ABOVE: Dozens of longtime surfers gathered last month for the opening of the Surfing Florida Museum at its new home in West Palm Beach. BELOW: A hand-crafted board by Nomad Surf Shop legend Ron Heavyside is part of the collection. The museum is open noon to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Ron Hayes

If you arrived at the grand opening celebration early, hoping to beat the crowd, you were disappointed.

The crowd had already beaten you.

The latest incarnation of the Surfing Florida Museum opened its doors at 4 p.m. on May 2, and by 4:30 the place was packed.

Filling the 9,200 square feet at 7623 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, old surfers, young surfers, and friends of surfing squeezed past each other for a better look at all those awesome photographs, the surfboards, the skateboards, the history of a sport that has inspired more great popular music than baseball, basketball and pickleball combined.

And the museum doors opened that day all because of a letter carrier called Mr. Gruber, and a shipwreck.

‘The ship’ was a magnet

On Sept. 8, 1965, a Category 3 hurricane dubbed Betsy made landfall in the Florida Keys, and outer bands battered Palm Beach County with 80-mph winds and 20-foot waves.

The Amaryllis, a Greek banana freighter, was heading for cover in the Palm Beach Inlet when Betsy’s massive swells shoved it ashore onto Singer Island, about a mile north of the inlet.

Betsy passed, but the Amaryllis stayed.

This was bad news for the crew of the 450-foot, 7,200-ton freighter, but very good news for surfers.

The stuck ship was now a breaking point, turning the waves at an angle rather than horizontally as they came ashore. Angled waves, better surfing.

“A few days later, a friend and I climbed up and got on the ship,” remembers Fred Salmon. “All these Greek sailors were running around and acting crazy, and they made us get off. The captain was a great big fat guy who thought the ship was gonna tip over.”

Salmon is 75 today and the chairman of the museum board. He was 14 then. Arriving on Singer Island two years earlier from upstate New York, he had graduated from skateboards to surfing with some encouragement from Beach Boys albums.

To local surfers, the Amaryllis was simply “the ship,” and word soon spread of the perfect surfing spot it had created.

“People came from all over the country to see that ship,” Salmon recalls. “In those days, you could park anywhere. I counted 250 boards in the water one day.”

Actually, 250 boards and a letter carrier named Marion Edward Gruber, grandson of a former West Palm Beach mayor and, more important, an amateur photographer.

M.E. Gruber was 41 when the Amaryllis wrecked.

“We kids all called him Mr. Gruber,” Salmon says. “He was an amateur photographer, but he used high-class equipment for the time.”

Mr. Gruber had come to photograph the ship. He wound up photographing the surfers, first off Singer Island, and then up and down the coast from Lake Worth to Jacksonville.

When he died at 83 on July 30, 2007, Mr. Gruber left behind an archive of about 5,000 surfing slides he’d photographed between 1965 and 1972.

Fred Salmon gave the eulogy at his funeral.

“He said he’d leave the archive to me in his will, which he didn’t do, but I had a letter where he said, ‘Good luck with your local history project.’”

Salmon contacted Mr. Gruber’s sister in Fort Worth, who agreed to give him the images if he formed a nonprofit organization.

James Stecki stands next to newspaper clippings in the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post about his younger self.

Salmon brought on fellow surfers Tom Warnke, Corky Roche and Bill Keeton, and the Palm Beach County Surfing History Project Inc. was born.

The first of more than 40 surfing photo exhibits debuted at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties in May 2009.

In 2014, the history project begat the Surfing Florida Museum, first at a gallery at 255 NE Sixth Ave. in Delray Beach.

In 2016, the museum moved to Park Avenue in Lake Park, and in 2018 to a warehouse in Grandview Heights.

The collection went into storage for two years during the pandemic, and then, at 4 p.m. on May 2, this newer, bigger Surfing Florida Museum arrived in the Palm Coast Plaza.

By 6:30, 523 people had come through the door.

Memorabilia dating to 1919

Now here we are, all these people ogling 80 panels celebrating surfing in seven Florida districts with 900 photographs donated by 100 photographers, historic panels, films, a library, a performing space, oral histories, countless memorabilia.

Here’s the large panel honoring the town of Lantana.

“Few places have produced as many champion surfers per capita as Lantana.” And that includes Caroline Marks, a 10-time national champion who spent her early years on Hypoluxo Island and, in 2024, won a gold medal in the Olympics.

Here’s a 1919 photograph of surfers by the long-gone Breakers hotel pier, the oldest known photo of surfing in Florida.

Here’s “Simmons Spoon,” a 10-foot-6-inch balsa wood board shipped from Hawaii in 1947 and believed to be the oldest board in Palm Beach County.

Here’s Jimmy Buffett’s board, autographed and donated.

Here’s the original logo for the Nomad Surf Shop from the early 1970s.

A bumper sticker campaign was critical to keeping surfer access in the town of Palm Beach in 1970.

And here’s a bumper sticker boasting “I Gave To Save Surfing,” a humble reminder of the time Palm Beach tried to ban the sport.

A surfer named Bruce Carter sued, a future mayor of West Palm Beach named Joel Daves defended the surfers, and on July 1, 1970, state Supreme Court Justice Joseph Boyd Jr. wrote:

“The Town of Palm Beach may regulate and control surfing and skimming in areas subject to its jurisdiction and may prohibit these activities at certain places along the beach. However, the complete prohibition of this sport from all the beach area is arbitrary and unreasonable.”

Surfers still catch waves off Palm Beach.

Father and son champions

The museum brought the exhibits. The visitors brought the memories. But trying to explain the joy of surfing to those who don’t is never easy.

“I always say it’s a bath for your brain,” says Warnke, 77, the museum’s executive director. “With yoga and meditation, they always say you have to be in the here and now, but when you’re surfing you have to be in the here and now. If you’re thinking about what you’re going to have for dinner, you’re going to fall off.”

Not far away, the man standing in front of a giant photograph of Surfer magazine is also the man on the cover of the magazine.

Scott McCranels and Jimmy Johnson chat in front of a photo where the teenage McCranels is visible second from the left.

Dr. Scott McCranels, a local orthodontist, is a member of the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.

He and his late father, the orthodontist John McCranels, are the only father-and-son duo in the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.

“Only a surfer knows the feeling,” he says. “It’s just you on that sloping wave. Gravity and your balance are doing all the work.”

Scotty “Frog” Miller, 68, surfed the Amaryllis as a boy.

“You’re on your own,” he explains. “In team sports, you’re only as good as the team, but in surfing, you can be as good as your skill allows.”

Does he still surf?

“Oh, no,” he says. “My shoulders are toast. That’s what happens when you paddle a million miles in your life, and I was also a pool plasterer. The last thing I rode was a hydrofoil, because I could get pulled by a rope.

“But I wish I still had every board I ever owned.”

Vivid memories

The Amaryllis remained aground on Singer Island until Aug. 22, 1968, when the Army Corps of Engineers towed the remains three-quarters of a mile offshore and sank them in 85 feet of water to create an artificial reef.

The boys and girls who surfed the ship are old men and women now, some with bad shoulders, but all with sweet, vivid memories.

On a wall at the Surfing Florida Museum is a large photograph of a surfing competition held at the ship in 1966. A surfboard placed on two chairs holds 10 trophies, with that day’s 10 winners standing proudly behind.

At the museum’s grand opening, an old surfer named Ed McCoy, 76, pointed at the third teenager from the left. “That’s me.”

And the girl standing beside him.

“And that’s Jerrie. I was 17, and Jerrie was also 17, and this photo was taken the day we met. She offered me a ride home to Lake Worth.”

He smiled at the memory.

“She’s in her red 1965 Mustang convertible with our boards in the back, all sunburned, and she bought me a meal at the Royal Castle on Forest Hill Boulevard.

“It was like meeting an angel.

“She passed a year ago,” he said. “We were married for 58 years and 10 months.” 

