The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 117

WW tv tw twwfywmfwwwmwFwwyf mtffmim(l1fftlrW'WltwmW 2B THE PALM BEACH POST SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1994 Retiree celebrates 54th birthday with daily tradition Guests at Edwin Minsky's 54th birthday celebration had to get up pretty early observes from a corner seat A breakfast regular who has never joined the camaraderie, Weiss calls himself a loner. "I think it's wonderful," says Weiss of) I UIKIMIII the party, hey should do it at least once a week. That's a nossihilitv save tho rtatiu. couldn't pass up the chance to wish Minsky happy birthday, chow down, and have a few laughs. At 54, Minsky is slim and ebullient.

Some people smile. Minsky beams. He says he just likes people. He also likes to share his good fortune, says his wife Barbara. Clad in surgical blues "because they're so comfortable," sneakers and a Florida Panthers cap with the tag still dangling from it, Minsky meets and greets his guests, constantly checking to make sure each one has plenty to eat and a full coffee cup.

He's always like that. He comes around and serves coffee all the time, says Morris Weiss, who sits alone and years. "I liked the way she danced," says Harry. Even the uniformed restaurant staff got into the act, forming an impromptu chorus line and high-kicking their way through a rendition of New York, New York. When Ruth Levin and Evelyn Gutkin blonde, blue-eyed, "39-plus" identical twins made their entrance, retiree Sandy Levitt jumped up and exclaimed, "They were friends of my mother's from high school.

Can you believe it?" Two weeks ago when Minsky started inviting fellow diners to his party, he expected maybe 60 guests. But word got around fast, and because they're up early anyway, 102 area residents decided they "I wanted the seniors to have a good time, and they are," says Minsky, a retired New Jersey real estate agent. "This is where they are every morning anyway, so I decided to have the party here." And a party it was, with paper hats, balloons and a singing emcee telling risque jokes. The system was simple. Party-and-bingo hostess Alma Saccoccio, 75, handed guests a red bingo chip to be cashed in for a breakfast.

They ate. They sang. They danced. Norma and Harry Petlev, both 77, danced a lot. They met at a dance, says Norma, tossing him a coquettish sideways glance.

They've been married 26 to attend the party. It started at 6 a.m. On Thursday, Minsky treated his pals to breakfast and cake at the McDonald's where they regularly gather between 6 and 8 a.m. They came from High Point, Las Verdes and Huntington Lakes in Delray Beach and from as far away as Platina in Boynton Beach. rant's manager, Robert Wonyetye, thrilled with the early morning business and the general level of hilarity.

If all goes well, condo entertainer Murray booked for the next two Donn, may have found himself a steady gig. Ellie Lingner's column appears Tuesday and Saturday. You can call hert Ellie LlNGNER ACLU Metro Report ru'f I t- i i Ufv Adelphia Cable fielded 32,000 calls in the first two days of its new cable lineup this week, officials said. The company changed many of its 50 channels Tuesday for its 150,000 viewers in St. Lucie and Martin counties and central and northern Palm Beach County.

The change did not affect Adelphia's lineup in southern and western Palm Beach County. The company said 17,000 people called Tuesday and another 15,000 on Wednesday. It normally receives 20,000 to 25,000 calls a month. The company had mailed explanatory brochures 30 days before the change, played taped announcements for viewers, and run newspaper advertisements. MANGONIA PARK The town has collected about $2,000 for the family of cab driver Yves Quettant, who was slain Jan.

15 in West Palm Beach. Additional donations are being sought to help Suzette Maurice, who is to deliver their baby in about a month. Donors can contact Town Administrator Darla Levy at 848-1235 or send contributions to the Town of Mangonia Park, 1755 E. Tiffany Drive, Mangonia Park, Fla. 33407.

WEST PALM BEACH Plans to extend the main runway at Palm Beach International Airport will be the topic of a workshop this spring by the Citizens Committee on Airport Noise. On Friday, the committee voted 6-2 against a resolution to oppose the extension plans, which are part of the airport's long-range master plan. JUPITER Eighteen northern Palm Beach County artists and sculptors will exhibit works from 4-6 p.m. Sunday in the newly opened public art gallery on the second floor of the Town Hall at 210 Military Trail. The exhibition is titled, "Jupiter Past, Present and Future." I i says it may sue airport- ByJOECAPOZZI j.r Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH The ACLU is threatening a civil suit against Palm Beach Internatidnal Airport if airport policies on distributing material violate the First Amendment.

