The new seal keeps the leaping sailfish and incorporates other artistic elements. Images provided

By Michael Cook 

From a vintage logo made of cut-out lettering and a hand-painted sailfish, Briny Breezes’ Town Hall is now getting a brand-spanking-new seal to represent the town. But the juicy scoop is that artificial intelligence helped design it. 

Town Manager Bill Thrasher admitted he used AI to draft the logo, then worked with a graphic artist to polish the final version. The new seal is a riff on the older one, still featuring a navy-blue sailfish. 

It will replace the current seal, which hangs in front of the council table in the Town Hall. “It’s old and faded. But it has institutional feelings to it, so we’ll save it,” said Thrasher, pointing out that some of the paper lettering is hanging by a thread. 

The original town seal of Briny Breezes used cut-out letters for the type.

The Town Council approved the seal at its March 26 meeting. The next step is to order a round plaque with the artwork at a cost of no more than $850. 

There is some deep meaning behind the logo’s design, meant to represent the small town vividly, with parts spelled out in the Town Charter. 

The circular seal features six stars meant to symbolize the elected officials, and the date 1963 is inscribed to mark the town’s official incorporation. The imagery is mostly inspired by the marina and boat life in town. A gold rope border surrounds the seal, featuring a sailfish, ocean and sun in the center.

“More importantly, in the background is the sun, which is not very bright, and wasn’t intended to be bright. It’s symbolizing the warmth that we have in our community,” said Thrasher, explaining that it is supposed to represent the town’s “family-oriented” atmosphere. 

Newly appointed Mayor Bill Birch said this is a “major upgrade,” and it will help others differentiate the town from others. “The story will be told, and everybody will get into it,” said Birch, stating that he would like to see this logo plastered around town in the future. But for now, it will just be hung up in the Town Hall room. 

By Michael Cook 

Voters in Briny Breezes didn’t have an election in March, leaving most of the work of deciding the town’s “elected officials” to the Town Council.

Only one candidate met the qualifying deadline in November — incumbent Alderman Jeff Duncan. He won election without opposition and was sworn in March 17. 

That left two empty seats, as outgoing Mayor Ted Gross and Alderwoman Holly Reitnauer chose not to run for reelection.

Alderman Bill Birch said he’d like to be mayor and was appointed by the council at its regular March 26 meeting. And Reitnauer, Birch’s wife, had a change of heart about continuing on the council. The council appointed her to take her seat again.

She originally opted not to run for health reasons, but said she is now in a better state to serve the town. That still leaves another opening, with Birch’s former seat needing to be filled. 

Town Attorney Keith Davis said the main requirements to fill the seat are to be a registered voter, a Briny Breezes resident for at least six months of the year, and available to attend Town Council meetings. 

Gross left the mayor’s position after serving in it for a single term, citing the weak-mayor system as a reason he could not execute his initiatives. 

The new mayor, Birch, said he will continue to represent neighbors’ voices. 

“I just like the idea of being able to go out and meet with people,” said Birch, using those conversations to inform his council decisions. However, his former position as alderman has one advantage over his current position as mayor: An alderman gets to vote on the council; the mayor doesn’t. 

By Patrick Sherry

The Lantana Town Council says the way food trucks operate has changed, so they need stricter rules. 

“Food trucks were not the thing that they are now, so we need to get a handle on what’s allowed [and] what’s not allowed,” Mayor Karen Lythgoe said at the council’s March 9 meeting. 

The council passed an ordinance with slight changes on its second reading that restricts food trucks in all zoning districts in the town. At three previous workshops, the council discussed implementing more regulations for these types of vendors to protect brick-and-mortar businesses. 

The new ordinance prohibits food trucks on commercial or industrial properties, but owners can still have non-food roadside vendors on site for no more than eight hours a day. 

Food trucks would only be allowed during town-sponsored events designated by the town manager.

Residential communities and private property owners can hire food truck services for community events for one day every quarter. 

“This is a living document,” Lythgoe said. “If we find we have restricted it too much or not enough, we will come back and do it, but we’re trying to bring things up to this day and age.” 

Council members begin new terms — Lantana Town Council members Chris Castle and Mark Zeitler were sworn in to new terms in March after winning election without opposition. Zeitler took his oath of office at the March 23 council meeting, while Castle was sworn in March 20 and attended the meeting by phone. The new terms run through March 2029.

Castle, a Lantana resident of 15 years, was chosen by the council to serve as vice mayor.

Easter sunrise service — First Baptist Church of Lantana received permission for free parking at Lantana Beach from 5 to 9 a.m. April 5 for its annual community Easter sunrise service and breakfast. The standard fee is typically $2.50 per hour per car for visitors without a resident’s pass. “I’ve gone for the last 30 years, and it’s very nice,” Mayor Karen Lythgoe said as the Town Council unanimously approved the request. The service starts at 6 a.m.            

    — Sephora Charles

By Steve Plunkett 

A Gulf Stream resident is charged with aggravated battery on a person 65 years or older, battery of the man’s wife and animal cruelty after confronting two former neighbors at the beach and allegedly kicking their dog.

Mika Michaels, 51, was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on $7,000 bond on March 24 after spending the night behind bars. Circuit Judge John Parnofiello ordered Michaels to have no contact with the alleged victims “and their pets” or with two witnesses.

Michaels, who lives at 4227 N. County Road, also was ordered to stay away from the town’s four northernmost beachfront properties: the Ballantrae condos, 4001 North Ocean condos, Bellamar House and Gulfstream Manor timeshare resort.

Victims Brian and Fiona Roberto, who once lived in a Sea Ridge condominium neighboring Michaels’ residence, said they were trying to exit the beach with two dogs on Sunday morning, March 22, and “were blocked from exiting on the stairs” by Michaels, according to a Gulf Stream police report. 

