The 18th chapter of the Delray Beach Public Library’s fun fundraiser featured actor/comedian T.J. Miller, whose high-energy performance had the audience roaring and wanting more. A crowd of 350 enjoying food and drinks helped raise $200,000 that will go toward keeping the library’s materials and programs thriving.
L-R: Kamil Webster, Suzy Lanigan, sponsors Mike and Becky Walsh and Joe O’Loughlin. Photos provided
L-R: Jacqueline and Scott Owen with Tracy Backer.
Supporters of The Nature Conservancy gathered for a dinner organized by Ron and Cindy McMackin that drew members of the organization’s state board of trustees. Guests enjoyed cocktails beside the Intracoastal Waterway, followed by a meal and a fireside chat about protection for lands, oceans and wildlife.
Ron and Cindy McMackin Photos provided by Capehart
Susan and Stewart Satter
Gulf Stream will celebrate its 100th year as an incorporated town April 30. In honor of the milestone, the Gulf Stream Civic Association organized an outdoor meal attended by more than 240 residents. ‘Gulf Stream remains unique, having never materially wavered from its founder’s idea of a town of quiet, unassuming elegance located close to a premier country club, a private elementary school and most notably without any commercial presence,’ Mayor Scott Morgan said, referring to Henry Phipps Jr. of U.S. Steel.
L-R: Suzy Lanigan, Lisa Morgan, Jennifer Coulter and Kirsten Stanley. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
L-R: Lisa Jankowski, Rob Mayer and Marilyn Mayer.
Brendan Boyle and Katie Orthwein.
Fritz Souder and Susie Souder.
L-R: Michele Walter, Lynne Freeman, Janet DeVries Naughton and Donna Artes look through photos of past gatherings at the Boynton Woman’s Club. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Jan Engoren
A full, festive day of activities took place March 22 at the Boynton Woman’s Club as the club marked the 100th anniversary of its recently refurbished 1925 Addison Mizner building at 1010 S. Federal Highway.
The 12,000-square-foot, two-story Mediterranean Revival style building showcases Mizner’s signature architectural elements, including its barrel tile roof, arched windows, grand hall, stucco exterior, tropical landscaping and open-air spaces.
It is one of the few Addison Mizner-designed structures open to the public in Palm Beach County.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
“We’re so happy for the success of this event and thankful to everyone who came out to support us,” said club member Barbara Erlichman. “The event was free to the public as a way to encourage people to come and see who we are and what we do and celebrate this beautiful building with us.”
The building was commissioned in 1925 by the club, thanks in part to funds contributed by city-namesake Major Nathan Boynton’s family, and finished in 1932.
It hosted World War II-era Red Cross dances, served as the city library until 1961, housed residents during hurricanes and was the heart of the community for decades. It hosted teas, lectures, concerts, art events, dances and galas — raising money for charities — most recently for college scholarships for local high school students.
The day’s participants included Tom Warnke of the Surfing Florida Museum, representatives from the Boynton Beach Historical Society, the Highwaymen Museum in Fort Pierce, the Girl Scouts, the Arthur R. Marshall Nature Preserve and the Boynton Beach Garden Club, which presented its signature Art in Bloom event.
Garden Club members made original floral arrangements inspired by artwork created by clients of The Arc of Palm Beach County, an organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Upstairs, local historians Janet DeVries Naughton and Ed Lamont, a docent at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, spoke about the history of Boynton Beach and about the life and work of Addison Mizner.
The Boynton Woman’s Club building has endured its share of ups and downs over the years and in recent times was in need of extensive repairs.
In 2017 it was taken over by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, which then sold it to the city four years later. The city painted and made repairs to the windows, railings and floors, and to the roof that had been damaged in 2017 during Hurricane Irma.
While repairs were being done, the Woman’s Club met elsewhere and its members are now thrilled to be back in their original home. They started up meetings there again in October 2023.
“We’re so grateful to the city of Boynton Beach, which has done a wonderful job in refurbishing our beloved Woman’s Club building,” said Donna Artes, a past president of the club and a trustee of the Boynton Beach Historical Society. “We’re finally back in our home and proud and excited that we get to enjoy it and show it off.”
Artes encourages residents to visit, appreciate the building and get involved with the Woman’s Club.
The evening ended in Jazz-age glamour, with a 1920s theme party, the ballroom transformed into “Mizner’s Hideaway,” a speakeasy complete with cocktails and a 17-piece jazz band.
Visit boyntonwomansclub.com and boyntonhistory.org
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the first two people in the top photo. Those names have now been placed in the proper order.
Soaring egg prices mean breakfast aficionados have been forced to pay more for their longtime staple of two eggs, two pieces of bacon and toast. Jan Norris/The Coastal Star
Yolk about it all you want, but the price of eggs is a serious thing — especially for small restaurants and diners that depend on the morning rush orders.
“We were just shop-talking, with the rest of the owners — the ones exclusively doing breakfast and lunch,” said Mike, owner of The Diner on Gateway Boulevard in Boynton Beach, who preferred that his last name not be used. “If things don’t change, some will have to close. They won’t be able to make it. You can only raise prices so much.”
He’s already bumped up the prices slightly on his menu, anywhere from 25 cents to $1.50 per dish. “I hope it’s just temporary,” he said. A sign on the door indicates an up-charge for eggs.
Known for his housemade products and large portions — two blueberry pancakes could feed as many people — he uses fresh eggs in his dishes.
“Some have gone to liquid eggs,” Mike said. “They’re cheaper because they’re watered down. We won’t do that.”
Wholesale prices dropped to $4.83 per dozen eggs in mid-March, a 44% decline from their peak of $8.58 per dozen on Feb. 28, according to Expana, a commodity price tracker.
