

“In South Florida, we plan to host an event for parents to learn about the dangers of online sexploitation and recruitment. Parents really need to be vigilant about what their kids are doing online, because there’s so many avenues for traffickers to find their children online, and parents don’t even know that’s happening,” Boolbol said.

While trafficking victims tend to be vulnerable to manipulation, there is no real profile for the traffickers, she said. “There is something called the ‘pimp bible’ that’s passed around in prisons to educate people on how to identify vulnerable women. It’s kind of a how-to road map, because weapons trafficking and drug trafficking are not as profitable; they have to buy weapons and drugs (to sell). They don’t really have to buy the women, they can just manipulate them.”

Boolbol is married to Robert. Their children are Lukens and Jackson, both 26, Jesse Katherine, 24, and Rebecca, 22. 

— Christine Davis 

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?

A. I grew up in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago. Growing up in the Midwest in a small town definitely made me appreciate values related to family and the importance of lifelong friendships. I attended Dartmouth College and because of its remote location in the mountains of New Hampshire and its intimate size, friendships forged there have stood the test of time. I have a deep appreciation for nature and animals, which was deepened living and studying in such a beautiful setting.

Q. What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

A. I have worked in business development and marketing and for a few years worked in film/television production. I received a local Emmy award for a TV pilot project that I am very proud of. As a liberal arts graduate, I knew I wanted to pursue creativity in my professional life, and growing businesses through innovative marketing and branding allowed me to foster that creativity. I had always loved storytelling so my move to Hollywood felt organic. 

The pilot show explored the themes of teenage development, centered around teen pregnancy and the complex issues around it. I worked at Hill & Knowlton Public Relations; The Levy Organization; Eagle River Interactive. 

Ten years ago, I founded The Partnership to End Human Trafficking and we have supported hundreds of survivors of sex trafficking and helped them rebuild their lives through our 24-month residential program, community outreach and our social enterprise. It is my life’s work and I love it. 

When I had my children and chose to be a stay-at-home parent, I became active in philanthropy and with my church. Through my work with World Vision I learned that sex trafficking of children as well as adult women is a pervasive and growing issue in the U.S., which rocked my world and I decided I needed to do something.

Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today?

A. Focus on what you love, not what will earn you greatest financial reward. I love the quote, “Do what you love, and you won’t work a day in your life.” That is an overstatement, but I do believe it rings true.

Q. How did you choose to make your home in Delray Beach?

A. I absolutely adore Delray Beach. We can walk to everything and the beach is magnificent. I try and walk to the beach most days and have to pinch myself that I can live here. The laid-back culture is incredible and when my kids come down, they have so much fun at all the fantastic night spots! 

My grandfather Carlton Blunt came to Boynton Beach in the mid-1950s and I have been coming to the area my whole life. During COVID-19, I decided to establish roots in Delray Beach, so I am here six months a year and in Connecticut and New York City the rest of the year.

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Delray?

A. The people! I think the culture is just perfect. People are genuine and care about the town. There is commitment to quality of life and maintaining what makes Delray so unique.

Q. What book are you reading now?

A. The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.

Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?

A. I often listen to worship music when I am in need of inspiration and relaxation.

Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions?

A. “… To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?

A. For sure my parents, Mike and Patricia Koldyke. Their commitment to elevating those less fortunate has been an enormous influence on me and my work. My parents founded two organizations that have profoundly impacted the quality of education in Chicago where they lived.

Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?

A. Emily Blunt. She’s funny and I love her relationship with her husband — they seem to really enjoy themselves — and she has a range in her performances that I admire.

By Larry Barszewski

A snack bar with a fresh take on vegan dishes — along with more traditional meat fare — is coming to Boynton Beach’s Oceanfront Park.

Dope Vegan, a 5-year-old West Palm Beach food truck startup on Military Trail that specializes in plant-based menu items, has been awarded a lease for the concession stand at the beach park, which has been without a food service provider for three years.

Company officials said they hope to be open for business in late June or July. The Boynton Beach City Commission approved a four-year lease with the possibility of a four-year renewal. 

While commissioners approved the contract at their May 5 meeting, the concession’s name made them uneasy. 

“Dope” can mean “excellent,” like the vendor intended, or it could be confused with drugs, a potential image problem at the city-owned park, 6415 N. Ocean Blvd., near Ocean Ridge. Nor did Vice Mayor Thomas Turkin think it was a great idea to have “vegan” in the name, either. He said it might alienate would-be customers who have a negative view about meatless meals — especially since meat items will be on the menu — before they even have a chance to explore the options.

“I think it’s important that first impressions are done in a way that doesn’t deter anybody,” said Turkin, who acknowledged his own surprise when trying some of Dope Vegan’s fare at the Taste of Boynton Beach on April 18. “I’ll be the first critic of vegan food, but when we tried it, it was absolutely amazing.”

The company, which is building a following and often goes by just DV, agreed to use an alternate name, DV at the Beach, which pleased commissioners.

Commissioner Mack McCray still needed to be sold on the menu.

“Explain to me, more or less, about this Dope Burger. I’m just saying, you know, it’s supposed to be friendly for families,” McCray said. “Tell me what it is because, I’m just saying, because it’s kind of a turnoff for me.”

Rhona Nain, the company’s CEO and one of its founders, tried to explain the appeal of the plant-based dish — even for those who might like meat in their burgers. She said most of her customers are not vegans or vegetarians.

“Our Dope Burger is basically, it’s a vibe,” Nain told commissioners. “It’s our most popular, signature burger. It has vegan bacon; it has lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions — just about everything you can think of when you think of a traditional burger that you just want to indulge in. That’s what we do at Dope Vegan. It’s all about the flavor.”

Park’s canopy changing

In addition to having a new concession provider, Boynton Beach’s Oceanfront Park is getting a new ‘living roof canopy’ in its parking lot. 

The solar panels that previously provided shade to some of the beach parking spaces are being replaced with living ‘green roofs’ that reduce heat and improve stormwater management.  The new material is expected to increase the canopy’s lifespan, the city says.