Michaels told the Robertos that the stairs behind 4001 North Ocean were “only for residents” and they started arguing over who has the right to use the beach access, the report said.

When Fiona Roberto tried to pass by Michaels, he pushed her back. Brian Roberto, 68, said, “Do not touch my wife,” and Michaels kicked one of their dogs, according to the report.

“When this happened Brian and Michaels got into a physical altercation,” the report said. “During this scuffle Brian and Fiona said Michaels punched Brian in the face with a closed fist.”

Police Sgt. Bernard O’Donnell arrested Michaels on March 23 after observing a red mark on Brian Roberto’s left cheek, a cellphone video of the confrontation taken by Fiona Roberto and photos she took of her husband’s bruised chest.

O’Donnell also reported that Michaels had “prior law enforcement encounters” and that Brian Roberto said he knew Michaels “from previous negative encounters.”

One of those encounters led to Fiona Roberto paying a $100 fine and $28 costs after Michaels complained that her dog ran into his yard while chasing a cat in June 2022. 

“Witness (Michaels) observed this from inside his home,” O’Donnell, again the investigating officer, reported.

Fiona Roberto admitted the dog got away from her but blamed it on a loose collar clip, O’Donnell wrote on the citation.

Michaels is scheduled to return to court on April 22.

The Robertos sold their Sea Ridge condo in May 2024, county property records show, after they bought a single-family home in Boynton Beach west of Military Trail that April. 

Manager given used police SUV to take home — Catching up to his peers, new Gulf Stream Town Manager Trey Nazzaro will have a take-home police vehicle instead of a monthly fuel allowance.

The vehicle already has 100,000 miles on the odometer but “is currently in good operational condition and does not have a cage, light bar or other police-specific equipment installed,” Nazzaro wrote in a memo to the Town Commission.

“It would not take a lot to decommission it,” Police Chief Richard Jones said. “It was previously my take-home car.”

The vehicle would have fetched only about $3,500 if traded in, Nazzaro said. “Given the relatively low trade-in value and the vehicle’s remaining useful life, retaining the vehicle for administrative use is considered a more cost-effective option.”

Many managers in the area already have take-home vehicles, Nazzaro said. Commissioners unanimously signed off on the deal March 13.

— Steve Plunkett 

Highland Beach resident and recording artist Deborah Silver at home with her Morkie, Sugar. Silver attended the 2026 Grammy Awards as a nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for her collaborative Basie Rocks! Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Recording artist Deborah Silver of Highland Beach hit a recent high note, walking the red carpet at the 2026 Grammy Awards as a nominee for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for Basie Rocks! — her collaboration with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. The album was announced as a nominee in November 2025. 
Music has always been a part of her life, she said. “My dad was a businessman, and he also had his own band where he played the saxophone. My mother [an opera singer] is a soprano and has a beautiful voice.”  

Her parents, Robert and Sondy Berman, started Deborah and her two sisters, Marjie Berman Block and Sheri Berman Spector, in music lessons from when they were little, and her mother taught them operas. “We were the only children probably in this entire state of Mississippi that when we went to an opera, we could follow it in another language and knew the story.”

Silver’s children are also involved in the arts. Her son, Spencer, 28, sings and plays many instruments, while her daughter, Madison, 27, is a painter and graphic artist. 

Her husband, Larry, on the other hand, “can’t sing a note,” she said. “But he is the one who usually gives me most of my ideas about the songs that I put in my performances and on my albums.” 

In her early music and entertainment career, Silver won the title of Miss St. Louis in the Miss America Pageant when she was a senior in college and, after graduating, she performed at venues in St. Louis and California.

After the birth of her second child, she suffered an illness that left her in a wheelchair for a year, and upon recovery, she devoted herself to raising her children, eventually transitioning back to music.

“When my kids got old enough to start calling me from their bedrooms on their cellphones, I said, ‘Mommy’s going back to work,’” she said.

Since then, she’s recorded the album Pure Silver to raise money for the cure for ALS, the disease her sister Marjie has. Then she went on to make The Gold Standards, Glitter and Grits, Asleep at the Wheel and an EP, Sunny Side.

About Basie Rocks!, she said: “We took rock ’n’ roll songs and reimagined them with the big band. It was produced by Steve Jordan, the drummer for the Rolling Stones. Even Peter Frampton played on it. Peter heard my version of Baby, I Love Your Way and called me up and told me that he wanted to play on it and he played the most beautiful guitar solo I’ve ever heard.”  

Also, the album includes Fly Like an Eagle with guitarist Bill Frisell and Joy to the World, with Silver and Trombone Shorty singing. Other artists taking part included trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and Latin percussionist Pedrito Martinez. 

“We all poured our hearts and souls into it. It took us four years to record it,” she said.

“The Grammys was such an incredible experience,” she added. “I was welcomed and treated like part of the family. I am very fortunate to have received a seat at their table.” 

What’s next for Deborah Silver? “Let’s just say that I still have quite a few surprises up my sleeve,” she said. “I am forever pushing creative boundaries. I’ve never been comfortable inside the box. I don’t follow lanes. I build them. And tradition inspires me, but it doesn’t confine me.” 

— Christine Davis

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you? 

A. I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and was raised with strong Southern values — kindness, hard work, faith and community. Being surrounded by genuine people shaped who I am. My early schooling was in Jackson, and I graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, working hard for my perfect straight-A grades. My upbringing gave me resilience and heart. It taught me to appreciate where I come from, stay grounded no matter how far I travel, and always use my voice — not just to sing, but to uplift others. Those roots still guide everything I do.

