Thursday, May 31, 2012

Barrys Buzz May 31, 2012

Newsweek magazine named Spanish River and Boca High to the “America’s best High Schools 2012” list. Subway is the first chain to open on the barrier island Saturday on East Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton. A 24-hour 7-Elevin will also open in the summer, but residents want to limit expansion of convenience stores in the future. Boca Raton’s Glades Plaza was sold for $75 million to Dallas-based L&B CIP Glades Plaza. Retiring Chairman of FPL parent company NextEra, Lou Hay was paid $22.6 million in 2011 on $2 billion in profits. Shareholders will vote tomorrow if they agree with the pay to compensate top executives in a no binding vote. The company pays no federal income tax, after $7 billion in profit over the past three years. A typical CEO of a public company made $9.6 million, up 6 percent from 2010 and the highest since tracking began in 2006. Nickel and dime Spirit Airlines racked up $134 million in baggage fees, up $82 million last year, while Delta racked up $863 million and American almost $600 million. Five South Florida casinos racked up $381 million in sales last year. The Isle grossed $115 million in revenue, Calder did $57 million and Gulfstream had $55 million. Combined they paid $161 million in taxes. The Seminole Tribes topped everyone with an estimated $900 million in revenue from their two casinos in Hollywood and Cocounut Creek. 1.2 million Brazilian tourists visited Florida last year, up 38% over last year and the trend is expected to increase 20% this year through faster visa processing. Brazilians spent more than $2.2 billion last year as prices in the U.S. are half what they are in their home country. Tourism officials are lobbying to waive visa restrictions all together for Brazilians. South Florida plastic surgeons are seeing an increase in business from out of state patients due to price. New York plastic surgery prices are twice as high. One Boca Raton doctor said 60% of his business is from out of state. South Florida marine company Titan Salvage began operations to refloat the ill fated Carnival owned cruise ship Concordia that sank off the Italian coast in January. The $288 million project will take a year to recover the ship, which Carnival plans to refit, change its name and return to the fleet. Carnival has already taken a $150 hit to its bottom line and shelled out $14,000 to each of the 4,000 passengers that survived the tragedy. Citizens, Florida insurer of last resort, shafted taxpayers once again, cancelling windstorm insurance on 100,000 homeowners after re-inspection properties it once approved which cost an average $750 premium hike. Citizens has $5.6 billion and 337,000 policy holders in Palm Beach & Broward counties. 200,000 more inspections are slated this year. More than 260,000 Palm Beach county residents are on Medicare. State lawmakers have until July 1 to restore $31 million in budget cuts for county clerks of the courts, and if nothing is done South Florida faces a nightmare for the legal system with layoffs and massive backlogs looming. Despite a flood of expected foreclosures and an abundance of short sales, South Florida home builders are seeing a revival of sorts with new developments coming on line in the $200-$400 price range inland. Palm Beach County Commissioners are cracking down on derelict property owners that are suppressing home values in surrounding neighborhoods. Property tax liens will be on owners if the county has to step in and repair or clean up run-down parcels. The county also slapped a $150 registration fee on bank-foreclosed properties with the money used to clean up abandoned homes. City National Bank of Miami, owned by the Bankia group, a Spanish lender nationalized earlier this month, needs $23.8 billion of government money to restructure its business and is asking for a government bailout. Barry Epstein Live internet television show airs Friday at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com featuring radio talk show host Bill Lewis, State Senator Maria Sachs and Sun-Sentinel columnist Kingsley Guy. Watch to win free tickets to Cinemark theatres. Movies opening at the Cinemark Theatres Friday are The Intouchables, Crooked Arrows and Snow White and the Huntsman . Movies opening Friday at the Movies of Delray are Snow White and the Huntsman and Bernie. Florida CFO Jeff Atwater speaks at the Boca Raton Republican Club meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Boca Raton Marriott Hotel. Broward County Sheriff candidate Louis Granteed, assistant Hollywood Police Chief, holds a fundraiser at the Whale, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., tonight. Go to www.granteed.com for further information. Yard House opens Monday in the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center. The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation will review the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for its fifth 3 year reaccredited status starting June 5. The Immigrant opens June 6 through July 1 and Backwards In High Heels, the Ginger Musical opens June 8 through July 1 at the Stage Door Theatre 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs. Call 954.344.7765 for ticket information. Soroptomist International of Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach hosts an installation banquet at Brooks Restaurant on June 