Ed McCoy with a photo from a surfing competition in 1966 that includes him, third from left, as a teen. Photo by Mary Burns

If You Go

What: Surfing Florida Museum

Where: 7623 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach

Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday 

Admission: Free, but a $5 donation is requested

Info: 561-236-0155; surfingfloridamuseum.org 

Also: An exhibit titled ’Surfing History’ will open on June 22 at the Richard & Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, 300 N. Dixie Highway, and run through Oct. 31. An opening reception at 5:30 p.m. June 24 is free to the public.

Impact 100 Palm Beach County’s founders, (l-r) Lisa Mulhall, Cindy Krebsbach and Tandy Robinson, attend the Grand Awards Celebration in April. Impact 100 has awarded more than $8.5 million to local nonprofits in 15 years of service. Photo provided by Warner Prokos Photography

During its milestone 15th year, Impact 100 Palm Beach County has awarded major funding totaling $865,000 to a group of nonprofit organizations that serve southern Palm Beach County. The grants were presented April 28 at its annual Grand Awards Celebration at Boca West Country Club.

“This is what 15 years of collective giving looks like,” said Janean Mileusnic, president of Impact 100 Palm Beach County. “It’s women coming together, believing in something bigger, and making real, measurable impact across our community.”

The annual event spotlights organizations that are tackling some of the region’s most pressing needs across five focus areas.

Recipients of $100,000 grants by focus area are:

Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation

• Benzaiten Center for Creative Arts (Fragments Reimagined: Transforming Life’s Broken Pieces into Beauty and Purpose) 

Education

• Back to Basics Inc. (Back to Basics Uniform Expansion Project)

• Best Foot Forward Foundation Inc. (Foundations Spark Lab)

Environment & Animal Welfare

• Healthy Aquatics Marine Institute of Florida Inc. doing business as The Reef Institute (Rebuilding Reefs Delray to Boca)

Family

• CityHouse­-Delray Beach Inc. (The Children’s Home and Hope)

• The Jacob S. Zweig Foundation doing business as In Jacob’s Shoes (Sneakers Outfitted for Scholars and Athletes)

Health & Wellness

• St. Ann Place Outreach Center (The Homeless Outreach Program in Boynton Beach)

• The Soup Kitchen Inc. (TSK Meals on Wheels South)

Since its founding, Impact 100 Palm Beach County has invested more than $8.5 million into the community, funding high-impact initiatives that continue to expand access, opportunity and support for local residents.  

Apply now for funding from Quantum Foundation

Quantum Foundation is calling on local grassroots nonprofits to apply for funding through its Quantum in the Community program, now in its 16th year of supporting organizations that meet the most essential needs across Palm Beach County.

Applications for the 2026 cycle opened June 1 and close Aug. 2, with $1.25 million available to eligible nonprofits.

Through QIC, Quantum provides funding to organizations addressing basic needs such as food, shelter, transportation, clothing and financial assistance — factors that play a vital role in overall health and well-being. 

In 2025, Quantum Foundation awarded $1.25 million to 140 grassroots organizations across the county. To date, QIC has invested millions in local nonprofits working on the front lines of community health.

Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations that have been operating in the county for at least six months and have  annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less. 

The foundation also will accept nominations for the Marie Thorpe Above & Beyond Award, which is a $2,500 award, with an additional $2,500 granted to the winner’s nominating organization.

Grant recipients will be announced in the third week of October and will be recognized at the annual Quantum in the Community Awards Breakfast on Nov. 17, at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.

Toasts, Tastes & Trolleys event returns Sept. 18

The Boca Raton Historical Society and The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum announce the return of Toasts, Tastes & Trolleys on Sept. 18, an interactive evening celebrating Boca Raton’s history through curated experiences, culinary stops and guided trolley tours.

This end-of-summer tradition provides vintage-style trolleys for a progressive night out, traveling to local destinations for light bites, cocktails and storytelling that highlights the history of Boca Raton.

Proceeds support the Boca Raton Historical Society’s mission to preserve and share the city’s history through exhibitions, educational programming and community initiatives.

Dancers announced for Boca’s Ballroom Battle

The dancers have been announced for the 2026 Boca’s Ballroom Battle, to take place at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 in The Boca Raton’s Grand Ballroom. Now in its 19th year, Boca’s Ballroom Battle remains the George Snow Scholarship Fund’s largest annual event, bringing together community leaders for an evening of dance, philanthropy and friendly competition.

Eight local business and community leaders are paired with professional dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Boca Raton. After months of training and fundraising, the dancers will compete on stage for the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy.

The dancer lineup is: Ross Bloom, CEO of the biostation; Michael Boggiano, co-founder and managing partner of WealthCare Financial; Namrata Israni Bajaj, social media manager and content creator for Ngagemint; Mario Muñoz, managing member, Muñoz Photography; David Rosenberg, founder and CEO, Rosenberg Diamonds; Heather Rouffe, owner and director of sales, Atlas Event Rental; Selines Silverio, founder and CEO, Silverio Exito Consulting; and Nikki Stelzer, a stay-at-home mom and member of the Junior League of Boca Raton.

Florida Atlantic University receives $1.5 million gift

Florida Atlantic University has received a $1.5 million estate gift from Leif Carlsson, Ph.D., and Seija Carlsson to provide scholarships and program support for students studying ocean and mechanical engineering and biology. 

Through this gift, the Carlssons will support students who share their passion for the fields they pursued.

“This university has been very good for both of us,” Leif Carlsson said. “FAU is very vibrant with a great diversity of students, and it has been inspiring to work with them. It’s a very good feeling to make this gift.”

The gift establishes the Leif Carlsson Engineering Scholarship Endowment, to provide scholarships for students majoring in ocean and mechanical engineering, and the Seija Carlsson Biology Scholarship Endowment, to provide scholarships to biology majors. A portion of the gift will provide resources for student clubs and competitive teams within the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, including Owls Racing, the Marine Robotics Club, the Human Powered Submarine team and the Aerospace Experimental Association. 

Historical Society to host Summer Sips & Sounds

The Boca Raton Historical Society and The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, in collaboration with Festival of the Arts Boca, are bringing back the Summer Sips & Sounds series with music, history and community through curated live performances.

Each program draws inspiration from a distinct era of American music, offering a unique blend of storytelling, ambiance and connection.

Sips & Sounds lineup:

• July 2: Celebrate America: 250 Years in Song

Marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, this patriotic program will showcase iconic songs that reflect the American spirit — honoring history, unity and the evolving soundtrack of a nation.

• Aug. 20: Timeless Standards: The Songs of the 1930s

Experience the elegance of the 1930s through beloved standards that continue to resonate today, featuring enduring melodies that defined an era of classic songwriting.

• Sept. 17: Seventies by the Sea

Close out the series with a coastal-inspired tribute to the 1970s, blending feel-good favorites with laid-back summer energy.

The museum is at 71 N. Federal Highway. Additional details, including ticket information, event times, and featured performers, will be announced soon.

Annual Mayors Ball set for Oct. 24 at The Boca Raton

“Celebrating Boca’s Future” is the theme of this year’s Mayors Ball, to be held Oct. 24 at The Boca Raton. It is hosted by the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton, and all proceeds will benefit up to 20 local nonprofits.

Emcees will be Rotarians Alex Price and Amy Kemp. They will recognize the winners of four awards named in honor of three former mayors and the legendary Addison Mizner:

• The George Long Award (Large Business Category) pays homage to the city’s first mayor and will be presented to CP Group. In 40 years in business, CP Group has acquired, repositioned and operated more than 170 office and mixed-use properties. CP Group’s most notable holding is the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, historic home of IBM and the first PC, now housing dozens of companies. Founder and managing partner Angelo Bianco will receive the award.

• The J.C. Mitchell Award (Small Business Category) honors the city’s longest-serving mayor during its most turbulent time (the Great Depression and World War II). The award recognizes the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University. What began in 1985 is now recognized as South Florida’s innovation laboratory, bringing new discoveries to market. The Research Park encompasses 70 acres with 400,000 square feet of innovation that produces a $610 million impact on the local economy. Research Park President Andrew Duffell will accept the award.

