Moore splits Pryor's old department after two September resignations
Plus how JCD kept the tennis contract, an AI haunted house built by students and a free juried art show Nov. 7-8.
Former CFO Henry Dachowitz says he resigned in a meeting with City Manager Terrence Moore after being told people were upset with his remarks. At the beach, Sandoway Park and six other south county beaches came off a no-swim advisory Nov. 3.
Delray Beach is creating a Department of Code Compliance, separate from a new Department of Neighborhood, Community and Education Services. City Manager Terrence Moore announced the change in an Oct. 30 memo.
Jeri Pryor, who ran the department being split, resigned Sept. 24. Chief Financial Officer Henry Dachowitz resigned Sept. 28, after a testy exchange with Mayor Tom Carney at a budget meeting.
Dachowitz said he resigned in a meeting with Moore after being told people were upset with his remarks. Pryor's letter cited a move to an environment aligned with her professional values and well-being. Commissioner Juli Casale said both were forced to resign. Carney said he had no part in the request that Dachowitz leave. The city does not comment on personnel matters.
Each got three months' salary, unused vacation, half their sick time and three more months of health coverage.
Sandoway Park and six other south county beaches reopen to swimming
Tests found Enterococcus bacteria above state recreational water standards at Delray Beach's Sandoway Park, prompting an Oct. 28 advisory against swimming. The bacteria are a warning sign of fecal contamination.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County lifted the advisory on Nov. 3, after testing on Nov. 2. Six other south county beaches came off the advisory the same day.
The department said causes of high bacteria levels are unknown but are generally linked to wildlife, heavy beach use, high surf and runoff after heavy rain. It did not directly link this advisory to recent weather and tides. Advisories are posted on lifeguard chalkboards and the Florida Healthy Beaches website.
Art on the Square, the Cornell Art Museum's juried fine art show, runs Nov. 7-8
- When
- Nov. 7-8
- Where
- Old School Square, Cornell Art Museum front lawn and Swinton lawn
- Price
- Free
About 100 juried artists will set up on the Cornell Art Museum's front lawn and the Swinton lawn at Old School Square. Admission to the two-day outdoor show is free. Visitors can meet artists and buy original work, with live music and refreshments. The program also includes live mural painting, a children's art space, local nonprofits and first, second and third place awards.
Delray photographer Jake Packard is among the artists. He carries a verified human artist label and says art has to start with a person.
The Cornell Art Museum presents Art on the Square.
Space of Mind students built a haunted house about AI
Students at Space of Mind, a K-12 micro-school in Delray Beach, built this year's Halloween haunted house around a technology theme. They called it "Error 404: Humanity Not Found."
One room used empty water bottles to show how much water data centers use. Another made it look like people were on operating tables getting robot limbs. Founder Ali Kaufman said students researched the topic, built the sets and made the costumes, music and effects.
Kaufman said the point was nurturing real connections and teaching kids to come off their devices. Ticket sales support the Community Classroom Project, a nonprofit for educational and professional growth.
Students did not reject AI outright. Junior Hudson Newcomer, the student body president, hopes people and AI can work together. Classmate Alex Detassis worries it could replace many jobs.
How JCD ended up the only tennis finalist left standing
Commissioners voted 4-1 on Oct. 13 to give JCD Sports Group a new contract to run the city's two tennis centers, which JCD has managed for 30 years. The term is five years, with five one-year contracts to follow and no provision to reopen bidding within the 10-year span.
Before planned commission interviews, City Manager Terrence Moore disqualified the two other finalists, saying they lacked the required 10 years of management experience. Seven of eight public speakers backed JCD, and commissioners cited a 50-point scoring gap between JCD and FM Management.
FM co-owner Brandon Flanagan said he was disappointed in how staff interpreted the experience rule. He also said two panelists scored the firms closely.
Mayor Tom Carney called the award a bad look and voted no after his motion to restart failed 3-2.
Grieco dealerships collect food for The Soup Kitchen and Feeding South Florida
- When
- Through Nov. 15 · Regular business hours
- Where
- Grieco Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan and Mazda dealerships, Delray Beach
- Address
- Chevrolet: 2605 S. Federal Hwy.; Ford: 2501 S. Federal Hwy.; Nissan: 2200 S. Federal Hwy.; Mazda: 2001 S. Federal Hwy., Delray Beach
Canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter, canned soups and vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal and shelf-stable milk are the most helpful items for Grieco Automotive Group's holiday food drive. Donations are accepted through Nov. 15. The food banks ask donors to skip glass containers and check that nothing has expired.
Delray drop-offs are open during regular business hours at Grieco Chevrolet, 2605 S. Federal Hwy.; Grieco Ford, 2501 S. Federal Hwy.; Grieco Nissan, 2200 S. Federal Hwy.; and Grieco Mazda, 2001 S. Federal Hwy.
Grieco Automotive Group runs the drive at its seven Palm Beach and Broward dealerships and will distribute the food to The Soup Kitchen in Boynton Beach and Feeding South Florida.