WEST PALM BEACH — A 77-year-old man who shot a dog walker in the ankle and beat him with a golf club at a senior community near Delray Beach avoided prison Thursday Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss sentenced Robert Levine instead to six months in jail and five years of probation for his attack at the Kings Point golf course on April 24 one of whom flew from New York to testify about his positive impact and remorse for beating the unarmed 64-year-old Herbert Merritt "I am truly sorry that I hit that man once he was down," Levine told the judge And I deeply regret that I brought shame to my good name and my family." From the courts: Wife faults West Palm VA for struggling husband's killing of fellow psych ward patient confined to a wheelchair in the wake of the assault Assistant State Attorney Barry Maxwell told Weiss that Merritt felt his attacker deserved a harsher penalty The prosecutor had urged the judge to sentence Levine to four years in prison Maxwell tried to persuade jurors to convict Levine of aggravated battery with a firearm and discharging a firearm in public in addition to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon Levine told the jury he was the victim of an antisemitic attack and had no choice but to pull the trigger Jurors acquitted Levine of the gun charges sparing him from a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison Convicted only of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon — a bloodied golf club — state sentencing guidelines recommended closer to two years in prison Defense attorney Robert Gershman suggested a sentence of 10 years of probation instead The judge agreed to sentence Levine below the guidelines on account of his "conglomeration of medical issues" — chronic obstructive pulmonary disease heart disease and diabetes — as well as his apparent remorse for the crime and its isolated Fatal crash: Plea deal caps Wellington driver's prison time after 150 mph crash kills six farm workers Weiss added that she understood why Maxwell objected to the nonprison penalty just an unnecessary violent act on a golf course told jurors he feared for his life when he encountered Merritt on April 24 leaving him "no reasonable choice but to shoot." According to Levine he was approaching the course's 14th green on a golf cart when Merritt crossed his path walking a dog Levine said he warned Merritt several times that he was not allowed to walk a dog on the course Levine told jurors he called Merritt a "schmuck" — a Yiddish term that Levine said he believes betrayed the fact that he is an Orthodox Jew Levine testified that Merritt called him a "Jew bastard" in response Levine said the slur made him believe he was about to become the victim of a violent "To do nothing would have resulted in serious injury or death to Levine," Gershman said Lawyer discipline: Supreme Court disbars attorney Jeffrey Siskind for pocketing millions from clients Gershman told jurors that as soon as Levine stopped the cart grabbed a club and began to swing it at Levine's head Gershman said Levine tried to deflect the blow with his own golf club then grabbed his semiautomatic handgun and fired warning shots into the ground "Merritt went down," the attorney continued "It appears that a ricochet fragment had hit his ankle Levine breathed a sigh of relief and called 911." He said he was walking his 14-year-old Jack Russell terrier in the grass next to the course when he noticed Levine using a golf club too powerful for the shot he had to make Merritt said he remarked on Levine's choice prompting Levine to approach him on his golf cart and begin arguing about Annie's proximity to the course Merritt said Levine then pulled a handgun and aimed it at him said she saw Levine chase Merritt around a tree while shooting She and a man who watched from a nearby balcony said that after shooting Merritt Levine retrieved a club from his golf cart and began striking Merritt while he sat bleeding Deputies said they found four shell casings on the ground and two bloody golf clubs a first-degree felony for which he could have been sentenced to life in prison had prosecutors tried to convict him of it the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office said its prosecutors "obtained justice for the victim" and thanked the Sheriff's Office for its help with the case "The jury returned the verdict after more than six hours of deliberations over two days We thank the jurors for their careful consideration of the case," the statement said "This type of violence is unacceptable anywhere especially in a community where seniors expect to feel safe." Merritt said he did not feel justice was served Hannah Phillips covers criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism and subscribe today Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 4/23/2025 11:13:00 AM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Merchant Marine Academy's King Point campus has been proposed Merchant Marine Academy's Kings Point campus could receive a decade-long $1 billion overhaul to modernize its academic facilities utilities and physical training center under a bipartisan bill introduced Thursday and cosponsored by the entire House of Representatives delegation from Long Island USMMA, which opened in 1943, has seen its physical condition deteriorate in recent decades with virtually every building on its 82-acre campus now