The Coastal Star October 2024 Boca

Season Preview

Getting ready for season

It’s that time of year when arts venues prepare for the return of season. Dance students (l-r) Valeria Derkach, Cattleya Guzman, Ipek Veyseloglu, Ella White, Emma Perrotti, Zlata Popovych, Lourdes Simon-Nill and Paloma Franja audition for Boca Ballet Theatre’s 2024 production of The Nutcracker. Auditions were held Sept. 7 at the Boca Ballet Theatre studio and school. A local institution that has been around since 1990, Boca Ballet’s Nutcracker will be presented on Thanksgiving weekend as part of the 2024-25 season. The season will also include the full-length ballet Coppélia in April and a mixed repertory concert called Summer Breezes in August. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

For more on the local arts scene, check out our 18-page Season Preview section inside

Boca Raton

Gunshots kill two, wound a third at A1A hotel; suspect jailed in Georgia within a day

By Larry Barszewski and Jane Musgrave

Boca Raton was on pace to hew to a one-murder-a-year crime statistic this year — that is, until gunshots erupted Sept. 20 in a hotel parking lot on State Road A1A.

Mayor Scott Singer, trying to put the city’s best face on the double murder that took place there, said

the “incident was more shocking because homicide and violence in our city are so rare.”

He praised police and assured residents they were well protected during a city-arranged appearance with Police Chief Michele Miuccio in front of TV cameras and other media three days after the shootings.

“This was an isolated incident,

but the swift response by our Police Department is part of their continued excellence,” Singer said.

How swift? Barely 12 hours passed from when two hotel guests from Oakland Park were shot to death at 365 N. Ocean Blvd. — and a third person wounded — to when the suspect after fleeing 500

Dining Artisan confections tempt from behind the glass at new chocolate shop. Page AT6

As deadline nears, elected officials put wrap on use of COVID relief funding

By Jane Musgrave

With nearly $48 million from the federal government to jump-start the economy from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, municipalities in southern Palm Beach County have upgraded water and sewer lines, built a fire station, armed police and paid frontline workers.

The money from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act — more than the combined annual budgets of six of the area’s 10 smallest municipalities — is running out.

Local governments, including those from South Palm Beach to Boca Raton, have until Dec. 31 to decide how to spend what they have left of the windfall. All of the money, which began flowing in July 2021, must be spent by the end of 2026.

Money that isn’t earmarked or spent would have to be returned to the federal treasury.

While most towns and cities

City Council. Page 20

October 2024

Serving Highland Beach and Coastal Boca Raton

Police at the scene of the shootings, after which the suspect, a Boynton Beach resident, drove 500 miles before his arrest. Larry Barszewski / Coastal Star

A ‘no’ to beach home Boca advisory board votes against plan; now it’s up to

Help us shine a light on our community. Donate online: https://supportfloridajournalism.com/newspaper/the-coastal-star/

If you

love your neighbor, consider yourself lucky

The people we feature in the pages of this newspaper frequently comment on how one of the things they love about living in our coastal communities is the “friendliness” of their neighbors. And sometimes, our reporting shows this neighborliness to be, well, not so much.

Our area is not unique. It happens everywhere.

Sometimes a dispute is about walls and hedges (well, OK, it’s often about walls and hedges). With increasing frequency, battles rage about access to the beach, and occasionally dogs and bicycles are the subjects of discord.

Almost always, disagreements bubble up when politics is involved. You might not notice it in a presidential election year, but at the most basic level of a democracy, all politics is local.

The guidelines and laws enacted by each of our cities and towns provide the framework for a civil society of neighbors. The number of small municipalities strung like pearls along the coast in southern Palm Beach County goes to show how uniquely each place sees itself — illustrating the importance of home rule. But I digress.

W hat often comes back to bite local residents is how campaign tactics used in local elections often tap the playbook of national politics. When cloaks, daggers, subterfuge and personal smears are used to secure a seat on the dais in a small town, discord among residents is bound to ooze out as shifts in focus occur during their daily life.

And as much as we all want to think innocently of our neighbors, it’s wise to learn how they are motivated. Trust but verify. Or to quote Ben Franklin, “Love your neighbor: yet don’t pull down your hedge.”

If you have a chance, invite the curmudgeon down the street to join you at a local meeting. It’s eye opening once you understand why things work the way they do.

Most fences (and hedges) in our coastal municipalities should be easy to mend. All it requires is for residents, elected officials and staff to behave like the neighbors they would like to have living next door.

— Mary Kate Leming, Executive Editor

By Hannah Spence

“In my view of the world, folks who are able to help ought to do all they can to help folks who need the help,” said Scott Lawlor, who, along with his family, has been volunteering with Boca Helping Hands for about eight years after moving to Florida from Connecticut.

The east Boca Raton resident has more than 35 years of experience on subject matters including real estate acquisitions, financing and asset management. Despite being the busy founder and chief executive officer of Waypoint Residential, which develops multi-family properties in the Sunbelt, Lawlor makes it a priority to help others who are less fortunate than himself.

“Volunteering is just something my family has always done,” said Lawlor, 59. “Shortly after I got down here, I found Boca Helping Hands. I thought it was a terrific organization

Send a note to news@ thecoastalstar.com or call 561-337-1553.

with a lot of different ways we could get involved and help.”

Boca Helping Hands, founded in 1998, provides a number of basic services as well as monetary assistance to help people achieve financial independence.

Lawlor assists the nonprofit with actions such as bringing food to people who are homebound or can’t afford groceries, and providing mentoring for the job training program, which helps young people understand business and build their careers.

Lawlor also aids Boca Helping Hands through his company.

have six children: Cassie, 24; Nina, 22; Kaylie, 21; Marian, 20; Scottie, 18; and Bobby, 17.

“My kids go and help out at the facility when they are home on break and such. In addition to the things we do regularly as a family, they do similar stuff around the warehouse like people at my company do,” said Lawlor.

“It seems to me like it is important for Scott to be passing along to his kids whatever lesson he learned that made him such a giving person,” Hazle said when discussing the volunteer work in which Lawlor’s sons and daughters participate. “And the kids seem like they are eating it up. Sometimes you see that kids have been dragged in to do volunteering reluctantly, but where his kids show up, they are fully engaged and seem to be enjoying not only the work but enjoying each other.”

A lthough Lawlor is happy to volunteer, he laments the negative realties of the situation.

“On one Friday afternoon a month, the group goes over and helps unpack things and does stuff around the warehouse,” said Lawlor. “And once a year, we have a charity event — it’s like a bowling event to raise money.”

Lawlor’s compassion and dedication to helping others are things the executive director of Boca Helping Hands, Greg Hazle, admires.

“Although we frequently have corporate groups that volunteer like his team does, it is very unusual for us to have the CEO personally involved even more often as a volunteer as the employees are,” said Hazle. “That’s one of the remarkable aspects of Scott’s experience.”

Lawlor and his wife, Elena,

Correction

“We do the best we can, but I work, my kids go to school,” Lawlor said. “The sad thing is, whatever the amount of work we do, there’s a whole lot more people that need help. It’s not like you do the food drop-off and that takes care of all of Boca Raton. Unfortunately, it takes care of a small fraction of the needs of the whole community. That’s just not enough.”

Boca Helping Hands (bocahelpinghands.org/about) is always looking for volunteers and Lawlor encourages people to get involved.

“At least try it,” he said. “You won’t be disappointed and almost certainly will want to get more involved.” P

The Business Spotlight in the September 2024 edition incorrectly identified the buyer’s representative of a house sale at 360 E. Alexander Palm Road in Boca Raton. The buyer’s representatives were Carmen D’Angelo and Joseph Liguori of Premier Estate Properties.

Scott Lawlor (far right) with (l-r) his wife, Elena, and their children, Marian, Bobby, Kaylie, Cassie, Nina and Scottie. The kids have all volunteered at Boca Helping Hands. Photo provided

Boca Raton

Revised plans for arts center at Mizner Park worry City Council

By Mary Hladky

Plans to build a performing arts complex on city-owned land in Mizner Park hit a roadblock on Sept. 23 when Boca Raton City Council members unanimously delayed a key vote for one month so that city staff can hire a consultant to evaluate the project’s feasibility.

Under a 2022 agreement between the city and The Center for Arts and Innovation, the city must approve revised project plans by Oct. 21. If that deadline is missed, the agreement would be terminated unless the city and TCAI agree to an extension.

Council members balked at approving the new plans after city staffers spelled out concerns they have about some of the changes. But staff members said those issues could be worked out over the next two years before the next deadline — this one for final project approval — and recommended that the council allow the project to go forward.

Those changes, made after TCAI selected the renowned architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop last year to design the project, include demolishing the amphitheater and incorporating its function into a main venue, replacing a

Boca Raton

planned parking garage with underground parking and installing a new type of canopy over a central piazza.

Issues raised by staff included whether the Boca Raton Museum of Art would be adversely affected if the main venue faces west, as now proposed, whether ground conditions allow for the garage to be built underground, and if TCAI should be allowed to build a canopy over an outdoor piazza that provides shade but does not protect from the rain.

Council members had similar concerns and questioned whether they should vote before knowing whether TCAI is meeting its fundraising goals. That report is due this month.

Marc Wigder, who was not elected to office when the council approved the 2022 deal, disagreed with the staff recommendation and proposed hiring a consultant.

City Manager George Brown pushed back, saying city staff had recommended hiring a consultant when the project was first proposed, but the council rejected that.

Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker also objected, saying the council had nixed the idea because of the high cost.

“I do not want to hold up the process to hire a consultant,”

she said. “Staff is comfortable with what has been presented.”

Mayor Scott Singer and Council members Andy Thomson and Fran Nachlas were willing to support Wigder’s proposal even though it was doubtful that a consultant could be hired and provide an analysis in a month.

Brown said that was “unlikely.” Thomson agreed but said a consultant could provide the city with future guidance.

Although the decision stands the chance of imperiling the project, it appeared that both the city and TCAI officials had anticipated some turmoil before the meeting.

Staff presented its report nearly one month before the Oct. 21 deadline, leaving some time for concerns to be addressed. The early report gives both sides time to resolve any issues, TCAI Chair and CEO Andrea Virgin said after the meeting, adding she expected no problems doing so.

“I hear your concerns,” the center’s attorney, Ele Zachariades, told the council. “We are not necessarily opposed to postponement for one month.”

The Renzo Piano design retains the original concepts, which include building flexible performance spaces with no fixed walls so that the various

parts of the facility can be used for any imaginable function. Indoor events can be projected onto outside walls so that patrons need not always buy tickets to see a performance.

TCAI officials say maximum audience sizes in the various venues remain the same.

Nonetheless, there are notable changes.

Chief among them is that the amphitheater will be demolished and the types of events now held there can be accommodated in a new main venue, they say.

Instead of facing south as the original plans showed, the main venue now will face west toward the art museum. Fronting it will be a large piazza.

For amphitheater-type events, the theater walls can be opened up so that patrons can use the covered theater space as well as the piazza.

Originally, TCAI officials said they would build a retractable covering over the piazza that would shield the sun and protect from the rain. But the new type of covering now proposed, called tendidos, would not provide rain protection.

Virgin says the change was made because a hard cover canopy is expensive and would not be needed in most cases because if it rains, the theater

area is available.

Eliminating a building saves land area and is a more efficient use of space because the amphitheater and main venue rarely would be used at the same time, she said.

The team has opted for underground parking instead of a parking garage to free up space and to improve the project’s appearance.

It also has calculated that the original size of some of the buildings was too large and made trims that reduce the project’s footprint by 33% without reducing audience capacity, Virgin said.

The changes allow the team space to create a linear park along the perimeter of the buildings and to plant 150 trees.

The formerly proposed jewel box theater is now known as the flex cube with seating for 200, and an education and innovation building includes flexible working, startup incubator, co-working and educational spaces.

The Belvedere, a small building that can have as many as 100 seats, will jut up into the sky and offer 360-degree views of the city. A restaurant and lounge are part of the project.

The roofs would have hybrid photovoltaic solar collectors to produce all the electricity and hot water the complex needs. P

State’s plan to add bike lanes to Federal downtown faces debate

Barriers to protect cyclists may not be possible, but compromise is

By Mary Hladky

The Florida Department of Transportation plans to add bicycle lanes to a 1.3-mile section of Federal Highway in Boca Raton from Camino Real to Northeast Mizner Boulevard, but at least two City Council members aren’t satisfied.

At issue is that the FDOT is proposing buffered bike lanes, with bike and vehicle lanes separated by a 2-foot striped buffer.

The city’s bike advocates have long sought protective barriers instead of buffers to better safeguard cyclists, and Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker and Council member Fran Nachlas told FDOT officials at a Sept. 9 meeting that they too want barriers.

“A bike lane is not a bike lane if it is not protected. We have been trying to move to that,” Drucker said. “Let’s do it right the first time.”

FDOT officials said they also prefer protected bike lanes. But the relatively narrow width of that section of Federal Highway downtown leaves too little

room to build them without substantially increasing the project’s size and cost.

Some sort of middle ground may be found, said Nathan George, the city’s transportation, mobility and connectivity director.

He said city staffers are looking at options such as thick tubular markers and flexible posts often seen in protected bike lanes.

There’s time to find a

solution. The FDOT will hold a meeting where the public can weigh in during the first quarter of next year. The road’s new design is scheduled for completion in December 2025, with construction beginning in the winter of 2026.

As it stands now, the state has proposed dividing the project area into three sections.

Between Camino Real and Southeast Mizner Boulevard, three vehicle travel lanes

in each direction would be reduced to two to make way for 5-foot bike lanes on both sides of the highway, a wider sidewalk and a landscaped area between the street and sidewalk. Concrete pavers would be placed at intersections.

The section between Southeast Mizner Boulevard and Northeast Second Street would maintain two vehicle lanes in both directions, but

One segment of the 1.3-mile project would reduce the number of traffic lanes from three to two, allowing for more space for bikes and for a wider sidewalk and landscaping. Rendering provided

the center median would be narrowed and the width of one lane in each direction would be reduced by 1 foot to add 4-foot bike lanes.

The section between Northeast Second Street and Northeast Mizner Boulevard also would maintain two vehicle lanes in both directions with no reduction in width. But the center median would be narrowed to allow for 4-foot bike lanes. P

Town giving residents extra help to deal with construction hassles

Phone updates, portable wireless service and golf-cart rides make best of bad situation

By Steve Plunkett

Weekly updates online for the Core district’s 20-month road, water main and drainage project were not enough. Now Gulf Stream has become a concierge, giving almost-daily reports — by phone — to affected residents.

“We started kind of on a weekly basis, but as it turns out even a week is too long,” Town Manager Greg Dunham told

town commissioners on Sept. 13. “So we have meetings over at the public works building at 8 o’clock in the morning with the contractors, myself and (Public Works Director Anthony Beltran), and that is so we can report back to (Town Clerk Renee Basel) what is actually happening on that one day because things change almost on a daily basis.”

Residents are also ferried by golf cart between their homes and Town Hall when they park there to avoid the construction on their streets.

“I know I’ve personally taken some people that were walking and with the golf cart just picked them up,” Dunham said.

The coordination is not

always smooth. Basel alerted Commissioner Joan Orthwein and her neighbors on Palm Way “that certain things were going to be occurring on that day and they didn’t happen,” Dunham said. “So we had residents who had moved their cars including Mrs. Orthwein and there was no need for them to do it.”

Orthwein is the canary in the construction coal mine, making sure fellow commissioners are well aware of the problems Core residents face.

“I just want everyone to realize how bad this is,” she said.

Wright Way and Old School Road were the first streets that contractor Roadway Construction LLC began tearing up in late April. Since then,

Orthwein has missed a delivery of a rug and chairs and had her weekly pool and lawn service crews turned away.

The overall construction project particularly affects “finger” streets that lead off Polo Drive to dead ends at the Intracoastal Waterway. The streets will be closed to traffic for three roughly two-week periods with indefinite waits in between. The first period is for installing new water mains, the second is to install new drainage and the third is laying asphalt.

Basel calls each homeowner to say what to expect.

“I had one guy today; he has a dog walker. He’s not here but he has a dog walker so he needs to get to his house. So he’s going to park here (at Town Hall). I got his dog walker’s name, he’s going to park here, we’re going to take him over to the house so he can walk the dog.”

The town also has obtained portable wireless devices that residents can pick up at Town Hall if their internet line is cut during construction. Each device can provide 5G speeds to up to 32 other devices.

“You’ll be able to take care of homework or business work or watch TV or whatever you need to do,” Police Chief Richard Jones said.

The accommodations for residents pleased Mayor Scott Morgan. “That’s as good as we can do, it seems to me,” he said.

Dunham said construction crews were installing water services and drainage on Polo Drive in mid-September and should be finished with the first

Delray Beach

lift of asphalt on Wright Way and Old School in early October.

“I think they’re about caught up with the time that they lost (waiting for a state permit) because they pulled in three and four crews. So that wasn’t the original plan for them to be working in so many different locations. I think they’re doing a good job,” Dunham said.

Commissioners decided at the meeting to continue to let lawn and pool service and delivery teams operate until 6 p.m. weekdays after the Roadway crews leave, usually around 4 or 4:30, on streets with active construction. The additional services can also be scheduled for Saturdays until the roadwork is completed, again only for affected homes.

“I just want to try to keep everyone as happy as we can. That’s all,” Orthwein said.

Commissioners also authorized buying a $17,604 golf cart, the last big purchase of fiscal year 2024, which ended Sept. 30.

The four-place cart has rear seats that face forward, is American-made and comes with a solid warranty “rather than buying something that was kind of a Chinese knockoff,” said Jones, who researched the purchase.

The cart was a necessary expense, Dunham said.

“We have only two golf carts. One of them probably by the end of this construction period will need to go out in that pile of trash that’s created by the work itself,” he said. P

City turns to eminent domain to build new pumping station

By Steve Plunkett

Delray Beach has started eminent domain proceedings against the neighbors immediately north and south of its Thomas Street stormwater pumping station so workers will have room to take the facility apart, construct an expanded facility and store parts and equipment.

The properties at 142 and 202 Seabreeze Ave. have backyards opening to the Intracoastal Waterway. The city is seeking permanent easements on both parcels. It is also seeking a temporary easement at 142 Seabreeze to move the home’s air conditioning and swimming pool pump equipment out of the work zone.

Two resolutions adopted July 9 state the City Commission finds the easements necessary and authorizes the eminent domain proceedings.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Maxine Cheesman scheduled an Oct. 31 hearing on the city’s lawsuit at the county courthouse in West Palm Beach.

The Thomas Street station is responsible for pumping stormwater for a 50-acre drainage basin that includes Thomas Street, Vista Del Mar Drive and part of Andrews Avenue and Lowry Street, the city says. It calls the station “a vital lifeline for approximately 800 residents.”

Delray Beach proposes giving Terrance Shallenberger Jr., who owns 202 Seabreeze Ave., $111,800 compensation for the easement, down 20% from the $139,750 that the City Commission authorized as its top offer in May.

Ann and Fred Glaize III, owners of 142 Seabreeze Ave., would get $154,200 under the proposal, down 14% from the commission’s May offer of $179,500.

The city and the property owners have been negotiating the easements for some time. Stumbling points were concerns about aesthetics, the noise and how the new pumps may render parts of their properties unusable. P

Manalapan Commission approves contract for new town manager

The Manalapan Town Commission at its Sept. 24 meeting approved the contract for its new town manager, Eric Marmer.

Marmer replaces Linda Stumpf, who retired after serving 14 years in the position. The commission agreed to hire Marmer in October 2023 as assistant town manager, with the plan for him to replace Stumpf when she left.

Before coming to Manalapan, Marmer served as human resources and risk management director in Highland Beach. His new three-year contract calls for a $170,000 annual salary.

When asked about his appointment, Marmer said he believes he is the right person at a pivotal moment for Manalapan, given the significant investment through residential property enhancements and upgrades to the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. He recalls spending holidays in Manalapan.

“It’s especially meaningful to lead a community that I have been coming to since I was a kid,” he said. “As the town evolves, there is a need for fresh, innovative ideas to address future challenges.”

— John Pacenti

Manalapan Mayor John Deese and Vice Mayor Simone Bonutti flank retiring Town Manager Linda Stumpf at her last commission meeting. In back are (l-r) former Mayor Keith Waters, Kevin Stumpf and Bob Kirkland. The commission presented Linda Stumpf with an award, wellwishes and thanks. John Pacenti/The Coastal Star

Retirement celebration

Manalapan Town Hall — Sept. 24

Marmer

Delray Beach City staff is told to weigh in on opioid settlement money

By John Pacenti

The Delray Beach City Commission is wrestling with how to spend $253,000 from a nationwide opioid settlement — and the steady stream of money expected from the settlement in the future.

After directing the city manager in July to form an advisory committee, the commission at a Sept. 10 workshop directed staff to recommend how the money will be allocated.

The committee proposal hasn’t been abandoned. It will presumably make recommendations in the future as the city continues to receive money from the $50 billion settlement.

Mayor Tom Carney said at the Aug. 19 commission meeting he needed more information on how the money could be used and proposed the workshop.

A thorny issue — and one South Florida addiction treatment advocates oppose — is whether municipalities can utilize settlement funds for programs already funded. The money supplanted would go back into the general fund and be used for issues other than addiction.

Vice Mayor Juli Casale has said commissioners should recommend to staff their thoughts on how the money should be spent. She reiterated her position at the workshop.

“Some of this is also about efficiency, and we keep on sitting up here and pushing our responsibilities off to committees when we’re the ultimate decider. It shouldn’t be this complicated,” she said.

Assistant City Manager Jeff Oris told commissioners he could get with city staff to recommend how to spend the money that is on hand.

Simultaneously, he would create the advisory committee, which would include representatives from the police and fire departments and professionals.

Opioid manufacturers and distributors, such as Walgreens, reached the $50 billion settlement in January 2022. Palm Beach County’s portion is $122 million, of which $25 million has been distributed.

Casale said at the August meeting that Delray Beach has received $253,000 so far.

Lissa Franklin, executive director of the Delray Beach Drug Task Force, said she wants the money to be allocated to the Police Department’s C.A.R.E.S. — Community Advocacy Response Education Service — a program where a mental health expert reaches out to addicts on the street, offering resources.

She also said money for a grief counselor to help families navigate the loss of a loved one to addiction is badly needed.

“Whatever they decide needs to benefit not only the people who live along Ocean Boulevard but also the people who live within the Set,” said Franklin, referring to the historically Black community in the heart of Delray Beach.

Maureen Kielian chairs the Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders Advisory Committee for Palm Beach County. She said in June municipalities should allow the county to decide how the settlement money is used.

“It’s best if we put all of our money together to have the best outcomes and the most impactful changes in abating this epidemic,” she said. “Why would Palm Beach Gardens, for instance, want to open an ASU (Addiction Stabilization Unit)? They can’t afford to, whereas we could do it and service these folks.” P

Along the Coast

New flood zone maps will affect insurance and how homeowners can rebuild

By Kathleen Kernicky

Judith Kraft has watched the flooding worsen since she moved to Briny Breezes in 2003.

Now even a heavy rainstorm or king tides require Kraft to move her car down the block and away from the rising water on her street.

“I live by the dip in the road. It’s like a big pool in front of my house,” said Kraft, whose mobile home is about halfway between the ocean and State Road A1A.

Kraft’s home is one of 5,800 Palm Beach County coastal parcels being added to special flood hazard areas in the new flood maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. About 900 parcels will be downgraded from high-risk to low-risk zones when the new maps take effect Dec. 20.

Residents in the high-risk zones (those beginning with letters A or V) who hold a federally backed mortgage are required to purchase flood insurance.

The new maps will also affect more than 16,000 parcels in Palm Beach County — most east of Interstate 95 — where the base flood elevation will increase by one foot to six feet or more.

Those residents will have to elevate their homes if they want to rebuild or undertake major renovations. Under Florida law, the lowest floor of a building must be at least one foot higher than the base flood elevation.

Kraft, a retiree on a fixed income, attended the first of three public meetings held by FEMA in the county in September to get answers. She worries about the higher cost of flood insurance and whether she will be safe in her home. She currently pays $372 per year for flood insurance, a figure she expects to go up. “I’m on a very tight budget,” she said.

While the impact of the new maps and the cost of flood insurance vary by location and specific parcels, FEMA’s message is clear: Every property is in a flood zone, and everyone is at risk.

About 40% of all federal insurance claims occur outside a high-risk area. Just one inch of water inside a house can cause $25,000 in property damage, according to the Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning and Building Department.

“Low risk doesn’t mean no risk,” said Crystal PaulkBuchanan, FEMA risk communications specialist.

“Ultimately, these maps are important for people to get a true understanding of their individual risk and be able to protect their lives and their

Impact of new FEMA maps

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has produced new flood zone maps that will take effect in December. Thousands of coastal Palm Beach County properties will see their Base Floor Elevation (BFE) raised, anywhere from a foot to six feet or higher, meaning new construction will have to be built at a higher elevation on those parcels. The changes in BFE between the last mapping in 2017 and the new maps (labeled 2023) break out the number of parcels by the change in elevation they are facing.

property.

“This is an opportunity to look at these maps before they

become effective and consider getting flood insurance, even if you’re not in a high-risk area.

That is the best way to protect the financial investment of your home. If there is a flooding event, people with insurance recover and get back to normal more quickly.’’

FEMA currently issues 128,737 flood insurance policies in Palm Beach County. Of those, 87,895 fall within highrisk special flood hazard areas.

The cost of flood insurance varies by property and location. An average cost can range from $724 per year for property between Military Trail and El Rio Canal in Boca Raton, to an average of $1,377 per year for Delray Beach property between Dixie Highway and the Atlantic Ocean.

Homeowners’ insurance does not cover storm damage caused by flooding, which is defined as rising water caused by storm surges, overflowing rivers, streams, lakes and other water

sources.

The new flood maps are based on a nine-year FEMA study focusing on coastal zones nationwide. New technology and modeling were used to update old data that dated back to 1979.

“The confidence level and the amount of detail the current maps are depicting is much stronger because we have much better science behind it,” said Kristen Martinenza, FEMA risk analysis branch chief.

Representatives from FEMA as well as Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Briny Breezes, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Hypoluxo, Ocean Ridge and Palm Beach County attended the meeting. Among their biggest concerns: Making sure residents are aware of the new maps and flood zones.

“People need to know if they’re going to be affected,” said Michael Griffin, development services supervisor for the city of Boynton Beach. Those who don’t have insurance and live in high-risk zones should purchase it before the December deadline, when the new building elevation requirements take effect.

“In a nutshell, the flood risk for every resident is changing because all the flood maps are changing,” said Madison Brown, development permit manager for the city of Delray Beach. “Some flood risks are increasing while some risks are decreasing. Everyone potentially could see a change.” P

For more information, visit FEMA.gov. For information about flood insurance, visit floodsmart.gov or call the FEMA Insurance Exchange at 877-3362627. To find your flood zone, visit pbc.gov/pzb and click New FEMA Flood Maps.

Kraft

Briny Breezes Building Official Deborah Nutter and Town Council President Liz Loper talk with Judith Kraft at a public meeting on the maps. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Magnitude of change in Base Flood Elevation (2023 BFE vs. 2017 BFE)

Source: Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning and Building Department

Along the Coast Legislators eye possible fixes to rules on condo reserves, repairs

By Rich Pollack

Condo associations in coastal south Palm Beach County and their residents could soon see a temporary reprieve from costly, state-mandated deadlines if Florida legislators meet before the end of the year and revisit legislation some say was passed too quickly.

Following the lead of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a couple of local state representatives say something must be done soon to ease the burden of legislation that was quickly passed in the wake of the June 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers condo in Surfside.

“We did the best we could under duress and now it’s time to revisit it,” says state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman. “We need to create a new set of guidelines and timelines.”

In addition to addressing the

looming deadlines, GossettSeidman and Rep. Mike Caruso say there might be a limited amount of money available to help condo associations through another round of the My Safe Florida Condo program, which was piloted with $30 million last year, to help with hardening against hurricanes.

They also believe that it might be possible to get Florida’s Division of Condominiums involved in helping association leaders navigate a complicated set of regulations and to help eliminate rampant confusion.

“We took an 80-year-old problem and tried to fix it in a year and a half,” Caruso said. “Now tens of thousands of fixed-income seniors may be at risk of being homeless due to large assessments from condo boards.”

While there has been some

skepticism among leaders in the Republican-dominated legislature that lawmakers could be brought back to Tallahassee before the end of the year, Republicans Gossett-Seidman and Caruso are optimistic.

The two have been discussing the issue all summer with their mostly Republican counterparts whose districts include many condominiums, said GossettSeidman, who represents Highland Beach and Boca Raton.

Perhaps the biggest challenges facing condominium associations stem from two pieces of legislation enacted after the Surfside collapse.

“We might have reached too far in our attempts to safeguard Floridians,” said Caruso, whose district includes South Palm Beach, Lantana and most of Manalapan.

Both pieces of legislation have deadlines at the end of the year.

One requires buildings over three stories that are more than 40 years old to complete milestone inspections that examine structural integrity.

Required repairs from those inspections have proved costly and have led to increased assessments for many buildings already wrestling with astronomical insurance rate increases.

One fix Caruso said he would like to see is a prioritization of repairs so that condos would have more time to fix problems that are not considered urgent.

The other challenging legislative mandate is that condo associations each complete a reserve study by the end of 2024. That study looks at projections of when repairs will need to be done on major items — a roof repair, for example — and how much it will cost.

Associations that don’t already have all the reserve funds to cover those costs will be required to include those items in their 2026 budgets and have at least a portion of that money set aside before the end of that year.

For example, if a condominium roof will need to be replaced in five years at a cost of $1 million, the association will need to have at least $250,000 set aside for the project by the end of 2026 and then collect at least $250,000 a year for the remaining three years until the replacement is needed.

Caruso says that could translate into assessments that crush seniors on fixed incomes, and it needs to be changed.

“The laws have got to be adjusted because people just can’t get the money available in these time frames,” said Emily

Gentile, president of the Beach Condo Association of Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach.

Although the ideas that are surfacing are welcome, Gentile would like to see the state provide low-interest loans to residents and associations to help cover the costs.

“An older building with people who bought into it to retire is going to need money because its residents don’t have money to rebuild the building,” she said.

Low-interest loans from the state are unlikely because of the large amount of money that would be required, which Caruso says the state doesn’t have.

Instead, he is suggesting an increase in the My Safe Florida Condo funding to as much as $500,000 for repairs beyond hardening.

Caruso and Gossett-Seidman say that getting the state Division of Condominiums involved to support condos could help eliminate some of the confusion boards face.

“Right now there’s nowhere for condo boards to go if they have an issue, questions, worries or misunderstandings,” GossettSeidman said. P

RESCUE ACT

Continued from page 1

have used up their allotments, Boynton Beach still has $5.3 million to spend of the $13.6 million it received.

When reviewing previously approved projects, the city’s grants manager discovered that one of the projects — nearly $100,000 to install audiovisual equipment at the Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center — wasn’t eligible under the rules of the federal program.

Worried that other ineligible projects may have slipped through and the city could be in jeopardy of losing its remaining money, grants manager Mirna Crompton combed through city records.

“I just wanted to make sure we go by the books,” she said, adding that no other ineligible projects were found.

After finding another way to pay for the arts center equipment, the city revised its spending plan.

“We definitely burned some midnight oil to make sure that the city didn’t lose those funds,” City Manager Daniel Dugger told commissioners in August, days after federal officials said they wouldn’t penalize the city.

The remaining money is likely to be used for road paving, Dugger said. Other projects are on the table. The final decision will be made by city commissioners.

Like other cities, Boynton Beach used much of the money, roughly $3.6 million, to replace cash it lost when demands for services, particularly police and fire-rescue, soared even as sales and gas taxes, building permit fees and other revenue plummeted because worried people stayed in their homes during the pandemic.

Boynton shares the wealth

Boynton Beach used another $1.6 million for overtime or hazard pay for workers and $295,000 to encourage its employees and others, particularly vulnerable seniors and low-income residents, to get COVID-19 shots by rewarding them with $100 gift cards at city-run vaccination centers.

But, unlike other cities, Boynton Beach also shared the money with others in the community.

It provided $350,000 in grants to small business owners, gave $910,000 to its public schools to boost academic achievement and sent $75,000 to Pathways to Prosperity, a Boynton Beach-based nonprofit that provides services to lowincome children and families.

It also did an affordable housing study and contributed $500,000 to Wells Landing, to cover pandemic-related construction cost increases in the 132-unit workforce housing community on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

“We wanted the residents and the taxpayers to see what the relief funds were used

How towns, cities are spending funds

Here’s what municipalities received from the American Rescue Plan Act and how they’re spending those dollars:

Boca Raton: $12,199,643 — The funding was used for revenue replacement; $9.2 million was put in the general fund for a wide variety of public services, including public safety; $3 million was put in the capital improvement plan to fund public safety government services and maintenance of infrastructure related to government services.

Boynton Beach: $13,647,904 — $8.36 million went to a variety of uses, including grants to small businesses, nonprofits, schools and an affordable housing study; $5.3 million left is expected to be used for road paving.

Briny Breezes: $289,493 — $145,000 toward a new water main, the rest toward a topographical wind survey and a drainage plan.

Delray Beach: $10,956,323 — $10 million was used to provide “essential government services,” namely public safety expenditures. The remaining $956,323 is earmarked for stormwater-related projects.

Gulf Stream: $493,341 — Used in FY 2023 as acrossthe-board replacement of public works and police funds.

Highland Beach: $1,961,342 — $1.5 million spent toward new fire station and apparatus; remaining $461,342 for sewer projects (lift station rehab and sewer lining).

Lantana: $6,301,240 — Uses included street paving, sea wall repairs, purchasing police equipment, and making water and sewer improvements.

Manalapan: $233,398 — Plan is to use money for water plant infrastructure projects, including refurbishing the concentrate line for the reverse osmosis water system.

Ocean Ridge: $979,670 — Money is allocated for infrastructure/water main improvement project on North Ocean Boulevard.

South Palm Beach: $736,255 — All money was used for revenue replacement for government services.

Sources: Florida Division of Emergency Management and individual municipalities

for,” Dugger said of the city’s philosophy.

Boca’s grant ‘not pennies’ Boca Raton and Delray Beach, which, along with

Boynton Beach, are South County’s largest cities and therefore the largest beneficiaries of the relief program, said they used much of the extra cash to cover

revenue that was lost because of the pandemic.

Delray Beach officials said the city used $10 million of its $10.9 million allocation on “essential government services,” namely public safety expenditures. The remaining roughly $956,000 is to be spent on stormwater-related projects, according to a city spokesperson.

Boca Raton City Manager George Brown acknowledged the $12.2 million the city received was substantial. “It is definitely helpful. It is not pennies,” he said.

Boca Raton used the money for “revenue replacement,” said Ileana Olmsted, a spokesperson for the city. The bulk of it, $9.2 million, was put in Boca Raton’s general fund, which is used to pay for services, including public safety, she said. The remaining $3 million was set aside for capital improvements. No specific projects were named.

Lantana, which received $6.3 million, used the money for a variety of projects, according to town records. The town used it to pave streets, repair sea walls and buy equipment, including four vehicles, a drone and less lethal weapons for police, and for water and sewer improvements.

Coastal town priorities

Smaller towns, such as Ocean Ridge, Manalapan and Highland Beach, also allocated money for water and sewer projects.

Ocean Ridge, for instance, is using its nearly $980,000 in relief money to install a new water main on North Ocean Boulevard. Manalapan is using its roughly $230,000 allocation for upgrades in its reverse osmosis water system.

