Robert’s Community Report: 8/24
The news of the week (indeed, the news of the decade) was the solar eclipse that was viewed throughout the United States. While Florida residents only had the benefit of a partial eclipse, we could enjoy the total eclipse, vicariously, with live-streamed images transmitted throughout the late morning and early afternoon as the shadow created by the eclipse raced across the continent. If you missed the event don’t worry, Florida will be within the path of a total solar eclipse on October 14, 2023 so mark your calendars accordingly.
Congratulations to Mayor Susan Haynie on the completion of her year as the president of the Florida League of Cities. Haynie was honored by the members of the FLC at its annual conference in Orlando last week. The new FLC president, Gill Ziffer, Mayor Pro Tem of Tallahassee thanked Haynie for creating a strong foundation on which he will continue to build during his year as president.
This year’s Boca Ballroom Battle Raised over $500,000 to benefit the George Snow Scholarship Fund. Congratulations to Stacey Winn Packer & Peter F Gary for Chairing and making it such a success. Special congratulations to John Tolbert & Terry Fedele for winning the Mirrored Ball Trophies.
Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar and Minuteman Press of Boca Raton hosted “Margarita Monday” on Monday, August 21, 2017 to benefit the KidSafe Foundation. It was another very successful Boca Chamber Festival day event, pairing for profit and not-for profit Greater Boca Raton Chamber members. The events are a great way to learn about the mission of our city’s many non-profit agencies while having a great time.
The Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association responded to the recent events in Charlottesville, Va. in a very public way.
The group organized an interfaith outdoor candlelight vigil attended by about 350 people in Sanborn Square in downtown Boca Raton to condemn the violence and hatred expressed by Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen, white supremacists and white nationalists in Charlottesville.
The Boca Raton Interfaith Clergy Association is an interfaith association of clergy from the Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions in Boca Raton who gather to support and serve the community.
A statement drafted by the Association’s religious leaders was read at the event. It stated, in part, “Unlike other national leaders, we put in clear terms those who expressed hatred for other people based on race or religion in Charlottesville . . . there is no place for that kind of hatred in this community or in our nation.”
Place of Hope partnered with Blue Moon Mexican Boca, a new restaurant in Boca Raton to host Taco Tuesday, another BCFD event.. Proceeds from the event will benefit the foster children and youth who call Place of Hope “home.”
The City Council heard from several dozen members of the community at its recent regular meeting where eliminating all privately installed holiday displays was being considered. However, it was apparent that notwithstanding the disdain for a pentagram installed in Sanborn Square Park last year, residents will not be bullied into eliminating a city tradition of permitting the free expression and celebration of the holidays in Sanborn Square Park.. The City of Boca Raton has already received numerous requests for the installation of displays during the upcoming holidays. The Mayor and Council are committed to protecting the citizens’ right to free expression.
The nominees for the Junior League of Boca Raton’s 30th Anniversary Woman Volunteer of the Year were announced Wednesday evening at the WVOY kickoff event at Saks Fifth Avenue at Town Center Mall.
The Junior League of Boca Raton’s 30th Annual Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon will be held on Thursday, October 5th, 2017 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The events begin at 10:30AM with a Reception & Runway Raffle with the Luncheon to follow at 11:30AM.
Saks Fifth Avenue Boca Raton will serve as the exclusive Fashion Sponsor and the Award Sponsor is the Christine E. Lynn Health & Wellness Institute at the Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The Honorary Chair is Barbara Schmidt with Kirsten Stanley serving as Chair.
The Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel will host Battle of the Bartenders, a celebrity bartending event benefiting Best Foot Forward, on Friday, August 25 from 5:30 to 7:30PM/ As part of Boca Festival Days, pairs of local celebrities will battle to be named the Winning Bartender by securing the greatest amount of tips with all money raised and a portion of ticket sales from the evening donated to Best Foot Forward programs. Tickets $30 at the door. Ticket price includes two drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Help your favorite bartending team win the Battle by attending the event and tipping them generously!
- Troy McLellan, Roxana Scaffidi and Rosie Inguanzo-Martin
- Jan Savarick and Mary Wong
- Brain Altschuler and Dan Davidowitz
- Andy Thomson and Alex Price
- Sophia Eccleston and Mohamed Abdalla
- Wade Waddick and Paula Bernstein
- Barry Rabkin and Teddy Kaufman
- Jacqueline Qualters and Elaine Weinberg
This event is a fun and social gathering with the added bonus of raising awareness about the children living in foster care in our area. All proceeds benefit Best Foot Forward’s innovative and powerful programs.
