Happy Father’s Day Sunday to all the Dad’s out there! Remember to call or be with your father and always remember him fondly if he is gone, but will always be with you in your heart.
CITY COUNCIL AGREE TO BUILD AN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AT THE BOCA RATON AIRPORT
Boca Raton City Council agreed to shell out $622,000 to build an administrative building at the Boca Raton airport. The Florida Department of Transportation will kick in 80% of the $3 million building cost, and the expansion is designed to attract a U.S Customs office that will open the airport to international traffic. The city’s financing comes from airport user fees and not from taxes.
OTHER BARRYS BUZZ:
- Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale will be opening an urgent care and imaging center with 11 full time employees Sept. 15 at 1799 S. Federal Highway at the site of a former mattress firm which was demolished and a nearly 8,000 sq. ft. facility will be built as a free standing facility capable of transmitting test results instantly to the hospital to be read.
- The Luxury Chamber features State Rep. Bobby Powell, 6 to 8 p.m. June 18 at Peninsula On The Intracoastal, 2690 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Fl. 33435. RSVP to register at www.luxurychamber.com to network with upscale business and professional people.
- Keyes President Mike Pappas speaks at the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club lunch 11:30 a.m. July 8 at City Fish Market, 7940 Glades Road at the Florida Turnpike in Boca. RSVP and register at www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com
- Boca Raton’s taxable real estate is tops in the county at $18.1 billion, according to the latest estimates from the county’s property appraiser.
- Boca Dunes Golf and Country Club and Boca Greens Country Club are the latest communities that could see new homes built on golf course land. The preliminary proposal for Boca Dunes calls for building 245 townhomes on 31 acres of the golf course at the community south of Palmetto Park Road and west of Lyons Road. Also, initial talks for Boca Greens call for building about 70 townhomes using 11 acres in the golf course clubhouse area and potentially another 10 acres of open spaces at the community near Kimberly Boulevard, west of State Road 7.
- The second season of the USA Network series, Graceland begins June 11 at 10/9 central. The show is set in Southern California, but has been filming all over South Florida including locations in Boca Raton, but the future of South Florida’s film and TV production industry is now uncertain as state lawmakers failed to approve a tax credit funding package. The production tax credit funding of $296 million is already used up through 2016 and without incentives producers may go elsewhere for the tax break. Industry sources estimate film and TV production generates $1 billion in economic impact annually in Florida and provides 25,000 jobs.
- Arturo Gismondi will be opening La Nouvelle Maison at 455 E. Palmetto Park Road, inspired by the former La Vieille Maison, which was Boca’s best high-end French restaurant and where a Chabad may be built at the former La Veille Maison site on Palmetto Park Road in Boca. Gismondi also is the owner/chef of Trattoria Romana, Cannolli Kitchen and the Biergarten. His father and Uncle started Arturo’s in north Boca. Thanks to Skip Sheffield for this.
- Another Broken Egg Café has opened in Royal Palm Plaza with an “egg breaking” ceremony scheduled for June 16th, the Shrimp House has opened in the Food Court at Town Center, Boca Raton, Ideal Image has opened in the Town Commons, formerly Glades Plaza and Fork & Knife has closed in Royal Palm Plaza after being opened less than a year.
- TR San Marco Coup sold the San Marco at Broken Sound apartment complex to San Marco Holdings LLC, after paying $36 million for it in 1993.
- The Boca Museum of Art will offer free access to the general public every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during June, July, and August.
- The Florida Department of Transportation will improve 441 from Glades Road to Sample with a $9.3 million first phase of coordinated traffic signals, adding sidewalks and 5 foot bike lanes, improved intersections, new bus shelters with electronic message boards and increased landscaping.
- Palm Beach County Commissioners may approve increasing trash collection services from $1 to $4, depending on the area of the county.
- Cash strapped Public Television station WXEL in Boynton Beach is discussing merging to survive with Miami PBT station WPBT, and the union is designed to save programming costs paid to the national network, which both stations carry most of the same programs at the same time.
- The cash rich South Florida Seminole Indian Tribe is on the acquisition trail, looking to buy a bank to service its 2,500 members who receive $120,000 each per year from gambling revenue. Local banking pros say the tribe will also add to its considerable profits by setting up a major loan operation at the bank. Seminoles gross $800 million annually in South Florida alone from its three casinos.
- The Life is at the Delray Square Performing Arts Center, 4809 W. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach through July 27. Call (561) 880-0319 or visit www.delraysquarearts.com for more information and 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 www.moviesofdelray.com for more information.
- Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl on www.wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.