Highland Beach spent about $460,000 on sewer line improvements. But, the bulk of its money, $1.5 million, went toward building a new fire station and for fire-fighting equipment.

South Palm Beach received $736,255 and used it to replace lost revenue.

Gulf Stream received $493,000, which it spent on across-the-board revenue replacement in fiscal year 2023 for public works and the Police Department.

Briny Breezes received almost $290,000. Half was spent toward a new water main, $80,000 for a topographical town wind survey, and finally $65,000 for a conceptual drainage plan.

The money for the smaller municipalities came through the state and was distributed based on population. Larger cities received distributions from the federal government based on population and their percentage of low-income people.

Nationally, $350 billion was sent to state and local governments to help them deal with effects of the pandemic. P

Mary Hladky, John Pacenti, Brian Biggane, Rich Pollack and Steve Plunkett contributed to this story.

Boca Raton

City relies on higher property values to keep tax rate in check

By Mary Hladky

Boca Raton’s tax rate remained almost unchanged for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, marking the 10th year in a row that the rate has remained virtually the same.

The tax rate unanimously approved by the City Council on Sept. 23 was $3.67 per $1,000 of taxable property value.

The owner of a home with a taxable value of $450,000 will pay $1,655 for the city’s portion of the property taxes.

The $155 fire assessment fee for residential properties also is unchanged from last year.

The city has long boasted about its low tax rate, which falls below that of many other Florida cities. For comparison, Delray Beach’s rate is $5.94 per $1,000 of taxable property value, Boynton Beach’s is $7.80 per $1,000 and West Palm Beach’s is $8.19 per $1,000.

The rate is made possible because, at $37.6 billion, Boca Raton has the highest taxable property value of any city in Palm Beach County — more than the total for Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Highland Beach, Gulf Stream, Ocean Ridge and Lantana combined.

Despite the city’s tax rate, property owners will see higher tax bills

because property values increased by 8.5% this year.

Yet most homeowners are shielded from the brunt of higher taxes because state law caps the annual taxable value increase for homesteaded properties at 3%. Nonhomesteaded properties are capped at 10%.

The city would have had to lower its millage rate by 6.9% to $3.42 per $1,000 of taxable value to bring in the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year, except for the taxes on new construction.

Council members also approved a total citywide budget of $785.3 million, up from last year’s $663 million. The general fund portion of the budget, which is supported by property taxes and pays for most day-to-day activities, is $245 million, up by nearly $22 million.

The majority of that, or about $14 million, will go to higher salary, benefits and pension costs. Ten new full-time positions will be added, including a police officer, park ranger, environmental officer, grant specialist and construction project manager.

Elsewhere in the budget, money is set aside for an additional 10 positions, mainly for information technology and water and sewer operations. P

International Coastal Cleanup Spanish River Park, Boca Raton — Sept. 21

This volunteer effort to clean up the marine environment has taken place annually for 39 years and is supported in more than 100 countries.

ABOVE: Members of the Florida Atlantic University track team pick up trash at Spanish River Park as part of a local ICC effort managed by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. LEFT: 4Ocean handed out free bracelets to volunteers and presented this display of what 1 pound of plastic looks like when isolated. It normally charges $24 and up for a bracelet and other environment-related fashion. Each sale helps remove 5 pounds of trash from oceans, rivers and coastlines.

Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Highland Beach Party planners at work for town’s 75th anniversary

By Rich Pollack

With the town’s 75th anniversary coming soon, Highland Beach residents and community leaders are putting together plans for a celebration that will kick off in December with a geared-up Mingle & Jingle event and span several months into the new year.

It was in December 1949, back when Harry Truman was in the White House and the baby boom was in full swing, that a handful of residents got together to incorporate the small beachfront community with a lengthy history that included a Native American community and JapaneseAmerican colonies.

As it celebrates the major

milestone in its evolution, the town will be remembering the past but also looking forward.

“The 75th anniversary is an opportunity to pay homage to the past, the present and the future,” said Jason Chudnofsky, president of the Highland Beach Police and Fire Foundation, a volunteer organization that will be producing anniversary events. “We’ll be paying respect to the people who made this community what it is today, and we’ll give credit to the people in place who are taking it to the next level.”

Throughout it all, Chudnofsky said, the celebration will focus on community and on bringing residents together in recognition of all that makes

Highland Beach “3½ miles of paradise.”

“Togetherness is one of our themes,” he said.

That will be evident during the Mingle & Jingle, an annual event that will be bigger than ever before.

Set for 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5, the event will be held in the St. Lucy Catholic Church parking lot. It will feature food and entertainment, a community vendor fair, and an opportunity for residents to meet one-onone with town leaders and with members of the town’s new fire department, as well as with some of the town’s Police Department team.

The event will have music, free food from food trucks, a laser show, a caricature artist

and a balloon artist, as well as hat and shirt giveaways courtesy of the foundation.

With about 1,500 people expected, the town will be increasing transportation, providing more trollies to bring residents to and from the event. The celebration will also highlight the confluence this year of the first night of Hanukkah on Christmas Day.

Chudnofsky said that giving back is also a key theme of this year’s event. With that in mind, there will be a toy drive in which residents can drop off toys at the fire station.

As part of a months-long

75th anniversary celebration, the Highland Beach Library will be offering an exhibit centered on the town’s history, with displays of old photos and newspaper clips.

The library is still looking for Highland Beach memorabilia to include in the exhibit, which will be up during December.

Library Director Lois Albertson said the library team is looking to include interactive opportunities from which residents can learn more about the town history. It is also looking at hosting concerts and a lecture series celebrating that history. P

Commissioners hold property tax rate steady

Highland Beach commissioners last month gave final approval to a $28 million budget for fiscal year 2025 that includes leaving the town’s tax rate the same as in the previous tax year.

The overall budget, which includes a general fund budget and separate building fund, as well as water and sewer fund budgets, shows a reduction of about $5 million, down from $33 million in the previous tax year’s budget.

The reduction comes, in large part, because the town no longer must account for construction

and startup costs associated with its new Fire Rescue Department, which became operational in May.

The town will maintain a total tax rate of $3.58 per $1,000 of taxable value, including operating and debt service funds, which is the same rate as in the previous two years. The new fiscal year started Oct. 1.

“We are keeping our low tax structure and still getting capital projects done while replenishing reserves,” Town Manager Marshall Labadie said.

— Rich Pollack

miles up the coast was pulled over in his 2017 silver Jaguar by a Georgia sheriff’s deputy and taken into custody.

The scene at 365 Ocean, a self-described boutique extended stay hotel on A1A across from South Beach Park, where a room could be had on Booking.com for as low as $131 a night in September, became a hub of police activity that Friday after the first 911 call came in at 4:53 p.m.

The murders were the first on the city’s barrier island since February 2020. That’s when police say a homeless man was stabbed and strangled to death by his homeless son while the two were spending the night at a since-demolished parking garage at A1A and Palmetto Park Road.

The 365 Ocean deaths were the second and third killings in the city this year, following a murder-suicide earlier in September. There had been only one murder recorded in the city in 2022 and again in 2023.

At 365 Ocean, the initial reports from police point to a purse-snatching gone bad, though police say the people involved may have known each other and there may be more to the story.

“We can’t definitively say they were all friends, but it does appear that they did know each other and it wasn’t random that they were just somebody that was walking by that stepped in,” Miuccio said.

Suspect and victims

As of Oct. 1, De’Vante LaShawn Moss, 30, of Boynton Beach, still sat in the Laurens County jail in Georgia, awaiting extradition on two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm and one count of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm.

The deceased are Christopher Liszak, 49, and Chandler Dill, 32. Police have not released the name or other information about the wounded male, who

was taken to Delray Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, because he is a witness to what happened. He has since been released from the hospital. Moss, Liszak and Dill have criminal histories.

Moss was charged in U.S. District Court in April 2022 with possession of fentanyl. He became a target of an investigation by federal and Palm Beach County law enforcement agents after the overdose death of a 26-year-old Lake Worth Beach woman, who they believed was one of Moss’s customers, court records show.

Moss sold undercover agents two packages of what later tested positive as fentanyl for $1,400. While another purchase was planned, Moss fled, records show. When agents tracked him to a parking lot in West Palm Beach, they searched his car.

They didn’t find any drugs, but did find a 9-millimeter pistol. During an interview with agents, Moss was candid, according to court records.

“Moss told law enforcement he is a drug addict and sells drugs when he is able to get his hands on them,” agents said.

In November 2022, he pleaded guilty to a charge of

distribution of fentanyl and was given two years of probation.

Liszak was a fugitive from the Florida Department of Corrections for failing to show up for a court-ordered drug offender probation program, according to the prison system’s website. A Broward County judge in April issued a warrant for his arrest for violating his 2023 probation on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine.

Liszak served time in state prison. He was sentenced to five years in 2010 after being convicted in Broward County of heroin trafficking, selling opioids and grand theft. He was released in May 2014.

Unlike Moss and Liszak, Dill had not faced drug charges.

In 2021, when she was living in Tamarac, she was twice charged with grand theft auto after police said she stole cars from people pumping gas at service stations. She was found guilty of both charges in 2023 and was sentenced to the 364 days she had already served in the county jail.

Shots fired at hotel

Dill and Liszak had adjoining rooms at 365 Ocean on the day

upper back, Liszak in the chest.

The other man ducked along the passenger side of the Jaguar and started moving away. Moss pointed the gun at him over the roof of the car and shot again; the man fell and attempted to crawl toward the hotel. He stopped at the hedges in front of Liszak’s room and got into a seated position.

Moss ran across the parking lot to him. As the man raised his empty hands over his head, Moss shot him again before fleeing the scene. The man was shot in the buttocks, thigh and scrotum.

ABOVE: Boca Raton police closed A1A to traffic for several hours during their investigation into the shootings. LEFT: In an apparent effort to discourage onlookers, bedsheets were used for a couple of days to try to conceal the hotel name. Photos by Larry Barszewski and Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

of their deaths; Dill had rented Room 101 the day before, while Liszak had checked into Room 102 on Sept. 9, according to the police report.

The following narrative is based on information from police, which they pulled together from their investigation, witness statements, interviews with hotel staff, and surveillance video at the hotel. It begins with Moss and Dill exiting her room.

“It appears they had an argument, and Moss fled the room carrying the victim’s purse,” Miuccio said. “[Dill] ran after him and yelled at him, give her purse back. She argued with him by the silver, four-door Jaguar and tried pulling her purse out of his arms.”

Dill had rushed out of the room wearing only a black tank top, trying to recover her black, Juicy Couture purse. As Moss tried to get into the Jaguar, the unidentified male victim came over to intervene. That’s when Moss got out of the driver’s seat and got something from the backseat, while the man ran to a truck and removed a small bag.

At this point, Liszak also exited his room and came over, apparently to intervene.

“The male victim returned from the truck, opened the passenger side door of the Jaguar, and, after seeing Moss, quickly moved and took cover towards the rear of the vehicle,” Miuccio said.

Moss got out of his car and fired at the man, then turned his 9mm pistol and shot Dill and Liszak at close range. Dill was shot in the neck, forearm and

Investigative work pays off Police made quick progress when they arrived. They matched witness statements with available hotel surveillance video, from which they were able to pull the car’s license tag number. They determined the car was owned by Moss, that he was their suspect, and that he had left the city.

They got a search warrant for his Boynton Beach residence, where his fiancée told police that “at 5:30 p.m. he had returned home, packed a bag, and said he was headed for Jacksonville for work,” Miuccio said.

Police were able to determine Moss was heading to Georgia and notified Georgia State Police. A Laurens County deputy spotted the Jaguar around 5:20 a.m. Sept. 21, conducted a traffic stop and took Moss into custody without incident.

Miuccio, too, called the shootings an isolated incident. “We’re fortunate to be in a city with a low incidence of crime. There’s been a continued decrease in violent crime in the last five years,” she said.

The 2020 murder September’s double homicide has one coincidence with the 2020 murder at the One Ocean Plaza garage at 1 S. Ocean Blvd., which was four blocks from 365 Ocean. The suspects in the two cases, Moss and Jared Noiman, were born one day apart in 1994.

The 2020 case isn’t over yet. Noiman had been ruled incompetent to stand trial in the death of his father, Jay Noiman, 59. That changed in July, when Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Donald Hafele found Jared Noiman, now 30, competent to stand trial. That ruling followed a report by the Florida Department of Children and Families that found him competent and that he no longer met the criteria for involuntary commitment.

A May trial has been scheduled. P

Moss

Boca

Environmental board opposes controversial oceanfront home

City Council will have the final say

By Steve Plunkett

Boca Raton’s Environmental Advisory Board has delivered a strong “no” to plans for a scaledback residence on one of the two remaining vacant parcels in Boca Raton east of State Road A1A.

The board, meeting Sept. 26, voted 4-0 to recommend that the City Council not approve a variance to build on the ocean side of the Coastal Construction Control Line, despite city staff’s recommendation to approve the application.

The vote is not binding on the council, which was scheduled to take up the matter Oct. 8.

Azure Development LLC and its affiliate, 2600 N Ocean LLC, originally proposed a duplex on its property at 2600 N. Ocean Blvd. with four living floors, an uninhabitable basement and a rooftop terrace with pool. It now wants to build a singlefamily home with two living floors, the basement and rooftop terrace with pool. The residence would have 6,931 square feet of air-conditioned space, four bedrooms and a garage. The rooftop would also have a gym room, a summer kitchen and a spa.

The new design has 2,550 square feet of glass facing the Atlantic Ocean, down about 29% from the original plan’s 3,600 square feet.

Rick Newman, chairman of the advisory board, was not swayed.

“It’s still a tall building. I don’t know why they didn’t go for a lower building,” Newman said.

Only four members of the public spoke at the meeting, all opposed to the beachfront home: a lawyer for the Yacht and Racquet Club of Boca Raton, north of the property; Jorge Salinger, president of its condo board; longtime opponent and Yacht and Racquet Club resident Michael Laszlo; and Grant Kelly, a nearby neighbor on Lake Wyman Road.

The Yacht and Racquet Club’s residences are on the west side of A1A, with only a gated dune crossover on the east side. The condo also has a permit to keep vegetation trimmed so as not to block the ocean view.

Tamashbeen Rahman, the city’s chief planner, said her department had included a number of conditions for the developer to meet, including installation of an astronomical clock that will automatically turn off any pool lighting no later than 9 p.m. during sea turtle nesting season, and submitting a tree-pruning plan every two years for city review.

Brandon Schaad, Boca

Raton’s director of development services, said the city’s comprehensive plan, zoning code and zoning map all designate the property for use as residential development.

“We believe at this point, with the mitigation measures that the applicant has incorporated, with the design that they have set forth, and with the robust and extensive conditions that we have placed in the recommended development order, that that constitutes reasonable use,” Schaad said. “It’s up to the board to determine if you agree or not.”

After the meeting, attorney Robert Sweetapple, who represents Delray Beach-based Azure, said he was pleased by the city staff’s recommendation for approval and looked forward to the City Council’s deliberations.

“There’s nothing that the Environmental Advisory Board would ever approve, because they want the beach to remain in its natural state,” he said.

In August, the city and Azure agreed to put two contentious lawsuits behind them and to decide within 90 days whether to allow the home to go up on the beachfront.

The settlement calls for both sides to pause legal activity for at least 90 days or until the City Council makes its decision on the CCCL variance. If the variance is denied, the settlement becomes void and legal action will resume.

The agreement also calls for Azure and Boca Raton to pay their own attorneys’ fees and costs. Sweetapple has said the legal tabs on his side exceed $1 million.

Notable in the settlement language is this: “The City recognizes that 2600 is entitled to construct a single-family home on the Property, subject to satisfying the CCCL variance criteria as set forth in the City’s Code of Ordinances and all other zoning, building and other applicable regulatory requirements.”

In 2020, a panel of Palm Beach County Circuit Court judges ordered a rehearing of Azure’s variance request and disqualified then-Council members Andrea O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte from voting on it based on email messages they sent to constituents and to each other that showed they were not impartial. P

The next edition of The Coastal Star will be delivered the weekend of Nov. 2

South Palm Beach

Council members to take another look at filling vacancy

By Brian Biggane

The South Palm Beach Town Council addressed its lingering vacancy at its September meeting, but it’s likely to be some time before a fifth member is added.

Vice Mayor Monte Berendes said near the end of the meeting that the vacancy — in place already for six months — should be addressed at the October meeting. That suggestion produced another from Mayor Bonnie Fischer: that the town hold a special election rather than rely on the council to make an appointment.

Fischer was not aware that the Town Charter does not allow council members to be chosen by a special election, so the onus still falls on the four current council members to make that decision. The alternative is to leave the seat open until the next regular election, which doesn’t

occur until March 2026, when the current unexpired term is set to end.

Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the situation has become awkward since the terms of council members were extended from two to four years.

The council lost two members in the past year, the first in December when Robert Gottlieb resigned because of health concerns and an unwillingness to release more details of his financial situation, which was part of a new state mandate for all elected municipal officials.

That requirement has since been put on hold statewide due to a court challenge of its constitutionality.

Three candidates were interviewed to replace Gottlieb, and after the council tied 2-2 at its February meeting, Elvadianne Culbertson won the seat on a 3-1 vote in March when Ray McMillan switched

his vote to her.

That prompted former Vice Mayor Bill LeRoy to resign, citing health reasons, leaving the council again with four members. Jennifer Lesh, who had been nominated by LeRoy and garnered the other two votes in the initial runoff, was no longer interested in a seat on the council. A third candidate at the time, Arnelle Ossendryver, withdrew from consideration to care for her ailing mother.

The council agreed unanimously to table a decision on a fifth member indefinitely; Berendes’ raising of the question in September means it will be on the agenda at the council’s October meeting.

“It’s an interesting case because when you only have four members on the council the calculus is different,” Titcomb said. “Two people can block anything, (while) it normally takes three to approve

or disapprove. We have a lot of things coming up, and if they have a 2-2 vote a tie is a fail in the calculus.

“Based on my conversations with the vice mayor, he would rather see us with a full contingent of council members. But to get that they have to follow their own (charter).”

Berendes said he won’t be adamant about filling the vacancy right away.

“Tell me the rules and I can play the game,” he said. “I’m OK with four, but optics would be better if we have five.”

Berendes said he went into the September meeting expecting to have the vacancy filled by the end of the October meeting.

“I didn’t know we had to do it the way it is; I thought we could just put it on the docket and (make the decision) the next month, but I guess not.”

It would take longer than that

to enlist applicants, for example.

Berendes said word around town is that someone has “put their hat in the ring” for the vacancy, though he wouldn’t name names. He said the laidback nature of the town, which has no retail or commercial entities but has been working for years toward building a new Town Hall and community center, has instilled a sense of apathy among residents.

“Everything seems to be working, so there’s no sense screwing up what works,” he said.

As for the decisions coming on the Town Hall project such as hiring contractors and finding an alternate space for town employees when construction gets underway, Berendes said the situation won’t be urgent for some time.

“It’s not going to happen for a while,” he said. “I would hope we break ground in the spring and hopefully they can finish by the next spring. It’s gone on too long, but it’s a small enough building it shouldn’t take a year to build.” P

South Palm Beach News

Budget passed, tax rate set — Helped in great part by a 14.3% increase in property tax revenues, the Town Council passed a $2.412 million budget at its final budget hearing on Sept. 16.

The council has agreed to keep the property tax rate at $2.40 for each $1,000 of taxable value, the same as the one in place for the past year.

The town’s largest expenditure of $1.136 million is for public safety, as reflected by the town’s contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. That represents only a 2% increase over a year ago.

Online permitting — The Building Department reported its new registration module and ability to pay and upload paperwork are up and running after several months of work.

Discussions on new Town Hall — The four members of the Town Council held one-onone talks with representatives of CPZ Architects to exchange information on the Town Hall project. A meeting between the architects and town residents is in the works, but a date and time have not been set.

One-student bus stop — PBSO Sgt. Mark Garrison reported that a bus-stop traffic post has been set up for the one student in town taking a bus to attend public school. One citation was issued in August for failure to stop for a school bus.

— Brian Biggane

By Mary Thurwachter

An interlocal agreement to add sand to the beaches in Palm Beach, South Palm Beach and Lantana this winter may be losing one municipality: Lantana.

It’s all about money.

Lantana may opt out of beach sand project

When the dune restoration was hatched a few years ago, South Palm Beach, which has no public beach, agreed to pay for sand to be placed on Lantana’s beach in exchange for sand truck access via the town’s Dorothy Rissler Lane. A new plan will have dump trucks

Town budget reflects financial health, stability, says manager

By Mary Thurwachter

After two public hearings in September, the Lantana Town Council adopted a $29.5 million total budget with the same tax rate as last year — $3.75 per $1,000 of assessed taxable value.

Property tax revenues are estimated at $6.95 million. That’s an increase of $538,000 from last year and makes up 39.4% of the town’s anticipated revenues. The taxes are used to support the town’s $17.8 million operating budget, which covers the day-to-day costs of government. The town’s total budget also includes its water and sewer fund and stormwater improvement fund.

In presenting the budget, Town Manager Brian Raducci said Lantana “continues to be financially healthy and stable due to a fiscally conservative approach in maintaining its operations.”

The general fund’s reserves are $15.9 million, which is about 96% of the FY 2025 operating budget that took effect Oct. 1 and exceeds the town’s adopted fund balance policy, which includes reserve funds for emergencies, according to Finance Director Stephen Kaplan.

In accordance with priorities set during a council visioning session in April, the town will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain infrastructure, including $250,000 to put hurricane windows on Town Hall.

Residents can expect more twinkling lights around Town Hall this Christmas, thanks to a beautification project that will cost $30,000 for holiday decorations and another $20,000 for lighting to support holiday decorations around Greynolds Circle.

Other beautification efforts include $20,000 for landscaping and trash receptacles throughout town and $20,000 toward benches, landscaping and trash receptacles in parks.

Another priority will involve supporting the library, with $19,000 for books, computers and carpet panels. The library will be adding a full-time community engagement and outreach coordinator and adding 14 hours to a part-time staffer to permit Saturday hours.

Police are due to get new firearms and three SUVs, two new laptops for road patrol and

coming across Lake Worth Beach’s shoreline, south of the pier. As a result, Lantana beach access is no longer needed and because of that, Lantana would need to pay for the sand it would receive.

Lantana Mayor Karen Lythgoe says she doesn’t have an estimate for how much it would cost, but “it would be quite high.” She said the town “has a number of projects in flight this year so that would have to be incorporated into our visioning session in the future.”

money for license plate reading cameras.

Town employees will receive 4% cost-of-living raises and could get merit raises of up to 5% based on annual evaluations.

Lantana’s budget is broken down into three categories, including 67% for personnel, 26% for operating expenses and 7% for capital projects. The town has no debt. P

Town Manager Brian Raducci “is exploring a potential opportunity, but it’s not gone further than that,” she said.

One council member, Lynn “Doc” Moorhouse, shared his thoughts on the change in plans at the Sept. 23 town meeting — and he wasn’t liking it.

“There’s going to be some beach restoration money that

they’re going to be asking us for and it’s not going to be there because they’re wanting us to pay for something that they said was going to be free earlier,” Moorhouse said, “and that’s putting a burden on our town manager.

“I don’t want it to reflect in any bad light that we’re not willing to pay. It was supposed to be free. We were going to work with Palm Beach. We were going to let them use the beach, let them do all their stuff and we were going to get free sand.

“Not happening,” Moorhouse continued. “I don’t believe our town has the money to just go yippie-ki-yay. … I just want the public to know why we aren’t joining the beach project. Well, it was free before and now it’s not. This is stupid stuff. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to like me. But that’s dumb, in my opinion.”

Raducci, in his report for September, didn’t rule out the town’s involvement.

“The Town of Palm Beach is now requesting reimbursement from the Town for sand costs only and is obtaining estimates for sand rates and quantities needed,” he wrote. “Since the sand was originally going to be provided in exchange for Dorothy Rissler access (which is no longer required), they will seek funds from Palm Beach County’s ERM (Environmental Resources Management) for sand placement in the Town.

“We are currently evaluating the need for a new interlocal agreement to proceed if the project is financially feasible for the Town.”

The project is expected to begin this winter and sand would come from a stockpile in Phipps Ocean Park in Palm Beach. P

The fact that 12% of Palm Beach County residents live below the poverty line probably doesn’t come as a shock to most people. But Ocean Ridge resident Rich Mascolo has a statistic that is more of an eye opener.

“There’s an acronym that’s come about called ALICE households, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, which identifies all the people who have a hard time making ends meet,” said Mascolo. That’s 32% of the population.

“These are people that if the car breaks down, they get a rent increase, the spouse loses their job or they have a big medical emergency, they’re in really tough straits,” he says.

One place they may turn for help is the Soup Kitchen, just off Boynton Beach Boulevard west of Florida’s Turnpike.

Mascolo, 70, a retired marketing and communications expert who in years past has been lauded for his work with the YMCA, has more recently turned some of his philanthropic efforts to the Soup Kitchen. The nonprofit is the No. 1 daily distributor of meals and groceries in Palm Beach County and possibly in all of South Florida, according to Mascolo.

“In the last two years since the pandemic, the Soup Kitchen’s demand has grown 40%, from 1,000 hot meals a day to 1,400,” Mascolo said.

Having only six full-time employees means the operation relies on volunteers, but Mascolo said those six employees “could run a master class in volunteerdriven organizations.”

Unlike other charities that have their “guests,” as the Soup Kitchen calls them, line up in cars and do a drive-through pickup, the organization has people park, enter the building and not only pick up meals but also receive a box filled with supplies such as chicken and vegetables to hold them longer.

“It’s remarkable how it works,” Mascolo said.

Donations come from grocery stores such as Publix and restaurants, but also resorts such as the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Feeding South Florida, another nonprofit, helps

MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: Rich Mascolo

make many of the connections.

Mascolo’s career in marketing has helped the Soup Kitchen get the word out as it embarks on its inaugural fundraising drive.

“They’ve punched so far above their weight class in terms of community impact, so we’re trying to sort of take their seat at the big philanthropic table of Palm Beach County,” he said. “Because they are there, and people need to know they are there.”

Mascolo, who has served on the board of the South County YMCA for the past nine years and the board of the Soup Kitchen for seven months, enjoys playing guitar, going to

concerts and taking beach walks with his wife of 16 years, Bebe.

— Brian Biggane

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?

A: My wife, Bebe, and I grew up on Long Island. We were high school sweethearts. I was lucky, growing up there was wonderful: near the water, almost idyllic. Then for college, I went to Penn in West Philadelphia, where I quickly saw that other people’s lives — especially in the inner city — were very different from mine. Where my wife and I grew up was pretty insular; I didn’t

way. And secondly, smarts and background don’t make you a success. Focus and drive do.

Q: How did you choose to make your home in Ocean Ridge?

A: Bebe knew people who lived in the area and we had visited many times. So, when we became empty-nesters in 2013, we were happy to move down and make a life in Ocean Ridge. We still spend our summers with family in New York.

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Ocean Ridge?

A: It runs along A1A, so of course it’s beautiful. But it’s the neighborliness that stands out most to me. That’s great.

Q: What book are you reading now?

A: I’m rereading To Kill a Mockingbird. In addition to being a classic, it’s a parable about the need to protect our community’s most vulnerable. That’s become an important theme for me, especially later in life.

Q: What music do you listen to when you want to relax? When you want to be inspired?

have a lot of exposure to how the less fortunate lived, what people had and most notably didn’t have. I grew up wanting for very little, and there were people living within a few blocks of this university that had very little. It was a shock to me.

Q: What professions have you worked in? What accomplishments are you most proud of?

A: I had a double major in marketing and anthropology at Penn, and obviously took the right career path with marketing and communications. I was a senior executive at a global ad agency, Grey, in New York City, that is one of the largest in the world. I then founded a consulting firm that served prominent Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, General Motors, Coca-Cola. The kind of work I was doing was attractive to the big agencies. I was working directly with the people at what you would call the top of the house: CEOs, CFOs. I later sold that firm to a different global ad conglomerate.

Q: What advice do you have for a young person seeking a career today?

A: One’s first job is likely not a career. But do the best job you can, no matter how mundane, and good things will come your

A: To relax, I usually listen to jazz and to be inspired, it’s classical. But as an aging boomer, I’m also a diehard rock ’n’ roll fan. I’ve even been to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. We planned to spend an hour or so there and we were there several hours. It’s fantastic. As for groups, the usual ones like the Allman Brothers, of course the Beatles, and the Who.

Q: Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?

A: It would have to be my parents. It’s a cliché but true. They were teachers. My mom taught K-6 and my dad was a high school teacher, then superintendent of schools. It’s like the movie My Cousin Vinny. My uncle was a teacher (awarded Teacher of the Year by Bill Clinton) and my aunt was a superstar reading teacher who shaped the New York state curriculum. They wanted to help everyone. I was the black sheep that went into advertising.

Q: If your life story were to be made into a movie, who would play you?

A: Matt Damon. Not the megawatt action hero in The Bourne Identity but the introspective, problem-solving Matt Damon from The Martian

Q: Who/what makes you laugh?

A: I love the New Yorker magazine cartoons, but I’m a total sucker for silly humor, especially if it’s a little edgy. The TV show Modern Family was one of my faves.

Ocean Ridge resident Rich Mascolo has been pouring his efforts into volunteer work at the Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach since his retirement. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Delray Beach

Safety of Crest’s balcony is latest question mark to theater’s availability

By John Pacenti

While art classes are set to start in November at the Crest Theatre, the theater itself remains somewhere between a modest work in progress and the problematic house in the movie The Money Pit

The latest concern is whether its balcony is unsafe.

“We have not done a structural analysis on that balcony to see exactly how sound it is,” Public Works Director Missie Barletto said at the Sept. 16 City Commission meeting. “So we will be doing that.”

Commissioner Tom Markert had asked for an update on the renovation of the theater, which turns 100 next year.

Originally a high school auditorium, the “enchanting” 323-seat venue will eventually provide a boutique-style entertainment experience, the city says. It’s been dark since at least 2021.

“It needs sprucing up. It needs new carpet and paint inside the theater. We need to look at the electrical consoles and the dimmers and the rigging inside the theater,” Barletto said.

One contractor estimated the work would cost $5 million, while another said it would be $3 million, she said.

There will also be costs associated with rigging and the electrical room — the connectivity for the theater, Barletto said. It’s specialized work and getting the rigging company to assess the Crest has taken more time than originally thought.

“There’s one company statewide that does it and there’s a number of historic theaters that are actually under renovation right now,” Barletto said.

A contractor is expected to be in place by May, Barletto said, “at which point we’ll be coming back to you and seeking some funds.”

The city last year budgeted $1.2 million for renovations, primarily to the building’s classrooms and kitchen space.

Delray Beach got into the theater business when former Mayor Shelly Petrolia and then-Commissioners Juli Casale and Shirley Johnson voted to end the lease in 2021 with the nonprofit that ran Old School Square — the theater, the museum, and the outdoor concert venue downtown at Swinton and Atlantic avenues.

Petrolia said Old School Square Center for the Arts had not been forthcoming with its finances.

The decision opened up the San Andreas Fault. There was a lawsuit and countersuit. Commissioners Rob Long and Angela Burns came into office opposing the canceling of the lease.

The commission had decided

to turn over operations to the Downtown Development Authority only to give back control of the theater to city staff.

Old School Square Center for the Arts ended up taking out equipment, lighting and other things that make theaters operate when it left the premises, said Vice Mayor Casale, who voted to oust the nonprofit during her first stint as commissioner.

Mayor Tom Carney has said he wants to monetize the Crest for the city.

In that respect, classrooms in the building for art classes are set to start in November. Photos shown to the commission by Barletto displayed glossy lacquered wood floors and drawing desks — called art horses — ready for students.

The city’s communication department has relocated to

the Crest with Director Gina Carter heading up the creative arts school project by basically doing at least two jobs at present.

Casale said the Windmill Theater Company had inquired about using the Crest to do a Christmas show, “but, obviously, if you don’t think it’s structurally sound, that’s a no.”

“Well, the balcony portion, I don’t know that it is ‘not’ structurally sound, but I also don’t know that it is,” Barletto said. “So we would err on the side of caution for that, for sure.”

The commission remains gung-ho on the Crest. “I just

want to get it finished. So then we all have an opportunity up here to decide what the next step is going to be. And it sounds like you’re on course,” Carney said.

Markert is focusing on the bird in the hand: the art school — which he said got a deal on its furniture.

“I’ve been over there and I’ve seen it and it looks great,” he said.

The home in The Money Pit, by the way, was absolutely stunning when completed, even if it nearly cost Tom Hanks’ character his sanity. P

LETTERS: The Coastal Star welcomes letters to the editor about issues of interest in the community. These are subject to editing and must include your name, address and phone number. Preferred length is 200-500 words. Send email to editor@thecoastalstar.com.

Ocean Ridge

For irate owner wrongly forced to trim hedges, apology doesn’t cut it

By John Pacenti

When the smoke cleared on the Hedge War of 2024, Ocean Ridge apologized to a resident who was forced to unnecessarily cut his beloved hedges. In turn, the resident exposed the erratic nature of how the town enforces its code violations — or whether it even knows its code at all.

“We’ve been talking about a 6-foot hedge code for 20 years, and it turns out it was never put on the books,” said Vice Mayor Steve Coz. “Unbeknownst to the enforcement people and unbeknownst to everybody in town, there is no code.”

Poet Robert Frost once pondered if indeed good fences make good neighbors. But what about the hedge, that South Florida way of keeping prying eyes diverted through the use of ficus, clusia, areca palm or yew pine?

Enter one Jay Wallshein of

119 Marlin Drive.

“How else can I look at it, but that I was targeted? How else can I see it?” said Wallshein, who has been living at a nearby property while he rebuilds his dock for the 6,000-square-foot

his doorstep — not just for the debris but for the height of the hedges.

Wallshein was given seven days to remove the debris and cut his clusia hedges on the sides of his house from 16 feet to 6 feet. That’s a tall order — literally and figuratively — so he contacted Town Hall and asked for a few more days to comply, “so I can do this properly.”

Resistance is futile

He felt it odd that his hedge was too tall considering what he saw towering around other Ocean Ridge homes. He told Town Clerk Kelly Avery as much.

house.

On Aug. 20, a neighbor across the canal on the back of his property complained about what she said was unsightly construction debris. He received a violation notice that was at

“I say, ‘Well, if mine’s over 6 feet, then the whole town is over 6 feet.’ She says, ‘The whole town’s not my problem. The complaint’s against you.’”

Wallshein said he was told to comply by Sept. 11 or face up to a $500 daily fine.

Well, you can’t fight Town Hall and all that. A barge removed the construction debris and he chopped his hedge.

“I planted them when I moved in, I would say, like in 2009 or 2010. I think it took me five years, six years, maybe seven years to get them that tall, to get them to privacy height like everyone else has, right?” said Wallshein, clearly still in mourning.

A Bobcat tractor had to be brought in to remove what was cut down, tearing up his yard and destroying his sprinkler system, he said. Wallshein estimates he spent at least $4,000 to remove the construction debris, $3,000 to remove the clusia cut down — and now he must re-sod and redo his sprinkler system, an expensive endeavor.

Fighting back

In the meantime, he went to work, filing complaints with photographic evidence of any hedge in Ocean Ridge that was over 6 feet tall. He then moved on to public rights-of-way, taking photos of obstructions on town property in front of homes.

Wallshein said town officials told him that code enforcement officers are obligated to cite residents if they see violations.

“How could code enforcement miss all these rocks and stones that people put along their property so that people can’t park on their lawn?” Wallshein asked.

He started filing the complaints. About a dozen were provided to The Coastal Star in response to a public records request, but Wallshein said he found 150 violations.

