By Tao Woolfe

Staff changes continued their whirlwind pace in Boynton Beach as interim Police Chief Vanessa Snow resigned from the department in May and was replaced as interim chief by Assistant Chief Joseph DeGiulio.
A news release from the city announcing Snow’s departure said the city was “grateful for interim Chief Snow’s commitment and service throughout the years, and we wish her much success in her future endeavors.”
No reason was given by the city for Snow’s resignation, but she and former Police Chief Michael Gregory — who left the city in April — had served during the turmoil following the death of 13-year-old Stanley Davis III last December.
The boy crashed his dirt bike into a median on Federal Highway on Dec. 26 while being pursued by Boynton Beach Police Officer Mark Sohn in his patrol car.
Representatives of the Black community continue to ask the city to fire Sohn. He is the subject of an internal Police Department probe into Davis’ death.
Sohn was cleared of all charges in late March by a Florida Highway Patrol investigation. FHP concluded Davis was unlawfully fleeing an attempted traffic stop and going 85 mph in a 35-mph zone.
Fallout from the incident — as well frustration over the city’s role in the stalled Town Square downtown development — led the commission to fire longtime City Manager Lori LaVerriere in late April.
DeGiulio has served the Boynton Beach Police Depart-ment in various capacities since joining the force as a police officer in 2001. Since then he has served 10 years as a command officer, rising through the ranks as a sergeant, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief.
He recently applied for the interim city manager’s position, but the commission appointed Fire Chief James Stables to that post on April 25.
In his application letter to the commission for the interim city manager’s job, DeGiulio said he could help build rapport between the Police Department and the community.
“Throughout my years of service my goal has always been to improve relationships with the community and the Police Department with effective leadership and innovation,” DeGiulio wrote.
Those skills will be put to the test as the city looks at whether a merger with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office would benefit the city. Many residents have said they would rather reform the city’s Police Department than replace it with the PBSO.
“I look forward to working closely with interim Chief DeGiulio, who will serve as a key member of the city’s executive team and assure the community a seamless transition of leadership in the Police Department,” Stables said in a prepared statement.
DeGiulio received his master’s degree in leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University, and a bachelor of science degree in police studies from John Jay College in New York.
He served as a police officer in New York from 1998 to 2001.
The city will also be losing popular City Clerk Crystal Gibson, who is leaving to care full-time for her family.
Asked if she’s looking forward to a less stressful job, Gibson laughed.
“There’s no such thing as a stress-free job,” she said. “There are just different kinds of stresses.”

Affiliated Development’s project, called The Pierce after the historical barefoot mailman, Charlie Pierce, appears to be back on track, with a final agreement with the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency to be considered June 7. Rendering provided

By Tao Woolfe

The city has reached a tentative agreement with Affiliated Development to build a $73 million complex of apartments, retail stores, restaurants and green space along the west side of Federal Highway.
The agreement — which is expected to be finalized at a special meeting of the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency board on June 7 — was hammered out after months of sometimes testy negotiations.
Two of the main sticking points were:
• A demand by the city that 150 parking spaces, above those required by city code, be provided for the public.
• An agreement on the number of workforce housing units — or affordable apartments — that would be provided.
The developer has tentatively agreed to the extra parking spaces and to provide affordable rental apartment units with this breakdown: 50% (118 units) of the total 236 apartments will remain affordable for 15 years; 30% (about 70 units) will remain affordable for 30 years; and 5% (11 units) will remain affordable in perpetuity.
Affiliated originally wanted to keep all of the increased tax revenue its project would produce, for a 15-year period, as a subsidy to make the workforce housing portion feasible. City commissioners, who act as the CRA’s board of directors, have said that amount would deprive the CRA of needed revenue for other projects. Affiliated has tentatively agreed to taking only 95% of the tax revenues, which would be capped at $7 million over 15 years.
Affiliated would pay the city $5.5 million for the land.
Although Affiliated’s plans for Hurricane Alley Raw Bar & Restaurant and other existing retail stores on Ocean Avenue were not discussed in detail at the May 10 CRA meeting, it was clear from comments that those businesses would remain part of the final plan.
The developer said in March that Hurricane Alley would be moved from its Ocean Avenue location to a new home at the north end of the project, along Boynton Beach Boulevard next to the Florida East Coast Railway tracks.
In answer to a question about whether the developer would hire local residents to help build the project, Affiliated President Jeff Burns said the company would hold job fairs in Boynton Beach to achieve that goal.
The commissioners, and members of the public who spoke during a public input session, seemed enthusiastic about the pending deal.
“This is beautiful — sheer art with trees and green space, not a canyon of concrete,” said Susan Oyer, whose family owned the property where Hurricane Alley is situated and two other adjacent parcels. The family sold the three parcels to the CRA for $3.6 million in December.
It was unclear in March whether Affiliated would be chosen as the developer for the site that sits between Ocean Avenue and Boynton Beach Boulevard.
Former Mayor Steven Grant worked to nail down an agreement with Affiliated before he left office in March, but that effort ran into resistance from former Commissioner Christina Romelus.
Romelus had asked commissioners to dismiss Affiliated and go instead with Related Urban, the second-ranked applicant that had offered to make a portion of its apartments be affordable workforce housing in perpetuity.
But CRA staff continued to negotiate with Affiliated and is now working on the final agreement.
In other development-related news, the City Commission is looking at imposing a height restriction on city buildings, especially on the east side of town, to make the city friendlier.
The commission is also considering mandating more green space for developments.
Commissioner Thomas Turkin, who suggested both changes, has asked city staff to look into other Palm Beach County cities’ height and green space requirements — and zoning practices — and bring the findings back to the commission in the coming weeks.

The Boynton Beach City Library moved to its current location after a new city hall-library complex was completed in 2020. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

The Florida Library Association has named the Boynton Beach City Library the 2022 Library of the Year. The designation recognizes the library and its staff for tackling unavoidable change by creating innovative programs for the community.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by our professional peers and to be reassured that our library is providing innovative and life-changing programming to the citizens of Boynton Beach,” said Craig Clark, library director. “We have a talented and creative team here at the Boynton Beach City Library, and I am very proud of them.”
To sign up for a library card or to learn more about library resources and programs, call 561-742-6390 or visit boyntonlibrary.org.

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Boynton Beach City Library archivist Georgen Charnes received the Award of Excellence from the Boynton Beach Historical Society for her service and dedication to the library’s local history archives, which include photographs, personal papers, scrapbooks, small organizational records and newspapers.
When Charnes began as archivist at the library in early 2019, most of the collection was in storage until the new library opened at 100 E. Ocean Ave. in the summer of 2020. She focused on outreach through the internet.
“Our mission is to collect, preserve and make accessible the heritage of the people of our region,” Charnes said. “Over the last couple of years we have focused on getting our materials online, where we have collection descriptions, some newspapers digitized, some photographs and oral histories available.”
Charnes has also helped to “iron out a partnership with the Historical Society,” which she says is “beneficial to the city, the library, the Historical Society and to local people.”
An archivist for more than 30 years, Charnes previously worked at the Nantucket Historical Association. She became interested in archival work during studies toward her library science master’s degree at the University of Kentucky.
“I love handling historical material and I love the stories that each diary, letter and scrapbook represent,” she said. “It’s all that’s left of a person’s life and finding out about them involves some detective work. It’s important to me that people learn about history, because if we don’t, we are doomed to repeat it.”
To view the collection or to donate archival material, contact Charnes at www.boynton-beach.org/library/archives-faq using the “Contact the Archivist” link.

