nature preserve - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T07:37:31Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/nature+preserveLetter to the Editor: Say no to $2 million wetland purchasehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/letter-to-the-editor-say-no-to-2-million-wetland-purchase2022-03-30T16:31:18.000Z2022-03-30T16:31:18.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p>On Monday, April 4, the Ocean Ridge Town Commission will vote on the town’s purchase of an undeveloped wetland parcel adjoining the Intracoastal Waterway. The price tag is $2 million. The stated reason for the purchase is to a create a nature preserve. <br /> The motivation for the purchase is more likely a fear that the property will be purchased by a developer. <br /> The residents of Ocean Ridge and town commissioners need to consider the purchase in the context of the town’s numerous capital spending priorities. <br /> In the most recent capital budget, over $400,000 of budget priorities were deferred to future budget years. Additionally, the $200,000 annual road repaving budget has been deferred for the past four budget years.<br /> The town’s infrastructure is aging and in need of upgrade or replacement. Our municipal water lines must soon be replaced along with the multimillion-dollar cost of the septic to sewer conversion. I believe that rebuilding our town’s infrastructure is a higher priority than the purchase of an Intracoastal wetland. <br /> If the motivation for the land purchase is the fear of the development of a private property, I believe it is an unfounded fear. The development of this wetland parcel would require years of governmental reviews and litigation. Approvals must be obtained from numerous agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District and the town of Ocean Ridge. While it may not be impossible for a developer to obtain all the necessary approvals, it is unlikely. <br /> What is the real risk if Ocean Ridge does not purchase this property? The risk is that a number of years down the road this property gets developed into a residential enclave of multimillion-dollar homes that become part of our community and add to our property tax base. That’s a risk that I think our elected commissioners should be willing to take and we as Ocean Ridge residents should wholeheartedly support them in taking.</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><em>Ric Carey</em><br /><em>Ocean Ridge</em></p></div>Lantana: Nature Preserve reopens with new pathwayhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-nature-preserve-reopens-with-new-pathway2021-03-03T15:13:07.000Z2021-03-03T15:13:07.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8627760888,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8627760888,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="8627760888?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></strong><em>The Lantana Nature Preserve reopened Feb. 3 with a new concrete trail. Another 350 feet of the trail remains to be done. <strong>Mary Thurwachter/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>On Feb. 3, town officials reopened the Lantana Nature Preserve with a new 6-foot-wide concrete trail.<br /> The old pathway, and the entire 6½-acre preserve at 440 E. Ocean Ave., were left in shambles by Hurricane Irma in 2017. After years of debate on what kind of material to use for the walkway, the Town Council agreed on concrete last March. The original trail was made of shale rock, which had washed away over the years. Pressure-treated wood, pavers, asphalt and gunite sand had all been considered before the town settled on concrete.<br /> Although the Town Council had asked that the entire pathway be installed at the same time, one section on the north end still remains to be done.<br /> The north portion of the trail is bordered by mangroves and other aquatic vegetation in the waterway that is protected under various environmental regulations, according to Eddie Crockett, the town’s operations director. <br /> “To expedite the construction and subsequent opening of the path and get a usable amenity for the community up and running quickly, we broke the construction of the path into phases,” Crockett said in an email. <br />The first phase is complete.<br /> “Phase II will be the remaining approximately 350 feet on the north side of the Nature Preserve,” Crockett wrote. “The permit for Phase II was submitted in December 2020 and we hope to get it approved this spring and start construction shortly thereafter. Once we get an approved permit, the construction will be quick and the Nature Preserve will remain open during construction.”<br /> Crockett added: “As far as those who use the Nature Preserve that are mobility challenged, they can use the northernmost east/west path connector to avoid the unpaved portion of the trail and still enjoy a significant portion of the amenity.” <br /> In November, American Design Engineering Construction Inc. was awarded the contract to build the concrete path and repair the retaining wall at the preserve for $144,494. <br /> The preserve is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. </p></div>Lantana: Pathway construction imminent at Nature Preservehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-pathway-construction-imminent-at-nature-preserve2020-12-02T16:23:22.000Z2020-12-02T16:23:22.