By Mary Thurwachter

Lantana Town Manager Brian Raducci told the Town Council during its June 8 budget workshop that although the town “is pretty far along” in its budget process, things could change if the Florida constitutional amendment on homestead exemptions passes in November.

“No one knows if it will or won’t pass,” Raducci said. 

The town is also dealing with the expiration of the county’s Infrastructure Surtax, which helped it pay for capital projects.

Raducci said the town will continue to spend money still in that account for planned projects. Those include paving, parks, library building improvements, and police classrooms, as well as the creation of an archive center in the town’s Bicentennial Building.

“Our 10 priorities haven’t changed much over the past four or five years,” Raducci said. “They include maintaining infrastructure — especially the utility plant, the sea wall at Bicentennial Park which should begin after the July 4 celebration, and we’ve got a major drainage project going on down on the island,” meaning Hypoluxo Island.

Other priorities include continued beautification projects, responsible development, attracting and retaining valuable employees, continuing to attract business along Ocean Avenue, promoting community engagement, continuing to support the library, resuming the dune restoration project, installing an ADA accessible ramp at the beach and financing public safety with state-of-the-art technology. 

Council members, during an April 10 visioning session, agreed by consensus to consider proceeding with the first phase of a $9.5 million Beach Master Plan. This includes boardwalk replacement, building a new two-story restaurant and event building, adding a new restroom on the north end of the beach and demolishing the existing restaurant and pavilion.

Finance Director Stephen Kaplan talked about the forecasted property tax revenue using the current $3.75 per $1,000 of taxable value tax rate, saying the town’s property tax revenue would be approximately $7.85 million. 

That would amount to a $477,000 increase in property taxes this year, while general fund revenues would also include a $47,000 increase in franchise taxes and fees and $79,000 more in metered parking (where a $1-an-hour fee increase is recommended).

Still, Kaplan forecast a $746,000 decrease in revenue compared to the current budget. This decline, he said, is primarily attributed to a one-time, non-recurring grant of $1.7 million received this year.

Kaplan said the budget accounts for a potential 15% increase in health and dental insurance premiums, alongside funding for tuition reimbursement and various departmental changes. 

Despite these rising costs, Kaplan said, “the inherent flexibility built into the budget allows the general fund to remain nearly balanced.”

The budget proposes to reduce the maximum employee merit-based salary increase from 5% to 4%.

Curbside garbage pickup is due for a 4% increase for property owners.

Kaplan also detailed the fund balances, saying $27 million is in reserves, with $15.7 million in the unassigned fund balance.

Town Council members agreed to move forward with taking the necessary steps to place a referendum question before voters regarding the sale of specific town-owned properties, future property sale authority and town leasing authority.

The second budget workshop, where the proposed millage rate will be set, is scheduled for July 13. Public hearings will be on Sept. 8 and 17. 

By Patrick Sherry

Lantana officials approved an agreement with the Town of Palm Beach for Lantana to oversee boat dock permitting for 15 waterfront properties whose docks are within the nearby town’s jurisdiction.

The Lantana Town Council unanimously approved the agreement at its June 22 meeting. Recent mapping of the town showed that the 15 properties at the northern end of Hypoluxo Island, along North Atlantic Drive, are in the town of Palm Beach’s jurisdictional waters. This prompted Lantana staff to request authority to process permits for boat docks, piers, pilings, boat lifts, floating docks, and related accessory structures. The agreement would allow Lantana officials to administer, process, review, and approve permits for any boat dock or related projects for those specific properties. 

Town staff will use its own permitting standards and code of ordinances when reviewing applications. The town will also indemnify Palm Beach from any claims or liabilities arising from its adherence to the agreement.

Either town can terminate the agreement with 180 days’ written notice; otherwise, it will remain in effect until terminated. 

Briny Breezes residents could see a big tax increase. Town Manager Bill Thrasher is proposing increasing the property tax rate from $3.75 to $6.75 per $1,000 of taxable value. 

If that rate is adopted this year, the owner of a mobile home with a taxable value of $150,000 would pay $1,012.50 in town property taxes, a $450 increase.

Thrasher said in an email to The Coastal Star that the increase is needed to help make payments on a loan the town is seeking from the state of Florida for capital improvement projects, which include drainage improvements and enhancing the town’s entire sea wall. Given the town’s current taxable value, the $3 increase will raise about $300,000 to cover debt service payments.

“The amount of the loan has not been estimated but will be as large of a loan as a $300,000-per-year payment will allow,” he said.

Thrasher made the same tax rate proposal last year, but he pulled back and recommended keeping the rate at $3.75 per $1,000 when be realized the town couldn’t get a loan in time. 

The town’s tax rate had been at the state-maximum $10 per $1,000 up until 2023, when it was reduced dramatically with some police costs shifted to the town’s corporation, Briny Breezes Inc., which then charged property owners an assessment. That was done to give room to raise the tax rate in the future for money the town would need to make debt payments on the anticipated loans. 

A tentative budget hearing is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Town Hall, 4802 N. Ocean Blvd. A final hearing is set for Sept. 24.

— Henry Fitzgerald

Town clerk resigns — Town Clerk Kathleen Dominguez announced her resignation at the June 8 Town Council meeting. Dominguez, a certified municipal clerk with a degree in public communications from Florida Atlantic University, has been Lantana’s clerk since January 2020.

Since July 2023, Dominguez has been working remotely from Nashville, Tennessee, where her husband is employed. Holding down the fort locally has been Maria Rios, the executive assistant to the town manager and deputy town clerk.

“It is a bittersweet transition,” Dominguez said. “But it was simply the right time for a new chapter. Lantana is a wonderful community, and I am certainly going to miss the town and the fantastic people I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”

Town Manager Brian Raducci said a determination on Dominguez’s replacement has not been made. “We are in the process of reviewing our needs and options,” he said.

— Mary Thurwachter

Palm Beach County tax roll data, updated since estimates were released on May 27, show that countywide taxable property values increased 7.35% from 2025 to 2026, up from the 6.9% increase forecast in May.

The taxable property values are based on market conditions as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The revised numbers, released on June 25 by the county Property Appraiser’s Office, continue to show that all southeastern Palm Beach County municipalities posted property value gains except for South Palm Beach, which saw a decline of nearly 0.5%. This is the second year in a row the town saw a drop.

The southeast county leader is Briny Breezes, with an 11.2% increase. It is followed by Gulf Stream, up 7.8%; Delray Beach, 7.5%; Lantana and Manalapan, both 6.9%; and Boca Raton, 6.6%.

The total market value of county properties is now $551.9 billion. New construction added to the tax roll was $5.5 billion.

Once the Florida Department of Revenue approves the tax roll, the county property appraiser will prepare notices that are scheduled to be mailed on Aug. 20.

The notices provide property owners with information about their property’s assessed value and taxable value, proposed tax rates and local government public hearing dates.

Local governments use the taxable value information to set their budgets and tax rates.

— Mary Hladky

Pompey Park project advances — Pompey Park is getting a new community center to replace its current facility. The Delray Beach City Commission voted 4-1 during its June 9 meeting to approve a guaranteed maximum price of $59.2 million for the project, which will be built by Core Construction. 

