September 2015
Serving Hypoluxo Island, South Palm Beach, Manalapan, Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes, Gulf Stream and Coastal Delray Beach
Environment
Along the Coast
County studies sand temperature, turtle gender
Heroin use on the rise
Delray steps up push for solutions
By Cheryl Blackerby Is replacement sand on beaches affecting sea turtle gender? That’s a question county environmentalists will try to answer in a study of three county beaches — Boynton Beach Oceanfront Park, Jupiter Beach, which has three types of replacement sand, and Singer Island. The temperature of beach sand affects the sex of sea turtle eggs. Sand 84 degrees or higher is more likely to produce females and below 84 degrees is more likely to produce males. Since temperatures of replacement sand vary depending on where the sand came from, county environmentalists are worried that renourishment projects may be altering the delicate balance of gender determination. “South Florida nests produce mostly female turtles,” said Kelly Martin, an environmentalist with Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management. “That’s good but there’s a fine line.” The project was started in
Volume 8 Issue 9
By Thomas R. Collins The heroin addict is unconscious, teetering between life and death. A paramedic swoops in and gives a shot of medication that — almost literally — brings the person back from the dead. The reaction from the user? Not amazement, not gratitude. And definitely not relief. Instead, there’s anger and contempt. What a powerful high he had going — the addict often says, according to Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Chief Danielle Connor — but the paramedic stole it from him. Such is the twisted world of a heroin addict — an increasingly common figure in the landscape of drug use in the Delray Beach and southern Palm Beach County area. In an uptick over a 24-hour period on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, there were three overdose deaths in Delray Beach that police believe were due to heroin. The rise in heroin use has
Erika fizzles ABOVE: Surfers prepare to take on the remnants of Tropical Storm Erika along the beach at Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton. Strong winds and choppy surf attracted surfers and onlookers to the beaches. RIGHT: There was little sand left for beach walkers in front of the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa on Aug. 31. Photos by Tim Stepien and Willie Howard/ The Coastal Star
See HEROIN on page 9
See TURTLES on page 12
Boynton Beach
Fun is the serious pursuit of tenacious trivia teams By Ron Hayes By 7 p.m. the bar is packed. Music’s blasting. Beer’s flowing. Everybody’s here except Steve. Team Sunshine is by the door. Team Ramrod’s snared a spot, and the Mixt Nuts and Conquistadors have tables in the dining area, not far from the Titsburg Feelers. The far end of the bar has been occupied by Donald
Trump’s Toupee. For this crowd of loyal regulars, there is nothing trivial about Wednesday Night Trivia at Two Georges Waterfront Restaurant in Boynton Beach. These are seriously trivial people. Now, score pads and pens at hand, they are eagerly watching the door for Steve, the host. “He’ll be here,” Bob Luckey of Team Sunshine announces
reassuringly. “Steve always gets here a few minutes before we start.” Luckey, of Hypoluxo, has been coming on Wednesday nights pretty much since the games began about five years ago. “I’m good with history and business,” he says, “and my wife, Carol, is good with all literature. She’s an ex-schoolteacher.” See TRIVIA on page 13
Akila Raja, Kelsey Diamantis and Stephen Erdo debate an answer. Their team, Donald Trump’s Toupee, is among many that gather on Wednesdays at Two Georges in Boynton Beach to compete for prizes. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Inside
Images of Briny
Delray approves iPic
Theater will open at former library site. Page 25
Local athletes make marks
Swimmer and gymnast shine in Junior Olympics. Page 22
Blues and more
Music lovers rejoice at the reopening of Lake Worth’s Bamboo Room. Page AT7
Volunteers put faded photos into focus. Page 18