Tribune is preparing to kick off intense sports coverage
Sports have also been a big part of the Boca Raton Tribune’s coverage.
The paper is already getting ready to kick off new and expanded coverage, particularly as the college and high school football seasons begin.
You can find expanded football news in today’s paper, and more is planned next week, with emphasis on all the local high school teams as well as Florida Atlantic University.
Actually, the biggest sports event in the Boca Raton area this coming season isn’t a game – it’s the opening of the new FAU on-campus stadium.
Since the FAU Fighting Owls football team started playing in1999, they have not had a stadium of their own. Instead, they had to play down in Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
Nothing unites a university community like a winning football team, and soon the two-time bowl champions will have a stadium to call their own. It will be a versatile facility that will host a wide variety of events each year, from games to commencement ceremonies to Homecoming concerts. The grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 15, when the Owls host Western Kentucky.
But the high schools will also be well worth watching – and the Tribune next week will publish schedules, games to keep your eye on, players to watch and other details about the upcoming season.
The Tribune will not focus only on football. We’ve struck a deal with the MagicJacks, the women’s professional soccer team, to cover their games (home contests are played at the FAU soccer field). And we will continue to cover the Strikers men’s soccer team, which plays in Fort Lauderdale.
We will actually be offering double coverage with stories in the paper and game accounts on line – similar to last year, but much more extensive.
So, remember, if you’re looking to follow local sports, look to the Boca Raton Tribune.
Barton’s in a Jam
Wayne Barton is in a jam. But it’s a good one.
The founder and CEO of the Wayne Barton Study Center here in Boca will be holding his annual Back to School Jam Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wayne told us he expects at least as many young people and families as last year – about 8,000.
Barton is intent on properly equipping all students in need. The kids can go from table to table requesting items they need, and then they can pick it all up when they get to the end of the row.
Youngsters who need haircuts, eye exams and dental screenings can also be taken care of.
In the end, kids will leave with a backpack full of essential supplies to get them through the school year that begins Aug. 22.
This is a great annual event, and we commend Wayne for doing it. Also helping out this year will be the West Boca Rotary Club, the Boca West Foundation and the Boca Raton Lions Club.
Sales tax holiday
If you do plan to do some back to school shopping, this weekend is a very good time to do it. The state’s three day sales tax waiver will be in effect.
Douglas Heizer
The so-called “Sales Tax Holiday” begins at 12:01 a.m., Friday, August 12, ands end at midnight Sunday, August 14. During this period, no sales tax will be collected on sales of clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $75 or less, or on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less.
Find out more by doing a Google search for Florida sales tax holiday.