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost is $55 per person. Visit www.soroptomist4women.org. Soroptimists also awarded checks to 14 charities that help women and girls in a half-century tradition that meant even more with a tight economy and government cutbacks. On Friday, August 31, the Sunset Cove Amphitheater will host a live concert featuring Sublime with Rome with special guests Cypress Hill, Pepper, and the Dirty Heads. The Boca Raton Theatre Guilds 2012-2013 season will begin with a comedy, and end with a classic. A.R. Gurneys Sylvia, and Kander & Ebbs Chicago will run in September and March at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park, located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road. Tickets for Sylvia will go on sale on August 1st, and can be purchased at the Willow Theatre Box office: 561-347-3948. Birch Communications is a multi-million dollar company with an exclusive wholesale agreement with AT&T. If you would like to save money on your AT&T land phones without changing your numbers, call 561.852.0000. You can have your own internet television show very inexpensively. Contact Wayne at wrpbitv@yahoo.com. For Al-Anon-meetings in South Palm Beach County, go to www.southpalmbeachafg.org/meeting_list.html. WWW.WestBocaLeaders.com has openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information. If you have foreclosure issues, go to www.finestofsouthflorida.com and call 561.945.0000 for the help you will need. Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), the West Boca Leaders networking group and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. Website; www.publicrelations.nu; email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. His blog is on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com - http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Barrys Buzz May 24, 2012

U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, may get a pass from the Republicans in this year's election. Boca Raton City Council approved plans for a 12 story, downtown’s tallest building of 208 residential units. Wells Fargo bank is foreclosing on Chabad of Boca Raton ­ including its synagogue and preschool ­ for not paying on its $2 million mortgage since November. The 23-year-old Orthodox Jewish congregation has occupied its 3-acre campus at 17950 Military Trail since 1999. The Womens Theatre Project has found a new home in Boca Raton. The acclaimed 10 year old company will move from their performance space in Fort Lauderdale to the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. Florida SunPass may be used in New Jersey and New York, but at a higher rate than those residents. An effort to clear canoe trails so that paddlers can glide through Lake Wyman's mangroves as they did 10 years ago is in danger of running aground. The delay could mean the money to get the project done will be lost. The state needs to limit the importance of the FCAT because the high-stakes exams fail to measure critical thinking skills, are not a good predictor of academic success and are stressing out teachers and students, a group of parents told the state's education commissioner. The new viewing tanks at the city’s Gumbo Limbo Nature Center will open Friday, May 25, in time for Memorial Day weekend. The initial limited hours for the sea tanks open to visitors will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays at the center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd. Barry Epstein Live internet television show airs Friday at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com featuring Palm Beach County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller Sharon Bock, Hollywood Assistant Police Chief and Broward County Sheriff candidate Louis Granteed and Sun-Sentinel columnist Kingsley Guy. Watch to win free tickets to Cinemark theatres. Movies opening at the Cinemark Theatres Friday are Men in Black III in 3D and Chernobyl Diaries. Movies opening Friday at the Movies of Delray are The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Darling Companion, Follow Me: the Yoni Netanyahu Story, Rigoletto and What to Expect When you Might be Expecting. Red, White and Blue, Salute to Our Troops at Blue Martini Boca Raton is a benefit for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach at 7:00pm-10pm on May 25, $10 cash fee at the door, with proceeds donated to help the mission of sending monthly “we care” packages to all of our brave young men and women who are currently serving overseas. The Veterans Coalition of South Florida will present its annual Memorial Day program at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at Veterans Park, on Palmetto Park Road between Lyons Road and 441.west of Boca Raton. Bob Nichols, National Chairman of the Board of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is emcee at the Monday, May 28 Memorial Day Service from 11:50 A.M. to 2 p.m. at Palm Beach Memorial Park, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana (561.585 6444). More information is available at www.forgottensoldiers.org or call 561.369.2933. Congressman Ted Deutch will be hosting a telephone town hall for South Florida business leaders on May 31st. 8 a.m. Advance registration is required. https://deutchforms.house.gov/Forms/Form/Default.aspx?ID=2006 to sign up. Broward County Sheriff candidate Louis Granteed, assistant Hollywood Police Chief, holds a fundraiser