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

By Janis Fontaine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Janis Fontaine

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

By Jan Engoren

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

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

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

***

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

— Christine Davis

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

By Janis Fontaine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: Threatened end of Seaside Deli sparks anger, sorrow

By Joe Capozzi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By John Pacenti

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

No emergency actions. No discipline. No public complaints.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Each one got paid through illegal patient brokering.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 A first-time visit lifted her spirits

By John Pacenti

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

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

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

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

By Joe Capozzi  

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

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

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

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

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

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By Rich Pollack

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

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

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By Rich Pollack

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

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

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By Rich Pollack

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

Hazel Butler (right) gets emotional as she reminisces with longtime customer and friend Mike Gauger and her co-worker Billie Christ. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Hazel Butler tried to keep back the tears as she talked about 16 years in the rearview mirror and the few remaining days left before she stopped collecting memories at Rex’s Hairstyling, the iconic Delray Beach shop with roots stretching back to 1986.
It didn’t work.
Instead, Butler’s eyes watered as she stood planted next to the saloon-style doors separating her booth from the handful of others in the shop and talked about the closing of a landmark that had become a second home.
“I always knew the lights would be on,” she said. “Now, I’m leaving Delray and all that’s connected to it.”
Those lights that had been on for almost four decades went dark on Dec. 31, when owner Rex Thayer closed the doors of Rex’s, a barbershop and hair salon that served both men and women and was headquartered inside a small business complex on North Federal Highway.
“Delray is never going to be quite the same without Rex’s,” says longtime Delray Beach resident and businessman Fred Bonardi, who’d been getting his hair cut there every Friday for decades. “It’s old Delray and we’re going to dearly miss it.”
To grasp why the shop’s closing will leave a huge emptiness in the literal and figurative heart of Delray, you first have to understand that Rex’s was much more than just a place to get your hair cut or styled. It was where the people inside were able to blend humor with humility and kindness with kinship — all done under the umbrella of a small-town feeling that once was Delray Beach’s calling card.
Rex’s, for instance, was where you’d find stylists covertly sprinkling hair from other customers under the barber chair of an all-but-totally-bald client so he wouldn’t know just how little hair he actually had left.

Rex Thayer, owner of Rex’s Hairstyling in Delray Beach, is surrounded by his longtime employees (l-r) Hazel Butler, Billie Christ and Billie Birmingham. Thayer, 73, retired at the end of December and closed the salon. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