City staff also addressed community concerns about the condition of the park’s concession stand, determining that the building is not salvageable. Following construction of the new community center and demolition of the existing building, Core Construction will demolish the concession stand.

— Sephora Charles

By Steve Plunkett

A man hiding from police behind Town Hall hailed a ride-share company and fled Gulf Stream, only to be caught after a foot chase near the Boynton Beach water tower.

Ja’Quez McMillian, 23, drove into town June 11 around 3:45 a.m. in a 2017 Chevrolet with a temporary tag, and Officer Josh Basante immediately spotted the vehicle and “recognized it didn’t belong here,” Police Chief Richard Jones said.

McMillian, who was accompanied by Serrina Albert, 19, drove off but was later spotted by license plate readers entering the Core district of town, Jones said. He had backed the Chevy into a driveway on Old School Road. As soon as Officer Tiara Hawkins approached, McMillian, who had recently been released from state prison, took off on foot. Albert was apprehended there, but McMillian “ended up hunkering down in some vegetation” behind Town Hall and a home on North County Road, Jones said.

“We don’t know what his intentions were, but they weren’t positive,” the chief said.

The sheriff’s helicopter was called in and officers on the ground scoured the area but could not find the 6-foot-5, 185-pound suspect. 

“But an hour or so later, one of our Town Hall employees was paying attention to the cameras and noticed the individual enter a vehicle and flee the area in that vehicle — or attempt to,” Jones said as part of his report to town commissioners the next day.

McMillian had ordered the escape vehicle, a black SUV, from the Lyft ride-share service with his cellphone, the chief said.

“By the time we were able to catch up to the vehicle, we were in the city of Boynton Beach,” Jones continued. “I was actually the first one that spotted the suspect. He spotted me and we ended up in a foot pursuit down Seacrest near the water tower. This went on for a short distance before he went into a wooded area and was ultimately apprehended by a canine.”

At the Old School Road residence, Jones discovered the home’s power and phone lines had been cut, something he said burglars do to disable alarms and surveillance systems. 

Police from Delray Beach, Ocean Ridge and Boynton Beach assisted in the search and capture.

McMillian was charged with violating probation, loitering and prowling, trespass, burglary, striking a police dog and resisting arrest without violence. He remained in the Palm Beach County Jail in late June. Albert, who told police she had met McMillian at a party, was charged with trespassing and released on her own recognizance.

“We definitely did not want him here in our community having the opportunity to commit crimes, and because of the officers’ diligence and their quick response, he didn’t have an opportunity to commit crimes,” Jones said. 

Mayor Scott Morgan agreed.

“It could have been a bad situation and their diligence prevented any sort of untoward event. So our gratitude to them,” Morgan said.

McMillian’s criminal record includes two cases of robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. The chief said Gulf Stream residents were notified to shelter in place via PBC Alerts a little after 6 a.m. that day and the alert was lifted about an hour later. But an all-clear message did not go out until the afternoon.

“I just want to remind everybody that in a small town like ours, your police chief is actively involved. And therefore, I don’t have the opportunity sometimes to get those notifications with that courtesy information out as quickly as folks would like,” Jones said. 

By Sephora Charles 

A Palm Beach County Inspector General’s Office audit revealed that more than $11,000 of the town of Ocean Ridge’s credit card usage could not be fully verified because documentation was missing or incomplete. 

The audit, released June 2, reviewed the town’s credit card transactions from October 2023 to June 2025. The review was done as part of the Inspector General’s Office’s fiscal year 2025 audit plan after a survey identified that Ocean Ridge did not have written policies for its credit card program. It was the town’s first Inspector General audit since 2018.

The audit looked at 65 credit card transactions totaling $25,651.

Auditors examined whether credit card activities were properly documented, met applicable requirements and served a valid public purpose. While the report found most transactions met those standards, it revealed areas that needed improvement. 

Among the findings, auditors found $4,343 in purchases that lacked detailed receipts and $6,720 that did not include sufficient explanations showing how the expenses served a public purpose. The report also found that the town paid $276.56 in sales taxes on purchases despite being exempt from state sales tax. 

Some transactions appeared to be duplicated, but auditors could not verify that because supporting records were not available. 

The report also found that Lynne Ladner, the town’s former manager, approved her own purchasing card transactions. Auditors described the practice as “a lack of segregation of duties.” 

Prior to the audit, it was allowed for the town manager to make self-approved purchases, “as long as it was within and under the identified purchase authority,” Town Manager Michelle Heiser said.

The absence of written procedures made it unclear what purchases were permissible, what documentation was required and who was responsible for reviewing expenses. 

Auditors also found that Ocean Ridge lacked formal written policies for managing its information technology systems. While the audit noted that basic IT controls were in place, the report recommended adopting written procedures to strengthen tracking and oversight of technology systems. 

The Inspector General’s Office made four other recommendations to improve oversight, documentation requirements and avoid unnecessary sales tax payments.

The town adopted the suggestions, Heiser said. Ocean Ridge has adopted new policies requiring receipts for all purchases, written explanations outlining the public purpose of expenditures and independent review of credit card activities, according to the report. The town also created an IT policy meant to improve tracking and management of its systems. 

Ryan and Samantha Garvey recently held the grand opening for their flower shop, French Florist, in Boca Raton. The couple plans to personally hand-deliver many orders. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

French Florist, 5601 N. Federal Highway, Suite 9, Boca Raton, celebrated its grand opening in May. Owned and operated by Boca Raton residents Samantha and Ryan Garvey, the 1,000-square-foot boutique offers handcrafted arrangements, gifts and white-glove delivery service with the Garveys planning to personally hand-deliver many orders themselves.

“Flowers played a huge role in our relationship,” said Ryan Garvey, 38. “When we were long-distance, sending flowers was how I showed up for Samantha. Before she moved to Florida (joining him in 2022), I realized how hard it was to find arrangements that felt thoughtful and special. French Florist was everything we felt was missing in our community.”

Samantha Garvey, 34, has family roots related to a greenhouse in Dallas, where she worked in the IT industry. Ryan, who currently works both at French Florist and at Main Street Home Loans in Delray Beach, brings a personal tie to floristry as well.

His grandfather worked in a floral shop in Baltimore and later helped manage the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.

Now, the couple is excited to channel their combined experiences into their new venture.

French Florist provides same-day flower delivery in Boca Raton and the surrounding areas. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. For more info, visit frenchflorist.com/local/fl/boca-raton or call 561-493-3134.

***

Dr. Robert Fishel, through a trust in his name, sold his newly constructed home at 102 Basin Drive, Delray Beach, for $20.25 million in an off-market deal. The new owners are Randy and Dawn Lebowitz.

Fishel acquired the property for $1.91 million in 1998, demolished it in 2023 and hired Azure Development to build a new home. Designed by Randall Stofft, the five-bedroom residence, sited on 0.52 of an acre bordering the Intracoastal Waterway, spans 11,861 square feet. It features a club room, theater room, a service kitchen, an office, an elevator, a saltwater pool and a 90-foot dock.

Fishel is founder and president of Florida Electrophysiology Associates. The Lebowitzes own automotive and aviation companies. 

