Page Two: Barry’s Buzz – May 16, 2016
A proposed sales tax increase in Palm Beach County will NOT include dollars to expand cultural institutions and lure businesses to the area. The Palm Beach County Commission excluded $121 million in cultural projects and a $40 million economic development fund from the sales tax proposal.
State ethics complaints were ruled unfounded against Boca Raton City Councilman Robert Weinroth and deputy city manager George Brown when they were appointed by council to the Boca Raton Airport Authority. Both men stepped off at different times, having nothing to do with the controversy.
A record 32 men will be honored at the 15th annual Men with Caring Hearts Awards Luncheon. The announcement was made by encore co-chairpersons Terry Fedele and Neil Meany at the kickoff reception in Excell Auto Group’s showroom on Clint Moore Road. The annual luncheon is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6 in Boca West Country Club. Tickets are $125 at ffcdc.org/special-events/men-with-caring-hearts/ or call 561-391-7274, ext. 130.
Long-awaited renovations to the Swim & Racquet Center of Greater Boca Raton have been delayed a month, according to the project’s designer. Local architect Doug Mummaw presented an updated timeline for renovations to the facility during a meeting of the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District commissioners. He said the delay is because of scheduling setbacks with the city of Boca.
Boca Raton utility customers may notice a change in the smell and taste of their tap water, city officials say. From May 15 to May 29, the city will be temporarily changing its method for disinfecting water. The change in treatment will provide additional protection against bacteria,
Regent Bank at 580 Yamato Road, Boca is closing due to a merger with Stonegate Bank which has a branch at 3850 N. Fed. Hwy. in Boca Raton.
Sports Authority is closing all 450 of its stores nationwide. Sports Authority is carrying just over $1 billion in debt. The company notified the U.S. Bankruptcy court that it would not reorganize and would pursue a sale instead. Sports Authority will liquidate all stores and close down operations in the months ahead. The sporting goods industry has been under increasing pressure. There is also talk that Bass Pro Shops is interested in buying Cabela’s. Sports Authority hasn’t updated its website to reflect this news, but consumers can expect sales and discounts to accelerate.
The $265 million dollar premier senior living destination, Sinai Residences of Boca Raton, located on the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s campus, has opened. Residents started moving in early this year and continue to move in every day.
Friends of the Boca Raton Library announced their 2016 Book Donation Drive. Bring books for all ages, DVDs, and music CDs to Friends of the Library Bookstore at 400 NE 2nd Avenue or call the Bookstore at (561) 544-8596. Sales of book donations will help the Friends fulfill its mission of supporting Boca Raton libraries. The Friends is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
Marilyn Wick expected to close on the Wick Theatre & Costume Museum April 28, ensuring it will remain a theater and continue to house her multimillion-dollar Broadway costume collection. The Costume World owner took over the Boca Raton property at 7901 N. Federal Highway in the fall of 2013 after Caldwell Theatre Co. went bankrupt months earlier. The building sat empty and its future was uncertain until Wick stepped in.
Local marine conservationists say at least one loggerhead sea turtle has ventured onto Boca’s beach this year, which means sea turtle nesting season is in full swing and it’s time to register for a turtle-sighting tour. The first loggerhead sea turtle of the year has ventured onto Boca’s beach, which means sea turtle nesting season is in full swing and it’s time to register for a turtle-sighting tour. Starting in May each year, hundreds of loggerhead sea turtles nest on the beaches. Last year, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center saw 718 nests in Boca during the season, which ends Oct. 31. The center is offering “Turtle Walks” May 19, 26 and 31, and every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night from June 1 through July 14.
The Veterans Memoribila Museum and Education Center of Palm Beach is looking for donated treasures for the museum Project to honor those who served. If you know of any Veterans, parents of a Veteran or any persons’ collection of medals, insignias, clippings, letters, flags, war souvenirs, etc., contact pr.group@juno.com to donate. Your name will appear on our honor roll to remember.
A four-year-old company that contributed to Gov. Rick Scott’s committee and became one of the state’s five biggest property insurers wants to raise rates in Palm Beach County, and much of South Florida, up to 25 percent.
West Boca Leaders is the best networking group in the area. One of a kind networking group. First and Third Thursdays. Next meeting is May 5, 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.
