Judi Alweil and her daughter, Karen Alweil Helfman, from Stitches by the Sea hold a needlepoint canvas depicting Atlantic Avenue downtown. Delray Beach residents are paying for each stitch to raise money for the Arts Garage. Behind the pair are women working on individual projects during a sewing retreat at Stitches by the Sea. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star 

By Christine Davis 

When Karen Alweil Helfman, co-owner of Stitches by the Sea in Delray Beach, learned that the Arts Garage had lost government grants, a light came on for her, she says. 

“I wanted to do something to give back to my community, but I didn’t know what place I wanted to raise money for,” she said. “When I heard the Arts Garage had lost all that money, it was a no-brainer. Art is so important to me, and art affects kids, adults and the community.”

Stitches by the Sea, at 710 E. Atlantic Ave., offers hand-painted canvases and threads as well as classes and personal instruction. 

Here’s the project Alweil Helfman implemented in November: She is offering people the opportunity to pay $10 for 10 stitches to help create a canvas, which she will then sell, donating the proceeds and the profits to the Arts Garage. 

“Our goal is to raise $32,448,” she said, explaining that this amount accounts for the number of stitches in the hand-made canvas, which by the way, is of downtown Atlantic Avenue and is based on a painting by Lake Worth Beach watercolor artist Ellen Negley. 

Alweil Helfman has spread the word to her customers and via her Instagram account @stitchesbythesea. She and her family have donated the canvas, which retails for $410, plus another $150 to cover the cost of the threads.

“So far, we have a little over $7,200, but not that many stitches because people are so generous,” she said. “They are sending checks saying, ‘Put in my stitches for me.’”

Alweil Helfman’s parents, Judi and Richard Alweil, opened the store after they retired and moved from Long Island to the area 15 years ago. “My mother has been in the business for years,” Alweil Helfman said. “She started out selling needlepoint from her mother-in-law’s home in Long Island and she also had a wholesale company of needlepoint and knitting yarns.”

While Judi Alweil ran the Atlantic Avenue store, her daughter stayed in New York, running the wholesale line. “I used to dye the knitting yarns,” Alweil Helfman said, “and then I moved down here with my family about nine years ago.”

After she joined the business, so did her daughter, Mollie.

“We have created a community here at Stitches by the Sea, and our customers have been so supportive of us. It only seemed natural to want to give back to a community that has been so good to us,” Alweil Helfman said.

Marjorie Waldo, Arts Garage president and CEO, explained how the funding shortfall came to be. “In 2024-25, the Arts Garage received zero dollars from the state Department of Cultural Affairs when the governor vetoed the arts and culture budget,” she said, amounting to more than $32 million statewide in grants for that line item.  

At that point, the Arts Garage launched a Call to Action fundraising campaign and raised the dollars that it lost when the veto occurred. 

“In 2025-26, Arts Garage may receive a maximum of $4,500, but even that has not been confirmed,” Waldo said. A change in guidelines means that only organizations scoring 95-100 will receive full funding. Arts Garage scored a 91 and the state has a small fund that will be divided among all of the applications that scored between 80 and 94.9 (so, a maximum of $4,500).

Instead of budgeting any state funds, “we’ve increased donor engagement and made a few very careful cuts to operating expenses to cover the lost funds. We have not had to cut any staff or programming as of today,” Waldo said. 

“Our donors have been incredibly generous and seeing a local business like Stitches by the Sea stand up for us with fundraisers like the Needlepointers for the Arts campaign is very rewarding,” Waldo said.  

“Karen Helfman is an amazing community member who stood up for us when we most needed her.”

To participate, visit Stitches by the Sea. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

***                            

Richard and Diane Templer, owners of racehorses through Doubledown Stables, sold their 8,912-square-foot home at 190 NE Fifth Ave., on the Intracoastal Waterway in Boca Raton, for $18.73 million. The new owner is the Kendal Land Trust, with Cathleen G. Todd as trustee. On a 0.67-acre parcel, the five-bedroom home has a dock, summer kitchen, pool and a fire pit. The home last traded for $12.15 million in 2019. D’Angelo/Liguori and Pascal Liguori Estate Group of Premier Estate Properties brokered the deal. 

***                             

Paul and Joyce Schoemaker, former university professors, sold their oceanfront property at 755 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, to 755 N Ocean LLC for $17.5 million. According to the Florida incorporation documents, the LLC is managed by Cara Zuraksi with an email address at N.F. Smith, a Houston-based firm that distributes electronic components. 

Built on a 0.48-acre site in 1992, the six-bedroom, 8,546-square-foot home features an elevator, a tiki hut with a bamboo bar, a media room and a private path to the beach. 

The property last traded in 2012 for $6 million. Nick Malinosky and Michael O’Connor of Douglas Elliman represented the sellers in the new deal, while Maximo Cortese of Tangent Realty worked with the buyer.

***                              

Horizon of Delray Beach Inc., the co-op representing the 10 unit owners at 1191 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, sold the property to 1191 S. Ocean Blvd LLC, managed by investor Daniel E. Edwards. Highland Beach-based 1191 S. Ocean CJ, LLC provided a $10.5 million mortgage to the buyer, with Edwards signing as guarantor. The co-op was built in 1952 on a lot of just under one acre. Edwards owned one of its 10 units. The sale was approved by the board and indicates potential redevelopment.

***                             

RealTrends Verified, a real estate performance platform, has published its lists of top agents from 2024, with agents and teams from south Palm Beach County recognized.

Nationally, David Roberts of Royal Palm Properties, Boca Raton, ranked No. 8. Among Florida agents, he ranked No. 2 with $624 million in volume. 

Other agents who placed in the top 50 for volume among Florida agents include: 

• No. 21, Marcy F. Javor, of Signature ONE Luxury Estates, Boca Raton, with $134 million; 

• No. 22, Michael Ledwitz, Engel & Völkers, Boca Raton, $128 million; 

• No. 24, Rochelle LeCavalier, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, with $121 million; 

• No. 43, Bonnie Heatzig, Compass, Boca Raton, with $91 million. 

In the Small Teams category for volume, The Friis Team, Corcoran, Delray Beach, ranked No. 28 nationally and No. 6 among Florida agents, with $251 million; and the D’Angelo/Liguori Team, Premier Estates Properties, Boca Raton, ranked No. 34 nationally and No. 8 in Florida, with $230 million.

Other Small Teams that placed in the top 50 for Florida for volume are:

• No. 28, Matt and Nick Team, Serhant, Delray Beach, with $119 million;

• No. 37, Ina Bloom, Compass, Boca Raton, with $95 million; 

• No. 48, Karp/Wells Team, Premier Estate Properties, Boca Raton, with $79 million.

In the Medium Teams category for volume: 

• No. 8 nationally and No. 2 in Florida, The Senada Adzem Team, Douglas Elliman, Boca Raton, with $386 million; 

• No. 44 nationally and No. 10 in Florida, Pascal Liguori Estate Group, Premier Estate Properties, Delray Beach, with $204 million.

Other teams among the top 50 in the Medium Teams category for Florida for volume: 

• No. 24, Alicia Gold, Compass, Boca Raton, with $105 million;  

• No. 42, The Buchbinder Group, Boca Raton, with $73 million. 

For the Large Teams category for volume, the Jonathan Postma Group, Coldwell Banker Realty, Boca Raton, placed No. 39 nationally and No. 5 among Florida agents with $234 million.