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong><br /> <br /> It’s been a long time in coming, but work is imminent on rebuilding the trail at the Lantana Nature Preserve. Left in shambles by Hurricane Irma in 2017, the 6½-acre preserve at 440 E. Ocean Ave. is on track for a new concrete pathway. <br /> The original trail was made of shell rock.<br /> At the Nov. 9 Lantana town meeting, council members unanimously voted to accept a $144,494 contract with American Design Engineering Construction Inc. to build a new walking trail and repair the retaining wall at the preserve. American Design was the lowest of four proposals, with bids going as high as $193,922.<br /> The town will use $76,800 it has collected in maintenance revenues from the Carlisle assisted-living facility next to the preserve, and borrow the balance, $67,700, from town reserves. Money taken from reserves is to be repaid from future maintenance revenues from the Carlisle.<br /> According to an agreement made when the Nature Preserve was being developed in the late 1990s, the town cannot spend any more on the property than the $50,000 annual payment it receives from the Carlisle.<br /> The Carlisle had purchased 13 acres (including the preserve) from the town. The annual cost to maintain the park is about $20,000, leaving $30,000 to spend each year on needed improvements.<br /> Town Manager Deborah Manzo said the Department of Environmental Protection has approved the permit for the concrete walkway and retaining wall.<br /> <br /> <strong>In other action</strong>, the town:<br /> • Approved the Lantana Chamber of Commerce’s request to manage the Centennial Adopt-a-Tree Program. Businesses or individuals who adopt a tree will pay $150 toward the tree and an individual plaque. The town will be responsible for choosing locations and planting the trees.<br /> • Approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to install a memorial stone at the Veterans Monuments at Bicentennial Park and to hold a dedication ceremony open to the public at a later date.<br /> “We feel this final stone will make the experience of viewing the Veterans Monuments even more meaningful,” said Dave Arm, the chamber president.<br /> The stone will read: “To honor all who served in times of war and peace and in memory of those who gave their lives for our freedom.” Ú</p></div>Lantana: Commission mulling over crushed concrete for rebuilding nature trailhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-commission-mulling-over-crushed-concrete-for-rebuilding-n2020-03-04T15:36:55.000Z2020-03-04T15:36:55.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>The hunt for the best material to repave the walking trail at the Lantana Nature Preserve isn’t over yet.<br /> Since September 2017 when Hurricane Irma left the 6.5-acre park in shambles, the town has been wrestling with how best to restore the pathway. Concrete, pressure-treated wood, pavers, asphalt and gunite sand — similar to the material originally used at the preserve — have all been considered.<br /> Last year, the Town Council settled on asphalt — much to the dismay of Friends of the Lantana Nature Preserve, which urged the council to choose any other option.<br /> During the Feb. 24 town meeting — before a scheduled vote on whether to approve a $71,690 contract with M&M Asphalt Maintenance to pave the trail with asphalt 1,800 linear feet by 6 feet wide — another option was brought forward: crushed concrete. Hypoluxo Island resident Media Beverly made the pitch during public comments.<br /> “I have in hand an estimate quoting the entire pathway of 2,500 linear feet by 8 feet of finish-grade crushed concrete screenings for a total of $37,774,” Beverly said. “That’s a savings of $48,636” over the asphalt estimate. The original pathway is 2,500 linear feet. <br /> The town had chosen asphalt because it is cheaper than other options and it’s ADA compliant. <br /> Estimates for the asphalt work includes an additional $14,720 to convert the pathway before paving and leaving 700 linear feet unpaved and in its original condition, pushing the total to $86,410. The 700 feet is on the north end of the preserve in a wetland area and would require an additional permit to replace.<br /> “I found no language in any of the documents in your package tonight that requires M&M to install the paving in compliance with ADA regulations and there is no guarantee it will outlast shell rock or another material,” Beverly said. <br /> Beverly said that from what she had read, “as long as the surface is ‘firm and stable,’ packed crushed stone, gravel finely compacted with a roller, packed soil and other natural materials bonded with synthetic materials, can provide the required degree of stability and firmness for ADA compliance.”<br /> A savings of $48,000 would go a long way toward replanting the overgrown and neglected preserve, Beverly said.<br /> While council members said they were eager to have the Nature Preserve, at 440 E. Ocean Ave., renovated, they agreed to postpone a vote on asphalt until they had staff look into a crushed concrete option.<br /> Council member Ed Shropshire, a proponent of asphalt, said “we need to entertain other possibilities again” because the price for asphalt “has gone up so much.”