Boca Raton Regional Hospital has received a seven-figure gift from Malcolm and Sandra Berman toward the “Keeping the Promise — The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital” initiative.

In recognition of the couple’s generosity, the elevator lobby on the first floor of the new patient tower will be named in their honor.

“Sandra and Malcolm represent the best of Boca Raton Regional Hospital,” CEO Lincoln Mendez said. “They have been active philanthropically with us for nearly 20 years and understand the value of their partnership with the hospital and how it benefits the people of our community. ”

“Our health care in Boca Raton and that of our family and friends is a significant motivation in our giving to this extraordinary organization,” Malcolm Berman added. “Sandra and I care about this community and want to be part of this next generation of groundbreaking innovation and care.”

In other news, the hospital received its 2,000th-and-counting meal from the Boca Rio Golf Club and Stanley and Marilyn Barry. Knowing the stress that frontline medical workers have been under since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club and the Barrys wanted to show their support by delivering 250 meals twice a week for six weeks.

“This is such a generous initiative and is so welcomed by the staff,” said Mark Larkin, president of the hospital’s foundation. “Working long shifts, often 12 hours apiece, the nurses, physicians and technologists have little time to take for breaks. Knowing that a nice meal is coming gives them one less thing to worry about.”

“Being able to support the hospital staff during such trying times has been a pleasure,” added Luciano Farias, general manager of the club. “The hospital and its clinicians play such an important role in the health and well-being of our community. To thank them with this gift of fine food is an honor.”

For information, call 561-955-4142 or visit https://donate.brrh.com.

Feeding America receives local funding

Boca Raton-based Office Depot has announced a $1.5 million donation to Feeding America in support of the nonprofit’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help food banks across the country distribute more than 1.3 billion pounds of sustenance to communities in need.

Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a network of 200-plus member food banks.

“Now more than ever, we are committed to strengthening local communities and hope that this donation will help to provide relief for families that are struggling to put food on the table,” Office Depot CEO Gerry Smith said.

For information, call 561-438-6027 or visit www.feedingamerica.org.

7 arts organizations to benefit from PNC grants

As the arts adapt to a new normal of fewer social interactions, South Florida organizations are faced with the challenge of safely offering music and theater to local communities.

With that in mind, the PNC Foundation has awarded $100,000 to seven arts organizations in Palm Beach and Broward counties.

“With the unexpected impacts of the pandemic on live performances and art exhibits, we felt it was more important than ever to renew our commitment to the local arts community with much-needed grants,” said Cressman Bronson, the bank’s regional president for southeast Florida.

“Through PNC Arts Alive, arts organizations will be able to provide a variety of creative solutions that will take our shared vision of a more dynamic, artistic community to the next level in South Florida.”

For information, call 407-271-2694 or visit www.pnc.com.

Philanthropy Tank concludes fifth season

Seven student-led charity programs earned more than $89,000 in funding after business pitches were made to a group of philanthropist investors.

Finalists of Philanthropy Tank presented their causes on a virtual stage in front of hundreds of audience members as this year’s “finals” event turned into a “recorded live finals event” because of the coronavirus.

The grants mark Philanthropy Tank’s fifth season of supporting programs in the areas of music / art education, female empowerment, child welfare, pediatric cancer and more. In all, it has awarded more than $500,000 — in addition to hundreds of hours of mentorship — to teens who have started nearly three dozen local charities.

For information, call 561-910-3893 or visit www.philanthropytank.org.

Boca West Children’s Foundation expands

The Children’s Foundation of Palm Beach County has been established in conjunction with the Boca West Children’s Foundation, an organization that has made grants exceeding $10 million in the last decade.

Founded in 2010 and supporting 25 local children’s charities, the Boca West Children’s Foundation has expanded its reach beyond South County by adding new board members and fresh charity partners.

“The foundation’s impact on local kids has been tremendous as we’ve been able to provide essentials for 5,000 children each day, providing cribs, diapers, after-school care, tutoring, summer camps, sports and music programs, meals, school supplies, college scholarships and more,” Executive Director Pamela Weinroth said. “We are grateful that we can expand these efforts to reach even more kids thanks to the efforts of our new board members and all of our supporters.”

For information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.childrensfoundationpbc.org.

In other news, The Boca West Children’s Foundation has presented the YMCA of South Palm Beach County with a $20,000 grant.

Half will pay for day camp for children of first responders during the pandemic; the other $10,000 will go toward the organization’s drowning-prevention program for children with special needs.

“With funds raised from our gala in early March, we were able to provide this grant to the YMCA,” said Pamela Weinroth, the foundation’s executive director.

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

Virus emergency fund aids women, girls

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches, a South Florida nonprofit focused on raising the status of women and girls, has created an emergency fund in response to COVID-19.

For charities here and abroad, the pandemic has affected the events and fundraisers upon which they rely. The situation exacerbates the challenges women and girls already face.
“COVID-19 is already disrupting nonprofits and challenging them in unprecedented ways, making it harder for them to provide even basic services,” foundation CEO Jennifer Kryshka said.

“JWF wants to ensure that women and girls are still able to depend on the resources from our grantee organizations. Working together, we can achieve more than we can do alone.”

For information, call 561-275-2200 or visit www.jwfpalmbeach.org.

New programs debut at Boca Helping Hands

Boca Helping Hands has expanded its feeding program with the opening of a pantry-bag distribution site in Lantana.

The site offers underserved people food supplies every Saturday afternoon, with the goal of helping 1,500 families.

“Thanks to Advent Lantana, we have expanded our Pantry Bag program further north, bringing hope to even more families in need,” said Greg Hazle, Boca Helping Hands’ executive director. “This is a service we intend to continue for the long term.”

Congregants from Advent Ministries will volunteer.

“Advent Church Boca has been partners with Boca Helping Hands from the very beginning, and we are thrilled to be able to extend their reach at our new satellite church, Advent Lantana,” said the Rev. Andrew Hagen, church pastor and a member of the nonprofit’s board.

In other news, Boca Helping Hands has established an online Conversation Café to help clients with employment and has begun offering structured ESOL classes virtually. Both programs previously took place in person.

Approximately 30 students participate in the Conversation Café. As for the ESOL classes, they afford people who do not speak English the opportunity to acquire the language and culture skills necessary to function and succeed in America.

“The new Zoom format has actually improved the flexibility of the program so that we can continue to serve students who have returned to their native countries,” Hazle said.

“They can continue to participate in the café via teleconference.”

For information, call 561-417-0913, Ext. 202 or visit bocahelpinghands.org.

Chapter supports kosher food pantry

The Valencia Shores community chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women in Boynton Beach has raised funds to support the kosher food pantry and meal-delivery services at the Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service in West Palm Beach as well as the Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Service in Boca Raton.

Leading the effort is volunteer LeeAnn Hoffman.

“In this time of crisis, some people don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” Hoffman said. “We wanted to be able to help get food on the table, giving them one less thing to worry about. ”

Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service CEO Marc Hopin added that “we are grateful to the volunteers and advocates of the NCJW of Valencia Shores for their generous contribution.”

For information, call 561-713-1893 or visit www.alpertjfs.org.

Florida native joins wildlife refuge board

Delray Beach resident Elaine Meier has been named to the board of the National Wildlife Refuge Association in Washington, D.C.

The NWRA is the nonprofit voice for wildlife conservation on the 568 swaths of land that comprise the National Wildlife Refuge System.

“I grew up going to the Everglades and Florida Keys, where I learned the importance of clean water and the birds and mammals it supported plus the danger of the encroachment of development,” said Meier, a Florida native and public-relations professional. “Nationwide, it is critical to teach the next generation how valuable these natural resources and habitats are to our well-being.”

For information, call 202-577-3200 or visit www.refugeassociation.org.

Boynton Beach volunteer receives service award

Boynton Beach volunteer Todd Finklestone has been recognized by the humanitarian organization ShelterBox USA via its President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Finklestone was lauded for his efforts in helping the nonprofit provide emergency shelter and supplies to people who lost their homes to natural disasters or who fled because of civil unrest in their native lands. He enabled the organization to help more than 145,000 individuals in 11 countries.

