Manalapan will have no municipal election in March because the candidates for the open seats qualified without opposition.

The town has confirmed that the following individuals qualified for office in November as required, and that no one else filed in any of their respective races:

Commissioner Orla Imbesi (Seat 2)

Commissioner Dwight Kulwin (Seat 4)

Mayor Pro Tem Elliot Bonner (Seat 6)

All three were appointed to the commission when others resigned in 2023 because of Form 6, which required new state financial disclosures of elected municipal officials — requirements that were ultimately placed on hold due to a court challenge.

Their new terms, which start in March, expire in March 2028.

Imbesi works for several family businesses, Bonner is a Florida Power & Light executive, and Kulwin is a retired ophthalmologist.

— John Pacenti

OCEAN RIDGE — Don Young died Nov. 23 while in hospice care at his home in Ocean Ridge, with his family by his side. He was 89.

Mr. Young was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 12, 1936, to his loving parents, Donald John Young and Elizabeth Cowan Young. He was the elder brother and lifelong supporter and guardian of Tim. Tim’s struggle with serious health issues, which began with his birth, made Mr. Young empathetic to the difficulties and hardships of people from all walks of life.

Donald Soutar Young matriculated at the University of Michigan. This set the ground for a lifetime in Michigan, as well as a lifetime of devotion to all things “Blue.” The phrase “Ohio State” was not considered polite conversation in his company.

At Michigan, Mr. Young undertook intellectual pursuits and by senior year he was president of the Michigan Union, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society and a Navy ROTC midshipman. 

While at Michigan, Mr. Young met Laila Sadi. It was love at first sight and led to their marriage after college. 

Following graduation with highest academic honors, Mr. Young was accepted at Harvard Law School but first entered the Navy. His service led to sea duty on a destroyer home-ported at Newport, Rhode Island. 

The couple’s quarters in Newport were well known among Mr. Young’s fellow officers as a place for an enjoyable story and cocktails; it is thought that the coordinates of their place were logged on the charts hung in the wardrooms of visiting Navy vessels. 

Following law school, Mr. Young accepted a position in the Detroit-based firm Dykema Gossett, where he rose to run the firm’s litigation practice. He mentored scores of young lawyers who went on to constructive careers, including prominent jurists. 

Mr. Young particularly promoted the career aspirations of young women attorneys, as he understood the significant roadblocks women faced seeking to build a substantive career.

Don and Laila first came to the Ocean Ridge area in the early 1970s, attracted by its low-key charm and stunning beauty.

He took important roles at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the ALAS legal/insurance group, the National Service Organization and as a founding trustee of the Florida Coalition for Preservation in Boynton Beach, where he helped lead the fight against untrammeled development of South Florida’s beautiful coastline.

Later in life, Mr. Young suffered from atopic dermatitis, a serious form of eczema. He joined the National Eczema Association and became chairman of its board. Today, we have effective treatments and far greater understanding of the disease, thanks to efforts he coordinated.

Mr. Young leaves behind his beloved wife, Laila; his children, Sarah and her husband; Jamie; and Donald and his wife, Jane; and his adoring grandchildren, Harry O’Donnell, Jack O’Donnell, Wheeler Young, Charlie Young and Honor O’Donnell.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers “and if anyone would wish to do so in Mr. Young’s memory,”contributions may be made to the National Eczema Association (www.nationaleczema.org).

— Submitted by the family

ALSO IN THE WORKS: Highland Beach is seeking state funds to install embedded lights on its A1A crosswalks, like this one in Deerfield Beach. The lights activate when a pedestrian pushes a button before crossing. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach is hoping the Florida Legislature will send $750,000 its way, with a lot of the money going to fix a problem it says the state created during its State Road A1A construction project.

In November, the town submitted a request for the funds to the legislature, hoping to use $300,000 to install embedded lights in the eight crosswalks on A1A — with the rest of the money going to resurface and raise the town’s 3-mile sidewalk.

The A1A project started almost a year and a half ago and is months behind schedule. But with the completion near, Town Manager Marshall Labadie says water sometimes floods the sidewalk because the surface of the highway has been raised too high, creating a safety problem.

Pedestrians are forced to walk on the shoulder to the traffic lane or the edge of the roadway, an area that is used by bicyclists and motorists.

“It’s a confluence of different kinds of users on a roadway that isn’t built for that,” he said.

In addition, Labadie said there are sections of the sidewalk that Florida Department of Transportation contractors improved but other sections that were not touched.

“The town may replace the whole sidewalk and move it up to standards,” he said.

The town manager said raising the sidewalk would keep water coming off the road in the swales.

“The goal is to reduce flooding on the walking path during smaller and more frequent rain events,” he said.

At least one town commissioner said raising the sidewalk may not be enough.

Commissioner Jason Chudnofsky said he supports the town’s request for the allocation but is not sure swales will be able to handle water from heavy rains coming off the raised road and the raised sidewalk at the same time.

“I would like to have an engineer come and tell me how this is going to solve the problem,” he said.

Chudnofsky believes if the swales are full, residents will be forced to walk in the shared portion of the road or in the water if bicyclists are using the 5-foot-wide bike lane.

“There’s something wrong with that,” he said.

Labadie said the town will be matching the $450,000 to address the sidewalk issue if state funding comes through.

The town manager said he hopes the town will be able to add embedded lighting to the town’s eight pedestrian crosswalks if the appropriation is approved. If the state doesn’t approve the funding, the town could consider funding the project on its own.

The town has already installed pedestrian-activated flashing signs at the crosswalks with lights that shine on the crosswalks. The embedded lights, also pedestrian activated, would add one more alert to motorists that a pedestrian is using the crosswalk.

Labadie said the town would wait until the A1A construction project is finished before installing the lights.

FDOT officials say the project is scheduled to be completed sometime in December, a number of months later than the original target completion date of this past summer. 

WELLINGTON — Charles Andrew Elmore, a reporter at the Palm Beach Post for 30-plus years and more recently a freelancer for The Coastal Star, died Oct. 30 at his home in Wellington, less than three months after diagnosis with metastatic colon cancer. He was 62.

He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, journalist and sports fan. 

Mr. Elmore was born on Sept. 13, 1963, in Titusville, where his parents — Mary Wallace Hollingsworth of Sylvania, Georgia, and Albert Earl Elmore of Forest, Mississippi — had been recruited to teach school during the “space boom.” His only sibling, John “Jay” Edward Elmore, was born in 1967. 

He spent his childhood in several Southern locales, including Nashville, Tennessee; Cleveland, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; and his most cherished place of all, the beloved family cabin on Brier Creek near Sylvania. He graduated in 1981 from Prince Edward County High School in Farmville, Virginia, where he was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and a three-sport athlete — in football, basketball and tennis.

