Immigration Attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets were scrambled over President Donald Trump's residence in Palm Beach, Florida, twice last weekend to intercept civilian aircraft, a growing trend since he began his second term.

On Saturday and Sunday, fighter jets from North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, were authorized to intercept civilian aircraft flying near Mar-a-Lago -- the resort near the West Palm Beach golf course that has been Trump's primary residence for several years -- that were violating a temporary flight restriction, or TFR, over the area put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA.

The president was at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach during both incidents, according to press pool reports. Flights are often restricted around any area where the president is present.

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NORAD said in a news release that, since the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, the command has "responded to over 20 tracks of interest entering the Palm Beach, Florida" temporary flight restriction area.

"Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security and the security of the president," Gen. Gregory Guillot, NORAD commander, said in a statement.

"The procedures are not optional, and the excessive number of recent TFR violations indicates many civil aviators are not reading Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, before each flight as required by the FAA, and has resulted in multiple responses by NORAD fighter aircraft to guide offending aircraft out of the TFR."

There were five intercepts between from March 1 to March 9 alone, according to NORAD news releases. One civilian aircraft was intercepted and escorted out of the flight area Sunday, but the F-16s had to deploy flares to get the pilot's attention.

"The flares were used to draw attention from or communicate with the pilot," the NORAD release detailed. "Flares are employed with the highest regard for safety, burn out quickly and completely, and pose no danger to people on the ground."

Another civilian aircraft had been escorted out of the flight area a day earlier. And on March 1, three other aircraft violated the temporary flight restriction; NORAD aircraft deployed flares during two of those intercepts.

An aviation expert told Military.com those numbers signal an alarming trend.

Retired Col. J.F. Joseph, a Marine Corps pilot who is now an aviation consultant and expert witness, told Military.com in an interview Monday that news of the spike in intercepts over the temporary flight restrictions is "unusual" and added that pilots are often made aware of the airspace changes with plenty of time to respond.

"As of the last week or two, it's become somewhat vogue that these occurrences are happening with this frequency," Joseph said.

Violations of temporary flight restrictions can range from warnings to hefty fines, suspensions or revocations of pilot certification and, in some severe cases, even jail time. Joseph added that "even student pilots" are usually aware of temporary flight restrictions and know the ramifications of violating them.

Early during Trump's first term, in February 2017, two NORAD F-15 Eagles were scrambled and had to take off at "supersonic speeds" to intercept an unresponsive aircraft near Mar-a-Lago, CBS reported at the time, causing noise complaints and concerns from nearby residents.

Related: F-16 Improperly Intercepted a Civilian Aircraft Before Crashing in Louisiana, New Report Says

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the threat of wildfires for all of South Florida including Palm Beach County as cold dry air plunges through the state.

The warning is in effect from noon through 8 p.m. It is triggered by the expectations of sustained winds of 15 mph or higher at 20 feet above the surface, a relative humidity of 35% or lower plus a lack of rainfall that has created "critically dry fuels" that could light quickly.

It's the first red flag fire warning for Palm Beach County since January 2023.

Since Jan. 1, just 2.76 inches of rain has fallen at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach. That's a 5 inch deficit from what is normal and marks this year so far as the 17th driest based on 125 years of records.

Most of Palm Beach County — about 78% — is also considered to be in extreme drought with only a small carve out along the southeast coast in moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The cold front that whipped through early Monday dropped temperatures in West Palm Beach from 76 degrees at 5 a.m. to 64 degrees at 8 a.m.

"An abrupt transition between air masses this morning behind the front as wind gusts pick up and dewpoints/temperatures nosedive," NWs meteorologists wrote in their morning forecast.

Temperatures are expected to climb to 75 degrees Monday before dropping overnight into the low 50s. Early morning temperatures Tuesday could be as much as 10 degrees below normal for this time of year.

Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate, weather, and the environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today.

Hoffman's Chocolates' Greenacres location was a longtime holiday favorite for families to came to see Santa, a train set and a tropical holiday light display.

Palm Beach Post

The Hoffman's Chocolates shop in Greenacres quietly closed this weekend, putting an end to a longtime Palm Beach County landmark and a former holiday gathering spot for generations of families.