The complaints certainly got the attention of Mr. Wallshein’s fellow residents — one who went in front of the Town Commission and asked it to suspend the height requirement.

“Ocean Ridge has been hesitant to enforce this ordinance unless a neighbor files a complaint, which pits residents against each other,” Victor Martel said at the commission’s Sept. 9 meeting.

“As a result, many residents are unknowingly in violation of this and other ordinances. This specific ordinance has been on the books for well over 20 years.”

At the time the code was adopted, most of the homes in Ocean Ridge were one story, Martel said. Now many residences are two or more stories. “By selectively enforcing this code the town is stripping individual residents of their right to privacy which we all want to enjoy,” he said.

Martel wanted the commission to use a 2023 state law that allows parties to challenge municipal ordinances and get enforcement suspended while they are under review.

The remains of a hedge that Ocean Ridge ordered Jay Wallshein to trim to 6 feet in response to a complaint. It turns out the town has no such ordinance. Coastal Star staff

Misreading the code

Now the commission took notice of the hedge war and put Town Attorney Christy Goddeau on the case. Goddeau discovered Ocean Ridge never limited the heights of hedges at all — that Wallshein’s hedges were more than legal at 16 feet.

“Our code enforcement, called community standards, is driven by complaints. So when he (Wallshein) submitted the complaints, I told the clerk, ‘Well, start looking them up. We’ll have to go cite those people whose hedges are over,’” Goddeau told The Coastal Star.

Then she started looking into the 64-44(c) and found that though it starts out saying that hedges are regulated — it never gets back to them.

“Where it sets a maximum height, it just has walls and fences,” she said. “So, if you don’t read it closely, you would miss that they took out hedges.”

Goddeau sent Wallshein a Sept. 16 letter, saying that in fact, the town has no code on the heights of hedges — just fences and walls.

Oops.

“Since it appears the hedges violation was issued to you under mistake of fact and in violation of subsection 6444(c), the town has advised me that it apologizes for any inconvenience,” Goddeau wrote.

From Ocean Ridge Code of Ordinances 66-44(c):

The height of a wall, fence or hedge located in the front yard shall be measured on the street side of the wall, fence or hedge from the top of the fence, wall or hedge. The height of walls and fences located in the front yard setback shall not exceed four feet in height. The height of a wall, fence or hedge located in a side or rear yard setback shall be measured on either side of the wall, fence or hedge from the top of the wall, fence or hedge. Walls and fences located in a side or rear yard setback shall not exceed six feet in height from the lowest grade opposite such point of measurement. …

Now Wallshein is contemplating legal action, but it seems more of an afterthought to him. His concerns are about the true victim in this story, the clusia hedges — one of which hid the window of the master bathroom.

“It will still take me three years to get them back up,” he said. “I mean they grow fast but not that fast.” P

Delray Beach

Commission bickers over budget, tax cuts, public comments, reserves

By John Pacenti

Some summer blockbusters deserve repeated viewings. The Delray Beach City Commission is no summer blockbuster.

At their Sept. 16 meeting, commissioners again bickered over the budget and proposed tax cuts before finally approving a “no new taxes” budget and tax rate that will mean savings for many property owners. The acrimony spilled over to other topics, such as allowing a one-minute window for public comments during workshops.

“Democracy is a bitch,” Mayor Tom Carney said when Vice Mayor Juli Casale pressed him on why have public comments at all if speakers are given only one minute each.

“Oh, my goodness, gracious,” Casale responded.

Carney gave a long monologue on the tax cuts. Commissioner Rob Long displayed exasperation. Casale tore into

Briny Breezes

City Manager Terrence Moore on his wishy-washy position on the amount of reserves needed in case the city gets hit with catastrophe, like a hurricane.

They bickered and bickered well into the second half of Monday Night Football

In the end, it was a fait accompli because the budget and tax rate had already been decided before the Aug. 13 workshop, giving residents the no new taxes outcome promised by Carney.

The commission formalized the rollback millage rate on Sept. 16, which, combined with the payment for voterapproved debt, means taxpayers will pay $5.94 for each $1,000 of taxable value to cover city taxes. A homesteaded property with a taxable value of $1 million last year will pay about $352 less this year.

Property values in Delray Beach increased 10.9%, but under state law the values of homesteaded properties are capped at 3% a year. For commercial and

rental property — and second homes — the cap is 10%.

Because of the higher cap for nonhomesteaded properties, a commercial property valued at $1 million last year would see its city tax bill go up, but only about $36.

The commission approved the rollback rate with Carney, Casale and Commissioner Tom Markert voting yes. Long and Commissioner Angela Burns voted no.

The commission also voted 4-1 to approve the $187 million fiscal year 2025 general fund budget, which took effect Oct. 1. Casale was the dissenter as again she objected to the city’s not putting an amount equal to 25% of its operating budget in reserves.

Testy exchanges on the issue of reserves occurred between Carney and Casale — usual allies on other topics — at both the Sept. 3 and Sept. 16 commission meetings. Casale was

November qualifying dates set for March election

By Steve Plunkett

Town officials are looking past the looming presidential election to next March, when voters will decide who will fill Seats 1, 3 and 5 on the Briny Breezes Town Council.

Mayor Ted Gross on Sept. 26 proclaimed March 11, 2025, as the town’s next election date. The qualifying period to become a candidate will be from noon Nov. 12 to noon Nov. 26.

The seats are currently held by Alderman Keith Black, Council President Liz Loper and Alderman Bill Birch.

Also on Sept. 26, the Town Council renewed its lease with

Briny Breezes Inc. for the Town Hall meeting room and offices for five years. The town will pay the corporation $1,742 a month in rent the first year, with the monthly payments increasing by $50 each year in the second through the fifth years.

The town and Briny Breezes Inc. also extended their one-year agreement for the corporation to again pay 70% of the cost of police and fire rescue services rather than the usual 30%. The arrangement lets the town levy a property tax of only $3.75 per $1,000 of taxable value instead of the maximum $10 per $1,000.

That, in turn, will allow the town

possibly to raise taxes to pay back a loan if it decides to go that route to rebuild its sea walls and improve its stormwater system.

The net effect to property owners of having the corporation pay more for public safety so far is a wash, because the corporation raises its assessments to shareholders to make up the difference.

Ocean Ridge provides police patrols to the town, and Boynton Beach handles fire rescue duties.

“You guys have been living healthy or nobody’s here, because (in July) we got no medical calls and we only had two in August,” Police Chief Scott McClure said while making his monthly report. P

frustrated that somehow Moore and the mayor had selective amnesia when it came to a policy set in December 2022 that the city would have the 25% threshold.

“It is disappointing that there was a policy direction at a meeting in 2022 and somehow that did not get memorialized in writing,” Casale said.

Casale also wrote a Sept. 20 letter to her fellow commissioners, reminding them that reserves are designed to help the city run in case of a hurricane or other emergency. The reserves are also crucial to its bond rating, she wrote.

In what was her latest broadside against Moore, Casale said commissioners at the December 2022 meeting directed the city manager on a 25% minimum reserves policy.

“What is unclear is why City Manager Moore failed to perform his duty,” Casale wrote. P

Briny Breezes News

New beach lighting rules — The Town Council on Sept. 26 approved amendments updating its ordinance on sea turtles and beach bonfires after discussing the matter at three monthly meetings and a workshop and a “second first reading” of the changes in August.

The amended code allows amber, orange or red lights, which sea turtles cannot see, to be visible from the beach instead of insisting only that lights be shielded or aimed away from the sand.

The dates of sea turtle nesting season were corrected to say March 1 to Oct. 31, and fires on the beach are prohibited during nesting season and require a town permit at other times of the year.

— Steve Plunkett

Ocean

Ridge

Town

passes $13.5 million budget, after commission fixes $45,000 mistake

By John Pacenti

A budget resolution put in front of the Ocean Ridge Town Commission by the town manager on Sept. 20 failed to deduct cuts made by elected officials at the previous meeting earlier in the month.

It was Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy who discovered the error before the commission approved the correct budget of $13,506,409.

The resolution put forth by Town Manager Lynne Ladner had the budget at $13,551,484 — a difference of $45,075.

But the commission adjusted that figure at the Sept. 9 budget meeting, making cuts by eliminating a part-time front desk position in the Building & Zoning Department and decreasing the money allocated for outside counsel.

Cassidy noticed the figure didn’t align with the spreadsheets in the agenda packet. Ladner, who was not physically

Helene’s impact along coast Delray Beach — Sept. 26

at the Sept. 20 meeting, was contacted by text by Town Attorney Christy Goddeau and Ladner said indeed the amount on the budget resolution was wrong.

“You’re welcome. We just saved $45,000,” Cassidy quipped.

Ladner, contacted later by The Coastal Star, said she didn’t review the resolutions the clerk loaded into the packet that went to commissioners. The clerk had carried over the numbers from the tentative budget resolution used at an earlier public hearing in September, Ladner said, while the commission made two changes at that meeting that needed to be reflected in the final resolution.

Commissioner Ainar Aijala Jr., who was attending the meeting telephonically, was livid.

“I don’t understand why these numbers keep, you know, moving around like that,” Aijala said. “This is the budget that our town manager sent out to us and then the very same resolution. It’s

embarrassing.”

At the Aug. 5 commission meeting, it was Cassidy who was livid. She said Ladner kept using net values of property rather than gross values as the state requires to determine property taxes to be collected. The commission last December had to have a special meeting to approve last year’s budget and tax rate for a second time because of the same error. It did end up leading to $58,738 more in tax revenue.

At the Sept. 20 meeting, Cassidy said that the net taxable value again was used in the narrative to the commission on revenues. Cassidy said she had Ladner correct the figures before the meeting.

“She reverted to using that net taxable value number. I don’t know why,” Cassidy said.

In a separate resolution on Sept. 20, Ocean Ridge commissioners voted to keep the same tax rate as the town had the year before, at $5.40 per $1,000 of

taxable value.

Still, taxes will go up a little for homesteaded properties because property values in the town increased 10.3%.

The average home in Ocean Ridge, according to Zillow.com, is worth $1.5 million.

So for a homesteaded property that was worth $1.5 million last year, Ocean Ridge property taxes would increase by $243. Under state law, the taxable value of a homesteaded property used for a primary residence can increase only 3%.

This is not the case for commercial real estate, second homes or rental property, where the cap is 10%.

So for a non-homesteaded property worth $1.5 million last year, the tax increase will be $810.

This fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, the town will hire a lobbyist to help secure grants, and it will continue to upgrade valves on the town’s water pipes, among other capital improvements. P

and John Catapane as they vacation from Long Island at Berkshire by the Sea. The video was for friends in New York, amid severe beach erosion and pelting wind and rain from the passing storm. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Boca Raton

Woman sentenced in fatal A1A hit-and-run of federal judge

By Mary Hladky

A 26-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to five charges stemming from a 2021 fatal hit-and-run crash along North Ocean Boulevard in Boca Raton that claimed the life of a New York federal judge.

Nastasia Snape was sentenced on Sept. 26 to four years in state prison followed by 26 years of probation by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Caroline Shepherd for leaving the scene of a crash causing death, vehicular homicide, DUI causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash causing injury and leaving the

scene of an accident causing damage, court records state.

Snape, who lived in North Lauderdale at the time, was driving northbound on State Road A1A in a red Honda when she crossed the southbound lane and continued onto the sidewalk near the Spanish River Boulevard intersection, striking 75-year-old Sandra Feuerstein, according to a Boca Raton Police Department arrest report.

Feuerstein, who was nominated to the federal bench in 2003 by President George W. Bush and served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, later died at Delray Medical Center.

Snape drove off at high speed, and hit a 6-year-old boy as he was crossing Ocean Boulevard in the crosswalk at Spanish River Boulevard. The boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was released from Delray Medical Center, Boca Raton police said.

Snape’s vehicle crashed at the intersection of Southeast 10th Street and northbound Federal Highway in Delray Beach.

A Delray Beach police officer at the scene said Snape at first appeared to be unconscious, but then began to convulse. Once inside an ambulance, she screamed and fought with medics, stating

she was “Harry Potter.” Snape’s last name is the same as Severus Snape, a prominent character in the Harry Potter books.

Among her possessions were containers labeled “THC Cannabis” and a synthetic drug called “T salts,” which the arrest report stated is known to cause excited delirium. As a condition of probation, Snape must make a $6,000 donation within the first two years of probation to the Feuerstein scholarship fund at the Cardozo School of Law, and a $500 donation each month to the fund beginning in the third year of probation and ending when probation is completed. Feuerstein was a graduate of

Yeshiva University’s Cardozo law school.

Snape also must attend DUI school and have a substance abuse evaluation, with successful completion of any recommended treatment.

News of Feuerstein’s death deeply saddened members of New York’s legal community.

“Judge Feuerstein was a treasured member of our Eastern District bench,” District Court Executive Eugene Corcoran said in a statement at the time. “Her eccentric style and warm personality lit up the courtroom. She will be missed by her colleagues and litigants alike.” P

Aside from scattered power outages, downed tree limbs and beach erosion, south Palm Beach County survived Hurricane Helene with minimal impact. ABOVE: (l-r) Donna Johnson makes a mock Weather Channel video of her brothers Eddie Catapane

Boynton Beach

City faces fine for 2023 Intracoastal sewage spill

By Jane Musgrave

State environmental regulators want Boynton Beach utilities to pay a $182,000 fine for a July 2023 sewer line break that caused 22 million gallons of sewage to spew into the Intracoastal Waterway.

The proposed consent order, which is to be discussed by city commissioners on Oct. 15, would end the investigation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection into lapses that caused the six-day spill. It fouled the waterway, caused some businesses to close and spurred no-swimming advisories during the busy Independence Day holiday.

In the proposed order, state regulators said the utility, and ultimately its customers, could avoid the fine if it instead chose to do a project that would benefit the environment.

The so-called “in-kind penalty projects” would have to cost at least as much as the proposed fine. But, some types of projects would have to cost at least 1½ times as much as the proposed fine, or $273,000. Whether the city pays the fine or does an in-kind project, it also must pay $1,000 to cover the state’s investigative costs.

The fine is on top of the $1.6 million the city said it spent cleaning up the spill.

Utilities Director Poonam Kalkat declined to say what recommendations she would make to the commission.

“We have the option of picking which way we want to go,” she said. “All of the projects are on the table. I can’t say what the commission will do.”

During a meeting with regulators in May, Kalkat suggested various projects, including upgrading air conditioning units in city buildings, planting trees along the waterway to create a living shoreline, or restoring coral reefs, according to minutes from the meeting.

She also suggested some system improvements, such as installing an advanced leak detection system, lining pipes in some parts of the city, or replacing valves in lift stations.

Regulators said they needed more information before approving the living shoreline project and others designed to improve water quality, enhance marine habitat or reduce the city’s carbon footprint. They also cautioned that the projects can’t duplicate those the utility is being required to do under the proposed order.

Regulators didn’t respond to an email, asking which projects, if any, they have signed off on.

In addition to the penalty, under the order the city would have to continue to provide the agency proof that it is taking steps to reduce the chance for sewage spills and has taken steps so it will respond more quickly if one occurs.

The utility would also have

to submit a plan to improve lift stations and another one describing how it will maintain or improve the decades-old system.

The utility would have to report its progress to the state every six months. Failure to do so would result in $1,000-a-day fines. If any discharges occur, the city would agree to pay up to $15,000 for each day the spill went unchecked.

During the May meeting, city officials balked at regulators’ claims that they didn’t quickly begin critical water testing at the spill site at the end of Boynton Beach Boulevard east of Federal Highway.

“For sampling, it didn’t start Day 1 because the spill was still leaking,” said Kathryn Rossmell, an attorney at the West Palm Beach law firm Lewis, Longman & Walker, representing the utility. “Once the leak stopped the sampling started.”

Bridjette Bucell, an environmental manager at the state agency, said that wasn’t an excuse.

“Sampling is required once (the) spill is discovered so we know how far out the spill was impacting,” she said, according to minutes of the meeting.

Paul Polito, another Lewis, Longman & Walker attorney, said the city did everything it could to stop the leak and alert the public.

“On Day 1 they checked the outfall, notified citizens, added buoys, had boats out collecting solids, were contacting emergency vendors to get parts to fix on the same day, and posted signage,” he said, according to the minutes. “They took other actions the same day

to prevent this from happening again.”

In a report to the commission in December, Kalkat described what she called her staff’s Herculean efforts to stop the leak and repair the lines after the spill was discovered on July 3, 2023.

The breach occurred when an estimated 50-year-old pipe failed. The pipe ran through a concrete box that was designed by the Florida Department of Transportation for stormwater drainage. The so-called conflict box regularly filled with water, including corrosive saltwater, weakening the pipe, Kalkat said.

By city rules, it should have been in a casing to protect it, but it wasn’t, she said. Kalkat said divers spent hours, battling unusually high tides in the cramped box, to secure the damaged pipe with a clamp.

“After trying for over 10 hours the divers were unsuccessful as the back pressure in the pipe, and the tidal water, did not allow the repair clamp saddle to be tightened completely,” she told commissioners.

To reduce back pressure, crews then installed a 20inch line stop downstream of the break. By alleviating the pressure, it was hoped that divers, working at low tide, could secure the clamp. Again, their efforts failed.

The leak, which came as the city was preparing to advertise for bids to replace the line, came at a particularly bad time, Kalkat said.

With people on vacation for the July 4 holiday, the city scrambled to find parts and help from other municipalities, she

Boynton Beach News

Property taxes, fire assessment on the rise — Boynton Beach city commissioners on Sept. 23 unanimously approved a property tax rate of $7.80 per $1,000 of taxable value to support the city’s $130.3 million general fund budget.

That budget will pay for the city’s day-to-day government operations in fiscal year 2025, which began Oct. 1. The city’s overall budget, which also includes water and sewer, solid waste and capital improvement funds, is $327.8 million.

The general fund budget is 9.5% — $11.3 million — more than last year.

While the tax rate dropped less than 1% from last year, homeowners will still be paying more because property values rose 8.7% in the city this year.

The commission also increased the annual fire assessment flat-fee to $145, a $25 jump from last year. The vote was 3-2, with Commissioners Angela Cruz and Thomas Turkin opposed to the increase.

Oyer Park protected from development — Commissioners passed a restrictive covenant for Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park on Oct. 1, which would prohibit any residential, hotel or restaurant uses there. Approved uses at the park include commercial and recreational fishing, public safety uses, and the sale of bait and prepackaged snacks.

Regulating recreational marijuana (quickly) — With the potential legalization of recreational marijuana on the state ballot in November, commissioners are looking at placing limitations on where it can be sold if the constitutional amendment passes. The city would have to pass any restrictions before the amendment — if approved — could take effect in January, City Attorney Shawna Lamb said.

— Larry Barszewski

said.

Ultimately, the spill was stopped when a 900-foot above-ground bypass hose was successfully connected to the damaged pipe.

She said the spill was stopped in three days. State regulators said raw sewage continued to flow for six days. The records don’t offer a reason for the disagreement.

On July 20, two weeks after the breach, the Florida Health Department announced that fecal-bacteria testing of the Intracoastal Waterway showed that the water was again safe and the public could “resume water-related activities.”

The announcement was good news for nearby businesses, particularly those at the marina.

At the time, Fernando Melo, who works for Boynton Beach Boat rentals, said the business was shuttered for three days. “The water was not clean and it

didn’t smell good, so we didn’t want to expose our customers,” he said.

By mid-September, a new pipe had been installed — this one outside the conflict box, Kalkat said.

“It was a perfect storm,” she said. She praised city workers, contractors, state agencies and nearby municipalities for helping the city with the repairs and cleanup.

Since the spill, the city has thoroughly reviewed the system and updated its operational plans for dealing with a breach.

There is only one other pipe in a conflict box. It is covered in casing, she said.

“Still,” Kalkat said, “we’re going to be keeping a close eye on it.”

Ditto other parts of the system. “We’re going to keep checking and preempt anything like this that can happen,” she said. P

Along the Coast Route to beach becomes path of much resistance in Ocean Ridge

By John Pacenti

Nothing turns neighbor against neighbor in Ocean Ridge like beach access. It’s Florida’s modern take on the Hatfields and McCoys.

Recently, Turtle Beach condo owners battled Tropical Drive residents with slurs on social media and the tearing down of signs. There was even an arrest for criminal mischief.

Now, it’s the dispute over a 100-yard elbow-shaped path at the end of Fayette Drive that abuts the Colonial Ridge condominium complex and ends at Old Ocean Boulevard. It’s residents of Fayette Drive versus the residents across State Road A1A at Crown Colony and the Ocean Ridge Yacht Club.

“We just want peace. We want to be left alone. We want to keep our walk private,” said Fayette resident Sarah Steies, whose house is at the end of the road and adjacent to the path.

She said three lawyers hired by the town and two attorneys in private practice have found the bypass is exclusive to Fayette Drive homeowners. Residents Steies, Melanie Rodriguez and Elizabeth Hamilton have been the voice for the neighborhood in the dispute.

Britt Flanagan, a former Yacht Club board member, said the women have made the path an issue only recently.

“There is something else called preexisting use and since the Yacht Club opened in 1987 residents of that Yacht Club have used that path,” she said. “The history of the path is that for all these years everyone has co-existed amicably.”

The Yacht Club and Crown Colony reached out to Town Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy for help in April, complaining about the installation of a gate on the walkway — even though no such gate existed. There is a new gate with a lock to Fayette Drive’s deck; that lock was recently vandalized with glue.

Cassidy said these disputes are unseemly for Ocean Ridge but acknowledged they are commonplace in coastal Florida when it comes to beach rights. “We went through this with Tropical Drive and Turtle Beach,” she said. “There’s this infighting with residents. It’s neighbor against neighbor.”

Vice Mayor Steve Coz sides with the residents of the Yacht Club and Crown Colony. “They have 40 years of customary use, right? And any judge on the planet will grant them that permission and that access,” he said.

Fayette residents said commissioners ignored their concerns when approving a crosswalk installed in 2021 just south of the street’s entrance on A1A that they say funnels vehicular, e-bike and even more foot traffic onto their dead-end street.

“Our cars have been hit six times,” said Steies, who has watched vehicles get caught like flies in honey trying to maneuver back onto A1A.

Steies and Rodriguez said commissioners are supporting their friends at Crown Colony and the Yacht Club in saying the walk is open to the public. Rodriguez said the commission has ignored Fayette residents’ concerns about safety issues since 2018.

But when elections are won by

a few hundred votes, the condos are an important bloc, said former Commissioner Terry Brown. “Crown Colony has a lot of votes. If they support you they can basically call an election.”

Brown said the commission inappropriately used taxpayer dollars to pay for the crosswalk to cater to Crown Colony and the Yacht Club, directing people to private property. “They were told by their lawyers and other people that they hired that the walk was private and not open to the public and they did it anyway,” he said.

Steies said the two condos provide something else to commissioners that 14 homes on one road cannot — business opportunities. She noted that Cassidy is a real estate agent, as is Coz’s wife.

Documented evidence

Steies and Rodriguez sit at the kitchen table in Steies’ home. Steies’ mother had this home built in 1968 when Crown Colony was just converting from a coop and the Yacht Club was some nice Intracoastal Waterway property.

Fanned out around them are reams of documents stretching back years, showing legally the walk is private.

Steies holds uncashed checks in nominal amounts from Yacht Club residents like she is playing the card game Go Fish, saying the condo community aimed to claim ownership of the deck by contributing to recent maintenance.

Flanagan said when interviewed she thought her condo complex had contributed to recent renovations.

Recently, the three Fayette residents

hired renowned land-use attorney Alan Ciklin, who reached back to 1972 in finding a dedication on the plat for the neighborhood that makes the path exclusive for Fayette Drive residents.

Following the path across Old Ocean Boulevard, there are two decks, one dedicated to homeowners on Fayette, the other leased to Crown Colony residents.

“The ‘Walk’ is not necessary for Crown Colony to access its leased property. Crown Colony can access the leased property via other means,” Ciklin wrote on Sept. 10 to an attorney representing the condominium complex.

Beachway Drive, a couple of blocks north of Fayette and directly across from Woolbright Road, is the public access point. Steies noted Coz lives on Beachway and “is very happy to divert traffic to us and that is probably why he pushed for the crosswalk when he was mayor.”

The issue really boiled over during the Aug. 5 commission meeting.

“There are two individuals in neighboring communities who have shared untrue stories about people in my neighborhood,” Rodriguez said then. “The stories are slanderous, attack our character and simply not true.”

Rodriguez said, for instance, she has never chased anyone off the beach.

Cassidy approached Steies and Rodriguez after the meeting, but there was no detente. Cassidy told The Coastal Star that she was trying to respond to constituents’ needs by making access to the walkway a priority.

“I seem to be a bit of a scapegoat on this for them,” she said. P

Business Spotlight

For the longest time: Billy Joel may have buyer for Manalapan home

Piano Man Billy Joel may finally sell his Manalapan mansion at 1110 S. Ocean. Listed by Christian Angle of Christian Angle Real Estate, it went pending in late August in perhaps the last stanza of a long ballad. Just this year Joel had relisted the mansion in January for $54.9 million, and then reduced its price in March to $49.9 million.

Angle declined to comment.

Jack Elkins, an agent with William Raveis, recounts the mansion’s history up to the time when he represented its current owners’ LLC when they purchased the property in 2015 for $22,109,100.

“It was sold fully furnished, turnkey,” Elkins said.

“Its original attraction: It had been part of the Vanderbilt estate, and it had the Vanderbilt sea wall, which was a nice touch.

“The original house, designed by Maurice Fatio, was built by Harold Vanderbilt. When owned by Veronica Hearst, she sold off 150 feet of the property — which was the rose garden, the primary bedroom suite and the tennis court — to Robert Fessler. He built the house that is there” today in 2010.

From there, Texas billionaire Donald Adams bought it from the developer Fessler’s LLC for $15 million in 2011, Elkins recalled.

Returning to the mansion’s current owners, “they put it back on the market in July 2018; they listed it for $31.9 million,” Elkins said.

Since then, it was relisted in November 2022 for $64.9 million. As noted in The Coastal Star ’s February 2024 issue, it was relisted for $54.9 million, and then underwent further price reductions before finally striking just the right note and attracting its potential buyer’s attention.

The buyer and price should be revealed in public records once the sale closes, if it does.

“Ocean-to-Intracoastal properties with dockage have always been appealing,” Elkins said.

The current, 13,348-squarefoot estate sits on 1.6 acres with about 150 feet of frontage on the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.

The compound includes a guest house and staff house. The main house has nine bedrooms, and details include a theater room, a pub room with a bar, paneled library, 12-pluscar garage, and wine cellar with a wet bar and tasting table.

Reportedly, Joel and his family have upgraded to a waterfront home at 5001 Egret Point Circle, in the Sanctuary neighborhood of Boca Raton.

Alan B. Miller, founder, executive chairman and former CEO of Universal Health Services, and his wife, Jill, sold their 7,167-square-

foot oceanfront residence at 3 Ocean Lane, Manalapan, for $18.25 million. The Millers bought the property in 1992 for $2.25 million.

Corinne Anna Buckley of Beverly Hills, California, is the new owner. With her husband, Fred, Corinne Buckley leads ProstaGenix, a maker of prostate health supplements.

Antonio and Pascal Liguori of the Pascal Liguori Group at Premier Estate Properties represented the sellers in the deal. The buyers were represented by Nicholas Gonzalez and Matthew Moser, agents with Serhant.

Other high-end sales include two properties in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.

Leandro Rizzuto Jr. purchased a six-bedroom, 8,975-square-foot waterfront estate at 169 W. Key Palm Road in the country club for $18.5 million in August. The sellers, Donald R. Jenkins

and Kelley Jenkins of Aspen, Colorado, purchased the property for $14.975 million in 2021. Joyce Schneider of Castles by the Beach Realty represented Rizzuto, while the sellers were represented by Senada Adžem and Dustin Nero of Douglas Elliman.

On the same day Rizzuto bought the home at 169 W. Key Palm Road, he sold a home at 2391 Areca Palm Road, Boca Raton. Nicola Verses bought that one for $10 million. Rizzuto had purchased that property in November 2021 for $7 million. He had it listed with Schneider as well.

R izzuto also owns a residence at 1900 Royal Palm Way, Boca Raton, which he has homesteaded. He purchased that home for $14 million in 2019.

Rizzuto is the son of the late Leandro Rizzuto Sr., who founded hair care products company Conair and later bought the culinary product companies Cuisinart and

Waring.

Alina Residences’ sales gallery has moved to the newly completed Alina 210, residence 504, at 210 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. It was previously located in Alina 200, the project’s phase-one building. To schedule appointments, email sales@alinabocaraton.com. Douglas Elliman Development Marketing is the exclusive sales team.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County ReStore, at 272 S. Dixie Highway, Boca Raton, closes mid-to-late October, as the building owners move ahead with plans to demolish and redevelop the site. The store is searching for a new Boca Raton location.

Shoppers are encouraged to check out its 30% closing sale, to continue donating, and to shop at other Palm Beach County ReStore thrift and donation centers, which include

the one at 1900 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. Sales of donated items help Habitat for Humanity partner with families to build and repair safe and affordable homes in their communities.

Focusing on an increased collaboration between its profit and nonprofit members, the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce has created an annual month of events in October called Do Good Delray. The chamber’s goal is to bring members together to improve awareness and engagement and to increase funding for the nonprofits’ philanthropic efforts.

The Boynton Beach Online Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a school supply drop-off at Poinciana Elementary School in Boynton Beach.

“This is the first year that the chamber collected and dropped off school supplies to one of the schools in Boynton Beach,” said Roz Kodish, owner of Everything Logo. “The chamber is an integral part of the Boynton Beach community, and part of our mission is to give back to our community. We look forward to continuing this tradition in years to come.”

The Delray Beach Housing Authority, the Delray Housing Group, AffordableHousing. com, iThink Financial, and Eat Better, Live Better conducted their annual backpack giveaway. Six hundred children’s backpacks with supplies were distributed in July.

Send business news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@ gmail.com.

Billy Joel has owned the estate at 1110 S. Ocean since 2015 and has listed it for sale several times, with the current asking price of around $50 million. Photo provided

Season Preview

Philanthropy Notes

From new leaders to new digs, lots going on at Roots and Wings

Roots and Wings, a nonprofit focused on promoting grade-level reading skills as well as excellence in teaching, has named two new board members and hired two new staff members.

Joining the board are Sid Breman, whose expertise is in financial management, and Marcia Mithun, whose expertise is in community leadership. Joining the staff are Karyn Keil and Sherry Zepatos. Keil’s title is director of operations, and Zepatos’ title is volunteer coordinator.

In other news, Roots and Wings, in partnership with the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, had a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the organization’s new

headquarters on Congress Avenue in Boca Raton.

The event featured light refreshments, special giveaways and remarks from Roots and Wings founder Ted Hoskinson.

“I want to sincerely thank all those who helped celebrate our ribbon-cutting and new headquarters, especially the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce,” Hoskinson said. “We are excited to have this new space to aid in our continued growth across South Florida and expansion into additional classrooms this upcoming school year.”

Hoskinson, a 15-year elementary-school teacher whose charitable group sprouted in 2016, notably has been recognized by the Carl

Angus DeSantis Foundation. He received a Catalyst Award along with a check for $40,000.

“Carl was a man of action,” said Jeff Perlman, the foundation’s grants

administrator. “To honor that spirit, which led to so much good in the world, we wanted to create an award that recognizes the catalysts in our midst.”

For more information, call 561-404-0455 or visit rootsandwingsinc.org.

Coastal Stewards names 3 new members to board

The Coastal Stewards, a conservation organization dedicated to studying and protecting marine life and the ecosystem, recently welcomed three fresh faces to its board of trustees: Alan Blumberg, Darren Phillips and Ata Sarajedini. Blumberg has more than four decades of experience in oceanography while Phillips is a veteran of the yachting industry. Sarajedini is a physics professor at Florida Atlantic University.

“We are thrilled and honored to have such experienced and knowledgeable individuals join our board of trustees,” said John Holloway, president and CEO of The Coastal Stewards.

“Their individual commitment to marine conservation and education aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are confident with them on board, our organization will continue to grow and thrive into the future.”

For more information, call 561-310-9921 or visit thecoastalstewards.org.

Send news and notes to Amy Woods at flamywoods@ bellsouth.net.

The Roots and Wings ribbon-cutting party at the new headquarters in Boca Raton included (l-r, in back) Doug Mithun, Karyn Keil, Ted Hoskinson, Ashley Bacon and Mark Burns, with Aidalyn Magsayo (holding scissors) and Marcia Mithun. Photo provided

Blumberg

Sarajedini

Phillips

Pay It Forward

Note: Events are current as of 9/29. Please check with organizers for any changes.

OCTOBER

Tuesday - 10/1 - Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Do Good Delray’s Throw for Gold: A Happy Hour Benefiting Families Fighting Childhood Cancer at THRōW Social Delray Beach, 29 S.E. Second Ave. Show some love for Julia’s Star Foundation during a happy hour that includes two complimentary drinks, light bites, fun and games and live music. 5-8 pm. $45. 561-278-0424 or juliasstarfoundation.org/events.

Monday - 10/7 - Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Do Good Delray’s Pinball for a Purpose at Silverball Museum, 19 N.E. Third Ave., Delray Beach. Revel in an evening of family fun benefiting the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s Annual Giving Campaign. 5-8 pm. $10-$20. 561-278-0424 or ymcaspbc.org/events/pinball-purpose.

Tuesday - 10/8 - Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Do Good Delray’s British Royal Tea at Tealicious Tea House, 4995 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Enter an oasis of tranquility and savor a sipping event featuring sandwiches, sweets, bubbles and, of course, tea all in support of Wayside House. 2 pm. $125. 561-278-0424 or delraybeach. com/delray-beach-chamber-of-commerce/ dogooddelray.

Tuesday - 10/15 - Spirit of Giving Network’s Great Chefs Tailgate Showcase at Boca Raton Innovation Campus, 4950 Communication Ave. Join ESPN and the Boca Raton Bowl for a showcase that includes the area’s top restaurants, chefs, brewmasters and mixologists bringing their best tailgating game to town to help the nonprofit’s 2024 Holiday Gift Drive. 6-8:30 pm. $45. 561359-2643 or spiritofgivingnetwork.com.

Friday - 10/18 - Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation’s 20 th Annual Go Pink Luncheon at The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real. Welcome speaker

Robin Roberts, who will deliver the keynote address titled “A Celebrations of Survivorship” during the affair that benefits the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute and the Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Cancer Institute. 10:30 am-1:30 pm. $400. 561-955-4142 or donate.brrh.com/gopink.

Friday -10/18 - The Witches of Delray’s Witches Brew at Tim Finnegans Irish Pub, 2885 S. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. Attend a happy-hour event to sign up for the Oct. 26 charity bicycle ride through downtown Delray Beach, all to benefit Achievement Centers for Children & Families. 6-9 pm. $75 registration fee. 561-276-0520 or witchesofdelray.org.

Friday - 10/25 - Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s 6th Annual Securing Our Future Soiree at Woodfield Boca Raton, 3650 Club Place. Step into the theme “The Great Gatsby” with signature cocktails, entertainment stations, music and more to provide funding for club programs. 6-10 pm. $300. 561-676-5472 or bgcpbc.org.

Saturday - 10/26 - The Witches of Delray’s charity bicycle ride beginning at City Hall, 100 N.W. First Ave. Put on a witch costume, decorate that bicycle and join the 13th -annual, fun-filled cruise down Atlantic Avenue to benefit Achievement Centers for Children & Families. 8:30 am. $75 registration fee. 561-276-0520 or witchesofdelray.org.

