Serving Highland Beach and Coastal Boca Raton
November 2023
Volume 16 Issue 11
Highland Beach
Commission may urge county to sell park site to a developer By Rich Pollack
Storytime
INSIDE
ABOVE: Boca Raton City Council member Yvette Drucker and Mayor Scott Singer read ‘With Lots of Love,’ by Jenny Torres Sanchez, to children at Boca Raton’s Downtown Library on Oct. 26 as part of the Read for the Record campaign by the nonprofit Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. RIGHT: Melissa Bauerlein and her children, Donovan, 1, and twins Parker and Cameron, 3½, listen as Drucker and Singer read at the library. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Recognizing that just saying “No” won’t stop construction of the controversial Milani Park, Highland Beach commissioners are now planning to hire a consultant to try to convince Palm Beach County leaders that other alternatives exist. In what appears to be an about-face from more traditional land-use arguments where residents ask for open space rather than development, town leaders say they would rather see the 5.6 vacant acres developed. For more than 36 years, since the Milani family sold the property to the county for $4 million with the caveat that it be used as a beachfront park, town residents have been opposed to its development as a park and have been successful in delaying construction. With county leaders committing this summer to developing as a public park the property straddling State Road A1A at the south end of town, vocal opposition among residents concerned about safety and trespassing is resurfacing. Town commissioners say they will leave the emotional arguments to residents and instead take a more rational approach. “We think there is a win-win solution,” said Town Manager Marshall Labadie. “There are alternatives where the county See PARK on page 17
Along the Coast
Strollin’ down the Jimmy Buffett highway? By Ron Hayes
After Jimmy Buffett died on Sept. 1, too many national news reports reacted as if Florida’s beloved balladeer of boats, beaches and bars had written only two memorable songs in his 53-year career. There was Margaritaville, of course, the most famous, and Cheeseburger In Paradise, the cleverest. But nestled within his 32 albums are gentler tunes — wistful, romantic and wise — that capture perfectly the Florida those of us living here know so well. You could even argue that Jimmy Buffett once
wrote a song about South Palm Beach and Briny Breezes, Delray Beach and Boca Raton. There’s something ’bout this Sunday, It’s the most peculiar gray, Strollin’ down the avenue That’s known as A1A That song is called Trying To Reason With Hurricane Season, from his 1974 album A1A, and if the state Legislature agrees, A1A the state road will gain a new name when A1A the album turns 50 next year. See BUFFETT on page 26
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‘Smoke and Mirrors’ Boca Museum show offers works by 30 artists. Page AT17
A proposal in the Legislature would name A1A the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway in honor of the late balladeer. Pictured are the signs at Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue in Ocean Ridge. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Is new law ‘nosy’? Financial disclosure rules may prompt officials to leave office. Page 12
House of the Month
Ocean Ridge townhouse has great views. Page AT35