Mr. Elmore graduated magna cum laude from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he majored in English. He served as editor-in-chief of The Sewanee Purple his senior year of college. During his college summers, he interned at The Washington Times and The Atlanta Constitution. 

If there are natural-born journalists, Mr. Elmore surely was one. He was a true believer in freedom of the press, journalistic integrity, and the centrality of both for a democratic society. At age 10, he persuaded his teacher to let him start a newsletter, The Fifth-Grade Times, which prominently featured his editorial columns expressing disappointment and dismay over President Nixon and the Watergate scandal.

Mr. Elmore became a business reporter for The Palm Beach Post in 1986, accepted a position with The Atlanta Constitution in 1987, and, after marrying Jenifer Lynn Bobo in 1988, he worked for a year as a foreign freelance reporter while the couple traveled the world during his wife’s Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.

Mr. Elmore returned to The Palm Beach Post in 1989 and worked for the paper until his retirement in 2019. He wrote news and feature stories for multiple beats and sections. He served for a time as the Post’s Tallahassee bureau chief; covered multiple Grand Slam tennis tournaments including Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the French Open; and handled special investigations along with his business and government news coverage. 

More recently, he reported on a freelance basis for the Town-Crier in Wellington and The Coastal Star.

He received numerous awards for his coverage, including a National Headliner Award in 2003, a Best of Cox Award in 2001 from the Post’s then parent company, and multiple first-place awards in annual competitions — including one in January from the Florida Press Club for his 2024 Coastal Star piece on predatory parking rates in downtown Delray Beach private lots.

He loved history, true crime narratives, detective fiction, stoic philosophy, rock and blues music, stand-up comedy, the many Jack Russell terriers that he and Jenifer adopted, and, of course, sports. He was a passionate, lifelong fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team and the University of Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball team.

Besides his wife and brother, Mr. Elmore is survived by daughters Martha Hollingsworth “Holly” Elmore of San Francisco and Shelby Elizabeth Elmore of Stuart; son Andrew John Elmore of Wellington; and many extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his mother in 1997 and his father in 2016.

A funeral service was held Nov. 4 at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wellington, with burial Nov. 8 at Screven County Memorial Cemetery in Georgia.

Donations in Mr. Elmore’s honor may be made to Journalism Funding Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the depth, diversity and sustainability of local journalism, at www.jfp-local.org.

— Submitted by the family

By Rich Pollack

The Highland Beach Police Department recently reached a major milestone, having achieved a “flawless inspection report” from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation for the second consecutive time.

Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann said that three inspectors from the commission, which provides accreditation status to police departments throughout the state, found that the department scored perfectly on a detailed set of standards and regulations during the recent inspection.

The chief says accreditation is a coveted recognition of a department’s overall excellence, competence and professionalism.

“The residents and employees of Highland Beach can take pride in knowing that their agency represents the best in law enforcement,” he said.

Hartmann said the inspectors spent three days in town reviewing the department’s policies and procedures and checking to make sure they are followed. The team also reviewed the department’s training process and spent time interviewing members of the department as well as some residents.

“This is our barometer to show how we’re doing,” the chief said.

The commission, which recertifies departments every three years once they become accredited, found the Highland Beach agency to have a flawless inspection in 2022 as well as this year.

The department first became accredited in 2016 and was also recertified, but not as flawless, in 2019.

The Highland Beach police’s success in achieving flawless inspections, the chief said, is due in large part to the efforts of training and accreditation manager Eric Aronowitz, who oversees the process.

Hartmann said he was especially pleased to hear the inspectors share his staff’s views about the culture in the department.

“They made it a point to comment on how impressed they were with the culture they felt exists in the department and the level of commitment they saw,” he said. 

Visitors admire the new mural by artist Brian Butler and read the words and phrases that can be projected onto the Count de Hoernle Amphitheater at Mizner Park. Photo provided

As part of the city’s centennial celebrations, a new mural created by artist Brian Butler is now displayed on the Mizner Park Amphitheater stage doors.

Officials unveiled the “Ode to Boca” mural on Nov. 25 during a ceremony hosted by the city’s Public Art Boca program in collaboration with the O, Miami poetry organization.

The mural showcases key city features, including Addison Mizner architecture, the Intracoastal Waterway, a sunbather on a beach, a sea turtle and a ship.

Attendees met Butler, who is based in Miami, and saw poetry created by city residents in honor of the centennial.

Residents were encouraged to write five-line poetic tributes to the city, with the number of words in each line based on residents’ ZIP code numbers.

Words and phrases from the poems will be projected onto the stage doors after sunset.

The event was one of the last that will celebrate this year’s centennial. On Dec. 6, the city will debut new public art at Wildflower Park and bring back the Mi Casa, Your Casa swings that drew many residents to the Intracoastal park downtown earlier this year.

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

— Mary Hladky

Candace Friis and her son, Phil Friis, have been part of the five highest-priced home sales in Gulf Stream in 2024 and 2025, including a town-record $39 million deal. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

When it comes to knowing the Gulf Stream real estate market, Candace and Phil Friis are second to none.

The mother-son duo, agents with the Corcoran Group, have been involved in the top five residential transactions in the town over the past two years.

That includes the all-time top price for a home in Gulf Stream — the $39 million, June 2024 sale of the oceanfront home at 3223 N. Ocean Blvd., where they  represented both the buyer and seller.

“We’re a great team,” Candace Friis said, grateful that the youngest of her three children had the same interest in the real estate market.

“It’s the best ever,” she said of their working relationship. “He’s got my back all the time. And I’ve got his back.”

 The two in October were part of the $15.914 million sale of 8 Driftwood Landing, which was the fifth-highest sale in town during 2024 and 2025. Once again, they represented the buyer and the seller.

The other three top sales in the past two years:

• The second-highest purchase price was $22 million for 3435 N. Ocean Blvd. in September, with the Friises representing the seller, Bon Property LLC. The home actually makes the recent top-priced list twice — in fourth place as well — with the team also having brokered its April 2024 sale for $21 million.

• The $21.625 million sale of 1443 N. Ocean Blvd., better known as the Lila Vanderbilt Webb estate, in September ranks third. The Friises represented the buyer, Commodore Gulfstream LLC, which purchased the house from the family of the late Robert Ganger.

What’s it like holding the town’s priciest sale?

“It is an honor to have represented the highest sale ever for Gulf Stream, surpassing our previous record representations and continuing to solidify this exclusive enclave as one of South Florida’s most coveted locations,” Candace Friis said.  

The home itself did have something to do with it.

Phil Friis credited “the exceptional location, substantial size and breathtaking views of the property” for helping it bring top dollar.

***                             

Developer and former Manalapan Mayor Stewart Satter has rethought how to market his ocean-to-lake property in town at 1960 S. Ocean Blvd. 

Last January, he listed it for $285 million, as a proposed new-construction mansion that buyers could customize.  

