Stan Drayton, Ohio State assistant and running back coach under head coach Urban Meyer is in talks with FAU athletic director Pat Chun to be the next head football coach of the Owls. Drayton knows Chun from his days as an employee of the Ohio State athletic department. Drayton worked under Meyer in Gainesville as well and has recruited in Florida for 16 years. FAU Owls interim head Coach Brian Wright led FAU to victory in the season final four games.
City Councilwoman Constance Scott was presented with a 2013 South Florida Inspiration Award for her work with the Police Athletic League and other nonprofits at a Sun Life Stadium Dolphin game, by Nat Moore, former Dolphins receiver and senior vice president and special advisor for the team.
Boca philanthropist Yvonne Boice, owner of the Shoppes at Village Poitne and Fugazy International Travel, along with being chair of the Palm Beach International Film Festival for many years, is the 2014 recipient of the Diamond Award from the Greater Boca Chamber of Commerce. She will be feted at a luncheon, expected to be attended by 200 guests, Feb. 21 at Woodfield Country Club, 3650 Club place. Call 561.395.4433 for tickets.
Palmetto Park Road will be closed from I-95 to Military Trail on Dec. 13 to Dec. 17 for work on the railroad tracks. Seek alternate routes, to go past I-95, either Glades Road to the north or Camino Real to the south.
Boca City Council approved a Tool Brothers 223 home PUD on 121 acres east of Jog Road an north of Old Clint Moore Road on the former Polo Grounds, which will include a 5,000 ft. clubhouse, six tennis courts, pool, spa and aqua lot. The City also annexed the property for the new homes of 4,300 to 8,500 square feet that will sell for $1.2 million to $2 million each and be accessed only off Jog Road.
The last hurrah for Blockbuster is here, with discount merchandise at the last company owned stores closing in January including 10 E. Palmetto Pk. Rd.
Office Depot announced that the current 625,000 sq. ft. campus at 6600 N. Military Trail in Boca Raton will be the global headquarters for the merged company with Office Max, which has ample space to accommodate associates relocating from Illinois. What a coup for our local economy!
Boca Raton Regional Hospital will establish its first facility in Broward County after recently breaking ground in Deerfield Beach. The 25,000-square-foot ambulatory care center will have 25 to 30 employees, at 3313 West Hillsboro Blvd., handling primary care, urgent care, radiology and breast health.
Boca Raton’s downtown will get 229 apartments called Boca Lofts at 333 SE 8th st., across from Trader Joe’s expected to open in May.
Boca Bark Beach opens Friday, but passes will be sold starting Dec. 11 for the only dog beach between Juno and Ft. Lauderdale. Get yours now!
The $255 million asset Landmark Bank N.A., which earned $2.07 million for the first three quarters of 2013, will open the first branch outside of Broward County, where it has two branches and a non-depositary branch in Ft. Lauderdale, at 5255 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton.
Dr. Kevin Stabile has opened South Florida Allergy & Asthma Specialists the Med+Plex building adjacent to Town Center Mall. Call 561.672.7511 or visit www.southflallergy.com for more information.
Waterford Hotel Group has assumed management of the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Airport Road in Boca Raton.
Cyndi Bloom has been elected president of the Friends of the Boca Library. For more information: Email: memberservices@bocalibraryfriends.org.
Steven Zobel joined Waterstone Resort & Marina as executive chef for all resort food and beverages and Dustin Lapekas joined as director of food & beverage, previously director of beverage for the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
An ongoing project sponsored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has uncovered a staggering 42,500 camps and ghettos during World War II, ranging from the giants such as Auschwitz and Warsaw to lesser-known factories, farms and brothels.
Premium Kitchens opened a showroom at 7400 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton.
The Island Breeze day-casino cruise from the Port of Palm Beach is delayed once again until 2014.
Thousands of consumers who think they have already enrolled in Obamacare, may not have as the website has transferred garbled data to insurers. Insurance companies are having consumers enroll on their website to avoid additional major disruptions.
Congress has two weeks to pass legislation that will directly affect South Florida, including a cap on flood insurance premium hikes and a proposed 24% cut in doctors’ fees that will drive most doctors out of the Obamacare program.
