South Palm Beach Mayor Bonnie Fischer looks at a sample of a structural insulated panel, which she introduced as an option as the town researches plans for constructing a new Town Hall. Joe Capozzi/The Coastal Star

By Joe Capozzi

Plans for a new Town Hall, debated off and on for the past six years, took another twist late last month when Mayor Bonnie Fischer suggested using a cost-efficient construction system called SIPs. 
That’s the acronym for structural insulated panels, billed as a high-performance building system for residential and light commercial construction. 
The panels — made of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two structural facings of wood, typically oriented strand board — would replace traditional stick-frame construction. They meet Miami-Dade hurricane requirements, are energy efficient and reduce the time it typically takes to construct a building, she said. 
Fischer said that based on her preliminary research, a new Town Hall built with SIPs could cost about $2 million. In May, architects hired by the town to design a new building put the cost at nearly $6 million.
“I would like to see something like this done by our town to put us on the map. ‘Wow, we’re the town that has done this and look what we have,’’’ she said Aug. 25 at a Town Council workshop, where she showed off a panel sample at the dais. 
Council members voiced support for seeking requests for proposals from SIPs contractors at a future meeting. 
“I am 100% behind this,’’ said council member Ray McMillan.
Fischer said she started researching the alternative construction method a few months ago, when she remembered having seen a factory that makes SIPs on a visit to Georgia a few years ago.
“I’m just trying to get this idea out as an alternative to the regular building style,’’ she said. “Maybe this is the way to go.’’ 
She said she had not discussed the idea with the architectural firm Synalovski Romanik Saye, which has a $63,000 contract with South Palm Beach to design a new Town Hall. 
“If we decide to go with this system, there may be a disconnect without architects,’’ she told the council.

By Mary Thurwachter

Vocal residents crowded the council chambers for the Aug. 8 Lantana town meeting and got what they asked for — a unanimous vote to deny a proposal to build 231 apartments on the former Kmart property.
The project, called Lantana Village, seemed doomed a month earlier when it came before the council for the first time, even though many who attended a community meeting previously were enthusiastic. Town staff, however, strongly recommended denial at that July 11 meeting, but council members wanted a little more time to mull it over and postponed the vote until Aug. 8.
The development plan presented by the Morgan Group called for the old Kmart building to be razed to make way for five, four-story buildings and entry from Greynolds Circle. Amenities included a dog park, gym, pool, upgraded parking lot and a pocket park on the north end of the site at the northwest corner of Dixie Highway and Hypoluxo Road. The apartments would be fenced in for security reasons.
The proposal included cosmetic improvements for retail portions of the property, including Winn-Dixie and West Marine. Four out-parcels — Bank of America, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King and a vacant building last occupied by IHOP — were not part of the application.
When Kmart shuttered its store in the 18.6-acre shopping center owned by the Saglo Development Corp. of Miami about two years ago, Saglo tried to find another tenant but came up empty-handed. That’s when the Morgan Group stepped in and proposed transforming about 8 acres of the property into an apartment complex.
Cushla Talbut, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig who was processing the application, said the Morgan Group’s $65 million investment “would provide significant tax revenue increases for the town and revitalize a site that is definitely in need of some love.”
But the town staff — and residents who turned out in force at the August meeting — weren’t feeling the love.
Nicole Dritz, director of development, said the project was not in line with “the spirit or intent of town codes.”
The plan “almost draws an imaginary line around three entirely separate parcels that are otherwise unrelated,” she said, referring to the Winn-Dixie area, the apartments and the Lantana Pizza building. “In fact, it feels this is an attempt to garner those 231 units on a site that only approximately 133 units would be allowed otherwise.” 
Residents said the apartment complex would bring more crime and traffic and would benefit developers — not people who live in Lantana. Some vowed to vote council members out of office if they failed to turn down the proposal.
One resident, Stephanie Forman, submitted a petition against the development, collected on change.org and signed by 850 residents.
“Our cozy town does not need to be overrun by overdevelopment of apartments and condos,” Forman said. “We need another business or two, or even revitalization of the shopping center as a whole to help boost our local economy.”
Catherine Skervin, a longtime council watcher, said “a mini-mall would be nice.”
But Chamber of Commerce President Dave Arm, the only resident who spoke in favor of the apartment complex, said Lantana doesn’t need more retail, it needs more housing.
“We paid about $170,000 to the Treasure Coast Planning Council to do a master plan and their economists have told us we need hundreds more housing units,” he said. “Where are we going to put them if we don’t put them on this site? There is no other location. If we don’t do this, if we don’t add any (housing), don’t complain if your rent goes up, because that is the nature of supply and demand.”
The study done through the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council also concluded that the town has too many retail properties, and Arm, who recently sold his gym on Lantana Road after it had been on the market for four years, agreed.
“We didn’t get one single retail tenant to come up and make us a proposal” to buy the gym, Arm said.
“So, when our building was bought by a developer, he realized there is no retail and we convinced him to take a below market rent to keep the place a gym. It does prove there is no retail. Be careful what you wish for, because if this doesn’t go through, you know you’re going to end up with a giant thrift store, or a big box of nothing there, because there is no demand.”
Vice Mayor Pro Tem Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse, who made the motion to deny, said “the biggest thing is this is not a single, cohesive developmental planned project. I don’t care how you trim it or turn it, it’s not. They took the whole 18.6 acres to stuff that development on 8.84 acres fenced in, not walled in — it looks like a little prison to me.”
Talbut said she recognized the interest residents expressed to have more stores in the shopping center, but said “if the demand were there, if there was somebody else who wanted to go there to elevate the tenants as you all want, that would have been one thing. But that’s just not going to happen. What you have there currently is not going to elevate the town and what we’re proposing will.”
If the apartment proposal dies, she said, property owners would seek to fill the old Kmart building with whatever tenant they could find, and past attempts haven’t been fruitful.
But there may be another option. Only days after the Aug. 8 meeting, Dritz met with another developer, one whose portfolio “is impressive in terms of projects I think we’d hope to see there,” she said in an email.
The discussion went well, she said. “We spent time discussing what the property is zoned for, allowable uses, special exception uses, the site plan submittal process, providing a lot of resident feedback that we heard from the previous developer’s submittal, and providing staff’s strong desire for a true redevelopment effort for the entire site.”
She “encouraged the developer to gather the public feedback/input on any future proposals through a public meeting or workshop.”
Dritz said she had not seen a rendering or sketch because this was “a very preliminary conversation,” one reason she did not name the developer.
And she’s waiting to hear from council members regarding their preferences.

