105.5 will return as Grand Marshals of the boat parade, with a special guest appearance by Santa Claus.
“After 30 years, the Holiday Boat Parade still captivates, bringing together old friends and new,” said MIAPBC Executive Director Alyssa Freeman. “Traditions only shine brighter with time, creating countless memories and smiles by giving back to the community.”
MIAPBC will collect toys by land and by sea for Toys for Tots and Little Smiles. During the first week of November, donation boxes will be placed throughout the county for toy drop-offs. A “toy fleet” of boats traveling along the parade route will offer easy dockside pickups for your donations. Simply wave a flashlight when you see a boat with toy drive signage, and uniformed Marines and volunteers will pull right up to your dock to collect your donations. Last year, MIAPBC collected more than 15,000 toys.
“We’re thrilled to sponsor this year’s Holiday Boat Parade and help bring the magic of the season to life on the water,” said Michael Lessing, CEO of Lessing’s Hospitality Group. “It’s an honor to be part of a cherished tradition that brings joy to so many!”
This year, the boat parade and Charlie & Joe’s at Love Street will be featured in an upcoming holiday movie, Christmas Overtime, which will be released digitally in December and land on the streaming service NBC Peacock in the early spring.
The MIAPBC invites local businesses to join us as sponsors of the parade, with packages starting at $500. Package benefits
vary and include business exposure through television, radio, print, digital, social media, and public relations. A sponsorship guarantees access to the MIAPBC’s exclusive VIP Viewing Party, with premium views of the boat parade, along with entertainment, food, and drinks. This year, the parade’s top sponsors include Lessing’s Hospitality Group, Amazon, 1000 NORTH, The Clubhouse, The Twisted Tuna, Town of Jupiter, Safe Harbor North Palm Beach Marina, Harbourside Place, Florida Blue, Freedom Boat Club, and All My Sons Moving and Storage.
All vessels must be registered by Tuesday, December 3. Boat registrants are also required to attend the 6 p.m. Captains’ Meeting on December 3 at The Twisted Tuna in Jupiter, Fla. Entry is free with a $50 refundable deposit. For more information, visit palmbeachboatparade.com or call (561) 863-0012.
Follow the boat parade virtually using the free GPS app KnowWake! KnowWake maps coastal waterways for both Android and iPhone users. Simply download the app, create an account, and track the parade as it makes its way to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
Light up the holidays this year with MIAPBC!
For more information about the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, please visit marinepbc.org.
Photos courtesy of Tom Serio Photography and Susan Speaks McGirt Photography
LocaL Happenings from page 1
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Mayor Peggy Wheeler (Town of Juno Beach), Mayor Jim Kuretski (Town of Jupiter), Commissioner Marie Rosner (Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony), Mayor Roger Michaud (Town of Lake Park), Mayor Ken Metclaf (Town of Mangonia Park), Vice Mayor Debbie Searcy (Village of North Palm Beach), Mayor Chelsea Reed (City of Palm Beach Gardens), Mayor Alan Fiers (Town of Palm Beach Shores), Councilmember Douglas Lawson (City of Riviera Beach), and Mayor Molly Young (Village of Tequesta). Each leader provided valuable insights into their community’s current projects and upcoming initiatives that will contribute to economic growth and development in Palm Beach North.
“This event continues to be one of our most popular annual gatherings, as it provides invaluable insight into the future of our region,” said Tim Burke, Chairman of the Board for the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. “We are grateful to our mayors and community leaders for their continued dedication to advancing our local economy and ensuring a bright future for Palm Beach North.”
For more information, visit www.pbnchamber.com.