Newly discovered provision — never enforced — blocks development east of A1A

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach town leaders are hoping to find a fix to ensure that a long-undiscovered clause tucked inside its sea wall restrictions doesn’t torpedo oceanfront property owners’ ability to build on their land.

Town Manager Marshall Labadie said that the town’s Building Department recently discovered a provision in the sea wall ordinance that prohibits development east of what is known as the state’s Coastal Construction Control Line.

That boundary line, designed in large part to protect the sand dune, was established in Palm Beach County in 1978 and revised in 1997.

Because the ban on construction east of the line wasn’t known, Highland Beach has been giving homeowners the green light to build within the restricted area.

“We as a town have been allowing it for 50 years,” Labadie said.

One reason for that, he said, is that the Florida Department of Environment Protection has been issuing permits for home construction east of the control line.

“We’ve deferred to state,” Labadie said. “The state has allowed it pending review of site conditions.”

In addition to dealing with the prohibition of development east of the Coastal Construction Control Line, the town is planning to address a zoning issue that requires a 120-foot setback from a beachfront property’s vegetation line or eastern property line unless there is a sea wall.

With a sea wall, that setback requirement is just 50 feet from the eastern property line or the vegetation line. But the state has been reluctant to allow new sea walls.

The result, town officials say, is that an oceanfront home built in compliance with the 120-foot setback would likely end up within the State Road A1A right of way, if not onto the roadway itself.

A third issue involves the elevation of construction on oceanfront property. The state requires homes that do not have a sea wall to sit at least a foot above the base flood elevation, which is usually 12 to 14 feet above the average ocean level.

To meet that requirement and also have underground-level parking, some property owners would be required to have an incline that could be too steep to be functional.

The state does allow for a lower elevation of parking facilities if there is a sea wall or if there are what’s known as breakaway walls stretching along the entire perimeter of the structure below the base flood elevation.

Again, however, the state is reluctant to permit sea walls, meaning breakaway walls are the most likely solution.

Those breakaway walls, Labadie said, would collapse and could cause a problem with storm surge during a hurricane, causing ocean water to flood A1A and possibly buildings on the west side of the highway.

“We would prefer a sea wall or building above the base flood elevation,” he said.

Labadie said the town is hoping to find solutions that will provide protection to the dune and help maintain its stability while at the same time not interfering with an owner’s or developer’s property rights.

The Town Commission is asking the town’s planning board to address the first two issues quickly and take a hard look at the breakaway walls issue.

By Patrick Sherry

The town of Lantana is hoping to get grant assistance for sea wall improvements at Sportsman’s Park.

The Town Council passed a resolution May 11 authorizing staff to apply for grant money under the Florida Inland Navigation District Waterways Assistance Program. If approved, the grant would cover half of the estimated $300,000 cost of designing the new sea wall and improvements at the site. 

“Should the application be approved, I intend to apply for the construction phase of the sea wall project next year, following the completion of the design,” said Vanessa Holloway, the town’s contract and grants administrator. 

The project is part of ongoing efforts to address flooding and sea level rise along Ocean Avenue. Town officials used the same grant program to fund part of the sea wall improvements at Bicentennial Park. They are considering raising the existing sea wall or building a new one in front of it with a raised cap.

“It won’t alleviate the flooding entirely, but this would be the first step to mitigating it and helping with the flooding in that area,” Holloway said. 

By Larry Barszewski

The Memorial Day weekend ended with two apparent ocean drownings, in Manalapan and in South Palm Beach, according to law enforcement officers.

The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to a possible drowning of a juvenile in South Palm Beach near the Lantana public beach around 7:30 p.m. May 24.

“Upon arrival, they located a juvenile unresponsive after being pulled from the water by a good Samaritan,” according to the sheriff’s office. “The investigation established the juvenile was not a strong swimmer and was at the beach with his family. After being in the water for a short time, he began to struggle and was not able to stay afloat when a good Samaritan pulled him from the water and brought him to shore.”

The juvenile was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital and was pronounced dead at 8:44 p.m., officials said. The case remains open pending an autopsy.

On Memorial Day, May 25, Manalapan police and other agencies responded around 1 p.m. to a possible drowning near the Boynton Inlet in the 4000 block of South Ocean Boulevard. An officer at the beach had called in the report of a male not breathing.

Two juveniles told police they saw a man floating motionless in the ocean, so they jumped in from the pier and brought him to shore. Police performed CPR at the scene and Boynton Beach Fire Rescue transported him to Bethesda Hospital East, where he was pronounced dead.

The man, who had gone to Ocean Inlet Park, was identified as Shawn Whitley Duncan. The case remains open pending an autopsy. 

DELRAY BEACH — Willard George Kramer Jr., cherished by family and friends for a lifetime of kindness and generosity, died April 30. He was 96.

Mr. Kramer was a former member of Delray Dunes. He was also a member of the Delray Beach Club and The Little Club. He will be remembered for his dedication to his family, friends, Trinity Lutheran Church and especially to Bethesda Hospital.

He was born on Oct. 2, 1929, to Willard George Kramer Sr. and Olive Kramer. He was a standout baseball and football player in high school and joined the U.S. Army in 1947. 

After his military service, he went to Grove City College, where he earned his CPA and met and married Nora Mae Martin. 

He later joined the Price Waterhouse firm and rose to be the head partner in Detroit. He was a member of the Detroit Athletic Club, Country Club of Detroit and Lochmoor Country Club. He was on many boards including of Bon Secours Hospital and the Detroit Chamber of Commerce.

  After Nora Kramer’s death, he met and married Phyllis Spinner. Their love affair included family cruises, summers in Stowe, Vermont, many dinners and dances at their beloved Delray Beach Club, and nights cooking out on their patio overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

Mr. Kramer also was preceded in death by his son Michael Kramer.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis, his daughter Patricia Harris, daughter-in-law Susan Lorenger, grandchildren Ryan Kramer, Stephanie Sikora, Patricia Grant, Brian Harris and Rachel Harris, and 13 great-grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of love and integrity, as well as the joy he brought to those around him.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Kramer’s name to the charity of the reader’s choice.

