3rd Annual Delray Beach Surf Festival: Delray Beach – Nov. 14
Under rainy skies and gusty winds, Tom Pacheco, Laura Melum, Lydia Ripper, Elissa Masler and Laura Simon cheer for contestant Raef Melum, 10, during the Delray Beach Surf Festival. Competitions included surfing, paddleboarding and a tug-of-war. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Thom Smith
The FAU Owls may have been plucked by Hurricanes and Gators, but football does not — despite what some misguided folks in this nation believe — make a great university or make a university great. FAU President John Kelly knows how it feels for a football team to win: Before FAU he was a vice president at Clemson University, which boasts one of the nation’s best football teams. But he also knows that institutions ultimately are measured by academics and research, and his State of the University address Nov. 20 set some bold goals.
He used a little streaming and beaming to make his case that FAU should be one of the best educational institutions in the nation.
Examples came from New York via a video conversation with alumnus Jeremy Murphy, a vice president for communications at CBS, and a live in-person performance from Emil Liakhovetski, 18, a junior pre-med student, and his brother Dariel. As Emil & Dariel Rock Cellos they were finalists on America’s Got Talent. Also present was 1988 grad Marc Kudisch. He stars as the Senate majority leader on House of Cards. Grad students Charles Weinthal and Chad Coursey discussed the prosthetic hand they built with a 3-D printer.
Kelly acknowledged that FAU had many problems when he arrived and it still needs considerable work to meet not only board of regents’ standards but also those that he has set. Though he’s been president for less than two years, the graduation rate already has risen from 40 percent to 45 percent. The current freshman class of 3,500 is the school’s largest ever, but admission will become tougher with minimum admission standards rising to a grade point average of 3.6 (from 3.3).
“My plan for Florida Atlantic University is to proceed and lead with unbridled ambition,” he said.
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Another FAU grad was recognized twice recently for her community work. In October the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce honored Virginia Snyder with its 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award. More recently, FAU’s Alumni Association inducted the “private eye” into the inaugural class of its Majestic Owls Society that will recognize top graduates from classes 50 years earlier.
In 1965, FAU was so undeveloped that it had no building capable of accommodating a commencement. So the 30 graduates received degrees at First Presbyterian Church of Boca Raton. Snyder majored in government and politics. She spent 10 years as a newspaper reporter and then opened a private investigation agency. For 32 years she worked tenaciously, tackling 100 homicide cases, helping to free six men from death row and, using DNA evidence, secure freedom for a convicted rapist after 26 years.
Snyder also was a thorn in the side of the Delray Beach Police Department and inspired the hit TV show Murder, She Wrote. As a community activist, she founded Boca Raton’s South County Neighborhood Center, later renamed the Mae Volen Senior Center, which spawned the Florence Fuller Day Care Center. She helped George Morikami, a resident of Boca Raton, obtain his U.S. citizenship and then was instrumental in convincing the county commission to reverse itself and accept the farm worker’s donation of land that became Morikami Park.
In 1975, Gov. Reubin Askew named her an Outstanding Woman of Florida and two decades later Gov. Lawton Chiles proclaimed her one of “Florida’s Finest.”
Now 94, she retired in 2008. If she was working against you, watch out. If she was on your side, you couldn’t ask for a better ally.
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In its four decades, the Palm Beach Sports Hall of Fame has recognized dozens of remarkable figures who have played, coached, contributed to and covered sports in Palm Beach County — from football (Boca Raton’s Mark Richt and Boynton Beach’s Howard Schnellenberger) and baseball (Lake Worth’s Herb Score) to golf (Delray Beach’s Beth Daniel) and tennis (Boca’s Chris Evert), even hydroplane racer Andy Coker and polo legend Memo Gracida.
Two sports, however, despite their growing popularity locally and internationally, have never been represented. That will change next spring when the first hockey and soccer legends are inducted. The ice man is Noah Babin of Palm Beach Gardens, the first native Floridian to sign a professional contract. He now coaches in California.
As cool as ice on the field, Boca’s Kristy Whelchel Hartofilis grew up in a soccer family with two older brothers who also were standout players. She first distinguished herself while leading Team Boca youth squads to state and national prominence in the mid-90s, then earning All-America recognition at Duke University. After playing in the inaugural women’s professional league WUSA, she returned to Boca, first to coach at Spanish River High and then join her brother Jay in the real estate business.