***

Stacey Hallberg has been appointed senior managing director of the Boca Raton and Delray Beach offices of Northern Trust. Hallberg most recently served as managing director of the Delray Beach office.
“Stacey has a proven track record leading diverse and high-performing teams, and we look forward to her leadership and more accomplishments in south Palm Beach County,” said Mike Bracci, president of Northern Trust’s East Florida Region.
Hallberg, a certified financial planner, received her B.S. at the University of Florida. She serves on the board of directors for the Achievement Centers for Children and Families and previously served on leadership boards at Bethesda Hospital Foundation, Delray Beach Historical Society, Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, Old School Square and Bethesda Corporate Partners.

***

Delray Beach resident Ben Baffer, an operations and project management expert with 34 years of experience in the building industry, has returned to Kaufman Lynn Construction as senior vice president.
Previously, Baffer worked with Kaufman Lynn Construction for more than 11 years, beginning as a senior project manager and later serving as vice president of operations. He left the company in 2019 to serve as a senior vice president at Plaza Construction Co. in Miami.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to Kaufman Lynn Construction in this new leadership role,” Baffer said. “I look forward to collaborating with such a talented team … and it’s great to be back in the Delray Beach community.”
Baffer has lived in Delray Beach with his family for the past 21 years, and serves as chairman of the Delray Beach Historic Preservation Board.

***

Attorney Erin L. Deady, a certified land planner in Delray Beach, recently assisted local city and county governments in securing funding for six planning awards totaling $1,133,125 from the state of Florida by having their grant projects approved. The grants were announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis. 
In Southeast Florida, they include three vulnerability assessment update and expansion plans, for $139,350, $192,475 and $178,100, as well as $75,000 for a natural resources adaptation plan.
The funds “are desperately needed by local governments to plan for the impacts of future flood risk and develop projects adapting to the flooding and sea level impacts from climate change,” Deady said. “These plans are required to develop projects for future funding cycles, so the efforts really start at the planning level first.” 

***

Eau Palm Beach has earned five stars in the annual Forbes Travel Guide for the seventh consecutive year for its hotel and the eighth consecutive year for its spa.
“We are thrilled once again to be recognized with the prestigious Forbes five-star rating for Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in 2022, making us only one of six double-star hotel and spa winners in Florida,” said general manager Tim Nardi.
Four Seasons Palm Beach also was recognized. This marks the 24th consecutive year the Four Seasons has received a five-star designation and the sixth year its spa has earned five stars.

***

PEBB Enterprises and joint venture partner Banyan Development, both of Boca Raton, paid $37.5 million for a long-term ground leasehold interest position in the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University.
The lease includes seven multi-tenant office buildings with 308,305 square feet at 3600-3998 FAU Blvd., Boca Raton, according to a PEBB Enterprises news release.
According to newspaper reports, the seller is the international sovereign wealth fund Boca R&D Finance, which shares the same address as New York-based Global Securitization Services. The landlord remains the Florida Atlantic Research and Development Authority, which governs the Research Park at FAU. 
Avison Young’s Keith O’Donnell listed the portfolio on behalf of the seller and led the off-market transaction.
The Research Park, a regional technology business incubator, allows for companies to collaborate with FAU faculty with the goal to strengthen and diversify Boca Raton’s business community.
“This is a unique opportunity to own and operate prime office space adjacent to the FAU campus,” said PEBB Enterprises President and CEO Ian Weiner. “We continue to target new investment opportunities in Boca Raton, which is underserved from an office supply standpoint.”
Current tenants include American Sugar Refining, Xeriant, Baptist Health Surgery Center, FAU College of Medicine Clinical Skills Simulation Center, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Sandow Media, GenesisCare and 4ocean.

***

Miami-based Edgewater Capital Investments purchased a multifamily development site in Boynton Beach for $12 million in a deal that was recorded May 9. The sellers were East Ocean Avenue LLC, 206 Boynton LLC, Boynton Beach Property Holdings LLC, 416 Boynton LLC and First Avenue Boynton LLC.
The 5.1 acres of vacant land at 405 E. Ocean Ave. and 306 SE First Ave. was assembled in multiple transactions from 2013 to 2015 for a total of $2.74 million, and the city gave approval for 371 apartments and 15,757 square feet of commercial space.
Construction of the Villages at East Ocean Avenue did not move forward. Now, under Edgewater, the first phase of the project is scheduled to break ground within a year at 405 E. Ocean Ave. and consist of 336 apartments and about 10,000 square feet of retail, with amenities including a pool, fitness center and clubhouse.

***

Rental rates for homes and apartments have spiked across the nation, and Florida is at the center of the surge, according to a new study from Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University and University of Alabama.
While ranking the 25 most overvalued U.S. rental markets, they found that the first five are all in Florida. And, South Florida heads that list, with renters in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties paying an average $2,832 a month, which is 21.75% above what they should be paying, based on the area’s long-term leasing trends.
Fort Myers is No. 2, with a $2,052 monthly average rent, which is 18.16% above the long-term leasing trend for the area. Tampa (17.08% premium), Sarasota-Bradenton (16.98%) and Port St. Lucie (15.61%) round out the top five. 
“Landlords can charge exorbitant rents because if the existing tenants do not accept the new lease terms, other people will accept them quickly. This all points back to a persistent inventory shortage in rental units,” said Ken H. Johnson,  Ph.D., an economist in FAU’s College of  Business.

***

Lang Realty, through its community outreach arm Lang Cares, delivered more than 13,000 diapers to several South Florida charities through The Diaper Bank Covering South Florida. “There is a great need for diapers throughout South Florida,” Lang’s Pamela Agran and Amy Snook said in a news release. “Our agents, partners and communities rallied together to help make this substantial donation and our first diaper drive such a success.”

***

Salt Life, a store that sells sunglasses and accessories, opened in May at Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real in Boca Raton. The 1,952-square-foot retail store is between Max’s Grille and Blue Mercury. 
This new store will be joined by others in the next few months.
New restaurants slated to open include the American Social, Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar, Penelope New Orleans Kitchen, Pure Green, Shaker & Pie, and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. Also due to open soon are Liv2100 Aesthetics & Hormones, the Shade Store, and Spirits & Spice.
“We are looking forward to welcoming a diverse roster of new tenants in the coming months that will bring an exciting mix of eateries, hot spots and more to downtown Boca Raton,” said Vicki Baisden, general manager of Mizner Park.  

***

The owners of Ellie’s 50’s Diner in Delray Beach announced their retirement in May — and the sale of the landmark eatery.
Bob and Ellie Smela have owned and run the nostalgia-filled spot for 32 years. They announced the sale of the property on their social media site, but assured diners they have time to visit through mid-July when the diner will close permanently.
There was no immediate word on what’s next for the property at 2410 N. Federal Highway.