exceeding its life expectancy and requiring replacement or major renovation, according to a 2022 report by the school's Maritime Security Infrastructure Council which developed the billion-dollar improvement plan The legislation authorizes $1.02 billion to be spent on USMMA improvements between fiscal years 2026 and 2035 starting with $54 million for design and planning in the initial year followed by annual construction funding of $107.3 million in each additional year "We ask these students to serve after they graduate They deserve a campus where they don't have to worry about whether they're going be able to do their homework because they don't have internet or whether they're going to have a cold shower in the morning," Garbarino who serves on USMMA's Board of Visitors "They deserve a little dignity on the campus has introduced legislation in the Senate authorizing a 10-year campus modernization plan did not respond to requests for comments Friday It wasn't clear if the GOP-led House and Senate which has been slashing funding in virtually every federal agency would approve $1 billion in spending for a single university campus trains men and women to be midshipmen working on deep sea vessels and in the military it would remain operational during the construction period Many of the buildings on USMMA's campus date back to the founding of the institution when they were quickly constructed during World War II and meant to be temporary Modern information technology is nearly nonexistent in several buildings "and what is available cannot accommodate even the most basic digital needs of the midshipmen." Suozzi called the conditions at USMMA "awful and unacceptable" and said they're hurting the school's ability to recruit top candidates "The Merchant Marine Academy is an essential part of the country's national and economic security and it's been ignored for decades," he said "It's essential that it be restored to its former glory." Previous estimates to upgrade the campus were $611 million in January 2021 and $820 million in March 2022 have grown to more than $1 billion when adjusted for inflation The proposal calls for new or renovated academic buildings $133,1 million for an athletic and training center with a track $111,7 million for a 72,000-square-foot academic center with classrooms $95,4 million for improvements to the electric grid $94,8 million to renovate existing academic and administrative buildings The university's athletic facilities are particularly outdated the school lacks a pool with high dive capabilities to allow cadets to train for rescue and survival-at-sea exercises And while USMMA was the first federal service academy to admit women in 1974 no additional training spaces have been provided for female teams in the ensuing five decades The infrastructure council recommends utilizing a professional federal construction agent politics and crime stories in Nassau County By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Duffy: “Merchant marine cadets have answered the call to serve our country and it’s our duty to deliver an institution worthy of their sacrifice.,” [Screengrab from video] The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District and the U.S Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) have entered into a long-term agreement for the revitalization and modernization of USMMA’s campus located in Kings Point The initial 10-year agreement was signed by Brig John Lloyd for USACE and VADM Joanna Nunan for USMMA during an April 11 ceremony at Kings Point The announcement follows President Trump’s executive order to restore America’s maritime dominance. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy visited the academy earlier this month to tour the campus and deliver a keynote address to the midshipmen “Merchant marine cadets have answered the call to serve our country and it’s our duty to deliver an institution worthy of their sacrifice,” said Secretary Duffy “Our mariners are critical to President Trump’s agenda to make American shipbuilding great again and more importantly protecting our national security.” “The health of the maritime industry is of vital national security and economic interest Army Corps of Engineers is proud to lend our team’s expertise to these revitalization efforts at USMMA,” said Brig USACE North Atlantic Division commander and division engineer “The future mariner leaders who come through this campus will be charged with protecting our nation’s critical interests and it is imperative their education is supported by world-class facilities and infrastructure equipped for the modern learning environment.” “We are looking forward to rehabilitating and modernizing the campus infrastructure at the USMMA,” said Col “It is necessary to ensure current and future generations of Midshipman receive a first-class education We hope this partnership will serve as a building block for additional collaboration both short and long-term I’d like to thank all of our partners at every level for their tremendous support.” Army Corps of Engineers will bring to life the determination and spirit the U.S Merchant Marine Academy has shown for more than 80 years,” said VADM Joanna Nunan yet we will always see in it a reflection of our glorious past.” April 2025 Marine Log’s Top Women in Maritime Celebration 2025 Thanks for visiting PANAMA CITY ― A million-dollar project to improve the water quality