Other area Large Teams placing in the top 50 among Florida agents for volume:

• No. 13, Jennifer Kilpatrick Team, Corcoran, Delray Beach, with $142 million;  

• No. 39, The Rucco Group, RE/MAX Direct, Delray Beach, with $88 million;

• No. 48, The Modern Group, One Sotheby’s International Realty, Boca Raton, with $75 million.

Mega Teams ranking within the top 50 for volume in Florida:

• No. 11, The Koolik Group, Compass, Boca Raton, $291 million; 

• No. 13, The Platt Group, Compass, Delray Beach, with $251 million;  

• No. 42, The Saperstein Group, eXp Realty, Boca Raton, with $99 million.

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

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

***                             

Huk, offering fishing and water-based lifestyle apparel, opened a store in July at 310A E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. The 2,300-square-foot location is Huk’s 16th retail store nationwide and its third in Florida. 

“Florida has always been a core part of Huk’s story, and we’re thrilled to continue our retail growth with a third location in the state,” said Scott Smith, Huk’s vice president of marketing. “Delray Beach is a vibrant coastal community that lives and breathes the on-the-water lifestyle, making it a natural fit for Huk’s high-performance gear and outdoor spirit.” 

Huk apparel offers ICE cooling technology, moisture-wicking fabrics and sun protection, with styles for men, women and kids. 

For more information, visit huk.com.

***                             

The Boynton Beach Online Chamber of Commerce has grown to become the Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which will operate as a traditional Chamber of Commerce designed to promote and protect the interests of its members and contribute to the economic vitality of the community. It will act as a central point for networking, advocacy, and community engagement for business and industry. For more information, visit BoyntonChamber.org.

***                             

The nonprofit Institute for Regional Conservation, as part of its mission to protect, restore and manage biological diversity, offers a free online tool “Natives For Your Neighborhood” at regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/default.asp. This database helps residents, landscapers and educators identify native plants, making it easier to know what to plant if nonnative plants are removed. 

Also, the institute announced three new board members: Bill Petry, Jorge Carlos Trejo Torres and Alan Franck. 

Petry, of Delray Beach, has been a volunteer with the institute since 2018. He brings experience in business and conservation nonprofit management to the board. Institute associate Torres, who resides in Mérida, Mexico, will help move forward programs in the Yucatan and Puerto Rico. Franck, an expert in plant taxonomy and floristics based at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, will elevate the collaborative work in plant conservation and restoration.

                       ***                              

Boca Raton resident Susan P. Brockway concluded her years of service to the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties board of directors in June. She joined the board in 2016 and recently served as vice chair. 

She previously served as secretary and chair of the governance committee, and she was an active member of both the executive and governance committees.

A certified public accountant, Brockway built a professional career with PwC Coopers & Lybrand in West Palm Beach and later served as a financial controller for a real estate and golf course developer in Boca Raton. 

***                               

The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous has selected 12 middle and high school teachers and Holocaust Center personnel from five states to participate in its 2025 European study program in the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. 

The largest contingent in this year’s program came from Palm Beach County. Among them were Maureen Carter of Boca Raton Community High School, Risa Della Rocca of Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton and Julie Gates of Loggers’ Run Middle School in Boca Raton.  

“As we continue to move further away from the Holocaust, it is more important to empower our educators to better teach their students about the Holocaust,” said Stanlee Stahl, Jewish Federation for the Righteous executive vice president.

“By visiting the places where these complex events occurred, educators can better connect to what they are teaching, making them more effective teachers. The program is designed to help educators learn the Holocaust experientially so they can present it in a more meaningful and insightful way to their students and colleagues when they return to their schools.”

***

Boca Raton Achievement Center, a nonprofit educational institution that serves 11- to 22-year-old students with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities, has moved to a 9,500-square-foot facility at 2481 NW Second Ave., Boca Raton. 

“One of the biggest challenges was zoning and finding a location with an appropriate traffic flow,” said Executive Director Evelyn Falconer. “We needed a place where families could drop off and pick up their children safely without impeding traffic on the main road. Our new home allows us to queue up to 30 cars around the building, which is a huge bonus.” 

Highlights of the new campus include an expanded space, custom-built classrooms, gym and indoor activity centers, and a large parking lot. 

It also has a new ambience: “People walk in and say, ‘Wow, it feels like a real school,’” said Falconer. “And we say, ‘That’s because it is a real school.’” 

For more information, visit bocaratonachievement.com or call 561-559-9768.

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

Sargassum inundated South County’s shoreline and, as seen here at South Beach Park, more kept washing ashore ­— creating a barrier for surfers and swimmers to cross to get to the ocean from the beach. Larry Barszewski/The Coastal Star

By Steve Plunkett

The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District has wired the city $10,227,451 as early payoff of the bond that enabled acquisition of the Ocean Breeze property for the new North Park and is eagerly awaiting transfer of the title.

The move allowed the Beach and Park District to gain full ownership of the property, north of Yamato Road and west of Northwest Second Avenue, and save $1,083,600 in interest, Executive Director Briann Harms said.

The district had accumulated enough money through current and prior year savings, additional revenues and unspent capital project funds, she said. The early payoff will not affect any other ongoing or planned projects.

District Commissioner Steve Engel said he had always been taught and firmly believes that the less debt you have, the better off you are.

“This is our only debt,” Engel said before the July 7 vote. “Outside of this note, we are debt-free.”

Paying off the bond also allows the district to pursue a public-private partnership to develop the west side of the park, something it could not do under the terms of the bond’s agreement.

At the district’s July 21 meeting, commissioners adopted a tentative property tax rate of $1.08 per $1,000 of taxable value for the coming year, the same rate as in fiscal years 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The district’s total tax base has increased to $46.2 billion, up 7.4% from the current year, Harms said. The tentative rate will generate $48.4 million in tax revenue, up $3.2 million from this year, and amount to a $540 bill for a home worth $500,000.

Commissioner Craig Ehrnst said he empathized with homeowners facing higher bills and argued unsuccessfully for shaving 2 cents off the tax rate.

“Boca has become a lot more expensive,” he said.

The district will hold its first public hearing on the proposed budget at 6 p.m. Sept. 2, the day after Labor Day, and its final public hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 15.

Big-ticket items in the coming budget include $22 million to develop the east side of North Park and $4.5 million for a shade structure over the roller rink at Sugar Sand Park.

As part of Boca Raton’s centennial celebrations, the city has invited artists to submit proposals for artwork to adorn the Mizner Park Amphitheater’s stage doors.

Inspiration for their works will come from an earlier centennial celebration effort known as “Zip Ode.” The city partnered with the poetry organization O, Miami last year to encourage residents to write five-line poetic tributes to the city, with the number of words in each line based on residents’ ZIP code numbers.

The deadline for South Florida artists to submit their proposals was July 21. A selection panel will choose one to create an Ode to Boca mural for the stage doors.

The work will be completed in October. The city has budgeted $80,000 for this project.

“We look forward to seeing the community’s voices expressed through unique artistic ideas, creating a lasting tribute to the city’s centennial celebration,” Veronica Hatch, the city’s public art coordinator, said in a statement.

The new artwork will replace the mural that was first displayed on the amphitheater’s 30-by-60-foot stage doors in 2021. That mural, titled “On Stage,” featured a musician and a dancer and was created by well-known West Palm Beach artist Eduardo Mendieta.