Boat #19 Nauti Kitty – photography by Susan Speaks McGirt
Blue Heron – Lighthouse – photography by Susan Speaks McGirt
First Place Boat #41 Suits Us Too – Tom Serio Photography
First Place Boat #3 Busted Barnacles (Barnacle Busters) – Tom Serio Photography
First Place Boat #30 Nailed it – Tom Serio Photography
First Place Boat #40 Time Out – Tom Serio Photography
U.S. Marines – Tom Serio Photography
Marines – Tom Serio Photography
Peggy Wheeler, Alan Fiers, Debbie Searcy, Jim Kuretski, Molly Young, Sarita C. Johnson, Chelsea Reed, Marie Rosner, Roger Michaud, Douglas Lawson
On fourteen acres of the most pristine stretch of Intracoastal waterfront, e Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Beach Gardens blossom with a once-in-a-lifetime collection of expansive estates, born to frame the breathtaking views of the waterway with a private marina and blooming grounds. e singular maritime lifestyle is augmented by over 20,000 square feet of masterfully-crafted resort amenities—imbued with legendary hospitality by e Ritz-Carlton.
Book review from page 4
How wrong I was! And how fortunate we all are to have so knowledgeable a guide as Sy Montgomery to enrich our lives once again in making us aware of what unrealized wonder and beauty surrounds us, all too often under-appreciated.
For those not yet familiar with Montgomery’s background, I should point out that she and her authorhistorian husband, Howard Mansfield, live in New Hampshire and for decades have shared their home’s property from time to time with an assortment of animals, from their border collie dog, Thurber, to a pig that they raised from a tiny runt to 500-plus pound Volkswagensized Christopher Hogwood who wandered the town on his own getting handouts from the butcher, pet scratches from the kids and became the subject of a bestselling book by Montgomery.
But always among her favorites have been the small flock of egg-laying hens that she calls her “little ladies,” who have their own chicken coop but are allowed free run of the backyard under the protection of several of the latest team of roosters.
And one could not want a better protector than a rooster, as two episodes described by Montgomery make very clear: one in which a fox that had sneaked onto the property with chicken dinner in mind got the shock of its life facing an angry, charging rooster and did a rapid about-face … and another time, when Sy’s husband, Howard, was lying on the ground repairing a lawnmower. As she describes it:
“Just beyond the narrow space between the grass and the machine’s metal undercarriage, movement catches your eye. Scaley reptilian, yellow feet, heavily armed with long, pointed claws – and, just above the toes, curved, knife-sharp spurs – are purposefully striding toward you at face level. It feels like that scene from Jurassic Park, where the humans are hiding from the hunting velociraptor – an animal from which, in fact, your avian assailant is descended.
“You have been detected. The ominous feet hurry now, pounding the ground in a frenzy. There is no mistaking it; this is a rooster on a rampage – the bane of many an otherwise peaceful barnyard.”
What to do? The answer, shockingly, is to pick it up and cuddle it!
It is from Montgomery’s several decades of her own experience raising her “ladies,” many from chicks, plus her roosters and all that she has studied about her everchanging flocks, that she has filled the pages of this deceptively slim 96-page book with an extraordinary number of surprising facts about the birds we all –mistakenly – thought we knew.
Within the first few pages you will readily understand why more families than you might imagine throughout the nation enjoy the company of chickens (how many “pets” offer the gift of eggs in return for their care?) and name each of the birds in their precious feathered family members for its individual personality, color or other physical feature. As she notes, some are shy, some more aggressive; some affectionate, others aloof. Just like humans.
And they are smart ! Here are just a few examples of the many surprises you will find in these pages. (Some text has been omitted for lack of space):
• “In 2023, a study reported that roosters recognize their own reflections in mirrors – common … measure of selfawareness. Previous experiments show that apes, like humans, do this.”
• “Only hours after leaving the egg they are able to walk, run and peck.” (An adult chicken can run as fast as nine miles an hour!)
• “Relationships are important to them. The average chicken can recognize more than 100 other chickens. They can remember the past and anticipate the future, and they communicate specific information through at least 24 distinct calls.” A warning signal from a rooster to his hens, for example, will alert them to whether an enemy is approaching by ground or from the air!
