Knights of Columbus St. Padre Pio Council No. 17215 welcomed several new members to the organization at the first in-person gathering since the pandemic. ABOVE: (l-r) Tom Corrcione, Ron Shelton, Amato Sampson, Chris Laudato, Daniel Alesandro, Russ Chisholm, Paul Danitz, Dominic Conte, Patrick McClosky, Al Rader, Alfio Pitruzzela, Osmany Periu and Jerry Zazza. Photo provided

Candace Tamposi of Ocean Ridge and Nicholas Tamposi of Laconia, New Hampshire, joyfully announce the upcoming wedding of their daughter, Ali Tamposi, to Roman Campolo of Malibu. The couple will marry at the former vacation estate of the late Dick Clark. The bride, a former Palm Beach and Ocean Ridge resident, is a Grammy Award nominee and a BMI Songwriter of the Year. The groom, a former Cincinnati resident, is a collaborator on the new Elton John album ‘The Lockdown Sessions.’ In lieu of gifts, the couple requests donations to the Creative Waves Foundation, whose purpose is to help underserved students of music and the arts. The foundation provides scholarships, equipment and enrichment programs, and its current focus is on the First Haitian Baptist Church of Belle Glade and the church’ s Enrichment Center project for underserved migrant children. To donate, visit
www.creativewavesfoundation.org/donate. Photo provided

Saint Joseph’s Episcopal School’s parent organization had its fourth annual links event, raising more than $20,000 for the institution. Parents along with faculty and staff not only golfed but also volunteered to make the outing a philanthropic success. ABOVE: (l-r) Jeff Brand, Matt Blizzard, Doug Sabra and Greg Anthony. Photo provided

The YMCA of South Palm Beach County had a reception to mark its history as it approaches 50 years as an organization. Former President and CEO Richard Pollock and current President and CEO Jason Hagensick addressed members of the community who have been a part of the Y since 1972. Guests shared memorabilia, old photos and stories. ABOVE: Pollock (in background) speaks to the crowd as Dick Simmons and Lin Hurley have a laugh. Photo provided by Carlos Aristizabal

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s third annual event had the theme ‘A Night in Monte Carlo’ and secured a record-breaking $151,000. Proceeds will support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boca Raton’s mental health and social-emotional learning programs. ABOVE: Terry and Jerry Fedele. BELOW: (l-r) Eric Roby and Pamela and Robert Weinroth, a Palm Beach County commissioner. Photos provided by Tim Stepien

The Junior League of Boca Raton, which launched in 1971, rang in its golden occasion in style. The moment was commemorated with a coffee-table book that included the history of the service organization. A total of 27 past presidents attended, as did one of the founders. ‘The Junior League, continuously over the past 50 years, has helped identify unmet needs in our community, particularly involving women and children, and worked to bridge the gap,’ President Jamie Sauer said. ABOVE: (l-r) Anne Vegso, Betsy Eisenberg and Marina Morbeck. Photo provided

Kapow is moving to new space in Boca’s Mizner Park. The old location will host a New Orleans-themed spot. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Kapow, the small noodle bar that became an overnight success in Mizner Park, celebrates its 10th year with a big announcement: It’s moving.
“We had been eyeing a larger spot for a while. We’ve been in expansion mode before COVID,” said Vaughan Dugan, one of the co-owners. “We were paying attention to Bluefish, and when we saw they succumbed, it was a natural fit for us.”
Bluefish had opened in the former Gary Rack’s spot on the east side of the plaza just before the pandemic hit, Dugan said. “It was unfortunately really bad timing.”
Kapow will be doubling its capacity as well as adding outdoor covered seating.
Plus, he said, it will be air-conditioned.
“As hip and cool as Kapow is, it’s hot with the doors and windows open.”
Kapow is expanding the menu as well, Dugan said.
“So one of the cons of Bluefish — pros for us — we inherited their equipment. It had a sushi bar. We’re going to have a sushi bar, a hybrid kind of omakase — not all sushi, but we will be doing sushi as well. It will be an eight-seat bar by reservation only, and a private bartender to serve along with the sushi chef,” he said.
“We’ll have three private karaoke rooms in the back. They are soundproof and also are private dining rooms. We’ll have the ability to open them up, but the guests can order from the room — it’s fully automated. The only time you have to open the door is to get the food and drinks.”
One of the reasons for expansion is to make Kapow more than a noodle and drink bar, he said, to appeal to a broader group.
“It’s a demographic we’ve been missing,” Dugan said. “So many corporate headquarters are in town and Kapow is so small. It’s not the most conducive place for team-building meetings.
“We’re 10 years old, and it’s time to grow up a little bit. We’re the place for everybody. The 18-year-old barback comes in after a shift. My parents come. We’re not trying to put on a tie, we don’t want to grow up totally.”
He and partners Rodney Mayo and Scott Frielich of Subculture Group hope to open the new Kapow by New Year’s Eve. “We’re at the mercy of our contractors,” Dugan said.
Supply chain problems have hit them, too.
As for staffing, he said, “I’d be lying if I said it’s not a problem. We were able to retain most of our staff. We’re struggling to add to our team. There’s a lot of trading going on” with personnel, with different groups offering sweeter deals for signing on.
It will be twice the problem for Dugan and his team once they move, since they’ve already worked out a new concept to go into their current space. It is Penelope, a New Orleans-themed spot.
“It will keep the same Subculture vibe,” said Dugan, who described it as “less Bourbon Street and more French. Yes, Antoine’s, or somewhere in between, but more French New Orleans.”
Dugan said the move will not mean a stoppage in service: “We’ll close here on a Friday and turn our lights off, open up across the street.”
As for Penelope, “We should be able to turn it around in 45 to 60 days tops. Kapow is so small, only 1,500 square feet. We’ll upgrade the fixtures and do cosmetic changes.”
Other expansion is planned and the company is ready. “We’re in full expansion mode,” Dugan said. “We’re looking at Lauderdale, Delray and Jupiter. We were having the best year before COVID, and an even better year now.”
Kapow, 431 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Phone 561-347-7322; www.kapownoodlebar.com.

In brief
A new restaurant quietly opened last month in the long-vacant former Patio spot in Delray: 800 Palm Trail Grille. A large outdoor seating area wraps around the dining room, where sandwiches, salads, fish and meat entrees are on the menu. Vegetarian and gluten-free items also are here. … Corvina Seafood Grill is opening in Boca Raton’s downtown area this month. Noted Washington, D.C. chef Jeff Tunks is at the helm. Locally caught seafood is touted as the star of a menu that includes meats and poultry. Corvina is at 110 Plaza Real South. …
A Mexican menu is on tap at the restaurant in the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. It coincides with the exhibit of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Mexican Modernism, which runs through Feb. 6. …
Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches is again delivering Thanksgiving pies with its Pie It Forward campaign. Order a chef-made pie (apple, pumpkin, pecan or Key lime) until Nov. 17 at https://mowpbpie.org.
South County pickup is Nov. 23, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Duffy’s Sports Grill, 1750 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. Each pie sold feeds a homebound senior for one week. Don’t need pie? Buy a virtual pie to donate to MOW instead.

