Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – May 27, 2015
Robert Watson, professor of American studies at Lynn University has been recognized for earning a gold medal in 2015’s Independent Publisher Book Awards. Watson’s “America’s First Crisis: The War of 1812” won the best book award in the history category.
The Palm Beach post reported that Boca Raton businessman Martin Franklin led the parade of top paid CEO’s with a whopping $118 million paycheck. Franklin leads Jarden Corporation, which used to be Sunbeam appliances and Franklin’s colleagues down the hall in the executive suite didn’t do too badly either. President Ian Ashken stashed away $34 million and CEO James Lillie pocketed $25 million. Jarden’s sales last year were $8.3 billion.
The long-running debate over Chabad of East Boca Raton’s proposed 18,000-square-foot synagogue and museum on East Palmetto Park Road may finally come to an end Wednesday night at City Hall. It’s the first house of worship that would be built on Boca’s barrier island east of the Intracoastal. And yet, the plan has elicited objections from neighbors, as City Council members will consider a height-variance request for the second time in six weeks.
The projected reopening for the sections of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s boardwalks and a tower the city closed for safety reasons in February has been pushed back by several months to the end of the year.
As part of a plan to make Boca Raton more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, city officials recently presented a “beautification” proposal to residents of the Tunison Palms neighborhood meant to improve sidewalks, bicycles and intersections, but neighbors are objecting to the plan.
IBM has awarded a community service grant to the American Cancer Society for $2000, on behalf of IBM’s employee and ACS volunteer, Sherri Scheurich.
The Palm Beach County School Board is urging Gov. Rick Scott to suspend all of the repercussions tied to standardized student tests this year.
Pamela Goodman has been elected president of the League of Women Voters and will appear with former Palm Beach County Republican Party Chair Sid Dinerstein on Barry Epstein Live June 16.
It’s always been tough to get a mortgage in South Florida these days, but just when things were starting to look up, up pops the devil. Starting Aug. 1, The Federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will handle all paperwork when obtaining a mortgage, and the massive changes will create a bureaucratic nightmare for the mortgage industry. Lending pros say the new rules will probably cause confusion, closing delays and make it harder to get loans until lenders review the new system.
Palm Beach County courts are facing another foreclosure shortfall with $21 million earmarked for fast-tracked foreclosure settlements expire next month, and lawyers predict foreclosures will be stalled once again as cases backlog due to the lack of judicial bench strength needed to expedite cases.
The strong dollar is putting the squeeze on foreign buyers looking to invest in South Florida Real Estate. The foreigners have been a major player in the rebounding of South Florida’s housing recovery, but now they are backing off. Russian buyers using Ruples are looking at double the Miami prices of 2013 and European investors are seeing 25% falloff vs. the Euro and the dollar. Canadian buyers account for 20% of all foreign transactions.
Florida tourism had its best quarter ever in its history, according to Visit Florida, the State’s tourism arm. The state posted over 21 million visitors which reflected 10 million visitors in South Florida. Domestic travelers were up 6% while overseas tourisms jumped 7% for the quarter and Canadian tourists topped 1.7 million. Tourism official revealed that Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade visitors generated a huge $41 billion in spending last year.
One thing you can say about Marlins owner Jeff Luria is “He ain’t cheap.” He fired the team manager Jeff Redmond and will continue to pay him $2.5 million a year for doing nothing. Luria also fired former manager Ozzie Gullian who is still being paid $4 million a year on his contract, plus a former team GM is being paid $2 million for sitting on the beach, and an ex-Marlins player is pocketing $7.5 million for not even playing in Miami.
Bill Wright, industry veteran is the new president of the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino, coming from VP of Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas.
Stonegate Bank of Pompano Beach will provide banking services to the Cuban government’s office in the U.S.
Florida’s top food export destination is Canada.
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Boca Leaders East meets every Wednesday, 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Corner Bakery Café, 2240 NW 19th St. #800 in the Boca Glades Plaza, just west of I-95. No dues, no fees, no mandatory meetings, just pay for your own breakfast. Bring business cards and friends.
Watch Barry Epstein live at publicrelations.nu/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. It also goes out on Vimeo, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and YouTube. Taping is 5 p.m. Tuesdays at the bylnetwork.com. Call 561.852.0000 for details.
