Xanax, addiction and death

100 Pages·2016·51.37 MB·English

February 2016 Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach Volume 9 Issue 2
Along the Coast Boynton Beach
Commission
agrees to save
old high school
Developer pledges $4.5M
City gives itself 90 days
to raise $1.5M share
AT 100
By Jane Smith
Boynton Beach City
Commissioners fell under the spell
cast by preservation architect Rick
Gonzalez and his plans to restore
the historic Boynton Beach High
School.
On Feb. 2, they voted to proceed
Summoning
with the $6 million project
provided financing can be worked
the past with
out in 90 days. The deal calls for
the city to invest $1.5 million.
a concrete cruise
Jeff Hardin, president of Stuart-
based Straticon Construction,
along the old road
committed to investing $4.5
million. Straticon also will be
By Mary Jane Fine the general contractor for the
restoration.
“There’s somethin’ about this Sunday “I believe in preservation,”
It’s a most peculiar gray Mayor Jerry Taylor said. “I have to
Strollin’ down the avenue be able to look the taxpayer in the
That’s known as A1A.” eye and say this was a good deal.”
— from Jimmy Buffet’s Courtesy of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County Hardin explained the financial
Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season ABOVE: end that called for the development
Australian team to investigate tax credits for
That avenue, that celebrated highway, was pines flank A1A historic properties and how the
begun — one significant portion of it, anyway in Gulf Stream deal would have to be structured.
— the same year the original Palm Beach in 1944. “The building has to be in
County Courthouse was built; the same year LEFT: Boca private hands,” he said.
the Prohibition Party’s Sidney Johnston Catts Ratone by the Their attorneys will look into
was elected governor of Florida; the same year Sea, a 1923 gas whether the deal can be a long-
the infamous Rice Gang robbed the Bank of station/dance term lease with the city receiving
Homestead and fled into the Everglades with its hall/ fish camp the building at the end of 20 years,
purloined $6,500. on A1A where or possibly have a buyout in 10
The year was 1916. The highway came to be the Beach Club years. The city would have to pay
known as State Road A1A. is today.
Courtesy of the Boca Raton Historical Society

See A1A on page 22 See SCHOOL on page 17
Delray Beach
Xanax, addiction and death
Family members search for answers after suicide at beachside rehab house
By Nick Madigan 52-year-old Abrams had Treatment Centers in an upscale have succumbed to their disease in
written in a note to his oceanside house in Delray Beach. Florida. In Palm Beach County alone,
Tod Abrams’ last act, in a life that family. Police found it “I haven’t slept in 4 days and I’m at least 377 people died last year from
included a once-thriving career as a on a dresser in his room probably beginning to hallucinate,” his drug overdoses, according to Pamela
Hollywood film executive and fathering on Aug. 30 last year, note went on. “The people here were Cavender, the records custodian for
a son whom he said he adored, was to after he had been dead very kind but the program was too the county’s medical examiner, citing
tie a pair of bathrobe cords together, for a few hours. It was rigorous, too difficult. I’m too fatigued statistics that are still being assembled.
loop them around his neck and fix a Abrams only a month after he to proceed on. I don’t have the strength.” The problem, Cavender said, is “out of
knot below his left ear. Then he hanged had sought help with With his death, Abrams joined the control.”
himself from a metal rod in a closet. his addiction to Xanax, a sedative used hundreds — perhaps thousands — While the level of commitment to
“The anguish, anxiety and to treat anxiety, at a $60,000-a-month of people suffering from substance battling drug abuse varies widely, the
nightmares were unbearable,” the residential facility run by Caron use disorders who in recent years See SUICIDE on page 30
Inside
Love stories
Remember the Couples tell how
Arcade Tap Room? they met. Jubilee
New owner breathes life Page H1 celebration
Soup’s on St. Vincent’s
into space again.
Promenade plan Three exhibitions celebrates
Page AT1
scuttled of work by 75 years.
House of the Month Old Ocean Andy Warhol at Special Section
They don’t build them Boulevard to go the Boca Museum.
like this anymore. unchanged. Page AT9
Page H27 Page 19
2 Editor’s Note/Coastal Star The COASTAL STAR February 2016
Coastal Star
Behind-the-scenes volunteer
Publisher Advertising Executives www.thecoastalstar.com
Jerry Lower Mike Mastropietro The Coastal Star is a monthly newspaper
[email protected] Jay Nuszer with two editions serving a melodious match for Symphonia
Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach,
Executive Editor News Operations Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes,
Mary Kate Leming Tracy Allerton Gulf Stream and coastal Delray Beach;
[email protected] Brad Betker Highland Beach and coastal Boca Raton.