Saturday - 10/26 - The Jed Foundation’s Florida Gala at The Ray Hotel Delray Beach, 233 N.E. Second Ave. Support the fifth-annual fundraiser to protect emotional health and prevent suicide among teens and young adults. 7-10 pm. $450. 914-844-4611 or one. bidpal.net/jedfl2024/welcome.

Wednesday - 10/30 - Best Foot Forward Foundation’s Sole Mates Luncheon at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton. Help raise money for many of the things students in foster care need that are overlooked. 11:30 am-1:30 pm. $125. 561-

470-8300 or bestfoot.org.

Thursday-Sunday - 10/31-11/3 - Boca Raton Garden Club’s Holiday House at 4281 N.W. Third Ave., Boca Raton. Get into the spirit of the season at a craft, plant and bake sale featuring handmade decorations and gifts as well as assorted plants and fresh-baked goodies, proceeds of which help support club activities. 9 am-2 pm. Free. 561-395-9376 or bocaratongardenclub.org.

NOVEMBER

Friday - 11/1 - Junior League of Boca Raton’s Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon at The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real. Revel in this year’s 37thanniversary event that honors outstanding female leaders and treats guests to a New York-style fashion show. 10:30 am. $200. 561-620-2553 or jlbr.org.

Saturday - 11/2 - The Crossroads Club’s Taste of Recovery 2024 at American German Club, 5111 Lantana Road, Lake Worth. Eat, drink and be merry at the culinary festival featuring mouth-watering samplings all night long to benefit the nonprofit that offers meeting space for 12-step recovery groups. 4-7 pm. $60. 561278-8004 or thecrossroadsclub.com.

Saturday - 11/2 - Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller’s Florida Commandery’s Knights and Dames Gala at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, 2425 W. Maya Palm Drive, Boca Raton. Honor Lynn University during a benefit for local charities serving the sick and the poor. 6-10 pm. $450. 561-8668801 or osjflorida.org/events.

Saturday - 11/2 - Place of Hope’s Hope Bash Boca at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton. Saddle up for the Trailblazer Ball and support The Leighan and David Rinker Campus in providing a safe space for local children, youths and families. 6 pm. $400. 561-4830962, Ext. 61 or hopebashboca.givesmart. com.

Saturday - 11/9 - Wayside House’s “An Evening of Reflection” at Indian Spring Country Club, 11501 El Clair Ranch

Road, Boynton Beach. Ring in the 50 th year since the opening of a small alcoholismtreatment program in Delray Beach for women with a celebration highlighted by former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg. 6-10 pm. $225. 561-2780055 or waysidehouse.net.

Thursday - 11/14 - Brain Bowl at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton. Save the date for the South Florida event that will bring football star Tim Tebow to the podium to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and other types of dementia-related disorders. 11 am-2 pm. $250. 561-496-4222 or brainbowlevents. com.

Saturday - 11/16 - Rotary Club

Downtown Boca Raton’s Boca Raton Mayors Ball at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton. Celebrate city visionaries past and present at the black-tie dinner dance that raises funds to support health and wellness needs in the community. 6:30 pm. $495. 561-2890436 or rotarydowntownbocaraton.org.

Wednesday - 11/20 - Boca Raton

Historical Society’s/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum’s Walk of Recognition at The Addison, Two E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Celebrate community leaders who, and organizations that, have served in the interest of the community and enriched the lives of local residents. 6 pm. $150. 561-395-6766, Ext. 100 or bocahistory.org.

Entering its 13th year, the Witches of Delray ride has turned into a powerful fundraising event for the Achievement Centers.

Photo provided

Hundreds of women dressed in witch wear to pedal down Atlantic Avenue

By Amy Woods

The 13th annual charity bicycle ride organized by the Witches of Delray promises to cast a record-breaking spell upon its beneficiary.

With the event on track to welcome 300 hat-wearing, broom-wielding Wiccans on

Oct. 26, it could conjure up $40,000 for the Achievement Centers for Children & Families.

“The funds raised make a huge impact here,” Achievement Centers CEO Stephanie Seibel said. “It allows us to run the programs, pay our teachers, turn the lights on and more.”

ACCF, which serves under-

resourced children and families in Delray Beach and the surrounding communities, has received proceeds of more than $183,000 from the ride since 2012.

“I’ve been on the ride with the witches since its inception,” Seibel said. “There were just a handful of us in those early years. People really have been following this event for a long time, and it’s turned into more than just a race.”

A few new components have been added this year to celebrate the much-anticipated unlucky anniversary, including the “Not Your Basic Witch” hat-decorating event that took place Oct. 1. Also, two post-ride brunches have been reserved, at Deck 84 and Tin Roof. Those are in addition to Oct. 9’s Trivia Night and Oct. 18’s Witches Brew — both at Tim Finnegans Irish Pub.

“It has grown to such a huge party,” Andie DeVoe, cofounder of the ride, said of the Witches Brew. “We sell that out every year. Our witches can really dress up for the brew and then have something sporty for their bike.”

The 1½-mile route down Atlantic Avenue will take off at City Hall and fly by the Delray Beach Green Market, the Cornell Art Museum and the Colony Hotel, ending at Old School Square for the presentation of awards.

Awards such as Best Costume, Best Witch Cackle, Best Decorated Broom (Bike) and Best Group Theme will be bestowed as well as the Golden Broom award honoring a longtime local philanthropist.

“It just became this magic event that it is now,” DeVoe said. “To see what we’re doing go back into this community is really part of the magic for all of us.”

If You Go

What: Witches of Delray’s charity bicycle ride

When: 8:30 a.m. Oct. 26

Where: City Hall, 100 NW First Ave., Delray Beach Cost: $100 Info: 561-276-0520 or witchesofdelray.org.

Celebrations

Boca’s Ballroom Battle

The Boca Raton — Sept. 14

Boynton

The 2024 dance-off concluded triumphantly, marking a record-breaking success for the George Snow Scholarship Fund by bringing in $1.3 million. The dazzling ‘Viva Las Vegas’-themed event supports the fund’s mission of providing scholarships and support services to local students with financial need. The fundraising champions were Matt Williams and Zoe Lanham, the latter of whom set a record at $390,000. ‘I want to thank everyone involved in Boca’s Ballroom Battle,’ scholarship fund President Tim Snow said. ‘The funds raised through this spectacular event are a reflection of the compassion and altruism in our community.’

ABOVE: (l-r) John Clidas, Williams, Gina Harrow, Jacqueline Moroco Maloney, Lanham, Al Goldberg, Alex Price, Sarah Doyle, Sayra Vazquez, Loreta Kriksciukaityte, Jan Clancy and James Brann. Photo provided

Beach Garden Club elections

Historic Woman’s Club — Sept. 24

The club elected new officers for the term beginning last month and continuing through May 2026. Now in its 86th year as a civic organization, the club is a diverse group of both amateur and skilled gardeners, whose purposes include cultivating and sharing knowledge of gardening and floral arts, and working with others to beautify the community while protecting the environment. Projects include maintaining the bird-friendly habitat at Boynton Hills Neighborhood Garden, Seacrest Boulevard and Northwest Sixth Street, and the Butterfly Garden at the Schoolhouse Children’s Museum, 129 E. Ocean Ave. INSET: (l-r) Sonja Zalutko, corresponding secretary; Bonnie Paton, gardens director; Ingrid Moore, treasurer; Tricia Humphrey, recording secretary; Linda Anderson, president; Pat

Inturrisi, second vice president; Lori Wolff, fundraising director; and Toni Cvetko, civic/community projects director. Not pictured: Maria Freed, first vice president.

Photo provided

Break your fast with a meal out; indulge in artisan chocolates

et’s talk breakfast.

LRestaurant prices have soared, and dinner out has become more of a special occasion. That has made the morning meal, or brunch, somewhat trendy and easier on the wallet.

Several places offer more than just the typical eggs or pancakes, too, though Americans love that standard.

At Costa Delray on Atlantic Avenue, diners will find organic, gluten free, paleo and traditional fare to kick off a day. Extras on every dish elevate flavors and nutrients.

The P.B. Nana pancakes are griddled paleo cakes with caramelized banana and peanut butter, drizzled with maple syrup. Diners can choose a cassava wrap to make the Farm Fresh Burrito gluten free. It wraps up organic eggs, nitritefree bacon, and a tomato-andchipotle aioli sauce.

Trumpet mushrooms, hemp hearts, micro greens, nut “mylks” and other health foods are on the menu that’s served till noon here.

Diners dot the landscape in each town, each with its own personality. Full parking lots hint at favorites.

The Diner on Gateway in Boynton Beach is popular for its friendly servers, varied menu and breakfast served all day.

Five-egg baked omelets can be custom made with a field of ingredients, or chosen from a long list. For those wanting healthier fare, egg white frittatas, described as openfaced omelets, have similar options.

You’ll also find peameal bacon, the cornmeal-crusted favorite of Canadians, along with eggs Benedict several ways, steak and eggs, and a “lite” menu with quinoa, avocado toast and veggie scrambles. Giant fluffy pancakes come in stacks of two or four. Servers

recommend two even for hearty eaters.

Boca Beach House, a familyowned spot on East Palmetto Park Road, was closed during the coronavirus pandemic, but has rebounded nicely.

Unique additions and upscale offerings keep diners recommending it. Coconut pancakes (you can add Nutella) make for a twist on the common stack. Breakfast tacos or huevos rancheros in tortillas with black beans, cojita and jalapenos will wake you up.

A lobster and blue crab “egg scramble” is served with hollandaise and avocado. Smoked salmon elevates the avocado toast.

If it’s traditional Scandia pastries you prefer, Palm Beach Bakery and Cafe in Lantana is the one. The owner is the baker, turning out traditional cardamom bread, with or without almonds and raisins, danishes filled with a variety of fruits, strudels, honey buns, marzipan tarts and the unique Finnish cheesecake, rahkapiirakka.

The breads include the dark

Finnish rye, a bestseller, Swedish limpa, and mysli — a honey, fruit- and seed-studded bread.

A selection of espresso coffees rounds out this small spot just off Ocean Avenue.

Here are some other longtime favorites to consider:

John G’s in Manalapan. The new owners kept many of the breakfast favorites from the former ex-Detroit owners. Try the corned beef hash.

The Green Owl in Delray Beach. Traditional breakfasts reign. Mickey cakes (with ears) and peanut butter as a side option make it kid-friendly.

Sande’s in Delray Beach. Go for the service alone: friendliest around, and it’s an everybody-knows-everybody spot. Traditional diner fare with breakfast all day. Creamed chipped beef on toast and kielbasa hash are here.

Saquella Cafe in Boca Raton. Italian touches: prosciutto and ciabatta egg sandwiches, zucchini omelets, overnight muesli, and several bottomless cocktails all day — served with potatoes.

Dune Deck Cafe in Lantana. With ocean views and openair dining, it’s the place to take out-of-towners (especially in winter). A crab cake Benedict is a favorite, and savory crepes are worth a taste. Bloody marys also notable.

East Ocean Cafe in Boynton Beach. A tiny cafe with petfriendly sidewalk seating and a few seats indoors; be prepared to wait, especially weekends. Quiche of the day, shrimp and grits, and a signature gooey cinnamon roll topped with bacon are among the nontypical dishes.

Love comes to Delray

Chef Norman Love is coming home, sort of. The acclaimed artisan chocolatier and pastry chef, owner of Norman Love Confections, opened a “salon” in Delray Beach in September on Federal

He also knew American palates and designed flavors they recognized.

“They want easily identifiable foods,” he said. “They don’t want to have to think ‘what am I eating?’ It’s difficult to eat a chocolate and not know what it is you’re tasting.”

So Love focused on singleflavor profiles, but the most intense he could make them, knowing that sensory or flavor associations that take you back to happy childhood memories sell products.

Highway south of Linton Boulevard.

It is No. 7 in the brand’s shops, with 10 more planned in Florida. The shop serves artisan chocolates, gourmet desserts and pastries as well as drinks and savory sandwiches.

Love grew up in Hollywood and started in pastry at various restaurants and hotels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

“L.A. was where cuisine was happening, so I moved out there,” he said, “then came back and became the corporate pastry chef for Ritz-Carlton.”

As the hotel expanded internationally, Love had a chance to experience the best foods in every culture.

W hen he left the Ritz to open his own chocolate and pastry business, he drew from premier ingredients, he said, with a goal of creating the top chocolates in the country, while using his artistry to make them beautiful as well.

It was a success. Norman Love Chocolates has won countless awards, and was named best chocolate in the country 2002, exploding his brand. He’s won the same title five times since.

His innovation has swept the chocolate world.

“I was the first chef to put color on chocolate. My friends thought I was crazy: ‘You can’t put red or green on chocolate.’ But I did and they were an instant hit. They look like jewels,” Love said.

Cocoa butter is colored and airbrushed onto the surface, giving the chocolates a shiny, jewel-like appearance.

“Americans eat with their eyes,” he said.

But Love said that when he began, Americans had to be taught about artisan chocolates.

“In Europe, you go to a chocolate shop to buy chocolates. Not a grocery store or a drugstore. Our chocolates have no preservatives, nothing artificial. Pure chocolate and the finest ingredients. They have a shelf-life of a few days. They’re meant to be consumed right away.”

“If you go into an airport, and smell cinnamon baking, wafting from a counter, you’re remembering that scent from your mom’s or aunt’s or grandma’s kitchen. It’s a happy memory. So now you’re going to go get a Cinnabon, no matter how unhealthy it is,” he said.

“So how do you create a flavor profile inside a chocolate with that same reaction?”

By using intense flavor coaxed from myriad ingredients — even peanut butter and jelly.

“My friends called me out on that one, and thought I was nuts,” Love said. “But you bite into the squishy center and it all mixes together. You’re taken right back to your childhood. It’s one of our most popular flavors.”

His personal favorite is the Tahitian vanilla caramel, made with a top vanilla, and finished with flakes of fleur de sel. Simple, he said, yet complex.

He credits his team members for his success and empowers them to create new products while maintaining the favorites.

“They come to work wanting to do something right every day,” Love said. “We are focused on the best ingredients, and making a consistent product.”

For now and in the foreseeable future, he’ll keep his main production factory in Fort Myers, but will ship several times a week to this coast. He figured out temperaturecontrolled packaging early on.

He supplies hotels, restaurants and other shops with his upscale products.

Shipping is the crux of his business, but he’s building 10 more salons in Florida with a focus on the east coast. Boca Raton is next; it will be on the periphery of Town Center mall.

He said he’s glad to be back on this coast, and Delray Beach has been welcoming.

“We want to be part of the community. We give back, and are looking forward to being here,” Love said.

Norman Love Confections, 1911 S. Federal Highway, Suite 104, Delray Beach. Phone 561-749-9049; normanloveconfections.com. Open daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@ gmail.com.

The ‘chocolate salon‘ is a feature of Norman Love Confections, which just opened a new shop in Delray Beach. It has seven stores in Florida, with plans for 10 more. Photo provided

www.palmbeachartspaper.com

Season

Preview: Theater

By Hap Erstein ArtsPaper Theater Writer

South Florida theaters are reeling from the abrupt cancellation of state arts grants, so this season’s productions may be on the sparse side. But so far, none has been outright canceled.

Below in geographical order from north to south are the schedules of what to look forward to in the months ahead.

With the expansion of its main auditorium completed, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre now turns to its next bucketlist item, the opening of its second space — a flexible playhouse dubbed The Island Theatre, which has a capacity of 198. In addition to onenight stands of tribute bands and celebrity impersonators, the Island’s inaugural season begins with a one-woman play, Becoming Dr. Ruth (Oct. 6-20), a look at everyone’s favorite

grandmotherly — and recently deceased — sex therapist, and ends with Edward Albee’s epic, profane view of marriage, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (April 22-May 4).

For the Maltz Mainstage season, dubbed “Extraordinary Journeys,” musicals remain the emphasis, from Once (Dec. 3-15), a romance between two street musicians in Dublin, to Disney’s Frozen (Jan. 7-26) and Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls (March 19-April 6).

The Jupiter company’s nonmusicals include Deceived (Oct. 27-Nov. 10), a new adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s psychological thriller Gaslight, and the Tony and Olivier awardwinning The Lehman Trilogy (Feb. 18-March 2), a drama of the rags-to-riches-to-rags financial dynasty.

Visit www.jupitertheatre.org

Palm Beach Dramaworks is justifiably proud that it will

See THEATER on AT16

By Sandra Schulman ArtsPaper Art Writer

A new art season is always exciting, with the major museums and cultural centers bringing out their best shows for the ever-growing art crowd. The Norton offers a one-two punch of boxing art and seascapes, while the Boca Museum goes for Baroque with exquisite classical works from Spain. Native art from Oklahoma is a must-see at the Society of the Four Arts.

Norton Museum of Art

This season, Strike Fast/ Dance Lightly, with art of and about boxing, and Sorolla and the Sea are the big exhibits.  Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing is an artist’s view of the sport in a variety of media. Featuring over 100 artworks spanning from the late 19th century to present day, this is the largest comprehensive survey of artwork depicting the global

sport and its cultural impact.

The exhibition showcases artworks that directly reference the sport, the gloves, clothing, the ring and the unexpected intersections of art and boxing — spectacle, the body, the mind-game psychology, storytelling, and even politics.

Drawings by famed boxer and activist Muhammad Ali, who trained in Miami Beach at the long-gone 5th Street Boxing Gym helmed by trainer Angelo Dundee, offer an insider’s perspective. Harry Benson’s iconic photo of Ali knocking out the Beatles in 1964 taken in Miami shows the impact of the sport and celebrity fame.

Jeffrey Gibson’s Manifest

Destiny, one of several in the show, is a repurposed beaded punching bag with words and graphics inspired by his Native American visual culture.

“I think it will expand our audiences and bring in visitors that might have interest in the sport but might not know or feel comfortable engaging with an art museum,” says Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Arden Sherman. (Oct. 26-March 9)

Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida grew up on the lush Valencian coast of Spain studying the unique Mediterranean light, landscape, and modern life. He was revered as the nation’s last great traditional painter. Using direct-to-canvas colors and free-form brushwork, Sorolla blended Spanish Realism with Modernism.

Sorolla and the Sea features 40 artworks, on loan from The Hispanic Society of America

Season Preview: Pop Music

By Bill Meredith ArtsPaper Music Writer

There hasn’t so much been a war against artistic live popular music, but a slow-moving coup. It was started by the industry’s business class, and has culminated in the ultimate evidence of commerce over creativity — tribute acts.

Modern popular music is now an orchestrated patchwork of synthesized electronic programming, sampling, auto-tuning, pitch correction, auto-harmonizing, and AI, the results of which are streamed to cellphones, laptops and earbuds rather than stereo systems.

COVID-19 poured another bucket of dumb into the mix, and pushed already exorbitant concert ticket prices, especially for festivals, even higher. With a few exceptions, the 2024-2025 South Florida concert season is a blend of stylized hairdos, toothpaste models, retreads, “creators” and talentoptional celebrity tributes. Relevance is so 20th century.

Rapper Nicki Minaj, the 41-year-old, Trinidad-born artist, moved to Queens, N.Y., with her family at age 5 and gained initial celebrity by releasing her first mixtape in 2007, leading to a recording career bookended by her 2010 debut album Pink Friday and her latest, Pink Friday 2 (2023). She’s since gained all the requisites for hip-hop fame. 9 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Kaseya

The touring version of the Broadway musical Mrs. Doubtfire comes to the Kravis Center on Oct. 29. Photo provided

Champion, by Chase Hall, is part of the Strike Fast/Dance Lightly exhibit opening Oct. 26 at the Norton Museum of Art. Photo provided

Season Preview: Opera A

By Greg Stepanich ArtsPaper Editor

The coming season in opera offers a combination of promise and safe box office choices, with the two companies in South Florida hewing closely to audience favorites, and even the Sarasota Opera not venturing too far afield from conservative terrain.

And on the promise side of things, Florida Grand Opera begins a new era with a new director, Palm Beach Opera’s new chief brings more of his stamp on the company, and a famous diva, ostracized for her position on the Russia-Ukraine war, returns to the United States for the first time in three years to host a gala in West Palm Beach.

Palm Beach Opera

The company opens its season in January with Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, his 1867 take on Shakespeare’s tale of star-cross’d lovers from warring families in Verona. A sweetly melodic opera well-known for its soprano showpiece “Je veux vivre,” this opera is the only one of Gounod’s dozen regularly seen in American opera houses; Faust may still be his most wellknown work, but Palm Beach Opera last performed that opera in 2005. Before that, it was 1973. Roméo et Juliette was first mounted by Palm Beach Opera in 2012, to good houses. The cast for this season’s production of the opera — which follows Shakespeare’s plot closely — hasn’t been announced, but it is scheduled for performances Jan. 24-26 in the Kravis Center, where Palm Beach Opera has given its performances for decades.

Next up is Giuseppe Verdi’s most popular opera, La Traviata. The title of this 1853 opera translates to “The Fallen Woman,” and it is based on the real life of Marie Duplessis, a Parisian courtesan who counted Franz Liszt and Alexandre Dumas the younger as her lovers. In the opera, the heroine of the title, Violetta Valéry, is won over by Alfredo Germont, and they establish an idyllic life together in the Paris suburbs. But Germont’s father comes to visit Violetta, and persuades her to give up Alfredo because his association with her is too scandalous for Alfredo’s reputation and the Germont family. She does so, but is reunited with Alfredo at the end of the opera, when she is on her deathbed from tuberculosis. Performances are Feb. 11-13 at the Kravis Center.

The season’s final opera is Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), last seen only six years ago at Palm Beach Opera. One of Mozart’s best-loved works, this 1786 comedy tells the story of Figaro and Susanna, a betrothed couple

area opera companies

working for the Count and Countess Almaviva in Seville.

Almaviva has a wandering eye, and has tried to seduce Susanna, infuriating Figaro and the Countess, who concoct an elaborate revenge plot to expose and shame the count. Beloved for everything from its overture to its lovely arias and its sparkling ensemble finales, it also showcases the brilliance of Mozart and his librettist, Lorenzo Da Ponte, with whom he wrote three operas that constitute the earliest repertory pieces in the canon. The opera will be performed April 4-6 at the Kravis.

Palm Beach Opera scored a coup earlier this year when it announced that the star of its annual fundraising gala would be none other than the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, a superstar in the industry whose refusal to denounce Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine led the Metropolitan Opera in New York to cancel its contracts with her. While Netrebko insists that artists should not be taking political positions, she has been singing only in Europe since the 2022 invasion. Now 53, she has distinguished herself as one of the finest operatic singers in the world, with a wideranging repertory that includes everything from Mozart to bel canto, and Puccini to Prokofiev. She will sing with pianist Angel Rodriguez at the fundraising gala, which is set for Feb. 3 at The Breakers in Palm Beach. Call PB Opera at 561-8337888 or visit pbopera.org. Or call the Kravis at 561-832-7469 or visit www.kravis.org

Florida Grand Opera

The venerable Miami-based company, now in its 83rd year, bid farewell in 2023 to longtime director Susan Danis, who exited after 11 years. She has been replaced by the French-born mezzo and arts administrator Maria Todaro,

who is promising bold new initiatives for the troupe. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, the 2024-25 season looks like this:

The first opera of the season is Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), the 1791 singspiel whose absurdist plot and memorable melodies have made it an all-ages favorite virtually since its premiere. Director Jeffrey Buchman, long a favorite director at this house, plans to present the opera through the lens of role-playing board games to stress its fantastical elements. The cast includes Ricardo Garcia as Tamino and Sara Kennedy as Pamina, Alex DiSocio as Papageno and Sydney Dardis as Papagena, Laura Léon as the Queen of the Night and Andrew Potter as Sarastro. Stepping into the conductor’s seat is the American soprano Christine Brandes, now adding orchestral direction to her long résumé.

The opera can be seen Nov. 16, 17 and 19 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, and Dec. 5 and 7 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

Next up is Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love (L’Elisir d’Amore), the 1832 tale of a lovesick young man who buys a bogus potion from a con man to win over the object of his affection, and then manages to do it without its help. Last presented by FGO in 1998, The Elixir of Love features Jonah Hoskins as Nemorino and Janice Habersham as Adina. Belcore, rival for Adina’s hand, is Ricardo José Rivera, Dulcamara is sung by Peixin Chen, and the role of Giannetta is taken by Mary Burke. Matt Cooksey directs the opera, and Anthony Barrese leads the music. The opera will be seen Feb. 1, 2 and 4 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, and Feb. 13 and 15 at the Broward Center.

The final opera of the season

is Georges Bizet’s Carmen, the short-lived French composer’s last and most popular opera, which premiered in 1875 just three months before Bizet’s death at 36. Todaro herself will direct the opera, which she has chosen to set in the time of the Franco dictatorship in Spain. Starring as the titular femme fatale is the Italian-American mezzo Ginger Costa-Jackson, for whom this is a signature role. Don José will be sung for four of the five performances by Rafael Dávila, with Adam Diegel stepping in on April 13. The much-admired Miami soprano Elizabeth Caballero is Micaëla, and Alexander Birch Elliott sings Escamillo, the toreador. Leading the orchestra will be the Spanish conductor Ramón Tebar, formerly FGO’s artistic director and now filling that role at Opera Naples. Carmen takes the stage April 12, 13 and 15 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, and on April 24 and 26 at the Broward Center.

Visit fgo.org or call 800-7411010.

Sarasota Opera

This repertory company on the state’s southwest coast operates out of a lovely theater on Pineapple Avenue in the city’s downtown, and is notable for having presented over a period of almost 30 years all the operas of Verdi, including alternate conceptions such as the first and second versions of Don Carlo and Simon Boccanegra

The company opens its season with two performances by Sarasota Youth Opera of the children’s opera The Hobbit, a setting of J.R.R. Tolkein’s fantasy novel by the Canadian composer Dean Burry, who specializes in opera and musical theater. This is a revival of a production that won widespread praise during its previous outings in 2014 and 2020. The opera will be directed by Jesse Martins, and is scheduled for Nov. 9 and 10.

Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi conducts two concerts of arias by Verdi on Nov. 15 and 17, featuring singers including soprano Virginia Mims, a Palm Beach County native, along with soprano Rochelle Bard, tenor Victor Starsky, baritone Jean Carlos Rodriguez and bass Young Bok Kim.

Opening the winter season is the duo of short Italian operas, Pietro Masacagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, affectionately known to opera fans everywhere as Cav and Pag. Both are tragedies of love betrayed, and inaugurated the

genre for violent melodrama in Italian opera known as verismo. Tenor Rafael Dávila sings the roles of Turridu and Canio, and baritone Jean Carlos Rodriguez tackles Alfio and Tonio, while soprano Lisa Chavez sings Santuzza (Cavalleria) and soprano Ashley Milanese sings Nedda (Pagliacci). Martha Collins directs the operas, and DeRenzi conducts. The pairing will be seen 10 times between Feb. 15 and March 29.

A bel canto staple and the most popular opera by Giaochino Rossini, The Barber of Seville, is scheduled next. This manic comedy, with its familiar “Largo al factotum,” is based on the same source as Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and has the same attitude of the little guy getting it over on the big shots. Filippo Fontana sings Figaro in this production, with Lisa Marie Rogali as Rosina. Minghao Liu is Count Almaviva, Stefano de Peppo is Bartolo, and Young Bok Kim is Basilio. The veteran singer Marco Nistico moves to the stage director’s role for this opera, which is conducted by Marcello Cormio. There will be 10 performances of Barber between Feb. 22 and March 29.

Staying with the same story, The Marriage of Figaro is the third opera of the season, with Mattia Venni as Figaro and Virginia Mims as Susanna. Jake Stamatis is Count Almaviva and Michelle Johnson is the Countess, joined by Tessa Fackelmann as Cherubino and Brian Kontes as Bartolo. Mozart’s opera will be directed by Tom Diamond, and Louis Lohraseb conducts. The opera will be staged seven times between March 8 and 28.

The fourth and final opera of the winter season is Verdi’s rarely heard Stiffelio, an 1850 drama of betrayal and forgiveness. In the opera, set in Germany, the minister Stiffelio suspects his wife, Lina, of infidelity; she has been seduced by the nobleman Raffaele. Intrigue follows as Raffaele is challenged to a duel by Lina’s father, Stankar, and Stiffelio demands his wife sign divorce papers. This opera, unsuccessful in its day and coming just before the “Big Three” of 1851-1853 — Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and La Traviata — is now regarded as an important, compelling work that deserves to be seen and heard as Verdi intended it. Victor Starsky sings the title role, and Aviva Fortunata sings Lina. Ricardo Jose Rivera is Stankar, and Young Bok Kim is the elderly minister Jorg; the tenor singing the role of Raffaele has not been announced. Stephanie Sundine directs the opera, with DeRenzi conducting the music. Seven performances of Stiffelio are planned between March 15 and March 30.

The Sarasota Opera House is at 61 N. Pineapple Ave. in Sarasota Call 941-328-1300 or visit sarasotaopera.org.

Ginger Costa-Jackson will sing the lead role in Florida Grand Opera’s production of Carmen Photo by Walt Jackson

Season Preview: Classical

Exciting guests and visitors will make for a largo, forte season

By Greg Stepanich ArtsPaper Editor

As always, the classical season in South Florida is a relatively rich one, with plenty of activity in solo, chamber and orchestral music to interest a wide variety of listeners. The season is still somewhat smaller than it used to be, but there is still enough here for some strong months of concertgoing.

Special events include appearances by the London Symphony, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Chicago Symphony and Les Arts Florissants, the return of violinist Hilary Hahn and soprano Renée Fleming, and appearances by rising stars of the classical world such as conductor Klaus Mäkelä.

Here’s a month-by-month look at the season.

OCTOBER

Patrick Dupré Quigley’s concert choir Seraphic Fire has proven since its founding to be a rare and remarkable part of the South Florida music scene; it remains the only Grammy-nominated classical music ensemble in our area. It opens it new season with a concert called “A Brief History of Western Music,” which takes listeners from the 12th century (Hildegard’s Ordo Virtutum) to the 20th (Stravinsky’s Ave Maria), with stops in the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods. The concert, devised with the assistance of University of Rochester’s Honey Meconi, can be heard Oct. 13 at the Kravis Center.

NOVEMBER

The Lynn University Conservatory of Music presents four young musicians who have won the concerto competition in performances Nov. 9 and 10 at the Boca Raton college’s Wold Performing Arts Center with the Lynn Philharmonia. The Palm Beach Symphony gets its season underway with guest cellist Julian Schwarz, son of artistic director Gerard

Schwarz, performing the beloved cello Concerto in B minor of Antonin Dvořák. The program opens with South Florida native Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Celebration and closes with the Ravel orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (Nov. 10, Kravis Center). The Master Chorale of South Florida opens its 22nd season on Nov. 16-17 with two performances of Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah at Lynn’s Wold Center; director Brett Karlin leads the chorus and the Lynn Philharmonia. On Nov. 17, The Symphonia, based in Boca Raton, begins its season at its usual venue of St. Andrews School with violinist Andrés Cárdenes performing the Concerto No. 5 of the Belgian Romantic virtuoso

Henri Vieuxtemps; the concert, led by principal conductor Alastair Willis, opens with the Celebration overture of American composer James Stephenson and finishes with the Pulcinella Suite of Stravinsky. The first of several out-of-town celebrity orchestras arrives at the Kravis on Nov. 19 when Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra makes its first North American tour under the baton of conductordesignate, 28-year-old Finnish cellist Klaus Mäkelä He and the Concertgebouw will be joined by the Georgian-born violinist Lisa Batiashvili in an allRussian program featuring Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila overture and the Second Symphony of Rachmaninov. On Nov. 21 at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach launches its 12th season with a sextet of fine string players and pianist Michael Stephen Brown in music of Ernest Chausson (Poème, and the Concert for Piano, Violin and String Quartet) and Eugène Ysaÿe (Rêve d’enfant).

DECEMBER

The Society of the Four Arts launches its seasonal programs with a visit from the San Francisco male choir Chanticleer in a new version of its perennially popular Christmas program (Dec. 4). Spanish clarinetist José Franch-Ballester is the featured soloist the next day at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach in music of Brahms, Beethoven, Arvo Pärt, and the late Romantic German composer Robert Kahn for the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach. The holiday spirit settles in Dec. 7 at Mizner Park Amphitheater for a concert of holiday music led by Jacomo Bairos, founder of Miami’s NuDeco Ensemble. Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos is the guest at the Palm Beach Symphony on Dec. 10 at the Kravis Center, where Continued on the next page

Riccardo Muti will lead the Chicago Symphony in a concert Jan. 17 at the Kravis Center. Photo provided

he’ll play the Brahms Violin Concerto on a program with Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony and American composer Christopher Theofanidis’s atmospheric Rainbow Body Seraphic Fire brings its annual Christmas concert Dec. 11 to the Kravis Center, and on Dec. 14, the Master Chorale of South Florida presents two performances of its annual holiday music concert at St. Gregory’s Episcopal. On Dec. 15, the Curtis Symphony Orchestra from Philadelphia’s legendary Curtis Institute of Music comes to the same venue with conductor Teddy Abrams and Australian violinist Ray Chen for a performance of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto. The program also includes music by American composer T.J. Cole (Death of the Poet), George Walker’s Lilacs, and the Third Symphony of Aaron Copland. Closing out the month is harpist Parker Ramsay in a recital at the Kravis’s Rinker Playhouse (Dec. 18).

JANUARY

The great American soprano Renée Fleming presents a special recital Jan. 5 at the Kravis Center with a program called Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, with songs reflecting nature’s inspiring power and mankind’s abuse of it; a special National Geographic video will accompany the music. At the Four Arts, artistic adviser Wu Han begins a festival devoted to the music of Felix Mendelssohn on Jan. 12: Violinist Julian Rhee joins Wu Han and cellist David Finckel for the Violin Sonata in F, the Cello Sonata No. 2 and the Piano Trio No. 2. That same day at St. Gregory’s, conductor James Judd leads The Symphonia and guitarist Jason Vieaux i n Mexican composer Samuel Zyman’s Guitar Concerto. Also planned is West

Palm Beach-reared composer Richard Danielpour’s Souvenirs and the Seventh Symphony of Beethoven.

French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet plays the Ravel Piano Concerto in G with the Palm Beach Symphony at the Kravis on Jan. 13; Higdon’s Blue Cathedral and Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony round out the program. The Mendelssohn Festival at the Four Arts continues Jan. 15 with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center performing the early Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings along with music by Schumann. On Jan. 16, Seraphic Fire revisits the story of the Capilla Flamenca, the choir to the 16thcentury Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The University of Miami’s Amanda Quist conducts at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns to the Kravis on Jan. 17 with emeritus conductor Riccardo Muti in music of Bellini (the overture to Norma) and two great Romantic symphonies: Schubert’s Eighth (the Unfinished) and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth. Conductor Jon Robertson leads the Lynn Philharmonia in two concerts Jan. 18 and 19 with Andres Cardenes in the Bruch Violin Concerto; the programs also include Barber’s Adagio for Strings and the Symphony No. 1 of Brahms. The Four Arts’s Mendelssohn Festival concludes Jan. 19 with the composer’s Octet for Strings, his early Piano Quartet in F minor, and four-hand piano music including selections from his incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream

On Jan. 22, 16-year-old Australian violin prodigy Amaryn Olmeda is featured at the Rinker Playhouse. That same day, the Classical Café series resumes at the Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach State College in Lake

Worth Beach with the New York-based Lysander Piano Trio in the afternoon; at the Norton Museum that evening, the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach welcomes eight violinists, including James Ehnes and Tessa Lark, in the Four Seasons of Antonio Vivaldi and a companion piece, Astor Piazzola’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The Four Arts hosts eminent British pianist Stephen Hough in recital on Jan. 26; his program includes the sonatas in B minor of Liszt and Chopin, as well as pieces by the French Romantic Cécile Chaminade.

