Stet NewsWelcome back! We’re feeling sparkly as we launch into a packed but shorter workweek. Happy 250th! For you today, a reprieve for one of the rarest shrubs in the country; neighbors say they are surprised by a new park; port progress; Palm Beach County’s newest All-America City; and five finalist nods for Stet coverage.
🌱 Pawpaw prevails over FPL’s plan to pave preserve
Juno Beach-based FPL is so desperate for more employee parking that it asked the town for permission to pave over part of a small nature preserve at its headquarters to build a 200-space parking lot.
Why it matters: Members of a town board turned down the request this month, but FPL’s presentation offers insight into the utility’s operation and how its parking solution was complicated by one of the rarest shrubs in the United States.
Catch up quick: FPL shares its Juno Beach campus with parent and corporate giant NextEra Energy. The 58-acre property on U.S. 1 and Universe Boulevard is filled with coastal native plants and bound by a town agreement to preserve them.
- A reorganization of the offices and focus on in-person work is driving the parking crunch, Don Kiselewski, FPL’s executive director of external affairs, told the town Planning and Zoning Board on June 1.
- Today, the property’s 3,094 spaces cannot accommodate the 3,300-member workforce, he said.
To meet the need, FPL asked the town to approve a site plan change and depart from a 1984 town resolution that requires any additional parking on the property to be under a building or in a parking garage.
Zoom in: FPL proposed a 229-space parking lot on 1.7 acres at the center of 3 acres of open space, describing it as low-quality scrub.
But there are six extremely rare four-petal pawpaw shrubs. The shrub is found only in a 35-mile stretch of coastal scrub in Martin and Palm Beach counties.
Company representatives, who did not return requests for comment, pledged to protect the rare and endangered plants and launch a program to harvest and replant pawpaw seeds.
The other side: A federal review in 2022 found that four-petal pawpaws are in decline, with just 1,400 known plants in the wild. The plant can be found on public lands including Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Juno Dunes Natural Area and the tiny PawPaw Natural Preserve in North Palm Beach.
What they’re saying: The FPL proposal reminded at least two board members of the famous Joni Mitchell lyric.
“You know, ‘They paved paradise and put up a parking lot,’” Steve Bauch said. “And that’s really kind of what’s at stake here.”
- Nancy Grabowski repeated the lyric and added, “We don’t want to be ‘Anywhere, U.S.A.’”
The bottom line: The board declined the parking lot request by a 4-1 vote. FPL withdrew the request two days later.
Keep reading to learn more about the 44-year-old agreement between Juno Beach and FPL that influenced the board majority at StetNews.org.
— Carolyn DiPaolo
🌳 Caught between a park and a promise
One of the perilous clashes in our growing area is when owners of newly built homes find out what they thought they were buying isn’t what they bought.
For the buyers of million-dollar homes in the 55-plus community in Palm Beach Gardens’ Regency at Avenir, that realization has compelled them to publicly complain to the City Council about the proposed Gardens Nature Park and Trail.
Why it matters: Avenir, the 4,760-acre former Vavrus Ranch, calls for about half the property to be conserved. Hiking trails already wind through the preserves. The Gardens Nature Park and Trail is planned for a parcel left over from the city’s construction of the Nest Par 3 golf course on land provided by Avenir Development. But the nature park abuts the backyards of homes along Timber Creek Way.
Catch up quick: Those homeowners overlook a preserve that residents say builder Toll Brothers assured them would remain undeveloped.
Yes, but: The city had long planned a 24-acre park on the site, with the only entrance a half-mile trail along the backyards of Timber Creek Way homes. The park would have hiking trails, a fishing pier, a pavilion, picnic facilities and restrooms.
What they’re saying: “We have a lovely view from our backyards,” Regency resident Dr. Howard Goodman told Stet News. “We thought it would stay that way. We didn’t move here to have a big park in our backyard.”
The city sought comments on the park plans at meetings in May. Regency residents sounded off. The residents also sought help from the City Council on June 4.
Now residents await a response from the city.
- “I want people to know, I’m not averse to the park. I’m for it. I think it’s a wonderful thing,” Timber Creek Way resident Suzanne Kline said. “I just want people to respond to my questions.”
Read more of the reasons residents oppose the nature park at Stet News.org.
— Valerie Staggs
🔓 A crack in the deadlock
How can a divided four-member board find common ground to agree on appointing a fifth member?