<br /> Council member Phil Aridas agreed: “$37,000 compared to $80,000 — if you want to put a $37,000 path in a nature preserve, I have no problem with that.”<br /> Council member Lynn Moorhouse agreed to looking into crushed concrete, but said he hoped it would be done expeditiously since the town had been struggling to resolve this issue for more than two years.<br /> But Town Manager Deborah Manzo made it clear that if the town had to go back to the state Department of Environmental Protection for another permit if the surface is changed, it would take time. <br /> The town has applied for a second extension for a $5,000 FEMA grant that was awarded toward repairing the path after the hurricane. <br /> Manzo also said residents of the Carlisle, next door to the preserve, are unable to use the park as it is now and are eager for renovations to be completed.<br /> As a result of a deal struck when the Carlisle was built on land the town owned at the time, the senior living facility pays Lantana for preserve expenses. The Carlisle contracts with the town to do the maintenance work.<br /> Beverly thanked the council for considering her suggestion.<br />“Although restoring the Lantana Nature Preserve pathway has been an ongoing topic, I appreciate that the Town Council members gave thoughtful consideration to my presentation and directed our town manager to explore better-suited materials before a final vote to contract for asphalt,” she said.</p></div>Lantana: Town acts to retain upkeep duty for Nature Preservehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-town-acts-to-retain-upkeep-duty-for-nature-preserve2019-10-30T16:27:47.000Z2019-10-30T16:27:47.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>Before the Lantana Nature Preserve was created in 2000, the property’s buyer — who purchased 13.4 acres to build the Carlisle adult congregate living facility next door — agreed to pay $400,000 to design and construct the park. The agreement stipulated that the Carlisle would be responsible for maintenance and upkeep at the 6.5-acre park on East Ocean Avenue.<br /> The Carlisle chose to pay the town to do the maintenance. However, that arrangement isn’t reflected in the legal documents.<br /> At its Oct. 28 meeting, the Lantana Town Council voted to continue with the status quo and to amend documents to reflect that.<br /> “I think we need to retain control because I don’t want to have something that isn’t acceptable,” said Mayor Dave Stewart. <br /> The payment from the Carlisle for 2019 is $55,324. The annual budgeted amount is $32,000, with the remainder to go to updates such as a new roof on the gazebo and rebuilding the nature trail. The town, as detailed in the original sale agreement, can’t spend more than the amount Carlisle contributed for the preserve.<br /> “Over time, projects have been deferred due to budgetary constraints,” said Town Manager Deborah Manzo. The planned asphalt pathway, expected to cost about $60,000, is one example. Hurricane Irma severely damaged the shell rock path two years ago. Since then, the council has debated various materials for rebuilding the path and, in June, agreed on asphalt.<br /> Nature Preserve devotees prefer the shell rock, but council members dismissed it as too easily washing away.<br /> Since Irma, the park has suffered from neglect and has been overgrown with weeds and invasive vegetation.<br /> Rebuilding the path and cleaning up invasive vegetation aren’t the only concerns. Hypoluxo Island resident Media Beverly, who looked into the town’s financial records for the preserve, said if all the deed requirements were met since 2002, there’s approximately $433,000 unaccounted for in financial records.<br /> “I’m speaking on this issue because the town requested $8,750 from the Friends (of the Nature Preserve) to remove exotic plants from the Nature Preserve,” she said. “The Carlisle has spent $50,000 to design and $350,000 to build, plus about $863,000 to maintain the preserve. That’s $1.26 million they’ve invested to beautify the town of Lantana.”<br /> Beverly said she was not suggesting the money is missing or was mishandled, just that some income and expenses were never posted to the preserve. <br /> “Any money remaining after expenses has to still be there somewhere,” she said. “There’s a lot of money in the town’s general fund that belongs to the Nature Preserve. Let’s find it and put it in a special revenue fund so we can move on with the invasive plant removal and pathway reconstruction.”</p></div>Lantana: Council settles on asphalt for Nature Preserve, will revisit streetlights votehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-council-settles-on-asphalt-for-nature-preserve-will-revis2019-09-04T21:37:13.000Z2019-09-04T21:37:13.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>After a June 12 decision to use asphalt for the pathway at the Lantana Nature Preserve didn’t sit well with several residents who voiced their concerns at subsequent meetings, the Town Council agreed to revisit the issue. But the outcome of a second vote in August had the same conclusion — asphalt.<br /> The discussion over what material to use for the pathway has stretched almost two years — after Hurricane Irma severely damaged the shell rock path.