Another major orchestra stops by the Kravis on Jan. 27, when the Cleveland Orchestra, led by the Singaporean conductor Kahchun Wong, features Japanese violinist Sayaka Shoji in the Beethoven Violin Concerto. The Ohioans also play Ravel’s orchestration of the Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition

FEBRUARY

The 2025 music series of Tuesday night concerts at the Flagler Museum on Palm Beach opens Feb. 4 with the Borromeo String Quartet, which has planned Schubert’s Death and the Maiden Quartet and Mozart’s Hoffmeister Quartet. At the Four Arts on Feb. 5, members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center present a concert of music by Spanish composers including Turina, Rodrigo, Falla, Obradors and Sarasate.

Speaking of Schubert, the Austrian master’s lieder will be at the heart of tenor Nicholas Phan’s recital Feb. 6 at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. That same day, American violinist Gil Shaham solos with the Palm Beach Symphony at the Kravis Center in the Beethoven Violin Concerto, with conductor Gerard Schwarz wrapping the

program with Mahler’s First Symphony. Conductor Guillermo Figueroa leads the Lynn Philharmonia and violist Sheila Browne in the Concerto en Tango of Uruguay’s Miguel del Aguila on Feb. 8 and 9 at the Wold Center; Figueroa also has programmed the Jupiter Symphony of Mozart and the Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 of Ravel. Conductor Carolyn Kuan leads The Symphonia at St. Gregory’s on Feb. 9 in Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta and the Prague Symphony of Mozart; bassoonist Gabriel Beavers is the soloist in Zwilich’s Bassoon Concerto. The Jupiter String Quartet comes to the Flagler Museum on Feb. 11 for music by Haydn (Op. 77, No. 2), Brahms (Quartet No. 1) and the early Langsamer Satz of Anton Webern. The Australian classical guitar duo Ziggy and Miles, featuring brothers Ziggy and Miles Johnston, is heard Feb. 12 at the Rinker Playhouse; that same day the Dover Quartet offers the Prussian Quartet of Mozart, Schumann’s First Quartet, and the String Quartet No. 1 of Tchaikovsky at the Four Arts. Vocal music is in the spotlight at the Four Arts on Feb. 16 with a concert by the young singers of the Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program Haydn’s employer at Esterhaza, Prince Nicholas, loved to play the baryton, a now-obsolete instrument similar to a cello but with an extra set of sympathetic strings inside. The Valencia Baryton Project is committed to performing this lovely music in its original setting of viola, baryton and cello, and has programmed six of Haydn’s trios for a concert Feb. 18 at the Flagler Museum. String quartet aficionados will have a feast Feb. 19, with two superlative Continued on the next page

foursomes in concert that same day, starting with an afternoon concert by the Calidore String Quartet at the Duncan Theatre with three great Beethoven quartets, Nos. 10 (Harp), 11 (Serioso) and 12. In the evening, the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach hosts the Escher Quartet at the Church of Bethesda-bythe-Sea in music of Mozart (Prussian Quartet No. 1), Barber (the Adagio from his lone quartet), and Quartet No. 14 of Dvořák.

French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet marks the 150th birthday of Maurice Ravel with an all-Ravel concert Feb. 23 at the Four Arts. On Feb. 24 at the Kravis, violinist Daniel Hope returns with his Polish Chamber Orchestra of Sinfonia Varsovia in music of Mozart (Violin Concerto No. 3), Haydn (Symphony No. 49) and the Polish composer Wojciech Kilar (Orawa). France’s Trio Karénine visits the Flagler on Feb. 25 with an allFrench program of piano trios by Ravel, Saint-Saëns and Germaine Tailleferre. The Viano Quartet comes to the Four Arts on Feb. 26 for music by Haydn, Dvořák (Quartet No. 13) and Moonshot, a tribute to Apollo 11 by American composer Alistair Coleman.

MARCH

The month opens auspiciously with a first-ever appearance by the London Symphony Orchestra at the Kravis Center. Conductor Antonio Pappano welcomes Dutch violinist Janine Jansen in Bernstein’s Serenade, and follows that with Mahler’s First Symphony (March 1).

Many of the German Romantic composers of the 19th century wrote a good deal of choral music that has fallen victim to changing performance practices. Seraphic Fire remedies that March 2 at St. Gregory’s with music by

Brahms, Clara Schumann, Fanny Hensel and her brother, Felix Mendelssohn, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Over at the Kravis that same day, pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto with the Palm Beach Symphony. The concert opens with two American works: Paul Creston’s Invitation and Dance and Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 (Romantic).

The Flagler Museum closes its series March 4 with violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, who will perform sonatas by Brahms and Grieg as well as Bach’s imposing Chaconne and short works by Lili Boulanger and Maurice Ravel.

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach presents Baroque music on March 6 at the Church of Bethesda-by-theSea when oboist James Austin Smith, violinist Bella Hristova and other musicians perform three concertos by Bach and one of the Tafelmusik of Georg Philipp Telemann. Legendary IsraeliAmerican violinist Itzhak Perlman returns to the Kravis with pianist Rohan de Silva (March 10), and on March 12, three concerts vie for attention: Finland’s Erinys Quartet at the Rinker Playhouse (program TBA); violinists Paul Huang and Danbi Um with pianist Juho Pohjonen in music by Ysaÿe, Moszkowski, Sarasate and American violinist Amy Barlowe at the Four Arts; and cellist Dmitry Kouzov and his wife, pianist Yulia Kouzova, at the Duncan Theatre (program TBA).

The stellar early music group Les Arts Florissants comes to the Four Arts on March 16 with music by Monteverdi, Geminiani and Vivaldi. Conductor Lahav Shani leads the Israel Philharmonic in the Scottish Symphony of Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony on March 20 at the Kravis

Center, and the weekend of March 22 and 23 sees clarinetist Jon Manasse and bassoonist Whitney Crockett join the Lynn Philharmonia for Richard Strauss’s Duet-Concertino, while organist Tim Brumfield takes a solo spot in the SaintSaëns Organ Symphony.

On March 23, the great American violinist Hilary Hahn returns to South Florida to play the Violin Concerto of Erich Wolfgang Korngold with Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony. The Kravis program also includes Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and the Four Black American Dances of the American composer Carlos Simon. The pianist Anne-Marie McDermott gives a recital of music by Bach and Brahms at the Four Arts that same day, and the Russian pianist Zlata Chochieva appears in recital March 26 at the last concert of the Duncan Theatre’s Classical Café series for the season.

On March 29, conductor Alastair Willis offers another in his New Directions series of concerts with The Symphonia. This appearance at the Studio at Mizner Park in Boca Raton takes the audience back to 1723, when J.S. Bach was in his last year at Cöthen before leaving for Leipzig to take up his job at the St. Thomas Church.

APRIL

The piano duo of Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung plays the Four Arts on April 2, offering music by Poulenc, Busoni, Ravel, Debussy and Piazzola. The next day at the Norton Museum, violinist Arnaud Sussmann, director of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, is joined by violist Paul Neubauer and cellist Paul Watkins in string trios by Mozart and Jean Françaix. At the same venue on April 6, the Quartetto

di Cremona plays the Debussy String Quartet and Beethoven’s epic Quartet No. 15 (in A minor), as well as music by the Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov. Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott sticks around after her Four Arts recital to join Gerard Schwarz and the Palm Beach Symphony for its final concert of the season on April 8, when she’ll play the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1. The Kravis concert begins with William Grant Still’s Threnody: In Memory of Jean Sibelius and closes with two French masterworks, Debussy’s La Mer and the second suite from Ravel’s score for the ballet Daphnis et Chloe. Seraphic Fire closes its season April 10 at St. Gregory’s with music by the cloistered nuns and orphaned women of 18th-century Italy, including Chiara Cozzolani, Maria Perucona and Bianca Meda, plus the Magnificat of Vivaldi, who led the music at Venice’s Ospedale della Pietà. The British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason joins Miami Beach’s New World Symphony in the Cello Concerto No. 1 of Shostakovich at the Kravis Center on April 18. Conductor Stéphane Denève also leads the orchestral academy in Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and music from John Williams’s score for the film The Book Thief

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach ends its season April 24 at the Norton Museum with the beloved Trout Quintet of Franz Schubert, paired with the Piano Quintet No. 1 of the important mid-19th century pianist and composer Louise Farrenc. The Symphonia closes its season April 29 at the Studio at Mizner Park with music by Holst, Tchaikovsky, Jessie Montgomery, and a collaboration by Colin Jacobsen and Siamak Aghaei called Ascending Bird

Continued from page 7

Center, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami (786-777-1000, $119 + up).

Will he show you to your seat? At least, in the era of nicknames, Usher Raymond IV chose his actual first name. The 46-year-old, Dallas-born R&B vocalist moved to Tennessee with his family as a child, showing early promise in a youth church choir. A move to Atlanta furthered that promise as Usher released his self-titled 1994 debut album at age 15. And the “Past Present Future Tour” star hasn’t needed to take jobs in the service industry since.

8 p.m. Oct. 11, 12 & 14 at the Kaseya Center ($269 + up).

Listing concert ticket prices for Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour,” which have likely gone up, is pointless because the shows will sell out regardless. Still, filling a stadium on three consecutive nights puts one in the rare air of solo artists like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Thankfully, Swift seems more grounded than those two enigmas. Swift, 34, is a Pennsylvania native who writes her own hit songs and plays multiple instruments. Her 2024 release The Tortured Poets Department has dominated the charts this year.

7 p.m. Oct. 18-20 at Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens (305-943-8000, $2,023 + up).

Tribute shows have become cliches in South Florida. But when tribute is paid to rock’s all-time visionary guitarist, and by a collective of guitarists including native Texas virtuoso Eric Johnson and the exceptional family legacy artist Dweezil Zappa, exceptions can be made. “Experience Hendrix” celebrates the legacy of singer, guitarist and songwriter Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970). Fans can expect renditions of Hendrix classics such as “Foxy Lady,” “Manic Depression,” “Are You

Experienced,” “Purple Haze” and “Fire.”

8 p.m. Oct. 18 at Pompano Beach Amphitheater, 1806 NE 6th St., Pompano Beach (561-223-7231, $44.50-$69.50).

Sting will likely never admit it, but his current trio “3.0 Tour” with guitarist Dominic Miller and drummer Chris Maas might be an attempt to draw out fans of The Police, his extraordinary 1977-1986 pop trio with guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. Miller is, like Summers, a textural minimalist who’s worked with Sting since his third album, The Soul Cages (1991).

8 p.m. Oct. 20-21 at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave. (305-673-7300, $174 + up).

Southern Hospitality is a regional all-star group, co-led by leaders of their own bands, that proves Florida can indeed provide blues authenticity. With a new album, Yard Sale, the quintet consists of Sunshine State native Damon Fowler and longtime Boca Raton resident J.P. Soars on vocals and guitars, Savannah, Ga., native and Memphis resident Victor Wainwright on vocals and keyboards, plus his own band’s bassist (Terrence Grayson) and Soars’ drummer (Chris Peet). The result is blues infused with swing and soul.

7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Funky Biscuit, 303 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton (561-395-2929, $40-$65).

Cue the drinking jokes. Before he recently became best-known for a DUI arrest in Long Island, N.Y., 43-year-old pop vocalist Justin Timberlake had become one of the world’s multimedia stars. His latest album is this year’s Everything I Thought It Was 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, Amerant Bank Arena, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise (954-835-7000, $109 + up).

Numerous acts have emerged from Georgia to become stars,

and Atlanta-formed band Blackberry Smoke has carved a niche for itself in the Southern rock and jam band circuits. With two live albums and eight studio efforts including this year’s Be Right Here, leadsinging guitarist Charlie Starr, guitarist/vocalist Paul Jackson, bassist/vocalist Richard Turner, keyboardist Brandon Still, multi-stringed instrumentalist Benji Shanks, and drummer Kent Aberle make a joyful noise as favorites along the Southern touring corridor.

8:30 p.m. Nov. 10, Pompano Beach Amphitheater ($34.50 + up).

Dwight Yoakam and The Mavericks make quite a country double-billing, and beyond. Opening act The Mavericks blend roots and Latin music in a rare tale of Miami-based substance over programming and production value. The band formed in 1989, and still features original members in vocalist/ bassist Raul Malo and drummer Paul Deakin. Guitarist Eddie Perez and keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden complete the Grammy-winning quartet, which is likely to play material from its self-titled 1990 debut album through this year’s Moon & Stars. Veteran headliner Yoakam, 67, is a Grammywinning vocalist, guitarist and renowned songwriter whose signature stage leg-twitch maneuver is straight out of the Elvis Presley playbook.

6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, Pompano Beach Amphitheater ($59.50 + up).

Blues is a roots music genre that’s become bastardized over generations, but the two-day Boca Blues Festival features both firepower and authenticity in headlining vocalist/guitarists Tab Benoit and Samantha Fish Benoit is a Louisiana native whose soulful voice and nofrills guitar approach cement his legitimacy. His new album I Hear Thunder is his first after a 13-year recording hiatus. Fish is the 35-year-old phenom from Kansas City, Mo., known for

Bonnie Raitt performs Nov. 25 at the Kravis Center.

Photo provided

her screaming solos and pinup girl stage persona. Also featured are guitarist/vocalists Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Ray Fuller & the Bluesrockers, Ally Venable, John Primer, and Florida’s own Selwyn Birchwood; saxophonists Vanessa Collier and Kimmy Carpenter, and Muddy Waters’ son, singer Mud Morganfield

Noon-9:30 p.m. Nov. 16-17 at Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 20405 Amphitheater Circle, Boca Raton (772-492-6105, $50 daily).

Bruce Springsteen they’re not. Bon Jovi they’re not. But yes, Blues Traveler formed in New Jersey (Princeton, specifically) in 1987 before becoming one of America’s most popular 1990s bands. Its “30 Years of Four Tour 2024” might be more creative than the album title that inspired it, but the 1994 release Four spawned a hit single in “Run-Around” that reached the Billboard Top 10, and a tour that included a memorable stop at SunFest in West Palm Beach. The group’s centerpiece remains John Popper, the expressive vocalist with a unique circular breathing technique on harmonica.

8 p.m. Nov. 16 at Revolution Live, 100 Nugent Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954-449-1025, $38.50-$45).

It’s difficult to pinpoint

the nucleus of the popular American folk-rock movement, but the Avett Brothers have certainly been a prime 21st Century practitioner. Leadsinging multi-instrumental siblings Scott Avett and Seth Avett launched the group from their native North Carolina in 2000, eventually recruiting fellow singing multiinstrumentalists Bob Crawford and Joe Kwon for explorations including guitars, cello, horns, musical saw, kazoos, and footplayed percussion. Touring drummer Mike Marsh, pianist Bonnie Avett-Rini and singing violinist Tania Elizabeth often join that quartet on stage. The result is a gumbo of not only folk and rock, but also elements of bluegrass, pop, and jug band music that have helped define the popular modern tag of Americana.

7 p.m. Nov. 17 at Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood (866502-7529, $89-$289).

“Piano Man.” Everyone knows who wrote the most obviously autobiographical hit song of all time in 1973 without a mention of his name. And 75-year-old singer, pianist and songwriter Billy Joel has indeed carved out a lengthy, award-winning career of putting the spotlight on himself. Like British artist Elton John, Joel peaked in the 1970s, and the two piano men engaged in hugely successful co-headlining nostalgia tours from the mid1990s through 2010.

8 p.m. Nov. 23 and Jan. 17 at Hard Rock Live ($499 + up).

Bonnie Raitt, 74, started her solo career in 1970, and released a string of critically acclaimed albums that nonetheless struggled to gain her mass appeal. After guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan helped inspire her to give up alcohol in 1987, Raitt’s next album was the multiGrammy Award-winning 1989 release Nick of Time. The 2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee hasn’t needed to look in the rearview mirror since.

8 p.m. Nov. 25 at Dreyfoos Hall at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd.,West Palm Beach (561-832-7469, $49.50 + up).

A 21st Century band that rose out of the Northern Florida swampland, JJ Grey & Mofro puts on the “Olustee Tour,” celebrating the band’s first album in nine years. It provides a bookend to its 2001 debut, Blackwater. Equal parts blues, soul, rock and funk, the group first formed when Grey and singing guitarist Daryl Hance signed with a UK recording label and toured Europe as Mofro Magic. After the band shortened its name to just Mofro, its initial releases were under only that band name before Grey took the lead in its moniker. With 10 total releases and a deserved reputation as a must-see live act, the group has wowed crowds at festivals such as Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.

7 p.m. Dec. 6 at Revolution Live

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Authors, bibliophiles will gather to celebrate the art of writing

By Jan Engoren Contributing Writer

Miami Book Fair

International

The 41st Miami Book Fair

— Nov. 17-24 — will feature a variety of authors in fiction and nonfiction genres and celebrate the love of reading and of books.

For the past 40 years, the fair has brought in hundreds of authors from all over the world to downtown Miami.

National names in fiction include Lisa See (Lady Tan’s Circle of Women) and Jamie Quatro (Two-Step Devil ), and nonfiction’s Carvell Wallace (Another Word for Love: A Memoir) and Ernesto Londoño (Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics).

Florida authors include Alex Segura (Alter Ego: A Novel ), Edwidge Danticat (We’re Alone: Essays), former Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts (54 Miles) and Romina Garber (Castle of the Cursed).

Visit miamibookfair.com.

Festival of the Arts Boca — Authors & Ideas

The combination literarymusic festival in the city’s downtown Mizner Park returns

($47.50).

Cheap Trick . The band name itself exemplifies truth in advertising. The 51-yearold quartet from Rockford, Ill., first paired two rock-star types in lead vocalist/guitarist Robin Zander and bassist/ vocalist Tom Petersson with two geeky band members in lead guitarist/vocalist Rick Nielsen and drummer Bun E. Carlos. The group’s breakout release was the 1979 live album At Budokan, which became a triple-platinum LP. Many guitar picks will be thrown during sing-alongs of “Surrender,” “Dream Police,” “Tonight It’s You,” and “I Want You To Want Me.”

8 p.m. Dec. 18 at Hard Rock Live ($77.25-$205).

Donna the Buffalo, the roots music act that formed in upstate New York in 1989, has shuffled members but gained a sizable audience.

Nicknamed “The Herd,” the band’s followers display a Grateful Dead-like fervor, especially when it comes to outdoor festival settings, the quintet’s specialty. Its nucleus remains lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Tara Nevins and guitarist/vocalist Jeb Puryear, its primary songwriters. Keyboardist David McCracken, bassist Ted Pecchio, and drummer Chris English round out the lineup.

7 p.m. Jan. 2 at the Funky Biscuit ($25-$40); 7 p.m. Jan. 3 at Terra Fermata, 26 SE 6th St., Stuart (772-286-5252, $25-$30).

this season Feb. 28-March 9, bringing a selection of big-name guests and a musical celebration for the city’s centennial.

The Authors & Ideas program features a return appearance by the eminent historian (and part-time Palm Beach County resident)

Doris Kearns

Goodwin, who last spoke at the festival in 2019.

Goodwin will discuss her book An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, about her life and work with her husband, Richard Goodwin.

Carl Hiaasen, the former Miami Herald columnist known for his crime fiction and satirical look at Florida life, will provide an inside look at Bad Monkey, a 10-part Apple TV+ series based on his 2013 novel.

Additionally, lawyer, art historian and author Amy Herman will discuss her method, Art of Perception, about how analyzing art can improve powers of observation, aid in decision-making and leadership and improve critical thinking. Visit festivalboca.org.

Vocalist/keyboardist

Marcia Ball defies blues stereotypes by being a star female artist who not only doesn’t play guitar, but also doesn’t fall into the genre’s often-expected tales of pain and hardship. The 74-yearold enlivens her blues pianoplaying with elements of zydeco and boogie-woogie, and her often tongue-in-cheek vocal delivery adds character to her master story-telling. Jazzy tinges of the Big Easy have also crept into her catalog, which includes her latest release, Shine Bright (2018). And kudos to Ball, and the South Florida venues presenting her, for keeping her ticket prices exactly the same as when she appeared in 2019.

9 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Funky Biscuit ($30-$50); 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at the Lyric Theatre, 59 SW Flagler Ave., Stuart (772-286-7827, $45).

He may not have the fame or the flame of his baby brother Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990), but the native Texan and namesake leader of Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band has always delivered with his own special spin. The 73-year-old guitarist and vocalist was, after all, an opening act for the Jimi Hendrix Experience in Fort Worth in 1969, plus a major influence on his incendiary sibling and a founding 1974 member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. A four-time Grammy Award winner, this Fender Stratocaster

Broward Public Library

Literary Feast

Established in 1988, this event has connected South Floridians with more than 500 renowned authors and raised $4.5 million for literacy programs and services for children and teens.

Last year’s 35th annual feast featured 10 acclaimed authors.

This season’s event kicks off in February, with the 15th annual LitLUNCH!, a presentation by a best-selling woman author.

Visit bplfoundation.org.

Florida Voices book talks at the Society of the Four Arts

This year’s lineup includes Thomas Swick (Falling into Place: A Story of Love, Poland and the Making of a Travel Writer) on Oct. 23; and Emily Franklin (The Lioness of Boston) on Nov. 13.

Swick, a resident of Fort Lauderdale and former travel editor of the Sun Sentinel, talks about this memoir and the love for his wife, Hania.

Franklin, author of more than 20 books, will discuss Isabella Stewart Gardner’s life and her special bond with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Maud Howe Elliott.

maestro started a lengthy solo recording career with the 1994 album Strange Pleasure, and his six-piece band always includes the cream of the crop from within the Dallas-Fort Worth scene.

7 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Lyric Theatre ($65).

More performers with name recognition have emerged from Los Angeles than any other American city, and Los Lobos remains one of the best and most underrated. The band celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, and features original members in vocalist/guitarist David Hidalgo, guitarist/vocalist Cesar Rojas, bassist/ vocalist Conrad Lozano and drummer/vocalist Louie Perez. Keyboardist and woodwinds player Steve Berlin has been on board since 1982, and drummer/ percussionist Alfredo Ortiz is a recent addition for live shows. Los Lobos initially covered American Top 40 and traditional Mexican songs before its 1984 major label debut, How Will the Wolf Survive?, and its starmaking cover version of the 1958 Ritchie Valens hit “La Bamba,” from the 1987 film of the same name. Since then, the little East L.A. band survives and thrives, having won its fourth Grammy Award, a “Best Americana Album” nod, for its latest release, Native Sons (2021).

8 p.m. Jan. 11, Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce (772461-4775, $59.50-$86.50).

Elliott, a Four Arts founder, was the daughter of Julia Ward Howe, the first woman elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and known for writing the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Other authors with a Florida connection include Leslie Kemp Poole (Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now), Dec. 18; Clay Henderson (Audubon’s Birds of Florida), Jan. 22; Flora Collins (Nanny Dearest and A Small Affair), Feb. 26; Scott Eyman, former book editor at The Palm Beach Post (Charlie Chaplin vs. America: When Art, Sex, and Politics Collided ), March 5; Keri Watson (Florida’s New Deal Parks and Post Office Murals), April 9; Kristy Woodson Harvey (A Happier Life), May 7; and Ann Leary (I’ve Tried Being Nice), May 14. Visit fourarts.org or call 561655-2766.

Key West Literary Seminar With the theme of “Family,” the 42nd annual event, Jan. 9-12, will bring in a wide selection of notable authors, including Nathan Hill (Wellness); National Book Award winner John Irving; Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Harding (Tinkers, Enon and The Other Eden); New York Times bestselling author Jean Hanff Korelitz (The Plot), Victor LaValle, author of The Changeling ; Malinda Lo, National Book Award winner for Last Night at the Telegraph Club; and Ayana Mathis (The Unsettled ). Visit kwls.org.

Goodwin Irving

Season Preview: Jazz Facing hard times, the jazz greats keep on riffing

By Bill Meredith ArtsPaper Music Writer

Labeled by some as “America’s classical music,” jazz now has largely become a vehicle for nostalgia acts such as Armstrong, Ellington, Goodman, Dorsey and Basie.

The sparse 2024-25 South Florida bookings certainly signal an aging, formerly lionized genre.

It’s telling that one of this season’s featured jazz artists has a house gig at an area restaurant. Greenacres-based veteran pianist Copeland Davis has written arrangements for the Fifth Dimension, recorded three albums under his own name and performed in jazz and symphonic pop settings from locally to Las Vegas. For the past four years, his trio (with bassist Val Shaffer and drummer Bill Alexander) has been part of Italian restaurant Cafe Centro’s entertainment calendar.

6:30 p.m. Thursdays and 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Cafe Centro, 2409 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach (561-514-4070, free).

With its emphasis on horns, percussion and sashaying rhythms, salsa music is much like jazz. And the Puerto Rican group El Gran Combo is the style’s premier practitioner. The 13-piece ensemble was founded in 1962 by musical director and

guitarist Rafael Ithier, who still remarkably performs at age 98 as the only remaining original member.

8 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale (954-462-0222, $45-$185).

Jazz has accurately been described as “the sound of surprise.” Pump up the volume, and you have its electrified update, jazz/fusion. And you’re unlikely to find sounds more surprising than the ones produced by drummer Adam Deitch, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom, bassist Brad Miller and keyboardist BIGYUKI

6 and 9 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Funky Biscuit, 303 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton (561-395-2929, $30-$45).

Black Violin’s “BV20: Then & Now” presentation is part of the Arts for Action organization’s “Black Voices Series,” and features Black Violin’s founders, Florida-bred violinist Kev Marcus and viola player Wil Baptiste. Along with drummer Nat Stokes and turntable artist DJ SPS, they are likely to perform creative originals from multiple CD releases.

6 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Au-Rene Theater ($20-$169.50).

If you can judge musical artists by the company they keep, then veteran pianist Michael Wolff is certainly

deserving of wider recognition late in his lengthy career. The 72-year-old California native has been a musical director, solo recording artist, and studio and concert player. Wolff will perform standards and originals from his latest CD, Memoir, with bassist Ben Allison and drummer Allan Mednard

8 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach (561-450-6357, $45-$50).

If you’re looking for an authentic and traditional jazz roots concert, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band is the logical choice, even if the theme is “Creole Christmas.” Ben Jaffe is longtime creative director of the Hall, and a tuba and bass player within its touring troupe’s rotating personnel.

7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker, 707 NE 8th St., Fort Lauderdale (954-462-0222, $55 + up).

The gifted pianist and leader of the Shelly Berg Trio is often overshadowed, especially in South Florida. His new album Alegria features his original compositions, along with covers of standards from George Gershwin to the Beatles, augmented by saxophonist Melvin Butler, bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and drummer Dafnis Prieto

7:45 p.m. Jan. 8 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center ($65).

Pink Martini featuring China Forbes’ “30th Anniversary Tour” is much

more self-explanatory than the band itself. Pianist Thomas Lauderdale’s self-described “little orchestra” will often traverse jazz, classical, pop, and Latin themes — separately or together — through any live performance.

7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Au-Rene Theater ($39.50-$149).

As always, this year’s Jazz Fest Pompano Beach features marquee names. Day one features Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker; celebrated saxophonist Joshua Redman’s group; trumpeter Fernando Ferrarone’s trio, and Bop Shop Brass. Day two headliners are Grammywinning vocalist Judith Hill, veteran saxophonist Gerald Albright, guitarist Jonathan Butler, and Jazz Funk Soul (keyboardist Jeff Lorber, saxophonist Everette Harp and guitarist Paul Jackson Jr.), with locals in saxophonist Luigi Arredondo, the trio Trad305, and the combo Ginetta’s Vendetta

1:45-10 p.m. Jan. 24, 1-10 p.m. Jan. 25, Pompano Beach (pompanobeacharts.org, free general admission; $200 VIP pass).

The John Pizzarelli Trio is a legacy act. A practitioner of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli performs in a lowervolume trio format with acoustic upright bassist Mike Karn and either Isaiah J. Thompson or Tadataka Unno on piano.

7 p.m. Jan. 25, at the Lyric Theatre, 59 SW Flagler Ave., Stuart (772-286-7827, $65).

The Yoko Miwa Trio has become a seasonal favorite at the Arts Garage in Delray Beach. The pianist’s impressive touch and technique have been featured on nine albums, and her trio is rounded out by acoustic bassist Will Slater and drummer Scott Goulding

8 p.m. Feb. 28, at the Arts Garage ($45-$50).

New Orleans-born saxophonist Branford Marsalis, 64, is the eldest of a family of talented brothers. His Grammywinning quartet includes pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner

7 p.m. April 1, at the Lyric Theatre ($85).

The Branford Marsalis Quartet plays Stuart’s Lyric Theatre on April 1. Photo provided

Season Preview: Dance

Expect a reduced, but still vibrant, slate of programs for 2024-25

By Tara Mitton Catao ArtsPaper Dance Writer

Is this the fallout year for the performing arts? It is alarming to see the sparse offerings for the 2024-25 dance season, especially after the enormous struggle it was for the arts to survive the hardships imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a look at the season in dance:

Miami City Ballet

The preeminent South Florida company has always been the headliner for the Palm Beach dance season; but this year, the company has drastically cut performances at the Kravis Center, with only two of its five programs scheduled in West Palm Beach — the Winter Mix and the Spring Mix.

For its Winter Mix, MCB will present two of Balanchine’s works on the same program: Walpurgisnacht Ballet and La Valse. Completing the program is Coincident Dances, the world premiere by the boundarypushing choreographer Pam Tanowitz. (March 8-9)

The Spring Mix is a combination of company premieres and a Jerome Robbins classic. Robbins’s Glass Pieces is an exciting concoction of postmodern and classical. The enduring legacy of José Limón and his native Mexico are showcased in Chaconne The company premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition completes the triple bill, with 10 dancers who explore the range of motion and emotion in this abstract ballet danced to Modest Mussorgsky’s score in front of a backdrop of Wassily Kandinsky’s Color Study Squares with Concentric Circles. (April 12-13) Visit kravis.org or miamicityballet.org.

Kravis PEAK series

Also appearing at the Kravis Center as part of the innovative PEAK series is the Dance Theatre of Harlem performing a forward-thinking repertoire that includes treasured classics and neoclassical works. (Nov. 23)

The PEAK series will also feature a holiday production that fuses Christmas themes with Broadway styling and contemporary circus arts. Cirque Dreams Holidaze is filled with twists on holiday classics that are sung live as a fantastical cast of storybook characters comes to life on stage. The production will fill the slot formerly taken by MCB’s The Nutcracker as the family spectacular for the holidays. (Dec. 19-24)

Visit kravis.org.

Duncan Theatre

Meanwhile, the Duncan Theatre and Stage West will once again present its very

popular Friday and Saturday Night Modern Dance Series, which will feature audience favorites Parsons Dance and Pilobolus as well the Seoul-based Bereishit Dance Company and the return of Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami.

Parsons Dance, which is known for its innovative and bold ensemble work, is one of the country’s leading contemporary dance companies. (Jan. 17-18)

Next up on the series’ lineup is the equally innovative and thrilling dance company Pilobolus. On Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, this extraordinary company will present re:CREATION, an evening-length work in which the boundaries of gravity and creativity blur. This is a great opportunity to introduce friends and family to some of the very best in the dance art.

On Feb. 14 and 15, the six dancers of the Bereishit Dance Company will make their Palm Beach County debut performing high-octane movement (drawing from many sources including street dance and martial arts) to the percussive rhythms of an ensemble of Korean traditional drummers. The dancers will perform two works, Balance and Imbalance, and Judo The company was founded in 2011 by choreographer Park Soonho, who is interested in the relationship between nature’s physical laws and the human body and that between people and society.

Closing the season will be Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, a classically based contemporary ballet company founded in 2016 by former Miami City Ballet leading principal couple, Carlos Guerra and Jennifer Kronenberg. (March 21-22) Duncan Theatre is located on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth Beach. Call 561-868-3309.

Harid Conservatory

Each year, the Boca Ratonbased professional dance school presents two programs designed to showcase the talented dancers who come

Arts Theater, 20101 Lyons Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-995-0709 or visit bocaballet.org.

Ballet Palm Beach

The company has a busy 2024-25 performance season planned. Colleen Smith, who is the founding artistic and executive director of Ballet Palm Beach and its associated school, Ballet Palm Beach Academy, formed the chamber dance company, which is based in Palm Beach Gardens, in 2001. All performances are at various theaters at the Kravis Center.

from around the world to train on scholarship at this world-class ballet conservatory. Classical and neoclassical ballets, modern and character dance, and cutting-edge contemporary works by leading choreographers ensure that each Harid program is a success with its loyal audience.

The 2024 Winter Performances on Dec. 14 and 15 include selections from Act II of The Nutcracker along with other ballets and modern and character dances.

The 2025 Spring Performances from May 23-25 will be an exciting selection of classical and contemporary ballets and will feature Harid’s graduating Class of 2024.

All performances are at the Countess de Hoernle Theater, 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton, which is on the campus of Spanish River Community High School. Call 561-998-8038 or visit harid.edu.

Boca Ballet Theatre

Under the leadership of co-artistic directors Dan Guin and Jane Tyree, this company will present its 2024-2025 Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Season of Dance by ringing in the holiday season with Guin’s charming version of The Nutcracker on Nov. 29, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Following the matinee performances, children are invited to attend the Gingerbread Ball, where they will meet the cast of characters on stage.

The company, which is celebrating its 34th season this year, invites professional guest artists from the nation’s top ballet companies to dance live on stage alongside a talented cast of local dancers.

On April 5-6, BBT will present Coppélia, a classic narrative ballet about a life-size dancing doll who captures the heart of a villager named Franz.

During the summer, the company will present different genres of dance in a program of assorted classical and contemporary works in a program titled Summer Breezes (Aug. 2-3)

Performances will take place at Olympic Heights Performing

Intermezzo, an original work for the company.

A full-length version of The Nutcracker follows at Dreyfoos Hall on Dec. 6-8.

Two additional full-length ballets complete the season

On Nov. 1-3 at the Rinker Playhouse, the fiery ballet Carmen will be performed. The passion, jealousy and rage of this ballet will be accompanied by the cool mood of the contemporary ballet Fractured and the ethereal look of Mozart

The Great Gatsby (Feb. 28-March 2) and The Sleeping Beauty (April 17-19), both at the Kravis Center’s Rinker Playhouse. The poignant story of love, loss and the price of success is captured in glamorous style through extravagant dance in this interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, as is the enduring magic of the famous fairy tale where only a prince’s kiss can break the spell and awaken the sleeping beauty for their happily-ever-after ending.

Visit kravis.org or balletpalmbeach.org.

The modern dance company Pilobolus performs its program re:CREATION on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at the Duncan Theatre in Lake Worth Beach. Photo by Steven Pisano

be celebrating its 25th season by remounting two hit shows from its early days: The Dresser (Dec. 20-Jan. 5), the WW II-era backstage drama, and Camping with Henry and Tom (April 11-27), a fictional account of a 1920s rustic outing for inventors Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, and President Warren G. Harding.

The West Palm troupe opens its season with its firstever Neil Simon play, Lost in Yonkers (Nov. 1-17), drawn from the playwright’s youth. Also on the schedule are the Tony Award-winning The Humans (Feb. 14-March 2), an eerie contemporary Thanksgiving family get-together, and a world premiere of South Florida playwright Gina Montet’s Dangerous Instruments (May 22-June 8), a gripping drama of a mother’s efforts to save the life of her son.

Visit www.palmbeach dramaworks.org.

