parade - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T05:47:44Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/paradeIn Ocean Ridge and Briny, Santa trades in sleigh for golf carthttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/in-ocean-ridge-and-briny-santa-trades-in-sleigh-for-golf-cart2020-12-29T20:06:09.000Z2020-12-29T20:06:09.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8361942654,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8361942654,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="8361942654?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>Mike and Deidre Neal (l-r) and their neighbors, Nick, Katherine and Mazie Malinoski, greet Mrs. Claus. <strong>Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
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<p>The coronavirus changed how municipalities celebrated the holidays, with the traditional large public gatherings canceled. In Ocean Ridge, the town spread Christmas cheer with a parade featuring Santa Claus, replacing the usual indoor event.</p>
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<p>Golf carts loaded with Santa and his wife, and with town commissioners and the mayor dressed as elves, dispensed candy canes and dog treats. They received a police escort as they ventured down every street in Ocean Ridge and Briny Breezes.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8361943870,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8361943870,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="8361943870?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>Cathy Allen as Mrs. Claus, wife of Gulf Stream Police Chief Edward Allen, drops her mask for a moment to smile for a group of children.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8361945052,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8361945052,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="8361945052?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>The Reiter family —(l-r) Josh, Russell, Sam, Anya, Susan and Lily — is dressed for the occasion as Santa draws near on Old Ocean Boulevard.</em></p></div>Boca Raton: WWII veteran marks 99th birthday with call to protect future generationshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/boca-raton-wwii-veteran-marks-99th-birthday-with-call-to-protect-2020-05-20T14:00:00.000Z2020-05-20T14:00:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960954655,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960954655,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960954655?profile=original" /></a>Arthur Metzger is surrounded by family and friends on a parade through Mizner Park ahead of his 99th birthday. The march, which urged residents and</em> <em>politicians to make the planet better, was Feb. 29, before the coronavirus halted such gatherings. <strong>Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>By Margie Plunkett</strong></p>
<p><br /> A small group armed with signs such as “Think About the Grandchildren” marched through Mizner Park in late February, singing and chanting to bring attention to how we should leave the world for those who follow. A 99-year-old World War II veteran led the rally, which coincided with his birthday March 3.<br /> Arthur Metzger, in a wheelchair powered by his son, was joined by his family and friends, all supporters of his wish to urge politicians and residents to do what’s right for coming generations.<br /> “We had little ones from 2 years old to 99 — Arthur — singing these songs and carrying the banners,” said Metzger’s wife, Carole Weller. <br /> After all was said and done, Metzger said he hoped the event, with about 50 participants, made an impact “on some of the politicians who were on the borderline.” <br /> The rally was sparked by a family discussion in Metzger’s living room of the environment and other pressing issues that ended in a challenge by Weller to her husband: “What are you going to do about it?” <br /> “He said he was going to get a sign and walk with it,” Weller recalled. “Every one of us perked up and said, ‘What? What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I think we should do something.’<br /> “He was genuinely worried about the world that we brought our children and grandchildren into,” Weller said, adding that they have a blended family of seven children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. “It doesn’t matter the cause — they all needed addressing.”<br /> Weller said that looking at Metzger’s past helps explain his wish to make a better world.<br /> He was born in a small town outside Nuremberg, Germany, to a well-to-do family who fled the Nazis in 1936, arriving in New York City practically penniless. Metzger was 15. He finished high school in America, began working and then enlisted in the Army. When officials there found out he wasn’t a U.S. citizen, they naturalized him.<br /> He took part in the landing at Normandy, France, during WWII and went on to fight in France and Germany until the war ended.<br /> “He was a big hero,” Weller said. <br /> Metzger recalled that during his four-year Army stint, he was promoted to lieutenant by the end of the war and was decorated for his service. His decorations and citations included the World War II victory medal, American campaign medal, European African Middle Eastern ribbon with two battle stars and the bronze star.<br /> When Metzger returned to the United States, he became a pioneer in the plastics industry, building a global company called Amco Plastics International in New York. With his background as self-made — knowing what it was like to be practically homeless and penniless — he became a very charitable man, Weller said. He was involved with a long list of issues, including his children’s education, Jewish causes and politics nationally and locally.<br /> Metzger stopped actively working at his company nine or 10 years ago, remaining as chairman of the board for another five years. The company was run by his son, Gary, until about five years ago, when it was sold.<br /> “Arthur was playing tennis, golf and bridge until he was 92,” Weller said, but failing eyesight, Parkinson’s disease and other ailments caught up with him.<br /> Nothing stopped him from leading the rally, however, and trying to make a difference.<br /> “Our hope was that people along the way would see the signs and think, ‘What are they talking about?’” Weller said.<br /> “Maybe it would dawn on them that we should be thinking about our future and what we should do about it. That was the whole idea. We felt it was successful.”</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960954680,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960954680,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960954680?profile=original" /></a>Arthur Metzger kisses his great-granddaughter Ciena Parisi after the march.</em></p></div>Pets on Parade: Delray’s 18th annual Easter Bonnet event was a barking good timehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/pets-on-parade-delray-s-18th-annual-easter-bonnet-event-was-a-bar2019-04-30T18:11:23.000Z2019-04-30T18:11:23.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960857492,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960857492,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960857492?profile=original" /></a><em>Presley Elizabeth, 3, and her owner, Rebecca Shelton, won for Best Look-a-Like outfits. The event was run and sponsored by Dezzy’s Second Chance Animal Rescue. <span class="s1"><b>Photos by</b></span> <span class="s1"><b>Rachel O’Hara/The Coastal Star</b></span></em></p>
<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://thecoastalstar.com/photo/albums/the-18th-annual-easter-bonnet-pet-parade" target="_blank">SEE MORE PHOTOS</a></p>
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<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960858066,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960858066,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960858066?profile=original" /></a><em>Judges (l-r) Miranda Christian of WPTV, Delray Beach Mayor Shelly Petrolia, Marie Speed, editor-in-chief of Boca Magazine, and Bill Bathurst, Delray Beach deputy vice mayor, are thrilled with Sparkles, 6, and Dawn West’s entry for Most Tropical in the 18th annual Easter Bonnet Pet Parade on April 7 at Old School Square. Sparkles and West won their category.</em></p>
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<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960858471,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960858471,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960858471?profile=original" /></a><em>Peyton, 6, and Luca, 7, owned by Kathryn Bradeis, were a big hit in their carrot carriage and Easter outfits.</em></p>
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<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><em><b>ABOVE:</b> Doodle, 11, looked very much like the Easter Bunny. </em></p>
<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><em><b>BELOW:</b> Buddha, 41/2, was dressed as a sheep.</em></p>