***

A company managed by billionaire Stefan Soloviev sold a 7,512-square-foot residence along the Intracoastal Waterway at 963 Eve St., Delray Beach, for $15 million, along with a neighboring 3,543-square-foot home at 964 Eve St. for $5.5 million.

Soloviev is chairman of Soloviev Group. The buyers were John and Ana Davie. John Davie is the CEO and owner of Boston-based Buyers Edge Platform and CollectivIQ.ai.
Coldwell Banker Realty agent Jonathan Postma represented the seller in both deals, while Holly Meyer Lucas and Roxanne Chirico of Compass Florida worked with the buyers.

The larger home last traded for $4.99 million in 2020. Soloviev picked up the smaller home for $3.75 million in 2023.

***

Jeff Norman, a general contractor and head of JH Norman Construction Co., sold the 0.41-acre lot at 2408 E. Maya Palm Drive in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club for $15.5 million.

The new owner is 2408 East Maya Palm Road Land Trust, with Steven R. Dingle as trustee. Dingle is the head of Boca Raton-based SRD Building.

Norman paid $23.5 million in 2023 for a 0.83-acre lot and split it in two. He sold the first lot for $13.5 million in 2024 and now he’s sold the second lot for $15.5 million, amounting to $29 million altogether.

***

The Seaside Deli property on State Road A1A south of Briny Breezes sold May 22 for $1.45 million. The 0.09-acre site with a 2,131-square-foot building at 4635 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach, was owned by Leonora and Rafael Belliard’s Ocean Blvd 14 LLC.

The buyers are KMG Holdings (with a 10.19% undivided interest) and Goyhberg Investments (with an 89.81% undivided interest). Both are Florida limited liability companies, with an address at 1311 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, and managed by Mikhail Vesselov.

The Coastal Star has followed the saga of this property and Seaside Deli, a business that was once owned by Randy McCormick.

Seaside Deli had been a 20-year local favorite, but a dispute between the Belliards and McCormick resulted in the latter’s January 2023 eviction. The deli reopened under new management the following month. That operation continued until the deli’s closing this April.

***

RealTrends Verified, a real estate performance platform, has published its lists of top agents from 2025, with agents and teams from south Palm Beach County recognized.

Nationally for volume, David Roberts, of Royal Palm Properties, Boca Raton, ranked No. 22. Among Florida agents, he ranked No. 7 with $408 million in volume.

Other south Palm Beach County agents who ranked in the top 50 for volume in Florida include: No. 13, Rochelle LeCavalier, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, with $206 million; No. 22, Michael Ledwitz, Engel & VÖlkers, Boca Raton, $161 million; No. 28, Alejandro Salazar, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, $136 million; No. 37, Kathy Koch Pitlake, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, $116 million; and No. 44, Larry Mastropieri, The Mastropieri Group, Boca Raton, $105 million.

Area agents who ranked in the top 50 in the sides category for Florida include: No. 4, Larry Mastropieri, The Mastropieri Group, Boca Raton, with 219 sides; No. 14, Michael Ledwitz, Engel & VÖlkers, Boca Raton, with 104 sides; No. 28, Rochelle LeCavalier, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, with 83 sides; and No. 46, Dylan Lamb, Compass, Delray Beach, with 73 sides.

Area small teams category winners for volume include: The Senada Adzem Team, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, placed No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in Florida with $444 million.

The Matt and Nick Team, Serhant, Delray Beach, placed 26th nationally and No. 5 in Florida with $324 million. The Candace Friis Team, Corcoran, Delray Beach, ranked No. 30 nationally and No. 6 among Florida agents, with $315 million. The Pascal Liguori Estate Group, Premier Estate Properties, Delray Beach, ranked No. 33 nationally and No. 8 in Florida with $308 million. The D’Angelo/Liguori Team, Premier Estate Properties, Boca Raton, ranked No. 37 nationally and No. 10 in Florida, with $272 million.

Additionally, Ina Bloom, Compass, Boca Raton, placed No. 39 in Florida with $99 million. Susan Demerer, Compass, Boca Raton, placed No. 49 in Florida with $86 million.

Small teams category rankings in Florida for sides include: No. 16, The Matt and Nick Team, Serhant, Delray Beach, with 118 sides; and Luxury Collective, Coldwell Banker Realty, Delray Beach, 95 sides.

Medium team for volume honorees include: The Exclusive Group, Douglas Elliman, Delray Beach, with $732 million, ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in Florida. Others in the top 50 for Florida are No. 12, Jennifer Kilpatrick Team, Corcoran, Delray Beach, $156 million; No. 34, The Buchbinder Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $95 million; No. 35 The Megann Lucaj Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $95 million; and No. 46, Bonnie Heatzig Luxury Group, Compass, $77 million.

Medium teams for sides rankings in Florida include: No. 19, The Exclusive Group, Douglas Elliman, Delray Beach, 132 sides; No. 24, The Julian Soffer Team, Keller Williams, Boca Raton, 119 sides; No. 45, Homes by Cusi Team, Keller Williams, Boca Raton, 97 sides.

Large teams by volume rankings in Florida: No. 8, The Jonathan Postma Group, Coldwell Banker Realty, $179 million; No. 23, The Modern Group, One Sotheby’s International Realty, Boca Raton, $117 million.

Large teams by sides in Florida include No. 33, The Karp Group, Keller Williams, Boca Raton, 136 sides.

Mega teams by volume include: No. 28 nationally and No. 4 in Florida, The Koolik Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $342 million; No. 31 nationally and No. 5 in Florida, The Premier Group, Compass, Delray Beach, with $331 million; and No. 20 in Florida, The Saperstein Group, eXp Realty, Delray Beach, $138 million.

Mega teams by sides in Florida: No. 11, The Saperstein Group, eXp Realty, Delray Beach, 353 sides. No. 15, The Premier Group, Compass, Delray Beach, 295 sides; and No. 26, The Koolik Group, Compass, Boca Raton, 234 sides.

For enterprise teams: Champagne & Parisi, Boca Raton, ranked No. 84 nationally and No. 9 for volume with $255 million. This team also ranked No. 16 in Florida for sides with 321.

The rankings were open to real estate professionals who chose to participate in the project, based on their reported sales volume and other criteria.

Under the rules of the survey, agents and brokers who handled both sides of a transaction — representing the buyer and the seller — were allowed to double the final dollar figure when they calculated their total volume for the sale.

***

Two years after Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison paid $277 million for the 310-room Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan, he’s getting ready to give it a makeover.

If all goes as planned, in September work will begin to transform the guest rooms, hotel general manager Tim Nardi told the Town Commission on June 23.

The face-lift, which will take about two years to complete, will be done in phases, he said. Work will begin in the south tower, move to the north tower and then to the center tower.

Nardi declined to offer specifics or reveal how much the renovations would cost. The rooms will be modernized with the addition of state-of-the art sound-proofing and lighting and transformed with the use of teak and oak wood furnishings. A second “mini” presidential suite is planned. “It’s going to be really beautiful,” he said.

***

The Eau Spa at Eau Resort & Spa is offering two new treatments sure to please spa visitors. Photo provided

The newly updated Eau Spa at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is offering two new treatments: the Psammo Quartz Ritual, which combines quartz immersion, inversion therapy and sound healing, and the Coastal Contour body treatment that includes a toning scrub and massage. Visit eauresortandspa.com/spa.

