Published On: Thu, Apr 7th, 2016

Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – April 6, 2016

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     A proposed condominium tower would rise nine stories downtown and span the length of two football fields. Called “Mizner 200,” the development proposed by Plantation-based developer Elad National Properties LLC would be along Southeast Mizner Boulevard, east of South Federal Highway and south of Southeast First Street.

      Property owners along Boca Raton’s beach will be holding onto their land — at least for now. Commissioners of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District decided that it would not be in the district’s best interest to spend taxpayer dollars on pockets of land along the city’s oceanfront.

     Despite being waylaid by rough seas and equipment issues, crews are still shooting to complete sand-addition work on Boca’s beach by April 30. Crews began placing sand just south of Red Reef Park last week and are hoping to be at the South Beach Park pavilion in the next two weeks. Barring any further delays, the work will continue on a 24/7 basis until crews reach the Boca Raton Inlet. Sections of the beach will close for construction but will reopen as crews move south.

     Elected officials have taken a major step forward on the path to building a safer, more accessible public boardwalk in Boca Raton. Commissioners of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District decided to give an Okeechobee-based contractor nearly $582,000 to begin renovating a well-known wooden passageway at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. S. Ocean Blvd. The man-made, one-quarter-mile loop has been in place for the public since 1986. But because of unsafe walking conditions, a “Do Not Enter” sign and padlocks on the gates have barred access to the trail for more than a year. The goal of the renovations is to build a safer pathway, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires accessibility accommodations for people with disabilities.

     Tri-County Animal Rescue on Boca Rio Road can move forward with expansion plans, now that Boca Raton City Council approved deeding a right-of-way over to Palm Beach County. “This was the final piece of the puzzle that has been resolved, and gives us the right-of-way to proceed with our capital campaign and our expansion,” said Sharon DiPietro, chairwoman of the board elected March 15. “It means we will have a state-of-the-art ancillary building, and we’ll be able to rescue so many more dogs and cats to give us a wonderful facility to do spaying and neutering and we are ready to start the capital campaign.”

     Staples says the U.S. government failed to show that the company’s takeover of Office Depot should be blocked and urged a federal judge to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit seeking to scuttle the deal.

     The popular ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft will not be subject to more extensive background checks under a new set of rules given initial approval by the Palm Beach County Commission. A temporary agreement is set to expire at the end of the month, but commissioners voted unanimously to establish new guidelines.

     The wording of a proposed 1% sales tax increase has to go back to the Palm Beach County Commission for approval before voters will find it on the Nov. 8 election ballot. But what will the $712 million initiative really mean if voters pass it? For starters, there’s a 22-page Infrastructure Sales Tax Capital Projects list. Each district will have the cash to play catch-up on bridge replacements and modifications, road resurfacing and striping, traffic signals and street lighting, not to mention drainage. Also included are playground and sports lighting replacement; courts, parking lots and pathways resurfacing; aquatic facility repair and replacement; and restrooms and building replacements.

    Palm Beach County commissioners heard Tuesday from supporters and opponents of building a spring training ballpark in John Prince Park, Lake Worth  that would be used by the Atlanta Braves. Wearing shirts that read “Bring Home the Braves,” supporters urged county leaders to do everything possible to lure the team back to Palm Beach County. “The economic impact to our area would be phenomenal,” said Scott Maxwell, vice mayor of Lake Worth. “I cannot tell you how excited the residents of Lake Worth are.” The club trained in Palm Beach County from 1963 until 1997, when it moved spring training to Disney’s Wide World of Sports near Orlando. The team’s lease in the Orlando area expires next year. Opponents argued the county shouldn’t be giving away land in a public park, with one speaker mentioning that construction of a baseball stadium could harm the endangered gopher tortoises that live there. “I am very concerned once again about an attempt to undermine the sanctity of a public park,” said Drew Martin, conservation chairman of the Loxahatchee Group of the Sierra Club. Palm Beach County is in early talks with team officials, and a detailed plan has not been filed with the county. Team officials are also in talks with Sarasota County.

     Boca Business Briefs: Seth Marmor is now a named partner in the law firm of Hark Yon Marmor, PL; Boca City Council member Michael Mullaugh was unanimously elected Vice Mayor for his final year on the Council, replacing Robert Weinroth; Lynn University president Keven Ross was elected to the Council of Independent Colleges board of directors; Scott Plsula joined Boca Woods Country Club as executive chef and David Sweet was named as assistant general manager; Ingrid Carlos has joined Douglas Ellman as managing broker of the firm’s Boca Raton office; Heather Apicella has been named a partner at Gladstone & Weissman P.A. in Boca Raton; Rhys Williams has been named associate vice president and managing director of FAU’s Techrunway program, which fosters technology related startup companies, replacing Kim Gramm who left to become managing director of the Innovation Hub at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

     Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club had zero violations in a recent inspection but Ocean Breeze Golf & Country Club was ordered closed after a recent inspection at 5801 NW 2 Ave. It had three high priority violations and 14 total violations.     