The chocolate store at 5190 Lake Worth Road wasn't just a place to pick up a sweet treat or sample some ice cream.

Next door to the cluster of buildings was a garden where Santa showed up for photos, and holiday lights and model trains delighted children of all ages, even the adult kind.

No one who ever visited Hoffman's Chocolates in its heyday was immune to the magic of wonder.

But the memories ended this weekend when the store served its last confection.

On Monday, March 17, a spokesperson for Hoffman's Chocolates said the store closed because the property owner "has other plans for the property."

Hoffman's Chocolates is owned by BBX Capital, which acquired the chocolate purveyor in 2013. Hoffman's sold the Greenacres property in 2022 to an entity affiliated with Saito's Japanese Steakhouse. Word is the restaurant company plans to use the shuttered Hoffman's buildings to prep food for its many locations.

Despite the closure of the flagship Greenacres store, Hoffman's continues to operate chocolate stores in Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach and Boca Raton as well as two other stores in Broward County.

Nevertheless, Hoffman's Chocolates' closure in Greenacres marks the end of an era for Palm Beach County families, residents of Greenacres and even Hoffman's Chocolates former owner, Fred Meltzer.

"I was there for 20 years and what was exciting to see was the families returning year after year, and some of the kids that came later brought their kids. It was such a special thing to us," Meltzer said in an interview on Monday, March 17.

Caryn DeVincenti of suburban Boynton Beach was a frequent holiday visitor to Hoffman's.

"Here in Florida, it doesn't feel like Christmas because it's so warm," said DeVincenti, a former Maryland resident. "But walking through those gardens, seeing the look of wonder on my kids' faces and the smell of the chocolate created such a feeling of excitement."

Meltzer was especially gratified by the way Hoffman's became a part of the community, not only through its Holiday Wonderland but also through its partnership with several local charities, including the Quantum Foundation.

Over time, Hoffman's helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for nonprofits, Meltzer said.

Making the trip to Hoffman's even more special was a tropical garden next to the property, where lights and decorations adorned trees and shrubs, and holiday light displays were scattered throughout the path.

Hoffman's Chocolates: An iconic location for families for decades

Hoffman's has been in business since 1975, starting out in downtown Lake Worth at 813 Lucerne Ave.

The company's founder, Paul Hoffman, was a former Pratt & Whitney engineer who wanted to open a business where he and his family could work together.

In the late 1980s,Hoffman'smoved to a Tudor-style building in Greenacres. He later expanded the store and facility and bought 2.5 acres of land there.

Meltzer said Hoffman and a son-in-law created the garden path and landscaping themselves.

Through the years, families throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast came to know Hoffman's for its Holiday Wonderland, where families wandered the forest of lighted displays or snuggled with Santa when he made his frequent appearances.

After visiting the outdoor gardens, customers often made their way to the shop, where chocolate-covered pretzels were a favorite.

Meltzer said Hoffman decided to create the holiday wonderland at the Greenacres location after Generoso Pope sold the Lantana-based National Inquirer, and the company's longtime Christmas tree and holiday display disappeared.

"Paul thought it’s such a loss for the community, so he did his," Meltzer said.

Meltzer came to Hoffman's in 1987 and acquired Hoffman's interest in 1988. Eventually, he and Paul's daughter, Sandra, became friends, then best friends, and then they wed in 2011.

Under Meltzer's leadership, the company diversified. Hoffman's offerings grew to include gift baskets for individual and corporate customers. Retail stores feature not only chocolate but also ice cream.

But life wasn't always a box of chocolates for Hoffman's.

In 2004, Hurricane Frances created a power outage that led to a $1 million loss at the Greenacres chocolate factory, when the candy melted in the heat. Meltzer learned his lesson and installed backup generators.

A decade later, Meltzer sold Hoffman's to BBX for an undisclosed price. BBX subsequently bought other chocolate and candy companies, including Anastasia Confections and It's Sugar.

Part of the fun in visiting the Hoffman's location at Greenacres was knowing the company made the chocolate on-site at its factory. But after BBX Capital bought the company, chocolate manufacturing moved to Orlando.

