Delray Beach
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Victory Dolls at Delray Playhouse (7) IVY Remedy offers IV treatments (17) Vino at Wine Room Kitchen & Bar (23) Ocean Delray underway (38) DELRAYNEWSPAPER.COM SEPTEMBER | 2019 Delray commission Sandman Lee Stone creates massive sculptures on beach selects Michael Cernech By: Diane Feen Contributing Writer as new city manager, If you’ve seen a massive sand sculpture of a regal lion on the Beach in Delray, negotiations underway it’s the handiwork of Lee Stone. The sand sculpture artist has been making Staff report massive creations on the beach in Del- The longtime city manager of Tamarac will soon take ray Beach for the past 11 years. charge of the city of Delray Beach. They are often left long after Stone Delray commissioners selected Michael Cernech to makes his deep jungle impressions. serve as the city’s new city manager in a 4-1 vote. Com- Though they look like they might take missioner Shirley Johnson cast the sole dissenting vote. days or weeks to make, his artistic tal- ent is a sidebar to the genius of this Cernech edged out two other finalists also vying for Renaissance Man. the job, George Gretsas, the city manager of Home- stead and Joseph Napoli, the deputy city manager of “It takes me about an hour to make Miami. the lion, I get a pile of clean sand and carry two-five-gallon water buckets at “It’s like trying to say which one of your sons is your a time to soak down the sand,” said the favorite son,” Commissioner Bill Bathurst said of the Pennsylvania native. three finalists. “It’s a very good position to be in.” The tools to his trade are quite simple – a Bathurst called Cernech a “Steady Eddy,” someone who plastic room card from a hotel. But his could bring stability to the city. Delray [CONT. PG 2] sand sculptures are anything but simple. His lion is eight feet wide and his polar bear, seal and Grisly bear with a salm- on in his mouth are massive. They are not only large in scope, but they seem to bear the trappings of emotionality. Though Stone is prone to hiding his emotions under his sleeve, or inside his massive sand animal kingdom, he explains himself with stark clari- ty. “My sand sculptures make people happy; how can I not do them? People talk about them all over the world and Lee Stone shows a sand sculpture he created of Santa Claus. Photo by Diane Feen. they get photographed. These pictures “I don’t feel bad that the sand sculp- of Oz, Santa Claus, Mermaids, Disney last forever.” tures are gone after one day. I am nev- characters and the wonders of nature. er happy with what I do, and I always The sand sculptures in Delray often see something that could be better,” This incredible talent might have lain last for only one day, even though they said the white-haired blue-eyed Del- dormant if it wasn’t for Stone’s for- seem to take such artistic acuity and ray resident. getfulness one day. “People go to the visual brilliance. But one day is fine beach to read, walk, swim or sleep. I with this easy-going self-contained Though Stone may see imperfection, went one day and forgot my book. writer, who spent 30 years of his life others only see perfection in the au- I thought to myself, thentic characters from the Wizard Delray commissioners selected Michael Cernech to serve as Del- living in Alaska. ‘what am I going to [CONT. PG 2] ray’s city manager. Photo courtesy of city of Tamarac. Your stay includes private beach club 2 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER | SEPTEMBER 2019 Sandman Lee Stone creates massive sculptures on beach [FROM PG 1] do?’” were thrilled. I decided the next time I stellar accomplishments off the beach. py people don’t realize or appreciate their went to the beach I would make some- Though he is reluctant to talk about his special talent, and everyone has a talent,” As Stone sat watching people on the thing. For the next four years I went to life, other than the four novels he has au- said Stone. beach he noticed three children making the beach three or four days a week and thored (Free Fish Friday, Slacker Mills, something out of sand. He wondered, made a sculpture in the same place on the Once Upon a Tee Time and The Student Stone may not be on the beach every day “Why are these children having more fun beach in Delray.” Council) Sone has a varied background. making sand sculptures anymore, but he on the beach than anyone else?” is still a creature of the sea. He can be He was a sports columnist for a newspa- He also makes large sand sculptures in his found (on occasion) at sunrise on the Stone jumped up and joined the children per in Juneau, Alaska, as well as a com- annual trips to the Abaco Club in the Ba- beach in Delray with a fishing rod, a net in their pursuit of sand creatures. Pretty