Mary Kate Leming's Blog – January 2019 Archive (76)

By Steve Plunkett

Richard Lucibella had his day in court Jan. 31, maintaining his innocence during nearly three hours on the witness stand.

The former vice mayor of Ocean Ridge said he could not act antagonistically toward arresting officer Richard Ermeri and described Ermeri as the aggressor.

“Somebody who has just attacked you, broken your ribs, partially blinded you, knocked you out I believe — I do not believe [that’s me being] antagonistic,”…

By Steve Plunkett

The judge in Richard Lucibella’s felony trial declared Jan. 30 that prosecutors had delivered sufficient evidence against the former Ocean Ridge vice mayor for the case to continue.

“The court finds at this stage the state has presented a prima facie case,” Circuit Judge Dahlia Weiss said after defense attorney Marc Shiner asked her to dismiss both charges against Lucibella, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest…

Eight-term mayor navigated ‘crazy time’

By Dan Moffett

Roger Bennett was sworn in as the mayor of Briny Breezes right when the town needed him most. 

“I’m so pleased the…

Residents tied black ribbons on about 50 trees along Swinton Avenue to protest proposed changes to the street.

Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star…

When the windows are open at my Ocean Ridge home, I hear the cars roll by on State Road A1A. Bicyclist friends shout our names as a wake-up call early on Saturday mornings as they ride by. On our morning walks we wave to friends heading out for work or coffee.

And as years tick by, we’ve watched neighbor kids grow up in the back seats as parents dutifully drove them to school.

From inside our newsroom we’ve learned to count the public safety…

Stylist and salon owner Dawn Edwards is on the committee working on the 64th annual Bethesda Ball, which will be Feb. 23. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Related Story: Bethesda fundraiser finds…

By Dan Moffett

Ocean Ridge Town Manager Jamie Titcomb is resigning his position in March to become the first manager in the upstart town of Loxahatchee Groves.

For Titcomb, the change is a return engagement of sorts. Thirteen years ago, when he was with the Palm Beach County League…

Not all the Muscovy ducks were removed from the golf course: These two and an ibis were present Jan. 23. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Brian Biggane

The decision to remove 24 Muscovy ducks from…

This sprawling ficus tree in front of the home at 3400 Polo Drive is spurring a debate about tree preservation in Gulf Stream. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Steve Plunkett

Town commissioners have sent the architects…

By Mary Thurwachter

Beach-goers will see some welcome improvements in the year ahead. On Jan. 28, the Lantana Town Council authorized contracts to remodel beach restrooms and to add a deck to the special events pavilion.

CH Global Construction of Hialeah, the lower of two bidders, won the contract to redo the four restrooms for $98,756. Two of the restrooms are at the south end of the beach in the marine safety…

By Dan Moffett

Stella Gaddy Jordan insists that she has been an unwavering supporter of the luxury condo project at 3550 S. Ocean Blvd., the site of the old Hawaiian Inn hotel.

The South Palm Beach councilwoman says that her frequent complaints about the building have been mostly…

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach city commissioners want to live up to their Arbor Day Foundation designation as a Tree City.

At a Jan. 22 workshop, commissioners approved a tree canopy policy that will be included in its comprehensive plan update. The comp plan, called Always Delray, contains the city’s growth guidelines for the next 10 years. The commission will vote on the entire plan in the spring.…

By Dan Moffett

Ocean Ridge town commissioners have approved two pest control contracts that will give homeowners the option of buying services for their private property through the public plans.

Clarke Environmental Inc. of Wellington, the town’s contractor for the last decade, signed a three-year agreement to spray public areas for mosquitoes and no-see-ums. The town will pay Clarke $47,067 annually.…

Members of  Caring Stitches gather at Joy Banton’s home with the first batch of blankets and hats they will donate to children this year. BACK ROW (l-r): Annu Sharma, Doris Clark, Banton, Carla Linn, Dottie Costonis, Liz Geller, Susan Goldberg, Josette Ridosh. FRONT…

By Mary Thurwachter

Almost four years ago, Henry Olmino, chef and owner of Mario’s Ocean Avenue restaurant, leased a parking lot from the town so the restaurant would meet Lantana’s parking requirements. His 2,500-square-foot restaurant needed 61 spaces and had only 42.

Olmino paid $12,000 to rent the Third Street parking lot, a short walk from the restaurant, but west of U.S. 1. The deal seemed a good idea for…

By Mary Hladky

Suspended Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie likely will go to trial in October on seven public corruption charges.

At a brief Jan. 15 hearing, Circuit Court Judge Glenn Kelley agreed to an October trial and said an exact date could be…

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach could become the first Palm Beach County city to ban single-use plastic straws.

City commissioners unanimously approved a plastic straw ban at their mid-January meeting, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The second reading of the ordinance was set for Feb. 5, when it is likely to pass.

The ban will apply to plastic straws given to consumers at 190 restaurants and other businesses…

Delray Beach has allowed at least 100 more chairs for rental use along the beach. Photo provided

By Jane Smith

Delray Beach will have at least 100 more chairs on the beach under a renewed contract with its beach equipment…

BRINY BREEZES — Orville Lynn Deniston died Jan. 22, age 86, in the same way he lived his life — quietly and with dignity. Mr. Deniston loved life, especially his family, fishing, square dancing, teaching, traveling, and his adopted Florida home.

Lynn Deniston, as he was known, came from simple means. After the sudden death of his father when Mr. Deniston was 20 months old, he was raised by his mother, Lenore, and stepfather in between Wapakoneta and Uniopolis,…

Hayley Sheldon of Hypoluxo Island holds her 3-month-old daughter, Willa, and her papier-mâché dandelions. She crafted the flowers from dyed and painted paper on a papier-mâché base for the show ‘Flora’ last year at the Cornell Art Museum in Delray Beach. Sheldon also does seasonal displays for clients in her work as a…