Those plans were for a 54,570-total-square-foot estate with an eight-bedroom main house and guest house on the lakeside parcel, with a beach house on the ocean side. A tunnel under State Road A1A would connect the two parcels. 

Satter is now also listing the property at $75 million as a land offering to go with the plans he had drawn up last year. 

Douglas Elliman listing agent Nick Malinosky confirmed: “Based on the feedback from last season from interested buyers about acquiring the land as well as the from the brokerage community, we are offering it both ways.”

***                              

Mark Pulte of homebuilder Mark Timothy Inc. sold his newly built, 14,000-square-foot mansion at 701 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, for $59 million in October. The buyer was the 701 South Ocean Trust with BNY Mellon as trustee. 

This beats the city record-setting sale this past July, a 12-bedroom, 19,055-square-foot residence at 2325 S. Ocean Blvd., which sold for $51.12 million.

On more than an acre with 120 feet on the ocean, the six-bedroom estate at 701 S. Oceanwas crafted by Mark Timothy Luxury Homes with interiors by Jeffrey Strasser. Pulte acquired the site in 2020 for $11.05 million and completed the home in 2023. 

It was listed by Pascal J. Liguori and Carmen N. D’Angelo of Premier Estate Properties. Pascal J. Liguori and Antonio G. Liguori of Premier Estate Properties represented the buyer. 

***                              

Saily Perkins sold her Delray Beach oceanfront seven-bedroom, 9,761-square-foot mansion at 1171 S. Ocean Blvd., for $29.625 million. Perkins is the widow of AshBritt Environmental founder Randy Perkins. 

The new owner is Sunset Pine Trust, with attorney Elana Bronson as trustee. The home  last traded for $18 million in 2021. 

Built on the 0.9-acre site in 1994, the home was recently renovated by builder Mouw Associates with interiors designed by Marc Michaels Interiors. Agents Nick Malinosky and Michael O’Connor of Douglas Elliman represented the seller in the deal, while the Matt Moser and  Nick Gonzalez team at Serhant worked with the buyer.

***                              

Florida Atlantic University’s Arthur and Emalie Gutterman Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education recently hosted its annual Educator Awards Dinner at the Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center. The dinner celebrated the work of K-12 teachers supported by the Gutterman center and honored the 2024 Gutterman Family Outstanding Holocaust Educators.

One of the honorees was from the Palm Beach County School District, Lisa Brown of Lake Worth High School.

***                              

American Heritage Schools announced  “Niche” rankings for the Delray Beach campus, which rated No. 1 in four Palm Beach County categories: Best Private K-12, Best College Prep Private High Schools, Best High Schools for STEM, and Best Boarding High Schools.

Niche’s ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges students consider, and student-to-teacher ratio, among other criteria. 

***                               

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science received a $1.5 million donation from the Aaron Family Foundation and technology company Ubicquia to create the Ubicquia Innovation Center for Intelligent Infrastructure.

 The center will help design and utilize technologies, like industrial sensors and artificial intelligence, that aim to improve how utilities, cities and businesses manage their infrastructure through digital tools.

***                              

Rick Maharajh, CEO and founder of the Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry & Commerce, announced an effort to support the relief in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.  

“The BBCIC has a proud member, Playa Paraiso Jamaica Bed and Breakfast, located in Hanover, Jamaica. I have personally been in touch with the owners and will continue to do so and to reassure them that they have our support,” Maharajh said.  

“We have partnered with Car Accident Referral Services, a BBCIC member, along with Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant, to provide this joint relief effort. Please join us in supporting all our friends in Jamaica.” 

They are looking for tarps, work gloves, generators, flashlights (including solar-powered flashlights), large trash bags, tents, canned/nonperishable foods, industrial sponges, water, first-aid kits, batteries, sleeping bags, new clothing and toiletries. 

Boynton Beach resident Samantha Ramnarine, owner of  Car Accident Referral Services, is heading up the collection efforts. To donate, call her at 954-249-5858 to make arrangements. 

  ***                              

The nonprofit Institute for Regional Conservation has launched a new initiative, “Reviving Urban Nature.” As part of this effort, the institute partnered with Boca Raton’s Office of Sustainability to restore scrub habitat at Gopher Tortoise Preserve in Boca Raton. 

At two recent events, volunteers planted scrub species that included gopher apple, narrow-leaf silkgrass and large-flower false rosemary. These plants provide habitat for endangered gopher tortoises and other species that depend on Florida’s scrub ecosystem. 

The preserve is not open to the public yet, so look for future announcements from the city of Boca Raton to see these planting areas. 

***                             

Boynton Beach Vice Mayor Woodrow Hay was recently awarded an honorary lifetime membership to the Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry & Commerce. Hay was first elected to the City Commission representing District 2 in November 2007. He also served as mayor in 2012-2013 after being appointed to fill a vacancy in that office, and he has served on the planning and development board for the last eight years.

Hay has been involved with community organizations that include the Committed Citizens Concerned About Our Children, the Boynton Beach Housing Authority, the United Way Palm Beach County and the Jean Cobbs Sickle Cell Center in Delray Beach.

***                            

Among Michelin Key distinctions, two area hotels won “keys” in 2025. The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach won two keys and the Tower at The Boca Raton won one key.

The Michelin Key awards, introduced in 2024, recognize “the most outstanding hotels in our selection,” similar to how Michelin stars denote restaurants. The selection process involves anonymous inspections by Michelin Guide experts, who choose from a list of more than 5,000 properties. One key signifies a “very special stay with high comfort and great personality.” Two keys denote “an exceptional stay with premier service and design.”

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

The Boca Raton City Council unanimously approved Camino Square’s second phase after the project’s builders agreed to include more retail and less residential.

The Nov. 17 vote of the council, sitting as Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, came one month after they put the project on ice until landowner Kimco Corp. and FCI Residential Corp. revised plans.

The changes they made were small but enough to secure the council’s blessing on grounds that they would bring more people to the site and enliven it.

The number of residential units dropped from 394 to 374 and the amount of retail increased from 8,632 square feet to 23,368 square feet.

The project also would include a bigger interior courtyard and pocket park fronting Camino Real.

Project attorney Ele Zachariades said she hopes the builders will be able to lease some of the space to a restaurant that would have outdoor dining.

The previous month she told council members that, despite years of trying, the builders were unable to attract retail because a gas station blocks the view of the property from the street so people won’t know retail is there.

The vote came six years after the council approved the first phase of the project at 171 W. Camino Real. It included two eight-story apartment buildings with 350 units that are now almost fully leased.

At the time, the second phase, located on the western side of the 9.1-acre tract, was to focus on retail. Since then, the plan was changed to add two more eight-story apartment buildings and a parking garage.

— Mary Hladky

Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer began his pitch to New York City businesses even before the November election, when Zohran Mamdani was only a candidate for NYC mayor. Screen grab provided

By Mary Hladky

Now that democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani decisively won the Nov. 4 New York City mayoral election, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer is doubling down on his efforts to lure companies here.