Q. What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

A. I’ve worn many hats over the years — performer, spokesperson, actor, recording artist, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. My journey in entertainment spans decades, from early performance work to returning to music later in life with renewed purpose. Following life-changing complications from a pregnancy that left me unable to walk, my career was put on hold. Professionally, I’m most proud of staying the course — rebuilding my career after taking time off to raise my family and ultimately earning a Grammy nomination with my latest album, Basie Rocks! My return to music is living proof that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

My greatest purpose in music is helping others. Giving back is at the heart of everything I do, supporting various causes from helping cure neurological diseases to having a portion of the proceeds from Basie Rocks! go to the Jazz Foundation of America. I strongly believe those recognized in our industry have a responsibility to give back. Awards are special, but being able to help others is most meaningful to me.

Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today?

A. Follow what lights you up — but pair passion with perseverance. Careers aren’t always straight lines, and success rarely happens overnight. Be willing to work hard and keep learning. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, but most importantly trust your own instincts. Don’t be afraid to take risks and don’t ever let anyone discourage you. Choose something that allows you to make a difference in this world, because fulfillment comes not just from what you achieve, but from how you help others along the way.

Q. How did you choose to make your home in Highland Beach? 

A. I love the beach and always wanted to live by the ocean. In my previous neighborhood, while walking my two dogs, we were suddenly surrounded by several large, ferocious dogs. I had to pull both of my dogs out of the other dogs’ mouths. I never wanted to go through that again. I came up with the idea I need to be at the beach. If I walk my dogs on the sand and see another dog running toward us, I could jump into the water with my dogs.

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Highland Beach?

A. The ocean gives me peace, perspective and creative inspiration. I love it outside every second of the day!

Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?

A. This may sound funny, but everyone who knows me knows I rarely take time to truly relax — I try to put every waking moment to good use and purpose. When I do have downtime, I usually let others choose the music, especially my husband, who has a wonderfully eclectic taste, from the Great American Songbook to country. But when I’m alone, many times I don’t listen to music at all. Since music is such a big part of my daily life and work, I sometimes need quiet — it helps me focus on what I am working on so I can give my best to everything I do.

Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions?

A. My daddy taught us many wonderful quotes growing up, but my favorite is one from Winston Churchill that echoes through our entire family as we continue to fight for a cure for my sister’s ALS: “Never, never, never give up.” It’s become our family mantra and keeps us hopeful no matter how hard the journey.

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?

A. My greatest mentors and supporters are my family including my parents, my two sisters, my husband and my children who have always stood with me, offering honest opinions, which I truly value and trust.

Professionally, my mentors include the legendary arranger Charlie Calello, and my beloved friend and “stage mom,” Florida’s first lady of musical theater, the incomparable, late Jan McArt. Jan was the one who brought me back to the stage after a long time away from my career, and I will always be grateful for her belief in me.

Q. What’s your favorite cause and why?

A. I work diligently to support many causes, but ALS and neurological disease are especially personal to me. My sister was diagnosed 18 years ago, and walking alongside her through that journey changed me forever. It opened my eyes to how important research, awareness and compassionate care truly are. I’m also passionate about supporting fellow musicians through the Jazz Foundation of America. Giving back is at the heart of everything I do; using my concerts and recordings to help others is the most important part of my music. 

Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?

A. That’s a tough one, but I’d probably say Reese Witherspoon or Sandra Bullock. They both have strength, heart, and that perfect blend of grit and grace. I think they’d understand the resilience and the feeling of chasing dreams later in life — and hopefully they’d let me do the singing parts myself!

DELRAY BEACH — Devoted family man Leon Oliver Surles Sr. died Feb. 4. He was 72.

Mr. Surles was born in West Palm Beach to Mina Surles and Leonard L. Surles Sr. and was a lifelong resident of Delray Beach, where his family’s roots extend back generations. From an early age, Leon learned the values of faith, hard work and devotion to family — principles that guided him throughout his life.

Mr. Surles graduated from Seacrest High School in Delray Beach in 1971. Following graduation, he joined the family business — Surles Delray Rug Company — founded by his father in 1939. Leon took great pride in continuing the work his father began, helping carry forward a family legacy that remains in operation today.

Mr. Surles was a devoted husband, a present and loving father, and a proud grandfather who put his family first in all things. He loved God with his whole heart and followed him faithfully, teaching his family about God’s love through both words and example. To his grandchildren, he was lovingly known as “Pee Paw,” a name that reflected the warmth, love and joy he brought into their lives. 

Mr. Surles is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Lisa B. Surles; his brothers, Leonard L. Surles Jr. and Ernest M. Surles; his children, Carrie Surles Hutchinson (husband, Rick Hutchinson) and Leon Oliver Surles Jr. (wife, Cindy Surles); his grandchildren, Halee Buskirk, James Webb, Kyle Surles, Ryan W. Surles, Dylan Surles and Leon Surles III; and his great-grandchildren, Luna Surles and Ryan R. Surles. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandson, Luke Webb.

A celebration of life service was held in February. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family Church of Sherbrooke, 8657 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL 33467.

— Submitted by the family

GULF STREAM — Longtime resident Georgie Williams Lewis died here Feb. 26. She was 103.

Born in 1922, she started coming to the area as a child in the 1920s and 1930s, when her parents, Eugene F. Williams and Marie Wight Williams of St. Louis, had a house on North Ocean Boulevard.

She was an active member of the Gulf Stream Golf Club, the Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis Club and the Little Club at Gulf Stream.

Her passions included traveling, socializing, golf and bridge. Her philanthropic endeavors embraced education, the arts and youth services. 

She is survived by several children and stepchildren and members of the families of her late brother and sister, Eugene F. Williams Jr. of St. Louis and Mamie Williams von Gontard of Greenwich, Connecticut.

— Submitted by the family

The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the 64th Delray Affair from April 10 to 12. Last year’s event (above) attracted tens of thousands of attendees. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

Discover the Palm Beaches, the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County, recently announced record-breaking 2025 visitor numbers.

According to its data, Palm Beach County welcomed more than 10.7 million visitors in 2025, surpassing the 9.9 million in 2024 and representing an 8% increase. 

