Published On: Wed, Nov 5th, 2014

Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – Nov. 5, 2014

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     Congratulations to all the winners of the election yesterday. It will be good to get rid of all the political ads and signs on the street! The barrage of TV ads topped over $100 million in revenue for the West Palm Beach TV stations.

 

     The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club presents terrorism expert and professor in National Securities Studies John Patrick Quirk, 11:30 a.m. Nov. 12, at the City Fish Market, Glades Road and Florida’s Turnpike. RSVP and register at goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/events or call 561.852.000.

 

     The Boca Tribune has a very worthwhile internship program. Please go online to http://igg.me/at/bocatribune to watch our video and donate.

 

     Boca Leaders, a new weekly breakfast networking group meets every Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. at First Watch, 20401 S.R. 7, # G-5/6 in the Mission Bay Shopping Center, just north of Glades Road, behind the service station. RSVP and Call 561.852.0000 for details.

 

     South Tech Academy Veterinary Assisting Academy is offering pet washes, grooming etc. Call 561.369.7043 for reservations or email carolee.ellison@palmbeachschools.org.

 

     Employees at Boca Raton based Nation Safe Drivers have become shareholders in their employer, which provides roadside assistance to drivers. The Smith family, which owned Nation Safe Drivers, sold the 52-year-old business to about 160 local workers through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, a trust that makes employees the beneficiaries.

 

     Boca Raton based Office Depot discount retailer continued its cost cutting campaign by laying off 1,000 from its European payroll.  The company plans to shed 460 stores in the next few years involving its merger with Office Max. Already this 165 stores are headed for the chopping block. It employs over 2,000 people at its Boca Raton headquarters site and took a $185 million hit to the bottom line in the second quarter. The company recorded declining sales in the third quarter, which included its back-to-school push. The retailer, which merged with Office Max last year, reported $4.1 billion in sales for the quarter ended Sept. 27, compared with $2.6 billion from Office Depot alone in the same period in 2013. If Office Depot’s sales are combined with OfficeMax’s for the same quarter last year, the company’s total sales were 3 percent lower.

 

     The Securities and Exchange Commission has hammered Boca Raton CPA Allen Berman with disciplinary sanctions and was hit with a $15,000 fine.

 

     Yip Associates, offering forensic accounting, has opened a second Florida office at 1001 Yamato Road, Boca Raton.

 

     Eagles Landing Middle School Lynne Getch was named Teacher of the Year by the Florida Council for the Social Studies.

 

     Palm Beach County Commissioners upped the ante in approving taxpayer dollars to build a stadium for two major league baseball games. Commissioners voted to allocate $90 million to the stadium deal and not a penny more, but then reversed themselves and said they would write a budget busting check for $113 million check without knowing where the money would come from or where the stadium would be located.

 

     The Faulk Center for Counseling has been awarded a $57,000 grant from The Jim Moran Foundation for the Schools Preventive Counseling Program for the 2014-2015 academic year. In addition, the Foundation approved a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant for 2015 that will allow the center to leverage new funding for this important program.

 

     In a win some lose some scenario, Frontier Airlines launched non-stop flights to Denver last week from Palm Beach International Airport after a six year absence. The carrier will start service to Dulles International later this month. Not surprisingly discount airline People’s Express delayed its re-launch while pulling the plug after only 90 days of operation. Most observers say the carrier’s return to the friendly skies is doubtful

 

     Sales of the Florida Pre-Paid Scholarship tuition fund, named after its founder, Miami businessman and philanthropist Stanley Tate, hit a record for its first week of enrollment this year. A little over 6,000 plans were sold in the past two weeks, up a whopping 200% over the past year. Plans range from $43 to $173 per month and the price for a four year college plan is $18,300. The healthy spurt was caused by half costs for some plans and waivers for application fees. Enrollment ends in February, 2015.

 

     The on again off again sailing schedule of the beleaguered gambling ship  Island Breeze Casino operating out of the Port of Palm Beach is on again. Ship owners say the relaunch is now set for December after being idled for the past five months due to mechanical problems. Owners owe $37,000 in back rent and the $125,000 security deposit was taken in partial payment on a $600,000 contract obligation, with the balance to be paid off in four years.    