<br /> In May 2018, the town considered replacing the path with a concrete trail, a $66,000 project that would be built over two years. But many residents said they weren’t thrilled with the idea of a concrete walkway in a nature preserve. Others said the cost was excessive. <br /> Since then, various ideas on material have been proposed, including paver stones, treated wood, shell rock and gunite, which is a mixture of sand, water and cement.<br /> Budgetary constraints — due to an agreement made when the Nature Preserve was built in the late 1990s — limit the town to spending no more than the $50,000 annual payment it receives from the Carlisle senior living facility next door. And that $50,000 includes maintenance.<br /> Asphalt, with an estimated cost of $56,000, was the most affordable material considered. But some argued that asphalt, a petroleum product, would be environmentally harmful and not suitable for the 61/2-acre park.<br /> Council members argued that asphalt has changed in consistency and contains much less oil than it did years ago. They also noted that asphalt was used for paths in county parks.<br /> Vice Mayor Malcolm Balfour said he found that asphalt was the recommended choice for the pathway in the original plans.<br /> But Balfour’s wife, Ilona Balfour, said there are other issues the town needs to be concerned about at the park.<br /> “The Nature Preserve has been suffering from benign neglect for some time,” she said. “It’s overgrown with weeds and invasives. There should be someone checking in regularly.”<br /> In other news, the council agreed to revisit its July vote to allow FPL to install 4,000-Kelvin streetlamps.<br /> Council member Lynn Moorhouse said that since the vote was taken, he talked to residents and others who had done extensive research on the lights and they considered the 4,000Ks to be a poor choice.<br /> “I met with a lot of people in town and I spent a good bit of time talking with Mike Bornstein, who went through this with Lake Worth,” Moorhouse said, referring to the city manager for Lake Worth Beach. “Studies had been done by environmental groups. The bottom line is a light of that intensity does a lot of harm to humans, animals, flowers, fauna, you name it. It’s not a good fit. <br />“I didn’t have that information when we brought it up and voted for it. I’d like to bring it up at a future council meeting. <br /> “There are some people who have expertise,” Moorhouse said. “We got a one-sided story from FPL. We voted on it accordingly and it seemed good. There’s another side to the story and it should be presented.”<br /> One resident who did extensive research on the subject is Media Beverly of Hypoluxo Island. She plans to share that information with the town when the matter comes up again on Sept. 9.<br /> “I really do believe that had you been given all the information during the first meeting when FPL made its presentation that you really would have come to a different conclusion,” Beverly said. “My research shows that the 4,000K lighting is nothing but detrimental and that anything below 3,000 would be acceptable.” <br /> Also coming up in September are public budget hearings at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 and Sept. 23 in council chambers. The town set its proposed tax rate at $3.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the next fiscal year.</p></div>Lantana: Nature Preserve trail to be asphalt unless council changes mindhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-nature-preserve-trail-to-be-asphalt-unless-council-change2019-07-03T15:14:17.000Z2019-07-03T15:14:17.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>By Mary Thurwachter</b></span></p>
<p class="p3">After more than a year of debate on what material to use for the trail at the Lantana Nature Preserve, the Town Council finally decided, on June 10, to choose asphalt, the most affordable option. But at the town’s next gathering, on June 24, the council agreed to revisit the issue after several fans of the 61/2-acre preserve at 440 E. Ocean Ave. protested the use of asphalt.</p>
<p class="p3">Hurricane Irma severely damaged the shell rock path in September 2017. By May 2018, the town considered replacing the shell rock path with a concrete trail, a $66,000 project that would be built over two years. But many people said they weren’t thrilled with the idea of a concrete walkway in a nature preserve, and some thought the cost excessive. Since then, various ideas on what material should be used for the trail have been proposed.</p>
<p class="p3">Councilman Ed Shropshire suggested pavers. Councilman Malcolm Balfour said a macadam path like those at many golf courses would be a good option. Councilman Phil Aridas said he thought a pressure-treated wood boardwalk was the way to go. Composite wood was also considered. No one wanted to use shell rock again, since it washes away easily.</p>
<p class="p3">At the June 10 meeting, Dr. Paul Arena, ecology and environmental science professor at Nova Southeastern University and a member of the Friends of the Lantana Nature Preserve, urged the council to choose any other option over asphalt.</p>