“The lifesaving work of ShelterBox is only possible because of our inspiring volunteers like Todd Finklestone, whose service in their communities is ensuring families made homeless by disaster and conflict situations have access to essential shelter and supplies,” President Kerri Murray said. “This distinction truly sets him apart as someone committed to serving others and making the world a better place.”

For information, call 805-608-2400 or visit www.shelterboxusa.org.

Leadership change announced at YWCA

The YWCA of Palm Beach County has hired a new CEO.

Shea Spencer comes to the organization with more than 15 years of nonprofit experience, including fundraising and community engagement, and most recently led the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County.

“I am so proud of the work we do and the impact we make in our local community,” Spencer said. “It truly is a tremendous honor to join the board of directors, funders, staff and volunteers in advancing the mission of YWCA, Palm Beach County and building out our legacy.”

For information, call 561-640-0050 or visit www.ywcapbc.org.

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

Health care workers wave to the camera at Bethesda Hospital East. Photo provided

The Bethesda Hospital Foundation brought in nearly $215,000 during its first online fundraiser, with more than 185 community members honoring health care staffers for their work, perseverance and devotion throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The event’s honorary chairwoman, Renee Block, was thanked and honored as well. All ticket holders and sponsors received a ‘Party in a Box’ that each contained items to create a cocktail, a brass pineapple tumbler, a recipe book, a Bethesda Hospital Foundation face mask, hand sanitizer and a program.

Photo by Tim Stepien /The Coastal Star

Theresa Gevurtz welcomes great-granddaughters, Kendall Gevurtz, 7, and Saylor Gevurtz, 5, to her 100th birthday gathering on Sept. 22. Theresa’s family chartered a plane and flew from Pennsylvania to Florida to celebrate the occasion. Theresa's actual birthday was Sept. 23. Born in Philadelphia, the centurion has traveled extensively, but her favorite place is Haifa, Israel. Also on hand to mark the occasion was Lantana Mayor Dave Stewart, who read a proclamation in her honor.

Bernstein with professional dancer Sayra Vazquez Brann. Photos provided

Stanley with professional dancer James Brann.

More than 22,000 supporters viewed the 13th annual George Snow Scholarship Fund event on WPTV-TV to cheer for their favorite community dancer — or livestreamed it from the station’s or the organization’s website. Fundraising champions were Steven Bernstein and Kirsten Stanley, who brought in $262,000 and $102,000, respectively. Both received the coveted Mirror Ball trophy. More than $660,000 was raised, exceeding 2019's record-breaking year by $23,000.

Dec. 5: The benefit for the Palm Beach County Food Bank, part of a national grassroots event that raises money for hunger relief, will feature a special drive-thru soup pickup to ensure attendee safety. Time is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $30. Call 561-670-2518, Ext. 309 or visit pbcfoodbank.org/emptybowlsdelray. PICTURED: Event Chairwoman Stephanie Dodge. Photo provided by CAPEHART

Lionfish, at 307 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, serves seafood, wagyu beef for meat eaters and vegetarian offerings. Photo provided by Eric George

By Jan Norris

Lionfish, the coronavirus-delayed seafood restaurant on Atlantic Avenue, has opened to what appears to be capacity, now with restaurant restrictions lifted.

The restaurant, spawned in San Diego, serves up its namesake catch — whole lionfish fried and in ceviche — along with other sustainable seafood choices. Its menu is approachable for all who come, according to Scott Diel, marketing director for the restaurant’s parent company, Clique Hospitality.

“We have wagyu beef for those who want meat, and vegetarian offerings, too. Salads, and small plates to share,” he said.

It’s trendy, leaning toward West Coast U.S. preparations, with Asian flavors mixed in. The thin beef slices are cooked at the table on heated lava rocks.

Catch as catch can, however: The lionfish, a sweet, flaky, non-oily fish, often sells out. “It only has about a 20% yield” — all the chef can get off each bony carcass, says Diel, so it takes a lot of fish to cover the orders.

The invasive fish decimating Florida reefs are easy to catch — spear-fishermen simply swim right up to the slow swimmers — but they are difficult to handle and clean because of their poisonous spines. The market for them is still sparse.

Originally set to open in spring, the restaurant was locked down while the virus rules were in place. While on the four-month delay, the principals redesigned the food and decor of Johnny Brown’s, the bar and grill popular with locals that they acquired next door to Lionfish.

During the lockdown, chef Johnny Demartini, a Delray veteran of Max’s Harvest and Death or Glory, worked with managing partner Craig O’Keefe and general manager Sean Fundiller to fine-tune menus, the wine list and staffing to be ready once restrictions were lifted, Diel said.

“We made the decision not to open with a limited menu or takeout — we wanted the guests to get the full experience. We think it was worth waiting.”

The build-out of the former Luigi’s pizzeria transformed the room from a dark, red brick-lined space into a sleek open room with white brick and painted ceiling — one that hides a treasure, Diel said. It’s a vintage Tiffany stained glass semi-dome, covered up, but still intact behind the new decorated ceiling.

Crowds have surprised them, and extra staff was hired to handle diners.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” Diel said. “We were expecting maybe 50 or 60%, but we were packed when we opened.”

People were ready to get out at last, he said, and eager to try the new spot. “Imagine what it’s going to be like once we’re back to more normal circumstances.”
Lionfish, 307 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Phone 561-639-8700; www.lionfishdelray.com. Open for dinner daily at 4 p.m.; brunch at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday by reservation.

Thanksgiving is still iffy for people who choose not to hold big family affairs indoors. Some are planning to move their traditional meals outside — an easy move in South Florida.
Some ideas for holding dinner outdoors:

Don’t fuss. All the fancy linens, china and glassware — use only if you have stable tables, a lot of help to carry it in and out, and trusted hands to do it. Don’t use family heirlooms that are more easily broken in a picnic or poolside setting.

This really is the year to use pretty plastic plates and serving ware (the dollar stores and party stores are great for these) and natural decorations and to keep preparations simple. Do use real flatware. Plastic forks and knives just aren’t adequate.

Have a potluck: An outdoor dine-around is convivial by nature, and most guests like to participate. The host provides the main dish. Consider buying a smoked turkey, or cooking your turkey on the grill. Spatchcock it first (go to YouTube for instructions) to have it done in time. For only a few guests, consider making Cornish hens or a turkey breast. Either way, carve meats at the last minute so they stay warm.

Have help to serve the food individually if a buffet setup is risky for your group.

Prepare for South Florida bugs and have a Plan B for weather: Have covers for your foods to protect them from insects, citronella candles for mosquitoes, and borrow a canopy or big umbrellas to set up under if rain is a threat.

The golden rule: If you’re an invited guest, RSVP and commit as soon as possible. It’s rude to keep a host guessing — especially this year.

Thanksgiving is also a big day for restaurants in South Florida, but changes in 2020 may affect how many will serve traditionally.

Some eateries are doing away with the usual buffets, but going for multicourse served meals, set up with outdoor seating.

A traditional Thanksgiving meal, turkey with all the trimmings, will be served at The Farmer’s Table in Boca Raton.

Diners will find a three-course patio feast at the Boca Raton eatery Nov. 26. Photos provided by The Farmer's Table

The Farmer’s Table in Boca Raton is planning a patio feast, a three-course traditional Thanksgiving meal, inside and outdoors in its courtyard Thanksgiving Day. Choices include those for vegetarians and vegans; cost is $59.95 for adults, $29.95 kids 10 and under. Reservations are required. A takeout dinner for people who want their food at home also is available; visit www.dinefarmerstable.com for details.

Taru at the Sundy House in Delray Beach also plans Thanksgiving outdoors in its acclaimed garden. Chef James Strine will prepare a Thanksgiving Day “buffet” — served from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Turkey, ham, salmon and prime rib are among the entrees; traditional sides and starters are featured. Cost is $75 for adults; children under 12 are half price. Reservations are suggested through www.sundyhouse.com.

Also new at Sundy House is an omakase pop-up called Kojin. It is available for only 10 diners per meal, two seatings per night, Thursday, Friday and Saturday with reservations a must. The chef prepares a dinner with the menu “left up to the chef,” as it is translated from Japanese. The Asian-profile meal is prepared in one of the guest suites on the property. Cost for the dinner is $100 per person, with a $25 deposit required.