***

Premier Estate Properties and Saunders & Associates recently partnered to connect two luxury coastal destinations. Premier Estate Properties, owned and operated by Gerard P. Liguori, Carmen N. D’Angelo Jr., and Joseph G. Liguori, has 50 agents across offices in Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Vero Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Led by founder and president Andrew Saunders, Saunders & Associates operates in The Hamptons with 200 agents.

***

Boca Helping Hands’ board of directors recently named Andrew Hagen as chief executive officer. Hagen, a Boca Raton resident, previously served as the nonprofit’s executive director and as a longtime volunteer.

Jane Musgrave contributed to this column.
Send business news to Christine Davis at davis9797@gmail.com.

Local soccer fans got the chance of a lifetime to see the World Cup’s smallest qualifier make a big splash in Boca Raton

A Curaçao player encourages four members of the Boca Raton girls 10-and-under team, which joined the World Cup athletes on the field after their practice on June 11 at FAU. Photos by Rachel O'Hara/The Coastal Star

By Brian Biggane

The World Cup has come to America, and Boca Raton and Florida Atlantic University have made sure it has also had its moment in Palm Beach County.

Curaçao, an island nation off the coast of Venezuela with a population (160,000) smaller than that of Fort Lauderdale, became the smallest country ever to qualify for the world’s biggest sporting event last November, whereupon FAU Athletic Director Brian White and the city of Boca Raton offered to become the team’s U.S. host.

Curaçao accepted, joining England and Portugal, both of which set up base in Palm Beach Gardens, in calling Palm Beach County home.

The team arrived on June 8, and the next day held its first practice on the FAU football field; two days later it staged an open workout in front of a crowd limited to 5,000 before heading to its first-ever World Cup game vs. Germany in Houston.

Players gushed over what they saw moments before their first workout.

“It’s beautiful here,” midfielder Juninho Bacuna said. “The pitch is amazing.”

“This is typical America,” goalkeeper Tyrick Bodak added. “You watch the movies and it’s always this kind of environment. It’s great to be here and feel it for myself instead of watching on TV.”

Alex Lessen (l-r), Daniel Nagle, Chad Sher and Aaron Sher hold up stickers they collected of Curaçao players while attending practice. Curaçao was part of the Netherlands Antilles chain until becoming independent in 2010. While a number of its natives have played professionally in Europe, Curaçao had never enjoyed even regional success prior to hiring legendary coach Dick Advocaat in January 2024.

Advocaat, who had previously coached the Netherlands and South Korea in World Cups, stepped down to spend time with his ailing daughter in February of this year but returned in May when her condition improved. He has become the oldest coach in World Cup history at 78.

After three wins and two ties in its first five qualifying matches, Curaçao faced host Jamaica on Nov. 18 needing only a tie to advance and got it with a 0-0 result.

“We ran on the pitch, jumping, shouting, crying,” Bodak said. “Every emotion you could have was there.”

That was away, but home fans — an estimated 6,000 of whom traveled to Houston for the first World Cup match — got to share in the excitement when Curaçao beat Aruba 4-0 in its send-off game.

“After that we drove to the hotel and people were lined up in the streets, singing, dancing,” Bodak said.

A number of blue Curaçao jerseys were on hand at the open practice at FAU — the team’s nickname is “The Blue Wave” — and many of the natives now living in Florida made a point to be there. Among them was Rustico DeJesus, who lives in Jacksonville but frequently does business in Riviera Beach.

Members of the Curaçao team practice with Boca Raton boys soccer players at the end of the June 11 training session at FAU.

A single goal is a victory 

Reminded that virtually no one expected the World Cup newcomers to advance from their group, DeJesus said his hopes remained high.

“They made it this far, so they have a chance. The first game some of the big teams stumble, so we’re hoping that happens. Just to get here is a celebration.”

Players also expressed confidence.

“If we get one goal it’s already a party,” Bodak said. “It’s our first time, so how is everyone going to react?”

As it turned out, they did get the one goal against Germany to forge a 1-1 tie midway through the first half of their game in Houston, prompting Fox broadcaster Ian Darke to say if they did pull off the upset it would be the biggest in the 96-year history of the World Cup. Four-time champion Germany regrouped, however, and ultimately went on to win 7-1.

Curaçao was much more competitive in its remaining two games, earning its first point in the standings with a 0-0 tie against South American power Ecuador and then falling 2-0 to Ivory Coast in its finale — failing to advance in the competition.

Christopher Ferreira and Lauren Francis display a banner showing the traditional spelling of Curaçao. The surname Korsou has historical roots in Eastern Europe, particularly within the regions that are now part of modern-day Poland and Ukraine.

Connecting with kids

Back at the practice, an assistant coach explaining the rules and narrating the action kept the crowd engaged. The players appreciated it.

“We felt the energy and atmosphere with a little taste of the island,” winger Kenji Gorre said.

About one-fourth of the crowd was made up of youth players, some intent on collecting stickers featuring World Cup stars that were part of a soft drink promotion. 

But one group stood out: Players on two Boca Raton 10-and-under teams in their yellow game uniforms joined the Curaçao players on the field for a joint workout afterward.

Gorre said he and his teammates embraced the opportunity. “It’s a huge opportunity, because you can impact the next generation.

“This is a story of hope; this is a story of making your dreams come true. And when that’s translated into the youth, it’s just amazing. We can show them that your dreams are possible. Anything is possible if you believe.” 

Boca watch party

What: Watch party for World Cup quarterfinal game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

When: Doors open at 4 p.m. Match begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 11.

Where: Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton.

Notable:  Event is part of Boca Raton’s Summer in the City series. Food and entertainment will be featured.

Admission: Free.

Dr. Herbert Wertheim is celebrated by supporters echoing his dress style at a news conference announcing his donation to Baptist Health. Photo provided

By Lou Ann Frala

Manalapan philanthropist Dr. Herbert “Herbie” Wertheim has given $100 million to Baptist Health South Florida to finance an expansion of cancer research, treatment and prevention. 

The largest single donation in Baptist Health’s history will allow additional services at the Miami Cancer Institute, to be renamed for Wertheim, and bolster the nonprofit’s care network, BHSF leaders said at a May 20 news conference. 

Wertheim, a billionaire who turned 87 on May 23, said, “My goal is to be able to do whatever I can to be transformative.”

The gift also will reinforce Baptist Health Research’s association with Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, named for the ophthalmologist/entrepreneur after he and his late ex-wife, Nicole, donated $20 million in 2009. 

Literacy Coalition announces officers

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County has announced its slate of officers for the 2026-27 board.

The executive committee is: President Chris Duke of Palm Beach Gardens, with Akerman LLP; Vice Presidents Aurora Arthay of Palm Beach Gardens, deputy library director at the Palm Beach County Library System, and Carol Rose of Wellington, community volunteer and retired The Palm Beach Post/Palm Beach Daily News editor; Secretary Bernadette O’Grady of Palm Beach Gardens, with WPTV Channel 5; and Treasurer Matthew Criscuolo of Boca Raton, with Cozen O’Connor. 