***

The first South Florida Business & Brews, a networking social for community-engaged professionals, planned to kick off June 1 at NOBO Brewing Co., with Boynton Beach Director of Economic Development David Scott.
Periodic meetings will each have a presentation by a community leader, followed by a Q&A.
Business & Brews, launched in South Carolina in 2015, plans to make stops in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Martin counties over the next 12 months. Visit its events page at www.facebook.com/events/1207543203338295.

Jan Norris contributed to this column.

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

Ukrainian refugees Khrystyna Balmush and her 10-year-old son, Davyd, are staying with Hypoluxo Island residents Joni Epstein-Feld and Norm Feld, seen here with their dog, Oskar. Bottom right: Keeping Davyd Balmush safe was his mother’ s main motivation for fleeing the war in Ukraine. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Hypoluxo Island couple welcomes refugees from war in Ukraine

By Tao Woolfe

When a Hypoluxo Island couple opened their hearts — and their home — to Ukrainian refugees, they discovered firsthand how a war abroad can unite people at home.
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Norm Feld and Joni Epstein-Feld decided that they had to do something to help the Ukrainian people.
“Norm wanted to go to Poland and serve food to refugees fleeing the country,” Epstein-Feld said. “I didn’t think that was a good idea.”
Instead, the Felds contacted the Ukrainian Refugee Settlement Project, an interfaith organization in South Florida that unites host families with Eastern European refugees. The couple offered their home as a sanctuary.
In late April, Khrystyna Balmush, 30, and her 10-year-old son, Davyd, arrived on the Felds’ doorstep.
Mother and child had fled the bombing in their small village in western Ukraine near Lviv. They were exhausted and frightened when they got here, having traveled a long and circuitous route through Poland, Mexico and California before landing in Miami.
“They slept in airports for six days,” Epstein-Feld said. “The day she got to Mexico they closed the border.”
Khrystyna used her phone to find help and eventually located the Ukrainian Settlement Project — and the Felds.
After the Balmushes had settled into the Felds’ commodious home on Hypoluxo Island, they walked down the street and were astonished to see small, replica Ukrainian flags planted in the neighbors’ lush lawns.
The island community has shown support in other ways as well. Ann McGlinn-Work has taken the newcomers to Lantana’s Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Sundays, and plans to take them to a Polish Mass on a Saturday night.
“Khrystyna speaks some English but Davyd doesn’t really understand what’s being said in church,” McGlinn-Work said. “The first couple of times he fell asleep on her arm.”
McGlinn-Work said that she will not understand what’s said in the Polish Mass, but that’s OK. The spirit transcends language, she said.

Davyd Balmush plays soccer with his friend and neighbor Michael Betras at McKinley Park on Hypoluxo Island. Betras says soccer transcends the language barrier.

Neighbor Michael Betras said soccer also transcends language.
“I have played pickup soccer with him and he’s really good,” Betras said of Davyd. “I don’t have to say anything — not one word. Soccer is all we need.”
Epstein-Feld said the neighbors have always been friendly, but since the Balmushes arrived, a deeper spirit of kinship has evolved.
“This is really a wonderful community. Everybody has stepped up to help,” Norm Feld said.
And Khrystyna, a single mom who worked in restaurants before the war, has responded in kind. Every week she cooks Ukrainian dishes for the neighbors — borscht and pierogi.
“We must have handed out 20 containers of borscht,” Norm Feld said.
Not all has been rosy for the Balmushes, however.
Khrystyna misses her parents, whom she left behind, and she has heard that two cousins who joined the battle have been badly injured by bombs and bullets.
When the bombing of her village began, Khrystyna Balmush became determined to get her son out of the country.
“The bombs came in my house every day. I heard this — windows breaking,” she said. “I was very nervous.”
Messages sent to her phone told the family to evacuate, she said, but the family had nowhere to go.
“I told my mother I’m going. I must keep my son safe.”
Today, thanks to the Felds, Khrystyna and Davyd do feel that way.
“I say every day to my mother I am safe and OK with these people. Now I have two families,” Khrystyna said. “They are good people who help us every day, every day.”

Ukrainian native Khrystyna Balmush and her 10-year-old son, Davyd, stroll with Hypoluxo Island resident Joni Epstein-Feld, who is providing them with a place to stay during the war in their homeland.

The Balmushes have their own little apartment in a guest house behind the Felds’ pool. They walk around the neighborhood at night to talk about their future in America.
Eventually Khrystyna wants to go to college, maybe to study information technology. First, she says, she needs to take English classes so she can communicate and get a job.
Meanwhile, Epstein-Feld has enrolled Davyd in a local school after weeks of working through red tape.
“He came home today and said he had made three friends,” Epstein-Feld said with a smile. “That is a real accomplishment.”
Neighbors say the Felds are always quick to lend a hand to people in need.
“They are just amazing people,” McGlinn-Work said. “Khrystyna and Davyd couldn’t have found a better spot — or better hosts.”
For their part, the Felds hope others will read their story and become inspired.
“There are not many host families in Palm Beach County,” Epstein-Feld said. “Our hope is that others will offer to host Ukrainian families.”

Boca Raton Airport Authority board members (l-r) Gene Folden, Jim Nau, Bob Tucker, Randy Nobles, Cheryl Budd and Melvin Pollack hold a few of the breakfast food items gathered for Boca Helping Hands. Photo provided

By Amy Woods

More than 300 pounds of food was donated to Boca Helping Hands courtesy of volunteers at the Boca Raton Airport Authority.
Cereal and other breakfast items were provided to help families in need with the most important meal of the day.
“Boca Helping Hands is a vital organization that exceeds expectations while providing for our local community,” Boca Raton Airport Authority Executive Director Clara Bennett said. “We are always so excited to get involved and help our community soar.”
For more information, call 561-417-0913 or visit bocahelpinghands.org.

‘Rebound and Recovery’ focuses on mental health
As the country calls attention to the growing epidemic of mental health issues, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has teamed up with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and Florida State University on a new initiative.
Titled “Rebound and Recovery,” the collaboration aims to tackle the pandemic-aggravated emotional challenges faced by children and teens. FSU’s College of Social Work, as well as its Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families and Children, will spearhead the effort.
“Once we develop the new curriculum and pilot it with the Boys & Girls Clubs, we’ll be able to share it with others in the county, across the state and beyond,” said Jeff Stoops, an FSU graduate who helped start the center in Tallahassee. “Working together within this unique collaboration, we hope to build a program that is scalable and can have a real lifelong impact on the mental health of our youth and teens.”
For more information, call 561-659-6800 or visit yourcommunityfoundation.org.

Laugh with the Library raises more than $230,000
Good humor and laughter were in abundance at the Delray Beach Public Library’s Laugh with the Library, taking place at the Opal Grand Oceanfront Resort & Spa.
The event, co-chaired by Chiara Clark and Alissa Rabin, is a perennial favorite for its creative, casual, fun-filled night of comedy, cocktails and dinner-by-the-bite. The headliner was comedian Pat McGann.
“The Delray Beach Public Library depends on the success of this fundraiser to provide support for library materials,” said Kae Jonsons, director of development and community relations, noting that more than $230,000 was generated. “The pandemic led to an increase in demand as well as the cost of books, and digital materials have risen greatly.”
For more information, call 561-266-7698 or visit delraylibrary.org.