Chris Felker By Marie Puleo
Advertising Manager Linda Ferris ©2008-2016
Chris Bellard Steve Plunkett
[email protected] Victoria Preuss Send letters, opinions Marti Kaplan has found the
Clare Shore and news tips to
Managing Editor Scott Simmons [email protected] perfect way to combine her
Mary Thurwachter Michele Smith talent for crunching data with
[email protected] Margot Street The Coastal Star
Tom Warnke 5114 N Ocean Blvd. her love for classical music.
Founding Partners Amy Woods Ocean Ridge, FL 33435 As a volunteer at the
Carolyn & Price Patton 561-337-1553
Symphonia chamber orchestra
in Boca Raton, she helps
Editor’s Note internal operations run
smoothly by using the skills
she garnered during her nearly
Drug rehab industry
two-decade advertising career
in New York.
should shed more light
“I learned along the way
that my talents are in the back
through veil of privacy
room and organization, and
dealing with databases and
When someone you this veil, who will? spreadsheets, which is the kind
love takes his own Mental health agencies of thing the Symphonia needed
life, it leaves a large work diligently to educate the when I started with them in
aching space packed full of public while struggling to find 2009,” Kaplan said.
questions. I know, because I funding for these efforts. In After working in market
lost a brother to suicide. He the meantime, the addiction and media research for major
was 51. This is why when I treatment industry has ad agencies such as J. Walter
learned of Tod Abrams’ death lagged far behind in opening Thompson and McCann
at the Caron Ocean Drive its doors to help educate Erickson and as director of sales
facility in Delray Beach I the public about what first research for ABC television,
thought of his family and all responders say has become a Kaplan retired in 1988 to Boca
the questions they must have. public health crisis. Raton with her husband, who
I also thought of the I understand why Caron also worked in advertising.
neighbors who live near and other treatment facilities They were both in their 40s.
the two facilities in this work diligently to protect Kaplan filled her time doing
neighborhood and all the the privacy of their clients. volunteer work for the Florence
questions they’ve been asking But that doesn’t mean Fuller Child Development
for several years now about they shouldn’t be doing Centers and serving as treasurer
the houses next door. educational outreach to the of her condo board, which Marti Kaplan, a volunteer for the Symphonia, lives at The
Through our reporting, community, and yes, even proved to be labor-intensive. Carlton condominiums in Boca Raton.
I learned a little about Tod to their neighbors. Why not “Eventually my husband Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Abrams and was struck by hold an occasional open house said, ‘If you’re going to work
how well this handsome and to let the folks next door see that hard, you might as well “It’s the kind of database
NOMINATE SOMEONE TO BE A
accomplished man would have the facilities and learn about go out and get paid for it.’ So I management that I’ve done
fit into this coastal Delray treatment methods? Why did,” Kaplan said. COASTAL STAR most of my career in one
Beach neighborhood. I also not work with the city to She worked for a Realtor for Send a note to news@ form or another, and that isn’t
learned a lot about Xanax and hold a series of educational 10 years, handling contracts, thecoastalstar.com or necessarily the expertise of
its dangers. programs? multiple-listing databases call 337-1553. other volunteers,” Kaplan said.
These things made me The city of Delray Beach and bookkeeping. When she “It’s not glamorous, but it’s very
wonder how many others is being proactive about finally retired in 2008, this time Florida and features world- satisfying when it works.”
living along the beach are educating its residents about officially, she needed something renowned guest artists, such as And it worked last fall when
struggling with mental health drug addiction. It’s time to do. pianist Misha Dichter, who will Kaplan succeeded in putting
issues or addiction. for the drug-rehab industry A former member of the be performing next month. together a donor list that was
I hoped that by putting a to step up, pull out the Symphonia board who lived in Kaplan, 68, is particularly included in the programs for
human face on addiction and checkbook and pull back the Kaplan’s condo building knew enthusiastic about the the first concert of the season.
