Category: Community News

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Two local grandparents, giving back

Giving back doesn’t always start with a fundraiser, a committee, or a formal volunteer position. Sometimes it starts with noticing a need and deciding to help.

That is the case for two local grandmothers who have each found a practical way to make a difference. One regularly donates much needed items to a homeless shelter. The other collects unwanted pet supplies and household items from neighbors and delivers them to local animal shelters and rescue organizations.

Neither asked to be recognized for what they do. For them, helping isn’t about attention or getting credit. It is simply something they have chosen to make part of their lives.

For one Parkland grandmother, the focus is on the basic items that homeless shelters often need most. She keeps an eye out for toiletries, socks, towels, blankets, clothing, and other everyday necessities, and she either purchases them or gathers what she already has at home.

“Once you realize how many basic things people need, it’s hard not to help,” she said. “These are things most of us have without even thinking about it.” Rather than waiting for a holiday drive or organized collection, she donates throughout the year whenever she sees a need she can help fill.

In Coral Springs, another grandmother has taken a similar approach but for animals, donating to various local pet shelters and rescues.

Her neighborhood has a community clubhouse, which makes it easy to get neighbors involved. She posts flyers letting residents know what she is collecting and sets specific times for donations to be dropped off there. She then gathers everything and delivers it where it can be used.

“The clubhouse makes it really easy,” she said. “I can put up a flyer, give everyone a drop-off time, and people bring things they were probably going to get rid of anyway. They’re happy knowing it’s going somewhere that needs it.”

The donations vary depending on what shelters need and what neighbors have to give. What matters is that useful items are being redirected rather than thrown away or left sitting unused.

Both efforts are simple, but that is part of the point. Community service doesn’t always have to mean a large commitment, a formal organization, or hours of volunteer work. Sometimes it is as straightforward as paying attention to what is needed and finding a way to help.

For grandparents, there can also be more opportunity to do that later in life. Once their children are grown and the schedules that once filled their days begin to slow down, there may be time to look beyond the daily responsibilities.

As they both noted, their grandchildren are watching too.

“I love that my grandchildren see the bags being set aside and the donations being collected,” one grandmother said. “My hope is that they understand the importance of helping others and will want to do the same someday.”

And perhaps that is one of the best things these grandparents are passing along. Not every good deed needs an audience. Sometimes making a difference is simply seeing what needs to be done … and doing it.

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Preserving the magic of Malachi Acres

When Sonseeahray Cheek first found Malachi Acres, a Parkland riding stable, back in 2006, it drew her in. A horse person since childhood, Cheek was brought back to her horse-loving roots, and Malachi Acres provided a safe place where her daughter was able to build confidence and both were able to find community.

For Cheek, it also provided an enduring friendship with former owners Donice and Steve Muccio.

“Donice and I became best friends,” recalls Cheek, current owner of Malachi Acres. “She was like a mother and sister to me. It’s harder when you’re an adult to meet somebody who has such an impact on your life.”

When Donice Muccio had a stroke in 2019, her health began deteriorating and her husband planned on selling the facility. Cheek knew she had to step in.

“My heart just couldn’t see this place be knocked down and another multimillion-dollar house put here,” says Cheek. “Just knowing what we do for the community, for the kids, primarily girls, I couldn’t see that die. I do believe in a Malachi magic and what Malachi does. It’s something that this area needed.”

In 2021, Cheek became the owner of Malachi Acres. While deciding to leave the corporate world with its steady paycheck was difficult, she credits a diagnosis of metastatic adenocarcinoma (stage 4 lung cancer) in 2018 with giving her the courage to pursue what really fulfilled her.

“I was diagnosed in 2018. When surgery failed, I was told the best-case scenario would be 5 years life expectancy,” says Cheek. “I was 49. Donice, my husband, my mother, and mother-in-law were all there. Everything in the room was moving in slow motion and became a blur. I remember just hearing muffled voices of panic with everyone asking the doctor questions on my behalf. This was a life-changing experience I had never imagined would happen to me. When someone tells you you have 5 years left, you really think about what you want the quality of those 5 years to be.”

Choosing Malachi Acres was the right decision for Cheek. “I do feel I’m getting paid more in what I get back out of being here.”

While Malachi Acres teaches dressage with the standards of a competitive show barn, its true focus extends far beyond ribbons and rankings. Some students compete, while others ride simply for the joy of being with horses. What unites them is a culture where kindness matters

more than status. “Being kind is the basic foundation of anything you do in life,” says Cheek. Nobody cares what kind of car you drive or what kind of helmet you wear.”

Connection and presence are equally central to the Malachi Acres experience. One of the barn’s most noticeable rules is that cell phones stay tucked away.

“You’re handling a thousand-pound animal,” says Cheek. “You can’t be on your phone and be aware of what’s going on around you.”

Beyond safety, the policy is meant to encourage riders to connect with one another and with the horses. “Malachi is a place to learn about friendship, trust, growth, community, and confidence,” says Cheek, who emphasizes that kids won’t learn all those things if they’re busy checking social media.

Students are also taught the fundamentals of horsemanship, including how to groom their horses, tack up, and administer basic first aid. Once they’ve been at Malachi for a couple of years, students have the opportunity to lead by teaching new students these skills.

“The really cool thing about the environment we’ve created here is that these kids support each other and cheer each other on,” says Cheek.

That positive reinforcement extends to the instructors. Rather than coaching through fear or criticism, instructors focus on meeting students where they’re at emotionally.

“Sometimes you get the best out of somebody by relating to what they’re going through and validating their feelings,” says Cheek. “It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to be nervous. Take that into the performance.”

For Cheek, the greatest reward has never been building a successful riding program. It’s seeing the impact that Malachi Acres has on the people who walk through its gates.

Now, five years into her tenure as owner, Cheek is still battling lung cancer, but her love and dedication to Malachi Acres remains.

“Malachi is magic. And if you have any interest in horses or horsemanship, it’s a really good place to come and be able to be yourself, not have to walk on eggshells, not have to worry about being judged, and just really open up and experience what the horses have to offer.”

For more information, visit malachiacres.com.