New board members at Children’s Foundation
Beth Schlager and Stu Steckler have been appointed as board members of the Boca West Children’s Foundation, which funds projects to assist needy children and their families in South County.
The foundation achieves its goals through a network of 30 local charities.
“We have a very dynamic and committed board of directors, and we are thrilled to welcome Beth and Stu to join us in our mission to serve the kids in Palm Beach County,” Chairman Richard Zenker said. “Both of these individuals are committed to improving the community, and they both have significant business and volunteer experience to bring to the board.”

For more information, call 561-488-6980 or visit bocawestfoundation.org.

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

From outdoor movies and concerts, to green markets and nature hikes, we want to soak up as much open-air activity as possible before hurricane season settles in and the oppressive heat and humidity drive us indoors. Searching for ideas? Look no further than our calendar listings — assembled each month by Michele Smith and Kathleen Bell. ABOVE: After successfully screening Casablanca in May, Delray plans to show Tom and Jerry on June 25. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Note: Events are current as of 5/26. Please check with organizers for any changes.

JUNE 4
Saturday - 6/4 - Sand Sifters Beach Clean Up at Oceanfront Park, 6415 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge. Meet at south pavilion in lower parking lot. Bring water, hat, sunscreen. Bags, gloves, grabbers provided. 8-10:30 am. Free. jefflev02@gmail.com
6/4 - Summer GreenMarket every Saturday at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave. Fresh local produce, baked goods, gourmet food items, plants, live music, children’s activities. 9am-2pm. 276-7511; delraycra.org/green-market
6/4 - Annual Splash Day at Sunset Ridge Park, 1528 14th Ave N, Lake Worth Beach. Bring sunblock, towel. 11:30 am-2 pm. Free. 561-586-1600; lakeworthbeachfl.gov
6/4 - Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. Daily 12:30 pm. Free. 561-544-8605; myboca.us/2096/Gumbo-Limbo-Nature-Center
6/4 - Crafted On the Ave at Libby Wesley Plaza, 2 SW 5th Ave, Delray Beach. Open-air craft market highlights local small & microbusinesses; merchants/creators of handmade products, art, other crafts/goods. 1st Sat 1-4 pm thru 8/6. Free. 561-651-9565; delraycra.org/events

JUNE 5-11
Sunday - 6/5 - Coco Connections Market at Veterans Park, 802 NE 1st St, Delray Beach. Monthly wellness market; 30 local vendors, health/wellness professionals, various healing modalities, live music, 2 free yoga, meditation or fitness classes per event. 1st F 9 am-2 pm thru 12/31. Free. 561-870-4090; thecocoyogi.com/market
6/5 - Mizner Park Green Market every Sunday at 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. 10 am-5 pm. 362-0606; miznerpark.com
Wednesday - 6/8 - Outdoor Storytime at Boynton Beach City Library under the banyan tree, 100 E Ocean Ave. Stories, rhymes, more. Held again 6/22. 10-10:30 am. Free. 561-742-6393; boyntonlibrary.org
Friday - 6/10 - Artisans Market every Friday at Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Unique artisan/handcrafted items; fresh produce; locally prepared foods, condiments, baked items; more. 4-9 pm. Free/admission. 561+362-0606; miznerpark.com
6/10 - Concert: U2 by Tribute Band UV at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Part of Boca Raton’s Summer of Music series. 8 pm. Free. 561-393-7700; myboca.us
Saturday - 6/11 - Rock the Marina & Lion Fish Derby at Boynton Harbor Marina, 735 Casa Loma Blvd, Boynton Beach. Live music, activities, food offerings from plaza restaurants. Lionfish Derby 8 am-12:30 pm; Rock the Marina Noon-4 pm. Free. 732-8590; boyntonbeachcra.com

JUNE 12-18
Wednesday - 6/15 - Bilingual Outdoor Storytime at Boynton Beach City Library under the Banyan tree, 100 E Ocean Ave. Stories, rhymes, more. Held again 6/29. 10-10:30 am. Free. 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org
Friday - 6/17 - Beach Treasures at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Learn about seashells, the animals that make them. Caravan to Red Reef Park, 1400 N State Rd A1A; search for ocean treasures. All ages; child must be accompanied by an adult. 9-10:30 am. Free. Reservations: 561-544-8605; gumbolimbo.org
6/17 - Concert: Yacht Rock - Soft Rock Hits From the Late 70s-early 80s at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Part of Boca Raton’s Summer of Music series. 8 pm. Free. 561-393-7700; myboca.us
Saturday - 6/18 - Zumba Class at Patch Reef Park, 2000 Yamato Rd, Boca Raton. Part of Boca Raton’s Summer of Wellness series. 9 am. Free. 561-393-7700; myboca.us
6/18 - Free Concert: Scott Ross and Blue Ruin at Old School Square Pavilion, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Bring lawn chair/blanket. 7:30-10 pm. Free. 243-7000; delraybeachfl.gov

JUNE 19-25
Sunday - 6/19 - 10th Annual Mizner Park Downtown Drive Car Show at 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Fees & donations benefit Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. 150+ cars. 9 am-3 pm. Free/admission. 561-362-0606; miznerpark.com
Friday - 6/24 - Summer Splash! A Side-by-Side with The Symphonia and FAU Summer Concert Band at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Part of Boca Raton’s Summer of Music series. 6 pm doors open; 7 pm concert. Free. 561-393-7700; myboca.us
Saturday - 6/25 - Sea Angels Beach Cleanup at Ocean Inlet Park, 6990 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge. Last Sat 8-9:30 am. Pre-registration: 561-369-5501; seaangels.org
6/25 - Movies in the Park: Tom & Jerry at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Bring lawn chair/blanket. Free popcorn & snow cones courtesy of Delray Beach Police Department. 8:30-10:30 pm. Free. 561-243-7000; delraybeachfl.gov

American Humane’s exotic brunch delighted guests with a bit of everything, including an exquisite menu, a beautiful setting, live music and even a rescued sloth named Mila. ‘Sincere thanks to everyone here today for your love of animals and our work together to protect, promote and preserve the wonderful animals with whom we share this earth,’ CEO Robin Ganzert said in welcoming the guests. A special highlight was a check presentation from Delray Beach-based Delivery Dudes in the amount of $5,000. ABOVE: (l-r) Jean Shafiroff, Lois Pope holding Nicely-Nicely, and Ganzert. Photo provided by Capehart

The sixth annual golf tournament in support of the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County raised $33,000. The money will be used for programs that help local children and adults succeed in school and life. ‘Our annual Literacy Links golf tournament is one of our most popular fundraisers, and it’s easy to see why,’ coalition CEO Kristin Calder said. ‘The Palm Beach Par 3 offers spectacular views and excellent food, but more than that, these golfers are fans of the programs we provide in Palm Beach County, and this tournament is a fun way for them to chip in.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Betsy Greene, Brenda Medore, Casey Syring and Caron Dockerty. Photo provided by Tracey Benson Photography

The Endowment Fund of the Junior League of Boca Raton’s annual fundraiser not only celebrated the 16th anniversary of the fund but also raised $30,000 for the league. More than 150 attended. Proceeds will benefit the Vegso Community Resource Center, which offers free training for local nonprofits. ‘Everyone had a great time,’ said Lisa Bariso, league president. ‘We were excited to be able to have the event after a two-year hiatus.’ ABOVE: Celebrity bartenders (l-r) Kimberley Trombly-Burmeister, Kelly Fleming, Forrest Heathcott, Melissa Bonaros, Tim Snow, Jamie Sauer, Doug Fash, Reilly Glasser, Sal Saleh, Howard Guggenheim and Eric Applewhite. Photo provided

