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The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) announced its highly anticipated film line-up for the 20th year, March 26 – April 2, 2015, featuring 12 World Premieres and 15 American premieres. The film festival will present features, documentaries and short films from the U.S. and around the world, including Bulgaria, Venezuela, France, England, Israel, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Spain, Russia, Slovakia, Australia, Canada, Cuba, The Netherlands and Germany.  The PBIFF will host filmmakers, producers and actors to chat about their films.

Randi Emerman, President of PBIFF states, “This year’s Palm Beach International Film Festival has a sparkling array of fantastic movies and a list of visiting filmmakers and talent that will bring the best of…

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Congratulations to local North Palm Beach resident, professional golfer and respected philanthropist, Jack Nicklaus!  He has been presented with the Congressional Gold Medal. Both houses of Congress honored Nicklaus with the medal March 25, 2015

The Congressional Gold Medal is presented “to persons who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.”   It one of the two highest awards granted to citizens of the United States.   Nicklaus received the other, Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2005by President George W. Bush.

He joins the ranks of Roberto Clemente, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Byron…

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The State of Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee is in support of reducing commercial real estate lease tax.  The bill (SB 140) recommends reducing the current 6% tax on commercial real estate leases to 5%.  This reduction makes Florida even more attractive, in addition to the perfect weather and beautiful beaches, for homeowners and business owners.

Under the bill, the cut would take effect January 1, 2016.  Reduction in the state tax commercial real estate lease percentage will allow Florida to compete for businesses to move to the state.

Governor Scott said, “This part of our Tax Cut Agenda is a $100 million reduction in the sales tax on commercial rent, which costs businesses about $1.4 billion per year. This reduction will make it more…

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Abacoa Golf Club will play host to the 6th Annual Hannah's Home Golf Classic on April 18th.

The event is being put on by Hannah's Home of South Florida and will feature a closest-to-the-pin competition, a long drive competition, and a hole-in one competition with the opportunity to win a 2 year lease on a car from Schumacher-Buick in West Palm Beach.

The day will feature registration at 7am with a shotgun start at 8am. Following golf, there will be a luncheon and prize presentation beginning at noon.

Cost of the event is $200 per player and includes green fees, cart, favor bag, refreshments, snacks, lunch, and awards. Sponsorship opportunites are also available, ranging from $150 up to $5,000.

Hannah's Home is a residential program providing…

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Are you inundated with calls from telemarketers and solicitors on your cell phone number?   If you are like many new homeowners, a landline is a thing of the past. Studies indicate new homeowners, in Palm Beach County and South Florida, are not requesting landlines for their new residences.

It is estimated that 100 billion “robo-calls” (those calls without a human on the other end), political candidate calls and other solicitations are made annually in the U.S.   You might be surprised how they get your mobile number.

According to Privacy Star, automatic dialing devices can figure out and call all possible telephone number combinations.  These numbers can be listed, unlisted and mobile numbers.  A number of telemarketing companies ignore “do not…

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The Loxahatchee River Railroad Bridge in Jupiter will close intermittently next week.  The bridge, which is owned and operated by Florida East Coast Railway, will be closed to boating traffic during the scheduled maintenance.   Last week a malfunction with the bridge left the Town of Jupiter and the Village of Tequesta with a traffic quandary. 

According to Florida East Coast Railway representative, Senior Vice President Robert Ledoux, “an electrical problem caused the bridge to remain in the upright position shortly before noon on March 7, 2015.”  The malfunction stopped a southbound freight train, no pun intended, "in its tracks".  Resulting in three vital crossings to be blocked, dividing the town in half.  Fire rescue noted aside from being an…

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Photo courtesy Eduardo Buchin, Jupiter.

One thing many people will agree with is that this year has been an exceptionally brutal winter.  Spring break will come as a well-deserved break from the harsh, freezing temperatures up north.  Seasonal depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the winter months can really get you down.

Some scientists think seasonal depression is caused by certain hormones in the brain that trigger “attitude related” changes at certain times of the year.  One theory regarding the hormone changes is that sunlight during fall and winter leads to the brain producing less serotonin.  Serotonin is a chemical produced by the brain which regulates mood.  When this isn’t functioning normally, results can be feelings of…

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Enjoy a taste of the islands Saturday March 21, 2015 from 1:00 – 6:00pm.  This family friendly event at the Plaza Down Under on the Riverwalk will feature something for everyone.  Listen to steel drum bands and live tropical music as local vendors sell island themed art, crafts and jewelry.

A “Junkanoo Band” will play from 2:00-3:00pm and lead a parade though the events plaza. Not familiar with Junkanoo? Junkanoo is a lively and colorful street carnival parade.  After 500 years of practice, the legends differ as to the roots of Junkanoo in the Caribbean. The most popular belief is that it stemmed from the days of slavery.  In the late 18th century many Loyalists, from England, brought their enslaved servants to the Caribbean. At Christmas time, they…

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Orchids, orchids, and more orchids!  Over 10,000 orchid plants from local and international vendors will be on display Friday, March 13, 2015 9:30 AM to Sunday, March 15, 2015 4:30 PM at the 13th Annual International Orchid Festival.  Learn all about the exotic air plants.  Pick up tidbits on how to grow and care for them.

Orchids are flowering plants that are often colorful and fragrant.  There are over 26,000 varieties of orchids more than twice the number of bird species on the planet and four times the number of mammal species.  Orchids date back 76-84 million years.  The first evidence of this was fossilized when an extinct stingless bee was carrying pollen from a previously unknown orchid subspecies.

Blankets of orchids take over Fairchild…

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Big Box Store Jupiter

A parcel of land located adjacent to Donald Ross Road was purchased by a developer for $22.75 million!

The entire property was once owned by Kolter Group and was 41 acres. Kolter Group paid $13.9 million for the entire piece of land in 2013 and now has sold 21 of their acres to Brock Developing Corp. Last week, Brock Developing Corp. of Palm Beach Gardens closed on the 21-acre section of the vacant land for $22.75 million. Brock Developing Corp. is planning to build a 350,000 square foot shopping center. Although the plans for the development of a big box store have been released Brock Developing Corp. has not released any information on which big box juggernaut will lease the space.  The site will be a part of the proposed Alton Town Center, which…

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