• The Susan Whelchel Award (Best Nonprofit) is named after a beloved mayor who served six years and added much to the city in terms of education, art and economic development. The recipient is the Child Rescue Coalition, an international nonprofit headquartered in Boca Raton. 

CRC develops innovative technology, provided at no cost to law enforcement worldwide, to help prevent child abuse and exploitation and combat online sexual predators. To date, CRC’s technology has contributed to the arrests of more than 17,000 internet child predators globally, and the safeguarding of thousands of children. CEO Greg Schiller will accept the award.

• The Addison Mizner Award (Individual) reflects the enriching and enthusiastic spirit of Boca Raton’s most iconic resident from a century ago, whose name adorns many public places. The award is being presented to Daniel Hostettler, president and CEO, The Boca Raton. Since 2021, Hostettler has championed a monumental transformation of the city’s most treasured and valuable property into a world-class destination. Celebrating its centennial after being opened by Mizner in 1926, The Boca Raton is the only resort in the Americas to earn quadruple five-star status from the Forbes Travel Guide.

Single-ticket sales start Sept. 1. Corporate sponsorships are now available. Contact Bob Tucker at 561-289-0436 or 522btucker@gmail.com for a sponsorship packet.

Proceeds from last year’s event were distributed through Rotary’s Service Above Self grant program. Local nonprofits awarded SAS grants were Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse; American Association of Caregiving Youth; American Disabilities Foundation; Bigger Than Sports; Boca Ballet Theatre; Boca Raton Achievement Center; City House; Faulk Center for Counseling; Friendship House; The Hab Center; In Jacob’s Shoes; JARC Florida; Kindness Matters; Marine Education Initiative; Morning Day Community Solutions; No White Flags; Propel Inc.; Spirit of Giving Network; Sweet Dream Makers; Tomorrow’s Rainbow; Twin Palms Center, and Villages of Hope. 

Family help program starts in Palm Beach, Broward

Community Based Connections Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development, family strengthening and community empowerment services to underserved populations, has launched H.E.A.R.T. — Helping Every Area of Relationships Thrive — a family strengthening program in Palm Beach and Broward counties. 

This new five-year initiative, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, will help adults and couples strengthen relationships, improve parenting, and build family stability through workshops, personalized support, and services including child care, transportation and counseling.

Families in Broward and Palm Beach counties are eligible, including single parents, co-parenting partners, married or unmarried couples, expectant parents, and adults seeking to strengthen relationships, communication or family dynamics. There are no income restrictions, and participants may self-refer or be referred by partner agencies.

Participants receive:

• Relationship and parenting workshops (curriculum-based, at least 12 hours).

• Individualized case management and goal planning.

• Wraparound support such as child care, transportation and mental health counseling.

• An annual couples retreat and family building events.

• Job and career advancement support, in partnership with local organizations.

• Support with co-parenting, communication and conflict resolution.

For more information, call 954-643-6298, send an email to getconnected@communitybasedconnections.com, or visit communitybased
connections.com.

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

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County celebrated the 13th annual Moments Luncheon, honoring four decades of advancing maternal and infant health while attaining a record-breaking level of support. Panelists highlighted ongoing challenges, including declining access to early prenatal care and the complexity of navigating health care systems — barriers that disproportionately affect uninsured and underserved families. The discussion reinforced the role of HMHB’s programs, including prenatal care coordination, doula services, education and support groups, in closing gaps in care and improving outcomes. ABOVE: The HMHB leadership includes: (l-r) Daniel Lehrhoff, Dr. Helena De Carvalho, Neil Eisenband, Kathryn Rossmell, Lauren Whetstone, Amber Bautz, Nicole Hunt Jackson, Dr. Marsha Fishbane, Katrina Long-Robinson and Michelle Gonzalez. BELOW: Luncheon Chairs (l-r) Elizabeth McDonough, Allison Taylor and Rossmell. Photos provided by Coastal Click Photography

More than 300 guests gathered for the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center’s Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Department’s 11th annual Shine Like A Star Luncheon. The luncheon included a silent auction and a presentation by autism advocate Kaelynn Partlow, star of Netflix’s ’Love on the Spectrum.’  Proceeds support the more than 25 programs that provide resources and inclusive opportunities for individuals with special needs and their families throughout the community. ABOVE: (l-r) Alexis Frisch, Marty Haberer, Ali Landman, Steve Clarfield, Soniya Patel-Festa, Mark Gotlieb, Alan Nash and Cindy Bergman. Photo provided by Jeffrey Tholl

HomeSafe’s annual golf tournament raised more than $75,000, with all proceeds going toward protecting and empowering children and families who have endured trauma, and to help prevent child abuse and domestic violence. The organization is a leading provider of prevention and intervention services, serving more than 15,000 infants, children, young adults and families each year. HomeSafe is one of just five specialized therapeutic group care agencies in the state — and the only one in Southeast Florida. Winning the women’s flight was the team of Patty Larkin, Genevieve Murphy, Lori Smith and Lisa Ruth. The men's winning foursome was Logan Shalmi, Andrew Lerner, Marc Elkman and Danny Valencia. The winning team in the mixed foursome flight was Andrew Waldman, Ana Waldman, Kristen Bissett and Aric Waldman. ABOVE: (l-r) Golf ambassadors Phil Procacci, Jim MacCutcheon, Shalmi, Larkin, Pete Austin and Brooke Qualk. BELOW: Terri and Ben Kennedy. Photos provided by Tracey Benson Photography

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts welcomed members of its Dress Circle, Marquee Circle and Helen K. Persson Society for an evening of appreciation featuring Broadway performers, rising student artists and top supporters to highlight the impact of arts education in the community. ’Having so many of our devoted donors gathered here is a tremendous honor, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to personally express our appreciation to our members of the Dress Circle, Marquee Circle and Persson Society,’ said Kravis Center CEO Diane Quinn. The evening previewed the 2026-27 season and highlighted how donor support directly fuels world-class programming and education initiatives that reach thousands of local students each year. ABOVE: Irwin Kudman and Melanie Cabot. Photo provided by Capehart

The fifth annual fundraiser for the Delray Beach Historical Society featured cocktails, live art by Carol Calicchio, and a silent auction. Guests traversed the gardens and enjoyed food and music inside the three historic cottages, where exhibits offered glimpses into the early settlement now known as the Village by the Sea. ABOVE: (l-r) Hop and Ingrid Kennemer and Susan and Chris Edwards. BELOW: (l-r) Anne Whitehead, Carl Schramm and Charlotte Stetson. Photos provided by Matt Sturgess, 4th Avenue Photography

Boca Helping Hands has been selected as a recipient of an inaugural grant from the Boca Raton Foundation for Charitable Giving, the philanthropic arm of The Boca Raton. The iconic private club and resort has played a defining role in the community for a century, and continues to expand on that position with this award. The grant money comes from a portion of paid room night revenue. Boca Helping Hands was among 15 South Florida nonprofits recognized in the foundation’s first grant cycle, which distributed more than $150,000 to organizations working in food security, education and the well-being of women and children across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. ABOVE: (l-r) Steve King, Kori Ernst and Daniel Hostettler, president and CEO of The Boca Raton. Photo provided

Palm Beach Symphony’s seventh annual invitational raised nearly $100,000 to support music education and outreach programs. ’It was an honor to chair this year’s event,’ said Thomas D’Agostino Jr. ’Every golf swing provides a symphony of hope to create opportunities for children in our community.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Neil Kaufman, Michael Rudnick, Bill Boylan and Gary Levine. BELOW: (l-r) Joan Simpson, Patricia Pape, Sarmite Bulte and Janet Gusman. Photos provided by IndieHouse Films

Celebrating Florida Atlantic University’s 65th year, more than 1,000 friends of the university joined President Adam Hasner and first lady Jillian Hasner for Soirée 65 in support of student-success initiatives. The gala raised more than $2.5 million for government and nonprofit internships that are currently unpaid and otherwise wouldn’t exist, as well as housing scholarships. Soirée 65 was presented by Cathy and Abdol Moabery, and the gala co-chairs were Stacey Packer and Carrie Rubin. ABOVE: (l-r) Packer, Jillian Hasner and Rubin. Photos provided by FAU

L-R: Sharon Kusuke, Dick Schmidt and Christine E. Lynn.

