Published On: Wed, Aug 27th, 2014

Page Two; Barry’s Buzz – August 27, 2014

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    Congratulations to the winners of the Aug. 26 primary ballot.

 

     Finally, after years of suggestions by this column and others, the FAU board of trustees named the FAU stadium field, Howard Shnellenberger Field. FAU will also reap big bucks by scheduling powerhouse football teams to play them, including stashing $900,000 to play nationally ranked Nebraska and pocket a cool $1 million for being sacrificed at second ranked Alabama. Top ranked schools regularly schedule and pay for lesser known universities to launch a season with a win and ensure a big homecoming crowd.

 

       Boca may get a new 12 story 200 room Hyatt Place Hotel at the southeast corner of Federal Highway and Palmetto Park Road, with an 8,000 sq. ft. upscale restaurant if the Council approves next month after approval by the Community Appearance Board and Planning Board

 

  Two Boca Raton firms made the INC. 500 list of the fastest growing firms in the U.S. MobileHelp placed 11th on the list with revenue increasing 3,305 per cent to $18.6 million and Touchsuite ranked 259 with revenue up 1,770 percent to $19.2 million last year.

 

     The new Boca Raton based website Usellclub.com allows sellers to post unlimited items for sale at only $10.00 per month with no additional fees or contract. Buyers can buy with no fees after the purchase price and sometimes freight. General merchandise, jewelry, cars, electronics and even restaurant equipment has been posted. It’s like a Garage Sale online!

 

  Florence Fuller Child Development Center will be taking over day to day operations of the Boca Raton Children’s Museum, after a $50,000 grant from the city to get the museum through the transaction. Florence Fuller executive director Ellyn Okrent will be leading both organizations.

 

    Vicinitas Cancer care will create 200 new jobs in Boca Raton at an average annual salary of $115,000 and plans to spend $3 million in capital investment on a 45,000 sq. ft. location on North Federal Highway, thanks to $1.81 million in incentives, including $350,000 from the city of Boca Raton.

 

    Sushi Thai restaurant is opening in the former Marcus Kosher Chinese restaurant in the Loggers Run Shopping Center.

 

     The financial industry regulatory authority known as FINRA rocked security firms and brokers in South Florida with disciplinary sanctions. A Boca Raton finance firm was fined for failure to promptly execute customer orders and Shearson Financial was fined $20,000 for failure to accurately report transactions.

 

    Trader Joe’s is accepting job applications from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 13 for its Boca Raton store, 855 S. Federal Highway, set to open Sept. 26. Obtain an application on site or traderjoes.com/pdf/employment_application.pdf.

 

       The information included in the column last week about the Port of Palm Beach and the day cruise Island Breeze Casino was incorrect and we apologize. The Island Breeze Casino Cruise has not experienced mechanical failures, but instead it has been waiting for an opening to go in to a Coast Guard-mandated dry dock in South Carolina. Because of the mandated dry dock, the ship has not been able to sail since June. The Port of Palm Beach is reporting a strong Fiscal Year 2014 and expects the Island Breeze to return to operation and contribute to the Port’s revenue in FY 2015. According to the Port of Palm Beach, on Thursday, the Port of Palm Beach District Board of Directors voted to delay implementing the cruise line’s 125,000 passenger minimum guarantee and sailing minimum to the Port until January 1, 2015. “As these requirements were established to monitor an ongoing operation, it is only prudent to delay their implementation until this occurs,” said Paul J. Zielinski, Port Deputy Director and CFO. Bradley Prader, president of Island Breeze International told the Port of Palm Beach District Commissioners that the Island Breeze Casino Cruise is expected to sail again in October. The cruise line will honor any coupons or promotions, regardless of expiration date, that customers have when the ship returns to operation.

 

    The big winner in the upcoming Medical Marijuana debate with the highly publicized issue headed for the November ballot will be the media, and both sides are gearing up for a big bucks media campaign to influence voters. Coming soon to your TV screens are medical pros touting the virtues of marijuana used in treating pain, while opponents claim the passage will lead to widespread abuse and addiction.

 

     Douglas Crane was appointed as the new director of the Palm Beach County Library System and Jim Stiles is the new director of the Water Utilities Department. Crane replaces John Callahan, who is retiring in September. Stiles will succeed Bevin Beaudet, who is also retiring next month.

 

    No points traffic school is the least expensive and easiest to do on line. Other courses offered too at flnptstrafficschool.com. Email flnpts@gmail.com or call 561.340.1423 for further information.

 

     Florida Power & Light received approval from the PSC to charge a voluntary $9/month fee to build solar powered plants in cities to be named later, the project short on detail. The giant utility made a hefty $1.2 billion in profits last year and should pick up the tab for any solar powered construction.

 

     24 million tourists visited the state in the second quarter, up 3% from the same period last year, and reflects over 8 million visitors touring South Florida, with 3 million from overseas and 1 million from Canada, after the state pumped in $74 million for a marketing budget and last year, 95 million visited Florida.