The 84 acre Palm Beach Outlets Mall, currently under construction, on the old Palm Beach Mall site in West Palm Beach will open on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. The $150 million project will have 100 retail stores, employ nearly 1500 people and expected to generate $1 million in property taxes. A parcel adjacent to the Mall will feature a Whole Foods Market and a Nordstroms discount store opening in the fall of 2014.
242,000 Scandinavian tourists visited South Florida last year, spending $150 million and staying 5 days longer than the average visitor.
Beth Ami Congregation, 1401 N.W. 4th avenue, Boca Raton has an Israel: Its Place in the Middle East Speakers Series, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.,m. Dec. 11, Jan. 15, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, and March 5. Tickets are $35 for all six lectures or $10 at the door. Call 561.347.0031 for more information and reservations.
A cocktail and K-9 reception in support of Susan Haynie for Boca Raton Mayor will be 5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Dubliner Irish Pub, 435 Plaza Real, Mizner Park. Requested minimum contribution is $25 per person, $40 per couple and bring one doggie toy or canned dog food to be donated to the Tri County Humane Society, PBC’s only no-kill animal shelter, to hear about Boca’s new dog beach program. Dogs are invited. Drinks, hors d’oevres and doggie treats will be served. RSVP to Events@SusanHaynie.com or donate online at www.SusanHaynie.com.
City Councilman Anthony Majhess had his kick-off campaign for Mayor at Sonomo house Dec. 3. The qualifying period for candidates ends at 5 p.m. Jan. 10. So far, only Haynie and Majhess have filed to run for mayor. Seven people have filed to run for two council seats, including incumbent Mike Mullaugh. They also include Mohamed Abdulla, Rosetta Baily, Craig Ehrnst, Eric Gooden, Scott Singer and Robert Weinroth. The candidates for Mayor will debate Jan. 21 at an 11:30 to 1 p.m. luncheon at Bogart’s on the Premier level of the Cinemark Palace on Airport Road in Boca. Call 561.852.0000 or register on line at www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com.
The Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service (JFS) Annual Gala and Auction is 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at St. Andrews Country Club, 17557 W. Claridge Oval, Boca Raton, honoring Michele & Larry Blair and Craig Donoff, P.A., chaired by Roxane Lipton, Wendy Legum and Jill Viner. Cost is $500. For more information, visit www.ruthralesjfs.org/gala2013, call 561.852.5013 or email jillw@rrjfs.org. To learn more about JFS, visit www.ruthralesjfs.org.
9 to 5: The Musical is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Springs, Dec. 13- Jan. 19. Visit www.statedoortheatre.com or call 954.344.7765 for tickets.
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in HFR 3D opens Friday at the Boca Cinemark Palace & Premiere theatres and the Regal Entertainment Shadowwood theatres.
Watch Movie Talk with Morrie Zryl on www.wrpbitv.com Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 6 a.m.
Barry Epstein live features Waterford Resort & Marina General Manager Greg Kaylor, Author of Raising Your Game Dr. Andrea Corn, FatBrainInteractive founder Gary Truitt and Sun-Sentinel editorial columnist Kingsley Guy on www.wrpbitv.com at 10 pm Thursday and 10 am Friday. Watch to win free tickets to the Cinemark theatres. You can now watch my TV shows ON Demand on wrpbitv. Just click on this link: https://vimeo.com/channels/barryepsteinlive.
Strawberries are in and loads of other Florida-grown produce at the Boca Raton Green Market, in its 17th year, has farm-to-table, fresh-picked produce 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. Call 561.299.8684 or email elilly707@aol.com for further information or if interested in participating.
Motown Holiday Spectacular is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, sponsored by the Boca Tribune. Call 561.693.3863 for tickets.
RESPECT: A Musical Journey of Women is now to Jan. 5 at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre, with two special New Year’s Eve champagne performances at 4 and 9 p.m. Tickets at www.brtg.org call 866.811.411. For more information, call 561.445.9244, email kassie@gmail.com.
SHOWTIME Performing Arts Theatre Presents NUNSENSE!, updated with new jokes, additional lyrics, two new arrangements and a brand new song! Friday December 13th @ 8pm; Saturday December 14th @ 8pm; Sunday December 15th @ 2pm & 8pm. Tickets are $22 Adults; $18 Seniors and Students with ID. For tickets call 561-394-2626 or visit www.ShowtimeBoca.com.