By Mary Hladky

BOCA RATON — Susan Whelchel, a force in city politics for nearly 20 years whose vision was to transform Boca Raton into a world-class city, died at age 77 on Aug. 5 surrounded by her family after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
“Former Mayor Susan Whelchel will be remembered as a dedicated public servant and advocate for her community and the residents of Boca Raton,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a memorandum directing flags to be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol, Palm Beach County Courthouse and Boca Raton City Hall on Aug. 11, the day of her funeral at Grace Community Church.
After moving to Boca with her husband, John, in 1978, Mrs. Whelchel devoted herself to her teaching career, volunteer work with nonprofits, including the Junior League of Boca Raton, and raising the couple’s four children.
When she turned her attention to politics, it was her experience with the Junior League that helped prepare her for her new role, said her son Jay Whelchel, founder of Whelchel Partners Real Estate Services in Boca Raton.
While some see the organization as encouraging volunteers to help out with good causes, it actually has a more important role, he said. “Their real goal is to give women leadership tools and skills to become leaders,” he said.
Mrs. Whelchel was elected to the City Council in 1995 and re-elected twice before she was term-limited from another run. She next served on the Palm Beach County School Board after then-Gov. Jeb Bush appointed her to a two-year term.
She returned to the City Council, serving two more terms before her election as mayor in 2008, a position she held until 2014.
She entered the political realm with the intent to elevate Boca from its reputation as a sleepy town with not much to recommend it to young people and corporations, Jay Whelchel said.
At a time when some major employers were leaving the city or downsizing, “she made it her mission to create a world-class city that young adults would want to come back to because jobs were here,” he said.
She was spurred toward that mission after asking high school graduates if they would return to Boca after graduating college. She was told “no,” he said, because “Boca is boring. There is nothing in Boca for us.”
Mrs. Whelchel’s longtime friend, former Boca Raton Mayor and County Commissioner Steve Abrams, echoed that assessment.
“That was her driving vision,” he said. “If you keep that next generation here, you have a real exciting, cohesive dynamic in your community, and she realized that.
“That resulted in a lot of specific things she would work on in terms of bringing jobs into the city,” said Abrams, who is leaving his position as executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which runs Tri-Rail, on Sept. 15.
“We brought thousands of jobs to Boca Raton,” he said. “We did a lot of ribbon-cuttings together.”
For the city to rise, Mrs. Whelchel recognized it needed not only good jobs but also good schools, health care, cultural offerings and strong nonprofit organizations, Jay Whelchel said.
To that end, she served on committees for Florida Atlantic University and Boca Raton Regional Hospital and volunteered at many nonprofits.
Among the things that she was most proud of, he said, was her effort to get Boca schools their fair share of funding and helping establish Don Estridge High Tech Middle School.
Her vision for the city has been validated by her own children, he said. He and two of his siblings moved back to Boca to pursue their careers.
“Lots and lots of our friends all moved back because of all the … vibrancy they are seeing,” he said.
Susan Slade Whelchel was born on Aug. 13, 1944, as the youngest daughter of Flora and Tom Slade in Baxley, Georgia. The family moved to Starke and she graduated from Jacksonville University with a degree in political science. While in Jacksonville, she met her husband of 52 years.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Joanne Jackson and her husband, Tracey; daughter Kristy Hartofilis and her husband, Nick; sons Matthew and his wife, Kimmie, and Jay and his wife, Melissa; and 10 grandchildren.
The family asked that donations be made in her memory to Grace Community Church, Alzheimer’s Community Care or Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center.

BOCA RATON — Patricia “Patti” Payne Carpenter, an ever-present pillar of the Boca Raton community, died Aug. 8, surrounded by her family and friends. She was 74.
Mrs. Carpenter will be missed by those who worked alongside her on a variety of charitable missions, recalling her passionate drive, leadership, genuineness, compassion, kindness, generosity of self, signature style, hospitality and keen sense of humor.
Born in New York City on Nov. 1, 1947, and raised in the Riverdale neighborhood, Patricia attended Marymount Schools, The Gerard School for Girls and The Sacred Heart of Mary Academy.
She relocated to Boca Raton in 1970 and became a devout supporter of many community charitable organizations for five decades, early on serving on the board of Boca Helping Hands and hosting the first major fundraiser for Kids in New Directions.
Mrs. Carpenter served on the regional advisory board for Deliver the Dream, a respite and retreat program serving families facing serious illness or crisis. She also served as chair for the Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament and twice as chair of the Lynn University Ball. She supported the Junior League of Boca Raton, which recognized her as Woman Volunteer of the Year in 2001.
Mrs. Carpenter served as president of the board of the Center for Family Services, South County, was chair of the 2005 Boca Raton Regional Hospital Ball, and was involved in many events hosted by the Boca Raton Historical Society.
Mrs. Carpenter graciously opened her home to host countless events for charities, including The Boca Raton Symphonia, The American Cancer Society, The Migrant Association of South Florida, Boca Helping Hands and the hospice building fund.
She took the floor as a dancer for Boca’s Ballroom Battle supporting the George Snow Scholarship Fund and stepped up as a Habitat for Humanity “Woman Builder.”
Most notable, Mrs. Carpenter was a long and trusted supporter of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, serving as chair for its annual GO Pink Luncheon for 19 consecutive years. Her voice and well-recognized face helped to grow the community’s signature event into one of the most highly anticipated and well-attended women’s health and breast cancer awareness gatherings in South Florida.
Mrs. Carpenter’s tireless efforts helped Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation raise over $13 million.
Throughout the years, Mrs. Carpenter’s commitment and dedication to raising the public’s awareness of breast cancer prevention enabled The Schmidt Family Center for Breast Care and the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute to reach tens of thousands of women annually, saving countless lives.
Mrs. Carpenter also established the William K. Carpenter Nursing Education Fund at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. It supports continuing education, funding for nursing certifications and tuition reimbursements.
A loving daughter, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Carpenter is survived by her son, Todd Payne, daughter-in-law, Allison Payne, and granddaughter, Devyn Payne. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, William K. Carpenter, and mother, Eleanor C. Payne.
A funeral Mass was held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton on Aug. 20.
Contributions in Mrs. Carpenter’s honor may be made to GO PINK, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486; http://donate.brrh.com/Patti-Carpenter.

— Obituary submitted by the family

By Mary Thurwachter

HYPOLUXO ISLAND — Narine Ebersold, a good, kind and friendly woman cherished by her children and admired by neighbors and friends, died on Aug. 26 at Palm Garden of West Palm Beach. She was 95.
Mrs. Ebersold and her late husband, David Ebersold, raised their family on Hypoluxo Island, where they’d moved in 1946 from Jacksonville.
The island was a jungle back then with only a handful of homes and a few human settlers, she told The Coastal Star in 2014. They didn’t have a car and they rode bicycles everywhere, including to West Palm Beach where she worked for the phone company.
“My dad would ride with her to work and then go to meet her on her way home,” said their daughter Sandy Ebersold. “Mom and Dad had a longtime romance. He’d always draw a heart with their names in it. He’d take a picture of them and put his initials and hers on the back inside a heart. She was a beauty and she loved Dad.”
Mrs. Ebersold was born on Oct. 26, 1926, in Arkansas — the daughter of James Myers and Daisy Henderson — but moved to Florida when she was 6 months old, first to Haines City, then to Jacksonville. As a teenager, she worked at a Jacksonville drive-in. That’s where she met her future husband.
“He was a lifeguard at the beach,” she told The Coastal Star in the 2014 story. “In those days, people were kind of bashful and I didn’t even know he liked me, but he went home and told his brother he met this good-looking girl.”  
The couple began dating and married a few years later. Mr. Ebersold was a prominent builder who constructed many of the homes on the island. When he died in 2006, they had been married for 61 years. 
“She was very sweet, a good mother and she was kind,” said Sandy Ebersold, the oldest of the couple’s four children. “She loved to bake chocolate cake and always had ice cream in the freezer. Everybody loved her.
“She was very social and always had lots of visitors at the nursing home. She loved people and she was extraordinarily beautiful.”
Mrs. Ebersold was “no helicopter mom,” her daughter said. “We kind of did our own thing. We’d be on our bicycles all day long and take off. We went in the woods and climbed up those trees. We fished and camped and lived for a few years on a sailboat my dad bought.”
Mrs. Ebersold loved to sing, especially music from the 1940s. She even won a talent contest at Palm Garden for her singing. Her favorite song was I’ll Be Loving You Always.
Her neighbors enjoyed spending time with her.
“My friendship with Narine Ebersold began over 23 years ago when she welcomed my family to Hypoluxo Island,” said Michelle Donahue, president of the Hypoluxo Island Property Owners Association. “She was such a sweet lady, never complained and always made people feel warm and welcomed. I’ll forever cherish our evening visits on her front porch sharing the history of her time on the island and the stories of her life and family legacy.”
Mrs. Ebersold was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister Armastine Culpepper and sister-in-law Barbara Ebersold.
She is survived by her children — Sandy, Davie (Lynne), Terri and Don; her sister, Coy Johnson; six grandchildren; and many friends.
Arrangements are pending and are being handled by Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens Funeral Home. If people wish to make a donation in her memory, her children suggest the Humane Society of ASPCA. “Mom loved her kitties, and they loved her,” Sandy Ebersold said.

