Serving Coastal Boca Raton and Highland Beach
April 2013
Volume 6 Issue 4
Boca Raton
Officials searching for ways to keep airport tower open
By Margie Plunkett
The proposed closure of the air traffic control tower at the Boca Raton airport — one of 149 set to be closed nationwide because of sequestration — has been the hot topic in aviation.
Local sentiment mirrors that of Lauren Crocker, chief operating officer of South Trac Air Charter: “It really stinks.” Airport, city and county authorities have been working the political channels, preparing arguments and
Parking meters proposed for Gumbo Limbo By Cheryl Blackerby Attendance is up 50 percent at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, which is a good thing, except for a growing parking problem. On busy days, one or two park rangers have to manage parking. A big part of the problem is beach-goers who park free at Gumbo Limbo and then go across the street to Red Reef Park East to avoid paying the $18 daily rate on weekends ($16 weekdays) at the beach. The solution: Parking meters for Gumbo Limbo and Red Reef Park East. At least that’s what Michele Peel, president of Friends of Gumbo Limbo, proposed to the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District. If Red Reef Park East had meter hourly parking instead of the expensive daily rate, and Gumbo Limbo also had the same meter parking rate, there would be no benefit for beach-goers to park at Gumbo Limbo, she said. Red Reef Park West, between A1A and the Intracoastal on the south side of Gumbo Limbo, has meter parking that is $2 per hour ($3 on weekends) with a maximum of four hours parking. Peel said the proposed meter rates for Gumbo Limbo and Red Reef East would need to be the same as Red Reef Park West. “We haven’t looked at the price, so we don’t yet know what the rate would be,” said Peel, adding that the nature center’s members would get lower meter rates. “We could give our members parking tokens, and the price would depend on the membership level.” Another parking problem, she See GUMBO LIMBO on page 4
rustling up comment against closing the tower, airport Manager Ken A. Day reported at the regular Airport Authority meeting March 20, but the facility remained on the final closing list released by the FAA on March 22. The towers
Along the Coast
A detail of the iron entry to the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse.
on the list, which was reduced from an initial 189 proposed closures to meet $637 million in federal cuts, are expected to be phased out over four weeks beginning April 7. Safety and the economy are potential victims of taking
the tower out of operation, Boca Raton authorities claim. The threat has generated discussions about how to keep it open with private funds, including such options See AIRPORT on page 4
History, with a view, at Hillsboro
A memorial to the Barefoot Mailman stands at the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse. Photos by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Visitors can bask in breezes, vistas from on high at lighthouse By Ron Hayes One hour before sunset on March 7, 1907, a former captain in the Russian navy named Albert Alexander Berghell climbed the 175 steps of the newly constructed Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse
Inside
Sunrise strollers
Meet some of the folks who frequent the beach at daybreak. Home, Health & Harmony
and fired up its vaporized kerosene lantern for the first time. And there was light. Not much, but there was light. For more than a century, that lighthouse has shone through 24 more keepers, surviving hurricanes, a government blackout during World War II and periodic repairs and improvements. See LIGHTHOUSE on page 14
Kyle Chessher, 17, takes in the view from the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse.
Around Town
Protesting students prevail in FAU stadium naming debate; Cole sisters stage benefit concert. Page 8
Fireworks over fireworks Boca and Beach & Parks at odds over July 4th party site. Page 5
Coastal Star Boca Raton resident John Oxendine quietly backs the Palm Beach International Film Festival. Page 2
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