It’s where you’d meet both a stylist and a manicurist named Billie and of course find Hazel, who could easily be your favorite aunt.
It’s where a neighbor’s dog made a daily afternoon appearance to get a treat, and where customers were apt to bring goodies, such as homemade peanut brittle, during their regular visits.
It’s also where you might think you stepped back in time. As you walked through the front door you’d see an old-fashioned barber pole — which Thayer received as a gift — on a wall next to newspaper clippings, some from decades ago. Nearby was a photo of Delray Beach’s first barbershop — taken about a century ago — and framed pictures of local elected officials who had long since given up politics.
And Rex’s was also where you’d hear stories of Thayer going to the home of a dying customer who wanted to look his best before meeting his maker.
Ask those who are struggling to find someplace else to go for a haircut or a new hairdo what made Rex’s special and you’ll be certain to hear an almost cliché analogy to an iconic fictional television bar.
“It’s like Cheers, where everybody knows everybody else,” said Mike Gauger, the retired chief deputy of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office who traveled from Wellington twice a month to get his hair cut by Rex. “Minus the beer.”
Gauger first met his longtime barber in 1979 while serving as the lead detective on a homicide in which Thayer was a friend of the victim. He had been coming to Rex ever since, at first when Thayer worked at another shop.
“We developed a friendship,” Gauger says.
The two have gotten so close that when Gauger needs to put a team together for a charity bowling tournament, he knows he can count on Thayer, a former pro bowler, to serve as his “ringer.” It comes as no surprise that they seem to win almost every tournament.
While their experiences come from different directions, Gauger and Bonardi have a common denominator also shared by former Delray Beach Police Chief Larry Schroeder. All three trusted Rex to cut their sons’ hair.
“This is the only place their mother would let them get their hair cut,” Bonardi said.
Schroeder even brought his grandson to Rex for his earliest haircuts.
As you might expect, there’s no shortage of stories that you’ll hear when you talk to customers or Thayer or any member of his team — Butler and the Billies, stylist Billie Birmingham and manicurist Billie Christ, who was with Rex’s for 30 years.
Thayer shared his experience with a very demanding customer who wouldn’t leave his apartment if his hair wasn’t perfect.
When he first arrived, the 6-foot-5-inch customer with snow-white hair presented a 10-point list and suggested Thayer contact his barber in Boston for tips on how to make his hair perfect.
Thayer complied and ended up cutting that customer’s hair every week for 28 years.
Longtime customer Wesley Moore says banter among the members of Rex’s team provided entertainment while his hair was being trimmed.
“They’re all up in each other’s business,” Moore said. “It’s hilarious to listen to.”
Over the years the clientele included billionaires, professional golfers, the children of tennis legends, baseball stars and of course, any local elected official who wanted to win.
Many of those politicians ended up in the chair of Karyn Premock. Thayer credits her for helping keep the business afloat in its early years when he was out of commission for several weeks following a traffic accident.
Premock retired three years ago and moved to Tennessee, where she was killed in a freak ATV accident in May. She is fondly included in many conversations about Rex’s, especially when it comes to knowing what was really going on in town.
“Politicians came here to hear things about other politicians, especially in Karyn’s chair,” Butler said. “You never know what you’re going to hear in here.”
Of course, you were also likely to hear a little gossip at Rex’s.
“People had been coming here for so long, they felt like they could say anything,” Thayer said.
For Schroeder, it’s the friendship that he developed with Thayer while sitting in the barber’s chair that kept him coming back.
“We shared, we laughed, and we became friends and that is why I never thought about going anywhere else,” Schroeder said. “That is what I will miss the most.”
At 73, Rex Thayer isn’t quite ready to retire, but says his decision to close the shop is about family — the family that has been forged over the snipping of scissors, the buzzing of razors and laughter that filled the booths.
Thayer said that Butler, the two Billies and an assistant, Debbie Cooksey —are ready for a break and he couldn’t imagine starting over without them.
“I’ve worked with these people my whole life,” he said.
For the last six years, Butler has been commuting back and forth from her home in Fellsmere, coming down on Tuesday, staying with friends, and driving back on Friday.
“I could still work but I can’t drive I-95 anymore,” she said.
As the curtain started coming down on Rex’s, news spread and Birmingham recalls the reaction of one of her customers, who happened to be 93.
“She said, ‘Now I know I’ve lived too long,’” Birmingham remembered.
Butler summed up the final days in just a few words.
“This is the closing of an era,” she said.

A petition drive aims to ‘Save the Deli,’ which is in a dispute over its lease. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Joe Capozzi
 
The Seaside Deli & Market, the beloved County Pocket staple with a loyal following of billionaires and beach bums, is facing an uncertain future because of a legal fight with its landlord, a company owned by retired major league baseball player Rafael Belliard. 
As lawyers for both sides try to negotiate a resolution, community leaders have launched a campaign to “Save the Deli,’’ as a banner erected across the front says. More than 650 signatures have been collected on a petition.
If the deli can’t remain in its familiar spot at 4635 N. Ocean Blvd., just south of Briny Breezes, owner Randy McCormick said he’s hoping to move it to a new space nearby instead of closing for good and putting his nine employees out of work. 
“There is a chance we can negotiate the lease that will permit Seaside Deli to remain in the space,’’ said Carl T. Williams, who until late December was McCormick’s attorney. “We’d like to work with the landlord to the extent we can and try to find a solution that’s good for everybody.’’
Accusations have been flying from both sides for more than a year. But Belliard’s Ocean Blvd 14 LLC scored a victory Dec. 22 when Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Paige Gillman issued a written ruling giving the landlord possession of the space. The judge sided with the landlord’s claim that Seaside Deli hadn’t paid $40,279 in back rent, in violation of an October court order. 

