By Sallie James

BOCA RATON—Philanthropist, mentor, organizer, socialite, businesswoman, world traveler, beloved wife and mother. They all accurately describe the late Yvonne S. Boice-Zucaro, but her widowed husband, Al Zucaro, may have summed up her legacy best:
“She was a force of nature,” said Mr. Zucaro, who married her in 2009, a second marriage for both and a union he described as “the best years of my life.” Mrs. Boice-Zucaro died on Jan. 13 at home of natural causes. She was 85.
“When she got interested in something she was willing to commit her time, her energy and her money to the course,” Mr. Zucaro said. “She was one of the best organizers that I ever met. She was incredible in terms of her commitment to many different platforms and her follow-through with all of these. I still keep uncovering things that she was involved with and doing that even surprised me.”
Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Sept. 6, 1937, Mrs. Boice-Zucaro graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Education was one of her passions and over the years she received three honorary doctorate degrees, from three schools: Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire; Daemen College in Buffalo, New York; and Lynn University in Boca Raton. Her South Florida adventure began in 1983 when she moved to Boca Raton as the wife of real estate executive Grant Boice, who died a short time later. His unexpected death catapulted her into the business world. She rose to the occasion, successfully taking over management of the newly developed Shoppes at Village Pointe while also running her own pet project, Fugazy International Travel.
She met her future husband, Al Zucaro, on the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission, where the two served as board members. They became friends, sharing common interests, passions and politics. After Mr. Zucaro’s wife died in 2008, the two became closer and eventually married a year later.
Mrs. Boice-Zucaro was always busy.
She was a world traveler who had visited more than 150 countries at the time of her death, believing that “the only way to true education was through travel.”
Mentoring women was also a huge passion throughout her life, and she was boldly outspoken about why it mattered. Mr. Zucaro recalled a time when his wife traveled to the Middle East with the State Department to speak at a conference about film, where she expressed concern about how women there were always portrayed as victims. A male attendee spoke out, saying, “That’s the way it is and the way it will always be.”
“(My wife) sort of put a fist down on the table and said, ‘Ladies, don’t believe it.’ Then she made an offer to the women in the audience that if they produced a film that depicted Middle Eastern women differently, she would advance that film at the Palm Beach International Film Festival to help change attitudes,” Mr. Zucaro said. “That is the kind of spur-of-the-moment thing she would do.”
Mrs. Boice-Zucaro represented the United States at four high-profile overseas business conferences during her life: the Middle East and North African Women’s Conference in Abu Dhabi; the Global Summit of Women in Berlin; the Global Summit of Women in Hanoi; and she traveled to Bolivia to speak with an audience of indigenous women about small business ownership and political action.
Longtime friend Arlene Herson, also a Boca Raton philanthropist, said Mrs. Boice-Zucaro took her under her wing decades ago, introducing her to the movers and shakers in the community so she could make essential connections. The two spoke every day about everything.
“She was an amazing woman. She made me feel special. She once gave me a pillow for my birthday that said, ‘You are the friend everyone wishes they had,’ so I would say that about her,” Herson said. “She was an extraordinary woman. I will miss our daily calls.”
Mrs. Boice-Zucaro also produced galas for the Palm Beach International Film Festival; she was involved with the Centre for the Arts in Boca Raton; was an appointee to the Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission, and chaired the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
She served on the Palm Beach State College Foundation Board and funded Lynn University scholarships to support international travel.
“She never stopped doing the things that she did,” her husband said. “She was dedicated to the things that she believed in and she worked very hard to make things happen. She was the first to step up to help someone, particularly if that someone was doing something that she was interested in.”
Her appearance was very polished — hair, nails, makeup and clothes were always in order, her husband noted, reflective of the way she lived her life.
“We had a storybook romance. We were absolutely committed to each other. We loved one another very much. We traveled the world together,” he said. “We had fun together. The 15 years that I had with Yvonne were the best years of my life.”
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Boice-Zucaro is survived by her daughter Lauren, in Boston. A celebration of life was held on Jan. 20 at Glick Family Funeral Home in Boca Raton.
Memorial donations can be made to Boice-Zucaro International Programs and Services at Lynn University or the STEAM scholarship program at Palm Beach State College.

DELRAY BEACH — Peter Blum, a longtime resident of Palm Beach County, businessman and philanthropist, died Jan. 23, his beloved wife, Mary, by his side. He was 93.
Mr. Blum, a man dedicated to his family, faith and the welfare of all, was born Aug. 14, 1929, in Peoria, Illinois, to Peter Blum and Ruth (Sill) Blum. On May 8, 1948, he married his high school sweetheart, Maureen “Teena” Forbes. During their honeymoon in Florida, the seeds were planted for their eventual move in 1962.
Upon arriving in Boca Raton, Mr. Blum bought property on Federal Highway and opened a furniture and design studio, Blums of Boca.
While establishing his business, Mr. Blum became involved in the civic arena of Boca Raton. His many accomplishments include: founding member of the Boca Raton High School Booster Club, planning and zoning board member of Boca Raton, president of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, member of the Boca Raton Community Hospital board where he served for 20 years (nine as chairman), founder of Sunrise Kiwanis Club of Boca Raton, member of the Bethesda Hospital Foundation board, member of the Foundation Board of FAU, member of the Manalapan Town Commission for more than 30 years, including multiple terms as mayor and vice mayor, named Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives, Boca Raton Man of the Year, and Industrialist of the Year. He also established scholarships at St. John Paul II Academy, Bethesda Hospital, YMCA and Northwood University.
His childhood in Peoria led to his proudest accomplishment, when in 1970 he and other Boca Raton civic leaders started the planning process for the Boca Raton YMCA (now known as the Peter Blum Family YMCA). Because of his relationships with business leaders, he was a master fundraiser. Nothing brought Mr. Blum more pride and joy than walking into the Boca Raton YMCA, just as he did as a young boy at the Peoria Y. He loved reading to the toddlers with his beloved rescue dog, Lady, by his side.
In 2013, Mr. Blum married his best friend, Mary Morrell. They loved living in Delray Dunes, visiting with family, laughing and living life to its fullest. They were a true match, and their deep love was felt by everyone they encountered.
Mr. Blum enjoyed traveling, playing tennis, watching and singing along to Broadway musicals, reading, and watching Notre Dame football.
Mr. Blum is predeceased by wife Teena, his sons Peter and Larry, and his sister and brother-in-law Dodie and Bill Harris. He is survived by his son Randy (Debby), stepdaughter Caitlin (Brian) Moran, granddaughter Marlena (Rob) Pernett, and grandchildren Peter and Michael Blum and Lincoln and Ainsley Moran, as well as eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will take place at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church, 643 NE Fourth Ave., Boynton Beach, on Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the YMCA, 6631 Palmetto Circle S., Boca Raton, FL 33433, or Bethesda Hospital Foundation, 2815 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435.

— Obituary submitted by the family

A few vendors were still serving lunch and drinks as of Jan. 20. BELOW RIGHT: The Delray Beach Market opened in April 2021. BELOW LEFT: A window sign promises improvements. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Remodeling to make room for two nightspots as select vendors return

By Christine Davis

The Delray Beach Market closed Jan. 30 and is looking to reopen this summer, with the space to undergo a redesign for the Bounce Sporting Club nightspot and Lefkes Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant and nightclub.
“Delray Beach has always been such a celebrated home for destination dining and entertainment,” said Craig Menin, CEO of Menin Development, the company that developed and operates the 150,000-square-foot food hall at 33 SE Third Ave. “We are so thankful for our vendors and community as they brought Delray Beach Market to life.
“However, as we’ve had to look at where we started from and where we are today, we’re making decisions that aren’t easy in one respect. But in the other, we hope to create a unique and exciting experience for our guests, while continuing the opportunity we’ve been given for community growth and gathering.” 
The re-imagination of the space is connected to several challenges faced since the onset of the pandemic, said Jordana Jarjura, Menin Development’s president and general counsel.
 “Though we’ve accomplished so much despite the pandemic, it was the F&B industry — most significantly small businesses and fast-casual restaurants — that could not sustain the increased food and labor costs, following the brutal global shutdown,” she said. “We have had to pivot from our original goal of being a mom-and-pop food incubator to finding a delicate balance between small businesses and seasoned restaurateurs.” 
The market opened in April 2021 with 29 vendors. The current vendors were informed in writing about the closing this past December, although conversations with vendors Menin wanted to stay began in early summer and are ongoing.