Boca Leaders West meets every Thursday 7:45 a.m. at First Watch, Mission Bay in West Boca, 441, north of Glades Road. No dues, no fees, no mandatory meetings, just pay for your own breakfast. Bring business cards and friends.
Construction of the first hotel in downtown Boca Raton is about to begin. The Kolter Group, will have a groundbreaking May 28 for the Hyatt Place Boca Raton, which is set to rise at 120 E. Palmetto Park Road. The 13-story, 200-room hotel is projected to open in July 2016. It will include an 8,000-square-foot restaurant and 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
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.
A public meeting has been scheduled, 6:30 May 28th at the Boca Raton Library Downtown (400 NW 2nd Ave Boca Raton FL 33432) to discuss (and update) the proposed buildout of the Hillsboro El-Rio Park, to allow residents to voice their thoughts regarding the proposed park.
Aloha and San Andreas opens at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. . In the Name of My Daughter and Saint Laurent opens at the FAU Living Room theatres. In the Name of My Daughter and Aloha opens at the Movies of Delray and Movies of Lake Worth. Felix & Meira, Ex Machina and Monkey Kingdom opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac. In the Name of My Daughter and I’ll See You in My Dreams opens at the Classic Gateway in Ft. Lauderdale. Read movie capsules at http://www.publicrelations.nu/category/reviews/movie-reviews/.
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.
Bell, Book and Candle is at Stage Door Theatre 8036 Sample Road, Margate and runs through June 21st. Tickets are $38 – $42; $16 student tickets are also available. Tickets may be purchased at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at stagedoortheatre.com.
Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie will present the State of the City at the Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations, 8:30 a.m. -9:30 a.m., June 2, at the Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. (next to City Hall), discussing the 2015-16 goals and future plans of the city. The public is welcome free of charge. For more information, call 561.998.7798.
Westbocaleaders.com is the best networking group in the area and meets at City Fish Market, Glades and the turnpike on the first and third Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. Cost is $60 per quarter. Check out the website for openings in some categories. Next meeting is June 3. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.
The Delray Beach Playhouse tops off its 2014-15 Season with one of Neil Simon’s best-loved comedies, Barefoot in the Park. In this affectionately autobiographical play, Simon tells the story of Paul and Corie Bratter, two newlyweds settling into their first Manhattan apartment. The show runs to June 7, and tickets are $30 ($15 for students 18 and younger), and can be purchased by calling the box office at 561-272-1281 Ext. 4.
Hillary Clinton will be at the Parkland home of noted democrat political fundraiser Michael Moskowitz for a fundraiser on May 29.
Julie O’Neil has been appointed Membership & Marketing Director of Boca Woods Country Club, effective May 20.
Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations will Host Mayor Susan Haynie presenting the State of the City Address. Tuesday, June 2, 2015, 8:30am- 9:30am at the Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd, Boca Raton Fl 33432.
Slow Burn Theatre Company presents Little Shop of Horrors, June 5 to June 28 at the West Boca Performing Arts Theater on the campus of West Boca Raton High School on Glades Road in Boca Raton. Performances are Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at http://slowburntheatre.org ,or by calling 866-811-4111.
Sisters of Swing will run from June 5 – July 12 at The Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Margate, 33065. Tickets for Sisters of Swing are $38 – $42; $16 student tickets are also available. Get tickets at the box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at www.stagedoortheatre.com
Bestselling author Jonathan Papernick will be discussing his new book, The Book of Stone: a novel of a searing psychological thriller set in pre 9’11 Brooklyn, in which a family’s dark history and an estranged son’s attempt to find meaning and purpose converge, 2:30 p.m. June 9, Levis JCC Sandler Center, 21050 95th Ave. South, west Boca. $25 General Admission; 420, Levis JCC A&L Gold and Platinum members and Temple Beth El members. Refreshments served. For tickets and more information, call 561.558.2512 or visit levisjcc.org/culturalarts.
Starting June 10, 2015 from 6:00am to June 11, 2015 at 8:00pm, the Camino Real Bridge will be closed to all traffic for repairs.
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club second Wednesday lunch, 11:30 a.m. will feature attorney Peter Feaman discussing terrorism. RSVP at goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/registration or call 561.852.0000 for more information.