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s 50th-anniversary celebration raised a record-breaking $8 million to support club programming and the construction of a new facility. During the Moroccan-themed gala, a $5 million lead gift for the construction was announced. ‘The guests at the Winter Ball came to support this worthy cause,’ said Gretchen Leach, event chairwoman. ‘It was a truly outstanding evening where everyone was happy, festive and generous.’ TOP: Sacha and Josh McGraw. LEFT: Robert and Pamela Weinroth.
Photos provided by Capehart

La Goulue partners Ed Carter, Kevin Richards and Janna Bullock staged an unforgettable fundraiser in support of the Ukraine Resistance Organisation, an on-the-ground network based in Kyiv. Featured speakers were Richards, who recently returned from Kyiv, as well as Aleksey Brynzak and Ireesha Blohina, who created the URO the day of the invasion. Brynzak and Blohina shared touching, heartbreaking stories via satellite of what life is like during a war. More than $20,000 was donated to the cause. ‘This is our country, our city, our family,’ Blohina said. ‘Like so many of you, I am a mother of two beautiful children.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Brett Orlove, Dina Fink and Ron Burkhardt. Photo provided by Christopher Fay

The Fuller Center event, held for the second time, featured delectable food and on-field action to benefit underserved children and families. Attendees included 50 members of the center’s Legacy Society, a group instrumental in fulfilling the Fuller Center mission. ‘We were so pleased to see such a great response from our Legacy Society members who play a critical role in helping local kids and families in need,’ event co-chairwoman Peg Anderson said. ABOVE: (l-r, front) Stacey Packer, Doug and Marcia Mithun, Ellyn Okrent, Lori Shepard, Kathy Yaffe, Cheryl Leskar and Valerie Silverman with (l-r back), Nerone de Brito, Elen de Paula, Steve Okrent, Murray Shepard, Dan Yaffe, Marc Silverman and Yvette Drucker. Photo provided

The Jewish Women’s Foundation has granted the wishes of 10 organizations — nine of them local and one from Israel — to further good deeds. Thrilled to celebrate in person after two years apart, the crowd of 200 marked the largest in the history of the foundation — a program of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. In all, a total of $105,000 was donated. ‘Today you have seen the impact of the grants we have funded,’ trustee Randee Rubenstein said. ‘Women are a powerful force in philanthropy, and that power shapes our world and our community.’ ABOVE: (l-r) Janet Sahr, Miriam Atzmon, Dana Egert, Roxane Lipton, Amy Rosenberg and Rubenstein. LEFT: Harriet Kimball and Laurie Kamhi. Photos provided by Jeffrey Tholl Photography

To underscore the Hanley Foundation’s belief that family time is time well spent, the 27th annual outdoor event took place with more than 220 in attendance. Chairs Joe and Kelly Rooney and Christian and Ann-Britt Angle ensured a day filled with fun for all. Proceeds will go toward substance-abuse prevention programming in Florida. ‘At Hanley Foundation, we know that the best thing we can do to help keep our children safe from drugs and alcohol is to spend time with them,’ said Turner Benoit, the foundation’s chief philanthropy officer. ‘Imagine a world free of addiction — we do.’ ABOVE: Jeff and Aggie Stoops. Photo provided by Tracey Benson Photographys

TOP: At Fries to Caviar in Boca Raton, French fries pair well with a variety of roe, served with mother-of-pearl spoons. BELOW:  You can eat indoors at Fries to Caviar, or take advantage of the casual patio setting at the back of the restaurant. Photos provided

By Jan Norris

Adaptation is the word in restaurants as remnants of the pandemic shutdowns still affect the industry. Fine dining is almost a thing of the past, for a number of reasons including lack of qualified servers and kitchen staff, as well as capital costs. You’re as apt to eat on a patio as in a white-linen dining room.
But chef-driven spots remain, bringing upscale, creative foods to newer, more casual audiences.
Example: caviar service on a patio with a burger. Check out Fries to Caviar in Boca Raton, billed as an American garden bistro “with a hint of fine dining.”
Fries to Caviar owner Philipp Hawkins elevated the way roe is presented to include a traditional caviar service with blini and chopped egg. But diners may instead opt for large plank fries served with creme fraiche and the roe.
With no formal restaurant experience, Hawkins dove into the restaurant world — and ultimately, the caviar industry — to learn about different fish eggs, quality and sourcing. The former casino security expert tries to demystify the food for a new clientele who come for a burger but are curious about the caviar menu.
He’s also adapting in other ways — lowering the price of caviar, to start.
“It should be accessible to everybody,” Hawkins said. “I know how much I pay — why do I need to be greedy?”
It is still a costly item, as is the mother-of-pearl spoon used to serve it. “Caviar should never touch metal; it dulls the flavor. So, we ordered the special spoons for each service,” he said.
To discourage pilfering of the delicate spoons, Hawkins said, the servers trained to describe the details include the sentence, “Our spoons are available for purchase if you’d like one.”
He also doesn’t want dining here to be a stuffy experience.
“At one point I thought about taking the restaurant to fine dining, but my chef Lily, who comes from a fine-dining background, said it would kill the business,” Hawkins said.
The atmosphere at Fries to Caviar is upscale casual, but people in dress clothes would feel at home.
“I remember going to Tarks, in Hollywood,” Hawkins said. “There were bikers at the counter, and gentlemen wearing suits. Two ends of the spectrum of society eating and enjoying each others’ company.”
That’s his ideal, he said.
Hawkins also is lowering the prices of other foods on his menu that are frequently found at much higher prices around town. He said it’s an expectation of doing volume to achieve a reasonable profit without gouging.
“My branzino is ‘catch of the day’ here. There are restaurants in the neighborhood who charge north of $85 for it. I know what they pay per pound. It’s ridiculous to charge that.
“I think some of the restaurant owners who’ve been in the business a long time have lost sight of what it’s like to be a customer. I call myself a professional customer,” Hawkins said.
“I may not have tons of restaurant experience, but I’ve eaten thousands of meals out, so I come into this with a different perspective.”
Fries to Caviar, 6299 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Phone 561-617-5965; friestocaviar.com. Open for dinner from 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; Sunday brunch, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Summer madness happy hour, 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

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A number of other restaurants in the area feature chef-driven menus and fine-dining touches in more casual settings. Here are but a few:

Consistently fresh food, including these oysters, is a hallmark of Prime Catch in Boynton Beach.

Prime Catch, 700 E. Woolbright Road, Boynton Beach. The seafood, service and Intracoastal Waterway view qualify as top-tier; a fish sandwich is delivered with the same quality as a full entree. Servers are on top of things here. Florida fish is the specialty. The tiki bar dockside is the way to come-as-you-are and get the full experience of waterfront dining.

Brule Bistro, 200 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach. A casual sidewalk bistro (indoor dining, too) with an array of house-made foods from a chef who adds to the traditionals. Always check out the specials. Weekend brunch is a favorite for off-Avenue dining. Visit Brule’s sister restaurant nearby, Rose’s Daughter.

