Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Barrys Buzz - April 30, 2014

     Reza-Pahlavi, the Crown Prince of Iran, is the featured speaker at the www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com  luncheon, 11:30 a.m. May 20. RSVP on the site or call 561.852.0000 for more information.
      Former President Bill Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the Florida Democratic Party's annual fundraising dinner renamed Leadership Blue Gala June 28 at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood. Tickets start at $175 and increase to $225 Thursday.
     Following reports in this column and Letters to the Editor in the Boca Raton Tribune from Boca Raton resident Mark Seigel, the state took action and shut down 101 Cantina in Royal Palm Plaza for various violations.
     The public is invited to sit in, and even comment during designated time slots at the city's two goal-setting sessions Thursday and Friday. Goal setting is how the Boca Raton City Council and department heads decide on their spending priorities for the money they have in hand from taxes and fees and anticipated revenue. The sessions take place in the Municipal Services Complex, 2500 NW First Ave., building A. Public comment is invited twice on Thursday, from 11:30 to noon and again from 3 to 3:30 p.m. and from 11:30 to noon on Friday. Goal-setting sessions are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. both days with a break for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. after public comment. Thursday's session resumes from 1 to 3 p.m. and after public comment from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
   Operating in the technology incubator of the Research Park at FAU, Boca Raton based Commerce Data Science, the parent company of Wish-Clouds, a shopping app that lets people know when merchandise goes on sale, has been named the 2014 H. Wayne Huizenga Start-Up Of The Year and recognized at the South Florida Business Journal annual event recognizing the most successful and most promising companies of the local market.
    Just before hurricane season, Heritage Property Insurance Company joined Peoples Trust Insurance in not writing polices for homeowners in 2 Palm Beach County and 8 Broward County zip codes while Peoples cancelled thousands of policies three months after they were written. Both were major donors to Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign.
    Political junkies can watch live coverage of the final week of the 2014 state legislative session by turning on PBCTV Channel 20.
    Despite gains in home values, nearly 120,000 Palm Beach county mortgage holders are still underwater on their loans and they owe about 25% more than their property is worth, an improvement from the 145,000 homeowners underwater a year ago. Still the market rebound is helping improve the outlook for many borrowers. In the first quarter, nearly 48,000 mortgage holders regained equity in their homes or were on the verge of doing so.
     South Florida's foreclosure filings are hitting a brick wall, despite a new state law intended to speed them up. Real Estate pros say lenders are dragging their feet because they don't want to take costly ownership and are unfamiliar with the new system. Judges and lawyers report the new law has done little to unclog court dockets swamped by foreclosure filings. 
      Eric Afriat of Montreal, Canada walked away with $1,081,184 and the coveted WPT Championship trophy after winning first place in the televised WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship tournament series.  The tournament brought a record 1,795 entries, surpassing the $5 million guarantee and generating a $5,788,875 prize pool - the largest ever for a $3,500 buy-in tournament.
     As a continuing effort to deliver meaningful content, members of the 25 year IBM South Florida Boca Raton club and public are invited to join 1:30 p.m. May 5, 2014 at Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 South Military trail south of Palmetto Park Road to celebrate prior to Memorial Day, honoring those past and current veterans who have served in our military. In a first for Palm Beach County, Cpl. Burt Richards from the Veterans Speakers Forum, who has been highly instrumental in classroom education will be bringing his collection of military artifacts for display in the meeting room for all to view.  The display includes full military uniforms, pictures from theatres of war, including news articles from 1940, chevrons, unit patches, U.S. Medals, German & Japanese and a first time display of a 6 foot x 10 foot American Flag 75 years old with 48 stars.  If you have any military artifacts that you would like to donate to the collection or share them, have any pictures of your time in the military bring them with you. If you have any pictures of your time in the military you would like to share, bring those as well. There will be a group picture of veterans of all branches of service attending. Plenty of free parking.
   Mary Damiano has been appointed the new Managing Director of the Carbonell Awards, recognizing excellence in South Florida regional theatres. She can be reached at CarbonellHotline@gmail.com.
   CrossFit Hype, a fitness center focusing on strength and endurance opened at 374. E. Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton.
     We Rock the Spectrum Kid's gym, a play venue for children opened at 19635 State Road 7, including optional swings for children on the autism spectrum, trampolines, zip lines, imaginary stations and arts and crafts areas. They also host birthday parties, private play dates and special events.
    The Faulk Center for Counseling offers weekly support group for Widows and Widowers every Wednesday 1 to 2 pm, 2245 Boca Rio Road. Cost is $5. Call 561.483.5300 for more information.
   Palm Beach International Airport, the 9th largest airport in the state, serviced 2.3 million passengers in 2013 and had 135,587 takeoffs and landings.
   Romantic musical comedy Ghost at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts has the most unique lighting, staging and set direction with superb audio visual effects. Don't miss it, through May 11! Tickets at www.browardcenter.org or call 954.462.0222.
     The Trouble with Doug is 7:30 p.m. through May 11 at the Arts Garage, 180 NE 1st St. Delray. Visit www.artsgarage.org or call 561.450.6357 for tickets.