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

Devon Silva-Frost, 2, of Boca Raton enjoys making a pumpkin selection. Delray Beach native Samantha Frost came to the patch as a child and wanted to share the experience with her son. Photo provided by Samantha Frost

By Christine Davis

Maria Morales Menendez was promoted to chief operating officer of the Delray Medical Center in September. Morales Menendez started at Delray Medical Center as an associate resident, before being promoted to the position of associate administrator.
Morales Menendez was graduated from the University of Kentucky, with a degree in biosystems engineering. She has a master’s in business administration with a health care specialization from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.   

***

Delray Medical Center is among the top 10% in the nation for neurosciences, stroke care and critical care and a recipient of the Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award, according to a new analysis by Healthgrades.
 Delray Medical Center was also recognized for the following clinical achievements: Five-Star recipient for Treatment of Heart Failure for 20 years in a row (2003-2022), Five-Star recipient for Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeries in 2022, Five-Star recipient for Colorectal Surgeries for five years in a row (2018-2022).
Delray Medical Center also achieved high performance marks in the categories of diabetes, heart attack, heart failure and stroke for the state of Florida in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s 2021-2022 Best Hospitals rankings for adult clinical specialties.

***

The Palm Beach Health Network, which includes Delray Medical Center, recently received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus, and Gold Plus-Honor Roll Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement Award, for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment, according to nationally recognized research-based guidelines.

***

Timothy O’Connor, M.D., a specialist in robotic and complex deformity surgery, recently joined the Boca Raton-based Marcus Neuroscience Institute, part of Baptist Health, as the director of minimally invasive surgery and robotic spinal surgery.
O’Connor joined Marcus Neuroscience Institute from the University at Buffalo, where he completed a CAST-accredited complex spine surgery fellowship. While completing his fellowship, he was awarded the AO Discovery and Innovation Young Investigator grant by the AO Spine Foundation. He was also invited to join the AO Knowledge Forum, a group of surgeons who collaborate on solving challenges in modern spinal surgery.
He received his medical degree from the University of Florida, where he was graduated with honors for research and academic excellence.

By Joyce Reingold

When the pandemic sent office workers home in March 2020, beds, couches and kitchen tables became makeshift workstations. Coronavirus safety supplanted ergonomic concerns. And as temporary turned to “we’re still at it,” necks, backs and shoulders started to feel the strain.
Many months on, doctors, physical therapists, fitness experts and others are helping the work-from-home crowd address the accumulated aches and pains from what’s being called pandemic posture.
“Stiffness in the back, neck and shoulders,” says Dr. Joanna Drowos, an osteopathic physician at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at FAU Medicine in Boca Raton, ticking off some of her patients’ most common issues.
“I have seen some carpal tunnel, from not having your keyboard in the appropriate position and spending more time typing. I’ve seen more headaches. And even some low back soreness. I had a patient the other day tell me that when she’s working at home, she doesn’t have a chair where her feet touch the floor.” Drowos, who is also associate dean for faculty affairs at FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and an associate professor of family medicine, offers patients osteopathic manipulative therapy, “which is designed to treat somatic dysfunction in the body, where people will have a little bit of pain usually related to just sort of being out of alignment,” she says.
“People can have a lot of different reasons for having discomfort, but when you’re in a situation where your work habits have changed so much … it’s become very difficult for people to take care of themselves just because of the work environment.”
A study published in the March 2021 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine identified some of those changes. Researchers found respondents worked longer days — an average of more than 48 minutes — while based at home. They also participated in more meetings — an almost 13% increase per person since work from home began.
“These intense and extended hours at the workstation without proper breaks might be directly linked to increased musculoskeletal discomfort and other negative physical health effects,” the study’s authors wrote.
That’s why ergonomics tops the list when Drowos talks to patients about preventing body stress and strain, whether working from home, in the office, or a mix of the two.
“The biggest thing to be mindful of is your workstation,” she says. “Make sure that when you’re seated and working, that you have an appropriate chair, your desk is at the appropriate height, you’re not hunched over, you have support for your back, and your wrists are in a comfortable position.”
Look around your workstation. Does it meet these Occupational Health and Safety Administration guidelines?
• Top of monitor at or just below eye level
• Head and neck balanced and in line with torso
• Shoulders relaxed
• Elbows close to body and supported
• Lower back supported
• Wrists and arms in line with forearms
• Adequate room for keyboard and mouse
• Feet flat on the floor
Once you’re well-situated, remember that stopping for activity is also important.
“Remember that our bodies are meant to move,” says Austin Brock, a certified fitness trainer and co-owner of Slash Fitness in Delray Beach. “I recommend that my clients never sit at their desks or in front of a screen for more than 30 minutes at a time. Get up, walk around and stretch.”
Brock regularly addresses technology-induced body issues in his line of work.
“Activities that consume most of our time these days are anteriorly focused, meaning that they cause us to roll our shoulders forward and extend our neck out away from our body,” he says.
“This is generally seen when we use our computer, tablet or phone, but it is also replicated when we drive and even when we eat. Mimic any of those movements right now, even without the equipment, and you’ll see what I mean.”
To avoid succumbing to pandemic posture, Brock recommends a combination of strengthening exercises and stretching movements.
“By doing so, the muscles in our core, our backs/shoulders and our glutes, our bodies are able to hold themselves in a more upright position. Corrective bodyweight exercises can be done almost anywhere and require little to no equipment.” 
Brock recommends consulting a certified fitness trainer to get the right exercise plan and minimize the risk of injury.
And even when you’re stuck in front of a screen, there are simple ways to stay limber.
“You can do some gentle neck rolling and neck stretches, assuming you don’t have any underlying injury. Our clinic offers chair yoga and meditation that’s all virtual,” Drowos says.
“Even though it’s virtual and you have to do it on the screen, you can at least have some relaxation and move your body in a way that’s healing.”
The classes are free to the public, but registration is required. You can learn more here: www.faumedicine.org/integrative-health/programs/index.php.
“I think the pandemic has gone on longer than any of us imagined,” she says. “When we first went home, it was sort of like, prepare for two weeks or three weeks and we’ll be back. So, I think just the recognition that the world is different, and work looks different. … Give yourself a great workstation and then make sure that you get up.”

