Lori Hill, founder of Pawsitive Dog Training, seen here with her dog Louie, offers programs that range from teaching manners to making your pet a ‘dream dog.’ Photo provided

By Arden Moore

With the holidays behind us, the schooling really begins … for you and your dog. The reality is whether you adopted a puppy or dog from a shelter, rescue group or reputable breeder, your four-legged roommate did not come with built-in manners.
I’m betting by now that the doggy honeymoon is over and you are feeling frustrated by your canine’s actions. Maybe he chewed your favorite pair of shoes, shredded your sofa pillow into confetti or regards leash walking as opportunities to yank and marathon bark at other dogs.
From a newly adopted dog’s perspective, he finds himself trying to adjust in a new home with new people and having to learn a new language — human. From your viewpoint, you fell for his cuteness, but were not prepared for his doggy ways.
Dog training challenges occur year-round, but it is fitting that after the rush of holiday pet adoptions, January is designated as National Train Your Dog Month by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. And, to mark its 10th anniversary, I reached out to a couple of professional dog trainers in Palm Beach County who were happy to unleash some savvy doggy advice.
Lori Hill, founder of Pawsitive Dog Training (pawsitivedogtrainingfl.com) based in Delray Beach, is a certified professional dog trainer and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator who offers private in-home programs as well as group classes.
“I am comfortable treating a myriad of behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety, marking, nuisance barking and chewing/mouthing,” she says. “Our dogs desire to please us. Just like with people, dogs can learn bad manners and habits if they don’t have the correct guidance.”
Dara Wittenberg is the founder of Rescue Me Dog Training (www.rescuemetraining.com), based in Delray Beach. She is a certified professional dog trainer and Animal Behavior College-certified dog trainer whose programs focus on problem-solving and offering various levels of training.
“The reason I got into dog training was to keep dogs out of shelters,” says Wittenberg, who was honored as Behavior Team volunteer of the year in 2016 at the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach. “I try to get people to understand life from a puppy’s perspective. My role is to teach people how to communicate with their dogs and teach their dogs how to communicate with them.”
Wittenberg is a major advocate for proper crate training for canines of all ages.
“Crate training should start as soon as possible and the use of the crate is about management and not about punishment,” Wittenberg says. “Associate the crate with positive things. Feed your dog in his crate with the door open at first and his bowl in the back of the crate. When playing fetch, throw the toy in the open crate for your dog to go in to retrieve the toy and then treat them.”
If a dog is still learning not to greet guests by jumping up on them, Wittenberg says ushering the dog into his crate and giving him a treat like peanut butter or frozen beef broth in a Kong proves to be a win-win. The dog is occupied and regards his crate as a welcoming safe place and the guests don’t have to dodge leaping paws on them.
Wittenberg says it is important to work closely with dog trainers and veterinarians to accurately identify the triggers behind an unwanted canine behavior. And, pay attention to how you react to these actions.
“Some dogs go crazy when they see another dog on a leash and the owner may hold her breath, hold tight on the leash and the dog then looks at his owner and senses something terrible may happen,” Wittenberg says. “Dogs are very sensitive. They pick up on our emotions. Instead, try to be calm, take a deep breath and do not wrap the leash tightly around your hand. If you are uptight, your dog will be uptight.”
At Pawsitive Dog Training, Hill offers a tiered-teaching approach that begins with what she calls the Well-Mannered Dog Program and accelerates to what she calls the Dream Dog Program.
The well-mannered program’s goal is to teach the person how to train the dog to master loose-leash walking and obey these vital commands: watch me, sit, come, stay, drop it. Behaviors, including peeing in the house, chewing/mouthing, jumping up on people and nuisance barking are also addressed.
Hill says loose-leash walking with your dog is critical for social time, enrichment and exercise. Her top cues are “watch me” (ensuring your dog is focused on you and giving you eye contact); “sit” (the please and thank-you from your dog); “come” (having a good recall is absolutely critical and could save your dog’s life if he gets loose); and “drop it” (getting dogs or puppies to release items in their mouths, especially dangerous items).
“I also value the ‘wait’ or ‘stay’ as a must-learn cue so your dog is trained to wait at the door, wait before crossing the road and before eating, as this teaches impulse control,” Hill says.
Hill describes the Dream Dog Program graduate as the well-trained, well-mannered dog “who is a delight in all circumstances and obeys even around heavy distractions.”
Canine graduates of this program have mastered 14 commands, eight behaviors and make good candidates for the AKC Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog status.
Hill’s parting advice is to identify what motivates your dog to learn.
“Some dogs like treats, tennis balls or praise,” she says. “And, your attitude is everything. Training should be a fun process for both you and your dog. Always focus on the training, and the last cue you give your puppy should be completed with success.”

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

Learn more
All dogs benefit by being properly socialized and well trained. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers sports more than 6,000 members who teach dog-friendly training techniques. You can check out articles, videos and other resources on its site at https://apdt.com.

Boca Raton Garden Club members Nancy Cavnar and Joan Witter prepare to do some gardening. Photos provided

By Jan Engoren

The Boca Raton Garden Club turns 70 on Feb. 4. To commemorate, the club, headquartered at 4281 NW Third Ave., will celebrate its history of gardening, horticulture, conservation and floral design with a community celebration.
The public is invited to join the family friendly festivities, including garden tours, free seeds and plants, informational exhibits, games for children and adults, and raffles and prizes, along with a proclamation from Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer.
With the theme of “70 Years Planting Seeds in Boca,” the club aims to stimulate knowledge of gardens among amateurs and to encourage civic beautification, maintain Florida’s natural beauty and further garden club programs.
“We’re very excited about our anniversary and celebrating it with the community,” says President Marie Young, 72. “We’re having a big bash and we want everyone to come, learn something new and have some fun.”
Young says that the club was established in 1953 “with the purpose of beautifying our town parks and improving the city’s landscapes, and we’re proud to carry on the legacy.”

Members (l-r) Dellie Krebs, Jeanne O’Leary, Pat Bird and Juliana Corrine attend a general meeting of the club.

The club boasts 150 current members. Young joined in 2012, after she retired from a 40-year career as a teacher at both Advent Lutheran School and St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Boca Raton.
Young attended an event at the club’s Holiday House. The craft, baked goods and plant sale — where people created and sold angel figures made from palm fronds — prompted her to think: “I’d like to be a part of this.”
The club cultivates 50 native orchid plants growing in trees, copperleaf hedges, crinum lilies, bromeliads, amaryllis, the tropical red passion vine, white alba begonia and Dutchman’s pipe vine, among its rose and butterfly gardens.
A member of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs District X, the Boca Raton club participates in the Million Orchid Project created by the American Orchid Society and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami.
The club hosts a junior gardening program at Whispering Pines Elementary School in Boca Raton and a monthly garden therapy program at the FAU Memory and Wellness Center for Alzheimer’s patients. Funds raised from club events send students and counselors from Boca schools to Wekiva Youth Camp in Apopka each year with the purpose of instilling a love and respect for nature.
The club contributes to Boca Helping Hands and to Boy Scout merit badge projects. It partners with the city on conservation efforts and maintains the community garden.
Charlene Smith, 82, a former advertising and sales executive for a software company in Delray Beach, joined the Garden Club when she retired in 2012.
“My friends said, ‘now you have no excuse,’” jokes Smith, who is now head of the club’s publicity committee.
“I love every minute of it,” she says. “I made friends and learned to create flower arrangements, which I love to give to friends or keep in the house.”
Occasionally, she will bring her husband, Clarence Smith, 85, along to an event such as the “Paint & Pour” social in May, where members created paintings while sipping wine.
“Besides creating floral decorations, learning about native plants and visiting other gardens, the club is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. There’s a lot of camaraderie,” says Smith. “We look forward to seeing everyone on Feb. 4.”

If You Go
What: Boca Raton Garden Club 70th anniversary
When: 10 a.m-2 p.m. Feb. 4
Where: 4281 NW Third Ave.Info: 561-395-9376 or www.bocaratongardenclub.org.

Club meeting dates
• The Boca Raton Garden Club will hold its general meeting at 1 p.m. Feb. 7 in the BRGC clubhouse, 4281 NW Third Ave. Noted floral designer Susie Slater will present a program on “Traditional and Contemporary Spring Floral Designs.” This program is free and open to the public. 
• Visitors are welcome to attend all general monthly meetings at no charge. People wishing to join must attend two club events before they are eligible. These events can be general meetings or any community event or fundraiser. Dues are $50 a year in addition to a one-time fee of $12 that includes registration and a magnetic name badge.
• For more info, call 561-395-9376 or visit www.bocaratongardenclub.org.