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is at the Sol Children Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Highway, June 12-28. Tickets or info at solchildren.org or call 561.447.8829.
Bill Mahar will be at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach, fl. 8 pm June 13. Tickets start at $35. Visit Kravis.org or call 561.832.7469.
Into the Woods will run for 12 performances only, from June 18 – June 28 at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts, 51 North Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, 33444. Tickets are on sale now, and are available by calling 561-243-7922, ext. 1.
Office Depot shareholders will meet June 19 in Boca to vote on the $6.3 billion proposed merger with rival Staples, but the Federal Trade Commission has not yet ruled on approving the merger to proceed. If completed the headquarters would be in Framingham, Mass., with a “presence” in Boca.
Tap 42 will open at the end of June in the Boca Center, 5050 Town Center Circle, with 210 seats in 6,400 sq. ft. featuring an outdoor patio.
Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation and West Boca Community Council presents a free Fourth of July event, 6:30 p.m. at Sunset Cove Amphiteatre,12551 Glades Road, Boca Raton, featuring a live American Classic Rock concert with Ocean Boulevard, the Kids Fun Zone, food, beverage concessions and ice cream trucks on site, along with a fireworks by Zambelli. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for more information, Call 561.488.8069.
The Broward Stage Door Theatre at 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs, has announced their 22cnd Anniversary Season; Harvey, July 31- Sept. 6; The Fantasticks, Sept. 4- Oct. 11; Promises, Promises, Sept. 25 – Nov. 1; Dial “M” for Murder, Oct. 30 – Dec. 6; Gypsy, Nov. 20 – Jan. 3, 2016; Pompadour, Dec. 26, 2015 – Jan. 31, 2016; Carnival, Jan. 22, 2016 – Feb. 28, 2016; What’s New Pussycat?, Feb. 19, 2016 – March 27, 2016; Sunset Blvd., March 18 – April 24, 2016; Same Time, Next Year, April 15, 2016 – May 22, 2016; Putting it Together, May 13, 2016 – June 19, 2016; A Night in Motown, June 10, 2016, July 17, 2016; Present Laughter, July 8, 2016 – Aug. 14, 2016. Get tickets at 954.344.7765, or visit stagedoortheatre.com.
Save The Date: Fifth Annual White Coats-4-Care Reception, presented and co-chaired by Bonnie and Jon Kaye, Kaye Communications, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. August 3 at the Waterstone Resort & Marina, Atlantic Ballroom 999 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Call 561.297.2097 or email smithg@health.fau.edu.
Save the Date: JARC Golf Tournament, Dec. 7. 2015 at St. Andrews Country Club. Continental breakfast & Lunch. Limited to 100 players. Individual and foursomes welcome. Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact fallong@jarcfl.org or call 561.558.2572 for information.
Kravis on Broadway Announces 2015-2016 Series Packed with Broadway Hits & Kravis Center Debuts: BLUE MAN GROUP (December 8-13, 2015); 42nd STREET (January 5-10, 2016); MOTOWN THE MUSICAL (February 9-14, 2016); MATILDA THE MUSICAL (March 1-6, 2016); Woody Allen’s BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (March 22-27, 2016); THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY THE MUSICAL (April 26 – May 1, 2016). Subscribers for the Kravis on Broadway series will receive their renewals in mid-March. Kravis Center donors will receive information on becoming a Kravis on Broadway subscriber for the 2015-2016 series in mid-May. For more information about becoming a donor, log on to kravis.org/membership, or call (561) 651-4320. Subscriptions for all six Kravis on Broadway productions are $180 to $499 and will go on sale to the general public midsummer. For information about purchasing a subscription to Kravis on Broadway, contact the Kravis Center box office at (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471, or log on to kravis.org/broadway.
The Boca Raton Bowl will be at the Howard Schnellenberger Field on the FAU Stadium 7 p.m. Dec. 22 with teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the American Athletic Conference (as opposed to Conference USA).
Melissa Rivers will be the speaker at the Jewish Family Services Reflections of Hope Luncheon, Feb. 25, 2016. Visit ralesjfs.org or call 561.852.3333.
David Weir, South Florida Business Report, the Palm Beach Post, the Miami Herald and the Sun-Sentinel 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 www.barry’s.buzz. His blog is also on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein and on his website: publicrelations.nu.