the growing number of drug- veil to answer questions. that the Symphonia’s executive Symphonia’s “Meet the “I was practically doing
related deaths in our area, we There won’t always be director, Annabel Russell, Orchestra” program, which handsprings down the hallway,
might all be able to find a few answers, of course, but needed help, so she put Kaplan allows children to interact with I was so happy that I got it
answers to our questions. sometimes healing can begin and Russell together. musicians at dress rehearsals to Annabel in the form she
I didn’t really expect full just by being able to ask the “It just happened to be a and learn about different needed,” Kaplan said.
answers. With addiction questions. very good match. We were very instruments. “It’s important Making life easier for Russell
treatment and mental illness compatible,” Kaplan said. that they know there’s is what it’s all about, “so she
there is a heavy veil drawn to — Mary Kate “When I was growing up in something out there besides rap can do the business end of it
keep questions out. And with Leming, Wisconsin, my mother worked and hip-hop,” she said. that only she can do, so the
suicide, there are always more Editor almost full time as a volunteer Volunteering at the musicians can come and play
questions than answers. But for the Milwaukee Arts Center, Symphonia three or four their music, and everybody’s
if local media don’t try to lift so I spent a lot of time in grade days a week, Kaplan has been happy.”
school and high school stuffing spending most of her time lately “Marti is amazing,” said
envelopes or doing whatever working with a new database Russell. “She has integrity,
RAIN?
was needed. Volunteering at that will store information is reliable and does her work
We plan to deliver the February edition the Symphonia was sort of about donors, subscribers, really, really well. She saves
of The Coastal Star on the 5th and 6th. automatic.” single-ticket purchases and me a lot of time, and I’m very
If it’s raining, we may wait a day. The Symphonia, in its 10th seat assignments in one grateful to have her.”
season, aims to keep classical consolidated place, consistently Part of why Kaplan
music flourishing in South keeping things up-to-date. volunteers is that she hopes
the Symphonia (www.
Call now for extraordinary thesymphonia.org) will stay in
travel experiences!
Boca Raton, so that people don’t
Cruises. Tours. Group
Travel. Family Reunions. have to go to Palm Beach or
Go someplace you’ve Miami to hear classical music.
never gone before.
“It makes me feel good
that I’m doing something for
an organization that brings
pleasure to people and at the
same time keeps my mind
TRAVEL
going. It gives me a reason to
561.585.5885
257 S. Ocean Blvd. get out of bed in the morning,”
Manalapan, FL 33462 313 N. Railroad Avenue Ú
mypalmbeachtravel.com Boynton Beach, FL Kaplan said.
February 2016 The COASTAL STAR 3
4 The COASTAL STAR February 2016
February 2016 The COASTAL STAR 5
6 The COASTAL STAR February 2016
February 2016 The COASTAL STAR Letters to the Editor 7
Letters to the Editor
Addiction treatment facilities should welcome reasonable regulations
Thank you for the article vigilance of those people who homes and assisted-living Having operated a facility in speakers, address your group,
published in January describing have the best interests of both facilities all require diligence Boca Raton for 21 years without or answer any questions you
the dilemma of regulating the patients and the public to maintain their level of care. incident, I look forward to may have about treatment.
addiction treatment services in mind. The overseeing of Addiction treatment facilities beginning this new venture We want to be able to stay in
in our state. We applaud the services is something that DCF should not be exempt. with partners in patient care touch with our community and
efforts of all concerned. cannot tackle alone, and I am Quality providers of who are concerned about the its needs. This is what good
As our company enters sure they welcome the help. addiction treatment will not community and the client. neighbors do.
into the arena of addiction Other health-care delivery resist reasonable regulations. We plan to open our first
treatment for alcohol and systems have had to be Ones that do need to examine program in the spring and Jacob Frydman
other drugs, as well as eating regulated in the past to ensure their own motives and welcome requests now to begin Executive Director,
disorders, we welcome the better care. Hospitals, nursing methods. community education, provide Sanctuary Recovery Centers
Gulf Stream wastes tax dollars fighting O’Hare and O’Boyle
Picture an ink-drawn that the town once cut attorney Academy. I attended with Lisa No one discussed conflicts down with O’Hare and O’Boyle
political cartoon where a Gerald Richman a $50,000 Orthwein and Ashley Morgan, of interest when Morgan put — unconditionally.  The latter
pleading-eyed man rapaciously check without receiving any had playdates with Berkley his personal lawyer, Robert want this episode to end. Town
shovels piles of “taxpayer itemized bills. The taxpayers Sweetapple, and was welcomed Sweetapple, on the town’s officials will continue to engage
dollars” into a blazing furnace. have been swindled; every dollar into the homes of those who payroll or how the town allows in this unchecked behavior,
The furnace has a fresh sign the town now spends litigating now call me the “scourge of the Sweetapple to profiteer from which is destructive and abasing
labeled “Taxpayer Mandate,” is forever wasted.  state.”  personal lawsuits with taxpayer the town, for perpetuity.