 

     Billed as the world’s largest, the Fort Lauderdale 55th annual boat show wrapped up Sunday with more than $3 billion worth of product from major super yachts to kayaks were on display with more than 100,000 people from all over the world passing through the gates. Palm Beach county dealers reported strong sales in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. Organizers also produce the Palm Beach County boat show.

 

     South Florida’s Seminole Indian tribe picked up the seal of approval from the Federal National Indian Gaming Commission which means that the Tribe has been in compliance with federal regulations for the past three years. The Tribe’s gambling operation grossed over $2 billion last year and each of the 4000 members receive $120,000 annually from gambling revenue. The Tribe has 3 casinos in South Florida and five more throughout the state.

 

    The U.S. Census Bureau revealed 208,00 Puerto Recans have fled to South Florida in the past four years, fleeing high unemployment, soaring crime, massive inflation and a stagnant economy. The normal migration has been to New York City and New Jersey, but now the influx is moving into South Florida and Orlando. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and its citizens can move freely between the island and U.S. mainland.

 

     South Florida airlines made millions of dollars in profits in the third quarter and they are about to pocket millions more in fuel savings but they will not be passed on to the consumer. Jet fuel prices have fallen .46 per gallon to $2.40. Fuel makes up about 30% of an airlines operating cost. Despite the savings, travelers will still endure jammed cabins, higher ticket prices and spotty service.

 

   South Florida contractors are continuing to be plagued by a shortage of skilled workers and the building surge is only worsening the situation. Carpenters, electricians and drywall installers are just some of the craft workers in short supply. Builders also report that experienced project managers are hard to find causing costly delays. Skilled workers left South Florida during the recession and are yet to return in any significant numbers.

 

     Giant mortgage service firm Ocwen Financial is being accused by New York state top regulators of back dating letters to borrowers preventing them for correcting problem loans. In August, the same regulators nailed Ocwen for insider dealings in high cost insurance placed on homeowner’s loans. Ocwen was previously headquartered in West Palm Beach before moving to Atlanta and still has over 300 people on the payroll in West Palm.

 

     Wells Fargo has 204 branches, Chase has 182 branches and Bank of America has 199 branches in South Florida.

 

     Back of the Throat, an Outre Theatre production is at the Sol Children’s Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton through Nov. 9. Tickets are $30. Call 954-462-0222 for tickets and more information.

 

    The Last Romance is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, extended to Nov. 23. Visit stagedoortheatre.com or call 954.344.7765.

    

     Piaf runs Nov. 12-Dec. 14. Shenandoah runs Jan. 7-March 1. Sophie, Totie & Belle runs March 25-May 17 at the Delray Square Performing Arts, 4809 W. Atlantic Ave. Tickets at 561.880.0319 or visit DelraySquareArts.com.

 

    The Marvelous Wonderettes presented by the Slow Burn Theatre Company is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, in the Abdo New River Room to Nov. 23. Tickets are $45. Buy tickets at BrowardCenter.org, Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800.745.3000.    

 

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

 

     Old Jews Telling Jokes is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs, to Jan. 4. Tickets are $44. Visit stagedoorfl.org or call 954. 344.7765 for more information.

 

    The Palm Beach County Wealth & Estate Planning seminar is 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the FAU Office Depot Lecture Hall. Cost is $50. Call 561.297.6144 or visit pbcseminar.info for more information and registration.

 

     Robert Watson, award-winning professor of American Studies at Lynn University speaks at a Cocktail and conversation, hosted by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Addison, 1400 S. Ocean Blvd. Boca. Couvert is $18. RSVP by Oct. 29 to felicen@bocafed.org or call 561.852.6084

 

    Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation Golden Gathering is 9:30 a.m. Nov. 6 in Zinman Hall. Guest speaker will be Theodor Herzl. Call 561.852.3170.

 

     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 Barry Epstein live at barryepstein.com,tv-show/ to win free tickets to the Cinemark Theatres. 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 $150.  This week’s guests include Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival Chairman Alan Koslow, Beach Vacation Rentals President Elaine Fitzgerald and Boca City Councilman and Freedom Medical Services President Robert Weinroth. It also goes out on Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube. Call 561.852.0000 for details. 