When or if that translates into cheaper menu prices is unclear. The cost of eggs fluctuates, and the relief in March seemed tenuous given unpredictable influences such as avian flu in bird flocks, and distribution and demand during the Easter season.
The average U.S. consumer price of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $1.46 a dozen as recently as 2020. Pre-pandemic you could get two eggs, coffee, toast and potatoes or grits for $4.99 as an early bird breakfast at a diner. That basic meal now starts at $7.99 and goes up.
To get around changing a menu’s prices — reprints are expensive — many small restaurants have chosen to post notices about a surcharge for egg dishes, usually with an apology.
As of last month:
The Green Owl in downtown Delray Beach has a $1 up-charge for each egg order. A sign on the front door alerts customers to the charge.
At the Hen and Hog in Boca Raton, where breakfast is served all day, two eggs, bacon or sausage, toast or a biscuit will set you back $15.95.
Owners at Sande’s Restaurant, a diner in Delray Beach, have raised prices across the board, ranging from 25 cents to $1, according to server Bailey Stormer. A two-egg breakfast with bacon or sausage and pancakes or toast is $10.25.
“Our customers haven’t said anything,” she said. “We already have competitive prices.”
At the Tin Muffin in Boca Raton, a breakfast and lunch spot, owner Philip Thomas said he’s adjusted the menu to avoid raising prices much.
“I took egg salad off the menu. It was served as a special,” he said.
“But prices are up — 35% to 40% on some items, and not just eggs, but chicken breasts. We’re known for our chicken salad.”
He was planning on raising prices, “but I hate to do it. We’ve been here 30 years and I’m struggling.”
Thomas said he may charge one dollar more on the now-$17 chicken salad sandwich, but is worried it won’t help enough.
“Beyond that, we may have to close,” he said.
The big picture
The whole experience of dining out is now a luxury, said Boca Raton’s Tracy Augustin, who writes about it on her blog, 2 Forks and a Cork. “All menus have gone up.”
Augustin said she and her spouse, Wayne, have changed their rough spending formula for their meals out.
“We used to say $25 for breakfast, $50 for lunch, and $100 for dinner. Now, it’s $50 for breakfast, $100 for lunch and $200 for dinner,” Augustin said.
But it’s location, too. For South Florida, and Boca Raton in particular, “it’s expensive to live here,” Augustin said.
“Let’s face it: This is Disneyland. It’s not real here. Everything’s fake. Go somewhere where the people are living on minimum wage salaries. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“So a few dollars more for a meal, it’s just the way it is. But we don’t eat out as often as we used to.”
Easter and Passover meals
A smattering of restaurants are offering Easter and Passover meals.
At the Opal Grand Resort and Spa, 10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, diners have a choice of a special brunch or dinner on Easter Sunday, April 20. Phone 561-274-3200, or go to opalcollection.com/opal-grand/ to make a reservation.
Brunch, from 11-3, is in the Seacrest Ballroom. Cost is $89.95 adults, or $35 kids under 12. Does not include tax or tip.
Dinner is a prix fixe at Opal Grand’s restaurant Drift. Cost ranges from $60 to $85, depending on entree chosen. Does not include tax or tip.
At Latitudes at the Delray Sands Resort, 2809 Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach, a three-course prix fixe menu is served. Cost is $92 to $98, depending on entree. Does not include tax or tip. Visit opalcollection.com/delray-sands/restaurants/latitudes.
TooJay’s Deli offers a four-course Passover seder dinner at all its restaurants for $44.99 per person, dine in or takeout. The dinner is available Saturday, April 12 or Sunday, April 13, with two seatings, 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required by phone. Call the TooJay’s nearest you.
For larger groups, special catered dinners are available for up to 10 people. A la carte seder foods also can be ordered for pickup. To order takeout or catered meals, go to order.toojays.com; curbside pickup is available.
In brief
Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches will host as speaker Jacques Torres, noted chocolatier, at its annual More Than a Meal Luncheon at 11 a.m. April 9 at the Kravis Center in
West Palm Beach. Tickets are $295 to benefit the nonprofit that delivers homebound seniors a daily hot meal. For tickets and more information, go to mowpb.org.
Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com.
Atlantic High senior Lorendie Exavier, who plans to attend FAU, credits Carmen Spangaro, a mentor with the Scholar Career Coaching program available at Atlantic. Photo provided
By Faran Fagen
A senior leader for the Scholar Career Coaching club at Atlantic High School has received 10 college acceptance letters. Two twin scholars, standout stars in the program, have each been accepted into eight different colleges.
These are just some of the achievements for Scholar Career Coaching, an educational nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mentorship, college readiness and career development programs to high school students.
To date, the organization has served more than 1,000 students and awarded $80,000 in scholarships.
It serves students at Atlantic, Boynton Beach and Santaluces high schools. Students at these schools participate in the College and Career Readiness Club, an after-school mentorship program designed to provide academic guidance, career coaching, financial literacy and scholarship support.
Scholar CC, started in 2012, primarily serves first-generation college students and English-language learners, ensuring they have tools and resources needed to succeed beyond high school.
“Being in Scholar CC has connected me to a vast network and opportunities that have shaped my academic and personal growth,” Lorendie Exavier said.
Exavier is a senior from eastern Delray Beach who’s been in the Atlantic CCR club since her junior year. She plans to attend Florida Atlantic University.
“As a minority and first-generation college student, Scholar Career Coaching has provided me with important resources to be successful in high school,” Exavier said. “I’ve learned about colleges and scholarships and attended summer programs.”