By Brian Biggane

BOYNTON BEACH — Near the end of a lengthy interview with Ken and Cat Hilgendorf concerning the recent death of their daughter Capri Grotowski, Ken summed up all the two had said previously: “She was our hero.”
They are not alone. Mrs. Grotowski, who spent her formative years on Hypoluxo Island in Lantana before becoming a star beach volleyball player and spent the last eight years coaching the sport at Florida Atlantic University, died June 25 at age 38 after being treated for breast cancer for almost a decade.
“It never slowed her down,” said FAU volleyball coach and best friend Fernanda Nelson. “She made us better every day. It didn’t matter if she was going through chemo or in a bad depression, she came in with a smile every day ready to work.
“It was pretty impressive. She was a very special person,” Nelson said.
“Our student-athletes loved playing for her,” FAU Athletic Director Brian White said. “She was all about all the right things, and as a result they were all about all the right things. They had as strong a culture as any program I’ve ever been around.”
Ken Hilgendorf described his daughter as “kind of a tomboy” growing up who decided at one point that “grape soda wasn’t healthy, so she stopped drinking it.” She excelled in sports at Lake Worth High School, playing volleyball, softball and soccer — and didn’t allow anyone to push her around.
“She had a soccer game at Palm Beach Lakes and an opponent came up from behind and knocked her down,” he remembered. “Capri got herself up and near the end of the game she got her back.”
Named to the elite Super Six in volleyball, she earned a scholarship to Northwood University (now Keiser University) in West Palm Beach, earning MVP honors all four years. She then played the pro circuit before turning to coaching at FAU, taking over a beach volleyball program in 2014 that Nelson had begun only a year before.
It was during orientation that first year that the cancer was diagnosed.
“She had gone to her doctor nine months prior and told him she had a lump in her breast and he told her there was nothing to worry about,” Ken Hilgendorf said. “She trusted this doctor, and he basically took my daughter from me.”
Asked how she handled that news, he said, “Her oncologist said it perfectly. The reason why she loved coaching so much is she never identified herself as a patient or a victim. She just fought the fight.”
“Capri was one of those special people,” said Dave Stewart, next-door neighbor to her family on Hypoluxo Island and former Lantana mayor. “Very considerate, very caring, very ambitious.”
In a short time she built the FAU program into a powerhouse. The Lady Owls boasted four All-Americans during her tenure — including two last season, when they reached the 16-team NCAA Tournament and beat powerhouse Stanford before losing to eventual champion Southern Cal.
Her eight-year record was 128-86.
“The success they’ve had is unprecedented for any program here athletically,” White said, “and they also led the athletic department in team GPA. Just a very impressive group to be around.”
As the years passed and the hoped-for remedies failed to materialize, Mrs. Grotowski looked into dendritic cell treatment as a possible cure. Told her cancer was too far advanced for her to undergo the treatment in the U.S., she and her mom traveled to Cologne, Germany, for five weeks and had it done by the doctor who created it.
Mrs. Grotowski, who resided in Boynton Beach, leaves behind her husband, Steve, a former England Olympic volleyball player who was her assistant coach and is now head coach at FAU; along with son Cayd, 11, and daughter Kyah, 8, as well as her parents and older brother, Ken Jr.
FAU will hold a celebration of life to honor her from 1-3 p.m. on Sept. 11.
“She was an inspiration to all of us,” Fernanda Nelson said. “The way she handled the cancer, sometimes you wouldn’t remember she had it. She was just incredible.”

By Ron Hayes

HYPOLUXO ISLAND — Don and Alice Edge moved into their Hypoluxo Island home on April 9, 1959.
Two years earlier, the young architect had bought the 6,000-square-foot lot on Southeast Atlantic Drive for $6,000. He designed the house, paid a local contractor to put up the walls and supports, and then built the rest himself.
In the early hours of Aug. 24, Mr. Edge died in his sleep in that home. He was 95, and during 63 years on the island, he devoted himself to the area’s past and future with a spirit that made his time there local history, too.
“Don Edge and I became good friends over a shared passion for history,” said Michelle Donahue, publisher of the Brown Wrapper, the island’s history newsletter. “His first-person account of many Palm Beach County and Hypoluxo Island historical events brought stories to life in ways you just can’t get from a book.”
Donald Richard Edge was born in Detroit on Jan. 25, 1927. He joined the U.S. Navy at 18 and then attended the University of Michigan on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a degree in architecture.
Mr. Edge delighted in telling friends he decided to move to Florida after stepping off a Detroit sidewalk into a pile of cold winter slush.
Arriving in 1952, he found work with architect Byron Simonson in a one-room Palm Beach office. When the firm won a contract to build La Coquille, a small resort hotel in the Manalapan dunes (where the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa now stands), Simonson created a rendering and Mr. Edge drafted the detailed drawings from which the contractor worked.
Until its demise in 1986, La Coquille was a fashionable gathering spot for the Vanderbilts, Fords and Whitneys.
“I didn’t associate with the classy members,” Mr. Edge recalled for The Coastal Star in 2019. “They knew I was a flunky. But I did get the first drink from the bar. The bartender was setting up for the opening night gala, and he asked me if I wanted a drink.
“A Manhattan, I think.”
In the late 1950s, when William Benjamin was developing Point Manalapan and had applied for a permit with the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a small bridge connecting the island from Audubon Causeway to A1A, Mr. Edge joined his neighbors in opposing the proposal.
“Together with a group of Manalapan residents, Don took Benjamin to court to stop construction of the bridge and won,” Donahue said. “Today, Hypoluxo Islanders truly enjoy and are grateful for the open waters of the lagoon due to Don’s efforts and perseverance.”
In 1956, he married Alice Nan Divine, and four years later he opened his own office in the same Palm Beach building where he’d first found work eight years before.
As an architect, Mr. Edge designed the Lantana Town Hall, Recreation Center and Beach Pavilion. He built Seventh-day Adventist hospitals in several states, and drafted plans for the 1972 wraparound of the county’s 1916 courthouse, his firm’s most controversial project.
When the wraparound was removed in 2004 to reveal the original courthouse, now the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Mr. Edge was not pleased.
“I still don’t think that old courthouse is a gem,” he would say. “I guess I’d consider myself a modernist.”
But he didn’t hold a grudge. In 2007, he donated 270 historic architectural drawings to the historical society, some from architects Addison Mizner and Marion Sims Wyeth.
Alice Edge died in 2009 after 53 years of marriage.
“She was fantastically good for me,” Mr. Edge said. “She was outgoing while I was kind of inward bound.”
The couple had three children, including Nancy Davis of Seattle.
“He was very gentle and kind,” Davis said. “He was a true inspiration to me. He made every day worth living. There was no sadness in his world. He was, ‘I’m just going to get up and go as long as I can.’ He was out in the workshop making things until the day before he died.”
The secret of a good life, Mr. Edge believed, was a good wife and a lack of stress — and a lack of stress came from having a good wife.
In his home, he kept a photograph of Alice as a teenager on a table in the living room, where each evening he enjoyed a glass of wine, as they had shared one together for so many years.
In his final years, after his doctor forbade alcohol, Mr. Edge switched to nonalcoholic wine, but kept the evening tradition.
When his caretaker arrived on Aug. 24 to find him dead, he was still wearing his wedding ring.
In addition to Nancy Davis, he is survived by another daughter, Carol Edge of Fernandina Beach, and a son, Karl Edge of Tallahassee.
A celebration of Mr. Edge’s life will be held later.

