Barrys Buzz – March 8, 2017
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club will host former Congressman Ron Klein discussing President’s Trumps first 100 days in office. http://www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com/event/ron-klein-speaks-march-8th-boca-raton/. See upcoming programs on the website. Founder and president Barry Epstein was named president emeritus. Howard Appell is now president.
Zimmerman Advertising has regained the Office Depot/Office Max accounts.
HHGregg will close 3 Palm Beach County stores in April.
The city of Boca Raton and the state Boca Raton Airport Authority each has a new website. The timing may be similar, but they’re completely separate projects. Myboca.us went live Feb. 1 with the official launch Feb. 6.
KidSafe Foundation will host its “Shine the Light” gala March 10 at Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton. The event, running from 7 to 11 p.m., will include dinner, dancing, a premium open bar, silent auction and live auction hosted by Neil Saffer. The evening will honor State Attorney Dave Aronberg as KidSafe Foundation’s Child Advocate of the Year. Since he was elected Palm Beach County’s state attorney in 2012, the Miami native has led to a significant increase in conviction rates for felonies and misdemeanors, a decrease in the number of juveniles direct filed into adult court, and an improved working relationship with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Tickets to “Shine the Light” are $200. For more information, visit www.kidsafefoundation.org.
Come March 18, visitors to Boca Raton’s Sugar Sand Park will finally be able to check out the revamped Science Playground more than a year after the park was closed for renovations.
The Tri County Animal rescue hosts the 15thn annual Doggie and Kitty Ball 5:30 March 19 at Boca West Country Club. Western attire (hats boots denim). Complimentary parking. Visit tricountyhumane.org or call 561.482.8110.
Boca Bacchanal is back for the 15th year on March 24 and 25, and the community food and wine tasting is moving to Saturday with the time extended an hour.
The Chinese Lantern Festival continues 5:30 to 10 pm Wednesdays through Sundays through April 9 at the Burt Aaronnson South County Regional Park in West Boca.
Bolay bills itself as the “healthy fast casual food” eatery, the latest addition to the restaurant scene in Boca Raton
The Ren-Fest continues on weekends from 8 a.m. to dusk at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach.
Rappy’s, at 5560 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, 561-314-6840, RappysRestaurant.com.South Florida restaurateur Burt Rapoport has launched breakfast service from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Rappy’s, which he opened in the new Park Place plaza in December for lunch and dinner. “When deciding on the breakfast menu, I just wanted to stick to the classics,” says Rapoport, who is returning to his roots of growing up around his grandfather’s kosher restaurant in Manhattan. “Some of these classics we serve all day long on the lunch and dinner menus, too. The only nontraditional item is the avocado toast ($9.95). Occasionally, I’ll have my all-time favorite, which is the Rappy’s Hash ($12.95).”Rapoport is nostalgic about that corned beef hash and eggs from eating it in the wee hours after tending bar during college in Arizona. He’s added house-smoked pastrami to his rendition for flavor and heartiness, as well as to Rappy’s breakfast sandwich ($8.95).Other highlights include challah French toast ($9.95) and matzo brei ($9.95). The eatery is a hybrid of traditional New York Jewish deli and contemporary with vintage subway tile, full bar, stylish covered patio, chalkboard menus and a framed newspaper article on Rapoport’s father, who was nicknamed Rappy.
For the first time, Palm Beach County’s public schools have more Hispanic students than any other demographic group. Hispanics make up 33 percent of the district’s 190,240 students, compared with 32 percent who are white, non-Hispanic and 28 percent who are black.
Falk Center for counseling offers “first Wednesdys” seminars 11 to noon, 22455 Boca Rio road.
April 5; Post Hypnotic Suggestions: Altered States of Consciousness In Therapy presented by Christopher Kelley, MS.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is stepping down from his post to assume the position of vice president of strategic initiatives and chief financial officer for Florida Atlantic University. Atwater will leave his post in Gov. Rick Scott’s cabinet following the 2017 legislative session. The session begins March 7 and typically lasts 60 days.
The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District is offering to buy the former Ocean Breeze Golf Club for $24 million to help the city, which has been working to acquire the property as it sells its municipal course. City officials were previously in talks with Lennar to swap Ocean Breeze for the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course. City officials were previously in talks with Lennar to swap Ocean Breeze for the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course.
Former Miami Dolphins player Jason Taylor already was selected to be the keynote speaker at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s annual Inspiration Breakfast in Boca Raton when he was picked for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “Having a Hall of Fame speaker is a perfect scenario,” said Evan Wyant, president of the presenting sponsor BB&T Bank and chairman of the breakfast at 7:30 a.m. March 7 at Office Depot Global Headquarters, 6600 N. Military Trail. For tickets, tables and sponsorships visit ymcaspbc.org/inspirationbreakfast/.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is March 29-April 2. This year’s festival will consist of 30 films, including “Price for Freedom,” “Remember Me” and “Wrestling Alligators.” It will begin with a red carpet screening, followed by an after party at Bowery Palm Beach in CityPlace and Tilted Kilt on Airport Road next to Cinemark. From there, events will take place all around Palm Beach County, such as Jupiter, Lake Worth, Wellington and Boca Raton. Tickets are able to be purchased at pbifilmfest.org.
The headliner for this year’s A Concert for the Children is Oscar and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Hudson. The “Dreamgirls” star will perform at the fundraiser for the 25 children’s charities supported by the Boca West Foundation on April 4 at the Akoya Amphitheater on the country club’s grounds,
R.I.P. former VP of Citrix Jeffrey Krantz. A Celebration of Life is set for 11 a.m. March 12 at Lakeside Terrace. Details at ShivaConnect.com and search for Jeffrey Krantz.
R.I.P. Bob Beasley husband of Boca Raton Tribune Society Editor Charlotte Beaseley died recently. Burial is Wednesday at the South Florida National Cemetary at 6501 State Road 7 in Lake Worth, Fl. at 10:30 am. If you care to attend, please use Lane 3 to line up with other cars.
Senior citizens who need help with daily tasks but want to remain independent can get help from a new nonprofit service that supports their goal of staying out of a nursing home. JFS At Home was created by the Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, a social service agency. It brings certified nursing assistants and home health care aides into seniors’ apartments and houses to help them with bathing, toileting, feeding and other daily requirements. Social workers also check in regularly to make sure the senior is comfortable or in need of additional services, such as a psychologist or a house cleaner. “It sounds simple, but when cognitive abilities begin to decline, it can put a strain on the caregiver, the family or the seniors themselves,” said Danielle Hartman, JFS president. “If someone is no longer able to drive, they can become isolated or depressed.”
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-emeritus 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.