The Kravis Center kicks off its Broadway series with the musical stage version of Mrs. Doubtfire (Oct. 29-Nov. 3), as well as two other screen-tostage transfers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical (March 25-30) and Mystic Pizza (May 13-18), a rom-com fueled by jukebox hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Making their Kravis debuts will be the biographical The Cher Show

(Jan. 7-17) and Funny Girl (Jan. 28-Feb. 2), as well as Peter Pan (Feb. 12-16) in a new adaptation. Also on the schedule are perennial favorites The Book of Mormon (March 11-16) and Les Miserables (April 22-27). Visit kravis.org.

Boca Stage continues its residency at the Delray Beach Playhouse, offering Alfred Uhry’s serio-comedy of Jewish identity in 1939 Atlanta, The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Oct. 24-Nov. 3), followed by Joe Di

Pietro’s Living on Love (Jan. 1626), a comedy of ghostwritten biographies. Somewhat edgier is the satire of the private equity world Dry Powder (April 24May 4), an exposé of corporate greed and cutthroat deals. Visit delraybeachplayhouse. com.

Now in its 11th season, The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum rolls out five crowdpleasing shows. In the leadoff slot is Groucho (Oct. 10-Nov. 3), starring Frank Ferrante as the

rakish Marx brother. Then the focus turns to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Nov. 21-Dec. 22), followed by the biographical Beautiful, The Carole King Musical (Jan. 16-Feb. 16). From 1923 comes the tap-happy No No Nanette (March 13-April 6). The Wick’s season-closer is My Way (April 24-May 18), a songbook of Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. Visit thewick.org.

Florida Atlantic University’s Theatre Lab Mainstage season will feature three world premieres, all developed in the Lab’s 2022 New Play Festival, plus its sixth annual Heckscher Theatre for Families production, a new take on The Little Mermaid. One of the Lab’s favorite playwrights, Deborah Laufer, offers The Last Yiddish Speaker (Oct. 26-Nov. 10). It concerns a father and daughter who flee New York after the Jan. 6 insurrection and move upstate where they encounter a Yiddish-spouting woman who challenges their belief systems. Also slated are Steve McMahon’s Two Of Us On The Run (Feb. 1-16), a contemporary Thelma and Louise-like tale, and Jeff Bower’s The Impossible Task of Today (April 5-20), the saga of an agoraphobic online teacher with themes of gun violence, mental health and the dangers of social media.

In addition, Theatre Lab will be expanding its New Play Festival with two full productions of new works, Impossible Task and The Frankenstein Project, playing concurrently (April 11-20), as well as several readings of new scripts and related discussions. Visit www.fau.edu.

Welcome the Pompano Players, a new professional company residing at the Pompano Beach Cultural

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For its 25th season, Palm Beach Dramaworks will bring back a couple of popular dramas from past years. This year’s production of The Dresser, Dec. 20 to Jan. 5, will star William Hayes and Colin McPhillamy. Photo by Curtis Brown

Center, offering a five-show menu of lightweight plays and musicals in its inaugural season. The company debuts with Love, Loss and What I Wore (Oct. 11-20), a series of skits from the female perspective, written by Nora and Delia Ephron. And they’ll serve up the popular Joe DiPietro revue on the complexities of modern relationships, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Nov. 8-17), as well as the Jerry Herman jukebox musical, Jerry’s Girls (Jan. 10-19). The group’s season will also include a tribute to women throughout the 20th century, Respect: A Musical Journey of Women (March 28-April 6) and a salute to the songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, The World Goes ’Round (April 25-May 4). The Players’ season concludes with the musical of the ups and downs of marriage, I Do! I Do! (May 23-June 1). Visit pompanobeacharts.org.

Wilton Manors’ Island City Stage hopes its 13th season, dubbed “All In The Family,” will be a lucky one. It will be one of a handful of companies nationwide producing a new LGBTQ+ version of The Fantasticks (Oct. 17-Nov. 17). A couple of Pulitzer Prizewinners, Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance (Jan. 16-Feb. 8); and Fat Ham (April 3-May 4), a re-imagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, follow. The season concludes with Craig Lucas’s The Dying Gaul (May 22-June 15), a romantic triangle of a film producer, his wife and an internet chatroom. Visit islandcitystage.org.

The Broward Center, Fort Lauderdale’s prime performing arts center, features a Broadway series of seven musicals, including a couple of exclusives for South Florida. It begins with The Cher Show (Nov. 19-24), a hit-filled bio revue with three different Chers throughout the ages. Just in time for the holidays will be everyone’s favorite larcenous curmudgeon, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, followed by the Neil Diamond celebration, A Beautiful Noise (Jan. 21-Feb. 2). Disney’s The Lion King (March 6-30) returns with Julie Taymor’s clever Tony Award-winning animal puppets. MJ, The Musical (April 8-2) is yet another jukebox biography, of the moonwalking Michael Jackson. That newly adapted version of The Boy Who Never Grew Up, Peter Pan (May 6-18) arrives next, followed by the series’ season-closer, the surprise hit show with “corny” humor, Shucked (June 10-22). Visit browardcenter.org.

Across the plaza in the Broward Center’s more intimate Amaturo space, Slow Burn Theatre celebrates its 15th season with a five-pack of unconventional musicals, beginning with the South Florida premiere of The Witches of Eastwick (Oct. 19-Nov. 3). Next up is Anastasia (Dec.

21-Jan. 5), about the possible discovery of the surviving Russian Romanoff. Fresh from its recent Broadway revival is Parade (Feb. 8-23), the Jason Robert Brown drama about a Jewish factory manager wrongly convicted of murdering a female employee.

Then Slow Burn switches gears to the farcical Something Rotten (March 29-April 13), about Elizabethan brothers trying to beat Will Shakespeare at his theatrical game. And last is The Bodyguard, The Musical (June 7-22), based on the Kevin Costner-Whitney Houston thriller.

Visit slowburntheatre.org.

Miami’s Arsht Center also has a Broadway series, with Some Like It Hot (Dec, 3-8); Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Jan. 14-19), and MJ (March 18-23), the Michael Jackson songfest. Add in a couple of always welcome encore productions, Mamma Mia! (Feb. 18-23) and Chicago (June 17-22), as well as the raucous Beetlejuice (April 29-May 4).

In the Arsht’s more intimate black box Studio Theatre, Zoetic Stage rolls out an eclectic season, beginning with Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman (Oct. 24-Nov. 10), followed by the regional premiere of the allfemale political farce, POTUS: Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive (Jan. 9-26).

The company will offer its take on Fiddler on the Roof (March 12-April 6), and end its season with The Comeuppance (May 8-25), an early work by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins concerning a high school reunion among millennials. Visit www.arshtcenter.org.

Coral Gables’ Actors’ Playhouse unveils what it calls its “iconic season,” beginning with tick…tick…Boom! (Nov. 11-Dec. 8), the late Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical effort to write a hit musical. Then the company rolls out its version of Jersey Boys (Jan. 22-Feb. 23), followed by Waitress (March 26-April 20). The season ends with The Girl on the Train (May 14-June 8), a stage adaptation of the best-selling suspense novel. Visit actorsplayhouse.org.

At GableStage, artistic director Bari Newport plans an eclectic season beginning with King James (Nov. 1-24), about basketball great LeBron James and two of his most ardent fans. Next up is a dual musical biography, Both Sides Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen (Dec. 13Jan. 5). Fresh from Broadway is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate (Jan. 31-Feb. 23), a vicious comedy of an Arkansas clan reunited by the death of their patriarch. Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn looks back to Summer, 1976 (March 28-April 20), and two women forging an unlikely friendship. GableStage ends its season with Fat Ham (May 16-June 15). Visit www.gablestage.org.

Season Preview: Community Theater

By Dale King Contributing Writer

Folks who have been readying for a season of main stage productions at Palm Beach County’s two major community theaters — the Delray Beach Playhouse and the Lake Worth Playhouse — are about to be amply rewarded.

The Delray Beach Playhouse has posted its lineup. “Once again, we will offer a wide variety of programming designed to please our longtime patrons as well as to attract new and diverse audiences to what is often referred to as ‘the gem of a theater on the shores of Lake Ida,’” said Executive Director Kevin Barrett.

“Our historic theater enters its 78th season with a jam-packed lineup,” he said.

“We will host more than 250 performances.”

Lake Worth Playhouse

Executive Director Shoshana

Davidowitz is looking ahead to LWP’s 72nd season, which she promises will “uphold the artistic excellence and highcaliber performances that audiences have come to expect from our theater.”

“This season features a diverse selection of shows, opportunities and packages in keeping with the Playhouse tradition of always providing something for everyone,”

Davidowitz said.

At the Delray Beach Playhouse, the season gets going just before Thanksgiving with a production of Mel Brooks’ multiple Tony Awardwinning musical comedy The Producers, playing Nov. 22Dec. 15. It will be followed by Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to

Margaritaville Jan. 31-Feb. 23, featuring the music of the preeminent Parrothead.

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express — featuring the legendary detective Hercule Poirot — is on track for a March 21-April 13 run. The season will conclude May 9-25 with a performance of the lushly romantic musical, The Bridges of Madison County

In downtown Lake Worth Beach, five shows will each spend a portion of the season on the Lake Worth Playhouse stage.

The Prom, a classical musical comedy with a twist — and winner of the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical — will be presented Oct. 4-20.

Next comes Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, part one of the author’s autobiographical trilogy. The portrait of the writer as a

young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up is scheduled Nov. 15-Dec. 1.

The Sound of Music — the final collaboration by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II — will be performed Jan. 17-Feb. 2.

Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, the moving tale of the von Trapp family won five Tony Awards and five Oscars.

The Play That Goes Wrong — a wild comedy that is true to its name — will be presented Feb. 28-March 16.

Wrapping up the season is a show by another wild and crazy playwright, Mel Brooks.

The Producers — the story of a scheming producer and his

mousy accountant who aim to produce the biggest flop on Broadway — plays April 11-27. In addition to main stage productions, each theater offers performances in other categories. Delray Playhouse brings back its “Best of Broadway Cabaret” series starting in December. The showplace will also offer its “Playhouse Presents” series and “Lunchbox Matinees.”

LWP also offers a cascade of limited engagements, independent films and a Black Box Series. The 12th annual L-Dub Film Festival is planned for March.

Delray Beach Playhouse is at 950 NW 9th St. 561-272-1281; delraybeachplayhouse.com. Lake Worth Playhouse is at 713 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth Beach. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org.

Season Preview: Broward and Miami-Dade Art

South Florida galleries to offer a rich mosaic of impactful art

By Jan Engoren Contributing Writer

The coming season touches on such varied themes as cultural diversity, LatinX graffiti artists, Jews and cannabis, and of course the crush of visitors headed to South Florida in early December for Art Basel.

Here’s what’s happening:

BROWARD COUNTY

NSU Art Museum

Louis M. Glackens: Pure Imagination highlights the work of Glackens, a trailblazing figure and staff artist for the satirical humor weekly Puck. Later, Glackens — the elder brother of William Glackens, whose legacy was left to the Fort Lauderdale museum in the 1990s — became one of the first illustrators of animated cartoons. (through March 30)

Peter Halley: The Mirror Stage is a site-specific installation created for the museum. The American artist is known for his neon-colored geometric paintings, and his mural features a technicolor palette referencing modern industrial frameworks. (through Jan. 12)

Joel Meyerowitz: Temporal Aspects is an inaugural display of photographs recently donated to the museum by the artist. (through March 16)

Rose B. Simpson & vanessa german is a visual conversation between two leading contemporary female artists — Simpson, a mixed media artist and ceramicist from a long line of Indigenous ceramicists, and german, an African-American sculptor, painter, writer, activist, performer and poet. (through April 13)

Visit nsuartmuseum.org

Coral Springs Museum of Art

Opening Oct. 17 will be Tides and Currents, a multiartist, multimedia look at humanity’s relationship with water. Venezuelan artist Julia Zurilla’s video and photographs explore the migrant experience at sea, while Jamaican-born Michelle Drummond’s fiber sculptures evoke the plight of communities with limited access to clean water. Young American painter and Nova Southeastern student Aria Tan’s Fish Market series showcases the life of a fishing village, and South Floridabased photographer Sharon Lee Hart documents the remarkable details of seaweed.

Tallahassee’s Holly Hanessian offers her Hurricane Emergency Art Kit, and Uruguayan-born artist Evelyn Politzer contributes fiber artworks that remind the viewer of the importance of water conservation. (through Jan. 4)

Visit coralspringsmuseum. org

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Pérez Art Museum Miami

The major event this season will be the first solo exhibition by Miami artist José Parlá. Homecoming will feature a series of new works and a site-specific mural by the interdisciplinary artist that is a testament to the connection between personal history, art and creative expression. (Nov. 14-July 6)

Start your visit with Xicana.o.x. Body, an exhibit of 150 works by 70 artists and collectives representative of Chicano life. (through March 30)

Calida Rawles’ Away with the Tides celebrates PAMM’s neighboring community of Overtown and its history. (through Feb. 2)

Beyond Representation is an ongoing digital research project and performance by

Caribbean artists with an online component. (through Jan. 26)

Visit pamm.org.

Art Basel Miami Beach

The 2024 show will be the first edition under the leadership of director Bridget Finn.

It features a large group of newcomers and a revitalized program for new and returning audiences, with 286 galleries representing 38 countries and territories with nearly twothirds of exhibitors coming from the Americas, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and Uruguay.

Art Basel runs Dec. 6-8, with VIP preview days on Dec. 4 and 5, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Visit www.artbasel.com/ miami-beach.

The Bass

Notable this season at the Miami Beach museum is Ulla von Brandenburg: In Dialogue paired with The Bass’s recently acquired ceramic mural by the Lebanese-American artist Etel Adnan. (through July 6)

Mexican-born, Miamibased artist Fabiola Larios’s PrincessCam Dreamland is showcased at 23rd Street and Collins Avenue in the Walgreens storefront. Her work examines the convergence of technology, identity and

representation in the digital age. (through Nov. 17)

Visit thebass.org.

FIU Jewish Museum of Florida

Step into the Garden of the Finzi-Continis tells the story of Eric Finzi, whose ItalianJewish parents were saved by photojournalist Ruth Gruber during the Holocaust. Ferrara, a city in northern Italy, is Finzi’s ancestral home. His sculptures

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Bicycle Ghosts by Eric Finzi is part of an exhibition of the artist’s works on display at the FIU Jewish Museum in Miami Beach starting Nov. 18.

Photo provided

and paintings will be on display to tell his family’s story and the journey to America. (Nov. 18 through March)

Also at the museum: The Hate Around Us showcases 100 years of antisemitism in Florida through artifacts, photographs, and historical documents. (through Oct. 27)

Operation Moses highlights the 10,000 “Beta Israel” Ethiopian Jews who were airlifted to Israel in 1984 in a joint operation of the Israeli government, the Sudanese Secret Service, the White House, the State Department, Mossad, CIA, and the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration. (through Nov. 3)

The Story of Jews and Cannabis: Archival material, texts, artifacts, photographs, and various ephemera from over 2,000 years ago to today. (Nov. 14 to April 20)

Visit jmof.fiu.edu.

Museum of Graffiti

Moses & Taps: Plastic is Forever : The Miami museum showcases the first U.S. solo exhibition of the German artist collective known as Moses & Taps (the duo joined forces in 2007 to form the artist collective Topsprayer). Moses & Taps is known for painting thousands of trains in Europe. This exhibit spotlights elements of their geometric patterns and vibrant color schemes. (through Nov. 7)

In December, the museum

will present an exploration of the works of the renowned Los Angeles graffiti artist OG Slick. Details tba. (Dec. 4-Feb. 2) Visit museumofgraffiti.com

Frost Art Museum FIU

The museum on the university’s Modesto Maidique campus currently offers The New York Collection for Stockholm Portfolio, 30 works by American artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Red Grooms, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol and others. (through Dec. 8)

Of what surrounds me: Amanda Bradley, Cristina Lei Rodriguez, and Mette Tommerup positions each artist as instigator of close contemplation. (through Jan. 12)

Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice: Johnson depicts historic and contemporary Black leaders who fought for the freedom of the individual. (through Jan. 5)

Visit frost.fiu.edu.

The Wolfsonian-FIU

The Miami Beach museum takes us back to the wild and woolly days of aggressive newspapering with Hearst: Lampooning the King of Yellow Journalism. (Oct. 17 to Jan. 5)

On view through May 25 is The Big World: Alternative Landscapes in the Modern Era, artworks from the Wolfsonian’s collection of art from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Visit wolfsonian.org.

Works by Scottish artist Rory McEwen will be on display at the Society of the Four Arts in February. Photo provided

PB ART

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Museum & Library in New York City.

Sorolla had a particular connection to the sea, having grown up on the wild and rocky coast. The exhibit has five sections that examine a different viewpoint from his plein-air paintings to beach scenes, to the fishermen and the regional traditions captured in the artist’s series Visions of Spain (Nov. 23-March 16)

Visit www.norton.org

Boca Raton Museum of Art

Connecting to the Latin theme, Splendor & Passion will exhibit another selection from the rich collection of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library of Baroque Art. Viewers will delight in 57 works of art, rarely seen masterpieces by Spain’s most renowned painters — El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Alonso Vázquez, and Bartolomé  Esteban Murillo.

The show premieres in Boca Raton before traveling to two additional venues. It kicks off the museum’s 75th anniversary season and coincides with Boca Raton’s centenary. (Nov. 7-March 30)

To complement the Baroque paintings, the museum has invited contemporary Spanish artist Felix de la Concha to create an installation of his meticulous copy of Velázquez’s famous painting Las Meninas (1656) that hangs in the Prado Museum in Madrid. The work, Las meninas from an artificial light, is painted in oil on 140 papers that are 9-by12 inches each. The fragments reconstruct the real size of the Velázquez masterpiece, which measures 125 x 108 inches.

In addition, de la Concha’s work will be featured in a special installation commissioned by the Museum to commemorate Boca Raton’s 100th anniversary. The artist chose the crossroads of Dixie Highway, the Flagler railroad, and Camino Real with Addison Mizner’s administrative building, The Addison. This historic location was painted en plein air over several months. The result is a triptych with a detailed depiction that captures the passage of time.

Visit bocamuseum.org.

Flagler Museum

For the fall exhibition, In the Golden Dreamland of Winter: Henry Flagler’s FEC Hotel Company explores Henry Flagler’s vast and transformative impact on Florida’s economy

through the development of his Florida East Coast Hotel Company, which opened up Florida as a major travel destination. (Oct. 15-Dec. 29) Visit flaglermuseum.us.

Society of the Four Arts

Oklahoma’s Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa houses one of the best and most comprehensive collections of Native American art in the country, built by American oilman Thomas Gilcrease (1890–1962), a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation. Past Forward: Native American Art from the Gilcrease Museum surveys more than 3,000 years of indigenous art. The exhibit has 76 works arranged in four sections — ceremony, sovereignty, visual abstraction, and identity — that focus on Native culture and the history of the American West. There will be an exhibit lecture at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 11. (Nov. 23-Jan. 19)

Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature presents the vibrant career of Scottish artist McEwen (1932–1982), a major figure in the development of botanical art. His lush floral watercolors on vellum are featured with historical works by masters who influenced him. (Feb. 1-March 30)

Visit fourarts.org.

Lighthouse ArtCenter

The Lighthouse in Tequesta has an active ceramics department and is holding the third edition of a biennial open call of contemporary ceramics. LUSH 3 will showcase the latest and most innovative practices in the field. Its contemporary artists utilize clay as their main material.

LUSH 3 also features works of underwater photographer Chris Leidy, who captures unusual images below the ocean’s surface (through Nov. 16)

Visit lighthousearts.org

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Quintessentially We: Personal stories that artists tell visually are influenced by the time in which they live. (Nov. 22–Jan. 18)

Reflections of a Century: Celebrating Boca Raton’s 100 Years through Art: presents both historical images of the city and contemporary works by Palm Beach County artists. (Jan. 31–March 29)

Aldo Cherres: Horizons: Cherres finds inspiration in shapes, forms, and colors in nature. (Oct. 25–Nov. 30)

Continued on the next page

Debra Robert: HumanUnity: Sculptures exploring the artist’s experience living with multiple sclerosis. (Dec. 6–Jan. 11)

Judy Horowitz: The Painting Always Tells A Story, You Just Have to Ask: Explores human emotions, relationships, and moments in time in oil paintings. (Jan. 17–Feb. 22)

Quimetta Perle: Protectors of the Women: Artwork that powerfully addresses women’s rights and safety through the use of patterned silks, cottons, and seed beads adhered to rag paper. (Feb. 28–April 5)

Visit palmbeachculture.com.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Time Flows like Water: Works by Masumi Sakagami: Thirtyfour abstract paintings utilize classical Japanese calligraphy. (Oct. 5-Feb. 16)

A second exhibit, Akira: Architecture of Neo-Tokyo, follows how the architectural world of Japan’s most influential animated science fiction film, Akira, was created. (Nov. 9-April 6) Visit morikami.org.

Ann Norton

Sculpture Gardens

Slim Aarons: Gold Coast:

Colorful, upper-class lifestyles were George “Slim” Aarons’s photographic focus. Aarons spent his 40-year career taking pictures of “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places,” as he put it. The exhibit features dozens of

Aarons’s celebrated works with a selection of never-before-seen images curated from his archive, many of Palm Beach couture icon Lilly Pulitzer. (Nov. 15-Jan. 26)

Visit ansg.org.

Art fairs

The 22nd annual Palm Beach Show returns to the Palm Beach County Convention Center over Presidents’ Day weekend. This show remains the county’s only high-end showcase offering vintage and new items spanning every genre, from jewelry to furniture to special showcases of art spanning many periods and movements. (Feb. 13-18)

Visit palmbeachshow.com.

The Palm Beach Fine Craft Show showcases the nation’s top contemporary craft artists who make jewelry and accessories. It runs adjacent to the Palm Beach Show inside the convention center.

Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, presented by Art Miami, returns for its eighth edition at the Convention Center. It provides an intimate look at important works available for acquisition from the international contemporary, modern, classical modern, post-war and pop eras. (March 20-23)

Visit artpbfair.com.

Paws Up for Pets

Telehealth services grow to meet needs of pet parents, groomers

Veterinary clinics and other pet professional businesses in Palm Beach County are unleashing a new way to provide health care. Welcome to the emerging era of veterinary telehealth.

Yes, help for your cat, dog or other pet may be just a computer click, phone call or text away, any time of the day or night. Think of it as house call Version 2.0. Expert advice may come from a veterinarian or veterinary tech who is not in an exam room with you or even in the same city or state as you.

“There is the convenience of speaking to a veterinary team by telephone, text or video at any time,” says Dr. Lowell Ackerman, DVM, an in-demand global expert on pet health care. “It can be used for prescription requests, virtual examinations and post-surgical checkups.”

Veterinary telehealth delivers speed and convenience.

“Telemedicine serves the needs of all ages,” says Dr. Hazel Carney, DVM, past chair of the American Association of Feline Practitioners’ guidelines committee, who is based in Emmett, Idaho. “I have older clients who can no longer physically drive and bring in their cats. I also have younger clients who grew up with technology and are more comfortable communicating about their cats via a live chat with their veterinarians.”

In doing a quick look online, I discovered that all Banfield Pet Hospitals in Palm Beach County are now touting virtual office visits and a service known as Pet Chat. Clients can get questions answered by veterinary teams

Pets Calendar

Note: Events are current as of 9/25. Please check with organizers for any changes.

OCT. 5 - NOV. 2

Saturday - 10/5 - Blessing of the Pets at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd, Boca Raton. 10-11 am. Free will offering. 561-395-8285; stgregoryepiscopal.org 10/5 - Annual Blessing of the Animals

Some simple diagnoses can be accomplished with your pet and a laptop connected to a veterinary professional. Photo provided

24/7 online or on the Banfield app. The service is available for no extra charge to clients who have Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans.

Imperial Point Animal Hospital of Delray Beach recently announced its connection with Airvet, founded in 2018 by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM, and his son, Brandon Werber.

“Airvet has been a game changer for veterinary medicine,” says Dr. Werber, based in Los Angeles. “Airvet offers clients access to affordable veterinary care 24/7. Clients love having access to talk to veterinarians one-on-one any time of the day or night.”

Regal Animal Hospital in Lake Worth Beach now offers BetterVet, an online service in which virtual veterinarians help pet parents determine if their pets need an in-home exam, urgent care appointment or evaluation at an emergency

at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Courtyard, 188 S Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. 4-5 pm. Free. 561-276-4541; stpaulsdelray.org

Sunday - 10/6 – Annual Blessing of the Animals Festival at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, 3300 Seacrest Blvd, Boynton Beach. 3-5 pm. Free. 561-732-3060; stjoesweb.org

Saturday - 10/26 - Blessing of the Animals: 15th Anniversary at Unity of Delray Beach, 101 NW 22 St. In gazebo. All pets welcome. 10 am-Noon. Free. 561-2765796; unityofdelraybeach.org

Telehealth options

Here is a rundown of some companies offering veterinarians and veterinary technicians 24/7 by phone or app. The services and fees vary.

• Airvet: www.airvet.com

• Dutch: www.dutch.com

• Pet Vet Connection: www. petvetconnection.com

• Pawp: www.pawp.com

• Pet Chat: www.banfield. com/services/pet-chat

• BetterVet: https://bettervet.com

• Pet Desk: www.petdesk. com

• AskVet: www.askvet.app

clinic.

Even non-veterinary clinics are offering veterinary telehealth services to their practices.

Woofie’s, a pet company offering mobile grooming, pet sitting and dog walking in several states, recently partnered with a telehealth company called Pet Vet Connection.

“In doing a snout-to-tail inspection on a dog, one of our groomers may find a hot spot or a tick or a lump or bump,” says Liz Gibbs, general manager for the Woofie’s in Delray Beach. “Having immediate access to veterinary telehealth services gives our clients that muchneeded peace of mind.”

She shared two recent situations requiring access to a veterinary team. One involved a

shih tzu named Dilbert, a newly adopted rescue dog whose body was covered in mats.

“While grooming him, we discovered a wound by his eye that was open and bleeding,” says Gibbs. “It had been covered underneath the mats. Pet Vet Connection gave us advice on how to provide him with immediate care and keep him comfortable. His owner was able to take him to her personal veterinarian shortly after the groom.”

A senior-aged English bulldog named Rocco, known for having arthritis, fell and had trouble getting up during a recent Woofie’s visit.

“We immediately did veterinary telehealth, and they asked for videos of him

walking and how he was acting to rule out any neurological impairments,” says Gibbs. “They recommended pain medications and solutions for his pain.”

The rules surrounding veterinary telehealth are evolving. Depending on state laws, telemedicine providers can evaluate, diagnose, consult and provide treatment for pets. And they must establish what is called VCPR. That stands for veterinarian-client-patientrelationship.

In Florida, a new law went into effect on July 1. The PETS Act lifted the ban on veterinarians from practicing medicine or prescribing medications unless they have examined the animal in person.

To learn more about telehealth, see these two sites:

• Veterinary Virtual Care Association: https://vvca.org

• A merican Veterinary Medical Association: www. avma.org/resources-tools/avmapolicies/telemedicine

Arden Moore is an author, speaker and master certified pet first aid instructor. She hosts the syndicated radio show Arden Moore’s Four Legged Life (www. fourleggedlife. com) and the popular Oh Behave! podcast on PetLifeRadio. com. Learn more by visiting www. ardenmoore.com.

The eyes have it: Tips on maintaining ocular health

Pooja Garg, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist at Delray Medical Center, has a simple warning for people: “Don’t take your eyesight for granted.

“Your vision is part of your overall health — be preventive and proactive,” she says. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The National Eye Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health, says vision loss can hurt people’s quality of life, creating challenges in everyday life and causing fear, stress and anxiety.

Eye health is of particular interest this month since Oct. 10 is World Sight Day, according to the International Agency for the

Prevention of Blindness.

Some serious eye conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal diseases, do not display noticeable symptoms until significant damage has already been done.

Among her older patients, Garg said cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy are most common. Symptoms of retinal diseases may include spots or floaters in vision.

To maintain eye health, Garg recommends getting annual checkups; eating green leafy vegetables and fatty fish such as tuna and salmon; avoiding tobacco use; and wearing UVA and UVB eye protection to block harmful sun rays, which may cause cataracts.

She notes that wearing wraparound sunglasses or polarized lenses can reduce

glare and she touts the benefit of contact lenses with UV protection, something she uses herself.

As a vegetarian, Garg doesn’t eat fish, but takes an omega-3 supplement that can promote eye health and help with dry eyes. She also recommends wearing protective eye gear if you’re playing sports, or working in construction or with dangerous chemicals that might splash in your eyes.

She advises using a blue light filter for computer screens and setting your phone screen on the night setting to reduce the blue light. Using any digital devices, including TVs, computers, phones or tablets, can cause dry eyes and eye fatigue.

“If you are spending a lot of time on your computer, rest your eyes periodically and add any over-the-counter brand name of artificial tears,” Garg said, noting it’s best to use a

Health

Calendar

Note: Events are current as of 9/25. Please check with organizers for any changes.

OCTOBER

5

Saturday - 10/5 - Morning Beach

Yoga at The Seagate Beach Club, 401 S Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach. Every Sat 8-9 am. $20/person. Tickets: 561-330-3775; eventbrite.com/e/sunrise-beach-yogatickets-336433921917

10/5 - Saturdays @ Sanborn: Yoga Class at Sanborn Square, 72 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. 8:45 am registration; 9 am class. Free. 561-393-7703; downtownboca.org

10/5 - Zumba Class at South Beach Park Pavilion, 400 N State Rd A1A, Boca Raton. Every Sat 10 am. Free. 561-393-7703; downtownboca.org

10/5  - Yoga Class at South Palm Beach Town Hall, 3577 S Ocean Blvd. Every Sat 9 am. $5/class. 561-588-8889; southpalmbeach.com

10/5  - Yoga at the Beach at Red Reef Park West, 1221 S Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Held on grass overlooking the Intracoastal. No cash accepted on-site. Every W 6:30 and 1st & 3rd Sat 10-11 am. $10-$12.50/class; 60-day membership $65/resident, $81.25/ non-resident. 561-393-7807; myboca.us

10/5  - Judo Class at Boca Raton

Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. Warm-up exercises, instruction, practice, tournament training. W 6:30-8:30 pm mixed ages/ranks; Sat 10 am-noon all groups. Per month $21.50/resident; $27/ non-resident. 561-393-7807; myboca.us

10/5  - AA Meeting at Unity of Delray Beach, 101 NW 22nd St. Every Sat 5:30 pm. Free. 561-276-5796; unityofdelraybeach. org

reputable brand name and not a generic or store brand.

According to the American Foundation for the Blind, vision loss falls within a spectrum, ranging from total blindness to so-called low vision, which can’t be fixed with glasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery.

More than 50 million American adults experience a degree of vision loss, as indicated in the government’s 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Of these, 3.89 million adults have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses, and 340,000 cannot see at all.

By 2050, the National Eye Institute expects the number of people with visual impairment or blindness to double.

Besides a healthy diet and annual checkups, what can you do to maintain eye health? Here’s some advice:

• See your ophthalmologist when you have flashers or floaters.

OCTOBER 6-12

Sunday - 10/6 - Coco Connections Market at Old School Square Amphitheatre, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Monthly wellness market: 30 local vendors, health/wellness professionals w/ various healing modalities; live music; 2 free yoga, meditation or fitness classes per event. 9 am-3 pm. Free. 561-870-4090; thecocoyogi.com/market 10/6 - Yoga at the Beach at Red Reef Park East, 1400 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Held on grass overlooking the Intracoastal. No cash accepted on-site. Every Sun 4:30 pm. $10-$12.50/class; 60-day membership $65/resident, $81.25/non-resident. 561393-7807; myboca.us

Monday - 10/7 - Zumba Cardio at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Adults. Every M/W 5:30-6:30 pm. $10. 561-742-6221; boynton-beach.org

Tuesday - 10/8 - Al-Anon Meeting at Unity of Delray Beach, 101 NW 22nd St. Every T 7 pm. Free. 561-276-5796; unityofdelraybeach.org

Wednesday - 10/9 - Tai Chi Class at South Palm Beach Town Hall, 3577 S Ocean Blvd. Every W 9 am. $5/class. 561-5888889; southpalmbeach.com 10/9 - Stretch & Strengthening Mindfulness Class at South Palm Beach Town Hall, 3577 S Ocean Blvd. Every W/F 10:30 am. $5/class. 561-588-8889; southpalmbeach.com 10/9 - Aging Skin: Understanding Fragile Skin Challenges at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 11 am-noon. Free. Registration: 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/9 - Wellness Wednesday: Yoga at Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square,

• See your doctor if you experience sudden blurry or fuzzy vision (especially in one eye). This can be a sign of agerelated macular degeneration or a detached retina.

• If straight lines suddenly appear to be wavy, check with your doctor. This is also a sign of ARMD.

• If you experience double vision, especially in both eyes, call your doctor. This may be an indication of a stroke, or, if you are also experiencing sudden eye pain, a symptom of glaucoma.

Visit nei.nih.gov or retinaeyedoc.com to learn more.

Jan Engoren writes about health and healthy living. Send column ideas to jengoren@ hotmail.com.

51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Every W 11 am-noon. $5/class. Registration: 561-6542220; delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events

10/9 - LGBTQ+ AA Meeting at Unity of Delray Beach, 101 NW 22nd St. Every W 7 pm. Free. 561-276-5796; unityofdelraybeach.org

Thursday - 10/10 - Keep Your Blood Sugar in Range & Medicines Explained: Diabetes at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. First of two part Healthy Habits w/ Humana lecture & craft series. Adults. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org 10/10 - Alateen Meeting at St. Mark Catholic Church, 643 NE 4th Ave, Boynton Beach. Every Th 7:30 pm. Free. 561-2783481; southpalmbeachafg.org

OCTOBER 20-30

Sunday - 10/20 - Yoga at the Museum at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real. 9:30-11 am. $15/member; $30/nonmember. 561-392-2500; bocamuseum.org Tuesday - 10/22 - Yoga with Sophia at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Adults. 6:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

Saturday - 10/26 - CocoFest at Boca Raton Innovation Campus, 5000 T-Rex Ave, Boca Raton. Health/wellness professionals w/various healing modalities; live music; yoga/movement classes, kids activities, vendors, workshops and live music. 9 am-4 pm. Free. 561-997-1111; cocomarket.org/ cocofest 10/30 - The Benefits of Meditation at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 11 am-noon. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

Garg

Health Notes

Delray Medical marks bronchoscopy milestone

Delray Medical Center completed its 100th ION robotic bronchoscopy procedure this summer.

A robotic-assisted platform for minimally invasive lung biopsies, ION can help to diagnose lung cancer earlier and with improved accuracy.

“Performing over 100 ION procedures means that we are on the front lines of catching cancer early, which gives our patients the best chance of a good outcome,” says Delray Medical Center CEO Heather Havericak. “We look forward to the continued success of our ION program and investing in some of the latest medical technologies.”

Th is system features an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung, and its stability enables the precision needed for biopsy compared to manual techniques.

The ION procedures are performed by Dr. Stephen Milan, Dr. Carlos Gutierrez, Dr. Joshua Lung and Dr. Jeffrey Newman

For more information, contact Carolyn Kern, patient navigator, at 561-716-2654.

Dr. Joseph Ricotta, chairman of the vascular surgery program at Delray Medical

Center, earned a position on the Newsweek America’s Best Vascular Surgeons 2024 list, which includes only 200 doctors in the country. The surgeons were determined based on evaluations of how they conducted procedures, recommendations from peers, and their certifications.

Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital now uses high-intensity focused ultrasound for patients suffering from essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking. The HIFU technology uses concentrated ultrasound waves to heat the brain tissue and block signals causing the tremor. No incision or general anesthesia is used.