Longtime store manager Chelsea Steen works the counter. Photo by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Although business at the Seaside Deli has been especially brisk in the two weeks since word got out about the deli’s future, McCormick said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office ordered the locks changed as early as the first week in January.
Despite Gillman’s ruling, Williams and McCormick insist the landlord’s claims are not true. Seaside Deli tried to make its monthly payments in 2022, they said, but Belliard family members and their attorney would not accept the money. 
“We have never not paid our rent. My (lease) renewal would have started in March 2022,’’ McCormick said. “I made that payment directly into their account. The next month, when I tried to deposit the rent, I was told that they closed their account. From that point on, I sent the rent every month certified mail, and they refused delivery every month, and I have those receipts.’’
Williams and McCormick believe the Belliards have refused to accept the money because they are trying to sell the building. McCormick said he spoke a year and a half ago to two potential buyers from Gulf Stream who discussed with him the possible terms of a new lease.
One of the potential buyers, who did not want to be identified or quoted, confirmed that he and some partners at one point spoke to the Belliards about buying the site and spoke to McCormick about a potential lease.
It’s unclear whether there were formal negotiations.

‘Beach bums to billionaires’
Leonora Belliard, who is Rafael’s wife and handles Ocean Blvd 14’s business affairs, did not return a phone call from The Coastal Star. “I have no knowledge at this moment,’’ Ocean Blvd 14 attorney Joshua Pinsky said Dec. 20 when a reporter asked about the Belliards’ plans for the property.
Rafael Belliard’s eviction lawsuit, filed in July, was a counterclaim to a lawsuit filed in August 2021 by Seaside Deli. In that lawsuit, which is still open, Seaside Deli accused Ocean Blvd 14 of breaching the lease by trying to sell the property without giving McCormick the first right to negotiate a purchase, which is spelled out in the lease. 
In a June 1 motion to dismiss, an attorney for Ocean Blvd 14 denied the claim, saying “there is no current contract or agreement to sell the subject property. …’’
The five-year lease expired March 31, but Seaside Deli has refused to vacate, Ocean Blvd 14 said in the July filing.
Meanwhile, word of the judge’s ruling has sent shock waves around the County Pocket, where Seaside Deli is considered not only a neighborhood asset but one of the few remnants of Old Florida along State Road A1A in Palm Beach County.
Loyal customers who have come by over the years for fresh deli sandwiches, imported beer or a loaf of bread range from hockey great Mario Lemieux and singer Jimmy Buffett to landscape workers and surfers. 
Just the other day, actor-comedian Kevin James popped in to pick up one of the deli’s famous subs. And old-timers still remember the day New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and his then-girlfriend, singer Mariah Carey, stopped in for snacks on their way to the beach. 
“We get beach bums to billionaires. To me they’re all the same. They’re just good people,’’ McCormick said.   
The deli has been so popular, local Realtors over the years have included it in MLS listings as an amenity, a mom-and-pop alternative to having to cross the bridge to get to a Publix before the supermarket chain opened a store in Manalapan.
The deli extends accounts for local businesses, allowing their workers to pick up ice, drinks and food. For a while, it delivered lunch sandwiches for students at the private Gulf Stream School. 
“It’s become part of the fabric of the community,’’ said Richie Podvesker, whose father, Fred, owned the deli and building since 1993 before selling it to the Belliards in 2014 for $460,000. 
“My dad put his all into it just as I put my heart and soul into it for more than 20 years, seven days a week,’’ he said. “I just want to see it succeed.’’