- Watch Barry Epstein live to win free tickets to the Cinemark Theatres. You can be on too to promote your business. Call 561.852.0000 for details.
- 22 Jump Street and How to Train Your Dragon 2 opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres. Words and Pictures opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres, Movies of Delray and Movies of Lake Worth. Don’t miss it. Four stars! Just a Sigh also opens at the FAU living Room Theatres. Spiderman 2 and Blended opens at the Last Picture Show in Tamarac and 22 Jump Street and Palo Alto opens at the Classic Gateway theatre in Fort Lauderdale.
- On the Radio: Sounds of the 70s is through July 27 at the Broward Stage Door theatre, 8036 W Sample Rd. Coral Springs. Call 954.344.7765 or visit www.stagedoortheatre.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
- 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.
- Florida will offer a 15-day sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness supplies to June 14. During that time period, Floridians can purchase flashlights, batteries, weather radios and other basic hurricane supply items, all tax-free. Hurricane season lasts to Nov. 30.
- The “J Street Challenge” will be shown 6 pm June 12 at Wings Plus, 9880 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs, west of University Drive, south side, between 99th Way and 96th Avenue, followed by discussion led by Alan Bergstein for the Jewish Republican Club of Broward County. Call 954.718.1308 or email Irma.gordon@comcast.net for reservations.
- June 17 is JARC’s Night Out at the Flashback Diner, 1450 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton. Call 561-558-2550.
- Avenue Q runs June 19th to June 29th, at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts Crest Theater at Old School Square, 51 North Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach. Tickets are available at: http://delraycenterforthearts.org or by calling 561-243-7922 ext. 1. (Not suitable for children under the age of 15).
- The Long Run, Eagles tribute band kicks off the free Friday Night Summer Tribute Series, 7:30 pm June 20, followed by Crazy Fingers, Grateful Dead tribute band June 27, Odyssey Road, Journey tribute band July 11, U2 by UV , U2 tribute band, July 25, Jimmy Stowe and the Stowaways, Jimmy Buffet tribute band Aug 1 and Turnstiles, Billy Joel tribute band Aug. 8. Visit www.mizneramphitheatre.com for more information.
- Dr. Robert Watson speaks 2 pm June 23 on the 2014 mid-term elections and 2 pm June 25 on 1814: The Bicentennial of the most intriguing year in American History in the sanctuary of the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowhip, 2601 St. Andres Blvd. north of Glades Road. $40 for both sessions, $25 for one. Call 561.883.0999 to reserve or email ilirincinfo@att.net. Visit www.iliretirement.org for more information.
- A never-before-seen collection of works by Michael Godard, the Rockstar of the Art World, will be on exhibition and available for acquisition at an exhibition presentation 6 to 9 pm June 28 at the Wentworth Gallery, Boca Town Center, 6000 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Call 561.338.0804 or Email to towncenter@wentworthgallery.com for more info and to RSVP.
- The Boca Black Film Festival will take place at the Boca Raton Marriott from July 17-19. It is a new festival for black content makers based in the U.S. For more info visit www.bocablackfilm.org.
- Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale July 22-27. Call 954.462.0222 or visit www.browardcenter.org for tickets or 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. The kickoff for the Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 29 at JAZZIZ Nightlife, 201 Plaza Real in Mizner Park. The event will include cocktails and appetizers, a silent auction, photo booth and a deejay. Tickets are $25 per person in advance or $30 at the door at www.http://goo.gl/wq17A5. Registration for the walk is free at www.alz.org/walk. Volunteers are also needed. Contact Pamela Polani at polani@bellsouth.net or call 561-496-4222.
- 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 www.jarcfl.org.
- 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 www.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 www.kravis.org/broadway or call 561.832.7469.
- The Palm Beach Pops kicks off an abbreviated new season Dec. 14 with a one-night-only show at the Kravis Center featuring the Manhattan Transfer, Frank Sinatra Jr. will sing on Jan. 10 at the Boca Raton Community Church and Jan. 11 at the Kravis Center, and a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch on March 7 at the Boca Raton Community Church and March 8 at the Kravis Center. Tickets go on sale Sept. 2. Call 561.832.7677 or visit www.palmbeachpops.org, www.www.bocacommunity.org, or www.kravis.org for more information.
- www.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’s South Florida Business Report for contributing to the column.
Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com, the www.luxurychamber.com, the www.westbocaleaders.com and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.vimeo.com, www.youtube.com and www.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 www.bocatribune.com, www.facebook.com/BarryEpstein as well as on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com – www.http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com and on his website: www.publicrelations.nu.