Airport officials want the coui ty attorney's office to file crimmal charges against a TWA pilot wbJ posted leaflets in airline lounges asking pilots to use anti-noise flight plans. "You have a right to distribute literature at airports, and the fact that petty airport officials might disagree with the content of the literature is improper," said Jim Green, president of the Florida chapter of the American Civil Lib erties Union. Green said he will decide whether to challenge the county, next week after reviewing the airport policies. Lisa Waters, the airport's' noise abatement officer, said Green's intentions are moot be cause officials have yet to charge pilot Henry Stoecker. i Airport policies require only a permit for people who want' to' distribute literature at the the policies do not restrict people-from doing so, said Assistant County Attorney Leonard Berger.

Stoecker did not apply for a permit before distributing leaflets1 for airlines to post in pilot lounges-last week. Airport officials claim Stoecker-also violated two other county laws: use of the county logo and' trespassing. All charges are mis-1 demeanors punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Stoecker, a New York based pilot who owns a hoilsS under PBIA's eastern flight path; said he is organizing a campaign; ask residents to boycott airlines that do not abide by the flight plans suggested in his leaflets. Stoecker claims his suggest tions would alleviate noise unde" the flight paths, but county officials say they would make it worse.

1 5 The plans do not violate fedpf al rules but contradict the county! noise abatement policies. WEST PALM BEACH Internal affairs investigators as well as detectives are looking into the death of a burglary suspect who hanged himself waiting in a police interview room. Willie Graham, 27, hanged himself with his windbreak-er between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday while Detective Richard Pleasant wrote a report charging Graham with breaking into Faith Deliverance Temple at 902 Second St on Dec.

7. BOCA RATON The family of a beauty salon owner who was shot to death last year in Boca Raton has sued the estate of the man who killed her. Harold and Verna Zmek of Nebraska filed the wrongful death lawsuit Thursday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against the estate of Raymond Saberson. The couple's daughter, Leanne Zmek, and Saber-son ran Executive Hair Design in Boca Raton. Police say he shot Zmek and then himself on Dec.

10. JEAN HART HOWARDStaff Photographer View From The Aisle PALM BEACH GARDENS Daniel Madden, mons during a Catholic Schools week celebra-3, of Palm Beach Gardens, steps into the tion Friday at St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral, aisle to get a better look at Bishop Keith Sy- Symons prepared communion for 1 ,200. Girl who took crack to school says it's her dad's: By TIM PALLESEN VIRGIN ISLANDS VIA That's the trip offered to Charlie Lorenz of Delray Beach since newspapers publicized his winning a free tour of Alaska that he might not be able to take because it doesn't include air fare. Among the offers Lorenz has received on his home answering machine: A Delray Beach businessman is offering to fly Lorenz and his wife to a free weeklong stay at a Virgin Islands beach house in exchange for the Alaska tour.

Said Lorenz: "We're thinking about it. Right now, it's 50-50." GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS: David Peach has exploded the mice theory the hypothesis that the little furry rodents are running amok in the Martin County Administrative Center. It's actually palmetto bugs and cockroaches zipping around on the the ceiling tiles above Commissioner Maggy Hurchalla's seat in the commission chambers. Public works employees learned the county building is crawling with problems when they put lethal bait in the building and returned Monday to find dozens of dying cockroaches in the commission chambers, said Peach, the county's sick building coordinator. By 7 a.m.

Tuesday, more dead cockroaches were found. Only two hours before the commissioners were to discuss sewage, workers fired up the vacuum cleaner and sucked up the dead cockroaches, Peach said. Commissioners never suspected a thing. BOYNTON BEACH Gregory Nicosia, chairman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, will speak on "Campaign '94" at the Greater Boynton Beach Democratic Club at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Congress Middle School, 101 S.

Congress Ave. The new slate of officers, headed by President Ira Sarison and Executive Vice President Marvin Laine, will be installed. 'This little girl was motivated to help her father the quickest way JOHN MCGUIRE Sheriff's captain to help her father the quickest fay possible," McGuire said. But he cautioned other children who observe drugs in th'eir home not to take the drugs; to school. "If they're seeing a dangerou's situation, they should explain it to their school counselors," McGuire said.