at the Whale, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., May 31st. Go to www.granteed.com for further information. The Immigrant opens June 6 through July 1 and Backwards In High Heels, the Ginger Musical opens June 8 through July 1 at the Stage Door Theatre 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs. Call 954.344.7765 for ticket information. Soroptomist International of Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach hosts an installation banquet at Brooks Restaurant on June 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. Cost is $55 per person. Visit www.soroptomist4women.org. On Friday, August 31, the Sunset Cove Amphitheater will host a live concert featuring Sublime with Rome with special guests Cypress Hill, Pepper, and the Dirty Heads. The Boca Raton Theatre Guilds 2012-2013 season will begin with a comedy, and end with a classic. A.R. Gurneys Sylvia, and Kander & Ebbs Chicago will run in September and March at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park. located at 300 South Military Trail in Boca Raton, just south of Palmetto Park Road. Tickets for Sylvia will go on sale on August 1st, and can be purchased at the Willow Theatre Box office: 561-347-3948. Birch Communications is a multi-million dollar company with an exclusive wholesale agreement with AT&T. If you would like to save money on your AT&T land phones without changing your numbers, call 561.852.0000. You can have your own internet television show very inexpensively. Contact Wayne at wrpbitv@yahoo.com. For Al-Anon-meetings in South Palm Beach County, go to www.southpalmbeachafg.org/meeting_list.html. WWW.WestBocaLeaders.com has openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information. Congrats to all the high school and college graduates, especially Pam Plummer and Alana Krantz. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend with your family and/or loved ones. Please take your children to an observance so they can learn how important this holiday is to remember the men and women who have given their lives to keep our country free. Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), the West Boca Leaders networking group and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. Website; www.publicrelations.nu; email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. His blog is on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com - http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Barrys Buzz May 17, 2012

Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney visits Boca Raton tonight for a reception at Woodfield Country Club followed by dinner at the home of Sun Capital Partners co-founder Marc Leder, hosting the $50,000 a plate fundraiser and the $2,500 donors reception, including a VIP photo opportunity for $10,000 contributors. He will raise $10 million in Boca, Tampa and at a Biltmore Hotel fundraiser in Coral Gables from a primarily Cuban crowd. Romney will be back in Boca on Oct. 20 for the final presidential debate with Barach Obama at Lynn University’s Wold Performing Arts Center, which will become the epicenter of the world. Palm Beach County anted up $150,000 in tourism tax dollars for Lynn to market the Debate the school is hosting. The Florida Supreme Court ruling upholding term limits means that long-serving Palm Beach County Commssioners Burt Aaronson and Karen Marcus will be leaving, but may run for other posts. Four candidates have filed to run for Aaronson's District 5 post: Democrats Mary Louise Berger, Steven Meyer and Rick Neuhoff and Republican Paul Tocker. The Boca Raton Historical Society added four new “stars” to the annual Walk of Recognition under the Miznr statue at Royal Palm Place. Honorees included Sandra Greenblatt, Howard McCall, Holli Rockwell and Anne Vegso. Sofia Vergara reportedly split from her Delray businessman boyfriend, former political candidate Nick Loeb. Former University of Miami and Florida Atlantic University football coach Howard Schnellenberger and his wife Beverlee, have sold an Ocean Ridge condominium for $590,000. He is now Ambassador-At-Large for FAU. Debbie and Ed Ellman hosted a fundraiser for the re-election of School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri at their Boca Grove home last week. South Tech Academy nurse educator, Nancy Moore, has received ATI Nursing Educations first-ever Nurses Touch Award for creating a nursing education program for high school students interested in pursuing the field. Twenty-two Boca and West Boca teachers were named Teachers of the Year, and they all came to Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise's annual breakfast before the school day started to collect praise, a plaque and a prize from School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri and Superintendent Wayne Gent. Boca Raton-based Patriot Rail Corp.will be acquired by San Francisco-based SteelRiver Infrastructure Partners. Ethan Allen Interiors will open a new two-floor 19,230 sg. ft. design center at 906 N. Federal Highway by the fall. Delray Beach is the Best Small Town in Florida, according to Rand McNally's "Best of the Road" website. Wayne Richards, chairman of the Port of Palm Beach Commission, presented a $500,000 Homeland Security grant check to Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, to help protect the port and the county's waterways. Five million tourists visited Palm Beach County