Pop artist Peter Max will be in Boca 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Wentworth Gallery: Boca Town Center, 6000 Glades Road. RSVP to 561.338.0804 or visit www.towncenter@wentworthgallery.com. More information at www.petermax.com.
The Sheffield Brothers will be at the free Sunday Matinee Music Series Concert Dec. 15, 3-4 p.m. at the Downtown Library, 400 NW. 2 Ave. Reservations are required at www.bocalibrary.org to register on the events calendar for December.
The Last Night of Ballyhoo is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 Sample Road, Coral Spring, just east of Riverside Drive, to Dec. 31. Call 954-344-7765 or visit www.stagedoortheatre.com for tickets and more information.
Upcoming shows at the Delray Beach Playhouse at 950 NW 9th St. in Lake Ida Park, off Swinton Ave. Delray Beach include: Driving Miss Daisy, to Dec. 15; You Can’t Take it with You, Feb. 1-Feb. 16; The Pajama Game, March 29-April 13; 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.
The Plaza Theatre, 262 South Ocean Blvd., Manalapan has I Love you, You’re Perfect Now Change, to Dec. 22; Renee Taylor, My Life on a Diet, Jan. 16-Feb. 9 and Dirty Blonde, March 27-April 13. See www.theplazatheatre.net or call 561.588.1820.
The Women’s Theatre Project presents the Southeastern premiere of “The Lyons”, to Dec. 22 in the Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. Tickets are $26. Call 561.347-3948 or 561.445.9244 for more information.
Palm Beach Dramaworks presents The Lion in Winter, to Jan. 5, at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Call 561.514.4042 or visit www.palmbeachtramaworks.org for ticket information and reservations.
The Boca Raton theatre Guild presents Marilyn: Forever Blonde, Jan. 9-11, 2013 at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center’s Studio Theatre. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.brtg.org or by calling 866-811-4111. Visit www.marilynforeverblonde.com, call 561.445.9244 or email ckassie@gmail.com.
The Luxury Chamber presents JFK confidante Mel Cottone, a political strategist for three U.S. Presidents and several U.S. Senators and the man responsible for getting JFK on the ballot and possibly responsible (at least in partial) for getting JFK elected President of the U.S., 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 16, at Ceviche By The Sea, 2823 E. Oakland Park Blvd. $15 with Facebook RSVP https://www.facebook.com/events/351890058259562/ or $20 cash at the door.
Professor Alan Dershowitz speaks on Inside Israel Today, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, Congregation B’nai Israel, 2200 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. Costs vary from $36 to $100. RSVP to www.cbiboca.org/speakersseries or call 561.241.8118.
The Rotary Club of Boca Raton 2014 OPAL honorees Gary Peters, Irving Gutin, Karen and Howard Weiss, Anthony Comparato and Cecil Roseke, chaired by Doug Mummaw, Neil Saffir and Peter Baronoff will be Jan. 18 at the Club of Boca Pointe, announced club president Julie Vianale. Call 561.477.7180 or email Claudia@rotaryclubbocaraton.com. for more information and reservations.
The Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club will feature a Mayoral debate for the City of Boca Raton, moderated by the “Prince of Palm Beach County” Andre Fladell and a Meet the Council candidates, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Jan. 21 at Bogarts, on the Premiere level of the Cinemark Palace, 3200 Airport Road, just north of Glades Road. Membership, reservations and further information can be done on www.goldcoasttigerbayclub.com or call 561.852.0000.
Wiesenthal is at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Road, Coral Springs, Jan. 22-March 16.Visit www.stagedoortheatre.com or call 954-344.7765 for tickets. For more information, visit www.wiesentahltheplay.com or www.facebook.com/wiesentaltheplay.
The Beach Boys will be at the 52 annual Boca Raton Regional Hospital Ball, Jan. 25 at the Boca Raton Resort 7 Club, celebrating the hospital’s establishing the new Marcus Neuroscience Instititue, honoring benefactors Bilii and Bernie Marcus and recognizing 13 physicians. Tickets are 4400 with levels of sponsorship. Visit www.https://donate.brrh.com/ball?erid=13119&trid=1c200f48-41cb-4abf-b845-98f02f9aefa6 or call 561.955.5168 for tickets.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum South Florida Luncheon, is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 27, Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, featuring International jurist and survivor of the Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps, Judge Thomas Buergenthal. Call 561.995.6773 or visit www.southeast@ushmm.org for more information.