Joyce Reingold writes about health and healthy living. Send column ideas to joyce.reingold@yahoo.com.

Two panels of Madeleine Fugate’s coronavirus memorial quilt will be on display at St. Paul’s in Delray Beach.
Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

On Nov. 7, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will honor the lives lost to the coronavirus with a special Mass featuring Fauré’s Requiem sung by the chancel choir and chamber orchestra under the direction of music director David Macfarlane. The service begins at 3 p.m. at the church, 188 S. Swinton Ave. in Delray Beach.
Two panels of the coronavirus memorial quilt, created and compiled by ninth-grader Madeleine Fugate, will be displayed at the church during this event. Admission is free. A collection will be taken.
Upcoming concerts include “Strings and Keys,” featuring the Delray String Quartet on Nov. 21, and “A Festival of Lessons and Carols” for Christmas on Dec. 12. Visit www.musicstpauls.org or call 561-278-6003.

Open house
Saint John Paul II Academy will hold an open house from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 7 at 4001 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Middle and high school students who want to “live by the spirit of faith” are invited. Call 561-314-2128 or visit www.sjpii.net.

Yoga Mass
Yoga Mass is “three parts yoga, one part Mass,” says Father Benjamin Thomas of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, half joking. He leads the monthly service uniting body and mind at 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month.
In October, yoga Mass resumed on the beach at Red Reef Park because of ongoing construction at the church. The event starts with 20 minutes of yoga, followed by Mass.
For information about the Nov. 20 location, call the church at 561-395-8285, or visit www.stgregorysepiscopal.org or www.frbenjaminthomas.com.

Hanukkah under the stars
Hanukkah is early this year, beginning at sundown the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28. Community leaders and Rabbi Shmuel Biston will co-host an outdoor celebration of Hanukkah at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real in Boca Raton, from 5-9 p.m. Details are coming soon. Check the Chabad of East Delray website at www.jewisheastdelray.com.

Church bazaars
• Holly House Gift Shoppe — 10 a.m.-noon Tuesdays and Thursdays, and beginning 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 27 through Dec. 19, at 33 Gleason St., Delray Beach. Handcrafted gifts made by Holly House Ladies, a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach. Crocheted baby blankets, designer and costume jewelry, tree ornaments, vintage Santas, shell designs, unique trees and wreaths, aprons, quilted place mats and runners. Visit www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/274048967908139/ to see the latest products.
• The Ecw Fall Bazaar — 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 13 in Harris Hall, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. Treasures include jewelry, collectibles, glassware, decorative items, tableware, kitchen items, toys, holiday décor and artwork. Email Rebecca Sorensen at rsorens51@gmail.com for additional information or to volunteer. 561-395-8285; www.stgregorysepiscopal.org

Interfaith Café in 2022?
The Interfaith Café, a group that met monthly in Delray Beach pre-pandemic, hopes to resume in-person meetings in January. The group “is a vehicle to get to know people of various faiths and cultural traditions while enjoying tea/coffee and a sweet,” said Linda Prior, an organizer.
“We have free monthly meetings when a speaker introduces a topic, then we break into smaller groups for lively conversation. We are interested in partnering with other interfaith/community outreach organizations.”
New members and guests are always welcome. Email InterfaithCafe@gmail.com for more information.

Roots and Wings bracelets are part of the nonprofit’s incentives to encourage kids to read more books. They come in 21 colors. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

A little reading goes a long way.
Experts say that increasing a child’s reading time by just six minutes a day can make a significant difference in meeting grade-level benchmarks.
Helping your child fall in love with reading will reap lifelong benefits. And reading well, even if your kid never falls in love with it, makes life easier in so many ways, from deciphering recipes to understanding cellphone contracts.
So how do we encourage youngsters to read?
Some might enjoy the socializing that comes with book clubs, while others might be motivated by earning free ice cream.
Here are a few ways to increase the reading fun:

The Boca Raton Public Library offers many programs for kids, including these book clubs:
• Booktastic Book Club for early readers meets from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Spanish River Library, 1501 NW Spanish River Blvd. November’s book is Dragons and Marshmallows, by Asia Citro. Kids pick up a free copy of the book at the Youth Services desk once enrolled. Books are donated by the Friends of the Boca Raton Public Library.
• The Tween Book Jam will discuss Echo Mountain, by Lauren Wolk, from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Downtown Library, 400 NW Second Ave.
• The Teen Book Club meets from 6-7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Downtown Library for a discussion of Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo.

Delray Beach Public Library (100 W. Atlantic Ave.) hosts two clubs. Keep in mind, anyone entering the library must wear a mask. • The Teen Book Club meets at 5 p.m. Nov. 16 as part of its schedule of the first and third Tuesday of the month. Designed for ages 13-17, November’s book is A Song Below Water, by Bethany C. Morrow. Copies are available for free at the library.
• The Readers are Leaders Book Club for grades 4-6 (ages 9-12) meets at 3:45 p.m. the last Monday of the month. In October, the club read Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust, a graphic novel by Loïc Dauvillier. Check www.delraylibrary.org for the Nov. 29 book or call 561-266-0194.

The Boynton Beach City Library (115 N. Federal Highway) hosts the Brown Bag Book Club from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 24 for ages 9-12. In observance of National Native American Heritage Month, kids will read a beautifully illustrated Oglala Lakota legend. They can pick up free copies of the book at the library.
• The Boynton library also hosts a chess club from 4-5 p.m. Wednesdays and Teen Game Day from 4-6 p.m. Thursdays. Call 561-742-6390 or visit www.boyntonlibrary.org.

The Highland Beach Library (3618 S. Ocean Blvd.), in an abundance of caution, has not resumed its children’s programs. It may be the first of the year before it does, but check the library’s website at https://highlandbeach.us/departments/library or call 561-278-5455.

Roots and Wings launches reading incentive program
In September, Roots and Wings, a nonprofit in Delray Beach that is dedicated to fighting illiteracy and promoting excellence in public education, began offering a special deal for students attending Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton schools. To encourage them to read, five area businesses came up with treats for young readers each time they complete reading three books of their choice.
To get their rewards, students record their book titles on their bookmarks and have each entry signed by the classroom teacher and stamped by the school. They can bring the completed bookmark to the business of their choice to collect the reward and a Roots and Wings wristband. Rewards include:
• A free scoop of custard from Whit’s Frozen Custard, 3551 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton or 200 NE Second Avenue in Delray Beach, for every three books read.
• $5 to open a custodial savings account at iThink Financial at locations in Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach.
• A 12-ounce smoothie from Tropical Smoothie Café, 512 E. Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach.
• A free round (18 holes) of mini-golf for kids younger than 12 (with an adult) at Putt’n Around, 350 NE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach.
• A free one-hour pass to the Silverball Museum, 19 NE Third Ave., Delray Beach.
For more information about Roots and Wings, visit https://rootsandwingsinc.org or call 561-404-0455.