Like all students involved in the program, she had a mentor who guided her and helped her develop professional skills. Also, through Scholar CC’s standardized test tutoring, she was able to significantly improve her test scores.
Some of the organization’s services include college and career exploration such as guidance on applications, financial aid, and career pathways.
Industry professionals share career insights and advice. Résumé building, interview prep, scholarship and leadership development, budgeting, credit management, student loan awareness, and self-advocacy training round out the education.
“Watching our scholars grow and thrive fills me with immense pride,” said Lynne Gassant, founder and executive director. “We believe in unlocking potential through mentorship, and nothing is more rewarding than witnessing student success.”
Through mentorship, test prep and hands-on workshops, the program equips students with real-world skills essential for college and the workforce.
Scholar CC awards nonrenewable scholarships to high-achieving seniors, ensuring financial barriers do not prevent them from pursuing higher education. Scholarships are based on academic achievement, leadership and financial need. Additionally, recipients receive new laptops to support their college transition.
The organization collaborates with school administrators, teachers and advisers to implement these programs. Schools provide meeting space, student recruitment support and program coordination, ensuring students receive consistent, year-round guidance.
“Our partnership with the Palm Beach County School District reinforces our commitment to advancing educational and career development opportunities,” Gassant said.
Exavier plans to pursue a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a minor in hospitality and tourism and tourism management at FAU. She plans to continue her studies in the doctor of nursing practice program, ultimately becoming a nurse practitioner.
“Being in Scholar CC is an experience I will always be grateful for,” Exavier said. “This program has shaped me into a curious and resourceful student, ready to embrace every opportunity.”
Gassant is looking for community partners who want to make an impact by supporting scholarships. She also welcomes mentors and corporate partners.
“This is an opportunity to directly change lives by providing mentorship, financial assistance and career guidance,” Gassant said. “We encourage businesses, professionals, and individuals passionate about educational equity and workforce development to get involved and support our mission.”
For more information and to get involved, visit https://scholarcc.org/.
Capt. Chris Lemieux and a few young anglers hold an 87-pound wahoo caught during the Lantana Fishing Derby. Lynn ’Doc’ Moorhouse came up with the idea of the derby 30 years ago to support the Lantana Chamber of Commerce. Officials later added a kids fishing event. Photo provided
By Steve Waters
When Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse promoted the idea to have a fishing tournament to support the Lantana Chamber of Commerce, few people imagined that the Lantana Fishing Derby would still be going strong three decades later.
The derby celebrates its 30th anniversary May 3. The captain’s party is May 1. Anglers weigh their catches on May 3 at the Old Key Lime House and there’s also a fishing derby for children at Bicentennial Park that day. The awards ceremony is May 4 at the Lantana Recreation Center.
“Lynn was on the board, and he brought the idea up,” said former chamber President Mark Easton. “It was his baby to do it. Did we expect it to go 30 years? Probably not. Did we expect it to be nearly as successful as it was? No, not at all.
“I forget how many boats we had the first year. Not a lot, 15 or 16 maybe. But by the third or fourth year or so, we topped 100 boats. And I don’t know how many it’s done the last couple of watches, but for years we were cracking.”
Easton said the money raised by the derby, which some years topped $30,000 after expenses, enabled the chamber to not only weather some tough times, but also thrive.
“The chamber was just about ready to close from having no money when I got elected to be president,” he said. “And with the aid of the Fishing Derby and Mack Stephenson’s annual golf tournament and annual chicken barbecue, where we cooked and sold over 300 chicken halves, we managed to (raise money) and gain some members and keep the chamber going. And the Fishing Derby has kept the coffers full for about every year for 30 years.
“You know, we were just hoping to go for a little while, just kind of tide the chamber over, and here it is, still producing. And it is still a great event for the town.”
Unlike many saltwater tournaments, where the competition is cutthroat and anglers go out every night for weeks before the event to catch and stockpile live bait, the emphasis is on fun at the derby. According to Capt. Chris Lemieux, when he fished the derby it was more about camaraderie and bragging rights between him and his friends.
“The reason why I liked it was it was all local guys that I knew growing up,” said Lemieux, who runs fishing charters out of Boynton Beach Inlet. “I actually won a trophy when I was 8 years old. I caught the second-biggest kingfish, 12 pounds.”
A highly successful tournament fisherman who has skippered a variety of teams to victories, Lemieux got one of his biggest thrills competing in the derby when he was 18.
He had recently purchased his first boat and caught a 32-pound kingfish fishing on that bay boat to win biggest kingfish honors. It was his first tournament victory on his own boat. Another time he ran someone else’s boat and won the biggest kingfish title with a 40-plus-pounder.
After its initial success, the derby added a kids fishing day, which Easton said Moorhouse funded out of his own pocket in the beginning.
“We used to put them on a drift boat,” Easton said. “They went offshore for half a day and we ended up with a bunch of sick kids and kids that had never been on a boat. And they had the day of their life getting seasick.”
After the first drift boat was decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard, the kids fished on the B-Love drift boat in Lantana. When that boat moved to New Jersey, the kids fished on the Lake Worth pier, where the city waived the admission fee for the youngsters.
Because the tournament no longer had to pay for a drift boat, it used the money to buy fishing rods and reels and small tackle boxes for each of the kids to use and keep.
When a hurricane damaged the fishing pier, the youth event was moved to Bicentennial Park. At first the kids fished from the sea wall. When the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway was built, the kids fished from the bridge’s catwalks.
“So, it’s been a good ride for the kids,” Easton said. “Every year there’s about 50 kids. Some of them get some pretty nice prizes. And it’s a day of fishing and learning about fishing. It’s really a neat event.”
