Delray Fashion Week returns (7) What laser can do for your skin (21) Belt out at Karaoke night (32) A look at 2018 real estate (37) DELRAYNEWSPAPER.COM JANUARY | 2018 Atlantic High School senior wins national award through perseverance By: Joanie Cox-Henry Contributing Writer Jackson Destine is a survivor. Overcoming impossible odds since childhood, the 17-year-old senior at Atlan- tic High School was selected among a pool of top stu- dents from more than 30,000 schools around the country, as a na- tional winner of Wendy’s High School Heisman Schol- arship. Destine, who was chosen along with Soleil Gaylord of Colorado, took home a $10,000 college scholarship. Growing up in Delray, Destine admits he started sell- ing drugs by the age of five. “I didn’t have a mother or father figure. I just had my grandma. My uncles were getting drunk everyday and eventually became homeless. Later, I got kicked out of Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Neal de Jesus and Delray Beach Police Chief Jeff Goldman lead the way on the groundbreaking of the new Boundless middle school.” Dreams playground next to the Miracle League of Palm Beach County field at Miller Park in Delray Beach. Photo by: David DiPino Although his future looked bleak, Destine said his grandma encouraged him to focus on his education to Now children can all play together at elevate him from his situation. “I found my positive role models at school,” Jackson Boundless Dreams Barrier-Free Playground said. “In seventh grade, I really start- [CONT. PG 2] By: David DiPino Contributing Boundless Dreams addresses the prob- playground-related injuries. More than Writer lem of playgrounds being dangerous 20,000 of these children are treated for a especially for children with physical traumatic brain injury (TBI), including The Miracle League of Palm Beach and emotional limitations, and for all concussion, In fact, MLPBC and com- County (MLPBC) has partnered with children for that matter. Working pro- munity members, made the Boundless several Delray Beach community-fo- actively as a community team, the Mir- Dreams playground plans unique by cused organizations to raise money to acle League and dedicated community adding features aimed at going above and build Boundless Dreams, a barrier-free residents, took the idea for a rubber beyond in exceeding Americans with playground at Robert P. Miller Park. playground even a step further to in- Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. clude amenities focused on all children. Boundless Dreams will include an ADA The Boundless Dreams playground approved ramp, specialized rubber sur- is budgeted to cost just south of According to the Centers for Disease face and equipment, sensory play panels, $250,000 and is located adjacent to the Control and Prevention (CDC), each custom baseball-themed play elements Miracle League field at Miller Park, year in the United States, emergen- and sunshade protection. Soleil Gaylord of Telluride, Colorado (left) and Atlantic’s Jackson 1905 Southwest Fourth Avenue. cy departments (EDs) treat more than Destine (right) pose with their Wendy’s High School Heisman 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for The team at MLPBC [CONT. PG 2] Award. Photo by Simon Russell / Getty Images. Your stay includes private beach club 2 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER | JANUARY 2018 Now children can all play together at Boundless Dreams Barrier-Free Playground [FROM PG 1] has experience in building a specialized the organizations were honored to be sponsoring both It’s a new year and we know rubberized baseball diamond and outfield. the field and new playground. In 2005, Delray Beach residents Jeff and Julia Kadel watched on TV about The Miracle League, a baseball league inviting “If you have never been to Miracle League you will expe- CALL TODAY! children to participate from across all ability levels. Parents rience something very special. Now all children can play of three boys, the Kadel’s went to the Delray Beach City together,” Eaton said. 561.819.2770 Commission, received the support and money from the Resident Bill Bathurst also attended the Boundless YOU’RE BUSY City of Delray Beach to build a field complete with a cush- Dreams Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony. He felt ioned synthetic turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair ac- the ceremony and hard work was inspiring. cessible dugouts, and a completely flat surface to eliminate any barriers to the wheelchair bound or visually impaired “A Big thank you to Julia and Jeff Kadel for making some players. kids put a smile on their face and showing that nothing is impossible if you follow your dreams. You two are truly According to the MLPBC, the Delray