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<p class="p3" style="text-align:center;"><span class="s1"><b>See more</b></span> <span class="s1"><b>photos at <a href="http://www.the">www.the</a></b></span><span class="s1"><b>coastalstar.com</b></span></p></div>Briny Breezes: A sweet 60th anniversaryhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/briny-breezes-a-sweet-60th-anniversary2018-04-04T18:00:00.000Z2018-04-04T18:00:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><b>Briny celebrates </b><b>60 years: </b><strong>Parade honors longtime residents and social clubs that help to define the community</strong></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Dozens of decorated golf carts parade in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the year when trailer campers gathered up their money and bought former landowner Ward Miller’s land, creating Briny Breezes. Generations of families have enjoyed the oceanfront community. </em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Pat Barnes, an original owner in the mobile home park, holds Thorian Halfhill, who was born Jan. 1 in the Briny Breezes home of his parents, Tyrone and Lia Halfhill. Barnes turns 100 in May. The March 24 parade had a strawberry theme, looking back to the days when Miller raised dairy cattle and sold strawberries to his mobile home renters. </em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><b> </b><em>Dorothy McNeice and Violet Schoeni, two of Briny Breezes’ early residents, ride in the parade. McNeice waves to the crowd.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960790269,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960790269,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="7960790269?profile=original" /></a></b></em><em>Jack Taylor’s back porch provides a prime location for parade watchers to enjoy the passing golf carts. </em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em> Members of the swim club don T-shirts that portray younger versions of themselves.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em><b> </b>Barb Molina (left)swings her way through a crowd of dancers who gathered after the parade.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em><b>Photos by Jerry Lower/ The Coastal Star</b></em></p></div>Delray Beach: Delray Beach celebrates its 50th St. Patrick’s Day paradehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-delray-beach-celebrates-its-50th-st-patrick-s-day-pa2018-04-04T18:00:00.000Z2018-04-04T18:00:00.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Beads, bands and beer</strong></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>just part of the fabric</strong></span><br /> <span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>of annual event</strong></span></p>
<p>More than 100,000 Floridians and snowbirds gathered March 17 along Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach to celebrate the city’s 50th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The current parade organizer has announced that he intends to retire from coordinating the event, but the city pledges to keep the event alive next year.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788078,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788078,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="600" alt="7960788078?profile=original" /></a><em><strong>ABOVE:</strong> Over the past decade, the parade has focused on being a patriotic celebration of firefighters, including this group from West Palm Beach. <strong>Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788652,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="325" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788652,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="7960788652?profile=original" /></a></em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788298,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="325" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788298,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-right" alt="7960788298?profile=original" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>LEFT:</strong> Joan Fisk of Deerfield Beach, who has attended numerous Delray parades, wears a vintage Power’s Lounge shirt in honor of the late Maury Power, the parade founder. <strong>RIGHT:</strong> Delray Beach friends Lisa Ophel and Ellie Beckworth are dressed for the occasion.</em> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788877,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960788877,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="600" alt="7960788877?profile=original" /></a><em><strong>ABOVE:</strong> David Russo, from West Palm Beach, was one of dozens of marchers from Bethesda Memorial Hospital who gave away beads.</em></p></div>Delray Beach: St. Pat’s parade celebrates 50 yearshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-st-pat-s-parade-celebrates-50-years2018-02-28T21:32:49.000Z2018-02-28T21:32:49.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960778465,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960778465,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="600" alt="7960778465?profile=original" /></a><br /><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960778854,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="350" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960778854,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="7960778854?profile=original" /></a>ABOVE:</strong> Parade founder Maury Power and Dennis Gallagher with Porkchop the piglet, 1988</p>
<p><strong>LEFT:</strong> Colleen Rolfes Beckner and ‘Papa’ Joe Rose march in 1978. <strong>Photos courtesy of Delray Beach Historical Society</strong></p>
<p><strong>BELOW:</strong> Kevin and Mary McCarty ride in the parade, also in 1988. <strong>Photo provided</strong></p>
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<p><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960778669,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960778669,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960778669?profile=original" /></a><span style="font-size:18pt;">Manager of Delray gala says it’s his last</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>By Mary Thurwachter</strong></p>
<p>This is the time of year when fans of the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade give a tip of the derby to Maury Power, the Irish saloonkeeper who founded the legendary procession in 1968.<br />A Chicago transplant, Power donned a tailcoat and top hat and carried a shillelagh to make an impromptu march down Atlantic Avenue in honor of the patron saint of Ireland.<br />“I’m Maury Power,” he would say to onlookers. “Come down to my bar and have a drink.”<br /> The farther he walked, the more people would join him.<br />Since he died in 1996, people often bow down in front of large photographs of Power that are carried in the parade, said Pat Robinson, a friend and business owner who has been in 33 parades.<br />Local lore claims Power, who owned Power’s Lounge, carried a pig on his historic first march. Truth is the tinted green porker became part of the tradition a few years later. No one is sure exactly why. <br />“I think it was just something that, at the time, made perfect sense,” said Power’s nephew Terry.<br />The first piglet, Porkchop, instantly became a crowd pleaser. Porkchop has had many successors, many of them predictably hefty — including 200-pound Patrick, a star in the 2011 parade, and his predecessor Petunia, the potbellied pig famous for her fancy ruffles and sparkly tiara. <br />Occasionally, some of the pigs strayed from the parade path.<br />“Sometimes they would run free and into a store,” said David Cook, owner of Hand’s Office and Art Supply. “Some of them got so fat that they had to ride in the back of an SUV.” Animal activists protested the pigs’ involvement.<br />Two celebrity pigs are being driven down from Jacksonville for this year’s parade, and, while they won’t be painted green, parade manager John Fischer of Code 3 Events Inc. expects they’ll be costumed appropriately. “One of them is quite portly and won’t be able to walk the whole route, but he can ride in a stroller,” he said.<br />This year’s parade, which begins at 2 p.m. March 17, is the 50th and may be the last one, according to Fischer, a retired captain with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. <br />“It’s been a rollercoaster ride with the [city’s] special events policies — the fee structure, pricing, what have you,” said Fischer, who has managed the parade for five years. “We’re a nonprofit, not a business. Maybe a large, corporate-level entity can afford these prices. But I don’t see a nonprofit coming in and being able to afford the fee structure. That’s why we have to respectfully bow out.”<br />The estimate for this year’s parade is $65,000.<br />“We’ve been given a $50,000 sponsorship by the city, which means we’re responsible for $15,000,” Fischer said. “That is a far cry from what we got hit with last year when we were given an estimate of $56,000. But on top of that there were hidden costs that were mandated on us like $14,000 for barricades. That wasn’t in the contract. That was a side mandate that we had to have.” <br />On top of that, Code 3 had to pay about $1,500 for insurance and a few other costs. <br />New Delray Beach City Manager Mark Lauzier said comparing costs from last year to this year is complicated and the side-by-side comparisons are not apples to apples. <br />“For example, barricade costs were paid separately by the promoter last year and we had to add those costs to create the comparison,” he said. “That said, the cost increase is 9 percent and approximately $6,200. Of that amount, service fluctuations are the main reason for the change. Assuming personnel costs increased at plus 5 percent, to obtain that portion of the cost increase yields a rough guess of $2,500, but that’s really hard to determine.”<br />Lauzier said the decision on continuing the parades is a matter for further discussion.<br />“After this year’s event where I will get to experience the parade firsthand, I will be talking to the fire chief, because it is a great promotional and community-building event opportunity that I believe he would be interested in continuing. No decision on that yet, but we will be talking soon after this one ends.”</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><br /><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960779259,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960779259,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="600" alt="7960779259?profile=original" /></a><em>Huntington Resort of Delray entered a giant papier-mâché leprechaun in the 1986 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>Photo courtesy of Delray Beach Historical Society</strong></em></p>
