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.
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.