***

Choice Mortgage Group celebrated the opening of its new corporate headquarters at 2424 N. Federal Highway, Suite 100, Boca Raton. The ribbon-cutting event was attended by members of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce; Broward, the Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors association; Florida Atlantic University cheer and dance team and mascot Owsley, plus staff and guests.

***

With the recent $6 million purchase of the 2.47-acre Truist Bank property at 315 S. Federal Highway, Jim O’Neill owns almost an entire block of Boynton Beach. His land fronts on South Federal Highway and backs Southeast Fourth Street between Southeast Second Avenue and Southeast Fifth Avenue.
O’Neill, the previous owner of Acura/Hyundai dealerships on Federal Highway in Delray Beach, was represented in the sale by broker Merv McDonald, president and CEO of the Lancore Group. The deal was recorded on Jan. 4.
This was the last deal in a series of four on that block; it was supposed to be the deal that got the ball rolling four years ago.
“We thought we had bought the bank property, but then SunTrust and BBT merged and became Truist, and we got shut down,” McDonald said. “Then COVID hit. You have to have a lot of patience because some projects take years to put together.”
In January 2022, O’Neill acquired the .38-acre parcel at 515 S. Federal Highway for $5.9 million. The previous owner was Boynton Beach Group LLC and Boynton Beach Group 2 LLC, entities connected to Moshe Abramson.
Then in February 2022, O’Neill bought 412 and 420 SE Fourth St. The cost for 412 SE Fourth St. was $820,000. The .49-acre parcel was previously owned by Ocean Hudson LLC, managed by Michael DuBose.
The purchase price of the .66-acre parcel at 420 SE Fourth St. was $1.78 million. The previous owner was Exsorro One Inc., with DuBose signing as president.
That adds up to a recorded $14.5 million for 4 acres zoned mixed-use-2 (50 units to the acre, with a bonus provision of 25% of the 50 for affordable housing), but the cash value was in excess of $15 million including some commissions, closing costs, taxes and carrying costs.
The only other parcel remaining on the block is Flamingo Plaza at 407 S. Federal, which is owned by Behn and Rita Wilson.
“We are in discussions with Behn and no decisions have been made by either party,” McDonald said.
O’Neill says that after he sold his dealerships and properties on Federal Highway in Delray Beach, he was looking to buy commercial properties. “I tried being retired for about a week and didn’t like it at all. I like being busy. After only a week since I bought the Truist property, we’ve already been approached by a dozen major players,” he said. “I’m weighing all my options and working with the city of Boynton Beach. We want the city’s blessing.”

***

An ocean-to-lake turnkey compound in Manalapan called Villa Oceano Azul recently sold to Rama Raju Mantena and Padmaja Mantena for $48.37 million. The property at 1400 S. Ocean Blvd. has a 16,000- square-foot main house and a 1,200-square-foot guest house. Previous owners were Francis and Dolores Mennella.
The seven-bedroom estate was built on speculation by Manalapan Mayor Stewart Satter’s Carnegie Hill Development Corp. The listing was held by Philip Lyle Smith and Carla Ferreira-Smith, broker-owners of Luxury Resort Portfolio of Delray Beach. The Mantenas were represented by agent Mark Griffin of Bear’s Club Sotheby’s International Realty.
The  property has gone through a number of price changes. In January 2022 it was listed  for $74.99 million and it was reduced in October 2022 to $62.988 million. The Mennellas paid  $25.2 million for the estate in 2016.
Then in 2018, they bought a 2-acre lot at 1940 S. Ocean Blvd., from a company controlled by Billy Joel, and built a new home. 
“We were honored to represent the Mennellas on the purchase and sale of 1400 S. Ocean Blvd. and the purchase of the land at 1940 S. Ocean Blvd.,” Philip Lyle Smith said. “What made 1400 S. Ocean unique is that it has two pools and it’s on almost 2 acres with 200 feet on the ocean and Intracoastal. Most of the other parcels are 1.5 acres with 150 feet fronting the ocean and Intracoastal” along that strip.
“There are only a handful of properties in South Florida that have ocean and Intracoastal frontage, and Manalapan is one of them. Also it was a Marc-Michaels interior designed property.”

***

Edmund Schlacher, owner/publisher of City Publications South Florida, received the January Recognition Award from the Boynton Beach Professionals leads group in acknow-ledgement of his work for the group and community.  
“I am very grateful for this reward, which is an excellent morale-booster that will encourage me to continue doing my best work,” Schlacher said.
“I am also very appreciative of those who recommended me and for the effort put into this monthly award process.”

***

Eloise Kubli won an American Society of Interior Designers award for turning a Boca Raton warehouse into a residence for a classic-vehicles collector. Photo provided by Horton Photo

Eloise Kubli, interior designer and president of the Plantation-based Collective Construction & Design Inc., won the ASID Florida South Chapter’s “Inclusion by Design” 2022 Design Excellence Award in the wild card category for her Man Cave project. She took on the project, located east of Federal Highway in Boca Raton, with her husband, general contractor Art Kubli.
They were tasked with transforming a vacant warehouse without utilities into a dream retreat for a classic car and motorcycle collector. Besides room to house and display the collection, the warehouse has a lounge, bar and full apartment.

***

The welcoming of 2023 marks one year of operation for the marketing company Fifth & Cor, founded by Robin Dimond. Over that time, the company, which aims to make marketing an immersive experience, has developed strategies for 46 businesses, nurtured 28 strategic partnerships and published 16 case studies. 
“This is not a one-person job and our success comes from our team working together to create results for our clients,” Dimond said.
 Within South Florida, Fifth & Cor is a service provider for Nova Southeastern University’s Alan B. Levan Broward Center of Innovation. It also engages in philanthropic endeavors that include veteran-focused organizations.

***

At the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County’s Hot Topics luncheon, Joe Ann Fletcher, executive director of Dress For Success Palm Beaches, will make a presentation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 15.  Her topic will be “Dress for Success: The Road to Resilience.”
Attendees are encouraged to donate to Fletcher’s organization by bringing new mascara, purses (especially black or brown), shoes (pumps or flats, especially size 10 or larger), costume jewelry, toiletries, and/or shopping bags from Marshalls or TJ Maxx. 
Registrations, lunch choice and payments must be made in advance online at lwvpbc.org/event/hot-topic-dress-for-success-the-road-to-resilience/

***

The Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation will hold its 39th annual Women in Leadership Award on April 19 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Women will be honored for their accomplishments and an “Emerging Leader” will be recognized. 
Guest speaker will be Sylvie Légère, an internationally recognized social entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor committed to civic engagement. The honorary chair is Marti LaTour, and chair is Vicki Pugh. Nominations for the WILA awards are open through 5 p.m. March 3.
Visit www.ewpb.org/nominations to download a nomination form. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Pugh at Vpugh@advancementexperts.com or Tara Laxer at info@ewpb.org.

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

Longtime Seaside Deli & Market manager Chelsea Steen rings up cyclists Ellie Beaulieu (left) and Marie Prevost during their final visit to the deli after a dispute over the lease forced it to close. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Joe Capozzi

The customers kept coming until the very end.
As they walked in that final weekend, it was hard for them to miss the eviction notice, taped across the front doors by a sheriff’s deputy on Jan. 12. But they held out hope that surely a resolution could be reached so the Seaside Deli & Market, the “heartbeat” of the small but proud County Pocket, could continue to sell sandwiches, sodas and snacks to customers like bike riders, billionaires and beachgoers as it had since at least the 1980s.
“I was hopeful that this might just be a tenant dispute that can be resolved. We didn’t realize it was really this imminent,’’ Gulf Stream snowbird Darren Alcus said Jan. 14 as he watched employees clear the shelves of Fritos, Fruit Loops and other inventory while waiting on his sandwich order. 
“It’s terribly sad,’’ he said. “It’s truly the end of an era.’’
That era, during which surfers, celebrities and generations of families like Alcus’ came to regard the Seaside as an essential part of the community, ended a few hours later. On that chilly Saturday night, deli owner Randy McCormick rang up the final sales, turned out the lights and locked the doors.