Joe Zupo, dressed as St. Nicholas, is surrounded by (l-r) Angelica Aguilera, Elaine Borrelli, Jack Warner, Brendan Hughes, Allison Hughes and Courtney Hughes at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach. Photo provided

The parishioners at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church participated in a Christmas toy drive for about 350 children, most the children of migrant workers. The children have been attending CCD classes with Sister Mercedes Ysabel Dominguez, a Claretian nun at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Delray Beach.
Parishioners chose names off an “angel tree” and fulfilled the children’s wishes, returning festively wrapped, brightly colored boxes and bags to the church. The children received their presents at a celebration Dec. 17 that included a Christmas play.
Angelica Aguilera, director of faith formation, said it was hard to tell who enjoyed the gift-giving more, but she thinks the givers did.

Giving tree at St. Lucy benefits four organizations
The “giving tree” at St. Lucy Catholic Church of Highland Beach was adorned with donation requests for needy people for the holidays and no wish went unmet. The project was organized by the Council of Catholic Women of St. Lucy’s.
Generous parishioners chose names from paper angels that covered the tree, then shopped for their recipient or donated the items requested.
CCW President Eleanor Hoffmann said this year’s recipients were AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse); Birthline/Lifeline, which helps pregnant women and their babies; Fisher House, a veterans assistance group; and St. Mary’s Church of Pahokee.

Candace Tamposi (right) at the Children’s Enrichment Center ground-breaking. Photo provided

Children’s Enrichment Center breaks ground
The First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade staged a ground-breaking ceremony on the site of its Children’s Enrichment Center on Dec. 11. The existing building is crumbling and beyond repair, but each day a van transports children to the center, where they receive a hot meal, enjoy playtime and then sit down for tutoring, which incorporates Bible verses and character-building exercises. During the ground-breaking, community members gathered at the site where classrooms and a music room are planned. The 4,000-square-foot facility will provide after-school tutoring, computers and music and art space for children ages 5-12.
A playground and covered patio will be outside.
The project is gaining momentum thanks to South County businesses. Rick Gonzalez of REG Architects is on board as the architect. You may know Gonzalez as the leader of the West Palm Beach history walks for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. The contractors — Messam Brothers, originally from Belle Glade — expect phase one, consisting of two classrooms, to be completed by spring.
Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller (Sovereign Order), Creative Waves Foundation, and foundation co-founders Ali and Candace Tamposi of Ocean Ridge are spearheading fundraising with a goal of $1 million.
The new enrichment center will also get a boost from Les Girls of Palm Beach. The multinational, multilingual women’s club will gather Jan. 24 for a luncheon to present a donation to the Creative Waves Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to provide funding for underserved children and programs that emphasize the arts and the environment. The luncheon will take place in Palm Beach and the check will be given to foundation President Candace Tamposi. Many of the club’s 43 members from 31 countries are expected to attend. For more information, call 561-762-3052.

Send religion news to Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.

Father Kevin McQuone, formerly a parish priest in the Panhandle, has returned to his alma mater at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Here he looks at a statue of St. Vincent on campus. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

How do we give purpose to our lives?
For Father Kevin McQuone, the answer is serving God and the church.
This year, the 40-year-old priest will serve the church in a new way. Formerly a parish priest in Florida’s Panhandle, McQuone has returned to his alma mater, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, to educate and prepare seminarians to take on the demands of a parish in these volatile, changing times.
Located on 43 acres along Military Trail just north of Woolbright Road, St. Vincent de Paul’s is owned by the seven Florida dioceses. The seminary was established in 1963, became an archdiocesan seminary in 1971 and has been a regional seminary since 1981.
Named for St. Vincent de Paul, a pioneer in seminary education, it has graduated more than 650 priests and is the only fully bilingual theological seminary in the United States. For the 2022-2023 academic year, more than 120 seminarians are preparing to serve a parish.
The parish priest is where the rubber meets the road in the church. These men deal directly with the messiness of life and death among their congregants.
For McQuone, those challenges came in the form of Hurricane Michael, which devastated Florida’s Panhandle in 2018, and a worldwide pandemic in 2020. His work was even more difficult as the sole priest in a parish that usually had a second priest to help shoulder the load.
Only about 5% of the Panhandle’s population is Catholic, but much of the support after Michael came from Catholic Charities, which brought supplies and volunteer medical professionals. Most of the people McQuone helped were strangers to him, but not to his heart.
“We should see others as another self,” McQuone said.
True charity happens without judgment or criticism. The golden rule shouldn’t be exercised only when it’s convenient or you’re in the mood, and you shouldn’t love your neighbor only if he looks and believes exactly as you do, he said.

***

‘The moment I realized that God existed, I knew that I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone.’

— St. Charles de Foucald
(Father McQuone’s favorite quote)

***

In these socially charged times, it’s hard to know when and where the rules should be strictly applied and when they should be changed. The church often seems weighted down, even hobbled by its own rules.
Today’s climate runs contrary to some of what the church teaches. Consider its views on birth control, homosexuality and women priests.
“As priests, we wrestle with the gray areas and the messiness of life,” McQuone said. “Balancing truth and mercy should be our goal.”
When dealing with important personal relationships (the devout mother who loves her gay son or the father whose beloved teenage daughter gets pregnant), compassion is the best tool, he said. McQuone wants to mend and not sever, bind and not break, and answer yes as often as he can.
“I believe in meeting the person where they are,” he said.
No one is a perfect Catholic; a priest’s opus is to find common ground and light the way. Consider the intent and the circumstances, he said.
McQuone said he didn’t hear the call to the priesthood until he was in college. Born in Ohio but raised in Tallahassee, he got his undergrad degree in Spanish literature and international relations from Florida State in 2004.
While he was there, he became active in the on-campus ministry. The more active he became, the more he wondered about a life devoted to serving God. Finally, he asked himself: “What does it look like if Jesus is the center of my life?”
His parents and four sisters were surprised. Although the family faithfully attended Mass, the priesthood wasn’t a goal his parents ever suggested. He had always seen himself as a husband and father, a role he anticipated with joy and love.
His decision to forgo fatherhood hurt his sisters, who had always imagined family gatherings with his kids playing with their children. And he had doubts about living a life of celibacy and never being called Dad.
But the seminary’s goal is to graduate quality and not quantity in priests. It doesn’t mind doubts. Priests-in-training go through weekly therapy to be sure they’re suited for the job. Even though a seminarian’s tuition and room and board (nearly $50,000) are paid for by the diocese, it would rather lose the investment than graduate a priest whose heart isn’t pure.
McQuone estimates two or three out of 10 don’t finish.
St. Vincent de Paul graduated 187 priests in the past decade. That’s not enough to sustain the church. But it’s hard to attract candidates when the sacrifices are tremendous and the pool is small to begin with.
In addition to his classroom teaching, McQuone serves as St Vincent de Paul’s spiritual director.
He meets one-on-one with seminarians to discuss their prayer lives, given that a significant part of a priest’s time is spent in prayer and reflection, listening for God’s voice, McQuone said.
They discuss the seminarians’ joys and desires, fears and doubts, mental health and motivation.
Often these questions of faith are answered with more questions designed to access the very core of the person.
“We use all the tools we have to help sort out his experiences,” McQuone said.
These pastoral tools — skills like active listening, gentle corrections, mirroring and rephrasing, and asking delicately probing questions — are also the methods the seminarians will learn to help their own congregants some day.
“These are the practical skills of the ministry. They help us see around the blind spots,” McQuone said.
“Faith is like a muscle you have to exercise,” McQuone said. Like anything else we give our time and attention to, it grows, and moments spent in prayer, gratitude or reflection grow our faith.
McQuone has part of a verse he recalls when he is stressed, or afraid, or alone. “It helps me stay rooted on the path,” he said. It’s just five words from the Gospel of Matthew, 28:20: “I am with you always.”