The city recently decided the doors were due for an artistic refresh that honored the city’s 100th birthday. Several odes written by residents now are temporarily displayed on the doors.

— Mary Hladky

By Janis Fontaine

An appeal that would have prevented Boca Beach Chabad from securing a new home in an office building on East Palmetto Park Road has been dropped.

Boca Raton City Manager George Brown said the appeal was removed from the July 14 Community Redevelopment Agency meeting agenda and the prior approval now stands.

The approval allows the building at 490 E. Palmetto Park Road, just west of Silver Palm Park, to change from office to institutional use to accommodate a place of worship on the first floor. The amended request covers 3,718 square feet of the existing three-story, 30,895-square-foot building.

The religious center will be known as Boca Beach Jewish Center-Chabad, formerly at 120 NE First Ave. across the street from Sanborn Square, which the community had long ago outgrown.

The CRA, which oversees downtown development, said a major concern over the change in use was that it would bring a concentration of people and traffic to the property all at once, as opposed to a more staggered usage throughout the day that is associated with an office building. Other concerns were that the religious use would expand and cause issues with residential parking, especially during special events and around holidays.

But the city conducted an independent traffic study that showed the change in use would not result in an increase in the net number of people into and out of the building and that holding occasional special events would require a review and approval through the special event permit process already established by the city.

The new approval is scaled back from the original plan, which asked to use 15,000 square feet of space for the community center and a synagogue — more than four times the size that was eventually approved. According to city officials, after consultation with zoning officials, the property owner reduced the request to convert just 12% of the building’s floor space for “religious purposes.”

The building was purchased by Boca Beach Jewish Educational Center Inc. for $13 million in August 2024. The Chabad launched a capital campaign that raised $9 million in three months and a mortgage supplied the balance.

Rabbi Ruvi New had hoped renovations would be completed in time for 2025’s High Holy Days that start in late September, but the appeal prevented that from happening.

But winning the appeal is progress, and the city is reviewing the plans for renovations.

By Mary Hladky

Penn-Florida Companies’ 101 Via Mizner luxury apartment building in downtown Boca Raton has been sold for $235 million and could be converted into condos.

Penn-Florida faced losing the 366-unit building at 101 E. Camino Real when an affiliate of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, which provided a $195 million senior loan to the Boca Raton-based company, filed a notice in December that it had initiated a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure on the building for failing to pay off the loan. An auction was to be held on Jan. 15.

At the time, Penn-Florida said the loan was in good standing and was in the process of being repaid. Shortly thereafter, Penn-Florida affiliate Via Mizner Owner 1 LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to head off the auction and give it more time to complete refinancing.

But in April, Via Mizner Owner 1 sought to auction the property. That auction was set for June 16 and then pushed to July 8.

The auction went by the wayside when Cardone Real Estate Acquisitions — led by real estate investor, author and social media celebrity Grant Cardone — submitted a $230 million “stalking horse” bid for the apartment building.

In the latest twist to this saga, Cardone and Penn-Florida formed a joint venture to buy the property. Penn-Florida was to pay $15 million of the purchase price and Cardone would provide the rest to pay off creditors, including Blackstone, The Real Deal reported.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Peter Russin approved the sale on July 11.

Pleadings in the bankruptcy case allow for the possibility that the apartments could be converted into condos. Cardone told The Real Deal that is the plan.

“Penn-Florida is thrilled to enter into this partnership with Cardone Capital,” the company said in a statement. “Grant Carone shares our vision to preserve 101 Via Mizner as Boca Raton’s premier downtown address.”

The apartment building, completed in 2017, is part of a three-phase project that would also include a 164-room Mandarin Oriental hotel and 85 branded residences. The apartment building sale does not affect the hotel and residences.

Construction of the hotel and residences has dragged along at a snail’s pace for years and is well beyond the original 2017 completion date. Many Boca Raton residents consider the project an eyesore.

Within the past few months, the construction pace has picked up a bit, with balconies now installed and paint on some of the walls. But it seems highly unlikely work will be done by the end of this year, the latest announced completion date.

A number of prospective condo owners who had placed large deposits have tired of waiting for work to be completed and have filed lawsuits seeking return of their money. Some have reached settlement agreements with Penn-Florida, but other cases are pending. 

After reviewing scores of applications, Boca Raton City Council members have winnowed to seven the number of city manager candidates they will interview for the city’s top job.

The council will conduct interviews on Aug. 12 and could make a selection the same day.

That person will replace City Manager George Brown, who is retiring on Jan. 2. Brown is a 43-year city employee who served as deputy city manager for 21 years until he was promoted on Jan. 1, 2024, replacing Leif Ahnell.

The council shunned four of the applicants whom the recruitment firm Mercer Group Associates recommended as finalists for the job and added four others from the applicant pool.

The seven include Boca Raton Deputy City Managers Jorge Camejo, a former executive director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and Jim Zervis, who was hired by the city as chief financial officer in 2024 and promoted earlier this year.

The others are:

• Sonia Alves-Viveiros, now city manager/business administrator for the Township of Edison, New Jersey, and formerly city manager of Englewood, New Jersey;
• Patrick Jordan, a former county administrator for Ionia County, Michigan, and formerly city manager of Escanaba, Michigan;
• Stan Morris, city manager and formerly deputy city manager of Sunny Isles Beach;
• Mark Sohaney, former chief executive officer of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii and formerly chief executive officer of Naval Air Station Key West; and
• Victor Spinelli, former chief operations officer of the U.S. Air Force in Tampa and formerly Air Force operations manager in Suffolk, United Kingdom.

— Mary Hladky

Restaurants serve up tacos, burgers, sushi and more that adhere to Jewish dietary laws

Chinese food such as steamed chicken dumplings, top, long noodle soup, middle, and sesame chicken, bottom, can keep their same flavors and still be prepared following kosher guidelines. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

Kosher pizza? Tacos? And barbecue?

This is not your bubbe’s deli food.

South Florida restaurants are updating menus to include kosher foods, both casual and fine dining.

Owners are finding they attract not only the Jewish and other diners who keep kosher, but many who have never eaten the restricted diet but find they like the fresh flavors and “clean” preparations.

Ai Lien Chung, co-owner of Bambu Pan Asian in Boca Raton, says that her customers often tell her they used to keep kosher diets, but quit.

“They say they will start again after tasting our food — it’s so good.”

A kosher food supervisor whose name is Boruch watches as chef Lee Tran prepares chicken curry at Bambu Pan Asian in Boca Raton. The foods, modern and traditional Chinese, are “very popular,” Lien Chung said. The mini chain the Chungs started in Miami opened in Boca Raton in 2023. It now has a third restaurant in Hollywood.

The restaurant is glatt kosher — certified to the highest standards, overseen by an Orthodox rabbi or representative before it’s opened. Ovens and stoves are torched to burn off all nonkosher foods in a procedure called kashering, and all meats are guaranteed to be from kosher butchers. Other strict rules from a long list are followed.

“The rabbi came in, fired the kitchen, and made sure all meats were cleaned correctly. All sauces prepared correctly,” she said.

Bambu is at 141 NW 20th St., just west of Dixie Highway. Though her target audience is farther west, non-Jewish residents of east Boca are coming for the food, Chung said.

“The Boca customers are really getting into it,” she said. “Many found us and they drive a long way to get here.”