L-R: Holli Rockwell Trubinsky and Joe Trubinsky.

The Rotary Club of Delray Beach hosted its second annual Kentucky Derby-style celebration that included a live viewing of the race, signature cocktails and a curated menu of Derby-inspired cuisine. The event raised more than $15,000 to fund 10 scholarships and provide essential items for nearly 100 children experiencing homelessness in the Delray Beach community. ’We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our community,’ said club President Rita Rana. ’This event is not only a fun celebration of tradition and style but a testament to what we can accomplish together when we invest in the future of our children.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Suzanne and Jeff Soderberg, David Cooke, Sydney Cooke and Olivia Cooke. Photo provided

Boca Raton’s most anticipated culinary tradition has proved again why it remains a highlight of the social season. The 23rd annual Boca Bacchanal brought together world-class vintners, chefs and passionate patrons for a weekend of food, fine wine and community spirit — all to support the Boca Raton Historical Society and The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum. ABOVE: (l-r) Russell and LeAnn Berman and Nicola and Stephen Verses. BELOW: (l-r) Al and Joni Goldberg and Joyce and Thom DeVita. Photos provided

’The Soul & Sound of Motown’ brought guests from across South Florida together to benefit the organization’s lifesaving mission and celebrate 30 years of rescuing abandoned and neglected dogs and cats. The organization is approaching the milestone of more than 100,000 animals rescued since its founding. ’This evening was such a joyful celebration of music, community and compassion,’ said Suzi Goldsmith, founder of Tri-County Animal Rescue. ’Seeing everyone come together to support animals in need while enjoying a fun and memorable night made it incredibly special.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Debbie Lindstrom, Nancy Pontius, Rob Zaleski and Margie Janiszewski. BELOW: Arthur Gutterman and Nijirah Alexander. Photos provided

Joda Cook, a vibrational sound therapist, and Tecia Linville, a musician and yoga teacher, utilize a didgeridoo, gongs and other instruments to offer a sound bath meditative experience. Photos provided

By Jan Engoren

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is hardly the first thing that comes to mind if you’re contemplating a bath.

We went for a bath there recently and found no luxurious tub laden with bubbles, no rubber duckies and no woman imploring “Calgon, take me away.” Also: Everybody had clothes on — comfortable clothes.

That’s because it wasn’t that kind of soak.

This was a different kind of bath — a sound bath.

Apropos to the location, there was art — a large glass chandelier, Big Brother, by Chinese dissident artist Song Dong — hanging in the corner of the museum’s bright and airy education room.

The primal, hypnotic sound of the didgeridoo floated through the air, led by musician and yoga teacher Tecia Linville (aka Sri Prabhavati Devi) and vibrational sound therapist Joda Cook. 

“We’re here to help you relax,” Linville told the group of 20 people stretched out on yoga mats or seated in chairs around the room. “We will share our hearts with you and help you keep your heart open. Life is better when we smile.”

A practitioner of Sivananda yoga, Linville sees her life’s mission as helping others reconnect with their own strength and rediscover the peace that lives within them. She has done this work in addiction recovery centers and mental health facilities and now at Boca Raton’s art museum.

A sound bath (or sound healing) is a meditative experience where participants are immersed in layers of different sounds, often done after a yoga class or on its own.

The practice has become popular in recent years as a way to help folks decompress, relieve stress and enter a meditative space.

Many of the instruments used in sound baths have old cultural roots and healing traditions and are meant to connect with the spirit world.

Using instruments tuned to 432 Hz — including Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, Native American drums and wooden flutes, gongs, crystal harps and pyramids, and a rare Indian metallophone that produces a pure svaram tone — Linville says the vibrations and frequencies help release tension, slow the nervous system, and guide the body into deeper relaxation and a heightened consciousness.

Cook says the low, resonant hum of the didgeridoo, an indigenous Australian instrument, creates vibrations that can be felt in the chest and can open the heart chakra.

Linville, who has been doing this for more than 25 years, met Cook at Hippocrates Wellness in West Palm Beach, where Cook was working as a sound therapist. The two have been working together for 15 years.   

Cook first encountered the didgeridoo at a Renaissance festival in Miami and took to the instrument immediately.

And, while definitive research into sound therapy is still developing, several studies point to its therapeutic potential. Washington University mindfulness researcher Diana Parra Perez notes that sound is perceived not only through the ears but also through body vibrations, which can deepen relaxation. 

Psychology Today’s research indicates that tension is significantly reduced following a sound bath, and negative mood states (such as depression and anger) can be substantially reduced.

Laura London, a Delray Beach personal trainer, uses singing bowls in her practice.

Another local sound healer is Laura London, a Delray Beach personal trainer. She uses singing (crystal) bowls in her sound baths and performs at various locations in South Florida. London describes sound baths as “a form of meditation — a way to train our brains to relax and enter a restorative state.” 

Practicing in a group, she says, creates “a beautiful sense of connectedness.” As the body relaxes, she adds, breathing slows, the heart rate drops and cortisol levels decrease.

Back at the museum, Linville begins the meditation with tinkling bells and sounds of the ocean, which soon segue into the bassoon-like sounds of the didgeridoo, handmade and carved by Cook. 

Hearing the instrument evoke sounds of wildlife, one can imagine the jungle with herds of elephants and other wildlife roaming around.

Boca Raton resident Beth Weiss, an avid tennis player, was at the session with her friend Peg Castronovo, a retired nurse originally from Buffalo, New York. While neither one of them had ever practiced yoga, they were intrigued by the description of the sound bath and decided to try it.

“My older sister is obsessed with sound baths,” says Weiss. “She encouraged me to come and try it.”

Although her mind wandered and various thoughts poked through, she says the sound of the didgeridoo resonated in her heart.

“This is a new experience for me,” she says. “I’d love to try it again — maybe the next time on a beach.”

For Weiss and Castronovo, the experience was less about understanding the mechanics and the meaning and more about being open to new experiences.

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

If You Go

What: Sound Healing at the Boca Raton Museum of Art

When: 3-4 p.m. June 13 

Cost: Members $20; non-members $40; register at bocamuseum.org/visit/events/sound-healing. 

Also: Reach Laura London at lauralondonwellness@gmail.com.

In celebration of National Nurses Week, May 6-12, Boca Raton Regional Hospital hosted a day of appreciation and wellness for its nurses. They were gifted complimentary makeovers, hair styling, nail and eyebrow services, massages, facials and meditation on behalf of the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation and Bloomingdale’s. 

***

Heather Havericak and Dr. Jacqueline Tutiven at the Go Red for Women event on cardiovascular health. Photo provided 

Event promotes women’s heart health

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women event was held in April in Palm Beach Gardens with more than 300 people attending. Go Red for Women aims to raise awareness and funds for women’s cardiovascular health. 

“Cardiovascular disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, and events like this one are essential to raising awareness and providing education so women understand their risks — and how to reduce them,” said Heather Havericak, Palm Beach Go Red for Women chair and chief executive officer of Delray Medical Center. 

Dr. Jacqueline Tutiven, medical director of Palm Beach Health Network Anesthesiology for Delray Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center, was named Woman of Impact. Valentina Mugica was named Teen of Impact. They were honored for their roles in fundraising, advocacy and championing heart health.

Two new systems for heart treatment

 Delray Medical Center now uses the new Abbott’s Volt Pulsed Field Ablation System to treat A-fib, with electrophysiologist Dr. Yoel Vivas performing the first procedure. Pulsed field ablation is different from thermal ablation, which has been the A-fib standard for decades. Pulsed field ablation disables the cardiac tissue causing A-fib, using high-energy electrical pulses rather than extreme temperatures. 