     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 April 7, 2016, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tulipe Café, Boca Grove Shopping Center on Powerline Road between Glades and Palmetto Park Roads. $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.

    The 14th annual Boca Bacchanal’s food and wine tasting moves back to the covered Mizner Park Amphitheater April 8, with a new VIP pre-party in the Boca Raton Museum of Art lobby and Vintner dinners April 9th at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real and Vintner dinners at various residences in Boca Raton. Cost is $125 for the Bacchanalia and $325 for Vintner dinners. Tickets at www.bocabaccahanal.com or call 561.395.6766 Ext. 101

     Two Grooms at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale present the World Premiere of Diego & Drew Say I Do through April 10, 2016 as the grand finale of the 2015-2016 Abdo New River Room Theater Series at the Broward Center. Under the direction of Carbonell Award winner John Manzelli, the 15-member ensemble is comprised of South Florida’s best and brightest talent and also features a special performance by members of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus. Diego & Drew Say I Do will run for two weeks, Thursday, March 31–Sunday, April 10 with show times on Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. Tickets are $59.50 general admission and includes buffet dinner, cake and champagne toast. $105 VIP tickets are available on select performances including reserved seating, cast meet & greet and signed show poster. A full cash bar is also available. As a thank you for the support from South Florida’s LGBTQ community, funds raised from Diego & Drew’s official Wedding Shower, hosted by Naked Grape Wine Bar and Tapas on March 3, as well as the grooms’ dollar dance during each performance, will directly benefit AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and The Pride Center organizations.

      Criminal, The Boss, Hardcore Henry, Demolition an Midnite Special opens at the Boca Cinemark Airport Road. Remember opens at the FAU Living Room Theatre on the FAU campus, the Movies of Delray on Atlantic and Hagen Ranch Road and at the Movies of Lake Worth on Lake Worth Road which also opens The Boss. The Boss and Demolition opens at the Classic Gateway on Sunrise Blvd. and U.S. 1 in Ft. Lauderdale. Miracles from Heaven, Deadpool, Son of Saul and 45 Years opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac. See movie capsules http://www.publicrelations.nu/movie-capsules-by-barry-epstein-april-1-2016/..

     Just a few more weeks available to check out the Boca Raton GreenMarket, open every Saturday until May 7th, 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,  cooking demonstrations by La Paella, Chef George of M.E.A.T, take-home pizzas, and lots more.  Live music on the Piazza stage this week features Jim Kovalcik on flute and Jason Hanley on keyboards with their own special brand of music.      

      Pack OnThe Go is not your average moving company. They are a concierge full service, packaging, shipping moving and delivery company at affordable pricing. Their goal is to stand above the rest, by offering professional packing and moving assistance. Call 561.498.7801 for a free quote.

    Singles can improve their online dating profile by going to www.myprofileguru.com.

     RED, WHITE, BLACK AND BLUE, a new play by Michael McKeever is 7:30 pm April 9 and 2 pm April 10 at the FAU Theatre Lab. A national tragedy sets the stage as Lenora Waters finds herself about to become the first black female president of the United States.  Cut-throat opposition and demons from her own family’s past ensure her journey will be a rocky one.  Part political thriller, part jet-black satire, Red, White, Black and Blue examines the upside-down world of modern American politics and one woman’s struggle to secure her place at the top, without losing her humanity. A conversation with Michael McKeever, Florida’s most prolific and acclaimed playwright will immediately follow the reading. Buy tickets at 561.297.6124 or visit  http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0D005041A2FF98A7?brand=fau.

   The Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St.  presents Little Shop of Horrors to April 10 . Tickets are $30 ($15 for students 18 and younger) and can be purchased by calling 561-272-1281 Ext. 4.    

     The Friends of the Boca Raton Library’s “Sunday Matinee Music Series” presents 33 YEARS, April 10, 3-4pm, at the Downtown Library, 400 NW 2nd Avenue. This dynamic group of musicians, featuring Paula and Kevin Tolly, and bass guitarist Dr. Robert Watson, consider themselves Americana as they like to perform covers from traditional and contemporary country, rock, blues, and bluegrass music.  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.

      The 14th Annual Doggie Ball to benefit Canines & Felines, has been rescheduled to Sunday April 10, 2016 at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33434b. This is the 20th Anniversary Celebration for the Tri-County Animal Rescue.  Call Erica Tricarico at (561) 482-8110 or email Erica@TriCountyHumane.org.