— Submitted by the family

De’Vante Lashawn Moss is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jane Musgrave/The Coastal Star

By Jane Musgrave

A 32-year-old Boynton Beach man is claiming he was acting in self-defense when he fatally shot two people outside a Boca Raton hotel in 2024 and is asking a judge to throw out double first-degree murder charges he is facing.

De’Vante Lashawn Moss, who was arrested in Georgia a day after Chandler Dill and Christopher Liszak were found dead outside the 365 Ocean extended stay hotel, claims his actions were justified under the state’s Stand Your Ground law.

Fearing for his life, Moss said he shot Dill and Liszak rather than be shot himself, according to papers filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. The 2005 law allows people to use deadly force, rather than retreat, if they have a reasonable belief that their lives are endangered.

At a hearing on May 18, Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer said he had lingering concerns about granting Moss’ request. The law says that people who are committing a crime aren’t allowed to seek immunity from prosecution, the judge said.

While Moss’ attorneys say that he came to the hotel to pay $100 to have sex with the 32-year-old Dill, who advertised her services as an escort, Suskauer said there is no evidence that the two had sex. In court papers, Moss’ defense attorneys said that they did.

Still, Suskauer said, while Moss can’t be accused of violating the state’s prostitution laws, other factors could spur him to reject the request.

Assistant State Attorney Chrichet Mixon said the dispute was triggered when Moss grabbed Dill’s purse from her hotel room and ran to his car. That’s robbery, she told Suskauer.

However, Assistant Public Defender Stephanie Gagerie said Moss grabbed Dill’s purse because she had stuffed a bag of illicit drugs she stole from Moss in her pocketbook and he wanted them back.

Further complicating matters is that Moss in 2022 pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of distribution of fentanyl and was placed on probation for two years. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from having a gun. That, too, could be sufficient to reject Moss’ request.

However Gagerie said courts have ruled that even those engaged in criminal acts are entitled to immunity. The key, she said, is whether they could safely escape. Moss couldn’t, she said.

Suskauer said he would make his decision after Mixon and Gagerie in mid-June file legal papers, laying out their opposing views.

The chaos that surrounded the Sept. 20, 2024, shooting was captured on video cameras at the hotel, which is on State Road A1A north of Palmetto Park Road.

Edited snippets reviewed by Suskauer showed Moss running through the parking lot with a black purse and Dill running after him.

Another man, Tuan Duy Hoang Ho, sees the struggle and comes to help Dill. Shortly after, Liszak walks out of a room he rented next to Dill’s and joins the melee.

In court papers, Gagerie said that Moss was only trying to retrieve his drugs and leave. But, she said, Ho indicated he had a gun and threatened to kill Moss. So, Moss grabbed a gun from the passenger side of his car and got into the driver’s seat.

Moss couldn’t close the driver’s side door because Liszak was holding it open while Dill continued to attack him, Gagerie said. Moss tried to drive away, but the automatic brakes on the silver 2017 Jaguar engaged.

Realizing the car wasn’t going to move, Ho opened the passenger-side door, holding a gun, Gagerie said.

Convinced he was going to get shot, Moss jumped out of the car and began shooting. Dill, who was shot in the neck, arm and back, and Liszak, who was shot in the chest, died in the parking lot.

In a report, Boca Raton police Detective Dale Graham said the video shows that Ho managed to get away from the car. Moss followed him, shooting him once, and while an injured Ho sat on the ground with his arms raised, Moss shot him again. Ho survived.

In addition to two counts of first-degree murder, Moss is charged with attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces a possible life sentence. A trial is months away.

By Sephora Charles

OCEAN RIDGE — Town Commissioner Dave Hutchins, a longtime commercial airline pilot who devoted the past decade of his retirement to serving his adopted town, died on May 18. He was 78. 

Mr. Hutchins was first appointed as an alternate to the Ocean Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission in 2015 and elevated to full voting membership in 2017. He remained on that board until 2024, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Commission. He subsequently won election to that unexpired term in March 2024 and was elected without opposition to a full term this year. 

“Commissioner Dave Hutchins served Ocean Ridge with dedication, professionalism and a sincere commitment to the community,” Mayor Geoff Pugh said in a statement. 

David Allen Hutchins was born March 31, 1948, the son of Edward and Marjorie Hutchins. He grew up in Falls Church, Virginia, and lived there until, when he was a teen, his family moved to Northglenn, Colorado. He had two brothers, John Milton and Mark Edward.

Airplanes and flying were in Mr. Hutchins’ blood. His father was an aircraft mechanic, flight engineer, flight operations instructor and licensed pilot over his career, while his mother also worked for an airline. 

Mr. Hutchins received an associate degree in flight technology from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Colorado.

He served in the Colorado Air National Guard from 1970 to 1976. He made flying his career, working for 40 years as a commercial pilot captain — from 1973 to 2013 — for U.S. Airways/American Airlines. 

Mr. Hutchins and his wife, Donna, who survives him, moved to Ocean Ridge in August 1990.

“We can’t visualize living anywhere else,” Mr. Hutchins said in his 2023 Town Commission application. He was an avid angler who enjoyed being out on his boat on the ocean with friends.

When seeking appointment to the Town Commission, Mr. Hutchins expressed his passion for making changes that would improve the quality of residents’ lives — and the town. 

“His willingness to serve and continued commitment to the community reflected deep care for the town and its residents,” Town Manager Michelle Heiser said. “His kindness to each individual working within Town Hall or the Ocean Ridge Police Department, coupled with his genuine care and respect for those who served the community, left a lasting impression on the organization and all who had the privilege of working alongside him.”

Outside of work, Mr. Hutchins was known in the community for walking his dog, Bandit, every morning and socializing with others. 