Members at large are: Caleb Bowser of Palm Beach Gardens, vice president and relationship adviser at Northern Trust; Grace Halabi of Boynton Beach, senior vice president at First Horizon; and immediate past president Dr. Regine Bataille of Delray Beach, with Gentle Medicine Associates. 

Parliamentarians are: Laurie Gildan of North Palm Beach, with Greenberg Traurig; Len Gray of Palm Beach Gardens, retired executive; and Sharon Hill of West Palm Beach, community volunteer and retired Palm Beach County librarian.

The Literacy Coalition provides adult, family and children’s programs, plus the Literacy AmeriCorps program. For more information, visit LiteracyPBC.org or call 561-279-9103.

Fuller Center to celebrate 55 years of service to families

Purpose meets party as the Fuller Center prepares to celebrate 55 years of service to hardworking and underserved families and children across 60 ZIP codes in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

A decades-themed shindig is set to be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on July 11 at Crazy Uncle Mike’s, 6450 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton. 

Guests are invited to dress in styles from the ’70s all the way through 2010s and 2020s. There will be drinks, light bites and an auction to help the center support the more than 1,000 children it serves.

Tickets are $25 and $55 (VIP) and can be bought through secure.qgiv.com/event/livingourlegacy/

School supply drive now underway at Lang Realty 

Lang Realty and Lang Management have kicked off their annual school supply drive for the benefit of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. Through July 31, the public is invited to drop off new school supplies at any Lang Realty or Lang Management office throughout the county.

The Education Foundation’s Red Apple Supplies campaign stocks a free resource store where teachers in Title I schools can shop for classroom materials at no cost to them.

“Giving back to the students and families of Palm Beach County is something Lang has always been committed to,” said Scott Agran, president of Lang Realty. “This drive is one tangible way we can make sure every child walks into the classroom this fall ready to learn and ready to thrive.”

Requested supplies include: backpacks, colored pencils and markers (8–12 count), wide-ruled composition books, construction paper, crayons, dry erase markers, erasers (wedge), flip chart markers, glue sticks, highlighters, pencils, Scotch tape, student dry erase boards (small), headphones/earbuds.

All donations will go directly to the Red Apple Supplies store.

Teen-led food drive nets 11,079 pounds of cereal

Cereal4All was founded in 2016 by Boca Raton twins Jett and Luke Justin, now 18. Their annual spring cereal drive collected 11,079 pounds for families served by Boca Helping Hands.

Boca Helping Hands, which began as a soup kitchen in 1998, provided more than 3.5 million meals to people in 2025.

The twins, now at the University of Florida, volunteered at BHH and learned that breakfast foods are among the most needed, but least donated, items at food banks.

“Cereal is about breakfast,” Jett Justin said, “but it’s also about starting the day with a sense of normalcy and happiness. It bothered us that so many families were missing out on that, so we started Cereal4All to help fill that gap.”

Today, Cereal4All partners with more than 175 schools and 95 food banks across 22 states, Toronto and the Bahamas through the twins’ self-piloted “Oatmeal Airlift” missions. The organization has delivered the equivalent of more than 800,000 bowls of cereal, over $400,000 worth of breakfast food, and inspired thousands of students to volunteer. See cereal4all.org to donate or volunteer.

Woman’s club hosts tour of Overtown, Design District 

The Taste History Art & Culture Study Tours hosted 12th-grade debutantes of the Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club of Delray Beach for an immersive trip on April 18 to Overtown and the Design District in Miami.

The girls attend Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, FAU High School in Boca Raton, Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, and Park Vista High School in Greenacres.

Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) volunteer community service organization named in honor of Bright, an educator who came to Palm Beach County in 1899 and was the first Black woman teacher in Delray Beach.

The mission of the nonprofit Taste History Art & Culture Study Tours is to offer curriculum-based multisensory educational experiences for students.

Boca Garden Club reveals 2026 collectible ornament 

The Boca Raton Garden Club has announced that the 2026 commemorative ornament celebrates the Sugar Sand Park Carousel.

This year’s ornament, the 32nd in the collectible series commemorating landmarks in Boca Raton, is available for $28. Send a check, payable to Boca Raton Garden Club, to Ornaments, Boca Raton Garden Club, 4281 NW Third Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33431. Ornaments will be delivered in early October. 

Palm Beach Symphony announces three winners

The Palm Beach Symphony has announced the three recipients of the 2026 Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts. Instrumental musician Mickey Smith Jr. was named Performing Artist, dancer Heather Lescaille was named Performing Arts Educator, and choral musician Roberto J. Vidal was named Emerging Artist. 

Smith is associate director of instrumental arts at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach. Lescaille was appointed dean of the dance department at the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts in 2016. Vidal serves as the chorus director, vocal academy director and Fine Arts Department chair at Eagles Landing Middle School in Boca Raton. 

Nominations for the 2027 awards will open in November.

Heritage Month honors Boca’s Elliott Broidy

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Elliott Broidy, Nobel laureate Dr. Harvey J. Alter and Rabbi David Baron were honored on Capitol Hill on May 19 during the Jewish American Heritage Month celebration. The annual gathering of members of Congress, foreign ambassadors and trade ministers, and Jewish communal leaders recognizes the significant role Jewish Americans have played in the United States.

Broidy, of Boca Raton, was honored with the Visionary Award for his leadership in philanthropy, national security, Holocaust remembrance, Jewish communal life, and efforts to combat antisemitism and extremism.

Broidy is chairman and CEO of the private equity firm Broidy Capital Holdings, which invests in a range of national security and public safety technology companies.

White Coats-4-Care scheduled for Aug. 20

The 16th annual White Coats-4-Care reception will recognize philanthropy advancing Palm Beach County’s only medical school — Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine — while welcoming the incoming class of 80 future physicians. 

The evening will bring together health care, business, university, civic and philanthropic leaders to celebrate June Gelb’s 100th birthday. A portion of money raised will benefit the June and Ira J. Gelb, M.D. Endowed Medical Scholarship Fund.

The reception will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at The Club at Boca Pointe. Tickets are $350. Underwriting and sponsorship opportunities are available at fau.edu/medicine/white-coats-4-care.

Changing Lives of Boca hosts Unity Day expo 

More than 25 nonprofit organizations and community groups joined together April 25 for the Changing Lives of Boca Raton fourth annual Unity Day Expo Fair, offering direct access to housing assistance, health care, mental health services, food resources, legal aid and employment support.

Participating organizations included: Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Inc. (AVDA), Boca Helping Hands, Salvation Army, Feeding South Florida, the Palm Beach Health Care District, South County Mental Health Center, Developing Interracial Social Change (D.I.S.C.), Adopt A Family of the Palm Beaches, the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, Breaking the Chains Ministries, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Boca Raton Housing Authority, iThink Financial Credit Union, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Ovadia Law Group P.A., The Legacy Closet, Sunshine Pathways Foundation, Ask Nora, Palm Beach County Community Services, Vita Nova Inc., Genesis Community Health, YMCA, Drug Abuse Foundation, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, and People Engaged in Active Community Efforts (PEACE).

Changing Lives is committed to providing comprehensive services, including housing assistance, mental health support, employment opportunities and long-term stabilization programs for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Arts Garage raises funds for summer camp at ’70s party

Arts Garage, the visual and performing arts center in downtown Delray Beach, is celebrating 15 years of connecting the community through the arts, raising nearly $15,000 during a May 29 ’70s-themed anniversary party.