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

By Jan Enorgen

Love ’em or hate ’em, New Year’s resolutions are a long-standing American tradition.
After the decadence of the holiday season, people commit to making changes in their physical, spiritual and mental well-being at the start of a new year.
Quitting smoking, going on a diet, choosing healthier options, heading back to the gym and cutting down on alcohol are among the top New Year’s resolutions.
But, is it a good idea to make these promises to ourselves or are we setting ourselves up for failure?
We asked a couple of experts.
Dr. Ashley Hall, a primary care physician in Boca Raton who specializes in preventive medicine, chronic disease management, obesity medicine and women’s health, sees no reason to wait until Jan. 1 to set goals.
Hall, who practices at Baptist Health Primary Care Boca Raton (Del Mar), advises setting a health or wellness goal once a month.
“Check in with yourself the first of each month to remind yourself of your goals and set manageable, realistic steps to attain them,” she says.
If you’re trying to lose 20 pounds, for example, set incremental goals along the way, she says. If you are trying to get a promotion at work, communicate with your boss in ways that will lead to the desired goal.
Her own goals include spending more time with family and her significant other, Dr. Ionut Albu, also a primary care physician in Baptist Health Medical Group, and better managing her work/life balance.
“My goal is to be more present,” she says.
Dr. Joanna L. Drowos, a professor at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine, says setting New Year’s goals “is a good idea.”
“Obviously, we can all make changes to make ourselves healthier,” she says. “The new year is a natural trigger to make these changes. Be thoughtful and make sure it’s something within your ability to attain.
“Don’t give up if you’re not perfect each day,” she says.
Drowos practices with FAU’s Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, which uses a holistic approach in making each patient a partner in health outcomes.
Based on the teachings of Dr. Andrew Weil, integrative health services include osteopathic manipulation and massage, yoga, meditation, culinary medicine and nutrition. Aside from the physical concerns, all of that is part of an effort to evaluate and treat the patient’s mental, emotional, functional, social and community health.
Drowos made a number of health-related changes in her personal life during the coronavirus pandemic.
The married mother of two adolescents, Drowos changed to a plant-based diet, installed a gym in her home and invested in a Peloton. She resolved to eat green leafy vegetables more often and to bring salads for lunch.
As a front-line health care worker, she purchased an Oura Ring, originally to flag signs of COVID-19. She now uses it to track her sleep and activity habits.
“It monitors my heart rate variability, body temperature and sends me messages if I sit too long,” she says. “It’s another tool to use in goal-setting for my health.
“It’s important to be a role model for my kids and patients and model good health habits,” says Drowos, who rides her Peloton three or four times each week. “Even though my kids hate it when I blast the music, I enjoy it.”
Drowos says a key component to making and keeping successful New Year’s resolutions is the motivation and “readiness to change.”
According to research, people who successfully change their behavior don’t do it all at once, they go through a series of stages. The first step is to recognize where you are in the cycle of change, so you can set appropriate goals and the steps to achieve them.
“In our program, we talk about setting smart objectives,” says Drowos. “Make specific changes. Set a measurable, attainable goal. Strive for something, know what it is you want and recognize when you achieve it.
“This makes it easier to move forward when you stumble,” she says. “Set your goal so you’re still able to move toward it; reward yourself for small goals and realize that it is not all or nothing.”
For example, Drowos says, “if you have a piece of cake, don’t punish yourself. Recognize you’re human. Give yourself space to have that treat and resume your goals the next day.”
Drowos believes in the power of support.
“Don’t go it alone,” she says. “Have other people to support your endeavors. Get your family, spouse, friends and even your physician on board. You can be more successful when you have a team to encourage and back you.”
What does Drowos suggest as ways to stick to your resolutions after January?
“Positive reinforcement such as coaching and support are useful,” she says. “Identify resources to keep you focused. Be aware of the barriers and triggers that will prevent you from being successful and find strategies to navigate them and keep your commitment to yourself.
“Arm yourself with the best resources, be prepared and practice forgiveness,” Drowos says. “If you match your goals to your readiness and stage of change, you will maximize your ability to be successful.”
For more resources, visit www.faumedicine.org and https://baptisthealth.net

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

Caron Treatment Centers opened its new Keele Center in Delray Beach. Kathryn Keele and Caron CEO Brad Sorte were on hand for the ribbon cutting Dec. 8. Photo provided

Delray Medical Center recently acquired the Viz Vascular Suite software that uses artificial intelligence to detect suspected pulmonary embolism, right/left ventricle dilation, aortic dissection and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
“Being able to identify a patient with a serious vascular condition, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm, early — before they have an emergency — is a game changer and literally a lifesaver,” said Dr. Joseph Ricotta, national medical director of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at Tenet Healthcare, Delray Medical Center’s parent company.
“For example, there are roughly 1.5 million abdominal aortic aneurysms in the U.S. per year; however, only 10% get diagnosed and treated,” Ricotta said.
“We don’t often find out about them until it’s too late and, even then, there’s only a 25% chance of living through a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
“From my experience as an early adopter of this technology, the Viz Vascular Suite will help enhance screening and coordinate care across my vascular team.”
Call 833-769-4862 for a free physician referral.

 ***

Caron Treatment Centers held a sneak peek and ribbon cutting on Dec. 8 of its new Keele Center, 4575 Linton Blvd., Delray Beach. 
Brad Sorte, CEO of Caron Treatment Centers, announced at the event that the nonprofit’s “Open the Door” campaign goal of $30 million for the Keele Center was achieved. It is named in honor of philanthropist Kathryn Keele. The new center includes a medical detox unit, 40 beds for residential treatment programming, including an older adult program, as well as neurocognitive services, research and medical education.  
For more information, visit www.caron.org/fl-medical-center.

***

Palm Health Foundation will match donations to its Nursing Advancement Fund through Jan. 31 up to $150,000. People who want to support aspirations of low-income and first-generation nursing students in LPN, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs in Palm Beach County can donate between $100 and $5,000.
To donate, visit www.palmhealthfoundation.org/the-nursing-advancement-fund, or contact Carrie Browne, director of stewardship and strategic partnerships at carrieb@phfpbc.org or call 561-837-2281. 

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

More than 20 lifeguards from around the state took part in beach and open water training. ABOVE: From Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue (l-r), Capt. John F. Meskiel and lifeguards Eddie Black and Jonathan Price watch the exercises. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Eben Krigger, a Fort Lauderdale training officer, braces himself for impact after jumping from the bridge. Boynton Beach Fire Rescue dive team boat operator Chris Lemieux ensures the inlet is clear of other traffic.

A fisherman retrieves his bait so that lifeguards can swim past to the beach for debriefing.

Montana Tucker’s songs and music videos aim to help people recognize the gift of their individuality. ‘Being inclusive is an important part of my platform,’ she says. ‘I’ve always wanted to inspire people to go for their dreams.’ Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Boca Raton native Montana Tucker knows the best way to beat your bullies is to become what they said you’d never be.
The successful singer, dancer, actor and social media influencer works mostly in Los Angeles these days, but still keeps a house in Boca Raton. On Jan. 15, she’ll work where she usually rests, headlining the Concert 4 Kindness at the Kaye Auditorium on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus.
By the time she was 8, Tucker was already doing national modeling and commercial work. Around age 12, her natural dance skill was discovered by choreographer Darrin Henson (JLo, NSYNC and Britney Spears) at a dance workshop in Orlando. He encouraged the family to move Tucker to L.A., but Tucker’s mother, Michelle, opened a dance studio and hired top choreographers to teach there. A few years later, Tucker won the World Hip Hop Championships in Los Angeles.
Tucker’s achievements — from playing Serena the mermaid in Barney: The Land of Make Believe to working with Terry Crews, the likable flute-playing football player-turned-actor and lovable host of America’s Got Talent — have kept the doors opening for her.
Tucker, 28, says she has always used her platforms to promote a kinder, more inclusive world and in her first hometown concert, Tucker says her goal is to amplify kindness in South Florida. “Being inclusive is an important part of my platform,” Tucker said by phone. “I’ve always wanted to inspire people to go for their dreams.”
Especially when someone says they can’t.
She was chasing her dreams when she encountered bullying. Her hectic work schedule sometimes made her miss school, and her classmates noticed. “I was a little bigger than the other girls,” she said, “so they called me MAN-tana because of my size.”
Tucker says she began hiding in the bathroom during lunch to avoid bullies in the lunchroom. Their words could have crippled her — “I was so sensitive!” she says now with a laugh — but instead they became her ammunition. She made having a positive body image, accepting people of all shapes and sizes, and not judging others as the weapons in her anti-bullying arsenal.
Tucker knew how to get her message out. She wrote, recorded and released two songs and music videos with her anti-bullying message. I’m Not Alone, released in 2018, was Tucker’s debut single. The video features dancers with dwarfism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, facial deformities and deafness. The song has become known as “the song that saves lives” because its heartfelt message has reached people who were on the ledge.
The second song, Be Myself, released in 2021, features performer Todrick Hall and a flash mob in Times Square in the video. It was written to inspire self-acceptance and help people recognize the gift of their individuality.
Both songs will be featured at the multi-arts concert Jan. 15, which will include other local talent and video appearances by national artists. Performers, who are all donating their time, include Clarence Brooks, director of dance at FAU, BriGuel, a renowned bilingual duo from Spain and New York, and the Florida Singing Sons with Chorale Soleil.
Students and their mentors from Nat King Cole Generation Hope, a Boca Raton-based nonprofit that provides music education, mentoring and resources for youth, will also play.
The concert was organized by Bonnie and Jon Kaye of Kaye Communications in Boca Raton. Bonnie has been friends with Michelle Tucker since middle school.
“What impressed me about Montana was how she uses her platform for change. Who better to change the next generation than a truly authentic person like Montana?” Bonnie Kaye said. “I’m hoping this concert will start the year off with a message of kindness, diversity and peace.”

