Barry’s Buzz – Sept. 10, 2014
Nixon political consultant and confidante Roger Stone returned to the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club lunch Sept. 10 to discuss his new book, Nixon’s Secrets.
The Boca Tribune has a terrific internship program. Hope you will donate to it. Here is the link. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/boca-raton-tribune-internship-program. Please contribute to it.
A new Walmart opened Wednesday, Sept. 10, following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The new store is conveniently located at State Road 7 and Palmetto Park Road in West Boca.
Jeff Daniels starts The Purple Rose Theatre Co. in Michigan. Howie Mandel, Alan Thicke and Alex Trebek are among Canadians with a show biz connection. Hugh Jackman takes a life-changing journey to Ethiopia. They’re among the subjects of more than 30 international documentaries and short films in the 2014 Florida Documentary Film Festival coming to the Willow Theatre and Sugar Sand Park community center in Boca Raton this weekend. Tickets are $7 each day and good for 3 to 9 p.m. Friday or 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at willowtheatre.org/docMiamiFilmFest or the box office at the theater, 300 S. Military Trail. The screening schedule is at http://2014floridadocumentaryfilmfestiv.sched.org/.
Trader Joe’s is expected to open Sept. 26 with a temporary certificate of occupancy, but the City could shut it down if power lines are not buried by Feb. 6.
The non-profit Boca Raton Regional Hospital posted reported earnings of $5.6 million for its fiscal year ending June 30th and that was off considerably from earning of $13 million last year. Patient bad debt totaled $10.2 million, while salaries grew 11% and employee benefits dropped 22%. On the flip side, fundraising had a stellar year, posting $43 million in assets, up from $20 million a year ago. The threat of Humana dropping the hospital from its coverage plans caused an uproar among city residents but sources say it was a negotiating tactic and should be resolved shortly.
Boca Raton based Unify, formerly Siemens Enterprise Communications, who was awarded a $4.5 million contract to replace more than 10,000 phones for all Palm Beach County government locations, including public safety and fire-rescue facilities, constitutional offices (tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, clerk and comptroller) and the 15th Judicial Circuit courthouses and offices, including the public defender and state attorney, has cut 46 local jobs and is shifting work overseas, despite not being disclosed to officials before or after the award, which was an important element of awarding the contract, until it was brought to attention by the Palm Beach Post.
The closed Bistro Gastronomie in the Yamato Village Center, on the north side of Yamato Road, between Lyons Road and 441, will reopen in mid-September as the lower priced La Ferme, still serving French food with the same chef, but different owners. Call 561.430.3731 of visit laferme.kitchen for more information.
South Florida’s rental market continues to soar with a median monthly rent approaching $1300 a month, up 29% from the past three years. To meet demand and high profit margins 2600 units have been completed in Palm Beach County with over 3,000 now under construction, mostly upscale rentals. Real estate pros like Joanne Epstein, Keyes company, say the new breed of rentals is not a good thing, costing 44% of monthly income to afford a market rate apartment.
South Florida’s Seminole Tribe released its gambling revenue numbers and they hit the jackpot once again. The Tribe’s seven statewide casinos racked up $2.1 billion for the last year, with the Hollywood Hard Rock posting $528 million, the Tribe’s Tampa casino operation had $882 million in revenue and the Coconut Creek Casino projected $352 million in revenue with $100 million coming from residents of Palm Beach County, which doesn’t allow slots. The Coconut Creek Casino number outpaces nearby Isle Casino in Pompano Beach with posted $133 million in annual revenue and the Tribe also paid the state $256 million last year for exclusive rights for table games like blackjack and baccarat. Each of the 2500 Seminole Tribe member receives $120,000 a year from net proceeds of gambling revenue, plus free medical care, free education and a guaranteed job.
Florida enrollment in the federal Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, has come up 220,000 short from the numbers Feds reported. State Insurance regulators say the shortfall was discovered when the insurance companies filed for their new rates in June. In a related matter, thousands of South Florida Obamacare enrollees are in jeopardy of losing coverage because of the faulty website healthcare.gov which is unable to verify resident or immigration status of Obamacare signups.
The U.S. Census bureau reported that Palm Beach County’s Hispanic population is now 20% of the total 1.3 million residents with the county’s black population totaling 17.6% and whites reached 58%. The Palm Beach Post reported if this pace continued, whites will cease to be the majority by 2022. Miami Dade county Hispanic population long ago became a majority, with Broward County rapidly following the trend.