of Saint Andrews Bay is around the corner Panama City commissioners awarded 850 Construction Services with a contract of more than $1.025 million to oversee Phase 2A of the Pretty Bayou Water & Wastewater Improvements project It aims to reduce bay pollution by upgrading multiple neighborhoods in the Kings Point area from septic to sewer "I have had many meetings with the residents in this area," City Manager Jonathan Hayes said "They understand that the Department of Environmental Protection is moving the state in a direction along coastal communities to get us off septic tanks because those leach pollutants and everything into our bays "This is a project that was initiated by the DEP and funded through an appropriation roads slated for upgrades as part of the project include Kingswood Drive The project is being paid for by state appropriated funds from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Local project: Bay County OKs $8.571 million contract for Frankford Avenue Booster Station improvements The agenda states 850 Construction Services was one of four companies that submitted proposals for the project It was selected after lodging the lowest bid "If the state continues moving forward in the direction that it is .. there's going to continue to be less and less septic tanks in the state of Florida," Commissioner Josh Street said "Utilizing grant funding to get us prepared for that is the best thing." Circle these dates: the annual Kings Point Follies returns to Veterans Theater and the show is sure to be a back-slappin’ choral and solo singing and dancing and be performed at 7:30 p.m director and choreographer; and Dick Yarger Tickets are $14 and are available at the Kings Point Box Office Both bleacher and cabaret seating at tables of 10 are available Feel free to bring along your own drinks and snacks highly entertaining and include lots of opportunities for audience participation,” said Follies director and choreographer who introduced themed performances several years ago Her previous shows included A Blast from the Past Remembering the ’60s and Life Relationships The Kings Point Follies has been performed in the Sun City Center community for four decades The show gives talented local performers the chance to perform in public while contributing to an effort that benefits local nonprofits such as the SCC Emergency Squad Samaritan Services and SCC Security Patrol Proceeds also help support theater improvements This year’s cast of 30 auditioned stars are no exception It includes members of the chorus comprised of Kings Point Freedom Plaza residents – and even MiraBay plus performers from Sun City Center Jazzmatazz and SCC dance groups Twenty additional folks work behind the scenes COURTESY PHOTOThese talented folks will be performing for you at Follies Goes Country U.S.A. March 14 and 15 at the Kings Point Veterans Theater director Linda Stone and the show’s director and choreographer The popular variety show also includes about 20 East Bay High School Sound of Time students The Kings Point Follies has been sponsored by Vesta Property Services since 2015 the show was sponsored by the Pelican Players LeFrancois wants folks to have a good time The Kings Point Follies is open to the public Anyone attending from outside the Kings Point community should go to the visitor side of the entrance gate and let the security staff know you’re there to see the show The Kings Point Veterans Theater is at 1900 Clubhouse Drive Jurors acquitted Robert Levine on Thursday of aggravated battery with a firearm and discharging a firearm in public Convicted only of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon — a bloodied golf club — he scores closer to two years in prison but could avoid it altogether Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss will decide Levine's sentence on March 27 told jurors he feared for his life when he encountered 64-year-old Herbert Merritt on April 24 leaving him "no reasonable choice but to shoot." His testimony painted a different picture than the one attested to by witnesses and recorded in his arrest report Levine said he called him a "schmuck" — a Yiddish term that Levine said he believes betrayed the fact that he is an Orthodox Jew Retirees with guns: Kings Point dog walker shot by golf-cart vigilante in condo caper | Frank Cerabino Levine said Merritt called him a "Jew bastard" in response Levine said the slur made him believe he was about to be the victim of a violent antisemitic attack "To do nothing would have resulted in serious injury or death to Levine," said defense attorney Robert Gershman Gershman said that as soon as Levine stopped the cart Stand Your Ground: Gunman avoids a life sentence with self-defense claim in fatal 2020 shooting Gershman said Levine is grateful for the jury's verdict and hopeful he'll receive a fair sentence He theorized that Levine's belief that he was the target of antisemitic violence combined with the many physical maladies that Levine said prevented him from acting how Merritt and the witnesses described helped convince the jury that he acted in self-defense "The biggest challenge for us was having a surviving victim being wheeled in in a wheelchair testifying from the wheelchair with accompanying photographs of him being shot in the ankle testifying to his multiple surgeries," Gershman said Murder or self-defense? A father's rage against his daughter's boyfriend