Her foods stem from childhoods she and her husband spent in Israel in combination with traditional Chinese dishes she learned at the same time. After moving to the United States 27 years ago, and working in kosher restaurants in Miami, the couple decided to open their own kosher Chinese.

A bar and grill may not come to mind as kosher, but at Ditmas Wok and Grill, 21077 Powerline Road in Boca Raton, you can enjoy a cocktail with the Dirty Pico Taco at the bar. Burgers, steaks, chicken — all here, all kosher. Just don’t expect traditional mac ’n’ cheese as a side. Meat and dairy are never mixed at the same meal if kosher.

Several kosher restaurants are higher end, with main dishes costing more than $100 a plate, giving kosher diners an upscale experience.

At the W in Boynton Beach, 12250 Westchester Club Drive, a full line of sushi sits alongside glatt kosher wagyu steaks in a fine-dining steakhouse setting, a far cry from a deli with pastrami sandwiches.

Prime rib egg rolls and tempura cauliflower with dipping sauces are starters here, along with arancini —  trendy fried truffle risotto balls.

Rainbow rolls, crunchy salmon tartar rolls, and spicy tuna rolls are kosher versions of mainstream sushi.

Wagyu beef or lamb burgers are choices, along with a chuck beef rack of barbecued ribs — yes, kosher.

A wine list features a cellar of Herzog wines, kosher certified.

The Meat Market Boca Raton was the first upscale, non-kosher restaurant to loop into the trend of offering a kosher steak on their menu. While known for its hanging tomahawk, a certified kosher, 16-ounce, boneless steak is $85, and cooked according to Jewish dietary laws — meaning prepared with no dairy. Photo provided by Meat Market Boca Raton.

At Oak and Ember, a fine-dining steakhouse at 7600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton, diners can choose from a glatt kosher menu that includes a pastrami flaked schnitzel, tacos as a summer special, or to go big, a traditional tomahawk.

A number of pizza spots feature kosher pies.

Jon’s Place in Boca Raton, 22191 Powerline Road, has a number of pizzas, all cheese based, with no meats (but anchovies). That avoids the problem of mixing meat and cheese — forbidden in kosher diets.

Lenny’s Pizza, 9070 Kimberly Blvd. in Boca Raton, claims to be the best kosher pizza around. All pies, burgers and salads are vegan or vegetarian.

The ever trendy smashburger is kosher on the menu at Smash House in Boca Raton, 21065 Powerline Road. Listed as the OG smashburger, it features the crispy, juicy, thin patty that’s all the rage. The kosher work-around twist is vegan cheese and beef bacon. Caramelized onions complete it.

Italians aren’t forgotten: Carmela’s, 7300 W. Camino Real in Boca Raton, reimagines American Italian dairy food on its kosher-certified menu.

Although Carmela’schanges dishes seasonally, diners might find Buffalo mozzarella sticks, butter-poached vegetarian “scallops,” a truffle mac ’n’ cheese, or a spinach ravioli with rose sauce.

Vegan dishes are a bonus at many of the kosher places, with nondairy cheese and plant-based proteins sitting in for meats on pizzas or in street foods such as tacos or hot dogs.

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes that have a wider attraction are common in the area, and often are kosher by definition, such as baba ghanoush. But foods such as shawarma and kibbeh can be adapted to the kosher preparations.

Deli fans need not despair — delis still outnumber other kosher restaurants in the area. But pizza and sushi are gaining.

It’s a good time to pursue restaurants that cater to Jewish diners, Chung said, since many new residents have come from New York and New Jersey, where ethnic kosher restaurants are more prevalent.

“We are opening a kosher sushi and Vietnamese restaurant very soon out west,” Chung said. “We expect it will be welcomed.”

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

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County's new slate of officers includes (l-r) Aurora Arthay, Dr. Regine Bataille, Grace Halabi and Sharon Hill, who are pictured with Matthew Criscuolo and Chris Duke. Photo provided

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County has announced its slate of officers for the 2025-26 season.

The executive committee includes:

• Dr. Regine Bataille, president

• Grace Halabi, vice president

• Sharon Hill, vice president

• Aurora Arthay, secretary

• Caleb Bowser, treasurer

Immediate past president is Matthew Criscuolo. 

Parliamentarians are Debra Ghostine, Len Gray and Bernadette O’Grady. Members-at-large include Chris Duke and Laurie Gildan.

For more information, call 561-279-9103 or visit literacypbc.org

Community Foundation names philanthropy chair

The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has named Tandy Robinson chairwoman of its Philanthropic Advisory Council.

Robinson, a private wealth adviser, joined the advisory council in 2018. Its network of professionals provides strategic guidance to help the foundation better serve clients. She also is the co-founder and former president of Impact 100 Palm Beach County and a trustee of Boca Helping Hands.

“Our Philanthropic Advisory Council is in exceptional hands with Tandy Robinson stepping into the role of chair,” said Mary Katherine Morales, vice president of philanthropic services at the foundation. “We’re grateful for her leadership and excited to continue expanding our impact alongside her in the community we proudly serve.”

In other news, Mary Pat Alcus and Kristen Bissett were appointed to the foundation board.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mary Pat and Kristen to our board,” said Chairman Jeffrey Stoops, noting that both women have backgrounds in finance.
“Their leadership and deep financial expertise will be invaluable as we continue working to support our neighbors and create lasting change across Palm Beach and Martin counties.”

For more information, call 561-659-6800 or visit yourcommunityfoundation.org/philanthropic-advisory-council

Milagro Center celebrates  Community Art Garden

Milagro Center welcomed 50 enthusiastic guests for the official ribbon cutting and grand reopening of the revitalized Community Art Garden 2.0.

The event was a celebration of community, creativity and collaboration in the heart of the Set, a Delray Beach neighborhood. Barbara Stark, the center’s president and CEO, led the festivities at the transformed outdoor space that features donor bricks, murals and pavers.

“This project is more than an art installation — it’s a movement,” Stark said. “It’s about revitalizing our neighborhood, giving local youth and artists a voice and creating a lasting legacy of creativity and pride.”

For more information, call 561-279-2970, ext. 101 or visit milagrocenter.org

Cereal4All drive benefits Boca Helping Hands

Cereal4All, which runs an annual drive organized by twin brothers Jett and Luke Justin, collected nearly 11,000 pounds of cereal this past spring and donated it to Boca Helping Hands.

That translates into approximately 100,000 bowls of cereal thanks to support from businesses, schools and students.

“We created Cereal4All to fight hunger around America’s breakfast tables because millions of American families suffer from food insecurity, which means they can’t always afford enough meals for everyone in their homes,” Luke Justin said. “Since breakfast food is one of the least-donated items to food banks, pantry bags of meals distributed to families in need are often missing breakfast food.”

Added Jett Justin, “Cereal is about breakfast, but it’s also about happiness, so we were bothered by the reality that millions of families and kids might not have daily access to breakfast and that moment of happiness in their day.”

For more information about Boca Helping Hands, call 561-417-0913 or visit bocahelpinghands.org.