By Janis Fontaine

Looking back over the last 18 months and the holidays of 2020, there’s a lot we could criticize, complain and cry about.
But the clergy who serve our community remind us that God loves a grateful heart and they, as leaders, are the first to sing his praises. Let’s join our hearts and voices with theirs and be thankful for what these last difficult months have taught us.
Four clergy leaders share what they’re grateful for as we close out 2021:
The Rev. Martin W. Zlatic, rector, Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church, Boynton Beach:
I’m grateful God has brought us through this and for the commitment of a skeleton crew of people who kept the church going.
I’m grateful to members of the medical community, especially Barbara MacKenzie, our parish nurse, and Lyn Pope, an expert in industrial sanitation, who helped us keep things healthy. We didn’t have one incident.
I’m almost grateful for COVID because it enabled so many individuals to examine their priorities. That’s just one blessing coming out of this.
Father Benjamin Thomas of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Boca Raton:
I’m thankful that COVID held up a mirror to show us ourselves. We learned about our own deepest yearnings, and we were able to reassess our routines and habits. We stopped doing things by rote and thought about why we do them.
I’m thankful that I’ve been able to reach so many people via Zoom that I never would have reached. A couple who lives on a boat in Puget Sound became regular participants in my Zoom courses, and I think I’ve had viewers from 43 states and 18 countries. The teaching aspect that I love transmits very well on Zoom and I’m grateful for that.
Rabbi Shmuel Biston, Chabad of East Delray:
I’m grateful that people are returning to the synagogue, and that we are attracting new people. We had 75 people at a recent young professionals’ event. Our services for the High Holidays were standing room only. And that people know that it’s OK to bring their children with them to synagogue, and that they feel welcomed. The sounds of children will never bother me.
I’m grateful for jokes and laughter and my sense of humor, which are a big part of my services. Humor lets me keep a positive perspective and not take myself too seriously.
I’m grateful for my wife, who is pregnant with our second child, and the community members who have stepped up to help her and have taken ownership as members.
Pastor Andy Hagen, Advent Life Ministries:
I am deeply thankful to have been a witness of the goodness of believers who took care of each other and prayed for each other and loved each other through the last two years of trauma.
I am thankful for the courage and commitment of teachers and staff that serve over 450 children in our schools and those that care for the 40 residents at our senior living center.
The moment that touched me most recently was when a volunteer for our food distribution in Lantana approached me with a $100 bill and said, “Give this to a family and just tell them this is from someone that cares.” It was my privilege to watch the anxious face of one mother light up with joy and thanksgiving when I gave her the bill.
In the end, the best way to give thanks is to give to those in need without expecting thanksgiving in return. This Thanksgiving I recommend that we go and do likewise.

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

Lois Pope will reveal the winning name on Veterans Day for the dog in the new American Military Hero Dog monument at Tri-County Animal Rescue in Boca Raton. Photo provided Capehart

By Arden Moore

Sure, I wish I picked the six winning Lotto numbers. Or found out that I was selected by Jeff Bezos for a free trip above Earth inside his Blue Origin rocket.

Time for a reality check. Both are farfetched dreams of mine. However, my biggest down-to-earth prize is priceless. It is being able to share my life with a pair of remarkable dogs answering to the names of Kona and Emma.

Dogs simply make us better people, wouldn’t you agree? And, dogs definitely put the D in diversity when it comes to size, personality and talent.

So, it is fitting that in November, the month in which we traditionally take time to give thanks, two special dog events are happening. And, without surprise, both involve a friend and champion to all dogs — philanthropist Lois Pope.

The Lois Pope L.I.F.E. Foundation once again is sponsoring the American Humane Hero Dog awards with a special ceremony on Nov. 12 at the Eau Palm Beach Resort in Manalapan.

The day before, on Nov. 11, she will reveal the winning name of the new American Military Hero Dog monument at Tri-County Animal Rescue in Boca Raton. The date is fittingly Veterans Day.

To motivate the next generation of pet advocates, she and American Humane President Robin Ganzert dedicated the monument in mid-May. It is meant as a tribute to all dogs who served or are serving in the five branches of the U.S. armed forces.

Since September, Pope’s foundation has encouraged children in elementary and middle schools throughout Palm Beach County to create artwork or videos offering the name they feel is best suited for the monument dog. Students have a chance to win $2,500 for themselves and their schools if their name is selected for a statute that symbolizes military dogs past, present and future.

“It is my hope that with this contest — by naming the courageous canine on the American Military Hero Dog monument — that we remember there are heroes at both ends of the leash,” says Pope. “Dogs have served and sacrificed alongside our troops in wars and conflicts around the globe for more than a century. I felt it was time that they, too, had a permanent monument to honor them for their heroism.”

Hero Dog finalists

And speaking of four-legged heroes, seven remarkable dogs will be honored at the Hero Dog awards gala.

“We are deeply honored that Lois Pope and the Lois Pope L.I.F.E. Foundation are once again serving as platinum presenting sponsor of the American Humane Hero Dog awards,” says Ganzert. “Through her generous longtime support, she has helped save and improve the lives of millions of animals and brought vitally important recognition to the remarkable contributions that animals make in our own lives. We give our heartfelt thanks to Lois Pope and the caring members of the board of the Lois Pope L.I.F.E. Foundation.”  