last year with 44,600 jobs supported by tourism in the county. Barry Epstein Live internet television show airs Friday at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com featuring World Trade Center Chairman Al Zucaro, movie maven Morie Zryl and Sun-Sentinel columnist Kingsley Guy. Watch to win free tickets to Cinemark theatres. Movies opening at the Cinemark Theatres Friday are The Dictator (opened Wednesday), What to Expect When You are Expecting and Battleship. Movies opening Friday at the Movies of Delray are What to Expect When You are Expecting, Follow Me and Darling Companion. Care Wellness Center presents a free HCG Diet Seminar at noon, May 19 at 5576 West Sample Road, Margate. www.carewellnesscenter.com and www.hcg-and-diet.com. Call 954.586.2273 for reservations. Two classes on May 19 at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will raise funds for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Inc and Israel Defense Force to deliver packages to US troops and Israel soldiers overseas. Minimum donation of $10 each at Crossfit Boca Raton (The Garage) 10018 Spanish Isles Blvd. on 441 between Clint Moore and Yamato Roads. State Senator Maria Sachs kicks off her re-election campaign for new District 34, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 21 at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, between Clint Moore Road and Linton Blvd.. Red, White and Blue, Salute to Our Troops at Blue Martini Boca Raton is a benefit for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach at 7:00pm-10pm on May 25, $10 cash fee at the door, with proceeds donated to help the mission of sending monthly “we care” packages to all of our brave young men and women who are currently serving overseas. The Veterans Coalition of South Florida will present its annual Memorial Day program at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at Veterans Park, on Palmetto Park Road between Lyons Road and 441.west of Boca Raton. Bob Nichols, National Chairman of the Board of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is emcee at the Monday, May 28 Memorial Day Service from 11:50 A.M. to 2 p.m. at Palm Beach Memorial Park, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana (561.585 6444). More information is available at www.forgottensoldiers.org or call 561.369.2933. Birch Communications is a multi-million dollar company with an exclusive wholesale agreement with AT&T. If you would like to save money on your AT&T land phones without changing your numbers, call 561.852.0000. You can have your own internet television show very inexpensively. Contact Wayne at wrpbitv@yahoo.com. For Al-Anon-meetings in South Palm Beach County, go to www.southpalmbeachafg.org/meeting_list.html. WWW.WestBocaLeaders.com has openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information. Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), the West Boca Leaders networking group and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. Website; www.publicrelations.nu; email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. His blog is on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com - http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Barrys Buzz May 10, 2012

Almost 3,000 students from 61 countries, including Jaret Epstein and the youngest graduate 17 year old West Boca student Jad Khazem, who receives his high school diploma today, were among the largest graduating class ever in the history of Florida Atlantic University. 200 fans and patrons of the arts in formal attire celebrated Jan McArt, The First Lady of Florida Theatre receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Society of Arts and Letters at the annual Red Rose Dinner Gala, to benefit students in the Arts, held at Brooks Restaurant. Florida Atlantic University has named Kellie Lewis-Jay as its women's basketball head coach. Lewis-Jay, who has signed a five-year contract, is the fourth head coach in the young program's 28-year existence. The City of Boca Raton is considering annexing adjacent communities to net $2.5 million to the budget and a special assessment for all beachfront property owners including the city and the Boca Raton Beach & Park District. The city also rezoned a beach property for recreational use and backed a $3 million multi-agency project to restore canoe trails, plant sea grass and expand the boardwalk at Rutherford Park along the Intracoastal Waterway. At least five Boca Raton neighborhoods would be impacted by the 50 acre Lake Wyman Restoration project. The projected soft opening date for the new Spanish River Sports Complex is May 20. The Palm Beach County Commission was told by a consulting firm to outsource or eliminate 900 jobs to save taxpayers $29 million per year, but it would be a tough sell despite facing a $15 million budget shortfall, down from a previously estimated $30 million funding gap in the $4 billion budget. County staff is also recommending against major charter changes that would shift the balance of power more toward the County Commission. The Palm Beach County School Board has selected five finalists for the newly created job of inspector general and is starting negotiations with the Classroom Teachers Association for salary increases including step raises. World Trade Center Chairman Al Zucaro was profiled in this weeks issue of the Boca and West Boca Forums. Boca Raton High School junior