An attraction for developers
Born in the Dominican Republic, Belliard played second base and shortstop from 1982 to 1998, the first nine years with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the last eight with the Atlanta Braves. He won a World Series ring with the 1995 Braves.
With Kevin Belliard, Rafael’s son, at the helm, the Belliards ran the store for three years before selling it to McCormick in 2017 and retaining the building. 
In 2019, both the Belliards’ company and Seaside Deli were sued in federal court for purportedly violating the Americans With Disabilities Act over a lack of handicapped parking and other issues. 
A confidential settlement was reached, according to court records. But McCormick, in the lawsuit he filed against Ocean Blvd 14 in August 2021 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, claimed the Belliards were in breach of the lease because they were responsible for the ADA improvements. 
The Belliards have had three different offers for the building, according to County Pocket insiders, a claim The Coastal Star could not confirm.
If no resolution can be reached, many longtime residents are worried about the future of the pocket’s Old Florida character.  
“It’s going to be a big loss for the community,’’ said McCormick, who spoke in a tone of defeat. “When they tear this down and start developing it, it’s going to change the whole face of this area. In 10 years you won’t recognize this area.’’
If the Belliards do plan to sell, others don’t blame them for wanting to cash in on land that has appreciated with the real estate boom. But for many locals, the mere possibility of the Seaside Deli closing is the biggest scare since the mobile-home community of Briny Breezes was nearly sold to a developer in 2007. 
“There are so many people moving to South Florida from up North who have large sums of money,’’ said the attorney Williams, who grew up in Delray Beach. “They see property and the potential for development and just tear it down or develop it in a way that they see fit, and unfortunately it can destroy the character of a neighborhood or a community that have been in place for decades or longer.’’
Word of the deli’s uncertain future did not reach a wide audience after the judge’s oral ruling on Dec. 14, but a week later a full-blown awareness campaign started. A “Save the Seaside Deli” petition was posted next to the cash register and the banner was erected outside, visible to A1A passersby. 
Other local merchants, such as Nomad Surf Shop, Surfside Orthopedics & Primary Care and the Texaco gas station, have set up petitions.
“So many people, from Manalapan all the way down to Delray, are committed to this place,’’ said Kristine de Haseth, Ocean Ridge vice mayor and executive director for the Florida Coalition for Preservation, which is coordinating the petition drive and collecting signatures. 
“They truly are a community asset. We are going to try to help them and see if we can buy them some time.’’
One regular said he’d gladly sign the petition. 
“I am shocked” at the possibility the deli will close, Dan Funsch said after pulling up in his white Rolls-Royce to get an Italian sub. 
“Very upsetting, very upsetting. You see so many neighbors here. Constantly. I think a lot of people are going to be very, very upset.’’

Most of us don’t choose our neighbors. We come from all over with diverse heritage, different walks of life. The mashup of humanity is a base ingredient of the South Florida stew.
We love Italian restaurants, taco trucks, French bakeries, roadside barbecue, gyros, falafels, cracked conch, sweet potato pie. And the people who bring us these delicacies — and myriad others — sometimes become our friends. We break bread together, sip rum or espresso as the meal ends, share sweets before parting.
Strangers grow to know each other across a counter or table — relationships formed by nothing more than a simple, shared experience.
Inside this edition of The Coastal Star are several examples of strangers forging friendships out of a chance encounter, a conversation, a helping hand.
It’s challenging to start conversations with random people, but worth the effort. As these stories illustrate, the end result can lead to savory (or sweet) experiences, to unforeseen good deeds.
As the sun rises on 2023, we all might gain from finding more ease with strangers — even our neighbors! Ask questions. Make eye contact. Smile. At all times, keep in mind everyone’s just doing the best they can with what they were given. Be kind.
Unexpected friendships add flavor to the mashup of South Florida. Savor them.
Happy New Year!

— Mary Kate Leming, Editor

Joseph Hurtuk, right, owner of the Boardwalk Italian Ice & Creamery in Boynton Beach, teamed up with his friend and fellow pilot Dr. Ian Goldbaum of Ocean Ridge to fly supplies to Hurricane Ian victims on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Ron Hayes