Here are this year’s seven finalists and their categories:
• Law Enforcement and Detection Hero Dog of the Year: K-9 Hansel from Millville, New Jersey. Saved as a pup from a dog-fighting ring, this pit bull is now an accelerant detection dog for the Millville Fire Department.
• Shelter Hero Dog of the Year — Deputy Chance from Cape Coral. This dog was a victim of animal abuse and is now the “spokesdog” for the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
• Guide/Hearing Hero Dog of the Year — Henna from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She provides a full quality of life for an individual who is deaf and legally blind.
• Military Hero Dog of the Year —SSG Summer from Mt. Airy, Maryland. This 10-year-old Labrador retriever recently retired from the Marines as a police explosive detection dog serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Search and Rescue Hero Dog of the Year — Little Man from Oklahoma City. He survived a major tornado as a pup and now works to help find missing people, including those in tornado strikes.
• Service Hero Dog of the Year — Sobee from Holts Summit, Missouri. Sobee was rescued from a shelter two days before a scheduled euthanasia by the K9s on The Front Line nonprofit and now lives with a disabled combat veteran.
• Therapy Hero Dog of the Year —Boone from Hookstown, Pennsylvania. He needs a special wheelchair to be mobile, but thrives as an ambassador for the nonprofit Joey’s P.A.W. (for “prosthetics and wheels”).
The event will be hosted by Emmy-winner Carson Kressley and feature pet-advocating celebrities, including actress Vivica A. Fox, Grammy winner Lisa Loeb, actress Alison Sweeney, the Alex Donner Orchestra and more.
“The Hero Dog awards celebrate America’s often unsung heroes,” says Pope. “From those who defend our country to those who help us heal, guide us, protect us, and help find the lost, every single contender exemplifies the courage and heroism we seek to spotlight in this campaign.
“I am proud to sponsor this event that is meant not only to honor these magnificent dogs, but to inspire Americans to reflect on the amazing contributions that animals make in our lives each and every day.”

Learn more
• For more details about the American Humane Hero Dog awards, visit www.americanhumane.org.
• For tickets to the Nov. 12 gala at the Eau, contact Mari Harner at marih@americanhumane.org. • For more information about the Lois Pope L.I.F.E. Foundation, visit www.life-edu.org.

Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, author, speaker and master certified pet-first aid instructor. She hosts Oh Behave! weekly on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more at www.ardenmoore.com.

The relocated Boca Raton Community Garden, now at Meadows Park, includes raised garden beds and a covered shelter.
Photo provided

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

Just last month, the Boca Raton Community Garden celebrated a grand opening in its new location.

For the past 10 years, the popular garden thrived between the Downtown Library and where the railroad tracks are today. But when Brightline expressed interest in the location for a new station, the city was amenable.

And that’s when it offered the Junior League of Boca Raton, which sponsors the garden, an alternate 1.4-acre site in Meadows Park.

“In the heart of Boca Raton, it’s a great location for our new garden,” says league President Jamie Sauer.

On May 10, league members broke ground and by September, they had the wood-lined and soil-filled garden boxes ready for renting.

Neighbor to the Boca Raton Middle School, the garden has plenty of parking and is easily accessible to the students with whom the league women hope to team up for nature classes. A white walking bridge conveniently leads to homes in the nearby community. And a park pool attracts people to the area.

And, of course, the new location near a canal is in a prettier spot than the old one. But that comes with a caveat: Although the water attracts birds and other desirable wildlife, it also draws iguanas.

This is a concern for garden co-chairwomen Melanie Kamburian and Bridget Landford, who wonder whether the herbivorous lizards will chow down on the squash, eggplants, lettuces, herbs and other crops beginning to take root in the garden beds.

But a chain link fence with its lower portion covered in sheet metal extending 2 feet into the ground surrounds the garden in the hope it will keep the iguanas at bay.

“We urge people to keep the gates closed. And so far, we haven’t seen any in here,” says Landford, pointing to a sizable iguana on the canal bank outside the fence.

Since groundbreaking, workers have built 97 garden beds sized from 4-by-4 feet to 4-by-12 feet. Three of the boxes located by the garden gate along a brick path are raised a few feet off the ground to make them ADA accessible.

To make the garden feel more settled and honor its past, a number of items have been relocated from downtown. These include memorial benches and engraved bricks used in both locations for pathways.

Brightline also facilitated the move of mature fruit trees including two carambolas, a mango and a sugar apple to a spot just inside the fence. And the company arranged to relocate palm trees including towering coconut palms that shade a new mulch path along the canal.

It leads from the fenced garden to an area that will become a pollinator garden in phase two of the garden’s development, says Kamburian. Live oaks and a gumbo limbo also were relocated to provide shade to those who will want to watch the butterflies and bees at work.

On this sunny Sunday morning, Kamburian and Landford welcome gardeners to their plots. There’s the young boy with his parents who sticks a blue and silver pinwheel among the seeds he helped sow to deter birds from eating them.

A woman who just signed up for her plot is watering the soil to prepare it for planting. She hopes to grow vegetables and flowers. And as someone who eats healthy food, she’s glad the garden is organic.

Elsewhere an ambitious couple comes to see whether their watermelon, parsley, roselle, cucumbers, carrots, rainbow chard, leeks or cherry tomatoes have sent up shoots. One of them discovers her lemon balm is doing well and takes a few leaves to flavor her drinking water.

And then we meet Kristina Bergman with her partner, Mitzy Sosa, both of Delray Beach. Joined by Sosa’s sister Kimberley, they are busy planting their small plot for the first time.

“My work involves food but I don’t know much about growing it,” says Bergman, who is a registered dietitian.

Sosa, also a novice, has good advice for all the beginners: “I think to really learn, you have to get your hands dirty.”

Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley can be reached at debhartz@att.net when it’s too hot to be in the garden.

If You Go
What: Junior League of Boca Raton Community Garden
Where: Recently relocated to Meadows Park, 1300 NW Eighth St.
Garden features:
• The garden is organic and growers are asked to donate 10% of their crops to Boca Helping Hands; www.bocahelpinghands.org.
• Garden plots come in 4-by-4 foot, 4-by-8 and 4-by-12 sizes, ranging in price from $45 to $110 for use during the 2021-22 growing season. They are available to residents and nonresidents; the city provides water for irrigation.
• You also can donate an engraved brick ($100 to $250).
Information: To ask a specific question, email
Garden@jlbr.org. To sign up for a garden plot or brick, visit www.jlbr.org/public-store.

Louis Hansen (right) of Gulf Stream and his AC Delray Rush teammate Christian Ofsanko of Delray Beach walk off the field with coach Luca Lagana during practice at Seacrest Soccer Complex in Delray Beach. Photo by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Brian Biggane

The competition just wasn’t good enough.

AC Delray Rush, a youth soccer program based in Delray Beach that features two prominent players from Gulf Stream, dominated the competition in both the Palm Beach League and South Florida United League last year, at one point winning 17 straight games on its way to a 32-7-7 record.

Having come to the decision that the group they had been coaching for four years needed a bigger challenge, coaches Luca Lagana and Tony Valdepenas decided to raise the stakes, moving its age 13-and-under team up to the prestigious Florida State Premier League, the highest level in the state.

“The group needed a better challenge and a better opponent,” said Lagana, who was born and raised in Italy and played five years in the Italian Third Division. “The idea is to challenge them. It’s going to be harder, so they need to prove to themselves they can play.”

The jump in competition meant a significant change in the size of the playing field, from 75 yards long to 100, and from 45 yards wide to 70. The goals increased from 7 to 8 feet tall and from 16 to 24 feet wide — the full-size dimensions.

