Published On: Wed, Jan 6th, 2016

Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – Jan. 6, 2016

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The reigning APSL Champions will take on NASL-side, Fort Lauderdale Strikers this Wednesday at 4pm in a closed-door scrimmage at Lockhart Stadium to kick off the 2016 Pre-Season. Fans will be able to follow along via social media by following Boca Raton FC on twitter attwitter.com/bocaratonfc. Under new head coach and general manager Caio Zanardi, the Strikers face FC Schalke 04 of Germany at the end of the week as part of the 2016 Florida Cup.

     Beth Ami Congregation has several events coming up. Thursday, January 7th at 10:30 AM “A STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM 72AD TO TODAY   (Current issues and situations will be discussed) No Charge for event. Thursday, January 14th at 10:30 AM — “ISLAM, ITS BEGINNINGS AND ITS THREATS TO THE WORLD”. No charge for event. Sunday, January 17th at 7PM “CHRISTIANS AND JEWS LIVING UNDER ISLAM”. There will be an $8 fee for this event. A Jew and a Christian, both raised in Egypt, will tell their stories and give an insight into the world of Islam and those infidels living under Islamic law. All above programs will have a full Q & A open to the audience. Admission requires calling the synagogue office at 561-347-0331. A photo ID is required for admittance. The location of Beth Ami is 1401 NW 4th Avenue, Boca Raton, 33432.

      Besito Mexican, an upscale chain with high ratings from Zagat and the NY Times, is opening in the Bank of America Building, 150 E. Palmetto Park Road, during the summer of 2016, according to Hugh Connerty, co-owner of ConSul Hospitality.

     Toys R Us is closing in the Mission Bay Shopping Center and Dick’s Sporting Goods is opening in its place.

     Dunkin’ Donuts is opening in an out parcel in the Loggers Run Shopping Plaza and an assisted living facility is being built behind the center.

     Another assisted living facility is proposed at Clint Moore Rd and 441 and the animal shelter on Boca Rio Road is looking to expand.

    A plan to explore acquiring more of Boca Raton’s beachfront land for preservation and public use is on hold as the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District awaits indication from the city on whether its elected officials are in favor of such a move.

      Roland Kidwell has been appointed director of the FAU Adams Center for Entrepreneurship, having served as a professor and chair of the department of management programs in FAU’s College of Business, replacing Kimberly Gramm, who is now the associate vice president of FAU Tech Runway, a public-private initiative launched in 2014 to help tech startups.

      Florida Atlantic University has officially fired James Tracy, the professor who has attracted national publicity by claiming the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax. It’s expected that his last day on the job will be Friday.

     Stock prices of Staples and Office Depot rose amid speculation the office-supply giants’ $6.3 billion merger deal might still be alive.

     Osprey Point public golf course in the Burt Aaronson South County Park was named among the top 50 public ranges in the United States.

   Colin Brown, head of JM Family Enterprises was named Floridian of the Year and put on the cover of Florida Trend magazine.

     Ben Baldanza, who led the industry push for more and more airline fees, is out as chief executive of Spirit Airlines. The low-cost carrier based in Miramar announced that Robert L. Fornaro is now president and CEO. Spirit gave no explanation for the change except to say that Baldanza recently moved his family to the Washington, D.C., area. Baldanza has led Spirit since 2006 after joining the airline in 2005 as chief operating officer.

     Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is resigning, saying he is quitting to pursue other unspecified opportunities. He said Gov. Rick Scott did not ask him to resign. McCarty has been the state’s top insurance regulator since 2003. His resignation takes effect May 2.

     Under the new Florida Senate district map, it looks like State Senators Joe Abruzzo and Maria Sachs will be running in District 29 against each other, which encompasses Boca Raton and environs among other entities, While Emily Slosberg, daughter of State Rep. Irv Slosberg will run in District 30.

     Broward Republicans are using Jeb Bush and Palm Beach County Republicans are using Donald Trump to help raise money for their 2016 campaign efforts. They’re the keynote speakers for the county party Lincoln Day dinners in the final days before the March 15 Florida presidential primary.

     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 Jan. 7, 2016, 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/.

     “South Pacific” is Jan. 7 to Feb. 14 at The Wick Theater, 7901 N. Federal Highway, in Boca Raton. Tickets are $70 to $80, matinees Wednesdays through Sundays; evening performances Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Visit thewick.org or call the box office at 561-995-2333.

    Revenant and the Forest opens at the Boca Cinemark. Censored Voices opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres. Carol opens at the Movies of Delray. Carol and Revenant opens at the Movies of Lake Worth and the Classic Gateway in Ft. Lauderdale. Youth opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac. See movie capsules at http://www.publicrelations.nu/movie-capsules-by-barry-epstein-dec-25-2015/.

     It’s a parking lot full of great vendors at the Boca Raton Green Market, in its 19th year, open every Saturday, 8am to 1pm, at the southwest parking lot of Royal Palm Place, S. Fed. Hwy, and SE Mizner Blvd in downtown Boca Raton, offering farm-to-table, fresh-picked produce from local growers, plants and flowers, prepared foods, doggie treats,  and lots more.  Live music on the Piazza stage this week will feature the local and talented Earl Trio.

     Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, will talk about the current global economy and the implications it has on the Jewish community “within a philanthropic spectrum” during a lecture 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive. Tickets are $180 and include this lecture and two others in the Anti-Defamation League’s annual series. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Marc Melamed at 561-988-2910 or melamed@adl.org.

     Pompadour, a Brand New Musical by Michael Leeds & Kevin Black is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, to Jan. 31. Tickets are $38-$42. Call 954.344.7765 or visit http://www.stagedoortheatre.com/.