Hartofilis is another example of the great sport opportunities that exist in Palm Beach County.
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Mix a large dose of glamour and a large dose of fun and you get the perfect prescription for a winning Boca Raton Regional Hospital Ball, thanks to guest emcee Goldie Hawn. The 54th annual gala is set for Jan. 23 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The gala will honor Elaine J. Wold and raise money for the new Gloria Drummond Physical Rehabilitation Institute. Tickets range from $400 to $100,000 for a Hope Diamond sponsorship.
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“The Event” at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton is still three months away, but seats should go quickly because the guest speaker is Henry Winkler, best known as the Fonz. The benefit for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County aims to “Celebrate All the Good in Our Community.” (jewishboca.org/theevent or 852-5031)
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We usually stick to what’s happening between Lake Worth and Boca Raton, but when Clay Conley and his gang to the north try something, it’s usually worth a mention. First came Buccan in Palm Beach nearly five years ago, then Imoto and The Sandwich Shop. Now they’re heading across the bridge to liven up South Dixie in West Palm with an Italian place, Grato. That’s Italian for grateful, which Conley is . . . for the culinary opportunities he’s been given and for what he hopes his customers will be after they dine at “the kind of place I would bring my family and friends — a true neighborhood restaurant.”
Indeed, the building, at 1901 S. Dixie, has been in the neighborhood for nearly a century, most recently as Reward Lighting. Conley hopes to be serving a few days before Christmas.
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Back across the bridge, it’s nearly a century for Testa’s. The oldest family-owned and continuously operated restaurant in Palm Beach County, and the third oldest of that sort in Florida, turns 95 next year. So why not start celebrating now?
“We wanted to make it fun,” says Judy Testa, one of three third-generation siblings who now run the restaurant. In addition to Eggplant Testa, Uncle Joe’s Chicken Cacciatore and Testa’s Stone Crab Claw, the family is offering a special “Paradise in Pink” cocktail — coconut rum, amaretto and fresh fruit juices garnished with fruit and topped with a drink umbrella. For a chaser, try that newcomer dish, Testa’s strawberry pie. It’s only been on the menu for 70 years.
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The Miami Dolphins may not have the greatest record — certainly no 17-0 this year — but at least the fans now can drown their sorrow in something better than Bud or Miller Lite. Renovated Sun Life Stadium now sports two taprooms that serve craft beers, 31 from Florida including four with Palm Beach County connections: Due South’s Caramel Cream Ale (Boynton Beach), Saltwater’s Screamin’ Reels IPA (great name for a beer, especially in Florida) from Delray Beach. Also represented are Tequesta Brewing Co. and Funky Buddha, started in Boca Raton and now also in Oakland Park.
Back up in Boynton Beach, Matt Cox has Copperpoint up and foaming with seven brews on tap such as Summer Session IPA, B.Rabbit Espresso Cream Stout and Trula Saison.
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Heart surgeon and TV star Mehmet Oz and wife, Lisa, also a TV host and author, recently plunked down $18 million for Louwana, one of the first Palm Beach oceanfront estates built by Addison Mizner. Taking a cue from Let’s Make a Deal, the good doctor saved a little cash — taxable value this year for the 13,539-square-foot home plus swimming pool and tennis court was $20.1 million.
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The hotter, the better for Alex Callegari, whether driving a ladder truck to a four-alarm in Boca Raton or cooking over a grill. After taking second a few months back at Bud and Burgers in St. Louis, he continued his run on the competitive chef circuit by winning the Southeast Semi-final for Chevron’s Game Day Chef Challenge in Atlanta with Steak Balls of Fire with Chipotle Cheese Dip. The finals will be held Jan. 1 in Pasadena before the Rose Bowl game.
After outdoing several teams of professional chefs to take a top 10 finish in the pasta division at the World Food Championships in Kissimmee on Nov. 10, he was asked to be a last-minute substitute in the event’s Kansas City Steak Co. Challenge. The 10 chefs were asked to cook and plate six bone-in strips and six filets mignon in 70 minutes.