receives its final judgment who said he had a 4 handicap prior to the shooting Thanks for visiting Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 1/7/2025 10:23:00 PM Thanks for visiting Vesta Property Services is kicking off the new year with its Kings Point Business & Wellness Expo in the Veterans Theater at Kings Point’s North Clubhouse and it’s open to residents of greater Sun City Center and surrounding communities It will include more than 70 area vendors representing healthcare practices and facilities VESTA PROPERTY SERVICES PHOTOWhile more than 70 businesses and organizations will be exhibiting inside Veterans Theater additional vendors will be part of an open-air market outdoors at the Kings Point Business and Wellness Expo An open-air market on the clubhouse grounds will include additional vendors knife and scissors sharpening; wreaths; cosmetics; pet services; home décor; and more Be sure to come hungry because the Monsta Lobsta and Susu’s Always Fresh (cheese steaks burgers and fries) food trucks will be on site This year’s expo is sponsored by the Sun State Doctors Medical Group CarePlus Health Plans and the Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute LOIS KINDLE FILE PHOTOThe third Kings Point Business and Wellness Expo will take place Jan “It’s an opportunity for all of the participating vendors to provide access education and information to our residents in one convenient location,” said Matt Permuth the expo drew a crowd of between 800 and 1,000 people.” most vendors will be offering tchotchkes and/or sweets including Sun Towers Retirement Community’s famous brownies Visitors from outside of Kings Point should enter the visitor side of the community’s main gate (off State Road 674) and tell security they’re coming to the expo The North Clubhouse is immediately on the right call Matt Permuth at 813-787-9200 or email mpermuth@vestapropertyservices.com/ A new outreach group in Kings Point has formed to help residents of the gated community who are in need and have no one to help them this group of volunteers is dedicated to providing non-medical services resource referrals and emotional support to those who have no one to turn to for help posted recently on the KPCARES4U2 Facebook page pretty much sums up what the outreach group is all about “I heard about people facing issues alone and saw many in need here in our community so I decided to do something about it,” said KP Cares president Cat Drinkard Lisa [Rivera] jumped in and became the implementer and co-president A specific incident motivated Rivera’s decision to play an active role in the group “We had an elderly neighbor in a wheelchair whom I used to chat with whenever I saw him walking his dog,” she said adding that no one knew the pet was sick and dying KP CARES PHOTOSKP Cares co-presidents Lisa Rivera and Cat Drinkard are looking for compassionate volunteers for their new outreach group to help fellow Kings Point residents who have no one to help them rather than face life without his beloved companion the outreach group has accomplished much over the past year since it was formed Highlights include the development of a “meal train” for folks coming from the hospital who can’t cook temporarily while they recuperate; grocery and mail pick-up; garbage can placement to the curb; arranging for well-care checks; pet walking; and a weekly Tuesday “Chit-Chat” gathering at the North Clubhouse share news about what’s going on in the community and play games A dozen or so women are currently attending each week The day before Christmas 240 people showed up for a free KP Cares potluck and 200 attended a similar Thanksgiving potluck in November KP Cares hosts a weekly Tuesday “Chit-Chat” gathering at the North Clubhouse in Kings Point for folks to simply sit down and commune Partnering with Seniors in Service and the South Shore Coalition on Mental Health and Aging KP Cares is planning to offer additional services at some point including insured drivers for transport to medical appointments dialysis and the hospital; healthcare advocates; and honey-do helpers Drinkard and Rivera are busy coming up with ideas to make the outreach grow and looking for compassionate volunteers to help them “We’re finding ways to reach Kings Point people who don’t have anybody,” Drinkard said request assistance or for more information join the private Facebook group KPCARES4U2 or call Drinkard at 248-722-8922 Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 3/2/2025 6:54:00 PM Thanks for visiting A 10-year plan to modernize the aging campus of the U.S Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point would be overseen by the U.S but the funding still needs congressional approval A 10-year plan to modernize and overhaul the aging campus of the U.S marking a step forward for a $1 billion project Congress still has to authorize Department of Transportation said the agreement will allow the USMMA and the Army Corps to begin preparing for the massive project at the campus "Merchant marine cadets have answered the call to serve our country, and it’s our duty to deliver an institution worthy of their sacrifice," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who visited the North Shore campus earlier this month and lent support for the campus overhaul "Our mariners are critical to President Trump’s agenda to make American shipbuilding great again and more importantly protecting