By Larry Barszewski

The Coastal Star received five first-place awards and 14 overall in the Florida Press Association 2022 Weekly Newspaper Contest for non-daily newspapers.
The articles receiving first-place recognition covered a variety of topics, from inspections of aging condos, to newly found photos of a ship that wrecked off Manalapan’s coast more than a century ago, to a Valentine’s look at the love letters and the enduring affection between former Florida Atlantic University head football coach Howard Schnellenberger and his wife, Beverlee.
“These awards recognize the excellence our experienced reporters and editors bring to the local community,” said Executive Editor Mary Kate Leming. “Their contributions shine a light on the people, places, governments and activities in our coastal cities and towns, giving readers a sense of place and inclusion in our unique coastal area.”
The association presented the awards at a ceremony Aug. 5 in Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville.
Though it comes out monthly, The Coastal Star competed against weekly newspapers in a division for papers with circulations over 15,000.
The paper’s top awards went to:
• The staff, led by reporter Joel Engelhardt, for in-depth reporting, non-investigative, with its look — following the Surfside condo collapse — at the number of aging condos in coastal South Palm Beach County.
• Ron Hayes, with two first-place awards. The first, in the feature story, non-profile category, was for his story about the Delray Beach Public Library providing free laundromat services to homeless people. His second came in the community history category, for a story about one historian’s efforts that uncovered photos of the Lofthus, which ran aground off Manalapan in 1898.
• Brian Biggane, in the sports feature story category, for his poignant telling of the Schnellenbergers’ decades-long love story.
• Janis Fontaine, in faith and family reporting, for a pair of pandemic-related stories: one on how the musical director at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach was able to rediscover his creative passion during the pandemic lockdown; the other on how Jehovah’s Witnesses responded after they had to put their communal gatherings and door-to-door visits on hold because of COVID.
Second-place awards went to:
• Rich Pollack for general news story;
• Larry Keller for education feature story;
• Gretel Sarmiento for arts, entertainment and review reporting;
• The Coastal Star staff, for general excellence.
Third-place awards went to:
• Keller for faith and family reporting;
• Tara Mitton Catao for arts, entertainment and review reporting;
• Pollack and Jane Smith for local government reporting;

• The Coastal Star staff for overall graphic design and for website excellence.

Related stories: Boynton Beach: City, PBSO end talks on merger|Commission selects police captain to be city manager

By Tao Woolfe

Boynton Beach’s two top public safety officers — the police and fire chiefs — have been elevated from interim to permanent status.
Interim City Manager Jim Stables, in announcing the appointments last month, said he hoped the promotions would bring stability to the city’s leadership team, which has been in flux since early spring.
Police Chief Joseph DeGiulio had served as interim chief of the Boynton Beach Police Department since May, when acting chief Vanessa Snow left the force.
Fire Chief Hugh Bruder stepped up to serve as interim chief in April when Stables, the former fire chief, left his post to serve as interim city manager.
Both DeGiulio and Bruder have extensive leadership experience.
DeGiulio has been with the Boynton department for more than 20 years. Before becoming interim chief, he served as assistant police chief for the uniform services division.
DeGiulio brought advanced training programs to the department, including tactical first aid, fair and impartial policing and de-escalation.
He was also responsible for implementing the body camera program, the Narcan/naloxone program and tactical fitness and wellness programs.
The police chief earned a master’s degree in leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and a bachelor’s degree in police studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.
Bruder has had more than 42 years of fire service experience. He joined the Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Department in 2020 as deputy fire chief. Since then he has reorganized the department’s administration so that more firefighters could be deployed in the field.
His other priorities have been fostering labor/management relations; improving staff morale; and helping secure grants for a new fire boat, EMS equipment and infrastructure for emergency communications.
Bruder also revamped critical incident management and peer support programs for the police and fire departments, and helped create a new community outreach program.
Bruder, an Air Force veteran, holds an associate’s degree in emergency medical services, and a bachelor of science degree in public administration/fire service management — both from American Medical Academy in Miami.
“Both of these public safety leaders have spent a lifetime nobly serving others, while qualifying and climbing the promotional ladders in their respective areas and collaborating to enhance the mental wellness of their employees,” Stables said in a prepared statement.
“These well-deserved promotions will bring further stability to our leadership team and to the overall public safety of the community.”

Harvey E. Oyer Park, on North Federal Highway, will be closed for renovations from Sept. 12 through mid-November.
During those months the Boynton Beach park’s three boat ramps will undergo a $1.25 million face-lift and are scheduled to reopen just in time for the winter season.
The work will be paid for by Palm Beach County’s 1-cent sales surtax and the Florida Inland Navigation District.  
For more information call 561-742-6239.

Pioneer Canal Park seeks your votes for prize money
In other boat ramp news, the city is competing for $75,000 in prize money to add a boat ramp and observation deck at Pioneer Canal Park at 848 NW 13th Ave.
The city is asking residents to visit niagaraperkyourpark.com/parks/pioneer-canal-park and vote for the Pioneer Canal Park project.
The “Perk Your Park” contest is offered by the National Recreation and Park Association. Pioneer Canal Park is one of five South Florida parks in the competition.
If the city wins one of the top three spots — and the $75,000 in prize money — the improvements would allow access to waterway activities that include kayaking, boating, fishing and observing wildlife.
Voting runs through Sept. 12, and each individual may cast a vote daily. Winners will be announced on Oct. 12.
For more information call 561-742-6220.

Related stories: Boynton Beach: City, PBSO end talks on merger|Interim public safety chiefs win permanent status

By Tao Woolfe

Daniel Dugger, a captain in the Boynton Beach Police Department, was chosen as the new city manager after a lengthy and contentious special City Commission meeting on Aug. 30.
The field of three candidates was unexpectedly winnowed to two early in the evening when interim City Manager Jim Stables announced he was dropping out of the running.
Stables said he would resign from his post as of Sept. 30 to return to Tennessee and his family.
“I have been honored to serve with such a great team,” Stables said, referring to the city staff.
Stables had been a top-choice candidate of all five city commissioners. Besides Dugger, the other top candidate was Robert Curnow, a deputy city manager in Coral Springs.
At a City Commission meeting on Aug. 16, Mayor Ty Penserga had asked his colleagues to choose three to five favorite candidates from a pool of about 40. The special meeting on Aug. 30 was to determine what steps to take next.
Penserga said the commissioners had three options — continue to choose among the existing candidates, hire an outside headhunting firm to broaden the search, or have the Boynton Beach Human Resources Department re-advertise the job.
Then he opened the discussion up to the public.
The rest of the evening was a kind of verbal free-for-all, with many residents and non-residents speaking for and against Dugger and airing other grievances about the city and the commission.
Those who praised Dugger — and there were many — said he was invested in the city and its people, he is well liked, and brings 18 years of experience with the city to the job.
“We need somebody who is passionately invested, someone who has the whole city in mind — Dan Dugger,” said resident Jim Sussic, summing up the prevailing sentiment.
Those who spoke against Dugger knocked him for not having the minimal qualifications for the job.
Even before the special meeting, residents familiar with the candidates were urging commissioners to hire a headhunter to conduct a nationwide search for more qualified candidates.
That advice was repeated throughout both meetings, but the commission chose to ignore it.
“We are not Greenacres. Hire a headhunter to bring in executive level professionals,” resident Barbara Ready said at the Aug. 16 meeting.
Ready said she had looked at the entire pool of candidates and found most of them lacking in city manager-level experience.
At the Aug. 30 meeting, Ready again urged the commissioners to hire professionals to help find a city manager who would understand the complex workings of government and truly be a leader.
Commissioner Woodrow Hay, the only commissioner to vote against Dugger, was also in favor of hiring a headhunter.
Vice Mayor Angela Cruz said she had interviewed Curnow for two hours and found him qualified, but that once she had determined he was unwilling to move to Boynton Beach, she decided against him.
Commissioner Aimee Kelley agreed.
She added that Dugger’s experience with the city police force more than made up for his lack of credentials.
Penserga did not really discuss his rationale, but voted with the majority.
The city attorney and human resources staff will draft an agreement and contract with Dugger and bring it back to the commission at a future meeting.
Dugger holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. He has risen through the city police ranks from patrol officer to detective first-grade. He became a sergeant in 2016 and last year was promoted to captain, according to his application.
Curnow holds a master’s degree in public administration from Barry University.
Curnow has worked for the city of Coral Springs for the last 10 years. He joined as an infrastructure manager, made his way up to assistant city manager and was named deputy city manager in 2019.
Stables was tapped for the interim city manager position at an April 25 special City Commission meeting. He had been the city’s fire chief for a little more than a year at the time.
The unanimous vote for Stables as interim city manager came days after the commission fired City Manager Lori LaVerriere after 10 years on the job.
It remains unclear exactly why LaVerriere was fired.