Mark your calendar for the BIG Fall Kickoff event at the Peter Blum Family YMCA on August 26th! Enjoy this FREE family fun Open House event with activities planned inside and outside and FREE Y bag giveaways! Indoor activities include a program scavenger hunt, demos of Fall programs such as karate, dance, basketball, swim, small group trainings, lacrosse, etc., and pool/waterslides. Outdoors there will be a music/DJ, bounce houses, face painting and activities, food, treats.
The Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum will conduct the final guided tour of the historic Boca Raton Resort & Club on Saturday, August 26th. Tours begin at 2PM. The guided tour begins with exclusive entrance to the historic site. The 1½-hour strolling tour “walks” through the hotel’s story, which includes its owners, architecture, World War II years, and its incredible role in Boca Raton’s history since the 1920s. – Tour: $15 / BRR&C Valet Fee $11 (reduced)
Also on Saturday, be a part of the highly anticipated Wine & All That Jazz that is set to be one of the hottest parties in Boca Raton!
BCFD Wine & All That Jazz is an all-out celebration at the luxurious Boca Raton Resort & Club. You will indulge in an extensive array of over 100 varieties of wine and dinner by the bite from several of Boca’s top restaurants. Enjoy live music, entertainment, exciting raffle prizes and dancing – bringing together the who’s who in Boca Raton.
Whether you are a wine connoisseur or are just looking to enjoy a great party, this event is for you!
Boca Helping Hands is reaching out to the community in conjunction with Boca Festival Days. Why not spend the dog days of summer with BHH and other members of our community? Come have a ball at the 11th annual “Bowling for Bread” on Sunday, August 27th at Strikes @ Boca from 2 to 5PM.
SFRTA (TriRail) is holding two public meetings on Tuesday August 29th at the Spanish River Library (1501 NW Spanish River Blvd Boca Raton FL 33431) to present the results of a Project Development and Environmental Study to determine the necessity of a second TriRail station in Boca Raton. There will e a brief presentation at 6:30PM with maps, drawings and other information available for review. A second session will be held on Wednesday August 30th at 2PM (same venue). The second presentation is geared for elected leaders but the public is welcome.
The final BCFD event will be held on Wednesday, August 31st.
Local celebrities and community favorites will be pulling out all the stops when they perform in the 3rd Annual Lip Sync Battle Boca Raton benefiting Nat King Cole Generation Hope Inc. to raise funds for music education. The event promises to entertain and delight all in attendance while raising awareness and funds to support the Nat King Cole Generation Hope mission to provide music education to children with the greatest need and fewest resources.
Do you have your tickets for the Home opener for Florida Atlantic University’s Owl Football? This promises to be a sell-out being the first game for FAU’s new head coach, Lane Kiffin and the opponent is NAVY. Come out and show your spirit. The game begins at 8PM and will be televised on ESPNU.
Save the Date: September 9th when Brazil Comes to Downtown Boca! Get ready for the 6th Annual Brazilian Beat in Downtown Boca! Come hear the sounds and rhythms of Brazilian music, dance to invigorating Samba drummers, see beautiful costumed dancers in a Rio-style parade, and enjoy savory Brazilian cuisine and cocktails. As an official celebration of Brazilian Independence Day, Brazilian Beat brings together the art of music and dance in one mesmerizing cultural event in the heart of Downtown Boca.
Headlining the event is Latin Grammy winning songstress, Vanessa da Mata, one of the biggest stars in Brazilian music today. Her highly anticipated performance at Brazilian Beat will kick-off her US debut tour. Opening for da Mata will be Batuke Samba Funk mixing rhythms from Afro-samba and Brazilian big band with classic 70s funk.
The SambaLá Samba School will perform a vibrant Rio-style parade with beautifully costumed dancers and Samba drummers. Attendees of the event will also enjoy a Zumba showcase, Capoeira circle, street dancing, and much more. This is a FREE community event. It all happens on Saturday, September 9th from 6-11PM, Doors open at 5:30PM at the Mizner Park Amphitheater
For more events, follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/Robert.Weinroth or on Twitter at @BocaCalendar.