Challenge is uphill
The effort to stop bullying is valiant, but in the last 10 years, experts say not much has changed. A 2020 study by the Cyberbullying Research Center on tween cyberbullying is cringe-worthy: 49.8% of tweens 9 to 12 years old said they experienced bullying at school and 14.5% of tweens said they experienced bullying online. Nearly 70% of the tweens who were cyberbullied said it hurt their feelings about themselves and almost one-third said it affected their friendships.
To fight back, Tucker says, “I never respond to negative posts and messages, and I don’t let negativity win. I have thick skin.”
And whenever possible, she tries to educate others. In 2022, Tucker was named one of Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper Architects of Change for her work educating people about the Holocaust.
“Montana Tucker is on a mission to debunk Holocaust misinformation and denial and put an end to antisemitism, one TikTok viewer at a time,” wrote Meghan Rabbitt, an editor at the paper.
Tucker filmed a series of 10 two-minute videos called How To: Never Forget, a Holocaust education docu-series for the TikTok generation. Tucker took her followers on a journey retracing her maternal grandmother’s steps to the camp at Auschwitz.
Tucker would stop bullying tomorrow if it were that easy. It’s not. She says, “I want kids to know if someone is going out of their way to hurt you, they’re not confident or happy with themselves. It’s about them.
“And one more thing: It’s going to get better.”

To share story ideas about Tots & Teens email Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.

If You Go
What: Concert 4 Kindness
When: 4 p.m. Jan. 15
Where: Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton.
Tickets: $10-$20, which will support the Make a Difference Fund for scholarships and programs at the future Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies building on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.
Info: 561-297-6124 or www.fauevents.com.

The oceanfront master suite encompasses an expansive bedroom with wood floor, antique English fire surround and French doors to a wrought iron balcony. Photos provided

When Palm Beach socialite Lila Vanderbilt Webb conceived this Gulf Stream compound in 1931, in partnership with her son and with renowned architect Maurice Fatio, she sourced design ideas from Addison Mizner and materials (from tiles to stonework) from his local factory. Her vision, artfully realized by prominent Palm Beach builder C.G. Warner, had as its focal point a three-story tower residence crowned by the mirador, or lookout, that inspired its name. It was completed in 1933.

The charming oceanview kitchen boasts a slanted tongue-and-groove ceiling, custom cabinetry, marble counters and top-tier appliances.

By 1941, the estate was split into two properties, both of which hold the mirador title. Reimagined in 2014 by architect Mark Marsh and a host of other designers, Miradero has been modernized, refined and expanded without compromising its architectural integrity or historic charm.

The VIP suite of the guest house has a pecky cypress vaulted ceiling, boutique walk-in closet and attached marble bath.

Today’s Miradero has its signature tower residence, the original guest house and a pool house addition, all complete with secure smart-house technology. There are five bedrooms, an oceanfront office, five full and two half baths, a Mario Nievera landscape with private beach access and an outdoor shower.

The estate-sized oceanfront property is electronically gated, hedged and approached by a long paver drive from A1A. BELOW RIGHT: A coral deck and resort-style pool with separate spa lie between the pool house and the tower residence framed with lush tropical gardens.

Offered at $19,995,000. The Pascal Liguori Estate Group, 561-789-8300. Premier Estate Properties, 900 E. Atlantic Ave., #4, Delray Beach; pascal@premierestateproperties.com

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

By Rich Pollack

For four and half years the identity of Baby June and the questions of how the tiny 2-day-old infant ended up floating in the Boynton Inlet remained a mystery.

Despite relentless efforts by Palm Beach County sheriff’s detectives searching for anyone who knew anything and tracking down dead-end tip after dead-end tip, there was little to go on.

Now, thanks to the latest advances in DNA analysis technology using public databases, detectives have answers to the questions and a Boynton Beach woman — the mother of Baby June — is in custody on a murder charge.

On Thursday, after an extensive investigation that included a covert DNA collection, detectives arrested 29-year-old Arya Singh and charged her with tossing the baby she had on May 30, 2018, into the ocean.

“There have been a lot of question marks about Baby June’s death and now we have an idea of what happened,” said detective Brittany Christoffel of the sheriff’s cold case unit. “It’s nice to have some answers.”

Christoffel said that the infant was a surprise to her mother and was thrown into the ocean shortly after she was born.

“She didn't know she was pregnant up until the time she gave birth,” Christoffel said.  “When the baby was born, she wasn't sure if she was alive or dead, and that was that. By the time the baby went into the inlet, she was already deceased."

The baby was found by an off-duty Boynton Beach firefighter on June 1 and given the name Baby June by investigators.

Detectives believe that Singh acted alone and kept the birth of the baby and her actions in the aftermath a secret from most, including the baby’s father, a former boyfriend.

“She was fully responsible for the baby ending up in the Boynton Inlet,” Christoffel said.

The father played a key role in helping lead the detectives to Singh.

Using forensic genetic genealogy, the same technology used to identify the Golden State Killer in California a few years ago, members of the sheriff’s forensic biology unit were able to identify relatives of the father.

Armed with the lead, gathered in part through a public database, detectives met with the father and he led them to Singh. 

“He knew nothing about the baby,” Christoffel said.

Once the mother was identified, investigators began building their case with search warrants that showed Singh was at the Boynton Inlet on May 30 — about 40 hours before the baby was found — and had done computer searches for news articles about the finding.

Using DNA found on trash she discarded, detectives were able to confirm that Singh was indeed the mother of Baby June.

Investigators did a subsequent DNA test and conducted several interviews to be certain of their findings before finally filing the first-degree murder charge against Singh.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw praised the investigators as well as several partner agencies during a news conference announcing the arrest.

“The dedication and tenacity of the people involved in this case is exemplary,” he said.

The long-anticipated launch of Brightline’s rail service to Boca Raton will take place on Dec. 21.

Brightline will host ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the new Boca Raton and Aventura stations on Dec. 20.

Speakers at Boca event will include Mayor Scott Singer and Brightline President Patrick Goddard.

One-way tickets go on sale Dec. 15 for as low as $10 and can be purchased on Brightline’s app or website. Schedule information is available on www.gobrightline.com

Boca Raton officials have eagerly awaited the opening of the station, located east of the Downtown Library at 101 NW Fourth St., saying it will be a “game changer” for the city.

They predict the rail service will lure corporations to locate in the city and will bring tourists and South Florida residents to the city’s cultural attractions, restaurants and other amenities.

City Council members approved a deal that allowed the station and parking garage to be built on city-owned land three years ago.

“This will be a moment of triumph for Boca Raton,” Singer said at the time.

The $46 million station will be smaller than those in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, but will be similar in appearance and in the services offered.

Construction began in December 2021 and has moved ahead quickly. In recent weeks, construction crews have been working feverishly to finish work on both the station and garage.