The Ocean City Lumber Co. property in Delray Beach, with its distinctive water tower and historical train depot, owed much of its preservation to Janet and Tim Onnen, who sold it in August. The original lumber company’s history dates to 1920. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

The distinctive water tower in downtown Delray Beach marks the charming Ocean City Lumber Co. property, which sold for $30 million in a deal recorded on Aug. 8.
Owned and developed by Janet and Tim Onnen, the 48,474-square-foot mixed-use complex was sold to Delray Trio LLC and is managed by Nader Ohebshalom, Babak Ebrahmizadeh and a trust in the name of Isaac S. Ohebshalom, all executives at Gatsby FL.
Representing both sides were Laura Allen and Cecelia Boone, of Southdale Properties Inc.’s commercial division, who brokered the off-market property on behalf of the Onnens. The 2.5-acre site is on the south side of Northeast First Street, from Railroad Avenue to Northeast Second Avenue.
For the Onnens, Ocean City Lumber Co. has been part of their lives since the 1980s. For Delray Beach, it has a history that spans from 1920.
Janet and Tim moved to Florida from Iowa to operate her father’s business, Meisner Electric, in 1983. Soon after, the Onnens decided to move the Meisner offices closer to the center of town.
They started by buying two properties — one where the old Sundy Feed Store used to be, and a window and screen repair shop, which was once part of the Ocean City Lumber Co.’s operation. Then the couple added the lumberyard to their portfolio when the owner defaulted and it went to auction in 1992.
A history buff who was involved with the Delray Beach Historical Society, Janet Onnen became intrigued with the stories of Ocean City Lumber Co.
“I kept its name, because it had historical significance to me,” she said. One bit of folklore that she had heard about: “It was considered a decent place for a husband to hang out, rather than the brothels and bars Delray had at the time,” she said.
Another tidbit she shared: “I found in the old records that the lumberyard was essentially a bank in the early days. When people wanted to build their home or business, the lumber company would lend them the money. The lumberyard was where they could go to make their American dream happen. It financed Delray in the early days for regular people.”
And that makes sense, in a way. In 1920, the lumberyard was started by three partners, Fred Benson, a local bank chairman, J.C. Keen, who ran the company, and attorney C.Y. Byrd.
In 1993, the Onnens added the final parcel of land, an FPL property, and then they replatted their properties.
“We redeveloped it using the same building footprint mostly, with architect George Brewer, between 1993 and 1996,” Janet Onnen said. “With Tim and I in construction, George being a young fun-loving architect, and our great construction team, it was a great project, and by 1996, we started leasing out space. At one time, a water tower was on the lumberyard property, and that’s how we came to build the water tower.”
They added a dilapidated 1896-era Florida East Coast railway station that had been moved west to Sims Road but was originally located across the FEC tracks diagonally from its current location. The railway station is owned by the Delray Beach Historical Society.
After years of involvement with the property and many memories — including sheltering friends and employees at their site during hurricanes — the Onnens are moving on to the next phase of their lives.
“I’m divesting of my responsibilities. I want to do some traveling and sit back and watch the world go by,” she said, adding that her husband is looking forward to that plan, too. “It’s a great location with great tenants and I hope that everything works out for both the tenants and the new buyers.”
Current tenants include the Bru’s Room, PurLife Fitness Center, Ramen Lab, Bond Street Salon, and Coco Sushi Lounge and Bar.

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Related Group, a Coconut Grove real estate company headed by Jorge Pérez and Jon Paul Pérez, paid $48 million for an apartment complex that is restricted to low-income senior residents, according to public records dated July 22.
The Boynton Bay community, on the southwest corner of Northeast Fourth Street and Northeast 20th Avenue in Boynton Beach, was bought from Boynton Bay Ltd., an affiliate of Delray Beach-based affordable senior housing developer Auburn Communities, managed by Brian Hinners.
KeyBank provided a mortgage in the same amount as the purchase price.
Related Group also signed an agreement with the Florida Housing Finance Corp., a state Legislature-created authority that in part oversees various financing options for affordable housing. The 240-unit Boynton Bay complex was constructed in 1991 on 21.4 acres. It last traded in 2009 for $21.1 million. Related Group’s Related Urban Development Group focuses on building affordable housing.

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The Delray Beach Housing Authority and AffordableHousing.com conducted their annual children’s backpack giveaway on Aug. 4, inside the Delray Beach Housing Authority. Six hundred backpacks with school supplies were given away.
“We are so glad to have the support of AffordableHousing.com every year. And this year certainly is going to be one of the most important years for kids of all ages to get back to school and back into a routine,” said Charmaine Jackson, executive assistant at the Delray Beach Housing Authority.

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Airbnb shared findings from the North American Digital Nomad Index that Delray Beach has been named a top-earning destination for hosts with long-term stays. Demonstrating a pandemic-era trend, the report also found that 1 in 5 guests used Airbnb to work remotely while traveling in 2021, and that hosts in the U.S. earned a combined total of $2 billion from long-term stays alone. The report comes just months after Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky told the company’s employees that they could work from anywhere.

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The Arthur and Emalie Gutterman Family Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education at Florida Atlantic University recently announced the Gutterman Family Outstanding Holocaust Educator Awards for 2022.
The awards recognize educators who have exemplified through their teaching a positive impact on their schools and the wider community in the field of Holocaust, genocide and human rights education.
Among those recipients was Boca Raton High School teacher Maureen Carter, a resident of Boynton Beach, who has been involved in Holocaust education for more than 25 years. The Gutterman Center will recognize her and two other educators on Nov. 7 at the annual awards dinner honoring outstanding Holocaust educators. The awards enable recipients to participate in an educator field study at Holocaust sites in Poland and Israel. The field study trip should occur in early summer 2023.

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Todd Jackson, president of Fox Public Insurance Adjusters Inc., received the Recognition Award from the Boynton Beach Professionals. The award is the result of a review process and is voted on by the management team of the Boynton Beach Professionals leads group. Awards are presented on an every-other-month basis. 
John Campanola, chairman of the group, said: “This award was created to honor the member who has done the most for the group and the Boynton Beach community. Todd has been tirelessly working to promote the group and all of its members. He is an ardent networker throughout Palm Beach County and especially Boynton Beach.” 
For information on the Boynton Beach Professionals leads group, contact  boyntonbeachprofessionals@gmail.com.

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Flavor Palm Beach is back throughout September, with more than 60 of Palm Beach County’s bistros, diners and restaurants added to its list. It also has a new CEO, Kerri Paizzi, a 20-year restaurant and marketing professional who has helped launch a new mobile app for Flavor. 
At select eateries from Tequesta to Boca Raton, customers can enjoy prix fixe menus for three-course meals for lunch and dinner, with prices ranging from $35 to $65. This year’s most renowned celebrity chef is Michelin Star and James Beard Foundation Award winner Daniel Boulud, who owns Café Boulud in Palm Beach.
To participate in Flavor Palm Beach, simply make a reservation, visit the restaurant and enjoy the menu. For more information, visit flavorpb.com. 

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Boca magazine was named the Magazine of the Year and Best Overall Magazine at the 2022 Florida Magazine Association’s Charlie awards on Aug. 5, in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Boca magazine, produced by JES Media since 1981, also won top awards in several categories, including Best Overall Writing; First Place, In-Depth Reporting; Best Custom Publication, and Best Advertising for a Client.
Boca magazine received silver awards for Best Feature and the “Women in Business” advertising section. Finally, it received a bronze award for Worth Avenue in Best Custom Publication. 