Delray Medical Center is also now using the Evoque Tricuspid Valve Replacement System, offering a treatment option for patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation. A historically underdiagnosed and undertreated condition, tricuspid regurgitation can lead to symptoms including fatigue, swelling and heart failure. 

Company on fast track to treat Alzheimer’s

 The Boca Raton biotechnology company INmune Bio received a Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for XPro, a therapeutic agent to treat Alzheimer’s in patients with biomarkers of neuroinflammation. 

“We believe XPro has the potential to significantly alter the trajectory of this devastating disease, and we look forward to working more closely with the FDA to bring this therapy to patients as efficiently as possible,” INmune Bio CEO David Moss said. 

INmune Bio completed a phase 2 clinical trial for XPro that showed the treatment had cognitive, behavioral and biological benefits for patients with inflammation. An integrated Phase 2b/3 trial will follow. Inflammation in the brain is a major cause of the development and progression of Alzheimer’s, and there are no FDA-approved drugs to treat it. 

By blocking a specific protein in the body that causes inflammation, XPro aims to reduce brain swelling and protect the brain from further damage.                                            

— Christine Davis

Meat Market’s 32-ounce tomahawk rib eye Australian wagyu offers a mouth-watering option for dear old dad on Father’s Day. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Taking dad out for a steak this year? Prepare for sticker shock if you haven’t sprung for a beef dinner in a while. Prices are up — way up —ahead of Father’s Day on June 21.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association reports consumer demand for beef is at a 40-year high, and the nation’s appetite has greatly outpaced supply. That has pushed prices up 16% from last year.

Chef Mark Militello, a former restaurant owner and now consultant, says the steak dinner that once carried a restaurant’s menu is now practically a loss leader because of its food cost.

The days of a $50 steak dinner in a restaurant are long gone, unless you dine at a national chain that follows a sales model of high volume over top quality.

Diners today can expect an average of around $55 for a small filet, $60 for a 12-ounce rib eye, and $150 for the caveman-like tomahawk rib eye.

But there’s a wide variance. 

Dinners at traditional steakhouses typically come with luxury ambiance, high-end wine lists, pro servers and a dress code. They cater to customers who want top cuts of USDA prime and imported wagyu meats.

The chains and indie restaurants are more casual, offer sides as part of the price with the USDA choice or lower-end prime steaks, and have limited wine lists.

At Longhorn Steakhouse in Delray Beach, part of the national chain, you can get Flo’s Filet — a 6-ounce filet mignon — for $27.79, served with a baked potato and house salad. 

Or you can pay $570 at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak in Delray Beach for three, 4-ounce portions of the exclusive A5 wagyu, including the snow beef.

Even within the top tier of Japanese wagyu, the snow beef is considered super premium by connoisseurs for its intense marbling. This gives the beef unctuous flavor and texture. The cachet comes from rare cattle raised on a specific ranch in Hokkaido, Japan, and Bourbon Steak is one of only 15 restaurants in the country that sell it.

We surveyed steakhouses and a few indie restaurants from Boca Raton to Boynton Beach where steak is on the menu to get a range of prices.

Note that on Father’s Day, some restaurants may offer specials that aren’t on the regular menus.

Meat Market, 2000 NW 19th St., Boca Raton. Meatmarket.net

High-energy modern steakhouse. A 12-ounce filet mignon is $72; the Linz prime reserve 14-ounce rib eye is $70; the 32-ounce tomahawk rib eye Australian wagyu is $175. Also featured is a 16-ounce kosher rib eye for $145. Steaks are a la carte.

Abe & Louie’s, 2200 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Abeandlouies.com

The traditional steakhouse with a Boston heritage offers prime meats. An 8-ounce filet mignon is $74.89, a 16-ounce boneless rib eye is $85.89, an 18-ounce bone-in New York strip is $79.29. A fan favorite side is the creamed corn.

New York Prime, 2350 NW Executive Center Drive, Boca Raton. NewYorkPrime.com

Steaks at this traditional, lively meat palace are prime, aged 28 days, and come with a charred, Pittsburgh-style crust. A 16-ounce NY strip is $75; the 22-ounce bone-in rib eye is $89, an 8-ounce filet is $61. The wagyu Manhattan, a thicker, 10-ounce version of a strip steak, is $78. The tomahawk rib eye is $150. Diners love the bread and onion rings here, too.

DeLuca’s Chophouse, 499 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Delucaschophouse.com

Modern Italian upscale steakhouse. The 12-ounce filet mignon is $74; the 16-ounce boneless wagyu rib eye is $95; a 14-ounce NY strip is $66. The 40-ounce tomahawk for two is $125. Lively vibe with nightly entertainment.

Gallagher’s Steakhouse, 2006 NW Executive Center Circle, Boca Raton. Gallaghersnysteakhouse.com

This import is a vibrant New York-style steakhouse. The 8-ounce filet mignon is $58; the USDA prime bone-in NY sirloin is $60, sliced. The porterhouse steak is $69 per person — served for two, three or four people. Steaks come with a blue cheese or bone-marrow crust for $4 more. A baked potato is $10, served a la carte.

Capital Grille, 6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Thecapitalgrille.com

A larger, upscale chain from Providence, Rhode Island, that features dry-aged steaks in a lively, modern setting. A 10-ounce filet mignon is $63, the dry-aged 14-ounce NY strip is $63, and the bone-in rib eye, 22 ounces, is $79. 

Morton’s Steakhouse, 5050 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton. Mortons.com

Traditional chain steakhouse with classic ambiance. The 8-ounce filet mignon is $62. A 16-ounce NY strip is $70, while a 36-ounce tomahawk rib eye “for the table” is $147.

Chops Lobster Bar, 101 Plaza Real South, Boca Raton. Chopslobsterbar.com

Large traditional chophouse with seafood and steaks. Black Angus filet mignon is $58 for an 8-ounce, and $72 for a 12-ounce. The 40-ounce porterhouse for two is $162. A 16-ounce bone-in NY strip is $82, and the tomahawk rib eye is $132. Spinach salad is made tableside.

Outback Steakhouse, 8841 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Locations.outback.com

This Tampa-based casual steakhouse chain is a favorite of families and travelers. Here, a 6-ounce filet mignon is $29.99; an 8-ounce is $34.99. The 20-ounce bone-in rib eye is $36.49; the 12-ounce NY strip is $26.79, and the 15-ounce Delmonico rib eye is $39.49. All dinners come with a potato and side dish.

Ke’e Grill, 17940 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Keegrillbocaraton.com

An upscale, casual restaurant featuring steaks and seafood. The 9-ounce filet mignon is $54.95; a 12-ounce rib eye is $54.95 — and these are served with a potato and vegetable. The spinach Maria is notable.

Avalon, 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Avalondelray.com

The indoor-outdoor dining room makes for a lively atmosphere at this upscale restaurant on the Avenue. Here they serve prime beef, both dry- and wet-aged.

Filet mignon is $56, served with garlic mash, spinach and peppercorn sauce. The 14-ounce rib eye is $59 and served with fingerling potatoes and asparagus and a red wine sauce. 

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, 601 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Hydeparkrestaurants.com

This bright club-like, mod steakhouse can get loud with the upscale date-night group. 

Prime, and both imported and domestic wagyu meats, are on the menu. An 8-ounce filet mignon is $59; the 12-ounce is $72. The bone-in 22-ounce rib eye is $85, and the 26-ounce, 36-day dry-aged bone-in rib eye is $98. A 14-ounce steak au poivre with Courvoisier cream is $74.

Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Bourbonsteakdelray.com

A Michelin chef is behind this modern steakhouse in the Seagate resort. The imported wagyu steaks are the priciest around, sold by the ounce. A Black Angus 8-ounce filet mignon is $61; the 12-ounce NY strip is $64. The Australian wagyu 6-ounce filet is $67. A 16-ounce Delmonico rib eye is $78; the 22-ounce bone-in rib eye is $105. The A5 Japanese wagyu is served in 4-ounce NY strip portions that are $32 per ounce. The same wagyu, rib eye cut, is $48 per ounce. Snow beef, a wagyu from Hokkaido, Japan, is $68 per ounce. A wagyu tasting trio of 4-ounce portions of three cuts is $570. 