Those visitors made a big impact on the economy. Preliminary figures show visitors spent $7.7 billion in 2025, up from $7.2 billion in 2024, and the 2025 total economic impact is about $11.7 billion, up from $10.5 billion in 2024. 

The gains came from marketing to new domestic travel markets, targeted efforts to bring in new groups and meetings, and stronger events, Discover the Palm Beaches reported. 

Offering some examples, spokeswoman Angela Cruz Ledford said that targeting emerging markets in Texas, especially in Houston and Dallas, paid off. Visitors from those cities “grew more than 20%. That’s huge, a massive jump in the tourism world,” she said.

“Traditionally, Texas residents like going to the Florida Panhandle. So, we ran marketing campaigns, like advertising and social media boosting, and we also [went to the target markets and] did interactive, fun events with travel writers, social media influencers, meeting planners, tour operators and travel agents, inviting them to explore why our destination is worth visiting. We did so many of these that we’ve seen a dramatic increase.” 

Based on JetBlue’s addition of nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Palm Beach International Airport, Discover the Palm Beaches is also focusing on Los Angeles as an emerging target, Ledford said.

 She also noted the Eudemonia Summit, a new wellness tech expo held at the Convention Center in November 2024 and 2025. 

“The first year, we sold 2,700 tickets and last year, we sold out,” she said. “That was 5,000 tickets. And these are high spenders because tickets cost $3,000. When they come for an event like this, they infuse their dollars into the local market.” 

Sister agencies also delivered results. The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County reported its 2025 grantees reached more than 3 million people.

The council also reported that Palm Beach County’s cultural activities generate more than $335.3 million a year. The Palm Beach County Film and Television Commission reported that production in 2025 generated more than $260 million in revenue, marking four consecutive years of record-breaking growth, a 3% increase over 2024. 

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission reported that about 1.6 million people attended 227 sport-related events last year, generating $496 million in visitor spending and filling more than 462,000 hotel rooms.

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The Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the 64th edition of the Delray Affair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 10–11 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 12.

 Spanning seven city blocks of Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach, the free, open-air festival will showcase the work of more than 400 artists and crafters from across the country, plus demonstrations, workshops and interactive experiences. 

The Delray Affair, which traces its origins to the 1940s and 1950s as the Delray Beach Gladiola Festival, generates an economic impact of $3.4 million and usually attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year.

 The festival has garnered local, regional and national awards, and most recently, it was named the 2025 People’s Choice “evAward” winner for Best Art Show, determined by public nomination and popular vote. Launched in November, the evAwards recognize standout events nationally.

 For more information about the festival, visit delrayaffair.com.

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Holiday House Wellington, a philanthropic designer showhouse, is hosting special events and gatherings in support of breast cancer research. It features a roster of interior designers who have each created a unique space across two neighboring residences in Farrell Estates Wellington, a new development within the Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club. 

Among the two dozen designers participating, two are based in Boca Raton and Delray Beach: Wendy Lynn Interiors and Nikki Levy Interiors. The showhouse is open by appointment from April 6 through May 3. Tickets are available only online and must be purchased at least one day in advance. To purchase tickets, visit holidayhouse.ticketspice.com/holiday-house-wellington-2026.

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The Boca Eddie Land Trust, tied to actor and comedian Kevin James, paid $17.15 million for a new six-bedroom, 12,301-total-square-foot home on Sabal Palm Drive, in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. The sellers were Peter Ciregna along with Marco Capoccia and Maria Cervi-Capoccia, both from Primo Construction, and John Lombard. The home on the golf course includes a first-floor primary suite, clubroom, office, gourmet kitchen, catering kitchen and gym. Jackie Feldman with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty represented the sellers, while Jason Matouk with Douglas Elliman represented the buyer. James is best known for his roles in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Grown Ups, The King of Queens, and Home Team.

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Three other properties also sold recently in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. The waterfront home at 298 W. Key Palm Road, with six bedrooms and 15,813 total square feet, sold for $21 million. The seller, attorney Philipp Kirschbaum, bought the property for $22.6 million in June 2023. The buyer is listed as Thomas U. Graner, trustee of the Coastal Property Land Trust. David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented both sides in the deal. 

The 207 W. Coconut Palm Road Land Trust, with Matthew M. Epstein as trustee, sold the 9,280-square-foot waterfront home at 207 W. Coconut Palm Road for $18 million. The buyer was the 207 Coconut Palm Trust, with Chicago-based attorney Michael Passananti as trustee. Epstein bought the property in 2021 for $5.64 million. Nick Malinosky of Douglas Elliman was the listing agent, while William Volpe of Serhant represented the buyer. 

Also, Frank and Lea Ann LoBello sold their six-bedroom, 7,628-square-foot waterfront home at 252 S. Maya Palm Drive for $11.4 million. The buyer is 252 South Maya Palm Drive Trust, with Shawn C. Snyder as trustee. The LoBellos bought their home in 2012 for $3.825 million. David W. Roberts of Royal Palm Properties represented the buyer and seller in the deal.

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Glass House Boca Raton, developed by 280 E Palmetto Park Road LLC, received $70 million in construction financing from the New York-based Maxim Capital Group. 280 E Palmetto Park Road LLC is a partnership of Noam Ziv, who leads Red-C Group in Boca Raton, and Ilan and Ido Zaken, with Mira Properties in Philadelphia. 

Vertical construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year, with completion slated for late 2027. Arrow Real Estate Advisors’ Morris Betesh, Morris Dabbah and Louis Halperin helped secure the loan. The nine-story, 28-residence condo was designed by West Palm Beach-based Garcia Stromberg, with Delray Beach-based Kaufman Lynn Construction as general contractor. Units will range from 2,500 to 3,900 square feet, priced from $2.7 million to more than $8 million, with Douglas Elliman leading sales. 