“He was a good man, sweetheart of a guy,” Terry Brown, an Ocean Ridge resident and former town commissioner, said during the June 1 Town Commission meeting. 

Resident Rick Carey shared the same sentiment about Mr. Hutchins. “He’s a man of great integrity and respect,” he said. “I’m feeling a great deal of personal loss.”

During the commission meeting, Pugh said he met Mr. Hutchins 32 years ago while moving into his Ocean Ridge home. Mr. Hutchins immediately shook his hand and said, “Welcome, neighbor.”

“That gives you all you need to know about Dave Hutchins,” Pugh said.

Mr. Hutchins had been in declining health in recent years but continued with his civic responsibilities. The cause of death has not been disclosed. 

The town plans to have a memorial for Mr. Hutchins at Town Hall in a month or two. No other arrangements were available as of June 2.

“We will all miss him as a true, and loyal, friend,” Pugh said.

Larry Barszewski contributed to this obituary.

DELRAY BEACH — Tom Dolvin, a well-known and respected dentist in downtown Delray Beach for more than four decades, died in Waxhaw, North Carolina, on May 15, family by his side. He was 80.

Born July 23, 1945, Mr. Dolvin grew up in White City, a community bordering Fort Pierce. He was but 12 years old when his father died, so his strong Southern mother became both parents to her only child.

After skipping his senior year at Dan McCarty High School, Mr. Dolvin entered Emory University and, following graduation, continued at Emory’s Dental School, where he received his dental degree.  The next few years were spent in Germany, serving in the U.S. Army. Along with his young family, he then moved to Delray Beach, where he began a dental practice that lasted until 2016.

Mr. Dolvin’s interests were diverse, ranging from his windsurfing business F2 (“Fun and Function”) to opening Smoke Signals, a popular Boynton Beach restaurant. 

 His memberships at The Ocean Club and the Delray Beach Club provided countless hours of tennis and golf fun. He also wrote everything from greeting cards to lyrics, primarily for country songs — many of which placed in the top five of competitions, including the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Of utmost importance to him, though, were his daughters, Caroline and Ashley, whose comfort and care were instrumental in making his last months peaceful.

Tom is also survived by his former wife, Carol; his son-in-law, Tim O’Mara; and grandchildren Quinn, Wells and Gracyn.

As he once poetically and generously wrote: “The hearse won’t pull a U-Haul, that makes it pretty clear.

“You cannot take it with you, better use it while you’re here.”

In keeping with that spirit, Mr. Dolvin arranged for happy memories to be shared at two of his favorite watering holes: Harry and the Natives in Hobe Sound, 6-9 p.m. Aug. 7; and Carsons pub in Stuart, 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8.

Flowers and tree-plantings can be set up from the legacy website heritagecares.com, where memories can also be shared. Click on obituaries and scroll to Mr. Dolvin’s page link.

                                                       — Submitted by friends and family

Related:  Save Boca founder at odds with rest of City Council  | On a day for remembrance, city sets the record straight

By Mary Hladky

Save Boca has prevailed in its long battle to ensure that residents will be the ones to decide if Boca Raton can sell or lease any of the land it owns larger than one-half acre.

The city’s now-dead plan to lease its downtown campus land to developers was the impetus for the grassroots group’s formation and its efforts to defeat the redevelopment project.

Even after Boca Raton voters overwhelmingly rejected the project in the March 10 city election, Save Boca pressed ahead in its effort to get an ordinance and a City Charter change that would require voter approval of proposed city land leases or sales.

Save Boca got its wish on May 12 when the City Council unanimously approved the ordinance.

The council also approved a resolution by a 4-1 vote, with Council member Yvette Drucker dissenting, that provides for an amendment to the City Charter that also prohibits a land sale or lease without voter approval. Residents will vote to approve or disapprove the charter change no later than the March 9, 2027, municipal election.

There are limited exceptions to the vote requirement, such as for the extension of existing leases to nonprofit organizations and for utility easements. Those are intended to avoid the need to hold costly special elections for noncontroversial and routine matters unlikely to be controversial.

“I just want to thank all the citizens,” said Council member Jon Pearlman, Save Boca’s founder, who was voted into office on March 10. “Without you, we would not be in the position we are today … to protect our public parks and our way of life, that was the mandate why we were sent here.”

But he warned against complacency, saying the council’s action was “by no means a victory. We have to stay vigilant and continue to keep City Hall accountable to taxpayers. …”

Deputy Mayor Michelle Grau and Council member Stacy Sipple, also Save Boca members, thanked Pearlman for his efforts.

“We may not agree on everything,” Grau said. “But on this issue residents came together to protect our public lands and our public parks.”

“I don’t think people really know how much work was behind the scenes that (Pearlman) actually did,” Sipple said. “I don’t think he actually slept for a year. I am thankful he came forward and brought the community together.”

Mayor Andy Thomson, who as a council member opposed the proposed downtown campus redevelopment, also praised the outcome.

“I think this is an example of democracy in action,” he said. “It represents cooperation and common sense.” 

By Faran Fagen

James Changefield, cloaked in a brazen black and blue sports jacket, hands a passport to a member of the audience.

The enchanted item tantalizes the hands of other audience members as it is passed around until a random spectator says “stop.” The person with the passport is “chosen” to join Changefield on stage. Together, the audience and the plucked person choose a secret “birthday destination.”

Now, it’s up to Changefield to apply his mind-reading abilities to solve the mystery of the celebration site.

“Hopefully, I’ll decipher the correct thoughts of the audience and the spectator on stage,” Changefield said with a wink. “The hope with all these magic shows at Mizner is to create a magical journey for everyone involved.”

Changefield, an acclaimed mentalist, is one of four Magic in Mizner magicians taking the stage at the Club Room at The Studio at Boca Raton’s Mizner Park this summer.

Changefield’s mentalism/magic show is July 24.