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Power to the people: Flower Power

Local nonprofit rescues discarded flowers to brighten seniors’ lives

How It All Began

On a typical morning, while most parents with four young kids are juggling breakfast and backpacks, one Parkland mom is also rescuing flowers headed for the trash heap—and delivering them to seniors in local living facilities.

Shayna Stein Schon, 35, and her husband, Gideon, 37, are the founders of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aptly called Flower Power, which redeploys unused flowers and arrangements from florists, hotels, funeral homes, and grocery stores to local seniors.

More than rescued bouquets, Flower Power is a grassroots effort that turns discarded flowers into moments of joy for seniors, bringing together local businesses, volunteers, and community groups to spread smiles across South Florida.

The Chain of Love

Trader Joe’s in Coral Springs is one of Schon’s largest suppliers of excess flowers, plants, and anything floral.

“Flowers make everyone happy,” says Schon, who admits to a fondness for roses. “What is a better way to commemorate a life event or to just brighten someone’s day?”

To date, the organization—whose motto is “Spreading smiles one bouquet at a time”—has given new life to more than 5,000 bouquets, allowing them to bloom again and spread joy on their way.

The idea originated when Schon worked for the food bank Feeding San Diego, where she matched grocery stores with local nonprofits. The stores donated excess food, and the nonprofits distributed it to those in need.

“That experience inspired me and planted the dream of starting my own nonprofit,” she says.

After relocating to Parkland in 2024, that dream began to take shape. When friends and neighbors fell ill or needed surgery, Schon brought flowers. She realized that although she couldn’t fix their problems, she could brighten their day.

“I kept asking myself, ‘What can I do to make their situation better?’ ” she says. “The answer kept coming back to flowers.”

Schon’s mission quickly found support from local businesses. As a part of the community, Trader Joe’s believes it does more than just sell groceries.

“Being a neighborhood grocery store is about more than just selling groceries,” says Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for the company. “It’s also about being good neighbors.”

According to Rohde, through its Neighborhood Shares program, the company provides nourishment to its communities every day, by donating 100% of unsold products (including flowers) that are fit to be enjoyed to local nonprofit organizations.

What began with the Schons, their children, and extended family has grown to include community volunteers and local organizations such as the Foundation for Independent Living (FIL), a residence in Coconut Creek where people with cognitive and physical disabilities learn to lead independent lives.

Coconut Creek resident Vicki Matthews, 63, who recently retired after 37 years at American Express, is one of those volunteers. She read about Flower Power in the local news and reached out to Schon.

“Shayna is incredibly responsive and has a passion for helping others,” says Matthews. “She called me immediately.”

Matthews was recruited to pick up flower donations from Trader Joe’s in Coral Springs, one of their largest donors, and drove her Lexus IS 200 to transport the delicate cargo. “I had flowers in the front seat, on the floor, on the back seat and floor, and in the trunk,” she says. “It was so cool, and the scent was amazing.”

At FIL, residents and staff pick up donated flowers twice each month from Trader Joe’s. They rework the unsold flowers, giving them a new life and purpose.

Mabell Angel, director of marketing and communications for FIL, says she and her residents are grateful to Schon for the opportunity to be a part of her mission. “I call it the ‘chain of love,’ ” she says. “Our residents get to pick up the flowers, create beautiful bouquets, and then deliver them to seniors—it’s a beautiful chain of love and compassion.”

The activity provides a creative, social, and purposeful outlet for the community’s 60 residents, who then get to brighten someone else’s day at another living facility.

Typically, Flower Power receives between 30 and 150 bouquets each week through its donation partners. Some are delivered as-is, while others are creatively repurposed into new arrangements.

Other organizations they partner with include Broward Health, Allegro Senior Living, Tamarac Center for Rehabilitation and Healing, Menorah House, and Sinai Residences in Boca Raton.

Rischelle Waxberg, activities director at Sinai Residences, says, “We’re so grateful to Shayna and Flower Power for brightening the lives of our residents.”

Flower Power typically brings bouquets for the traditional Friday-night Shabbat dinner. “When our residents see the flowers, their faces light up,” Waxberg says. “This is a wonderful mitzvah to have flowers on Shabbat.”

Impact and Future Goals

Additionally, Flower Power offers floral arranging workshops for schools, organizations, and community groups. Participants create something beautiful—one arrangement to keep and one to give away. Proceeds support the nonprofit’s mission of rescuing flowers and spreading smiles.

Schon hopes to recruit additional volunteers so she can spend more time fundraising and writing grants. Her goal is to source enough flowers to warrant daily pickups, not just weekly.

Flower Power has received small grants from Walmart’s Spark Good program and Target’s corporate giving initiatives, and it hopes to secure additional support. Its greatest needs include financial donations, flower suppliers, social media volunteers, and floral supply donors.

“We’re so grateful to Trader Joe’s in Coral Springs and everyone who works with us and donates to us,” says Schon. “Our vision is to continue growing throughout South Florida and eventually deliver thousands of rescued flower bouquets every week, bringing comfort and joy to even more people, one bouquet at a time.

“At Flower Power, we believe kindness doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Sometimes it just begins with a flower.”

For more information, or to make a donation or become a volunteer, visit flowerpowercommunity.org or follow Shayna Schon on Instagram.

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Local scam that’s all too common these days

This spring, a local Parkland resident found herself in front of a Coinhub ATM ready to follow the instructions of a Captain Brian Smith, badge #1074, to deposit funds to resolve an alleged court order. Just before she deposited the cash, which she had to take a cash advance for, her husband, with the help of local police, got a hold of her and advised that it was a scam.

This is an ordeal that is all too common these days, and luckily this scam didn’t succeed, due to the help of family and police.

The scam started with a call on April 23, 2026, to our victim by a person going by the name of Brian Smith, who claimed to be a captain of the local sheriff’s department. He even provided a badge number, 1074, to sound official.

After confirming some personal details, the fake sheriff captain claimed our victim failed to appear for a court date, and that two warrants had been issued. The scammer explained that, due to its legal sensitivity, the victim shouldn’t discuss the issue with anyone until it was cleared up, and he could help with that.

This is where our fake captain started the next phase of the scam. He asked our victim to provide a bond of $3,250. Then to keep the pressure on and to monitor her, he asked her to update him on her mileage and estimated time of arrival, supposedly to help with the reimbursement of mileage and gas. He directed her to a Coral Springs Coinhub ATM.