Betting last summer that company officials would flee the Big Apple to escape higher corporate taxes and a new tax on the wealthy that Mamdani has called for, Singer embarked on a media blitz and spent $70,000 of city funds on a huge Times Square billboard touting Boca Raton.

With Mamdani’s mayoral win no longer a hypothetical, Singer once again has blanketed conservative media outlets, Palm Beach County newspapers and TV stations, and social media with his pitch to relocate.

“Another message this morning from New York business owners looking to move to @CityBocaRaton,” he wrote on X the day after the election. “Expected to be a busy day. Many companies already have made the move. If you’re thinking about it now, we can help!”

Asked about what response the city is getting, Singer said, “With expected regulation, tax increases and a potential change in policing that will affect New York business leaders, we received inquiries right after the election results and expect more inbound calls.”

While city officials can’t say how many of those inquiries will result in relocations, five companies committed to coming to Boca Raton during this year’s third quarter, before the election. The two that have been announced so far are not from New York City.

“Five in a quarter is pretty impressive,” said Jessica Del Vecchio, the city’s economic development manager. Four pay six-figure salaries, and one falls slightly below that.

The announced companies are ADMA Biologics — headquartered in New Jersey and a manufacturer of specialty biologics for treatment of immunodeficient patients — which is establishing a Florida campus in the city; and BioStem Technologies, relocating to the city from Pompano Beach, which develops advanced wound care products. The others will be named once negotiations are completed.

Del Vecchio said staff compiled a list of vetted companies that might be open to a move to Boca Raton and gave that to Singer to make the pitch.

Singer’s frequent social media posts touting his efforts have drawn blowback from some city residents, who accuse him of exacerbating overdevelopment and clogged roads by drawing more people to Boca Raton.

In response, Singer has said he does not intend to bring a big influx of new residents. He also said the goal is not necessarily to attract large corporate headquarters. Regional or back offices would be fine.

‘The buzz is real’
Yet Singer is not alone in sensing opportunity to attract companies with well-paid jobs.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner launched his own Times Square billboard in November to attract New York businesses, the Miami Herald has reported.

The billboard, paid for by real estate developer Russell Galbut, shows a Miami Beach lifeguard stand with the message: “Miami Beach is open for business. Everyone welcomed! Mayor Steven Meiner.” A second billboard is in the works.

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County is well ahead of both mayors.

It launched its Wall Street South campaign 15 years ago to lure financial firms away from New York. Major companies that opened offices in the county include Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Citadel and Elliott Management.

Immediately after Mamdani’s election, BDB president and CEO Kelly Smallridge was fielding calls from companies, prompting the board to reactivate its Wall Street South campaign.

The effort includes the board’s own billboard in Times Square that says, “Dear NYC, it’s not you. It’s me,” reflecting that companies are willing to leave for greener pastures.

“The buzz is real,” Smallridge said. “The inquiries certainly had an uptick since the election.”

Smallridge said it’s too soon to say how many companies will relocate since that’s a lengthy and expensive process. Some possibly are waiting to see if Mamdani follows through on his taxation plans.

But they are kicking the tires. “Companies are inquiring about what offices are available, public and private schools, the permitting process…” she said. “They are calling us for exploratory conversations.”

Realtors see interest
Similarly, several Realtors contacted by The Coastal Star are seeing increased interest from New Yorkers. But unlike the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was a buying surge, the pace is slower.

“Despite the social media chatter, this isn’t a frenzy. It’s deliberate, calculated and very real,” Steven Presson, who is with the Corcoran Group, wrote in a Facebook post.

“The migration wave is coming again — just not as a sprint,” he wrote.

“This time, it’s a marathon. But make no mistake: South Florida will once again be the clear beneficiary.”

While the COVID surge was prompted by health concerns and related lockdowns, the current interest is the result of Mamdani’s election, Presson wrote. For some affluent residents and business leaders, that has prompted them to speed up their decision to buy in Florida, he wrote.

In the post as well as in an interview, Presson told of a recent client who toured four properties and bought a $3 million home in the Manalapan area as a way of establishing a toehold in Florida. Within three years, he expects to make a more significant purchase.

“With virtually every buyer from the Northeast, we spend a portion of every showing talking about the dynamics of New York City and how they are concerned and how things have changed,” he said.

Joseph Liguori, broker/owner at Premier Estate Properties in Boca Raton, concurs that a smaller wave is coming.

“The pandemic was the tsunami,” he said. “Now significant waves have been coming in periodically since then.”

Most of the people who wanted out of New York, whether for tax, political or economic reasons, already have left, he said. But he is seeing an increase in people making inquiries and plans to look at properties.

But with or without Mamdani, the South Florida market is strong, he said, with buyers paying $10 million to more than $60 million for a home.

Jackie Feldman, with ONE Sotheby’s Realty in Boca Raton, also agrees a mass exodus from New York won’t happen.

But she knows many people there, and says younger ones with families are leaving the city and moving to suburbs like Westchester County. Older ones who leave are coming to South Florida.

“I think this will be a significant trickle effect,” she said. “Most people are terrified about what will become of New York City.”

Speaking of Mamdani’s policies, she said, “The people who are high net worth, they don’t want to live like that. The changes that are going to come to New York City are too drastic for these people to accept. They want to live the way they have been living, and unfortunately that will change significantly for them.”

Mamdani plans to raise the corporate tax rate to 11.5% to bring in $5 billion that will fund his other initiatives such as free child care, and a 2% tax on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million annually.

The City Council on Nov. 18 unanimously approved the second phase of the Residences at Martin Manor construction project that will double the number of low-income housing units in Boca Raton.

The apartment complex at 1350 N. Dixie Highway, formerly known as Dixie Manor, now is named in honor of Lois Martin, a community leader and educator who passed away in 2022.

After years of planning to upgrade the dilapidated complex, which dates to the 1940s, a groundbreaking ceremony for the first project phase was held on Aug. 25. That three-building phase replaces the 95 units now on the 10-acre site.

The second phase on the south end of the site includes two buildings with a total of 105 units. One of the existing buildings will be preserved to become a museum devoted to the history of Dixie Manor and a community center.

The Residences at Martin Manor is in the Pearl City section of Boca Raton, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The first phase is under construction now. Once it is completed, work will begin on the second phase.

Tenants living in units on the north side have been moved into available south-side units or relocated elsewhere, but all tenants of the entire complex have the right to return, if they so choose, once the project is completed.

The housing complex is operated by the Boca Raton Housing Authority, which has partnered with Atlantic Pacific Communities, a subsidiary of Atlantic Pacific Companies, on the reconstruction.

— Mary Hladky

By Steve Plunkett

Federal appeals judges in Atlanta have handed Boca Raton an early holiday gift: The city will not have to pay more than $1 million in legal fees to the owner of a vacant beachfront parcel who has spent years trying to secure a building permit.