Samantha Kerker was named one of the country’s Top 10 youth volunteers by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and received a $5,000 award along with $5,000 to the charity of her choice. Harvard researchers have found that Facebook, Twitter and other social media are brain candy. Palm Beach County Libraries are swamped with over 2,300 requests on a waiting list for “Fifty Shades of Grey”. In another sign that the economy is improving, college students are finding more paid internships this summer. Boca Raton “Plumber I Am” Les Goldstein, named the best plumber in Boca, is among the 13 “Old Jews Telling Jokes” at a sold out fundraiser tonight for the South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation. The Stage Door Theatre on Sample Road in Coral Springs, has All Nite Strut through Mothers Day May 13 and Little Shop of Horrows through May 20. The immigrant starts June 1.Visit www.stagedoortheatre.com. Call954-344-7765. Barry Epstein Live internet television show airs Friday at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com featuring Florida State Representative Mark Pafford and Sun-Sentinel columnist Kingsley Guy. Watch to win free tickets to Cinemark theatres. Movies opening at the Cinemark Theatres The Last Exotic Marigold Hotel and Dark Shadows. Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services Department is hosting an annual open house for the public of its 8 neighborhood fire stations from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, offering tours of the facility and truck demonstrations. Cruisine for the Cure funraiser for St. Judes Childrens Hospital will be 6 p.m. May 12 at Lakeside Terrace. Tickets are $50 each. Visit: www.cruisine.org or call 561-245-7559 for more information. Care Wellness Center presents a free HCG Diet Seminar at noon, May 19 at 5576 West Sample Road, Margate. www.carewellnesscenter.com and www.hcg-and-diet.com. Call 954.586.2273 for reservations. Two classes on May 19 at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will raise funds for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Inc and Israel Defense Force to deliver packages to US troops and Israel soldiers overseas. Minimum donation of $10 each at Crossfit Boca Raton (The Garage) 10018 Spanish Isles Blvd. on 441 between Clint Moore and Yamato Roads. Red, White and Blue, Salute to Our Troops at Blue Martini Boca Raton is a benefit for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach at 7:00pm-10pm on May 25, $10 cash fee at the door, with proceeds donated to help the mission of sending monthly “we care” packages to all of our brave young men and women who are currently serving overseas. The Veterans Coalition of South Florida will present its annual Memorial Day program at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at Veterans Park, on Palmetto Park Road between Lyons Road and 441.west of Boca Raton. Bob Nichols, National Chairman of the Board of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is emcee at the Monday, May 28 Memorial Day Service from 11:50 A.M. to 2 p.m. at Palm Beach Memorial Park, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana (561.585 6444). More information is available at www.forgottensoldiers.org or call 561.369.2933. Birch Communications is a multi-million dollar company with an exclusive wholesale agreement with AT&T. If you would like to save money on your AT&T land phones without changing your numbers, call 561.852.0000. For Al-Anon-meetings in South Palm Beach County, go to www.southpalmbeachafg.org/meeting_list.html. WWW.WestBocaLeaders.com has openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for further information. Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there. Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), the West Boca Leaders networking group and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. Website; www.publicrelations.nu; email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. His blog is on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com - http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Barrys Buzz May 3, 2012

After seeing banners on University Blvd for the University of Central Florida a few years ago, this writer suggested that FAU do the same on Glades Road to promote community pride. It is now coming to fruition. The Boca Raton Police departmentreceived an exemplary designation from the Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission and a City Council ceremony in City Hall. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw has proposed a $7.2 million 1% increase to a $471 million budget. FAU has agreed to a three-game series in football with south Florida neighbor University of Miami. P.F. Chang's China Bistro, with a Boca Raton location, has agreed to be taken private in a $1.1 billion sale to Canterbridge Partners, after the struggling Asian food chain posted a 40 percent drop in earnings for the first quarter. Boca’s historic Town Hall was named the #1 civic building in Florida by A1A Florida in Architecture Month. The former Oaks Plaza on Glades Road has been renamed the Sandler Medical Complex for Harvey and Phyllis Sandler, who make a $20 million donation to the Boca Raton Regional Hospital in 2005. Boca Raton attorney Michael Freeling, partner in Bloom & Freeling, received the Daniel R. Ginsberg Leadership Award from the Anti-Demamation League at its