"I would have preferred for this girl to have not taken the cocaine to school. We would have rather kept her confidential, leayj ing her on the outside of onr investigation, rather than in the middle where she is now." Palm Beach Post Staff Writer PALM SPRINGS An elementary student who took what she claimed were 10 of her father's cocaine rocks to school was in state custody with her sister Friday after sheriffs officers raided her home. A search inside the family's home on Summer Street in suburban Lake Worth Thursday night netted no evidence of drugs. But an investigation continues because five crack rocks were found on a windowsill outside the house, Sheriff Capt. John McGuire said Friday.

The 10-year-old brought 10 crack cocaine rocks to her Palm Springs Elementary School teacher on Wednesday, prompting police surveillance of the home. Police arranged to have state Health and Rehabilitative Services take custody of the girl and her 4-year-old sister. A judge issued a search warrant after police said they observed activity consistent with drug sales, McGuire said. But the girl's father cannot be arrested solely on his daughter's testimony and drugs found outside the house, he added. "This little girl was motivated Mayor's odor complaint smells funny, lawyer says Florida's State Fair opens for 17-day run in Tampa BOCA RATON Political enemies Esther Dance and Alan Alford filed Thursday for reelection to the city council.

Dance, a real estate broker, was elected two years ago and vowed to speak for the people. Alford is a former Boca Raton city manager and is chairman of the Community Redevelopment Agency. BOYNTON BEACH David Floerlng filed Friday for the District 4 commission seat in the March 8 election. Floering, 33, a towing and auto body shop owner, lost in a runoff for mayor last year. He also ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1991 and commission in 1980 and 1992.

Incumbent Lynne Matson has said she will run for reelection, but she has not filed. LAKE CLARKE SHORES Incumbent David Keir, a 37-year-old planning consultant, filed for the Group 4 seat on Friday. No one has filed to oppose Keir, who is running for a second, two-year term. LANTANA Mayor Robert McDonald filed late Wednesday to run for re-election. The mayor's seat is the only one open this year, and so far no one has filed to challenge McDonald.

RIVIERA BEACH Incumbent Margaret Confrey has filed for reelection to the city council. Candidates have until Tuesday to file for the March 8 election. The Associated Press TAMPA Florida's State Fair kicked off its 90th edition Friday, offering an expanded 17 days of everything from midway rides to agricultural exhibits to big-name entertainment. "We've planned 17 days of fun and excitement and the biggest talent array we've ever had," said Emma Taylor, executive vice president of the state fair. Country stars lead the pack of entertainers, including: George Jones, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, the Bellamy Brothers, Air Supply, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh, and The Coasters.

This year's edition also offers 90 rides spinning, twirling and bouncing on the midway. Of them, 14 are new to the fair. Ranked as the second-largest fair in the eastern United States, the Florida State Fair drew more than 1 million people during 12 days last year. The fair continues through! Feb. 20 at the 325-acre Florid; Expo Park at Interstate 4 and! U.S.

301, just east of Tampa. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and $3 for children 6 to 11. Children 5 and younger are free. to the proper city department. "We do the same thing for anybody who calls here.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the lawsuit. We already won the lawsuit," Graham said. Borges' yard at 724 Mcintosh St. has a thick garden crowded with scrap items but Small said it is well-maintained and doesn't smell. Complaints about odors probably stem from dogs kept in the back yard, one neighbor said.

Borges, 75, sued the city in June for libel, invasion of privacy and other claims after his name ran in a December 1992 ad listing 57 men arrested on charges of soliciting prostitutes. A judge found him not guilty in February. By JOEL ENGELHARDT Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH Mayor Nancy Graham has asked code inspectors to look into complaints about "unsightly and smelly conditions" at the home of a man who sued the city because it printed his name in an anti-prostitution advertisement. Graham said her memo to housing compliance manager Anthony Occhiuzzo had nothing to do with the lawsuit, but Michael Small, attorney for Jose Borges, characterized it as a personal attack. "When you've got the hammers of power at your disposal it becomes rather fearful," Small said.

"It smacks of a vendetta." Graham said she routinely passes complaints from neighbors.