March 2018
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Along the Coast
Delray Beach
St. Pat’s parade celebrates 50 years
Buzz grows as Publix, new residences near finish By Dan Moffett and Mary Thurwachter
Manager of Delray gala says it’s his last By Mary Thurwachter This is the time of year when fans of the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade give a tip of the derby to Maury Power, the Irish saloonkeeper who founded the legendary procession in 1968. A Chicago transplant, Power donned a tailcoat and top hat and carried a shillelagh to make an impromptu march down Atlantic Avenue in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. “I’m Maury Power,” he would say to onlookers. “Come down to my bar and have a drink.” The farther he walked, the more people would join him. Since he died in 1996, people often bow down in front of large photographs of Power that are carried in the parade, said Pat Robinson, a friend and business owner who has been in 33 parades. Local lore claims Power, who owned Power’s Lounge, carried a pig on his historic first march. Truth is the tinted green porker became part of the tradition a
Volume 11 Issue 3
TOP: Kevin and Mary McCarty ride in the 1988 parade. Photo provided ABOVE: Parade founder Maury Power and Dennis Gallagher with Porkchop the piglet, also in 1988. LEFT: Colleen Rolfes Beckner and ‘Papa’ Joe Rose march in 1978. Photos courtesy of Delray Beach Historical Society
few years later. No one is sure exactly why. “I think it was just something that, at the time, made perfect sense,” said Power’s nephew Terry. The first piglet, Porkchop, instantly became a crowd pleaser. Porkchop has had many successors, many of them predictably hefty — including 200-pound Patrick, a star in the See PARADE on page 14
Up and down the coastal communities, from the condo walls of South Palm Beach, to the mobile homes of Briny Breezes, to the old polo homes of Gulf Stream, a common question resonates from neighbor to neighbor. “When is that Publix going to open in Manalapan?” No one has heard it more than Stephanie Young, the marketing director for Manalapan’s Plaza del Mar, where a $10 million renovation is nearing completion, anchored by the supermarket chain’s new 28,000-square-foot store. Construction is on schedule and so is a grand opening in June. “Publix gets the keys to the building in June,” Young said. “And everybody can’t wait. We’re all very excited.” The excitement of new development along the coast isn’t confined to Manalapan. A half-mile north, South Palm Beach is awaiting the opening later this year of a 30-unit luxury condo building at 3550 South Ocean, the site of the old Hawaiian Inn hotel. With unit prices between $2 million and $6 million, the project could increase the town’s tax base by 30 percent or more. “It definitely will raise See PUBLIX on page 25
Along the Coast
Cities at odds with state on controlling vacation rentals’ growth By Mary Hladky Steve Homrich watched with growing unease over three nights as young people arriving for parties at his neighbor’s home left rubber on the road while doing doughnuts on his street. Then Friday night rolled around. “My wife said, ‘Oh my God, look out the window,’ ” he said. “Groups
of 10 and 20 kids were walking down the street to the house. They kept coming. My wife stopped counting at 300.” That night’s party in June was big — with about 500 guests — and loud, complete with a DJ. When police arrived, the kids scattered, with some jumping over the fence into Homrich’s yard. Homrich learned that his
neighbor, Thierry Chevrier, had rented out his Boynton Beach waterfront home on Northeast 15th Place through the vacation rental company HomeAway. Chevrier, who could not be reached for comment, told Homrich he thought he was renting to an 84-year-old writer. See RENTALS on page 32
Tourists keep coming
For the birds
Pulpy fashions
You can’t wear these costumes (they’re made of paper) — but you’d want to. Page AT13
Behind the scenes of Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. Page AT1
Vote March 13! Meet your candidates. Pages 15-19, 22
County officials hail ninth straight year of record numbers. Page 24
Briny turns 60
Community’s pioneers to be honored in golf cart parade. Page 35