Owner Randy McCormick chats with Natalie Willoughby (left) and Cheryl Marier in the deli’s final hours. He decided to retire rather than look for another location.

 “I am throwing my arms up and walking away,’’ said McCormick, the latest and perhaps last operator of the convenience store at 4635 N. Ocean Blvd., in an unincorporated pocket just south of Briny Breezes.
When a judge ruled against Seaside on Dec. 22 in an eviction lawsuit brought by the building’s landlord, McCormick briefly flirted with the idea of finding a new location for the deli but decided to retire. 
“I don’t have the resources to start anything again,’’ he said. “I’m just going to call it a day.’’
McCormick and a few longtime staffers returned Jan. 15 to wipe down the shelves and mop up the floors in the empty 2,131-square-foot shop. Sometime after that, they would hand the keys over to a deputy to give to the landlord, a company owned by former major league baseball player Rafael Belliard.
Belliard, a Boca Raton resident who bought the Seaside building in 2014 and leased it to McCormick in 2017, played 17 years for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves before retiring after the 1998 season.  
McCormick and Seaside loyalists accuse the retired shortstop and his wife of turning a squeeze play that forced the beloved deli to shutter. 
Although Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Paige Gillman sided with claims by Belliard’s company, Ocean Blvd 14 LLC, that Seaside failed to pay $40,279 in back rent, McCormick insisted that he tried to pay the rent. 
In a complicated dispute over the lease, the Belliards refused to accept the payments, McCormick said. 
McCormick said he has checks for the rent, and the sealed envelope Ocean Blvd 14’s attorney would not open, to prove his point.
McCormick and others think the Belliards, who operated the deli for three years before turning it over to McCormick in 2017, didn’t accept the rent payments because their long game is to sell the building. 
McCormick said he spoke a year and a half ago to two potential buyers from Gulf Stream who discussed with him the possible terms of a new lease. One of the potential buyers, who did not want to be identified or quoted, confirmed that he and some partners at one point spoke to the Belliards about buying the site and spoke to McCormick about a potential lease.
Belliard’s wife, Leonora, who handles the company’s business dealings, said in a brief interview a week before Seaside closed that she “would like to have it rented,” possibly to another deli or convenience store. 
“We are trying to figure it out,’’ she told The Coastal Star, declining to comment further. 
Although the building that housed Seaside Deli stands on a small footprint, many locals worry it may be a piece of a larger plan developers are eyeing for high density, multifamily condos.
“The deli is located in the only unincorporated county pocket remaining on our barrier island. County rules for residential development are vastly different from Gulf Stream and Ocean Ridge, and even from Briny Breezes, which is undoubtedly destined to undergo significant change in the years ahead,’’ the nonprofit Florida Coalition for Preservation said in a statement Jan. 12 after the eviction notice was posted.

The interior of the Seaside Deli & Market one day before it was forced to close.

Hub of the community
Seaside’s next-door neighbor, Nomad Surf Shop, said developers should not bother approaching it. At least that was the message surf shop owner Ryan Heavyside said he was hoping to convey in a video posted on social media two weeks after the judge’s ruling. 
“We just want to say thank you to the Seaside Deli for being such great neighbors over the years. Most of you have heard they are moving on, so it’s a pretty sad time for the community,’’ Heavyside, whose father, Ron, opened the surf shop in 1968 and died in 2018, says in the Instagram video. 
“But we just also want to say Nomad’s been here for 55 years. We are not going anywhere. We’re going to be here for another 55.’’
The surf shop and the deli, tucked together at the southeast corner of State Road A1A and Briny Breezes Boulevard, served as the unofficial center of the community, a place where parched bicyclists mingled with barrier islanders who took pride in not going “OTB,” meaning over the bridge, unless absolutely necessary.  
Whether picking up Bloody Mary mix on a Sunday morning, a six-pack on a Saturday night or a lottery ticket, customers could always turn to the Seaside, as they called it.
It was a place where famous customers like retired hockey star Mario Lemieux, comedian Jim Carrey and baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter could pick up snacks and sandwiches without being hounded for autographs. 
“This place is vital. It is an essential part of this area. This makes it a town. You remove this, now everyone has to start going further afield,’’ longtime regular Harvey Brown of Delray Beach said Jan. 13.
“It’s sort of like a little heartbeat here,’’ he said. And when it closes, “I think everyone is going to realize what it meant to them.’’
Just before Christmas, the Florida Coalition for Preservation launched a campaign to “Save the Deli,’’ as a banner on the building proclaimed. More than 1,000 signatures were gathered on a petition, which continued collecting names after the eviction notice was posted.

‘Destroying little people’
“I’m heartbroken,’’ said Natalie Willoughby, a former Seaside clerk who returned to help McCormick pack up. “I think it’s wrong, destroying all the little people. It’s a sad, sad day.’’ 
Volunteers and employees spent Jan. 13 and 14 boxing the inventory and driving it south to Deerfield Beach, where McCormick donated the goods and supplies to the Second Avenue Deli. McCormick owned that store years ago but sold it when his wife died. 
In 2017, he decided to go back into the bodega business and took over the Seaside Deli. He brought loyal workers like store manager Chelsea Steen and deli worker Emmy Brandt, both of whom quickly got on a first-name basis with regulars. 
Steen, who usually wore casual clothes to work, put on a black dress on Jan. 13 — not so much a symbol of mourning, she said, but because she just felt that wearing something nice on her last Friday at the Seaside was the right thing to do. 
“It’s like the last day of school and you have to say goodbye to all your friends,’’ she said. 

Fred Podvesker (right), former owner of the Seaside Deli & Market, reminisces with longtime customer Lawrie Bird.

Those final two days often felt like a class reunion, with former store owner Fred Podvesker and his son, Richie, stopping by to collect photos and knick-knacks from the walls and to pay final respects.
Coffee and sodas were given away for free that weekend, while wine, cigarettes and other items were sold at half price. 
“I’ve got to get out of here or I’m going to start crying,’’ said Fred Podvesker, who ran the place from 1993 until 2014 when he sold it to the Belliards.  
No one is sure exactly how long a deli operated out of the space, but old-timers remember when it used to be a bar and a chicken restaurant. Heavyside said his mother waited tables there when it was a restaurant. Before Podvesker and his sons took over, it was called Seaside Superette, a name still used by many of the store’s longtime suppliers.
“It was nice to get the support from so many people. It’s heartwarming to know that everybody cared so much, not just for the store but the people who worked there,’’ McCormick said. 
Despite the gloom hanging over the place, there was no shortage of smiles and laughter as customers hugged Steen goodbye and tried to cheer her up with bad jokes.
One that made her smile: “Today is Friday but tomorrow is a sadder day.” (Get it? A Saturday.) 
The dumb joke turned out to be true, since Seaside’s last day was a Saturday, with the deli’s long menu of famous sandwiches reduced to a handful of choices made from whatever ingredients were left. 
As Brandt and co-sandwich maker Casey Shugar took final orders that day, they heard something odd: their own voices echoing across the empty store. 
“It was definitely one of those weird moments,’’ Brandt said.
Brandt made the deli’s last sandwich, a BLT without tomato, for longtime customer Brandon Martel of Ocean Ridge, then gave away small containers of the remaining chicken salad and tuna salad.
“There were people coming in when we had nothing left to sell,’’ said Brandt. “One group of customers turned around and said, ‘We’re just going to go out to the parking lot to cry.’’’
As customers walked out the door for the last time that final weekend, they received the same send-off that Steen repeated over and over on her last day behind the register. 
“It’s been a pleasure,’’ she said. “Thank you for coming and being part of the family.’’