Coinhub ATMs are legitimate and follow existing regulations. Due to the nature of bitcoins, which the ATMs use, this is also employed by scammers to trick people into depositing and transferring money to pay scammers.

Our fake sheriff captain guided our victim through setting up an account and demanded that she send the bond payment to a digital wallet. Sensing success, the scammer then requested more funds, which he said was due to another violation for contempt from a U.S. district judge.

Luckily for our victim, she did tell her family, and while this was happening, her husband and daughter were warning her that it sounded like a scam. Like most of us, brought up trusting law enforcement, our victim continued to the ATM that the scammer requested her to go to. Luckily her husband got the police involved, and finally, with real police reassuring that it was a scam, our victim broke off contact.

Even after the scam was uncovered, the fake sheriff captain continued to try to call an additional 10 times, to resurrect the same ploy. At that point, our victim was already in touch with both the Fort Lauderdale and Broward sheriff’s departments and the Parkland police to file reports. After she contacted her bank, froze her credit report, and made a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the scammer gave up.

According to the FTC, $3.5 billion was lost to scammers in 2025, a 3-times increase since just 2020. Victims are lured via text, phone, email, social media, and even search engine results. Some of the costliest scams involve criminals impersonating officials, including bank authorities.

As opposed to our victim’s story, where scammers tried to convince her that her personal freedom was at stake, fake bank scams try to convince victims that their bank accounts are compromised. Once the victim is successfully convinced, the criminals will try to move all available funds to their control.

The FTC has brought legal action against various imposter scheme companies, but so far, it’s only obtained $70 million in redress for consumers.

“The government will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money or withdraw cash,” according to our federal government. “If you’ve been targeted by a scam like this, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.”

For more information:

  • pfs2.acl.gov/strapib/Lies_Govt_Imposters_Tell_Infographic_508_ef756beebb.pdf
  • pfs2.acl.gov/strapib/Imposter_Scams_Infographic_508_48f1d37cd7.pdf
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Just may be the ‘Lunatics’ you’re looking for…

Billy Joel famously sings, “It just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.” Well, if you’re looking for a talented rock band that covers classics from the ’70s through the ’90s—one that does an incredible rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”—it’s The Lunatics you’re looking for. And yes, they perform Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right” with a cheeky lyric substitution reminding audiences of that.

The Lunatics are composed of four pillars of solid talent: lead singer “Jess,” drummer “Marlee,” bassist David Carrey, and guitarist Anthony Angelone.

The group was originally formed by sisters Jess and Marlee, who’ve had a passion for performance and rock music since they were kids. “Both of us have been listening to rock music our entire lives, and that’s been a passion of ours. We’ve always wanted to do this,” says Jess of starting a band. “We really enjoy that type of music, so we got into playing it,” adds Marlee.

Marlee and Jess met Carrey and Angelone through Pro Jam nights at Cheers Restaurant and Bar in Fort Lauderdale and Pipers Pub in Pompano Beach. “Pro Jams are events where you can get up and play with professional musicians. You just sign up, almost like karaoke,” explains Jess, who used to sign up as a vocalist. “It’s a great opportunity to meet other local musicians.”

“A lot of times the people who sign up for these jam nights are looking for other musicians to form a band,” adds Marlee.

“Dave was the house bassist at Cheers, and we went to Cheers multiple weeks in a row and we ended up forming the band with him,” recalls Jess. “And then we met Anthony at the Pipers Pro Jam.”

The band’s name also came together naturally. Jess and Marlee were drawn to the word “Luna,” while bassist Carrey—better known onstage as “Crazy Dave”—inspired the other half. Together, they landed on The Lunatics. Today, each member embraces the nickname onstage, becoming Crazy Jess, Crazy Marlee, Crazy Dave, and Crazy Anthony.

Between them, these four musicians have plenty of talent and experience under their belts. Jess, who has a classical background, has been singing since she was 6 years old. She has performed with the Miami Ballet and sung backup vocals for Josh Groban. “I was previously a classical vocalist and switched over to rock so I could form a band with Marlee,” says Jess.

Marlee has been playing drums since she was 9, and she’s well known in the local music scene for her timing and groove. “Some of her fans call her ‘Pocket’ for that reason,” says Jess.

Dave is a veteran musician in South Florida and has toured the country with successful tribute bands. Anthony is also well known in the local music scene, having played in many tribute and cover bands.

Once the lineup was complete, the band’s first performance was a showcase at Cheers. “They have a band that they feature for a 30- to 45-minute set,” explains Jess. “We did that first. That was our coming out.”

Since that showcase, the band has seen plenty of positive momentum.

They’ve only been together for one year, and in that time they’ve built a seven-hour set list that includes hits from artists like Tom Petty, The Beatles, The Police, No Doubt, Paramore, 3 Doors Down, Rush, Prince, Heart, Bruno Mars, Black Sabbath, Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Fleetwood Mac.

“In the majority of our songs, we have three-part harmonies going, and all four of us sing full backup vocals and leads. We like to switch off,” says Jess. Marlee drums and sings lead on Aretha Franklin. Dave takes the lead on artists like Cake, Sublime, and 3 Doors Down.

“You get a much richer sound when you have multiple members harmonizing on everything,” says Jess.

One thing that makes the group unique is some of their song selections. “There’s some unexpected choices that the crowd might be excited to hear,” says Marlee. Some of those include “Rapture” by Blondie, “Never There” by Cake, “Psycho Killer” by Duran Duran, and “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin.

They’ve also become regulars at diverse venues, from Cafe 27 in Weston to Throw Social in Delray Beach, as well as Marina 84, Cheers, Margaritaville Restaurant, and the Hollywood Bandshell. “We’ve played a lot of amazing venues that we feel lucky to be at,” says Jess. The Bandshell is a favorite of the group. “That’s when we get to just let it rip. We can bring all our passion and our energy.”

The group is strategic about choosing songs for different venues. At Cheers, they lean more toward classic rock. For biker bars, they turn up the harder rock. At Throw Social, they cater to a younger audience with more modern music and a stronger pop influence rather than a purely rock set.