Caffe Luna Rosa in Delray Beach will prepare Thanksgiving at its alfresco restaurant on the beach. Chef Ernie DeBlasi will have organic roast turkey and all the trimmings as a menu choice for $29, along with other special entrees as well as the regular menu on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations are strongly suggested; www.caffelunarosa.com.

It’s greenmarket time, but COVID-19 has interrupted their schedules and canceled at least one.

Protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and cities will affect how goods are presented, as well. Expect individual sealed samples rather than tastes from communal dishes, if they are offered, and sealed foods will be more prevalent. Market vendors will pack fresh produce for shoppers rather than offering open bins, in some cases.

The Delray Beach GreenMarket, now open, celebrates its 25th season. It’s in Old School Square Park, and the 60-plus vendors are set up to follow all the protocols in place for outdoor gatherings. Masks are encouraged for shopping, as is social distancing. This market is known for its gluten-free offerings among its fresh produce and prepared foods.

The newly named Lake Worth Beach Waterside Farmers Market will reopen Nov. 14. This is its 15th season beside the Lake Avenue bridge at A1A, northeast side. A variety of produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, plants and handcrafted goods are at this dog-friendly market. Breakfast is available on site, and there’s live music, as well.

Emily Lily, coordinator for Boca Raton’s Greenmarket, said this year has proven too iffy to do a market in the fall, and by spring, it’s too late. “It takes a lot of planning,” she said. Organizers decided to suspend the market altogether this season.

While its farm stores will be open, Bedner’s Farm Market in Boynton Beach decided to cancel its fall activities on the farm. “A difficult decision,” its website says, made to protect customers and staff.

In brief: Old dogs, new tricks: That’s the move from longtime restaurateur Henry Olmino of Mario’s on Ocean Avenue in Lantana. He recently took the plunge in the middle of the pandemic to open Fire and Ice, a casual spot serving pizza, wings, pastas and other comfort foods at 707 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach. Open for dinner daily, and Sunday brunch. ... Meals on Wheels is selling Thanksgiving pies made by area chefs for its annual Pie It Forward fundraiser and has added Delray Beach as a pickup point. Pies are on sale now for $30 and $35. Pickup is Nov. 24 at Duffy’s, 1750 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. To order, visit www.mealsonwheelspalmbeaches.org.

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

The United States has been for much of its history a remarkably artistic nation. The American arts of the 20th century in particular have been the driver of the country’s immense global cultural influence, a kind of soft power that often muffles other native arts but at the same time seeds fresh creation, from rock to Bollywood, Swedish TV noir to Arabic hip-hop.

But there has been nothing like the calamity this country, and the South Florida arts community, have endured under the COVID-19 pandemic. It has robbed performers and presenting organizations of their livelihoods, and kept audiences at bay who otherwise desperately wish to take in a live show.

A look at some fresh national numbers spells out the problem:

Arts organizations nationwide have lost $14 billion in the pandemic, with 96 percent of organizations canceling events, according to an Oct. 20 survey from Americans for the Arts, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit advocacy group. That has meant 478 million tickets unsold and a loss of $15.1 billion in arts-related spending at ancillary businesses such as restaurants and hotels.

Some 63 percent of artists nationally have become fully unemployed, the survey showed, with 95 percent reporting some loss of income, and 78 percent with no post-pandemic recovery plan. Government revenue has taken a $4.9 billion hit, and some 845,000 jobs in the arts are no longer being supported.

In total, the 26,200 artists responding to the survey have lost an average of $22,000 annually; the national figure for loss of arts income is $50.6 billion, Americans for the Arts said.

That is a staggering amount of money, even in a country with trillion-dollar deficits.

And the picture in Palm Beach County is just as dire. According to a preliminary survey (released Oct. 8) by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, the arts sector here, which has an annual economic impact of $633 million, has suffered a $48.3 million loss as 1,641 events have been canceled and nearly 600 full-time and part-time jobs have been subject to furloughs (underlining the immense importance of the freelance labor that staffs the majority of local arts performances in the county).

Annual attendance of arts events in Palm Beach County is about 3.9 million people, the council says. In the pandemic, nearly a fourth —some 888,277 people — of that attendance has disappeared.

Our country’s long history of anti-intellectualism and disdain of the arts professions as somehow not being real jobs is familiar to all of us who work in or around the creative professions. And yet the arts have been a vital lifeline in this, our time of misery.

For an immediate example we need only look to television: When people talk about bingeing on Netflix, they’re bingeing on the arts. When they fall into a YouTube wormhole and call up favorite performers from the past or find exciting new ones, they are bingeing on the arts. And every broadcast news program, to say nothing of government-presented events, is filtered through the theater arts.

It is because of this that if a vaccine for the virus were to be discovered and distributed next week, much of the arts activity that is on hiatus here would spring back quickly — if there is enough money to go around and there are enough people still able to return to the field of artistic endeavor.

The Cultural Council last month launched its Restart with the Arts fundraising campaign, in which donors can give to the council’s fund by visiting palmbeachculture.com/restart. It’s something the state government should be doing, too, but Florida will need a substantial political realignment for that to happen. In the meantime, if we can, it’s a good idea to give to our favorite arts organizations or to the council’s fund. After all, we want our artists to be there when the all-clear is sounded and we can return to our pre-virus lives, changed though they may be.

Americans love the arts, and artists, much more than they know. The arts are basic to humanity, something we’ve been wired with for millennia. I have no doubt that the county’s art scene will come roaring back when it’s safe to do so. The question will be: How many of the pre-virus members of the arts sector will still be there?

Here’s hoping they all are, bringing their gifts back to us and reminding us why this part of the country is such an exciting, joyful place to live. At the very least, we should try to help them. It will only be when the arts come back in full flower that we will be able to say: Yes, we have recovered.

— Greg Stepanich, editor

Among the donations is a truck loaded with building supplies. Kari Shipley recruited artists to paint it with the names of Delray Beach and Marsh Harbour. On the back are symbols for the two churches involved and the Bahamas Youth Network. ‘These are our neighbors, too,’ Shipley says. ‘They’re barely 90 miles away.’ Photo provided

By Janis Fontaine

The monster storm formed in the Atlantic at the end of August 2019, gaining strength until Sept. 1, when the most intense tropical cyclone on record struck the Bahamas with wind and water and an unbridled fury.

Hurricane Dorian is believed to be the worst natural disaster in the Bahamas’ short history. The Category 5 storm had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and gusts recorded up to 220 mph. The deadly storm surge — more than 20 feet of water — flooded the islands. Across the Bahamas, more than 70,000 people were left homeless and economists estimated the damage at more than $3.4 billion (a quarter of the Bahamas’ GDP).

Marsh Harbour, the largest town on Great Abaco Island and a commercial hub for many smaller islands, lost 95% of its buildings, but one church, Kirk of the Pines, was left standing.

Soon after, members of First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach donated money for a water purification system and solar generators for the pastor’s cellphones. Life returned to rudimentary homesteading: water, shelter, food, communication.

Now the two churches have a mini-supply chain going. It took about a year, but in October, First Presbyterian shipped a barely used box truck filled with tools and building supplies to Pastor Gabe Swing, who lives with his wife, Jan, in a camper next to the church.

Delray Beach resident Kari Shipley, who suggested Marsh Harbour and Kirk of the Pines as recipients for First Presbyterian’s Christmas charity project, estimates the church raised more than $50,000.

First Presbyterian also got a deal on the truck through a parishioner with connections to the auto industry, for about $30,000, plus $5,000 to ship it, said Shipley, a longtime deacon and elder at the church who has ties to Marsh Harbour.

The truck is crucial for logistics — just about every car on the island was destroyed — to get the tools and supplies where they are needed.

“It will serve as a roving workshop,” Pastor Swing said, “readily accessible, that we can also use to move supplies.”

When he’s not swinging a hammer, the pastor is working with the Bahamas Youth Network, a community-based Christian organization that connects adult mentors and coaches with local teenagers and young adults.

