December 2010 Blog Posts (102)

Obituary —Donald W. Curl, author and historian: Boca Raton

By Dianna Smith

BOCA RATON —When someone had a question about Boca Raton history, Donald Curl usually knew the answer.

Mr. Curl’s knowledge of the area was so vast that he recorded most of his knowledge in books that will live on forever. Mr. Curl, 75, died in December after a battle with lymphoma,…

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Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Along the Coast: Area cities try new ways to attract businesses

By Thomas R. Collins

The website’s home page has an aerial shot of the coastline, with turquoise waters washing over the sand and sunbathers dotting the beach.

Delray Beach, says the site recently created by the city’s Chamber of Commerce and its Community Redevelopment Agency to…

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Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Boynton Beach: City steps up path to historic preservation

By Margie Plunkett

Boynton Beach’s city manager is contemplating history — more specifically whether to proceed with an ad hoc committee’s recommendation to create a Historic Preservation Board and to hire a preservation planner to run the show.

City Manager Kurt Bressner was directed by commission to consider the plan laid out by Warren Adams of the ad hoc committee at the Dec. 7 meeting, and come back with recommendations for the panel.

“I’m in favor of jumpstarting this and… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Editorial: Transitions and new beginnings

By Scott Simmons, managing editor

When opportunity knocked, I hesitated. Agonized, even.

But when a newspaper in northern Palm Beach County offered me a position to write full-time, I decided to accept.

But acceptance doesn’t mean abandonment.

I will continue to… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

South Palm Beach: Bookmobile gets readers' circulation going

Mike Nevard, chairman of the South Palm Beach Planning and Zoning Board, and frequent bookmobile patron checks out the Bookmobile’s offerings. Photos by Jerry Lower

By Ron Hayes

The Palm Beach County Library System boasts 17 branches, from Boca…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Mrs. Claus bakes up holiday cheer in Briny

Mrs. Claus, aka Bev Williams, spreads holiday cheer throughout Briny Breezes. Photo by Jerry Lower

By Tim Norris

At Briny Breezes, Santa takes a back seat. This is Mrs. Claus, red dress, white bonnet, lacey apron and all, and she is coming to hug…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:27pm — No Comments

Gulf Stream School fifth-graders collect toys for needy children

Gulf Stream School fifth-graders Kelly Coughlan and Serena Martin gather toys from younger students including Mason Delafield, Jack Grubman and Jaya Kinsey as part of the school’s holiday toy drive. Toys are given to children whose parents are farmworkers and clients of the Caridad Center’s clinics.… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:23pm — No Comments

Along the Coast: Nature’s garbage crew; Vultures come south

Black vultures, shown basking in

the sun to warm up on a recent chilly morning,

are smaller than turkey vultures, which can weigh up

to 6 pounds. Photo by Jerry Lower

By Joanne Davis

They start…

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Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 12:18pm — No Comments

Manalapan: Stumpf gets manager job despite salary concerns

By Steve Plunkett

Seven weeks after her promotion was announced, it’s a done deal: Linda Stumpf is Manalapan’s town manager.

When town commissioners fired Thomas Heck on Oct. 28 they elevated Stumpf from finance director to interim manager until she and Mayor Kelly Gottlieb could negotiate an employment contract. But the proposal they devised was pulled from the November agenda after Stumpf talked separately with commissioners.

After a series of one-on-one conferences,… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:12pm — No Comments

Along the Coast: ‘Crown Vic’ phase-out has police departments researching options

Vinnie Laudicina, Lantana Police Department

fleet manager (left), and Simion Pavlov,

with one of the department’s

2006 Ford Crown Victorias. Photo by Tim Stepien

By Rich Pollack

For almost two…

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Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 12:11pm — No Comments

Manalapan: Town wants water rates that help lower debt

By Steve Plunkett

Manalapan town commissioners will vote on raising water rates for everyone and making sewer customers pay the full cost of that service at a Jan. 25 public hearing.