There is hardly a page without an eye-opening surprise: “The disturbing fact that, on the way to the soup pot, a chicken can continue to run around after decapitation does little to bolster appreciation for the species’ more refined traits. In fact, one rooster was able to live for 18 months after his head was cut off. Farmer Lloyd Olsen, hoping to please his visiting mother-in-law, who particularly savored boiled chicken neck, failed to kill the rooster when his axe missed the bird’s carotid artery and left one ear and most of the brain stem intact. Not only did the victim survive, but he grew from two and a half pounds to eight and attained national fame as Mike the Headless Chicken from 1945 to 1947.”
For me personally, as I turned the last page of What the Chicken Knows, one thought struck me most poignantly: Ever thoughtful and considerate of her readers, Montgomery has kept this book’s focus entirely on helping us to better understand and enjoy the fascinating and fun facts about these remarkable birds who are so much a part of our lives.
Not once in these pages does this author mention that she herself is a vegetarian, nor does she devote a single sentence to the suffering of these sentient creatures from the cruelty of the factory-like poultry industry. It was not her purpose in writing this book.
Sparing us such a balanced narrative is her gift to this book’s readers despite what I know to be her own deep feelings on the subject, having read and reviewed half a dozen of her earlier books.
As a senior now, I realize that if this book had been written decades ago it might have been a life-changing experience in one sense for me. Perhaps it’s not too late. I hear those plant-based burgers and other meat substitutes are pretty good … and I would feel so good about myself.
I strongly suggest you lay your hands on a copy of this book as soon as possible … even if you have to scramble to get it!
Singer Island’s newest treasure. Enjoy contemporary coastal cuisine using fresh, local ingredients - with subtle Mediterranean influences.
Now accepting Thanksgiving dining reservations.
Please join us Monday - Friday from 3:00pm - 5:00pm in our Bar & Lounge for Happy Hour, featuring half-priced drink and bar bite specials.
3800 North Ocean Drive Singer Island - Riviera Beach, FL 33404
Nov.
Dear Taxpayer,
My office has certified the 2024 Real Property and Tangible Personal Property Assessment Rolls for Palm Beach County to the tax collector.
Property tax bills should arrive in mailboxes soon.
LocaL government
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
The Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office is responsible for printing and mailing them on or before November 1.
As for my office, we’re already hard at work preparing for next year’s valuations.
This is a great time of year to consider securing your property against fraud. The Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller offers a free property fraud alert service. More about that is in this month’s newsletter.
As we celebrate Veterans Day this month, I also wanted to highlight exemptions available to veterans and activeduty military. We honor the service and sacrifice of those in our armed forces and their commitment to protecting our country.
I hope this Thanksgiving finds you with much to be thankful for. As always, I am thankful to be your property appraiser.
These are available to those who qualify for a homestead exemption and who have been honorably discharged. Veterans 65 Or Older Combat Related Disability Discount
Disabled veterans, age 65 or older, who are partially or totally and permanently disabled, have a disability that was combat-related, and have been honorably discharged upon separation from military service may be eligible for a discount to ad valorem taxes to the percent of their disability. Veterans Disability Exemption
Veterans with a total and permanent disability that was service connected may be eligible for an exemption
from ad valorem taxes. Veterans with a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more may be eligible for an additional $5,000 exemption. Veterans with a non-serviceconnected disability may be eligible for an additional $5,000 exemption.
Surviving Spouse of a Military Veteran Exemption
The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who qualified for a total and permanent disabled veteran exemption is exempt from ad valorem taxes. The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who died in the line of duty is exempt from ad valorem taxes. The surviving spouse of a military veteran who died from service-connected causes while on active duty is exempt from ad valorem taxes.
Active-Duty Military Exemption
An exemption is available for service members of any branch of the U.S. Military, U.S. Coast Guard and Florida National Guard who were deployed during the preceding calendar year on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of various military operations listed in the Florida Statute 193.173 (2).
The amount of the exemption is equal to the taxable value of the homestead of the service member on January 1 of the year the exemption is sought, multiplied by the number of days that the service member was on a qualified deployment in the preceding calendar year and divided by the number of days in that year. We will do the math for you.