Although Easton, who owned The Lake Worth Herald, which recently closed after more than 112 years of service to the community, had a boat, he never fished in the derby. Instead, he would help make sure the kids had a good time, then head over to the Old Key Lime House to work the docks and weigh in fish.
The derby awards prize money for the three biggest fish in three divisions — kingfish, dolphin and wahoo — with $1,250 for the heaviest of each species. Prizes go to the top lady angler and junior angler (under 13). The awards ceremony is open to the public and, in addition to honoring the winners, features a huge raffle for an array of prizes donated by local businesses.
The tournament entry fee is $300 per boat for up to four anglers and $50 for each additional angler until April 18. The registration deadline is 3 p.m. May 2. Visit lantanachamber.com/fishing-derby.
Outdoors writer Steve Waters can be reached at steve33324@aol.com.
St. Edward Catholic Church is now the Basilica of St. Edward, making it the 94th minor basilica in the United States. St. Edward, the only Catholic church on Palm Beach, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. It got the basilica designation in part due to its ornate architecture and historical significance. Photos provided
By Janis Fontaine
In January, Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, learned that St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach had become the Basilica of St. Edward effective Dec. 13, 2024, making it the 94th minor basilica in the United States.
It was news the Rev. Glen Pothier, St. Edward’s rector, had been awaiting for months and working toward for years. Father Glen had assumed pastoral duties from the Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Klinzing in April 2022 and dedicated himself to bringing attention and favor to the only Catholic church on Palm Beach.
The Rev. Glen Pothier, St. Edward Catholic Church’s rector, worked with the Vatican for several years in seeking the basilica designation.
“In December 2022, I realized that 2026 would be the 100th anniversary of the church and I thought maybe I can request a designation that would elevate the church to a basilica,” Father Glen said by phone. The next month he wrote to the Conference of Catholic Bishops to learn about the process and got to work.
“I did it all myself,” he said. “I don’t do well in committees.”
The work was a 119-item questionnaire about every aspect of the church from its history to its traditions to its daily operations. “They wanted every detail, how we do everything, visuals, pictures, the historical significance. They wanted real detail. It took me a year to complete, and we sent it all with the appropriate cover letters off to the Vatican and waited for a response.”
Father Glen heard back from the Vatican in November. The response had one issue: The priest’s chair near the altar wasn’t formal enough. “The church is in an old style, and everything is in marble, but the priest’s chair is made of wood and has cushions and didn’t fit in,” Father Glen said. “It was kind of lost among all the Carrara marble of the altar.”
Father Glen made arrangements to have a new marble chair made and sent off the plans to see if they met with the approval of the church. They did.
“The new chair is being made in Tuscany,” Father Glen said. “Haifa Limestone is coordinating it, and we hope to have it by June or July. It’s the same Carrara marble with cherubs all through it, consistent thematically with the altar.”
In February, Father Glen was able to announce the news to the congregation and on March 1, Bishop Barbarito marked the designation with a Votive Mass, saying, “We are very grateful and honored that the Vatican has designated the church of St. Edward in Palm Beach as a minor Basilica. It is not only a recognition of the historic significance of this church, but also of the life of all the churches within the Diocese of Palm Beach. We now share a special bond with our Holy Father, Pope Francis, through the Basilica Churches in Rome.”
Basilica “literally means ‘a royal house,’ and being a basilica is symbolic of being close to the pope affectionately, in prayer. On feast days, we celebrate with extra remembrance,” Bishop Barbarito said. The special affiliation with the Vatican grants the church special precedence, he said.
Bishop Barbarito noted that the recognition is especially significant in 2025, which the pope declared the Jubilee Year of Hope. Every 25 years is a Jubilee Year, which is a special year with unique blessings. The faithful are called to make a pilgrimage to a basilica to attain special dispensations, like plenary indulgences.
Tradition says passing through the doors of the Basilica of St. Peter, even to recite the Lord’s Prayer, symbolizes entering a new life in Christ, a journey of conversion, and a commitment to spiritual renewal.
With St. Edward as a minor basilica, its designated Holy Doors are symbolically like those in Rome and provide the same gifts. “Making a pilgrimage to a basilica or cathedral with the Holy Doors during the Jubilee year is an opportunity to express hope in Christ and renew one’s path to eternal life,” Father Glen said.
Several symbols will be added to St. Edward, at 144 North County Road, to complete the transition. “A new crest was commissioned that is now complete but there are things that we need: A beautiful papal umbrella called an umbraculum that would be carried when the pope visited, and a special bell called a tintinnabulum that would be rung,” Father Glen said.
The bell is under construction by Dixon Studio, a company in Staunton, Virginia, specializing in church interiors, stained glass, metalware and statuary. The studio crafted the tintinnabulum for the 93rd Basilica of St. Andrew in Roanoke in 2023. “They were so kind, and it was so easy to work with them,” Father Glen said.
St. Edward is one of seven basilicas in Florida and the only basilica in Palm Beach County. Father Kevin McQuone, assistant professor of pastoral theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, said in an email that becoming a basilica is “an honorary title that churches receive for significant historical, cultural or other ecclesial significance. For example, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC is a minor basilica because of its significance as a gathering space for Catholics from around the nation.”
Presidents and prime ministers, families of the wealthy and well-connected, capitalists and heads of industry have worshipped at St. Edward over the past 100 years. It was the Kennedy family’s home church when they were in Palm Beach and Rose Kennedy, the matriarch of the family, rarely missed daily Mass when she was wintering at 1095 N. Ocean Blvd. According to the Palm Beach Post, John F. Kennedy last attended church at St. Edward on Easter Sunday 1963.