Their performances deliver plenty of skill and energy. At a recent performance at Cheers, Marlee—who is only 18 years old—nailed the opening drum solo to Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” Lead singer Jess delivered powerful vocals with impressive range. Bass player Dave never stopped moving and even launched into a spontaneous high kick during Paramore’s “Misery Business.”

At just one year together, The Lunatics are already making a name for themselves on South Florida stages, and it’s easy to imagine their live performances becoming even more engaging as they continue to grow together.

The Lunatics’ upcoming performances include Thursday, Aug. 6, at Cafe 27 in Weston; Friday, Aug. 7, at Skipper’s Cove in Fort Pierce; and Friday, Aug. 21, at O’Shea’s Irish Pub in West Palm Beach. For more information, visit Facebook and search for The Lunatics.

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Emerging Raw Talent: Jihanna Bresset.

Sketches from Book #6 (2026). Bresset, J. Pencil on paper, paint pens on paper. 9” x 6”.

“Less is more” is one of those profound truths that reveals itself only to people who know how to look. Jihanna Bresset, just 15, is one of them. On a family trip to St. Augustine, a town that seems to curate itself through understatement and intentional simplicity, she recognized this familiar rhythm. It is this way of seeing that defines J. Bresset’s movement through the world. She observes, distills, and removes the unnecessary. In her art, simplicity becomes a discipline. Yet, the surprising part is that the work it produces often appears anything but simple. Her choices, rather, feel intentional, grounded in a sensitivity that exceeds her years, revealing an artist who understands that restraint can be its own form of power.

J. Bresset has always been a natural observer. Her instinct for noticing detail has shaped not only her talent but the way she communicates. Entirely self‑taught, she continues to expand her range, her work becoming more dynamic as she stretches into new subjects. This natural creativity has also influenced her academic life as she enters the 10th grade, where her excellence positions her to graduate among others at the top of her class.

A Parkland native, J. Bresset currently attends Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Her first exhibition took place at the ArtServe Impact Awards in Fort Lauderdale this past April, where she donated two recent works: Perspective, created with a piece of charred wood from a campfire, and Unfinished, a contrasting work that questions whether anything is ever truly complete. The reception to her work revealed something important: viewers responded not only to her technique but to the emotional intelligence embedded in her choices. Her ability to communicate feelings through material suggests an artist already thinking beyond the surface.

Her artistic integrity, however, has been with her since kindergarten. She began by drawing only people, and by fourth or fifth grade, her attention shifted toward anime. By middle school, that phase dissolved as she stepped away from any single influence, choosing instead to explore a style that felt entirely her own. Today, she is immersed in mythological figures—studying classical statues, comparing interpretations, and reading multiple versions of Homer’s Iliad to form her own point of view on ancient narratives. Her curiosity is not passive; she actively interrogates how stories evolve across time and why certain themes endure, developing a personal visual language rooted in both research and intuition.

Her sketchbooks—volumes #1 through #6—read like a visual autobiography. Each marks a distinct chapter in her development, and together they reveal the arc of an artist growing in real time. They show how her simple approach has unfolded into a more layered, complex visual language without losing its essential directness. Even her earliest pages show a sensitivity to proportion and expression that now feels like a signature. These books also reveal her discipline; page after page of studies, experiments, and revisions that demonstrate a young artist already committed to refining her craft.

Though she favors the basic pencil and paper, J. Bresset does not limit herself. She has explored acrylics, watercolors, oils, charcoals, paint pens, ceramics, and even digital art on the iPad. Her willingness to experiment suggests a creative maturity that will only deepen as she continues to pursue her artistic development.

Windy. (April 2, 2026). Bresset, J. Acrylic on canvas. 10” x 8”.

In Windy, J. Bresset’s technique shows her command of gesture and constraint, using long, wind‑swept strokes to anchor the figure while lighter marks drift across the surface with atmospheric ease. She creates depth through contrast using transparent washes beside opaque gestures, allowing the composition to feel dimensional without becoming heavy. The quick‑drying acrylic preserves the immediacy of her confidence. The visible brush drag, directional movement, and subtle irregularities animate the portrait. True to her minimalist instinct, J. Bresset achieves layered emotional complexity with remarkably few marks, letting simplicity open into something richer and more alive.

III. (est. summer 2025). Bresset, J. Mixed media, watercolor marker and acrylic. 12” x 9.5”.

IIIbrings a fictional portrait to life, infused with a sense of ease as J. Bresset shapes the figure through sweeping, multicolored passages that feel almost buoyant. The subject’s gentle expression, eyes at rest, conveys quiet optimism, as though wrapped in a moment of inner brightness. Around them, the hair unfurls in vibrant ribbons of color that guide the viewer inward, centering the face as the heart of the composition. Floating, confetti‑like tones reinforce the uplifting mood, allowing the piece to emanate emotional warmth and openheartedness. Softly washed areas enhance the facial features, creating contrast that lets the surrounding space breathe, while textured strokes across the shirt introduce a tactile counterpoint—an implied environment that curves around her before dissolving— as if suggesting the character exists within her own imagined “safe space.”

Diana. (est. January 2026). Bresset, J. Oil and paint markers. 14” x 11”.

This work is an instant reminder of J. Bresset’s unwavering commitment to figurative discipline and her emerging sense of narrative. Through assertive linework and vibrant, directional strokes, the figure appears in confident contours that define posture and intent. Behind her, saturated colors rise like ascending steps into an imaginative atmosphere. The scene feels playful yet boldly expressive. Cool complementary blues soften depth while outlining scale, sharpening the character’s purpose and guiding the viewer’s eye along her stance and gesture. The result is a composition of fluidity in a graceful sweep of narrative whim, reinforcing the presence of a guardian rendered with both elegance and story‑driven intention.

“If it happens, it happens,” J. Bresset explained of her process. “You can’t really make a mistake.” Her strength in figures makes drawing animals and other subjects feel effortless. In August of 2025, after injuring her shoulder, her first question was, “When will I be able to draw again?” That devotion speaks for itself—and hints at what her talent may become.

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Boca Raton breaks record for leatherback sea turtle nests

Boca Raton is experiencing a record-breaking sea turtle season, with leatherback sea turtle nests already surpassing previous highs along the city’s 5-mile stretch of beaches. According to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, the milestone is a promising sign for one of Florida’s rarest and most-fragile nesting sea turtle species.