More information is available at pbcpao.gov. You can always call us at (561) 355-2866 or email us at myexemption@pbcpao.gov with questions.
Protect Your Property With Fraud Alert
Scammers commit property fraud by filing fake deeds, making it appear as if they own homes that are not actually theirs. Then, they trick people into giving them money to rent or buy those homes.
The property fraud alert from the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is a free service to help you protect your property from fraud by monitoring the documents being recorded in the official records of the clerk’s office.
Register to receive free email alerts when a document such as a deed or mortgage is recorded using your name, your business’s name, or your address. This early notification can save time when stopping scams.
Sign up at mypalmbeachclerk.com.
education
Holiday Food Drive
This month kicks off the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office’s annual Holiday Food Drive. The special food-raising campaign is in its 25th year.
Last year, 4,609 pounds of food were collected from staff and donated to Extended Hands Community Outreach and The Glades Initiative.
The Property Appraiser’s Office encourages and supports employee community service throughout Palm Beach County. Our employees are dedicated to giving back to the community that we serve.
Our office’s 2023 donation; from left to right, Chief Appraiser Cecil Jackson, RES, AAS; staff from Extended Hands; Public Services Manager Virginia Leonard, CFE; Public Services Department Specialist Clarice BethelLaing; Public Services Department Customer Service Representative II Robert Castillo (kneeling); Public Services Department Customer Service Representative II Sade Neuforth; Extended Hands Community Outreach Executive Director Coeliah Bryson; Director of Information Technology Richard Hernandez, CGCIO, AAS, ITIL, CFE
Holiday Office Closures
The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office (including all of our Service Centers) will be closed: Monday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day
Thursday, Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day Friday, Nov. 29, Floating Holiday
inSIGHT Through Education Is The Backbone Of The Holocaust Studies Program For Palm Beach County Schools
inSIGHT Through Education is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization with a mission to inspire and educate, encouraging kindness, acceptance, and respect for all, using lessons learned from the Holocaust and genocides worldwide, to recognize and oppose antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry. inSIGHT is the backbone of Holocaust Education in Palm Beach County schools, which is mandated in Florida, along with the study and prevention of antisemitism. Last school year, inSIGHT reached new audiences and doubled its impact, reaching 40,000 students and hundreds of educators. inSIGHT knows that education is key to change and is committed to opening the hearts and minds of young people, our future leaders.
inSIGHT provides age-appropriate resources, speakers, and programs for students at every level, and funds professional development for teachers and administrators. Principals and assistant principals may attend the Principal’s Field Study in Washington, D.C. With local Holocaust Survivors, they visit the United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Participants are profoundly impacted, enhancing their support for Holocaust and antisemitism education. At the Centropa Summer Academy (CSA), 70-plus educators from 15-
plus countries convene for a 7-day program. They use the city of Berlin as their classroom and collected stories to learn history and its implications today. Key to the CSA is the active participation of teachers, who share good practices and work on lesson plans and cross-border projects together. At the JFR Lerner Institute, a prestigious program aimed at advancing educators’ knowledge of Holocaust history and the legacy of Righteous Gentiles who saved Jews during the Holocaust, participants attend a rigorous program led by Holocaust scholars, becoming Alfred Lerner Fellows. These fellows are committed to sharing their knowledge with schools and communities, thus promoting Holocaust education and the values of courage and compassion. Palm Beach County has a cohort of 20-plus Lerner Fellows who share this knowledge with their peers. This impact ripples through schools, fostering understanding and remembrance of the Holocaust. Since the tragedies of October 7 and the significant rise in antisemitism, organizations worldwide have acknowledged the need for education from an early age. inSIGHT has done this for 14 years. Looking ahead to inSIGHT’s 15th year, we remember the vision that unites us: to create a generation of future leaders who are kind, empathetic, informed critical thinkers with the courage to stand up for themselves and the rights of others. More information: insightthrougheducation.org.