At the same time, they have taken away the “right” to build on 2500 N. Ocean Blvd. that property owner Natural Lands LLC had won from U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith.

Smith had ruled in March 2024 that Natural Lands “has the right to build a single-family, detached dwelling” on the site “subject to satisfying the city’s CCCL variance criteria.”

But, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided last month, “under our precedent, Natural Lands does not have a viable (federal) claim because it did not use the available and adequate State remedy to address its alleged injury.”

“Accordingly, the district court erred in granting relief on Natural Lands’s procedural due process claim. We reverse and remand to the district court with instructions to dismiss the claim,” the appeals court said Nov. 17.

Because the due process claim was not properly before the district court, that court “abused its discretion in awarding Natural Lands attorney’s fees and costs related to that claim. Thus, we reverse the district court’s fee award as well,” the ruling concluded.

The case began in 2011 when the landowner first applied for a building permit.

In December 2015 the City Council caused a public outcry when it approved a zoning variance to allow something to be built at 2500 N. Ocean, an 88.5-foot-wide lot. City rules normally require lots at least 100 feet wide.

Natural Lands planned to build a 48-foot-tall, 8,666-square-foot single-family home at the site and obtained a Notice to Proceed from the state Department of Environmental Protection in October 2016.

But the council on July 23, 2019, denied a variance to its Coastal Construction Control Line, which limits building east of State Road A1A.

Natural Lands filed its federal lawsuit in October 2019 alleging bias among City Council decision-makers, suggesting a potential procedural due process claim.

At the trial, Smith found that Mayor Scott Singer’s “bias was clear” and he would have to recuse himself from any future decisions on whether to give Natural Lands a CCCL variance.

Also ordered to recuse themselves were Council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte, who were similarly found to be unfairly biased. But both have been term-limited out of office, as Singer will be next March.

On appeal, the city argued that Smith erred in granting judicial relief based on the procedural due process claim because an adequate state remedy, certiorari review of the council decision by the Palm Beach County Circuit Court, was available.

“We agree,” the federal appeals court said.

Its decision has not made its way to Smith’s calendar yet.

Lawyers for Natural Lands had filed documents with Smith seeking $1,034,253.50 plus interest for attorney’s fees and $28,841 in costs. The court denied the requests while the appeal was pending.

Natural Lands and the city met for a “planning advisory review” of its site plans on July 22. But the landowner has not applied for a building permit.

Meanwhile, in the wake of Smith’s ruling, the city and Azure Development LLC paused two contentious lawsuits in August 2024 and the City Council two months later granted a CCCL variance for a home on the beachfront at nearby 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. Azure had already won rulings in state court saying council members’ previous decisions were biased.

Azure applied for a permit last April to build a four-story, single-family home approximately 38 feet tall with 6,931 square feet of enclosed space, down from the originally proposed nearly 49-foot height and 14,270 square feet. The city is reviewing the application.

As part of the deal, Azure agreed to pay its own attorney’s fees, estimated to be in the $1 million range.

Boca Raton’s surfer dudes and dudettes will have to keep on looking for spots with good waves.

The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District voted 3-2 on Nov. 3 to reject a private firm’s proposal to build a surf park in North Park, which surrounds the Boca Teeca condominium complex north of Yamato Road.

“It’s a beautiful project. I just don’t think it’s the right location,” said Commissioner Bob Rollins, who surprised his colleagues by asking for the vote, because the item had only been on the agenda for the board to receive an update.

Two weeks later, commissioners decided 5-0 to scrap other proposals — for a recreation and entertainment complex and for a golf-related facility — all on the west side of Northwest Second Avenue, and conduct a “new, statistically valid” community needs assessment in coordination with the city before reissuing a request for bids.

They left alone a proposal the Boys & Girls Club is working on to build a state-of-the-art facility there.

For the surf park, commissioners said Boca Teeca residents bombarded them with emails opposing Boca Surf Park LLC’s project and the noise and traffic it would bring.

The company said it would spend $50 million building the surf park without district help if the project had been accepted. It would have paid the district at least $600,000 a year in payments in return for a 49-year concession agreement with two 25-year renewals.

— Steve Plunkett

Council puts downtown measure on March ballot after Save Boca’s setback

 Boca Raton City Council member Andy Thomson discusses edits -- being shown on an overhead projection at the Dec. 2 council meeting -- to the wording of a March 10 ballot question. The referendum is seeking voter approval of the proposed redevelopment of the city's downtown campus. Thomson said the changes that were being made to the city attorney's original ballot language proposal did not provide the neutral language he was seeking. See approved ballot language below story. Video screenshot of City Council meeting

Related: Anti-development anger spills over into March election

By Mary Hladky

What seemed likely to be a routine action approving language that will appear on the March 10 city election ballot allowing voters to cast up or down votes on whether downtown campus redevelopment can go forward instead hit a major snag.

The problem, that surfaced at the Dec. 2 City Council meeting, ended up turning into a major negotiation among City Council members about wording.

Council member Andy Thomson objected to ballot language drafted by the city attorney, saying it was weighted in a way that seemed intended to persuade residents to vote in favor of the redevelopment.

“It is in my view strongly slanted and essentially a sales pitch in favor of the project,” Thomson said.

The wording, he said, needed to be neutral. “Our residents are smart enough to make decisions on their own,” he said.

As a test, Thomson had sought the opinion of AI ChatGPT, which said that the language was 8.5 to 9 out of 10 strongly in support of the redevelopment.

“That is not how ballot questions are to be posed,” he said.

Thomson is the only council member to oppose the redevelopment project, and has repeatedly said that the city’s partnership with developers Terra and Frisbie Group should be terminated.

City Attorney Joshua Koehler did not object to the wording changes. “There is more than one way to bake a cake,” he said.

Mayor Scott Singer and Council member Yvette Drucker both said they wished Thomson would have proposed this at their Dec. 1 workshop meeting so that they would have more time to evaluate it.

“I hope this is not a political move that is being made on the dais,” Drucker said. Thomson and Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas both are running to succeed Singer as mayor in a race that also will be decided on March 10.

And then the wordsmithing began, dragging on until 12:33 a.m. The vote in favor of the new language was 4-1, with Thomson dissenting because he believed the language still was not neutral.

The negotiation came a week after Save Boca’s efforts to thwart the city’s plans to redevelop its 31-acre downtown campus ran into a wall on Nov. 25 when a Palm Beach County Circuit Court judge ordered that the group’s two ballot measures be thrown off a Jan. 13 special election ballot.

Judge G. Joseph Curley, in a ruling from the bench and in a Dec. 1 written order, said the group’s proposed City Charter amendment did not meet state constitutional standards and its proposed ordinance required a vote before Jan. 13 based on the city charter. The special election is now canceled.