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<p>Despite financing concerns, Fischer says this year’s parade will be special. Three members (maybe more) of Maury Power’s family have agreed to be grand marshals. Maury’s cousin James Power is flying in from Ireland. Terry Power, a nephew from Safety Harbor, will be there, as will Katie Power, Maury’s granddaughter from Delray Beach.<br />As they have for the past three years, organizers have injected the nonprofit organization Honor Flight into the front wall of the parade. Sixty or more World War II veterans in their Honor Flight wheelchairs will be pushed by police officers and firefighters.<br />“There hasn’t been a dry eye on the street when the veterans go by,” Fischer said. “People are crying their eyes out, in a good way, just looking at that visual of veterans being treated with such honor and respect.”<br />When the veterans reach the parade review stand, on the second story of 32 East restaurant across from Old School Square, former interim City Manager Terry Stewart (now city manager in Arcadia) will sing the national anthem.<br />Also at that location at Swinton and Atlantic will be two fire department ladder trucks hanging a 20-by-30-foot U.S. flag. Those two will be part of a 12 ladder-truck team from fire departments from Miami up to Martin County. <br />Several large fire and police bagpipe bands are coming in from places like Long Island and Washington, D.C.<br />“I tell people it’s not all about the firefighters, it’s not all about the police, you’re going to see the rest of society behind them — your schools, your civic groups, organizations, businesses, nonprofits, arts and entertainment, everything from A to Z,” said Fischer, a bagpiper himself.<br />In conjunction with the parade, a St. Patrick’s Day Festival will be March 16-17 at Old School Square. “The festival is a major fundraiser for the parade,” said Fischer, who has rallied firefighters, police and drum and bagpipe bands to participate since 2009.<br />The crowds have grown beyond expectations since then. The all-time high came in 2012, when an estimated 100,000 people watched and celebrated.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>2012 crowd out of hand</strong></span><br />“It was scary how many people came,” Fischer recalled. “It was like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.”<br />The liquor consumption was out of control and there was a shortage of portable toilets. Downtown business owners were not happy.<br />“With all the drinking and the 85-degree heat, people were falling over like Weebles,” said Cook, a former member of the city’s Downtown Development Authority. “As a merchant, you can only take so much public urination. It just got out of hand.”<br />To remedy the predicament, parade organizers didn’t ask for an open container waiver after 2012. <br />“It caused a little bit of an uproar in town,” Fischer said. Red Solo cup protesters showed up at City Hall. But the brouhaha subsided after a while.<br />The liquor ban irked Robinson, owner of The Man of Steam carpet cleaning business. “We used to be able to drink in front of stores and they put the kibosh on that. It used to be fun.”</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960779280,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="400" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960779280,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960779280?profile=original" /></a><em>Parade manager John Fischer is also a bagpipe player.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>File photo/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
<p><br />After 2012, crowd size decreased — between 40,000 and 50,000 attended last year’s parade. “But the quality increased,” Fischer said. “Businesses were saying ‘now I’ll sponsor, contribute.’ So that’s what it did in a good way. It attracted more families. It improved the cultural value, with firefighters and cops coming in from five different countries.”<br />Bringing in first responders from different states and countries has boosted tourism revenue, Fischer said.<br />“These people are coming here and getting hotel rooms,” he said. “That speaks to economic impact. If you talk to the tourism council, they’ll tell you what heads on beds means. Once you start killing tourism in your town, for whatever reason, whether it be a handful of merchants on the avenue that are complaining bitterly against shutting that street down, they’re not looking at the big picture.”<br />While everyone agrees the parade has been the source of merrymaking, not everyone thinks the current incarnation is better.<br />“It has turned into a firefighters’ convention,” said Mary McCarty, a former city (and county) commissioner who appeared in several parades on behalf of the Village Pub, where she was a bartender in the 1980s. When the parade ended, she said, people would pile into Power’s Lounge for corned beef and cabbage, and drinks of course.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Less local ambience</strong></span><br />“It used to be a small-town, community thing,” McCarty said. “It was good fun and something everybody looked forward to. But it got so big and a lot of locals don’t go anymore.”<br />Robinson said the parade at which he carried his two small sons years ago has lost its luster. He remembers when the parade entry fee was a $50 donation. “Now they want your first born and a bunch of legal stuff,” he said. <br />The business-class entry for a float currently starts at $425 depending on size (nonprofit donations begin at $100). <br />“This is the price charged by the organization before us,” Fischer said. “And when we took the parade over, the parade costs were around $35,000 — now it’s $65,000.”<br />After Maury Power died, Ed Gallagher, owner of a former downtown nightclub called City Limits, took charge until 2007, when Nancy Stewart’s company, Festival Management Team, took the reins. Fischer’s Code 3 Events took over after the 2013 parade.<br />Since Code 3 officially took over, more than $12,000 has been given to first responder nonprofits, Fischer said. “And we have devoted over $1.2 million worth of personal volunteer time, and cash out of pocket, putting together the parade and running it. This has afforded the platform for many other local, national and international nonprofits to showcase themselves and get their word out.”<br />Robinson didn’t go to last year’s parade, although he may attend this year’s. He has many fond memories.<br />“For years, our float was the entertainment,” he said. “We had a deejay and at the end of the parade we would put the flatbed in the parking lot behind Power’s and people danced. A good time was had by all.”<br />For several years, he hired the Florida Brass drum and bugle corps to come down from Lakeland. They played iconic Irish tunes like Danny Boy.<br />Before Maury Power died, Robinson was charged with cleaning up Power’s Lounge, at the railway tracks (now the site of Buddha Sky Bar), the day after the parade. “I wore my boots because there was 2 inches of slop covering the brown and white plaid carpet in the back room.”<br />The raspy-voiced Maury Power, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, would be in the pub with Robinson as early as 6 a.m. And Power always offered his assessment.<br />“Jesus, kid, we had a hell of time,” Power said to Robinson. <br />And they had a hell of a lot of company.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>If You Go</strong></span><br />The Delray Beach<br />St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival<br /><strong>When:</strong> Festival is in Old School Square 5-10 p.m. March 16 and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. March 17. Parade starts at 2 p.m. March 17<br /><strong>Route:</strong> Runs on East Atlantic Avenue from the Intracoastal Waterway bridge to Northwest Fifth Avenue.<br /><strong>Cost:</strong> Free to attend the festival or watch parade.<br /><strong>Information or to donate:</strong> <a href="http://www.stpatrickmarch.com">www.stpatrickmarch.com</a></p></div>Business Spotlight: Delray’s St. Patrick parade will have fresh idea from students at Lynnhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/business-spotlight-delray-s-st-patrick-parade-will-have-fresh-ide2018-01-31T16:37:46.000Z2018-01-31T16:37:46.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><strong>By Christine Davis</strong></p>
<p>A <b>Lynn University College of Business and Management</b> class taught by Professor Matteo Peroni created a campaign to boost awareness and fundraising efforts for the 50th annual <b>St. Patrick’s Day Parade</b> in Delray Beach to be held March 17. The students presented their ideas at the Boca Raton office of the public relations firm TransMedia Group and talked about how to implement them with the firm’s client and event organizer, the nonprofit Code 3 Events, Inc. The students’ ideas consisted of raffles for vacations to Ireland, a group fitness event, a pet fashion contest, a beauty contest and a parade founder Maury Powers look-alike contest. This year, the “St. PETricks Day” pet fashion contest was selected to be implemented. To take part, bring your pet dressed up in St. Patrick’s Day attire to Old School Square on March 16. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. The fee to enter your pet will be $20. Costume categories are: Kiss Me I’m Irish, Lucky Leprechaun and Samrockin Pooch. Winning pets will be featured on the Dezzy’s Second Chance Rescue Float at the parade. For information visit <a href="">www.stpatrickmarch.com. </a>;</p>
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<p>Victory Media, <i>Military Times</i> and Military Advanced Education & Transition have all named <b>Palm Beach State College</b> to their 2018 lists of schools that best provide veterans, service members and their families with the higher education and support they need to pursue civilian careers. </p>
<p>Victory Media designated the college a “2018 Gold Top 10 Military Friendly School,” placing it seventh among large public postsecondary institutions in the U.S.</p>
<p>The college ranks eighth nationwide among two-year institutions on the 2018 <i>Military Times</i> Best Colleges list, and it earned the designation of “Top School” in Military Advanced Education and Transition’s 2018 Guide to Colleges & Universities. </p>
<p>“The college is unique,” said Matthew Watkins, its Veterans Affairs coordinator, “with a total of three veterans resource centers, 16 VA student work-study positions, three student veterans clubs, three veterans-specific academic advisers, and two VA benefits certifying officials. All of our staff members are veterans or come from a military family, and we all feel there is no greater calling than serving those who have served us.”</p>
<p>For information, call 868-3380 or visit <a href="http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/VeteransServices">www.palmbeachstate.edu/VeteransServices</a>.</p>