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Christine D. Roberts, founder and CEO of the accounting and bookkeeping firm Intention Enterprises, was recently appointed to the Palm Beach County Small Business Development Advisory Board. 

Previously, Roberts served on the Office of Equal Business Opportunity advisory committee, helping expand opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses across the county.

Roberts holds leadership roles with the Palm Beach County Small Business Association, the Equity Entrepreneur Center and the Boynton Beach Chamber of Industry & Commerce. She is also the author of Wealth Whispers and founder of a nonprofit scholarship fund.

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Delray Beach resident Faye Weisberg has joined Premier Estate Properties as a broker associate at the Delray Beach office. With nearly three decades of experience in luxury real estate, she has closed high-end sales in both the Hamptons and Palm Beach County.

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French Florist has opened its first Florida location at 5601 N. Federal Highway, Suite 9, Boca Raton. A national brand, this local franchise is owned by Samantha and Ryan Garvey. 

Samantha was raised in Los Angeles with family roots tied to a greenhouse in east Texas. While Ryan’s background is in finance and mortgage lending, he also has a personal connection to floristry. His grandfather worked in a floral shop in Baltimore and later helped manage the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.  

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The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority and the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament launched the “Love at First Sight” storefront competition this year. 

Downtown Delray Beach businesses were invited to create tennis-inspired window displays using the tournament’s aqua-and-yellow color palette and romantic motifs tied to the event’s Valentine’s Day timing. 

After three weeks and hundreds of community votes, Nine Line Apparel, 530 E. Atlantic Ave., was crowned the People’s Choice Champion and received a cash prize presented live on stadium court on Feb. 18 during the 2026 Delray Beach Open. Beach Gossip, 331 E. Atlantic Avenue, finished a close second. 

With more than 60,000 fans attending the men’s professional tournament and broadcast exposure in more than 185 countries, the competition gave local retailers a high-visibility way to align with one of the city’s signature events.

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German Cabieses, general manager at Alina Residences Boca Raton, recently received the 2025 President’s Award from FirstService Residential, an honor that recognized his leadership across the company’s South Region portfolio. FirstService Residential manages more than 500 high-rise communities and 1,500 associations serving communities across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. The award was presented Feb. 5 at FirstService Residential’s third annual South Region Awards virtual event.

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On Feb. 25, iPIC Theaters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but announced that it will continue operating while pursuing a court-supervised process to restructure and maximize value for all creditors.

 The company on Feb. 26 notified employees of planned layoffs effective April 28, 2026. These included 51 employees at its Delray Beach theater, 25 SE Fourth Ave., and 98 staff members at its Boca Raton corporate office, 433 Plaza Real, Suite 355.

Christine Davis writes business news and can be reached at cdavis9797@gmail.com.

By Mary Hladky

New Boca Raton City Manager Mark Sohaney has revamped the city’s leadership in a massive executive-team shake-out.

Gone are Police Chief Michele Miuccio and Deputy City Managers Chrissy Gibson and Jorge Camejo, the city announced on March 12.

The city has since launched a national search for a new police chief.

“We are looking for a leader who understands the importance of service, community accountability, and relationships, and who can help guide the department into the future,” Sohaney said in a March 24 statement.

The position was to be posted through the beginning of April. Assistant Police Chief Elizabeth Roberts has been appointed acting police chief and will be involved in the hiring process.

But the 20-year department veteran is not expected to stay with the city for long. She has received a conditional offer for a new professional opportunity, city officials said.

Miuccio joined the Police Department 37 years ago and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief and then police chief in 2020.

Most recently, Miuccio had pressed for a new police headquarters to replace the current facility, which is old and in poor condition.

Voters in the March 10 city election voted down financing a new police campus on city-owned land at the intersection of Spanish River and Broken Sound boulevards. The new buildings, which also would have included a firing range and a building to store evidence, would have cost as much as $190 million.

Gibson is a longtime employee who served as assistant city manager until her promotion in 2024. She oversaw the office of city clerk, emergency management, sustainability, public art, and communications and marketing.

Camejo is the city’s former Community Redevelopment Agency director who left to head up Hollywood’s CRA before returning to the city as a deputy city manager last year. His focus was on Boca Raton’s CRA.

He will still be involved in  planning for the city. A day after the firings were announced, Camejo applied for a seat on the Planning & Zoning Board. The City Council approved his appointment at its March 24 meeting.

In brief remarks, he told the council that he thought his background and experience in development and redevelopment would be helpful to the board.

Sohaney’s announcement did not say why the three were pushed out. But it said that the city has conducted a review of its leadership structure over the past five months “to ensure it aligns with operational needs and long-term priorities.”

“These changes are being implemented as part of this strategic realignment to ensure continuity of service, maintain public safety, and position the city to move forward with a strong and effective leadership team,” the city statement said.

Sohaney joined the city in September, replacing City Manager George Brown, who retired. 

A couple poses for engagement photos at South Inlet Park in Boca Raton late last month. The restoration has raised the beach by about 6 feet, the city says. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Mary Hladky

The 12-foot sand cliffs at South Inlet Park are now a distant memory.

Severe beach erosion in mid-February was the result of cold weather fronts and powerful tides.

The city’s dredge boat crew was able to begin correcting the problem almost immediately.

A sand bypassing operation has placed more than 14,000 cubic yards of sand on the beach south of the Boca Inlet since Feb. 17, city officials said in late March.

The elevation of sand surface has been raised by about 6 feet from the jetty to nearly 100 feet south.

The boulders that make up the jetty now are nearly completely covered.

The sand bypassing operation runs three or four days a week, and averages placing about 1,000 cubic yards of sand each day.

Access to the jetty and the adjacent beach area has been fully restored. 

Bypassed sand will gradually work its way south, building up berm width and height on South Inlet Park beach.