— Mary Hladky

The 60-year-old co-op with 22 units sold for $29 million. Photos provided

By John Pacenti

Duncan Burke fell in love some 50 years ago with the understated individually owned apartments next to Ocean Club of Florida. His godparents owned in Ocean Maisonettes across the street and he bought into the apartments.
“My wife and I loved it. It was small but wonderful,” said Burke, who travels around the globe but is based in Greenwich, Connecticut. But Burke and the other owners at 6855 N. Ocean Blvd. in Ocean Ridge decided to say goodbye. The oceanside complex sold for $29 million on Oct. 18, according to Palm Beach County official records. The money will be split among owners according to the size of their units, 22 in all. The 60-year-old building was a co-op, meaning that to sell it, all owners of the studio and one-bedroom units had to agree. Owners had already agreed not to inhabit the property recently as repairs mounted.
“It ends a long period of uncertainty as to what to do about the building, which was frustrating,” Burke said. “It was bittersweet for those of us who have been down there with family since the 1970s.”
New construction along Ocean Boulevard — be it condominiums or multimillion-dollar spec mansions — represents a confluence of spiking land values, an influx of new year-round residents and new regulations ushered in by the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside in June 2021. 

The sale of the co-op apartments (within dotted lines) to an affiliate of the Edwards Cos. has generated buzz about what’s next, including the possibility that luxury condos will be built. 

It is “Logan’s Run” for aging complexes that once were the backbone of the area’s charm. The co-op follows the path of Wright by the Sea, the historic Delray Beach hotel that sold four years ago for $25 million to make way for the ultramodern Ocean Delray condominiums.
With more than 200 feet of direct ocean frontage, the co-op possesses the same allure of unobstructed ocean views that made Wright by the Sea desirable.
The new owner of the apartments — or more important, the 2.1 acres they sit upon — is an affiliate of Edwards Cos., a Columbus, Ohio-based family-owned holding company that advertises a host of developments: mixed-use urban, multifamily, student housing, condominium construction. 
It is the mixed-use part that has some Ocean Ridge residents alarmed. 
The Edwards Cos., under a limited liability corporation, also is behind Delray Beach’s Atlantic Crossing, a $300 million multiuse project slated to have offices, shops, restaurants and condos. 
The company did not respond to an email for comment.
Also, the Ocean Club — the beach and tennis club next door to the co-op — would not talk about the sale.
Betty Bingham’s father — former Ocean Ridge Mayor H. Peirce Brawner — was one of the original members of the Ocean Club. She said there is plenty of concern among Ocean Ridge residents about what the Edwards Cos. will construct.
“I doubt seriously they will be able to put stores and offices,” said Bingham, who is not an Ocean Club member. 
Ocean Ridge interim Town Manager Lynne Ladner said the zoning is high-density residential multifamily. There is a height restriction of four stories. 
“There has been no permit pulled. They have not started any land development with our building department,” Ladner said. “They haven’t done anything but change ownership. There has been no discussion with the town.
“We have quite a few people who are asking about it and I am telling them the same thing.”
The Edwards Cos. isn’t talking, but the affable lawyer who helped manage the sale said the plans will be to construct up to 20 luxury condominiums after the razing of the old apartments. 
The lawyer, Brad Capas, executive director of Cushman & Wakefield, said necessary repairs in the wake of the Surfside collapse were going to be costly for owners of the apartments.
“Nobody wants a repeat so everybody is paying attention to it,” he said. “In this particular case, residents were not full-time and did not want to pay to do the capital improvements to pass inspections.”

New regs for old buildings
They are not alone. Coastal residential buildings are reckoning with the Surfside tragedy, forcing residents to incur hefty assessments for upgrades or repairs.
The Florida Legislature ushered in reforms last session, mandating that condos and co-ops three stories or taller and within 3 miles of the coast must have a “milestone inspection” 25 years after opening and every 10 years thereafter. The first inspection for those farther from the coast would be 30 years.
Condo associations must have enough money in their reserves by 2025 to fund all necessary repairs to maintain the structural integrity of their buildings. Ocean Ridge Management, which managed the apartments, did not have any comment and efforts to reach board members on the exact nature of pending repairs were unsuccessful. 
“It’s my understanding that the owners voluntarily moved out — out of an abundance of caution,” Capas said. 
There were about five serious bidders for the property, but Capas said it was a complex sale because of the zoning restrictions on it, such as height and easement. 
“The site planning of the property, the design of the building, is a little complicated because there are some obstacles that they have to work through,” Capas said.
He estimated that the new condominiums will run about $2,000 per square foot — about the same as at the recently completed Ocean Delray.
Former Ocean Ridge Mayor Ken Kaleel said Ocean Ridge is no different from barrier island communities throughout South Florida.
“The market value of the land and aging buildings are prompting some developers to come in and take an interest,” he said.
“That has been happening for quite some time. It is completely different than it was 30 years ago. The pandemic just put it on hyperdrive.”
Realtor Nick Malinosky said seasonal residents have been increasingly replaced with families moving primarily from the Northeast, California and Chicago and staying year-round.
He said these older buildings’ time has come.
“They’re ugly to look at, the windows are small. Typically, the vegetation in the landscape isn’t great,” Malinosky said.
“The development, assuming it stays within the standard zoning and regulations, will be a great improvement to the area.”
Duncan Burke represented the typical resident of the apartments. Burke said he and his family used it for two or three weeks in March, maybe a weekend in November and another weekend around New Year’s Day.
It was certainly enough time to create some great family memories.
“It was about as nice as it gets in Florida around there,” he said.

By Joel Engelhardt

Ron DeSantis reached a plateau in Palm Beach County on Nov. 8 that no Republican candidate for governor had reached in 36 years: He tallied more votes than the Democrat.
And on his coattails rode Republicans Peggy Gossett-Seidman to victory over Andy Thomson for a Boca Raton-centered state House seat, and Marci Woodward, a political novice, over County Mayor Robert Weinroth for a County Commission seat.
“Money didn’t matter and it didn’t matter how much you spent,” said campaign consultant Rick Asnani, who worked on both the Thomson and Weinroth campaigns. “Endorsements didn’t matter. Any type of discussion around experience didn’t matter. This was all driven around one very simple thing, did you have an ‘R’ next to your name?”
And much of that was because of the man at the top of the ticket, said Sid Dinerstein, a former chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party.
“The No. 1 reason was Ron DeSantis,” he said. “We never had an election, either party, where they won the state by 1.5 million votes. You have to start with the uniqueness of this political figure.”
Thomson, who had to resign his seat on the Boca Raton City Council to run, faced a deluge of TV attack ads paid for by the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee to pound home the message that he raised taxes and was soft on immigration and crime.
“They treated him the way they would any other Democrat,” Asnani said. “They tied him to Joe Biden. ‘He’s a liberal. He’s a Democrat. The other person is not’ and they won.”
Thomson ran attack ads as well, Gossett-Seidman said, a point Thomson disputed.
While acknowledging the importance of the DeSantis effect, Gossett-Seidman said voters were driven by concerns about the economy, a refrain she heard as she walked the district, which includes Highland Beach, Boca Raton and much of west Boca.
“Everywhere we went, everyone is worried about the economy, prices, jobs,” said Gossett-Seidman, who served four years on the Highland Beach Town Commission and is the first former Highland Beach commissioner to serve in the Florida House. “It was totally overwhelming. They want a normalcy to return, in terms of the economy, having freedoms — the free and open Florida.”
But the key to her victory, by 51.7% to 48.3%, was the enthusiasm for DeSantis that drew Republicans to the polls and the apathy that kept Democrats away, Thomson said. He added that he pulled in more votes in his district than Charlie Crist, who lost to DeSantis by a margin of about 3-to-2 statewide.

Nearly a clean sweep
Almost all of the Republican candidates at the top of the ticket scored wins in Palm Beach County, a virtually unprecedented result, thwarted only by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s falling just 2,124 votes short of Val Demings, out of 542,852 cast.
The only time since 1978 that a Republican for governor scored higher than the Democrat in Palm Beach County came in 1986, when Bob Martinez attained 53.8% of the vote to Steve Pajcic’s 46.2%.
Three times in the 1980s Palm Beach County went Republican for president — twice for Ronald Reagan and once for George Bush — but that never happened again.
On Nov. 8, DeSantis won the county with 51.2% of the vote to 48.3% for Crist.
Democrats still have a decided registration advantage in Palm Beach County over Republicans: 40% to 29%.
“Democrats had no enthusiasm and stayed home,” Asnani said. “If you didn’t have a seat that had at least a 10- to 14-point [partisan] advantage, you had no chance to win.”
For example, Democrat Lois Frankel held on to her South County congressional seat, 55% to 45%, over Dan Franzese. Two years earlier, in a similarly Democratic-leaning district, she won 59% to 39%.