<p class="p3">“I know sometimes it comes down to the bottom line as far as costs and everything for what goes in, but I’m here to staunchly oppose asphalt,” Arena said. “As you know, asphalt is a petroleum product and long-term volatile chemicals are released. It’s right in the middle of the mangroves. A couple of feet away from that trail we’ve got a healthy oyster reef. I think we’ve done a lot to protect that and enhance the preserve and I think if we did asphalt, we’d be taking a step backwards.”</p>
<p class="p3">Aridas, on June 10, said he was “tired of kicking this can down the road.” He said he saw asphalt used in parks in Palm Beach County and thought Lantana should go with a low-maintenance asphalt that’s compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.</p>
<p class="p3">Considering costs, Balfour agreed the town should select asphalt.</p>
<p class="p3">Councilman Lynn Moorhouse, who along with Mayor Dave Stewart voted against asphalt, said, “I couldn’t agree more that a petroleum oil-based tar that you put down in a nature preserve would be putting toxic stuff where it shouldn’t be.”</p>
<p class="p3">Moorhouse said that wood would be great, but pricey, especially when costs are added in for labor, railings and elevating the trail. “I think if you’re going to spend some money here, you’re going to go with concrete. It doesn’t require railings or elevations. And it is a shaded area, so you’re going to get some mildew, but not as much as wood.”</p>
<p class="p3">But it became clear that asphalt was what the town could best afford.</p>
<p class="p3">Because of an agreement made when the Nature Preserve was built in the late 1990s, the town is unable to spend any more money on the property than the $50,000 annual payment it receives from the Carlisle senior living facility next door.</p>
<p class="p3">Manager Deborah Manzo said the town allocates $18,000 a year toward expenses at the preserve to include staff salary/benefits, electricity, water, fuel, equipment/vehicles and general operating costs. “Sometimes this amount adjusts based on other circumstances,” she said. “The balance of approximately $32,000 is used for capital projects which may be funded for multiple year projects based on the cost.” She said $31,000 was carried over from last year for the pathway and will be put with this year’s $32,000. </p>
<p class="p3">“We have not received a quote for the asphalt yet to know if the $63,000 is sufficient to pay for the asphalt, Manzo said. “We will phase in the project (over two years) if we do not have sufficient funds or ask Council to fund the full amount and take from future revenue.” </p>
<p class="p3">Manzo, by request at the June 24 meeting, will also look into gunite sand, similar to the material originally used at the preserve.</p>
<p class="p3">“I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel, I think we need to make sure we’re putting the right wheel on the bicycle,” Stewart said.</p>
<p class="p3">The three council members (Aridas, Balfour and Shropshire) who voted on June 10 to go with asphalt didn’t seem swayed by the appeal to use something different.</p>
<p class="p3">“As far as asphalt is concerned, it’s only 7 percent oil,” Shropshire said. “It’s not that bad. There’s asphalt boat ramps. There’s a reservoir in California that’s lined with asphalt. As far as toxins are concerned, it’s not that great of concern. It’s not going to kill the oysters.”</p>
<p class="p3">Balfour said the town could not afford the other options, which could cost in excess of $200,000. “Nobody here wants to make an ugly nature preserve. In the old days, I know there was a lot of oil in asphalt. But now it’s much, much lower. I’d rather have something else if we had the money.”</p>
<p class="p3">But when polled by the mayor, Balfour said he supported asphalt, as did Aridas and Shropshire.</p>
<p class="p3">Bottom line: The decision to pave the nature trail with asphalt is not set in stone. The matter will be discussed yet again at a future meeting. <span class="s2">Ú</span></p></div>Lantana: Bird-watchers drawn to Nature Preserve after rare sightinghttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-bird-watchers-drawn-to-nature-preserve-after-rare-sightin2019-05-29T16:00:12.000Z2019-05-29T16:00:12.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960874095,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960874095,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960874095?profile=original" /></a><em>This red-legged thrush, spotted April 25, was only the second on record in the U.S. <strong>Photo provided by Paul Waller</strong></em></p>
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<p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>If you noticed an onslaught of visitors to the Lantana Nature Preserve in late April, there was good reason. A rare bird was spotted there. As the word spread, the park, wedged between The Carlisle assisted living facility on East Ocean Avenue and the Intracoastal Waterway, attracted birders from all over the region.<br /> The bird, a red-legged thrush, was first photographed there early on the morning of April 25 by an Arizona bird-watcher who didn’t immediately recognize the species. He left the preserve for a park in Fort Lauderdale where he met two other birders. They identified the thrush, which had been spotted only once before in North America. <br /> By 1 p.m. an alert went out via messaging and on eBird — an online database of observations — and bird-watchers flocked to the coastal habitat in hopes of seeing the bird for themselves.