which lies above an older sign, For those of you who The taxpayers ought to know dollars (request his bills). Taxpayers, resolution is reality
scratched away and barely don’t know me, I was born of these deep and intertwined But there is hope. The — but the onus is on you.   
legible that reads “Personal in Gulf Stream and attended connections because it explains taxpayers have to urge their
Vendetta.”  Gulf Stream School from the emotional and irrational commissioners and/or Town Jonathan O’Boyle
Now picture Mayor Scott the age of 3 until the day I behavior of the town’s spending Manager William Thrasher Deerfield Beach
Morgan and his personal quest departed for Culver Military habits. to end this travesty by sitting
against Christopher O’Hare and
my father, Martin O’Boyle; now
think of your tax dollars.
This is the present picture for
the taxpayers of Gulf Stream,
but it does not have to be the
future if they tell town officials
to “knock it off” and focus on
peace.
It is a new year and 2016
should be the year that the
town returns to normalcy.  The
legal battles that have been the
harbinger of new taxes (both
overt and hidden in water fees)
and general unpleasantries can
end if the town, O’Hare, and
Martin O’Boyle sit down and
make peace.
O’Boyle and O’Hare have
long preached negotiation;
officials insist on conflagration.
If the taxpayers want a
change, they must demand it.
Otherwise, the town’s approach
will consume all coffers. 
Morgan’s promise that the
town will get its money back
from O’Hare and O’Boyle rings
hollow — abject fantasy.
The town has lost the
RICO suit at a cost of tens, if
not hundreds, of thousands
of dollars. The town lost its
identical action in state court
and at a much higher cost than
the RICO suit (look it up).  The
town has spent countless dollars
trying to prove that I engaged
in the unauthorized practice of
law. That misadventure ended
when I was sworn into the
Florida Bar in September 2015. 
I fear that the taxpayers have
been deprived of such critical
information, including the fact
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 words or
fewer. Mail to 5114 N.
Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge,
FL 33435; or email editor@
thecoastalstar.com.
8 News The COASTAL STAR February 2016
Delray Beach
CCeelleebbrraattiinngg 2277 yyeeaarrss iinn MMaannaallaappaann!! Since 1984
CRA gives analysts more time,
puts off Old School Square
Inc.
Artisans, grounds makeover
By Jane Smith The firm was hired last fall to
YYoouurr ggiifftt
analyze property values in each
The much-anticipated of the agency’s eight subareas
hheeaaddqquuaarrtteerrss
property value analysis of that represent about 20 percent
ffoorr tthhee ssppeecciiaall downtown Delray Beach and of Delray Beach. The subareas
its beach side will be presented lie mostly along Atlantic
ppeeooppllee Feb. 28 at the city’s Community Avenue, east of Interstate 95 to
Redevelopment Agency the ocean.
iinn yyoouurr lliiffee meeting. At the Jan. 14 meeting, CRA
Munilytics, the Davie Chairman Reggie Cox pulled
company analyzing the records, the contract extension off the
Handmade received a second extension consent agenda and made it
18 karat white and at the Jan. 14 CRA meeting. a regular agenda item so the
yellow gold The company had received an board members could discuss
with fine diamonds. automatic 30-day extension it. “There are budget issues
in December with a revised attached to this,” he said.
deadline of Jan. 4. The new date Board member Paul Zacks
247 S. OCEAN BLVD. | MANALAPAN PEDRO MALDONADO of Feb. 19 gave the company agreed. “The company was
45 more days to complete picked based on its low price.”
SStteeppss ffrroomm tthhee EEaauu PPaallmm BBeeaacchh RReessoorrtt && SSppaa MASTER JEWELER
the work. The company was CRA Executive Director
561-586-8687 | WWW.JEWLERYARTISANSPALMBEACH.COM | EMAIL: [email protected] selected because of its low bid of Jeff Costello explained that the
$59,000 and quick two-month company asked for more time to
turnaround time. reach all the parties required in
its contract.