“It’s a huge difference, especially for the goalkeepers,” Lagana said.

The adjustment was a struggle early, as the team dropped its first four games. But it then improved to 4-5-1 by late last month.

Eamonn Endres, a midfielder, and Louis Hansen, a forward, make the trip from their homes in Gulf Stream to the Seacrest Soccer Complex in Delray for practices three days a week and games all over the state on weekends.

“They’re good players and really good guys,” Lagana said. “It’s very enjoyable to have them in the group.”

Eamonn said he started playing soccer at age 2, but his father, David, a physical therapist who is based in New York City, said his son’s game really started to improve when he began working with a coach with a European-style approach in Brooklyn at age 8.

“He brought out the best in him, taught him how to train properly, rather than just going out and kicking the ball,” David Endres said. “How to work it like a process.

“He was with him for three years in Brooklyn, and when we came down here this year, Luca had a very similar philosophy, so Eamonn fit right in.

“Luca and Tony are really great,” he added. “They’re so inviting; they brought him in and everybody on the team made him feel part of the team very quickly. The parents, knowing I go back and forth to New York a lot, volunteered to help get him to practices and games. So, it’s been a great experience.”

Gulf Stream resident Eamonn Endres, who just joined the 13-and-under team this year, gestures to Lagana as Liam Richter of Boynton Beach and Ofsanko listen to the exchange. Photo by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Louis Hansen led the team in scoring last year with 18 goals but spent the summer in Germany, not returning until mid-October. Although he spent time with a personal trainer overseas, the coaches determined his conditioning was not at a high enough level for him to play the full 90 minutes right away.

Nonetheless, he scored on a penalty kick in his first game back while coming on as a sub and playing just 25 minutes, then started and played 40 minutes his second game.

“The first game he drew the penalty and then converted it,” Valdepenas said. “He’s a phenomenal PK taker. Like a robot: He puts it in the lower right corner where no one can touch it."

“The second game we started him because the team we were playing, the Port St. Lucie Hurricanes, knew him and adjusted their defense to basically put two men on him, which opened things up for everyone else.”

Louis’ goal total actually dropped last year from two years ago, prompting criticism from his coaches for passing when he should have shot. Asked if he agrees with the long-held opinion that goal-scorers have to be selfish, Louis hesitated for a long moment before answering, “Yes.”

Valdepenas said Eamonn, meanwhile, has “fit in perfectly” with the team.

“That usually doesn’t happen, just because the spots on the team are so competitive,” he added. “They know they’re all working for a spot and there’s resistance when kids come in looking to take one. (But) Eamonn fit in well.”

Primarily a forward prior to joining the Rush, Eamonn has also adjusted to moving back to central midfield.

“It’s a bit of an adjustment to be more of a playmaker/ball mover,” Valdepenas said. “We encourage him to move up and take shots as well. But he’s definitely a big part of the team and doing really well.”

The highlight of Eamonn’s career came in May, when he scored four goals in a game against an all-star team from Orlando in the Bazooka tournament. The Rush reached the final of that event before losing to Port St. Lucie on penalty kicks.

The Rush, whose roster includes a girl, Kiana Sanchez, who primarily comes off the bench at right back, has been accepted into the field for the prestigious Dallas Snowball Cup Dec. 10-12 and is entered into a national tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, next spring.

The latest state rankings have them 34th among more than 500 teams in their age group.

As for David Endres, he has nothing but good things to say about his son’s experience.

“He loves it,” he said. “Honestly, the kids on the team are his closest friends, and soccer is one of those sports where that happens.

“The kids on his teams become his closest friends and he spends the most time with them. It’s like a brotherhood — or in this case, brother and sisterhood.”

For more information on the team, visit https://acdelrayrush.com.

A study by Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Mississippi State University is researching sharks that steal fish from anglers. Capt. Jake Booth holds a wahoo caught in 500 feet of water off Boynton Beach that was mutilated by a shark. Much of the wahoo was still salvaged for food. Photo provided by Capt. Chris Agardy, Fish Envy Charters.

By Willie Howard

Marine scientists are stepping up research on the problem of sharks stealing hooked fish by way of a study that will rely, in part, on reports from anglers along Florida’s east coast.

Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and researchers at Mississippi State University are sharing a $195,306 grant from NOAA Fisheries to gather more information on the frequency, location and species of sharks involved in shark depredation.

“Few studies have quantified the impact of depredation in recreational fisheries,” said Matt Ajemian, principal investigator on the study and director of the Fisheries Ecology and Conservation Lab at FAU Harbor Branch.

Ajemian has been working with the Facebook group named Sportsmen Fighting for Marine Balance. He and other researchers are asking anglers to continue to post photos and other information on the Facebook site when sharks maul or steal hooked fish.

Scientists would like information on the type of fish hit by sharks, the species of shark involved (if it can be determined) and the general location of where the depredation happened, such as depth, distance from shore and general location along the coast.

They’re not asking anglers to share precise fishing spots.

Palm Beach County offshore anglers have noticed the shark-stealing-fish problem for years, and some say it’s getting worse.

“The sharks are horrible,” said veteran Boynton Beach charter captain Chris Lemieux. “It’s a serious issue.”

Capt. Chip Sheehan of Boynton Beach-based Chips Ahoy Charters said he has seen the shark problem escalate in the past two years to include the mauling of sailfish — billfish that are almost always released alive by sport fishermen.

Sheehan, who has been charter fishing in the waters off Palm Beach County for 30 years, said about 20 of his sailfish have been attacked by sharks annually during the past two winter seasons.

Before that, he said, his sailfish were never “sharked.”

One of Capt. Chris Lemieux’s charter clients holds a sailfish that was mutilated by a shark after being hooked off southern Palm Beach County. Anglers release most sailfish they catch. Photo provided by Lemieux Fishing Charters

The problem of sharks eating fish hooked by anglers used to flare up mostly during the warm months, Sheehan said. Now, he said, it happens all year.

“Now you stop the boat and they’re sitting there waiting,” Sheehan said, referring to the sharks, which he says are mostly bull sharks and sandbar sharks.
One goal of the study is to positively identify which species of sharks are eating hooked fish. It can be hard to differentiate sharks, especially when they might be seen only for a few seconds, often well below the surface. Ajemian said the Mississippi State scientists will use DNA taken from the tissue of bitten fish to identify the sharks involved.

FWC proposes limited goliath grouper harvest

After years of debate over the fate of protected goliath grouper, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved a draft rule that would allow a limited harvest of the grouper in state waters.

The draft rule, approved in October, is expected to come back to the commission for a final vote in March.