Hoffman's also used to feature model trains during its Wonderland exhibits.

During the holidays, children stood in awe at the sprawling train display. Sometimes three separate trains chugged through bridges, switches and gates amid a miniature landscape.

Meltzer said the trains ran until 2014, one year after he sold the company to BBX. Then BBX donated the model trains to the South Florida Fairgrounds.

The chocolates, trains and gardens may be gone from Greenacres, but DeVincenti said her visits to Hoffman's remain vivid remembrances to this day.

Hoffman's Wonderland "was a tradition," DeVincenti said. "Every year we would go when the kids were little. It's very nostalgic and a nice memory."

Alexandra Clough is a business writer at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. X: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

A “so Florida” thing to do is coming up: a potential SpaceX rocket launch.

An afternoon rocket launch in semi-cool and semi-breezy Florida might launch Tuesday, March 18, if things go according to plan for the space agency.

SpaceX plans to send a Falcon 9 rocket with several Starlink satellites into orbit. Cape Canaveral is an hour east of the Orlando theme parks. Depending on cloud cover, weather and visibility, people from Orlando, Daytona Beach to Cocoa Beach and Vero Beach to Lake Worth Beach might see a nice streak in the sky — given the proximity to NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Space Coast of Florida includes 72 miles of coast, from Mims and Titusville to Melbourne and Grant-Valkaria.

Below are suggestions on where to watch the rocket launch from this area and other things to know. If there are changes to the launch schedule, this story will be updated.

For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space.

Where can I see a rocket launch in Florida?

In Florida, we can best see this historic moment in person if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County) or certain spots in the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County). Pro tip: If you do watch it in person, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic.

When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there’s an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo.

Can a rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral, Florida, be seen outside of Florida? Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes. For example, readers have submitted photos or posted on social platforms pictures of Falcon Heavy, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach.

When is the next rocket launch from Florida? Tuesday, March 18, 2025: SpaceX Starlink 12-25

Live weather radar: Will it rain in Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch?

Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache.

Where to see a Florida rocket launch in Palm Beach County: What does a West Palm Beach rocket launch view look like?

Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, yes, some rocket launches from the Space Coast can be visible in Palm Beach County. When there’s a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, with a southeast trajectory, there’s an opportunity for unique photos. Some examples include United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it's about 150 miles.

Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral can often be seen from Palm Beach County, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north. Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way.

If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include:

Rocket launch photos from around West Palm Beach, Florida

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Once dismissed as 'the wrong side of the tracks,' West Palm Beach is now booming with luxury developments, high-end restaurants, and major business investments.

The transformation is being fueled by an influx of financial firms, warm weather, and Florida’s tax-friendly environment, attracting both Palm Beach residents and remote-working New Yorkers.

The city, located 70 miles north of Miami, was once known for its aging multi-family homes in disrepair, run down apartments and overgrown lawns.

A literal train track separates West Palm Beach from the upper crust Palm Beach, where Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is located. Many Palm Beach residents have long relied on West Palm’s workforce for household staff and services.

But West Palm is now being dubbed 'Wall Street South,' with over 300 hedge funds and private equity firms with offices there.

'West Palm Beach has become one of the hottest real estate markets due to a combination of economic growth, lifestyle appeal, and investment activity,' says Christie Di Lemme, who runs Florida Homes Realty and Mortgage.

The expansion is also being attributed to a post-pandemic recovery that saw many people relocate to West Palm full-time after working there temporarily.

In 2020, Ken Griffin, the founder and chief executive officer of Citadel, one of the world's leading alternative investment firms, started running its hedge fund from the Palm Beach Four Seasons during the COVID lockdown.

What followed was a wave of financial firms including Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and Point72, opening offices in the city.

'Office space demand is growing, driven by hedge funds, private equity firms, and startups relocating,' Di Lemme says. 'These companies are bringing high-paying jobs and attracting wealthy professionals.'

Office space demand is growing, driven by hedge funds, private equity firms, and startups relocating

The expansion is also being attributed to a post-pandemic recovery that saw many people relocate to West Palm full-time

Christie Di Lemme is a realtor in West Palm

A tech boom

The city is also seeing an increase in tech companies and startups, creating new job opportunities and drawing millennials and Gen Z professionals to the area.