On the morning of Friday, Oct. 28, an Ocean Ridge podiatrist and the owner of a Boynton Beach ice cream shop set out together on a mission of mercy.
Neither ice cream nor feet were involved.
What Dr. Ian Goldbaum and his friend Joseph Hurtuk have in common is aviation.
Goldbaum, 65, who owns a Piper PA-28 Cherokee, earned his pilot’s license in 2021. Hurtuk, 77, has been flying a Cessna 172 since 1996.
Two years ago Hurtuk had a little problem with his heel, which made them doctor and patient, but airplanes made them friends and, on that October morning, missionaries of mercy.
They flew out of the Lantana airport at 7 a.m. in Goldbaum’s Cherokee and touched down again about 4 p.m.
In the hours between, they landed at the Plant City airport in Hillsborough County, loaded the plane with paper towels and toilet paper, mac ’n’ cheese and ramen noodles, and took off for Fort Myers.
Their work was not the only aerial mission to survivors of Hurricane Ian that day.
Goldbaum had learned on a YouTube channel about a project called Jimmy’s World, popular with Florida aviators. Money was being collected to buy supplies at Costco and pilots were needed to fly the supplies from Plant City to Fort Myers.
Hurricane Ian was the bad Ian, Goldbaum thought. I’m going to be the good Ian.
He called his friend.
“Hey, Joe, are you making ice cream on Friday, Oct. 28?”

Different paths
The journeys that brought Goldbaum and Hurtuk to that day’s journey couldn’t have been more different.
Raised in suburban Detroit, Goldbaum has practiced podiatry in Delray Beach for 37 years.
“My family owned a couple of hospitals in Michigan, so I knew I was going to go into medicine,” he says, “but I didn’t know what branch. Then one day when I was a student at Michigan State I went to visit a roommate’s father’s office. He was a podiatrist and that settled it.
“I became a doctor because I wanted to help people. I felt it was a calling.”
Joe Hurtuk’s work history did not scream ice cream.
He had been a fireman in the U.S. Air Force, a police captain at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the chief of police operations for the Metro Washington D.C. Airport Authority, where in 1992 he created the Dulles Day Plane Pull.
Teams of 25 pay $2,000 to take turns pulling an 82-ton plane 12 feet. Fastest time wins and the money goes to the Special Olympics.
In 2015, Hurtuk retired as the chief of regulatory compliance for the Department of Homeland Security at Palm Beach International Airport.
And wondered what to do next.
“I decided I wanted to either run a car wash or open an ice cream shop,” he says, “and I thought, are you ever really happy after a car wash?”
He leased a building at 209 N. Federal Highway and opened the Boardwalk Italian Ice & Creamery, the name inspired by childhood memories of ice cream treats on the Jersey shore.
“Everybody told us we weren’t going to make it,” recalls Hurtuk, who lives in Delray Beach.
Seven years later the shop offers about 150 flavors — not all at once — and boasts a 4.6 rating on Google reviews.

Serving survivors
Now the two friends would leave podiatry and ice cream behind for a day to serve survivors of the late-September hurricane instead.
They arrived in Plant City as one of 11 planes ready to load the $50,000 in supplies Jimmy’s World had collected.
“We took out the backseats and filled the plane,” Goldbaum said. But they never made it to Fort Myers.
“All the planes were diverted to Punta Gorda,” Hurtuk explained. “We never learned why, but I assume the Fort Myers airport was either damaged or too busy to accommodate us.”
In Punta Gorda, they unloaded the supplies, had the plane refueled, and headed back to Lantana with Hurtuk at the controls.
Goldbaum was looking out his window.
“My fuel cap’s not on tight,” he announced.
Now, rather than fly directly toward Lantana, they altered their flight plan to stay near the LaBelle, Clewiston, Pahokee and Belle Glade airports, just in case.
The Piper Cherokee landed safely at the end of a mission that had lasted only nine hours, but now Goldbaum and Hurtuk were carrying a memory that would last the rest of their lives.
“You know,” Goldbaum said, “I lost eight personal friends to COVID. You realize tomorrow’s not guaranteed to anybody. So, you look back and ask what is it you accomplished in life. If you were fortunate enough to help others and didn’t — well shame on you.”