Other local races
Democratic state Rep. Joe Casello, running in a solid Democratic House district that includes Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, held off challenger Keith Feit, 55% to 45%. State Sen. Bobby Powell, a Democrat in a district that includes the barrier islands north of the Boynton Inlet, won 55.7% of the vote in defeating Eric Ankner.
Likewise, Democratic state Sen. Lori Berman got 55% of the vote in defeating Republican Steve Byers in District 26, which runs along the coast from Glades Road to the Boynton Inlet.
But Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky lost Palm Beach County, 52.6% to 47.4%, winning re-election on the strength of her showing in Broward County, which she carried with 59% of the vote.
Republican Mike Caruso won his new House district, which starts north of the Boynton Inlet and runs up to Palm Beach Gardens, defeating Sienna Osta 59% to 41%.

New county commissioners
But for Weinroth, a former Boca Raton City Council member, and Michelle McGovern, a one-time aide to former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the governor’s coattails proved too much even though their County Commission opponents had no big money infusion for TV ads.
Taking over for Weinroth in a South County district that includes all the barrier islands south of South Palm Beach will be Woodward, a Boca Raton resident who had never run for office before. She won with 51.8% of the vote. 
Hailing her election as “proof that a citizen does have a place in local government,” Woodward took the oath of office Nov. 22. She acknowledged the learning she needs to do and pledged “to represent you the way I want to be represented myself.”
Republican Sara Baxter defeated McGovern by a similar margin in the West County district held for eight years by Democrat Melissa McKinlay, who was term-limited from running again.
Incumbent Gregg Weiss, a Democrat, won re-election with 56% of the vote, giving Democrats a reduced 4-3 majority on the new commission. He was appointed to the county’s ceremonial mayor post by his colleagues on Nov. 22.
While Woodward didn’t respond to a request for an interview, her website describes several key moments in her life, particularly her difficult efforts to conceive after marrying Michael, her high school sweetheart. They graduated in the 1990s from the University of South Carolina-Aiken before moving to South Florida in 2004.
It was here that fertility treatments left her facing years of medical issues, now resolved, she wrote.
With the coronavirus pandemic underway in 2020, she wrote, she became aware of the power of the County Commission. She wondered how business could survive the closures and limitations.
“But then came the real question: Who was making these rules?” she wrote. “Who were these new Task Force Officers and to whom did they report? And why, did it seem, the rules that were made ‘for our well-being’ were not being adhered to by those who we elected to represent us?
“They made the rules, but WE suffered.”
When she felt like the county didn’t respond to her questions and she learned Weinroth was running unopposed, she entered the race, raising $48,700, including $16,000 from the county Republican Party and $8,000 of her own money.
Weinroth, who raised $416,000, cited his accomplishments after four years on the commission and four years on the Boca council, but said there was no way to get that across to voters intent on party support.
“They looked at the ‘R’ and the ‘D’ and decided to vote ‘R,’” he said, pointing out that he got 6,000 fewer votes in this election than his previous one, “which means to me the Democrats stayed home.”
As for the two newcomers to the County Commission, he pointed out that it’s not just a one-issue job.
“It’s not just a pandemic or voter integrity. It’s a job with multiple issues thrown at you,” Weinroth said. “I hope they take a breath and learn how our county runs, because they are on the board of directors now for all of Palm Beach County.” 

Peg Heffernan and Phyllis Baxter look through the items for sale at The Southern Handcraft Society, Pineapple Grove Chapter’s 29th annual juried art and craft show Nov. 17-19 in the Fieldhouse at Old School Square. About 55 SHS members participated as vendors. More than 1,000 shoppers strolled through the Delray Beach event. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

It’s hard to ask for money at the holidays. There are so many worthwhile organizations working to meet the needs of those struggling in our community — children, the elderly, animals. Agencies involved in these heart-wrenching efforts need your financial support. Please consider these groups as you plan your year-end giving.
Please also consider financially supporting your free, local newspaper. We realize a newspaper may not appear at first blush to be a critical need. We understand. We are, after all, a for-profit business with support of local, sustaining business partners.
These advertisers are the backbone supporting our ability to enlighten, educate and entertain our unique community — and have been for more than 14 years. We have no plans to change this business model; but with your (tax-deductible) donation, there’s a whole lot more we could provide.
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Improved/targeted delivery: We do a good job delivering news, information and advertising to homes, businesses and condos in our market. With more resources, we could do this better.
We promise not to solicit your contribution via email or social media on Small Business Saturday or Giving Tuesday. Instead, we’re making this plea on Page 2 of our print publication in the hope you’ll help us shine a brighter light on our community with your year-end contribution.
• Donate at https://fpf.column.us/the-coastal-star. Online donations made to the Florida Press Foundation benefit The Coastal Star Community News Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fund. These donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law and are subject to a 5.5% administration and processing fee.
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Thank you.
Happy holidays!

— Mary Kate Leming, Editor

Volunteer Carolina Doering of Boca Raton teaches Spanish to preschoolers at the Fuller Center. She previously taught in her native Venezuela and in South County. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Brian Biggane

Not everyone is cut out to teach preschool. Sure, kids can be adorably cute at that age, but they can also cry for their mommies, decide it’s naptime in the middle of class or simply refuse to do what they’re told.
In more than 40 years as an educator— much of it dealing with preschool children— Boca Raton’s Carolina Doering has seen all that and more. And after lengthy stints at schools in both Venezuela and Palm Beach County and ultimately retiring, she’s back at it, teaching preschoolers for the past eight years as a volunteer at the Fuller Center in Boca.
“People don’t realize how important the first years of your life are,” Doering said. “Everything you learn up to 5 years old is going to stay with you for the rest of your life. And these kids have the opportunity to learn so many things, and get to elementary school with a big, big base. That gives them self-esteem, that gives them security. It’s so important what preschool years do for your future.”
The great grand-daughter of a doctor in Venezuela who built a hospital on land he donated to the government, Doering came to the U.S. to earn a degree in education from the University of Florida in the mid ’80s. She then returned home to Caracas before moving to Isla de Margarita in 1986.
“When I moved to the island there were no schools there,” she said. “I started my preschool and more and more people moved there, and the parents proposed we make a big school from the preschool.
“It got to a point where we had 180 kids and 27 people on my staff at the preschool and they bought me out,” she said. “I agreed to stay on for five years, but when that time was over the situation in the country was getting bad and my sister, who lives in Wellington, convinced me to come here.”
She made the move with her two teenage sons in 2005. She tried to start a day care center but that was unsuccessful, so she joined the staff of the now-closed Claremont Montessori School, where she stayed for nine years, teaching Spanish.
Doering, 65, retired in 2013 but felt the need to give back. After exploring the possibilities, she landed at the Fuller Center, a school for underprivileged preschoolers that, as its website claims, gives children a chance “to pave their pathway out of the generational cycle of poverty.”
After a year as a teacher’s assistant, she became the school’s Spanish teacher in 2015 and works with 15-20 children in each of six classes for 30 minutes each one day a week.
“My class is fun,” she said. “If you’re going to teach a language it has to be fun, especially with preschool kids.
“I do a lot of songs (and) I have a lot of resources. I speak in Spanish, and I translate what the song says, but there’s a time when I don’t have to anymore. We sing about good morning, the days of the week and colors. I teach by themes and try to make it fun.”
Several of her kids come from households where Spanish is the first language. “In the beginning of the year they feel good because they have the answers. It’s amazing how they catch on. They don’t have much exposure to the world, but they’re so sharp, so smart. Every year they’re smarter.”
Three or four years ago, Doering and her husband, Craig, adopted a class, which brings the school additional resources. Two years ago, she was offered a spot on the board of directors and accepted. She is also active in America Developing Smiles, a Miami-based nonprofit that raises money to further the education of children in several Latin American countries.
“Life has been good for me, so you have to give back,” Doering said. “I believe you have to give back doing things.
“I say to Craig, ‘I don’t want to give money. Let’s go there and work for them.’ I believe that you have to do it. You have to be involved. That way I keep in touch with kids. I feel young because of that. Being in touch with young kids gives you a good experience.”
Doering said it’s important that the community continues to support the Fuller Center in various ways: volunteering, tutoring, mentoring and fundraising. “Our motto is ‘Tomorrow Begins Today,’ so please help us make a lasting impact in our children and families.”