A goliath grouper. Photo provided

The proposed harvest of goliath grouper would not be allowed in state waters off Palm Beach County or those south of Palm Beach through the Atlantic side of the Florida Keys.

In other parts of the state, the rule would allow the recreational harvest of up to 200 goliaths annually by anglers who win a random-draw lottery — and pay for a tag, priced at $500 under the proposal.

The limit would be one grouper per person annually. The season would be March 1 to May 31, and fish would have to measure between 20 inches and 36 inches to be legal to keep.

Lagoon restoration area expanding

The Tarpon Cove restoration area in the Lake Worth Lagoon is expanding with the addition of two more mangrove islands being created in part with sand dredged for the town of Palm Beach Marina expansion.

The $2.1 million project was scheduled to begin in October and should be complete in the spring.

Tarpon Cove is located on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway north of Southern Boulevard. Its two existing mangrove islands were completed in March 2020.

It’s one of several restoration islands created by Palm Beach County environmental officials, working with many partners, to improve habitat in the Lake Worth Lagoon — the estuary that stretches from North Palm Beach to Ocean Ridge.

Shorebirds are using the Tarpon Cove islands. Black skimmers and least terns arrived in May and nested.

Other birds observed at Tarpon Cove include blue herons, plovers, black-necked stilts, white ibises, roseate spoonbills, ruddy turnstones and a variety of gulls and terns.

Coming events

Nov. 6: Lagoonfest celebrating the Lake Worth Lagoon, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Flagler Drive, downtown West Palm Beach. Guided boat tours, kayak tours, sailing lessons, touch tanks, games and face painting for kids, native tree giveaway. Free. Details at www.Lagoonfest.com.
Dec. 4: Dust ’Em Off Sailfish Warmup tournament. Details and registration at www.dustemoffsailfish.com.

Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Email tiowillie@bellsouth.net

Olga Kovaleuskaya reacts as her daughter Victoria, 18 months, throws a pumpkin through the air at “The Boca Pumpkin Patch Festival” at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Olga and her family reside in Boca Raton. Photo by Tim Stepien

Boca residents Samuel Meija, 5, and his cousin (Front,R) Daniel Rodriguez, 5, dress a scarecrow Saturday afternoon, one of the activities at “The Boca Pumpkin Patch Festival” at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Photo by Tim Stepien

Devon Silva-Frost, 2, of Boca Raton, enjoys making a pumpkin selection. Delray Beach native Samantha Frost came to the patch as a child and wanted to share the experience with her son. Photo provided by Samantha Frost

Delta Phi Epsilon sorority sisters from Florida Atlantic University pose for photos while they pick out pumpkins Sunday afternoon at Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach. Pictured left to right, Liv Roberti, Cooper Callahan, Chloe Tam and Amy Reynolds. Photo by Tim Stepien

Danielle Hurley of Boca Raton picks out pumpkins with her 6-year-old twins, Cameron Hurley and Leighton Hurley at Cason United Methodist Church in Delray Beach. Photo by Tim Stepien

By Rich Pollack

A state health alert for the waters near Bel Lido Drive remains in effect after a harmful blue-green algae bloom was discovered in Highland Beach two weeks ago.

An Oct. 6 visual inspection of the sampling area just south of the bridge from State Road A1A into the Bel Lido Isle community found no visible signs of the low-level algae bloom first identified on Sept. 23, a representative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said.

Still, the agency is urging the public to remain cautious when around nearby waters until samples confirm no toxins are present. Those results are expected to be available early next week.

Department of Environmental Protection investigators have not yet determined the source of the blue-green algae bloom. But the department points out that increases in the delivery of nutrients to any particular water body can promote algae growth that can lead to the formation of a bloom. Warm water and changes in water flow can also contribute.

Health department officials urge residents to stay out of water where the algae bloom was reported and to also keep pets away from the area.

For more information, the state DEP encourages members of the community to visit its Algal Bloom Dashboard for updates on blue-green algae sampling events from around the state and information on how to report an algae bloom. The agency’s Protecting Florida Together website also gives community members a chance to receive daily updates on blue-green algae.

Workers stand near lumber retrieved from the Lofthus that was piled on the beach for transport to the mainland. Photos provided by the John Henry Moore Collection, Broward County Historical Archives, Broward County Library

123 years after the Lofthus ran aground off Manalapan, photos that offer first clear look at ship and a glimpse at pioneer life emerge from historian’s idle curiosity

By Ron Hayes

We’ve always known where to find the grave.
It rests 175 yards off Manalapan in 15 to 20 feet of water.
We’ve always known what happened: On the evening of Feb. 4, 1898, a vicious storm drove a Norwegian ship onto the coral reef.
We’ve always known what was left behind.
The crew of 16 reached shore safely in their life preservers, and a dog and cat were later rescued, but 930,000 feet of Southern pine bound for Buenos Aires was stranded on the grounded vessel.
And we’ve always known what it looked like, more or less. A single sepia photograph could be found online, faded and hazy, a copy of a copy of a copy.
The photograph is so old it looks like a ghost ship spied through dense fog. That was all the barkentine Lofthus left us to remember it by.
Until now.
On the evening of June 22, local historian Ginger Pedersen was at home, perusing the Broward County Library’s digital archives. She was merely curious, looking for nothing in particular, when she spotted a link to something called the John Henry Moore Collection.
The name meant nothing to her, but a tiny icon beside the link showed what appeared to be workmen posing before a palm tree.
That looks like a pioneer photo, Pedersen thought, and clicked. Among the small collection, she spotted a ship, a three-masted barkentine offshore, a small group of people onshore.
Oh, my God, that’s one of our shipwrecks.
Pedersen emailed the photo to Janet DeVries Naughton, a fellow historian and colleague at Palm Beach State College.
Is this the Coquimbo!!!!!
Yes, there were five exclamation points.
The Coquimbo, another Norwegian barkentine, had run aground off Boynton Beach in 1909, 11 years after the Lofthus.
Before Naughton could respond, Pedersen had zoomed in on the photo and there, perfectly legible on the bow, was a single word, Lofthus.
Among the other photos, she saw the pinewood cargo stacked on the shore, a tramway and windlass rising from the beach to the dunes, and gatherings of workmen who had loaded the pine onto the tram to be floated across Lake Worth to the mainland.
She saw a photo of the Lofthus offshore with the remains of the Oh Kim Soon, a smaller barkentine that had broken apart on the beach on Feb. 1, 1897, almost a year to the day before the Lofthus.
That ship’s hull is long gone.
Pedersen saw a sweet photo of a man holding a scrub jay in his hands while another sat atop his head.

