Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – Dec. 16, 2015
Palm Beach County Commissioners have voted to decriminalize marijuana. The new ordinance makes possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana a civil infraction. It gives law enforcement the option to issue a $100 citation to the offender rather than arresting them. As part of the ordinance, if a person is not able to pay the citation, they’ll be able to work it off through community service. The motion passed 4 to 1, with commissioner Valeche the lone dissenting vote.
Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid Inc. will buy rival Boca Raton, Fla.-based Jarden Corp. for $13.21 billion in cash and stock, creating a $16 billion consumer-goods company. Jarden is the parent company of more than 120 consumer products brands, including Bicycle Playing Cards, Mr.Coffee, Coleman, Jostens, Oster, Rawlins, Sunbeam, Seal-a-Meal and Yankee Candle. Newell Rubbermaid’s brands are Sharpie, Paper Mate, Elmer’s, Irwin, Lenox, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Contigo®, Rubbermaid, Calphalon, Goody, Graco, Aprica, Baby Jogger, Dymo, Parker and Waterman.
With an April deadline looming to reapply for a grant, the Lake Wyman Restoration Project got the go-ahead from Boca Raton City Council. The plan could revive the city’s moribund canoe and kayak trails, and fund boardwalk and observation tower improvements at Lake Wyman Park.
A multimillion dollar renovation of guest rooms and meeting space will greet visitors at the Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, 2000 NW 19th St. in early 2016. Upgrades underway at the 189-room property include a new interior design highlighted by a color palette of blue, beige, brown and gray accented by vibrant plum and maroon. Guest rooms will be revamped with new furnishings, including new desks and stacked shelving, and more space for travelers to move around. The Boca hotel’s meeting space will feature new furniture and upgraded décor. The renovations are expected to be completed by late February or early March. Palm Beach County property records show the hotel, built in 1982, was last sold to TPG Boca Raton LLC for $17.5 million in November 2014.
FAU’s nursing program won a three year $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for dementia patients and its Green Memory and Wellness Center received $100,000.00 from Louis and Anne Green to support the research.
The Jewish Family Service in Boca Raton is looking to train seniors to be paid companions to their fellow seniors who need to be driven places or just need some company. The seniors in need are at the stage where they require some assistance but can mostly take care of themselves. The companions are paid $10 an hour. They say it’s a good job for compassionate people looking to make some money but are looking to work just a few hours a week. For more information, call Marissa Gordon at 561.852.3333.
Mr. Prime Steakhouse has opened in the Office Depot plaza, 8177 Glades Road, offering Brazilian and American dishes. Call 561.419.8024.
Gibson’s Smokehouse will open at 9181 Glades Road, next to Rooms To Go. Call 561.488.9688 or visit www.bocasbestBBQ.com.
Vineyard Vines has opened at Town Center offering preppy clothing and accessories for women, men and children.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, to Dec. 27. Call 954.462.0222 for tickets or visit http://browardcenter.org/events/detail/dr-seuss-how-the-grinch-stole-christmas.
Michael Leven, Chairman and CEO Georgia Aquarium, Past President and COO, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, speaks at the B&P Business & Professional Division networking breakfast 8 a.m. Dec. 16 at Zinman Hall, 9901 Donna Klein Blvd. Boca Raton. Call 561.852.3128, email sonnis@bocafed.org or visit www.jewishboca.org/bpnetworking to register on line.
West Boca Leaders is the best networking group in the area. One of a kind networking group. www.westbocaleaders.com. First and Third Thursdays. Next meeting is Dec. 17, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tulipe Café, Boca Grove Shopping Center. $60 per quarter. Fill out form on site if you qualify and bring $60 for fourth quarter. For more information or questions, call 561.852.0000.
We can help you promote your business with a weekly internet television show also uploaded to Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and YouTube with over 40,000 views. If you are interested please contact Danielle Silverman for a quote at bylnetwork@gmail.com or call her at 561.487.3690 or 561.715.1774. You can also click to schedule a time for you to connect: https://bylnetwork.youcanbook.me/.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Sisters and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip opens at the Boca Cinemark and Premier. A Ballerina’s Tale opens at the FAU Living Room Theaters. Brooklyn, Spectre and the Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac. Sisters opens at the Classic Gateway Theatre in Ft. Lauderdale. Read movie capsules at http://www.publicrelations.nu/category/reviews/movie-reviews/.
Gypsy will run to January 3 at The Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Margate. Tickets for Gypsy 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 www.stagedoortheatre.com.
Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center and Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center for Jewish Life Enhancement present Daniel’s Husband, presented by West Boca Theatre Company and Island City Stage. This witty, passionate, powerful play follows Daniel Bixby, an architect who wants to marry his longtime partner Mitchell Howard, a famous writer not keen on the idea of marriage. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality, this moving play is a vivid example of why that right is so important. To Dec. 20. $30, VIP $40, A&L Gold Members: $28, A&L Platinum Members: Free. For tickets or to register, call (561) 558-2512.
Once Upon a Mattress is at the Sol Theatre, 3333 N. Fed. Hwy. to Dec. 20. Tickets $15; $10 for children at solchildren.org or call 561.447.8829.
Polar Express movie at 6:30 pm, train rides and activities at 5 pm Dec. 18 Mizner Park Amphitheatre.
The 39th Annual Boca Holiday Boat Parade is 6:30 pm to 8 pm Dec. 19 on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Wayne Barton Study Center, 269 N.E. 14th st. Boca Raton invites the community to the annual Christmas Party, 1 pm to 4 pm, Dec. 20, featuring free food, toy giveaway, pictures with Santa, entertainment, door prizes, face painting, clowns, DJ with Santa arriving on a fire truck with lights and sirens.