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By Joe Capozzi

South Palm Beach Town Manager Robert Kellogg said he plans to resign at the end of March, a decision he made a day after a town councilman called for his termination. 
At the Nov. 15 Town Council meeting, Ray McMillan didn’t offer a public explanation for his motion to fire Kellogg, other than to say: “It’s the best thing for the town.’’
McMillan’s motion, made as the council was about to discuss a contract extension for the town manager, got no support from the mayor and two other council members on the dais. Councilman Robert Gottlieb was absent. 
“This is no time to change. We’ve got some big stuff coming up here. We need his experience and familiarity,’’ Vice Mayor Bill LeRoy said.
Instead, the council voted 3-1, with McMillan voting no, to extend Kellogg’s contract another month while the town manager continued negotiating a new contract with the town attorney.
The next day, Kellogg told Mayor Bonnie Fischer and Town Attorney Glen Torcivia that he plans to resign March 31. 
“I think the best thing to do under the circumstances is we move on,’’ Kellogg, 69, said in an interview with The Coastal Star, adding: “I wish (McMillan) nothing but the best.’’
Kellogg has been the town manager in South Palm Beach since 2019, when he replaced Mo Thornton. He is making $105,000 a year. 
McMillan offered a harsh assessment of Kellogg during an interview with The Coastal Star a day after the council meeting.
“My position is, his shelf life has expired. We need to get somebody else, somebody with different ideas, who’s younger,’’ said McMillan, who was elected to the council in 2020 after eking out a 17-vote victory over Elvadianne Culbertson. 
“I didn’t want to bring anything up to embarrass him. I very well could have. There are a lot of skeletons in his closet I could bring out,’’ he said, refusing to elaborate. 
When pressed about what aspects of Kellogg’s performance he had issues with, McMillan mentioned two examples. 
He accused Kellogg of illegally ordering the removal of campaign signs for Republican candidates from the right of way in front of the Town Hall polling place on Election Day. He said he thinks Kellogg is a Democrat and therefore ordered the removal of the signs because they promoted Ron DeSantis, Dan Franzese and other Republican candidates. 
Kellogg said he didn’t instruct anyone to remove any campaign signs, which are prohibited on town property. He said a sheriff’s deputy removed some signs from the right of way, where they are allowed. Those signs “were put back once the error was discovered,’’ he said.   
McMillan also pointed out his dissatisfaction over Kellogg’s handling of a resolution, approved by the council later in the meeting on Nov. 15, that bans the consideration of ESG policies in town finances.
The ban stems from a Republican-led movement across the country that steers public money away from companies that prioritize environmental, social and governance issues rather than solely profits. 
Earlier this summer, Gov. DeSantis announced plans to steer Florida’s state pension funds away from investment managers possessing what he called “woke” ESG policies focusing on issues such as climate change and diversity.
In July, the Town Council voted 4-1 to apply for a state grant to pay for assessing South Palm Beach’s vulnerabilities to flooding and sea level rise. McMillan voted no.
McMillan said he first called for South Palm Beach to adopt the ESG ban in August. He accused Kellogg of purposely delaying the final vote, which he said should have been placed on the agenda at the council’s September or October meeting.
He also accused Kellogg of adding to the agenda’s backup material an article “promoting ESG.’’ 
Although Kellogg conducted an informal survey in September that revealed none of the county’s municipalities have ESG bans, he said he was not involved with the town’s ESG resolution. That was handled by the town attorney.
“I’m not going to take the blame for that because that was all part of the attorney’s process working with (McMillan). Whatever,’’ Kellogg said. 
Kellogg said he remembers adding “an informational piece” about ESG to the agenda material. “I didn’t think it was slanted one way or the other,’’ he said. 
He said he had no idea what McMillan meant by saying Kellogg has “skeletons in his closet.’’ 
Kellogg has had indications that some other council members might not be happy with his performance. At a special meeting on Sept. 23, council members gave him an average score of 3.26 on a one-to-five scale. They called him “acceptable,” but expressed unhappiness with limited staffing at Town Hall and public perception of the permitting process.
Fischer said the council will discuss its search for a new town manager in January. She said she is glad Kellogg is staying through the end of March.
“I certainly didn’t want him fired. He does not deserve to be fired,” Fischer said.
“Partisanship is an issue with Ray and Bob and I don’t think it belongs with respect to the positions in the town, and that goes for the rest of us,” she said.
LeRoy said he supports Kellogg and wishes he wouldn’t resign. “I think he’s doing a great job,’’ LeRoy said.
As for McMillan’s motion to fire the town manager, LeRoy said: “He dropped a bomb on us. Everybody’s jaw dropped open. We had no idea. We were just in shock. That came out of the blue.’’
Councilman Monte Berendes said he’s “kind of” sorry to see Kellogg go, “but if that’s what he feels he needs to do, I would never stand in anybody’s way. I am concerned about the town and what’s going to happen when he leaves.’’
The town is trying to jump-start plans to build a new Town Hall. A vote on a contract with the architectural firm designing the building will be considered at a special meeting at 1 p.m. on Dec. 7.  
“That’s going to take some effort and some direction,’’ Berendes said. “And now, if he does follow through with his resignation, we have to find somebody to fill his shoes.’’

By Steve Plunkett

Two homes at opposite ends of the town will be built after the architects involved made multiple concessions to Gulf Stream’s planning board and Town Commission to make the projects fit better into their neighborhoods.
In an unusual annexation to be finalized this month, the house at 996 Pelican Lane, on Gulf Stream’s southern border, will add a sliver of land roughly 7 feet deep and 100 feet wide to the town’s limits. Town officials had planned to annex the parcel at the commission’s Nov. 10 meeting, but postponed the decision to Dec. 9 so the vote could be properly advertised.
Why the sliver was never incorporated into Gulf Stream or Delray Beach could not be determined, said Cristofer Bennardo, the attorney representing the owners.
“So, for all intents and purposes, we have this small parcel of land … that is in essence a lost parcel,” he said.
The other house will be built at 2775 Avenue Au Soleil. The property used to have a home that was such an eyesore that the Place Au Soleil homeowners association paid to plant a clusia hedge along its western edge so it would not be the first thing people entering the neighborhood saw.
In 2019, town commissioners reduced code enforcement liens that had prevented the heirs of the abandoned house from selling it. Commissioners hoped a new owner would make it more presentable. After a deal for a neighbor to buy it and expand his residence fell through, Chet Snavely, president of the homeowner group, bought the property for $400,000, demolished the house, planted sod and installed sprinklers.
He sold the vacant parcel in March for $890,000, county property records show.
Representatives of new owner Benedetto DiCicco made four trips to the Architectural Review and Planning Board and appeared twice before the Town Commission to get permission to build a 6,970-square-foot Colonial West Indies home.
The ARPB said no to a proposed garage with three vehicle doors facing the street, which is no longer permitted by town code. It recommended approving the plan after the third door was moved to the rear of the garage and after questioning — but leaving in — a request for a special exception for 300 square feet of covered, unenclosed floor area around the backyard pool.
Town commissioners were more critical and sought numerous changes to make the home less of what architect Shane Ames called a “modern interpretation” of Colonial West Indies style. Ames withdrew the request for the extra covered area by the pool and added corbels under the eaves, and blue shutters. He also included a predominantly wood front door with glass instead of a predominantly glass door with a metal frame, as well as garage doors matching the wood door color, more traditional exterior lights, a gray slate roof instead of brown, two windows with shutters instead of a large picture window and no shutters on the front, and two windows with shutters instead of three tall vertical windows at the rear.
He previously added bronze windows, which the ARPB rejected. The architect and owner agreed to swap out white frames for the bronze, and the planning board scheduled a special meeting on Nov. 1 to give its blessing.
The Pelican Lane home faced a similar gauntlet of scrutiny. New owners Joseph and Laura Pehota wanted to build a 3,698-square-foot, two-story Anglo-Caribbean style house but discovered that the back 8 feet of their lot was a separate, unincorporated parcel from their home site.
A previous owner had built a sea wall in line with the neighbor’s sea wall even though legally the lot line was 8 feet closer to the house. That meant a proposed swimming pool would have to be farther from the water, limiting the size of the new house.
Bennardo asked town commissioners to grant variances so the pool could be built as though the two parcels were joined while he investigated the requirements for annexation, but commissioners insisted that the property be annexed before a site plan could be approved.
Then there was the design of the house, which architect Richard Brummer called Anglo-Caribbean but town officials considered “contemporary” and “modern.”
Over the course of three architectural review meetings and four commission meetings starting in June, Brummer increased the slope of the roof and added shutters, window muntins to divide the glass area, a front door with wood, and detail to the space over the garage doors. He also decreased the amount of glass on the rear façade and replaced a glass rail balcony with a Chippendale and picket rail.
Commissioners approved a demolition permit outright on Nov. 10 so the Pehotas could begin construction, but made the land clearing application, as well as a special exception request for 96 square feet of covered, unenclosed floor area for a rear porch and front entry, and the site plan approvals contingent on their December vote to annex the strip of land.
Commissioners, ARPB members and town staff were pleased to have defended the recently enacted prohibition of home projects that appear massive, are dissimilar to nearby residences and do not fit comfortably on their lots. In both cases the commission sent the projects back to the review board with their comments after the ARPB had first signed off.
“I thought it worked out very well,” Mayor Scott Morgan said. “It took a little while, but getting the ARPB on the same page as the commission I thought was as important as getting those two homes right.”