— Amy Woods 

Nonprofits First celebrated the Class of 2025, the fifth in its Advancing Leaders program, by honoring 10 accomplished professionals representing nonprofits from across Palm Beach County. Each person completed an intensive six-month leadership development course designed for professionals in the field of philanthropy who are taking on senior management roles. ‘This program is about more than professional development, it’s about building a community of visionary leaders who are ready to tackle the complex challenges facing our sector,’ said Trudy Crowetz, president and CEO of Nonprofits First. ‘We’re incredibly proud of this year’s graduates and the impact they’re already making within their organizations and the community.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Todd L’Herrou, Carolina Libreros and Jamie-Lyn Richartz. Photo provided

Participants swung into action for HomeSafe and raised $77,000 in proceeds that will go toward helping thousands of children and families and prevent future cases of abuse. ‘By playing here, you are helping to save the lives of vulnerable, deeply traumatized children,’ HomeSafe CEO Matthew Ladika said. ‘Thank you for giving them the hope and healing they deserve.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Logan Shalmi, Patty Larkin, Fern Schmidt, Pete Austin and Phil Procacci. BELOW: Ladika with Dick Damron. Photos provided by Tracey Benson Photography

Recognizing outstanding individuals and community partners whose contributions have supported the Boca Raton Historical Society, the festive event brought together board members, staff, supporters and volunteers to reflect on the 2024-25 season. Among the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the President’s Award to LeAnn Berman, Jesse Cordoba, Rebecca DeMonte, Olivia Hollaus, Lauri Saunders and Dawn Zook. The Outstanding Community Partner Award was presented to Marta Batmasian and Zoe Lanham. ‘This annual gathering is more than a meeting,’ said Mary Csar, the society’s executive director. ‘It’s a celebration of our collective efforts to preserve Boca Raton’s heritage and the extraordinary people who make that possible.’ TOP: (l-r) Denise Alman, Cordoba and Saunders. ABOVE: Csar and Batmasian. Photos provided

On June 19, 1865, news of freedom made its way to Galveston, Texas, where the enslaved finally were informed of their emancipation by Union troops more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum helped commemorate the moment in history by raising funds for future Juneteenth celebrations. ‘We are raising $100,000 or more for the continuation of our programs, events and exhibits, which serve every resident of Palm Beach County with arts, history, culture and education,’ said Elizabeth Burrows, the museum’s board president. ‘Please join us in raising funds, so that the house still stands.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Colleen Rhodd, Mary Aperavich and Yvonne Prince. BELOW: (l-r) Singleton Cox, Michelle Brown and Burrows. Photos provided by MasterWing Creative Agency

Graciela Lara Valverde of Delray Beach has breast cancer and started using Road to Recovery in May 2024 when treatment left her feeling too weak to drive. ’It makes everything easier for me,’ she says of having a driver. Photo provided

By Hannah Spence

Every 15 seconds on average, somebody discovers he or she has cancer. Imagine struggling to find a way to get to lifesaving treatment on top of receiving the diagnosis. Fortunately, there is Road to Recovery, a program that provides free transportation for cancer patients to and from their medical appointments.

Launched in 1981, Road to Recovery was recently highlighted at Fork Cancer — a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society — which celebrated its fourth year at West Palm Beach’s Norton Museum of Art. The event raised almost $101,000.

Operating costs associated with the ride program, such as background checks and coordination with volunteer drivers, are covered by ACS and its donors. 

“I think Road to Recovery is an amazing program,” said Jonathan Duerr, Fork Cancer event chair, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer. Whereas his family was able to take turns getting his father to appointments, “not everybody is that fortunate. That’s why it’s important to continue to help in the fight,” he said.

According to Duerr, the event saw a 25% increase in funds raised from last year and driver Tim Sharp of Delray Beach was recognized for providing more than 60 rides in six months.

Road to Recovery has more than 5,000 drivers nationwide and has seen exceptional success in Palm Beach County, where almost half of ride requests are granted. All drivers are trained volunteers. 

One of them is 82-year-old Joe Ludwig, who lives in Boca Raton part of the year.

“I know I’m doing something meaningful and helping people out,” said Ludwig, a three-time cancer survivor himself. 

Road to Recovery offers flexibility, allowing volunteers to schedule their availability. They also have the option of just taking a patient one way or both to and from the appointment. 

Drivers and patients communicate through a website called Roundtrip. Patients say when they need to be picked up and drivers receive alerts when rides are in their designated areas. Once drivers accept the rides, they typically receive information about patients, such as phone numbers and if special assistance is needed. 

Ludwig said he tries to contribute at least a few hours a week and prefers to drive the same patients multiple times, so he can develop strong relationships with them. 

Ludwig has bonded with Gay Snider of Boynton Beach. In addition to cancer-related issues, she has Parkinson’s disease and uses a walker.

Snider, 81, said her son used to drive her to health appointments, but it became difficult for him to do so after having major surgery. She turned to Road to Recovery five years ago and has no regrets. 

“They’ve been wonderful,” said Snider. “I’m trapped here and it’s very depressing and very difficult. But the positive interactions I’ve had with these volunteers have made a tremendous impact in my life.” 

Snider illustrated ways certain drivers go out of their way to show her kindness, such as Ludwig’s checking in on her and committing to drive her on dates that are far off. 

Cancer treatments can leave some patients too debilitated to drive, even if they do have cars, like Graciela Lara Valverde, who has breast cancer and started using the service in May 2024. 

“I was very weak and had low blood pressure,” said the 70-year-old Delray Beach resident, who was concerned she could faint behind the wheel. “I thought not only am I going to kill myself, I’m going to kill someone else. 

“It makes everything easier for me,” said Lara Valverde, adding that the service saves her at least $30 each way on a rideshare service. “I wasn’t so stressed out thinking, ‘OK, how am I going to get to the doctors.’ And the drivers sometimes get personal … it puts me at ease.” 

Snider agrees.  

“It’s good to talk to someone who gets it,” she said. “If I get better and I could drive, I would become a driver because I see what a difference it makes in your life.” 

For rides or to volunteer, call 800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/drive.

Gear up for savings as many restaurants initiate summer specials. In addition to $29 and $39 prix fixe menus, expect a wide participation next month when Flavor South Florida hits and restaurants add special lunch and dinner deals to their menus. For now, check online prices to see if your favorites are offering deals. 

Quite a dustup happened online, after Le Rivage, a 21-year-old French restaurant in Boca Raton, shut its doors last month. In a farewell letter to customers, the owners blamed the closing on angry, rude customers who berated the servers, ran out on their checks and groused about the bread. “We hope this will make happy people,” they said in their post, “who wanted us to close … and told us this directly!”

A new gastropub, Pomona, opened in Lake Worth Beach last month in the former Callero’s spot on Lake Avenue at K Street. It was most recently the site of a Todd English restaurant, Lula’s. Pomona is owned by Alexandra Dupuis, owner of Ravish in Lantana. Inventive snacks (Cheetos chickpeas, guava cheese croquettes), salads and sandwiches (fried green tomatoes), and main shareables (miso corn bucatini carbonara) are on the initial menu.

— Jan Norris

Jill Merjeski suggests taking shorter walks with cool-down breaks when temperatures rise above 85. Photo provided 

By Arden Moore

Dealing with hot temperatures comes with living in South Florida. But especially these summer months, we need to truly be our dogs’ best health allies.

As a master certified pet first aid/CPR instructor and founder of Pet First Aid 4U, I am constantly alerting my students about the dangers of pets getting too hot and developing heat stroke. Be aware that heat stroke can occur quickly — in as little as 30  minutes — in any dog exposed to warm or hot temperatures. 