Traveling cattle car classroom
THE CLUBHOUSE RESTAURANT
THE GRILL ROOM
Living With Sandhill Cranes
By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
Sandhill cranes, with their long legs, necks, and distinctive gray plumage, are a sight to behold. Their striking appearance, including the patch of red skin on their head, sets them apart as they stand almost 4 feet tall. You may spot them near preserves and wetlands, in parking lots, or even walking across roads, seemingly oblivious to danger. They often travel in small groups or pairs, sometimes with their young ones in tow, adding to their unique charm.
Two subspecies of sandhill crane live in Florida at certain times of the year. The Florida sandhill crane ( Grus Canadensis pratensis ), numbering 4,000 to 5,000, is a non-migratory year-round breeding resident. They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater sandhill cranes ( Grus Canadensis tabida ), the larger of the two subspecies, that winter in Florida but nest in the Great Lakes region.
Sandhill cranes mate for life and attract mates using an elaborate dance. These cranes nest during late winter and early spring on mats of vegetation found in shallow water such as preserves or marshes. Sandhill chicks can leave the nest as early as eight hours after hatching and can swim if necessary. In the wild, crane chicks follow their parents and peck food from their beaks. By the time they are two to three months old, they are independent and can find food on their own. They are doting and protective parents. One bird will watch out for the others while feeding. Juveniles stay with their parent from 9 to 10 months after hatching. Before juveniles are old enough to breed, they may travel and feed in flocks called “bachelor flocks.”
They have been around for a very long time. The first known sandhill crane fossil was found in the Macasphalt shell pit in Florida. It was estimated to be about 2.5 million years old. They are not endangered, but due to habitat loss, their populations can be of concern in certain areas. They are attracted to open areas in urban settings such as golf courses, parks in subdivisions and undeveloped land in commercial areas.
As omnivores, sandhill cranes play a crucial role in Florida’s ecosystem. Their diet, which includes plants and small animals like snails, frogs, worms, and grubs, provides natural biological control for their grazing areas. This unique pest control service they offer is one of the many reasons we appreciate their presence in our
environment. Sandhill cranes spend most of the daylight hours in areas where food is most abundant, generally walking several miles a day through dry pastures, fields, wet meadows, or marshes in search for food, eating as they go.
People inadvertently put them in harm’s way when feeding them, thinking they are being kind. It is never a good idea to feed wildlife. In fact, in 2002, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and Wildlife Code 68A-4.00(3)). Why was this done? Cranes can become aggressive when fed by people. When they are used to a free meal, they will continue to return and demand it when it is not offered. Cranes returning to a yard where they have been fed are prone to injury by cars as they cross the street to get to the yard. They are also more vulnerable to predation by dogs or cats, especially young cranes. Occasionally, birds cause damage to property as a territorial defense behavior upon seeing their reflection in cars or window screens. Pesticides in yards and urban areas can also be of concern as they forage for food in the ground. Feeding them can disrupt their natural foraging behavior, making them more susceptible to these dangers. Look around and enjoy these beautiful birds interacting with our Florida environment. Give them space if you encounter them and be mindful of them crossing or walking in our roadways. Finally, please do not feed them for the good of the cranes and Florida’s delicate ecosystem. For more information, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website at www.myfwc.com.
NPDES tip: Safely use and dispose of pesticides. If all of the pesticide cannot be properly used, check with your solid waste management authority to find out when and where to properly dispose of this type of hazardous waste.
Art hAppeNiNgs
The 40th Edition Of The ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival Is Calling All Youth Artists
To Participate In The 2025 Youth Art Competition
The ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival presented by Tampa General Hospital is calling all students in grades K-12 from Palm Beach County schools to participate in their 2025 Youth Art Competition. As part of the festival’s 40th anniversary celebration, the theme for the 2025 competition is “Nature’s Palette,” and the festival invites young artists to explore and express the beauty and diversity of the natural world through their artwork.
The theme encourages students to delve into various aspects of nature, including landscapes, seasons, ecosystems, habitats, environmental awareness, and the flora and fauna that surround us in Florida. Participants are urged to experiment with new methods and materials while ensuring that their submissions reflect the theme in their own unique way.