“We want to grow these young people into tomorrow’s leaders. Programs focus on teaching participants to make good life decisions and building leadership skills,” he said. The BYN gets support from the U.S. organization, the Caribbean Youth Network.

Some things are getting better in Marsh Harbour. Small planes can land at the international airport. Two grocery stores are open. But the challenges continue: Jobs, except in construction, are scarce. School hasn’t resumed.

Pastor Swing, who has made his home in the Bahamas for about 10 years, five of them in Marsh Harbour, says his biggest concern is food insecurity. People are hungry, and few have enough work or money.

Many left for the United States or parts of the Bahamas that sustained less damage. Swing lost track of some of his parishioners.

Some people who remained live in tents and without tap water or electricity. The lucky ones live in campers and have generators.

Jan Swing coordinates the mission trips that bring hundreds of people to the islands to provide the labor force for the construction. She says in just six months she’s had to cancel 12 trips because of COVID-19 restrictions. Those are finally starting to lift, another good sign. But so much is still needed.

For more information, visitfirstdelray.com or call 561-276-6338.

•

Want to travel to Marsh Harbour? Although each island and community may have different rules, effective Nov. 1 the Bahamas removed the 14-day quarantine requirement that had been in place. But all visitors must complete an electronic Bahamas Health Travel Visa application before departure, upload the results of a negative COVID-19 swab test taken within seven days of arrival and provide contact information.

Visitors must also take a rapid test on day five of the visit, which is included in the cost of the Bahamas Health Travel Visa. All entry requirements can be viewed at www.bahamas.com/travelupdates.

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

Dozens of people brought gifts to the First Presbyterian parking lot. Photos by Tim Stepien / The Coastal Star

By Janis Fontaine

First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach added a new member to its church family in September and staged a baby shower the hard way.

The Community Church by the Sea, as it is also known, welcomed Pierre Isaac Rapier, son of the Rev. Greg Rapier and his wife, Lissette. It’s the first baby the church has added to its worship family in many years, so the congregation was excited.

Even the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t going to stop the parishioners from commemorating such a blessed event, so they did what lots of people have done: They staged a drive-by celebration.

On a sweltering Saturday in September, dozens of guests gathered — even Marie Buss, age 94, who had made a special baby blanket for Pierre. People decorated their cars and more than 50 vehicles led by a bagpiper made an orderly parade past the happy couple.

Linda Prior, who helped organize the event, thought busy Gleason Street might get clogged with traffic, but guests seemed to trickle in, which was just perfect, she said.

For a few minutes, it looked like the mother-to-be might not show: Lissette was having contractions but her doctor cleared her to make a quick visit to the church.

“She’s been fantastic,” Greg Rapier said. “It wasn’t exactly what she signed up for.”

Greg said the events surrounding the late September birth were “exhausting and joyful,” and for the first time he was almost grateful for the pandemic restrictions because the new family enjoyed a little solitude.

But the Rapiers also faced the challenge of being on their own with no help to fall back on in caring for the baby.

“I always knew this,” Greg said, “but it’s even clearer now: Love is a lot of hard work and sacrifice.”

St. Paul’s music director

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach is welcoming a new director of music ministries to replace Dr. Paul Cienniwa, who took a position as the orchestra director for the Binghamton Philharmonic in New York.

Dr. David S. Macfarlane, from First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, New Jersey, will join the church’s highly regarded music ministries. An accomplished musician, experienced church organist and choir director, Macfarlane also taught as an adjunct professor of music at Bergen Community College and was the assistant conductor/choirmaster for the Amore Opera of New York.  

Although the church resumed limited in-person Sunday services in September, the Music at St. Paul’s program has not resumed. Macfarlane won’t begin his work until January.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is at 188 S. Swinton Ave.; www.stpaulsdelray.org; 561-276-4541.

Rector named bishop

St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach announced that Pope Francis appointed SVDP’s rector and president, Msgr. David Toups, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas. Toups, who was ordained in 1997, served SVDP as rector and president from 2012 to 2020 and as assistant dean from 2004 to 2006. During the past eight years he oversaw major renovations and expansion at the seminary.

A massive mitzvah

Thanks to kindhearted people, many Jews were able to celebrate the most important Jewish holidays of the year even in the midst of a pandemic.

Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service worked to distribute Rosh Hashanah meals throughout Palm Beach County with help from the Jewish Volunteer Center of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and the Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach.

JFS’s kosher food pantry also undertook its annual distribution of 35 Rosh Hashanah holiday food baskets.

The three nonprofits, with more than 150 volunteers, packaged 230 holiday meals, loaded them into cars and delivered them to 173 households in Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and West Palm Beach.

The Alpert JFS is a nationally accredited service provider for children, adults, seniors and Holocaust survivors.

To learn more, visit www.AlpertJFS.org or call 561-684-1991.

Holly House goes virtual

For the first time in more than 50 years, the ladies of Holly House at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach won’t host their large, annual sale of handcrafted holiday items at the church. But that doesn’t mean the ladies have been idle.

The crafters have been busy making holiday items, but they’ve moved sales mostly online to the Facebook Marketplace. You can find all the adorable decorations and gifts you love there.

Available are craft supplies, fabric, sewing notions, and handmade products ready to sell.

Shoppers are welcome to make an appointment to visit in-person Tuesday, Thursday, and possibly Saturday mornings to make purchases.

It is cash and carry. Masks are required. By making appointments, the church can limit the numbers of shoppers at one time.

For more information, contact Linda Prior, 561-702-0245, Linda_Prior@hotmail.

Palm Beach Par-3's location on the ocean provides a captivating golf setting.

By Brian Biggane

Two par-3 golf courses along the A1A corridor in South Palm Beach County have been identified as being “among the world’s best” in a feature story in the September/October issue of Golf Magazine.

St. Andrews, a private club featuring three holes along the Intracoastal Waterway near Gulf Stream, and the Palm Beach Par-3, between the ocean and Intracoastal in the town of Palm Beach, were among 25 “exemplary” courses on a list that included Augusta National, Pine Valley in New Jersey and Bandon Dunes in Oregon.

“Even to be on the same page with those kind of courses, it’s quite a compliment,” St. Andrews head pro Amy Carver said.

“We’re a municipal course,” Palm Beach head pro Tony Chateauvert said, “so we’re accessible to anyone who wants to play. Augusta National, Pine Valley, you can’t get on those courses.”

Recognition is nothing new for the Palm Beach Par-3, which has been ranked both among the best and “most fun to play” by Golf Digest.

Designed by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, the course opened in 1961 but fell into disrepair before four-time major champion Raymond Floyd oversaw a redesign in 2009.

“The town of Palm Beach recognized what we had and put a lot of money into it,” Chateauvert said. “Then six years ago we redid the clubhouse with a great al fresco restaurant. So now we’re a destination golf course. People come from all over the world to play it.”

Former Gulf Stream resident Alice Dye, with help from design partner and husband Pete Dye, built the St. Andrews course in 1973 and renovated it in 2013.

Tropical land-scaping at St. Andrews includes beds of red hibiscus and royal palm trees. Photos provided

“It’s like a little hidden gem,” Carver said. “There are people who drive up and down A1A every day who have no idea we’re even here.

“Most people who come out here are surprised. It’s under 2,000 yards, and they go, ‘Eh, this is going to be easy,’ and it’s not. It’s a challenge. You have to know how to score.  
“Most people can’t hit 18 greens, and on the short shots the wind makes an even bigger difference, because you’re hitting a lofted club, and with more loft it’s going to go higher and be even more subject to the wind.”

The Palm Beach Par-3 plays at more than 2,000 yards from the back tees, with No. 4 at 196 yards and No. 5 at 212.

Still, Chateauvert said, the course lives up to its motto: Friendly, Fast and Fun.

“People come off the 18th hole and they’re always in a good mood, they’re having fun, it didn’t beat them up too much, and that’s what golf is supposed to be. Too many golf courses are just too difficult for the average golfer. Par-3 courses, be it the Palm Beach Par-3, or St. Andrews, are much more fun for the average golfer.”

Not to mention, Carver said, a test for even the best.

