Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Page Two: Barrys Buzz August 23, 2013

      Sincere condolences to the family of Bob Lappin, Maestro of the Palm Beach Pops. R.I.P.
    Fortunoff Backyard Store will be opening the first week of September in the former City Furniture store at 601 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton.
    Lord & Taylor, opening October 10 in Mizner Park, is still hiring associates at 405 Plaza Real through Aug. 31.
   Andrew J. McKinney is the new General Manger of Mizner Park.
   Word on the street is that private equity investment giant Blackstone group is hanging out the For Sale sign on the Boca Resort Hotel and Club along with other properties, including Pier 66 and the Naples Grande on the sales block. Blackstone bought the Resort package from Wayne Huizenga seven years ago for $1 billion, and is already unloading two hotel chains for $7 billion.
  Florida Atlantic University leaders are considering the construction of a hotel/conference center on the school's Boca Raton campus through a public-private partnership. Plans for the $45 million hotel project call for 200 rooms in 250,000 square feet, including conference facilities and retail. FAU would lease land on its campus to the private developer, who would build and operate it.
    The Cumberland Farms gas station at Sandalfoot and 441 has closed and there is fenced in construction underway.
   Internet provider OMGFast has pulled out of the south county market, leaving thousands of customers with unusable antennas on their roofs.
   Mortgage risk analysis firm Digital Risk Services will be laying off 56 full-time employees at its facility in Boca Raton as of Aug.30.
  Brandeis Book store is open at 9050 Kimberly Blvd. Volunteers and donors are needed. Call 561.852.2650.
  The Orlando Sentinel reported that major South Florida companies have stashed millions in overseas accounts to avoid paying U.S. taxes on profits including Boca based Office Depot having $451 million in foreign accounts, 42% in cash and Boca based private prison operator GEO Corporation owns $24 million in off shore accounts BE Aerospace in Wellington has $500,000 in foreign profits, 55% held in cash.
    South Florida home owners will not get a price break on property premiums despite insurers seeing reinsurance rates falling 20%. State owned Citizens Property Insurance has already bought premiums for 8% after stashing millions in lower cost re-insurance rates with critics pointing out that insurers waste no time hiking rates when the insurance costs rise, but stall when prices fall.
   The Black Diamond day trip gambling ship out of the Port of Palm Beach will be re-launched in late October as the Island Breeze after $5 million in renovations which formerly sailed under the SunCruz banner, and 180 jobs will be created with the launch.
    The 10,000 Home Owners Associations in South Florida which yield considerable influence over their neighbors now have tougher requirements for board members which must be certified, show transparency with financial information and ban any board member with a felony record.
   Carnival Cruise Lines had 25.4 million, Royal Caribbean Cruise lines had 4.8 million and Norwegian Cruise lines had 1.5 million passengers in 2012.
   Year after year, the Palm Beach Pops celebrates the Great American Songbook. Next season the Pops will continue the tradition featuring music from
Whitney Houston & Friends; Broadway, Marvin Hamlisch; Nat King Cole; Smoky Standards from The Mad Men Era and A major television star! Go to palmbeachpops.org for ticket packages to save up to $64 now or call 561-832-7677 for Immediate Seat Selection or fax order to 561.832.9686. You can also e-mail your request to info@palmbeachpops.org.
    The Boca Palm Beach Business Connection meets every Wednesday 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Butts Road TooJays, south of Glades Rd and west of I-95 in the Boca Glades Shopping Center. No dues, no fees, no mandatory meetings. Bring business cards.
   Beyond the Rainbow: Garland at Carnegie Hall, now through Aug. 18 at The Theatre at Arts Garage, 180 NE First St. Delray Beach. Call 561.450.6357. or visit artsgarage.org for tickets.
      The Spectacular Now, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The World’s End and You’re Next opens at the Boca Cinemark Palace & Premiere and Regal Entertainment Shadowwood theatres. In a World opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres. Blue Jasmine opens at the Movies of Delray and Lake Worth.  2 Guns and Savannah opens at the Movies of Lake Worth.    
    Barry Epstein Live airs Thursday 10 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. on www.wrpbitv.com with New Found Life co-owner Saul Kane, www.yeticket.com reviewer Al McGhee and Sun-Sentinel editorial columnist Kingsley Guy on www.wrpbitv.com, www.publicrelations.nu, www.vimeo.com and www.bocatribune.com. Watch to win free tickets to the Cinemark theatres.       
     Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation president Jan Savarick will be honored at the American Association Caregiving Youth (AACY) 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. breakfast Aug. 21 at Lakeside Terrace, 7880 Glades Rd. Cost is $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Call 561.391.7401 for further information.
   Slighly Stoopid is at the Sunset Cove Amphitheatre Aug. 24. Go to www.ticketmaster.com for information and tickets.
   Nat King Cole Generation Hope and national singing sensation Ms. Avery Sommers, along with the Cole twins, and other greats such as Tony Siders and Tony Lebron, 1 to 4 pm August 25th, at Jazziz Nightlife in Mizner Park to support Nat King Cole Generation Hope, making a difference in the lives of children. 561.213.8209 or visit www.http://natkingcolegenhope.org/gospel-brunch/index.php.  
  The Women's Equality Coalition of Palm Beach County is hosting, "The Dream Lives On," a free community wide event celebrating voting rights for women at 7 p.m. on Aug. 26, at the South County Civic Center in Delray Beach. A Meet and Greet with elected officials is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
   Emerge Conference Entrepreneur 2013 is Aug. 29-31 at the Renaissance Boca Raton. Call 561.632.7183 or visit www.emergeevent.com for info.
   Moon Over Buffalo will run from August 30th to October 6th at The Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs. Go to www.stagedoorfl.org or call 954.344.7765 for tickets and more information.
   Come down to Sanborn Square on Saturday, September 7th to celebrate Brazilian Independence Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It will be a fun filled day out in the sun with live music, exciting entertainment, food, and many activities for all to enjoy. Thousands will be present.
   A free concert in the 2013 Sunday Matinee Music Series at the Spanish River Library, 1501 NW Spanish River Boulevard will feature a one hour concert by world-renowned guitarist, singer, songwriter Cezar Santana at 3 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 18, Call 561.299.8684 or visit www.bocalibrary.org for more info.
    The Sound of Music will be the first production at the new Wick Theatre, formerly the Caldwell on Sept. 18. Call 561.995.2333.
    Rob Lowe, star of TV and film and a cancer awareness advocate, will be the keynote speaker at Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Go Pink Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 25.
     The Junior League of Boca Raton presents the 26th Annual Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon, Nov. 8 at Boca West Country Club. Contact 561.620.2553 or visit www.jlbr.org/wvoy for further information.
     If you would like to learn how you can make money and save money by NOT using a 401 k or IRA that will protect your money and generate tax free income, or are unhappy in your job, or want to change jobs, or need extra income, then visit www.yourretirementmiracle.com and call 561.852.0000 for further information. Everyone should see it.
     Banks are now encouraging Short Sales, rather than the lengthy and costly foreclosures. FORECLOSURE IS NOT AN OPTION! Contact Keyes Company/Delray office Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) Realtor JOANNE EPSTEIN at 561.945.0000 and visit www.joanneepstein.com  to find out how she can save you from foreclosure, with no cost for attorneys, fees or commissions.
        Birch Communications is a multi-million dollar company with an exclusive wholesale agreement with AT and T. If you would like to save money on your AT&T land phones without changing your numbers or your service, call 561.852.0000.
        www.WestBocaLeaders.com is the best networking group in the area and meets at the West Boca Library on 441, just north of Yamato Road on alternate Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. Check out the website for 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 www.luxurychamber.com, the www.westbocaleaders.com networking group and the founder and former president of the West Boca Chamber of Commerce; with a weekly internet television show on www.bocaratontribune.com (click on columnists) 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 in the Boca Raton Tribune and on the www.bocaratontribune.com (and click on columnists) website, on www.facebook.com/BarryEpstein as well as on the Sun-Sentinel/Jewish Journal website at www.floridajewishjournal.com - http://barrys-journal.blogspot.com as well as on his website: www.publicrelations.nu.

                

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