Tammie Sellman (left), Wayside House’s chief development director, with Martha Grimm and Lisa Jankowski, who are co-chairing the event. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

The Spring Boutique & Trunk Show, an annual fundraiser for Wayside House, will sport a new look this month as it unfolds in a new venue.
The event is set for Feb. 14 through 16 at the Aloft Delray Beach.
“Everyone will be on one floor,” co-chairwoman Martha Grimm said, referring to the former location at the Old School Square Fieldhouse, where the market took place on two levels with steep stairs.
“Another great thing about the Aloft is they will provide almost everything that we had to provide — food, tables, chairs. There also will be valet parking.”
The fresh digs will welcome the old vendors that patrons of the much-anticipated shopping opportunity have come to adore.
“The vendors are very excited to be here,” Grimm said. “This is their livelihood. I think our shoppers appreciate that there is so much to choose from under one roof. It makes shopping for everybody on their list easier.”
Most vendors return year after year, making the trip from all across the country, with one coming from Germany. A total of 27 vendors will offer a variety of merchandise such as high-end clothing, designer jewelry, home décor and more.
“We’re sort of hopeful couples will come and maybe a Valentine’s Day present or two will be bought,” co-chairwoman Lisa Jankowski said, noting the “Share the Love with Wayside” theme. “Because this show has been going for so many years, people really look forward to it. People actually tell me they are saving their money for the Wayside show.”
Wayside House, founded in 1974, serves women in a residential drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation center in Delray Beach. It has expanded throughout the decades to include partial hospitalization and outpatient services. It is one of two facilities countywide that accepts pregnant women.
“What we’re trying to do is address the whole picture for these women,” Jankowski said. “We’re trying to address the whole heart and soul, and one of the ways we do that is to make sure their families stay intact.”
Among the programs that will benefit from the proceeds is parenting education.
“Women battling addiction who have children face specific challenges,” spokeswoman Marlene Passell said. “Some have lost custody of their children because of their addiction, and many must deal with guilt, grief and stress over how their addiction is impacting their children. We help them with much of that with services aimed at improving their parenting skills, interacting with their children, etc.”

Send philanthropy news to Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net

If You Go
What: Spring Boutique & Trunk Show
When: 5-7 p.m. Feb. 14 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 15 and 16
Where: Aloft Delray Beach, 202 SE Fifth Ave.
Cost: $125 Feb. 14, $5 Feb. 15 and 16
Information: 561-278-0055 or www.waysidehouse.net

Florida Atlantic University athletics has received a $5 million gift from Michael and Michelle Hagerty of Boca Raton that will result in a series of improvements, renovations and upgrades.
The Hagerty Family Athletics Village will be designated by signs and other means of recognition of the couple’s generosity.
“We cannot thank Michelle and Michael enough for this incredible gift,” said Brian White, FAU vice president and director of athletics. “We have nearly 450 student athletes at Florida Atlantic, and every one of them will reap the benefits of this gift. This gift will truly be transformational for many of our facilities and sports programs.”
The Hagerty Family Athletics Village includes:
• The Hagerty Family Track and Field Complex
• The Tom Oxley Athletic Center
• Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
• Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center
Still available for naming rights in the village are the swimming facility, softball, soccer and baseball stadiums and the beach volleyball complex.
For more information about donating to FAU athletics, call 561-297-2683 or visit https://fauf.fau.edu/paradise-club.

Gift to aid support services at Lynn Cancer Institute
Arline and John McNally’s seven-figure donation to Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Lynn Cancer Institute will help with the organization of support programs and ensure that they continue to thrive. The gift creates the McNally Family Foundation Center for Patient Support Services.
“Boca Raton Regional Hospital considers itself extremely fortunate to have philanthropists like Arline and John,” said CEO Lincoln Mendez said. “Their giving is steadfast and focused on the true well-being of our patients. Arline and John’s personal involvement at Boca Regional and other select organizations is testimony of paying it forward.”
For more information on the institute, call 561-955-5966 or visit https://baptisthealth.net/locations/coe-hubs/lynn-cancer-institute---boca-raton.

Boca West Children’s Foundation gets grant
The Boca West Children’s Foundation has been awarded $5,000 as recipient of one of the American Fundraising Foundation’s Golden Pear grants.
The announcement described a record-breaking $250,000 distribution of funds and an additional $100,000 of in-kind donations.
The Boca West Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit that funds projects in Palm Beach County to help at-risk children and their families.
“We are absolutely delighted to receive a Golden Pear grant,” Executive Director Pam Weinroth said. “This will enable us to help even more children in need in Palm Beach County.”
For more information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.bocawestfoundation.org.

Company gives makeover to Achievement Centers

Achievement Centers for Children & Families in Delray Beach has a newer look thanks to more than 100 employees of Gables Residential who took part in the company’s Day of Service there.
Projects included a book drive, a food drive, reorganizing the library, installing blinds in all classrooms, cleaning the gymnasium, providing new furniture for the staff lounge, painting, building a bench for the playground and landscaping.
“ACCF benefits greatly from its many community partnerships and is so grateful for Gables’ support and generosity,” Chief Development Officer Jessica Hall said.
Gables Residential is a real estate developer and manager.
For more information on ACCF, call 561-266-0003 or visit www.achievementcentersfl.org.

--Amy Woods

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

A total of $221,000 in proceeds from the fourth annual affair will boost the Boys & Girls Club of Delray Beach’s hunger-relief program. The program strives to serve 100,000 nutritious meals to children in the community. ‘We are so excited that this year’s Cocktails for the Club event was a huge success with a record-breaking year,’ co-chairwoman Virginia Costa said. ‘This event brought the Delray community together for a social and fun night to support the club that is near and dear to all of our hearts.’
ABOVE: (l-r) Jorgette Smith, Jennifer Coulter and Costa. RIGHT: Marc and Melissa deBaptiste. BELOW: Susan and Michael Mullin. Photos provided

The Hanley Foundation’s second fundraiser chaired by John and Michelle Makris unfolded before a sold-out crowd of 250 guests. The brunch took place in honor of the Makrises’ son, Brice, who died at age 23 from an overdose. Funds raised will benefit the foundation’s Brice Makris Endowment Fund. One highlight was the presentation of the inaugural Brice Makris Community Spirit Award to Max Weinberg, longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen. ABOVE: Weinberg and April Lewis. RIGHT: Dana and Steve Clarfield. BELOW: Andrea Levine O’Rourke and George O’Rourke.
Photos provided

Carly Yoost was named Woman Volunteer of the Year at the Junior League of Boca Raton’s 35th annual extravaganza. Additionally, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Barbara Richardson. Nonprofits from across South Florida nominate one of their top volunteers each year to be considered for the honor at an affair that includes a New York-style fashion show and usually sells out. ABOVE: Nominees Kirsten Stephenson and N’Quaveh Velasquez. Photo provided

The 20th annual benefit for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County recognized George Elmore and others whose achievements have helped shape the character of the region. Monies from the evening support the society’s educational programs and the preservation of its collection, which inspires exhibits at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum. ABOVE: Marti LaTour and Elmore. RIGHT: Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein.
Photos provided

Bartender Matthew Swig displays a Mariposa, a gin-based drink with butterfly pea flower, at the Butcher and the Bar in Boynton Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Jan Norris

Area mixologists are on double-time stirring and shaking up delectable love potions in anticipation of Valentine’s Day.
Colorful, seductive and meant to complement food and atmosphere, the drinks are a range of flavors.
At the Butcher and the Bar in Boynton Beach, Eric Anderson and his team concocted the Mariposa.
With an edible butterfly pea flower as a garnish, the passion-purple shaded drink is made from a special black gin from Spain, Puerto de Indias.
“Our bartender fell in love with the gin and really wanted to make a drink with it, so he came up with this,” Anderson said. “It’s the flavor profile of a creamsicle. He pretty much hit it.”
Along with the vanilla-scented gin, made dark from molasses, the drink contains lime juice and orange cream bitters. A subtle sweetness comes from the simple syrup infused with the butterfly pea flower, which is sourced locally, Anderson said.
“We spray the inside of the glass with vanilla extract, and use egg whites for the foam. A pea flower is used as garnish.”
Meant to be served in a stemmed glass, it’s a decidedly seductive drink. The bar has this as a special, Anderson said, which is changed out every few weeks. What’s Valentine’s Day without some bubbles?
At the Sea Spray bar in the Waterstone Hotel in Boca Raton, mixologists have created the Sun of Venus, a nod to the goddess of love, often seen in a seashell. It marries the waterfront theme of the bar overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Deep pink, from the herbal Campari, this drink gets its kick from Codigo mezcal and touch of sugar from sweet vermouth.
It’s served with a playful orange twist.