Proceeds will support scholarships, program resources and expanded access to arts education through Places!, the center’s immersive summer camp for aspiring performers ages 8-15. This program includes four weeklong sessions, July 6-31, led by theater professionals, each focused on a different area of training. 

To learn more, visit artsgarage.org/events/category/places/

Send news, photos and notes to Lou Ann Frala at philanthropy@thecoastalstar.com.

Achievement Centers for Children & Families’ seventh annual Swing to Achieve raised nearly $40,000 to support the organization’s early learning, after-school, teen and summer camp programs serving families throughout Palm Beach County. The foursome captained by co-chair Leon Teske took home top honors. ’Every dollar raised goes directly toward giving children in our community access to the programs and opportunities they deserve,’ said Gina Griffin, director of development. ’Days like today remind us of what’s possible when this community comes together.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Andy Brody, Jim Newman, Lew Pollack (kneeling), Andy Chavkin, Michael Young, Marcia Scheiner, Griffin, Carol Lazar, Andy Lazar, Patty Greenstein, Richard Scheiner, Cindy Goffin and Paul Swaye. BELOW: Teske with Steve Clawson. Photos provided

Nearly 1,000 guests converged for the nation’s largest drag brunch. The Pride Drag Brunch, presented by CAN Community Health, raised money for The Pride Center at Equality Park in Wilton Manors. The celebration included The Pride Center’s annual Icon Awards ceremony, honoring leaders whose work advances equality, advocacy and public service. The Icon Awards were presented to Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal; Katie Phang, senior adviser for Democracy Defenders Fund; and William C. Schultz, chief of police for the City of Fort Lauderdale. Proceeds benefit The Pride Center’s mission to provide programs, services and support that empower and enrich for LGBTQ+ individuals and families throughout South Florida. ABOVE: (l-r) Tp Lords, Erika Norell, Erick Eldridge, FKA Twink (front), Christopher Peterson of Manalapan, Daisy DeadPetals, Jesse Hernandez, Quinn Zrenity, Fay What! and DJ Mark Rivera. Photo provided by Carina Mask

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach Country turned from page-turning to pars and raised more than $50,000 to support programs for adults and children during the 10th annual tournament. Coalition board members Caleb Bowser and Nancy Vera co-chaired the event, and committee members included Travis Foels, Nancy Haviland, Adam Hodges and Valrie Martin Buchanan. ABOVE: (l-r) Casey Syring, Leanne Adair, Brenda Medore and Janet Donovan. Photo provided by Tracey Benson Photography

The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida recognized five women whose leadership and service are having an impact in the community. Ruby Rinker, CEO of Ruby S. Rinker Co., herself a former Girl Scout, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy in appreciation of her support for initiatives benefiting local families, including Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach and the Rinker Playhouse at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Honorees also included Amy Angelo of Oceana Coffee, Nicole Cummings of L3Harris, Nellie King of the Law Offices of Nellie L. King, P.A., and Kelly Smallridge of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, each praised as a role model for the next generation of leaders. The event raised more than $160,000. ABOVE: (l-r) Rasika Deshmukh, Smallridge and George Elmore. Photo provided by Premier Photo Palm Beach

Highland Beach firefighter/paramedic Kristi Kemper and Sparky demonstrate some of the town’s pet rescue equipment. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

When you see or hear the words, “firefighters” and “dogs,” you may conjure an image of a happy Dalmatian inside a fire station.

But the sad reality is that each year, more than 40,000 dogs, cats and other household pets become injured or die in house fires across the country. 

And here’s another scary stat: Pets cause more than 1,000 house fires annually, according to the National Fire Protection Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

July 15 is national Pet Fire Safety Day. In Palm Beach County, local fire departments are doing their part to rescue pets in house fires. Many rescuers have their own pets. 

“One of the biggest problems we encounter with house fires is that pets inside get scared and may be hard to find with the fire and smoke,” says Boca Raton Fire Rescue Lt. Karl Richards. “A big issue with house fires is smoke inhalation. It does not take a lot to be overcome by the carbon monoxide in the smoke. The more smoke pets inhale, the more lethal it becomes.”

Adds Tyeisha Knight, community resilience manager for the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Department: “In a house fire, frightened pets are likely to hide in places where they feel safe and protected. Common hiding spots include under beds, inside closets, behind furniture or in cabinets or other small, enclosed spaces. This can make it difficult for family members and firefighters to locate them quickly during an emergency.”

Highland Beach Fire Rescue Chief Glenn Joseph urges residents to not only have smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers inside their homes, but to test them regularly. Consider doing this twice a year, say when you need to change your clocks in the spring and the fall. 

He adds that the most common culprits are kitchen fires, space heaters tipped over, forgetting to clean chimney flues, plus electrical cord shorts.

“A dog or a cat can bump or paw a stovetop knob and accidentally turn it on. That can lead to a fire,” says Joseph. “Or a cat can paw or a dog’s tail can knock over a lit candle and start a fire quickly.” 

During a house fire, quickly escape and alert firefighters about what pets are in the home and where they tend to hide.

“Tell the responder that your dog usually hides under a table or under the bed or in the closet when scared,” says Joseph.

To reduce pet-caused house fires, local firefighters recommend that you:

• Have a family escape plan and practice evacuating the entire family, including the pets.

• Keep leashes and pet carriers close to an exit so you can use them to get your frightened pets out quickly. 

• Consider using flameless or LED candles in the home instead of flame-burning ones. 

• If possible, condition your dog or cat to the piercing sounds of a smoke detector. Reward them with treats when they come to you or go into a safe spot such as in the bathroom or in an open pet crate upon hearing the noise. 

• Install child-safety covers on stove knobs or remove the knobs when you’re not actively cooking.

• Secure electrical cords with covers to keep pets from checking the cords and causing sparks or fires.

Knight, who has been with Delray Beach Fire Rescue for four years, shares her home with Bella, her 8-year-old pit bull. 

“To help keep Bella safe while we are home, she has been trained to stay out of the kitchen,” she says. “When we are away from home, Bella stays in her own room with a safety gate in place.”

Make sure all your pets sport identification tags bearing your name and cellphone number so that your pets can be more easily reunited with you should they dart out during a house fire. 

Consider placing stickers on windows that indicate the type and number of pets you have in your home to alert firefighters.

In Highland Beach and many other municipalities in Florida, residents can place household information such as pet descriptions in a secure portal called Community Connect that can be quickly accessed by first responders during an emergency. Consult your city or town for more details on how to register. 

“If we get an emergency call to your address, that information immediately goes to the first responders heading to the scene,” says Joseph. “This is a great and safe program.”

Final good news: More fire departments are equipping their trucks with various sized pet oxygen masks and ensuring their staffs complete pet first aid/CPR classes.

Arden Moore is an author, pet podcast show host and master certified pet first aid instructor. Check out petfirstaid4u.com and ardenmoore.com.

Learn more

National Pet Fire Safety Day is July 15 and is sponsored by the American Kennel Club and ADT Security. To learn more, visit akcreunite.org/firesafety and adt.com/pet-safety. 