Elisabetta’s, 32 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Elisabettas.com

Steaks at this high-energy Italian restaurant are bone-in, and dry-aged in-house. They’re served from a wood-fired grill. The bone-in, 16-ounce NY strip is $40, and the 24-ounce is $59. For the bone-in rib eye, the 16-ounce is $45, and the 24-ounce is $63. 

Longhorn Steakhouse, 1562 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. Longhornsteakhouse.com

This national chain serves full meals with its steaks. A craft-cocktail menu is in place. The “Outlaw” rib eye, 20 ounces bone-in, is $35.29; Flo’s 6-ounce filet mignon is $27.79; a porterhouse that can be shared is 22 ounces, at $37.99. The 12-ounce rib eye is $28.79. These are served with a baked potato and salad.

El Camino, 15 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach. Elcaminodelray.com

Mexican soul food dished up in a cantina atmosphere. The chile-rubbed steak served as fajitas is $32, and comes with all the fixings — guacamole, pico de gallo, cheese, peppers, onions and tomatoes, plus five tortillas. Diners can choose their steak temp. 

Prime Catch, 700 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach. Primecatchboynton.com

Steaks and seafood are served at the upscale-casual waterfront eatery. A 12-ounce NY strip is $65, and served with pommes puree, white onions, roast carrots and a bordelaise sauce. The petit filet mignon, 6 ounces, is $42 with one side. The throwback steak, a steak Diane, is $38. It’s filet medallions in a cognac cream, with asparagus and fingerling potatoes.

Driftwood, 2005 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Driftwoodboynton.com

At this casual, friendly eatery, steaks are part of a larger American menu. The grilled 12-ounce NY strip is served with creamed local kale in potato skins, beer-battered onion rings, and smoked tallow bordelaise, for $58. Upper choice meats, the top two-thirds of choice-grade meats, are used. The 44-ounce Creekstone Farm bone-in rib eye, grilled with broccolini and papas bravas, plus three sauces is $130. The steak takes one hour to prepare; it’s suggested to call ahead with the order.

Nicholson Muir, 480 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. Nicholsonmuir.com

Modern, intimate steakhouse with a Michelin recommendation using single-source ranches.

A 4-ounce prime Angus filet here is $68, and a center cut, 10-ounce is $96. The 16-ounce prime rib eye is $98, while the American wagyu rib eye, 16 ounces, is $175.

The Tomahawk Prime cut, a whopping 40 ounces, feeds four and is $285. The steakhouse serves Japanese A5 wagyu, 4 ounces, for $100.

All steaks are chargrilled to order. Don’t miss this side: Duck confit mac ’n’ cheese ($18).

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

Steak at home 101

For the DIY steak cookers, Cameron Falls of Beauregard’s Fine Meats and Butchery in Boca Raton has advice: “Splurge” for Father’s Day as a special occasion, since meat prices are still soaring. Consider it a gift to dad. Falls dry-ages all the meats he cuts by hand at Beauregard’s, 497 NE 20th St., and knows the butcher’s cuts are best.

Tips on buying:

• Look for quality — USDA Prime is the top 2% of beef in the U.S. Wagyu is considered the top imported meat, though domestic wagyu is gaining fans.                                

• You pay for shrinkage with wagyu because of its deep fat content.                                         

• Don’t dismiss grassfed. “I like to offer grassfed beef cuts,” Falls says. “It’s more interesting than wagyu.” The flavor is less iron-tasting, he says.                                                

• Don’t pay for showy tomahawk or cowboy steaks — you’re paying for bone. At $35 to $55 a pound, that’s money you can’t eat.                                      

• The most tender is the filet mignon; the flatiron is the second-most tender.                             

• Fans of steak frites at French bistros should buy the hangar steak.                               

• Buy extra — leftover steak is great, he said. Buy just under a pound per person.          

How to cook it for perfect results every time: 

“We recommend the reverse sear. Use a very good thermometer,” Falls says. And follow these steps:

1) “Get a thick steak for best results, and one weighing two or more pounds.”              

2) “Season the beef well. You can’t over-season a steak.”

3)  Insert the probe, and cook the steak in the oven at 225 degrees. Bring the interior temp to 115 to 118.                                            

4) “Take it out of the oven. Let it rest for 45 minutes. Set the oven to 500 degrees and cook for 10 minutes. It will be perfectly tender and pink all the way through.”                      

5) Let it rest on the cutting board briefly to allow the juices to settle, then slice it against the grain to present on the platter.”                            

6) Serve it with a compound butter, creamed spinach and a potato, and that’s a steak dinner fit for any father, Falls says.

Andy Rubin and Chuck van Buskirk show off their lobster haul during a mini-season. Divers are scouting possible lobster hangouts ahead of the July 29-30 mini-season this year. Photo provided

By Steve Waters

Lobster mini-season will be here before you know it, so now is the time to get ready for South Florida’s unofficial summer holiday.

The two-day lobster sport season, as it is officially known, is the last Wednesday and Thursday in July, which this year is July 29-30.

The mini-season is popular because it is the first chance to catch lobsters since the recreational and commercial lobster seasons closed on April 1, and the crustaceans are not as wary as they typically are when being constantly harassed by divers.

The other main attraction is that divers outside of the Florida Keys are allowed to catch 12 lobsters a day, which is twice the bag limit during the regular season, which starts Aug. 6.

As inviting as that is, too many scuba divers wait until the last minute to check out their equipment, which may not have been used since last year’s mini-season. The sooner you make sure your dive gear is ready for mini-season, the better.

If your equipment has issues — whether it’s a rotted gasket in a regulator or an air tank that needs to be visually inspected to make sure it’s safe — it can be next to impossible to find a dive shop a few days before mini-season that can do the work in time for you to hunt lobsters.

Those who plan to go out for mini-season on a charter dive boat can make their reservations now. The advantages of going with a charter boat include being dropped in the water where lobsters are known to hang out and knowing that the charter operators will check that their gear is ready.

“Usually we’re pretty on them before they get on the boat. Most of your charter boats are,” said Jeff Torode, of South Florida Diving Headquarters in Pompano Beach, which offers dive trips off Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. “We make sure they have all their dive equipment, all their lobster equipment and all their licenses. We’re going to make sure that they have what they’re supposed to have.”

In addition to readying your dive gear, it’s a good idea to make sure that you are in shape for mini-season. If you haven’t been diving for several months, get back in the water before mini-season. If you haven’t dived since last mini-season, or longer, you might want to take a refresher class.

“We’ll put you in the pool and take you out for a dive trip and get your skills back up to where they should be,” Torode said.

Spending time in the water before mini-season also gives you an idea of where lobsters are located.

Since the regular lobster season closed, some divers have been spearfishing for grouper and hogfish and keeping an eye out not only for lobsters, but places where lobsters might be next month.

If they see several lobsters hanging out in a coral reef or clustered under a ledge, the divers will pull down on their dive flags so their boat driver knows to mark the spot by hitting the man overboard button on the chart plotter.

Sometimes divers will see a hole with no lobsters, but lots of marine life, which could be a place that lobsters will move into when the mini-season begins at 12:01 a.m. on July 29.

If you see lionfish by a reef, mark that spot because lionfish love the same habitat as lobsters. And if you see a lobster before the mini-season, be prepared to shoot a lionfish with your speargun or pole spear.

Be advised that some spots that have lots of lobsters now might have only a few when mini-season begins. But sometimes lobsters will hang out in the same place for weeks.

A dive buddy once found a spot loaded with lobsters two months before mini-season. He checked it on a regular basis, and it remained loaded. On the first day of mini-season, he and his crew all got their 12-lobster limits from that one spot.