LEFT: The Aikou from Akira Back in Delray Beach. RIGHT: The Sun of Venus from the Waterstone in Boca Raton. Photos provided

At Akira Back in Delray Beach, the bartenders will be shaking up the Aikou, a gin-based drink mixed with pomegranate puree to give it a pink glow, topped with a rosé for bubbles.
A butterfly is poised on the rim of the glass, made from a rose petal.
The mixologist shared the recipe:
Aikou
1 ounce Roku gin 
½ ounce lemon juice 
½ ounce simple syrup 
splash of pomegranate purée
pomegranate seeds, for garnish
rose petal, and mini wood clothespin, for rim
Shake together with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a flute or coupe. Top with Moët Rosé. Garnish with pomegranate seeds. For the butterfly on the glass rim, use a rose petal pinched to wings with a mini clothespin
Makes 1 drink.
Other restaurants, such as Seagate Hotel’s Atlantic Grille, will offer special cocktails, a dining menu and extras such as take-home gifts. The B in Love cocktail is made with Don Julio reposado tequila, beet shrub, lime and agave. The hotel will feature a special $85 three-course, prix fixe menu, along with a chocolate dessert buffet.
At the Hospitality group of restaurants, a special Valentine’s Day prix fixe menu includes a welcome cocktail and a drink with the multicourse meal. Prices vary by locations. They include Lemongrass Asian Bistro (Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach), the Sea Kitchen (Delray Beach), and Ramen Lab Eatery (Boca Raton, West Boca Raton and Delray Beach).
The same restaurant group is bringing unique experiences to Valentine’s Day at its concept, Eat District in Boca Raton. Lead chefs will give hands-on workshops for couples, teaching sushi rolls, pad Thai or dumpling making.
Along with the classes, $59 per person, guests get welcome appetizers, premium sake tasting, the main dish as lesson and meal, with dessert.
Dates for classes are Feb. 10, dumplings; Feb. 11, sushi, and Feb. 12, pad Thai.
Contact the restaurant for more details at 561-576-2046.

***

The dining scene in Lantana got a boost with the opening of Dua, a champagne and wine lounge at 118 E. Ocean Ave.
Albanian owner Diana Boga named the restaurant after her native phrase Te Dua, meaning “I love you,” or just Dua — “want.” Her love of hospitality and interest in charcuterie and wines brought her from New York to open a brick and mortar restaurant.
Small plates to accompany the wine choices include caviar, charcuterie boards, cheeses and olives. Dips, mezze platters and appetizers such as truffle steak crostini are on the menu.
The restaurant hosts special wine tastings and flights, as well as a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a DJ spins music on weekends for late night entertainment.
Open-air seating is available.
Dua, 118 E. Atlantic Ave., Lantana. 561-629-7979, or www.dualantana.com

***

Tickets for the Savor the Avenue street-long dinner in Delray Beach are on sale. Ten restaurants are listed on downtowndelraybeach.com/savortheave for the March 27 dine-under-the-stars event down the middle of Atlantic Avenue. Menus and information are online from the participating restaurants; tickets must be purchased from the restaurants. Seating is limited.

In brief
Le Colonial is a French Vietnamese restaurant going into the new Atlantic Crossing mixed-use site at Atlantic Avenue and Sixth Avenue in Delray Beach. Opening date is expected within the month. ...
The former Ellie’s ’50s Diner on Federal Highway in Delray Beach is now home to an outpost of the Bees Knees diner, which offers an upscale version of many of the old diner’s favorites. Bees Knees also has locations in Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach.

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

By Arden Moore

Welcome to February, when millions spend millions to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Candy and flowers are great for your mate, but show your cats or dogs just how much you adore them by stepping up your at-home dental care on them.
Yep, February is also National Pet Dental Health Month. For decades, veterinarians have unleashed this startling stat: By age 3, more than 70% of all dogs and cats show signs of dental disease.
Yikes.
Dental woes don’t just stay put in the mouth. They can also signal serious issues in the body, such as diabetes, kidney disease or gastrointestinal issues.
“If your pet is dropping food a lot, losing weight, drooling excessively or bleeding from the gums, please alert your veterinarian,” says Dr. Michael Wiegand, DVM, DAVDC, a board-certified veterinary dentist who operates the Florida Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center in West Palm Beach and Stuart. (www.floridaanimaldentistry.com)
Definitely do not ignore dreaded doggie breath in your canine or feline pal. It may be due to something wrong inside the mouth or in the gastrointestinal tract, Wiegand adds. Foul breath does not vanish on its own.

Regularly be on the lookout for these other health warning signs:
• Loose or missing teeth
• Tartar buildup on molars
• Shying away from being touched on the face
• Face pawing
• Messy eating, leaving kibble scattered on the kitchen floor
• Chronic vomiting.

Adult dogs sport 42 teeth, but the size of the dog often impacts the type of dental issues they face, says Wiegand.
“The smaller the muzzle, the more prone to periodontal disease because these small dogs have 42 teeth jammed in a smaller space than big-dog mouths and food can get stuck in between their teeth.”
He says large-muzzled dogs are more apt to need his dental expertise for addressing broken teeth caused by chewing on bones and other hard objects like ice cubes and flying disks.
“Do the knee test before selecting a chew for your dog,” he says. “If you hit the chew against your knee and it hurts, don’t give it to your dog. Nylon bones and bully sticks are not good for their teeth and ice cubes can break teeth. Give your dog a chew that is pliable and has some give, such as a Kong toy that you can stuff with treats or peanut butter.”
Cats have 30 teeth, 16 in the upper jaw and 14 in the lower jaw. Unlike dogs and people, cats don’t get cavities because of the shape of their teeth. Their main dental issues are halitosis, excessive drooling, bleeding from the gums and a painful condition known as tooth resorption.
“Cats do not chew food and tend to swallow whole,” says Wiegand. “Tooth resorption literally means a hole in the tooth. The cat’s body starts to break down a tooth and its roots and absorb them. That can cause pain and muscle spasms.”
And, because cats are both prey and predator, they don’t like to show any signs of vulnerability or pain for fear of being hunted, adds Dr. Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service in West Palm Beach.

If you are ready to begin regular dental care on your pet and make it struggle-free, here are some tips:

Don’t be in a hurry. Initially, spend just a minute or two massaging and rubbing your cat’s cheeks or your dog’s muzzle. This action helps your pet get used to you touching his face. Finish by doling out a healthy treat.
“Be slow, steady and patient,” says Radosta. “Teeth brushing is something completely unnatural to cats, so start by just touching the face.”

Take baby steps. Do not attempt to brush all of your pet’s teeth the first time. Remind yourself that the goal is to build up a positive association from your pet with brushing teeth.
“Start slowly and take lots of breaks,” says Radosta. “If you have a partner to help, have the partner pet and cuddle the cat during the process.”

Dip the brush into broth. Before using pet-safe toothpaste, try dipping the bristles of a pet toothbrush or a finger brush into either tuna water or low-sodium chicken broth and encourage your pet to lick the juice off the bristles.

Get into proper position. Position yourself at the side or behind your pet’s head. Hold your pet’s head and lift the pet’s upper lip with one hand. Then place a finger brush on the index finger of your other hand. Briefly touch the pet’s gums and teeth with this finger brush and then exit. Offer a treat reward.

Start in the back. As your pet gets used to having his mouth opened and gums touched, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle on the back teeth. Move in a circular motion and slowly move toward the front teeth. Finish by delivering a treat and praise.

Here’s a possible bonus benefit: Cats and dogs who become accustomed to having their teeth brushed tend to be more accepting of needed pills or liquids should they develop a medical condition.
However, if your pet still resists the toothbrush or you don’t feel confident performing this task, know you have other options.
“Keep the process positive and don’t force your pet,” says Radosta. “Ask your veterinarian about science-based pet products that can reduce the need for brushing, such as dental chews, foods and additives. Some pets just aren’t comfortable with mouth handling, and for these pets, we need alternative options to maintain their dental health.”

