INSIDE: Know your candidates PAGES 10-11, 16-18, 25
March 2017
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Volume 10 Issue 3
Along the Coast
Concealed-carry permits and gun background checks rise
By Rich Pollack and Michelle Quigley
It was just a few months ago, following high-profile mass shootings across the country and deadly confrontations in which civilians or law enforcement officers were shot, that police officers in Ocean Ridge began noticing something they hadn’t seen
South Palm Beach
before. “We encountered more people who were carrying a weapon following those events,” Police Chief Hal Hutchins said. “It wasn’t any one thing. It was a culmination of several things.” Hutchins says the number of times his officers encounter individuals with firearms, either in their cars or on their person, seems to be winding down as
Delray Beach
Town facing tight deadline to start beach project
fewer national incidents that might instill insecurity are reported. His observations, however, raise questions about whether more people in Palm Beach County are in possession of firearms than just a few years ago and, if so, what impact that increase might have, both positive and negative. The bottom line is that there’s really
no way of knowing for certain if there are more people with weapons in our communities. That’s largely because Florida does not require gun owners to register their weapons. In fact, state lawmakers — influenced by a strong gun lobby — have made it clear they want to keep it that way. See GUNS on page 28
Bench plaques may be scrapped in beach updates
By Dan Moffett South Palm Beach’s long-awaited beach stabilization project will become longer awaited still — unless the town is able to close an easement deal with oceanfront homeowners very soon. The town has until March 8 to persuade a dozen property owners to sign a letter allowing contractors access to a five-eighths-mile stretch of beach so construction has at least a chance of beginning this fall. Town Manager Bob Vitas says this is the absolute last in a series of deadlines that have come and gone as the property owners balked at getting onboard. He remains confident they will endorse the plan. “I think we’re good,” Vitas said. “We’re going to get it done.” Project manager Kimberly Miranda of the county’s Department of Environmental Resources Management concedes that starting construction this year is a long shot. She says the bureaucratic hurdles ahead are daunting, even if South Palm Beach gets its easements approvals soon. “Providing exact construction windows is difficult at this point since we are still in the process of obtaining permits,” Miranda said. A more reasonable starting date is November 2018, she said. But even that could be pushed back if South Palm Beach can’t convince property owners to cooperate. Vitas and Mayor Bonnie Fischer have gone door-to-door for the last See BEACH on page 23
Jay and Alice Finst relax on the bench they donated at the north end of Delray Beach. It bears a plaque (top) that Alice says reflects the beach ambiance and reminds the couple of watching their sons surf there. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Future of markers in doubt as Delray Beach begins master plan for shore By Jane Smith They bought benches and brass plaques beside the city’s public beach as timeless remembrances of family members who so enjoyed their time by the sea. Many of the 50 or so markers are dedicated to departed loved ones. But that might end in April. That’s when Delray Beach will begin
work on its $3 million beach master plan, a project in the works for over eight years. The 1.25-mile promenade west of the dunes will have wider sidewalks and similarly designed shower poles, benches, trash/recycling containers and signs to replace the current hodgepodge of styles. The city plans to honor the marker memorials, said John Morgan,
Inside By the seaside, in style
Take a tour of 10 notable Delray Beach homes. Page H1
‘Glasstress’ in Boca
These glass artists aren’t playing it safe anymore. Page AT13
iPic asks for additional incentives Page 29
Boynton’s 500 Ocean project delayed Page 33
head of the Environmental Services Department. The names will be carved into brick pavers forming the flagpole base near Atlantic Avenue and the benches returned to those who paid for them. Some longtime residents think the plaques should be left in place, or incorporated into the new beachscape. “The beach is saturated with sun lovers and requires no additional enticements,” longtime Delray resident Alice Finst said at the Feb. See DELRAY on page 23
Shopping (and dining) Ocean Avenue Lantana’s main street has something for everyone. Page AT21