When you are out with your dog, watch out for these warning signs:

• Excessive panting

• Red or pale gums

• Drooling

• Rapid heart rate

• Sweaty paws

• Vomiting

I reached out to two pet professionals in Palm Beach County who also do their part in protecting dogs during hot temperatures: Jill Merjeski, CEO of Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, and Shay Maimoni, professional dog trainer and owner of Woof Dogs.

“Our professional pet sitters are taught the importance of heat stroke symptoms and know to look out for excessive panting, lethargy, drooling and other signs,” says Merjeski, whose company is based in Boca Raton. “When temperatures rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor time and walks may be shortened. Or walks may be divided into two sessions with a cool-down break indoors and fresh water provided. We try to stay in shaded areas and avoid hot pavement to protect sensitive paws.”

Maimoni’s company is based in Loxahatchee, but he serves clients in Palm Beach County and beyond.

“Here in South Florida, we’re no strangers to extreme heat, and our dogs feel it even more than we do,” he says. “Whether we’re training service dogs or household companions, keeping dogs safe from heat exhaustion and heat stroke is always priority one.”

Never leave your pet in a vehicle, as the temperature inside can quickly rise to a deadly level. Rachel O'Hara/The Coastal Star 

Be safe out there

He offers these safety tips:

Time your walks and outdoor training sessions. His team members schedule sessions before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. They always test the pavement and other surfaces with the back of their hands. “If it is too hot for us, it’s too hot for their paws,” he says.

Drink up, doggy. Make sure dogs drink water before heading out, and then take a portable water bottle and collapsible bowl with you to provide additional water on walks. “You can add a splash of low-sodium bone broth or tuna water to encourage water intake,” he adds.

Head for the shade. Aim to take your dog for walks in grassy areas and on shaded walking paths.  

Unlike us, our dogs do not have skin pores that enable them to regulate their body core temperatures when exposed to hot weather. They try to fend off the heat primarily by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.

“That makes dogs especially vulnerable to heat stroke and other dangerous symptoms, which can be fatal,” warns Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Society. 

Dog Days are here

Ganzert reached out to us at The Coastal Star to unleash these additional weather-protecting tips:

• Check for early signs of dehydration. Excessive panting and heavy breathing can indicate a dog is becoming dangerously dehydrated. Check for dehydration by gently pinching and drawing up his skin by his shoulders. If the skin does not plop down quickly, he may be dehydrated and need water immediately.

• Protect breeds at high risk for heat issues. French bulldogs, pugs, English bulldogs, boxers and other brachycephalic breeds sport short, flat snouts and narrow nostrils. These features make it harder for them to control their body temperatures during heat and humidity than dogs with regular-sized muzzles like Labrador retrievers and German shepherds.

• Never leave your dog in a parked vehicle — even for just a few minutes. Temperatures inside a car, even with windows open a bit, quickly soar and can escalate your dog’s body temperature and potentially cause death.

How to lower the heat

If your dog is getting overheated, you need to act quickly. Here are some tips I give my pet first aid students:

• Do immediately bring your dog to a shaded area or inside where there is air conditioning.

• Do dip each paw — one at a time — in cool water to slowly bring down the body core temperature.

• Never give your dog ice cubes or ice cold water to drink because it can cause blood vessels to constrict and interfere with the body’s attempt to cool down. A hot body coming into contact with ice can also result in shock.

• Do use a cool, wet towel to lightly dab on and off under the armpits and on the abdomen. However, do not leave a cool wet towel on a dog’s hot body because that will trap the heat and speed up heat stroke.

• Transport your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic and alert staff members you are en route so they can be ready to treat your pet immediately. 

Keep cats cool, too

Finally, let’s not forget about our indoor cats. Many cats seek sunny spots for naps. Locate any window cat perches on windows facing north and south — not east and west — to avoid the most intense sunlight. Provide them with fresh water daily.

“If the home temperature is too hot when we come for a pet-sitting visit to a home, we reserve the right to lower the thermostat to a more comfortable setting for the pets,” Merjeski says. “The comfort and safety of every pet — especially in extreme heat — is our top priority being a South Florida business.” 

Arden Moore writes about pets and can be reached at fourleggedlife@gmail.com.

Our experts  

Shay Maimoni is the owner and professional dog trainer of Woof Dogs based in Loxahatchee. His website is woofdogs.com.

Jill Merjeski is founder and CEO of Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, based in Boca Raton. Her website is jillsnext

door.com. 

Robin Ganzert is the president and CEO of the American Humane Society. Visit this group’s website at american

humane.org.

Father Andrew Sherman is celebrating his 20th anniversary at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church with a special brunch hosted by the Episcopal Church Women Ministry in honor of him on Aug. 10 at the church at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 

Sherman is a book lover who once said, “A perfect hour of free time involves a quiet corner and a good book.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from American University and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Virginia, then his Master of Divinity Degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. 

Now St. Gregory’s senior pastor, Sherman began his ministry as rector there in 2005. An active voice in the community, he and his friend Rabbi David Steinhardt are active in the Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association. He’s a founding board member of Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, an interfaith ministry to homeless families with children. He and his wife, Anita, have two children. 

For details about the brunch, call 561-395-8285.

Registration open for day retreat at Unity of Delray 

Unity of Delray Beach is offering a summer day retreat of spiritual renewal from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 9 in the church sanctuary, 101 NW 22nd St. “Pathways to Presence: A Day of Inner Renewal” with the Rev. Jeanmarie Eck will include meditation practices, gentle yoga, an indoor labyrinth walk and a vegan lunch. 

The cost is $49. All are welcome. Register at the Bookstore or call the church office at 561-276-5796 or visit unityofdelraybeach.org. 

Spanish River offers class to prepare for baptism

Spanish River Church, 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, is offering a class to prepare people for baptism who have not been baptized before. The class meets at 9 a.m. Aug. 17 in the Connect Center Room 4, followed by baptisms at 11 a.m. Aug. 24 at the church. 

Baptism is the last step in the membership process at Spanish River Church. All teenagers and adults must go through the membership process and be approved for membership before they are eligible for baptism. Child care is provided. Registration is required by Aug. 10. Visit spanishriver.com/baptism.

Prayer Night offered at Boca Community Church 

Boca Raton Community Church hosts a Community Prayer Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the sanctuary at the church, 470 NW Fourth Ave. Come together to pray for the church family, the needs of our community, and our brothers and sisters around the world. Visit bocacommunity.org.

Bring mat to Yoga Mass held at St. Gregory’s 

A combination of prayer and yoga is offered again in a Yoga Mass from 4 to 5 p.m. Aug. 23 in St. Mary’s Chapel at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren and Father Andrew Sherman lead. All levels are welcome. Bring your own yoga mat. St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd. Call 561-395-8285.

Game Night at St. Joseph’s Episcopal is fun for all 

Get the kids in the car! The next Game Night at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church takes place at 6 p.m. Sept. 5 in Parish Hall. Bring a dish to share and your own beverage. St. Joseph’s is at 3300A S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. Call/text Lynne at 561-704-7043 or visit stjoesweb.org.

HAZAK senior programs  to be offered at B’nai Torah 

HAZAK is the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s organization for mature Jews and it sponsors a variety of online and in-person classes for adults 55 and older at B’nai Torah Congregation, 6261 SW 18th St., Boca Raton.