Board members said they’d
like future contracts to reflect
that if a company didn’t meet
a deadline, it would face
consequences.
In other action, board
members suspended the
contract with Currie Sowards
New Direct Intracoastal, Lakefront and Waterview Homes and Aguila Architects for 90
days for the makeover of the Old
D E L R A Y B E A C H School Square grounds, at the
request of the City Commission.
The vote was 5-1, with CRA
board member Bill Branning
abstaining because he chairs the
Old School Square board.
Zacks voted for the
suspension reluctantly because
he is trying to be a good partner
with the city, even though the
CRA held various community
meetings to get public input
before awarding the $200,000
design contract to the Currie
firm.
Board member Herman
Stevens voted no. He explained
that he thinks it’s important for
Palm Trail Estate Lake Ida Waterfront the city and the CRA to work
together, but he thinks the CRA
617 Palm Trail 1320 NW 13th Street board is independent from the
Direct Intracoastal Waterway 11,000+/- SF gated compound located Enjoy the ultimate 8,000+/-SF ‘activity’ house featuring a private City Commission.
within minutes of the downtown and beaches. Across the waterway, beach, waterfront entertaining pavilion, 55’ infinity edge pool, fire As the owner of Old School
‘forever’ views are protected by a four-acre nature preserve. pit, 4 car garage and 40’ dock. Square and its grounds, the City
Commission would have final
DELIVERY WINTER 2016 $5,950,000 DELIVERY SUMMER 2016 $2,950,000
say over changes. It prefers to
concentrate on maintaining the
property and wants the CRA to
spend its money elsewhere.
Old School Square Executive
Director Rob Steele and noted
urban planner Fred Kent will
lead community sessions to find
out what residents want to see
Ú
there.
The next
edition of
Delray Modern Intracoastal Delray Modern Beach
The Coastal Star
1205/1215 Palm Trail 225/235 Macfarlane Drive
Spectacular one-of-a-kind waterfront setting, adjacent to 5-acre Just a short two-block walk to restaurants and beaches from will be distributed
nature preserve.12’ floor to ceiling glass, 80’ private lap pools and this secluded ‘island’ location. Enjoy Intracoastal views from the
the weekend of
dockage on a wide section of the Intracoastal. roof top terrace with spa, entertaining kitchen and fire pit.
DELIVERY WINTER 2016 FROM $2,850,000 DELIVERY WINTER 2016 FROM $1,850,000
March 4
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February 2016 The COASTAL STAR News 9
Delray Beach
iPic passes site review board, moves on to Planning and Zoning
By Jane Smith Homeowners Association, said curbs or street lights, he wanted Marina Historic District 12 trigger action and who would
iPic’s November traffic analysis the developer to pay to install months after receiving 90 pay for it.
The iPic movie theater moved showed 15 percent of its 1,770 street lights. percent of its permits. He said he talked with Miskel
closer to becoming a reality new trips would come from “We can’t control how people But that wasn’t concrete after the meeting and pointed
after a Delray Beach review the ocean side of Delray Beach. get to our project,” said Bonnie enough for Zeller. He wanted out two streets that would be the
board approved site plans in When traffic backs up along Miskel, an attorney for iPic. the developer to install the travel path to iPic. He didn’t get
mid-January. Next stop for the Atlantic Avenue, he said, many But Cope sided with Zeller lighting as soon as iPic opens, a firm commitment but said she
Ú
mixed-use project will be the would cut through the Marina and proposed a solution that not wait until a traffic study is promised to look into it.
Feb. 22 meeting of the Planning District. Because it’s a historic would require the developer completed and decisions made
& Zoning Board. district with few sidewalks, to monitor the traffic in the on what traffic threshold would
In contrast with the luxury
theater’s December appearance
before the Site Plan Review and
Appearance Board, where the
project was tabled for various
issues, the January meeting GULF STREAM | OCEAN RIDGE | DELRAY BEACH | PALM BEACH
went smoothly. Only two
residents spoke against the
project’s impact on traffic in the
downtown; at the December
meeting eight residents pointed
out traffic problems.