     42St is at the Kravis Center through Jan. 10. Get tickets at www.kravis.org.

    The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County presents U.S. Humanitarian Worker Alan Gross and former Ambassador Dennis Ross headlining 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 $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.

     The Beth Ami Congregation in Boca Raton, will be holding complete, informative, educational and timely events in the coming weeks: Thursday, January 7th at 10:30 AM, “A STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL FROM 72AD TO TODAY (Current issues and situations will be discussed); Thursday, January 14th at 10:30 AM, “ISLAM, ITS BEGINNINGS AND ITS THREATS TO THE WORLD”; Sunday, January 17th at 7PM, “CHRISTIANS AND JEWS LIVING UNDER ISLAM”, A Jew and a Christian, both raised in  Egypt, will tell their stories and give an insight into the world of Islam and those infidels living under Islamic law. All above programs will have a full Q & A open to the audience. There is no charge for these events, except for Jan. 17 ($18 fee). Admission requires calling the synagogue office at 561-347-0331. A photo ID is required for admittance. The location of Beth Ami is 1401 NW 4th Avenue, Boca Raton, 33432.

     The Jazz Singer will run from Jan. 8 through Jan. 24 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Tickets are $35. Group tickets are $22. Call 561.347.3048 or visit www.willowtheatre.org/the-jazz-singer-the-musical for more information.

     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.

     Arlene Herson is the Master of Ceremonies for the Showtime Entertainment Series at Spanish River High School Theater. The series consists of 4 shows: “Righteous Brothers” Bill Medley with Stewie Stone on Thursday, January 14th at 7:30PM, Hal Linden with Freddie Roman on Thursday, January 28th at 7:30PM, Clint Holmes with Dick Capri on Thursday, February 18th at 7:30PM and Tony Orlando in Concert on Sunday, March 6th at 3:00PM. If you are interested, please call Arlene Herson at 561-997-6711.

     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.

     Boca police are offering a free self-defense program for women and teen girls.  The Self-Defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange, or S.A.F.E., program is a crime-victim-prevention class that educates women and teenage girls about realistic options that will help them avoid, escape and survive assaults. Classes will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 and Feb. 10 at the Boca Raton Police Training Building located at 6500 Congress Ave. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and athletic shoes. To learn more about S.A.F.E. or to register for the program, visit ci.boca-raton.fl.us/police/safe.shtm. Enrollment is limited to 20 people per class.

     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.

     Taking Sides by Ronald Harwood is at the JCC Sandler Center, Jan. 21-Feb. 7. Call 561.558.2512 for tickets.

      Acclaimed for its ‘magic’, ‘simplicity’, and ‘compassion’, Carnival blends music, comedy, and pathos into what has been referred to as ‘America’s Magical Musical’.  Carnival will open at Margate’s Stage Door Theatre on January 22nd and run through February 28th. Tickets for Carnival 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. Group and Subscriber Discounts are available for all Stage Door productions.

     The Rolling Stones/Bruce Springsteen Tribute Concert is 7:30 pm, Jan 23 at The Countess de Hoernle Theatre, Spanish River High School, 5100 Jog Road. Call now for best seats. 561.912.1453, or email info@templebethshira.org. 

     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.

     Unlikely Heroes, directed by and starring Avi Hoffman will run from January 28th through February 21st at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center (2nd Floor).  The theatre is located at 201 Plaza Real in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park (opposite Lord & Taylor).  Tickets for Unlikely Heroes are $35 (plus $4.50 S/C).  Excellent group rates (10 or more) are also available at 828-536-0963. Tickets for Unlikely Heroes can be purchased on line at www.UnlikelyHeroesPlay.com, or by phone at 800-595-4849.   Performances days and times are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm.

     The Caribbean Cowboy Ball is January 30, 2016. Tickets are $175. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Call 561.347.6799 for details.

     Prominent international human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali will provide a riveting keynote to 500 women philanthropists at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s annual Lion of Judah Luncheon on Feb. 3 at the Polo Club in Boca Raton. Born in to a Muslim family in Somalia, she questioned her faith and fled an arranged marriage to become an educated, courageous and highly respected advocate and analyst.  The luncheon couvert is $95, with a Lion level individual woman’s gift of $5,000 or above to the 2015 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign required to attend. Dietary laws will be observed. For more information, call 561.852.6058 or email francescaw@bocafed.org.

     The Friends of the Boca Raton Library’s “Sunday Matinee Music Series” presents vocalist, Sharon Ruben, Sunday, February 7, 3-4pm, 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 for enrolling.

     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.

    Proving a single person can change the lives of thousands of others, Sabrina Kurzman will be honored for her tireless efforts on behalf of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) during the 26th Annual Book of Hope Luncheon on February 18, 2016. The elegant affair includes a fashion show featuring Spring and Summer collections from Saks Fifth Avenue and takes place at the Boca Raton Resort & Club starting at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $150 per person. Those interested in attending the luncheon or wishing to become a sponsor may contact Jennifer Wieczorek by email at jwieczorek@ccfa.org or by calling 561-218-2929 (#1, Ext. 2).

     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.

     Melissa Rivers is featured at the JFS Reflections of Hope Luncheon 11 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, Mizner Center, 501 E. Camino Real. Call 561.852.3333 or email jillw@ralesjfs.org for tickets and information. www.ralesjfs.org.

     Pulitzer Prize-Winning Syndicated Columnist and 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.

     Jewish Family Services golf outing is March 21, 2016 at St. Andrews Country Club. Golf, cocktails, dinner and award presentations. Reservations at jilw@ralesjfx.org or call 561.852.5013.

     West Boca News, 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.

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