Call 561-955-4600 or visit https://baptisthealth. net/services/brain-and-spinecare/services-and-programs/ neurology/movement-disorders/ hifu to learn more.

Studies conducted by researchers from Florida Atlantic University and two other schools found that a little bit of leisure time during business trips helps employees adjust to their travels, boosting overall job satisfaction.

The studies included a preCOVID travel study at airports in North and South America and a post-COVID online data collection of business travelers to determine how leisure time might mitigate the impact of travel stress during international business trips.

The findings have implications for how companies might adjust work trips for their employees and ways the travel industry can adapt for these business trips, researchers said.

CHG Healthcare Services, a Utah-based staffing company that provides placement for health care professionals, will soon shut down its RNnetwork travel nurse unit, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice the company submitted. CHG will separate from 56 employees who work at or report to its Boca Raton location at 4700 Exchange Court, Suite 125.

This entire business unit eventually will close permanently. Employee separations are expected to begin during the 14-day period starting on Nov. 8 and will occur in phases.

Send health news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.

Finding Faith

A hot shower is just one way Interfaith Committee helps homeless

Judy Fenney and Kathleen Megan met 10 years ago at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach. Fenney mentioned to Megan that she was interested in volunteer work, and Megan put her to work immediately.

Their camaraderie and friendship grew, and they made a good pair with their positive attitudes, ready smiles and calm demeanors. They stepped up whenever and wherever they were needed — and they still do.

Seven years ago, the duo started the Interfaith Committee for Social Services to fill the void left by the scaling back of the CROS Ministries Caring Kitchen.

The Interfaith Committee generally meets twice a month at St. Paul’s Episcopal, the same place it had its first meeting, on Nov. 15, 2017.

One of the first projects was to find a shower truck where homeless people could bathe on a regular basis. In 2018, the committee acquired a well-used truck that still had some life in it and offered the homeless population a place to shower twice a week.

Then in June, the committee raised enough money for a new four-stall (each with a toilet and vanity) shower truck, where up to 25 people shower each Tuesday and Friday outside St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Fenney said.

Interfaith Committee volunteer Sandy Rowland works in the laundry truck, cleaning and folding clothing each Tuesday and Friday at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Photo provided

At a September committee meeting, representatives from St. Paul’s, St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, Spanish River Church, Recovery Church, Temple Torah, the Delray Beach Police Department, plus Shona Castillo from the Caring Kitchen and Jackie Ermola from Eat Better Live Better, were present. The program focused on unhoused veterans, a growing issue.

The percentage of homeless who are veterans is rising, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a veterans advocacy group, reported in April. “Specific to

How to help

Cash donations: Are used exclusively for the nonprofit’s program operations, supplies and expenses.

Clothing donations: Needs include men’s boxer briefs, shorts, and jeans in sizes 32, 34 and 36. Backpacks are also needed.

Volunteers: Are needed to help in a variety of positions, such as sorting donations, doing clerical tasks and manning special events. Info: interfaithcommittee. com

veterans, Florida also has the third-largest population in the nation, approximately 1.4 million. With 7% of the nation’s homeless veteran population, Florida is also ranked one of the five worst states for veteran homelessness.”

Homelessness is increasing across the board, for both single people and families. Rising housing costs and increases in homeowners association dues are pushing some fixed- and low-income folks over the edge.

Ermola sees it. “We’ve always had need, but I’ve never seen need like this,” she said.

But Delray Beach is special, Fenney and Megan say. An attitude of cooperation and ability to operate as a cohesive

unit instead of component parts make a difference.

“We want to do more than pay someone’s electric bill. We want to help people become selfsufficient,” Fenney said. But it’s hard when the cost of being selfreliant keeps going up.

Another problem they have is letting people know when and where they can find services.

“We’re known as the shower truck people,” Fenney said, “but we do so much more than that.”

For example, volunteers wash, dry and fold laundry, serve sandwiches and provide a caring outlet for people who want to talk.

Rodrianna Antoine, an intake specialist for the Delray Beach Police Community Outreach team, signs people up for the services and helps them navigate the government rules and paperwork as painlessly as possible.

Sandy Rowland volunteers on the laundry truck, using two stackable washer-anddryers nonstop to clean her clients’ clothing. Volunteers use a military method of putting all one person’s clothing in a drawstring bag with a two-part tag. One stays on the laundry and the other stays with the person. Turn in your tag, then pick up your laundered clothes.

Rowland used to run a beauty salon before COVID killed that business. She’s happy she found a way to serve. Of her fellow volunteers she says, “It takes someone with passion to serve the homeless. I think the volunteers are the winners.”

Jonathan Pereira Neves is one of just a few employees and he does the heavy lifting, moving boxes of donated clothes, fixing broken equipment, and cleaning up the lot after everything is put away, all in good humor.

Religion Calendar

Note: Events are current as of 9/25. Please check with organizers for any changes.

OCTOBER 6-12

Sunday - 10/6 - Zoom Bible Study at Ascension Catholic Church, 7250 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. Every Sun 7 pm. Free. Zoom link: communications#accboca.net; 561-997-5486; ascensionboca.org

Monday - 10/7 - Women’s Bible Study via Zoom at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach, 33 Gleason St. Every M 10 am. Free. 561-276-6338; firstdelray.com 10/7- Rosary for Peace at St. Vincent Ferrer Family Life Center, 840 George Bush Blvd, Delray Beach. Every M 5:45-6:15 pm. Free. 561-276-6892; stvincentferrer.com

Tuesday - 10/8 - Tuesday Morning Prayer Service at Unity of Delray Beach Church, 101 NW 22nd St. 10 am. Free. 561276-5796; unityofdelraybeach.org

Wednesday - 10/9 - Men’s Spirituality Hour via Zoom at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd, Boca Raton. Every W 8 am. Free. For link: 561-395-8285; stgregorysepiscopal.org

10/9 - Wednesday Evening Meditation Service at Unity of Delray Beach Church, 101 NW 22nd St. 6:30 pm. Free; love offering. 561-276-5796; unityofdelraybeach.org

Some of the unhoused like to enjoy breakfast at Cason United Methodist Church at the corner of Lake Ida Road and Swinton Avenue, and if it’s raining like it was on a recent Tuesday, the church brought the people down to the shower and laundry vans at St. Matthew’s.

Interfaith is about helping each other, making contacts and building relationships, Father Bernie Pecaro of St. Paul’s said. The former Navy chaplain reminded everyone at the meeting that St. Paul’s Veterans Ministry is committed to helping both veterans and active duty in need.

In 2022, the Interfaith Committee, along with CROS Ministries Caring Kitchen and the Delray Beach Police Community Outreach, won the Community Collaborators Award given by Nonprofits First. It was a testament to the work they do together to make positive change in Delray.

“We want to help the homeless find out where their next step is going to be,” Fenney said. And, she added, if they can intercede early enough, maybe they can prevent homelessness.

The Interfaith Committee has limited funds to help with necessities like bus passes and bike locks, but it does provide a place to get mail for people who have no address — and they can count on the shower truck being at St. Matthew’s, 404 SW Third Ave., from 9 to 11 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday.

Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at fontaine423@ outlook.com.

10/11 - Bible Study w/Dave Kirk at Advent Boca Raton Fellowship Hall, 300 E Yamato Rd. Every F 10-11:30 am. 561-3953632; adventboca.org

10/11- Virtual Shabbat Service at Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County, 2475 W Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach. Every F 7:30 pm. Free. 561-276-6161; templesinaipbc.org Saturday - 10/12 - Yom Kippur

OCT. 27-NOV. 2

Thursday - 10/10 - Thursday Morning Telephone Prosperity Coffee presented by Unity of Delray Beach Church, 101 NW 22nd St. Phone meeting (605-475-6006, passcode 3031030). Free; love offering. 561276-5796; unityofdelraybeach.org 10/10 - Men’s Fellowship at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach Courtyard, 33 Gleason St. Every Th 8:30 am. Free. 561-276-6338; firstdelray.com 10/10  - Women’s Bible Study at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd, Boca Raton. Every Th 1 pm. Free. 561395-8285; stgregorysepiscopal.org Friday - 10/11 - Legion of Mary at St. Vincent Ferrer Family Life Center, 840 George Bush Blvd, Delray Beach. Every F 9:30-11 am. Free. 561-276-6892; stvincentferrer.com

Friday - 11/1 - Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mark Chapel, 643 NE 4th Ave, Boynton Beach. 1st F 9 am-3 pm. Free. 561-734-9330; stmarkboynton.com

Religion Notes

Father Marty bids adieu to St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church

After serving St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach for more than two decades, Father Marty Zlatic has donned his pilgrimage jacket to walk a different path, with the Lord and his wife, Dee, by his side.

On Sept. 3, an official announcement appeared on the church’s Facebook page:

“We give thanks to God as we bid farewell to Father Zlatic, who is retiring after 26 years of faithful service as an Episcopal priest.

His ministry at Saint Joseph’s and within our diocese has touched countless lives, guiding many closer to Christ.

“As Father Zlatic enters this new chapter, we pray that God blesses him with joy, peace and time well spent with his beloved family. His legacy of faith and love will continue to inspire us all. Thank you, Father Zlatic, for your unwavering dedication!”

On Aug. 31, the church hosted the “Father Marty and Dee Celebration Dinner” at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton Beach. Father Marty was known for openly sharing his love of good food, exotic travel destinations and music with his congregation, and this was a fitting tribute.

When he spoke to the congregation the next day for the last time, he talked about how “St. Joseph’s is our thin place.” A thin place, he said, is where the veil between heaven and earth, between man and God, is very thin.

Father Marty also told a story of how when he arrived at St. Joseph’s in 2001, he had to borrow a pair of Father Michael Cassell’s shoes. They were huge, he said. He told the congregation at the time, “I will not attempt to fill these shoes and I hope you do not expect me to.” Then he continued: “I carry that image to you today because I do not leave my shoes behind.”

The departure of the pastor and his wife, who led the children’s ministry, is not the only change going on at St. Joseph’s. The Rev. Mary Ellen Cassini, called “Mother Cassini,” has stepped in as associate rector, along with the Rev. Michael McManus, the interim associate priest.

Of Father Marty, Cassini said, “We are so grateful for his service. He is a man of great integrity, honor and love for the Lord. We wish him the best.”

St. Joseph’s offers a traditional service at 9:30 a.m. and an “Unplugged Service” with the band at 11:45 a.m.

St. Joseph’s is at 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach. 561-732-3060 or www.stjoesweb. org

EJS Project fills vacant school space at St. Joe’s Finally, there will be teaching

and learning, playing and coaching, laughing and new friendships filling the buildings and grounds of the former St. Joseph’s School on Seacrest Boulevard in Boynton Beach, which closed in 2023.

On Sept. 16, the EJS Project, founded 10 years ago, hosted a ribbon cutting at the former school. The move is a big step for the organization whose stated mission is “to provide a safe space for teens throughout Palm Beach County while creating and empowering tomorrow’s leaders.”

Dozens of advocates for children, donors, volunteers and other supporters lined up to have pictures taken with the founder, Emanuel Jackson Jr.. The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, which featured food, speeches, a formal ribbon cutting and a lot of happy people.

“This new space will help us further our mission to educate, empower and inspire the youth of Palm Beach County,” Jackson wrote on the EJS Project Facebook page, a message he echoed in his welcome speech.

Jackson, known as “Dupree,” grew up in The Set, the historically Black community in the heart of Delray Beach, between Interstate 95 and Swinton Avenue, north and south of West Atlantic Avenue.

Jackson’s bio on Facebook says he has always had a passion and a skill for connecting with at-risk youth. After getting an associate’s degree at community college, he “earned a full athletic scholarship to North Dakota State University where he studied communications and minored in psychology. Upon his return to Delray Beach, Dupree noticed youths needed more mentors, and the idea for the Emanuel Jackson Senior (EJS) Project was born.”

Jackson lives in Delray Beach with his wife, Janay, and two daughters.

Next up for the EJS Project is its benefit gala “Journey Through the Decades,” from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at The Addison of Boca Raton, 2 E. Camino Real. The suggested dress is 1940s fashion in memory of Emanuel Jackson Sr., for whom the project is named. Individual tickets are $350 and sponsors are needed.

Visit ejsgala24.givesmart.com or contact Adrianne Kurman at Adrianne.kurman@ejsproject. org or 561-400-4720.

Flea market coming up at St. Paul’s Episcopal St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is hosting a Flea Market & Fall Boutique from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18 and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.

The sale will feature new and gently used furniture, quality clothing and shoes, fine and costume jewelry, framed

artwork, small appliances, fine housewares and linens, home décor, sporting goods and holiday décor.

A 50-50 raffle takes place Oct. 19. Raffle tickets are $5, or three for $10 or eight for $20 or 20 for $40. You do not need to be present to win. A silent auction is also planned.

Call Ann at 904-710-2416 or Kari at 609-619-9234 for more information.

Flag retirement ceremony at St. Lucy Catholic Church

Father Brian Horgan will lead an official “Flag Retirement Service and Ceremony” on Nov. 10 at St. Lucy Catholic Church, 3510 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.

Sometimes called a Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags or a Ceremony of Final Tribute, this solemn event is especially important to Horgan, who joined the U.S. Air Force and became a commissioned officer serving as a social and trauma counselor. He rose to the rank of major while earning a doctorate in philosophy and psychology. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. and refreshments will follow. Anyone with an old/ worn/used flag is asked to bring it or, if you can’t attend, you can drop your flag off at the Rectory Office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 561-278-1280.

Patriotic concert set at First Presbyterian First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach will host its final concert of 2024 with a salute to the United States of America at 4 p.m. Nov. 10. To honor veterans and celebrate our nation, a performance including This Land Is Your Land and God Bless America is planned at the church, 33 Gleason St. Tickets are $20 at firstdelray. com/concerts/reserve-concerttickets. Call 561-276-6338.

The Challah Prince teaches his craft

More than 250 women gathered for a special lesson in challah making from Idan Chabasov, more commonly known as Israel’s Challah Prince. The sold-out event was hosted by B’nai Torah Congregation’s Women’s League in partnership with the congregation’s social action group, the TLC Program.

Challah is a special bread in Jewish culture that is eaten on ceremonial occasions like Rosh Hashanah, which started Oct. 2. Chabasov’s lesson included how to braid a challah, the proper prayer to say before eating a challah, and how the challah should be presented.

The challah dough was prepped at Lenny’s Pizza, a Kosher Pizza restaurant in Boca Raton, which donated the space and equipment for the event. Chabasov’s challah were auctioned off to support women and children’s charities in Israel.

More than $1,800 was raised.

B’nai Torah Congregation is the largest conservative synagogue in Southeast Florida with more than 1,300 membership families.

For information on B’nai Torah Congregation’s Rosh Hashanah celebrations, visit https://btcboca.org

— Janis Fontaine

Zlatic

Boca High senior uses power of words to lift up others

By Faran Fagen

Samantha Maynes hopes her stories create a safe space for her readers — a space where they feel “they’re not alone.”

Continuing that narrative, Maynes’ award-winning story in last year’s Boca Raton High School Paw Print, “Addressing Stereotypes,” shed light on teen mental health.

“I’d like to think that what resonated with my story was how honest I made it,” said the senior managing editor of the Paw Print newspaper. “Schools should not be afraid to talk more about these topics.”

Her story, which featured mental health issues such as pressure, isolation and anxiety, won first place for feature writing in the South Florida Sun Sentinel annual high school journalism contest.

Aurora Dominguez is teacher adviser for Paw Print and former Boca High teacher of the year. She said Maynes is one of the most dedicated students she’s ever taught.

“She understands and cares about student and teacher mental health and is aware about how a healthy mental state is crucial to live a healthy life,” Dominguez said.

Part 2 of Maynes’ mental health series is in the works. This time, she’s working on a story to help her readers better understand the autism spectrum.

Her cousin is on the spectrum, and although he

Note: Events are current as of 9/25. Please check with organizers for any changes

OCTOBER 5

Saturday - 10/5 - Drop-In Family Storytime at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Up to age 5. Every Sat 10-10:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-3937968; bocalibrary.org

10/5 - Saturday Morning ART (smART) at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real. Based on artwork at the Museum, links art making w/learning about art. Age 5+. Held again 11/2. 10-11 am. $15/ member; $25/non-member. Registration:

misses social cues, he’s made huge progress.

She hopes to educate her readers about the similarities they share with people on the spectrum, and how the latter have strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else.

“Everyone has a different neurodiversity. It’s just something someone has and it doesn’t have to define them,” she said.

Maynes, 17, has a 5.1 gradepoint average and is ranked in the top 10% of the senior class at Boca High.

She’s entrenched in a plethora of extracurricular and volunteer activities, including the Boca Bash at Boca Middle School (where Maynes is an alumna). As a volunteer, she has coordinated the cakewalk part

561-392-2500; bocamuseum.org

10/5 - Little Wonders at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Hike, crafts, stories. Age 3-4 w/an adult. Held again 10/5. 10-10:45 am. $8/ resident & member; $10/non-member. Reservations: 561-544-8605; myboca.us/ calendar.aspx?CID=47

10/5 - Nature Detectives at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. New mystery each month. Age 5-6 w/an adult. Held again 10/5. 11:30 am-12:15 pm. $8/resident & member; $10/ non-member. Reservations: 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar.aspx?CID=47

10/5 - Tail Waggin Tutors at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Elementary school children read to certified therapy dog. Age 6-8. Held again 10/19 & 11/2. Noon-1:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/5 - Mad Science Mission Moon Show at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 3-12. 1-2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org

10/5 - Sandoway Discovery Center at 142 S Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach. All ages. Daily shark & stingray feedings 1 pm; daily aquarium feedings 2 pm; animal encounters 3 pm. T-Sat. Free w/$10 admission. 561-274-7263; sandoway.org

10/5 - Show Up, Kids! at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. Sensory friendly show for ages 3-10. 2 pm. $10. 561-4506357; artsgarage.org

OCTOBER 6-12

Sunday - 10/6 - Play & Learn for Storytime at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 3-5. Every Sat 10:3011 am. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968;

of the event for three years.

Maynes’ own middle school years were during the coronavirus pandemic, so she missed out on Boca Bashes in seventh and eighth grades. Now, she returns as a mentor.

Her favorite aspect — in keeping with advising her fellow students — is answering questions from the middle schoolers on how they can succeed in high school.

Maynes is also president of Project Women. This school club works to empower and support women, creating a safe space to be open and celebrate achievements. The club holds bi-weekly meetings during lunch, with guest speakers sharing their roads to empowerment. Hands-on self-defense classes promote confidence building, so young women go into college safe and prepared.

However, her favorite volunteer activity is at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Her mom, Dawn, took Maynes to Gumbo Limbo when she was younger, and Maynes promised to volunteer there one day.

As soon as she turned 16 — the required age to volunteer at the center — she filled out an application.

Her top tasks at Gumbo Limbo are taking care of the hermit crabs and tortoises. She also befriended a puffer fish.

“If they built a second story, I’d live there,” Maynes said.

As she prepares to head to college — so far, she likes the

bocalibrary.org

Monday  - 10/7 - Fun w/Fernanda: Bilingual Spanish-English Story Time at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Age 0-5. 3:30-4 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.

org

10/7 - Database 101 for Teens at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Age 13-17. 5-7 pm. Free. 561-742-6393; boyntonlibrary.org

10/7 - K-Pop Club at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Age 13-17. 5-6 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0197; delraylibrary.org

Tuesday - 10/8 - Reading Buddies at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Reading enrichment program for age 6-8. Every T 4:30-5:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/8 - Teen Tuesday at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Age 1317. Every T 5-7 pm. Free. 561-742-6393; boyntonlibrary.org

10/8-9 - Sensational Story ‘n More at Schoolhouse Children’s Museum & Learning Center, 129 E Ocean Ave, Boynton Beach. Children’s books come to life through interactive performance, singing, movement, props. Age 2-5. Every T 10-10:45 am & W 3-3:45 pm. Free w/paid admission. 561-742-6780; schoolhousemuseum.org

Wednesday - 10/9 - Inventors Academy: STEM-Based Book Club at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 9-12. 4-5  pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

Thursday - 10/10 - Drop-In Family Storytime at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Up to age 5. Every Th 10-10:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-3937968; bocalibrary.org 10/10 - Play & Learn for Storytime at

Florida Atlantic University Honors College in Jupiter and Nova Southeastern University — she’s thinking of majoring in one of her three main passions. They are marine and environmental science, writing, and psychology.

“I want to do something that brings happiness to my life,” she said.

The same attitude has infused the mental health articles she’s written that have made a difference at Boca High.

“Most mental health stories are education,” Maynes said. “I usually get lost in the people I interview. It’s another layer of perspective I don’t think I could have gotten otherwise.”

Her empathy extends to her taste in music. Maynes, a selfproclaimed Swiftie, loves Taylor Swift’s latest hit, I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

“Just like her music, I want whatever I do to resonate with someone,” Maynes said.

Bowling for Bread

Boca Helping Hands welcomed 225 adults and children at its annual Bowling for Bread event on Aug. 25 at Bowlero in Boca Raton. BHH invited kids from children’s charities to attend for free and enjoy an afternoon of bowling, food, and prize giveaways.

The event also raised enough funds to provide more than 41,000 meals for the BHH weekend meal program.

Special guests from

Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 3-5. Every Th 10:30-11 am. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/10 - Make & Take at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Age 5-12. 4:30-5:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/10 - Create-a-Comic! at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 13-17. Held again 20/14. 6-7 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

Saturday - 10/12 - Bones to Books at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 5-8. 11 am-noon. Free. 561-2660194; delraylibrary.org

10/12 - STREAM Genius Hour at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 5-12. 11 am-1 pm. Free. 561-2660194; delraylibrary.org

10/12 - Bones to Books at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Children read to friends from Bonafide Therapy Dogs. All ages. 1-2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/12 - Chess Mates at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 13-17. Held again 10/26. Introduction to Chess: 1-2 pm; Open Play Chess: 2-3 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/12 - Got Gaming Club at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Age 13-17. 3-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/12-13 - Auditions for Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville at The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. Sat: 2-6 pm; Sun: 2-4 pm. Registration: 561-272-1281; delraybeachplayhouse.com

OCTOBER 13-19

Sunday - 10/13 - Sunday Matinee: Encanto (G) at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Age 3-12. 2 pm. Free. 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

the Florida Atlantic University football team included offensive linemen Federico Maranges and Andre Lamas and punter Logan Lupo, who came out to cheer on the kids and bowl alongside them.

Trophies were awarded to the top three bowling teams and overall high scores.

Winners were:

• First place: Waypoint Residential

• Second place: Waypoint Residential

• Third place: Law Offices of Pamela Higer-Polani

• The top score was 180, bowled by Dan Brede.

Boca Helping Hands has operated the BHH Backpacks children’s meal program for the past 13 years.

Every Friday, the program provides food-insecure students with non-perishable, easy-to-prepare meals to ensure they get enough to eat on weekends.

During the 2023-24 school year, BHH Backpacks helped over 1,600 students in 13 schools, providing 181,362 meals and 60,454 snacks to elementary students in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

Bowling for Bread is part of Boca Chamber Festival Days — a series of events intended to raise awareness and money by pairing nonprofits with members of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. P

Monday - 10/14 - Intro to 3D Printing for Teens at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Age 13-17. 5-7 pm. Free. 561-742-6393; boyntonlibrary.org

Tuesday - 10/15 - Toddler Tales at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Literacy enrichment class: stories, music, movement. Age walking to 23 mos. Every T 10-10:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-3937968; bocalibrary.org

10/15 - Play & Learn for Toddlers at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Learn literacy skills during playtime. Age walking to 23 mos. Every T 10:30-11 am. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/15 - Chapter Masters Book Club at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 9-12. 4-5  pm. Free. Registration required: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

Wednesday - 10/16 - Bilingual Outdoor Storytime at Boynton Beach City Library under the Banyan tree, 100 E Ocean Ave. Stories, rhymes, more. May be cancelled in inclement weather. Held again 10/30. 10-10:30 am. Free. 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/16 - Bouncing Babies Story Time at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 3 mo.-2.5 yrs. 10-10:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org

10/16 - Reading & Rhythm for 2-3s at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Literacy enrichment class: stories, music, movement. Child must be accompanied by an adult. Every W 10-10:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org 10/16 - Play & Learn for 2-3s at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Help your child learn literacy skills during playtime w/literacy-based toys. Every W

On the Water Mullet are no match for technology and spies in tall buildings

Palm Beach County anglers look forward to this time of year because now is when schools of mullet swim south along the beaches from Jupiter to Boca Raton.

Fishing what’s known as the fall mullet run became much more efficient and enjoyable thanks to a single technological innovation — the cellphone.

As water temperatures along the state’s northern coastline start to cool, the baitfish migrate to South Florida as they get ready to spawn. A variety of predator species feast on the mullet, notably bluefish, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, snook, jacks and sharks.

In the old days, anglers wasted a ton of time looking for and waiting for mullet schools to show up. The best way to find out the location of the mullet was to have reliable sources who lived in beachfront condominiums.

W hen those condo residents went out on their balconies and saw a school of mullet — which looks like a dark amoeba as it gyrates through the water — and the hungry gamefish crashing into the school, they would call their fishing friends.

Those anglers would hustle down to the beach with their surf-fishing tackle or head out the nearest inlet in their boats and fish around the schools. Their fishing buddies would find out that they caught some or all of the available species later that day.

Continued from page 30

10:30-11 am. Free. Registration: 561-3937968; bocalibrary.org

10/16 -Young @ Art: Square Off the Square at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Create fun arts/crafts, learn principles of art. Age 6-8. 3:30-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/16 - Wild Animal Exceptional Explorers at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Held on the front outdoor patio. Age 7-8. Every W 4-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/16 - Explore The Art of Painting at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 9-12. Every W 5:30-6:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

Thursday - 10/17 - Ms. Marie’s Creative Corner at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 6-8. 3:30-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/17 - My First Book Club at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 4-6. Child attend independently. Every Th 4-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-3937968; bocalibrary.org

10/17 - Creative Writing at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. For elementary & middle school students. 4:30-5:30 pm. Free. 561-742-6393; boyntonlibrary.org

Friday - 10/18 - Baby Bookworm at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Storytime for infants accompanied by an adult. Age 0 months to non-walking. Every F 11-11:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-3937852; bocalibrary.org

10/18 - Play & Learn for Babies at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Learn literacy skills during playtime. Age 0 months to non-walking. Every F 11:30 amnoon. Free. 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

Virtually no fisherman was going to take the time to go to a pay phone to call and say that the mullet were currently off Delray Beach or Boca and to get down there ASAP. Cellphones changed all that. You could be at work when a friend calls to say that the mullet are off Juno Beach and jacks and bluefish are busting up the schools. That sends the baitfish flying, and the stunned mullet are gobbled up by those and other gamefish, which also pounce on half-eaten mullet as the remnants sink to the bottom.

Although anglers no longer have to drive along A1A from one end of the county to the

Saturday - 10/19 - STEM Camp: MiniDrones at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 9-12. 10:30-11:45 am. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/19-20 - Creation Station at Boca Raton Museum of Art Grand Hall, 501 Plaza Real. Limited seating. Noon-4 pm. Free w/ admission. 561-392-2500; bocamuseum. org

OCTOBER 20-26

Monday - 10/21 - Epic Crafters Book Club at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Ages 6-8. 3:30-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org

10/21 - Internet Safety Class for Teens at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. 4-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/21 - Family Fun Night at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. 5-6:30 pm. Free. 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/21- Fall Teen Movie Night at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave.

Age 13-17. 5-7 pm. Free. Registration: 561266-0194; delraylibrary.org

Tuesday - 10/22 - Zumbini at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. A joyful bonding experience for little ones and their caregivers. Age 0-5. 10-10:45 am. Free. 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/22 - Teen Tech Sandbox at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave.

Age 13-17. 3:30-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

Wednesday - 10/23 - Zumba Kids: Dance, Move and Groove! at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave.

Age 6-11. 3-4 pm. Free. 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

Thursday - 10/24 - Picture Book Club

Special Edition at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Age 5-12. 4:305:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6393;

other in search of mullet schools, or head to a local beach and wait for the mullet to show up, they do need sources they can count on.

I had a buddy who was not at all reliable, which I didn’t discover until after several fruitless trips to the beach. He’d call me to say the mullet were off Juno or Boynton or Boca. I and a couple of other friends would drive there and trudge down to the beach with our rods, tackle boxes and coolers, only to find that there were no mullet and no mackerel or bluefish or jacks.

It was late in the afternoon on a day when we hadn’t even gotten a bite when one of my friend’s friends showed

boyntonlibrary.org

Saturday - 10/26 - ART Tales Story

Time at Boca Raton Museum of Art Wolgin Education Center, 501 Plaza Real. Literacy/ visual arts program; Boca Raton Library joins w/book readings. Special art project follows. Age 4-8 w/guardian. 10:30-11:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-392-2500; bocamuseum.org

10/26 - ColorSpace: Teen Art Studio at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Age 13-17. 11 am-noon. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org

OCT. 27-NOV. 2

Sunday - 10/27 - Rookie Rooks: Introduction to Chess for Youth at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Age 8-12. 10:30-11:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

Monday - 10/28 - TAB (Teen Advisory Board) Meeting at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 5-6 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org

Thursday - 10/31 - Out of School Days at Sims Center, 225 NW 12th Ave, Boynton Beach. Age 5-12. 7:30 am-5:30 pm. $28/ resident; $34/non-resident. Registration: 561-742-6640; boynton-beach.org

Friday - 11/1 - Bright Minds Storytime: An Autism Spectrum Disorder

Storytime at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Ages 2-5. 9-9:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

Saturday - 11/2 - Cheers & Gymnastics

Basics Class at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Every Sat through 1/25. Age 4-6: 10-10:45 am; Age 6-11: 10:55-11:40 am. $144/resident; $180/ non-resident. 561-742-6221; boyntonbeach.org

up. When I expressed my disappointment that the mullet hadn’t shown up, he said that he told my friend that the mullet had been at the beach every morning around 7:30.

My friend, who liked to sleep until 10 a.m., perhaps because he drank a bottle of wine every night, never told me that.

Happily, the reliable fisherman also said that one of his good sources said a mullet school was heading our way and to stick around.

Sure enough, as the sun began heading toward the horizon behind us, the mullet showed up. Casting a 5/8thounce silver Krocodile spoon — which is one of the most

Upper-floor condominium units provide ideal observation points for anglers and their friends to keep an eye on migrating mullet and other fish activity.

Steve Waters/ The Coastal Star

effective lures for fishing the mullet run because you can throw it a long way and it wobbles and flashes as you reel it back — we caught a bunch of bluefish.

As we packed up our fish and tackle, I exchanged cellphone numbers with that fisherman, and vowed to let future calls from my fishing buddy go to voicemail.

Outdoors writer Steve Waters can be reached at steve33324@aol. com.

Outdoors Calendar

Note: Events are current as of 9/25. Please check with organizers for any changes

OCTOBER 5

Saturday - 10/5 - Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. All ages; child must be accompanied by an adult. Daily 12:30 pm. Free. 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar. aspx?CID=47

OCTOBER 6-12

Tuesday - 10/8 - Island Treks at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Visitors guided on a short trek along the boardwalk through the tropical hardwood hammock, pausing for some intracoastal views through the mangroves. All ages; child must be accompanied by an adult. Held again 10/22. 10-10:30 am. Free. 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar.aspx?CID=47

Saturday - 10/12 - Intracoastal Adventures: Advanced Kayaking at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Includes short talk about South Florida’s unique animals/ecosystems. Age 7-adult; each child under 13 must be accompanied by one adult. 9-10:30 am. $20/resident & member; $25/non-member. Registration: 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar. aspx?CID=47

OCTOBER 13-19

Sunday - 10/13 - Family Fun Snorkel at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Snorkel shallow intracoastal waters, study animals sheltered/protected from ocean’s dangers. Bring your own snorkel, mask, water shoes (no fins allowed). Age 10-adult; child under 18 must be

accompanied by an adult. 10-11:30 am. $15/member; $19/non-member. Registration required: 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar.aspx?CID=47

Saturday - 10/19 - Coast Guard

Auxiliary Boat America: A Boating Safety Course at Spanish River Park HQ Building, USCG Auxiliary Classroom, 3939 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Boating terminology, boat handling, navigation rules, federal & Florida regulations, more. Course provides knowledge needed to obtain a boating certificate; possible insurance discount. 9 am-5 pm. $35/adult; $5/teen. 561-391-3600; peauxboca@gmail.com

10/19 - Seining the Lagoon at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Explore grasses/flats of the Intracoastal Waterway behind Gumbo Limbo. Wear clothes that can get wet. Closed toed shoes required. Age 7-adult; child must be accompanied by an adult. 9:30-11 am. $15/member; $19/nonmember. Reservations: 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar.aspx?CID=47

OCTOBER 20-31

Thursday - 10/31 - Early Birding w/Al at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Learn about native & migratory birds from an experienced birder; walk the Ashley Trail/boardwalk in search of warblers, gnatcatchers, woodpeckers, other avian species. Binoculars recommended. Meet on nature center front porch. Age 10+; child must be accompanied by an adult. 8:30-10 am. Free. 561-544-8605; myboca.us/calendar.aspx?CID=47

Community Calendar

Note: Events are current as of 9/25. Please check with organizers for any changes.

OCTOBER 5

Saturday - 10/5 - Tree Giveaway at Delray Beach Historical Society, 3 NE 1st St. Must be Delray Beach Resident. First come, first served. 9 am. 561-274-9578; delraybeachhistory.org

10/5 - Drive Up Paper Shred at Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce, 212 Iris Ave, Lantana. Proceeds benefit Jeff Industries. 9-11 am. $5/donation per box/bag of documents. 561-585-8664; lantanachamber.com

10/5 - Lake Worth Beach Waterside Farmers Market every Saturday through 4/26 Under the overpass at A1A and Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach. 9 am-1 pm. Free. 561-547-3100; lakeworthfarmersmarket. com

10/5 - Free Fun Saturday at The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N Federal Hwy. Free family craft activities 2-3:30 pm. Held again 11/2. 10 am-4 pm. Free. 561395-6766; bocahistory.org

10/5 - Calling All Serious Writers! Saturday Zoom Writers Studio presented by Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Every Sat 10 am. Free. 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/5 - Freestyle Saturdays Art Class at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Age 18+. Every Sat through 12/28 10 am-12:30 pm. Per class $29/ resident; $35/non-resident. Registration: 561-742-6221; boynton-beach.org

10/5  - Current Events Discussion at Highland Beach Library, 3618 S Ocean Blvd. Every Sat 10:30 am. Free. 561-266-9702; highlandbeach.us

10/5 - Open Figure Studio w/Model at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. Age 18+. Held again 6-8 pm 10/24. 10:30 am-12:30 pm. $15. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/5 - Workshop: Sunny Strokes: Painting Sunflowers in Watercolor at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 10:30 am-12:30 pm. $40. 561-3309614; artswarehouse.org

10/5 - Art & Ale Soiree at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real. Adults. 5-10 pm. $40/member; $45/non-member. 561-392-2500; bocamuseum.org

10/5 - Boca Chamber Annual Gala at The Boca Raton, 501 E Camino Real. 6-11 pm. $325. 561-395-4433; bocaratonchamber.com

10/5 - 100 Years of the Spady House

Commemoration Opening Reception at Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, 170 NW 5th Ave, Delray Beach. 7-8:30 pm. Donations start at $20. 561-279-8883; spadymuseum.com

10/5 - Sick Puppies Improv Comedy Extravaganza Show at Doghouse Theater, 105 NW 5th Ave, Delray Beach. Every Sat 7:30 pm. $20-$30. 954-667-7735; sickpuppiescomedy.com

10/5 - Craft Fair. Kate's Kollection is hosting a craft fair at 2810 Hypoluxo Road, Lake Worth. Free. 561-448-2291.

