Serving Highland Beach and Coastal Boca Raton
December 2021
Volume 14 Issue 10
Boca Raton
Along the Coast
Sculptures with coastal pizzazz picked for rebuilt parks
Enforcing single file for bikes hampered
‘Two abreast’ signs finally off A1A, but education of riders lags, police say
By Mary Hladky With construction of Silver Palm Park in the downtown finally underway and work at the adjacent Wildflower Park slated to start soon, the parks’ art components have been selected. Two sculptures will be loaned to the city by the Boca Raton Museum of Art and will be placed along the waterfront in each park. The artists are Jane Manus of West Palm Beach and Jeff Whyman of Delray Beach. The city is commissioning two other works by artists with May + Watkins Design of Athens, New York, that will be located at the corners of each park closest to the intersection of Palmetto Park Road and Fifth Avenue. They will be similar and are intended to thematically connect the two parks while representing nature and the coast. The aluminum works, both over 10 feet tall, depict leaves and flowers in pastel shades of green, yellow and blue with accents of bright coral. The one destined for Silver Palm Park will incorporate that tree. Both
By Joe Capozzi
Holiday cheer
Sunrise residents Olivia Dee, 6, and her friend Destiny Sato, 9, chase each other around the Christmas tree at Mizner Park during ‘Light Up Downtown Boca.’ It kicked off Nov. 19 with ‘Light the Lights,’ a celebration featuring a holiday tree lighting. A few storms moved through and soaked the crowd, making for a shorter celebration. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
See PARKS on page 24
Our comprehensive guide to holiday events, Page AT10
After months of complaints from coastal police chiefs in south Palm Beach County, the Florida Department of Transportation has finally removed outdated bicycle-riding signs along State Road A1A. But the agency still has not responded to requests to post signs reflecting new rules that took effect July 1. The removal of the old signs in November eliminated a potential legal hurdle that prevented many coastal police departments from enforcing a new law that requires bicyclists to ride in a single file along sections of A1A with no designated bike lanes. Those signs, reflecting an old rule allowing bicyclists to ride two abreast along road shoulders without designated bike lanes, finally went down the second week in November. “It wasn’t just our municipality. Everybody up and down A1A and in Broward County was affected,’’ Highland See BIKES on page 22
Along the Coast
Recycling bins at your disposal: Use them right to reduce waste By Larry Barszewski For the first time in two years, Palm Beach County cities and towns are receiving a dividend from the recycling efforts of their residents. A total of $141,612 is being portioned out by the Solid Waste Authority to the county’s 39 municipalities. The money may be little more than pocket change — Manalapan’s share comes out
to only $137.09, for instance — but it means the county’s recycling efforts are once again paying for themselves. The revenue sharing takes place only after all the SWA program costs have been covered. Ocean Ridge Mayor Kristine de Haseth says her town encourages recycling — it will even supply the blue and yellow bins to make it easier See RECYCLING on page 14
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST PALM BCH FL PERMIT NO 4595
Some materials that contractors pick up on Hypoluxo Island likely don’t belong in the recycling bins. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Mural renewal Artist’s work gets a refresh. Page AT11
Dramaworks Anne Frank story is re-envisioned. Page AT11
Gifts for gardeners We cultivate a few ideas. Page AT1
Can town raise 30-year-old spending cap? Highland Beach to put question to voters. Page 8