“At any level it’s a challenge,” she said. “I don’t care if you’re a new golfer, a scratch handicap. And sometimes for the better golfer it’s even more of a challenge, because you’re thinking, ‘How many birdies can I make?’  

“Then they come out here and it’s like, ‘Wow.’ Any golfer can improve their game out here.”

St. Andrews has also recently been recognized as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by Audubon International. The program “provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources,” according to the announcement.

Kimberlee Pompeo sparked the starter kit idea as she took out invasive Scaevola taccada and vines from her Ocean Ridge property and put in natives. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

George Gann’s goal is to restore biodiversity to Palm Beach County’s barrier islands, one patch of land at a time.

To aid the process, interested landowners can purchase biodiversity starter kits created by the Institute for Regional Conservation under the auspices of its Restoring the Gold Coast program. A recent $100,000 grant from Impact 100 Palm Beach County helped fund the effort and educational campaign.

“These kits can be planted on virtually any piece of island property, including private residences and condo associations as well as office complexes, parks and medians. Every bit helps the area’s biodiversity,” says Gann, founder of the Delray Beach-based IRC.

Gann says evidence exists that during their history the barrier islands from Boca Raton to Lake Worth Beach have been home to more than 200 plant species.

These are native species that originated on the barrier islands without the help of humans. Those that didn’t originate here migrated naturally on the wind, the waves or on birds’ feet.

“We are not looking at species that people purposefully brought with them or that attached themselves to airplane wheels,” says Gann — thinking of all the bougainvillea, hibiscus and other showy exotics that have been imported from the Caribbean and Asia.

But over the years, much of our native diversity has been destroyed or lost as man developed the islands and beach erosion led to destruction of habitat.

Today, scientists know that these native plants remain important because, like art, they have intrinsic beauty, says Gann. They also can bind the soil with their roots, making the landscape more stable. And they make it more resilient in the face of hurricanes, plant diseases and insect pests.

Plus, as these native plants produce seeds, nectar, pollen and fruits, they create habitat for native birds, butterflies, insects and other animals on the islands.

The idea behind the starter kits is to return the native species and the resulting biodiversity to our barrier islands. Each of the four kits that are now offered includes five native species in small to medium pots.

One of these will be a “rare plant surprise,” an “oddball” species that might become available. And each kit is designed for a different coastal zone where wind, sun, water and sand uniquely interact.

The value of planting natives is visible on a 50-by-50-foot patch of beachfront property in Ocean Ridge owned by Kimberlee Pompeo, Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ District X vice chair for the barrier islands.

Since 2013, she has been removing the invasive Scaevola taccada and vines that were crowding out the sea grapes and saw palmettos originally on the property. She has continued to add natives, and today her landscape boasts more than 40 species.

Sea lavender.

As she worked with Gann last spring, Pompeo’s interest in restoring her own property helped spark the creation of the biodiversity starter kits.

“They are a good way to return native species to the land in the way that nature intended,” she says.

On her foredune, she has planted the Beach Dune/Coastal Grassland kit ($75), including sea lavender that can survive the salty wind, cresting water and moving sand that energize this part of the dunescape.

Gann explains that this is the only kit that you necessarily need oceanfront property to plant. The others are more versatile.

For example, the Coastal Strand/Shrubland kit ($85) includes saw palmetto and yellow joyweed, which are typically found just behind the dune front where there’s less wind and salt spray. But Gann says the kit can be used just about any place on the barrier island where there is full sun.

Marlberry in bloom.

Also versatile, the Tropical Hammock/Coastal Garden Kit ($90) can be planted along a road or in a formal or informal garden. It fits any place on the island away from direct wind, says Gann. This kit includes the Jamaica caper-tree and marlberry.

There’s even a butterfly-attracting kit ($60) for people who enjoy these fluttery charmers. It too can be used any place on the barrier island protected from the wind. Gann hopes to soon have this kit available with plants that will do well on the mainland.

“The idea is to put together a few plants that deliver a lot of bang for the buck and efficiently return biodiversity to the barrier islands,” says Gann.

To purchase plants
Visit https://donorbox.org/restoring-the-gold-coast. Use one form for each type of kit you want. If you want multiples of the same kit, mark it on the form, then figure the multiple amount you will donate and write this in the comments area along with the number of kits you want. You will be contacted about picking up your purchase.

To learn more
Visit the Institute for Regional Conservation’s biodiversity starter program website at www.regionalconservation.org/DonationRGC.html. Or contact Cara Abbott at abbott@regionalconservation.org or 305-304-6610.

JFK Medical Center main and north campuses and Palms West Hospital collaborated with the technology company EverFi to launch a mental health and wellness digital education course for middle and high school students in Palm Beach County.

Called Mental Wellness Basics, the course provides learners with accurate information about mental health disorders, the sharing of peer experiences with mental illness and messaging that treatment is effective and available. For information, email Community.Engagement@HCAhealthcare.com. 

JFK Medical Center announced in October that the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation certified its cardiovascular rehabilitation program. The program includes exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.

Delray Medical Center was certified by DNV GL Healthcare in August for its stroke care based on standards set by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association.
Comprehensive stroke centers treat any kind of stroke or stroke complication, and a stroke center certification determines which facility a patient is taken to for the most appropriate care when a stroke occurs.  

As of August, Delray Medical Center offers GE Discovery IQ PET/CT. Physicians use this tool to determine whether a patient has cancer even before it shows up on other imaging exams. Scans are available on Tuesdays. For information, or to schedule an appointment, call 561-637-5303.

In September, Delray Medical Center’s surgical weight loss program received national accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Bariatrics from Optum Health. For information, visit www.delraymedicalctr.com. Also of note, Tenet Healthcare’s Palm Beach Health Network hospitals, which include Delray Medical Center, are allowing most patients admitted through the Emergency Department to have a visitor. 

Khalid A. Hanafy, MD, Ph.D., has joined Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital as medical director of neurocritical care and director of research. He specializes in the care of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients and the study of neuroinflammation.

He is associate professor of neurology at Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine in Boca Raton. Previously, he was the director of the neurological intensive care unit and an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

In September, board-certified urologist Blake Evans, MD, FACS, joined BocaCare Physician Network, a part of Baptist Health South Florida. Evans has experience in robotic and laparoscopic surgery. Previously, he served as the interim chair of the Department of Surgery at Cape Coral Hospital in southwest Florida.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Evans earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He completed his urologic training at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He sees patients at 10 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton.

An article that appeared in the ACS Central Science journal in September reported the findings of Scripps Research chemist Matthew Disney, Ph.D., and colleagues, who have created druglike compounds that, in human cell studies, bind and destroy a COVID element to stop the coronavirus from replicating.

“This is a proof-of-concept study,” Disney says. “We put the frame-shifting element into cells and showed that our compound binds the element and degrades it. The next step will be to do this with the whole COVID virus, and then optimize the compound. We wanted to publish (the report) as soon as possible to show the scientific community that the COVID RNA genome is a drug-able target.” 

In our last issue, we reported about Palm Beach Research Center’s Moderna COVID vaccine phase three clinical trial, which began July 31. As of mid-October, the study is nearly over, having almost met the enrollment goal nationwide, said David Scott, president and CEO of the research center.

“Moderna has been very pleased with the study’s progress. We all look forward to the study gathering meaningful data for Moderna to analyze and share with the FDA.”
Clinical studies for Regeneron, the COVID antibody cocktail that President Donald Trump received under a compassionate-use request, are underway in  Boca Raton.

For information on Regeneron studies as well as others, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov.

Physicians at the Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital have begun and are part of a multi-institutional randomized study on the use of umbilical cord stem cells to treat patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 infection. The treatment involves an infusion of mesenchymal stem cells, known for their ability to reduce inflammation and regenerate damaged lung tissue.

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

By Joyce Reingold

As the influenza season converges with the COVID-19 pandemic, the message from medical professionals this year is more emphatic than ever: Get your darn flu shot already.
Dr. Andrew Savin, an internal medicine physician with the Bethesda Health Physician Group, a part of Baptist Health South Florida, is of a like mind.

