Scott Simmons's Blog

Along the Avenues: Evert lobs challenges by focusing on family — South Palm Beach through Delray Beach

Racquet back, eye on the ball …

Pop! And another shot strikes the clay inches inside the baseline. “That’s it, that’s it!,” the encouraging words follow as a young girl, barely in her teens, struggles with the fusillade that tests her forehand and backhand. Poor child, she’s definitely in over her head, so young she probably doesn’t appreciate that she’s being challenged by one of the greatest women ever to play tennis.

Maybe,… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Coasting Along: Old school still applies in this family business

By Tim Norris

The secret to the Meating Place, the heart of it, waits somewhere unexpected, past the vintage refrigerated display cases and their parade of steaks and chops and ribs and roasts.

Most customers don’t get that far. The meat, in red and pink and pale white array, captures them.

The meat also captures the staff, who put their backs and backbones to it, every day.

Mike Baitz, for instance, came in just around… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:20pm — No Comments

Editorial: What am I grateful for? Just turn a page

November.

It’s a time of reflection.

It’s a time to look back at the year so far and to think about what remains.

And it’s a time for gratitude.

I turn to this newspaper sometimes, when I need to get my priorities straight — to look back on just how much for which there is to be grateful.

I am grateful to the citizens who regularly attend the city council and town commission meetings and remind our officials that what they do affects each of us.

I am grateful to our… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:14pm — No Comments

Coastal Star of the Month: Bring your jammies to his party

By Scott Simmons

Dan Bellante has a history of being inspirational.

Years ago, he inspired young people to create art. He ran a studio in Fort Lauderdale and he taught at Broward Community College.

But now, the Highland Beach resident inspires others to help others.

Bellante hosts Pajama Parties at his home in Jamaica Manor.

No, his guests don’t wear jammies, but they bring them, sometimes by the dozens.

Working… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:12pm — No Comments

Boca Raton: Lynn donates $10 million to Boca hospital

Staff Reports

Boca Raton Regional Hospital founder Gloria Drummond turned 80 this summer, but the hospital received the biggest present at her birthday party on

Sept. 30.

At the party, Christine Lynn announced a $10 million gift in Drummond’s honor to name the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute.

Lynn joked during her speech about having another building named after herself, but said in a statement, “I… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:09pm — No Comments

Boca Museum’s long-time director to retire

Staff Reports

The big man of the Boca Raton Museum of Art plans to retire next year.

George Bolge, who has been executive director of the museum since 1995, and led the museum through the construction of a new building a decade ago, will leave his post at the end of June.

Paul W. Carman, president of the museum’s board of trustees, said in a statement that he will form a committee to begin the search process for Bolge’s… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:06pm — No Comments

Highland Beach: Wetlands restoration in first phase of park plan

Landscaping and a 6-foot concrete buffer wall are going in at the planned Cam D. Milani Park on State Road A1A at the south end of town.

Also included in Phase 1 of the project is restoration of wetlands at the site, now a turn-around for police cars on patrol.

Anzco Inc., based west of Boca Raton, submitted the winning low bid of $157,669. The next-lowest bid was $183,300. Palm Beach County, which owns the site, expects the project to be finished by early February.

The concrete… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:01pm — No Comments

Boca Raton: Party leaves parents facing charges

By Steve Plunkett

An after-homecoming party along the Intracoastal Waterway left the parents of a Boca Raton High School student in legal hot water.

Paul, 51, and Ingrid Paolino, 45, of the 2800 block of Spanish River Road, are charged with hosting an “open house party’’ where minors drank alcohol, a violation of Florida law. The misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

“What am I supposed to do? If they don’t drink here they’ll drink somewhere… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Boca Raton: Palmetto Park goes pedestrian Work is welcome, but some question timing

By Angie Francalancia

Barricades block off the two outside lanes of Palmetto Park Road. Confused drivers struggle to navigate through to parking lots. Merchants fear they’ll keep on driving.