    The 2014/2015 season for the Wick Theatre includes: Swing, Oct. 23-Nov. 16; Mame, Dec. 4-Dec. 28; La Cage aux Folles, Jan. 8-Feb. 15; Man of La Mancha, Feb. 26- March 22; Oklahoma, April 2-April 26 and Dames at Sea, May 7-24. Order tickets at www.thewick.org or call 561.995.2333.
    The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is "tipping off" its new men's programming NBA Hall of Famer Walt "Clyde" Frazier
, who led the New York Knicks to the franchise's only two titles, 6:30 p.m. April 30, with dinner and drinks. Cost is $85.For more information, visit www.jewishboca.org/mens or contact Felice Naide at 561.852.6084 or felicen@bocafed.org. Call Lori Grossman at 561.852.3374 or email: lorigo@bocafed.org.
    South Tech Academy celebrates its 10th anniversary 6 pm May 1. See www.southtechacademy.com for more information.
Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl and Barry Epstein on www.wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.
   Cafe Cinematheque Foreign Films with Shelly Isaacs is every Thursday at 10:30am at Movies of Delray 561-638-0020 and Friday at 1:00pm at Movies of Lake Worth 561-968-4545. Visit www.moviesofdelray.com for more information.
     Watch Barry Epstein live with The People's Choice Public Adjuster Michael Klavan, Best Stop Trafficking (B.E.S.T.) Case Management Cooridination Rosie Johnson and Palm Beach Senior Placement Senior Relations Coordinator Candy Cohn on www.wrpbitv.com at 10 pm Thursday and 10 am Friday to win free tickets to the Cinemark theatres. You can be on too to promote your business or profession. Call 561.852.0000 for details. You can also watch the TV shows ON Demand on WRPBITV. Just click on this link: https://vimeo.com/channels/barryepsteinlive.
      The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opens Friday at the Cinemark Palace and Premiere theatres, Movies of Delray and Movies of Lake Worth. Dancing in Jaffa and Finding Vivian Maier opens at the FAU Living Room Theatres. Heaven is for Real opens at the Movies of Delray. The Other Woman opens at Movies of Lake Worth. Richard II from the Royal Shakespeare Company is 10:30 a.m. May 3 and 7:00 p.m. May 7 at the Movies of Delray.
      Office Depot Foundation hosts its 7th annual weekend in Boca May 2 and 3 at Office Depot's corporate headquarters for nonprofit organizations and anyone in serving the community. Register at www.officedepotfoundation.org/weekeninboca.com.
      A free Celebration of the Arts is 5:30, May 2 at the Lynn University Wold Performing Arts Center including a street fair, art and fashion gallery,  a main stage performance at 7:30 pm featuring the Conservatory of Music and several talented actors, dancers, singers and poets. Reserve at 561.237.9000 or register at http://lynn.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=630472.
    It's the last few weeks of the Boca Raton Green Market!  The Market, in its 17th year, has farm-to-table, freshly-picked produce (organics, too) from local growers and lots more,  8am to 1pm every Saturday at the southwest parking lot of Royal Palm Place, S. Fed. Hwy, and SE Mizner Blvd in downtown Boca Raton, now until May 10th.  "It Takes Two" are entertaining at this week's market.   Call (561) 299-8684 for information.
    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.     
    Congressman Ted Deutch gives a briefing on Greece, Cyprus and Israel relations, noon- 1:30 p.m. May 4 at St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 NW 51st St. (Yamato Road). Light refreshments will be served. RSVP and questions to Brandey.Edelson@mail.house.gov or call 561.470.5440.
     Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations' Meeting is 8:30 a.m., May 6th, 2014, Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd. (next to City Hall). Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie will report "The State of the City Address" with a Community Spotlight on Boca Helping Hands.
     Palm Beach State College Foundation's 2014 Golf Classic is May 9 at the Country Club of Mirasol. Sponsorship opportunities and registration information is at www.palmbeachstate.edu/foundation/golf or contact Ana Thomas at 561.868.3569.
     The sixth annual FREE score business conference with Google and Godaddy, etc. coming to Boca is 8 am. To 3:30 pm May 10th. Reserve your ticket at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sixth-annual-score-business-conference-tickets-8777996223.
     Tina Turner Tribute Band, Simply Tina, is free 7-9 pm May 10 at the Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park Amphitheatre, 20405 Amphitheater Circle, off Glades Road, West Boca. Lawn chairs and picnic baskets ok. Food available for purchase on site. Call 561.488.8069 for more information.
    Reza-Pahlavi, the Crown Prince of Iran, is the featured speaker at the www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com  luncheon, 11:30 a.m. May 20. RSVP on the site or call 561.852.0000 for more information.
   
  Red White and Blue Salute Our Troops-Fundraiser for FSO is 7 pm May 23 at Blue Martini 6000 Glades Rd in Boca Raton (outside Town Center Mall), $10 a person with MC Former SFC William Schedneck - served in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more info, contact Tara Laxer 561-289-6031.
  The Delray Beach Playhouse at 950 NW 9th St. in Lake Ida Park, off Swinton Ave. Delray Beach presents: Doubt, May 24-June 8, and musical memories shows include; Come Fly With Me, Harlem On My Mind, Call Me Madam, Good News and Make Someone Happy. Visit www.delraybeachplayhouse.com.
or call 561.272.1281 x 4 for more information. Tickets are $30. Call 561.272.1281 x 4 for reservations.
     Florida will offer a 15-day sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness supplies from June 1-14. During that time period, Floridians can purchase flashlights, batteries, weather radios and other basic hurricane supply items, all tax-free. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30.
     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 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.
      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. 
     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 and the 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.wrpbitv.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.

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