The fill-in finished second.
Next day it was lunch at McDonald’s: “Love that double cheeseburger!”
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Lake Worth’s Bamboo Room has taken another step in its re-emergence as a magnet for top regional and small-venue performers. On Nov. 20, New Orleans’ legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band crammed Bamboo’s stage as its first big act.
Coming up, bookings will include blues acts Ana Popovic, a 2014 nominee for a Blues Music Award (Jan. 29), Albert Castiglia (Jan. 30) and Samantha Fish (March 31).
Handling the booking will be Jupiter-based Morgan Renee Live headed by Randy Carrillo, a longtime resident of Palm Beach County who’s been in the music business for more than three decades. With ties to country, rock, Latin, bluegrass, and traditional music, Carrillo hopes to bring Bamboo a wide range of entertainment to supplement its growing stable of local talent.
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A little farther south, Funky Biscuit is heating up Boca Raton. Proof that the road does go on forever, but sometimes with different locomotion, Freight Train Band returns the day after Christmas, steered by Allman Brothers co-founder Butch Trucks, with his son Vaylor, Berry Oakley Jr. and Bruce Katz.
Also at the Biscuit: Pat Travers Band (Dec. 5), The Hackensaw Boys (Dec. 9), Drum Wars with Carmine and Vinny Appice (Dec. 12), Edwin McCain (Dec. 18), Donna the Buffalo, which is promoting The Stampede, a campaign to protest the growth of corporate money in politics (Jan. 2), Tab Benoit (Jan. 16) and the Devon Allman Band (Jan. 17).
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Danielle Rosse is breathing a little easier and South County residents will be breathing in dramatic new aromas now that Oceans 234 is back in business. A dramatic three-month, $1.8 million renovation is complete with the popular Deerfield Beach-front restaurant offering a new entrance, new ocean views, new décor, a 400-bottle wine wall and a menu from Chef Victor Franco that is 75 percent new but retains longtime favorites.
Also new is a paver walkway that leads from the entrance to the boardwalk. Rosse’s 234 One Step program aims to raise $50,000 from the sale of personalized pavers (4x8, 8x8 or 16x16 from $199 to $800) for Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce’s community projects, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County and Broward Health KIDS Programs. It needs only $10,000 more.
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Where will Donald Trump be on Dec. 5? His campaign office doesn’t know. Managers at his Mar-a-Lago Club don’t know. Lois Pope doesn’t know.
But Pope, who will host the Lady in Red Gala at Mar-a-Lago on Dec. 5, hopes the flamboyant mogul-turned-politician shows. After all, her Leaders in Furthering Education (LIFE) charity is raising money for veterans.
“I don’t know if he’ll be there or not,” Pope said, “but it was our gala that first exposed him to disabled veterans.”
The Manalapan resident was the force behind the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington and Ric Burns’ documentary Debt of Honor, a chronicle of the history of disabled American veterans being broadcast on PBS. Comedian Howie Mandel heads up the entertainment and each ticket buyer will be entered in a drawing for a Mini Cooper convertible featuring the unmistakable touch of world-renowned artist Romero Britto.
“We want to take care of people, and it takes a team,” Pope said, but she promised the gala would have its lighter moments. If Mandel doesn’t have something to say about Trump, Pope is prepared: “I have a few jokes to tell about him.”
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Despite a messy weekend before Thanksgiving, the 2015 Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic offered entertaining tennis and the Saturday night gala at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The event raised $600,000 for drug abuse treatment programs funded through Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and the Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach County. A healthy portion of the proceeds came from bidders at the gala’s silent and live auctions.
Two VIP tickets to a speech plus a photo with former President Bill Clinton went for $11,000 and a Wimbledon package — four nights accommodations and tickets to the semis and finals — took in $9,000.
Among those taking to the court with Evert were such tennis legends as Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver and entertainers Jason Biggs, Dennis Miller, Gavin Rossdale, Chelsea Handler and Jon Lovitz. Gala entertainment was provided by The Fifth Dimension. In its 26 years, the event has raised more than $22 million for South Florida charities.
Well done, Chris.
Reach Thom Smith at tomsmith@ymail.com.
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