“I’m trying to tell patients, and I’m sure every physician is, to get the flu vaccine to decrease the risk that people are going to have to deal with two different infections — not necessarily at the same time, but making things very confusing for the patients, the health care providers, the family members. So, if any year is good to get a flu shot, it’s going to be this year and probably next year as well.”

During the 2018-19 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the vaccine prevented 4.4 million cases of the flu, 2.3 million doctor visits, 58,000 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths. But, getting the vaccine doesn’t mean you won’t get the flu — the CDC says vaccines have been 40%-60% effective in prior years.

“Every year, the flu virus is almost like something made out of Legos, and you replace one red piece with a yellow piece, or you may have one part sticking out that looks different than the other part,” Savin explained. “And what happens is every year it changes. Some years it might repeat, and some years it’ll be different for 10 years.

“And what we do is early in the flu season, across the world, we start figuring out what seems to be going across all the different countries. And we try to make it (the vaccine) in anticipation of what it’s going to be like the next season.”

Since flu season typically peaks between December and March, it’s still too early to know the efficacy of this year’s vaccine. But Savin said there’s no question it’s well worth the quick jab in the arm.

“Every once in a while, they’ll miss the right virus. And most of the time they get it and there’s some level of protection. And what I have found is that even if they don’t get it exactly right, the people who do get flu, even if they’ve had the vaccine, don’t get as sick. The people who I typically see who are the sickest are the ones who didn’t get any vaccine and it happens to be a pretty virulent year,” he said.

Savin said over the years, he’s heard a variety of reasons why people are still wary of the vaccine, most of which are “complete urban myths.”

One, for example, is that the vaccine gives you the flu.

“You’re not injecting people with the flu virus. You’re injecting them with little pieces of the flu virus, the parts that your immune system needs to attack. So, your body’s sort of making a little copy of that and making immunity to it, but it’s actually not reproducing in your body as a virus,” he said.

Others believe the vaccine is dangerous. “The number of problems with it, in terms of side effects and issues with patients, is I would say minimal compared to what I see when patients get the flu,” Savin said. “I have seen people get a sore arm. I’ve seen people sometimes get some aches and pains or low-grade fevers with it. Other than that, the number of patients who’ve ever really have bad problems with the flu shot is almost minuscule. … So, I really don’t get too concerned about it.”

Given the presence of COVID-19, Savin said, this flu season finds us in “uncharted waters.” Still, he is optimistic, largely because of what we’ve learned during the pandemic.
“I’m seeing people are pretty much keeping themselves very protected, which I think means that people are probably going to get the flu less this year … they’re not going out and getting exposed to flu, which is pretty easy to catch in the environment,” he said. “Wearing a mask and going to Publix to pick up some things and leaving — the chances of getting influenza from that are really pretty low.”

Because the flu and the coronavirus, both highly contagious respiratory illnesses, may present with similar symptoms, Savin said testing, via nasal swabs, will be especially important this year.

“We just have to be really careful, use common sense and test people that we think need to be tested — and get everybody that flu shot.”

Getting a flu shot

If you haven’t had yours yet, the CDC says it’s not too late: “Vaccination can still be beneficial as long as flu viruses are circulating. If you have not been vaccinated by Thanksgiving (or the end of November), it can still be protective to get vaccinated in December or later. Flu is unpredictable and seasons can vary.”
You can get vaccinated at Publix, CVS and Walgreens — usually at no charge and sometimes with the bonus of a gift card — as well as at physicians’ offices and urgent care centers. Baptist Health offers free flu shots at its multiple urgent care locations. Or, plug your address into the nationwide VaccineFinder.org to see more options.
As always, check with your doctor first if you have any questions about getting a flu shot.

Flu symptoms
Fever or feeling feverish/chills *
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Muscle or body aches
Headaches
Fatigue
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
* It’s important to note that not everyone with the flu will get a fever.
Source: CDC

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

Naughton blesses Beatrix Kiddo, 1.

Because of COVID-19 precautions, St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church’s 25th annual blessing of the animals was a drive-up with the Revs. Martin Zlatic and Mary Naughton blessing each animal that arrived at the Boynton Beach church.

Zlatic blesses Abbey, a 6-year-old dog who belongs to St. Joseph’s youth minister Shannon Zalewski.

Christina Wood and Loki, 12, attended St. Joseph’s blessing of the animals for the first time this year. Wood says that Loki does not play well with others, so the drive-thru was perfect for them.

Sugar, 34, was blessed by Naughton.

Athena Grace, 4, waits to be blessed.

Zlatic gets his own blessing in return from 1-year-old Bella.

More than $500 was raised to be donated to the K9 units for the Boynton Beach and Delray Beach police departments. The church donated an extra $400 to the departments. Zlatic and Naughton blessed six K9 units and about 100 animals in all, including a mouse. The drive-up format made it easier to participate than usual.

Photos by Rachel S. O'Hara/The Coastal Star

Harvey the baby squirrel and Dinky the donkey were two of the stars of Unity of Delray’s blessing. Photos provided

By Arden Moore

How have you adapted this year to this never-ending pandemic? Perhaps you have groceries delivered to your front porch. Or you host weekly happy hours not in bars, but via Zoom. Maybe you’ve converted your spare bedroom into your office.

As the months pass, we pine for things we took for granted, like munching on buttered popcorn inside a crowded movie theater or tailgating before a big football game.
But if you look closely, you can notice acts of creativity and resiliency that COVID-19 has been powerless to prevent.

Case in point: For the first time since launching the blessing of the animals service 21 years ago, the Rev. Laurie Durgan, of the Unity of Delray Beach church, got the opportunity to bless an unprecedented variety that included Dinky the donkey, Harvey the squirrel, a homebody cat named Miss Puma and a pair of black swans.

In years past, Durgan looked forward to petting, giving treats and saying prayers directly to well-mannered dogs, cats and the occasional turtle or bearded dragon present at this special blessing held every October in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.

Rather than cancel the blessing due to the heightened health precautions during the pandemic, Unity of Delray Beach opted to make it a virtual event and open it to any and all critters anywhere.

Places of worship all over Palm Beach County and beyond got creative to bless animals. Some elected to celebrate by staging drive-up prayer blessings. At St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach, the Revs. Martin Zlatic and Mary Naughton delivered blessings to pets in vehicles.

“When we decided to go virtual, I knew I would miss all the kisses from the animals and the way I smelled after the blessing of all the animals, but this time, I am able to open up the avenue to bless far more than before,” says Durgan.

Indeed. Instead of blessing 30 to 50 pets who showed up at the church, Durgan blessed more than 140 who walk, swim and fly, from all over, during a recorded ceremony now posted on YouTube.

They included:

• A rescued baby squirrel named Harvey. In late August, Terry Capuano and her grandson, Jayce, of Delray Beach, found a newborn squirrel who was barely alive. She contacted a nurse friend who gave her a formula recipe and instructed her to keep the squirrel on a heating pad for warmth.
“Even though we thought of keeping Harvey as a pet, we knew the most humane thing to do was to nurse him back to health and bring him to the Busch Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Jupiter where he could live and socialize with other squirrels,” says Capuano. “As he began to eat and grow stronger, he became very lovable and would burrow into my neck to cuddle.”
They found this squirrel in need on Aug. 28, the 19-year anniversary of the death of Capuano’s brother, Marc.
“This virtual event was a blessing in disguise,” says Capuano. “I miss my brother every day and I think he had a part in this squirrel showing up and needing us to keep us from being sad on the date of his passing.”

• Dinky the donkey plus about 30 goats, birds, swans, horses and more who reside at Toby’s Legacy Critter Creek Ranch in Palm City.
Tim Morell, president of the ranch, heard about Durgan’s virtual blessing and sent photos of many ranch residents. They included Dinky, a protective sort who alerted him about a mini horse that fell off a bridge into a creek and was rescued. Morell also asked to include in the blessing a special dog named Sparky, who passed away in July at age 12.
“Spark was a Doberman and a service dog who would often go to the library for kids to read to him,” recalls Morell. “When I suffered a broken neck in a vehicle in 2013 and had to wear a medical halo, Spark would never leave my side during my recovery. It feels so great to include Sparky in the blessing.”

