By Jane Smith

The Delray Beach City Commission narrowly approved a $166.6 million budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, a nearly 9% increase over the previous $153.3 million general fund budget.
Commissioners at the final public hearing on the budget Sept. 19 also unanimously passed a tax rate of $6.51 per $1,000 of taxable property value, a slight decrease from the previous year’s $6.66 per $1,000 rate.

Related: South County's new tax rates, taxes and budgets

Commissioner Ryan Boylston, who was on the losing side of the 3-2 budget vote, had wanted the federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars in it to be used for affordable housing. “It’s a real issue,” he said. “The $3.4 million should be used for affordable housing.”
Boylston had proposed tapping the city’s reserves of nearly $45 million to balance the budget. That figure equals 27% of the city’s general fund budget, which is more than $3 million higher than the 25% figure that commissioners said they were comfortable keeping in the reserves for emergencies such as hurricanes.
Also voting no on the budget was Commissioner Shirley Johnson, who was generally displeased with the allocation of tax dollars. “We need more money for sustainability,” she said.
Two significant budget expenses are yet to be decided: the city’s Freebee free ride service and a salary review of department directors.
At a November workshop, staff will bring ridership numbers to help commissioners decide if they want to expand Freebee, which uses open-air electric vehicles to transport residents and visitors. The city is taking over the cost from the Community Redevelopment Agency, which can’t spend its tax dollars on services outside of the CRA’s borders.
Vice Mayor Adam Frankel said he did not think it was fair to make property owners west of Interstate 95 pay for the free rides, which are currently limited to Atlantic Avenue between I-95 and State Road A1A, including three blocks north and south of Atlantic. He wanted to cap the cost at $508,205 and keep the CRA footprint.
Boylston wanted to expand the service to include the Tri-Rail station on Congress Avenue west of I-95 to pick up students, downtown workers and city employees. That would bring Freebee’s estimated cost to $841,040. Frankel said that expansion still wouldn’t be serving the city’s west side.
Also in November, the commission will review salaries for department directors again. Deputy Vice Mayor Juli Casale said at the first budget hearing on Sept. 6 that a majority of the directors were not making as much as police captains whose salaries were raised in a spring collective bargaining session.
But Frankel disagreed with the comparison, saying department directors “are not wearing a gun, putting on a bulletproof vest. … No one is risking their lives.”
The cost of balancing the pay scales citywide would be nearly $181,000. But it is not just a one-time cost, Mayor Shelly Petrolia said. The increase would raise the cost of the directors’ pensions and future salaries.
Most of the budget increases come from higher health insurance costs, fuel price increases, hiring more staff, a return to in-person training now that the pandemic has subsided, merit pay increases and the city election in March, said Finance Director Hugh Dunkley.
In other action, the City Commission at a special meeting Sept. 23 gave the Downtown Development Authority unanimous approval to lead a group to make the Old School Square campus active again. A tri-party agreement among the DDA, the city and its Community Redevelopment Agency will be needed, as well as money to host the events.

By Rich Pollack

For years, motorists traveling north on State Road A1A though Highland Beach have complained about the backups at Linton Boulevard caused by too many cars turning west in too short of a turn lane, especially during season.
Now there may be a glimmer of hope for a fix — but it won’t be for a while and will come as part of an $8.8 million resurfacing project that is certain to disrupt traffic for a year and a half beginning in spring 2024.
During a late August public meeting, Florida Department of Transportation representatives provided an overview of the work, which will affect all of Highland Beach and parts of Delray Beach.
The project will include a 5-foot bike lane on each side of the road as well as improvement to drainage in the swales, designed to keep water from ponding on the highway.
“It’s going to be disruptive, but in the long term it appears some long-standing issues will be addressed,” said Town Manager Marshall Labadie. “It’s promising.”
Following a brief presentation, project manager Brad Salisbury and the team took questions from residents, with many expressing concern about the headaches that will come from periodic lane closures and others concerned about the impact the project will have on trees and shrubs in the right-of-way.
Several residents also expressed concerns about the environmental impact of the drainage project, worried in part about pollutants making their way into the Intracoastal Waterway.
It was the disruption, mostly to traffic, that drew many of the questions from people who will have to navigate lane closures as they come and go from their homes.
“I’m just concerned about what life will be like for that year and a half,” said Toscana South resident Fred Levy. “It will be a disaster.”
Salisbury acknowledged that concern and said that message boards at each end of the project will warn of delays and encourage motorists to seek alternate routes.
The engineers also said that major pavement work likely would be done at night when there is less traffic.
Residents were told that the work would be done in sections and that, said Highland Beach Commissioner Evalyn David, would give them an opportunity to minimize disruptions.
“This is something we need to do and it’s going to come with interruptions that will require people to make adjustments,” she said. “If you don’t want to deal with delays, plan around them.”
David said the FDOT is planning a follow-up meeting early next year, and she is urging residents to learn as much as they can about the project.
“People will have options in deciding how they’re going to deal with the disruptions,” she said.
The traffic headaches at Linton and A1A were raised by Michael Owen, who lives just north of the Highland Beach town limits and urged the engineers to address the long backups in the northbound lane during season.
“The intersection of Linton Boulevard will be ridiculous,” the Delray Beach resident said. “We need that fixed more than we need other improvements.”
Salisbury said the project design calls for the extension of the left-turn lane, which should help reduce congestion.
Another major concern of residents was the future of landscaping in the FDOT right-of-way when the road is widened to include bike lanes.
Landscape architect Aaron Wilbur, who is part of the team working on the project, said that the state will try to move as many trees as possible but not shrubs, because they don’t move well.
“The whole strategy is preservation as much as possible,” he said, adding that the team would restore irrigation systems in the swale areas.
Like the concerns about the Linton Boulevard intersection, standing water on A1A has long been an issue for Highland Beach residents. To address that, the FDOT will look at putting drainage systems in swale areas that will filter water as it permeates the soil.
Although Salisbury and his team answered many of the questions, the engineer said some of them have not yet been fully addressed in the plans. He said the department is looking into scheduling another meeting where more questions will be answered.
FDOT is also planning a construction open house prior to the start of construction.

Ocean Ridge resident Kathleen Haden, co-owner of Good Vibrations Music, uses tuning forks for sound therapy at her studio. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

A role in a movie 10 years ago proved to be a pivotal point in the career of Ocean Ridge sound therapist Kathleen Haden.
When Haden played an aqua therapist in The Keeper of the Keys in 2012, she often gave free sessions to other cast members to relax them before filming. Another sound therapist, Regina Murphy, asked Haden to do her session at a pool at Murphy’s house.
“That’s where she introduced sound frequencies to us,” Haden said.
To say Haden and her partner, John Anthony, took it from there is an understatement.
Their company, Good Vibrations Music, which has a studio near Two Georges in Boynton Beach, has since used sound and water therapy to help heal injuries and improve the lives of hundreds of clients.
“Our bodies are like an orchestra,” she said. “Everything is fine-tuned when we come into the world. As disruptions happen, we get out of tune, out of sync. We bring your body back in sync so it can operate in tune again.”
Haden’s success stories include an Olympic-level snowboarder who suffered a broken wrist and, thanks to sound and water therapy, was back on her board within six weeks; and a swimmer who was under anesthesia for 7½ hours while undergoing open-heart surgery and is now swimming the best times of his life.
Since they moved to Ocean Ridge in 2011, Haden and Anthony have often staged events at Cox Science Center in West Palm Beach and have taken their program to high-end developments in Palm Beach County such as Admirals Cove, Lost Tree Village and PGA National.
While the medical community has often been reluctant to implement their methods, she said that attitude has been changing; Jupiter Medical Center is among the many hospitals around the country that have come to incorporate those methods.
Haden and Anthony have four children, daughters Christine and Paige, and two sons named Aaron, each from a previous marriage. She enjoys travel and paddleboarding, and her love for turtles has led her to work with Sea Turtle Adventures in West Palm Beach.
For more information, go to https://goodvibrationsmusicco.com.