hamas. They are so excited about Stone’s mercial fisherman. He owned a seafood and a bucket (you can catch bait, he said). soon Stone was creating a dachshund and arrival – and his sand crafted jungle char- restaurant and worked in the Legisla- If you catch him at the right moment you a cat for them (from memory) and then acters – that they leave piles of sand on the ture and as a lobbyist in Alaska. He also might even be able to upload his unique toys, teddy bears and trains. beach when he comes (each winter). worked with the Alaskan people to show- case (and sell) their art in Kotzebu. “Peo- brand of common sense and celebrated “The kids were elated, and the parents Stone’s sand talent is a far cry from his ple need to know they’re special – unhap- wisdom as well. Delray resident Lee Stone has been crafting sand sculptures on the city’s Lee Stone says it takes about an hour to sculpt a lion like this out of The photos of Lee Stone’s sand sculptures last forever. Photo by Diane beach for 11 years. Photo by Diane Feen. sand. Photo by Diane Feen. Feen. Delray commission selects Michael Cernech as new city manager, negotiations underway [FROM PG 1] has gone through several city managers of Tamarac since 2001 where he served in various roles I’ll be to the organization,” he said. “I will be here for the since city manager David Harden retired in 2012. Cur- including interim director of financial services, interim long haul.” rent interim city manager Neal de Jesus, who is the city’s director of public works, as well as interim director of fire chief, has stepped in to fill the role twice. community development. Cernech’s start date, salary and other benefits will be negotiated with the city attorney and mayor. His prede- While Mayor Shelly Petrolia ranked Gretsas as her No. 1 Cernech has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the choice, she said, “I don’t think that there was a way that University of Detroit and a Master’s Degree in Public Ad- cessor Mark Lauzier made $235,000 when he was hired we could really go wrong here.” ministration from Trinity University. and was awarded a 4 percent raise to bring his salary to $244,000 just months before he was fired. Commissioner Adam Frankel selected Cernech as his During the public portion of the finalists’ interviews, top pick. Cernech wasted no time digging into areas of the city’s The city advertised the open position to pay between budget and sharing ways he thinks the budget can be im- “We were very fortunate to have three very qualified fi- $200,000 and $270,000 a year. proved. nalists,” he said. “However Mr. Cernech. in my view, was the best fit for our residents, taxpayers and city staff.” He named investing in infrastructure as a top priority for “I’m both humbled and honored to have been selected the city. In doing so, he said residents see how the city is to be Delray Beach’s next City Manager,” Cernech said. Frankel said Cernech comes highly recommended and investing in its neighborhoods. “I appreciate the confidence the Mayor, Vice-Mayor and has a temperament that he feels will work well with the city of Delray. “You have very robust capital improvement plans,” he Commissioners have placed in me. I look forward to said. “All the elements are there, It’s just a manner of pull- making a difference in Delray Beach.” For Commissioner Ryan Boylston Cernech was the best ing it all together.” choice to represent the city city of Delray. That employment agreement with the city will come be- As far as his leadership style, he said he sets the tone at Cernech was appointed to the city manager role in Tam- fore commissioners for approval at a future meeting. The the top. arac in 2011. Prior, he served as deputy city manager commission’s next scheduled meeting is Sept. 5. It is un- and assistant manager. He has been employed by the city “People have to know and understand how committed clear if the agreement will be completed by then. SEPTEMBER 2019 | YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 3 THE CITY OF BOCA'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BRiC Present The Business of Health & Wellness Panel Discussion Guy Burgstahler Claudio Sorrentino John Fieldly Anthony Zolezzi Andrea Klemes Marketing VP CEO CEO CEO Chief Medical Officer Vitacost Body Details Celsius Holdings, Inc Twinlab MDViP THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 | 8 A.M- 9:30 A.M BRiC CONFERENCE CENTER 5000 T-REX AVENUE BOCA RATON, FL 33431 R E G I S T E R A T E V E N T B R I T E , $ 1 0 P E R P E R S O N 4 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER | SEPTEMBER 2019 things you need to know this September in Delray Beach 1 5 8 The Joe 4, diners will eat meals and drinks from Caffe Luna Join Sandoway Cotton Band will Calle Ocho, Miami.