national leadership conference in Washington, D.C. The new Boca Raton Downtown Public Library, part of a 2003 $19.8 million bond issue, will open in a year. The winners of the 11th annual Men With Caring Hearts Awards Luncheon, hosted by Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, were Gary Peters and Bronsen Bloom. Check out things to do at www.steppingoutflorida.com. Congressman Allen West speaks at Keiser College and Northwood University Commencement ceremonies. FAU president Mary Jane Saunders issues her Distinguished Service Medallion to three World War II Tuskegee Airmen today, retired Judge Richard B. Rudledge, 90, Lt. Col Eldridge F. Williams, 94 and Lt. Col. Leo R. Gray, 87. The public is invited to comment on the city’s financial situation and goals for the year today at noon and 3:30 p.m. at the Municipal Services building, 2500 NW First Ave. There is a projected $5 million shortfall in the budget. Ann Vegso, Sandra Greenblatt, Howard McCall and Holi Rockwell add to the Walk of Recognition at the Royal Palm fountain at 5:30 p.m. Artist William DeBilzan opens his studio in the Atlantic Plaza, 777 E. Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach, 7 p.m. May 3 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and State Senator Maria Sachs, followed by a cocktail reception and lite bites to honor SHUZZ charity, fundraising shoes for children in need around the world. RSVP is required to Lindsey Turesky, Director of Gallery Operations, at lmturesky@gmail.com. Dress to impress. Call 561.859.1785 for more information. Dr. Jill Biden, Wife of Veep Joe Biden speaks at the Broward College graduation ceremony May 4, 3 p.m. The All Night Strut and Little Shop of Horrors plays till May 20.Visit www.stagedoortheatre.com.Call954-344-7765 Former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis speaks at a cocktail reception for the Florida Fishing Academy on May 4 at the City Fish Market restaurant, Glades Road and the Turnpike. Tickets are $150 which includes a silent auction. Call 561.747.7227 or email Rich@floridafishingacademy.com at www.floridafishingacademy.com. Barry Epstein Live internet television show airs Friday at 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com featuring Miami Herald gossip columnist and www.gossipextra.com Jose Lambiet, along with Stepping Out Florida blogger Deby Goldfarb.Watch to win free tickets to the Cinemark Theatres.You can have your own show too. Contact Wayne Filowitz at wrpbitv.com@yahoo.com. Movie opening at the Cinemark Theatres is The Avengers.Movie opening at the Movies of Delray is Coriolanus. Be sure to attend the free Cinco de Mayo celebration at Latinos Restaurant, Hillsboro Blvd., southeast corner of Military Trail, behind the Chevron station, May 5 from 5 p.m. on. RSVP to 561.212.9002. Bring your friends. Paulette Dozier will star as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emersons Bar and Grill, on May 5, May 6 at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park, 300 South Military Trail, Boca Raton. Tickets are $15. Call 561.347.3948. Cruisine for the Cure funraiser for St. Judes Childrens Hospital will be 6 p.m. May 12 at Lakeside Terrace. Tickets are $50 each. Visit: www.cruisine.org or call 561-245-7559 for more information. Care Wellness Center presents a free HCG Diet Seminar at noon, May 19 at 5576 West Sample Road, Margate. www.carewellnesscnter.com and www.hcg-and-diet.com. Call 954.586.2273 for reservations. Two classes on May 19 at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will raise funds for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Inc and Israel Defense Force to deliver packages to US troops and Israel soldiers overseas. Minimum donation of $10 each at Crossfit Boca Raton (The Garage) 10018 Spanish Isles Blvd. on 441 between Clint Moore and Yamato Roads. Red, White and Blue, Salute to Our Troops at Blue Martini Boca Raton is a benefit for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach at 7:00pm-10pm on May 25, $10 cash fee at the door, with proceeds donated to help the mission of sending monthly “we care” packages to all of our brave young men and women who are currently serving overseas. Bob Nichols, National Chairman of the Board of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach is emcee at the Monday, May 28 Memorial Day Service from 11:50 A.M. to 2 p.m. at Palm Beach Memorial Park, 3691 Seacrest Blvd. Lantana (561.585 6444). More information is available at www.forgottensoldiers.org or call 561.369.2933. Birch Communications is a multi-million dollar company with an exclusive wholesale agreement with AT&T. If you would like to save money on your AT&T land phones without changing your numbers, call 561.852.0000. WWW.WestBocaLeaders.com has openings in some categories. Call 561.852.0000 for more info. Point of personal privilege: Jaret Epstein graduates from Florida Atlantic University today! Barry Epstein, APR, is a noted public relations, marketing and political consultant based in Boca Raton, president of the Luxury Chamber of Commerce (www.luxurychamber.com), the West Boca Leaders networking group and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.wrpbitv.com. Website; www.publicrelations.nu; email: pr@publicrelations.nu, or fax column items to 561.451.0000. His blog is on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com - http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com.