Photographer John Henry Moore holds a scrub jay at his homestead in what is now Boca Raton. The birds were plentiful in the area at the time and were easily trained.

She had discovered 12 previously unknown, misidentified photographs that show the Lofthus clearly, introduce us to the men who brought the cargo ashore, and illustrate the importance of photography in historical research.

***

The crew of the Lofthus poses for John Henry Moore’s camera.

Built in England in 1869, the three-masted barque was first christened the Cashmere. For decades it worked the South Asia seas, sailing routes so dangerous that fake gunports had been painted on her sides to discourage Indonesian pirates.
In 1897, the Cashmere was sold to a Norwegian firm and the name changed to the Lofthus. It embarked on a new life in the Caribbean and South America, only to wreck off our coast the next year.
Along with the ship’s name, Pedersen could clearly discern those fake gunports on the port side.
The photo of this iron-hulled ship, 222 feet long with a 23-foot hold capable of bearing 930,000 feet of wood, was labeled “Sail Boat With People.”
According to the information on the link, the photos had been taken in 1899 in what is now Broward County.
All this was clearly incorrect.
But who was John Henry Moore?

***

On Nov. 15, 1988, a woman named Cecile Wilton wrote a letter to the Broward County Library.
“I’m delighted you desire the enclosed photos,” she wrote. “The man with the bird in his hands is my Great-Uncle Harry, altho his true name was John Henry Moore. He was a carpenter who worked on canals.”
The information accompanying the photos said Wilton lived in Terrehonne, Ohio.
Actually, she lived in Terrebonne, Oregon.
On July 8, Pedersen and Naughton met with Rochelle Pienn, the curator at the Broward County Library.
Pienne, who was not employed by the library in 1988 when the Moore collection arrived to be catalogued, brought out the original photographs from a gray, acid-free file box.
“The collection came with very little information,” Pienn explained in a recent email exchange, “and those who described it then did their best. The wonderful result, as often happens in archives, was that other scholars with more information — in this case Janet and Ginger — were able to help us make crucial identifications.”
The inaccurate link has been removed while the information is updated.

Moore (left) sits outside a palmetto hut on the beach.

John Henry Moore was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, in 1860. By 1899, he was in Boca Raton, paying $200 for 13 acres in a subdivision on which he began raising pineapples. Photos of his house are among the collection.
By Feb. 9, 1898, it was clear the Lofthus could not be refloated and so the contents were auctioned on the beach — the canned goods, hard tack, cooking utensils and guns.
The auctioneer was Major Nathan S. Boynton, whose name is now better known than John Henry Moore’s.
W.M. Brown of Titusville and L.C. Oliver of Miami paid $550 for the cargo of Southern pine, which had an estimated value of $35,000.
The man hired to get all that wood off the ship and across the dunes where it could be floated up to West Palm Beach and put on a train to Miami was Thomas Rickards, a Boca Raton pioneer and civil engineer who also sold lots for Henry M. Flagler.
Henry Moore had bought his 13 acres from Thomas Rickards.
We don’t know if Moore, the carpenter, helped build the tramway for transporting the wood. But we know he took pictures of it.
“Capt. Rickards has arranged a businesslike manner of getting the lumber off the bark,” The Tropical Sun reported on April 7, 1898. “We are told he gets off 6,000 feet a day.”

The wooden tram and windlass, designed by Thomas Rickards, transferred the wrecked ship’s cargo of lumber on the beach to Lake Worth, or what we now call the Intracoastal Waterway.

We’ve known about the wreck, the wood that was auctioned on the beach and the tramway that carried it over the dunes. All this is recorded in newspaper stories preserved in local history archives. But we couldn’t see it until Ginger Pedersen chanced on a mislabeled photo collection.
“Photographs are primary resources,” Janet Naughton says. “They illustrate and illuminate the past. In this case, no eyewitnesses remain, yet the images tell a visual story of not only the shipwreck, but its recovery efforts. The coastal topography, the flora, fauna, and the pioneer determination to overcome obstacles.”
Pedersen still marvels at the find.
“These photos are not copies,” she says. “I went down to the Broward library and handled them, the original photos. A painting is all in the mind of the artist, but there’s no disputing the facts you can get from an old photo.”

The salvaged lumber is ready to float along Lake Worth to West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.

On Aug. 4, 1898, a U.S. Navy tugboat began firing on the Lofthus’ hull, probably as target practice on its way to the Spanish-American war in Cuba.
A month later, 300,000 feet of wood was still in the ship’s hold, so dynamite was used to blow up the hull to free the remaining cargo. It worked, and the wood washed ashore.
In time, the wood was carried by train to Miami, where it was intended for a final home in yet another hotel Henry M. Flagler was planning in the Bahamas.
Thomas Rickards, the engineer who oversaw the cargo’s retrieval, left Boca Raton for North Carolina in 1903 after a hurricane destroyed his crops. He died in 1928.
In 1915, John Henry Moore sold his 13 acres for $400. Pedersen estimates they would be worth between $15 million and $20 million today.
By 1920, he was in Missouri, running a grocery store with his brother, and a decade later he’d moved on to Oregon, near his family. He never married and died in 1937, a half-century before Cecile Wilton, his great-niece, donated his photos to the Broward library.
Cecile Wilton died in 2006. She was 90.
On Jan. 6, 2004, the Lofthus wreck site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is Florida’s eighth “Underwater Archeological Preserve.”
In January 2013, a snorkeler named Steven Dennison happened upon the bow of the Coquimbo, situated in about 15 feet of water 350 yards off Ocean Ridge, apparently uncovered by the swirling waves raised by Hurricane Sandy the previous October.
When Dennison returned five months later, the sands had shifted and the Coquimbo had vanished. In the years since, the ship’s remains have occasionally been visible after passing storms stirred the sands.

John Henry Moore’s house, situated on property that is now part of Lake Wyman Park in Boca Raton.

When Pedersen consulted the county land records, she found that John Henry Moore’s 13 acres in Boca Raton had been part of a subdivision ranging from what is now Northeast Fifth Avenue to the Intracoastal Waterway.
“I’ve got to go there,” she said.
Perhaps it was all gone now, nothing but condos and office buildings, but she was curious. Curiosity had led to his photographs, after all.
And so, on Sunday morning, Aug. 22, she found herself in Lake Wyman Park. The northern end of Moore’s former home is now at the southern end of the park.
“There are towering pine trees there,” she recalled after her visit, “not Australian pines, but Florida slash pines, maybe Dade County pine, very, very old.
“They were probably here when Henry Moore was there.”

Section A, Lot 5 is believed to be his homestead. Map provided by the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum