September 2012
Volume 5 Issue 9
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream, Coastal Delray Beach, Highland Beach and Coastal Boca Raton
Along the Coast
Citizens drops hundreds of high-value policies
RIGHT: Ryan Butts, the turtle rehabilitation coordinator at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, works with volunteers Sue Comoglio (from left), Lloyd Wiener and and Connie ThomasMazur on Cindy, who was injured and lost her left flipper in a shark attack. BELOW: Butts shows off Lily to a delighted group of visiting children. Photos by Jerry Lower/ The Coastal Star
Insurance coverage for more than 600 homes between Manalapan and Boca Raton cancelled
Back in Business
Gumbo Limbo resumes sea turtle rescue, thanks to new tanks, recertification By Ron Hayes On Saturday, July 28, Ryan Butts and his wife, Kristen, were looking forward to a quiet evening at Big City Tavern on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. He ordered the seared sea scallops. She had the rigatoni with chicken, Roma and sun-dried tomatoes. Just a relaxing night out with friends … And then, shortly before 8:30, Ryan’s cell phone rang.
Philanthropy
SUV. The patient, a 115-pound loggerhead turtle, about 15 years old, had lost her left front flipper to the shark. The right flipper was nearly severed. Judging by the teeth marks, her head had been in See GUMBO LIMBO on page 14
See CITIZENS on page 4
de Hoernle celebrates a century of living and a lifetime of good works
D Henrietta de Hoernle
A shark attack off Pompano Beach. The female victim, a teenager, had been rescued by a passing fisherman and brought ashore at the city marina in serious, very serious, condition. An hour later, Butts was rushing toward Boca Raton with his patient clinging to life in the back of a Mazda
By Tim Pallesen Citizens Insurance is notifying owners of homes valued over $1 million that their insurance coverage will be cancelled. Coastal communities are hardest hit, according to data released by the state insurer. Cancellation notices mailed as the hurricane season began leave south county coastal residents scrambling to find alternative insurance at higher costs. The mayors of two of the south county’s most affluent towns, Gulf Stream and Manalapan, say the cancellation of coverage for expensive homes is unfair. “It discriminates against the high-end homeowner,” Gulf Stream Mayor Joan Orthwein said. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature are supporting Citizens’ attempt to reduce its financial exposure of $508 billion. The state insurer with 1.5 million policies has $5.7 billion to pay claims after a hurricane. Citizens says the lower $1 million coverage limit will allow them to eliminate 7,500 policies statewide and $17 billion in exposure.
rive around Palm Beach County, especially Boca Raton, and it’ll be hard not to see a building bearing the name of Count Adolph and Countess Henrietta de Hoernle. The Red Cross, YMCA, Museum of Art and The Railway Station are all examples of the de Hoernles’ generosity. Since 1981 when the couple — German immigrants who, as the patriotic countess says, became “Americans by choice” — arrived in Boca Raton, they have made substantial gifts to many organizations.
After her husband died in 1998, the countess continued her charitable work, donating more than $40 million to charities and serving on the boards of 16 organizations. de Hoernle, who turns 100 on Sept. 24, is still inundated with stacks of requests for monetary help and does her best to help when she can. But this month it is Boca Raton’s turn to lavish some love on the countess. Her birthday wish is to raise money for Boca Raton-area nonprofits. That wish will be
Plant predator
The Rugose spiraling whitefly attacks a range of trees and shrubs. Page 25
Obituaries, Pages 18-19
Meet Your Neighbor
Scott Porten, the Delray Chamber’s Director of the Year, is a builder who is firmly committed to his family and his community. Page 27
Labor of love
Coastal parents turn to home birth. Page 28
granted via a formal benefit gala at Boca West Country Club on her birthday. Other events include a communitywide “Red, White & Boca-Blue Countess Appreciation Day,” and the presentation of a giant birthday card with thousands of signatures from people whose lives have been touched by the de Hoernles’ kindness. In honor of her birthday, she agreed to a Q&A with The Coastal Star.
— Mary Thurwachter
Read interview, Page 16
Dancing for Dollars
Boca Ballroom battle raises nearly $300,000 for scholarships. Page 8
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WEST PALM BCH FL PERMIT NO 4595