The Glades Road Public Library needs reading buddies. Starting Wednesday, September 10th at 5 p.m., assist children in grades K-5 with reading skills. Youth in grades 6 & up can earn community service hours by helping children learn to read. The program lasts 45 minutes every Wednesday. You must fill out an application at the youth services desk to be a reading buddy. Call 561-482-4554 for more information.
“The Ultimate South Florida Contractor’s Marketing Conference” is September 11th at 5:30 pm at the Hampton Inn – Deerfield Beach, 660 W. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. Visit UltimateContractorSeminars.com for information and registration.
Katie Ford, the former CEO of Ford Modeling will be the Keynote Speaker at Human Trafficking: The Modern-Day Slave Trade. The discussion will take place September 11, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at City Fish Market located at 7940 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Tickets for the event, which includes a light dinner and drinks, are $50 per person. Call 561-297-2337 to purchase tickets.
Cafe Cinematheque Foreign Films with Shelly Isaacs is every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.at Movies of Delray 561-638-0020 and Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Movies of Lake Worth 561-968-4545. Visit moviesofdelray.com for more information.
Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl on wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.
Watch Barry Epstein live at barryepstein.com,tv-show/ to win free tickets to the Cinemark Theatres. This week’s guests are audio video producer Ed Marshall, Palm Beach Fleet Services owner Mitch Klar and Locksmith Specialists owner Pat Cullins. You can be on too to promote your business and we send a link of your segment to put on your website and send out in emails to prospects and clients for only $150. It also goes out on Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube. Call 561.852.0000 for details.
No Good Deed, Dolphin Tale 2, The Drop and Atlas Shrugged: Who is John Galt? opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres, The Drop and The Trip To Italy opens at the Movies of Delray and Lake Worth and The Classic Gateway. The Trip to Italy opens at the FAU Living Room theatres. Magic In The Moonlight, Wish I Was Here and Snowpiercer opens at the Last Picture show in Tamarac.
Larry Ferber has a movie club 10 a.m. every Sunday at the FAU Living Room theatres, followed by discussion. Call 757.617.1936 for more information.
Every Sunday at AMF bowling, 1190 Boynton Beach Blvd. and Congress Ave. Brain Bowlers sponsors a bowling league for families and children with disabilities to raise funds and awareness for agencies and children who are void of social interaction. Cost is only $1.38 per game and families can bowl one or two games. There is also entertainment and prizes. For further information, call Robert Gottesman at 561-676-2075.
Butterflies are Free, a romantic Comedy is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, to September 14. Call 954.344.7765 or email stagedoortheatre.com for more information or tickets.
What’s New Pussycat, the songs of Burt Bacharach, is at the Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs, to September 28. Visit stagedoortheatre.com
Ford Modeling Agency’s former CEO Katie Ford, sex trafficking survivor Katarina Rosenblatt and State Attorney David Aronberg will discuss “Human Trafficking: The Modern Day Slave Trade” at a 6:30 p.m. dinner program on Sept. 11 at City Fish Market. Tickets are $50 by calling 561-297-3865.
The public is invited to comment on the tentative city budget for 2014-2015 at two public hearings at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 and 18, both Thursday nights in City Council chambers in Boca Raton City Hall.
JAFCO hosts its fourth annual In My Shoes Luncheon, Sept 12 at Boca West Country Club. Tickets are $75. RSVP at jafco.org or call 954.315.8698.
The Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation Professional Advisory Committee PAC kickoff & Membership Drive Cocktail Reception is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club Place, Boca Raton. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Dietary laws will be observed. Couvert is $50 per person. RSVP at jewishboca.org/packickoff/register. For further information, contact Kristy Lopez at 561.852.6090 or email: kristylo@bocafed.org.
The annual Tastemakers at Mizner Park “Rock, Roll & Stroll” restaurant crawl 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 17. A $30 dining booklet acts as a passport to pairings at 11 restaurants. The booklet is on sale at those restaurants and at miznerpark.com/events/tastemakers-rock-roll-stroll-at-mizner-park. It also includes offers through Oct. 31 for restaurant discounts.
Lynn University and Producer Jan McArt, director of theatre arts program development, today announced a special performance by Boca Raton’s own cabaret sensation Deborah Silver. A special preview of Ms. Silver’s October appearances in New York City at 54 Below and the Mabel Mercer Foundation’s Cabaret Convention at Jazz at Lincoln Center, this music-packed performance will benefit Jan McArt’s Theatre Arts Guild. “Silver Sings Songs from the Great American Songbook” will be presented on Sunday, September 28, at 2 p.m., at the 220-seat Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall in Lynn University’s de Hornle International Conference Center. Tickets are only $45 per person and include complimentary valet parking and a glass of champagne. Tickets can be purchased online atevents.lynn.edu or by calling 561.237.9000.