Consultants Mock, Roos and Associates are recommending that water rates go up each year for the next four years, from the current $1.85 per 1,000 gallons to $2.34 per 1,000 in 2014. Sewer rates would jump from $2.29 per 1,000 gallons in 2010 to $5.73 in 2011 and continue rising to $6.07 in… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:10pm — No Comments

Obituary—Alvin Curtis True Jr.: Gulf Stream

By Emily J. Minor

GULF STREAM — Alvin Curtis True Jr., a retired doctor who helped his community by serving on several town panels, died Nov. 28 after apparently developing complications from heart surgery. He was 81.

Dr. True, the father of three, is survived by his wife, Beatrice.

A medical doctor who worked for some years in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. True also spent his retirement years helping the town of Gulf Stream handle change and development.

Town Clerk… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:08pm — No Comments

WXEL sale advances; critics unconvinced

By Jenny Staletovich

MIAMI —The sale of WXEL, the station started more than 40 years ago to educate local migrant workers, moved closer to joining the nation’s biggest team in public radio when the Florida Board of Education granted a lease transfer Dec. 17.

The sale, which has pitted listeners against Barry University and its suitor, Classical South Florida, now goes to the Federal Communications Commission.

Barry and Classical South Florida, owned by American Public Media,… Continue

Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:05pm — No Comments

Along the Coast: Grant aims to boost border security

By Steve Plunkett

A $100,000 Homeland Security grant will boost border patrols in coastal communities, County Commissioner Steven L. Abrams said.

“This money will provide additional security for our community, especially along our coastline, a large portion of which I represent,” Abrams said in a news release.

The money will be used for overtime to provide additional patrols associated with crime suppression and intercepting people who have illegally…

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Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 12:03pm — No Comments

Meet your neighbor: Peggy Henry

Peggy Henry grew up in Fort Lauderdale, and now calls Gulf Stream home. She recently was named chairman of the board at the Florence Fuller Child Development Center.

Photo by Jerry Lower

Fourteen years ago, Peggy…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Just grow local: Find regional foods at area markets

Svetlana Simon’s heirloom hens lay colorful eggs at her farm west of Boynton Beach. You can buy free-range eggs like these, plus locally produced cheeses and vegetables at local green markets. Photos by Jerry Lower

By Deborah S.…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Farm-fresh, naturally raised

Svetlana Simon sells eggs, yogurt, cheese and milk from her Heritage Farm at the Delray Beach Green Market. BELOW: A sign at her stand describes her products and her philosophy. Photos by Jerry Lower

By Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

At the Saturday…

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Added by Mary Kate Leming on December 30, 2010 at 11:55am — No Comments

Highland Beach: Ethics office could cost $10,848

By Steve Plunkett

The county’s new ethics watchdog office could cost the town of Highland Beach up to $10,848 in its first year.

“We do not know yet which particular contracts might be exempted from the fee, and there’s going to be some that are exempted from this fee,’’ Town Manager Dale Sugerman reported at the commission’s December meeting.

Municipalities are obligated to fund the office by paying one-quarter of 1 percent of the total cost of contracts awarded. Sugerman said… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 11:41am — No Comments

Boca Raton: New push to keep Ocean Strand public

By Steve Plunkett

Boca Raton residents are mounting another assault in their campaign to ensure that Ocean Strand becomes a park.

A new group, Keep Your Boca Beaches Public, is circulating petitions to place an ordinance and a charter amendment targeting the coastal parcel on the March ballot.

“We started collecting signatures aggressively this weekend, and I have to say that we have hundreds of them already,’’ Martin Siml told City Council members at a Dec. 13 workshop. “It… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on December 30, 2010 at 11:34am — No Comments

Boca Raton: Three families give $600,000 to FAU peace

FAU President Mary Jane Saunders (left) celebrates

a $600,000 gift with Dick Schmidt, Christine Lynn,

Barbara Schmidt and Manjunath Pendakur,

dean of the College of Arts and Letters.

Photo provided