The question has vexed Port of Palm Beach commissioners for nearly a year, after the Oct. 24 resignation of longtime Commissioner Jean Enright.
Why it matters: Port commissioners oversee a $27 million budget, providing critical industrial and trade connection with the Caribbean. It also is home to the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which cruises to the Bahamas.
Catch up quick: Even though 12 people applied by a Feb. 19 deadline, commissioners never discussed their merits. Instead, they deadlocked over how to vote, with Chair Blair Ciklin and Deandre Poole on one side and Commissioners Varisa Dass and Wayne Richards on the other.
The compromise: Dass and Richards supported Ciklin’s proposal to allow new applicants to apply through July 1. Ciklin agreed to Richards’ proposal that the four commissioners select their top two candidates — from the 12 original applicants and any new ones — and vote on the top two or more finalists at the July 16 commission meeting.
Zoom in: Enright, in the audience for the June meeting, said she would apply, as did one of two candidates running against Ciklin in the Aug. 18 Democratic primary, retiring West Palm Beach Fire Battalion Chief Brian Lamb.
Zoom out: Under port rules, the seat can remain vacant until November 2028, when Enright’s term would have expired. State Sen. Mack Bernard pursued a change this year in those rules but his efforts did not pass.
Of note: Former Commissioner Katherine Waldron, also a former state House member, withdrew her application in May to run for County Commission in District 6.
Read more about who is seeking the seat and machinations behind the port commission’s decision at StetNews.org.
— Joel Engelhardt
🇺🇸 A star-spangled prize for Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach has won its first All-America City award for its focus on young people and strong neighborhoods.
Driving the news: The city is one of 10 selected Sunday by the National Civic League based on progress in bringing people together to build lasting change.
Why it matters: All-America Cities tend to find it easier to attract businesses that create job opportunities and strengthen the tax base, award organizers say. Winners also have seen an increase in tourism and grants.
An overjoyed Riviera Beach delegation took the stage at the 77th annual award competition’s closing ceremony in Denver to celebrate their prize.
What they’re saying: “We’re so excited!” Council Member KaShamba Miller-Anderson said as she accepted the award. “We have been able to put a national spotlight on all the talent we have in our city,”
Zoom in: Riviera Beach residents, officials and staff traveled to Denver to participate Sunday morning in a fast-paced presentation to judges. The delegation included Mayor Doug Lawson, Police Chief Michael Coleman and former City Council Member Julie Botel.
They highlighted Riviera Beach’s Youth Council, its Citizens Leadership Academy and the Community Redevelopment Authority’s Neighborhood Reclaim home stabilization program.
Zoom out: The other nine 2026 winners are: North Charleston, S.C.; Morrisville, N.C.; Roanoke, Va.; Norfolk, Va.; Woodburn, Ore.; Montgomery, Ala.; Harlingen, Texas; Franklin, Tenn.; and four-time winner Chelsea, Mass.
Port St. Lucie was named an All-America City in 2025. Delray Beach has won three times.
The bottom line: The delegation ended its pitch with a description of a Riviera Beach that is “stronger, kinder, united.”
See Riviera Beach’s winning presentation here.