— Brian Biggane

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A: I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where my mom was an educator, and my dad was an engineer and entrepreneur. I went to private Catholic schools. I learned so much in those schools: how to treat others with honesty, integrity, compassion and love.
We were exposed to helping others through volunteer work, working in shelters and helping with special needs children. We were taught how to integrate information taught but also to venture out and see all perspectives. We were encouraged to deepen our learning experiences and do something good for the world, remembering who we were and always continue learning.
That philosophy has impacted my entire life. I went on to major in kinesiology/biomechanics and minor in dance at Texas A&M and completed certifications in water therapy, aerobics, yoga, Pilates, personal training, massage therapy, reiki, sound therapy and visionary coaching.

Q: What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of? 
A: I have worked in the health and wellness field most of my life, owning wellness centers in Texas, Colorado and Florida. I am most proud of my accomplishments in the arena of water and sound therapy. We are very proud of tools we have created that assist people to heal their minds and bodies and relieve their stress, anxiety and chronic pain.
Through our nonprofit, Good Vibrations Music Co., we have developed speakers we use in sound therapy, which play music composed by my co-founder John Anthony, which contain specific frequencies for bringing harmony and balance back to our bodies. 
We support causes such as autism, Parkinson’s, PTSD, trauma and Alzheimer’s. Our music and vibrational products are a great way to introduce sound therapy into one’s life. Our speakers are a small and powerful aid to restore our bodies back to harmony. The speakers can be used independently in your home.
We also have developed yoga platforms, massage tables that connect with the speakers and vibrate in cadence with the music. In our water therapy program, clients float in the water, supported by assisted floating devices while the speakers play our frequency infused music. 
People who have participated in either the water therapy, sound therapy or used the speakers in their homes have reported very positive experiences, such as sleeping better at night or helping them feel better during the day. 
Our mission is to help establish a new health paradigm that embraces vibrational medicine as a prominent alternative method for improved health and wellness.

Q: What advice do you have for a young person seeking a career today? 
A: My best advice is to do what you love. I was given the gift to try different things throughout my life, and each path took me to the next, to doing exactly what I am doing today. Network in the field you want to be in, find a mentor to guide you and continue learning throughout your life.

Q: How did you choose to make your home in Ocean Ridge? 
A: We were looking for somewhere to move closer to the ocean and Caribbean to do our sound and water therapy. We were contracted by a retreat center in West Palm Beach to build a waterbed sound table, so with a friend’s introduction to Delray Beach, we found our first home here in 2013. A co-worker lived in Ocean Ridge. We fell in love with it and knew that would be our first beach house. We have been here ever since and love it here.

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Ocean Ridge? 
A: The quaintness of the town, the community of fellow beach people who share surfboards, stories, lifestyles that surround the ocean life. I love the amount of artists, authors, musicians and creative people who live here, sharing their gifts. The beach is one of the best around, and being able to bike, walk daily and paddleboard as often as possible is the biggest gift ever. The turtles are magical and learning about them has been an amazing journey. This is a one-of-a-kind beach town.

Q: What book are you reading now? 
A: Matt Kahn’s The Universe Always Has a Plan. It reminds us that we are always being provided for on this journey of life.

Q: What music do you listen to when you want to relax? When you want to be inspired?
A: To relax I listen to our music that we produce, which can train your brain to slow down and unwind. Having stories told of someone who doesn’t sleep getting a good night’s rest listening to our music is worth it all. Our music contains specific frequencies for bringing harmony and balance back to the body based on scientific studies and protocols. For inspiration, I love country, dance, Beach Boys and Motown.

Q: Have you had mentors in your life? 
A: I have had several. My most recent are Dr. Lyn Canon and Regina Murphy, who have taught me everything about frequencies, sound, vibration, healing, raising consciousness and water. Both these ladies changed my life and the path I am on today. I call them my human angels.

Q: If your life story were to be made into a movie, who would play you? 
A: I would want Carrie Underwood to play my life. I grew up listening and watching her career soar to where it is today. Her values, integrity and compassion have never changed. Being in the music business, that is very hard for most people.

Q: Who/what makes you laugh? 
A: My family, friends, grandkids and funny shows all make me laugh. Laughter is the best medicine ever.

By Joe Capozzi

Less than a year after hiring an architectural firm to draw up plans for a new Town Hall, the Town Council has terminated South Palm Beach’s $63,000 contract with the firm.
Without comment Sept. 19, the council voted unanimously to end the agreement it approved Oct. 12, 2021, with Synalovski Romanik Saye.
After the meeting, Mayor Bonnie Fischer said the firm’s services were no longer needed since the council is considering a cost-efficient construction system using structural insulated panels, known by the acronym SIPs.
Building a new Town Hall with the SIPs process could cost about $2 million, a significant savings from the $6.5 million estimate offered by the architects, Fischer said.
The town is preparing to seek formal requests for contractors familiar with the SIPs process.
“If this process is what we think it is and the price is affordable, we might as well move forward,” the mayor said in an interview.
“I would like to see whatever we do be a focal point of the town, not just a Town Hall per se but a community center with a coffee shop that would attract people that walk every day along the walkway.”
A community center, she said, “is a need and a want of the people of South Palm Beach in my opinion.”
Since 2016, the town has spent about $114,000 on studies and drawings for a new Town Hall.

Councilman wants to ban use of firms with ESG rules
Town Councilman Ray McMillan wants South Palm Beach to join a Republican-led movement across the country that steers public money away from companies with so-called ESG policies that prioritize environmental, social and governance issues rather than pure profits. 
“I think it would be good to protect our town, whether we are a small town or not,’’ McMillan said Sept. 12 when he asked the council to consider a resolution banning ESG at its next meeting Oct. 18.
After McMillan first mentioned the resolution in August, Town Manager Robert Kellogg said he conducted a survey to determine which, if any, of the county’s 39 municipalities have ESG bans. 
“I got a response from 18 or 20 and none have taken any issue on this,’’ he said. 
“We could be the first,’’ McMillan replied.
It’s unclear which, if any, companies doing business with South Palm Beach have ESG policies.
McMillan’s request came a month after the Town Council voted 4-1 to apply for a state grant to pay for assessing South Palm Beach’s vulnerabilities to flooding and sea level rise. McMillan voted no.
Earlier this summer, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans to steer Florida’s state pension funds away from investment managers with what he called “woke” ESG policies focusing on issues such as climate change and diversity.
If DeSantis’ plan succeeds, it could prevent the state from doing business with such investment giants as BlackRock Inc., Vanguard Group Inc., and State Street Corp., which control $20 trillion, according to news reports.

New town attorney
Town attorney Aleksandr Boksner has left the Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin firm to take a job as deputy county attorney for Sarasota County. Glen Torcivia, with assistance from attorney Kara Land, will return as the town’s attorney. 

Town manager evaluation 
At a special meeting on Sept. 23, council members gave Kellogg an average score of 3.26 on a one-to-five scale.
Council members discussed their annual performance review of Kellogg, calling him “acceptable,” but expressing unhappiness with limited staffing at Town Hall and public perception of the permitting process.
They are expected to discuss the manager’s contract renewal at the council’s next meeting on Oct. 18.  

Remembering Schulmayr 
At the Sept 12 council meeting, Fischer announced plans for a memorial celebration Oct. 30 for the late Pat Schulmayr, the former South Palm Beach vice mayor who died in June. 
The celebration has a saucy name, which Fischer said is meant as a term of endearment.
 “I have to tell you what it’s going to be called and I don’t want anybody to take offense of this,’’ she said from the dais. “But it’s something I thought of that has true meaning to any who knew Pat. Is everybody sitting down? ‘The Irish Bitch Bash.’’’
As a few chuckles echoed inside the council chambers, Fischer explained that Schulmayr “always referred to herself as ‘the Irish bitch.’ … If it’s not too offensive, I think it touches the essence of this woman.’’ 
When the formal invitations go out, Fischer said the party’s title will either be in quotes or perhaps with the word spelled “B-tch.’’
“She would love this name,’’ Vice Mayor Bill LeRoy said. “She would be thrilled.’’ 

Saluting Queen Elizabeth II
The council opened its Sept. 12 meeting with a moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth II and for the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 
The queen, who died Sept. 8, “epitomized public service,’’ Fischer said. At the end of the council meeting, LeRoy devoted his remarks to the queen, saying he felt as though “she was our queen as well.’’
“Our presidents come and go but she was there for 70 years,’’ he said. “She’s always been in our lives. I thought about that the other day how much affection I’ve had for this woman who I never met.’’