 

    Florida leads the nation in residential cash sales, with 64% of South Florida 2cnd quarter home sales paid in cash and 85% of South Florida luxury home sales were cash buys.

    

    Cafe Cinematheque Foreign Films with Shelly Isaacs is every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.at Movies of Delray 561-638-0020 and Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Movies of Lake Worth 561-968-4545. Visit moviesofdelray.com for more information.

 

     Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl on wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.

 

        Watch Barry Epstein live at barryepstein.com,tv-show/ to win free tickets to the Cinemark Theatres. This week’s guests are Itex franchise owner Scott Ebberbach, President of My Personal Business Coach and Chapter Leader of Womens Prosperity Network Shellley Mitchell, Women’s Prosperity Network Founder also known as the Visionary with Guts, Nancy Matthews, CEO of Worldwide Web Solutions Paul Schlanger and Wisdom Financial Services president Rocco Kryns. You can be on too to promote your business and we send a link of your segment to put on your website and send out in emails to prospects and clients for only $100. It also goes out on Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube. Call 561.852.0000 for details. 

 

     The November Man opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres, Movies of Delray and Lake Worth and the Classic Gateway.  The One I Love opens at the FAU Living Room theatres.

 

     Larry Ferber has a movie club 10 a.m. every Sunday at the FAU Living Room theatres, followed by discussion. Call 757.617.1936 for more information.    

 

   Every Sunday at AMF bowling, 1190 Boynton Beach Blvd. and Congress Ave. Brain Bowlers sponsors a bowling league for families and children with disabilities to raise funds and awareness for agencies and children who are void of social interaction.  Cost is only $1.38 per game and families can bowl one or two games. There is also entertainment and prizes. For further information, call Robert Gottesman at 561-676-2075.

      

     Butterflies are Free, a romantic Comedy is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, through September 14. Call 954.344.7765 or email stagedoortheatre.com for more information or tickets.

 

    What’s New Pussycat, the songs of Burt Bacharach, is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, August 22-September 28. Visit stagedoortheatre.com

 

   Nicest Theatre Company presents Cabaret August 29-Sept. 7 at the Showtime Performing Arts Theatre, Boca Raton. Tickets are $18 for students and seniors; $25 for adults. Call 866.811.4111 or visit nicesttheatrecompany.com to purchase tickets and for more information.

Over 25 authors living in the south Florida area—including Sally Ling, Ray Russotto, Pastor Wesley Smith, Mateja Petje, among others—will be autographing and selling their books on Sunday, August 31, 2-5pm at the Historic Butler House on 380 E Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach, as part of “August Authors and Autographs.”  The event is organized by the Deerfield Beach Historical Society as part of their monthly “Sundays at the Butler House” activities.  Entrance is free with optional purchases for food and drinks, an ice cream social, and, gift basket drawing.  For information, email elilly707@aol.com.

 

      Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations meets 8:30 am to 9:30, Sept. 2 at the Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. with reports from City of Boca Raton Directors: Mike Woika, Assistant City Manager reports on Economic Development & new City Budget; Chris Helfridge- Utilities Director;

Ruby Childers-Downtown Manager and Community Spotlight on Friends of Boca Raton Library.

 

    The Faulk Center for Counseling will present a free program on “Sleep and Dreams in Mental Health” with guest speaker Anita Ribeiro, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), 11 a.m. to noon, Sept. 3, 22455 Boca Rio Road.  Her program will explain the architecture of sleep and dreams, and how they function together to maintain mental and physical health. Call 561.483.5300 or visit faulkcenterforcounseling.org for more information.

 

      Feeding South Florida partners with the Shops at Boca Center for Hungry Bear Event, an initiative of Hunger Action Month (September) 4 to 8 pm Sept. 6. For more information, visit feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954.518.1818.

 

     The City of Boca Raton presents Downtown Boca’s Brazilian Beat, designated as one of South Florida’s official annual Brazilian Independence Day Celebrations by the Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, on Saturday, September 6 at 6 p.m. in Sanborn Square, 72 North Federal Highway (one block north of Palmetto Park Road). The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit downtownboca.org or call 561.367.7070.

 

     The Friends of the Boca Raton Library Sunday Matinee Music Series for 2014-2015 gets underway on Sunday, September 7th, 3-4pm, with a concert by The Brazilian Voices under the direction of Beatriz Malnic at the Downtown Library located at 400 NW 2nd Avenue in Boca Raton. Reservations are required.

Computer users need to enroll via the Library Event Calendar on the Library website, www.bocalibrary.org. Non-computer users may call (561) 807-7141.

 

    The March of the Living will hold informational meetings for its 2015 trips to Israel at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Levine Board Room on the Federation campus, 9901 Donna Klein Blvd. Boca Raton.  To RSVP, email mol@bocafed.org or call 561.852.6013. Go to molsouth.org for application and information.