It’s the price for progress, said Giuliano Lorenzani, owner of Boca Raton Travel & Cruises. But at what cost?

Construction on the three phases of Boca Raton’s Pedestrian Promenade began in September after years of planning and… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Boca Raton: Ocean Strand land-use change weighed

By Steve Plunkett

The city wants to know what plans the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District has for developing Ocean Strand.

City Council member Anthony Majhess proposed sending an official letter after Ocean Strand neighbors again urged the council to change the land-use classification of the coastal parcel while amending other parts of Boca Raton’s comprehensive plan.

Majhess said Ocean Strand’s current residential medium (RM) label would allow up to 9.5 multifamily or… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:59pm — No Comments

Boca Raton: Red-light cameras coming to 5 intersections

By Margie Plunkett

Smile for the cameras when you drive through five busy intersections in Boca Raton that are targeted for installation of red light cameras. You might not be happy later: Get caught running a red light and you can count on getting a $158 ticket in the mail.

The cameras take multiple photos of vehicles going through the detection zone: as a vehicle approaches the red light, in the intersection and then of the license plate.

“There’s no confusion about who is… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:55pm — No Comments

Meet Your Neighbor: Lynne Chandler Novick

Lynne Chandler Novick has lived all over the world — Boston, Switzerland, New Jersey — but she always comes home to Boca Raton.

Novick, who has been president of the Royal Palm Improvement Association for eight years, also sells homes in the luxury division at Lang Realty and owns an art studio off 20th Street in Boca Raton.

“I just love the community so much,” she says of her neighborhood, Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. “I… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Around Town: Evert lobs challenges by focusing on family and tennis — Boca

Racquet back, eye on the ball …

Pop! And another shot strikes the clay inches inside the baseline. “That’s it, that’s it!,” the encouraging words follow as a young Chinese girl, barely in her teens, struggles with the fusillade that tests her forehand and backhand. Poor child, she’s definitely in over her head, so young she probably doesn’t appreciate that she’s being challenged by one of the greatest women ever to play tennis.

Maybe,… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Thanksgiving food, with gratitude

By Jan Norris

Up against the turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce again? Even some of the chefs have a hard time facing the centuries-old traditional Thanksgiving dinner every year.

“It’s what people what,” said chef Dudley Bell Rich, who will be preparing the dinner for guests and his own family at Carmen’s at the Top of the Bridge restaurant in Boca Raton on Thanksgiving Day. “They don’t want foods they don’t understand at that… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:26pm — No Comments

Boca goes Hollywood for Caridad gala

By Scott Simmons

It’s the classic immigrant story.

A young man comes to New York from India to gain an education. He prospers, but never forgets his homeland, and never forgets what it’s like to be a stranger in a new land.

It also is the story of Sanjiv Sharma, who will co-host this year’s Caridad Center gala with his other half, Nadine Allen.

“Caridad in particular is close to my heart because I am a… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:09pm — No Comments

Obituary: Rene Yucht

By Ron Hayes

HIGHLAND BEACH — During her 12 years in Highland Beach, Rene Yucht enjoyed a retirement filled with music, bridge, canasta, mah-jongg, golf, tennis — and giving.

A member of the town’s Welcome Committee, she was appointed to its Cultural Board.

Mrs. Yacht died Sept. 27. She was 76 and lived in the Dalton Place condominium.

Beyond the town, she also volunteered at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, the Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University and the… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:05pm — No Comments

Obituary: Ethel Fuog

Ethel Fuog, surrounded by her children and grandchildren

By Dianna Smith

HIGHLAND BEACH — Ethel Fuog spent many a summer night in her hometown of Chicago, sipping drinks in her daughter’s backyard during one of the many cocktail parties she looked forward to every year.

And though she lived the last 30-plus years in Highland Beach enjoying the sunshine, she often… Continue

Added by Scott Simmons on November 3, 2010 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Scott Simmons's Blog – November 2010 Archive (17)