St. Edward “is different from the other churches in the Diocese,” Father Glen said, because Palm Beach is different. “It’s important for its historic contributions, and as a place of worship for people visiting from around the world. The clientele are of a different caliber. Not better, just different. The man in the pew may be a billionaire hedge fund manager, but all men need the word of God preached to them.”
Church milestones
• The land for the church was purchased in 1926 for $80,000, according to the historical information gathered by Pothier. A visionary Jesuit priest, Father Felix Clarkson, was given permission by the Bishop of St. Augustine to purchase three lots at the corner of North County Road and Sunrise Avenue to establish a “mission” church.
With Father Clarkson as general contractor, crews broke ground on the church on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926. Father Clarkson raised around $300,000 of the $500,000 total cost.
• The first service held was Midnight Mass on Dec. 25, 1926. More than 1,500 people attended.
• On Feb. 13, 1927, the Most Reverend Patrick Barry, D.O., Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Augustine, dedicated the Church of St. Edward.
• In January 1941, the Rev. James Cloonan became the first resident pastor and in 1942 a residence was built to house the priests serving the parish, including a guest suite for the bishop and space for parish offices.
• In 1958, through the generosity of Lorraine Freimann and Frank Freimann, the church acquired property on the east side of North County Road and built the parish center.
• In 1992, Father Francis J. Lechiara joined St. Edward and devoted himself to the total restoration of the church. With the enthusiastic support of the parishioners (and a final cost of $1.2 million), Father Frank oversaw the repair and restoration of both structural and irreplaceable decorative elements of the church. The restoration he began continued after his death in 2011 under the Rev. Monsignore Klinzing. The renovations earned the church two prestigious awards for historical preservation: the Ballinger Award from the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, and the Knott Award from the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.
• An ecumenical service (meaning a gathering of Christian denominations) was held at St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach for President Kennedy on the 50th anniversary of his assassination, Nov. 22, 2013.
St. Edward’s architecture
The exterior of St. Edward was built in the Spanish Renaissance style using cast stone with combed Brazilian stone ashlar (masonry made of large square-cut stones, typically used as a facing on walls of brick or stone). It has two towers and a Spanish tile roof. Three sets of bronze doors open into the vestibule, which is flanked by chapels dedicated to St. Anthony and St. Theresa. The 28-foot Altar of the Sacred Heart which stands in a niche more than 40 feet high is Carrara marble. The large picture window over the main entrance — which faces North County Road — depicts St. Edward, the church’s patron saint.
The intricate hand-painted ceiling and frescoes include a mural of the 12 apostles surmounted by a depiction of the crucifixion in the niche above the altar. The “Marian Windows,” a magnificent stained glass depicting the life of the Blessed Mother, are another defining feature.
Who was St. Edward?
Edward the Confessor was the son of King Ethelred III and his Norman wife, Emma, daughter of Duke Richard I of Normandy. After Ethelred’s death in 1016, Emma married Canute (Cnut the Great), who became king and brought peace and prosperity to England.
In 1042, Edward’s half-brother, Hardicanute, son of Canute and Emma, died and Edward became king. In 1044, he married Edith and continued his reign, considered a peaceful one characterized by his good rule.
Edward’s interest in religious affairs led to the building of the original St. Peter’s Abbey at Westminster, the site of the present Abbey, where Edward is buried. Because of his piety, he was given the name “the Confessor” and he was canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III, the only king to be canonized by the pope.
St. Edward is the patron saint of difficult marriages and separated spouses.
Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@outlook.com
Welcome Easter Sunday, April 20, on the beach with the rising sun. Here are places to do that from Boca Raton to Lake Worth Beach:
Spanish River Church: Beach Sunrise Family Service takes place at 6:45 a.m. at South Beach Park, 400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. spanishriver.com/easter or 561-994-5000.
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church: Easter Sunday Beach Eucharist takes place at 6:30 a.m. at the South Beach Pavilion, State Road A1A at Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. stgregorysepiscopal.org or 561-395-8285.
Cason United Methodist Church: Easter Sunrise Service at the Delray Beach Pavilion takes place at 6:30 a.m. at Atlantic Avenue and A1A. Bring chair or blanket. www.casonumc.org
First Baptist Church of Lantana: Easter Sunrise Service at Dune Deck Cafe at the beach, 100 N. Ocean Blvd., Lantana, begins at 6 a.m. Free parking. 561-588-3341; fbclantana.com
Our Savior Lutheran Church: Beachside Easter Sunrise Service starts at 6:30 a.m. at R.G. Kreusler Park, 2882 S. Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach. osl@osl-lw.org or 561-582-4430.
— Janis Fontaine
Senior Minister Jeanmarie Eck goes from a mega-church in Houston to a more intimate role in Delray Beach. Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
Unity of Delray Beach has filled its senior minister position, a job vacant since Greg Barrette left in 2019. South Florida native Jeanmarie Eck returned from Houston in November to fill that role.
“We had a feeling the right person would come along. We were steadfast and we refused to water down our standards,” board President Harvey Brown said. In Eck, “we found so much substance, and she more than met our standards. She’s a thinker.”
Unity of Delray Beach is “one of the flagship churches in the Unity movement,” Brown said. It serves an important role for people in search of spiritual enrichment in an environment that is less structured and “dedicated to inspiring individual spiritual empowerment through the practical teachings of Jesus Christ.”
Since Frances Jarrell held the first Unity class in Delray Beach in 1948 (with one student in attendance, the legend says), Unity of Delray and Unity School, founded in 1964, have grown into a center for spiritual teaching and enlightenment.
Eck had served as lead associate minister at one of Unity’s mega-churches, Unity of Houston, for the last 10 years before she was called back to Florida. She goes from working with a staff of 20 ministers to a more intimate role.
