Thursday, July 28, 2011

Barry’s Buzz – July 28, 2011

Wells Fargo promoted Frank Newman to regional president for community banking in South Florida, a region the bank just realigned. Newman will oversee the new South Florida region, which comprises Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. Previously, Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe were in one region, while Palm Beach was grouped with the Treasure Coast as the Gold Coast region, which Newman previously oversaw. Newman will report to Shelley Freeman, Wells Fargo’s president for Florida community banking.
As the Sun-Sentinel reported, Wells Fargo now holds your money for five days when you make online bill payments. Call Cora Feldman at HSBC, 561.483.7449 to make an appointment for personal service and no holds on bill paying. Be sure to tell her where you heard it from!
Pet Peeve #2: With the FAA furloughing thousands of people and not legally able to collect federal taxes on air fares, instead of lowering rates, airlines increased rates to keep the money!
Dave Fuente, Office Depot Chairman and CEO in 1988 who took the company public, is resigning from the board due to other business interests.
Parade Productions, a brand new theatrical company based in Boca Raton, has scored an impressive coup their first time out of the gate: Acclaimed South Florida actor Avi Hoffman will star in the company’s premier production: Donald Margulies’ Brooklyn Boy at the Studio at Mizner Park, former home of the Cartoon Museum.
Discovery cruises will be shutting down in September, citing inability to raise prices.
Barry Epstein Live” will feature Elaine Cohen, Advocates On Call and Kingsley Guy editorial columnist of the Sun-Sentinel, The show airs on Fridays at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com. Tune in to win a pair of tickets to the Cinemark and Movies of Delray theaters.
The Luxury Chamber August 15 event will be at the 33rd St Wine Bar. Details at www.luxurychamber.com or call: 1.888.584.1119. Register at http://galtluxury.eventbrite.com.
Save the date: Luxury Chamber network Sept. 8 with Frank McKinney at V, the hottest new venue in Boca.
Movies opening Friday at the Cinemark Palace, Premiere and Paragon Theatres are: Cowboys & Aliens, Crazy Stupid Love and the Smurfs. Movie opening at the Movies of Delray & Lake Worth is Crazy Stupid Love and A Little Help at Movies of Lake Worth.
Six Years plays at the Caldwell Theatre from August 10 through Sept. 4. Tickets and reservations are at www.caldwelltheatre.com or call 561.241.7432. Tickets are $38, $42, or $50 depending on seat location. $10 Students with ID.
Caldwell Theatre Company, South Florida’s acclaimed regional theater company, has announced that it will host a special launch party and performance at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 19, to kick off a second performance venue in the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center Black Box.
On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach will recognize outstanding women in our community at the “38th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast.” The awards breakfast serves the dual purpose of honoring exceptional women and to raise funds for the non-profit organization, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach. Monies raised from this event will directly benefit the lives of women and girls, which is the focus of Soroptimist. This year’s breakfast will be held at the Boca West Country Club from 7:30am to 9:30am. The Honorary Chair is Mary Vecchia. Nominations are open to the public. More information is at www.soroptimist4women.org. Contact consisko@bellsouth.net for details.
Barry Epstein, APR, Senior Vice President of Regan Communications Group, (www.regan.com.), is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, and is the president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce (www.westbocachamber.com), with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. His websites are www.regancomm.com and www.publicrelations.nu and is now a division of www.regancomm.com. His email is bepstein@regancomm.com or pr@publicrelations.nu and his blog is on the Sun-Sentinel Jewish Journal web site: http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com/. You can friend him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barryepstein or follow him on Twitter @cme4pr. Fax items for the column to 561.451.0000 or email to: bocaspindoctor@gmail.com.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Barry’s Buzz – July 21, 2011