“As of May 6, we already have 40 leatherback nests,” Gumbo Limbo Nature Center said in an interview about this year’s nesting season. The previous Boca Raton record stood at 33 nests, making this season a significant leap forward.

The increase mirrors a larger statewide trend. Florida recorded 2,022 sea turtle nests in 2025, another all-time high. Scientists believe the growing numbers likely point to a gradual increase in the endangered species’ population after decades of conservation work.

Leatherback nesting season typically peaks in April and May, though nests can continue appearing into June. The latest leatherback nest documented in Boca Raton was recorded on July 7, 2012, meaning that this year’s record is likely to continue climbing in the coming weeks.

The achievement carries added importance because leatherbacks remain far less common than loggerhead and green sea turtles. “Record-breaking nest numbers is an indicator that conservation efforts across South Florida may be helping leatherback populations grow,” Gumbo Limbo explained.

Researchers say that several factors likely are contributing to the encouraging trend, including stronger protections for nesting beaches, reduced poaching and harvesting, safer fishing practices, and growing public awareness about sea turtle conservation.

One of the most encouraging developments, according to Gumbo Limbo staff, has been increased community involvement. “The people we encounter on the beach and at the nature center are genuinely interested in what we do and ask how they can help,” the organization said. “The children who grow up learning about sea turtles today are becoming the future scientists, advocates, and environmentally conscious community members who will help protect these populations for years to come.”

Protecting nests on Boca Raton’s busy beaches requires daily attention. Every nest is marked with orange stakes, tape, and signage to prevent accidental damage from beachgoers, umbrellas, or authorized beach vehicles. Staff members monitor each nest throughout incubation and take additional measures when necessary, including predator deterrents and protective mesh screens.

“We monitor each nest during the entire incubation period and protect them from predators or other disturbances,” Gumbo Limbo said. “Each and every nest is given so much attention to ensure success.”

Technology has also improved conservation efforts in recent years. Satellite tracking, GPS mapping, flipper tags, and advances in rehabilitation medicine now allow scientists to better understand migration routes, identify danger zones, and improve survival rates for injured turtles.

Despite the progress, challenges remain. Coastal development, boat strikes, plastic pollution, and climate change continue to threaten sea turtle populations. Still, conservationists say the growing level of public support gives them hope.

“Every action, no matter how small, can make a meaningful impact when it comes to sea turtle conservation,” Gumbo Limbo said. “Something as simple as turning off beachfront lights, picking up trash, filling in holes on the beach, or reducing single-use plastics can directly help protect sea turtles and their habitat. Conservation is most successful when communities come together, and every person can play a role in helping ensure sea turtles continue to thrive for future generations.”

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12 local artists + 12 local nonprofits = BFA Artwalls Mural Fest at History Fort Lauderdale

It was pouring rain upon arriving at History Fort Lauderdale that Sunday. Luckily, each artist had their workspace covered under their tarped tent. “I’m used to working with the elements,” said Sergio “Surge” Quiñonez, a South Florida artist, who pointed out the “teal wash”among his media.

Surge is just one of 12 local artists matched with 12 nonprofits for this year’s Mural Fest. In his recent collaboration with the Hollywood Art & Culture Center, the wash gave an extra layer of authenticity apart from the exterior and spray paints commonly used for creating mural works. While Dali had not yet been given his mustache, Surge’s illustrative hand shows a level of talent that blends symbolic portraiture and surrealist exaggeration. Upon completion, the work will be found at the Center.

Stephanie “Steph” McMillan is another artist painting permanence at the Mural Fest. Her work is for Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science. The mural will be found in the permanent collection of the new nature exhibition, “Nature Explore,” which showcases Broward County’s wildlife and ecosystems while promoting conservation and biodiversity.

PriVer & Murals is a collaborative duo, painting an artwork for the nonprofit New City Players. The theater is dedicated to fostering human connection through productions that bring people together in a shared space. The mural reflects this mission through a visual language of psychological duality and emotional simultaneity, while capturing the infinite spectrum of energies that coexist within one shared world.

Nate Dee, a Miami artist, is painting for the Stonewall National Museum and Archives. His work delivers cultural “awesomeness” as he blends portraiture, social narrative, and street‑art chromatics into a single, declarative visual language. Dee bridges contemporary muralism and the museum’s mission: “art as testimony, art as presence, art as a public record of lived experience.”

Ivan Roque paints the pompano fish in smooth, densified color for the Pompano Beach Arts Foundation. The mural reads as a vibrant, site‑specific celebration of Pompano Beach’s coastal identity, sharing the energy of the city’s waters and the creativity of its arts community.

Luis Valle, also known as El Chan Guri, paints for the Inside Out Theater Company. He takes almost an Aborigine approach, surrounding the focal point in infrared-choice combinations. His composition radiates outward in concentric pulses of color, as though the figure is generating her own field of emotional frequency. The mask is like an ornate interface between inner life and public performance, while the dotted halos echo communal ritual, ceremony, and the shared rhythms of spectatorship.

Gabby Shepherd, painting for the Old Davie School Museum, shifts the focus beyond the Everglades to the wider story of Davie’s heritage. The warm side of the panel highlights native plants and citrus while the cool, watery side nods to the surrounding wetlands. By letting the local heron transform between these environments, Shepherd shows how the museum preserves a fuller history.

BK Foxx’s work is grounded in portrait realism, but it’s pushed into a cinematic register specific to the Florida Children’s Theater. The mural’s monochromatic purple palette mirrors the theater’s role as a space where imagination is distilled. Foxx echoes how theater uses lighting and mood to guide an audience’s attention toward the inner transformation of a character rather than the literal world around them.

Michael Andress, aka Mongo, also uses monochromatic themes to deliver his message. Painting for the South Florida Pride Band, Andress takes his “psychedelic-abstract” style to bring fun to the surface. By limiting the palette, he amplifies rhythm and movement, allowing the character’s energy and musicality to take focus.

Samara, creating for the South Florida Chamber Ensemble, folds its mission directly into her portrait, turning listening itself into an act of natural transformation. A blue jay anchors the piece as a symbol of generational growth, while the subtle textures of layered trash bags add a quiet reminder of resilience, voice, and the courage to evolve.

