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Bridge tenders have luck of the draw

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 11:40

By Ron Hayes If you think waiting for the drawbridge to go down takes patience, spare a moment to honor all those dedicated men and women who spend eight hours a day waiting to lower it. And raise it again. And lower it again. And know whom to call

Editorial: Tap local brains for municipal savings ideas

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:32

Call me crazy. This past month I’ve been attending the annual budget workshops of our coastal towns, and have (almost) enjoyed the experience. I’ve learned a lot about how municipalities operate and how difficult balancing a budget can be in a year w

Boynton Beach: For Federal Highway, plans frozen in time by economy

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:30

By Thomas R. Collins As you enter Boynton Beach from the north, the alluring Peninsula development greets you — a shiny new collection of townhomes and condos. It’s just about to open its doors to happy new residents.

Peninsula Waterbrook Peninsula

Hypoluxo Island/Manalapan: Tree lovers dig in for better town planting plan

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:30

By Emily J. Minor You’d think planting a tree would be easy. Pick the tree, dig a hole, hook up the garden hose. But Daryl Cheifetz knows better. Cheifetz lives on the southernmost point of Hypoluxo Island in the small enclave of wealth and beauty c

Coastal Star wins 3 honors

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:30

The Coastal Star won two first place awards and one second place from the Florida Press Association in its 2008 Weekly Newspaper Contest. The first place awards were given to the staff for Overall Graphic Design and Newspaper Promotion. Artists Margo

A Coastal Star — Ilona Balfour: Hypoluxo Island

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:25

There’s only a bit of truth to the legend that Ilona Balfour chained herself to a spreading ficus tree to protect it from destruction. “I only threatened to tie myself to that tree,” she says in the lilt of her native South Africa. “I had to sign a

Gulf Stream: New fire services contract boosts tab by 80 percent

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:07

By Margie Plunkett Gulf Stream will pay $286,250 annually for fire rescue services provided by Delray Beach, an 80 percent increase from last year and an amount some argued should have been higher. During a special meeting late in July to approve th

Delray Beach: Bernard leaves commission with vacancy, as he runs for state House

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:05

By C.B. Hanif “District 84 goes all the way out to the Glades, so I have to do a lot of traveling,” said former Delray Beach Commissioner Mackenson Bernard. He’ll be doing a lot more if he wins the Florida House of Representatives seat he is seeking

Lantana Bridge replacement on drawing board

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:02

By Ron Hayes Detour ahead. Designs are currently being drawn to replace the Ocean Avenue bridge in Lantana, probably within the next two or three years. “Sometimes we build a new bridge next to the existing one so traffic can keep flowing, then take

Local governments sue state, opposing new development law

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 10:00

By Nirvi Shah Several government agencies have sued the governor and other state officials over a growth management law they believe is unconstitutional and will foster unbridled growth, with local governments powerless to control it. The Community

Ocean Ridge: Merger with Briny explored

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:58

Town Attorney Ken Spillias will review Ocean Ridge’s options — including re-annexation of Briny Breezes — to guard against the effects of Senate bill 360, development legislation that maximizes density along the east coast. The legislation raises con

Briny Breezes: Water rates up, but effect on residents delayed

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:56

By Margie Plunkett Water rates won’t go up before this fiscal year is out — but that’s only because Briny Breezes absorbed the costs of a steep increase from Boynton Beach. Residents might want to brace themselves for times to come. “We’re trying to

Delray Beach: City expands use of reclaimed water

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:43

By Nirvi Shah While the roads along the Delray Beach coast are torn up, the temporary inconvenience will soon give way to a long-term change in residents' water-use habits. The ripped-up strip of the coast from Atlantic Avenue north to Beach Drive

Boynton Beach: Commission gives first approval to tax rate

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:40

By Linda Haase Although Boynton Beach city commissioners applauded fellow Commissioner Jose Rodriguez’s budget proposal, which would set the tax rate at $6.53 per taxable value, they approved a tentative tax rate of $7.30 per $1,000 of taxable value

Ocean Ridge: Visitor dies in head-on collision

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:38

By Ron Hayes A visitor from Georgia was killed and a Boynton Beach woman received multiple minor injuries when their cars collided in Ocean Ridge early July 18. Luci D. Menegolo, 55, of Kennesaw, Ga., was driving north on Ocean Ridge Boulevard about

Delray Beach: Smart cards coming to beach-area parking

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:36

By Margie Plunkett Don’t like to carry change? Beach-goers in Delray Beach will soon have a new option to pay for parking in several area lots and on A1A: a smart card. The smart card — as well as credit cards and change — can be used in the $148,3

Along the Avenues: Boynton frame shop hangs it up after 28 years

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:30

By Thom Smith A cursory glimpse at Boynton Beach east of U.S. 1 conjures up images of Tombstone, Ariz. — billed in an old TV Western as “the town that refused to die.” Yep, it’s slow in Boynton, but it’s not dead yet. Ginny Foot is shuttering the Ar

Delray Beach: Contest to elicit residents’ revenue ideas for city

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:29

DELRAY BEACH — Delray Beach is taking a unique approach to finding new revenue streams for the city to replace tanking property taxes: a contest. To win a $500 grand prize, $300 second prize or $200 third prize, all you have to do is come up with an

Delray Beach: New housing rules get city’s final approval

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:24

By Margie Plunkett Delray Beach has a new set of rules in place for transient housing, limiting the number of unrelated people who can live in a household in single-family areas as well as the number of times a property can be leased, among other th

A Star is born

Posted by Mary Kate Leming on July 30, 2009 at 9:02

By Jan Norris The only way to beat the stifling summertime heat is to pull up a piece of shade by the pool and act like you’re on vacation. That requires only sunglasses and a cool drink in your hand. Clothing is optional. There are a number of wate

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