<br /> The red-legged thrush is a blue-gray bird with a bright orange-red eye ring and red legs. Its appearance in Palm Beach County marks only the second time the species has been seen in the United States. The previous sighting was in Brevard County on May 31, 2010. <br /> Among the first on the scene after the alert went out were Doreen LePage, a birder since the mid-1960s, and Mary Dunning, who took up the hobby a year and a half ago. Both are members of Audubon Everglades, the Palm Beach County chapter of the National Audubon Society.<br /> Dunning, who lives in Wellington and works in Boynton Beach, went to view the thrush during her lunch break.<br /> “I always have my binoculars with me,” she said. “I went again after work and saw the bird again, but by the next day it had flown away.”<br /> LePage, of Boynton Beach, arrived, camera and binoculars in hand, soon after Dunning. “I was excited,” she said. “I had checked my list of bird observations to find this was truly a new U.S. bird for me. The red-legged thrush was listed as an ABA Rare Code 5 bird with only one other sighting in the U.S.” <br /> American Birding Association codes range from 1 to 6, with 6 meaning the bird is probably extinct. Code 5 birds are recorded five or fewer times in the ABA Checklist Area, or have fewer than three records in the past 30 years.<br /> LePage said the area had experienced easterly winds for several days, which sometimes push Caribbean vagrant birds into South Florida. <br /> “Interestingly, the Bahama mockingbird had been found in this same park several days prior and was still present in the parking lot area,” LePage said of a species that is a Code 4 — not recorded annually in the area but with at least six total records, including three or more in the past 30 years.<br /> She saw the thrush resting in the leaf litter under an 8-foot palm tree. She said she took many photographs as the crowd grew. “Folks were parking at the shopping center across the street and anywhere they could park,” she said. <br /> “The resting bird soon got up and began foraging for insects in the leaves,” LePage said. “It appeared to be very comfortable with the respectful onlookers watching its every move.”<br /> As she was leaving, she saw a Bahama mockingbird perched and singing in a fruiting bush on the side of the parking lot. “How cool … an ABA Rare Code 4 and 5 bird from the Caribbean within 30 feet of each other for my eBird list,” she remembered thinking.<br /> LePage and Dunning said the Lantana Nature Preserve is a magnet for rare and migrating birds. Other rarities to visit the preserve recently included a white-crowned pigeon and a Key West quail-dove. <br /> Those who live near the Lantana Nature Preserve noticed all the commotion. <br /> “I’ve been seeing a lot of people with cameras there lately,” said Ilona Balfour, who visits the park frequently and is a member of the Friends of the Lantana Nature Preserve. She said she hoped the birds would be able to steer clear of some stray cats hanging out there recently.<br /> Longtime bird lover Richard Schlosberg, who lived on Hypoluxo Island until about a year ago and now lives in Connecticut, said he had been visiting the area on the day the rare bird was found. <br /> “When I saw a hubbub — a police car and several people walking determinedly with news-station-size still camera lenses, I followed a few people to the Lantana Nature Preserve,” he said. “They mentioned a rare bird and were very enthusiastic. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to add the rare thrush to my life-list, nor even reconnoiter the usual inhabitants” such as yellow-crowned night herons.</p></div>Lantana: Council considering options for Nature Preserve trailhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-council-considering-options-for-nature-preserve-trail2018-10-31T17:37:32.000Z2018-10-31T17:37:32.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>A year after Hurricane Irma left the trail at the Nature Preserve in shambles, the Lantana Town Council is still grappling with the best way to restore it. Only the front portion of the path is accessible.<br /> In May, the council talked about constructing a concrete path, a $66,000 project that would be built over two years. But council members said they weren’t thrilled with the idea of a concrete walkway in a nature preserve, and some thought the cost was too high. They asked Town Manger Deborah Manzo to look into other options, including one with composite wood and hand railings.<br /> On Oct. 8, Manzo presented an estimate of $709,470 from Marlin Marine Construction for a composite wood path with handrails and pilings. Council members said that project was out of its price range.<br /> Manzo said another option for the 6½-acre preserve at 440 E. Ocean Ave. would be to use treated wood, where the planks for the same square footage as the composite trail would be $8,279 (installation costs were not available). Council member Phil Aridas said he thought a pressure-treated wood boardwalk was the way to go, but others had different ideas.<br /> Vice Mayor Ed Shropshire suggested pavers and said Water Tower Commons was going to have them. <br /> Council member Malcolm Balfour said a macadam path like those at many golf courses would be far less expensive. <br /> “Concrete, which I’m not crazy about, is far better than pavers and certainly better than $709,470,” said council member Lynn Moorhouse. “Pavers move.”