'West Palm Beach is evolving into a younger, more vibrant city with career opportunities, affordability, and a high quality of life,' Di Lemme says.

'It's a perfect mix of work, lifestyle, and investment potential, which is why younger generations are making the move.'

According to Di Lemme, over the past five years, Palm Beach County, which includes West Palm Beach, has attracted approximately 140 companies, resulting in over $1.12 billion in capital investment and the creation of more than 13,100 jobs.

A better commute

The Brightline high-speed rail provides an easy commute to both Miami and Orlando

There is a high demand for homes near the train station, which is giving downtown a boost

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James says the train has helped the city become a major hub

Better transportation is also helping the city.

The Brightline high-speed rail provides an easy commute to both Miami and Orlando. The train is also increasing demand for properties near the station, making downtown condos more attractive.

According to West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James, the train has helped the city become a major hub.

'Traveling into and out of West Palm Beach is quite convenient. The high-speed rail station in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, connects West Palm Beach to other major cities in the region, including Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, and to Orlando,' James tells Daily Mail.

Fine dining

Eataly is bringing its famous Italian food hall to CityPlace in West Palm Beach

People are also being drawn to the luxury retail and dining that are expanding, with high-end brands and Michelin-starred restaurants opening in West Palm.

A growing number of fancy restaurants are opening or have opened outposts in West Palm, including Nobu at the Palm House Hotel, Pastis at the Nora Hotel, and Milos at One Flagler.

There's a Swifty's, a Sant Ambroeus, Tutto Mare, Bellini Café, Bellini Restaurant, and the Bellini Rooftop Lounge. Eataly is set to open an Italian food hall in the fall at CityPlace.

Green living

The South Flagler buildings will focus on luxury apartments that are eco-friendly and green

The rise of smart homes and more green and sustainable developments is also enticing for people. Developers are focusing on eco-friendly and green luxury homes, incorporating smart-home tech and energy-efficient features that people want in their homes.

Mayor James says there is no shortage of housing options in the city.

'There is a tremendous diversity of housing options in West Palm Beach, from gated communities, lovely historic neighborhoods, luxury high-rise condominiums, and modern apartments and condos in its urban core,' he says.

The cultural scene is growing

Mayor James describes West Palm 'is a sophisticated city with world class cultural and dining options, yet still has a small-town charm.'

Street murals, sculptures and art galleries line downtown. West Palm also features an annual celebration called MOSAIC (Month of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture) which focuses on the local arts scene.

CityPlace has a state-of-the-art AMC and from there residents can walk to shows at The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.

Historic Clematis Street has nightspots and a trolley system that connects to CityPlace.

Outdoor living

Many of West Palm residents own a boat or know someone who owns a boat

Fishing charters, sunset cruises, beaches, parks and walking paths are all part of life in West Palm.

Preserves, trails, and wildlife refuges are throughout the area.

Or residents can spend the day at one of the public beaches, preserved dunes, or mangrove forests.

On average, over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 59 degrees F to 89 degrees F.

Looking forward

The boom can be credited to Related Ross developer and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross

Much of the boom can be credited to Related Ross developer and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, a real estate visionary who took a big chance on the once underdeveloped city becoming a business and cultural hub.

On March 12, his company, Related Ross, held a groundbreaking ceremony for two new commercial office towers which will total one million square feet of office space. Ross' existing West Palm portfolio totals 1.7-million-square-feet.

Near the new buildings will be a graduate campus for Vanderbilt University. Cleveland Clinic is also set to open a state-of-the-art hospital.

Mayor James says he expects continued growth for West Palm Beach.

'West Palm Beach will be even more attractive to businesses in the tech, financial services and money management sectors due, in no small part, to the establishment of the Vanderbilt graduate campus which will house programs in business, applied computing, cybersecurity, AI, and engineering,' he says.

'The Vanderbilt campus will service 1000 students per year. That talent pipeline will prove quite attractive to businesses considering establishing a footprint in West Palm Beach.'