The Coastal Star
The Coastal Star is a weekly newspaper based in West Palm Beach, Florida. It serves local residents and visitors with news, community updates, and cultural coverage. Founded in 1978, it's become a key source of information about the region, covering everything from real estate and politics to arts and lifestyle. The paper's headquarters sits in downtown West Palm Beach, capturing both the city's historical character and its modern side. Through its journalism, The Coastal Star shapes public discourse and drives civic participation in the area.
The newspaper's reach extends well beyond its printed pages. It hosts annual events like the West Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival, which celebrate the city's food scene and cultural diversity. These activities show the publication's dedication to West Palm Beach's unique character while tackling real challenges residents face. The paper's coverage of environmental issues like coastal preservation and sustainable development matches the city's own efforts to grow responsibly. Through its work, The Coastal Star doesn't just inform readers; it inspires them to act.
History
The Coastal Star began in 1978 when local journalists and entrepreneurs decided the region needed its own dedicated newspaper. At that time, the Palm Beaches were growing fast, yet existing papers focused mostly on regional and national coverage. They ignored local issues. The founders, including West Palm Beach native John H. Smith, wanted to fix that. They'd provide serious coverage of local politics, real estate, and cultural events. The first edition hit newsstands on April 15, 1978. Readers took notice immediately.
The paper's evolved over decades, adapting to new media while staying true to its core mission. During the 1990s, it expanded online and launched a website alongside its print edition. This meant reaching more people and reporting breaking news in real time. Content diversified too. Health, education, and technology articles reflected what readers actually cared about. Today it remains family-owned. The fourth-generation owners still prioritize community engagement and journalistic integrity.
Geography
The Coastal Star's offices occupy downtown West Palm Beach, specifically in the City of West Palm Beach's historic district. They're near major landmarks: the Palm Beach County Convention Center and West Palm Beach City Hall. This location underscores the paper's role as a central hub for local news. The mid-20th-century building itself has been preserved to reflect its era, blending function with historical value. Being near the Atlantic coast helps too. It means covering maritime and environmental stories with immediacy.
West Palm Beach's coastal location shapes everything the paper covers. Coastal erosion, marine conservation, climate change impacts. These aren't abstract topics here; they're everyday concerns. The annual West Palm Beach International Boat Show gets regular coverage because the city's economy depends on the sea and tourism. Being in a densely populated urban area lets the paper dig into what residents actually face: traffic congestion, housing developments, all of it. The Coastal Star reports on these issues with real local knowledge.
Culture
The Coastal Star's always been woven into West Palm Beach's cultural identity. Its coverage of theater, music, and visual arts has lifted local talent and promoted institutions like Palm Beach Dramaworks and the West Palm Beach Art Center. The annual "Arts & Culture" section, with artist interviews and exhibition reviews, has become essential reading for anyone engaged with the city's creative scene.
The paper does more than cover culture. It participates in it. The publication's sponsored the West Palm Beach Heritage Festival, which showcases multicultural heritage through food, music, and storytelling. That's intentional. The Coastal Star works to build inclusivity and highlight voices from underrepresented communities. By amplifying different perspectives, the paper reinforces that cultural richness defines West Palm Beach itself.
Notable Residents
Evelyn M. Carter served as editor-in-chief during the paper's significant growth in the late 1990s. She transformed The Coastal Star's digital presence and launched investigative reporting that exposed government corruption. Multiple awards followed, including the Palm Beach Press Club Journalism Award. She's still respected in the field.
Then there's David R. Thompson, who covered real estate and development for over thirty years. His detailed analyses of the housing market and investigations into unethical construction practices made him a trusted voice. When he retired in 2020, an era ended. Yet his legacy lives on through journalists he mentored, now in leadership roles, carrying forward the commitment to ethical journalism and community service.
Economy
The Coastal Star matters to the local economy in concrete ways. Revenue comes from advertising, subscriptions, and events. Real estate coverage attracts investors from across the country, sustaining the property sector. The annual West Palm Beach Home & Garden Show draws thousands, providing platforms for local vendors and service providers.
The publication influences the broader economic ecosystem too. Features on small businesses and startups encourage growth and job creation. Collaborations with Florida Atlantic University produce internships and job placements for journalism students. By connecting the community with the business world, The Coastal Star drives economic development in the region.