No election required
Five familiar faces will return to the Town Commission for the next three years.
“All the sitting commissioners filed to run again and went unopposed, so Gulf Stream will not have to have an election in March,” Town Clerk Renee Basel said.
It was the first election cycle for incumbent Thom Smith, who was elevated to the commission in April from his post on the town’s Architectural Review and Planning Board after Commissioner Donna White resigned.
Also gaining new terms are Morgan, Vice Mayor Tom Stanley and Commissioners Paul Lyons and Joan Orthwein.Ú

By Tao Woolfe

High-rise buildings will come under closer scrutiny in the coming months thanks to a new Boynton Beach ordinance that mandates thorough structural safety inspections for residential buildings 25 years or older.
The City Commission unanimously adopted the Building Milestone Inspection Program at its Nov. 14 meeting. Some 200 structures — many of them along the city’s eastern edge — could be affected by the measure.
“Most of the buildings along Federal were constructed in the ’70s and ’80s,” city building official John Kuntzman told the commissioners. “There are eight buildings on the barrier island that were all built in the ’70s.”
The barrier island buildings are within St. Andrews, he said.
Boynton Beach, like many other municipalities in South Florida, is strengthening local regulations in hopes of avoiding a building collapse like that of the 12-story Champlain Towers South beachfront condo in the Miami suburb of Surfside.
Building department staff researched how to strengthen recent state legislation that created milestone inspection requirements for multistory residential condominium and cooperatively owned buildings that are 25 years or older and are located within 3 miles of the coastline.
Boynton Beach added other building types that must be vetted — requiring buildings taller than three stories and larger than 5,000 square feet to be included — and increased the reach of the ordinance to all residential buildings 25 years or older within the city limits.
Once homeowner associations have been served with notice from the city that their buildings qualify for recertification, they will have a year to schedule an inspection by a qualified engineer, Assistant City Manager Adam Temple said.
Once the engineer’s report has been submitted to the city, building owners will have 180 days to make the repairs and be recertified for safety compliance.
The city will offer expedited permit procedures for buildings in need of repairs, Temple said.
The state Legislature’s bill makes the repairs mandatory and places the responsibility of ensuring the work is completed on the unit owners and homeowner associations.
“They wouldn’t be required to bring the building up to current standards, but they will have to make them safer,” Temple said.
In answer to a question about how buildings near the ocean are affected by hurricanes, Kuntzman said salt intrusion is a bigger threat than wind.
“Once the salt gets into concrete, it soaks in,” he said. “Sooner or later, the salt will hit the steel.”
The building official was referring to the steel reinforcing rods, or rebar, that strengthen concrete under tension.
The mandatory inspections are expected to include infrared thermography or X-ray that allows inspectors to look beneath surfaces for such problems as moisture infiltration, insulation gaps and separation of wall layers.
The city’s recertification program requirements were suggested by building department staff after “a yearlong effort of coordination amongst all of Palm Beach County’s building officials,” according to the draft proposal.
“The purpose of this new program is to maintain the structural integrity of buildings throughout [their] service life ... so as to not pose a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare,” the proposal says.
Buildings that are exempted from the ordinance include townhomes with three or fewer stories; school buildings; and federal, state and local municipal buildings.

More police to be equipped with body- and dash-cams
The City Commission voted unanimously at its Nov. 14 meeting to sign a five-year, $2.9 million contract with Axon Enterprises, to supply more body cams and dash cams to all Boynton Beach police officers.
At the moment, the department has 80 body cams, which are worn by patrol officers. That number will increase to 125 body cameras under the new contract, Police Chief Joe DeGiulio told the commissioners. Also, 100 dashboard cameras will be placed in patrol cars, which will also be equipped with new Tasers.

Civil suit filed against city by family of dead teen
The family of Stanley Davis III has filed a civil suit against the city of Boynton Beach in U.S. District Court.
The wrongful death suit accuses the city and former Police Officer Mark Sohn of violating the constitutional rights of Davis, a 13-year-old boy who was killed in a dirt bike incident just after Christmas last year.
The boy was fleeing from a patrol car, driven by Sohn, when he crashed into a sign in a concrete median. Sohn was fired in August. He has filed a grievance against the city for wrongful termination and is seeking reinstatement.
The lawsuit alleges that the city should have fired Sohn earlier, especially since there had been numerous complaints about the officer, including another death resulting from a high-speed chase.
Members of the Black community, including the youngster’s family, friends and supporters, had for months asked the City Commission to fire those responsible for the tragedy.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Lloyd Crump is representing the family and estate of Stanley Davis.

By Larry Barszewski

Manalapan is lucky to have its own water supply, Mayor Keith Waters says, and he wants to protect it from a future commission that might want to sell it off.
At the commission’s Nov. 17 meeting, Waters proposed asking voters to approve a referendum that would require voter approval before any such sale could go through. The earliest the initial referendum could be held is in March 2024, officials said.
The referendum would be similar to how Ocean Ridge voters protected the town’s Police Department. Voters in 2020 approved requiring a referendum before any future proposed merger of the department with another agency — such as the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office — could occur.
“I would like for the town to consider, or the commission to consider, doing something that precludes any future groups that may sit at this dais from making a decision to sell our water without a referendum from the community, without the community having a chance to say yes or no,” Waters said.
“I know in a lot of different cities, the privatization of water is a big issue. We have an asset that is not replaceable and we don’t really have anything in place that precludes six people from sitting up here and making a decision.”
Town Manager Linda Stumpf said there’s not enough time to prepare ballot language, have the commission approve it, and get it to the Supervisor of Elections in time for the March 2023 elections. Manalapan won’t be having a town election in 2023 anyway. Only one candidate filed for each of its four open seats, so those candidates have been automatically elected to the positions they sought.
The next available date for a referendum is March 2024, Stumpf said.
Waters said ownership has become a serious issue in different parts of the country, especially in California, where water prices are increasing.
“I’d like to protect that asset because we are the only barrier island [community] that has our own water. Everyone else is beholden to whoever’s on the other side” of the Intracoastal Waterway, Waters said.
Highland Beach is the only other South County barrier island town with its own water plant.
The commission was supportive of the mayor’s idea and will discuss it with the town’s legal counsel at its December meeting, which has been moved to 10 a.m. Dec. 13 to avoid conflicts with the holidays. “I think the important thing is we really explain this to the town,” Commissioner Chauncey Johnstone said.
In other business:
• The Town Commission authorized spending $84,520 to have consultant Mock Roos & Associates prepare a 30% design for a town sewer system, which would replace the current private septic tanks. The design work is needed to apply for potential grants and to get a better idea of the true cost of the project, which had a preliminary estimate of $10.3 million. The information is also needed for discussions with town residents on whether a switch to sewer is something they support.
• Manalapan’s efforts to entice workers to stay with the town by approving higher salaries hasn’t been as effective as hoped because other towns raised their salaries as well, Stumpf said.
The town will now look at possibly offering higher salaries to new police officers based on their overall years in law enforcement, she said. The town also plans to implement a shift differential that boosts the pay of officers working the midnight shift.
• New security guards are now in place at the guard house on Point Manalapan.
“So far, we’re very pleased with what they’re doing. They’re very visible,” Stumpf said. “There’s one young gentleman who sits outside and waves and smiles to everybody, it’s like amazing. He sits there just smiling, happy as can be. It’s wonderful.”
The mayor suggested providing high-top chairs for the guards, though, so that they’re more readily visible to drivers.