“I welcome the chance to work more closely with the community,” she said. “It’s a privilege to be the leading voice.”
Eck graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale. She was raised a Catholic but slowly transitioned from that faith and was ordained as a minister in 2014.
“I’d never thought about being a minister before,” she said. “All the Catholic clergy were male.”
After high school, Eck studied the performing arts in college, earning a BA from Rollins College and an MFA from the University of Mississippi. She had a successful and blossoming career in film and theater, but everything seemed to lead back to the Lord. Eck heard a voice that said, “There’s something more.”
She visited different churches, drawn in by the music and to expand her knowledge beyond Catholicism. She went on “a prayer quest,” asking “what is my purpose?” In the early 2000s, she discovered Unity and in 2009, she joined the choir, using her talents to bring her closer to God. “I was ministering through singing, and it became about service,” she said.
Eck went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Unity Institute & Seminary in 2014 and earned certifications from Southern Methodist University in 2019 and Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute in 2024. She continues to pursue her own spiritual growth to better serve her community. Eck offers classes for new members and encourages anyone with an interest in what Unity does to come to a service.
Eck sees a lot of similarities between performing and preaching. “You have to have the skill to get up and deliver your message,” she said. It’s a challenge for which Eck is prepared. Her approach to service melds with Unity’s mission: “It’s a positive, affirming, uplifting environment.”
Eck lives in Delray Beach with her husband, David, their 9-year-old daughter, Felicity, and their rescue Pomeranian mixes, Duchess and Bentley.
Unity of Delray Beach is at 101 NW 22nd St. 561-276-5796 or www.unityofdelraybeach.org
Spanish River volunteers step up to serve the city
The Spanish River Church family made a mammoth contribution to the community during its Serve the City 2025. At least 226 SRC volunteers gleaned 1,788 pounds of peppers with CROS Ministries, collected 98.3 pounds of trash at the beach, collected 3,085 diapers, 1,012 wipes and 227 books for the Junior League, and donated 35 bags/boxes of clothing to Changing Lives of Boca Raton.
The church is at 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. www.spanishriver.com
HOPE Fest Florida offers music, fun
HOPE Fest Florida, a free festival of Christian music and guest speakers, takes place from 4 to 10 p.m. April 5 at Boca Raton Community High School, 1501 NW 15th Court. Sean Smith from Sean & Christa Smith Ministries and Kevin VanDermyden from Jesus Encounter are on the ticket. Donations are appreciated. For more information, visit www.hopefestflorida.com.
Ascension Catholic Church to host food packing event
Ascension Catholic Church will team up with Cross Catholic Outreach to pack 60,000 meals on April 12. Volunteers are still needed to work from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the church, 7250 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Register at https://ascensionboca.org/latest-news-upcoming-events or call 561-997-5486.
Grace Vacation Bible School seeking student volunteers
Middle and high school students are encouraged to apply to become Grace Vacation Bible School youth volunteer team members and make a difference this summer.
Applications are open until May 14. Volunteers must be available noon-4 p.m. June 8, 8:15 a.m.-1 p.m. June 9-13 and 10 a.m.-noon June 15. This is Grace Community Church’s active Amped Student Ministries.
The church is at 600 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Register at www.graceboca.org/amped or call 561-395-2811.
Ride 4 Orphans returning for 13th annual event
The 13th annual Ride 4 Orphans bicycle ride takes place at 7:30 a.m. April 26, beginning at Spanish River Church, 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton.
Partners include Spanish River Church, The Avenue Church in Delray Beach and Gospel Fellowship in Boynton Beach. The charity ride benefits children in need in Chad, Malawi, Haiti and India, and local children in foster care via 4KIDs and Place of Hope.
The ride is 15, 34 or 62 miles. Registration is $40 via www.ride4orphans.com. There’s also a family ride escorted by Boca Raton police officers with lunch and activities.
All adults and children must register to ride and are encouraged to attend a safety briefing prior to the ride. Registration price includes a T-shirt, goody bag, snacks, lunch, raffles, a silent auction and family activities.
Call 561-994-5000 for more information.
Send religion news to Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.
By Jan Engoren
While the bird flu is making headlines, South Florida experts say the average person doesn’t have to worry about catching it.
H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, mostly affects birds, but when a human is infected, the virus has the potential to cause severe illness or death.
However, Leslie Diaz, an infectious disease specialist and chair of Infection Control at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, says “this virus is specific to birds and is a low risk to humans.”
The transmission of the virus to humans is exceedingly rare. Most human cases have been linked to direct contact with infected poultry, rather than through casual community transmission.
Diaz emphasizes that everyday precautions, such as good hygiene and avoiding contact with sick birds, are generally sufficient for the public.
Those most at risk of contracting the virus, she says, are workers who handle chickens or other birds. Those workers should take precautionary measures such as wearing masks and goggles.
As of last month, there were 70 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu (none in Florida) and one death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There was no known person-to-person spread.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as of late February more than 970 cases of H5N1 had been confirmed in U.S. cattle, and the virus had been detected in more than 80 commercial poultry flocks, affecting nearly 19 million birds.
The CDC recommends the following precautions:
• Avoid direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with the avian influenza-A viruses.
• Avoid direct contact with sick or dead wild birds, poultry and other animals.
• Wear personal protective equipment if you come in direct contact with infected birds.
• Be aware that wild birds can be infected with avian influenza-A viruses even if they don’t look sick.
• Do not touch or consume raw milk or raw milk products, especially from animals with confirmed or suspected avian influenza-A virus infection.