HAZAK is an acronym for Hokhmah (wisdom), the zayan for Ziknah (maturity) and the kuph for Kadima (looking ahead), and it also means strength. Classes are designed to strengthen the spiritual, emotional, educational and physical health of participants through chair yoga, strength and balance training, brain fitness, breath work and mindfulness, and Zumba Gold. 

Classes begin in September and registration is required. Classes are free for HAZAK members and $54 for nonmembers, which includes access to all HAZAK’s programs. Find info online at btcboca.org/hazak-senior-programming or email liz.singer@bnai-torah.org or call 561-392-8566. 

St. Jude chapel offers Eucharistic adoration 

The Adoration Chapel at St. Jude Catholic Church is now open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The chapel is a place for quiet prayer, reflection and contemplation, but its special meaning comes from the presence of the Holy Eucharist,  which is on display in a special monstrance and protected by a plexiglass shield. 

Catholics believe the Eucharist — the Communion wafer — is the literal body of Christ, not a representation or a symbol of it as many Christian religions believe.

Having the body of Christ exposed for prayer, for “Eucharistic adoration,” has profound religious significance.

Certain rules apply in the chapel: Dress modestly; enter and leave quietly; be silent in prayer (turn off your phone).     

A gift from the Bardaro Family Foundation made the Adoration Chapel possible, along with assistance from the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Beacon Carmel, Ray DeVerona, Beatrix Stevens, Luisa Comuzzi, Chris Golas, Gnatt Construction and Moroney’s Religious Goods.

Days and hours will be extended in the near future. St. Jude is at 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-392-8172 or visit stjudeboca.org.

New program offers gifts to fight homelessness 

The Interfaith Committee for Social Services announced a new program to help nonprofits serve their clients. The Homeless Prevention Program is designed to provide a one-time gift to help an individual or family in South Palm Beach County that is on the verge of becoming homeless.

Judy Fenney, who helped establish the program with Kathleen Megan, said that in a previous trial, 17 individuals and families were helped with past due utilities, first and/or last month rent, security deposits, move-in expenses, household necessities and appliances. Allocations ranged from $600 to $3,200. 

Requests for assistance must come from a partner agency, congregation, or civic group. Personal requests will not be considered. Checks are issued to the requesting organization, or directly to the organization providing the service like the landlord or utility. 

Decisions are made based on where the recipient lives (only South County residents are considered at this time), the amount of the request, the probability of the success in preventing the recipient from becoming homeless, and the commitment from the requesting organization to follow up and report. 

The Interfaith Homeless Prevention Request form to complete is available at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY24JsFvbTZmKV0B3UCW8jaWc1MYV14_gbrtCdIPz7LMC53w/viewform

Questions can be emailed to judyfenney1@gmail.com. 

Women’s group offering back-to-school supply drive 

The Episcopal Church Women of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church are hosting their Back-to-School Supplies Drive to support students at Forest Park and Galaxy Elementary, both Title I schools. The deadline to donate is Aug. 31. St. Joseph’s is at 3300A S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. Visit stjoesweb.org or call 561-732-3060.

Sisterhood of St. Lucy seeking members 

St. Lucy Catholic Church is calling for women of the parish to come together and become a part of the Sisterhood of St. Lucy. Father Brian Horgan wrote a pastoral invitation in the church’s bulletin.

He wrote: “The Sisterhood has been prayerfully and thoughtfully created as a space where the women of our parish — of all ages and backgrounds — can come together in faith, fellowship, and fun. More than just a group or organization, it is a movement of the heart, calling each woman to look beyond herself and to discover the gift that she is, and the gift she has to offer.” 

For more information about the sisterhood, call the church at 561-278-1280. You can also sign up online at stlucy.net/ccw-sign-up. 

St. Lucy Catholic Church is at 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach. See Father Horgan’s complete message about the importance of the sisterhood at files.ecatholic.com/35077/bulletins/20250713.pdf?t=1751997219000. (page 5.)                                    

— Janis Fontaine

Lorraine Funk (left) of Lake Worth Beach and Kellie Quinn of Boynton Beach take instruction from Katelyn Eisenberg of Boca Raton during yoga at the Delray Equestrian Center. The horses are Memphis and Rocky. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Engoren

Under the July full moon, quarter horses Memphis and Rocky peered out of their stalls as life coach and longtime equestrian Elizabeth Constantin welcomed her class of yoga enthusiasts at the Delray Equestrian Center in Delray Beach.

Her Wild Palm Ranch & Wellness, offering yoga and meditation classes, is on the same grounds as her other business, the Boca Riding Club, which offers English horseback riding.

The idea, which draws on equine-assisted therapy, is that doing yoga in the presence of horses enhances the experience and the bond between horses and humans.

To Constantin, 42, an independent mother of two who lives in Delray Beach, the facility is as much a sanctuary as an equestrian center.

“People come to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the wisdom of nature — all with horses as their guides,” she says. “I’d like to build a community of like-minded practitioners.”

She plans to offer yoga twice a month.

Constantin traces her love of horses and riding back to her childhood and family traditions. She is following in the footsteps of her mother, Lorraine Funk, 65, owner of Rodeo Ranch in Lake Worth Beach, and her mom’s husband, Marc Funk.

One of her goals is to create a space where healers, coaches, bodywork practitioners and other holistic and wellness professionals can come and use horses as a healing modality in their practices.

“When you stand in the presence of a horse, something shifts,” Constantin says. “You don’t have to explain yourself. You just have to be.”

On this full moon night, approximately 10 yoga and horse devotees gathered beside the horses, spread their yoga mats, splashed on some lavender water to repel mosquitoes, and prepared for a gentle vinyasa and yin yoga flow.

Taught by Boca Raton resident Katelyn Eisenberg, 30, of Rooted in Harmony Yoga, class began with a gentle child’s pose.

Eisenberg, who calls herself “an energetic and embodiment coach,” says, “This is a way for people to create community connections.”

Despite the heat and some rumbles of thunder, Eisenberg led the class through a series of stretching and warrior poses, with a few downward-facing dogs thrown in for good measure.

Rhonnie Robins-Smith, 69, a colon hydrotherapist who worked in Boynton Beach, came out for her second time to the class.

After seeing it on Facebook, she previously came on June 22, the anniversary of her daughter Korah’s heavenly birthday.

“I had one of the most memorable experiences,” she says. “The skies opened up just as we finished our practice and it was so beautiful.”

Robins-Smith says she likes being outdoors and communing with the horses.

Also among the group was Kellie Quinn, 59, a personal trainer from Boynton Beach, who came with Lorraine Funk.

Of her first visit, she says, “I sensed the energy from the horses, and I feel pairing them with the gentle yoga deepened the relaxation.

“I will definitely come back.” 

Constantin says the horses provide a healing component to the class.

“Horses have five times the electromagnetic field of humans, and when we are in proximity to them, our heart rate, blood pressure and nervous system begin to regulate — reducing anxiety and promoting wellness.

“It’s not just calming,” she says. “It’s transformative.”

Research bears this out. Equine-assisted therapy is growing and is estimated to grow 15% this year, according to Sundale, a veterinary research company. Sundale says that 75% of trauma survivors experience symptom reduction after equine therapy.  

People only need to be in a horse’s presence to feel a sense of wellness and peace, according to the PTSD Association of Canada, citing research that shows lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased levels of beta-endorphins, decreased stress levels, and reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety.

Additionally, people experience improved social functioning, more feelings of empowerment, trust, patience and self-efficacy — all from being in the presence of horses.