Driftwood, 2005 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. The chef, Jimmy Everett, brings the unexpected to food and drink. Definitely a spot to order from the daily menu. Patio and inside bar and dining room — all intimate.

Grouper au poivre with roasted potato and cipollini onion and asparagus in a brandy-cream reduction is a favorite at Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen. It has locations in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.

Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen, 399 SE Mizner Blvd. (Royal Palm Place), Boca Raton; 204 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. A healthful approach to cooking “just good food” comes from these kitchens. Gary Rack wants us to dine, not just eat, he says. Make a meal of just their apps: Zucchini chips and buffalo cauliflower, or truffle-yaki brussels sprouts give an idea of what’s to come from the full menus. These are places where vegans and omnivores meet.

Max’s Grille, 404 Plaza Real (Mizner Park), Boca Raton. Arguably the beginning of upscale, chef-driven casual in the area is here. It adapts its full-on bistro menu with something for everyone. From sushi to pork chops with peaches, a signature tomato bisque and loaded chicken Caesar, plus a notable wine list, it’s Boca’s own icon.

Josie’s Ristorante, 1602 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Old-school Italian service and friendly bartending with modern casual dining are what you get, along with a chef-driven menu that spins off the classics. Salads are stars instead of afterthoughts, and pastas creative, well-prepared dishes you’ll remember. Don’t miss desserts. Josie’s does a lot of takeout.

La Cigale, 253 SE Fifth Ave., Delray Beach. People in the know seek out this Mediterranean spot in between the U.S. Highway 1 split. Outdoor dining under a tent is a result of the pandemic, but the serene dining room is a nice fit for the food. Classic service that doesn’t feel stuffy; dishes are explained and recommendations made. Great wine list, too.

800 Palm Trail Grill, 800 Palm Trail, Delray Beach. Chef touches abound at the Grill (the former Patio). Unusual ingredients and a thoughtful use of herbs, spices and flavors in both drinks and foods make this a hidden gem. A huge patio, comfortable even in summer, gives visitors and locals alike the tropical feel apropos to the name. Specialties include Maryland style crabcakes, and herb-crusted scallops. The Palm salad is a favorite for summer. Going for drinks only? Don’t miss the Black & Tan onion rings as a snack. (Dinner only, daily.)

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In brief: Longtime Palm Beach County diners know of the iconic Cafe L’Europe in Palm Beach. We were sorry to hear of the passing of Lidia Goldner, co-founder of the restaurant. A peppy Brazilian, she oversaw the beautiful dining room for years and made guests feel as though they were equal to all the dignitaries who dined there, as well as part of her family. …
Sorry, Delray, but a Planta restaurant isn’t in your immediate future. We had our avenues wrong in last month’s column — a new Planta Queen recently opened on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale. No plans for Delray at the moment. The closest one is in West Palm Beach at The Square on Okeechobee Boulevard.

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

Jim Wrona holds the 50.4-pound wahoo that took first-place honors during the 27th annual Lantana Fishing Derby. Wrona, who along with teammates Pete Reardon, John Dimiceli and Rich Mitchell caught the fish while trolling off Palm Beach at a depth of 250 feet, said the 45-minute fight ended with the team landing it on the boat by 8:30 a.m. — taking pressure off the rest of the day. The Posh Properties team received $4,500 in prize money. Photo provided by Leonard Bryant Photography

By Janis Fontaine 

After weeks of anxious scrambling to find a school for their children next year, the parents of St. Joseph’s Episcopal School received a reprieve late last month.
Leaders of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, which has rented church property to the school for decades, relented on an earlier decision not to renew the school’s lease when it expires in November and have reached a new agreement that will allow the school to remain open until June 30, 2023.
“This is a wonderful way to kick off the upcoming summer break,” Bill Swaney, president of the school’s board of trustees, wrote in a May 26 email to parents.
While the two entities share a name and land on Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach, the school is independent from the church.
Just a few days earlier, a weary Pastor Marty Zlatic had addressed parishioners during Sunday services, imploring them not to discuss the school’s lawsuit against the church. After services, Zlatic warmly greeted the congregation — it was a busy weekend of graduations and milestones so church attendance was good — but declined to say anything about the church’s actions or reasoning.  
Swaney, 84, a big benefactor to both the school and the church, is co-plaintiff in a class action filed May 14 to resist the lease termination. The $5 million suit alleged breach of contract and misappropriation of restricted charitable donations. The lawsuit will proceed as planned despite the extension of the lease, Swaney said in the email.
The tumult caused by the church’s April 21 announcement to cancel the lease prompted outraged responses and speculation on social media and flurries of emails among parents. Some picketed outside the homes of the church’s nine-member vestry, which made the decision to end the lease.
Zlatic has been harshly criticized by school parents on Facebook for taking a vacation cruise after the hectic Easter holidays (a priest’s busiest time) with his wife, Dee, just as parents found out about the lease.
“I worked every day,” Zlatic said of his two-week vacation.
Some parents think Zlatic, 65, wants to retire and they still cannot fathom the church’s reasoning for the sudden non-renewal of the lease.
Despite a claim of “transparency,” the vestry has been silent. According to the church’s website, the vestry had sincerely hoped that mediation would resolve the dispute, but the school elected to file a lawsuit instead. 
The school claims it was “blindsided” over the non-renewal of its $5-per-year lease on church-owned land after more than 50 years.
While many suspect that money is the root of the dispute, the lawsuit claims that the deadlock started because of mask mandates.

Board president has big investment in school
As children returned for the 2021-22 school year, the school’s leadership opted for a mask-optional classroom. The lawsuit alleges that “in July/August 2021, the Church vehemently disagreed with the School’s mask policy for the current school year,” and the school leadership points to that disagreement as the heart of the matter.
Swaney admits that masks were the only issue he could point to where the school and church differed.
The Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida had been exceedingly cautious where the coronavirus was concerned, and while the diocese dictates what its fellow churches and schools — like St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Day School — must do, St. Joseph’s School is independent and free to make its own decisions. 
Since Swaney and his wife, Nancy, joined the church in the late ’80s, he has funded repairs and improvements to the church buildings and paid for sabbaticals and pilgrimages for staff, but most of his attention has been on the school. “I have 17 grandchildren,” he said. “I care deeply about the kids.”
“We tried to have a conversation back in February and we’ve been trying ever since. I don’t think it’s about the money,” Swaney said by phone from Michigan before the agreement was announced.
He said the church has other strong donors and a nice endowment.
Even though he’s not physically in Boynton Beach, “there’s still Zoom and email,” he laughed. And he’s found the positive side: “The school is really doing well, and there are a lot of good people working to resolve this.”
In February 1994, Swaney donated 50,000 shares of stock of his company, Perrigo, which at the time was worth approximately $2.5 million, to the church “for the express purpose of the church constructing buildings and facilities for use by the school,” according to the lawsuit. 
Swaney made it clear to the vestry that this gift was being made in exchange for a promise from the church that the school would never be displaced from its property. The church sold the stock and built a gymnasium, library, classrooms and administrative offices.   
In 1995, the school, which had been under the umbrella of the Episcopal Diocese, split away from the church and incorporated independently from it.
At the private school, tuition and fees range from $12,000 for pre-K half-day to $18,000 for fifth through eight grades.