NOMINATE SOMEONE TO BE A COASTAL STAR
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Florida has a history of learning from damaging storms and adopting effective reforms

By John L. Renne

If history is a guide, Floridians will digest and respond to the lessons from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, thus becoming more resilient.
Such was the case after the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 and the Okeechobee hurricane in 1928, when an earthen dike around the lake collapsed and killed 2,500 people.
Then, the Florida Legislature created a flood control district to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build new infrastructure, including floodway channels, control gates and the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee.
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead. In response, Florida adopted recommendations from the American Society of Civil Engineers related to wind ratings.
Florida was a leader in adopting these new building codes and has since been a model to other states in hurricane-prone areas.
Hurricane Ian was one of the top 10 most powerful storms to hit Florida and it caused significant damage from wind, storm surge and flooding.
Over the past five years, Hurricanes Irma and Michael punished our coasts with powerful winds and deadly storm surges. Hurricane Dorian would have been catastrophic to Florida, but the Category 5 storm turned north at the last moment, instead ravaging the Bahamas.
With the increasing frequency of major hurricanes, the state needs to develop a coastal resilience policy that is applied uniformly statewide to address storm surge zones.
This new policy should not be complex and must engage local municipalities. Cities, towns and counties should be required to engage with the public in developing and maintaining coastal resilience plans to minimize the effects of storm surges.
These plans should include flood control responses and development regulations to ensure that zoning codes do not permit new construction unless the neighborhood is protected and ground-floor elevations are above maximum storm-surge levels.
They should include new infrastructure to harden flood-prone areas. The strategies should feature effective nature-based solutions — such as creating new barrier islands in strategic locations and restoring mangroves — and the building of sea walls and floodgates. These investments should also enhance the quality of life and recreational opportunities.
A coordinated and standard approach among local, state and federal agencies would not just protect and save lives and property, but also would begin to address the longer-term existential threat posed by climate change and sea-level rise.
The benefits of a coordinated response far outweigh a piecemeal approach from each local government. For example, the insurance industry, which has been in a crisis in Florida, should have a seat at the table along with real estate developers and financiers.
The development and insurance industries and local governments have a vested stake in solving this problem. Reforms are needed to reduce insurance rates for homeowners.
Florida’s real estate industry historically has followed a boom-bust cycle. Rapid inflation, an economic recession and major hurricanes could spawn a bust, especially if the state becomes uninsurable because of the persistent threats of significant storms and flooding.
As Floridians recover from Ian and Nicole this past fall, billions will be spent on recovery and restoration. It is vital to remember that the damage today was mitigated based on the flood control and building code improvements from past hurricanes.
Enhancing coastal development protection and resilience in the 2020s can again set Florida apart as a leader for a nation that will face more and more natural disasters in the years ahead.

John L. Renne, Ph.D. is a professor of urban and regional planning and director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University. He is the author of several books on resilience. The opinions expressed here represent those of the individual author and not necessarily those of Florida Atlantic University.

“The Invading Sea” is the opinion arm of the Florida Climate Reporting Network, a collaborative of news organizations across the state focusing on the threats posed by the warming climate.

Members of the Starbright Civic Collective present the town with a check for $48,000 to cover the first year of EMT training. From left are Pati Maguire, Stella Kolb, Jean Burling (behind Kolb), Carol Besler, Mary Ziegenfuss, Diane Rose, Police Chief Richard Jones, Janet Schijns, Betty Bingham and Carolyn Cassidy. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Joe Capozzi 

