March 2014
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Election preview Three coastal municipalities set to vote
Delray Beach
Gulf Stream
Page 11
Page 8
Developers’ cash fills campaign coffers in race for commission.
Volume 7 Issue 3
Ocean Ridge
Town faces first contested elections in 21 years.
Three candidates vie for two seats in town race. Page 27
Polo Returns to Gulf Stream
Along the Coast
Pack riders and menacing motorists are about to get schooled By Rich Pollack It is a war of words that has been going on for decades along State Road A1A as motorists and bicyclists struggle to co-exist on the narrow two-lane stretch of blacktop. Bicyclists complain that motorists don’t give them enough room and ignore the law that requires cars to be at least three feet away when passing a bike. Motorists pack town halls and call hotlines to complain about packs of bicyclists taking over the roadways and making it impossible to get by. Now, after more than a year and a half of brainstorming and studying the problem, a task force comprised of law enforcement officers and traffic safety advocates is about to launch an educational campaign that could result in drivers of vehicles with two or four wheels being pulled over. Within the next month or two, those driving cars or riding bicycles along A1A can expect to encounter groups of police officers from several agencies — some on motorcycles, some even on bicycles — who will be looking for people who aren’t following the laws designed to make roads safe for everyone — whether they’re walking, pedaling or driving. “The majority of bicyclists and motorists follow the rules of the road,” says Highland Beach Police Chief Craig
Gulf Stream School had a brief return to its roots on Feb. 19 as young polo players presented an exhibition game on the school’s lacrosse field. The school was built in 1938 on part of the original Gulfstream Polo Club. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star See story, Page 15
Delray Beach After much to-do: New beach furniture seems to please everyone By Tim Pallesen A year of controversy has ended with beachgoers raving about the comfort of new oak chaise lounges with 3-inch-thick cushions. “We’re the first cushion testers. These are the most amazing chairs we’ve ever sat in,” college student Samantha Kline said as Oceanside Beach Services unveiled its new furniture on Delray Beach’s municipal beach on Feb. 22. “The seat cushion is perfection,” beach regular
Inside Around Town
One family has piloted the Sea Mist fishing boat through Boynton Inlet for 57 years. Page AT1
Francine Mitzman agreed. “This is absolutely phenomenal.” The jubilation signals a happy ending to the hard-fought question of whether the city could get a better deal on a beach services contract with a vendor other than Oceanside, which has been providing cabanas, umbrellas and chairs at the city beach since 2002. A previous city manager had extended Oceanside’s contract without competitive bids in 2012. Mayor Cary Glickstein and See BEACH on page 18
Wendy and Ken Prunier, Samantha Kline and Delaney Cattano try out the new furniture on Delray’s municipal beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Reimagining the Florida room
Exhibition offers local designers’ interpretations of the quintessential Florida space. Page H1
See BIKE on page 25
March 2014
The ArtsPaper
Free
Serenades and Grace Festival of the Arts Boca brings together virtuosity in concert and in words Pages 3-6
Itzhak Perlman and Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot
ABOVE: Anna Deveare Smith The tenor trio Forte
INSIDE Jazzman Jon Batiste explores New Orleans roots; pages 14-15
Festival of the Arts Boca gets underway with lectures, music, dance and more. PLUS: ‘Over the Hill Gang’ keeps St. Andrews golfers on par. Page 16