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The Boca Raton Historical Society and the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum are seeking nominations for this year’s Walk of Recognition. The honor serves as a permanent memorial to individuals and local institutions whose public service has helped build the city and enriched the lives of residents.
The Walk of Recognition is located in Mizner Plaza at Royal Palm Place. A ceremony and reception for honorees will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Addison, 2 E. Camino Real in Boca Raton. Tickets are $85 per person.
For tickets or more details, call 561-395-6766, ext. 106 or see www.bocahistory.org.

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On Sept. 24, the Boynton Beach-based nonprofit Feeding South Florida, a hunger-relief organization, will host its annual Outrun Hunger 5K in celebration of Hunger Action Month. It will take place at Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach. Cost to participate starts at $20. To register visit www.feedingsouthflorida.org/outrunhungerpbc.

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

Dave Arm is retiring as Chamber of Commerce president and from his gym business, but won’t leave his love of fishing behind. Here he reels in a sailfish on a trip to Costa Rica. Photo provided

Lantana businessman and Chamber of Commerce president Dave Arm is bidding farewell to the small fishing village he and his wife, Renee, fell in love with in 2006. The couple recently bought a house in Vero Beach, another fishing village about 90 miles north.
“It’s actually very Lantana-ish with a fun little downtown,” said Arm, who turned 70 this year. “It’s time to sit back and relax. Renee deserves to retire, and we want to enjoy our time while we’re still fairly young.”
The Arms owned and managed a gym, Lantana Fitness at 700 W. Lantana Road, for 16 years and sold the property to Enterprise Property Group LLC of Delray Beach for $2 million on June 2.
The building will remain a gym managed by Sarah and Dawn Malega, owners of the Zoo Gym in Lake Worth Beach, where Sarah is also a city commissioner.
Lantana Fitness was to officially become Zoo Health Club of Lantana on Sept. 1.
Arm will also be retiring as president of the Lantana Chamber of Commerce, a post he has held for 10 years — and from being chairman of the fishing derby, the chamber’s biggest fundraiser, for 13 years.
Arm recalled several major highlights of his time with the Lantana chamber.
“One was being involved with our members who are developers who make such an impact on Lantana, from Water Tower Commons to the Related Group’s Water Tower Commons apartments to the 7-Eleven, the Dollar Tree and anything that’s been built recently in Lantana. We’ve tried to help guide them along.
“The other thing was just to be involved in this great community and especially running the fishing derby for so long.”
He has enjoyed working with the town. “The Town Council and the chamber have a great symbiotic relationship, we work so well together on events like the Fourth of July and Winterfest, and their support of the derby.”
No word yet on who will replace him at the chamber.
Before moving to Florida, Arm, who was born in New York City, spent 30 years working for investment firms on Wall Street.
Arm doesn’t plan to retire from his favorite pastime, though.
“Renee and I still enjoy fishing and are looking forward to exploring the Indian River Lagoon and the ocean off Vero,” he said.

— Mary Thurwachter

The Grand Hall at Whitehall, Henry Flagler’s 1902 mansion in Palm Beach. A model of innovation in its day, the house is now home to the Flagler Museum. Photo provided by Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Beat the heat in five air-conditioned house museums open to public

By Scott Simmons

Let’s get this out of the way first — it’s hot!
And, we know, we know: You’re looking for places to chill this never-ending summer.
So, we invite you to get out of the house by cooling your heels inside a house.
That’s right — inside a historic house, something built before there was air conditioning and interstates and, in some cases, electric lighting.
The history of South Florida as we know it is fairly recent. But you don’t have to drive far to travel back in time at these houses of history.
Best of all: They’re air-conditioned.

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is in the former home of educator Solomon D. Spady. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing the African-American history and heritage of Palm Beach County.
The building from 1922 to 1957 was the home of Solomon D. Spady, a prominent African-American educator and community leader in Delray Beach. It marked its 20th anniversary as a museum last year.
Black people arrived in Delray Beach in the late 19th century, migrating from the Bahamas, North Florida and the coastal communities of the Carolinas and Georgia.
At that time, the South was deeply segregated — Jim Crow laws were in force, dictating how and where people of color could live, work and worship.
Entrepreneurship was a necessary part of survival for Delray Beach’s Black residents, who had a thriving community separate from that of the white residents to the east.
As for Spady’s Mission Revival house, built around 1925-26, it’s a stucco-over-frame two-story residence, with four rooms downstairs and four upstairs. It is filled with exhibits year-round.
The museum is at 170 NW Fifth Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Info: 561-279-8883 or​ www.spadymarketplace.org.

The Cason Cottage offers a peek at early 20th-century life in Delray Beach. BELOW RIGHT: The cottage’s furnishings reflect life in the early 20th century. Photo above by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star, below right provided by Delray Beach Historical Society

The Cason Cottage

Delray Beach has undergone many changes over the past century.
But one thing remains the same — the Cason Cottage.
Since 1989, the Delray Beach Historical Society has operated this modest frame vernacular 1924 structure as a house museum to help interpret the city’s history from 1915 to 1935.
Its builder, the Rev. J.R. Cason, was a community leader who served as a municipal judge and as chairman of the Palm Beach County Board of Public Instruction.
He also was the founder of Florida’s first orphanage, at Enterprise, in Volusia County north of Orlando. Cason United Methodist Church, a few blocks northwest of the cottage, was named for the reverend.
The house is furnished to reflect life in the early years of the 20th century. The current exhibition is “Delray Beach: WWII Homefront.”
The cottage is at 5 NE First St. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Info: 561-274-9578 or delraybeachhistory.org.

Whitehall, now the Flagler Museum, was Henry Flagler’s gift to his bride in 1902. Photo provided by Flagler Museum

The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Like so many dwellings of its day, Henry Flagler’s Whitehall almost met the wrecking ball.
But thanks to his granddaughter Jean Flagler Matthews, the house, built in 1902 as a wedding gift to Flagler’s bride, Mary Lily Kenan, endures as a testimony to his love.
The Gilded Age palace left visitors to Palm Beach awestruck — the home even had central heating.
After Flagler’s death in 1913, the house became part of the Whitehall Hotel, with an 11-story tower built behind it. The original part of the house was used for lobbies, card rooms, lounges, a bar and guest suites.
When the hotel became obsolete in 1959, it seemed the house might be demolished. But Matthews raised the money to preserve the house once the tower was demolished.
Over the decades, the museum has acquired furnishings original to the house. In more recent years, the place has been air-conditioned to stabilize it for the antiques and artwork on display.
Flagler’s private railcar No. 91 is on display in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion.
Starting in September, the museum will offer musical performances on select Sundays on Flagler’s 1902 J. H. & C. S. Odell & Co. organ in the music room and the 1901 Steinway and Sons model B art-case piano in the drawing room.
The museum is at One Whitehall Way. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 Sunday. Info: 561-655-2833 or www.flaglermuseum.us.

The Sample-McDougald House was built in 1916 in Pompano Beach. Scott Simmons/The Coastal Star

The Sample-McDougald House

Old-timers may remember seeing the Sample-McDougald House on its original site, along the west side of Old Dixie Highway in Pompano Beach.
Built in 1916, the majestic Colonial-Georgian Revival home stood alongside a very busy stretch of commercial highway, a testament to when Dixie was the main artery to Fort Lauderdale and Miami beyond, and Broward County was an agricultural hub.
It originally was home to Pompano Beach pioneer and farmer Albert Neal Sample, for whom Sample Road is named.
After Sample’s death in 1941, the house was sold to William and Sarah McDougald, whose family lived in the home until the 1990s. At that point the McDougald family donated the house to the Sample-McDougald House Preservation Society Inc., which raised the money to move the house to Centennial Park, where it now serves as a museum and events center. It boasts some original furnishings.
Outside, the 5-acre Centennial Park also is home to a heritage garden, planted with seasonal heirloom fruits and vegetables. 
The house is at 450 NE 10th St. Hours: noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Info: 754-307-5446 or www.samplemcdougald.org.