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<p> The <b>Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce</b> announced its 2017 business award winners during a gala in January at Benvenuto restaurant. Delonyx Cortez of the YMCA of Boynton Beach won the young professional of the year award; Habitat For Humanity was named the nonprofit of the year; the health care initiative of the year award went to the Boynton Beach Healthcare Center; Miller Land Planning won the business of the year award; the women’s business of the year award went to Roses Realty Services; John Campanola, New York Life, received the new member of the year award; and Judy Saxton of Practical Billing received the Harvey Oyer Jr. award for community involvement and corporate citizenship.</p>
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<p>The <b>Boca Chamber</b> will host its 12th annual Diamond Award Luncheon on Feb. 23 at the Boca Raton Resort and Club’s Mizner Center, 501 E. Camino Real. The Chamber will recognize a professional woman in Boca Raton and South County who contributes to the vibrancy of the community, Barbara Cambia, executive director of the Hannifan Center for Career Connections at Lynn University. </p>
<p>Cambia serves as chair of the Chamber’s tourism committee and helped launch the first Boca Restaurant Month in September. Under her leadership at Lynn, internship participation has increased by more than 250 percent and freshman engagement by more than 100 percent. She has partnered with the Chamber to create Future Leaders of Tomorrow, a three-week student leadership program. </p>
<p>In addition, the Chamber will honor its 2018 Pearl Award recipient, Skylar Mandell, a graduate of its Young Entrepreneurs Academy and founder of the Florida Sea Turtle Co., which sells bracelets, accessories and clothing at nearly 20 Florida retail locations. Also, her company donates 10 percent of its profits to sea turtle conservation organizations. </p>
<p>For information or to attend, contact Chasity Navarro at 395-4433, ext. 233, or email her at cnavarro@bocachamber.com.</p>
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<p>The <b>Sears</b> department store owned by Seritage Growth Properties at Town Center in Boca Raton is one of 39 nationwide that will close by early April. In a statement, Seritage said that it plans to redevelop the site of the Sears store.</p>
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<p>MCA Delray Preserve Owner LLC sold the 188-unit apartment complex <b>Delray Preserve,</b> at 2001 N. Federal Highway in Delray Beach, to IMP Delray LLC for $60.35 million, according to property records and news reports. </p>
<p>MCA Delray Preserve Owner is an affiliate of Orlando-based Zom Living. IMP Delray is an affiliate of a Boston-based partnership between GID and CalPERS. Zom paid $11 million for the development site in 2015, according to data from Real Capital Analytics. </p>
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<p>ESG Kullen paid $7.5 million for 93 residences at the 275-unit <b>Murano</b>, 15005 Michelangelo Blvd., Delray Beach, to USO Norge Murano LLC, an affiliate of Norwegian investment firm Obligo, in December. According to news articles, the New York-based firm plans to renovate and sell them off individually for about $200,000 each starting in June 2019. </p>
<p>MidCap Financial Services provided an $8.4 million loan to cover purchase and renovations. The Obligo affiliate paid $8.8 million for the units in 2009.</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960764253,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960764253,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="7960764253?profile=original" /></a><em>Elena Christodoulou (center), sales chief for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, with Alex Murillo and Marie Mangouta. <b>Photo provided</b></em></p>
<p><b>Penn-Florida Cos.</b> recently announced the new sales team for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton. The team is led by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing’s Elena Christodoulou as vice president of sales. Christodoulou has procured $1.2 billion in sales for luxury pre-construction residences and has been recognized as a leader in luxury real estate sales throughout the world. Joining her as regional sales directors are Marie Mangouta and Alex Murillo. </p>
<p>Demolition of the former SunTrust and Citibank buildings is underway to clear the way for the next phases of Via Mizner, an urban resort in the heart of downtown Boca Raton. With the first phase, 101 Via Mizner Luxury Apartments, already complete and leasing, demolition is the next major milestone in the construction of the next two towers: Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton, the city’s first five-star hotel in over a decade, and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton, a collection of 92 private homes. Now at contract, demolition marks the last chance for buyers to secure pre-construction pricing. </p>
<p>The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton, will feature garden suites and an exclusive penthouse collection. Residents will have preferred access to the amenities and service of the Mandarin Oriental.</p>
<p>The Sales Gallery is located at 10 E. Boca Raton Road and is open daily. To schedule a presentation call 922-8335 or visit <a href="http://www.moresidencesbocaraton.com">www.moresidencesbocaraton.com</a>.</p>
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<p><b>Premier Estate Properties</b> broker/agent Ron Lennen was elected president of Greater Fort Lauderdale Realtors and named a trustee for its charitable foundation. </p>
<p>The D’Angelo Liguori team listed a six-bedroom, 14,949-square-foot Sanctuary Point estate at 4121 Ibis Point Circle, Boca Raton, in December for $18.95 million. Expected to be completed mid-2019, it is being developed by Addison Development Group and designed by Smith & Moore Architects. It will have views of the Intracoastal Waterway and be on a canal with 345 feet of water frontage, able to accommodate two 100-foot yachts. </p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960764065,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960764065,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="101" class="align-left" alt="7960764065?profile=original" /></a>And in January, Premier Estate Properties opened its sixth office at 125 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, represented by Jim McCann & Associates.</p>
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<p>Jeffrey Ray, broker of <b>Jeffrey Ray LLC</b>, listed an ocean-to-Intracoastal 2-acre property with 270 feet on the ocean, at 1340 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, which is being offered for sale for $43.9 million.</p>
<p>Dave and Margaret Lumia, who bought the property in 2008, built a five-bedroom Mediterranean-style home with 24,054 square feet, as well as a four-bedroom guesthouse with 5,306 square feet, replacing the previous 1960s split-level home of former Xerox CEO Charles Peter McColough.</p>
<p> Stuart Lepera of Leperadise was the builder and completed the estate in 2015. Amenities include posh interior materials, tennis courts, a heated infinity-edge pool, two-story rock waterfall, oceanfront three-story tower, loggia with fire pit, and lakefront dock with water and electricity. </p>
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<p>Fashion designer <b>Tomas Maier</b> and Andrew Preston sold their oceanfront Gulf Stream home at 3377 N. Ocean Blvd. for $9.5 million in January to The East Bluff Trust, with David J. McCabe as trustee, according to property records. They paid $7.3 million for the home in 2006. Built in 1980, the two-story house features a pool and 100 feet of ocean frontage. Douglas Elliman’s Nicholas Malinosky and Randy Ely represented the sellers. Broker Jeremy Olsher, of Mizner Residential Realty LLC, brought the buyer. The home hit the market in November for $10.95 million. </p>
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<p>For those who want to walk (vicariously) in the steps of a supermodel, here’s your chance. Russian supermodel <b>Sasha Pivovarova</b>, the new face of Christian Dior for its Spring/Summer 2018 collection, is leasing out her Mid-Century-Modern-style home at 1416 Lands End Road on Hypoluxo Island for $70,000 a year.</p>
<p> Pivovarova and her husband, <b>Igor Vishnyakov</b>, an artist, bought their four-bedroom, four-bath house, with 3,800 total square feet, in 2015 as a getaway. Now, though, they aren’t making use of it since their daughter, Mia, 6, has started school, explains Sotheby’s International Realty agent <b>Patricia Towle</b>, who is handling the lease. They’ve made many upgrades, and the house, with custom furniture designed by Todd Hase, can be leased furnished or unfurnished. “What they especially love about the house is the huge banyan tree in the front yard,” says Towle. “It’s probably the largest on the island and there’s a nesting hawk in the tree. The tree is so large that there’s a room inside of it.” For more information, call Towle at 568-9565. </p>
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<p>On Feb. 8 at <b>Boca Real Estate Investment Club</b>’s 24th anniversary meeting, club founder and President David Dweck will speak about South Florida’s real estate market. This meeting will be at the DoubleTree Hilton, 100 Fairway Drive, Deerfield Beach. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation starts at 7. The cost is $20 for nonmembers. For more info, call 391-7325 or visit <a href="http://www.bocarealestateclub.com">www.bocarealestateclub.com</a>.</p>
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<p>The International Festivals & Events Association, which recognizes the world’s best event producers, announced the winners of its annual Pinnacle Awards during a trade show in Tucson, Ariz., and the <b>Delray Beach Marketing Cooperative</b>, along with the <b>Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce</b>, each received a Gold Award.</p>
<p>The cooperative won for Best Newspaper Insert for the 100-foot Christmas tree, and the chamber won for Best Promotional Video for its scavenger hunt. </p>
<p>“To compete against such talented organizations from all over the world makes winning a real honor,” said Jarrod White, event manager of the cooperative.</p>