The other magicians are Yarden Shalev, who performed May 30; Logan Light, who appears on June 26; and Jack Maxwell, who takes the stage on Aug. 14. All shows are at 7 p.m.

“I can’t wait to see what they all bring to the Club Room,” said David Eck, general manager of The Studio. “This isn’t spectacle magic; it’s mind-bending, intimate magic. Mentalism is very popular right now, and some of the acts have blown people’s minds.” 

Eck became general manager in December 2025 and is responsible for all of the bookings and rentals in the space. He and his staff opened the newly renovated Club Room this past fall and considered programming that would be a great fit for that venue. The theater holds 335 and the Club Room has a capacity of about half that number.

“A handful of magician/mentalists had reached out about wanting to be booked into the venue, and I thought this might be what we’re looking for in efforts to counterprogram our season,” Eck said.

So what exactly can spectators expect at these magic shows? All the magicians have their own style. Different personalities, different sensibilities, different tricks and acts. They all bring their own vibe to the room. No pyrotechnics, just good old-fashioned magic and mentalism.

The next two shows have sold out already. The Club seats only 144 for each show, so Eck anticipates the series will continue to sell out. Tickets start at $36.
Maxwell, the final magician in the series, said he is preparing a show “designed to bring people together and create moments they’ll hopefully be talking about long after the evening is over.”

His finale blends comedy, modern magic, audience participation, and mentalism.

“But more than any one element, I’ve always loved creating experiences where people aren’t just watching,” said Maxwell, who grew up in South Florida. “They become part of what’s happening.”

He has performed professionally for more than 25 years and has worked everywhere from cruise ships to corporate events to private celebrations.

As for Changefield, he’s planning a fun, yet philosophical show that talks about the intersection of humanity and AI.

“I’ll be creating wonder in the digital age,” said Changefield, who has performed all over the world for decades. “There will be magic for the eyes and the mind.” 

For more information and to buy tickets, visit TheStudioAtMiznerPark.org.

Longtime owners are credited with saving, enhancing downtown landmark

Managing partner Hilary Roche (center), who represents a third generation of family ownership, stands with other longtime Colony staff (l-r): Margarita Eberly, general manager for 20 years; Jorge Salvio Jr., bartender for 19 years; Bill Kevish, front office manager for 20 years; David Woods, accounting manager for 20 years; Marina Alvarez, housekeeping supervisor for 17 years; John Creaven, administrative support for 22 years, and Marie Jean Louis Jolis, a housekeeper for 10 years. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Sephora Charles

Long before Atlantic Avenue became the heart of Delray Beach, the Colony Hotel was already creating a history that now spans 100 years.

Entering the bright yellow Spanish Colonial Revival-style building transports guests back to the 1920s, with a functional 1926 Otis elevator, an original telephone switchboard, antique wicker furniture and historic photographs.

“It’s a community. It’s more than just a hotel,” said Hilary Roche, the hotel’s managing partner.

The business’s legacy dates to 1926, when Albert T. Repp opened the Alterep Hotel, now the Colony Hotel. Designed by Martin Luther Hampton, the building reflects Florida’s Spanish heritage, from its vibrant colored walls to the Cuban-style tile floor on the porch. The Alterep’s success was short-lived, as Repp later filed for bankruptcy.

After the hotel’s closing, newlyweds George and Agnes Boughton were passing through Delray Beach on their way to Cuba for their honeymoon when they stumbled upon the property and fell in love with it. 

In 1935, George and his father, Charlie, bought the hotel and renamed it the Colony Hotel. 

A functioning manually controlled traction elevator from 1926, above, and a medallion from the Historic Preservation Board, below.

The family affair expanded when John Banta, George’s cousin and Roche’s grandfather, started running the hotel with George. During World War II, the cousins were drafted, and their wives held down the fort, managing the hotel until their return. The family bought another hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1947, which is now operated by Roche’s brother, John Martin.

Delray Beach’s Colony Hotel operated seasonally from January to April, then the staff would travel to Maine to manage the other hotel from May to September for “cool summers, warm winters,” Roche said. The Delray Beach location has operated year-round since 2000 at 525 E. Atlantic Ave. 

“I feel like it’s another member of the family,” Roche said of the hotel. “I’m taking care of it for the next generation, so it’s just my turn right now.”

Mayor Tom Carney credits the hotel’s success to its being able to provide visitors with a unique historical vibrancy. 

In the 1980s, the owners were offered a deal to redevelop the property, but declined because of their greater vision of keeping the hotel and the city’s history alive, Carney said.

“I have a great deal of respect for the Colony Hotel and the Boughton family, who really kept it alive,” he said. 

Family ties are not limited to the owners’ history but extend to that of its employees. 

David Woods, the hotel’s accounting manager, joined the Colony 20 years ago, looking for “something different” from the corporate world. Two decades later, he still works there and plans to continue until he retires because he “became part of the family,” he said. 

That sense of belonging and community has been passed on to his sons, Cody, 29, and Cory, 25, who both work at the hotel. Cody is the manager of the hotel’s Cabana Club, while Cory works at the front desk. 

Other staff members, like the general manager and landscaper, also have children who have worked at the hotel at different times, reinforcing what Woods describes as a family-oriented environment.

Delray Beach’s Colony Hotel operated seasonally from January to April, then the staff would travel to Maine to manage the other hotel from May to September for “cool summers, warm winters,” Roche said. The Delray Beach location has operated year-round since 2000 at 525 E. Atlantic Ave. BELOW: The hotel pictured in the 1920s. Photo provided

Recognized on the city’s Local Register of Historic Places and a member of the Historic Hotels of America, the Colony has made its mark on the city’s tourism, said Laura Simon, executive director of the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority.

Born and raised in Delray Beach, Simon remembers going to the Colony as a little girl during the holidays to see the decorated Christmas tree and to shop nearby. She said the hotel creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests and incorporates them into its history. 

“It does carry a lot of history and a lot of conversation with that building and history for our town,” she said. 