    Inaugural Shine Like a Star Luncheon is April 13, at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33434. 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. VIP reception; 11:30 a.m. Luncheon. Luncheon Couvert $100; Luncheon and VIP Reception $200. Proceeds benefit the programs and services provided to children, teens and adults with special needs at the Levis JCC. Marianne Jacobs, Director, Helene & Roy Schwedelson Special Needs Programs, 561-852-3256 • mariannej@levisjcc.org • levisjcc.org. RSVP online at levisjcc.org/shinelikeastar.

          Outreach Performance Project of Boca Raton High School will host “I Rise,” an evening of dance, singing and entertainment, April 16, 2016 at the Kathryn Lindgren Theatre at Boca Raton High School at 1501 NW 15th Court, which is near the I-95 Exit to Glades.  The cost is $20 for VIP seating, $15 for general seating and $10 for students.  All proceeds go to cancer research at the Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton. The event will feature top high school and university student talent plus young professionals from the surrounding community.  The Outreach Performance Project is a nonprofit organization which brings talented dancers, singers and thespians together to raise money for local medical and health causes. For tickets and information call Maria Lasso at 561-212-3924 or outreachdance@icloud.com.  Tickets available online at www.irise.myevent.com.

     With so many reasons to celebrate, PJ Library® in South Palm Beach County is ordering a gigantic birthday cake for their third birthday party.  Everyone is invited for tons of free family fun, and more than 1,000 guests are expected on April 17, between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm at the Sunset Pavilion in South County Regional Park, Boca Raton. Families are invited to attend PJ’s Third Birthday Party at no charge, but advance registration is available at www.jewishboca.org/birthdaybash; families who pre-register will receive two free raffle tickets for an iPad Mini. To learn more about the event or about PJ Library, contact Elana Ostroff, PJ Library Director, at PJLibrary@bocafed.org or 561.852.6080.

     Elyssa Kupferberg and the late Irving Eckhardt will be honored 6 pm April 18 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Pl, Boca Raton. The Reception couvert is $65 per person, and dietary laws will be observed. For additional information or to RSVP, contact Lisbeth Rock Cauff at 561.852.3188 or lisbethc@bocafed.org.

     Evening Star Productions will present Peter Gordon’s comedic send-up of classic ‘whodounnits’, Murdered to Death, from April 14th through May 1st at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton.  (There will be a preview performance on April 14th). All performances will be at Sol Theatre in Boca Raton.  Tickets are $20 ($10 for students with valid ID). Tickets by calling 561-447-8829 or on line at www.eveningstarproductions.org. Group rates are available. Sol Theatre is at 3333 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton (33431). For more information about Evening Star Productions contact Rosalie Grant at 561-447-8829 / info@eveningstarproductions.com or Carol Kassie at 561-445-9244 / ckassie@gmail.com.

     Nearly 800 local runners are expected to turn out later this month for the annual Run From the Rays 5K event at the Spanish River Athletic Complex in Boca Raton. Set to begin at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 24, the Run From the Rays attraction hopes to continue its strong impact on the various charities it supports in the area. During its three previous years, approximately $100,000 has been raised in the fight against skin cancer. Register at the site.

     Vowing, “Never again,” the South Palm Beach County Jewish and Christian communities will walk together in solidarity in commemoration of the Holocaust at the March of Remembrance on Sunday, May 1, 2016, a few days before Yom HaShoah, (Holocaust Memorial Day). Hundreds of participants will gather at 3:00 pm for brief welcoming remarks in the Boca Raton Christian School’s gymnasium (470 NW 4th Avenue). Hundreds of community members will join Holocaust survivors, their families and their supporters to march together on the streets of Boca Raton, beginning at 3:15 PM. Their destination will be Temple Beth El of Boca Raton (333 SW 4th Avenue) for a meaningful Holocaust Remembrance program at 4:00 pm. The march is approximately half a mile; a complementary return shuttle bus will bring marchers back to the Boca Raton Christian School parking lot following the Yom HaShoah program.

     Technology Business 3Cinteractive, a mobile marketing company with 100 employees was named Business of the Year, Jim Dunn,JM Lexus general manager was named Business Leader of the Year and Rose and Joe Martin, owners of Allegiance Home Health was named Small Business Leaders of the Year by the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, to be honored May 20 at the Chamber’s annual luncheon May 20 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Mizner Center, 501 E. Camino Real, which is open to the public and Chamber members. Tickets are $75. Call 561.395.4433 or visit bocachamber.com/BAL.

   The 2016/2017 Broadway series at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts include Cinderella, Cabaret, The Little Mermaid, Something Rotten!, Matilda and Finding Neverland. More info at www.browardcenter.org.

      West Boca News, Sun-Sentinel, South Florida Business Journal, Boca Life Magazine, New Times 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; 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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