<br /> To cover all bases, Manzo was directed to get estimates on a path made of pressure treated wood, from pavers and on macadam.<br /> Mayor Dave Stewart said the town, because of an agreement made when the Nature Preserve was built in the late 1990s, cannot spend any more on the property than the $50,000 annual payment it receives from the Carlisle senior living facility next door. The town’s annual cost to maintain the park is about $20,000, leaving $30,000 to spend each year on needed improvements.<br /> Manzo said some funds for the project could be carried over from this year “because we had planned on doing the smaller portion of the path in fiscal year 2018 and since we have not, we will carry those funds over and use the other funds for fiscal year 2019.” <br /> The smaller loop of the trail would be tackled the first year and the larger loop the following year, Manzo said.<br /> Between $1,000 and $2,000 for the pathway project would come from FEMA, which supports repairs such as this as an improvement or mitigation project.</p></div>Lantana: Concrete trail considered for preservehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-concrete-trail-considered-for-preserve2018-05-30T17:02:43.000Z2018-05-30T17:02:43.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>A proposal to construct a concrete trail at the Lantana Nature Preserve got mixed reviews from the Town Council on May 14. The discussion prompted the town to look at other ways to rebuild the pathway, including a boardwalk.<br /> Last year’s Hurricane Irma left the preserve and the trail in shambles. Only the front portion is currently accessible.<br /> Town Manager Deborah Manzo proposed a 5-foot-wide concrete trail at a cost of $33,000 for the first phase. The project would be spread over two years, so another $33,000 would be spent next year for a total project cost of $66,000. Most of the money would come from the Carlisle Palm Beach, just east of the 6½-acre preserve at 440 E. Ocean Ave. <br /> As a result of a deal struck when the Carlisle senior living facility was built on land the town owned at the time, the Carlisle pays Lantana $50,000 a year for preserve expenses. <br /> Between $1,000 and $2,000 for the pathway project would come from FEMA, which supports repairs such as this as an improvement or mitigation project. The town’s annual cost to maintain the park is $20,000.<br /> “That [$66,000] seems like rather a lot of money for a path,” said council member Malcolm Balfour, who lives near the preserve. “But something needs to be done. There are so many rocks there. It’s almost impossible to walk through.”<br />Some council members didn’t like the idea of concrete being used.<br /> “It’s a nature preserve,” council member Lynn Moorhouse stressed. “I have reservations.”<br /> Mayor Dave Stewart asked for other options. “It’s not intended to be manicured like a country club,” he said.<br /> “The shell rock wasn’t working,” Manzo said. “Granite sand was tried and washed away.” Mulch also washes away.<br /> Council member Phil Aridas suggested a boardwalk. <br /> “If it’s boardwalk, it would be recycled lumber, which is very expensive,” Manzo said. Recycled lumber is being used at the beach and holds up better, she said.<br /> Balfour said the town needs to consider where most of the money for Nature Preserve improvements and maintenance come from. “We have to remember that the place is mostly funded by the old-age home and we need to make it comfortable for them,” he said. Since the hurricane, Carlisle residents haven’t been able to get in to enjoy the butterfly garden or other parts of the preserve. <br /> Manzo will bring back all options and prices at a future meeting.<br /> In other news, the council approved spending $51,965 to install new hurricane shutters on the town library. Most of the money will come from a federal grant. The town’s contribution would be $17,321.</p></div>Lantana: Nature Preserve still hurting from Hurricane Irmahttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-nature-preserve-still-hurting-from-hurricane-irma2017-11-29T20:04:12.000Z2017-11-29T20:04:12.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong><br /><br /> Although town staffers were able to clear enough of the mess Hurricane Irma made at the Nature Preserve to hold an annual Halloween party, the park remains closed. Only the front portion of the park was opened to the public for that Oct. 20 event.<br /> “The back path is still in pretty bad shape,” said Linda Brien, Lantana’s operations director. “There are a lot of trees down. They got a good pruning.”<br /> Council member Malcolm Balfour, who lives close to the preserve, said he thought a tornado had gone through the 6½-acre parcel at 440 E. Ocean Ave., just east of the bridge. “It really made a mess of things.”<br /> Brien said she isn’t sure when the entire park will be open. Her staff of eight is currently down to six.<br /> “We’ve got to do Winterfest [Dec. 2] first and then we’ll attack everything. Some big banyan trees were lost, leaving gaping spaces, and leaves and fronds are scattered across the paths.”<br /> The preserve was created in 1997 on land previously used for the town dump.