Mary Kate Leming contributed to this story.

By Joe Capozzi

Town Council members voted Sept. 19 to give South Palm Beach homeowners some financial relief by lowering the tax rate next year to $3.45 per $1,000 of assessed value. 
In July, the council had set a tentative tax rate of $3.50, the same as the current year, to pay for a $2.4 million budget for the year starting Oct. 1.
While many residents may welcome the lower rate, they still could see a rise in their tax bills because property values across South Palm Beach went up nearly 13% to a record $516,863,500. 
At a public hearing Sept. 12, Mayor Bonnie Fischer asked town accountant Beatrice Good about the possibility of lowering the rate even more. But council members agreed to stick with the $3.45 rate until they know the costs of building a new Town Hall. 
“Until we get it built, it’s ill advised to roll back the rate,’’ Town Manager Robert Kellogg said, pointing out that there’s no guarantee the robust values across town will continue next year.
“This is unsustainable what we are going through,’’ he said. “I hope we don’t experience what we experienced in 2008 and we see a significant collapse in the housing market. If we do, we’re going to be back in the same position you were up until last year in recouping that (lost) property value.’’
Property values in town dropped 47% during the Great Recession from 2008 through 2013, Good said.
“Our recommendation is absolutely you have room to give back but you should stay on course and hold on to the revenues being produced by the town for future needs so you don’t have to raise the (tax) rate in the future,’’ she said. 
Kellogg said he’s confident the town will have revenue to pay for a new Town Hall. The costs could range from $2 million to $3 million.

By Larry Barszewski

A plan to get Manalapan homes off septic tanks and onto a town sewer system could take a major step forward in the coming year, with hopes the town can secure a large grant to keep its expenses to a minimum.
Town commissioners still must decide which type of sewer system they prefer — or if they want to do a project at all. They tentatively scheduled a 1 p.m. Zoom workshop for Oct. 5 to come to a consensus.
At a Zoom workshop on Sept. 27, commissioners heard a presentation from O’Neill and Associates, one of several firms the town plans to consider to help secure money for a project.
The firm is headed by Tom O’Neill, a former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts and son of former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill.
“What we are looking for at the end of the day is not really so much a loan, but is there grant funding available,” Mayor Keith Waters said. “Is there something that will offset the cost of doing this through governmental grants, through other options?”
O’Neill’s team said that’s something it could “tee up” in discussions with Mitch Landrieu, the White House chief of infrastructure oversight. O’Neill said he would need town demographic information to support a grant.
“We have to build arguments in order to go to Washington,” O’Neill said. “We’re going to go find out if there’s a grant program that we can find that is tailor-made for you.”
Waters said the town shouldn’t lose out just because of its high per capita income.
“The dollar I pay for taxes is no different than the dollar that the Lantana guy pays. I just pay more of them,” he said. “We’re funding everything around us five and six times and we’re not getting the benefit of what they get for free.”
The emphasis should be on averting what could become an environmental catastrophe, Waters said.
“Our single strongest argument is we are a barrier island and if something happens to us, then all of these septic tanks,” the sewage “goes everywhere,” he said. “We need to be part of a system that protects us and everyone around us.”
Commission discussions in August and September have leaned toward creating a low pressure sewer system. Each property would have a macerating pump, which would grind a home’s sewage and push it into a small-diameter pipe that would carry it to a wastewater treatment plant in Lake Worth Beach.
The cost estimate for such a system is $10.3 million, says the town’s engineering consultant, Mock Roos & Associates. The company can’t develop a firm price until the commission picks the type of sewer system.
Vice Mayor Stewart Satter said the cost doesn’t seem as high as people might think for a sewer system. The mayor concurred, saying that’s the cost to fix “a bad driveway on most properties.”
A bigger concern might be the disruptions caused by sewer construction. “It will be invasive,” Waters said. “If this is not accepted as progress, then it’s going to be a difficult process no matter what it costs.”
Each property would need to have a pump to grind the sewage. The estimated cost for a macerating pump was $9,000 installed, consultants said.
Some homes already use such pumps for their septic tanks. Those may work in a new system as well, officials said.
Homeowners who have recently installed septic tanks may not want to switch immediately to a new system, Town Manager Linda Stumpf acknowledged. The town could have a system where connection is available and a base charge is assessed, but it would be left to the individual property owner when to start using the sewer system, she said.
“The actual cost for them monthly would not happen until they started sending water through,” Stumpf said.
Mock Roos also presented information about gravity and vacuum sewer systems, but they were more expensive and had other issues that concerned commissioners.

By Tao Woolfe

Boynton Beach went through another seminal change last month as acting City Manager Jim Stables stepped down and former Police Capt. Daniel D. Dugger took his place.
Dugger, who received mixed reviews during his brief candidacy for city manager, was officially and unanimously named city manager at a City Commission meeting on Sept. 22.
“I thank the city commissioners for the confidence they have in me,” Dugger said in a short acceptance speech. “I live in Boynton Beach. It is my home. I take the city to heart.”
The new city manager said he did not, however, take to heart residents’ criticisms that he was under-qualified for his new post. Instead, he said, “I take criticism as passion to make sure the city is doing well.”
He was referring to residents’ comments at two August City Commission meetings that knocked him for not having the minimal qualifications for the job.
Barbara Ready and Susan Oyer were among several residents who urged the commission to hire headhunters to find a city manager who would understand the complex workings of government and truly be a leader.
The city manager search had been handled by the city’s human resources department.
The commissioners ultimately sided with the many people who praised Dugger for his longtime investment in the city and its people, his popularity and his 18 years of experience with the Boynton Beach Police Department.
Dugger has risen through the department ranks from patrol officer to detective first-grade. He became a sergeant in 2016 and last year was promoted to captain.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Phoenix.
Woodrow Hay, the only commissioner to vote against Dugger at a special meeting in August, joined his colleagues in supporting the new city manager at the Sept. 22 meeting.
“I do plan to work with Dan Dugger,” Hay said. “Personal feelings are beside the point when it comes to the betterment of Boynton Beach.”
Oyer said after the meeting that she had been talking to Dugger and hopes for a good working relationship. “We’ve agreed to disagree so we can work together,” she said. “I have a lot of green initiatives I want the city to work on and he’s amenable to most.”
The commissioners and Dugger expressed regret that Stables was not only stepping down, but leaving the city to return to his native state of Tennessee.
“I wholeheartedly believe the city is better now than when he took over,” said Commissioner Thomas Turkin, summing up his colleagues’ feelings about Stables on the job. “Through difficult times … he handled it with such poise.”
In his parting words of advice, Stables praised the city staff and urged the commissioners and Dugger to listen to the concerns of employees and residents rather than react defensively.
“There is great value in the words of those who disagree,” Stables said.
He also urged the commissioners to throw their wholehearted support behind Dugger and to work with him to make Boynton Beach a better place.
“Don’t forget the lessons of the past, but stay focused on the bright future ahead,” Stables said.
Stables was tapped for the interim manager position at a special commission meeting April 25. He had been the city’s fire chief for a little more than a year at the time.
The unanimous vote for Stables as interim city manager came days after commissioners fired longtime City Manager Lori LaVerriere during an emotionally fraught City Commission meeting.
It remains unclear exactly why LaVerriere was fired after 10 years on the job, but she had been criticized lately for her lack of diplomacy and for failing to deliver on a downtown development project.
It was a tumultuous time for the city. Most of the city commissioners were new to the job and the Police Department and city officials were under fire after a 13-year-old boy was killed during a Dec. 26 police chase.
The boy, Stanley Davis III, crashed his dirt bike at a speed of 85 mph on North Federal Highway with Boynton Beach Police Officer Mark Sohn in close pursuit.
Sohn was fired in August after a months-long internal affairs investigation found that the officer had violated the department’s strict vehicular pursuit policy on more than one occasion.
Sohn also violated the officers’ code of ethics and engaged in conduct unbecoming to a police officer, according to the internal report written by newly named Police Chief Joseph DeGiulio.
Dugger and DeGiulio will have to steer through the aftermath of that firing in the coming months, but they will have legal help.