Ocean Ridge’s finest are about to take on another critical public-safety role.
The town’s Police Department in January will start training its officers to be certified emergency medical technicians, under a $50,000 pilot program paid for by the Starbright Civic Collective, an Ocean Ridge nonprofit. 
“This brings us back to a place where the officers we have can do mostly everything. They literally save our lives day in and day out,’’ Commissioner Geoff Pugh said before the Town Commission unanimously approved the program Dec. 5. 
“This enhances our level of service tenfold,’’ he said. “That’s what we as residents deserve.’’ 
Public EMT services are typically provided by fire rescue departments. Ocean Ridge, a barrier island community, receives fire rescue service under a nearly $1.4 million contract with Boynton Beach Fire Rescue. 
While no one at the Dec. 5 Town Commission meeting criticized Boynton Beach Fire Rescue, Ocean Ridge Police Chief Richard Jones said his officers are always first on scene to calls, usually arriving in two to three minutes. Fire rescue crews at times can take seven to 12 minutes to arrive at a call on the island, he said. 
“That means we have the ability to influence the decision as to whether or not someone has the ability to survive until they reach a hospital. Those golden minutes, as we refer to them, are what we care most about,’’ said Jones, whose department also provides police services to Briny Breezes.
“Those minutes are critically important to survival rates and we want to make sure our staff is properly trained to provide a service that we are able to provide.’’ 
The EMT program will start in January with the training of four of Ocean Ridge’s 16 officers, roughly one officer per shift. (The department usually has 19 officers but three positions are vacant.) Since Jones said he and two other officers are already certified EMTs, seven officers would be certified in 2023.
Jones said it will cost about $50,000 a year to train four officers in consultation with a physician under Florida Department of Health rules for EMT certification, including medical supplies for patrol cars. 
While the Starbright Civic Collective will pay for the first year, it likely will be up to commissioners to decide whether to use town tax dollars to continue paying the training costs for more officers in future years. 
“There is a need in our town — I believe strongly as a resident who has benefited from it — for our police officers to be trained as EMTs so they can respond in an emergency and help save the lives of our residents until the Boynton teams can arrive,’’ said Janet Schijns, president of the Starbright Civic Collective, who presented Jones with a ceremonial check for $48,000. 
Commissioners, who applauded the nonprofit for paying for the first year, seemed open to the idea of paying for training in future years. 
“Not only do our residents deserve this, but as we start to cross-pollinate with our other neighbors to the north and the south, there may be a benefit eventually that we could help provide these services for others for a fee and really strengthen everything we do. I know the folks in Briny are extremely excited about this,’’ Vice Mayor Kristine de Haseth said. 
Although there are likely many police officers around Palm Beach County who are certified EMTs, Jones said he believes Ocean Ridge will be the first police department with a dedicated program.
“I think there is value in us providing our residents with service that they can’t get anywhere else,’’ said Jones, whose department has a $3.464 million budget. “That makes our community stand out from the communities around us as we move forward in the future.’’

Town manager search 
Town commissioners expect to interview at least five finalists for the town manager’s position on Jan. 31. On Dec. 5, they agreed to allow Colin Baenziger, their $29,500 search consultant, to determine the finalists.
Commissioners want the new town manager to start no later than Feb. 20. The new hire would replace Tracey Stevens, who resigned Sept. 11 to accept the manager’s job in Haverhill. Lynne Ladner has been serving as interim town manager. 

Digitizing records
Commissioners will spend $97,148 to scan and digitize hundreds of thousands of pages of town records that are currently occupying two rooms at Town Hall. 
“We’re pretty Flintstones right now and we’re getting an electric car,’’ Commissioner Steve Coz said before the commission approved a digitization contract with MCCi, a Tallahassee-based digital recording firm.
The documents include ordinances, resolutions and meeting minutes, but the majority are site plans, development proposals, permits and other Building Department records.

Signs on the north and south ends of the Turtle Beach condominiums may give the impression that the complex’s private property extends both east and west of the signs, because of the arrows. Police typically define private property to be landward of ‘mean high tide,’ which on this day would have been left of this sign. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Joe Capozzi