Roche previously ran the 70-bedroom, three-story hotel with her cousin, Jestena Boughton, who is George’s daughter. Together they worked to preserve the hotel’s ambiance through original furniture, unique interior architecture and tropical fabrics. 

“You’ll feel history everywhere here,” Roche said. 

A maintenance crew also performs monthly preventive checkups throughout the hotel to avoid deterioration and keep the century-old property functioning properly. 

At the same time, modern installations have been necessary. 

“The technology part of what exists in the world today has forced our hand to change a little bit,” Woods said.

The hotel includes air conditioning, televisions, a modern elevator and high-speed internet to accommodate guests. Hurricane impact windows that look like the original windows were also installed.

Simon’s father, Roy Simon, who was a local architect, designed the development of the hotel’s updated laundry facility. It was one of his last projects before he died in 2024. 

The hotel’s evolution extends beyond its main building to the Cabana Club, located two miles away along the ocean at Linton Boulevard. Since the family’s purchase in 1951, the beach club has grown to include Florida native plants, environmentally friendly pools, 250 feet of beach, cabanas and changing rooms. 

“The Beach Club is really a fascinating place to lose yourself in,” Woods said. 

The lobby of the Colony Hotel exudes an old Florida vibe.

As the Colony Hotel celebrates its milestone birthday, the Delray Beach community hopes to continue preserving its distinct character and giving guests a homey experience for centuries to come. 

“It’s something that Delray can offer that, quite frankly, a lot of the cities around us don’t have,” Carney said. “They don’t have a Colony Hotel.” 

The MiCa shuttle runs 5-9 p.m. daily. Photo provided

By Rich Pollack

Boca Raton’s autonomous shuttle is on the move, now making its half-mile loop through Mizner Park on a daily basis, with plans to expand hours come the fall.

The self-driving MiCa shuttle, which seats eight and makes five stops while on a 12-minute trek through Mizner Park, could also be expanding its service to Royal Palm Place, if approval from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration comes soon.

The autonomous shuttle, which began service in Mizner Park in December, initially offered hours from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday but has since expanded to 5 to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Plans are in the works, according to city teams in public works and engineering who are overseeing the project, to have the hours expand again. They said current expectations are for a 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. schedule, with extended or modified hours during weekends and special events — and may be adjusted based on demand.

Since it began, ridership on the free shuttle has been consistent, reaching close to 2,700 passengers over 296 operating hours, or about nine riders per hour.

Not unexpectedly, ridership on the shuttle is highest between 7 and 9 p.m. with passengers visiting Mizner Park restaurants. The stop in front of Eddie V’s Prime Seafood remains the most active.

Project leaders, in an email response to The Coastal Star, said they have received 100% positive passenger survey feedback.

“The MiCa shuttle has exceeded the City’s expectations,” they wrote. “Ridership data shows strong demand for this public transit service within Mizner Park, as well as a willingness among residents and visitors to embrace new transportation technologies.”

The autonomous shuttle, which is powered by software from Boca Raton-based Guident, is an example of how cutting-edge technology can supplement other urban transit options, city staff says.

Because they are still relatively new, autonomous shuttles are still regulated by state and federal agencies, with the transportation safety administration requiring the MiCa shuttle to operate with an attendant on board — taking up one of its eight seats.

The city and Guident are continuing to evaluate the shuttle to determine if it can be safely operated without an attendant and when the appropriate government approval could be obtained, according to city staff.

Since it began operations, the shuttle has traveled through Mizner Park autonomously 93% of the time.

The attendant manually intervenes in anticipation of a problem that in many cases would have been prevented by the autonomous driving software. But the teams involved in the project have been taking a very conservative approach just to be on the safe side. 

Once the city receives federal government approval, the autonomous vehicle will cross Palmetto Park Road, bringing passengers to the shops and restaurants in Royal Palm Place.

City leaders have said that they heard from several residents requesting that addition.

In addition to the MiCa in Mizner Park, Boca Raton operates Boca Connect, a manned electric vehicle shuttle that provides service to and from downtown for the area east of Interstate 95 and generally south of Glades Road — including on the barrier island from about the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to Camino Real. It also provides service to customers going from one downtown spot to another.

Boca Raton seeks lobbying in the sunshine — The Boca Raton City Council unanimously approved on May 26 an ordinance requiring that lobbyists disclose themselves as such when interacting with city staff, elected officials or members of city boards or advisory groups.

The ordinance, requested by Deputy Mayor Michelle Grau, requires lobbyists to submit written certification identifying themselves and who they represent and to make their status known to those they appear before. That includes lobbyists who have development applications with the city.

Grau described the ordinance as a “straightforward good governance measure.”

“If someone is trying to influence a development application, the public should know who they are and who they represent,” she said.

The county requires lobbyist registration, and its ordinance is enforced by the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics. The city ordinance builds on that to provide additional clarity on who is a lobbyist and whom they represent.

Spanish River Park gets recognition again — For the second consecutive year, Spanish River Park has received the prestigious Blue Flag designation.

The park, located at 3001 N. State Road A1A, is one of just three beaches in the United States to achieve the designation.

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award given to beaches that meet stringent environmental, safety, educational and accessibility standards.

The blue flag that flies above such beaches lets beachgoers know the beach is clean, safe and sustainably managed.

— Mary Hladky

Despite her best efforts, State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman has been unable to find someone to ‘adopt’ this fountain outside The Boca Raton resort, which is caring for it now. Boca Raton city officials recently said ‘No thanks.’ Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman thought she had very exciting news to share with the Boca Raton City Council.

Palm Beach County was willing to donate to the city a tiny parcel of land inside a roundabout on Camino Real that is outside the main entrance to The Boca Raton resort.

That meant the city would have control over a lovely but modest fountain built about 100 years ago inside the roundabout by Clarence Geist, the resort’s second owner.

Delivering her report to the council at its April 14 meeting, Gossett-Seidman assumed city officials would be thrilled.