<br /> <strong> In other news</strong>, the council:<br /> • Approved a contract with DEH Kingdom Management Inc. for grounds maintenance services for $77,666. <br /> • Authorized the purchase of a 2018 Ford Interceptor utility vehicle for $47,265 to be used by the police for field training.<br /> • Learned that the town had won first place for municipalities 20,000 and under in the Read for the Record program. Since the program began 12 years ago, Lantana has won first place 11 times.</p></div>Boca Raton: Gumbo Limbo celebrates sea turtles — and 30th anniversaryhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-gumbo-limbo-celebrates-sea-turtles-and-30th-anniversar2015-03-04T17:00:00.000Z2015-03-04T17:00:00.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960559479,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960559479,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="360" alt="7960559479?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Loggerhead sea turtle Betty White peeks over the edge of her enclosure during Sea Turtle Day</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span><b>Madeline Gray/The Coastal Star</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span><b>RELATED STORY: Gumbo Limbo <a href="http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-gumbo-limbo-30-years-old-and-still-growing">30 years old</a>, and still growing</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span><b> </b></span></p>
<p><span><b>By Tao Woolfe</b></span></p>
<p> Children clambered onto rain-slicked turtle sculptures and ate ice cream, oblivious to the wind rattling the sea grapes and the crack of thunder.</p>
<p> It was, after all, Sea Turtle Day at Gumbo Limbo, so why care about anything but turtles and the sea?</p>
<p> This sense of watery adventure pervaded all the events of the 10th annual Sea Turtle Day Festival, which also marked the 30th anniversary of the nature preserve. In the morning, at the official opening of festivities, Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Constance Scott proclaimed Feb. 28, 2015, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Day.</p>
<p> Yellow buses shuttled hundreds of families and tourists from the larger parking area of nearby Spanish River Park throughout the day. At least 2,000 enthusiasts braved the blustery weather to see rescued baby turtles, take tours, and learn how to be environmental stewards. </p>
<p> “Last year we had 3,800 people come out for Sea Turtle Day,” said Kristen Child, environmental program coordinator for the nature center. “We had a pretty good turnout this year, too, considering. We probably would have had over 4,000 if the weather had been better.”</p>
<p> Children were given passports and sent on a mission to collect stamps as they visited exhibits. They watched feedings, heard lectures, and learned about leatherbacks, loggerheads, green turtles and other coastal creatures.</p>
<p> “The kids ran us around like crazy collecting stamps,” said Marta Wojtysiak, of Boca Raton, who accompanied friends and their children. “The rain didn’t bother them — or us — at all.”</p>
<p> Kids also collected beads to make bracelets that spelled out <i>I love Gumbo Limbo</i>, had their faces painted, and watched fish and animal feedings. </p>
<p> Craft and food vendors set up stations in the nature center’s small parking areas shaded by signature gumbo limbo trees. A vintage Good Humor ice cream truck was a popular attraction.</p>
<p> And even those who already support conservation came away with a new appreciation for Gumbo Limbo’s work and the difficulties of being a turtle.</p>
<p> “I really liked seeing the turtle rehab center,” said Kassie Rodriguez, 16, of Pompano Beach. “I didn’t realize that each turtle has a different story and background. I think what they’re doing is really great.”</p>
<p> Gumbo Limbo was made possible by Boca Raton naturalists and visionaries who saw the hardwood hammocks and coastal dunes of South Florida bulldozed and replaced by hotels and condo towers. </p>
<p> Alarmed by the vision of an unbroken concrete canyon along the beach in Boca, the naturalists and city officials put together a bond issue preserving a five-mile tract of land that would become Red Reef Park and the 19-acre Gumbo Limbo coastal hammock preserve.</p>
<p> The center is operated cooperatively by the city of Boca Raton; the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, Florida Atlantic University and Friends of Gumbo Limbo, who offer financial support and volunteer hours.</p>
<p> An estimated 100,000 local and tourist visitors come to the park each year to learn about sea turtles and other endangered plants and animals, and to walk the nature trails to catch a glimpse of woodpeckers, screech owls, foxes and rare plants.</p>
<p> Gumbo Limbo rescues injured turtles, helps them recover and returns them to the ocean. The preserve also finds and protects nesting turtles, and raises awareness through ongoing classes, field trips and research.<span><br /></span></p>
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<p><i>Besides Sea Turtle Day, there are many other events and activities at the nature center throughout the year. Visit <a href="http://www.gumbolimbo.org">www.gumbolimbo.org</a> to see the schedule.</i></p></div>