Both the charter amendment and ordinance would not have allowed the council to lease or sell any city-owned land greater than one-half acre — “or any part thereof” — without a vote. They were aimed against the city’s plans to lease the campus land for 99 years to developers Terra and Frisbie Group for the redevelopment.

Save Boca immediately cried foul about legal maneuvering that had left the group unable to defend its measures in court. But its leaders said the case is not yet closed and vowed Save Boca will succeed in the end.

“The will of the great citizens of our city will prevail,” the group said on its Facebook page and in an email.

“There were obstacles for us to get here, and there will be obstacles in the future, however we will accomplish our shared mission to restore protection to all of our parks, beachfront properties and the public land across our city.”

They followed that up with a Nov. 28 two-minute “commercial” on YouTube intended to stir resident outrage.
It blasted city officials, claiming they intended to bulldoze existing recreation facilities on the campus and had fast-tracked a public land transfer to developers “without your knowing about it.”

“They were going to get away with it but without anybody knowing until Save Boca stopped it,” the video said.

While Save Boca has lost this skirmish, at least for now, residents will have the ability to cast an up or down vote on whether the redevelopment can go forward.

They will do so at the March 10 city election when voters also will elect a mayor and three council members.

City Council members promised that vote in September, and on Dec. 2 they approved the ballot language.

Developers provided this scaled-down version of the downtown campus plan, which mainly separates park and recreation — and City Hall and Community Center — on the west side of Northwest Second Avenue from the 7.8-acre proposed development on the east side of the road, also called Boca Raton Boulevard. The proposal was in response to criticisms of earlier versions. Save Boca says the changes still aren't sufficient. Rendering provided

‘Constitutionally invalid’
The lawsuit that led to the court ruling was filed by Ned Kimmelman, a retired attorney and Boca Raton resident.

It contended the ordinance and charter amendment contain falsehoods, are misleading and confusing, and violate Florida law.

If approved, the lawsuit said, the measures would have made it cumbersome and costly for the city to lease its land to cultural and civic organizations such as the Boca Raton Museum of Art and Boca Raton Historical Society, since every time it wanted to do so, it would have to hold an election.

Named defendants were Save Boca and its founder Jon Pearlman, the city and the Palm Beach County supervisor of elections.

But Kimmelman dismissed Save Boca and Pearlman as defendants on Nov. 12. As a result, they could not defend the measures at the Nov. 25 hearing.

Court records do show that Ron Rice, Pearlman’s attorney, was allowed to make a statement at the beginning of the hearing.

The city filed only one pleading in the case. It was limited to comments made by City Council members during meetings or to the media detailing how the wording of the ballot measures are imprecise and confusing and how difficult and expensive they would be to implement.

“The City respects both the will of our residents and the rule of law and will fully comply with the Court’s order,” the city said in a statement.

Kimmelman declared victory immediately after Curley’s spoken ruling.

“I defeated his handiwork,” he said of Pearlman’s ballot measures. Both, he said, are “legally dead.”

“Their ordinances in fact were constitutionally invalid from the very moment of their creation,” he said.

Pearlman, he said, “almost got away with it. He just ran out of time and got caught by the court.”

Financial impacts
The special election cancellation will save the city a significant cost.

The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office had estimated that the election would cost about $390,000 — well above what an election typically costs. Boca Raton paid only $67,000 for the March 2024 election.

That’s because Boca Raton was the only city in Palm Beach County holding a special election on that date.

It could do so because Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order calling for a special Jan. 13 election to fill the House District 87 seat that had been held by Mike Caruso until DeSantis appointed him as Palm Beach County clerk and comptroller.

Under pressure from Save Boca to hold an election as soon as possible, the city took the opportunity to do so.

Usually, cities share the cost of an election. But with Boca Raton standing alone, it would have had to bear the full cost of poll worker pay, printing ballots, equipment delivery and more.

Plans move forward
Despite Save Boca’s forceful opposition, the city is surging ahead with preparations for campus redevelopment, sticking with an aggressive timeline.

Even though voters ultimately will approve or reject the redevelopment plan on March 10, the City Council and staff are rushing to complete everything needed to finalize that plan and an agreement with Terra and Frisbie Group.

Council meeting agendas in December and January are now expected to be dominated by key matters relating to the project. The lion’s share of work could be wrapped up in January.

The City Council saw drafts of a master partnership agreement with Terra/Frisbie, ground lease agreement and other key documents as well as land appraisals on Dec. 2. Final votes on them were still expected Jan. 20.

A revenue windfall for city?
City leaders are trying to convince residents that the redevelopment project will be a financial boon that will generate revenue for decades to come.

Final figures are still being refined, but city consultant CBRE so far has determined that the project will yield the city $4.1 billion over the 99 years that Terra/Frisbie leases 7.8 acres within the 31-acre downtown campus. That is double the amount of Terra/Frisbie’s most recent estimate.

“In my opinion, this is an excellent transaction for the city,” CBRE Executive Vice President Michael McShea told City Council members on Nov. 18. Nearly $2 billion would come from lease payments made on the land. Taxes paid to the city on the 7.8 acres located east of Northwest Second Avenue, which is now untaxed, would bring in about $1.3 billion.

Nearly $576 million would come from the city’s 10% share of the project’s profits.

If Terra/Frisbie sells any of the apartments, offices or other buildings constructed on the 7.8 acres, the city would get a 1% fee of the gross sales price. For example, if a building sold for $50 million, the city would get $500,000.

But there’s also a price to be paid by the city. The cost of the project to the city would be about $200 million.

About $96 million would pay for a new 30,000-square foot City Hall, 30,000-square-foot Community Center and a 10,000-square-foot police/fire substation west of Northwest Second Avenue.

Recreation facilities, a children’s playground, green space and site work would cost about $52 million. Most of the rest would go to infrastructure improvements.

City officials maintain that residents will not bear any of that cost. But so far, city officials have not decided how they will pay for these improvements.

“City staff will continue to evaluate various financing options available to fund the public improvements to ensure the lowest cost to the city,” Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Jim Zervis said in an email.

Among the options are a type of bond financing that would not increase property tax rates and would not require voter approval.

The city would be able to support a $114 million bond issue that would be repaid using new revenue generated from the project.

The city also has about $50 million in available cash that could cover some of the cost.

An evolving plan
In response to strident complaints by Save Boca, Terra/Frisbie has made significant changes to its plans.

Residential, office and hotel construction will be limited to 7.8 acres, rather than being located across all 31 acres of the downtown campus. Recreation and green space on the land west of Northwest Second Avenue are now preserved, with only the new city buildings located there. Overall density is greatly reduced.

But that has not satisfied Save Boca, whose supporters continue to condemn the project at every City Council meeting.

Pearlman wants the entire project scrapped. The city, he says, can rebuild the old and crumbling city buildings on its own. 