 

       Interstellar and Big Hero 6 opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. The Outrageous Sophie Tucker and Force Majeure opens at the FAU Living Room theatres. The Outrageous Sophie Tucker and Elsa and Fred opens at the Movies of Delray and at the Movies of Lake Worth. Interstellar opens at the Classic Gateway. The Outrageous Sophie Tucker, The Maze Runner, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day  opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac.

 

     The Movies of Delray and The Movies of Lake Worth will be showing The Met Opera Live, simulcast from The Met Opera, and the Encore for the 2014-2015 season. In HD with Dolby Digital 7.1 Surround Sound on new wider screens and new high back seats with more leg room.  Tickets are $19.00 and reserved seats are available.  Tickets are available online and at the box office. Visit moviesofdelray.com and moviesoflakeworth.com.

 

     David Goldstein presents his first United States show in 25 years, 6-9 p.m. Nov. 7 at Mario & Company Hair Art Studio & Spa, 771 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, benefiting the American Association of Caregiving Youth.

 

     The Junior League of Boca Raton’s 27th annual Volunteer of the Year fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue and luncheon is 10:30 a.m., Nov. 7 at Boca West Country Club. Visit jlbr.org/wvoy or call 561.620.2553.

 

     South Florida Premiere: The Boca Raton Theatre Guild Presents EVERYDAY RAPTURE at the Willow Theatre – November 7 – 23. Call 561-347-3948.

 

          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.

 

     Boca Raton Pilots’ Association presents a patriotic celebration of veterans 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Nov. 8 at Signature Flight Support, Boca Raton Airport, 3300 Airport Road. Free admission and parking to enjoy a display of interesting aircraft and military equipment, historical exhibits, patriotic music and food. Call Jim Costa, 954.980.9400 or email bocapilots@yahoo.com for further information.

 

   The second Annual Hope Bash Boca 2014 is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive to benefit Place of Hope at the Haven Campus. $250 per person. Call 561.483.0962 or visit hopeatthehaven.org. Sponsorship opportunities available.

 

     International tennis phenomenon Chris Evert will be the special guest when the Donna Klein Jewish Academy Eagles Athletics Booster Club presents its Ninth annual Tennis Extravaganza, Nov. 10 at the Polo Club in Boca Raton. All attendees will receive two general admission tickets to both the Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic at the Delray Beach Tennis Center. Check-in and warm-up will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Round-robin tournament matches will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be an exhibition doubles match with Evert at Center Court from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. The buffet luncheon (with prizes and the raffle) will take place from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. There will be opportunities to pose for photos with Evert. Framed, autographed photos will be presented to participants as a keepsake prior to event’s end. Space is limited and registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-up with a partner or as an individual (DKJA will arrange for a playing partner). All registrants will receive a special gift bag. All proceeds from the event benefit the DKJA athletic program. Cost to participate is $175 per person. For non-playing guests, cost is $85 per person. For registration information and details, call the DKJA Development Office at 561-852-5007.

 

     Itamar Marcus, founder and director of Palestinian Media Watch, will speak in the Grand Palm Room of the Student Union Building (777 Glades Road) on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, or to RSVP, contact Sara Gold Rafel at sarar@standwithus.com or 561-961-0752.

 

     The Veterans Coalition of South Florida will present its annual Veterans Day program beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11, at Veteran’s Park, west of Boca Raton, on the south side of Palmetto Park Road between 441 and Lyons Road and the city of Boca Raton observance is 9 a.m. at The Boca Raton Cemetery, 449 SW 4th Ave. Call 561.393.7810 for more information.

 

     Cpl. Burt Richards founder of the Educational Veterans Group will be educating the student class of Spanish River High School in Boca Raton. 10 a.m. Nov. 11 to celebrate the Veterans Day event, in which he spearheaded the campaign in 2010 to get all Palm Beach Schools closed on Veterans Day 2011. He will also speak 11 a.m., Nov. 11 at the Boca Raton Veranda Club Retirement Care facility. Then at 7 P.M. he will be lecturing at the West Boca Raton Country Club for its members and Veterans, with a program honoring those who served and American history.  If your organization or school is interested in his educational programs, contact the Veterans Speakers Forum at pr.group@Juno.com.

 

   A free Tribute to Veterans concert is 7 to 9 pm Nov. 11, at the Mizner Park amphitheatre, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Call 561.393-7810 for more details.

 

    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.