The city is coordinating with Gumbo Limbo Nature Center to safeguard turtles through the turtle nesting season.

Grading of bypassed sand to build up the beach berm near the dune and jetty will be considered when it can be done without any negative effect on turtle nesting, city officials said.

Boca Raton routinely nourishes its south beach every seven years, rotating the work with projects on its central and north beaches.

In April 2023, the city completed the sixth renourishment project of the shoreline adjacent to South Inlet Park.

Sand placement started at South Inlet Park and continued south to Deerfield Beach and Hillsboro Beach.

The 1.4-mile project was the first collaborative project among the three cities.

Boca Raton received a “Best Restored Beach Award” from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association for that work.

The three cities saved money on renourishment projects that they had conducted independently in the past. They used about 370,000 cubic yards of sand dredged from the ebb shoal just south of the Boca Raton Inlet. 

By Steve Plunkett 

A Boca Raton man has been acquitted of trying to strangle and hold his girlfriend underwater at the 2022 Boca Bash.

Cole Goldberg, then 23, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, domestic battery by strangulation and simple battery in the April 24, 2022, incident as hundreds of boats gathered for the Lake Boca Raton party held each year on the last Sunday in April.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge John Parnofiello found Goldberg not guilty of all three charges on March 12 after a three-day non-jury trial.

At the time of the arrest, witnesses said Goldberg and girlfriend Caroline Schwitzky, then 32, got into a heated argument before she jumped into the water to get away and he followed.

Goldberg, one witness said, “came up from behind her and grabbed her by the neck and pushed her underwater. He held her underwater and (another witness) pulled her away from him,” the arrest report said.

But inconsistencies in witnesses’ recollections at the trial troubled Parnofiello. One said Schwitzky was underwater 4 seconds, another said 10 to 15 seconds and a third “could not give a specific time,” the judge said. Two others could also not provide a time. A sixth witness said she was underwater “5, 6, maybe 10 seconds” and Schwitzky herself said she was submerged “30, 40 or 50 seconds,” Parnofiello said.

The witnesses also differed on whether Goldberg tried to hold Schwitzky underwater more than once, the judge said. And Schwitzky testified that “she was thrown around like a rag doll back and forth,” but there was no evidence of injuries consistent with such a violent manner, Parnofiello said.

Schwitzky had told the arresting officers that she and Goldberg had been dating for about a year. Schwitzky played a modeling agent in 2016 in the reality show 90-Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? on cable channel TLC. 

L-R: Police Officer of the Year George Reid, Paramedic of the Year Kyle Pavelka, Firefighter of the Year Ray Charafardin, and Tyrone Powell. Powell, a Highland Beach maintenance mechanic, is the town’s inaugural Employee of the Year award winner. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star 

By Rich Pollack

Officially, Tyrone Powell’s title is utility maintenance mechanic for the town of Highland Beach. 

Those familiar with Powell’s work, however, know that the better moniker would be “go-to guy,” since the Public Works employee is called on to do everything from emptying trash cans on the beach to fixing a leaky faucet or replacing a water meter. 

Now, after 10 years in Highland Beach, Powell has earned yet another title: Employee of the Year. 

Recognized for his teamwork and easygoing demeanor, Powell is the inaugural winner of the Employee of the Year award for employees not in the fire or police department. 

At a March ceremony, the town also honored Police Officer of the Year George Reid, Firefighter of the Year Ray Charafardin and Paramedic of the Year Kyle Pavelka. 

Town leaders say Powell’s commitment to the town and strong work ethic helped him earn unanimous support for the award from department heads. 

“Tyrone is always willing to help anyone at any time,” says Public Works Director Pat Roman, Powell’s supervisor. “He’s always smiling and never raises his voice. He’s just a pleasant guy to be around.” 

Originally from Jamaica, Powell has been in the United States for 40 years, working first in the New York area, where he did the same type of maintenance work he does for Highland Beach. 

He honed a variety of the skills he uses every day while growing up on the island. 

“When you’re in Jamaica you learn to do everything,” he said. 

Part of his job includes driving a cart down the beach Monday, Wednesday and Friday to empty trash cans, and over the last decade he’s gotten to say hello to many of the town’s residents. 

Being outside is where he prefers to be. 

“I don’t like office work,” he says. 

Powell, 69, says his job in Highland Beach is the best one he’s ever had, in part because the town’s leadership just lets him do his job. 

He is grateful for the Employee of the Year recognition and says it is the first time he’s work at a place that offers such an award. 

As for the future, Powell says he’s not thinking about retiring anytime soon. 

“I enjoy what I do here so I don’t see any reason to retire,” he said. 

Officer of the Year 

You would think that motorists would be unhappy when they get traffic tickets, but when the citations come from Officer George Reid, quite a few folks end up thanking him. 

In fact, a couple have even written letters to town leaders expressing their gratitude for the way Reid handled the traffic stops. 

“People love him,” Police Chief Craig Hartmann said. 

Reid’s determination to help make the town safer by encouraging compliance with traffic laws — and the way he handled a life-threatening situation — were key reasons why he was selected Officer of the Year. 

He led the department in several categories including traffic stops, citations, warnings, criminal violations and arrests. 

Reid also helped subdue and arrest a machete-wielding man who tussled with officers and was able to pull Reid’s weapon partially out of the holster and pull the trigger.

Firefighter of the Year

Harnessing the latest technology is crucial to the success of any fire rescue department and in Highland Beach, firefighter Ray Charafardin is playing an important role in helping get that technology up and running.  

“Ray helped implement technology that improves the quality of care and the implementation of that care,” Fire Rescue Chief Glenn Joseph said. 

Charafardin led the initiative to update the department’s reporting system, transferring information from the old system to the new one over a six-month period. 

He also helped with setting up the new EPOCH mobile laboratory system that makes it possible for paramedics to better diagnose medical conditions while with the patient. 