• A senior cat named Miss Puma. “There is no way I would have even tried to take her to the blessing of the animals because she definitely does not want to leave the house,” says Judy Somers, of Boynton Beach, who has attended Unity of Delray Beach for 25 years. “I mean, my veterinarian does house calls to care for her because I cannot get her into the car. Miss Puma comforts me and has been a blessing for me during this pandemic. I am grateful she got to participate in this year’s virtual event.”
Brenda Robinson, of Boynton Beach, again coordinated all of the requests for blessings of pets, wildlife, birds and more this year. She initiated the animal blessing at the church in 1999 with Lidia Leith, who now lives in Tampa.

“Because we had to go virtual due to the pandemic, there were unexpected blessings,” says Robinson. “Rev. Laurie was able to bless many more animals of all types from everywhere. And because we posted the blessing on YouTube, many more pet owners were able to see what a blessing of the animals is all about.”
Never underestimate the power of the pets, especially during these challenging times. Every day, I count my blessings who happen to answer to the names of Bujeau, Kona, Emma, Casey, Rusty and Mikey.

Watch the virtual blessings

As a special tribute to the virtual blessings of all animals, living and deceased, here are two videos from the Unity of Delray Beach church provided by Brenda Robinson, of Boynton Beach.

A preview of the variety of pets, wild animals, birds and more who were blessed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l38Tp
_h72Xw&feature=youtu.be.

The link to the virtual blessing ceremony performed by the Rev. Laurie Durgan: https://youtu.be/3_JqGWzdnm4

Arden Moore, founder of fourleggedlife.com, is an animal behavior expert and host of the Oh Behave! show on petliferadio.com. Learn more at www.ardenmoore.com.

A feisty winter sailfish jumps during this year’s West Palm Beach Fishing Club Silver Sailfish Derby. The 2021 derby is set for Jan. 7-8. Photos by Willie Howard/The Coastal Star

By Willie Howard

November’s northerly winds bring sailfish to South Florida waters, creating an opportunity for anglers who enjoy catching and releasing billfish — but also a responsibility for those who don’t intend to catch a sailfish but suddenly find one stripping line from a reel and leaping from the waves.

Almost all sailfish are released. Anglers must have a federal HMS angling permit to keep one, and the sailfish must be at least 63 inches long (measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail) to be legal to keep.

That means ocean anglers must be prepared to release sailfish in good condition. Sailfish, Florida’s official saltwater fish, are prone to acrobatic jumps and head shaking at the surface in attempts to throw the hook.

After the fish settles down and can be held alongside the boat, remove the hook, if possible, or cut the line as close to the hook as possible.

Non-offset circle hooks such as these 7/0 Mustads are commonly used by anglers targeting sailfish with live bait. The backswept point of a circle hook is less likely to snag soft tissue inside a fish than a traditional J hook.

Wear gloves before trying to grab the bill. Hold the fish in the water, gripping the bill a few inches above the mouth with two hands, thumb touching thumb. After the sailfish is stabilized on the surface, keep the boat moving slowly forward so the sailfish can extract oxygen from the water and regain strength. When the sailfish begins to kick with its tail, set it free.

The reviving process might take five minutes. A caught sailfish is like a boxer winded after a long bout. Generally, the longer the fight, the more exhausted the sailfish will be and the longer it should be revived.

James Swanwick revives his first sailfish, taken on a live pilchard in 100 feet of water straight outside Palm Beach Inlet, in January. The boat is moving slowly forward, pushing water over the sailfish’s gills so it can regain strength.

The resuscitation process creates time for photographs and short videos. Show the angler holding the sailfish in the water while it’s being revived. Have the captain move the boat so the sun illuminates the fish and the person holding it. Don’t forget to maintain a good grip on your cellphone or use the strap on your camera to avoid losing it overboard.

Avoid the temptation to haul a sailfish into the boat for photos.

Federal fisheries laws require anglers to release sailfish and other billfish “in a manner that will ensure maximum probability of survival, but without removing fish from the water.”
It’s acceptable to lift the fish’s head out of the water, briefly, for a photo while leaving most of the fish in the water.

Catching and releasing sailfish is not overly difficult during the cool months, November through April. No need to bother with fishing kites, though kite fishing is a popular and effective method for catching sailfish.

Live goggle-eyes, pilchards or threadfin herring attached to a 7/0 non-offset circle hook will catch sailfish. Smaller hooks can be used for smaller baits. Try using a live bait rod fitted with a conventional reel holding 20- to 30-pound main line and 30- to 40-pound leader.

Non-offset circle hooks (mandatory in sailfish tournaments) are recommended for sailfish because they’re designed to slide over soft tissue inside the fish’s mouth and lodge in the corner of the jaw, minimizing damage.

If you’re setting up your boat to drift over a reef for kingfish and snapper, put the live bait intended for sailfish out first and let it move 150 feet or so behind the boat before stopping. That should keep the bait from swimming back under the boat and wrapping around the other lines, but check the bait periodically just in case it has a case of wanderlust.

When a sailfish hits and feels the hook, it’s likely to jump. If it’s connected to your rod, have an angler gradually tighten the drag on the reel and fight the fish. Bring in the other lines and prepare to move the boat slowly toward the fish to regain line.

Have someone on the boat shoot photos or videos during the fight. Sailfish often make spectacular jumps, sometimes close to the boat. Photos of the angler battling a sailfish can be just as exciting.

Ft. Lauderdale boat show is on despite pandemic
The 61st annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show was scheduled for Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 at seven locations along the waterfront despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Producer Informa U.S. Boat Shows says extra cleaning, hand-sanitizing, touch-free ticketing and social distancing are part of the show. Extra entrance points aim to minimize lines, and docks are wider — up to 30 feet.
All exhibitors and attendees must wear face coverings.
The Fort Lauderdale boat show is the largest in-water boat show in the world, with more than 80% of the show taking place in open-air spaces, according to the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the show.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except on Nov. 1, when the show closes at 6 p.m.) Adult admission is $35. Call 954-463-6762 or visit www.flibs.com.

Nautical flea market set for Nov. 14-15
The 12th annual Palm Beach Marine Flea Market and West Palm Beach Seafood Festival is set for Nov. 14-15 at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd.
The market, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, will feature new and used boats for sale along with boating and fishing gear and marine accessories.
Adult admission is $10. Youths 12 and under will be admitted free. For details, visit www.flnauticalfleamarket.com.

Manatee zones take effect Nov. 15
Seasonal speed zones that require boaters to slow down to avoid striking manatees begin Nov. 15 and continue through March 31 in Palm Beach County.
The area around Florida Power & Light Co.’s Riviera Beach power plant (south of Peanut Island) is one of the most manatee-sensitive areas in Palm Beach County. Manatees are attracted to warm-water discharges from the power plant during cold weather.
Boat operators should wear polarized sunglasses and avoid boating over shallow sea grass beds to reduce the chance of hitting manatees.
Boaters who encounter a sick, dead or injured manatee should call the state’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

Bahamas updates COVID guidelines
Boaters headed to the Bahamas still must present a negative COVID-19 swab test (less than seven days before arrival), but the requirement that visitors “vacation in place” expires Nov. 1, meaning they can move around beyond the confines of their accommodations.
To enter the Bahamas, visitors must obtain a negative COVID swab test and apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa at www.travel.gov.bs. Click on the international tab to upload the test results.
In addition, Bahamas visitors will be subject to a rapid antigen test upon arrival and four days (96 hours) after arrival. Details: www.bahamasmarinas.com/procedures-and-protocols.

Tip of the month
Want to better understand all the notes and symbols on nautical charts? Download NOAA’s free U.S. Chart No. 1 at www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/us-chart-1.html.

Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Reach him at tiowillie@bellsouth.net.

Retiring principal Vikki Delgado’s kindergarten class this year included three students who are children of former students at St. Vincent Ferrer School. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Vikki Delgado never intended to become principal at St. Vincent Ferrer School in Delray Beach. But sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways.

A former preschool teacher at the Catholic school who had left four years earlier to help with family obligations, Delgado was at the YMCA in Boynton Beach when she was approached by a then teacher who brought up the idea of her becoming principal.

“She said, ‘Do you hear God calling you?’” Delgado recalls.

