Serving Highland Beach and Coastal Boca Raton
January 2020
Volume 13 Issue 1
Highland Beach
Yamato Rock plan rouses memories of aquatic treasure By Rich Pollack
Louise Glover remembers when she and her friends would gather on what is now Yamato Rock for one of her childhood birthday parties. “It was lots of fun,” she said. “When the water would come
in, the waves would shoot up like geysers at Yellowstone and splash all over us.” Back then, in the late 1960s, the Highland Beach property just west of the large outcropping was owned by Glover’s grandmother, Grace See YAMATO ROCK on page 9
Joan Weir and her daughter, Louise Glover, stroll Highland Beach near Yamato Rock, a limestone outcropping slated to become part of Milani Park. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
Boca Raton
Virgin Trains station hailed as victory for city By Mary Hladky Even before City Council members cast their votes, a euphoric Mayor Scott Singer hailed their approval of a deal that would allow construction of a Virgin Trains station and parking garage on city-owned land. “This will be a moment of triumph for Boca Raton,” he told residents at a jam-packed Dec. 10 council meeting. A unanimous council quickly made it official: The city will lease 1.8 acres east of the Downtown Library to Virgin Trains for the much-coveted station and garage, beating out other cities that badly wanted this prize. Even station critics expected no other outcome. Standing minutes later with Virgin Trains President Patrick Goddard, Singer declared, “Tonight was a great win for Boca Raton.” “I think it is phenomenal,” Goddard said. “Creating mobility is what we are all about.” But before shovels hit the ground, the city and for-profit rail company have more work to do. Virgin Trains will submit a site plan for the station and garage that the council must approve. The plan will provide project specifics, such as the final designs of both buildings, which could spur new objections from station opponents. See STATION on page 10
Gumbo Limbo workers roll a 350-pound female green turtle named Yamato to the ocean at Spanish River Park before a crowd typical of such turtle releases. Yamato, who was treated for partial paralysis after being hit by a boat, wears a satellite-tracking device and is strapped into a custom-built gurney. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
MEET TEAM TURTLE
Inside the work of Gumbo Limbo crew that strives to be biggest ally of these at-risk sea creatures By Larry Keller It’s a typical Sunday afternoon at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and visitors cluster around the aquarium, stroll the boardwalk and explore the butterfly garden. It’s the injured and ailing sea turtles in outdoor tanks, however, that inspire the most fervent reactions.
Inside 2020 vision
Rembrandt
Four Arts show explores humor, humanity in Dutch master’s work. Page AT10
Mindfulness guru Barb Schmidt offers tips for navigating a new year. Page H1
A little boy stands at one, gawking at a turtle named Cane swimming languidly. “That’s so ginormous!” he exclaims. It’s doubtful many of the 200,000 annual visitors are aware of the array of scientists, educators, interns and 150 volunteers who work together See GUMBO LIMBO on page 18
Tabloid tattling
Local residents appear in film about National Enquirer. Page AT1
Veterinarian Maria Chadam raises her arms as sea turtle rehab coordinator Whitney Crowder hugs Gumbo Limbo manager Leanne Welch to celebrate the release of Yamato.
Glass show comes to Boca
Exhibition, sale highlight rarities from across the Depression era. Page AT18