The on-again, off-again issue of public beach access came up again at a Town Commission meeting last month when residents complained about “No Trespassing” signs outside an Ocean Ridge condominium complex. 
At issue are signs east of the Turtle Beach of Ocean Ridge, a 26-unit condominium community along Old Ocean Boulevard bordered by Hersey Drive on the north and Tropical Drive on the south.
“It really communicates to everyone that you can’t cross the line going south into Turtle Beach,’’ James Connolly of Hersey Drive told commissioners.
The condo says it has ownership rights that extend to the beach’s mean high water line, generally the area of wet sand at the water’s edge. Florida law allows public access to the beach between the waterline and the erosion control line, an area generally near high tide. 
At town meetings beachgoers have often complained of a proliferation of signs all along the beach in Ocean Ridge. And of special concern, they say some of the Turtle Beach signs are posted in the waterline and infringe on the rights of residents who live just north and south of the condo.
The signs at Turtle Beach face east and west with arrows pointing in both directions, which gives beachgoers like Connolly and others the impression that “no trespassing” applies to the entire beach.
“I don’t believe these signs are legal,’’ said Debbie Cook of Tropical Drive. “They are creating a compound, setting their boundaries and using my tax dollars to monitor their property.’’ 
Some signs are so close to the water that they’re often washed out to sea, where they pose a danger to swimmers and marine life, Connolly said. 
“They are unnecessary and they’re unsightly and they’re unneighborly,’’ he said. “It creates kind of an aggressive hostile environment on the beach when people like to go down to the beach and chill.’’ 
But not everyone goes to the beach to chill, which is why the signs went up in the first place, said Mark Feinstein, president of the Turtle Beach of Ocean Ridge Condominium Association.
“I’ve been living here since 2016 and I can tell you from personal experience we’ve had a number of problems” with beachgoers “becoming drunk and disorderly on the beach, causing problems with our residents, playing loud music or being otherwise obnoxious and not allowing us to enjoy our own beach,’’ he said in an interview. 
“Nobody wants signs,’’ he said, “but when people don’t respect property rights, what are you going to do?’’ 
The association applied for and received a town permit for four signs, which were posted on the condo’s part of the beach. The signs don’t prohibit the public from “using the wet sand to go north and south,’’ Feinstein said.
“Just because your sand gets wet doesn’t mean that that’s the mean high tide water mark. The actual mark is much further east. We don’t have an issue with that. We haven’t stopped anybody from traversing across wet sand in water. It’s the people who think they can camp here.’’
Other residents, though, claim they’ve seen as many as six signs outside Turtle Beach, including some in public access areas. 
“My wife sent me a picture and the thing looks like it’s halfway into the ocean,’’ Commissioner Geoff Pugh said at the Dec. 5 meeting, adding that it’s “the second or third time these signs have showed up in the same spot.’’
He asked the town attorney if Ocean Ridge officials can remove the ill-placed signs.
“The town can remove signs from right of ways,’’ Pugh said. “What is the legality of the town removing a sign as egregious as one that’s eastward of the high mean waterline?’’
The answer isn’t so simple, said Town Attorney Christy Goddeau.
“There’s a bundle of property rights in beach property, so trying to balance those property interests is always a struggle,’’ she said. 
“The public trust doctrine gives the public the right to recreate, to swim, to walk across that area. It doesn’t give them the right to permanently camp there. … There are competing property interests.’’
Pugh said his main concerns are the location of the signs and whether that sets a precedent for “every other property owner up and down the beach to start putting signs all the way into the beach.’’ 
Goddeau recommended town officials take a first step by reviewing Turtle Beach’s sign permit to make sure the association is in compliance and to see if the permit dictates exactly where the signs can be placed. 
“Then, if the direction of the commission is to do more about it, to update your sign code, we can certainly pursue that,’’ she said. 
Feinstein, who did not attend the Dec. 5 meeting, said he had not been contacted by town officials as of Dec. 14. 
He said some signs, which cost $300 each, have been removed by beachgoers. 
Part of the problem, he said, is the “transient” nature of some residents who rent properties on Tropical Drive and beachgoers who come across the Woolbright Road bridge from the mainland. 
“The other huge concern we have is there’s an apartment building going up over the bridge. One of their advertising brochures says, ‘Walk to the beach,’’’ Feinstein said. 
“We are waiting for the onslaught when those apartments become occupied. It’s going to get a lot worse.’’ 
Feinstein also said he thinks the complaints are politically motivated attacks against Mayor Susan Hurlburt, a Turtle Beach resident who is up for reelection in March.
Hurlburt, who did not participate in the sign debate at the Dec. 5 meeting, referred questions to Feinstein. 
“I have always worked diligently at separating any and all of my private interests from town business,’’ she said in a statement to The Coastal Star. 
“I absolutely avoid all involvement in my official capacity with the town that may give even the perception of wandering into self-interest.
“But as I am a resident of Turtle Beach, and with an election forthcoming, I have therefore become the point of negative focus for the beach sign issue.’’