Parks and Recre- angels on earth,” he said. ation department was so inspired at the time that they Delray Beach ELKS BPOE no. 1770 helped donate as a sponsor to renovated all of the fields at Miller Park to include The the Boundless Dreams and Miracle League of Palm Beach County Chuck Halberg, a Delray Beach resident and locally Miracle League Field. In 2010, The Grand Opening of projects. Photo by: David DiPino based general contractor, represented the Impact 100 The Miracle League Field became home to four teams mony and Miracle League game spearheaded by the Kadel’s. Men’s Group with other members on hand to support the and bleachers filled with motivational cries from moth- Julia had come to one of our Rotary meetings a while back Miracle League and new Boundless Dreams barrier-free ers, fathers, families and friends. In 2015, a 10-Year and presented the Miracle League story to us. My jaw was playground. The Impact 100 Men’s Group donated a Anniversary celebration was held and this fall season on the floor throughout her whole speech,” Fischer said. $50,000 grant to MLPBC back in March 2017. increased to include six teams, two coaches per team, “I’m a fireman and not a very emotional kind of guy. This 75-plus community volunteers, visiting civic groups, a experience has a few Kleenex moments for me. Thank you “I’m proud that our Impact 100 Men’s group was able to committee of “Miracle Moms,” a Miracle League Cheer- to everyone that works hard putting on the Miracle League. give them (MLPBC) $50,000,” Halberg said. leading Squad, a volunteer run concession stand and a We (Rotary) will remain a proud sponsor.” Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief, Neal de Jesus, Delray new, full-time executive Director, Julia Kadel. Delray Beach Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Beach Police chief, Jeff Goldman, City Commissioner Julia and Jeff Kadel said the Boundless Dreams play- (BPOE) Lodge No. 1770, 265 Northeast Fourth Ave., Mitch Katz as well as about 500 city employees and resi- ground has been a year in the making and dreams come were one of the many sponsors donating money to make dents attended the ceremony. true. John Fischer, President of the Rotary Club of Delray the playground a reality on Delray Beach’s landscape for The Miracle League is a non-profit (501) c (3) organi- Beach played bagpipes at the ceremonies. years to come. zation. For more information visit: www.miracleleague- “I was extremely proud to attend this groundbreaking cere- Carol Stoller Eaton, treasurer, Elks BPOE No. 1770 said palmbeachcounty.com. Atlantic High School senior wins national award through perseverance [FROM PG 1] ed to focus more on my “At the city commission meeting, I rapped teacher Nicki Loulis, made a significant resist giving back to someone less fortu- grades and I got involved about giving the kids a place to play foot- impact on his life. “Ms. Loulis taught me a nate. Concerned with the many homeless with playing sports.” ball instead of a corner to sell drugs,” lot. She teaches me something every day,” Destine saw on the streets on New York said Destine, who also does spoken word Destine said. “She can relate to me. She shivering in the cold, when Destine and By the time Destine reached high school, poetry. “Unity can make a better Delray. always tells me there’s this big world out Loulis couldn’t finish their large meals he was wrestling, playing football and Opportunity can make a better Delray.” there and I need to discover it for myself.” as Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery, they running track and field. He became class boxed up their leftovers to share with When it came time to make the trip to president, his grades shot up to a perfect Destine has also lent his time perform- some homeless people they met outside New York City for the Wendy’s High 4.0 GPA and in August, he wowed the ing at community events and helping to the restaurant. School Heisman Scholarship Awards, crowd at a Delray Beach city commission empower other at-Risk youth at Milagro Center. “I go there every Thursday and Destine knew he wanted Loulis to join After visiting New York landmarks such meeting when he broke into a rap about Friday to teach the kids how to make him on the journey alongside his grand- as Central Park, Battery Park and the inequality in the local community. He lyrics,” Destine said. “I always tell them mother and several other family mem- 9/11 memorial museum, Destine also felt even started his own clothing line which don’t be just like me; be better than me.” bers in New York City Dec. 7-10. “I’m blessed to take in a show seeing the Rock- is a lifestyle brand with inspirational very proud of Jackson,” Loulis said. “We ettes at Radio City Music Hall. messages.