“I opened The Wild Palm Ranch & Wellness because I believe people are craving real connection,” Constantin says. “Not just to each other, but to themselves. The horses help us remember who we are.”

While she is a firm believer in research that supports the physiological benefits of equine therapy, Constantin also believes in ancient rituals.

That’s why, as the yoga class came to an end and dusk settled in, she hosted the group in a fire circle. As the fire burned a deep red and orange, so the sunset emerged in colors of the same palette.

Constantin calls it “a ceremony for your heart,” where participants mingle with the horses and “burn off negative energy in the fire, leaving them feeling lighter and more balanced.”

Kara Payne, 44, an artist from Boca Raton who paints biblical verses as well as portraits of horses, grew up riding horses outside of Pittsburgh.

“I miss being around horses,” she said as she guided Hazel, a 20-year-old paint quarter horse, through the group. She was looking for a way to reconnect with them when she found Constantin.

Although Payne hasn’t ridden in years, she says she likes to be surrounded by horses and feel their energy.

“Liz has found a great way to combine wellness with the gentle energy of horses,” she says.

With plans to create a sanctuary for growth, expand her offerings and bring in more holistic-health practitioners, Constantin hopes The Wild Palm will become a center for healing and connection.

“Come as you are and leave a little more connected to the truth of who you are,” she says.

Jan Engoren writes about health and healthy living and can be reached at jengoren@hotmail.com

If You Go

What: The Wild Palm Ranch & Wellness offers equine-facilitated yoga and meditation sessions and more.

Where: 14830 Smith Sundy Road, Delray Beach

When: By appointment

Cost: $85 for horse yoga 

Info: 561-305-2855; thewildpalm.com

Drs. G. Peter Gliebus, Amy Laitinen and Frank Vrionis (l-r) were recently named participants in the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation’s inaugural scholars program. They are accompanied by hospital CEO Lincoln Mendez (rear) and (l-r) Wendy Elliott, Dr. Warren Selman and Dr. Jack Ziffer. Photo provided 

By Christine Davis

Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation recently hosted a ceremony and reception in celebration of its inaugural scholars program.

The evening’s honorees, neurologists Drs. G. Peter Gliebus, Amy Laitinen and Frank Vrionis, are now able to learn more about disorders that affect the nervous system, thanks to funds from the Marcus Foundation Inc.

“The research that will be performed by Drs. Gliebus, Laitinen and Vrionis will significantly improve patient care,” said Mark Larkin, president of the foundation. “It is our intent to have all our scholars represent an ideal convergence of commitment to clinical excellence, scholarly inquiry and leadership in medicine. 

“Continued funding for future scholars programs at our other institutes is vital to building a solid foundation not only as a compassionate and competent physician, but also as a contributor to the advancement of medical knowledge and delivery of care.” 

New robotic system helps treat enlarged prostate

Delray Medical Center has acquired the Hydros Robotic System, an advancement in aquablation therapy for the treatment of an enlarged prostate. The minimally invasive system uses real-time ultrasound guidance and water-jet technology to remove excess prostate tissue while preserving vital structures.

Hydros has advanced AI treatment planning, enhanced imaging and a streamlined surgical workflow, helping to improve both patient and surgical team experiences.

Senior clinical director appointed at Caron

Manuel Garcia was recently appointed senior clinical director in Florida for nonprofit Caron Treatment Centers, including one in Delray Beach. He will oversee Caron’s new insurance-based Core program, as well as the existing Caron Renaissance and mental health programs. 

“I am passionate about providing access to care to all who need it, and I’m excited to work with the incredible team here at Caron,” Garcia said. “Cost is often a barrier for seeking addiction treatment, and working in partnership with insurance groups enables us to create affordable, evidence-based programs that help people enter and remain in recovery. 

“The programs here will build on what Caron has learned by developing in-network programming in Pennsylvania, while also leveraging the experience and world-class expertise available at Caron in Florida.”

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

Capt. Tony DiGiulian holds up  a nice wahoo on a recent fishing trip. DiGiulian, who likes to troll for wahoo, says anglers looking to reel in the speedy gamefish should pay attention to the position of the moon. Good times are when the moon is directly overhead or when it's just above the horizon, whether it’s rising or setting. Steve Waters/The Coastal Star

By Steve Waters

Wahoo can be caught year-round in South Florida, but the absolute best time of the year to catch them is around the full moon in August.

With a full moon on Aug. 9, offshore anglers should target the speedy, tasty gamefish from now through most of the week after the full moon.

“We’ve caught them on the day of the full moon, but if I had to choose, I’d probably fish Thursday and Friday, and Sunday through Thursday,” Capt. Tony DiGiulian said. 

Live bait such as goggle-eyes will catch wahoo, but among the best baits this time of year are small bonitos and skipjack tunas. 

It’s not unusual for anglers to be fighting those species when they feel a thump and reel in fish heads.

“We’ve all reeled them in cut in half,” said Tom Greene, who added that anything from a 1- or 2-pound bonito to a 15-pounder can be used for bait. “Think of any one you reeled in cut in half, that’s how big a bait you can use.”

Greene is the former owner of Custom Rod and Reel in Lighthouse Point, who got his start in business as a teenager working at Boca Tackle. He said to look for small bonitos flipping on the surface and troll a quill rig below the surface to catch a few.

He rigs the bait by running a wax loop behind its nose and securing it to a J-hook, which can be as large as an 11/0 for a big bonito. A second hook attached by a piece of wire to the front hook is lightly hooked in the skin of the bait near its tail. A 4- to 6-foot wire leader tied to a 10- to 15-foot 60- to 100-pound monofilament leader completes the rig.

Greene said the long leader provides better control of a wahoo when it’s at the boat and added that the boat should be moving forward as you gaff the fish to prevent the wahoo from going under the boat.

DiGiulian, who likes to slow-troll live baits on downriggers, noted that wahoo slice their prey in half, then spin around to eat both pieces, so anglers need to pay attention.

“If you get a wahoo bite and it’s a short bite, if you free-spool the bait back immediately, that wahoo will come back and eat it,” said DiGiulian, of Fort Lauderdale.

DiGiulian also trolls double-hooked bonito strips and bellies and ballyhoo for wahoo. He rigs the baits behind a mylar Sea Witch, available at local tackle stores.

“The more waggling of the bait that you can get, the better off you’re going to be. We break the backbones of the ballyhoos so they’re more flexible and pliable and we use big strips,” DiGiulian said.

When trolling, DiGiulian uses planers, which get the baits well below the water’s surface. He’ll zigzag the boat between 130 and 300 feet of depth. Fishing around schools of small bonitos or blackfin tunas and where flying fish are being chased can produce wahoo, which DiGiulian said often “hunt and eat in big packs.”

“When trolling, when you catch a wahoo, you want to make sure you go over the same spot many times.”

Given the hot weather, early morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times to fish. Ideally, DiGiulian said the start of an outgoing or incoming tide is best.

He also pays attention to the position of the moon. Good times are when the moon is directly overhead and just above the horizon, whether it’s rising or setting.

The daily bag limit for wahoo is two per person and there is no size limit, but one big fish will feed a lot of people. And you don’t even have to cook it.

“Wahoo raw is hard to beat,” DiGiulian said. “My favorite way is to sear it on the outside and slice it thin so it’s raw in the middle.”

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