<p>Added Kim Bentkover, membership director at the Chamber, “We are honored to be recognized with this award from the IFEA, as we put a lot of creative energy, humor, quirkiness and makeup on to create our promotional video for the Seek in the City scavenger-hunt event.”</p>
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<p>The <b>South Florida Garlic Fest</b>, created and produced by the nonprofit organization Delray Beach Arts, will be Feb. 9-11 at John Prince Park, 4759 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth. </p>
<p>The food and entertainment event will feature more than 100 garlic-laced menu items, a children’s amusement area with rides, and more than 200 artist and craft vendors. A fundraising source for local nonprofit organizations, the event reached a milestone in 2017, donating more than $610,000. </p>
<p>Event hours on Feb. 9 are 5 to 11 p.m.; Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $10 before 6 p.m. and $20 after 6 p.m. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.</p>
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<p>The <b>Palm Beach Poetry Festival</b>’s 2018 Ekphrastic Poetry Contest is inspired by the “Looking Glass” exhibition, on display through Feb. 24 at the Cornell Museum at Old School Square in Delray Beach. To enter the contest, writers need to submit up to 30 lines of original poetry inspired by one of eight designated images featured in the exhibition. </p>
<p>These are: <i>Five Squares</i> by Chul Hyun-Ahn, <i>Portrait of Joan Agajanian Quinn</i> by Andrew Logan, <i>One Day You’ll Be Mine</i> by Graeme Messer, <i>Muse</i> by Jeremy Penn, <i>Dog /Mirror</i> by Liliana Porter, <i>Outer Reflection</i> by Lilibeth Rasmussen, <i>Façade</i> by Elle Schorr and <i>Invisible Quilt</i> by Peter Symons. </p>
<p>The winning poet will receive a $100 prize, and four runners-up will receive $25 each. The deadline to submit is March 1, and all submissions will be accepted at <a href="https://palmbeachpoetryfestival.submittable.com/submit/">https://palmbeachpoetryfestival.submittable.com/submit/</a> 102926/2018-palm-beach-poetry-festival-looking-glass-poetry-contest. </p>
<p>For information and to view the images from the exhibition, visit <a href="http://www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org/news/looking-glass-ekphrastic-poetry-contest/">www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org/news/looking-glass-ekphrastic-poetry-contest/</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960764074,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960764074,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="7960764074?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>The best 30 lines inspired by this objet d’art could win the $100 prize in a Poetry Festival contest. <b>Photo provided</b></em></p>
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<p><i>Send business news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.</i></p>
<p></p></div>Holiday Boat Parade: Intracoastal Waterway, Boca Raton – Dec. 16https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/holiday-boat-parade-intracoastal-waterway-boca-raton-dec-162018-01-03T17:32:02.000Z2018-01-03T17:32:02.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960763301,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960763301,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="7960763301?profile=original" /></a><em>The former site of the Wildflower restaurant was a popular viewing location for the 41st annual Holiday Boat Parade. With the park recently open to the public, hundreds of residents jammed the area, which provided some of the most intimate views. <b>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</b></em></p></div>Delray Beach: City chips in $5,000 for boat paradehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-city-chips-in-5-000-for-boat-parade2016-11-02T17:00:00.000Z2016-11-02T17:00:00.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960683493,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960683493,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" width="217" alt="7960683493?profile=original" /></a></p>
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<p>Delray Beach city commissioners approved spending nearly $5,000 for the city’s share of the annual Boynton Beach-Delray Beach boat parade on Dec. 9. <br /> But they did not want the money coming from the city manager’s discretionary fund. They saw it more as a low-cost marketing opportunity, not an emergency expense. <br /> “The boat parade brings a large amount of goodwill from the homeowners and business owners [along the Intracoastal Waterway] who pay a disproportionately large property tax bill and look forward to it,” Mayor Cary Glickstein said <br /> The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency hosts the boat parade. In recent years, it has tried to get Delray Beach to pay part of the costs. Last year, Delray Beach scrambled and was able to raise the bridges for the boat parade.<br /> <em>— Jane Smith</em></p></div>Delray Beach: Boat parade back on course to travel through Delrayhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-boat-parade-back-on-course-to-travel-through-delray2015-12-02T20:56:36.000Z2015-12-02T20:56:36.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><strong>By Jane Smith</strong><br /><br />The Holiday Boat Parade will travel down the Intracoastal Waterway on Dec. 11 through Boynton Beach and Delray Beach for the 44th year, but the Delray Beach part almost didn’t happen.<br />The Delray Beach city manager, who just started in January, learned in mid-November that the city’s non-participation was called out on social media as “being the Grinch.” That’s the first he heard of the Holiday Boat Parade, Don Cooper said.<br />Delray Beach had passed its budget in September and it didn’t include money for the boat parade, Cooper said. “But we will do what we did last year. Open the bridges and staff them with police,” he said.<br />At the Nov. 10 meeting of the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, board members learned the boat parade was not going into Delray Beach. It’s the second year that the CRA is running the boat parade. Previously Boynton Beach city staff had run the boat parade after a local Kiwanis group had organized it for decades. <br />“We had reached out to the new (Delray Beach) Parks and Recreation Director, but never heard back,” Vivian Brooks, CRA executive director, told the board. “My concern is that we are sending our boats into Delray Beach — same as last year — it’s a whole other city, and is that a wise use of CRA tax dollars?”<br />“We had a commitment last year to help offset the costs from Mr. (Reeve) Bright of Delray Beach but received nothing,” Brooks said.<br />Bright, who ran the boat parade with the Kiwanis for more than 30 years, could not be reached for comment. In 2014, he told the Boynton Beach CRA board that in those years the city of Boynton Beach never contributed money for the boat parade.<br />The 2015 Holiday Boat Parade will start at the base of the Lantana Bridge, then travel south through Boynton Beach and Delray Beach where it will end at the C-15 canal.</p></div>Holiday Boat Paradeshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/holiday-boat-parades2015-12-02T14:30:00.000Z2015-12-02T14:30:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960606668,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960606668,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="199" alt="7960606668?profile=original" /></a></p></div>Photos: Holiday Eventshttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/photos-holiday-events2014-12-31T12:35:22.000Z2014-12-31T12:35:22.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Unity School Jazz Band performs</strong><br /><strong>Delray Beach Tree lighting — Dec. 4</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960548276,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960548276,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="538" alt="7960548276?profile=original" /></a><em>Now in its 15th year, the Unity School Jazz Band, under the direction of Bethany Gerena, performed during the holiday festivities by playing</em> Deckin’ the Halls<em>,</em> Jingle Bell Rock <em>and</em> God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen<em>. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>Delray Beach Holiday Parade<br />Atlantic Avenue — Dec. 13.</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960548078,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960548078,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="518" alt="7960548078?profile=original" /></a></strong>Delray Beach held its annual Holiday Parade along Atlantic Avenue beginning east of the Intracoastal and continuing west past Swinton Avenue. LEFT: Representatives of Plumosa School of the Arts marched with their float in the holiday parade.</em> <br /><strong><em>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</em></strong></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Boynton/Delray Boat Parade</strong><br /><strong>Along the Intracoastal Waterway — Dec. 12</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960547698,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960547698,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="538" alt="7960547698?profile=original" /></a></strong><em>The cities of Boynton Beach and Delray Beach hosted the 43rd annual Holiday Boat Parade along the Intracoastal Waterway from the Boynton Beach Marina to the C-15 Canal, just south of the Linton Boulevard Bridge. ABOVE: Boats decorated in this year’s parade. <strong>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p></div>Lantana: New bridge opens in festive, small-town stylehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/lantana-new-bridge-opens-in-festive-small-town-style2013-12-04T20:30:00.000Z2013-12-04T20:30:00.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p><em><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481493,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481493,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="360" alt="7960481493?profile=original" /></a></b></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Roland Wood carries on a tradition he started in 1950 as a 13-year-old Boy Scout, when he was the first person over the then-new bridge at its dedication ceremony. Wood also was the last person over that same bridge when it closed in March 2012. Carrying the flag with him is Ramon Torres, 7, of Lantana, a Scout in Troop 241.