 

   Nixon political consultant and confidante Roger Stone returns to the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club lunch Sept. 10 to discuss his new book, Nixon’s Secrets. RSVP at goldcoasttigerbayclub.com or call 561.852.0000 for more information.

 

     JAFCO hosts its fourth annual In My Shoes Luncheon, Sept 12 at Boca West Country Club. Tickets are $75. RSVP at jafco.org or call 954.315.8698.

 

         The Boca Raton Tribune and Palm Beach State College presents an International Trade Show noon to 7 p.m.  Sept. 26. Booth space is $250 until Sept. 1 and $350 after Sept. 1. Admission is $20 per person. Email gabriela@bocaratontribune.com for more information.

 

     The Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation Professional Advisory Committee PAC kickoff & Membership Drive Cocktail Reception is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Place, Boca Raton. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Dietary laws will be observed. Couvert is $50 per person. RSVP at jewishboca.org/packickoff/register. For further information, contact Kristy Lopez at 561.852.6090 or email: kristylo@bocafed.org.

 

     The 26th Annual Golf Classic benefiting the George Snow Scholarship Fund is 12:45 p.m. Oct. 6 at Boca West Country Club. Sponsorship and Underwriting opportunities are available. Email dfeiler@scholarship.org or call 561.347.6799 for more information.

 

    The National Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be in Boca Raton for the first time on Oct. 11 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. Registration for the walk is free at alz.org/walk. Volunteers are also needed. Contact Pamela Polani at polani@bellsouth.net or call 561-496-4222.

 

      The 16th Annual Lynn University Blue & White Auction will take place on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m., in the de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center. Call 561-237-9000 or register online at lynn.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=672701.

 

    Outre Theatre Company opens its season Oct. 24-Nov. 9 at the Sol/Evening Star Productions’ theatre, 3333 N. Fed. Hwy. with “Back of the Throat”, but will be lured to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in December with “Othello”. Call 954.300.2149 for more information.

 

    JARC sponsors a bowling fundraiser 12:30 to 3 Oct. 26 at Strikes Boca to benefit Adult Day Training Program. Sponsorships are needed. Call 561.558.2572 or email fallong@jarcfl.org. Register at jarcfl.org.

 

     Cpl. Burt Richards recipient of the $1,000 nominated award winning Educator of the Dickies American Hero of the Year award, will be educating 160 5th grade students at the Sunrise Park Elementary school Oct. 29 in honor of Veterans Day Nov 11th, in which he spearheaded the campaign in 2010 to get all Palm Beach Schools closed on Veterans day 2011.  His educating program, along with his buddy G. I. JOE, will be honoring those who served and American History. If your school is interested in his appearance, contact the Veterans Speakers Forum at pr.group@juno.com.

 

     The Junior League of Boca Raton’s 27th annual Volunteer of the Year fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue and luncheon is Nov. 7 at Boca West Country Club. Nominations are still being accepted by calling 561.620.2553.

 

     The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) walk for mental health is 8 am. Nov. 8, at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek. Register at namibroward@gmail.com. For more information, call 954.316.9907 or visit namibroward.org.

 

    The 2014-15 Broadway series season at the Kravis Center includes Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Nov. 11-16; The Book of Mormon, Dec. 16-21; Flashdance – the Musical, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, 2015; Anything Goes, March 10-15, 2015; Memphis, April 7-12, 2015 and Pippin, April 28-May 3, 2015. Subscribers will get renewals in April. General public tickets will go on sale midsummer. To order go to kravis.org/broadway or call 561.832.7469.

 

     The Palm Beach Pops kicks off an abbreviated new season 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 with a one-night-only show at the Kravis Center featuring the Manhattan Transfer, Frank Sinatra Jr. will sing 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Boca Raton Community Church, and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Kravis Center; Frank Sinatra, Jr. “Sinatra Sings Sinatra; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2015 at Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. at the Kravis Center and a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, featuring Donna McKechnie, Jodie Benson and Doug LaBrecque on 7:30 p.m. March 7 at the Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. March 8 at the Kravis Center. Tickets go on sale Sept. 2. Call 561.832.7677 or visit palmbeachpops.org, bocacommunity.org, or kravis.org for more information.

 

    Westbocaleaders.com is the best networking group in the area and meets at Hurricane Grill & Wings in the Mission Bay Shopping Center, next to Office Max, 10125 Glades Road, 33498 on alternate Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Cost is $60 per quarter. Check out the website for openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.

 

     Thanks to David Weir and the South Florida Business Report, Anne Geggis, Sun-Sentinel, Marci Shatzman, Forum Newspapers, Alexandra Clough, Palm Beach Post and Warren Redlich, West Boca News for contributions to the column.

 

     Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the goldcoasttigerbayclub.com, the luxurychamber.com, the westbocaleaders.com and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on vimeo.com, youtube.com and publicrelations.nu. His motto is: Public Relations is the enemy of anonymity. email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000.  His blog is on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein as well as on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at floridajewishjournal.com –barrys-journal.blogspot.com  and on his website: publicrelations.nu.

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