Weight Watchers Group CEO Florine Mark speaks at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Business & Professional Division (B&P), 8 to 10 am. Jan. 29 in Zinman Hall on the Federation campus. Registration at $36 is available at www.jewishboca.org/icon or sonnies@bocafed.org, 561.852.3128. Future guests include Saks Fifth Avenue CEO Stephen Sadove on March 26.
Inside the mind of John Lithgow; actor, musician, author, arts advocate 11:30 a.m. luncheon Jan. 30 Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion. For sponsorship opportunities and to register to attend the event, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/Foundation/STEAM.
A tribute to the late Maestro Bob Lappin by the Palm Beach Pops will be 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Kravis Center with guest conductor Lee Musiker, longtime music director and conductor for Tony Bennett, featuring broadway star Christine Andreas, acclaimed pianist and singer Tony DeSare, big band songstress Lynn Roberts, trumpeter and vocalist Longineu Parsons and former Pops concertmaster and violinist Mary Rowell. This one-time concert will not only honor the memory of Maestro Bob Lappin by recounting many of the wonderful musical memories over the past 21 seasons, but proceeds will support the ongoing Palm Beach Pops Music & You In-School Youth Education Program for underserved Palm Beach County Schools. Enjoy a magical musical evening as only the Pops can deliver and assist the continuing mission to Keep the Music Playing in our schools and community. Tickets are $29 and up. Call 561.832.7677 for reservations and more information.
Phyllis & Harvey Sandler, Jan Savarick, Shirley & Allan B. Solomon and Jaime & Zachary Keyes will be honored at the Levis JCC Casino Royale Feb. 8, 2014. Email cindyb@levisjcc.org or call 561.852.3253 for more information. Committee in formation: www.levisjcc.org/casino.
The new season of House of Cards with Kevin Spacey and Al Sapienza premieres on Netflix Feb. 14.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein will speak at FAU 3:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Go to www.https://www.fauevents.com/online to purchase tickets.
Save the Date: The Caribbean Cowboy Ball is 6 pm. Feb. 22, 2014 at Red Reef Park. Tickets are $175. Call 561.347.6799 or www.scholarship.org for info.
42 St. is at Boca Raton High School, Feb. 27- March 2. Visit www.bocatrama.com or call 561.338.15333 for more information and reservations.
The West Boca High School Drama Dept. presents Young Frankenstein Feb. 28-March 8. Tickets are $15. Call 561.672.2066. Upcoming shows include Death by Dessert, April 25 & 26.
The Harlem Globetrotters will play at the FAU arena on March 3 and 8. Go to www.harlemglobetrotters.com or call 1.800.745.3000 for ticket information.
Arturo Sandoval, Forte, Cirque de la Symphonie, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Danna Deveare Smith and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance company highlight the 2014 Festival of the Arts Boca, March 6-15. Early bird tickets of $39 (regular price is $125) are available through Dec. 31. Call either 561.368.8445 or too free: 866.571.ARTS or visit www.festivaloftheartsboc.org for more information or reservations.
Save the Date: Follow the Yellow Brick Road to JARC’s 29th Annual Gala Dinner Dance March 9, 2014 at West Boca Country Club.
Palm Beach Dramaworks presents “Some Enchanted Evening”, 14th annual Spring Gala, 6:30 p.m. March 14 at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, 2800 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. Tax deductible tickets are $500 and tables of ten are $5,000. Call 561.4042 ext. 106 for reservations and information.
Florida’s Annual Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities will take place on March 22, 2014, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM at Spanish River Park and A1A in Boca Raton. The Bash is the nation’s largest, free, fun-day for people with special needs, their care givers and family members. The 6th Annual Bash is expected to draw 6,000 attendees from South Florida and beyond. Tax deductible contributions should be directed to The Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities, PO Box 99, Boca Raton, FL 33429. For further information call: 561-715-2622.
Save the Date: Former Miami Dolphin and now owner of Offerdahl’s Café Grill John Offerdahl will be the keynote speaker for the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s 12th annual Inspiration breakfast fundraiser, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 8 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
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 this 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 as on his website: www.publicrelations.nu.