News

By Rich Pollack

    Highland Beach town leaders last month appointed George Kelvin, an active Highland Beach resident and a commission candidate in 2012, to fill the commission seat that opened with incumbent Lou Stern’s death in early February.
    “George is a man who is very low-key, ethical and honorable,” Mayor Bernard Featherman said.
    A regular at commission meetings since running against Stern five years ago, Kelvin, 89, has served the town on the Code Enforcement Board and the Board of Adjustments and Appeals.
    “He’s put his time into this town and knows the town,” Commissioner Carl Feldman said.
    In nominating Kelvin to fill the vacant spot, Vice Mayor Bill Weitz pointed out that Kelvin has said he had no plans to run for office after serving the one year left in Stern’s three-year term.
    An artist who earned an international reputation as a science and medical illustrator, Kelvin came to South Florida almost two decades ago from Long Island, where he worked with magazines such as Scientific American, Fortune, Science Digest and Hospital Practice.
    A veteran who was drafted in 1945 during the tail end of World War II, Kelvin last year created a flag for Highland Beach that recognizes veterans and their contributions to the country as a whole.
    “I felt that as a community, it’s important for us to recognize the sacrifices of veterans every day, not just on holidays,” said Kelvin, who donated his time and expertise to the project.
    Kelvin said he will focus his energy in the next year on “serving the best interests of our community” and keeping the town beautiful.