Ballot question

The Boca Raton City Council agreed to place the following question on the city’s March 10 election ballot:

Approving Lease of Downtown City Land, Agreements for Public Improvements, And Preserving / Enhancing Memorial Park

Shall the City approve agreements with Boca Raton City Center, LLC leasing 7.8 acres of City property east of Northwest Second Avenue near Brightline Station, for 99 years, creating a walkable neighborhood with residential, retail, office and hotel uses, generating rent and revenues to City for general uses and enhancements to City property, including:
• Preserving Memorial Park area, honoring veterans,
• Expanding public recreational and green spaces,
• New community center, City Hall, and police substation?

Gymnast from Delray lands on U.S. team in journey that began at Twisters in Boca

Crew Bold, 24, celebrating after a parallel bars routine, was a Big Ten champion at the University of Michigan, giving him aspirations to compete in the 2028 Olympics. Photos provided

By Rich Biebrich

A decade ago, then 14-year-old Crew Bold had already started his journey to becoming a world-class gymnast, a path that has taken him from Twisters Gymnastics in Boca Raton to the University of Minnesota, the University of Michigan, Germany’s Bundesliga for gymnasts, and finally, back in the United States, to his earning a coveted spot on the national team in August.

On the horizon, if things go according to plan, the Twisters gym rat who grew up in Delray Beach will be in Los Angeles in 2028, competing as a member of the U.S. Olympic team.

Recently, he’s had to slow down following surgery he had on his left ankle to clear out bone spurs that had been bothering him. For a time, he was hopping around on crutches with a pink plaster cast that covered his mending ankle. He said the pink was for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, but admitted it also went surprisingly well with the deep blue Michigan T-shirt he was wearing.

“It’s actually my third surgery on my left ankle and they took about a handful of bone chips out that shouldn’t be there,” said Bold, now 24, who added he didn’t think to keep any of the chips for souvenirs. “I was too loopy to ask them to keep them by the time they were done.”

A guy who spends a lot of time spinning, jumping, flipping and flying through the air with what seems the greatest of ease can be forgiven for being a little loopy from anesthetic, especially as it is apparent that Bold is one of the clearest-minded people you could possibly meet. 

It’s also clear he has a strong competitive streak, and you get the impression that — as he makes his way on crutches to a table in the back of a Starbucks on a visit home to Delray Beach — if another gent on crutches challenged him to a 50-yard dash, Bold would ask, “Where and when?”

His father, Bill Bold, said Crew has always been that way.

“He was always very muscular for a kid his age, and still is,” Bill Bold said. “We had him in youth soccer and he was scoring, like, 20 goals a game. Then, all of a sudden, he started doing front flips and back flips after he would score a goal, and we turned to each other and said, ‘Where did that come from?’ So, that’s when we thought we should get him involved in gymnastics.”

Living a routine

Ten years ago, in a previous profile in The Coastal Star, Bold said all he thought about was gymnastics. Not much has changed since then. 

There is a plan for every day. Each starts at 6 a.m. and by 6:45 he’s already working out. Three days a week, that begins with lifting weights — working on specific muscle groups — to build strength and endurance. After that are recovery time and typically “a medium to heavy” breakfast of eggs, a bagel, turkey bacon and tomatoes.

Afternoon practice runs from 2 to 6:30 p.m. and starts with a little snack of carbs and protein to fuel up. Dinner is pretty simple.

“It’s chicken and rice every night, with broccoli or asparagus,” he said. “Any variation comes from my sauces. And my vegetables.”

He’s in bed by 10 or 10:30 p.m.

“I find time to hang out with my friends, play a little golf here and there,” Bold said. “But the majority of my day is taken up by gymnastics.”

His drive was noted 10 years ago by one of his instructors at Twisters.

“He wants to be great and he knows what it takes,” Shane Cummings said. “And he knows he has to work hard.”

Said his dad: “He is probably the most tenacious, persistent yet lovable noodge you would meet in your life,” recalling that “we even got a pig as a pet because he wouldn’t stop bothering us. We would just give in.”

Bold is strong on parallel bars and owns good results on the high bar and floor exercise as well.

The floor exercise highlights Bold’s strength and flexibility.

How he made U.S. team

Anyone less determined than Bold may have packed it all in when, after he spent two years at the University of Minnesota, COVID-19 struck and the school shut down its gymnastics program. 

“That was devastating,” Bold said. “But it turned out to be more of a blessing in disguise as I was able to transfer to Michigan.” 

While there, he became a multiple-time All-America selection and four-time Big Ten champion.

“It’s been a dream come true,” said Bold, who excels on the high bar and the parallel bars.

When college was over — he graduated in June 2024 — Bold decided he wasn’t done. He still had Olympic aspirations. 

“I ended up living and competing in Germany for 2½ months” at the end of 2024, he said. “It was amazing. And when I came back I decided to stick with gymnastics a little longer.”

He won the high bar competition at the 2025 Winter Cup in February (also placing sixth on the floor exercise), and he was runner-up on the high bar at the U.S. Championships in August (and sixth on the parallel bars) — earning his spot on the senior national team.

Defying gravity

It all comes down to “dedication to his sport,” said Chris Heffernan, a friend to the Bold family who has watched Crew grow into adulthood. “I don’t think people understand the level of commitment it takes to be the level of athlete that Crew is.”

Bold explains gymnastics in very simple terms.

“It’s always you against gravity,” he pointed out. “Football, soccer, it’s person against person. In gymnastics it’s you against the event. And when there is contact, it’s me hitting the floor, usually.”

That’s why he has to be precise.

“I know exactly how many steps I need on the floor down to every second. I know exactly how long it takes to do my routine. It’s all down to a science and it’s all second nature at this point.” 

And no, he doesn’t think about what he looks like as he is flying through the air over the high bar or during a floor routine.

“It’s more so just thinking about how you’re going to land,” Bold said. “I don’t have time to focus on the feeling of being in the air. I’m definitely thinking how do I land this in the safest possible way without getting injured.

"There’s no time to think about if this looks cool.

“Once the competition starts you don’t think about anything and just let all the training work for itself. If you start getting into your head you can become more nervous and suddenly it just doesn’t go the way it is supposed to go.” 

What is Bold thinking when he’s in flight? ’How do I land this in the safest possible way without getting injured.’ Bold placed second on high bar at the 2025 U.S. nationals.

The future beyond sport

There is one thing that Bold is having more trouble visualizing, where reality enters the picture and disturbs the landing.

“I don’t know if my body is going to last three more years, honestly,” until the next Olympics, he admitted. But then he immediately returns to his step-by-step thought process.

“Right now, taking it month by month is the best kind of plan of action for me. I would love to compete internationally for the U.S. at a World Cup.”

And he even has his exit strategy from gymnastics figured out, too.

“I would love to get into medical device sales. That’s what my dad did in New York City,” Bold said. 