Five awards will be presented in each grade level, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, as well as two honorable mentions. Additionally, one winner from each school level will be awarded “Best of Show.” The winners will receive ArtiGras awards ribbons, and Best of Show winners will be awarded a $100 check in their name. Prize money will also be awarded to schools based on student performance.
Key Competition Details
Eligibility: Open to students in grades K-12 from Palm Beach County schools.
Submission Guidelines: Each school may submit one piece of artwork per grade level. All submissions must be dropped off by Friday, December 13, 2024, at 3 p.m. at Resource Depot in West
Palm Beach or the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce in Palm Beach Gardens.
Artwork Format: All artwork must be 2-D in any medium (e.g., watercolor, oil, ink, clay, photography) and sized between 8.5” x 11” and 12” x 18” (excluding matting).
Submission Locations
Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce
5520 PGA Blvd., Suite 200
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Phone: (561) 746-7111
Resource Depot
2508 Florida Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Phone: (561) 882-0090
All participating artwork will be displayed in the Youth Art Competition Tent during the ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival on February 15 and 16, 2025.
For detailed rules and regulations, and to ensure your students’ participation, visit artigras.org. For any questions or additional information, please contact Caitlyn Bergman at caitlyn@pbnchamber.com or call (561) 748-3945.
For more information visit pbnchamber.com.
Artwork by 2024 Best of Show Middle School winner, Sophia Clark, from the King’s Academy
THE HOUSE TURNS ONE!
Come Celebrate With Us!
We’re thrilled to announce that The House Restaurant celebrated its one-year anniversary in October, and we want you to celebrate with us! To show our appreciation, we’re expanding our hours and hosting some exciting events just for you. Here’s what’s happening:
WEDNESDAYS JUST GOT BETTER!
• We are now open on Wednesdays with Happy Hour pricing all day long!
• Join us for Think and Drink Trivia from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through March 2025.
THURSDAY NIGHT COOKOUTS
Starting November 7, come by for our cookouts with live music from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
PRIME RIB SATURDAYS
Treat yourself to a delicious Prime Rib Dinner, starting October 19, featuring two courses and fries, all for just $42.
Whether you come for a drink, trivia, or a satisfying meal, there’s always something special at The House. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Barrats Will Be Recognized at Community Foundation’s 12th Annual Founders Luncheon in February 2025
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, a not-for-profit organization that leads partnerships with donors, nonprofits and community members to solve the region’s chronic and emerging issues, announced today that Sherry and Tom Barrat of Singer Island are the recipients of the 2025 McIntosh Award. The prestigious award, which is named after Winsome and Michael McIntosh, who founded the Community Foundation in 1972, is presented annually to an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to the community. The Community Foundation will honor the Barrats at its 12th Annual Founders Luncheon at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on February 26, 2025.
“Tom and Sherry’s long-standing leadership and investment in our community has and will open doors to higher education for deserving high school students,” said Jeffrey A. Stoops, chair of the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. “Being that this year’s Founders Luncheon marks the 40th anniversary of the Community Foundation’s scholarship program, we are proud to celebrate the Barrats, who truly epitomize what it means to empower those who will shape our future.”
The Barrats are long-time supporters of local nonprofit organizations, but their particular interest in scholarships began in more recent years thanks to the push of their grandchildren. Following the creation of a “Thanksgiving Fund” in 2015, through which the Barrats enabled each of their family members to donate $1,000 annually to the charity of their choice, two of their youngest grandchildren proposed to pool their contributions in order to give a larger scholarship to a
With 2025 McIntosh Award
local high school senior. In 2022, the couple formally set up the Barrat Scholarship Fund with the Community Foundation, focusing on local students majoring in computer science, artificial intelligence, or applied data science.
“It was important to us to make a big difference in a few lives,” said Tom Barrat. “In our view, it’s even better when gifts are given from people in this community to people in this community.” Sherry Barrat, who served on the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2014-2023, including three years as chair, added: “We are honored to receive the McIntosh Award because it shines a light on the impact anyone can have on a student’s future through the powerful combination of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program and the generosity of our fellow donors.”