 

     John Oates will appear at Jazziz Nightlife, 201 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12. Tickets are $60, $100, $150; Meet and greet $200 Nov. 11 only at jazziz.com/event/john-oates/2014-11-11/ or call 561-300-0730.

 

     Jewish Federation Business and Professional Division presents Allan L. Schuman, former president, CEO and Chairman of Ecolab, Inc. 8 a.m. Nov. 12 at Zinman Hall on the Federation campus, 9901 Donna Klein Blvd. Boca Raton. $36 per person. Visit jewishboca.org/bpnetworking or call 561.852.3128.

 

     Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton presents the Ira J. Gelb Health & Wellness invitational, golf, reception, dinner and awards presentation, starting at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 at Via Mizner Golf & Country Club, 6200 Boca Del Mar Drive. Call 561.299.1429 or visit rotarydowntownbocaratonorg.

 

     Temple Beth El 2014 golf event is 11:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at Boca Rio Golf Club on Boca Rio Road, just south of Palmetto Park Road, honoring Proskauer Ross LLP partner David Pratt, Esq. Register at theboca.org/brotherhood or call 914.329.0847 for more information and sponsorship opportunities.

 

   Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is kicking off the season with dinner and drinks, at Men’s sports night featuring local legend and hall of fame NFL receiver Cris Carter, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at St. Andrews Country Club. Couvert $90. RSVP at jewishboca.org/menssportsnight or call 561.852.6084.

 

     Television personalities Gayle King and Rob Marciano, comedian Dennis Miller, actor Timothy Olyphant and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, head a list of celebrities who will participate in the silver anniversary Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic that raises funds to combat drug abuse and child neglect in Florida. The event will be held Nov. 21 to 23 at the Boca Resort & Club and the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Kevin McKidd will be back for a fourth straight appearance, “The Today Show’s” Hoda Kotb is returning after playing in the 2011 event and Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade is making his first appearance since 2009. The charity event will also feature longtime stalwarts Jon Lovitz, fellow actors Alan Thicke and Maeve Quinlan and singers Gavin Rossdale and David Cook. Evert, an International Tennis Hall of Famer and South Florida philanthropist, began hosting the event after retiring from professional tennis in 1989, and more than $21 million has been raised during that time. She has a tennis academy in West Boca.

 

     The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County presents Michael Oren, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Dec. 4 at St. Andrews Country Club. A minimum $25K household gift is required to attend.  For more information, call 561.852.3129 or email Jenniferk@bocafed.org.

 

     The Crest Theatre and MNM productions will present Chorus Line Dec. 5-14, the first self-produced theatrical show in the 25 year history of the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, featuring a talented 25 person cast with personal ties to South Florida. This new production company is the latest venture by two experienced theatrical producers and arts consultants: Marcie Gorman-Althof and Michael Lifshitz. Tickets are $47 at delrayarts.org or call 561.243.7922.

 

     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 are on sale now. Call 561.832.7677 or visit palmbeachpops.org, bocacommunity.org, or kravis.org for more information.

 

     Mark your calendars for the first annual Boca Raton Bowl college football game at FAU, televised by ESPN on December 23.

 

     Save the Date: Sandler Family Major Gifts Event: An evening of insight and intrigue, featuring New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva and NBC award-winning journalist Jamie Gangel, with a special Middle East briefing by Soner Cagaptay, Ph. D., of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 6:00 p.m., Jan. 8 at St. Andrews Country Club. Formal invitation forthcoming. A minimum $10,000 household gift to the 2015 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend. For more information, please call 561.852.3342 or email idan@bocafed.org.

 

     UJA/Jewish Federation Ben Gurion Society sponsors a Mission to Mexico City Jan. 14-20, 2015. Get more info at brians@bocafed.org or call 561.852.3165.

 

     Save the date: The 22 Caribbean Cowboy Ball benefitting the George Snow Scholarship Fund is 6 p.m. Jan. 24. Call now for reservations. 561.347.6799.

    

     Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton presents the 17th annual Honor Your Doctor Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. March 26, 2015 at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, fundraiser for the Helen M. Babione Medical Scholarship fund to benefit medical and nursing school students attending local universities. Call 561.299.1429 or visit rotarydowntownbocaraton.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.

 

     David Weir and the South Florida Business Report contributed items 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.  Read his blog on http://www.publicrelations.nu/blog/. His blog is also 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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