Outside counsel hired for police, Town Square cases
The same day Sohn’s firing was announced, a Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association attorney filed a grievance against the Police Department alleging that Sohn had been disciplined through termination “without just cause.”
The union, through an arbitration process, seeks to have Sohn reinstated as a police officer, “along with back pay, wages, pension contributions and all associated emoluments,” according to the grievance letter.
At a City Commission meeting on Sept. 8, DeGiulio asked that an outside law firm — specializing in law enforcement arbitration cases — be hired to help steer the department through the Sohn arbitration process.
If Sohn wins, “It will erode confidence in the Police Department,” DeGiulio told the commission.
The police chief suggested the city hire the Fort Lauderdale firm of Kopelowitz, Ostrow, Ferguson, Weiselberg, Gilbert — popularly known as KO.
KO attorney David Ferguson, who was in the audience for the Sept. 8 meeting, said his specialty is “making sure the discipline that was meted out sticks.”
He added that his firm has fought 30 Broward Sheriff’s Office arbitration cases and has not lost any of them.
Hay said the Sohn case had ripped apart the community and it is vital that the Boynton Beach Police Department prevails in the arbitration.
“All eyes will be on it,” Hay said. “I do feel you would represent us well.”
Ferguson replied: “I will do my best.”
The attorney also agreed to cut his usual fee of $550 an hour to $225 for the Boynton Beach PD.
The commission voted unanimously to hire the KO firm.
In a related matter, the City Commission agreed to hire outside counsel to help the city attorney navigate the stalled negotiations between Boynton Beach and Town Square developer JKM Developers of Boca Raton.
The commission hired the West Palm Beach firm of Lewis, Longman & Walker to assist with a legal morass that has lingered in the courts for more than a year.
The case centers on a disagreement over the construction of parking garages for the massive $250 million public/private project intended to revitalize Boynton’s downtown.

BOCA RATON — Glen King Parker of Boca Raton died Sept. 2 at Boca Raton Regional Hospital after a brief illness. He was 85.
Born in Manhattan and raised on Long Island, the son of Glen J.A. Parker and Valeta King, Mr. Parker moved to South Florida in the 1950s, where he married and spent all of his adult life.
Early in life he was not shy about expressing his opinion — at age 13 penning a published letter to the editor in famed Life magazine defending the then-maligned scientist Albert Einstein. His entrepreneurial skills also started early, with an accident photography business on Long Island and then real estate and investment companies in South Florida.
He is best known for his Institute for Econometric Research, which revolutionized the investment-advice publishing industry through the application of computer-generated forecasts that required overnight use of some of the most powerful computers of the early 1970s. The institute also popularized a series of low-cost newsletters for investors, beginning with Market Logic in 1975, that helped make investment information widely available.
Mr. Parker pioneered many early direct marketing techniques that became standard fixtures of subscription marketing. The business was so successful that, after its launch of Mutual Funds magazine in 1993, Time Inc. acquired it in 1998.
He was devoted to causes of freedom of the press and civil liberties. As chair of the freedom of the press committee of the Newsletter Publishers Association, he spearheaded the fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark case for publisher freedom. The case, Lowe v. SEC, was unanimously decided by the 1985 court in favor of the publishers. He was also a longtime supporter of the ACLU.
He loved fine wine and dining and was a gourmet cook. He championed local chefs and restaurateurs and served for years as bailee (chair) of the local chapter of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society.
He was a truly devoted husband, son and father, and was tireless in making sure those he loved were supported and successful.
Surviving Mr. Parker are: his wife, Sandy, of Boca Raton; his son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Nancy Parker of Brookline, Massachusetts, and children Allee, Myles and Camden; his daughter and daughter-in-law, Robin Parker and Denise Jayroe of Portland, Oregon, and son Zayn; his daughter, Suzanne Maddux of Alpharetta, Georgia, and children Mackenzie, Parker and Spencer (Tripp); his stepson, Sean Eastham of Paris, France, and children Valentine, Sacha and Tristan; his stepdaughter and stepson-in-law, Ashley and Sean Caulfield of Cohasset, Massachusetts, and children Owen, Maddie and Finn; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Candy and Mike Donnelly of Boca Raton.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please contribute generously to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org, in honor of Sandy Parker’s ongoing battle with the disease.

—Obituary submitted by the family

By Sallie James

OCEAN RIDGE — Former Ocean Ridge Commissioner Nancy Hogan, an outspoken public servant and devoted Republican who helped on every presidential campaign from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, died on Aug. 31 at Delray Medical Center of a lengthy illness. She was 75.
Nancy Lynn Turnbull Hogan and her husband, Stephen, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary less than a year ago. The two met on a double date, each paired with another, but connected forever when Nancy invited Stephen to a wedding a week later. The two married on Nov. 5, 1971.
The story is no surprise to those who knew her.
“I don’t think she had a shy bone in her body,” conceded Ocean Ridge Commissioner Geoff Pugh, who served with Mrs. Hogan on the commission. “It was refreshing. Too many people don’t say what they are thinking and she would actually say what she thought. Sometimes you agreed and sometimes you disagreed.”
“Oh yes, she was pretty good at letting you know her opinion,” Stephen Hogan chuckled. “She lost (the election) a second time maybe because she was a little too outspoken for some people. She loved serving Ocean Ridge. She loved government.”
The Hogans moved to Ocean Ridge in 1991. A town commissioner from 2005-2008, Mrs. Hogan was detail oriented, informed and always concerned.
“She was definitely an asset to the community and she always tried her best. She was very forthright and very detailed,” Pugh said.
Mrs. Hogan attended Scotia-Glenville High School in Scotia, New York, then earned a bachelor of science degree from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, and a master’s of public administration from the State University of New York at Albany.
Mrs. Hogan started her career as an auditor in New York state, and worked for the state comptroller though the New York City bankruptcy of 1975. She served on the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority and ran for the county Board of Commissioners there.
She eventually became a real estate agent and broker and was licensed in New York, Georgia, Connecticut and Florida, the same states she was also licensed as a CPA.
But aside from her family, politics was her true love. Mrs. Hogan served on the Republican Executive Committees in several states. Along with her involvement with multiple presidential campaigns, she worked on Florida gubernatorial campaigns from Jeb Bush to Ron DeSantis.
She was an original member of the National Organization for Women and a longtime member of the League of Women Voters. She was also a Daughter of the American Revolution and a minister in the Alliance of Divine Love.
She was a devoted community advocate and belonged to a wide range of organizations, including the Ocean Ridge Garden Club, the Ocean Ridge Book Club, the Palm Beach Civic Society, the Forum Club, the Boynton Beach Woman’s Club, the Palm Beach and Boca Raton Republican Women’s Clubs, the Boynton Beach Realtors, the Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce and served on the boards of the Florida Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the Republican Executive Committee, where she was closely involved in the distribution of Political Action Committee funds and scholarship awards.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Hogan is survived by two sons, Ashley of McKinney, Texas, and Trevor of San Diego; a brother, Darny Turnbull of Fort Myers; two sisters, June Shaw of Saratoga Springs, New York, and Mary Jo Cottrell of Pleasant Valley, New York, and Orlando; and a granddaughter, Brynn McKenna of McKinney.
A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Ocean Ridge Town Hall, 6450 N. Ocean Blvd. A second event will be held Nov. 5 at a site to be determined in Scotia, New York.