The Boca Raton Bowl is 7 pm, Dec. 22 at the FAU football stadium.
Avi Hoffman stars in Still Jewish After All These Years, 7:30 pm, Temple Torat Emet, 8600 Jog Rd. Boynton Beach. Call 1.800.838.3006 for tickets.
Pompdour, a Brand New Musical by Michael Leeds & Kevin Black is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Dec, 26 – Jan. 31. Tickets are $38-$42. Call 954.344.7765 or visit http://www.stagedoortheatre.com/,77
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is thrilled to announce that U.S. Humanitarian Worker Alan Gross and former Ambassador Dennis Ross will headline the 2016 Sandler Family Major Gifts Event on January 6. Released from a Cuban prison after five years, Gross will share his experience, and Ross, a leading diplomat and expert in Middle East and Soviet policy, will share timely foreign policy insights with us and discuss his new book, Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama, which chronicles the intense relationship between our two countries. The evening’s $135 couvert includes valet parking. Cocktail attire is requested and dietary laws will be observed. A minimum $10,000 household gift to the UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s 2016 Annual Campaign is required to attend. For adult children participating in the L’Dor V’Dor initiative, only the couvert is required. For more information, please contact 561.852.6084 or felicen@bocafed.org.
Golda’s Balcony is at the JCC, 9801 Donna Klein Blvd. Boca Raton, 7:30 pm Jan. 9. Tickets at 561.902.1500 or visit ticketsforplays.com.
NFL All-Pro Legend Jason Taylor will headline the Men’s Division Sports Night, 6:30 pm, Jan. 12 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Place, Boca Raton, co-chaired by Robert Pick and Ken Lebersfeld. The $90 couvert includes dinner and an open bar (dietary laws observed). A minimum Men’s gift of $180 to the 2016 UJA/ Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend. Guests whose Men’s campaign contribution is at least $1,800 are also invited to a VIP cocktail reception with Taylor, beginning at 5:30 p.m, featuring a meet-and-greet, photo opportunities and autographed sports memorabilia. For more information about men’s activities at Federation, contact Sonni Simon at 561.852.3128 or sonnis@bocafed.org.
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club presents Kamal Fereg, Infidel Living Under Sharia Law, 11:30 a.m. Jan. 13, 2016 at City Fish Market, Glades Road at the Turnpike. RSVP at http://www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/event/kamal-fereg-presents-infidel-living-under-sharia-law/. Call 561.852.0000 for more info.
Rotary Club of Boca Raton presents the OPAL awards, honoring outstanding people and leaders that have contributed through volunteerism to make our community a better place in which to live, work and play, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Boca West Country Club. Proceeds to benefit the Rotary Club of Boca Raton’s service missions including youth scholarship programs. This year’s honorees are John Kelly, Howard Schnellenberger, Susan Haynie, Dr. Kathy Schilling, Rabbi Jessica Brockman and Bill Allen. Visit www.rotaryclubbocaraton.com for more information.
An author’s talk by Alan Dershowitz — noted lawyer and legal and political commentator — on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 highlights the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center’s 2015-16 Cultural Arts Events Calendar on the Boca Raton campus of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.
Goldie Hawn will headline the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation Black Tie gala, sponsored by longtime Boca philanthropists Dick and Barbara Schmidt, 6:30 pm to 11 pm, Jan. 23, with Heat Wave band returning by popular demand. Tickets are $400 and sponsorships range from $1200 to $100,000 for such amenities as vale, cocktails and registration. Sponsorships at the $15,000 level and above will include a VIP reception with Hawn. Call 561.955.5186 or email: kread@brrh.com for more information and tickets.
Wings of Freedom Tour will be at the Boca Raton Airport on Airport Road, Jan. 28-31. Visit www.cfdn.org or call 1-800-568-8924 for more information.
The Caribbean Cowboy Ball is January 30, 2016. Tickets are $175. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 561.347.6799 for details.
ADT’s chief executive Naren Gurshaney will be honored with the Florida Atlantic University’s 2015 Business Leader of the Year Award 8 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton. Call 561.297.4732 or email tmay@fau.edu for more information and tickets.
Henry Winkler speaks at The Event 2016, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, at B’nai Torah Congregation. Register at jewishboca.org/theevent or call 561.852.5031.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Syndicated Columnistand Commentator Dr. Charles Krauthammer speaks at the St. Andrews Country Club, Feb. 29, 2016. For more information, call 561.835.0510 or email: southeast@afmda.org.
The 10th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA, presented by the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts, will have everyone “on their feet,” March 4 – 16, 2016 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center, 201 Plaza Real (2nd Floor) in Boca Raton. Among the performers and authors recently announced as part of the lineup for the 10th annual Festival of the Arts BOCA are: Herb Alpert and his wife; violinist Joshua Bell conducting the Lynn Philharmonia in Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”; a cirque act and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” each with a live orchestra; and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. Also on the bill are an English translation of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and 12-year-old jazz pianist Joey Alexander, who performed at Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater last year.
JARC 30th Annual Gala Dinner Dance is March 6, 2016 at Boca West Country Club, featuring Live and Silent Auction. For more info, call 561.558.2572.
Boca Raton Magazine, West Boca News, South Florida Business Journal, Sun-Sentinel, Jewish Journal and Palm Beach Post contributed to this 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.
