Mary Thurwachter

Florida

Managing Editor at The Coastal Star

Florida journalist, travel writer, editor, blogger

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Articles

21-year veteran unseated by political newcomer

2 months ago | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterFirefighter Jesse Rivero was sworn in March 24 by Town Attorney Max Lohman. Rivero's wife, Kerri, held the Bible. Mary Thurwachter/The Coastal StarNewcomer Jesse Rivero, a 50-year-old firefighter, defeated veteran Town Council member Lynn "Doc" Moorhouse for Lantana's Group 1 Council seat.
Lantana Village Square plan gets the green light for old Kmart site

Jan 29, 2025 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterThe proposed mixed-use development would bring apartments and businesses to the old site of the Kmart in Lantana. This view is from Dixie Highway. Rendering providedIt's all systems go for Lantana Village Square after the Town Council gave developers an enthusiastic thumbs up during a special meeting on Jan. 13. The planned mixed-use development will eventually bring 426 apartments to the former Kmart property at the corner of Dixie Highway and Hypoluxo Road.
Town may opt out of beach sand project

Oct 2, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterAn interlocal agreement to add sand to the beaches in Palm Beach, South Palm Beach and Lantana this winter may be losing one municipality: Lantana. It's all about money. When the dune restoration was hatched a few years ago, South Palm Beach, which has no public beach, agreed to pay for sand to be placed on Lantana's beach in exchange for sand truck access via the town's Dorothy Rissler Lane.
I could have solved lagoon project dispute but was overlooked

Jul 31, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

BELOW RIGHT: La Renaissance, shown in the 1960s Photo providedBy Mary ThurwachterAt least two barge-loads of sand are being deposited every day to create the two new islands in a restoration project called Bonefish Cove. The red buoys and yellow silt curtains help to contain the sand and sediment until the islands are complete and ringed with limestone boulders.
Ocean Avenue cottages demolished as town envisions development

May 29, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterDemolition of Key West-style cottages on the north side of Ocean Avenue began in mid-May. Mayor Karen Lythgoe is optimistic that a developer will negotiate a long-term lease with the property owners. Tim Stepien/The Coastal StarSome of the tiny, colorful cottages on the north side of Ocean Avenue between Oak Street and Lake Drive in downtown Lantana have been around since the 1920s.
Town may consider 5-story buildings, land swap, new beach pavilion

May 1, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterLantana may allow five-story buildings on Ocean Avenue. The decision is likely to be considered, at least, in the year ahead as the town grapples with redeveloping downtown, specifically four parcels on the north side of the road owned by sister-and-brother Marsha Stocker and Steven Handelsman. The topic came up during a visioning session the Town Council and staff had on April 19 at the Finland House.
Boaters win fight to keep Intracoastal access

Apr 3, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

J ordan Nichols and Bill Simons gauge the plan's suggested channel as too shallow. Photos by Jerry Lower/The Coastal StarAfter plan blindsides Hypoluxo Island, lagoon project won't touch channel after all By Mary ThurwachterBonefish Cove, a long-planned effort to bring a chain of three mangrove islands and oyster reefs to the central Lake Worth Lagoon, encountered stormy waters last month.
Lythgoe reelected as mayor

Apr 3, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterSoon after the polls closed in Lantana on March 19, incumbent Mayor Karen Lythgoe joined friends at Lantana Pizza to celebrate her 653-385 win over newcomer George Velazquez. "I'm relieved and I'm grateful that I get to keep working on what we've been working on," Lythgoe, 64, said of the Town Council. "The five of us have got momentum going that I think is phenomenal.
Plans for mixed-use development at Kmart site are warmly received

Mar 2, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

A view from Greynolds Circle of the apartments at the Kmart site. Rendering providedBy Mary ThurwachterLantana officials got an early peek at a Miami developer's plans for the redevelopment of the former Kmart site during a workshop Feb. 13, and they liked what they saw. Victor Ballestas, a principal with Integra Investments, the Miami firm that bought the property at 1301 S. Dixie Highway in July for $14.85 million, said the company's intent was to come up with a successful mixed-use community.
Mayoral debate covers town wages, water quality, spending and more

Feb 28, 2024 | thecoastalstar.com | Mary Thurwachter

By Mary ThurwachterTopics ranging from water quality and code enforcement to staff salaries and how contracts are vetted came up at the mayoral debate at the Lantana Public Library on Feb. 20. Incumbent Karen Lythgoe and challenger Jorge "George" Velazquez took just 35 minutes to answer questions submitted by residents and read by Teresa Wilhelm, president of the Friends of the Library, the forum's sponsor.