Under city ownership, she reasoned, the fountain would get more tender, loving care. And it would lose the moniker she had given it — “the sad little orphan fountain.”

Until sleuthing initiated by Gossett-Seidman revealed information dating to the early 1900s that showed the fountain land belonged to the county, county officials were unaware.

The revelation, though, didn’t much interest them.

It turns out that the city is none too interested, either.

In a May email to Gossett-Seidman, City Manager Mark Sohaney said city officials appreciate her work and recognize the historic and aesthetic value of the fountain.

However, “the city currently does not have an identified municipal use or operational framework that would support assuming ownership and the long-term maintenance responsibilities that would come with it,” he wrote.

“The poor little fountain,” said Gossett-Seidman, whose district includes Boca Raton. “100 years old and it has no home.”

“It’s an example of what I try to avoid in government, going around and around,” she added. “It’s not my style.”

For the time being, the status quo will prevail. The resort will continue to maintain the fountain and assume its water and electricity bills.

But a grander vision for the fountain and landscaping improvements that had been in the works are on hold.

“We are working with state and local officials to solidify a thoughtful plan for what the next chapter will be,” Sara Geen Hill, the resort’s director of marketing, said in an email.

Gossett-Seidman isn’t walking away, either. “I’ll be working on it,” she said in mid-May.

But first, she had to get back to her day job. She had just been called to Tallahassee for a special legislative session.

This 24,000-square-foot estate at 2500 E. Maya Palm Drive in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club fetched the highest residential sales price in the city’s history. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

A newly completed SRD Signature estate at 2500 E. Maya Palm Drive, Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, sold on May 20 for $75 million, according to Realtor.com.

Built by SRD Building Corp. with interiors by P&H Interiors, it was listed April 30 for $80 million. David W. Roberts, broker/owner of Royal Palm Properties, represented both the buyer, 2500 East Maya Palm Trust, with Scott Mustin as trustee, and the seller in this transaction. Mustin noted that the sale marked Boca Raton’s richest single-family residential real estate transaction to date. 

The seller was the 2500 East Maya Palm Land Trust with Steven Dingle as trustee. Steven Dingle, with Scott Dingle, owns SRD Building Corp. The property was purchased in April 2024 for $36 million, with the Dingles filing to commence demolishing the existing home and build the new residence as of August 2024.  

This property is sited on almost 1 acre with 292 feet on the water and a 110-foot private dock offering direct ocean access. The eight-bedroom, 24,000-total-square-foot residence features a gym, fitness centers, two primary suites, a spa and wellness retreat, hi-tech golf simulator and game room and six-car garage. 

“Properties of this caliber are exceptionally rare, particularly within Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club,” Roberts said. “The combination of nearly an acre on the Intracoastal, expansive point-lot frontage, and brand-new construction created a truly remarkable offering. This sale speaks not only to the strength of the Boca Raton market, but to the growing demand for generational-quality waterfront estates.”

***

WeatherTech founder David MacNeil’s double vacant lot at 1120 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, sold for $105 million in April. The new owner is HSH Sunshine Trust. The lot measures 3.63 acres and fronts about 342 feet on both the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.

MacNeil assembled the land in 2024 and 2025 by buying two adjacent properties in sales totaling $94 million. The resulting lot was listed for sale in December 2025 at $125 million.

Representing the seller was Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt. Lawrence Moens of Lawrence A. Moens Associates Inc. represented the buyer.

***

Two adjoining properties in Manalapan, at 4000 and 4020 S. Ocean Blvd., owned by Jeff Greene, were recently listed for sale for $99 million.

Together, they comprise 3.14 acres with 236 feet on the ocean and 252 feet on the Intracoastal.

Greene bought the 0.87-acre 4000 S. Ocean Blvd. property in 2018 for $4.1 million, and he bought the 2.27-acre property at 4020 S. Ocean Blvd. in 2015 for $6.6 million. Both properties have 1950s-era homes on them, which Greene has listed over the years as rentals.

The two properties are being marketed for their land value by Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt. In 2022, Greene had listed the properties for sale for $49.9 million with Christian Angle. 

***

An estate linked to Randal J. Kirk at 820 S. Ocean Blvd. in Manalapan sold for $62.5 million in May. The buyer is Westview Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited company. Highlights of this 27,959± total-square-foot, nine-bedroom estate include a guest house, a wellness complex, library, theater, wine cellar and a recording studio. The property covers 2.26 acres between the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Premier Estate Properties agent Margit Brandt represented the seller.

Serhant agent Gary B. Pohrer represented the buyer. Kirk bought the property for $25.5 million in 2011 and listed it for sale in September 2025 for $134 million, reducing it to $75 million in February. Kirk is the executive chairman of Third Security LLC, a venture capital and private equity firm with offices in Virginia and Delray Beach.

***

El-Ad National Properties, an Elad Group company, announced that Alina Residences Boca Raton recorded more than $60 million in sales, including three penthouse transactions, during the 2026 winter-spring season. This recent momentum has led to the sellout of Alina 210. With both Alina 200 and Alina 210 now sold out (at 200 and 210 SE Mizner Blvd.), a limited number of residences remain available at Alina 220 (220 SE Mizner Blvd.). Alina 220 received its temporary certificate of occupancy in January 2025. Together, the three buildings total 303 residences.

***

Casa Avenida, a collection of eight four-story townhomes at 102 SE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, celebrated its official groundbreaking in May. Attendees included Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney and Stephanie Immelman, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Developed by 4TRO Development and Kastelo Development and designed by RWB-Linares Architecture, the townhomes range in size from 2,804 to 3,336 square feet, with prices starting around $3 million. Each unit features a private elevator, two-car garage, second-floor terrace with a pool/spa and a fourth-floor terrace with an outdoor kitchen and bonus room.

The townhomes are expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2027. They are offered for sale by TJ Verdiglione and Nicole Melveney of the GVC Real Estate Team at Douglas Elliman. For more information visit www.casaavenidadelray.com.