Palm Beach County Commissioner Steve Abrams has been appointed Vice Chair of the South Florida Regional Transportation authority. Abrams also presented the town of Highland Beach with $5,000 for maintenance/improvements (including tree planting) to the county-owned property along State Road A1A in the town.
Palm Beach County's new Osprey Point golf course in the South County Regional Park is the first course in Florida and only the second in the U.S. to reach the Audubon International Classic Sanctuary classification, the highest for golf course environmental stewardship.
Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Palm Beach County's Republican state committeeman, Peter Feaman to the Judicial Nominating Commission that recommends candidates for judicial vacancies on South Florida's district court of appeals. He also appointed U.S. Rep. Allen West’s wife, Angela Graham-West, Abdol Moabery and Julius “Butch” Teste to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees.
Costco is adding gas pumps to the Boca Raton location, starting construction soon on the south end of the parking lot at 17800 Congress Ave., with the expected opening in October,
All of Borders Books will start closing nationwide tomorrow.
Mama Mia! continues through Sunday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Don’t miss it. Best production of the musical yet!
The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., whose national spokesman is Brooklynite Larry King, now has another famous Brooklyn-born fan. Barbra Streisand hired it to cater the wrap party that marked the end of the filming of her new movie, “My Mother’s Curse,” which will come out next spring. Streisand plays the mother of actor Seth Rogen.
Smokehouse Grille & Wingery has taken the space formerly operated by the Thirsty Turtle in the HSBC Center on Yamato and 441. Shorty’s Bar-B-Q is said to be opening in the Reserve center.
Barry Epstein Live” will feature Lynn University Professor Dr. Robert Watson and Kingsley Guy editorial columnist of the Sun-Sentinel, The show airs on Fridays at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com. Tune in to win a pair of tickets to the Cinemark, Paragon and Movies at Delray.
The Luxury Chamber August 15 event will be at the 33rd St Wine Bar. Details at www.luxurychamber.com or call: 1.888.584.1119. Register at http://galtluxury.eventbrite.com.
Movies opening Friday at the Cinemark Palace, Premiere and Paragon Theatres are: Captain America: The First Avenger and Friends With Benefits, Movie opening at the Movies of Delray & Lake Worth is The Trip.
Six Years plays at the Caldwell Theatre from August 10 through Sept.4. Tickets and reservations are at www.caldwelltheatre.com or call 561.241.7432. Tickets are $38, $42, or $50 depending on seat location. $10 Students with ID.
On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach will recognize outstanding women in our community at the “38th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast.” The awards breakfast serves the dual purpose of honoring exceptional women and to raise funds for the non-profit organization, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach. Monies raised from this event will directly benefit the lives of women and girls, which is the focus of Soroptimist. This year’s breakfast will be held at the Boca West Country Club from 7:30am to 9:30am. The Honorary Chair is Mary Vecchia. Nominations are open to the public. More information is at www.soroptimist4women.org. Contact consisko@bellsouth.net for details.
Barry Epstein, APR, Senior Vice President of Regan Communications Group, (www.regan.com.), is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, and is the president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce (www.westbocachamber.com), with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. His websites are www.regancomm.com and www.publicrelations.nu and is now a division of www.regancomm.com. His email is bepstein@regancomm.com or pr@publicrelations.nu and his blog is on the Sun-Sentinel Jewish Journal web site: http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com/. You can friend him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barryepstein or follow him on Twitter @cme4pr. Fax items for the column to 561.451.0000 or email to: bocaspindoctor@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Barry’s Buzz – July 14, 2011

The Seminole Indians, through its Hard Rock Hotel franchise is vying to build a $275 million 850 room hotel on the south end of Atlantic City’s boardwalk.
One-time real estate guru Anthony Cutaia intends to plea guilty at a July 26 hearing. He wa charged with fraud for running a Ponzi scheme. Federal prosecutors allege that the Boca Raton resident used his radio show on WSBR and other stations to sell investments in a real estate scam.
Local insurance executive and Jewish Federation Board member Michael Weinberg, has been sued by various investors for the disappearance of $18 million from his company and he has filed suit against the richest city in the world. Here is the link to the site. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2595173/posts
A new state law requires gated communities to give unannounced access to process servers who can also give a summons or subpoena to any employee of a registered agent.
AOLs travel blog named Delray Beach at the top of its list of 35 best US beach destinations.
http://www.gadling.com/2010/05/04/35-fantastic-u-s-beaches-forsummer/?ncid=webmaildl6.
The Country Network, a country music television network has moved its headquarters to Boca Raton from Nashville, leasing 7,000 sq. ft. of offices while looking for studio space, and plans to hire 40 workers.
Lynne Wines,former president of CNL bank is now president of First Southern Bank.
Howard Saltz was named editor of the Sun-Sentinel. Before coming to Florida, Saltz was veep of interactive news at MediaNews Group, parent of the Denver Post, 54 other dailies and 100 weeklies.
Boca Raton High is No. 9 on Onlineuniversities.com’s ranking called “The 10 Most Posh Public School Systems in America.” Boca Raton and Spanish River high schools made Newsweek magazine's annual list of the best 500 American public high schools.
Keystone Property Group has acquired 1200 Corporate Place, a 137,021-square-foot, four-story office building in Boca Raton, for $15.25 million from an affiliate of Equity Office.
The Powerline Road widening project from Glades to the Broward line has been completed. The bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway on Camino Real will be closed from 6 a.m. July 18 to 6 p.m. July 22, to replace a 15-foot section of concrete sidewalk.
"Barry Epstein Live” will feature Boca Magazine Group Editor Marie Speed, Lynn University Professor Dr. Robert Watson and Kingsley Guy editorial columnist of the Sun-Sentinel, The show airs on Fridays at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com. Tune in to win a pair of tickets to the Cinemark, Paragon and Movies at Delray.
The next Luxury Chamber networking event will be on Monday, July 18 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Ben’s New York Kosher Deli, 441 and Clint Moore Road in Boca. Cost is $20. Register at www.luxurychamber.com. The August 15 event will be at the 33rd St Wine Bar. Details to come.
Cinemark Theatres are conjuring up a Harry Potter marathon today in Boca Raton. See the magical movies (screening in 2D, 3D and XD) back-to-back on the silver screen finishing up with a 12:01 a.m. Friday showing of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II" .If you don't want to spend all day, Cinemark is offering a special Double Feature screening of Part I and II today at 9 p.m. and 12:01 a.m. (early Friday) for $15. For more information, go to www.cinemark.com.
Movies opening Friday at the Cinemark Palace, Premiere and Paragon Theatres are: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 and Winnie the Pooh. Movie opening at the Movies of Delray is Tree of Life.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10556 encourages all veterans to attend and offers a free lunch at noon, July 16 at Veterans Park, West of Lyons Road and East of 441 on the south side of Palmetto Park Road. RSVP to Commander Charlie Epstein at 561.487.2721.
On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach will recognize outstanding women in our community at the "38th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast." The awards breakfast serves the dual purpose of honoring exceptional women and to raise funds for the non-profit organization, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach. Monies raised from this event will directly benefit the lives of women and girls, which is the focus of Soroptimist. This year's breakfast will be held at the Boca West Country Club from 7:30am to 9:30am. The Honorary Chair is Mary Vecchia. Nominations are open to the public. More information is at www.soroptimist4women.org. Contact consisko@bellsouth.net for details.
Barry Epstein, APR, Senior Vice President of Regan Communications Group, (www.regan.com.), is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, and is the president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce (www.westbocachamber.com), with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. His websites are www.regancomm.com and www.publicrelations.nu and is now a division of www.regancomm.com. His email is bepstein@regancomm.com or pr@publicrelations.nu and his blog is on the Sun-Sentinel Jewish Journal web site: http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com/. You can friend him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barryepstein or follow him on Twitter @cme4pr. Fax items for the column to 561.451.0000 or email to: bocaspindoctor@gmail.com