City concerned, parents speculating
The church — like many churches nationwide — is struggling to stay afloat. The church’s annual report for 2021 shows that it met none of its goals for income and it saw extra pandemic-related expenses for cleaning and sanitizing. 
Andrea Barnett, a St. Joe parent, spoke to the Boynton Beach City Commission meeting on May 18, calling out anyone interested in profiting from the valuable acreage. She said the commission has “a moral and political obligation to eliminate any internal or external parties that are enticed to develop that land where our children once played.”
After listening to dozens of school supporters, commissioners said no zoning change requests had been made, but appeared concerned about the possible loss of a school in their city. 
Eric McCabe, who owns McCabe Brothers Construction, has two kids enrolled at St. Joseph’s and one who has already graduated.
He told The Coastal Star he and his kids “don’t connect” to Father Zlatic, who doesn’t support the school. “You have to have a unifying pastor. I heard a lot of the parishioners had no idea what was happening. I feel like we’re losing our church and our school.”
Although parents at the school suggest it’s a real estate deal the church is pursuing, the church denies it. In a statement on its website, the church spokesperson wrote: “… we feel it is imperative to clearly state that there are no plans to sell or develop the property.”
McCabe would just like to get to the truth.
“There’s a lot of speculation,” McCabe said.
Someone suggested a seminary might be a possibility. The fair market value of the rental of the school’s property is estimated in the church’s tax filings at $695,339 annually — money a struggling church could use for survival.

South Tech Academy senior Katherine Ledsome (center) designed the winning poster and stands with (l-r) Ryan Wertepny, Diamond Howard, Trinetta Ledsome and Kathryn Grace, director of prevention for the Hanley Foundation. Photo provided

By Christine Davis

Katherine Ledsome, a senior at South Tech Academy in Boynton Beach, won the 12th annual School Bus Drug Prevention Poster Contest, and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Hanley Foundation. Ledsome plans to attend Palm Beach State College in the fall.
The theme for this year’s contest was “Adventure with Me Alcohol Free. Adventure with Me Vape Free.” Ledsome’s graphic featured a woman on a rainforest adventure and noted an important statistic from the 2020 Florida Youth Substance Survey: 86% of Palm Beach County teens are alcohol free.
As part of Ledsome’s award, her poster will be displayed inside up to 1,000 of the school district’s buses and will be displayed in schools.
“Katherine’s poster used key statistics to show that most of her peers are not engaging in underage drinking,” said Kathryn Grace, director of prevention for the Hanley Foundation. “The goal of this contest is to show that despite what some teens think, most of their friends aren’t drinking alcohol and this poster drives that message home.”
The annual School Bus Drug Prevention Poster Contest was held by the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition in partnership with the School District of Palm Beach County, Florida Students Against Drunk Driving, Florida Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Art Synergy.
Sponsors included the Hanley Foundation, the Judith Carreras Scholarship, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Rotary Club of Wellington, the South Florida Fairgrounds and the Michael Joseph Brink Foundation.

Manalapan Vice Mayor Stewart Satter with his wife, Susan, and Bethesda Hospitals CEO Nelson Lazo. The Satters’ $1 million gift will help fund renovation of the emergency department at Bethesda Hospital East. Photo provided

Satter family donates $1 million for Bethesda
Manalapan Vice Mayor Stewart Satter, former president and CEO of Consumer Testing Laboratories, and his wife, Susan Satter, donated $1 million to the Baptist Health Foundation in May. Their gift will benefit the renovation of the Bethesda Hospital East Emergency Department that is scheduled for completion in June 2024.
“The importance of high-quality emergency care to the community cannot be overstated,” Stewart Satter said. “The ER is the front door to the hospital for so many, and now more than ever, it’s essential to the well-being of Palm Beach County.”
“We are most grateful to the Satter family for this generous gift,” said Barbara James, vice president of development and development support at Baptist Health Foundation. “This $15 million campaign will be philanthropically funded entirely by members of the community, and will make a tremendous difference in the quality of emergency care in our area. With the Satters’ donation, we are now 70% to our fundraising goal.”
Bethesda Hospital aims to modernize its emergency department into a state-of- the-art facility with private rooms, smart technology and optimized patient care.

Boca Helping Hands in health care partnership
Boca Helping Hands has partnered with Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Genesis Community Health to help provide access to health care services.
Through a voucher program, Boca Helping Hands funds the cost of providing uninsured individuals access to free primary medical, dental and behavioral care at FAU’s two nurse-led clinics in West Palm Beach and Genesis Community Health’s clinics in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach.
“The Florida Atlantic University Northwest Community Health Alliance clinics provide integrative mental health services to those with limited access to quality care,” said Dr. Karethy Edwards, CEO/executive director of FAU/NCHA Community Health Center. “Our partnership with Boca Helping Hands enables us to treat more local residents with physical, mental and chronic illnesses.”

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

Sandi Schwartz of Boca Raton has written a new book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer. Photo provided

By Joyce Reingold

School’s out and the promise of summer stretches from one Florida coast to the other and back again. Children long-jump into boundless, homework-free days. It’s time for morning lie-ins and stay-up-too-late sleepovers. It’s wet bathing suits and ice pops pilfered from the freezer.
For parents, well, it’s a bit more complicated.
But not to worry. Boca Raton author and journalist Sandi Schwartz has you covered with her just-published book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer. This engaging and informative guide may become as essential as sunscreen to your family this summer and far beyond.
In her book, Schwartz — the founder and director of the Ecohappiness Project — shares wide-ranging and persuasive research that confirms what she has long believed: Nature has the power to soothe and renew. And with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calling children’s mental health “an ongoing public health concern,” Schwartz’s work to connect children with nature feels timelier still.
“Humans evolved to live in nature, not indoors staring at screens all day. We all have a powerful instinct to experience nature, so creating a daily nature habit can help us feel more balanced,” she says. “I have found in my own battle with stress and anxiety that connecting with nature can soothe anxiety, calm the mind and promote feelings of joy. I call this connection eco-happiness.”
Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, calls her book “a prescription for reducing the loneliness of our species.”
Schwartz had returned in mid-May from a Children & Nature Network conference, where she heard Louv speak. She quoted Louv as saying there are two types of people: the doers and people who write about them.
“And I feel like my job was to bring together all of the science, the research, the knowledge, the examples from all these amazing people that are doing the work on the ground, so that parents have this toolkit. And not just parents. The book is for therapists, guidance counselors, teachers, camp counselors.”
Schwartz introduces readers to the “nature tools” of mindfulness, awe and gratitude, outdoor play and adventure, creative arts, food and volunteering. Each gets its own chapter with lots of suggested activities and resources.
“This is the toolkit I wish I had growing up,” she writes. “My goal is to give my children, and all children, the ability to turn to some simple natural tools when they feel distraught. The last thing I want is for anyone to get stuck in the anxiety quicksand like I did.”
You can enjoy Schwartz’s book as a cover-to-cover read or dip into it on demand, thanks to its robust index.
“I always say, start with what your family or your individual child already loves. If they’re already into art and painting, I would suggest taking the arts and crafts outside. This could be making a collage of nature elements you collect on a hike. … Or it could be taking a blanket to the playground and having the kids pull out their journals and their crayons or their paints. … So, if you have a kid already kind of doodling or making cartoons or something and stuck inside, get them outside to do their creating.”
The good news is that you and your children can enjoy time in nature without spending a penny. Why not kick off your shoes and join the kids for “earthing” — a mindful walk across a patch of grass, soil or sand, when it feels cool enough?
“The goal is to walk barefoot while paying close attention to the soles of your feet as they connect with the Earth’s surface,” Schwartz writes. “This practice provides several benefits for our kids. First, it feels good to them. It is freeing to walk around without feeling constrained by their shoes all the time. Next, it improves their senses as the bottom of their feet touch different types of textures, sometimes for the first time.”
Of course, there are some necessary items for any outdoor excursion — particularly during a Florida summer — so don’t forget water and eco-friendly insect repellent.
A bit of planning can mitigate any “too hot, too humid, too buggy” pushback from the kids. The beach is lovely in the late afternoon and Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands in Boynton Beach, one of Schwartz’s favorite spots, opens at 7.
“I personally think any way a child is engaging with being outdoors in nature is great,” she says. “I think if we’re too specific or judging people on how they engage in it, that’s just not going to get us anywhere. … So, it’s finding what works for you and that’s going to also make you happy.”
Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer is available online at IndieBound, Amazon, and wherever books are sold. For more information, visit ecohappinessproject.com.