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><b>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</b></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481665,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481665,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960481665?profile=original" /></a></b><em>Revelers gathered along the new Lantana Bridge to celebrate its Nov. 16 opening. The event included a</em> <br /><em>‘First ______ Over the Bridge’ parade, followed by a party in Bicentennial Park and capped off with fireworks.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481290,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481290,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960481290?profile=original" /></a>The owners of the Dune Deck Cafe march across the Lantana Bridge during its official opening Nov. 16. They were among the roughly 1,000 people who joined the walk. <strong>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481884,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960481884,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" width="360" alt="7960481884?profile=original" /></a></b></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Workers Noel Billaro and Ruben Guebara install bolts as spectators gather to cross the bridge. </em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span><b>Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"></p>
<p><span><b>By Jane Smith</b></span></p>
<p> When Lantana hosted a bridge reopening bash, the town did it in fishing-village style. The celebration started with a parade over the Ocean Avenue bridge and ended with a flourish of fireworks that left spectators exclaiming, “Best finale ever!”</p>
<p> The Nov. 16 parade’s theme of “The First ____ Over the Bridge” drew a steady stream of marchers holding signs saying, First Princess, First Home Brewer, First Hula Hooper, First Skunk, First Surfing Piñata and many other firsts.</p>
<p> “Lantana is charming,” said Greg Rice, parade emcee who called out the firsts. “It’s like watching a Norman Rockwell painting come alive.” </p>
<p> About 1,000 people and their pets marched across the bridge, while another 1,500 or so watched during the celebration.</p>
<p> Lantana Mayor Dave Stewart boasted that the bridge was finished four months early and cost about $32 million. “We saved the county taxpayers $18 million by not building a temporary bridge and about three years (of aggravation).”</p>
<p> The new Ocean Avenue Bridge allows easy access to the surrounding communities. The Lake Worth Bridge to the north or Ocean Avenue bridge in Boynton Beach to the south were common detour routes. </p>
<p> The bridge tender’s tower sports a dolphin as a weather vane, another salute to the town’s roots.</p>
<p> “We wanted this bridge to be more of fishing village (style) than the Disney style of the Boynton Ocean Avenue bridge,” said Mike Bornstein, then-Lantana town manager and now Lake Worth city manager. </p>
<p> It’s a great addition to the community because it is pedestrian and cyclist friendly, Stewart said. At 21 feet taller than the old bridge, it will have 40 percent fewer openings, making the bridge motorist friendly, too. </p>
<p> Since it opened, the bridge had to close overnight for two nights for painting, according to Lantana Town Manager Deborah Manzo.</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960482053,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960482053,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960482053?profile=original" /></a></p></div>Scenes of the Season: Of tricks and treats and Halloween funhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/scenes-of-the-season-of-tricks-and-treats-and-halloween-fun2013-10-30T18:05:12.000Z2013-10-30T18:05:12.000ZChris Felkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/ChrisFelker<div><p style="text-align:center;"><span><b>Photography by </b></span><b>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</b></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960464693,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960464693,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="562" class="align-center" alt="7960464693?profile=original" /></a></b></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Lake Worth residents Anne Heggli (right) and Courtney Ricks take part in a Halloween volleyball game</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>on the beach Oct. 26 at Anchor Park in Delray Beach. </em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465082,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465082,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="337" class="align-center" alt="7960465082?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Participants portray Native Americans Oct. 19 during ‘Halloween In The Hammock’</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465459,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465459,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="545" class="align-center" alt="7960465459?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Patches the Mermaid comes up for a breath at Mermaid Splash during Boynton Beach’s</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Haunted Pirate Fest held Oct. 26 and 27.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465099,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465099,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="576" class="align-center" alt="7960465099?profile=original" /></a></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Patches takes a dive in her tank.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465666,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465666,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="528" class="align-center" alt="7960465666?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Boys and ghouls of all ages march in a parade Oct. 26 along Atlantic Avenue</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>through downtown Delray Beach from Old School Square to Veterans Park.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465300,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960465300,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="528" class="align-center" alt="7960465300?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Ryan Lutwin, 9, catches a wave with the help of Batman, aka Eric Dernick, who runs Waves Surf Academy.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Ryan, who lives in Davie, was visiting his grandmother Audrey Dunn of Boynton Beach</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>on Oct. 26, when kids were treated to a free surf lesson in the ocean at Delray Beach.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>The only catch: They had to wear a costume to participate in the ‘Monster Thrash Surf-Off.’</em></p></div>Delray Beach: Parade goes on, but without alcoholhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-parade-goes-on-but-without-alcohol2013-09-04T15:30:00.000Z2013-09-04T15:30:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p><strong>By Tim Pallesen</strong><br /> <br /> Get out the green confetti but not the green beer — the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a go for next year without alcohol.<br /> Delray Beach commissioners have approved the March 15 event with a $31,273 cost for the promoter.<br /> The fate of the 46th annual parade became uncertain last May when commissioners said they were being asked by downtown merchants to reduce the number of special events that close Atlantic Avenue.<br /> An estimated 100,000 spectators watched this year’s March 16 parade, when the city waived enforcement of its law against open alcohol containers.<br /> Responding to the merchant concerns, Mayor Cary Glickstein asked the city’s special events coordinator at a May 14 meeting to rank downtown events for elimination. <br /> Assistant City Manager Bob Barcinski named the St. Patrick’s Day Parade first.<br /> But Barcinski negotiated a compromise with parade promoter John Fischer that commissioners approved 4-0 at their Aug. 20 meeting.<br /> Fischer agreed to pay $17,503 for city overtime costs so police officers can be added to enforce the alcohol ban.<br /> “You’re going to need more police,” Glickstein told Fischer. “That’s critical as you move forward.”<br /> The promoter also must pay $12,030 for steel barricades to be erected from Federal Highway to the city tennis center to prevent children from running into the street for candy and trinkets.<br /> City officials haven’t decided whether to make arrests for drinking in public during the first year of the alcohol ban.<br /> “We’re asking the police to take a light hand the first year,” parade consultant Bern Ryan told commissioners. “We’re requesting that you get to dump your drink in the trash.”<br /> Ryan had warned after the May threat to discontinue the parade that the Irish in Palm Beach County would rise up to protest. “There will be a green storm,” he predicted at the time.<br /> The parade in recent years has evolved into what Fischer, a county firefighter, described in his application as “a tribute to firefighers worldwide.”<br /> More than 500 firefighters from Florida as well as New York City, Boston and two foreign countries marched in the parade last March. Twelve ladder trucks from Miami to Martin County hoisted giant banners along Atlantic Avenue proclaiming their hometowns.<br /> Fischer wrote in his parade application that firefighters “march shoulder-to-shoulder with pride, honor, tradition, patriotism and teamwork as a role model for our children to see.”