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Barry’s Buzz – July 7, 2011

McDonald’s to start serving CafĂ© con Leche drink in South Florida restaurants in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, eventually expanding to Palm Beach County if demanded.

Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach may combine their police and fire-rescue dispatch centers to save money and improve communication among the cities. The cities will commission a $50,000 study in the next few months to assess the costs and benefits of a consolidated dispatch center,

"Barry Epstein Live will feature Lynn University Professor Dr. Robert Watson and Kingsley Guy editorial columnist of the Sun-Sentinel, The show airs on Fridays at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com. Tune in to win a pair of tickets to the Cinemark, Paragon and Movies at Delray theatres.

Stuff opens tomorrow at the Caldwell Theatre. Visit www.caldwelltheatre.com for details.

The Eagles tribute band The Long Run is performing for free at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 9, as part of the city’s Music @ Mizner summer concert series. “Gastro Trucks” will be on site, and Saturday night’s food truck samplings will include Sakaya Kitchen, Nacho Bizness, Latin Burger and Ice Cream on 4 Wheels.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10556 encourages all veterans to attend and offers a free lunch at noon, July 16 at Veterans Park, West of Lyons Road and East of 441 on the south side of Palmetto Park Road. RSVP to Commander Charlie Epstein at 561.487.2721.l

On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton/Deerfield Beach will recognize outstanding women in our community at the "38th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Breakfast." The awards breakfast serves the dual purpose of honoring exceptional women and to raise funds for the non-profit organization, Soroptimist International of Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach. Monies raised from this event will directly benefit the lives of women and girls, which is the focus of Soroptimist. This year's breakfast will be held at the Boca West Country Club from 7:30am to 9:30am. The Honorary Chair is Mary Vecchia. Nominations are open to the public. More information is at www.soroptimist4women.org. Contact consisko@bellsouth.net for details.

Cinemark Theatres are conjuring up a Harry Potter marathon on Wednesday and Thursday, July 13 and 14, for $38 in Boca Raton. See all eight magical movies (screening in 2D, 3D and XD) back-to-back on the silver screen beginning Wednesday and finishing up with a 12:01 a.m. Friday showing of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II" .If you don't want to spend two days, Cinemark is offering a special Double Feature screening of Part I and II on Thursday at 9 p.m. and 12:01 a.m. (early Friday) for $15. For more information, go to www.cinemark.com.

Movies opening Friday at the Cinemark Palace, Premiere and Paragon Theatres are: Horrible Bosses and Zookeeper. Movie opening at the Movies of Delray is Brideflight.

Barrry Epstein, APR, Senior Vice President of Regan Communications Group,(www.regancomm.com) s a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, and is the president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce (www.westbocachamber.com), with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. His websites are www.regancomm.com and www.publicrelations.nu and is now a division of www.regancomm.com. His email is bepstein@regancomm.com and pr@publicrelations.nu and his blog is on the Sun-Sentinel Jewish Journal web site: http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com/. You can friend him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/barryepstein or follow him on Twitter @cme4pr. Fax items for the column to 561.451.0000 or email to: bocaspindoctor@gmail.com