The former St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation officially transitioned to The Foundation for Palm Beach Health Network, expanding its philanthropic reach to support all six hospitals within Palm Beach Health Network. The foundation now encompasses Delray Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Palm Beach Children’s Hospital, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, St. Mary’s Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center. 

Also, the foundation has appointed Felicia B. Morton as its new executive director.

Biotechnology company raises $2.5M in financing

BioStem Technologies, a biotechnology company developing placental-derived tissue grafts for advanced wound care, raised $2.5 million in private financing from its first institutional investor. The capital will help the firm strengthen its balance sheet as it works to uplist to the Nasdaq stock exchange. The company trades on the OTC market under the ticker BSEM. It did not disclose the investor’s identity. 

BioStem purchased a 4-acre property within the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University last November, with plans to move its headquarters from Pompano Beach.

Medical practice celebrates grand opening in west Boca

BeninMed, a medical practice founded by Drs. Samantha Benin and Andrew Benin, celebrated its grand opening at 9250 Glades Road, No. 108, Boca Raton, in June. The couple’s practice combines traditional internal medicine and cardiology with a proactive approach to prevention, longevity and overall wellness. 

Samantha Benin specializes in cardiology and internal medicine with a focus on preventive cardiology and cardiovascular risk reduction. Co-founder Andrew Benin is an internal medicine physician focused on preventive care and the management of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.

— Christine Davis

Rayna Rose Exelbierd’s life goal is to teach kindness to others, which she does through her two nonprofits. She has also written two children’s books (below) and is working on a third. Photos provided

By Jan Engoren

Every month in this column we talk about the health part of Health and Harmony. This month, we’re focusing on the harmony — through the work of Boynton Beach resident Rayna Rose Exelbierd, 34, whose nonprofit, Teen Tribe, and business The Rose Grows, along with her children’s books are inspiring young people to believe that one person’s actions can make a meaningful difference.

The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Exelbierd grew up in Memphis and moved to Florida for college. She graduated from FAU in 2015 with a degree in business. After several years of working in the nonprofit world mentoring students, she saw a growing need to teach leadership, self‑confidence, kindness, understanding and diversity to children.

Exelbierd’s work is part of a larger movement to teach kindness as a discipline. 

In June, the Boca Raton Museum of Art and Kindness Matters offered a four-part series titled “Practicing Kindness: Deepening Brain Regulation,” designed to support emotional well-being, self-awareness and meaningful connection through practicing kindness.

More than 55 participants signed up, and a second series is planned for the fall.

David Matteson, director of learning and engagement at the museum, believes that teaching kindness and art go hand in hand.

“Art can help us build stronger, more empathetic relationships with ourselves and one another,” he says. “Many people are feeling overwhelmed or divided, and there is a real need for spaces like museums that encourage respite and reflection.”

He hopes participants leave feeling more connected to themselves and to the museum and learn practical tools such as pausing before reacting, listening more generously, or noticing opportunities to express gratitude in everyday life.

It’s the same philosophy that drives Exelbierd’s work — that one person’s act of kindness can have ripple effects on a child’s or other person’s life.

“I came across a poem I wrote five years ago about my dad, who died when I was 27,” she said. “That poem inspired me to write my first book, The Girl Who Said Hello to Everyone: Teaching Kids Kindness, Conversation and Resilience.”

The book is dedicated to Delray Beach probate attorney Pamela Higer-Polani and her husband, Mark, both mentors to Exelbierd.

“Rayna lives up to the meaning of her name — queen,” says Higer-Polani, who founded the nonprofit Brain Bowl in 2014. The organization raises funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. “She’s beyond brave and always wants to help others, especially to empower women.”

Since Exelbierd published her first book, children in more than 19 countries have read her stories — including her second title, The Girl Who Wore Two Different Shoes: Empowering Kids to Celebrate Standing Out Instead of Trying to Fit In. It teaches empathy and the importance of embracing individuality. Both books are illustrated by her childhood friend, Allyn Chapman Fraser.

This year, Exelbierd’s nonprofit The Rose Grows (“Where One Grows, We All Grow”) distributed 8,000 books to public elementary school students from underserved backgrounds. She estimates she has spoken to more than a quarter million youth around the world over the last decade about leadership and understanding differences.

Exelbierd is also helping 96‑year‑old Holocaust survivor Anya Baum write her memoir and is at work on her third children’s book, tentatively titled The Girl Who Said I Can’t Run.

Locally, she has provided copies of her books to the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, which distributes backpacks of school supplies to children. And she is partners with Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast.  

Erica Eggerman, director of elementary programs for the local Junior Achievement, says, “Rayna’s partnership has been invaluable in helping us create experiences that are not only educational, but truly transformational.”

At StandWithUs, an international organization that combats antisemitism, Exelbierd met and mentored Miami native Danielle Yablonka, 25, who was immediately struck by her energy and presence.

“The minute I met Rayna and saw the way she sparkled in a room, I knew I had to meet her,” Yablonka says. “She was wearing a neon pink dress, basketball sneakers and a floppy hat — and her speech was so inspiring.

“Rayna gave me my first public speaking opportunity and encouraged me to tell my story,” adds Yablonka, who graduated from FAU in 2023 with a degree in communications and Jewish studies. “I wouldn’t be where I am without her.”

Exelbierd says she is inspired most by women who champion other women, such as Spanx creator Sara Blakely for being real, vulnerable, funny and hardworking, as well as by Blakely’s husband, Jesse Itzler, an author and entrepreneur. They motivated her to “chase my dreams.”

Exelbierd believes that when people bring their diverse talents and backgrounds together, they can support one another in reaching goals and overcoming challenges. She signs all her books, “You are just a hello away from new friends and adventures.”

Her personal motto — “Never dimmer your shimmer” — reflects the resilience she considers her greatest accomplishment. Not giving up, she says, is what allows her to keep helping children discover their self‑confidence and their voice.

“I’m so blessed if I can inspire even one child to think bigger in their own life,” she says.

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

Follow Rayna Rose Exelbierd on Instagram or visit therosegrows.com or teen-tribe.com.

To learn about the Boca Raton Museum of Art, visit BocaMuseum.org.

Nikole Heath, Force-E training director, shows a lobster she caught during a mini-season. Photos provided

By Steve Waters

For most Palm Beach County scuba divers, the annual two-day lobster mini-season is the highlight of their year.

Not only is it the first opportunity to catch lobsters since the regular season closed on April 1, but it also allows underwater hunters to keep 12 of the tasty crustaceans a day, which is twice the regular season daily bag limit of six per person.

That will have local divers, as well as visiting divers from everywhere, heading to the coral reefs spanning from Boca Raton to Jupiter in search of a lobster dinner during the mini-season, which is July 29-30.

Steven Constantiner, the owner of Force-E Scuba Centers, calls it the “World Cup of lobstering,” a timely reference to the excitement that soccer fans are currently experiencing during that sport’s biggest event.

That makes July the busiest month for Constantiner’s dive shops, which are in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Riviera Beach, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale, with a sixth scheduled to open this month in Jupiter, as divers get their air tanks filled and scuba gear checked in time for opening day. 