Starring Avery Sommers, “The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith” – A Play with Music – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! MAY 5-29, THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS – 7pm | SUNDAYS – 2pm (no show on SAT. May 28). Tickets are $30-$45. Call 561-571-8510
Captain America: Civil War opens at the Boca Cinemark on Airport Road. Rabin in His Own Words opens at the FAU Living Room Theatre on the FAU campus and at the Movies of Delray on Atlantic and Hagen Ranch Road and the Movies of Lake Worth, on Lake Worth Road, east of the Turnpike. Captain America: Civil War and Louder then Bombs opens at the Classic Gateway on Sunrise Blvd. and U.S. 1 in Ft. Lauderdale. Criminal, Rabin in His Own Words and Papa Hemingway in Cuba opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac.
It’s the last Saturday for the Boca Raton Green Market Season! Market will be closing for this growing season on May 7. Stock up with farm-to-table, fresh-picked produce from local growers and lots more, 8 am to 1 pm, at the southwest parking lot of Royal Palm Place, S. Fed. Hwy, and SE Mizner Blvd in downtown Boca Raton. Lots of gifts for Mom’s Day, too. The Market will re-open for the 2026-2017 season in late October.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary and major hospitality awards, The Addison is getting ready for its close-up May 8. The venue at 2 East Camino Real was once famed Boca Raton architect Addison Mizner’s headquarters, one of only 11 designated sites by the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum. Long established as an upscale wedding, corporate, special event and glatt kosher venue, The Addison is only open to the public five times a year. Mother’s Day is one of them. The Addison will be open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with live music in the famed banyan tree courtyard, and face painting and a balloon artist for the children.
Putting It Together will run from May 13 – June 19 at Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Margate. Tickets for Putting It Together are $38 – $42; $16 student tickets are also available at the Broward Stage Door Theatre box office at 954-344-7765 or on line at stagedoortheatre.com.
Same Time Next Year will run to May 22 at Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Margate. 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.
All women in the Jewish community are invited to attend a spring education event, hosted by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County on Tuesday morning, May 10. The breakfast program will feature author Sima Goel, whose book, Fleeing the Hijab: A Jewish Woman’s Escape from Iran, chronicles her journey to achieve personal freedom. The event will be held at Federation’s Zinman Hall at 9901 Donna Klein Boulevard in Boca Raton. Registration will begin at 9:30 am, and the $45 couvert includes breakfast, with dietary laws observed. For additional information or to RSVP, women may call Frannie Watt at 561.852.6058 or email francescaw@bocafed.org.
WPTV Channel 5 NBC affiliate anchor Michael Williams will be the guest at the 11:30 am May 11 lunch seminar of the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club at City Fish Market, Glades and the Turnpike. RSVP at http://www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/event/michael-williams-nbc-news-anchor/.
10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s will be presented by Chris Dragomer, MSW & Patient Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association 5 pm May 11 Free at Advanced Dentistry South Florida, 15340 Jog Rd, Delray Beach. Reservations are limited. Call 561.404.1079 to reserve a seat.
Luxury Chamber networking is 6 to 8 pm May 16 at Davincis of Boca in Town Center. Early bird tickets at luxurychamber.com/upcoming-events.php.
Jan McArt and Lynn University present Karen Mason Live at Lynn, 7:30 p.m. May 18 in the Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall at the Count and Countess de Hoernle International Center. To reserve tickets and a listing of upcoming performances visit lynn.edu/events.
The Republican Jewish Coalition has a couple of events in May. For more information and to RSVP, please reply to this email, or contact us at 561-995-9445. Please remember to let us know the names of everyone in your party, your phone number and which events you will be joining us for! Thursday, May 19, 2016, Gary Kenzer, North American Executive Director, Honest Reporting, Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. Check-In: 6:00pm / Program: 6:30 pm Light Kosher Refreshments will be served. May 25 will be phone banking at the South County Civic Center and a talk by Carlos Beruff, Candidate for the U.S. Senate.
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.
David P. Samson, president of the Miami Marlins will be the speaker at the B & P networking breakfast, 8 a.m. May 24 at Zinman Hall on the Federation Campus, 9901 Donna Klein Blvd. To register visit: jewishboca.org/bpnetworking. For more information, contact Sonni Simon at 561.852.3128 or Sonnis@bocafed.org.
Christina Applegate will be the keynote speaker at the 13th annual Go Pink luncheon to benefit the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. Save the date: October 21, 2016.
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 browardcenter.org.
Sun-Sentinel, South Florida Business Journal, Boca Life Magazin 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. His blog is also on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein and on his website: publicrelations.nu.