<br /> Fischer could have avoided the $12,030 expense for barricades. But he said firefighters ignored his request to stop throwing candy and trinkets to children. <br /></p></div>Delray Beach: St. Paddy’s parade may endhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-st-paddy-s-parade-may-end2013-05-30T16:30:00.000Z2013-05-30T16:30:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960447083,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960447083,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960447083?profile=original" /></a></strong><em>Revelers enjoy their beer during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Delray Beach. The city wants to ban alcohol from next year’s parade. Local businesses want to limit events such as the parade that closes Atlantic Avenue to traffic. <strong>Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>Watch Delray Beach <a href="http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/video/delray-beach-international-fire-service-st-patricks-day-parade">St. Patrick's Day Parade video</a> from International Fire Service</strong></em></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>By Tim Pallesen</strong><br /> <br /> Just as firefighters take control of Delray Beach’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the city for unrelated reasons might shut down the parade.<br /> City commissioners are under pressure from business owners to reduce festivals that close downtown streets. City staff has recommended that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade be the first to go.<br /> “It’s the one we hear the most complaints about,” Assistant City Manager Bob Barzinski said. “It’s a tough event for police to manage.”<br /> An estimated 100,000 spectators watched the March 16 parade, prompting the city to suggest banning alcohol if the parade is allowed next year.<br /> “The alcohol needs to stop,” Mayor Cary Glickstein said at a May 14 workshop where Barzinski recommended that the parade be eliminated.<br /> Commissioners postponed a decision. “This is an issue for everyone to weigh in on,” Glickstein said.<br /> The parade’s promoter predicted a public outcry if Delray cancels the parade.<br /> “The Irish of Palm Beach County will rise up against that idea,” warned Bernard Ryan of Festival Management Group. “There will be a green storm.”<br /> The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a tradition in Delray Beach that began 45 years ago with an Irish bar owner carrying a pig in a small parade down Atlantic Avenue.<br /> The parade struggled after the founder, Maury Power, died in 1996. Festival Management took control five years ago, replacing the marching bands that charged fees with Palm Beach County firefighters playing bagpipes and drums in a band that marched for free. The firefighter theme took off in 2010 when the Dublin Fire Brigade Pipe Band came from Ireland to perform.<br /> More than 500 firefighters from Florida as well as Boston, New York City and two foreign countries came to march in the March 16, 2013, parade. Twelve ladder trucks from Miami to Martin County hoisted giant banners along Atlantic Avenue proclaiming their hometowns.<br /> Parade grand marshal Harold Schaitberger, the president of the 300,000-member International Association of Fire Fighters, lists Delray Beach among the four best cities in America for firefighters to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. “The big parades are in New York City, Boston, Savannah — and Delray is right there,” he said.<br /> Festival Management announced on May 3 that management of future parades has been given to county firefighter John Fischer and two co-workers, with Ryan continuing as a consultant. A press release referred future parade inquiries to IAFF Local 2928 in Palm Beach County.<br /> City commissioners said they will determine which street-closing events to eliminate based on who benefits by each event.<br /> “We have to start chopping,” Commissioner Al Jacquet said at the May 14 workshop. Events sponsored by the city, the Chamber of Commerce and local nonprofits are most likely to survive.<br /> <br /> <strong>A firestorm over pensions</strong><br /> After the workshop, Fischer said patriotism and community unity are the worthy purposes of his parade. But on parade day he called the parade a “public relations bonanza” for firefighters seeking public support against cities and counties that cut their pension benefits.<br /> “Children need to see clean-cut firefighters marching tall and proud with honor and dignity,” he said in March. “This parade couldn’t come at a better time than now, when firefighters across the country are being attacked by politicians.”<br /> Schaitberger echoed that to motivate firefighters who marched in Delray’s parade.<br /> “There are those who don’t appreciate us until they’re in need,” the union president told marchers during his pre-parade speech.<br /> “They attack our benefits and retirement,” Schaitberger said. “I hope citizens of Delray Beach and Florida will realize in their time of need that none of you question your responsibility even in an economy that’s gone bust.” <br /> Governments have been forced to cut pension benefits after they discovered that their pension fund investments weren’t generating the money that was promised before the recession.<br /> Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton were the first nearby cities to respond with pension reform. <br /> But Delray Beach avoided the dilemma until the same May 14 workshop, where a city auditor alerted commissioners to a $94 million shortfall in their pension fund for police and firefighters.<br /> Commissioners have set a June 11 workshop to discuss the implications of that unfunded debt and whether pension benefits need to be cut here. “Taxpayers need to understand how significant these costs are,” Glickstein said. </p></div>Pet parade reveals: Bonnets in bloomhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/pet-parade-reveals-bonnets-in-bloom2013-04-03T15:17:30.000Z2013-04-03T15:17:30.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;">More than 60 animals — mostly dogs, but one cat — came out and strutted their stuff at the 12th Annual Easter Bonnet Pet Parade on March 30 in Delray Beach. <br />They competed in categories such as most frou-frou, traditional, original, tropical, tiniest teacup, owner-pet look-alike and best-in-show. Money raised from the event benefitted Animal Rescue Force.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441659,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441659,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960441659?profile=original" /></a><em>Baby the cat, 15, who attends every Easter Bonnet Parade, is greeted as she registers before the beginning of the parade. Baby is owned by Nancy Johnson of Delray Beach. ‘She’s a good sport,’ Johnson said.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441861,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441861,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="180" alt="7960441861?profile=original" /></a> <em>Teddy, a 2-year-old Yorkiepoo owned by Victoria Chase of Parkland, tries to keep his bunny ears on before the judging.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441870,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441870,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960441870?profile=original" /></a></em><em>Laura Souza of Delray Beach smiles after winning the Most Frou-Frou category with her three dogs, Leonardo, Giselle and Gianna.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441490,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441490,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="180" alt="7960441490?profile=original" /></a></em><em>Rebecca Shelton and Ivy — a Chihuahua mix rescue who celebrated her 12th birthday on Saturday — waits for the judging. ‘She’s an Aries,’ Shelton said. They attend the contest and parade every year. They entered — and won — the traditional category as well as Best in Show. ‘I even did her nails for the contest,’ she said. To celebrate her birthday, Shelton was going to treat Ivy to lamb or beef later that day. <br /><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441900,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960441900,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960441900?profile=original" /></a>Julien Page, 5, reaches for Scooby — also 5 — during their first Easter Bonnet Parade. They just moved to Delray Beach. Scooby is a Chihuahua-dachshund mix. <br /><strong>Photos by Libby Volgyes/The Coastal Star</strong></em></p></div>St. Patrick’s Day Paradehttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/st-patrick-s-day-parade2013-04-03T14:30:00.000Z2013-04-03T14:30:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;">The 45th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Delray Beach held on March 16 hosted firefighters from across the state, country and the world. Organizers estimated a crowd of over 100,000 watched from the sides of the 14-block parade route on Atlantic Avenue. <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960440657,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960440657,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960440657?profile=original" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>Firefighters representing multiple municipalities march with a gigantic American flag. </em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960440294,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960440294,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960440294?profile=original" /></a><em>Emma Chisholm (Boca Raton) Alexis Craig (Boynton Beach) and Lauren Shiell (Delray Beach) react to a passing fire truck and clowns. </em><br /> <strong>Photos by Tim Stepien/</strong><br /> <strong>The Coastal Star</strong></p></div>Delray Beach: Patrick returns as parade's principal porkerhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-patrick-returns2011-03-30T18:00:00.000Z2011-03-30T18:00:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960334868,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960334868,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960334868?profile=original" /></a><em>Kimberly Vislocky feeds Patrick the pig during Delray Beach’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Patrick, age 2, replaced Vislocky’s pig Petunia in the parade. Petunia died last year.</em> <strong>Photos by Jerry Lower</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://thecoastalstar.ning.com/photo/photo/slideshow?albumId=2331112:Album:29567">Slideshow:</a> St. Patrick's Day Parade in Delray Beach<br /><br />By Jan Norris<br /><br />Patrick is 200 pounds of pork on the hoof — but he’s no ham.