The real estate market in Gulf Stream continues to post significant sales. ABOVE: The oceanfront compound at 2817 N. Ocean Blvd. sold for $29 million in September. BELOW RIGHT: A historic Gulf Stream mansion fetched the town’s highest price for a non-oceanfront property. The ‘Lemon Hill’ home at 1200 N. Ocean Blvd. sold for $16.5 million. Photos provided

By Christine Davis

The majestic beauty of the rising sun over the Atlantic Ocean is one of the perks Gulf Stream oceanfront homeowners enjoy. These days, the seaside residents are also seeing the prices of their homes rise.
Michael and Dena Rashes sold their estate at 2817 N. Ocean Blvd. for $29 million in September. The new owner is Brian O’Neill.
This transaction is just short of the record-breaking oceanfront Gulf Stream deal of $33 million on March 3 at 3545 N. Ocean Blvd.
The Rashes’ estate, “Viento y Mar,” has a storied past, said agent Pascal Liguori, who with his son, Antonio Liguori, held the listing.
“It sold for just under three times its previous purchase price,” said Liguori, who leads the Pascal Liguori Estate Group at Premier Estate Properties.
“A completely renovated oceanfront compound, it was designed by Howard Brougham Major, a prominent New York architect, and built for Howard Whitney in 1926. Whitney was a partner with the Wall Street firm of Kissam, Whitney & Co. and president of the U.S. Golf Association.”
With more than 200 feet of oceanfront, this eight-bedroom estate on 1.32 acres includes a main house and a number of outbuildings. “The amount of land, the abundance of oceanfront, the proximity to Delray Beach and the architectural significance were attractive to our buyer,” said Geoff Braboy, who with David Gunther represented O’Neill.
Braboy and Gunther, previously with Lang Realty/Delray Beach, recently opened their own brokerage, Atlantic Waterfront Properties, 1855 Dr. Andres Way, Suite 3, Delray Beach.

***

A couple of weeks earlier, the historic Gulf Stream mansion at 1200 N. Ocean Blvd. marked a town record-breaking sale for a non-oceanfront property of $16.5 million. Stephen Benjamin sold his property, dubbed “Lemon Hill,” to Lemon Hill Partners LLC. Randy Ely and Nick Malinosky of Douglas Elliman’s Randy and Nick team represented Benjamin. Betsy Cooke and Brad Cooke of the Corcoran Group’s Cooke team represented the buyer.
On a canal off the Intracoastal Waterway, the 1939-era Georgian-style mansion was designed by society architect Marion Sims Wyeth. Benjamin paid $7.1 million for it in 2018.
Betsy Cooke did not disclose the buyers, but confirmed they intend to restore the home. “My buyers’ family has a long history in the town of Gulf Stream and they have always been interested in preserving historic properties,” Cooke said.
She said the property was advertised as a “rare opportunity with approximately 250 linear-foot yacht basin currently under construction as well as infinity edge pool and patio.”
 Benjamin is a decorated yachtsman. He won a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was named Yachtsman of the Year in 2015 by US Sailing, and now heads North Sails, a sales and service facility for custom sails, in Miami.

***

Another Gulf Stream mansion recently made headlines. The James and Estee Sausville estate at 3565 N. Ocean Blvd. was selected as the overall winner in the HGTV Ultimate House Hunt 2022.
The Sausvilles bought their home in June for $27.5 million from James and Kimberly Caccavo.
“It definitely set a record for Gulf Stream at $4,495 per square foot,” said Michelle Noga, who co-listed the property with Paula Wittmann, both agents with William Raveis Real Estate. In that transaction, Mitch Frank, with Echo Fine Properties, represented the buyers.

***

El-Ad National Properties’ Alina Residences condominium project received a $100 million construction loan for its second phase from UMB Bank, according to records.
The first phase, Alina 200, a nine-story 121-unit building at 200 SE Mizner Blvd., was finished last year and has reached a $300 million sellout, according to an August news release from El-Ad.
The Phase Two buildings at 210 and 220 SE Mizner Blvd., consisting of 182 condos slated to be completed by late 2024, are approaching 50% sold. Agents of Douglas Elliman New Development Marketing are handling the sales. For more information, visit www.alinabocaraton.com.

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Following a $65 million transformation, guests will enjoy luxe suites and breathtaking views from The Boca Raton’s 27-story Tower, the resort’s fifth hotel, set to reopen later this fall. It is just adjacent to the Harborside Pool Club.
Designed by the Rockwell Group, 224 rooms and suites will feature a contemporary coastal aesthetic with a luxurious yet casual vibe. Details include built-in window seating, bleached wood furniture, neutral linen fabrics, fluted feature walls and classic molding.
Rooms and suites will deliver flexible configurations, from connecting suites to entire floor takeovers, ideal for multi-generational families and groups of friends. A special touch in the Presidential Suite will include binoculars by Luxxoptica, and high-touch services for all guests will blend with modern technology.
For example, to enjoy an in-room movie, guests can opt for a cinema snack delivery from one of two Tower Robot Butlers. At the Tower Lounge, guests will enjoy complimentary pastries and coffee for breakfast, an assortment of afternoon snacks, and as a special weekend treat, a Sundae Bar will be offered. For more information, visit www.TheBocaRaton.com.

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Florida Atlantic University’s ranking is on the rise this year, moving to No. 132 from No. 140 in the U.S. News & World Report list of “Top Public Schools” of the nation’s best universities. It ranked No. 41 in “Social Mobility,” which is based on graduation rates of students receiving Pell grants. It is the No. 1 public university in Florida for campus ethnic diversity, according to the report, and is designated as Hispanic-serving by the U.S. Department of Education.
In other rankings, FAU moved up 27 spots to No. 93 on the list of undergraduate nursing programs. Its undergraduate business programs moved up to No. 164 from No. 190.

***

After years of experience in the yachting field, Tim Juliano provides personalized property management solutions through his new company, Mainstay Management. Services include vendor coordination and monitoring, home repairs, home watch and estate security, seasonal open and close, and hurricane prep. Boat and yacht services are also available.
Juliano, a Boca Raton resident, is a licensed community association manager and holds a U.S. Coast Guard 1,600-ton master’s license.
For more information, visit www.MainstayMgmt.com or call 561-367-5339.

***

Bond Street Salon’s 17th anniversary on July 23 was cause for a party with 100 guests in attendance, said Lauren Donald, founder and owner of the Delray Beach salon, a Five Star Beauty Destination noted by New Beauty magazine.
“Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down Bond Street Salon is something I wanted to celebrate as a small business owner,” said Donald. “I also wanted the 17th anniversary party to be an opportunity to support another Delray Beach woman-owned small business, which is why I selected Sweet’s Sensational Jamaican Cuisine to cater” the party’s light bites.
Bond Street Salon is at 25 NE Second Ave./Pineapple Grove Way. For more information, call 561-468-3303 or visit bondstreetsalon.com.

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The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, home of the Boca Raton Historical Society, marks its 50th anniversary at a golden jubilee event on Oct. 26 at the Addison, 2 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. The museum was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit organization in the 1927-era historic Town Hall, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. General admission tickets for the jubilee, priced at $200 and $180 for historical society members, can be purchased at https://shop.bocahistory.org/collections/tickets.

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GL Homes is funding the Boys and Girls Clubs of Delray Beach and Boca Raton’s hunger relief programs. ABOVE: Club members with Sarah Alsofrom of GL Homes, seated left, and club Director Candace Burrs. Photo provided

GL Homes will fully fund Boys & Girls Clubs of Delray Beach and Boca Raton’s hunger relief programs with a $16,000 donation that will go toward 12,000 meals and snacks to the neediest children in south Palm Beach County.
“Hunger is an urgent issue that must be addressed. It is unacceptable that any child goes to bed hungry in Palm Beach County,” said GL Homes community relations senior director Sarah Alsofrom.

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Jose Sotillo is the newest member of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches board of directors. Previously, Sotillo, IBM’s business development executive for 39 years, also served in leadership positions for several charitable organizations, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

***

The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County will host a Hot Topic discussion on election issues, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19.
Guest speakers will be Wendy Sartory Link, supervisor of elections for Palm Beach County, and Marcia Herman, the League of Women Voters’ first vice president and chief of its speakers’ bureau.
The event will be held at Mounts Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 559 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. Prices to attend include $20 for a boxed lunch and $12 for entry to the garden, available at https://lwvpbc.org/event/october-hot-topic-3/#tribe-tickets.