If you’ve never caught lobsters during mini-season, whether it’s because you haven’t tried it before or because you stink at it, Force-E’s training director Nikole Heath said the stores not only can get you prepared and book dives on local charter boats, they also can guide you to a successful mini-season.

“We have certified diving professionals, instructors that teach underwater hunting,” Heath said, noting that Force-E (www.force-e.com) also has lobster-hunting guides to help you catch lobsters just as fishing guides help you catch fish.

“You can actually just hire them to come out for the day for your mini-season and you’ll catch everything together. That’s something pretty different. So instead of an instructor teaching you how to dive, they actually take you out hunting for lobsters.”

Heath, who also handles marketing and social media for Force-E — the YouTube channel @ForceEDivers has an abundance of videos on everything from scuba gear and travel destinations to spearfishing and sea turtles — said the company has professionals who can help set up your boat for mini-season. That could include checking safety items such as first aid and oxygen kits to securing air tanks, so they don’t roll around or fall over in choppy seas.

Force-E Scuba Centers staffers inspect air tanks, a process fill stations require annually. Lobster mini-season is July 29-30. Speaking of air tanks, Heath said all the Force-E stores will have extended hours both days of mini-season to fill tanks. It’s wise to bring in your tanks well in advance of mini-season to get them inspected and filled, or replaced if they’re unsafe.

“Any fill station requires a visual inspection of tanks once a year,” Heath said, explaining that tanks need to be checked for pitting, rust, cracks and even insects such as spiders that crawl into them. She added that for mini-season, Force-E will inspect two tanks for the price of one inspection.

If you haven’t dived since last year’s mini-season or longer, you also need to have your dive gear inspected. Something as simple as a worn-out O-ring in a regulator can keep you from diving. Air hoses that have leaks can be deadly — you might not be able to breathe underwater or get back to the water’s surface.

Heath said if your diving skills are a little rusty, it’s a good idea to dive with an instructor, whether it’s off a boat or from the beach.

“We get a lot of people who come out for mini-season and they’re like, ‘My last dive was 10 years ago.’ We really try and emphasize that people do refresher dives with us before mini-season or even get their rescue diver certification so that they’re a more well-rounded diver,” Heath said. “We want you to get your lobsters and we want you to be safe.”

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

Rumi Ota Borgese dons white gloves to examine the kimonos found outside the Jewish Community Center resale store. Miwako Patton, the Morikami’s marketing and public relations manager, looks on. The white wedding kimono possibly dates to the 1940s. The black formal kimono would have been worn during traditional ceremonies. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

In an act of cultural compassion, eagle-eyed Eric Goldman, vice president of retail services at the Levis Jewish Community Center’s Resale Boutique, rescued two kimonos left in a plain, unmarked cardboard box by the back door of the store in east Boca Raton. 

Goldman’s experience told him these garments might have real cultural significance, so he reached out to James Rodgers, the collection manager at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, who invited Goldman to meet. Jennifer Giacone, the Levis JCC’s chief marketing and communications officer, was there. 

“When I saw what Eric presented and how it was handled, it was really extraordinary. We watched the staff at Morikami put on white cotton gloves so caringly, almost reverently, and then look at these two artifacts, really examining them and trying to point out where historically they belonged. It was a very special moment.”

On initial examination, Rodgers said, they knew little about the pieces. The black kimono was a kurotomesode, “a very formal type of kimono typically worn at weddings by the mother or grandmother of the bride or groom. This one is particularly formal,” he said.

Kimonos are deeply symbolic, reflecting artistry, tradition and critical life moments, Rodgers said. This kimono probably belonged to an important family because of the presence of five “mon,” the family’s emblem or symbol, that were included. 

“In Japanese it’s called maruni tachi omodaka, which in English translates to standing arrowhead in a circle. It denotes that they might have come from a samurai family. They were probably middle class to wealthy.”  

Rodgers thinks the family may have had to sell the kimono during or after the war. “When the U.S. military was occupying Japan after World War II, a lot of families, particularly those in areas that were bombed or destroyed, found themselves on really hard times and ended up having to sell their precious family belongings to U.S. soldiers just to survive. The soldiers brought them back to the United States as souvenirs,” he said.

The museum has gotten kimonos before that were carried home by servicemen. 

“We’ve been collecting kimonos from the very beginning, since 1976,” Rodgers said. “We get kimonos fairly often, but because our collection is fairly large, we don’t put too many into the collection.” 

The second kimono was an uchikake, or wedding kimono, which have great history, Rodgers said. “Daughters in samurai families would have a very formal kimono that they would wear when they get married. You’ll see the sleeves are very long, which indicates that the woman who wore it was unmarried. This one is quite colorful with a four seasons theme, so you have spring, fall and summer colors, different flowers and plants that give it that year-round, very seasonal motif,” he said. “In our collection, we have about 25 or so more modern uchikake; this is a good example of one of the older ones.”

This was the JCC’s first interaction with the Morikami, but it has already opened doors between the two groups. 

“I’m delighted to say that as an outgrowth of that experience, we’re in contact with Miwako Patton to pursue some opportunities through our Sandler Center for Arts, Culture and Learning,” Giacone said. “We’re brainstorming ideas; maybe a JCC series at Morikami or guided tours of the museum and gardens.”

A shared history and intersections of the cultures can be explored, Giacone said. “Years ago, we had a film festival that screened a film about a courageous Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in Lithuania. He was an unsung hero who understood this is not OK and helped save people who were running for their lives.” 

The film, 2015’s Persona Non Grata, tells the story of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who defied orders and issued more than 2,000 transit visas to Jewish refugees, allowing them to travel through Japanese territory. He risked his career and his family to save people fleeing Poland and Lithuania. Experts estimate he saved more than 6,000 lives before the Nazis invaded Lithuania a year later in 1941.

“They were very interested in screening that film with us. I think that there’s a lot of opportunity for us to partner on, to present our community with opportunities to learn about different cultures and the intersections between them,” Giacone said.  

Rodgers agrees it’s important to foster local relationships. “We took the kimono because we wanted to build a relationship with the JCC,” he said. “It’s always good when museums and nonprofit organizations work together. With that in mind, we took this into the collection.”

Giacone agrees. “South Palm Beach County is an extremely culturally rich area. We have such amazing cultural and educational opportunities here. I think cultivating that is going to go a long way to really fostering better understanding of one another. 

“I think people sometimes are afraid of what they don’t understand, and so by opening these doors to understanding, we learn more about one another and we appreciate each other’s cultures. It makes us a better community.” 

Of course, Giacone can’t help but see divine intervention at work. “Everything lined up the way it was supposed to. Eric saw something special. He reached out. We connected. All the stars aligned for that.” 

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens currently has an exhibition of uchikake called “Threads of Silver and Gold,”which runs until Sept. 20. Five uchikake, each with a different motif, are on display. Around mid-July, the museum will switch them out and display five more. Visit the museum at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. For more info on the exhibit, visit morikami.org/current-exhibitions/.

The Adolph & Rose Levis JCC is undergoing a major renovation to create a modern, accessible community center designed to serve individuals and families for generations. The reimagined Levis JCC is expected to open this fall. Programs and services will continue throughout construction, taking place at existing, temporary and virtual locations. For the latest information on Levis JCC programming, visit levisjcc.org.

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