By Larry Barszewski
Ocean Ridge will have a say after all in a dispute initiated by Manalapan over the sand transfer plant at the Boynton Inlet.
Manalapan is seeking to reduce — or stop — operation of the plant, which takes sand building up north of
ocean ridge (1124)
By Larry Barszewski
After Ocean Ridge spent five years trying to work out a deal for Florida Power & Light to take ownership of street lighting on the town’s portion of East Ocean Avenue, it turns out sea turtles will have the last word.
That came as
Town clerk promoted — Ocean Ridge’s town clerk has been given an added title: assistant town manager. The promotion for Kelly Avery, who has been the town clerk for four years, took effect Oct. 1.
Avery previously worked in the clerk offices in Gulf
Two species set all-time records in Boca Raton
By Steve Plunkett
With the exception of Delray Beach, mama sea turtles this year set records up and down the shoreline in south Palm Beach County.
In Boca Raton, two of the three species that nest along
William Wietsma’s love of architecture means his work is his hobby. The Ocean Ridge resident grew up in South Florida, went to school in Los Angeles, then started his career in Pasadena where he spent years honing his craft designing custom hillside
By Steve Plunkett
ATLANTIS — Rita L. Taylor, a fixture in the town halls of Gulf Stream, Ocean Ridge and Briny Breezes for more than five decades, died in her home on Oct. 28. She was 95.
Ms. Taylor served as the town clerk of Gulf Stream for 32 year
Strong winds and a full moon send water flooding into coastal communities
Massive waves crashed over the Boynton Inlet jetty on Tuesday, Oct. 27 as wind gusts topping 30 mph combined with a full moon to create a shore pounding along coastal Palm Beac
By Larry Barszewski
Ocean Ridge town commissioners have given up their battle against the former owner of a dilapidated Coconut Lane home who racked up code enforcement fines topping $100,000.
Instead of approving a settlement in December 2024 that e
Taxes up; no change in rate — The Ocean Ridge Town Commission voted to hold the town’s tax rate at $5.40 for every $1,000 of taxable value, which is expected to produce an extra $1 million in tax revenue this year because of rising property values.
OCEAN RIDGE — Mauro J. Walker, beloved husband, devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, accomplished engineer, and lifelong problem-solver, died Aug. 28. He was 90.
Born Nov. 21, 1935, to Nancy and Frank Walker in the coal-mining town of Hazl
FORT MYERS —Jon Larsen Shudlick, 84, of Fort Myers, formerly of Ocean Ridge and Rice Lake, Wisconsin, died on Aug. 3, 2025. He was born on Sept. 23, 1940, in Rice Lake, to Arthur and Florence (Larsen) Shudlick.
Mr. Shudlick was baptized into the Chr
By Connor Walter Brickel
Boynton Beach utility customers — including residents of Ocean Ridge — will see a 17% increase in their water bills as the city prepares to meet new regulatory requirements and pay for water infrastructure upgrades.
The City
Summer in South Florida seems to take forever to end.
Kids may be back in school, the autumnal equinox may be just a few weeks away and Halloween pop-up stores may already be open for business, but summer’s muggy, sweltering days still cling to us li
John Pacenti won the Journalist of the Year competition in the 2026 Sunshine State Awards sponsored by the Florida-based Society for Professional Journalism, including for work he did for The Coastal Star.
The award, presented Aug. 29 in Fort Lauderd
By Jane Musgrave
A legal battle Manalapan launched to keep sand from being swept south from its shores has been delayed and it’s likely the long-running dispute will get bigger.
In what is shaping up to become a battle of coastal communities, Ocean R
Police starting salary raised — With Ocean Ridge Police Chief Scott McClure having trouble hiring officers, town commissioners in August agreed to hike the annual salary for new hires to $75,000.
Town Manager Michelle Heiser said the decision had imm
Ocean Ridge and Boynton Beach are exploring the idea of creating an independent water authority to control and operate the city’s drinking water facilities. The separate utility could also include other current and future communities receiving Boynto
VILLAGE OF GOLF — Howard “Chip” Emerson Nestor Wilson, a distinguished, healthy and fit husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, was struck and killed Aug. 9 as he returned to his car after dinner with his beloved wife, Patti, in Pols
Note to readers: This story contains graphic information involving alleged child sexual abuse.
By Larry Barszewski
Mike Caruso, Palm Beach County’s clerk of courts and comptroller — and a former state representative for South County’s island communit
Sand and water pour out of the transfer pipe on the south — Ocean Ridge — side of the Boynton Inlet. BELOW RIGHT: Palm Beach County's sand transfer plant on the north — Manalapan — side of the inlet runs as sand accumulates along the jetty. File phot