***

The Cirrus Cos., a private equity real estate development firm led by founder and principal Robert B. Cohen II, acquired land at 248 SE First Ave., Delray Beach, for $2.2 million for a residential development of three townhomes.

Cirrus plans that this project will be the first in a series for downtown Delray Beach. The three 3-story, 3,200-square-foot townhomes will each have a pool, rooftop deck, backyard and two-car garage. The site has already been cleared, with permitting expected to take approximately 90 days and construction completed in about 10 months.

The townhomes will be priced at approximately $3.5 million, with sales and marketing handled by The Corcoran Group’s Delray Beach team, led by Jennifer Kilpatrick. Land acquisition was handled on the seller’s side by Corcoran’s Robert  Guntmacher.

***

The 2TON/Buzz leadership (l-r): Sam Nielsen, Elizabeth Kelley Grace, Julie Mullen and Jason Emmett. Photo provided

The digital marketing firm 2TON Creative and The Buzz Agency, a public relations firm, recently announced a merger, bringing these two longtime organizations together with complementary strengths under one umbrella to create a comprehensive, integrated digital marketing and communications agency.

2TON x The Buzz Agency, with 30-plus employees, is led by Jason Emmett, majority partner; Sam Nielsen, partner and chief operating officer; and Elizabeth Kelley Grace and Julie Mullen, partners and co-founders of The Buzz Agency.

The Buzz Agency was launched by Grace and Mullen in 2009 and 2TON was formed in 2018, when branding firm Levatas acquired WOO Creative. Emmett acquired 2TON Creative in 2024.

“For The Buzz Agency, the merger was a natural progression,” Mullen said. “We’re both agencies in the communications industry, but we never did the same thing, which is why we always partnered together in the past. The merger made perfect sense to us.” 

 “2TON didn’t do PR, so the merger was a whole additional vertical for us that I find incredibly synergistic,” Emmett said. “With The Buzz Agency, we got a fully baked PR firm that has its clients and its brand identity and everything else. What we don’t want to do is to roll that into the company, wipe out the brand, and move along. That’s why we’re trying to be very clear that The Buzz Agency still exists; it handles all the PR for the company. It’s almost like we have a Buzz division, and we have a 2TON division.”

Since the merger, the company has grown, acquiring Washington, D.C., public relations and marketing firm RMR in May. The company operates from The Buzz Agency’s Delray Beach office, 104 W. Atlantic Ave.

***

The Miami Association of Realtors and Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors (RWorld), along with their respective Multiple Listing Services, MiamiMLS and BeachesMLS, merged into a single association and MLS in May. This unified association now encompasses approximately 93,000 members. The merger gives members a complete South Florida MLS dataset, free IDX feeds, the choice between the Flexmls and Matrix platforms, along with more educational seminars, products and services and signed global partnerships. 

***

Developer 280 E Palmetto Park Road LLC’s Glass House Boca Raton condominiums, 280 E. Palmetto Park Road, announced a new partnership with the Boca Raton Museum of Art. As part of their agreement, Glass House Boca Raton residents will each receive a complimentary Director Circle membership, an extension of the museum’s Visionary Circle tier.

Among the benefits of the Director Circle membership is a private, behind-the-scenes tour led by the museum’s director or chief curator. For more information, call 561-232-2644 or visit glasshouseboca.com.

***

Newmark managing director Mitch Heifetz, representing Brickstar Capital, arranged a new 13,900-square-foot retail lease at The Courtyard on Spanish River, a 60,000-square-foot mixed-use property at 500 NE Spanish River Blvd. in Boca Raton. The lease brings Composure Club, a fitness and wellness concept with a gym, to the property, with opening anticipated in late 2026. Composure Club was represented by Jared Robins of Inhouse Commercial.

***

True Floridian Realty, a brokerage at 100 NE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach, celebrated its 15th anniversary in May. Founded by Noelle McIntyre, a third-generation Floridian, the firm has closed over $1 billion in sales over her career, surpassing 1,445 transactions.

“I’m incredibly proud of our $1 billion in sales, but I’m even prouder of the lives we’ve touched along the way,” McIntyre said. To date, the firm has donated more than $125,000 to Homes for Heroes, provided more than 200,000 meals, and contributed more than $35,000 to local community impact initiatives.

The firm’s 40-plus agents operate through divisions: True Floridian Luxury for high-end coastal estates, a commercial group, and The FurBaby Group, led by broker associate Adrianne Kurman. The FurBaby Group offers a specialized “true experience” for pet-owner clients, from navigating HOA pet policies to identifying neighborhoods with proximity to veterinary care and dog parks. Additionally, the group has donated more than $65,000 to local animal rescue organizations.

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Boca Helping Hands recently welcomed four new staff members. Kori Ernst has been named development and marketing associate, with a background in marketing, communications and community-based work. Anais Fauteux, a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a background in public relations, joined as communications and marketing specialist. Also joining the team are Michelle Lee, staff accountant, and Erika Hawn, volunteer program manager. Lee is an FAU alumna with a degree in accounting.

Hawn has been a Boca Helping Hands volunteer since age 12.

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Gigi Chazu, Boynton Beach economic development division director, addressed city projects, small-business incentives, grant information and community partnerships as guest of the Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry & Commerce’s Civic Leadership Forum at City Hall’s community room. She also discussed two new initiatives, Teen Entrepreneur Boot Camp and Citizen’s Academy. 

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The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County is hosting a Hot Topic Luncheon, “‘Florida Budget and Tax Proposals: Paving a Path Toward Austerity,” with Estaban L. Santis, Ph.D., director of research for the Florida Policy Institute.

The luncheon will be held at the Fountains Country Club, 4476 Fountains Drive, Lake Worth Beach, at 11 a.m. on June 17. The price to attend is $45 for league members and $50 for nonmembers. The deadline to register is June 10. To register, visit lwvpbc.org.

Christine Davis writes business news and can be reached at cdavis9797@gmail.com.