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

Among the nominees and Junior League members are: (l-r, sitting) Dr. Sarah Lochner, Kristin Foret Viets, Kelly Fleming, Christen Ritchey, Maria Timmins Fife, Kirsten Stephenson, Ashley Craig, Anita Detert; (l-r, standing) event Co-Chairwomen Reilly Glasser, Ashley Huxhold and Amy Procacci with Carly Yoost, Laura Wilborn, Donna Holland, Holly Schuttler, Margi Cross, Wendy Elliott, Leighan Roberts Rinker, Carin Friedman, Jesse Barrass, Esther Perman, Summer Faerman and President Jamie Sauer. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

The Junior League of Boca Raton has announced the 35 women who have been nominated for the 35th annual Woman Volunteer of the Year award.
Nonprofits from across South Florida referred their top volunteers to be considered for the honor. The recipient will be named at the Nov. 4 luncheon at Boca West Country Club.
The nominees are: Jesse Barrass, Chiara Clark, Ashley Craig, Margi Cross, Anita Detert, Wendy Dohner, Zoe Dulaney, Wendy Elliott, Summer Faerman, Heather Shaw Fairs, Maria Timmins Fife, Kelly Fleming, Carin Friedman, Olga Lucia Gaviria, Doris Gillman, Donna Holland, Nancy Hooker, Dyana Kenney, Tracy Lautomne, Dr. Sarah Lochner, Phyllis Melman, Linda Gunn Paton, Esther Perman, Barbara Richardson, Leighan Roberts Rinker, Christen Ritchey, Maggie Rosenberg, Holly Schuttler, Marci Shatzman, Kirsten Stephenson, N’Quavah Velazquez, Kristin Foret Viets, Deanna Wheeler, Laura Wilborn and Carly Yoost.
“These incredible nominees have made such a vast difference for our community,” league President Jamie Sauer said. “We are looking forward to honoring these truly deserving women.”
For information, call 561-620-2553 or visit www.jlbr.org.

Three volunteers join family-focused charity
The Fuller Center, a nonprofit focused on empowering children and families through education and support, has named new members to both its center and foundation boards. Doug Mithun has been named to the former, and Kathy Conway-Yaffe and Todd Skelton have been named to the latter.
Mithun is a financial adviser and life coach. He serves as a trustee for the Boca Raton Museum of Art and is a volunteer and sponsor for the Boca West Children’s Foundation.
Conway-Yaffe, who retired from Merrill Lynch after 44 years, is a big believer in financial literacy in schools. She is active with the Center for Economic Education at Florida Atlantic University, promoting programs that teach instructors how to convey financial and economic concepts to their students.
Skelton is president and CEO of an automotive dealership.
For information, call 561-391-7274 or visit www.fullercenterfl.org.

Back to School PBC event takes flight
Staff members from the Boca Raton Airport Authority as well as airport tenants donated 10 boxes of supplies to the Spirit of Giving Network for a back-to-school project.
Supplies were used to fill backpacks at the nonprofit’s yearly Back to School PBC event. Items included personal-hygiene products, socks, notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons and glue sticks.
“We enjoy helping Palm Beach County students prepare for the school year by collecting school supplies with the help of our airport tenants and the local community,” Boca Raton Airport Authority Executive Director Clara Bennett said.
For information, call 561-385-0144 or visit https://spiritofgivingnetwork.com.

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

Nov. 12: The affair organized by the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton will celebrate city visionaries past and present at a black-tie dinner dance that raises funds to support health and wellness needs in the community. Time is 6:30 p.m. Cost is $400. Call 561-392-5166 or visit rotarydowntownbocaraton.org. ABOVE: (l-r, sitting) Jeff Weber, Rosie Inguanzo-Martin, Nicole Whitney, Ingrid Fulmer; (standing) Gloria Wank, Dr. Ron Rubin, Arlene Herson, Constance Scott, Marilyn Wilson, Kim Champion, Bruce Spizler, David Eltringham, Jon Kaye, Jonathan Whitney, Dyana Kenney, Howard Tai, Linda Petrakis, Alan Kaye, Gwen Herb, Dr. Allen Konis and Shaheer Hosh. Photo provided by Gina Fontana

Headlined by Rich and Jill Switzer, Deborah Silver, Anthony Nunziata, Avery Sommers and Phil Hinton, a special evening to benefit a beloved member of South County’s public-relations community was a rousing success. A sold-out crowd of 200 raised money for Schweikhart’s recovery from a near-fatal accident. In July, a vehicle traveling twice the speed limit slammed into his home office, resulting in his needing a metal plate in his face because of a fractured mandible and orbital floor. The uplifting evening also rang in the PR pro’s birthday. ABOVE: (l-r) Nunziata, Jill Switzer, Schweikhart, Silver and Sommers. Photo provided by Jacek Gancarz

Following a two-year hiatus because of COVID, Boca Helping Hands had its annual fundraiser — an afternoon of fun and bowling. Proceeds support the nonprofit’s weekend meal program and the 12 children’s charities invited to participate. The event attracted 250 guests, with more than half the lanes reserved for 151 children from the 12 charities. Everyone enjoyed pizza, wings, barbecue sandwiches and chips and salsa, and each of the children received 10 free raffle tickets for chances to win one of 15 baskets filled with toys, games, sporting equipment, art supplies and more. Trophies were awarded. ABOVE: (l-r) Leonard Wierzbowski, Jean Ross, Terry Blackman and Mavis Miller. Photo provided by Gina Fontana

South County leaders competed in the popular dance fundraising extravaganza, bringing in proceeds of more than $900,000 to benefit the George Snow Scholarship Fund. It marked the first in-person audience for the show since 2019. Paired with professionals from Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Boca Raton, contestants battled it out for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy, won this year by top fundraisers Andrea Virgin and Howard Kanner. ABOVE: Dance pro James Brann and Erica Kasel take a spin. Photo provided

By Jan Norris

Food safety and ice cream were hot topics this summer, as some big brands were recalled because of listeria, a harmful pathogen.
But it wasn’t a problem for the Ice Cream Club because of strict protocols in place at the company’s Boynton Beach facility, according to co-founder Richard Draper.
Training workers, vetting suppliers and exercising constant vigilance are crucial, he said.
“We tell our workers they’re not making shoes — they’re making something that goes into people’s mouths. You can’t say, ‘I’ll get this almost right,’” Draper said.
They’ve learned solutions by dealing with problems unique to small-to-midsize manufacturers of food, and now the company teaches others how to prevent foodborne illness at the manufacturing stage, he said.
Draper is part of a national group, the Artisan Ice Cream Food Safety Advisory Team, created through the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
“We straddle the industry,” he said, describing his company of 60 employees as small compared with corporate giants, but “a big fish in a small pond” among the community of artisan ice cream makers.
The Ice Cream Club owns only the Manalapan ice cream shop of that name but produces 3-gallon tubs of ice cream for larger clients such as hotels, country clubs and retirement communities.
“We learn from the big companies,” Draper said.
He then shares that knowledge with small producers, especially those working with multiple vendors for ingredients.
Ice cream depends on several producers, such as growers and packers of fresh fruits and nuts, and manufacturers of other flavorings that make artisan ice cream special.
“We make a lot of different flavors, and we have a lot of vendors for all the ingredients. The consumer doesn’t see this part of it, they only see our ice cream,” Draper said.
If anything went wrong, the consumer would focus on the ice cream — not the cherries or pistachios, for instance.
The Food Safety Modernization Act, which became federal law in 2011, changed tracking of ingredients and food handling throughout the industry.
Food safety became collaborative, with company owners working with regulators and academia to improve the food chain throughout.
“It was good for the industry,” Draper said. “It flipped things around. Regulators came in and did a real-time look,” and instead of a cursory inspection, focused not just on plant records, but those of the vendors used.
“It put the burden on the company to verify our suppliers,” he said.
Now, food makers are responsible for vetting their vendors and tracking their products — holding them to the safety standards required to keep the process safe at every step.
The Ice Cream Club has safety measures from door to door, from delivery of ingredients and storage, to the cleaning of the plant and constant employee training. All must pass inspections.
“It’s safety first,” Draper said, then quality. Technology is a help, evolving along with the industry, identifying and solving potential problems before they become harmful.
“It’s all made us a better company, too,” he said.
The food safety focus can’t be overstated, Draper said. He said it’s especially important for the people at the retirement homes he serves.
“Our ice cream is often the last food someone can eat — soft and creamy. We don’t take that lightly.”
He checks quality by eating his product and watching workers at his store.
“We live nearby and I like to stop in and see how things are going and watch the faces of the customers when they get their cones,” Draper said.
“It brings them joy.”
The Ice Cream Club, 278 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan. 561-582-0778; icecreamclub.com.