The project sits on 1.6 acres,
just south of Atlantic Avenue
and between Southeast Fourth
and Fifth avenues. The land is
owned by the city’s Community
Redevelopment Agency.
During that four-week break,
the iPic owners turned the
nearby Martini property into a
loading zone for deliveries and
a staging area for emergency
vehicles. At the request of the
city’s Fire Department, iPic
will restrict parking there to
emergency vehicles. Four public
spaces will be eliminated. BUY OR
The owners also addressed
objections to the limited turning
room in the garage by revising
the layout to show enough
SELL YOUR
maneuvering room for a vehicle
that is 11.3 feet long. Board
member Jim Knight pointed out
that a Volkswagen Beetle is 13
feet long and an SUV averages HOME WITH
about 16 feet. Even so, he
ultimately voted for the project’s
site plans because two board
members who are architects said
THE BEST
the revised garage was adequate.
Architect Roger Cope said,
“I’m not going to pick apart
their garage, I think they’ve
done the best possible job.” He
called the design “iconic.” #1 REAL ESTATE COMPANY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY
Board member Andrew
Youngross voted against
approvals for the site plans, Salome Edgeworth
saying, “The size of the project
just doesn’t fit here and it’s
not harmonious with the
REALTOR® ILLUSTRATED PROPERTIES
neighborhood.”
Jose Aguilar, the board
chairman and an architect,
Salome Edgeworth
agreed: “I personally feel it’s too
large.” He voted against the site 561.600.3845
plan for iPic but for the site plan 700 East Atlantic Ave | Delray, FL 33483
for the Martini property. IPRE.com/SalomeEdgeworth
Nearby resident Sandy
Zeller, who is the president of
the Marina Historic District
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561-585-9860
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Carry Out
10 News The COASTAL STAR February 2016
Delray Beach
Seawalls will need $25 million worth of work in coming years
Atlantic Avenue. approved hiring the Wantman for the waterfront, he said. protected or with a crumbling
By Jane Smith Warner did give Group for $28,850. The The study will determine seawall, he said.
commissioners some good news: engineering firm will provide which are public and private By the time the engineering
Repairing and replacing The city won’t have to bear the a structural analysis of the seawalls, their condition and and design costs are included,
crumbling seawalls along burden of that cost. State and seawalls, bulkheads and public whether replacement is needed, the overall price will likely rise
the Intracoastal Waterway in federal grants are available, he docks along the Intracoastal in how high they must be to hold above $25 million, Morgan said.
Delray Beach will cost about said. Veterans Park, the city marina back rising water and what In other action in January,
$25 million, according to an The city has about 20 miles and along Marine Way. The construction method would Delray Beach commissioners
estimate by the city’s chief of seawalls, new Environmental structures have been damaged allow the seawalls to last for passed a resolution endorsing
financial officer. Services Director John Morgan over time by seasonal high tides 50 years. The city now uses a a state Senate bill to require
“You only have to look at said. The public seawalls are and from wave action from combination of seawalls and solar-powered, in-road lights to
the pictures of streets under in various areas along the boats. pumps and valves to confront improve bicyclist safety along
water and residents in kayaks Intracoastal, he said. They sit To his knowledge, this street flooding, Morgan said. coastal roads.
riding through the streets,” at the intersections of the three marks the first comprehensive The project would take about Lighting is reduced seven
Jack Warner told the City bridges, in Veterans Park, along study of the city’s seawalls. He 10 years to complete because months each year to prevent
Commission in January when Marine Way and other areas. explains: For a long time after various state and federal disorienting sea turtle
giving his budget presentation. Seawalls run about $250 a the city was founded, it was just agencies will have to sign off on hatchlings. If passed, the bill
“It’s a new need.” linear foot to build, he said. shoreline along the Intracoastal. it, plus nearby private property would require lights on coastal
Indeed, during the seasonal “From Veterans Park to Marine Development happened owners may have to upgrade roads rebuilt or added after July
high tides last year, a kayaker Way, the city has 1,900 linear incrementally with homes and their seawalls. It doesn’t make 1. State Sen. Maria Sachs, Delray
Ú
was spotted paddling down feet of seawalls,” Morgan said. condos built there. Seawalls sense to have a strengthened Beach, is the sponsor.