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

Michael Fatigante and his father, Kyle Fatigante, stroll the new Storybook Trail at Barwick Park. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Faran Fagen

You can enjoy an underwater pizza party as you stroll along Storybook Trail at Barwick Park. You just have to use your imagination.

Crafting creativity is just what the city of Delray Beach and its Kiwanis Club had in mind when the storytelling trail debuted on April 13.

Children’s book author Mike Lowery’s Pizza Shark: A Fin-tastic Feast, is the first book to adorn the walking path for young children — and their parents and grandparents — to enjoy at no cost.

“It’s a wonderful way for families to enjoy walking and reading together, and helps foster the love of reading,” said Diane Colonna, president of the Delray Beach Kiwanis Club. “It also builds the relationships between parents, grandparents and children.”

As visitors walk along the trail at 735 Barwick Road, they’ll encounter 16 stations displaying pages from a children’s book, creating a fun and engaging reading adventure in nature. 

“It’s educational value, physical value and entertainment value,” said Joel Davidson, chairman of the Storybook Trail committee. “We intend to instill a love of reading with this project.”

Delray Beach Kiwanis Club member Joel Davidson, who envisioned the project with the city, brings hard copies of the book on display to hand to visitors.

Each book will remain for three months, offering a fresh reading adventure each season.

The trail caters to children  in kindergarten through third grade — but the large visuals and pictures can appeal to everyone. 

The second book to be displayed on the trail this summer will be Ross Burach’s Make Way for Butterfly, a riotous adventure in the Very Impatient Caterpillar series.

The third and fourth books, in the latter half of 2026, are about learning sign language and a penguin who dreams of being an astronaut, respectively. The committee is in the process of picking out books for 2027.

Storybook Trails have been popping up in all 50 states and 12 countries. Local schools, and even day-care facilities, can use the trails for educational and physical fitness purposes.

Davidson, who moved to Delray Beach from Tamarac in 2021, enjoyed the storybook trail at Tamarac’s Waters Edge Park, and hoped to create another trail in Delray Beach.

“People aren’t reading as much anymore,” Davidson said. “People don’t have books at home. It’s important to see words and pictures in front of them. It’s educational.”

In 2022, Davidson approached the city with the idea. A $4,500 grant was procured from Kiwanis, which the city matched. In November 2024, the project was approved.

In March 2026, the concrete was laid for 18 stations. The first station is a welcome board, the final station is a “thank you for coming” board, and the 16 stations in between are the pages of the chosen book.

The stations are durable enough to be weatherproof, and the pages are made of polystyrene, a material that is lightweight, flexible, and both water- and tear-resistant.

On April 13, Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney and other city dignitaries and Kiwanis officials wielded a huge pair of scissors to cut the red ribbon to officially open the trail.

City Manager Terrence Moore lives just a few miles from Barwick Park and visits often. He’s thrilled to see so many families read along the trail.

“It’s an opportunity to expose residents to literature that they would not have available otherwise,” Moore said.

Amy Hanson, parks and recreation assistant director, championed the project.

“It’s something we’re all proud of,” Moore said. “We hope young people and people of all ages can enjoy this and contribute to our parks and recreation environment.”

Davidson has frequented the Storybook Trail since the ribbon-cutting to see his vision come to life. He often brings hard copies of Pizza Shark, hands them out to excited children, and delights in seeing them smile.

He even made stickers that say, “I walked the Story Trail at Barwick Park at Delray Beach” to hand out. 

“Our mission at Kiwanis is ‘one child and one community at a time,’” Davidson said.

For Colonna, the trail provides a much more direct message: “It’s a way to combine a love of nature with a love of reading,” she said. 

For more information, contact Parks and Recreation at 561-243-7250, Option 3.

Bibletown, which held its first conference 75 years ago, at its peak attracted hundreds of thousands of Christians to Boca Raton each year. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine 

Before it was Boca Raton Community Church, it was called Bibletown. 

The real name was the Boca Raton Bible Grounds Conference Center, but evangelist Billy Graham nicknamed it Bibletown, and the name stuck. 

Founded in 1950 by Dr. Ira Lee “Doc” Eshleman, a Detroit pastor who hosted a radio program in Miami, it was built on what had been a World War II radar base. Eshleman converted the former Army Air Corps installation into a seasonal mecca for the faithful who came from all over to sing and pray. The first conference took place in July 1951, but most events happened from January to March. It looked more like a resort than a church campus with visitors staying in motel rooms and swimming in the sparkling blue pool.  

Thousands of people came to see nationally known speakers and performers. According to a story in the Boca Raton Tribune, “Bibletown became one of the largest Christian conference centers in the world, drawing approximately 200,000 annual visitors. At its peak, the campus included 110 motel rooms, multiple dining halls, and a 2,500-seat sanctuary built in 1969.” 

Eshleman also catalyzed the development of Boca Raton, especially areas surrounding his Bible Center, but his wider reach came from founding Sports World Ministries to help professional athletes share their faith. He became a chaplain for the National Football League and was the first to hold pregame chapel services.

In 1976, a fire destroyed the original radar building, the cafeteria and the conference center. But within a few years, the campus had been rebuilt and in 1981 Billy Graham returned to Bibletown to formally dedicate the new buildings. 

As the end of the 20th century approached, attendance began to fall off. The church’s sprawling campus on both sides of Northwest Fourth Avenue south of Glades Road was in disrepair. “Staffing was minimal, and buildings deteriorated. Electrical and sound systems had not been updated since the 1950s,” the Sun Sentinel wrote in 2006. The church sold most of its land, keeping about 20 acres. 

In 2003, the Rev. Jonathan Burnham came on board and the church reorganized with a new worship style, new leadership and a new philosophy. Burnham spent the next three years revamping the renamed Boca Raton Community Church into “a year-round operation that emphasizes nondenominational, contemporary worship for local residents,” according to the Sun Sentinel. 

Around the same time, Bill Mitchell came on board as an assistant pastor, but he’d been a member of the church for years. Mitchell is one of those rare Floridians who can trace his lineage back three generations on both sides, and the family had roots in the church. 

“Boca Raton Community Church is the church where I grew up,” he said in an interview with Good News Florida in 2018. “When my wife moved here from Jamaica, she started attending this church as well. We were seniors in high school when we met and later were married in this church. I was an elder and Sunday School teacher.”

After 25 years in real estate development, Mitchell became a full-time pastor, leading BRCC with the skill he used in the business world. In 2014, he started CityLead Boca to use his expertise in a new way. 

Mitchell discovered that most leadership principles are found in Jesus’ teachings. He invited local business leaders to lunch and spoke about ethical leadership, Christian character and civic unity. The ministry grew, drawing as many as 350 people each month. Familiar themes include “Leading with Justice, Mercy, Humility and Authenticity.” 

It didn’t happen overnight, but CityLead, Mitchell and BRCC raised the ethical bar. CityLead chapters opened in Fort Lauderdale and Miami and 20 other cities around the nation, and WorldLead, an international spin-off, became active in 40 countries.

“If I helped people pursue God, build community and engage the world, I would have done what I think God has called me to do,” Mitchell said. 

Senior pastor Matthew McDaniel, who replaced Mitchell when he left to join the board of directors at the nonprofit Food for the Poor in 2024, agrees that the community is the heart of the church.

“It’s hard, maybe even be impossible, to be a Christian on your own,” he said. “You need to be a part of a community.  

“In the Book of Galatians, Paul talks about the fruit of the spirit, and we’ve got this list of characteristics that are supposed to be evidence that God lives within you, as a Christian. We ask, which one of these fruits — there are nine of them: it’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — can be completed successfully in isolation? 

“We were designed to be in relationships,” McDaniel said. “From the very beginning, we’ve been connected with other people.”

McDaniel doesn’t want to discourage people who like to stream the weekly service, but in-person church works better, he says. It’s the energy. 

“On a given Sunday, we have somewhere around 600 adults and another 150 kids or so, plus tons of volunteers serving all over the place. I think there’s something special when people are together physically that you just can’t get otherwise.” 

Imagine a Zoom meeting, he said. “If you were sitting across from me, it would be a different experience. There is a different feeling, I think especially when you’re talking about a faith community.” 

God wants us to be part of our community, McDaniel said. “Examples of God’s people being called to live in a community with one another fill the Old and New Testament. Loving your neighbors, being hospitable to strangers, caring for the sick, welcoming the aliens. There’s a whole list of things that we can talk about, but definitely community is important from many perspectives.” 

There’s another reason we need a community, he said. It’s where we find our inspiration — the people we want to emulate. McDaniel believes that by imitating Christ and the most Christ-like people in our lives, we can mold ourselves into better people. “I’ve had lots of people who have helped me in my journey,” he said. “Too many to name.” 

They fall into three categories: those who walk in front of us, beside us and behind us. Our mentors walk in front — like Mitchell, who was senior pastor at the church when McDaniel came. They have a moral foundation and ethics we admire and help guide us forward. For those who walk behind us, we are the guides, and we are called to be better people as role models for them. 

But those who walk beside us, our peers, our friends, our helpers, our mates, may do the most to mold us into the people we are meant to be, and the best place to find them may be next to you in the pew. 

Boca Raton Community Church is at 470 NW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. Services take place at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. 561-395-2400; bocacommunity.org.

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

For many churches, summer vacation is synonymous with Vacation Bible School. Educators like Christine Yount Jones, executive editor of Children’s Ministry magazine, says even a 2-year-old can be taught to understand God’s blessings and benefit from VBS. 

Jones tells the story of the “Blessing of the Owie,” a way to get kids to open up and see God in their young lives. 

“We start by showing an owie on our body — a scraped knee or cut on our hand. Then we tell what happened. We also talk about how amazing God is that he has created our bodies to heal. Then we ask the little ones if they have an owie. All of them begin scanning their feet, legs and arms for owies,” she said. 

“Then we take turns praying for and blessing the owies, asking God to heal the owie.”

Showing kids that God is a vital and personal part of their daily lives can’t start too early, Jones said. 

And those lessons stick, according to a 2025 article in Bible Analysis: “VBS not only plants seeds of faith but also nurtures lasting connections within the church community,” it said. “Moreover, VBS can stimulate ongoing participation in church life. Many children who attend VBS become involved in other church activities, such as youth groups, Sunday school, or family services.” 

Here’s what’s happening at five local churches. Check with your church or a church near you for more programs.

First United Methodist Church’s VBS will shine a light ‘on who Jesus really is’ June 8-12. Image provided

First United Methodist Church hosts “Illumination Station,” designed to shine a light “on who Jesus really is,” 9 a.m.-noon June 8-12 at the church, 625 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. The VBS is open to all potty-trained children 3 years old through fifth grade. The cost is $50 per child but you can save $10 per child if you volunteer for the week. Call 561-395-1244 or visit fumcbocaraton.org/category/summer-programs/.

Boca Raton Community Church will host “Shine,” an evening adaptation of VBS, 6-8 p.m. June 15-18 for children entering pre-K through sixth grade in the main sanctuary of the church at 470 NW Fourth Ave. This high-energy, faith-filled summer experience helps kids grow their love for the Lord through Bible studies disguised as fun. This year’s theme is “God sees my heart,” based on 1 Samuel 16:7b: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” The cost is $30 per child. Call 561-395-2400 or register at bocacommunity.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1069/responses/new.

St. Paul’s Episcopal VBS transforms the campus into a theme park of fun and learning from 8:45 a.m. to noon June 8-11. This attracts almost as many volunteers as campers, the church said, because the learning doesn’t stop with kids. Adults also expand their understanding of Bible stories through creative play like skits, songs, crafts and games. A service project is often connected to the themed activities; one summer, after learning of the Apostle Paul’s imprisonment, children wrote notes of encouragement to people serving time in jail. St. Paul’s is at 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Cost is $45 per child, from pre-K to those entering fourth grade. Call 561-276-4541 or visit tinyurl.com/5bs3pc8t to register.

Emmanuel Catholic Church will have a rainforest theme for its VBS, June 5-7. Kids will be immersed in “Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God,” a fun, faith-filled adventure for kids in pre-K through fifth grade. Registration is $50 per child, and family assistance is available. Volunteers are also needed, and teens are welcome — they can earn service hours while making a difference. The church is at 15700 S. Military Trail, Delray Beach. Call 561-496-2480 or go to emmanuelcatholic.church.

St. Paul Lutheran Church will also host a “Rainforest Falls” VBS, 9 a.m.-noon June 8-12 at the church, 701 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Kids will visit Rainforest Falls, overflowing with waterfalls and colorful creatures, to discover the nature of God. Kids explore what it means to be rooted in a relationship with God, who is their safe place in life’s storms. Contact Christie Secreto at 561-395-0433 or csecreto@stpaulboca.com.

The Mormon Church recently purchased Uptown Boca Villas at 20927 95th Ave. S. Photo provided

Mormon Church expands its Palm Beach County footprint  

The Mormon Church is expanding its Palm Beach County properties with the acquisition of the Uptown Boca Villas complex, according to a story in Florida Real Estate Wire in May.

Located near U.S. 441 and Glades Road, the 456-unit, seven-story building was purchased by the LDS Property Reserve, the real estate arm of the church, for $240 million. It’s not the group’s first purchase. 

In summer 2025, the Property Reserve paid $152.5 million for the 384-unit Del Ola apartment complex on Federal Highway in Boca Raton. It also bought the 284-unit Elan Polo Gardens on Chukka Lane in Wellington at the end of 2024 for $102 million. The Mormon Church’s residential real estate holdings now total about half a billion dollars in Palm Beach County. 

Rabbi Hector Epelbaum wins prestigious award  

In May, Rabbi Hector Epelbaum of B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton was the recipient of the 2026 Rabbi Dr. Barry and Anita Kinzbrunner Award, which is presented by the Neshama Association of Jewish Chaplains. It recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary compassion, dedication to pastoral care and a lifelong commitment to acts of loving kindness. It is one of the association’s highest honors. 

Rabbi Epelbaum has served in Conservative pulpits for more than 33 years in Argentina, Israel and the United States. Raised in Buenos Aires, he worked in Netanya in Israel before coming to South Florida in 2014 as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel in Sunrise. He came to B’nai Torah in June 2023 as an associate rabbi. 

Myrna Gross named  Volunteer of the Year

On April 28, at B’nai Torah’s 2026 general meeting, members approved the annual budget and welcomed the incoming board. But the highlight of the evening was recognizing Myrna Gross as the 2026 Volunteer of the Year. 

For more than 40 years, Gross has been a devoted member and volunteer, giving generously of her time, energy and heart. A Facebook post said the honor recognized “Myrna’s tireless dedication and lasting impact on our synagogue community. ... Whenever there is a need, she steps forward — and when asked, she is always ready to answer the call.”

Yoga programs offered at St. Gregory’s church

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, continues to offer two programs that combine movement and prayer. At 4 p.m. June 18, Yoga and Sacred Movement mixes gentle stretching movements and breath work with reflection on scripture and prayer. The program is led by parishioner and yoga instructor Daphne Lombardo under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Robyn Neville and is open to seniors and families. Bring your yoga mat and water.

At 4 p.m. June 27, join YogaMass in St. Mary’s Chapel, a combination of graceful yoga, words of faith and contemplative meditation with Neville and the Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren leading. Bring your yoga mat and water. Call 561-395-8285 or email rneville@st-gregorys.com. 

Juneteenth celebration returns to St. Gregory’s 

St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church’s “Juneteenth Celebration: Celebrating Freedom” takes place 5-8 p.m. June 20 at the church. The event begins in the sanctuary and is followed by a potluck dinner in Harris Hall. (Please bring a dish to share. Ethnic dishes are encouraged.)

Music is by the Resurrection Steel Pan Orchestra. Donations are welcomed. St. Gregory’s is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Call 617-461-3122 or visit stgregorysepiscopal.org/juneteenth.

— Janis Fontaine