Kazan, the flaming volcano cocktail at Kapow. Photo provided

Expanded Kapow opens
After a few setbacks in its timeline, Kapow Noodle Bar has opened in its new space in Mizner Park.
Co-founder Vaughan Dugan of Sub-Culture Group calls it a merging of “art, technology and sustainability.”
The original opened in 2011 to acclaim, with innovative noodle dishes, sushi offerings and a hip vibe.
The pandemic halted the restaurant’s inside business; tents became the norm in the parking area. The owners decided to use the downtime to expand, finding another space in the central courtyard of Mizner Park. They doubled Kapow’s interior seating and added an outdoor covered L-shaped patio, as well as private automated karaoke rooms and an omakase bar.
A new look created by Manhas Design pays tribute to the old, while updating the restaurant. Hanging at the entrance is a lucky waving cat, and a 95-foot animated mural along the ceiling keeps diners engaged.
Rodney Mayo, Sub-Culture founder, said the menu is being updated and will be more of what diners want from Asian-inspired cuisines, including authenticity.
“Diners’ palates have grown along with their desire and openness to try more authentic Asian flavors,” he said in a statement.
Fan favorites remain, however, including salmon tartare crispy tacos, hoisin BBQ baby back ribs, and Vietnamese chicken wings.
New items include Korean wagyu beef tartare, king prawn banh mi, and Cantonese ginger scallion lobster. Vegetarian offerings include carrot dumplings with bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
It’s chef’s choice at the eight-seat omakase bar, where sushi is prepared for an individual dining experience from items not on the menu.
A new corporate pastry chef, Lee Mazor of Miami Beach, will roll out matcha Vietnamese coffee cake, a black sesame cremeux, and an ube gateau — a fudgy, sweet potato cake.
Mixologist Angela Dugan has created new drinks, including the Akai signature cocktail, made with El Tesoro blanco tequila, hibiscus, mezcal, ginger, aloe liqueur, and aquafaba — a chickpea foam. A Kazan is a flaming volcano bowl for two, with two rums, toasted rice and avocado orgeat, yuzu, and coriander-lemongrass stock.
Going into the old Kapow space is Penelope’s, a New Orleans concept from Sub-Culture. Innovation is what the company is all about, and new concepts are constantly in the works, said Vaughan Dugan. “We truly love what we do.”
Kapow Noodle Bar, 402 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. 561-567-8828; www.kapownoodlebar.com.

Coming to Lake Worth
Man Ray, a restaurant by Mayo and Sub-Culture Group, is scheduled to open by the end of the year in the former CWS/Cottage space on Lucerne Avenue in Lake Worth Beach.
It’s a spin-off of Dada, a favorite in Delray Beach. The new restaurant will follow the same eclectic art movement theme, Mayo said, and so takes the name of the famous artist who created it.
It will be a split-schedule space, with a Subculture Coffee shop running till 5 p.m., then becoming Man Ray for dinner service. Weekends are likely to feature live entertainment, Mayo said.
A tree in the middle of the outdoor area reminds Mayo a little of Dada. “I always wanted that space. And it’s off-Avenue. I like off-Avenue.”
The menu will be chef-driven and eclectic, he said, “everything from meatloaf to beef Wellington.”
Finding “the right property at the right time” is the reason he’s going into Lake Worth Beach. “A lot of people have been chewing my ear for years about opening there. My friend owns the building so that helps a lot. No Realtors involved or any of that stuff.”
Another draw is a “whole new audience. A lot of the people in Lake Worth are people like most of my workers who have been priced out of West Palm Beach.”
Moderate modifications are coming to the indoor-outdoor spot, with most seating set to take advantage of the outdoor area.

In brief
Taste of Recovery, the annual dine-around that benefits hospitality workers in recovery, is set for Nov. 5 at Old School Square with a number of Delray Beach area restaurants participating. Chef Louie Bossi of restaurant fame is the founder. ...
Boca Helping Hands is looking for volunteers to help provide meals for Thanksgiving and other holidays. Members of the community can donate the cost of a box for $31.48 at BocaHelpingHands.org/Thanksgiving.

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

Susan Baker of Lake Worth Beach with her 14-year-old poodles, Cubby and Lido. Photo provided

By Arden Moore

Susan Baker recalls her decision to adopt a pair of young poodle brothers from a rescue group as if it was yesterday. Lido and Cubby are now 14, happy and healthy with Baker, of Lake Worth Beach, crediting regular wellness veterinary exams for her duo’s longevity.
“Following my veterinarian’s recommendation, I now book senior wellness exams for them twice a year,” Baker says. “I also now pay closer attention to their eating habits, their bowel habits and their sleeping habits, and report any changes to my veterinarian. I have their teeth cleaned and walk them twice a day. I am so grateful that both are healthy and now 14.”
I must confess. I let several years lapse before I recently underwent a full physical exam by my physician, but like Baker, I make sure all my cats and dogs receive wellness exams on a regular basis.
And so should you. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association have teamed up to outline preventive health care guidelines for cats and dogs. Locally, several veterinary clinics have expanded their traditional offerings of core care — vaccinations, flea and tick protection and treatment of injuries or diseases — to spotlight preventive and wellness care for companion animals of all ages.
Let me cite some examples:
At Dr. Q’s Pet Vet clinic in Delray Beach, Dr. Kristin Quisenberry and her staff regard preventive care for young and healthy pets as one of their specialties. The goal is to catch any diseases in early stages to prevent serious illness and extend longevity in pets. (https://drqspet.vet)
At the Colonial Animal Hospital in Boynton Beach, Dr. Rob Martin and his team highly recommend that pets of all ages receive annual wellness exams that include diagnostic lab tests, dental evaluation, nutritional guidance and more. (https://colonialanimalhospital.com)
At the West Palm Animal Clinic, Dr. Michelle Durkee and her staff offer breed-specific wellness programs for pets. On the website, they proclaim, “We know that your pet is unique and so is its breed. A golden retriever is not a Yorkshire terrier and a Siamese cat is not a Florida coon cat.” (www.westpalmanimal.com)
VCA Simmons Animal Hospital in Greenacres offers senior wellness services, recognizing that pets age faster than we do. It also conducts new kitten and puppy prevention care, weight management programs and more. (www.vcahospitals.com/simmons)
Depending on the veterinary clinic, your pet may be evaluated for what’s known as a body conditioning score to determine if he is under, over or at a healthy weight for his breed. Sadly, nearly half of all cats and dogs in the United States are overweight or obese, according to surveys conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, headed by Dr. Ernie Ward. (https://petobesityprevention.org)
Excess weight can put pets more at risk for arthritis, heart conditions, chronic inflammation and even shortened lives. Although there are no so-called weight loss centers for animals, you can help your chubby pet by teaming with your veterinarian to create a specific diet/feeding/exercise plan to help him slim down in a safe, steady manner.
Age plays a key role in the frequency of these wellness exams. Puppies and kittens under age 1 need regular visits for necessary vaccinations and to monitor their growth. Dogs and cats between 1 and 6 generally just need annual wellness appointments if they do not display any medical issues. But when pets reach their senior years, veterinarians recommend booking wellness appointments every six months.
“Age is not a disease for pets,” says Ward. “It is essential for senior pets to engage in aerobic activity daily. Bodies are designed to move. Work with your veterinarian on pacing your pet’s activities.”
Show your gratitude for your pet’s unwavering devotion by getting into the habit of conducting weekly head-to-tail assessments at home.
I encourage students in my pet first aid and pet behavior classes to conduct these checks one-on-one in a room without any distraction.
By spending just 10 minutes once a week, you may find a hot spot on your pet’s thick coat. Or the ears may smell like dirty socks, possibly indicating an ear infection. Or you may notice that the coat is shedding more than normal or is oily.
Keep in mind that the skin is your pet’s largest organ and any signs of skin issues may be tied to an organ or body system that is not performing at its healthy level.
During a recent weekly at-home health check, I noticed wobbling front teeth in Kona, my terrier mix. My veterinarian surgically removed these teeth and performed a dental cleaning to remove built-up tartar on Kona’s back molars. She is back to flashing her happy — and healthy — smile.
These at-home checks reap other dividends: You are strengthening your bond with your pet and are conditioning your pet to accept being handled. That makes for less stress during a veterinary exam, a session with a pet groomer and pet care provided by professional pet sitters or pet boarding staffs.
I call that a win-win for pets and us.