<br />“Petunia really was a ham. She loved the parade,” said Kimberly Vislocky, Patrick’s human “mom.” <br />Patrick, a brown and dark gray pot-bellied pig, is the new four-footed mascot of Delray Beach’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For the second year, the 2-year-old porker rode the length of Atlantic Avenue, displayed in the back of Vislocky’s slow-moving SUV, which was open to the back so everyone could see him.<br /> “Someone complained to the parade organizers that it was cruel to make a pig walk down the road. So now he rides,” Vislocky said.<br />As Patrick sniffed and snorted around in the back of the trunk, looking to nibble whatever he could find, she tied a huge homemade green bandana with gold fringe around his neck, and put a green beribboned bowler on his head. He was now officially in his parade costume.<br />This year’s annual parade, held on March 12, was bittersweet for Vislocky, whose Petunia, a 17-year-old pot-belly and wild boar mix, died in her sleep in December. Petunia had graced the St. Pat’s parade with her porcine presence, dressed in fancy ruffles and crowned with a green glittery tiara, since 1995. Her parade career ended in 2009 when arthritis and old age slowed her down.<br />“She got excited when I got the costumes ready every year,” Vislocky said. “I make them myself. She knew the parade was coming and she’d be the center of attention. She really was a ham for it. <br />“She was so smart — she’d cross the streets at the crosswalks, and if she got hot, she’d walk into the stores where there was air-conditioning. When we got to the VFW hall at the end, she’d go right to the ladies’ room where it was coolest and lay down. Pigs are intelligent. People don’t know that about them, but they’re very smart animals.”<br />They’re also not as dirty as people believe, she said. “They’re actually very clean animals. They only get in the mud to cool themselves off because they have no sweat glands.” She takes care of Patrick’s coat by showering him off.<br />Still, she wonders at all the parade-watchers who run up to the pig to give it a kiss. “I don’t know what they’re thinking,” she said. “But they do it, for luck, I guess. They have their picture taken with him and scratch his ears, then kiss him on the nose.” She wrinkled hers, and shook her head.<br />Vislocky owns Kimberly’s Pet Grooming in Delray Beach, and cares for her other “celebrity” pets — a billy goat named Bunny who competes in the Easter bonnet contest every year and a younger pig named Patty — Patrick’s parade backup.<br />Vislocky fretted over the group of motorcycles revving their motors behind her in the parade line. “He doesn’t like loud noises. We were in front of a semi truck last year and they kept pulling their air horn. He didn’t like that — so we’re toward the end of the parade this year.”<br />At that time, the motorcycles were waved on ahead, leaving a quieter firetruck behind her. Patrick raised his snout and sniffed the air, then went back to rooting in the back of the truck. He was looking for a grape — the treat he gets along the parade route till he lands at the end — the VFW hall. <br />“I don’t know where we’ll go next year; they’re moving the VFW to Federal Highway,” Vislocky said. <br />Back when Petunia first marched, the parade ended at Powers Lounge, she said. <br />Powers was Maury Powers, the man credited with starting the parade 43 years ago. He marched with a green-painted pig named Petunia down the avenue on St. Patrick’s Day to attract guests to Powers Lounge at the railway tracks, now the site of the new Buddha Sky Bar. <br />The parade became an annual tradition, and participants wound up at his lounge for the party of free-flowing beer and tall tales, according to Pat Robinson, an original parade participant. <br />“I was friends with Maury. And I had the ‘fortunate’ job of cleaning the carpets in the lounge,” he said. Robinson owns Man of Steam carpet-cleaning business in Delray. <br />Powers died in 1996, only a year after Vislocky’s Petunia began marching. The family closed the lounge, and parade marchers began gathering, as they would today, at the VFW hall on Second Avenue for the after-party.<br />He remembers his “kind and funny” friend every year by marching in a top hat, as Powers did, and trailing his own float: a green, glittery shrine to Powers, whose photo is in the center of the handmade sign towering over all. Robinson’s float signals the end of the parade.<br />Robinson’s trailer was only a few vehicles separated from Patrick near the beach as they lined up.<br />After waiting in line more than an hour, the parade finally moved forward. Vislocky walked along behind the SUV, holding the green leash that served only as a limp pointer to Patrick, now sitting on his haunches in the back. <br />Parade-goers squealed and got out their phones and cameras when they spotted him: “It’s Petunia!” <br />She doesn’t always correct them. “Everyone loved her,” Vislocky said. <br />Patrick duly sniffed and snorted, his ivory tusk making him look more menacing than he is. <br />“He’s a sweetie,” she said. “He’s just not a ham.” <br /><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960334492,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960334492,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="360" alt="7960334492?profile=original" /></a> <em>Patrick Robinson with his two sons, Chris (left) and Dan (right), march in the parade ahead of the portrait of parade founder Maury Powers.</em> <br /></div>Delray Beach: St. Patrick’s parade salutes firefighters, funhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/delray-beach-st-patricks2010-04-01T16:00:00.000Z2010-04-01T16:00:00.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960290272,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">By Kelly Wolfe</span></p>
When in doubt, walk right up to the guy in the kilt. It makes life more interesting. And in this case,<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">it’s the best way to find the guy running things.</span></p>
Capt. John Ficsher of the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Pipe and Drum Band, has spent the better part of a year<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">collaborating with Delray Beach, bringing hundreds of firefighters from around<br />
the world here to march on Atlantic Avenue during city’s the 42nd Annual St.<br />
Patrick’s Day Parade.</span></p>
“It gives people a sense of stability in unstable times,” Fischer said, as dozens of his colleagues shined red fire engines and handed out green beads nearby.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">“It’s important to show unity. We’re all here on one street, on one day.”</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">Fischer, a firefighter 24 years, said Delray Beach honored firefighters at its St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the first time last year. Now, it’s an annual tradition.</span>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">“Absolutely,” Fischer said, when asked if he’ll be back next year. <br /></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960290070,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" /></p>
More than an hour before the official parade kickoff, Atlantic Avenue was a festive sea of green — wigs, dresses, socks, beads, flip-flops, boas. People strode along the avenue with<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">dogs, strollers and emerald balloons. Women wore shamrock-shaped freckles, men<br />
donned oversized green hats.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">John and Barbara Connolly live in the Bronx, but they’ve been coming to the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade for eight years.</span>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">“It’s a nice group of people,” John Connolly said.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">And it’s sunny.</span> <br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">“In New York it’s always snowing,” said Barbara Connolly. <br /></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960290479,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" /></p>
The weather also lured Lt. Peter Halderman, a firefighter from Dublin, Ireland. He spent a gray, rainy<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">day circling the airport in West Palm Beach, the day before. But now that he’s<br />
standing in the sunshine, he’s not disappointed.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">“We were going to go to New York,” said the 29-year veteran. “But then we said ‘Hold on a second, New York’s too cold.’ ”</span>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">He said he’s enjoying the hospitality, and has made a lot of friends. But he isn’t quite sure he’ll remember them once he gets back to Dublin.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">“Ask me tomorrow,” he said. “Today is going to be a long day.” <br /></span><p style="text-align:left;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960290863,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" /></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">Gary Sands, a paramedic on Palm Beach County’s Trauma Hawk air ambulance, had a more altruistic take on the day.</span>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">“To me, it’s giving back,” said Sands. “It’s showing the community we’re there for them.”</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">Joe Rodgers, an antique dealer from Wellington, brought a 1950 fire engine to ride in the parade.</span>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">He likes to take the truck around the state, riding in parades and showing it off.</span></p>
<span style="font-size:11pt;">“It’s not like the new ones,” he said, opening the door and giving a guest a gander inside.</span>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">“The kids get on it, women get behind the wheel,” he said. “Everybody loves a firetruck.”</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960290655,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960290668,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="" /></p>
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