The Stranahan House is Broward County’s oldest surviving building. Below is the dining room. Photos provided by Fort Lauderdale Historical Society

The Historic Stranahan House Museum

When Frank Stranahan, credited as Fort Lauderdale’s founding father, built this two-story wood frame house on the New River in 1901, the area that’s now home to skyscrapers was a wilderness. The house now is Broward County’s oldest surviving building.
Frank and Ivy Stranahan took leadership roles in the community and donated land for public projects, but Frank Stranahan suffered economic misfortunes worsened by the 1926 and 1928 hurricanes. Friends who had invested in him also were ruined, according to the Historic Stranahan House Museum’s website.
In 1929, he committed suicide, drowning himself in the New River in front of his home.
The structure served as a trading post, post office, community gathering place, as well as a home to the Stranahans. Ivy Stranahan lived there until her death at age 90 in 1971. She left it to the Seventh-day Adventist Church and it later was bought and restored by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors and opened to the public as a historic house museum in 1984.
It’s open at 335 SE Sixth Ave. for guided tours only at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. daily. 954-524-4736 or stranahanhouse.org.

By Amy Woods

The George Snow Scholarship Fund is bringing Boca’s Ballroom Battle back to the dance floor. The popular Dancing with the Stars-themed fundraiser — always a sellout — returns Sept. 10 to The Boca Raton for its 15th anniversary.
“This is going to be the first time that we are going to be holding it live and in-person since COVID,” said Laura Gilli, the fund’s director of special events. “Ticket sales from the get-go were off the charts.”
In 2020 and 2021, Boca’s Ballroom Battle was broadcast on WPTV-TV. To celebrate the pent-up demand for glitz, glamour and grand dance moves, the 2022 theme is One Hit Wonders.
“We want the dancers to have a great time as they’re practicing their routines, but we also recognize that we’re putting on a show, and we want our guests to have a good time as well,” Gilli said. “People are pretty excited. It’s become a well-known event.”
Proceeds benefit not only scholarships but also support services for students with other needs. Among those are motivational mentoring, health care checkups and access to technology, all with the goal of helping build a better life through higher education.
“Many of our scholars don’t come from environments that you or I may have,” Gilli said. “We try to be the support system they need.”
The dancers vying for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy given to the top fundraisers are Lynn Aronberg, Paul Bonaros, Jay Brandt, Ryan Haines, Howard Kanner, Erica Kasel, Tracey McCutchen Rossi and Andrea Virgin. They began their weekly lessons in April at Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Boca Raton.
“In any way that people can contribute to Ballroom Battle, all of that money goes to support our Snow scholars who really are going on to do incredible things,” Gilli said. “We just look forward to being that second chance that all our scholars deserve.”
In addition to the pop, rock and disco routines, activities will include a raffle, live and silent auctions and lots of food and drink.
“Judging by the demand for tables, tickets and sponsorships, our supporters are just as excited as we are about being live once again,” President Tim Snow said.
“It is going to be an amazing show and so good to see everyone in person for this very important event for the scholarship fund and the young people we serve.”

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

If You Go
What: Boca’s Ballroom Battle
When: 6 p.m. Sept. 10
Where: The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real
Cost: Tickets start at $200
Information: 561-347-6799 or www.ballroombattle.com

September marks Hunger Action Month, and Boca Helping Hands is offering the community ways to contribute to the fight against food insecurity.
The public can get involved by donating nonperishable items, volunteering and contributing money.
“Hunger Action Month is a reminder that there are local families and children who do not know where their next meal is coming from, and as a community, we can help,” said Greg Hazle, executive director of Boca Helping Hands.
Feeding America projects that more than 180,000 Palm Beach County residents are suffering from food insecurity; of those, nearly 53,000 are children.
“Unfortunately, inflation being the highest it’s been in four decades has made it much harder for families to put food on the table,” Hazle said.
For more information, call 561-417-0913 or visit www.bocahelpinghands.org.

Joy Bauer to headline Meals on Wheels fundraiser
The keynote speaker for the “More than a Meal Breakfast” — a benefit for Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches — is Joy Bauer, the nutrition and healthy-lifestyle expert on NBC's Today show.
During the Sept. 14 event, guests will have an opportunity to mingle with supporters of the nonprofit and learn more about its role in addressing hunger among seniors in the community. Additionally, VIP attendees will be treated to a meet-and-greet with Bauer following the breakfast and offered a signed copy of her latest cookbook, Joy Bauer’s Superfood! 150 Recipes for Eternal Youth.
“We are so excited to have Joy returning to our ‘More than a Meal Breakfast’ as our keynote speaker,” President and CEO Pamela Calzadilla said, referring to the celebrity’s 2019 appearance at the inaugural fundraiser.
The breakfast will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $175. For more information, call 561-802-6979 or visit mowpb.org.

Help improve childhood literacy by being a tutor
With school underway, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is looking for tutors for its Building Better Readers children’s program.
Building Better Readers provides one-on-one assistance for elementary-age students in select schools as well as after-school assistance at the coalition’s Blume Literacy Center in Boynton Beach.
“In Palm Beach County, 47% of third-grade students are reading below grade level,” according to a news release. “To address this, the literacy coalition, in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County, has completed its seventh year of Building Better Readers.”
Training sessions for interested volunteers are scheduled for Sept. 21 and 29. Both take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the center — 3651 Quantum Blvd. For more information, call 561-635-8423 or visit literacypbc.org.

The 12th annual reception raised a record $1 million in student scholarship funds that will help dress and equip the incoming class at the school’s Schmidt College of Medicine. The class of 72 aspiring doctors was selected based on both their academic accomplishments and their humanistic attributes. ‘Right now, South Florida as well as communities across the country are facing a significant shortage of health care professionals,’ said Dr. Julie Pilitsis, dean and vice president of medical affairs at the college. ‘FAU continues to aid in the charge of educating and training doctors, nurses and other front-line health care workers to reduce these gaps in accessible and quality health care for all.’ TOP: (l-r) Dr. Stuart and Beth Markowitz, Maurice Plough Jr., Bonnie Halperin and Dr. Joanna and Bryan Drowas. BOTTOM: (l-r) Tom Mersch, Susan Rutherford, Dr. Ron Rubin, Arlene Herson, Holli Rockwell Trubinsky and Joseph Trubinsky. INSET: (l-r) Pat and Rick Howard and Alisa Cohen. Photos provided by Ryan Merrill and Johnny Simmons

This mixed-breed is one of many dogs and cats available for adoption through the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