our national security." The announcement follows an April 9 executive order President Donald Trump signed on "Restoring America's Maritime Dominance" and improving the nation's commercial shipbuilding capacity The order includes language directing Duffy to hire staff and secure the funding needed to execute "urgent deferred maintenance projects and any other mission critical repair works at USMMA." Trump also directed DOT officials to finalize a long-term master plan for the modernization of USMMA and to submit a five-year capital improvement plan that includes "budgets along with an inventory of deferred maintenance items necessary to sustain campus operations" while the project is underway was signed during a Friday ceremony at USMMA by Army Corps Brig John Lloyd and academy Superintendent Joanna Nunan "We are looking forward to rehabilitating and modernizing the campus infrastructure at the USMMA," Col commander of the Army Corps' New York District "It is necessary to ensure current and future generations of midshipmen receive a first-class education We hope this partnership will serve as a building block for additional collaboration both short and long-term." Merchant Marine Academy has shown for more than 80 years." trains men and women to work on deep sea vessels and in the military USMMA would remain operational during the construction period Many of the buildings on the campus date to the founding of the institution which was quickly constructed during World War II and its facilities meant to be temporary The campus has seen its physical condition deteriorate with virtually every building on its 82 acres now exceeding life expectancy and requiring replacement or major renovation according to a 2022 report by the school's Maritime Security Infrastructure Council modern information technology is nearly nonexistent in several buildings "and what is available cannot accommodate even the most basic digital needs." The proposal calls for new or renovated academic buildings Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and co-sponsored by the entire Long Island House delegation authorized spending $1.02 billion on USMMA improvements between fiscal years 2026 and 2035 The plan calls for spending $54 million for design and planning in the initial year This guest essay reflects the views of John J a former member of Congress from New York State the nation’s new secretary of transportation has many critical issues to address like highway and transit funding particularly in aviation and air traffic control After the recent air tragedy near Reagan National Airport the nation will rightly expect answers on congested traffic in our skies Amid these priorities lies a lesser-acknowledged the federal service academy has trained licensed merchant marine officers who work in commercial and military transportation and who serve as a vital link in our nation’s defense and supply chain Graduates must fulfill a service obligation of five years in the U.S maritime industry along with an eight-year military reserve officer obligation graduates may serve for five years on active military duty in any of the armed services branches During periods of war or national emergency and supplies to our armed forces across the globe Kings Point’s ability to continue fulfilling this mission is increasingly jeopardized by its crumbling infrastructure Repeated audits by the federal Government Accountability Office since 2010 have outlined embarrassing conditions at Kings Point A report from August 2024 cited the continued inability of the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration to deal with these issues “Numerous reports have been issued since 2010 documenting poor and deteriorating conditions on the U.S Merchant Marine Academy’s campus,” the report summarized including facilities with “crumbling facades A roundup of highlights from Newsday's Opinion Department The GAO found that issues like stormwater protection and deteriorating bulkheads facing Long Island Sound have not been addressed Dormitories and classroom space desperately need renovation issues compounded by what GAO described as the Maritime Administration’s failure to establish “continuous leadership at the Academy to manage facilities and infrastructure improvements.” The agency also faulted cost estimates for Academy projects as being inaccurate Failing to make necessary improvements at Kings Point is a serious national security issue threatening the viability of this critical service academy Duffy will also need to address the well-documented issue of sexual harassment at the Academy especially in the sea year program when midshipmen serve on merchant ships the need for a strong and prepared merchant marine force has never been more urgent Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize more than $1 billion for capital projects at Kings Point over the next decade The 2024 National Defense Authorization bill allocated $86 million for Kings Point but spending still needs approval from congressional appropriators signaling growing awareness of the Academy’s problems Kings Point’s crumbling infrastructure can no longer be ignored The Merchant Marine Academy is more than just a school; it is a cornerstone of our maritime strategy Restoring its facilities is not merely a matter of maintenance but of national security This guest essay reflects the views of John J Thanks for visiting