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

Rob Bonoit, a recipient of House A Vet services who is now a volunteer, met with Kevin Donahue, director of House A Vet, and Mia Bonutti to make the formal exchange of the RV that Bonutti renovated for a school project. Its new home will be at Phipps Park Campground in Stuart when it’s occupied. When it’s not, House A Vet plans to store it in a warehouse on its site. Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

Mia Bonutti, a senior at Oxbridge Academy and a resident of Manalapan, finally found a permanent home for her remodeled RV.
Bonutti made news in February when she finished the renovation on the once dilapidated, pull-behind motor home as part of her student project.
Her hope was to donate the RV as living space for a veteran without a home. But the plan hit its biggest snag when she tried to give the RV away.
Bonutti didn’t want the RV to be auctioned or sold for cash. She wanted it to be a home for a veteran. Finally, after turning down offers from Louisiana to Lakeland, she found House A Vet in Stuart. The small nonprofit started in November 2013 in Martin and St. Lucie counties with the idea of helping Habitat for Humanity of Martin County build a home for a veteran.
But helping one veteran a year still left others on the streets. According to the Florida Council on Homelessness Annual Report, 2,472 homeless veterans lived in Florida in 2019. National estimates exceeded 40,000.
To help more people, House A Vet started to do free home maintenance for struggling veterans. It has a food pantry that feeds 65 families every week, and weekly “lunch and learns” on topics like healthy eating, positive thinking, budgeting and job placement. It also provides haircuts and other personal services.
In 2018, House A Vet received the American Legion Department of Florida Homeless Veteran Award. All programs are funded through direct donations from the community, without any federal or state money.
House A Vet says having Bonutti’s RV will save the organization about $7,000 annually in hotel room costs.
Kevin Donahue, director of House A Vet, negotiated a deal with Phipps Park in Stuart that the RV can stay rent-free at the campground in exchange for the occupants doing a few hours of work a day keeping the grounds neat.
“I was really impressed with Mia,” said Donahue, who served in the Navy from 1977 to 1981.
House A Vet is able to get about 10 veterans off the street each year, but he’d like to do more. His dream is to purchase a nearby trailer park where he could build a community of tiny homes for veterans. Though that takes substantial cash, Donahue is hopeful. People like Bonutti, he says, encourage him.
Bonutti says she feels like House A Vet is a good fit for her RV. She’s happy that it will be close to Palm Beach County and has plans to visit the site before she heads to the University of Virginia, where she’ll study chemical engineering.
“I’m definitely ready for a change,” Bonutti said. She’s been in classes with 20 students or fewer most of her life. A bigger pond awaits.
When she visited the Charlottesville campus recently, she met the dean, who told her nearly 33% of students studying math and science are women.
“I can’t wait to meet people with similar interests to mine,” Bonutti said, buoyed by the university’s commitment to women in STEM.
At home, Mia’s brother Mark, 16, will take over oldest sibling duties like the complicated carpool pickup of their four younger brothers and sisters.
“He’s already had some experience with the chaos,” Mia said.
House A Vet is in need of volunteers and donations. Call 772-678-8149 or visit www.houseavet.org.

Alyssa Jiggetts, Elise Siegel, Anna Jarvis and Mallory Thomas (l-r) make their case to the Philanthropy Tank. Photo provided

FAU High girls’ project wins Philanthropy Tank award
Four nature-loving students at FAU High School received $10,500 for their community butterfly garden project through the Philanthropy Tank, a nonprofit group that sponsors an annual challenge for high school students in solving social problems.
On April 11, Elise Siegel of Highland Beach, Alyssa Jiggetts of Coconut Creek, and Mallory Thomas and Anna Jarvis of Boca Raton made a presentation of the project they called GNOME — Growing Native Oases Made for Engagement.
GNOME would build and plant easy-to-sustain community butterfly gardens designed to lower people’s stress and add green space. Its secondary purpose is to promote the use of native plants in local landscapes.
The group worked with adviser Adriene Tynes, who spent five years on the board of Community Greening, a collective effort to improve the environment with trees. The students will be mentored by Frances Fisher as they enter the new phase of making gardens happen.
“The presentation went really well. All the preparation was worth it,” Mallory said.
The team filmed a video for National Learn About Composting Day in May to bring awareness to its work. To make GNOME sustainable, the team plans to start a club at FAU High School to carry on the work when the seniors on the team graduate.
For more information on the Philanthropy Tank, visit www.philanthropytank.org.

Delray student wins filmmaking scholarship
After the candidates walked a red carpet at Maltz Jupiter Theatre, the winners of the Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films were announced on May 6. And when the winner of the Sara Fuller Scholarship was announced, Joseph White of American Heritage School in Delray Beach heard his name.
Most of the film showcase awards recognize individuals for their filmmaking, but the Burt Reynolds and Sara Fuller scholarships are different.
Before Reynolds died in 2018, he played a vital role in the selection process and personally handed out the award each year. Reynolds looked carefully at the applicants’ character as well as their talents and aspirations. 
Fuller was a pioneer in Florida’s film production industry, and this scholarship sponsored by Film Florida honors her memory by supporting future filmmakers and encouraging excellence in the field of motion picture education.
For this award, White said, “I submitted a film reel, a letter of recommendation, an acceptance letter from a four-year university, and an essay as to why I think I should be considered for the award.”
The scholarship award is $1,000.
White, 18, who lives in Delray Beach, called the award “an amazing honor.” His parents, Troy and Suzanne, are equally excited about Joseph’s next chapter. He is going to the Savannah College of Art and Design to study film directing and producing.
The Palm Beaches film showcase has been supporting blossoming filmmakers for more than 25 years by providing cash awards, prizes and scholarships to creative students from Palm Beach County, giving out about $20,000 to talented seniors each year.
For more information, visit www.pbfilm.com/ssof.