“My girlfriend just moved to New York, and I’ve visited her multiple times and I love the area. So, I’ll see where that goes. I want to get into foot-and-ankle [devices].”

He smiled and took a look at the pink cast.

“I know a little bit about that.” 

Olivia Hollaus (right) is replacing the retiring Mary Csar (left) as executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum. Photo provided

As Boca Raton concludes its 100th anniversary year — a time of reflection, celebration and renewed civic pride — the Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum marked a milestone of its own.

Longtime Executive Director Mary Csar is retiring following more than a quarter-century of service, passing the torch to Olivia Hollaus, who will assume the role in early 2026.

“As the city reflects on its 100-year journey, this feels like the right moment for renewal both for Boca Raton and for the historical society,” Csar said. “It’s been my privilege to help preserve and share this community’s extraordinary history, and I’m deeply confident in Olivia’s ability to carry that mission forward with creativity and heart.”

Added Hollaus, “Mary has built an incredible foundation rooted in authenticity, connection and pride. As Boca looks ahead to its next century, I’m excited to continue that legacy, ensuring our museum not only preserves the past but inspires the future.”

In other news, the Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum released its list of the 2025 Walk of Recognition honorees. They are:

• Paul and Kathy Adkins

• Angelo Bianco

• Barbara Cambia

• Mary Csar

• Robin Deyo

• Summer Faerman

• Jerry Fedele

• Susan Gillis

• Dan Guin

• Michael Horswell

• Zoe Lanham

• Mark Larkin

• Troy McLellan

• Gary Peters

• George Petrocelli

• Jon Robertson

• Morris and Charlotte Robinson

• Carrie Rubin

• Michelle Rubin

• The Rev. Andrew Sherman

• Tim Snow

• Marie Speed

• Jane Tyree

In celebration of the city’s 100th anniversary, the 2025 class will be recognized on a centennial plaque. The plaque will join the Walk of Recognition installations in Mizner Plaza, home to the granite stars sponsored by Jim and Marta Batmasian. 

For more information, call 561-395-6766 or visit bocahistory.org.

Arts Garage donations to be matched in December

Arts Garage in Delray Beach has launched its annual campaign with the goal of raising $40,000 in support of its mission to make the arts accessible for all.

Supporters Helen Rothlein and James White, along with philanthropist Anita Perlman, have combined to provide a total of $20,000 in matching funds. Every contribution made prior to Dec. 31 will be matched dollar for dollar.

“At Arts Garage, we believe the arts are for everyone,” said President and CEO Marjorie Waldo, noting that the initiative — anchored by the theme “The Arts Matter!” — arrives at a pivotal time for arts and cultural organizations nationwide, many of which are facing shrinking private and public dollars. “Our community’s ongoing generosity allows us to continue presenting world-class performances, offering scholarships, supporting local artists and providing accessible arts education to all.” 

For more information, call 561-450-6357 or visit artsgarage.org/2025-annual-campaign.

Achievement Centers hails $365,000 grant

Achievement Centers for Children & Families has received a $365,000 grant from the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation in support of its nationally accredited Early Learning Program.

The investment represents a commitment to early childhood education and the well-being of underserved families in South County, and it will directly help sustain and strengthen the program’s 100-plus children ages 1 to 5.

“The Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation’s support lifts a tremendous burden from our organization, allowing Achievement Centers to continue delivering full-day, year-round care while expanding services that meet the evolving needs of our children and families,” CEO Stephanie Seibel said. “More than just funding, this gift enables our staff to focus on program innovation and long-term sustainability with ripple effects across our after-school programs, teen initiatives and family support services. The DeSantis Foundation’s gift is more than financial: It is a vote of confidence in our mission and in the future of our community’s youngest learners.”

In other news, the Achievement Centers for Children & Families was the primary beneficiary of Havana Nights, an event created by KAST Construction, The Kolter Group and other sponsors. 

It raised $2.3 million for the Delray Beach nonprofit as well as 25 other area charities, all of which support children and families in need.

“Giving back to the communities where we live and build is one of the most meaningful parts of our work,” said Michael Neal, CEO of KAST Construction. “This year’s record-setting $2.3 million raised will profoundly impact children and families across South Florida and highlights the deep generosity of our real-estate development and construction community.”

Added Seibel, “This event is the perfect example of what corporate philanthropy looks like. It shows the incredible impact that companies like The Kolter Group and KAST Construction can have when they bring their resources, leadership and vision to the community.”

For more information, call 561-266-0003 or visit achievementcentersfl.org.

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

Impact 100 Palm Beach County welcomed a record crowd to its 15th anniversary event that brought together members, community leaders and guests to celebrate women’s collective giving. Everyone enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and an inspiring program highlighting the powerful work made possible by the nonprofit’s transformational $100,000 grants. ‘This year’s kickoff was not just a celebration of our 15th anniversary — it was a celebration of what happens when women come together to make lasting change,’ President Janean Mileusnic said. ‘The energy in the room was a true reflection of the generosity and commitment that define our members.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Jeannine Morris, Molly Reiss, Lisa Sunshine and Lisa Mulhall. Photo provided

Ballet Palm Beach premiered ‘from SILENCE,’ a new contemporary piece that resonates not only as a performance but as a call to guests to remember the Hamas attacks on Israel. Choreographed by Gina Patterson, the show drew more than 200 guests and benefited MorseLife Health System’s Holocaust Learning Experience, a program that reaches 830,000 students. ABOVE: (l-r) Natalia Mayorga, Linda Melcer, Sharon Smolar, Charlotte Mandelblatt and Beverly Feurring. Photos provided by CAPEHART

Barbara Promer and Carole Bakst.

Dorene Sedrish and Elaine Glottstein. 

The Witches of Delray’s 14th annual event raised nearly $60,000 for the Achievement Centers for Children & Families, a record. Three hundred women donned their best witch-wear and extravagantly decorated their bicycles as they cackled their way down Atlantic Avenue guided by police. Following the ride, prizes were awarded for best costume, best group theme and more. ‘This year’s witches ride was pure magic,’ said Stephanie Seibel, CEO of the Achievement Centers for Children & Families. ‘Even after 14 years, this event never ceases to amaze me.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Kelli Freeman, Catherine DuBois, Jeanne Ilvento, Bobbi Armstrong, Pat Schoaf and Leanna Marinello. Photo provided by Achievement Centers for Children & Families

The Palm Beach Symphony collected a slew of items for the silent auction highlighting its upcoming Holly Jolly Symphony Fête. More than 50 guests brought donations that included musical instruments, fine jewelry, home décor, dining experiences, wine and spirits, luxury eyewear, paintings and other artwork, designer handbags and more. All the items will be elegantly displayed at the Dec. 8 event at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. ABOVE: Mary Lynn Rogers and Alexandra Cook. Photo provided by CAPEHART