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.