In addition, Charafardin helped with implementation of a mobile app that enables paramedics to navigate the protocols for specific patient conditions. 

Last year, Charafardin was named Paramedic of the Year.

Paramedic of the Year

In an emergency, having the right equipment — and knowing where it is — is essential for first responders. Paramedic Kyle Pavelka is making sure that’s what’s happening at Highland Beach Fire Rescue.

Pavelka volunteered to write two grants for additional equipment that the department needed, with one of those grants resulting in needed funding and the other still pending. 

He also took the initiative to make sure the equipment was easily accessible to firefighters and paramedics if and when they need it. 

“He completely redid the way we store and access equipment on the truck,” Joseph said. 

The chief said that Pavelka is there to help others in the department — including firefighters and paramedics — improve through training programs. He also focuses on his own training. 

“He’s very committed to improving his skills,” the chief said. 

By Rich Pollack

The 3.3-mile State Road A1A road improvement project in Highland Beach — which came in with a roar — is going out with a whimper as crews finalize the project that’s more than six months behind schedule and almost $1 million over budget. 

Florida Department of Transportation officials say that the resurfacing project with an original price tag of $8.3 million will cost about $950,000 more. 

In addition, state officials say that the original completion date of late summer 2025 has now been pushed back to sometime this spring, although much of the work remaining is part of a “punch-out list” with minimal disruption to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. 

Weather, according to an FDOT spokesperson, played a factor in the delays as did design revisions identified during construction that needed to be implemented. 

A significant contributing factor has been the need to raise and shift the roadway profile to tie into existing driveways and adjacent areas while making sure the work was following the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

“This effort introduced unforeseen challenges and contributed to the extended construction delays. These adjustments required additional coordination, redesign, and construction effort, ultimately contributing to schedule impacts and cost overruns,” the FDOT said in an email to The Coastal Star.

Also contributing were additional improvements such as an enhanced drainage system, pavement strengthening and roadway profile adjustments designed to improve the long-term performance of the highway, the email said. 

Those improvements were identified during the project. 

While the continued work is not having much impact on motorists, it is creating an issue for Highland Beach town officials who say they are waiting for the FDOT to complete the project before they can begin a massive sewer lining project along A1A.

Once it begins, that project is expected to be completed within a few months. 

The proposed Mizner Plaza has two stories of retail and restaurants below a 219-room hotel. The staircase between towers aligns with Mizner Park. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton’s Community Redevelopment Agency has approved a 12-story hotel and retail project directly south of Mizner Park.

The project received the go-ahead on March 23 with a 4-1 vote of agency commissioners, who also are City Council members.

Only then-CRA Chair Marc Wigder, who was defeated in his bid for reelection in the March 10 election, voted against the project.

Acknowledging the election results that swept three Save Boca members into office, Wigder unsuccessfully proposed a vote postponement until after new council members took office on March 31.

James and Marta Batmasian, the largest commercial property owners in the downtown, first proposed Mizner Plaza in 2023, but did not move forward with it at the time.

They revived it last year after making minor revisions and abandoning a request to buy a very small city-owned lot that is now used for parking.

Like all downtown development efforts, the project is controversial. Condo owners in Tower 155, located immediately south of the project site, were the strongest opponents.

The new Mizner Plaza would have two towers with retail and restaurants on the first two stories and a 219-room hotel above them. A 56-foot-wide and 20-foot-tall staircase would separate the towers and would align with the plaza in Mizner Park. Parking would be on two levels underground.

The staircase is intended to be a key feature that would be a gathering spot. But elevators and a pedestrian ramp also would be available.

A 10-foot alley on the south side of the project site would be expanded to 20 feet to accommodate two-way traffic.

To make way for the project, two one-story buildings — at 132 and 170 NE Second St. — and the downtown post office would be demolished.

Tower 155 residents derided the buildings as too big and too close to their building, creating a cramped effect. But Tower 155 also had strong detractors at the time it was proposed, largely because of its size and its tight fit on its lot.

Project attorney Ele Zachariades pushed back against criticism that Mizner Plaza and Tower 155 would be too close together, saying the building setback from Tower 155 had been expanded to 54 feet even though the city said no setback is needed.

The alley between the two buildings drew much criticism, with Tower 155 residents saying that it would be too narrow even after it is expanded to 20 feet to accommodate two-way traffic. They also feared it would be clogged during the day by service vehicles and delivery trucks.

“Just because a developer wants a big hotel doesn’t mean he should get one,” said Jeanette Oren, adding that the proximity of the two buildings would create “concrete canyons.”

But the project also drew supporters. They liked the fact that the staircase would be lined up with Mizner Park, which would encourage pedestrians to walk to restaurants and shops at both locations.

The addition of restaurants and shops also makes the area more of a true downtown, they said.

“I think it is a beautiful looking building,” said Stephen Newman. “I think it will add a lot to the downtown area.”

“This project is instrumental to the future of the city. It will change everything,” said Scott Kerner.

Marta Batmasian also defended the project. “It is incredibly beautiful,” she said. 

Speaking for herself and her husband, she said, “We are doing this for my grandchildren and you have to respect that.”

A council majority agreed the building’s architectural design is beautiful.

“It is a forward-looking design,” said then-Mayor Scott Singer.

Council member Yvette Drucker, who was not up for reelection this year, and then-Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas liked the project’s connection to Mizner Park and said it would add life to the downtown.

Then-Council member and now-Mayor Andy Thomson said property owners can’t legally be denied the right to build just because some think a building is too big — as long as the owners adhere to city ordinances. 

By Mary Hladky

The outgoing City Council on March 24 approved a luxury residential building on the grounds of The Boca Raton resort.

The unanimous vote cleared the way for construction of an eight-story, 76-unit building with one level of underground parking.

The council also gave the go-ahead to a three-story fitness center for resort members and guests, and it previously approved a new golf maintenance facility.