The first time I spotted Casey, my ginger cat, he was a confident 4-month-old kitten making entertaining moves inside his mobile adoption unit at a Petco store. After he played, he cuddled in my arms, letting out loud, happy purrs.
The first time I locked eyes with Kona, my terrier mix, she shyly pressed her body against the front of her kennel cage so I could touch her scruffy fur. She had been in two shelters and her bio declared she really wanted to be in a home with other pets.
The connections I had with Casey and Kona were instant and strong. I knew a lifetime of friendships was just beginning for all of us.
Flash forward to today. Casey is now best known as Pet Safety Cat Casey and Kona is dubbed Pet Safety Dog Kona (as well as the playful moniker Ice Cream Kona). Both are 8 years old. Both assist me in my pet first aid and pet behavior classes. Both are certified therapy pets who visit memory care centers, libraries and shelter events for kids.
And, both are what I proudly call shelter alums. Kona and Casey are two of countless dogs, cats and other companion animals inside shelters just waiting for the chance to join families.
Admit it. Pets can change our lives for the better. When the coronavirus struck and forced us to stay home, many of us were doggone lucky to hang out with our loyal and loving pets. In 2020 and 2021, people flocked to shelters, locally and across the country, to adopt. Many of these places ran out of pets during the pandemic.
But that’s not the case any longer. This year, more people have returned to workplaces and are taking vacations. Shelters are filling back up with pets longing to win forever homes.
That’s why I am delighted to share big news.
Starting Sept. 24 through Oct. 1, the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control are teaming up to host the ninth annual Countdown 2 Zero Mega Pet Adoption Event.
“Adoption events, such as Countdown 2 Zero, are incredibly important to bring awareness to the community about the importance of pet adoption,” says Sue Berry, CEO of Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. “It’s wonderful to see all the rescue organizations collaborate and join forces to find as many loving homes as possible. In fact, over the eight years of the C2Z Adoption Event, nearly 2,300 animals have been adopted.”
This year’s event officially kicks off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 at two locations: the Peggy Adams Rescue League, 3200 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, 7100 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach.
Here’s your chance to get to mingle and interact with cats, dogs as well as rabbits, birds and other companion animals ready to be adopted.
On Sept. 24, adopters will receive goody bags — while supplies last — with County Animal Care and Control officials offering free rabies tags. Local rescue groups will also participate. As of mid-August the groups included:
• Big Dog Ranch Rescue, located in Loxahatchee Groves, www.bdrr.org.
• Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic and Ranch, in Jupiter, furryfriendsadoption.org.
• Shining Horse Farm and Sanctuary, in West Palm Beach, www.shininghorse.org.
Then this mega adoption event will continue virtually from Sept. 25 through Oct. 1.
Remember, if you are unable to adopt, you can always reach out to these groups and offer to volunteer, foster pets or donate money or much-needed pet supplies.
Kona and Casey are part of what I affectionately call my Furry Brady Bunch. When I got married to Julie five years ago, we merged our pets. Today, our pets total six. Our remaining pets were wandering streets before we adopted them: Emma, an 8-pound toy poodle-chihuahua mix; plus cats Rusty, Mikey and Baxter.
Here are just a few examples of how our Furry Brady Bunch has made our lives better:
Kona and Emma hop up on the back of our sofa and pop their heads through the curtains to greet us the second we turn our car into the driveway.
Casey engages me in cat chats with his upbeat meow and loud purrs, especially when I am in the kitchen where he knows the pet treats are stashed. Yes, he has trained me!
Rusty and Baxter entertain us each evening with their play wrestling antics, followed by curling up together for a nap on the loveseat.
Mikey, our senior of the bunch at age 17, acts more like a momma cat as he tenderly grooms Kona’s head every evening. Kona nuzzles him back.
Pets do make us better humans. To me, they are more valuable than new cars or jewelry because they are loving, loyal and priceless.
I hope you agree and consider adoption. The C2Z may be the place where you find the right pet for you.

Arden Moore is a best-selling author, professional speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts a nationally syndicated radio show, Arden Moore’s Four Legged Life (www.fourleggedlife.com) and the Oh Behave! podcast on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more at www.ardenmoore.com.

Countdown 2 Zero
Looking to adopt? Maybe become a shelter volunteer? Learn more details about this major adoption event by visiting www.countdown2zero.org.

Delray Medical Center was named a 2022 five-star recipient for gynecologic procedures, as recognized by Healthgrades.
“We are so proud to be recognized by Healthgrades for the second year in a row for the gynecologic care we are providing,” said Daniel Listi, chief executive officer of Delray Medical Center. “Our patients have a choice, and they deserve to know how we rank against our peers when it comes to delivering high-quality, safe care with good outcomes.”
One of the gynecologic procedures recognized at Delray Medical Center is robotic surgery. For years, the standard approach to hysterectomy has been traditional open gynecological surgery. Using the da Vinci robotic surgical system, surgeons can perform hysterectomy through small incisions, using mechanically enhanced micro instruments.
“It is critical for patients to select care based on three key pieces of information — hospital quality, facility and care team experience with your condition/procedure, and compatibility — and this five-star distinction is another benchmark to help make those decisions easier,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science for Healthgrades.

— Christine Davis

Visitors from Colombia dance on the Tiki Taxi, which serves the Intracoastal Waterway in Boynton Beach. Tao Woolfe/The Coastal Star

By Tao Woolfe

Long subtropical summer got you down? Follow the mantra of every South Seas explorer from Cortés to Cousteau: Get out on the water.
Fortunately, there are many ways to do that in Palm Beach County, from party boats to private tours.
One of the newest vessels to ply the local Intracoastal Waterway is the Boynton Beach Tiki Taxi Cruise. It costs only $10 for a ride, and you can stay aboard for as long as you like, or jump off — have dinner at one of the Boynton Beach pier restaurants — and then jump back on.
The Tiki Taxi, with its thatched roof and disco lights, may not be the most elegant boat on the Intracoastal, but it’s a lot of fun.
You can find your own space on the 40-foot vessel to watch sunsets and pelicans, or join the conversation around the crowded bar. Mixed drinks, soft drinks, beer, wine and snacks are available at the bar.
During a recent Saturday evening cruise, a group of visitors from Colombia took advantage of the slow, steady ride to dance, drink and glance occasionally at the mansions along the shore.
Colored lights, tucked up under the speakers and thatched roof, seemed to shift along with the upbeat mix of pop, rock, country and disco music.
A pair of lovers, lost in their own world, stood at the front of the boat and held each other.
Capt. Dave Montgomery took it all in stride.
“We have a good crowd tonight and this is only our second week,” he said. “We just take our time and everybody loves it.”
Boynton Beach resident Madeline McCreery, accompanied by her friend Casey Donnelly, said she was having a blast.
“It’s a great way to get out on the water, especially if you don’t have a boat,” McCreery said. “It’s something we really needed around here to get people out of the house.”
Donnelly agreed. “I’m having the best time,” she said. “I love it!”
The Tiki Taxi and Cruises company, based in Stuart, opened in 2020 just before the pandemic shut everything down, said owner Rosemary Kuyrkendall.
The company reopened last year and now operates boats in Stuart, Jupiter and Boynton Beach.
Kuyrkendall said she and her husband, Gene Kuyrkendall, hope eventually to add a second Boynton Beach boat to the fleet.
Cruises leave on the hour from the Boynton Beach harbor marina — right next to Two Georges Restaurant. The hours of operation are Thursdays and Fridays from 5-11 p.m.; Saturdays from 1-11 p.m.; and Sundays from 1-9 p.m.
Call 772-521-0024 for more information.

The Lady Atlantic sails out of Delray Beach at Atlantic Avenue for two-hour narrated tours. Photo provided

Delray Yacht Cruises
If you’re looking for a bigger, sleeker boat, Delray Yacht Cruises operates two yachts that sail out of Delray Beach — the 90-foot Lady Delray and 105-foot Lady Atlantic.
The sightseeing cruises, which offer two-hour narrated tours along the Intracoastal Waterway, depart from Veterans Park on East Atlantic Avenue.
Tours are offered Wednesday to Sunday afternoons starting at 1:30, and Friday and Saturday evenings starting at 5:30. Tickets are $30 for regular admission and $27 for seniors and children.
Snacks and a full bar are available onboard. Reservations are highly recommended. Call 561-243-0686.

Palm Yachts’ Boston Whalers can even provide picnic umbrella and chairs. Photo provided

Palm Yachts
If you’re looking for something a bit more intimate — and colorful — you can charter a mint- or pink-bodied Boston Whaler with a matching striped Bimini top for an Intracoastal cruise.
The 17-foot boats come equipped with a captain and can accommodate up to six people. Cruises depart from Jupiter and from the docks of waterfront hotels in Palm Beach proper — including The Breakers, Four Seasons Resort and the Colony Hotel.
“We have carved a specialty niche of bachelorette parties,” said Jason Norcross, one of four company owners. “People rent both boats, which can accommodate 10-12 people.”
The boats are very popular among Instagram fans and that is the only platform on which the company advertises, Norcross said.
The company will supply box lunches, upon request, and will also extend the $750 two-hour tours for an additional $150 an hour.
If you just can’t get enough of the adorable boats on an hourly basis, you can buy one for $54,995.
Reservations can be made only online. Visit www.palm-yachts.com for reservations and more information.