Stefan Smith, a South Florida muralist whose work channels vibrant, uplifting energy into an exploration of nature and culture, shares his vision for the Developing Dreams Foundation. The mural binds crisp energetic detail that reflects Smith’s direct, high‑impact approach. It is a sharp, stylized portrait built from bold complementary colors that captures the figure in motion.

Ashlee Sanford paints a symbolic timeline of movement for the Art Prevails Project, syncing colors with the flow of creative growth. Her palette of purples, golds, and deep blacks becomes a current that carries the viewer from academic achievement to dance, theater, music, and community arts.

“Mural” of the story, it turned out to be a bright and sunny day at the fest. Finally, artist Orla Ananda, of Miami, painted a permanent mural behind Howl at the Moon, Fort Lauderdale, specifically for the Business of the Arts of Broward at History Fort Lauderdale.

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Light and beauty

Mariko Kusumoto, Take Akari sculptures grace the Morikami

Mariko Kusumoto, “Light as Air,” fiber-based, translucent, and crafted through tsumami‑zaiku techniques.

The buoyant sculptures of Mariko Kusumoto. Occupying the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens’ main gallery through April 5, expect an immersive, contemplative experience where light and proximity matter integrate. Fine detail is prevalent and parallels the authentic, methodical organization characteristic of a kimono. When viewed closely, the work is consuming.

Mariko Kusumoto. This Japanese-born artist is known for her delicate, floating fabric sculptures that blend traditional Japanese craft with contemporary installation. She creates whisper‑light fabric sculptures that seem to hover between craft and contemporary artistry. Raised in a 400‑year‑old temple as the daughter of a Buddhist priest, Kusumoto developed a keen attunement to subtle light, tactile surfaces, and the hush of carefully ordered space.

Mariko Kusumoto, “Ethereal Garden,” mixed-media sculpture (polyester and wire), 2024.

Kusumoto’s “Ethereal Garden” is an intricate, modular installation evoking underwater ecosystems through fabricated coral, sea anemones, and marine flora. The work explores themes of biodiversity, emotional fragility, and poetic buoyancy through textile manipulation and sculptural choreography.

Kusumoto’s practice is intensified by time‑honored Japanese handicrafts, especially the delicate folding and pinching of tsumami zaiku, with modern sculptural thinking. From tiny, exacting manipulations, she builds larger, translucent forms that evoke drifting blossoms, jellyfish, or underwater plants, inviting viewers to watch how shifting light and gentle motion reshape surface, depth, and perception.

Marine biodiversity as emotional landscape. While inspired by real marine life, Kusumoto’s forms are not literal replicas. Instead, they’re imaginative hybrids, blending both botanical and anatomical references, color radiation and molecular symmetry, as well as subatomic weight and poetic buoyancy where fantasy meets biology.

Mariko Kusumoto, pencil cases, 2011, mixed-media sculpture (hinged human‑form containers with embedded objects).

Mixed-media sculpture. Kusumoto, who is also a metalsmith and former printmaker, celebrates her earlier works with this sculpture, which features two hinged, human-shaped forms filled with miniature objects, including a clock, a ruler, a vanity, a flower, and cut‑out figures. They are arranged as internal “compartments” that explore themes of identity, memory, time, and personal ritual. It is a striking example of her narrative container series, where the body becomes a vessel for memory, identity, and symbolic layering.

Psychologically, the body represents a container for time, memory, and ritual. It is sociocultural, objectively gendered as a commentary on formation and subjective narrative—each of which, an artwork demonstrates a chapter in a personal or objective story.

Mariko Kusumoto, “Bamboo Garden,” mixed-media installation (polyester and wire), 2025.

A bamboo-inspired aesthetic. In “Bamboo Garden,” a vertical arrangement of vibrantly colored bamboo stalks of green, yellow, blue, and orange is presented as an immersive sculptural display. The work explores repetition, texture, and chromatic variation, transforming natural forms into stylized patterns that evoke both serenity and visual rhythm. Handcrafted by Kusumoto, whose signature practice involves delicate textile manipulation and organic sculptural forms, it’s an originally crafted, site‑specific installation for Tiffany’s. Kusumoto was inspired by Kabuki theater for Tiffany’s six‑story flagship in Ginza, Tokyo. It is an elegiac homage to Kabuki, one of Japan’s most stylized and dramatic performance traditions. Kusumoto has also collaborated with other notable names, such as Elizabeth Arden, Jean Paul Gaultier, and La Mer, and is represented in several museums around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Take Akari: Bamboo Lights. The Morikami’s “Take Akari: Bamboo Lights” exhibit features expansive, glowing bamboo sculptures curated by Akihiro Mashimo, celebrating tradition, craft, collaboration, and sustainable management. Mashimo, a master bamboo artisan known for revitalizing community‑based illumination festivals in Japan, brings a contemporary sensibility to this centuries-old material practice. He is a leading figure in contemporary bamboo craft and is recognized for his large‑scale light installations that merge artisanal technique with ecological awareness and community engagement. Mashimo’s practice centers on hand‑carved bamboo illumination and collaborative making, which has helped shape the modern Take Akari movement through his commitment to sustainable harvesting and local participation.

The Morikami Museum first debuted “Bamboo Lights” on July 7, 2024. Following the exhibition, the museum commissioned the illuminated bamboo installations crafted by Akihiro Mashimo for long‑term stewardship and preservation within its collection.

Tanabata is Japan’s Star Festival, celebrating the once‑a‑year meeting of the lovers Orihime, the weaver princess (Vega), and Hikoboshi, the cowherd (Altair). Vega and Altair are the two stars at the heart of the Tanabata legend. Legend has it that they fall deeply in love, neglect their duties, and then are separated by the sky deity (the Milky Way) as punishment. Moved by Orihime’s sorrow, the deity allows them to reunite once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. This reunion is the heart of the Tanabata festival mythology. It is marked by hanging colorful wish‑strips on bamboo and local festivals held between July and August.