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first-aid instructor. She hosts a 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.

Father Bob Benko was installed Oct. 23 as pastor at St. Mark Church in Boynton Beach by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito (left). Photo provided by the Diocese of Palm Beach

By Janis Fontaine

St. Mark Catholic Church of Boynton Beach has welcomed a new priest, Father Bob Benko.
“He’s young and full of life,” parish secretary Margaret Askar said. “We’re just very excited about the new energy that he brings to our parish.”
St. Mark is a Conventional Franciscan Parish and Benko is a Franciscan priest and a member of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, based in Maryland.
Boynton Beach is his fourth assignment — he’s led parishes in New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia — and he requested Florida because he prefers warm weather.
Growing up in New Jersey can do that to you.
Benko, who will turn 59 this month, was born and raised in the Garden State. He went to Catholic elementary and high schools and then to St. Peter’s College (now University), a private Jesuit school in Jersey City, where he earned an associate degree in business administration.
Although Benko had grown up in the church and been active in the youth ministry in his teens, he had never thought of himself as priest material. Known as a quick learner and a leader, he thought the business world would be his field. He got a job in real estate working as right-hand man to a developer, doing whatever needed his attention. Benko learned a lot, but he wasn’t fulfilled.
In his mid-20s, he heard the call. A calling is like an invitation from God asking you to fulfill your life’s purpose, and to follow God on your path to your destiny.
Benko entered the seminary in Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in Franciscan studies and another in English literature. After that, he moved to Staten Island to enter the novitiate for the Franciscan Order, a yearlong program of prayer and discovery before you make your first vows as a Franciscan.
The Franciscan is one of many paths (or orders) within the Catholic church. Some of the most popular are Franciscans, Carthusians, Jesuits, Benedictines, Salesians, Dominicans, Carmelites and Trappists, each with its own focus.
The Franciscans take vows of poverty, meaning they don’t own things such as cars or homes and they attempt to put others before themselves. Their values, beliefs and traditions of the Catholic faith — like the importance of charity, benevolence and selflessness — govern all they do.
So, when the church leaders asked Benko to learn Spanish and go to Central America, he said, “Sí.” He traveled to El Salvador and then ended up in Costa Rica. (“Not that Costa Rica,” he says to people who have visited the luxury resorts and rain forests — the tourist face of the country.) Most of the country is incredibly poor “but full of faith,” he said.
That strong faith is shared by the members of his new parish. Now fluent in Spanish, Benko publishes his weekly message in English and Spanish and is comfortable pastoring in both languages, a real asset with his diverse congregation.
St. Mark was established in 1952 and implores the faithful to never be timid in the profession of faith. In its mission, the St. Mark congregation proclaims, “We believe that we are called to be peacemakers, to be people of hope and compassion. We welcome those that are searching for God in their lives.”
The parish has more than 1,900 member families, which translates to about 4,800 people. Like other houses of worship, a declining congregation is one of its biggest concerns.
Benko is just getting to know his parish, its people and what they think is important. He is recruiting members to serve on a pastoral council that articulates the parish goals and finds ways to achieve them.
“We’re asking, ‘How do we want to express our Catholic faith? What is the personality of our church?’” Benko said. He says pastoring without a vision is like rowing a boat with one oar. It’s a lot of work and you don’t really get anywhere.
“How do we use our grace — our God-given gifts, talents and abilities — to make a better world?” Benko asks.
His answer? Baby steps.
First, become a better person (“the person God wants me to be”), then a better spouse and better parent. From there we get a better neighborhood, city, state, nation and, ultimately, world.
“As a priest, I’m trying to show the world a different way,” Benko says. “A better way. I want St. Mark to be the church people are talking about.”

St. Mark is at 643 St. Mark Place (NE Fourth Ave.), Boynton Beach. Mass is celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday; and 8 and 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. Call 561-734-9330 or visit www.stmarkboynton.com.

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

A volunteer examines some of the treasures that will be available at First Presbyterian Church’s Step-Above Rummage Sale. Photo provided

First Presbyterian’s annual rummage sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 9-11, at the church in Delray Beach.
The organizers call it the Step-Above Rummage Sale because of the quality of the items. New and gently used items are all you’ll find. Some items will still have store tags attached.
In Fellowship Hall, shoppers will find women’s and kids’ clothes, hung on racks and sorted by department. There’s a comfortable sitting area to try on the shoes — no hopping on one foot! — which are organized by size. All clothing and shoes are $3. Accessories cost less.
In the courtyard, shoppers will find men’s clothing and shoes, all $3, hung up and sized. There also will be an eclectic assortment of books, craft supplies, toys, sports equipment, bicycles, luggage, electronics and tools.
In Holly House, home of the popular Holiday Gift Shop, jewelry, purses, accessories, lamps and art will be available. You’ll also find the linen department and housewares there. Sales specialists will be on hand to assist shoppers and answer questions.
Cash and checks are accepted for payment. First Presbyterian Church is at 33 Gleason St.. For more information, call 561-276-6338 or visit www.firstdelray.com/upcoming-events.

Easter Service taping
First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach is asking parishioners to be part of a taping by ABC that will precede the one-hour Easter Sunday service to air on April 9 on ABC affiliates across the nation, an estimated 20 million people.
The taped portion will be recorded at 11 a.m. Feb. 26. The Rev. Michael B. Brown will be guest pastor along with Dr. Doug Hood.
Donations to underwrite the production are also needed and donors will be credited during the broadcast. The church is at 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach. For more information, call 561-276-6338.

Night to Shine in Boca
On Feb. 10, St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Boca Raton plans to join more than 600 other churches from around the world to host 100,000 guests with the help of 200,000 volunteers at a very special prom night experience for people 14 and older with special needs.
Night to Shine is “centered on God’s love,” and is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. After two years of virtual events, the nonprofit is thrilled to host a live event this year. To make it extra special, guests get to walk the red carpet while paparazzi photograph them in all their prom finery. Buddies provide companionship so no one feels left out.
Reservations are required to attend Night to Shine at St. Paul, 701 W. Palmetto Park Road. Hours are 6-9 p.m. Visit https://nighttoshineboca.com for more information. Volunteers and donations are also welcome.

Fashion show and luncheon
The Highland Beach-based St. Lucy Council of Catholic Women presents “Love One Another,” a fashion show and luncheon, at noon Feb. 16 at Benvenuto, 1730 N. Federal Highway in Boynton Beach. Tickets are $75. Call Susan at 561-702-4975.

Empty Bowls returns
The 10th annual Empty Bowls Palm Beach fundraiser — its mantra is “Eat simply so others may simply eat” — will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. Proceeds benefit the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
Guests share a simple meal of soup, bread and water. The soups are prepared by local chefs and the bread is freshly baked by Old School Bakery. The simple meal is served by community leaders and local celebrities.
The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea is at 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach. Tickets are $30 in advance at pbcfoodbank.org/emptybowlspalmbeach. For more information, call 561-670-2518.

Anniversary Mass
The Most Rev. Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach, will preside over the 39th annual anniversary Mass for couples celebrating 25, 40, 50 or more years of marriage at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton. A reception will follow in the parish hall. To attend, you must register through your home parish office no later than Feb. 6.

St. Mark rummage sale
St. Mark Catholic Church, 643 St. Mark Place (NE Fourth Ave.), Boynton Beach, is holding its sixth annual rummage sale March 18 and 19. Donations are needed. For drop-off dates and additional information, call the church at 561-734-9330.

Masking up?
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church of Boca Raton is just one church that has made changes as a result of the uptick in COVID-19 cases amid the highly contagious kraken variant.
St. Gregory’s policy update: “In accordance with CDC guidelines and at the advice of our COVID Advisory Team, the wearing of masks at St. Gregory’s is recommended for in-person gatherings. If you are feeling unwell, please view our services online at www.facebook.com/SaintGregorys.”
Experts advise carrying a mask and hand sanitizer and checking with the church you plan to attend for new recommendations.