A short time later — on a Tuesday in May 2008 when she was scheduled to interview for the job — Delgado was at morning Mass and saw signs pointing to her future in the reading of the day, the psalm, and then the gospel that contains Jesus’ phrase “Let the little children come to me.”

The messages from above, she said, were hard to miss.

“My blessing has always been, ‘OK, God, what do you want me to do next,’ and every time he has shown me the way.’”

Now, 12 years after getting a job that felt like it was meant to be, Delgado is stepping down and has handed the reins to her former assistant principal, Denise O’Loughlin.

“I think it’s time,” Delgado said, adding that her Oct. 30 departure was bittersweet. “I feel like I’ve done the best work of my life here. All of the gifts that the Lord has given me, I feel like this is where they’ve best been used.”

Delgado will miss the children she has greeted every morning for the last 12 years, the parents she has gotten to know and the staff that has become like family. But she says she’s happy to have O’Loughlin step in.

As she takes over, the new principal is inheriting a school that has grown both physically and in enrollment under Delgado’s watch. Yet it has retained the closeness and high quality of education that first brought Delgado there as a parent looking for a school for her daughter.

Delgado recalls finding the school almost by accident and knowing right away that it was the place for her children. “I felt at home,” she said. “It reminded me of the Catholic school that I went to.”

Delgado, O’Loughlin says, had a knack for making sure people who came to the school always felt welcome.

“She makes everyone feel loved and accepted,” O’Loughlin said. “She has a kind, helping spirit that is infectious to everyone. She is just dearly, dearly loved by the students, parents and everyone she meets.”

O’Loughlin believes the strong religious beliefs that guide Delgado were key to her success as principal.

“She is a true light for what our Catholic faith is all about,” O’Loughlin said.

As principal, Delgado oversaw the multimillion-dollar expansion of the school, which was completed in August 2019. It includes a two-story building with 13 classrooms — many for the middle school students — and a new main office.

The expansion has enabled the school to reduce classroom size and provide improved facilities, including an expanded and modernized science lab.

Delgado, who was born in Cuba, has also focused on diversity and making the school more accessible. Since she took over as principal, the number of scholarships awarded through grants and donations has doubled.

Throughout her years at St. Vincent Ferrer School, Delgado has always focused on building relationships with students and with families and helping children grow educationally as well as in character.

In her final months she was out front greeting children and doing temperature checks while learning to recognize masked students by their eyes.

“Kids here discover their God-given gift and in turn give it back as a gift to the world,” she said.

For Delgado, a knack for teaching and working with children could well be a gift — one that she exhibited at an early age while leading her three younger siblings, but also a gift she fought.

The daughter of a kindergarten teacher, Delgado earned degrees in music and education at the University of Miami and spent several years working in music therapy with special needs children.

While earning her master’s degree in educational leadership she was introduced to a teaching job at Miami Dade’s Jan Mann Opportunity School, an alternative school for challenging students who may have been disruptive and disinterested at other schools.

“That was my turning point,” she said. “I could see how I could make a difference.”

All the while, she said, she kept thinking that teachers could do more if they could just reach children earlier.

After her two daughters enrolled at St. Vincent, Delgado was asked to fill in for the preschool teacher, who was out on maternity leave. She did that for eight years before leaving to take care of an ailing mother.

She was about ready to return to education, and in fact had a job lined up with Palm Beach County schools, when she got the call from St. Vincent’s to be principal.

While her job for most of the past 12 years has been as an administrator, Delgado has also made it a point to visit classrooms and go back to teaching. Last year, in fact, she spent much of the school year teaching a sixth-grade writing and English literature class.

Delgado, 59, says that she had originally planned to leave at the end of last school year but stayed to help with the transition brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

She says she will spend her time “getting off the bus,” enjoying things like gardening and just being a grandmother, relaxing until whatever is supposed to come her way arrives.
“We’ll see what God has for me next,” she said.

It's all about the views at this Delray Beach oceanview estate, which has walls of windows along balconies that invite the outside in.

Artfully designed by Rick Brautigan Inc., this ultra-contemporary five-bedroom, 4.5-bath residence is a study in contrasts.

Built on a deep quarter-acre lot, its 5,817 square feet of living space has hard industrial-style elements such as a metal roof, steel spiral staircases and built-in metal bookcases; and sleek urban design, with its stunning master bath and gourmet chef’s kitchen. It’s all juxtaposed against interior architectural curves, exterior water elements and a lush tropical setting.

With the kitchen (left), dining room (right) and balconies beyond, the house has ample space for gracious entertaining.

This fenced property has a gray brick motor court lined with fiber-optic night lighting and rimmed by specimen palms and manicured hedges.

Reflecting its beachy locale, it boasts custom-designed water elements, including a covered heated lap pool with spa and spillover waterfall as well as an outdoor shower.

There are covered and uncovered patios in this home, which has ample space and privacy for elegant as well as casual entertaining, grilling and alfresco dining.

The spacious family room offers a perfect spot to unwind or entertain.

Important special features to the property include CBS construction, impact windows, volume ceilings, designer fireplaces, industrial style elevator, glass and steel stairs, porcelain flooring, a wet bar, four-zone AC and security system.

The split plan that separates guest rooms and secludes the master suite has nearly uninterrupted windows that show views of the Atlantic.

This house is offered partly furnished.

The east side of the home is virtually all windows to maximize views of the ocean.

Offered at $5,995,000. Call Pascal Liguori, Broker Associate, 561-278-0100, or Antonio Liguori, Broker Associate, 561-414-4849, at Premier Estate Properties, Waterway East, 900 E. Atlantic Ave., Suite 4, Delray Beach, FL 33483.

By Mary Hladky

With Jeremy Rodgers on military duty overseas and unable to attend City Council meetings, his fellow council members will soon appoint a resident to serve the remainder of his term of office or until his deployment ends.

Rodgers notified council members in an Oct. 14 letter that he can’t attend meetings remotely, as he had hoped to do, and asked them to fill his seat.

He recommended his wife, Mandy, saying she is “best qualified” and “has no political ambitions or intent to run” for office.

Council members thanked Mandy for her willingness to serve but said they wanted to give all residents the opportunity. The city will accept applications until 5 p.m. Oct. 22. Council members will interview applicants on Oct. 26 and make the appointment on Oct. 27.

Rodgers’ term ends on March 31.

A lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Rodgers was called to active duty and deployed in August to Qatar in support of NATO operations in Afghanistan.

He was elected to a three-year council term in 2015 and won re-election in 2018.

“We miss you,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “We are grateful for your service.”

By Mary Hladky

Moving at lightning speed, the City Council unanimously accepted the donation of the 167-acre Boca Golf and Tennis Country Club to the city just eight days after the gift was announced.

Council members brushed aside pleas from country club neighbors at their Oct. 14 meeting to postpone the vote.

Speakers complained they were never consulted or even told that the new owners of the Boca Raton Resort & Club were offering the country club to the city, and voiced concerns about increases in traffic, possible decreases in their property values and whether the city had done adequate due diligence.

Many asked, “What’s the rush?”

But council members said the deal was simply too good to pass up.

“I think this is a slam dunk for the city,” said council member Andy Thomson.

Other cities would “salivate” over such a donation, said Mayor Scott Singer, who described it as “the most generous donation” ever made to the city. Answering residents' questions about the quick vote, City Manager Leif Ahnell said, “The donation is available now. … I am not under the impression it is available at a later date. This would be a fantastic opportunity.”

City officials expect to break even on operating the golf course, or possibly make a small profit.

Residents’ concerns can be addressed before the city takes over operation of the country club, council members said. The Boca Raton Resort & Club will continue operating the country club through Sept. 30, 2021.

MSD Partners, formed by billionaire Michael S. Dell, and Northview Hotel Group, acquired the country club as part of their purchase of the resort for $875 million in 2019. In announcing the donation, the owners said they want to concentrate on an ongoing massive, $150 million renovation of the resort. They said the country club had been underutilized for over a decade.

The country club is located outside the city limits on Congress Avenue north of Clint Moore Road, about 7 miles from the resort. It includes an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts, clubhouse and pool.