Diaz says she is more worried about people contracting the regular flu or the measles virus (rubeola) and suggests they wash their hands regularly, avoid crowds and wear masks if they are at risk, such as by having a weak immune system.
Measles, an extremely contagious disease, has been on the rise since 2024, with a total of 483 confirmed cases reported this year through March 27 in 20 states including Florida, according to the CDC. It says 97% of the cases are diagnosed in unvaccinated people or people whose vaccination status is unknown.
There has been one confirmed death in Texas of an unvaccinated child from measles and another under investigation in New Mexico.
Measles was once considered eliminated in the U.S., but the number of cases of this airborne virus is on the rise because of lax vaccination compliance.
Before this outbreak started, there were only 59 reported cases of measles in the U.S. in 2023.
Similar to the adage of “location, location, location” as the best way to sell real estate, Diaz says “vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate” is the best way to prevent infectious diseases such as measles and the flu.
“Vaccinations are the best weapon we have to prevent the flu and other infectious diseases,” she says. “These are highly contagious viruses, and you can contract one through exposure to only a few particles or droplets.”
She especially advises people 65 years or older, or those with underlying conditions such as heart or lung issues, to stay on top of annual vaccine protocols and take additional precautions such as masking and avoiding crowds.
Diaz notes that even a healthy person may contract a virus and transmit it to an elderly relative.
If you have school-age children, Diaz says to make sure they receive their measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
And for the flu, she recommends an annual shot for most adults with or without underlying conditions.
“It’s never too late to vaccinate for the flu,” she advises. “Even in April, the flu is still circulating.
“Even if you didn’t get vaccinated this past winter, it’s not too late,” Diaz says. “If you haven’t gotten your shot, you can still get it now, even into the summer.”
Visit cdc.gov for more data.
Jan Engoren writes about health and healthy living. Send column ideas to jengoren@hotmail.com.
Dr. Bill Benda enjoys a day on the water with his best bud, Buddy. Benda had Buddy euthanized at home using the Lap of Love program when the pooch was suffering from mass cell cancer. Photos provided
By Arden Moore
For a dozen years, a yellow Labrador retriever named Buddy was the constant companion of Dr. Bill Benda. They took walks together. Buddy loved bounding into water at the beach, fetching tossed balls and joining Bill on boat rides.
“I adopted him from a rescue group when he was 1 and at his prime, he weighed 115 pounds,” says Bill, a semi-retired emergency room physician who lives in the County Pocket near Briny Breezes. “He was handsome, calm, very loyal and I believe he was the GOAT dog in our neighborhood,” meaning greatest of all time.
Buddy was diagnosed with mass cell cancer that required chemotherapy treatments from veterinary specialists in Miami last year.
In the morning of Nov. 6, Bill knew it was time to make the gut-wrenching decision to let Buddy die peacefully.
“Buddy couldn’t stand up anymore. He couldn’t pee, but he was still totally alert,” says Bill. “I knew it was time to say goodbye, so I called Lap of Love that morning. They came that afternoon to perform the at-home euthanasia. I miss Buddy every single day.”
Throughout Palm Beach County, pet parents are saying goodbye to their beloved pets by choosing at-home euthanasia ceremonies. Lap of Love is a network of veterinarians all over the country that offers veterinary hospice care and performs at-home euthanasia.
Dr. Meagan Meador, of West Palm Beach, is one of these veterinarians at the Lap of Love center serving Pam Beach County. And, like Bill, she is a pet parent who understands the power of compassion, loyalty and love that pets can bring.
On her right ring finger, she wears a silver ring containing crushed blue quartz and ashes of her late cat, Simon.
“I adopted Simon when I was in veterinary school at Tufts University,” she says. “Simon was a one-eyed cat who I instantly fell in love with. We became a team. For 15 years, he was with me through difficult challenges — when I moved from Massachusetts to South Florida, through multiple job changes, marriage and a divorce. I memorialize him every day by wearing this ring.”
Meagan spent 12 years as an emergency medicine veterinarian and loved the high-speed pace but began suffering from burnout during the coronavirus years. She was looking for some type of veterinary work she could do outside a hospital.
She found Lap of Love.
“I took this job part-time in 2021 and made it full-time in 2022,” she says. “I thought it would be something to do as a stepping-stone to my next veterinary venture, but I love it so much because it is so fulfilling. I am honored to help families be able to say goodbye to their pets in as peaceful and painless way as possible.”
She continues, “Sometimes I also cry during the visit and that is OK. It is important for families to see that we veterinarians are also human and vulnerable. I tell them that grief is the process of changing a relationship of presence to a relationship of memory.”
Lap of Love stays in touch with these pet parents by sending sympathy cards with personalized messages from veterinarians who met them, by offering them grief support resources, identifying cremation options and sending out compassionate emails one year after the euthanasia to simply say that they are thinking of the family.
Many of us lucky to share our lives with cats, dogs and other companion animals also must endure tear-filled goodbyes when age and disease rob the quality of life in them. We want to do something special to honor the passing of our pets.
Benda built a floral memorial as a way to honor Buddy.
Bill decided to honor Buddy by creating a floral memorial garden in his front yard that features a statute of a dog sporting angel wings. He also alerted a few neighbors of the scheduled euthanasia that day.
Word spread quickly. Throughout the day of Nov. 6, friends came to visit Bill and Buddy.
“Some came and sat down with Buddy in the front yard,” he says. “Some hugged him and me. One brought a cold burger that Buddy, of course, ate. The veterinarian from Lap of Love came in the afternoon and she let us have all the time we needed — my neighbors and me — to say goodbye to Buddy. He was such a great dog.”
He paused, sobbed and then added, “Dogs don’t live as long as we do because they earn heaven much faster.”
Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. Learn more by visiting www.ardenmoore.com.
More on Lap of Love
Lap of Love offers at-home hospice care and performs at-home euthanasia for pets. It was founded in 2009 by a pair of veterinarians, Drs. Dani McVety and Mary Gardner, and now has centers in 43 states and more than 300 veterinarians. On its website, Lap of Love offers a lot of resources, including pet loss support groups, counseling, ways to deal with grief, ideas to memorialize pets and much more. There is also an Angel Fund where 100% of donations are given to support families in financial need so that they can give a peaceful end-of-life, at-home experience to their pets. Learn more by visiting www.lapoflove.com, calling 561-800-0192 or emailing SoFlo@LapOfLove.com.
This modern estate of 8,691 total square feet in Boca Raton was built in 2021 and is in a well-established, sought-after location in the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.
From the entryway to 2391 Areca Palm Road, located in the exclusive Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, you will encounter a stunning two-story great room with walls of glass, a gas fireplace as well as stairs and an elevator. There is also a formal dining room with a glass wine closet.
The home has five bedrooms, six full baths and one half bath. One ensuite bed/bath is downstairs.
Upstairs contains a great loft area that has a custom lacquer and quartz bar; along with the other four bedrooms.
All the bedrooms are oversized and ensuite with ample closet space and storage.
Other amenities include a complete array of impact windows, two laundry rooms, and a three car + golf cart attached garage.
It is offered fully furnished at $9,950,000.
Contact Joyce Schneider, Broker/Owner, Castles By The Beach Realty, 889 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33432. Office: 561-392-9770. Cell: 561-212-4403. Joyce@castlesbythebeach.com or www.CastlesByTheBeach.com
One eastbound lane is closed on East Palmetto Park Road east of the Intracoastal Waterway in
Boca Raton so that an emergency road repair can be completed.
The Boca Raton Police Department announced the closure on March 10, saying the repair will
take about two weeks to complete. Until then, drivers might experience travel delays.
Highland Beach also announced the emergency repair, saying it was necessitated by road
settlement or a possible sink hole.
The repair is being done by Palm Beach County since East Palmetto Park Road is a county
road.
For more information, contact the Palm Beach County Road and Bridge Division at 561-233-
3950, Highland Beach officials said.
--Mary Hladky
By Mary Thurwachter
Newcomer Jesse Rivero, a 50-year-old firefighter, defeated veteran Town Council member Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse for Lantana’s Group 1 Council seat.
Moorhouse, 81, a retired dentist, has been on the council for 21 years and was endorsed by the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County — a surprise and disappointment to Rivero, who has served 20 years with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
But at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce eight days before the vote, Rivero said, “He (Moorhouse) may have the endorsement of the union, but I have the endorsement of the community.” Turns out he was right.
Rivero collected 58% of the vote compared to Moorhouse’s 41%. Only 733 Lantana voters turned out for the March 11 election.
Reached by phone election night, Rivero, celebrating with family and a few friends at El Bohio Cuban Restaurant, said Moorhouse had already called to concede and extend congratulations. Mayor Karen Lythgoe and Police Chief Sean Scheller also called with congratulations.
“Like I said at the debate, I didn’t get the endorsements Doc got, but the people were behind me and whatever the people decide will happen,” Rivero said. He said he thought the election would be close because Moorhouse had history in the town and knew a lot of people. “But I know a lot of people, too.”
Moorhouse was unavailable for comment but told Rivero he had a good run.
Kem Mason, who holds the Group 2 spot, was elected automatically when no one else filed to run for the position during the election qualifying period that ended Nov. 15. Mason, 66, is a retired firefighter and is completing his first term. Council terms are for three years.
Unofficial results
Source: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office
Unofficial result
Source: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office
Unofficial results
Source: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office
By Rich Pollack
In an election with a light turnout, Highland Beach voters agreed to let town leaders spend up to $3.5 million on a public safety boat dock and renovation to the town’s old fire station.
Just 390 voters — a little more than 10% of those in town registered to vote — cast ballots, with 234 voting in favor of giving commissioners permission to spend money on the projects and 156 voting no.
“I’m very thankful for the people who voted in favor,” said Mayor Natasha Moore. “People are recognizing the importance of public safety.”
Police Chief Craig Hartmann and Town Manager Marshall Labadie have said the dock, planned for an area on the Intracoastal Waterway behind the town’s library, will increase visibility of the department’s marine unit.
It will also make it easier for Highland Beach’s marine officers and fire rescue personnel to respond to emergencies on the water.
The town is also hoping use the money approved by voters to demolish a part of the old fire station, just north of Town Hall, and upgrade the bay area where the town now keeps a backup rescue unit and a backup fire truck.
The price of the dock project is estimated to be $1.5 million to $2 million, and town leaders hope that the Florida Inland Navigation District will cover half the cost. Should that not happen, the town’s expense could be over $900,000, the current spending limit before voter approval is required.
Voter approval was also needed for the old fire station project, which could cost up to $1.5 million, or about $600,000 over the spending cap.
By putting the issue on the ballot, the town in essence hedged its bets so it can move forward without delays regardless of the outcome of the grant request for the dock or cost estimated for the old fire station.
“We hope we don’t have to spend over $900,000,” Labadie said.
Last year Highland Beach built a new fire station to replace the longtime station that Labadie said was too old, too small and below the flood plain.
While there were discussions about possibly keeping the entire building, Labadie said that the living quarters section would need too much work. Instead, the town is getting cost estimates for work to fix the bay area and electrical storage areas and replace the roof.
“We’re using the building for storage of $2 million worth of equipment,” he said.
Unofficial results
SOURCE: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office
