The Coastal Star July 2017 Boca

Page 1

Serving Highland Beach and Coastal Boca Raton

July 2017

Volume 10 Issue 7

Along the Coast

Along the Coast

South County population growth leads county By Mary Hladky Boca Raton was the fastest growing city in Palm Beach County last year, adding 2,570 residents. Boynton Beach and Delray Beach also showed strong population increases from 2015 to 2016, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released in May. Boynton Beach gained 1,676 residents, or a 2.3 percent increase, while Delray Beach grew by 1,178, or 1.8 percent. Taken together, South Thefts from Palm Beach vehicles County’s growth drive rise in rate outpaced crime stats that in other Page 9 parts of the county. But all cities and towns countywide have posted gains since the 2010 census, and the county’s total population increased 9.4 percent. “Boca is obviously a place a lot of people want to live in,” said Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers, whose city grew 2.75 percent last year. New residential construction, including The Mark at CityScape, Palmetto Promenade and Via Mizner, have bolstered the downtown population, while expansion of major employers such as Florida Atlantic University, LexisNexis and Cancer Treatment Centers of America

A tern for the better An adult least tern offers food to a young juvenile on the beach in Boca Raton near the south edge of Spanish River Park in midJune. Based on the size and color of feathers, a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist estimated the youngster was about 3 weeks old and capable of flight. Least terns are unique in that they nest on bare beach sand and rooftops; it has been more than 20 years since successful beach nests have been recorded south of Lake Worth. A nest near this location was destroyed by predators in May. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

Highland Beach

Rescued boaters have off-duty officers to thank By Rich Pollack

Paul Shersty and Dwayne Fernandes had planned a quiet Friday morning fishing on one of their days off last month. Instead, the Highland Beach police officers ended up saving four people — and four stowaway kittens — in a daring rescue full of surprises.

Boca Raton By Mary Hladky

“I don’t know what we would have done if they weren’t there,” said Richard Bengal, a passenger on the boat owned by his friend Joe Trebbe. “We would have been in serious trouble.” Shersty and Fernandes arrived about 9 a.m. at a popular fishing spot about See RESCUE on page 10

The scoop on ice cream Local spots for the frozen confection. Page AT1

See CENSUS on page 8

Downtown transit options speeding up

Boca Raton residents and visitors suddenly seem poised to have plenty of alternatives to driving their cars around downtown. After talking for months about what type of transportation services should be offered to lessen traffic congestion,

Inside

Highland Beach Police Officers Dwayne Fernandes and Paul Shersty helped rescue four people in a sinking boat on one of their days off. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency board, heard at their June 12 meeting that at least two companies want to soon start service with electric vehicles. And the Downtowner, whose departure from Boca Raton in December prompted council members to seek a replacement, is willing to

Boca Raton

council urges Midtown developer to keep pushing forward on the project. Page 4

return to the city. Mike Trombino, who launched Slidr in Asheville, N.C., last year, said his company expanded to Naples this year, plans to start operating on Columbia, S.C., in July and in four more cities in 2018. It provides on-demand service via an app and by telephone. Some cities subsidize his service, but

Sondheima-palooza

Three chances to see a work by the songwriter. Page AT7

Great news for Highland Beach: Property values hit record $2.39B. Page 10 Boca Raton heaps praise on top officials. Page 5

Trombino indicated he might forgo that in Boca Raton. The Free Ride, which began service in East Hampton, N.Y., in 2011 and now operates in 11 cities including West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, is planning to start service in downtown See TRANSIT on page 17

Chief concern

Gulf Stream police help rescue trapped kitty. Page H1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.