— Janis Fontaine

The American Heart Association promotes seven steps for a healthy heart. Graphic provided by AHA

By Jan Engoren

Before you can give your heart to someone, you need to ensure yours stays healthy.
So, with Valentine’s Day at its center, February is American Heart Month, a time set aside to improve awareness about heart health and cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease and other cardiovascular issues such as stroke are the leading causes of death in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association, killing more than 800,000 people each year.
Cardiovascular problems are also the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.
In Palm Beach County, the most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease), which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Coronary heart disease can cause heart attack, angina, heart failure and irregular heartbeat.
Most risk factors for heart disease and stroke — such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity — are preventable and controllable. Controlling these factors may reduce risk of heart attack or stroke by more than 80%, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dubbed “Life’s Simple 7,” the AHA recommendations for a healthy heart are not smoking, physical activity, healthy diet and body weight, and control of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar.
“Take time to think of your own heart health this month,” says Heather M. Johnson, 47, a preventive cardiologist at the Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
“February is a great month to pay attention to your heart,” she says. “Get to know your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol numbers.”
A firm believer that people can control their health and destiny, Johnson encourages her patients to make lifestyle changes to their daily routines, which can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“Simple things like staying active or just getting up and moving with moderate intensity is outstanding,” she says.
She recommends exercising 150 minutes each week, or 30 minutes/five days a week, as well as keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels low, eating a Mediterranean diet and avoiding excess sodium. And, if you’re a smoker, stop.
Johnson, a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, suggests additional screenings may be in order for men and women in high risk categories. For men over 65 with a history of smoking, Johnson recommends checking with your physician to see if an additional aortic aneurysm screening is advisable.
Other screenings may include a carotid artery scan, a coronary artery calcium scan, a cholesterol test, EKG or ECG.
In women, she says, artery changes can present in other ways and can even be found during routine mammogram screenings. Changes to arteries can raise the risk of a heart attack.
If there’s an indication of breast artery calcification it could be helpful to follow up with a heart screening assessment, Johnson says.
Johnson, who is married with one teenage son, follows her own diet advice and is dedicated to exercise. Her favorite workouts include aerobic exercise on the elliptical, treadmill and StairMaster machines, lifting weights or dancing at home to the music of Whitney Houston.
Johnson keeps her exercise bag in the car. She is partial to the Orangetheory Fitness studio in Boca Raton and schedules time for workouts on her daily calendar. 
“I like to mix up my workouts to keep them interesting,” she says, “and to avoid boredom.”
As a family, Johnson says, each is committed to working out and eating healthy.
“We hold each other accountable for diet and exercise,” she says.
“We take it seriously, but it’s OK to have fun with it, too,” says Johnson, who indulges in occasional pizza nights with her family. “Find a balance, keep a heart healthy focus, but allow yourself to have fun.”
For Valentine’s Day, Johnson plans to come home and relax and maybe even treat herself to a piece of heart healthy dark chocolate (after her workout, that is).
To highlight the cause and raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, the National Institutes of Health sponsors National Wear Red Day on Feb. 3. Visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/events/2023/national-wear-red-day-get-ourhearts-pumping.

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

Jennifer Shoemaker, RN, has been named chief nursing officer of Delray Medical Center.
Shoemaker began her career at the hospital in 2007 while she was a student at Palm Beach State College. After graduating, she was promoted to charge nurse, and then to clinical manager, and ultimately to director. In 2017, she was named administrative director of the hospital’s medical-surgical service line. She was promoted to associate chief nursing officer in 2020.

***

Palm Health Foundation has received a $5,000 gift from Valley Bank, providing seed funding for the new Palm Beach County NeuroArts Collaborative. It includes the Florida Atlantic University Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.
The Valley Bank gift will support the collaborative’s launch and growth as it focuses on identifying local partners, programs, resources, and existing research to support the advancement of neuro-arts in South Florida.
For more information, visit www.palmhealthfoundation.org/our-work-advancing-brain-health.

— Christine Davis

One side of the new stingray tank at Sandoway Discovery Center enables visitors to see eye-to-eye with the rays. Photos provided

By Janis Fontaine

A peaceful energy washes over guests as they walk up the steps and on to the wide porch at Sandoway Discovery Center in Delray Beach. Just steps away from State Road A1A, life’s pace seems to slow down among the lush foliage and inside the Old Florida home. Even the staff appears to move with the grace of the species at the center of Sandoway’s newest exhibit: the magical stingray.
While the coronavirus was raging, Sandoway was remodeling. It redesigned the backyard, doubling the footprint by reclaiming unused space, built a new stingray touch tank, renovated the shark tank, and added new awnings to shade the entire area. The center also added a state-of-the-art filtration system, which is much quieter. When all the bills were paid, the backyard redo cost $300,000.
And as anyone who has lived in a house built when Florida was still wild can tell you, closet space is hard to come by, so everyone was excited about more storage space.
“I guess they didn’t have as much stuff back then,” said Danica Sanborn, Sandoway’s executive director. (That’s pronounced da-NEEK-a.)
Sanborn, who has a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s in marine biology, has overseen operations at Sandoway for 10 years. She loves her work teaching people of all ages about our unique marine environment.

At the other end of the tank, children can view and touch the six stingrays that reside there.

Sanborn’s goal — and Sandoway’s as well — is to create new stewards for the environment by teaching people about the habitats and species they are trying to save. Education is the key to conservation and the center is thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Sandoway family: six stingrays.
Three Atlantic rays (Dasyatis sabina) and three cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) share the 15,000-gallon tank. The new stingray tank has a peek-a-boo window on one side and steps leading to a touch and viewing area on the other side.
There are more than 500 species of rays, Alyssa Dorfman, Sandoway’s director of education, told visitors. She has containers of fish and shrimp she’ll feed the rays as she talks. The rays are curious and they swim to the surface and seem to wave at visitors. The rays have only one way of protecting themselves: the venomous barbs on the end of their whip-like tails. They have the tank to themselves for their own and other creatures’ safety.
Next to receive food is the nurse shark, Norma Jean, who swims languidly along the bottom of the pool she shares with a few other fish — ones she won’t eat — like the shiny silver lookdowns and puggy striped burrfish.
Dorfman feeds Norma Jean and the rays at 1 p.m. every day, and it’s not just something to see, it’s something to hear. Norma Jean makes a loud slurping sound — a nursing sound? — as she feeds.
Sanborn said nurse sharks are also called carpet sharks because they can lie on the bottom of the tank motionless, unlike other sharks which have to keep moving to breathe. Dorfman said Norma Jean figured out if she lies near the filter intake it will pump water over her gills, making life even easier for the 6-year-old.
These normally nocturnal swimmers are very docile and Norma Jean performs an underwater ballet as she sashays from one end of the tank to the other.
The mission with these new exhibits is to highlight the importance of sharks and stingrays in our environment.
The learning doesn’t stop at the tanks. The center has an Everglades room, a room for a living coral reef, the discovery room where you’ll find amphibians and reptiles, and the nocturnal room where you’ll learn about animals that come out only at night.
Don’t miss the Yvonne S. Templeton Shell Room Gallery upstairs, where the Albert and Ann Becker Shell Collection has 3,000 shells on display. The Becker collection totals about 10,000 in all, which their niece Linda Becker Dean’s family inherited and donated to the center in 2002.
More than 6,000 Palm Beach County students and 25,000 total guests visit Sandoway each year. Sandoway also offers after-school programs for students, including the RISE program for high school kids and internships for college students.
Sanborn says the facility always needs volunteers. Suitable candidates must be at least 15 years old and willing to work at least three hours per week for a minimum of six months.
Have an idea for Tots & Teens? Email Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.