Marine Way, just south of The City Commission went up without an overall plan seawall next to an area not
Decades on, Beach Property Owners still keep eyes on their prize
By Ron Hayes 1980s. city was able to rebuild the money and formalizing the
The organization that began beach pavilion in 2014, based design and construction details.
Oh, thank heaven for as a neighborhood effort to on the footprint and design of Recently the city established
7-Eleven. keep a convenience store off the original 1929 structure. a bond funding mechanism
Had a small group of A1A has grown, but is still a Katz also points with pride and plans are being formalized
outraged residents not come small organization with office to the group’s commitment to with the prospect of starting
together in May 1967 to oppose supplies, but no office. dune development and beach construction in late 2016.
a convenience store along A1A The group’s more than 400 renourishment. Now the group, founded 48
Victorin Katz
in Delray Beach’s south end, households pay dues of $25 a In 1973 the city started a years ago, already is looking
someone might be dispensing whole character and lifestyle of year and meet each March and beach renourishment program that far into the future. “We’re
Big Gulps near where Atlantic the area,” agrees Vice President December in space provided and later planted native a coastal community that could
Dunes Park stands today. Andy Katz, “and the city would free by the Northern Trust vegetation to create the dunes. be affected by rising tides the
Those early activists grew have lost taxes because property Bank. Board members meet “In 1983, we worked same way Miami and the Keys
to become the Beach Property values would have been a lot monthly. The dues cover the for dune development, are being affected,” Katz says.
Owners Association, and 48 less.” cost of printing and mailing renourishing the dunes by To combat the threat, Katz
years later they’re still working Working with city govern- membership communications planting native vegetation. That says the city has recently
to keep Delray Beach beautiful, ment through the years, including three or four was done mostly with county, raised its base floor elevation
accessible and welcoming to all. the association has kept newsletters a year, telephone state and federal money, and requirement by 6 inches and
“Approval of a convenience commercial property confined bills and a website. No one is today Delray Beach is praised is spending “tens of thousands
store would have acted to Atlantic Avenue, Katz paid. at national conferences as a of dollars” to install one-
as a precedent for future notes, with only the Marriott “And about 12 percent of our model for successful dune way valves to prevent the
commercial development,” resort, three restaurants and a members have voluntarily given maintenance,” Katz says. Intracoastal Waterway from
says the group’s president, Bob clothing store along A1A. Any more than the dues,” Victorin The importance of dunes hit flooding nearby streets during
Victorin, a member since the taller buildings predate height notes. “We’ve had gifts from home in October 2012, when storms and seasonal high tides.
1970s. limitations the organization $200 to one for $1,000.” Hurricane Sandy arrived. “Miami Beach is spending
“It would have changed the and city worked to pass in the Over the years, that small “Luckily for us, it was still $400 million,” Katz says. “The
outlay has produced impressive quite far out at sea when it oceans are rising. There’s no
returns. was in the southern latitudes,” doubt about that. The debate is
PLAY Most important, in 2004 the Katz recalls. “Everyone knows about the cause. But tide gauges
group helped to pass residential the extreme damage it caused aren’t political, and they don’t
BETTER GOLF
design guidelines establishing up North. Sandy and another lie.”
architectural styles, building storm later that month did The Beach Property Owners
with GARY BATES setbacks, acceptable colors and scour our beaches, and also Association is also not political.
garage standards for single- took out about 20 feet of the It will ask municipal candidates
PGA Teaching Professional
family homes. dunes, but the vegetated dunes identical questions and publish
Clinics • Private Lessons • Golf Schools “If you’re going to paint your did their job in protecting A1A the responses in its newsletter,
house,” Katz said, “you can’t do and the upland properties.” but never make endorsements.
PALM BEACH PAR 3 the Pepto-Bismol thing, and no The group’s greatest accomp- “We’re trying to preserve
2345 S. Ocean Blvd. triple-wide garage doors.” lishment, Katz said, is also his the very public and welcoming
Palm Beach, FL 33480 [phone] With the help of $60,000 greatest disappointment. “It’s nature of our beach area,” Katz
raised by the association, the taking so long to implement explains. Come to Delray Beach
the master plan,” he says. In and you’ll find 600 parking
2009, the group developed a spaces for only $1.50 an hour,
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FAST widespread plan to improve the he notes. Go to Palm Beach and
beach area. It was accepted by you’ll pay $5. “We want to keep
the city in 2010, but since then it as a public amenity, and also
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