— Carolyn DiPaolo
🍊 The Juice
“There’s no question this mission has made the state of Florida safer,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday in announcing the closure after one year of the Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center that drew criticism and lawsuits and cost the state as much as $1 billion. (Miami Herald $$$)
⬆️ Tri-Rail is raising rates 10%, its first fare increase since 2019. Under a complex six-zone fare system, which carries a baseline price range of $5 to $17.50 for one-way trips, the new range would be $6 to $20. It’s part of a $150 million annual budget that includes up to $60 million from the state. (Sun-Sentinel $$$)
🛑 Alexander Lambridis, a 22-year-old Florida Atlantic University student, was knocked off the state House District 91 ballot after he mistakenly wrote his qualifying check for $1 less than the required fee. While he wrote the correct amount, $1,781.82, on the check in digits, he wrote the incorrect amount — “one thousand seven hundred and eighty dollars and eighty-two cents” — in words. His departure moves Democrat Luis Garcia into the general election against incumbent Republican Peggy Gossett-Seidman. (Florida Politics)
🌇 A 17-story, 16-unit condo building is proposed for just east of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach at 201 and 203 Arkona Court by Easton Street Capital, a Palm Beach firm consisting of executives from the Frisbie Group real estate firm. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
🏥 Jupiter Medical Center broke ground last week on a 29-bed hospital in Palm Beach Gardens’ Avenir community. It will have four operating rooms, 24-hour emergency services and diagnostic laboratory and imaging services. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
⚽How far will soccer fans go to meet players from Portugal’s highly regarded World Cup club? Team Portugal, featuring superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, is staying at the Four Seasons Palm Beach, just up the road from Lake Worth Beach’s public beach. Privacy rules at the hotel haven’t stopped fans from figuring out ways to make contact. (Lake Worth Beach Independent)
🛥️ Port 32 Marinas, which is rebuilding its boat storage facility on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens, has merged with Acme Marinas LLC, backed by Koch Real Estate Investments. Adding Acme’s seven marinas gives the new company 17 locations with about 4,000 slips. (Megayacht News)
📆 Riviera Beach leaders will consider extending the contract of interim City Manager Bill Wilkins past the 120-day appointment the City Council agreed to when he was hired in April. Chairperson Bruce Guyton is proposing that his colleagues name Wilkins city manager during their meeting Wednesday until a new top administrator is hired. (City Council agenda)
🤖 Project Tango goes before the Palm Beach County Zoning Commission at 9 am Thursday on its proposal to increase the square footage of development allowed from 2.02 million square feet to 3.6 million square feet. (Zoning Agenda)
🛍️ The Town Center at Boca Raton mall’s shuttered Sears store and parking lot would be transformed under a proposal from Simon Property Group with a 197-room hotel, a 374-unit apartment building, a parking garage and a 157,000-square-foot main street with eight retail buildings. (South Florida Business Journal $$$)
🏠 A playful, art-filled redesign of the 1940s Palm Beach home of Casey and Erik Waldin. (Architectural Digest)
📖 Actor Monte Markham remarks on his Palm Beach County days, lessons from renowned drama teacher Watson B. Duncan, Burt Reynolds and his memorable role on TV’s “The Golden Girls” in an engaging look back at the 91-year-old actor from West Palm Beach. (The Palm Beach Post $$$)
🎙️ “Top of Mind Florida,” the podcast by Michael Williams and Brian Crowley, focuses with computer expert Alan Crowetz on finding truth in a world consumed by artificial intelligence that goes so far as to create fictional news websites. (Listen now; watch after 4 pm today.)
561NSIDER: ⭐️ Honors grow for Stet
Your Stet News is being honored with five finalist nominations in Florida’s oldest and largest contest recognizing excellence in journalism, the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sunshine State Awards.
The competition recognizes Stet for its coverage of underrepresented communities, most notably through its Community Voices pilot program with Inlet Grove High School that trains and pays students to cover Riviera Beach.
- Stet is also a finalist for best independent website, best digital newsletter, crime and court coverage and community news.
In the underrepresented communities category, Stet is a finalist for its story announcing the launch of Community Voices, led by Stet’s Liz Capozzi and Inlet Grove’s C.B. Hanif. Also honored: stories on a historic Black cemetery by Stet’s Holly Baltz, and Stet co-founder Carolyn DiPaolo’s story about the efforts to revive the long-dormant Northwest Neighborhood in West Palm Beach.
Catch up quick: The Community Voices program relies on the work of five Inlet Grove students who covered city meetings in person and published 14 stories on the Stet News website. Among the stories: developers vying for the city’s blessing to rebuild large sections of town and the city’s pursuit of a new police station and water plant.
What they’re saying: “Building a program that trains and pays students to cover their city was a bet, and a panel of Florida journalists placed it among the state’s best work covering underrepresented communities in its first year,” Capozzi said. “This recognition tells us that the model is sound, and the students are the reason it’s working.”
Four more honors:
- For the second year in a row, Stet is finalist for both best digital newsletter and best website.
- In community news, Stet co-founder Joel Engelhardt and reporters Holly Baltz and Mary Rasura are finalists for stories involving the Nautilus 220 condominium building in Lake Park, the debate between landfills and garbage incinerators, and the transformation of a West Palm Beach housing project.
- In the crime and courts category, Stet reporter Jane Musgrave is a finalist for stories on developer Glenn Straub’s efforts to wrest control of the Miss America pageant, the Tate brothers’ legal troubles and the legal fight over G-Star School of the Arts in Palm Springs.
Read more about Stet’s entries and the Sunshine State Awards at StetNews.org.
— Stet News