Attractions
The Coastal Star's headquarters isn't just a newsroom. It's a destination for people interested in media history and journalism. The building on Okeechobee Boulevard contains a small museum showcasing the paper's archives: early editions, photographs of past events. Students and history enthusiasts come to understand how local media evolved. The museum hosts occasional lectures from journalists and historians, giving the public rare access to the publication's legacy.
The paper partners with local attractions too. Work with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department promotes events like the West Palm Beach Farmers Market, highlighting local agriculture and sustainability. These collaborations boost the paper's visibility while supporting community initiatives. Visitors can explore these attractions while learning how media shapes West Palm Beach's cultural and economic identity.
Getting There
The Coastal Star's headquarters sits on Okeechobee Boulevard, a main route connecting downtown to the Palm Beach County Courthouse and Palm Beach Transit Center. Getting there's easy. Palm Tran buses stop nearby regularly. That accessibility matters. Residents and tourists can visit without hassle, whether touring the museum or attending an event.
For drivers, parking garages and street spaces work fine, especially during events like the West Palm Beach Home & Garden Show. Bike lanes and pedestrian paths encourage eco-friendly travel. The proximity to CityPlace, downtown's vibrant district with restaurants and shops, makes the trip practical and enjoyable. These transportation links show how integrated The Coastal Star is with the city's infrastructure and accessibility commitment.
Neighborhoods
The Coastal Star's offices sit in Downtown West Palm Beach, a historically significant neighborhood recently revitalized. Once a commercial hub in the early 20th century, it now mixes historic buildings with modern developments. The newspaper's presence here aligns with the neighborhood's role as a cultural and economic center where galleries, restaurants, and local businesses thrive.
Surrounding neighborhoods like West Palm Beach's Old City and Coral Ridge add to the area's character. They're known for eclectic residential and commercial spaces near cultural landmarks including Palm Beach Dramaworks. The Coastal Star covers these areas regularly, highlighting their unique challenges and opportunities: urban planning initiatives, community projects. By focusing on neighborhood stories, the publication chronicles the city's evolving identity.
Education
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Palm Beach State College partner regularly with The Coastal Star. These relationships give students hands-on experience in journalism, media production, and digital storytelling. FAU's Department of Communication collaborates frequently, offering internships and research projects where students contribute to the paper's content while building professional skills. Palm Beach State College's Journalism Program benefits from mentorship initiatives: guest lectures, workshops on ethical reporting.
Student work appears in The Coastal Star itself, giving emerging journalists a platform to prove themselves. The newspaper's commitment to the next generation shows in its support for academic programs emphasizing investigative journalism and multimedia storytelling. By bridging education and industry, The Coastal Star ensures its legacy continues through young journalists reshaping the media landscape.
Demographics
The Coastal Star's readers reflect West Palm Beach's diversity. A 2023 survey by the Palm Beach County Library System found the primary audience includes middle-aged professionals, retirees, and young families, many living downtown or in suburbs. Younger readers increasingly access the website and social media for real-time updates.
Coverage of education, healthcare, and housing resonates because readers need that information daily. The Coastal Star's reporting on the Palm Beach County School District attracts parents and educators. Features on affordable housing initiatives draw younger professionals and first-time homebuyers. This alignment with community needs proves the paper's vital role across different socioeconomic and cultural groups.
Parks and Recreation
The Coastal Star regularly covers West Palm Beach's parks and recreational spaces, emphasizing their role in public health and community engagement. Updates on Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation initiatives include expansions like the Walt Disney Amphitheater and revitalization of the Palm Beach County Fairgrounds. These stories inform residents about available amenities while encouraging participation in outdoor activities.
Beyond reporting existing parks, The Coastal Star's advocated for new green spaces. An investigative series on the West Palm Beach Greenway Project highlighted the need for expanded pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, building public support. These efforts show the publication's commitment to improving quality of life while building civic responsibility.
Architecture
The Coastal Star's headquarters exemplifies mid-20th-century architecture in West Palm Beach. The building reflects the city's historical development and its blend of traditional and modern design. Constructed with attention to detail, it remains a notable landmark in downtown. The structure preserves its era's character while serving contemporary needs, making it symbolic of the publication's own approach: honoring the past while moving forward.