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

A statue of Mary, like the ones the Legion of Mary provides to families to improve their relationships with Jesus. BELOW: A traditional Catholic rosary from the Vatican and a shorter Anglican rosary. Photos provided

By Janis Fontaine

Everyone knows what day Jesus was born — or what day we agree to say he was born. But what about Mary, the woman who gave him earthly life after Christian faith says she conceived him through the Holy Spirit?
No one knows, but the official date to celebrate Mary — known to Catholics as the Virgin Mary and the Mother of God, and now a saint — is Sept. 8. Catholics celebrate it as a holy feast day (called the Feast of the Nativity of Mary) and for commemoration, especially if their church is named for the saint.
Mary is sometimes forgotten, like our own mothers, until someone is needed to play the role in the Nativity story. But there are others for whom Mary is the holiest and greatest of all saints known for her virtue, as important as their own mothers. Almost.
At 8 a.m. at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Highland Beach, before Father Brian Horgan says Mass at 8:30 a.m., worshippers gather to pray the rosary. These devout Catholics find comfort in the repetitious prayers — during the rosary, they repeat the Hail Mary prayer 53 times.
It’s a tradition that Horgan loves.
“I love my mother dearly,” the priest said. “The most important person in the family is the mother. The first miracle that Jesus performed was at the request of his mother. What son would refuse his mother?”
Lisa Vargas, who organizes the Legion of Mary at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, says God prepared a special person to be “the queen of heaven and Earth. She was completely pure and free of original sin.”
The local Legion of Mary (the international organization began in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921, and now has branches worldwide) meets weekly. Each person commits to doing two hours of spiritual work each week, such as taking Communion to someone in the hospital.
One of the most popular works is organizing the traveling Mary statue. The Legion, which has more than two dozen regular members, has eight statues of the Virgin Mary that it lends to people who want to improve their relationships with Jesus, with the help of his mother. To some, it symbolizes their giving shelter to the holy family.
The Legion’s members deliver the statues — most are 33 inches tall and made out of resin, so are fairly lightweight — to different families every few months, but Vargas says they’ve become so popular, there’s a waiting list.
Vargas also teaches the rosary, about its four groups of “mysteries” — joyous, sorrowful, glorious and luminous events of Catholic faith — and what they mean, and how you move your fingers around the beads to keep count.
The rosary is not exclusively Catholic. There is an Anglican (Episcopal) rosary with fewer beads and different prayers. And prayer beads as a spiritual tool are common in many religions. These days, you’re more likely to see someone wearing rosary beads for fashion than for prayer.
The Catholic rosary is not complicated, but it is contemplative and it has measurable physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. Liz Kelly, in her book The Rosary: A Path to Prayer, wrote that the rosary “is sometimes seen as too simple and therefore as superficial.”
And it is simple, which makes it easy to learn. “The gentle repetition of its prayers makes it an excellent means to moving into deeper meditation,” she writes.
While other meditations may focus on breathing or nothingness or nature, the rosary’s focus is on the spiritual realm.
For Lisa Vargas, the Blessed Mother’s most precious gift is as an intercessor. She, like most mothers, has her son’s ear.
Father Dennis Gonzales at St. Vincent Ferrer prays the rosary every Friday night, a family tradition his grandparents taught him back in his native Philippines.
“I always ask her intercession to guide me and clear my way in whatever endeavor I have in life,” he said.
St. Lucy’s Horgan says that Jesus’ final act of love from the cross — making the disciple John the son of Mary and Mary his mother so that both would be cared for — shows how important his mother was to him.
It’s a lesson the children in St. Vincent Ferrer’s religious education program will study in October when they talk about Mary and the rosary.
“We want parents to practice the rosary with their children,” said Angelica Aguilera, director of faith formation. “It strengthens the children’s faith to see their parents doing it.”
Aguilera says that parents are diligent about enrolling their kids in religious education classes during the second grade so they can take part in First Communion (receiving Holy Communion for the first time), but attendance seems to drop off afterward. She’s looking for ways to get families involved, so she is hosting parents one week a month where they come to class with their children. “We want to make praying together as a family thing.”
Horgan thinks that teaching more reverence toward Mary might raise women’s status in society. No woman is disposable, even if that is what society says whenever it treats women as objects that you can replace, he says. He says step one is to use Mary as a model for positive change.
“I wonder where we’re going as a society,” he said. “More and more I think we’re stuck. We’re not going anywhere.”
But society still has potential, he said. “People are inherently good. We need to help each other be good people.”

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

The Rev. Dennis Gonzales was officially installed as pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach by Bishop Gerald Barbarito on Sept. 11. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

Father Dennis Gonzales came to St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach a year ago. On Sept. 11, he was formally installed by Bishop Gerald Barbarito at a heartfelt ceremony.
The bishop came down from the altar to speak to and praise the congregation for its faith, energy and devotion to family. Then he said of Gonzales, “He is a quiet man. A gentle man. A loving man. A man who has a heart with the Gospel as the center of his life. But central to him is not himself but Jesus Christ.”
The bishop has known Gonzales for years. Gonzales was educated at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach and ordained in 2013, at age 39, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens by Barbarito.
Since his ordination, Gonzales served at St. Helen in Vero Beach for four years, and St. Ann in West Palm Beach for another four years before coming to Delray Beach.
Gonzales considers himself a healer first. He’s a registered nurse who worked in hospice care and has studied questions of medical ethics. Father Dennis believes most people are wounded and he wants to help heal hidden trauma.
Gonzales also spoke at the ceremony, in his typically quiet voice. He said he was humbled that Barbarito had handpicked him to lead St. Vincent Ferrer parish. He thanked his predecessor, Msgr. Tom Skindeleski, for all his hard work. Gonzales said, “I inherited a parish on sound footing with a capable and dedicated staff.”
The bishop stressed the importance of depending on one another, telling the congregation that Father Dennis “considers each and every one of you as central to his ministry and his priesthood.”
Gonzales invites everyone to celebrate Mass with him and his family at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church at 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays. A contemporary Mass is offered at 5:30 p.m.
St. Vincent is at 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach. 561-276-6892; https://stvincentferrer.com.

Blessings of the animals
Each year local churches hold blessings of the animals around St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day on Oct. 4. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals.
Attend one of these blessings with well-behaved pets:
• St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 11 a.m. Oct. 1. 561-395-8285; www.stgregorysepiscopal.org
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Children’s Garden, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. 4-5 p.m. Oct. 1. 561-276-4541; https://stpaulsdelray.org
• Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach. 9 a.m. Oct. 2. 561-655-4554; https://bbts.org
• St. Joseph’s Episcopal, 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. 3 p.m. Oct. 2. 561-732-3060; www.stjoesweb.org
• Unity of Delray Beach, 101 NW 22nd St. 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 15. 561-276-5796.

St. Gregory’s doings
St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church will host a Capital Campaign Concert for a Cause from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 22.
The church women’s annual bazaar will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 29, for you to get started on your holiday shopping or just for fun.
The church is at 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 561-395-8285 or www.stgregorysepiscopal.org.

Fall festival at St. Joe’s
St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church will host a free Happy Fall Y’all carnival and coffee hour following services on Oct. 30. It includes games, prizes, crafts and refreshments. www.stjoesweb.org.

Yoga at St. Paul’s
Patti Daniell leads Gentle Yoga with a spiritual component at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Classes meet for eight weeks beginning Oct. 4. The cost is $75 for eight weeks or a $10 drop-in fee. A portion of the proceeds supports St. Paul’s. Call 561-573-9326.

The VOCES8 vocal ensemble will perform Oct. 22 at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. Photo provided

The VOCES8 vocal ensemble will perform Oct. 22 at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach.
Photo provided

VOCES8 in concert
The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea presents VOCES8 in concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, at the church at 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach.
The vocal ensemble will sing “Lux aeterna,” which features choral music by Byrd, Casals, Elgar, Gibbons, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Palestrina, Parry, Paulus and Rachmaninoff. Tickets are $25. A champagne reception at 6:30 p.m. and premium seating is $200. 561-655-4554 or https://bbts.org.
Send religion news to Janis Fontaine at fontaine423@outlook.com.