“Tom and Sherry Barrat are true trailblazers who are making a real impact on the local level,” said Danita DeHaney, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. “Each year at our Founders Luncheon, we highlight those who are making a meaningful difference, and I can’t think of a more deserving pair. The Barrats embody the essence of investing in the community for the greater good. We look forward to celebrating their commitment to opening doors to higher education at the luncheon.”
About The Founders Luncheon
Established in 2014 as the Founder’s Award Luncheon, the Community Foundation’s signature annual event was launched as an opportunity to convene donors and nonprofit partners on important issues facing the region and to celebrate their collective impact. In addition to raising awareness, the Founders Luncheon showcases the important of philanthropy with a special award ceremony. The Founders Luncheon will be held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Cohen
Pavilion in West Palm Beach on Wednesday, February 28, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For additional information, tickets and sponsorship information, please visit https:// founders.yourcommunityfoundation.org.
About the Community Foundation For Palm Beach And Martin Counties
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is a nonprofit organization that leads philanthropy locally. The foundation provides charitable expertise and vehicles to increase the investment options on behalf of individuals, family foundations, and corporations. Since 1972, the foundation has distributed over $200 million in grants and scholarships aimed at closing the area’s opportunity gaps. With its vast network of donors and nonprofit partners, the foundation supports initiatives that improve youth and education, economic opportunity, thriving communities, and crisis preparation and response. Learn more at https://yourcommunityfoundation.org.
Exquisite remodeled open concept kitchen. Newer appliances. Master bath remodeled with a step down shower and private pocket door. Garden view just steps to the canal. Impact windows and sliders. Olympic size pool, two pavilions, tennis, pickleball and shuffleboard. Island living with one of the best beaches, convenient to the airport, local restaurants and shops. This condo is a “WOW” when you enter. Truly turnkey easy move in.
Bill Conda | 207.450.5030
1030 Sugar Sands Boulevard #268
A magnificent water view of the marina and the intercoastal waters with spectacular SUNSETS. Reserve a seat on your lanai for all the splendor moments. A community not a condo featuring Olympic size pool, two pavilions for your dining pleasure. Activities include Tennis, pickleball, shuffle board, games in the club house and special events. Relax in your two bedroom condo, A TRUE TURNKEY condo. Access to one of the area’s best beaches, local restaurants, and just minutes to WPB airport.
Bill Conda | 207.450.5030
residence with a den, boasting breathtaking southeast panoramic views of the ocean and Intracoastal. This exquisite home can be offered furnished with custom-made Linley of London furnishings, adding a touch of sophistication. Experience 5-star amenities, 2 car garage parking, private beach, Resort style pool, state-of-the-art Fitness Center and private restaurant. First Class Service with a smile.
Experience coastal living in this newly renovated waterfront 2BR/2BA condo with spectacular views overlooking the Waterway and Sugar Sands Marina. A Deeded 25 ft boat slip to enjoy your boat. This open floor plan residence features custom cabinetry and doors, quartz countertops, 36” porcelain tiles, SS appliances, smooth ceilings and more. Sugar Sands residents enjoy luxury lifestyle amenities. Alexandra Fakhari | 561-389-7880 $499,000
4200 N. Ocean Drive #1-401
1251 Sugar Sands Boulevard #123
Singer Island dreaming. Sugar Sands is a paradise and has been recognized in a recent magazine as the No. 1 55+ community. Fronting on Lake Worth and Boarders by the Atlantic Ocean. Boaters take notice, docks available. Location of this unit is just steps to one of the nicest beaches in South Florida. A split two bedroom floor plan consisting of 1190 Sq Ft. offering tile floors newer AC, Shutters, remodeled kitchen, both bathrooms almost a turnkey offering.
Bill Conda | 207.450.5030
Tom Alberts Bill Conda Starr Downey Alexandra Fakhari Carin Frisco