Visit the stingrays
Sandoway Discovery Center
Where: 142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach
When: Noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Shark and stingray feedings: 1 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, plus 11 a.m. Saturday
Aquarium feedings: 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Animal encounters: 3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Admission: $10 for age 3 and older
Parking: Available in the lot of Ingraham Avenue or in the lot just north of the center
Information: 561-243-7263 or https://sandoway.org

Fundraising event
What: Muscle on the Beach car show fundraiser for Sandoway Discovery Center’s new stingray tank and hands-on learning experiences. Hosted by Mike Brewer, star of The Discovery Channel hit show ‘Wheeler Dealers.’
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 4 (rain date March 5), Old School Square, 51 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach
Admission: Free for spectators; $125 per registered vehicle, to include cars, trucks and hot rods of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s
Information: www.muscleonthebeach.com

The expansive, custom-fenced grounds offer abundant privacy, heated pool and overflow spa. A 50-foot dock on the Intracoastal has private gate access. BELOW RIGHT: Designed and built in 2018 to perfection and situated on an expansive lot, this house has stunning views over the manicured grounds and the water. Photos provided

Situated on an almost half-acre elevated lot, this estate has more than 220 feet of water frontage with protected dockage. With 6,847 total square feet, this fully furnished home features six bedrooms with a first-floor master suite; a second-floor VIP guest suite with private entrance and kitchen; a second-floor office/bedroom with full bath and balcony, and three additional en suite guest rooms.
A dramatic contemporary stairway with all glass railings and an impressive alcove runs between the two floors.
A decorative driveway leads to an air-conditioned three-car garage outfitted with two Tesla charger stations. Outdoors is an entertainer’s delight with a covered loggia and summer kitchen along with ample space for dining. The pool terrace has a living area and plenty of lounging space pool- and spa-side. A complete security system with cameras is installed throughout the property.

The first-floor primary master wing has a bedroom with private loggia and luxurious bath. BELOW RIGHT: The master closet has an island along with plenty of space for storage and presentation.

As a part of the McCormick Mile community in Ocean Ridge, residents may join the voluntary homeowners association. Membership includes beach access with dune and use of the private beach house overlooking the ocean with kitchen, tables and chairs, showers and bathrooms.
Offered at $8,259,000. Nicholas Malinosky, Douglas Elliman, 561-306-4597. nicholas.malinosky@elliman.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.

A gourmet kitchen has snack bar seating, a pantry, and top-of-the-line appliances, countertops, hardware and flooring.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office posted an eviction notice for Seaside Deli on Jan.12. The deli, on State Road A1A just south of Briny Breezes, plans to stop its operations at about 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. Photo provided

Related: Threatened end of Seaside Deli sparks anger, sorrow

By Joe Capozzi

The Seaside Deli will shut its doors Saturday, Jan. 14, the result of a dispute between the beloved County Pocket staple and its landlord.

“This will be our last weekend,” longtime store manager Chelsea Steen said Thursday afternoon, a few hours after the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office posted an eviction notice on the front door at 4635 N. Ocean Blvd., just south of Briny Breezes.

It was still business as usual as Steen continued to work the cash register, selling discounted items, during a brief interview with The Coastal Star.

“I haven't had a chance to process much. After I spoke with the [deputy], I came back in the store and just started working. I'm just a little frazzled.’’

The eviction notice takes effect around 11 a.m. on Saturday. That means Friday will be the last full day for customers to make their final purchases.

Store owner Randy McCormick told Steen to “start discounting everything so we can move it on out. I already started doing that today with wine. I will be out of food by [Friday],” she said, noting that the deli had already run out of corned beef, pastrami, egg salad and tuna salad.

McCormick could not be reached for comment, but he has said he is trying to find a new home for the deli, which has built a loyal customer base since 1993.

On Dec. 22, a Palm Beach County Circuit Judge ruled in favor of the owner of the deli’s building, Ocean Blvd 14 LLC, a company owned by former Major League Baseball player Rafael Belliard. The judge sided with the landlord’s claim that Seaside Deli hadn’t paid $40,279 in back rent.

McCormick has said he has tried to pay the rent but the landlord refused payments because the company plans to sell the building.

After the judge’s ruling, community leaders launched a campaign to “Save the Deli,” as a banner erected across the front says. More than 650 signatures have been collected on a petition.

The inside lining of Ken Daniels' sport jacket had pictures of his son, Jamie, who died of a fentanyl overdose in December 2016 while in a drug treatment program under the care of Delray Beach physician Michael Ligotti. Daniels wore the jacket to the Monday, Jan. 9, sentencing in U.S. District Court in Miami of  Ligotti to 20 years in prison on an insurance health care fraud charge. John Pacenti/The Coastal Star

By John Pacenti

A look at the Florida Board of Medicine’s website would find Dr. Michael Ligotti in good standing.

No emergency actions. No discipline. No public complaints.

No indication of any investigation – criminal or administrative – of the Delray Beach physician who stood at the apex of an insurance fraud scheme in Palm Beach County that illicitly exploited drug addicts looking to recover during the height of the OxyContin crisis.

It would take a Miami federal judge’s order Jan. 9 for Ligotti to surrender his medical license after he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for defrauding insurers of $127 million on a whopping $746 million his Whole Health Medical Center billed.

He must also pay back a yet undetermined amount of money.

“I simply lost my way,” said a tearful Ligotti in front of U.S. District Judge Rudolfo Ruiz II as his wife and family watched from the gallery. He said he “failed miserably” at upholding the sacred oath of a doctor - to do no harm.

It has been 2 ½ years since the osteopath’s indictment.

Ligotti’s business moved addicts around like chess pieces, transporting them in vans dubbed “drug buggies” to associated sober homes and drug rehab centers in order to bilk Medicare and private insurance through fraudulent tests and treatment.

Each one got paid through illegal patient brokering.

Lisa Daniels-Goldman and Ken Daniels lost their son Jamie in December 2016 under the care of Ligotti. He was 23 and aspired to be a lawyer or a sports agent. He was working a program of recovery, his parents said, and even had a job at a law firm but ended up dead of a fetanyl overdose under the care of Ligotti’s operation.

“We trusted a system, shame on us,” Ken Daniels told the judge. “We trusted Jamie was living in a safe and sober environment, overseen by qualified medical professionals and staff, only to find out after his death that Jamie had been used for financial gain, your personal gain, Michael Ligotti.”

How craven was the patient brokering system? Lisa Daniels Goldman said outside the courtroom that the person who had lured Jamie into the sober home where he died contacted the family afterward through their son’s phone. The man had some of Jamie’s prize possessions—jewelry, headphones—that he would return for a fee.

Ken Daniels outside of court opened his sport jacket. Inside were photos of his son and his daughter through the years. 

He is the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. The ESPN investigative news magazine E-60 did a story on Jamie’s death called the “Florida Shuffle.”

Ligotti joins a sad parade of those prosecuted under a crackdown on South Florida’s illicit addiction industry. He faced 13 charges of health care fraud and money laundering but pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to only one count.

He faced life in prison because his operation was so extensive—thus the plea bargain. He served as medical director for more than 50 sober homes, substance-abuse treatment centers and clinical testing laboratories, prosecutors said.

The bread and butter of the fraud was urine and blood drug testing of patients three or more times a week. The analysis was sent to labs, which billed insurers and paid kickbacks to sober home and treatment center operators. In turn, these businesses sent the patients to Ligotti’s Whole Health for additional testing and treatment.

Prosecutors said Whole Health billed one patient’s insurer more than $840,000 in six years.

In 2016, Ligotti sued an insurance provider for failing to pay him. He also would bully state regulators, writing to them in 2013 that he was outraged that accusations against Whole Health were made, claiming his name and license were used in an “unauthorized fashion,” according to the FBI’s arrest affidavit.

“We are happy to put an end to this tragic episode,” said Ruiz, noting the sentence was appropriate for the harm done.

He noted that Ligotti’s operation also undermined the faith families could have in drug treatment while costing all those with private insurance higher premiums.

But Ruiz did not remand Ligotti to custody. Like some others who have been convicted of sober home crimes, he will remain free to testify against others in trials this spring.

“This is nothing but privilege over justice,” said Maureen Mulroy Kielian, whose Southeast Recovery Advocates sounded the alarm about Ligotti long before his indictment.

She said most of South Florida’s drug treatment center woes can be laid at the feet of unscrupulous doctors.

“It’s not a sober home problem. It’s a treatment, medical director problem,” Kielian said. “There is no money without a prescription pad. It’s the same model as the pill mills. The minimum requirement is a Florida licensed provider.”

A check in the afternoon after Ligotti was sentenced showed no change in his status as a physician by the Florida Department of Health. His license remained clear and active.