The Boca Raton Tribune and Palm Beach State College presents an International Trade Show noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 26. Booth space is $250 until Sept. 1 and $350 after Sept. 1. Admission is $20 per person. Email gabriela@bocaratontribune.com for more information.
The 26th Annual Golf Classic benefiting the George Snow Scholarship Fund is 12:45 p.m. Oct. 6 at Boca West Country Club. Sponsorship and Underwriting opportunities are available. Email dfeiler@scholarship.org or call 561.347.6799 for more information.
The National Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be in Boca Raton for the first time on Oct. 11 at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. Registration for the walk is free at alz.org/walk. Volunteers are also needed. Contact Pamela Polani at polani@bellsouth.net or call 561-496-4222.
The 16th Annual Lynn University Blue & White Auction will take place on Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m., in the de Hoernle Sports and Cultural Center. Call 561-237-9000 or register online at lynn.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=672701.
Lynn University and Producer Jan McArt, director of theatre arts program development, will launch next month the 2014-2015 season of Libby Dodson’s Live at Lynn Theatre Series on October 18-19 with The Broadway Boys. Both season subscriptions and individual show tickets can be purchased by phone at 561-237-9000; online at events.lynn.edu; or at the Box Office at Lynn University, on the west side of Military Trail in Boca Raton.
Outre Theatre Company opens its season Oct. 24-Nov. 9 at the Sol/Evening Star Productions’ theatre, 3333 N. Fed. Hwy. with “Back of the Throat”, but will be lured to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in December with “Othello”. Call 954.300.2149 for more information.
JARC sponsors a bowling fundraiser 12:30 to 3 Oct. 26 at Strikes Boca to benefit Adult Day Training Program. Sponsorships are needed. Call 561.558.2572 or email fallong@jarcfl.org. Register at jarcfl.org.
Cpl. Burt Richards recipient of the $1,000 nominated award winning Educator of the Dickies American Hero of the Year award, will be educating 160 5th grade students at the Sunrise Park Elementary school Oct. 29 in honor of Veterans Day Nov 11th, in which he spearheaded the campaign in 2010 to get all Palm Beach Schools closed on Veterans day 2011. His educating program, along with his buddy G. I. JOE, will be honoring those who served and American History. If your school is interested in his appearance, contact the Veterans Speakers Forum at pr.group@juno.com.
The Junior League of Boca Raton’s 27th annual Volunteer of the Year fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue and luncheon is Nov. 7 at Boca West Country Club. Nominations are still being accepted by calling 561.620.2553.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) walk for mental health is 8 am. Nov. 8, at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek. Register at namibroward@gmail.com. For more information, call 954.316.9907 or visit namibroward.org.
The 2014-15 Broadway series season at the Kravis Center includes Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Nov. 11-16; The Book of Mormon, Dec. 16-21; Flashdance – the Musical, Jan. 27-Feb. 1, 2015; Anything Goes, March 10-15, 2015; Memphis, April 7-12, 2015 and Pippin, April 28-May 3, 2015. Subscribers will get renewals in April. General public tickets will go on sale midsummer. To order go to kravis.org/broadway or call 561.832.7469.
The Palm Beach Pops kicks off an abbreviated new season 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 with a one-night-only show at the Kravis Center featuring the Manhattan Transfer, Frank Sinatra Jr. will sing 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Boca Raton Community Church, and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Kravis Center; Frank Sinatra, Jr. “Sinatra Sings Sinatra; 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2015 at Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. at the Kravis Center and a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, featuring Donna McKechnie, Jodie Benson and Doug LaBrecque on 7:30 p.m. March 7 at the Boca Raton Community Church and 7:30 p.m. March 8 at the Kravis Center. Tickets go on sale Sept. 2. Call 561.832.7677 or visit palmbeachpops.org, bocacommunity.org, or kravis.org for more information.
Westbocaleaders.com is the best networking group in the area and meets at Hurricane Grill & Wings in the Mission Bay Shopping Center, next to Office Max, 10125 Glades Road, 33498 on alternate Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Cost is $60 per quarter. Check out the website for openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information.
Thanks to David Weir and the South Florida Business Report, Alexandra Clough, Palm Beach Post business writer and Warren Redlich, WestBocaNews.com for contributions to the 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. His blog is on bocatribune.com, facebook.com/BarryEpstein as well as on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at floridajewishjournal.com –barrys-journal.blogspot.com and on his website: publicrelations.nu.