“Take Akari” literally means bamboo light. It uses cut and drilled bamboo tubes fitted with candles or LEDs to create patterns of light and shadow across gardens and public spaces. Take Akari began as a grassroots response to abandoned bamboo groves and the social need to bring communities together. Makers harvest overgrown bamboo, carve decorative perforations, and light the pieces to form “lightscapes” that are both aesthetic and civic.

This practice has grown into community festivals and site-specific installations that celebrate local craft, reconnect people with nature, and draw attention to bamboo forest management issues.

Visitors can experience the world of illuminated bamboo at the Morikami Museum.

Akihiro Mashimo. Born in 1977 in Yokohama, Mashimo is a Japanese bamboo craftsman and artisan recognized for his mastery of takezaiku, traditional bamboo craft. He grew up in Nagaoka, Kyoto Prefecture, where bamboo was a constant presence. He was formally trained at the Traditional Arts School of Kyoto, graduating in 1998. Mashimo is known internationally for demonstrations, workshops, and collaborations in the U.S., Italy, and the U.K., where he promotes sustainable bamboo practices and contemporary applications of traditional techniques.

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A beach day in the shadow of the pier

The longest pier in Broward County, at 976 feet, is the Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier, considered the crowning jewel of the beach, a landmark that attracts thousands of sightseers and anglers annually. I went there recently with my son Jacob—not to fish, but to walk the pier and take photos, to view wildlife, and to stroll along the beach.

We started with lunch at JB’s on the Beach, a nice seafood-focused restaurant overlooking the ocean. They have valet parking there, but we were planning to spend several hours at the beach that day, so we ended up parking in a parking garage just off A1A, not far away, and leaving the car there all day. Street and lot parking is at a premium in this area.

After lunch, Jacob and I walked the short distance over to the fishing pier, stopping to look at the screen for Spinner the Sea Cam, the city’s live underwater camera, at the entrance to the long pier. The sign next to the sea-cam screen says that Spinner is located at the end of the pier, 30 feet below the surface of the water. You can watch fish swim right up to it. It’s known as a fun, quirky local highlight showcasing the personalities and activities of the pier’s fish residents.

“Welcome to the amazing views of Deerfield Beach,” according to the city website. “Whether you are watching the early morning sunrise, a fisher on the pier fighting a feisty barracuda, or King Benny the Blenny yeeting sharks—we hope these awesome wonders will help serve as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to take care of the ocean and everything in it and around it.” (For more information and to watch a live feed of the sea-cam, visit DFB.city/beachcams.)

The iconic Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier has been loved for generations. It stretches well into the ocean with great views, has a well-stocked concession stand for fishing amenities (fresh and frozen bait, rod and tackle rentals), and carries a storied history, including a dedication by President Gerald Ford in 1976. The pier serves as a symbol of the town, and the area around it provides a community gathering hub and entertainment spot, including hosting special events like “Pier Under the Stars.” Visitors can take scenic walks along the Atlantic in the clean sand, walk on the (not-so-sandy) green turf that runs just behind it, or go up on the “boardwalk” that runs along the back of the restaurants. For some, it’s the quintessential Florida beach experience. 

The first wooden Deerfield fishing pier was reportedly built in 1951–52. Because it was low and close to the water, it was a place for community members to gather and fish. In 1956 it changed hands, and new management built a restaurant, tackle shop, and chum machine. This all  brought fishermen flocking to the pier. Then in September 1960, Hurricane Donna wiped out the pier, destroying the wooden structure and sending planks floating away; the pier was rebuilt by 1963 through a city bond issue. Through the years different people leased the pier, though it was hard to turn a profit. The last lessee turned the pier back over to the city and became the pier manager, organizing events like fishing contests.

Today, it is a bustling pier, filled with several people fishing and cutting up their catch on tables while we were there, and others just watching the pelicans and other wildlife and taking in the ocean breezes. Jacob and I walked to the end of the pier and enjoyed the scenery. The cost to enter the pier is typically $2 for sightseers and $4 for those there to fish.

After we left the pier, we strolled along the boardwalk and listened to a pair of musicians playing at one of the restaurant patios; took a walk on the turf on the other side of the pier, taking in the sights there; and finally walked barefoot along the surf until we found a good place to set up our towels and enjoy the beach. From there, we could see the pier jutting out in the distance—it was a lovely day at the Atlantic.

For more information, go to www.deerfield-beach.com/1420/International-Fishing-Pier.

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Bustling farmers market on the waterfront

Did you know that one of the best farmers markets in the country can be found in South Florida? Yes, if you head up to downtown West Palm Beach on a Saturday, you’ll discover a cacophony of sights, smells, and sounds near the Intercoastal Waterway, in Centennial Square, and down Clematis Street. This is the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, where large crowds show up every weekend for this highly rated market.

With more than 130 vendors, the GreenMarket is in its 31st season, which opened in October; this year, it’s extended through the end of May. This season’s theme is “From the Ground Up.” In 2025, the West Palm Beach GreenMarket once again excelled in USA Today’s 10 Best contest for “Best Farmers Market.” This Readers’ Choice poll highlights the top 10 farmers markets nationwide. The GreenMarket maintains its status as a leading market, securing the No. 1 position in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and achieving No. 2 in 2024 and 2025.

After hearing a lot about this well-regarded farmers market, I went to check it out recently with my husband and another couple. Of course, with the popularity of this event, the free parking garages had already filled up by the time we got there, so we ended up paying $15 for a spot in a nearby garage. Early birds will have better luck, though. We had packed the car with soft coolers to store our purchases, as well as reusable tote bags to carry everything through the maze of vendors. We grabbed our bags and headed to the market.

There, we found the usual fresh vegetables and fruits (some very exotic), along with breads and baked goods, apple cider donuts and other sweets, Cuban coffee, teas, smoothies, spices, herbs, flowers, plants, dog products, and local wares. And that’s just a sampling of what there is. We experienced the fragrant smells of several kinds of delectable foods. Many of them, such as empanadas, crab cakes, and lobster rolls, you can get to eat right there, or bring them home to heat up later. And merchants sell a lot of local goods that you may not find anywhere else.