10/5 - One Hit Wonders at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $40$45. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

10/5-6 - The Prom at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Runs through 10/20. F/Sat 8 pm; Sat/Sun 2 pm. $48/ opening night; $40/show. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

10/5-6 - The Broadway Tenors: Ultimate Broadway at The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum, 7901 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. Sat: 7:30 pm; Sun: 2 pm. $85$125. Reservations: 561-995-2333; thewick. org

10/5-6 - Firebringer at Florida Atlantic University Studio One Theatre, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Sat 7 pm; Sat/Sun 2 pm. $25/general public; $18/faculty/staff/ alumni. 561-297-6124; fauevents.com

OCTOBER 6-12

Sunday - 10/6 - Music in the Museum

- Darko Varga, Piano at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real. 3-4 pm. $8/ member; $18/non-member. 561-392-2500; bocamuseum.org

10/6 - Sunday Matinee Music Series: Rome Saladino - Michael Buble Tribute at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 3-4 pm. 561-3937906; bocalibrary.org

10/6 - Anthony Geraci at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $40-$45. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

Monday - 10/7 - Pickleball at Hester Center, 1901 N Seacrest Blvd, Boynton Beach. Combines badminton & tennis. Adults. M-F 9 am-noon. $5; $50/24-visit pass. 561-742-6550; boynton-beach.org

10/7 - The Israel-Hamas War: A Year Later w/ Adi Levy, Ph.D., Mehmet Gurses, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 10-11:30 am. $60/ annual membership; $35/member; $40/ non-member & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu 10/7 - Crafting for Fun & Small

Municipal Meetings

10/7 – Ocean Ridge Town Hall, 6450 N Ocean Blvd. 6 pm. Agenda: oceanridgeflorida.

com

10/8 – South Palm Beach Town Hall, 3577 S Ocean Blvd. 2 pm. Agenda: southpalmbeach.com

10/8 & 10/22 – Boca Raton Auditorium, 6500 Congress Ave. 6 pm. Agenda: myboca.us

10/11 – Gulf Stream Town Hall, 100 Sea Rd. 9 am. Agenda: gulf-stream.org

10/14 & 10/28 – Lantana Town Hall, 500 Greynolds Cir. 6 pm. Agenda: lantana.org

10/15 – Highland Beach Town Hall, 3614 S Ocean Blvd. 1:30 pm. Agenda: highlandbeach.us

10/15– Boynton Beach City Hall, 100 E Ocean Ave. 6 pm. Agenda: boynton-beach.org

10/15 – Delray Beach City Hall, 100 NW 1st Ave. 6 pm. Agenda: delraybeachfl.gov

10/22 – Manalapan Town Hall, 600 S Ocean Blvd. 10 am. Agenda: manalapan.org

10/24 – Briny Breezes Town Hall, 4802 N Ocean Blvd. 4 pm. Agenda: townofbrinybreezes-fl.com

Business: Cross Stitch 101 at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 1-3 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/7 - Advanced Squares at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Adults. Every M 2-4 pm. $6. 561-7426221; boynton-beach.org

10/7 - Reference Solutions Class at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Adults. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/7 - Monday Movies: Documentary - Cat Daddies directed by Mye Hoang at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 5:30-8 pm. Registration: 561393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/7 - Make a Mix Mondays!: Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 6-7:30 pm. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/7-8 - Auditions: The Sound of Music at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Production dates 1/17-2/2. 7 pm. 561-5866410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

Tuesday - 10/8 - Career & Employment Help w/CareerSource PBC at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Assistance w/employment, re-employment, resumes, filing for unemployment, career path assistance. Representative fluent in English, Creole, French. Adults. Every T 9 am-4 pm. Free. 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/8 - Popular Music and American Politics w/ Kristin Shockley, M.A. presented by FAU Lifelong Learning Institute at The Field House at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. 10:30 am-noon. $30/member; $35/nonmember & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/8 - Workshop: Intro to Abstract Painting with Acrylic 2-Day at Arts

Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. Two day workshop held again 10/10. 10:30 am-3:30 pm. $150. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/8 - ESOL Conversation Corner at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. Held again 10/22. 11:30 am-1 pm. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/8 – Socrates Café at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Philosophical discussions. Every T 1:30-3 pm. Free. 561393-7852; bocalibrary.org

10/8 - Computer Basics (Windows 10) Class at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Adults. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary. org

10/8 - American Foreign Policy w/ Jeffrey Morton, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every T through 11/19. 3-4:30 pm. $60/annual membership; $105/member; $140/non-member; $30/ one-time guest pass at the door. 561-2973185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/8 - Mastering Google Apps at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 5-6:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/8 - The Fraud by Zadie Smith part of Tuesday Book Group at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 6 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.

org

10/8 - Shared Hope: Music of Challenge and Triumph at Florida Atlantic University Theatre, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 7 pm. $10. 561-297-6124; fauevents.com 10/8 - All Arts Open Mic Night at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 2nd T 8-10 pm. $10-$15. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org Wednesday -10/9 - Objection! Current, Contentious, and Confusing Legal

Battles w/ Irving Labovitz, J.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every W through 11/13. 10-11:30 am. $60/ annual membership; $90/member; $120/ non-member; $30/one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/9 - Pastels Made Easy at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Age 18+. Every W through 12/18 1-4 pm. Per class $35/resident; $44/ non-resident. Registration: 561-742-6221; boynton-beach.org

10/9 - Microsoft Word Basics at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/9 - What is Canva? at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 3-4:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/9 - Seminar: A Comprehensive Estate Planning Program w/ Michael Silver, CFP at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 3-4:30 pm. $60/annual membership; $40/member; $50/nonmember & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/9 - Town Hall Talk: Florida Sculptors and Their Work w/Deborah Pollack at The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. 6 pm checkin/refreshments; 6:30 pm lecture. Free/ BRHS member; $10/guest. RSVP: 561-3956766 x100; bocahistory.org

10/9 - Delray Beach Orchid Society Meeting at Veterans Park, 802 NE 1st St, Delray Beach. 2nd W 7 pm. Free. 561-5732422; delraybeachorchidsociety.org Thursday - 10/10 - Quilters meet at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Share quilting information, perpetuate quilting as a cultural & artistic form. Limit 10 quilters at a time. Every Th 9 am-noon. $1/lifetime membership. 561-742-6886; boyntonlibrary.org

10/10 - Tech Talk Thursdays at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. Every Th 10:30-11:30 am. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/10 - Line Dancing at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Basic modern western square dancing. Adults. Every Th 10:30-11:30 am. $6. 561742-6221; boynton-beach.org 10/10 - iPhone/iPad Workshop at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 1:30-3 pm. Free. Registration: 561393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/10 - Concert: JayCee: Come to the Cabaret at Highland Beach Library, 3618

Ocean Blvd. 5:30 pm. Free. 561-278-5455; highlandbeach.us

10/10 - Florida Straits to Cuba: A Living History of the Building Left Behind w/ Mario Cartaya Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Part of the Thursday Night Speaker Series. Adults. 6-7:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/10 - Hosting 102 at Sklar Furnishings, 6300 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. 6-8 pm. $50. Tickets: delraybeach.com/event/ hosting-102-do-good-delray/

10/10 - Artist & Curator Talk: A Certain Thread Exhibition at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. RSVP: 561-330-9614; artswarehouse. org

10/10 - Harmony & Vines: A Symphony of Flavor at Sixty Vines, 5050 Town Center Circle, #239, Boca Raton. 6:30-9 pm. $90 + tax & gratuity/peron. 561-376-3848; thesymphonia.org

10/10-11 - The Mersey Beatles at The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. 8 pm. $49-$59. 561-272-1281; delraybeachplayhouse.com

10/10-13 - Groucho at The Wick Theatre & Costume Museum, 7901 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. Runs through 11/3. Th/F/ Sat 7:30 pm; W/Th/Sat/Sun 2 pm. Tickets start at $119. Reservations: 561-995-2333; thewick.org

Friday - 10/11 - Poetic Collage:

Crafting Found Poetry at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 1-3 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/11 - Buffalo Bash at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. A celebration featuring Buffalo-style cuisine & live music. Hosted by the FAU Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega to raise funds for The 22 Project, a local charity committed to helping disabled veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. 5-9 pm. atobuffalobash.com

10/11 - Beginner Squares at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Adults. Every F 7:15-9 pm. $6. 561-7426221; boynton-beach.org

10/11 - Castoffs Square Dance at Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center, 125 E Ocean Ave. Basic modern western square dancing. Adults. Every F 7:15-9 pm. $6. 561-742-6221; boynton-beach.org

10/11- Sick Puppies Stand-Up Comedy Show at Doghouse Theater, 105 NW 5th Ave, Delray Beach. Every F 8 pm. $30-$35. 954-667-7735; sickpuppiescomedy.com

10/11 - The Chris O’Leary Band at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $40-$45. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

Saturday - 10/12 - Tree Giveaway at Sara Sims Park, 128 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Boynton Beach. Must be a City of Boynton Beach resident. First come, first served, limit 2 trees per household. 10 am. 561-927-8733; communitygreening.org

10/12 - Workshop: Playful Poppies in Watercolor at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 10:30 am-12:30 pm. $50. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/12 - Workshop: Intro to Creativity with Lee Krasner at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 2-4 pm. $55. 561330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/12 - Pop Up and Shop Up Market at The Shops of Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle. Held monthly through December. Unique artisan and handcrafted items from local makers, artists, crafters and live music. 2-7 pm. Free. bocacenter. com

10/12 - Fall Festival at Centennial Park & Amphitheater, 120 E Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. Featuring pony rides, DJ, rock wall, petting zoo & face painting. 3-6 pm. Free. 561-742-6024; boynton-beach.org

10/12 - Gafieira Rio Miami: Brazilian Big Band at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $45-$50. 561-4506357; artsgarage.org

10/12-13 - Auditions: Square 1 Short Plays at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Production dates 11/19-21. 11 am-2 pm. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse. org

10/12-13 - Auditions for Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville at The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. Sat: 2-6 pm; Sun: 2-4 pm. Registration: 561-272-1281; delraybeachplayhouse.com

10/12-14 - 8th Annual USTA Columbus Day Open at Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201 W Atlantic Ave. Boys & Girls 14s & 16s. Check website for times/tickets: delraybeachopen.com/en/columbus-dayopen

OCTOBER 13-19

Sunday - 10/13 - Being Somebody - Growing Up In Brooklyn … A FatherDaughter Tale at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 7-9 pm. $35. 561-4506357; artsgarage.org

Monday - 10/14 - Columbus Day 10/14 - Seminar: The Holocaust: Is Enough, Enough? w/ Rabbi Leon Weissberg at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 10-11:30 am. $60/annual membership; $40/member; $50/nonmember & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/14 - What is a Notary Public? at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 5-6:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

Tuesday - 10/15 - In the Golden Dreamland of Winter: Henry Flagler's FEC Hotel Company at Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach. Exhibit explores Flagler's transformative impact on the Florida economy. Runs through 12/29. Museum hours/admission. 561-655-2833; flaglermuseum.uc

10/15 - Musical Sound Bath at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 11 am-noon. Free. Registration: 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/15 - Resume Writing Using Microsoft Word at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 11 am-12:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/15 - Internet Basics Class at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Adults. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-2660194; delraylibrary.org

10/15 - Book Talks - Non-Fiction/ Biographies: Cocktails with George and Martha by Philip Gefter at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 2-3 pm. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/15 - Beginner Sewing Program at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Learn basics of hand & machine sewing. Adults. 5-7 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/15 - Library Movie Night at Highland Beach Library, 3618 Ocean Blvd. Held again 10/29. 5:30 pm. Free. 561-278-5455; highlandbeach.us

10/15 - 9th Annual Boca Raton Bowl ABC Supply Great Chef’s Tailgate Showcase at Boca Raton Innovation Campus, 3950 Communications Ave, Boca Raton. Includes all chef food samplings, entertainment, and beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks. 6-8:30 pm. $45-$55. 561385-0144; spiritofgivingnetwork.com

10/15 - FAU Astronomical Observatory public viewing at Florida Atlantic University Science & Engineering Building 4th floor, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 1st F & 3rd T 7:30 pm. Free. Schedule subject to change; check website: 561-297-7827; cescos.fau. edu/observatory

10/15 - Spoken Word Open Mic: Poetry, Storytelling & Lyrics at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. Every 3rd T 8-10:30 pm. $10-$15. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

Wednesday - 10/16 - Appraisal Day at Market Auctions, 500 N Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth Beach. Bring items for complimentary estimate with the opportunity to sell for immediate payment. Appointments required: 561-237-5222; marketauctions.com

10/16 - Retail Therapy Experience Shop Hop & Luncheon to benefit Delray Beach Public Library. Shop hop on guided trolley to Delray’s premier boutiques. Scavenger hunt, prizes/raffles, finish with private lunch at Elizabetta’s. Doors open 7:45 am. $135/shopper; $200/shopping duo. 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org/ retail-therapy-experience/ 10/16 - GFWC Woman’s Club of Delray Beach Meeting at Teen Center, 505 SE 5th Ave. Bring your own refreshments/coffee. 10 am. Free. delraywomansclub.com 10/16 - Book Buzz Adult Book Club

at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 10:30 am-noon. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/16 - Microsoft Word Intermediate Class at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/16 - Crafting in the Library: TBA at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 5-7 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/16 - Workshop: Introduction to Alcohol Ink - Part 1 at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 6-8:30 pm. $45. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

Thursday - 10/17 - Crafting for Fun & Small Business: Macrame a Tree of Life at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 10:30 am-12:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

10/17 - Music and the Holocaust: Tragedy, Hope and Legacy w/ Emanuel Abramovits at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 12:30-2 pm. $60/annual membership; $30/member; $35/nonmember & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/17 - Live Music Series: Thursday Evenings at The Shops of Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle. Enjoy the talents of local musicians in the courtyard. Held again 10/24 & 31. 5:30-7:30 pm. Free. bocacenter.com

10/17 - Arts Administrators of Color Fellowship Reception at Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, 601 Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach. 5:30-7:30 pm. Free. Reservations: 561-471-2901; palmbeachculture.com

Friday - 10/18 - Seminar: French Culture Through Film w/ Valerie Sutter at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every F through 11/15 12:30-2:30 pm. $60/ annual membership; $70/member; $90/ non-member; $30/one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/18 - Workshop: Five Color Abstract Landscape Painting at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 2-4 pm. $65. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/18 - Brothers Again at The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. 8 pm. $45. 561-272-1281; delraybeachplayhouse. com

10/18-19 - St. Paul’s Flea Market & Boutique at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Courtyard, 188 S Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Featuring used furniture, clothing, jewelry, housewares, art, books and more. Proceeds help support St. Paul’s ministries in the community. F: 8:30 am-4:30 pm; Sat: 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Free. 561-276-4541; stpaulsdelray.org

10/18-19 - Nicole Henry: 20 Years & Counting at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8-10 pm. $50-$55. 561-4506357; artsgarage.org

Saturday - 10/19 - Oceanfront Bark at Oceanfront Park, 6415 N Ocean Blvd, Boynton Beach. Well-behaved dogs welcome to “paw-ty” on the beach. Dogs allowed off leash on the beach & in the water. Dogs must be appropriately licensed and well-behaved. 9 am-noon. Free. 561742-6221; boynton-beach.org

10/19 - Hand Crafted Greeting Cards at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Create custom greeting cards. Adults. 2-4 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/19 - 17th Annual Pineapple Grove  Bed Races at The Standard, 100 SE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. Benefitting Achievement Center for Children, Delray Firefighters Benevolent, EJS Project, Delray Citizens for Delray Police. 4 pm. Free/ spectator. Registration: 561-927-8605; delrayconcours.com

10/19 - Night and Day at Florida Atlantic University Theatre, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 7 pm. $10. 561-297-6124; fauevents. com

10/19-20 - Annual Orchids On The Square Show & Sale at The Fieldhouse at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Presented by Delray Beach Orchid Society. Sat: 10 am-5 pm; Sun: 10 am-4 pm. $5. 561-573-7633; delraybeachorchidsociety.org

Halloween Calendar

Friday - 10/11-31 - Pumpkin Patch at Cason United Methodist Church, 342 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Family Fun Fest 10am-1 pm 10/19; Trunk or Treat 4-6 pm 10/27. M-F: noon-7 pm; Sat: 9 am-6 pm; Sun: 10:30 am-6 pm. Free. 561-276-5302; casonumc.org

Saturday - 10/19-20 - Boca Raton Pumpkin Patch Festival at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real. Carnival rides, kiddie cornstalk maze, scarecrow dressup village, sponsor giveaways, more. Pumpkins, savory & sweet cocktails, fair food for purchase. Three different event sessions: Session #1, Sat 10 am-3 pm; Session #2: Sat 4-9 pm; Session #3: Sun 10 am-4 pm. Each session requires its own ticket. Per session: $27.50/person age 3+; free/under age 3. Advance ticket purchase required: bocapumpkinpatch.com

OCTOBER 20-26

Sunday - 10/20 - Halloween by the Sea at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Outdoor crafts, games, wear your coolest costume. Carpooling encouraged; insect repellent suggested. Age 2-6; child under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian. Two times: 4:30 and 5:45 pm. Per child: $10/resident; $13/ non-resident; free/adults with participating child. Reservations: 561-544-8605; gumbolimbo.org

Friday - 10/25 – Haunted Nature Preserve at Lantana Nature Preserve, 100 E. Ocean Ave. Guided haunted trail tours, DJ dance Party, face painting, costume contest, hayrides, kids carnival games, prizes and candy. Free. 6:30-9 pm. 561-540-5754.

Saturday - 10/26 - 13th Annual Witches of Delray Beach Bike Ride begins at City Hall, 100 NW 1st Ave, and ends at Old School Square Garage, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Benefits Achievement Centers for Children & Families. 7:30-10 am. $75-$100/ rider. 561-276-0520; achievementcentersfl.org

10/26 - Annual Halloween Parade & Kidsfest starts at SE/NE 5th Ave, ends at Old School Square Amphitheater, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Family fare. Kidsfest: noon-4 pm; parade: 1 pm. Free. 561-243-7000; beardsleyd@mydelraybeach.com

10/26 - Pop Up Pumpkin Patch at The Shops of Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle. Pumpkins available for purchase, with artists on hand to personalize your pumpkin with a name or monogram. 2-5 pm. Free. bocacenter.com

10/26 - Haunted Hammock at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. 30-minute guided walk through mysterious forest along the boardwalk; learn about nocturnal critters that creep & crawl when no one else is around. Program is a little scary w/some frights along the way. No flashlight or cell phone use during program. Carpooling encouraged; insect repellent suggested. Age 7+; child under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian. 30 minute session: 7:30-9:30 pm. $12/ resident; $15/non-resident. Reservations: 561-544-8605; gumbolimbo.org

OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 2

Sunday - 10/27 - Howl-O-Ween at Mounts Botanical Garden, 531 N Military Tr, West Palm Beach. Dogs' Day and Halloween costume contest/parade. 9am-4pm. Free/ Members & dogs, Others/regular admission. 561-233-1757;mounts.org.

Tuesday - 10/29 - Pups n’  Pumpkins at The Shops of Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton. An evening filled with spooky bites, scary sips, and a Halloween pet costume contest with a $500 prize. 5-8 pm. Free. bocacenter.com

Wednesday - 10/30 - Scream on the Green: Ghostbusters (1984) at Wilson Park (next to John H. Denson Pool), 225 NW12th Ave, Boynton Beach. 7-9 pm. Free. 561-7426645; boynton-beach.org

Thursday - 10/31 - Haunted House Hang Out at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Free community event for families. Featuring trick-or-treating stations, Halloween crafts, snacks, and a movie (screenings at 4:30 & 6 pm). 4-7 pm. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

10/31 - Boo Bash! at Boynton Beach City Library, Community Room 115, 100 E Ocean Ave. Costume contest, activities, pumpkin decorating, treats. 5-6:30 pm. Free. 561-7426390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/19-20 - 5th Annual Playwright’s

Project Festival of New Plays at The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. Daily 2-5 pm. $20/day. 561-272-1281; delraybeachplayhouse.com

10/19 - Fall Festival at Centennial Park Amphitheater, 120 E Ocean Ave, Boynton Beach. Featuring games for families and kids of all ages. 3-6 pm. Free. 561-7426650; boynton-beach.org

Sunday - 10/20 - Boynton Beach Gold Coast Band Concert at First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 235 SW 6th Ave, Boynton Beach. 3 pm. $10. goldcoastband. org

10/20 - Hughes Taylor Band at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 7 pm. $40-$45. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

Monday - 10/21 - George Snow Scholarship Fund Annual Golf Classic at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, 2425 W Maya Palm Dr, Boca Raton. scholarship. org/events

10/21 - Kathryn Krickstein Pressel Mammovan at Old School Square Garage Entrance, NE 1st St, Delray Beach. 9 am-2 pm. No walk-ins - appointment required via: baptisthealth.net/mammovan. Free mammograms available for non insured patients. Must bring valid Driver’s License and Social Security number to qualify for free screening. 561-955-2731; delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events

10/21 - Dirtiest Election Ever: Jefferson vs. Adams Set the Stage for Political Shenanigans w/ Rebecca Staton-Reinstein at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 10-11:30 am. $60/ annual membership; $30/member; $35/ non-member & one-time guest pass at the door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/21 - Getting Started with Gale Courses at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/21 - Resilience Renewed: The Revival of Jewish Existence in Modern Germany w/ Anette Isaace at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 3-4:30 pm. $60/annual membership; $30/member; $35/non-member & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/21 - A to Z Database Introduction at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 5-6:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/21 - It Takes Two: Cinema of the Two-Hander w/ Shelly Isaacs at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every M through 11/18 (no class 11/11) 7-9 pm. $60/ annual membership; $60/member; $80/ non-member; $30/one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

Tuesday - 10/22 - Email Basics Class at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Adults. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-

266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/22 - Bridging Cultures: A Sister Cities Celebration at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 2-7 pm. Free. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

Wednesday - 10/23 - Phases of Caregiving at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 11 amnoon. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/23 - Microsoft Word Advanced Class at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/23 - A Wealth & Wisdom Workshop: Estate Planning Tips for Financial Wellness and Legacy w/ Lawrence Miller, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 3-4:30 pm. Free. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/23 - Crafting in the Library: TBA at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 5-7 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

10/23 - Workshop: Palette Harmony & Artful Mark-Making with Watercolor at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 6-8 pm. $50. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/23 - Art & Jazz on the Avenue in the Beachside Neighborhood (East Atlantic Ave from Venetian Dr to Andrews Ave), Delray Beach. Live music, art, culture, dancing, dining in the street. 6-9:30 pm. Free. 561243-1077; downtowndelraybeach.com/ artandjazz

Thursday - 10/24 - Read for the Record at multiple locations. Hosted by Literary Coalition of Palm Beach County. Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo, Maris Pasquale Doran, illustrated by Qin Leng. Register to read: 561-279-9103; literacypbc.org

10/24 - 13th Annual Delray Reads Day 2024 at multiple Delray Beach elementary schools. This year’s selection is Piper Chen Sings by Phillipa Soo, Maris Pasquale Doran, illustrated by Qin Leng. delrayreads.org

10/24 - How to Use a Sewing Machine: Make a Fabric Bucket at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. Noon-2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-3937906; bocalibrary.org

10/24 - Seminar: Dealing With Emotionally Immature People w/ Bert Diament, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, Room 102, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 12:302 pm. $60/annual membership; $40/ member; $50/non-member & one-time guest pass at the door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/24 - The 2024 Election in Historical Perspective at Florida Atlantic University Theatre, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 5 pm. $25/general public. 561-297-6124; fauevents.com

10/24 - L.E.A.D. Delray Beach: Learn, Engage, and Discover with City

Leaders: Quarterly Town Hall Meeting at Old School Square Fieldhouse, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. 5 pm. Free. delraybeachfl.gov/our-city/town-hallmeetings

10/24 - Friends Virtual Book Club: Memory Wall by Anthony Doeer presented by Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Zoom link: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/6188745394; 561-393-7968; bocalibrary.org

10/24-25 - Workshop: Color Theory Basics 2 Day at Arts Warehouse, 313 NE 3rd St, Delray Beach. 10:30 am-1:30 pm. $90. 561-330-9614; artswarehouse.org

10/24-27 - The Last Night of BallyHoo by Alfred Uhry at Boca Stage at Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. Runs through 11/3. Th-Sat 7 pm; W/Sat/Sun 1 pm. $59$69. 561-447-8829; bocastage.org

Friday - 10/25 - Exhibit: Horizons by Aldo Cherries at Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, 601 Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach. Runs through 11/30. Free. T-Sat Noon-5 pm. palmbeachculture.com

10/25 - Sip & Paint: Paint the Downtown Pink Event at Old School Square Vintage Gym, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Cornell Art Museum and Susan G. Komen. Featuring raffle prizes, wine & light bites. 6-8 pm. $45. 561-243-1077; delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events

10/25 - Faculty Recital: Irena Kofman & Friends - Musical Fusion at Florida Atlantic University Theatre, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 7 pm. $20. 561-297-6124; fauevents.com

10/25 - 80’s Halloween Party with Tiffany at The Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. 7:30 pm. Tickets start at $49.50. 561-203-3742; thestudioatmiznerpark.com

10/25 - Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88’s at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $45-$50. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

10/25-27 - Boynton Beach Senior Center Open House at 1021 Federal Hwy. Featuring education in healthy eating, smartphone/table use, brain health, counseling and planning and more. Membership: Free/residents; $40/year/ non-residents - membership runs 10/19/30. 561-742-6570; boynton-beach.org

Saturday - 10/26 - Delray Beach GreenMarket every Saturday through 5/17, at Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave. Fresh local produce, baked goods, gourmet food items, plants, live music, children’s activities. 9am-2pm. 561-2767511; delraycra.org/green-market

10/26 - Strike Fast Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach. Runs through 3/9. For exhibit hours/ entrance fees: 561-832-5196; norton.org

Plays Music of Grateful Dead for Kids! at The Studio at Mizner Park, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Noon. $17. 561-203-3742; thestudioatmiznerpark.com

10/27 - Exhibit Opening Reception at Artist’s Eye Gallery Boutique, 604 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth. Runs through 11/24. 2-4 pm. Free. 561-586-8666; lwartleague.org

10/27 - Strauss’s Ariadne Auf Naxos at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. Part of the Palm Beach Opera - Fall for Opera series. 2 pm. Free. Registration: 561-266-0194; delraylibrary.org

10/27 - Deborah Silver & Her QuartetBasie, Beatles & Beyond at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 7-8:30 pm. $45-$50. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

10/27 - Deceived, based on Patrick Hamilton's Gaslight at Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E Indiantown Rd. An adaptation by Johanna Wright and Patty Jameson. Runs through 11/10. Check box office for times/tickets. 561-575-2223; jupitertheatre.org

Monday - 10/28 - Race For The White House: Inside the Presidential Election w/ Kevin Wagner, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 1011:30 am. $60/annual membership; $30/ member; $35/non-member & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca. fau.edu

10/28 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver part of Afternoon Book Group at Delray Beach Public Library, 100 W Atlantic Ave. 1 pm. Free. 561-266-0196; delraylibrary.org

10/28 - Macabre, Grotesque and Gothic Art: Monsters and Ghouls in Art History w/ Veronique Cote, MFA at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 3-4:30 pm. $60/annual membership; $30/ member; $35/non-member & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca. fau.edu

10/28 - Selling on eBay: A Beginners Guide at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Adults. 5-6:30 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

Tuesday - 10/29 - Coffee & Culture at Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, 601 Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach. 9-10:30 am. Free. 561-471-2901; palmbeachculture.com

10/29 - U.S. National Security w/ Robert Rabil, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every T through 11/19 10-11:30 am. $60/annual membership; $60/member; $80/nonmember; $30/one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every Th through 11/21 10-11:30 am. $60/annual membership; $60/member; $80/nonmember; $30/one-time guest pass at the door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/31 - Witches in History, Literature and Culture w/ Helene Herman at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 12:30-2 pm. $60/annual membership; $30/ member; $35/non-member & one-time guest pass at the door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/31 - Crafting for Fun & Small Business: Embroider a HalloweenThemed Pumpkin, Bat, or Cat! at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 1-3 pm. Free. Registration: 561-3937906; bocalibrary.org

10/31 - The Fate of Stars and the Universe: From Black Holes to Quasars w/ Ata Sarajedini at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every Th through 11/21 3-4:30 pm. $60/annual membership; $60/member; $80/non-member; $30/ one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/31-11/3 - 2024 Holiday House at Boca Raton Garden Club, 4281 NW 3rd Ave. Crafts, plants, jewelry, ornaments, bake sale, holiday raffles. 9-2 pm. Free. 561-3959376; bocaratongardenclub.org Friday - 11/1 - Can There Be Peace After The War In Gaza? w/ Mitchell Bard, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 12:30-2 pm. $60/annual membership; $30/member; $35/nonmember & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

11/1 - First Friday Art Walk at Cornell Art Museum, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach. 6-9 pm. Free. 561-654-2220; delrayoldschoolsquare.com/events

11/1 - First Friday @ 5 Concert: Shane Duncan Band at Centennial Park & Amphitheater, 120 E Ocean Ave. Featuring food trucks, artesian market, children’s activities and music. 5-9 pm. Free. 561-7426024; boynton-beach.org

11/1-3 - Carmen and Other Works at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Presented by Ballet Palm Beach. Check box office for times/tickets. 561-832-7469; kravis.org

11/1-3 - 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche by Evan Linder & Andrew Hobgood at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Runs through 11/10. Th-Sat: 8 pm; Sun: 2 pm. $28. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse. org

Saturday - 11/2 - Free Fun Saturday at The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N Federal Hwy. Free family craft activities 2-3:30 pm. 10 am-4 pm. Free. 561-395-6766; bocahistory.org

10/26 - Boynton Beach Pirate Fest 2024 at Centennial Park & Amphitheater, 120 E Ocean Ave. Featuring food trucks, artesian market, children’s activities and music. Noon-6 pm. Free. 561-742-6024; boynton-beach.org

10/26 - Lake Worth Has Talent IV at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. All proceeds to benefit Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. 8 pm. $30. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

10/26 - The French Horn Collective at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $40-$45. 561-450-6357; artsgarage. org

10/26-27 - The Last Yiddish Speaker by Deborah Zoe Laufer at Florida Atlantic University Theatre Lab, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Runs through 11/10. Th-Sat: 7:30 pm; Sat/Sun: 3 pm. $60. 561-297-6124; fauevents.com

OCT. 27-NOV. 2

Sunday - 10/27 - Trip: Miami Dolphins Football Game departs from Hester Center, 1901 N Seacrest Blvd, Boynton Beach. Event package includes game ticket, food, soft drinks, tailgating and charter bus transportation. Arrive by 8:45 am; bus departs 9 am. $110/person. Registration deadline 10/14. 561-742-6550; boyntonbeach.org

10/27 - The Rock & Roll Playhouse:

10/29 - Seminar: Life, Humanity, and the Universe: Our Cosmic Connection w/ Alexander Wolszczan, Ph.D. at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, Room 102, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. 12:30-2 pm. $60/annual membership; $40/member; $50/nonmember & one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/29 - Sewing: Intermediate Project at Boynton Beach City Library, 100 E Ocean Ave. Learn basics of hand & machine sewing. Adults. 5-7 pm. Free. Registration: 561-742-6390; boyntonlibrary.org

Wednesday - 10/30 - Seminar: Ripped from the Headlines w/ Eliot Kleinberg at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, Room 102, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every W through 11/20 12:302 pm. $60/annual membership; $70/ member; $90/non-member; $30/one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca. fau.edu

10/30 - Music Americana: The Evolution of Style & Content w/ Rod MacDonald at Florida Atlantic University Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Every W through 11/20 3-5 pm. $60/ annual membership; $60/member; $80/ non-member; $30/one-time guest pass at door. 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

10/30 - Trivia Night at Boca Raton Public Library, 400 NW 2nd Ave. Adults. 6-7:30 pm. Free. 561-393-7906; bocalibrary.org

Thursday - 10/31 - Halloween

10/31 - A Republic If You Can Keep It w/ Jeffrey Steinberg, M.A. at Florida

11/2 - 100th Birthday History Talk at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. Learn about the 100-year history of the Oakley Theatre and celebrate the building’s 100th birthday. 11 am. Free. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

11/2 - 9th Annual Dia De Los Muertos Lake Worth Beach at Hatch 1121, 1121 Lucerne Ave. Family event presented by Lake Worth Beach CRA & LULA Lake Worth Arts. 3-9 pm. Free. lakewortharts.com

11/2 - Sunset Tequila Fest at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Art, music, food & tech. Age 21+. 4-10 pm. $65-$175. sunsettequilafest.com

11/2 - Darkness to Light at Florida Atlantic University Theater, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Presented by Schola Cantorum of Florida & FAU’s Chamber Singers. 7 pm. $25/general admission; $5/student w/ID. scholacantorumfl.org

11/2 - Fairly Amazing - “The Encore” at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave. 7 pm. $30-$35. 561-586-6410; lakeworthplayhouse.org

11/2 - Jonathan Karrant - The Tony Bennett Songbook at Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. 8 pm. $45-$50. 561-450-6357; artsgarage.org

11/2-3 - Boca Raton Fine Art Show at Sanborn Square Park, 72 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. 10 am-5 pm. Free. 941-7553088; hotworks.org

House of the Month

welcome you to a great

present opportunities for easy indoor/outdoor entertaining. Window-walls

provides a

Tthe

the

Seagate deepwater beauty in Delray Beach

his Intracoastal estate, designed by architect Randall Stofft for his own family, has been detailed with the highest level of craftsmanship and appointed with the finest of finishes. It captures his style of a timeless design with endless interior and exterior experiences that interlace into a cohesive creation. This Bermuda-style residence covering 8,555 -/+ total square feet includes five bedrooms and five and one-half baths. The home has a gracious flow and numerous light sources. The first floor has three living domains. A sense of spaciousness and a light-filled ambience pervade the water-view living room, topped by an intricately coffered volume ceiling. The elegant formal dining room commands picturesque garden views. A gourmet centerisland kitchen, with a breakfast room, functions as the heart of the residence. It is appointed with lustrous mahogany contemporary cabinetry incorporating a mix of stainless steel and glass doors that complement gleaming stainlesssteel professional-grade appliances. Completing the layout are a first-floor guest suite, library, cabana bath, sauna, powder room and three-car garage.

The second floor includes the primary suite as well as the loft/media room and two guest bedroom suites, one with a cupola sitting area and an adjoining 257-square-foot “secret room.” Offered at $14,900,000.

Contact the Pascal Liguori Estate Group, 561-789-8300. Premier Estate Properties, 900 E. Atlantic Ave., #4, Delray Beach; pascal@premierestateproperties.com

The classically inspired stairway

strong focal point to

home as it ascends to the second floor and the luxe primary suite, which has an angled glass wall and terrace overlooking

Intracoastal Waterway. It serves as a calm retreat with an exercise room and a spa-inspired marble bath.

LEFT: Intracoastal Waterway views

waterside lifestyle. RIGHT: Informal rooms such as the game room with full-service bar

of glass overlook the terrace, pool and dock.

The outdoor living area consists of two covered terraces, a pool with spillover spa, summer kitchen and dock. The property is on a private yacht basin, which is set back 120 yards from the Intracoastal.