The residential building will rise on 5.2 acres inside the resort’s golf course, north and west of the main hotel. Units will range in size from two to five bedrooms.

In outlining their plans to the council, project team members emphasized that they were preserving all the healthy old-growth trees on the property and intentionally did not propose a high-rise.

The architectural style, they said, was chosen to complement architect Addison Mizner’s designs for the resort.

Infrastructure improvements include construction of a new 6-foot-wide sidewalk along Mizner Village Drive and creating a pedestrian connection from the entrance on Southeast Mizner Boulevard to the center of the property.

Concerns about the project from nearby residents, including those who live in the few private residential areas on the property, largely centered on the disruptions caused by construction as well as safety issues created by construction vehicles entering the resort.

The project team, including land use attorney Bonnie Miskel, agreed on several measures — including the pedestrian connection — to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The residential building’s indoor amenities will include a residents’ club, pool and gym. Outdoor amenities are a spa garden, golf terrace on the ground floor and rooftop pool and deck.

The residential building is an extension of a $375 million upgrade of the entire resort property that began in 2019 under the ownership of MSD Partners and Northview Hotel Group.

In February, Forbes Travel Guide announced the resort had received four five-star ratings for 2026 — one of only seven properties worldwide to attain that status. The resort is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. 

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach town leaders and South Florida Water Management District staff think they may have come up with a compromise that could keep plans for a dock serving the town’s police and fire departments from sinking. 

Standing in the way of the efforts to build the dock was a determination by the water management district that it needed more information about the town’s effort to mitigate disruption to a small patch of seagrass on the Intracoastal Waterway that the dock would cover.

The district sent back the town’s permit application with a request to provide a plan that would require planting of new seagrass elsewhere and building a structure to pre-treat storm water runoff. 

To do what the water district wanted, Town Manager Marshall Labadie said, would have required engineering studies and consultant work that could have added as much as $200,000 to the $2 million project. 

Following a meeting late in March, however, the water managers and the town came to a compromise that will allow the town to resubmit its permit request complete with a plan that is more focused on educating boaters about the need to protect seagrass and advocating for that protection.  

The plan would no longer require mitigation planting or building an underground stormwater runoff pre-treatment structure. 

“We’ve come up with a mitigation strategy that is more reasonable for a public-purpose project,” Labadie said. 

As part of its new permit application, the town is proposing putting floating signage in the Intracoastal Waterway near or adjacent to the dock, asking boaters to avoid seagrass beds and limit activities harmful to the vegetation. Those include high speeds and large wakes. In addition, the town will put an educational display in its public library about the important role seagrass has on marine life in Florida, especially federally protected manatees. 

Seagrass beds serve as critical feeding grounds for manatees, which can consume up to 100 pounds a day. 

Seagrass is an important part of protecting Florida’s natural resources, according to the South Florida Water Management District. 

“Seagrasses provide vital habitat and food for many native species,” a spokesman for the agency said. 

Labadie said the town will submit a new application that will follow the agreed-upon mitigation plan, which still must be approved. That new plan is in addition to steps the town had already taken to minimize damage to the seagrass. 

Those steps, aimed at protecting the 32.6 square feet of low-quality seagrass that would be affected, include reconfiguring the dock’s alignment and using grated decking on the dock to allow light to come through. 

In making his case for a less restrictive and less costly mitigation plan, Labadie pointed out that the dock will be used by the town police’s marine patrol unit and by the town’s fire rescue department. 

In addition, the dock — specifically designed for public safety use — will be accessible to other law enforcement agencies, including those from Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Town leaders are hoping to receive a grant for about half of the project’s cost from the Florida Inland Navigation District but will need to have the permit from the water management district approved by June 1 to maintain eligibility.  

The town is receiving an additional $250,000 from the state to help cover the project’s cost. 

DELRAY BEACH — Sonya Isabelle Marcellino Costin of Delray Beach and Lake Burton, Georgia, died March 19. She was 91.

Sonya graduated from Seacrest High School in Delray Beach in 1952 and married her high school sweetheart, Bob Costin. Together, they founded Costin’s Flowers & Gifts, a thriving business that served Palm Beach County successfully for over 45 years.

Mrs. Costin’s passion was creating glorious floral arrangements as well as picking exquisite china, crystal, silver and accessories to offer her customers. She worked hard to make sure customer service and satisfaction were the top priorities at Costin’s. 

Though the Costins’ primary residence was Delray Beach, their true love was time spent at “Costins’ Chalet” on Lake Burton. In addition to their “lake time,” they enjoyed traveling the U.S. in their Blue Bird Wanderlodge. Whenever you saw RC-2 roll by, you knew Sonya and Bob were on their way!

Strong and resilient, Mrs. Costin will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her and caring for her: forever loved and never forgotten.

Mrs. Costin was preceded in death by her husband, Robert P. Costin; her parents, Peter R. and Christine M. Marcellino; and her brothers, Patrick F. and Peter R. Marcellino. She is survived by her nieces, Gianna, Cari and Christy Marcellino; nephew, Patrick Marcellino Jr. (Jennifer); and many loyal friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Achievement Centers for Children & Families, 555 NW Fourth St., Delray Beach, FL 33444. (www.AchievementCentersFL.org, 561-266-0003)

The funeral service and burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Amsterdam, New York, at a later date. Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Georgia, is in charge of the arrangements.

An online memorial register book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com. For questions, call 706-782-9599.

— Submitted by the family

Five bulldozers level freshly pumped sand after it was spread onto the beach in Ocean Ridge from the dredge (at right) as part of a $9.4 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project. The gray color comes from organic sediment and is common for beach renourishment projects. It will change over time to the natural color of sand. The project is expected to continue through April, before the peak of sea turtle nesting season arrives. Jerry Lower/ The Coastal Star