While strolling past the packed vendor stalls and plethora of savory and sweet offerings, you can also enjoy live music, some interesting workshops, lovely flower trellises, and the waterfront with its seagulls and assortment of sand sculptures. Deeper into the thick of it, the market gets very crowded, with some long lines, and even though there are picnic tables to sit at to enjoy your purchases, the tables all seemed full. (We ended up eating at a nearby restaurant but still got to sit out in the fresh air.) Also making their way through the crowds are lots of leashed dogs, adding to the hectic but fun and colorful scene.

This all started back in 1995, when former West Palm Beach Mayor Nancy Graham, inspired by the public markets of Europe, sought to establish the first weekly public farmers market in Palm Beach County. She envisioned a weekly green-market where people could buy fresh produce from local farmers as well as interact with friends and neighbors. She recalled that in the European markets, the people selling products knew their shoppers’ names, and the shoppers could ask questions about their wares. So she wanted to make that happen here.

In November 1995, when the West Palm Beach GreenMarket first opened, it took place in the parking lot of the old city hall and featured just 13 vendors. Despite its humble beginnings, the market became a hit, and local residents started to make it part of their routine to come to the GreenMarket on Saturday mornings. After moving to another location in West Palm Beach, the market eventually expanded to its current waterside locale in October 2010, in a place as well known for its beautiful scenery, Intracoastal breezes, and communal plazas as it is for its wide selection of fresh and delicious things to buy.

The GreenMarket is now an integral part of the bustling Saturday experience in downtown West Palm Beach. We’re glad we got to enjoy it—and take some of it home with us.

The West Palm Beach GreenMarket is open Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Commons. For more information, go to www.wpb.org/Residents/Community-Events/Events/WPB-GreenMarket.

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The Golden Rule(s): Steven Kummer

I had to stop for a lemonade while my husband and I strolled along Delray Beach’s art festival on Atlantic Avenue, passing by each of the booths until we finally stopped to view Steven Kummer’s work down the way. At first glance, I saw marble, but as I looked closer, it was the actual canvas I was staring at. Kummer’s process is deeply tactile, building layer upon layer, with resin binding it all. Ninety percent of his work involves painting with his fingers, guiding the movement of color to create compositions from predetermined themes or spontaneous inspiration. He describes his art as stress-free, evolving organically into form and meaning.

After a distinguished 40‑year career in information systems design and development, Kummer turned to painting, discovering a new medium for his lifelong creativity. Though new to the art world, his technical background informs his approach. He studies the chemistry of paints and media to understand their interactions, insisting on the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship.

Kummer’s work is driven by a desire to evoke strong visual responses. Shock, movement, balance, and depth are just some of the feelings often expressed through his bold color compositions and metallic accents. Influences from his wife’s Chinese heritage appear in the form of embedded characters, each carrying profound meaning that connects directly to the themes of each piece. Kummer’s attention to detail can be both powerful and even overwhelming, perhaps, as he recalls one viewer moved to tears by the symbolism in his work, an experience that reshaped how he channels energy into his art.

Beyond painting, Kummer is a martial artist with 15 years of training, having retired while preparing for his fourth‑degree black belt. Teaching, competing, and judging honed his discipline, yet he remains humble, likening himself to a gardener, rather. Where his professional life demanded aggression, art provides him balance—a practice he considers essential to his well‑being.

“Achievements,” 30″ x 30″ heavyweight canvas with a 2.5″ profile; acrylics, metallics, and epoxy resin. First in a series of three. 

“Achievements.” This work  was created using vibrant acrylics and metallic paints to embody the “gold stage of life.” The work is painted largely by Kummer’s fingers, building upon it layer after layer, until it is formed to represent the building blocks of success bonded by the richness of achievement. Gold metallic acrylic symbolizes the knowledge gained along the way, while iridescent colors reflect the fruitfulness of an achiever’s journey. Within the composition are two Chinese characters, handwritten by the artist’s wife, that translate to “work hard” and “prosper,” reinforcing the theme of accomplishment.

The painting’s texture was achieved through a process of layering and metallic spray, as Kummer describes, pulling the lower layers forward while the paint is still wet. It is a technique that he experimented with for the first time. The piece itself conveys strength, stability, and pride in one’s accomplishments. It is the first in a series of three works—“Achievements,” “Beautiful Life,” and “Strength”(not pictured)—each defined by a metallic theme, with gold emphasizing richness (“Strength” is in silver for clarity).


“Beautiful Life,” 30″ x 30″ heavyweight canvas with a 2.5″ profile; acrylics and metallic copper tones, epoxy resin. Second in a series of three.

“Beautiful Life.” This work is saturated with vibrant acrylics and metallic copper tones. The painting celebrates vitality and joy, inspired by the artist’s relationship with his wife. The embedded Chinese characters, written in her hand, translate to “beautiful life,” embodying their shared journey. Layers of imagery include trees with green leaves in the background, setting the symbolic foundation of a meaningful life, while a waterfall of vivid colors represents the energy, happiness, and support found in companionship. Copper serves as the metallic theme for this work, and it represents vitality. As the second in the series, “Beautiful Life” builds upon the richness of “Achievements” and precedes “Strength,” which features silver to symbolize clarity.

“A Walk in the Park.” This work, capturing the quiet beauty of seasonal change, is a must-see. The uniqueness of this piece is that the “park” can be easily overlooked if not aware of it (the photo doesn’t do it justice). Soft sky blues form the background, while layers of rich, shifting colors mirror the transformation of leaves in autumn. The painting evokes the serenity of a peaceful stroll, encouraging viewers to look upward and embrace the natural palette of life.


“A Walk in the Park,” 30″ x 40″ heavyweight canvas with a 2.5″ profile; acrylics, metallic tones, and epoxy resin.

“Nature’s Yin Yang.” This work explores the balance between ambition and peace. Golds and reds symbolize drive and aggression, while blues, grays, and whites counterbalance with stability and calm. Kummer started the piece on opposite edges, articulately bringing it to form. The composition reflects the constant clash and reconciliation of these forces, a theme rooted in Kummer’s 15 years of Tang Soo Do martial arts training. The work embodies the discipline’s philosophy of balance, translating martial practice into visual form.


“Nature’s Yin Yang,” 24″ x 48″ heavyweight canvas with a 2.5″ profile; acrylics, metallics, and epoxy resin.

Steven Kummer is a local of South Florida; his origins root from New York. For more information about him and his artwork, go to www.artfullydonellc.com.

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