The Dec. 9 concert, to start at 5 p.m., will mark the eighth year that players of tuba family instruments have entertained crowds in Boca Raton. Coastal Star file photo by Tim Stepien
By Christine Davis
Want to start a new holiday tradition? Consider this family-friendly event.
Tuba Christmas is an annual free concert held worldwide to celebrate the holidays, but also as a tribute to teachers whose passion is teaching music. Harvey Phillips, a tuba student, created the concert as a tribute to his music teacher, William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas Day in 1902.
The first Tuba Christmas was in 1974 in New York City, and this year at least 200 such concerts are planned in the United States.
The Dec. 9 event in the Mizner Park Amphitheater will mark the eighth year of the local Tuba Christmas concert, which is led by Dr. Marc Decker, assistant professor of music and the associate director of bands at Florida Atlantic University.
The concert is a kind of come-as-you-are performance, open to students of all levels who play instruments in the tuba family, including the sousaphone, baritone, euphonium and its rare cousins the helicon, ophicleide, serpent and double-bell euphonium.
Concerts range in size from a tiny tuba quartet to several hundred performers at the biggest concerts in Los Angeles and New York. Because musicians’ holiday schedules are packed, the only rehearsal is the one right before the show. There is a nominal fee ($10) to play.
Boca Raton players will check in from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and rehearse from 2:30 to 4. After a short break, they will be back on stage for the 5 p.m. concert.
Players are asked to wear festive attire, and they do. From a Christmas sweater made by grandma to Santa hats and Rudolph’s antlers, if it’s red or green, it’s a hit. Even the instruments get decorated with garland and lights. The music book the players use, “Carols for a Merry TubaChristmas,” is available for sale.
You can bring your own chairs or blankets or rent a chair for $5. Food and drink vendors will be on site. Admission is free. Info: www.myboca.us/826/Mizner-Park-Amphitheater
Holidays for Delray Beach will be produced this year by Stephanie Immelman’s new company, Grapevine Communications. At the center of the festivities will be the city’s iconic 100-foot Christmas tree.
“A whole generation of children has grown up with the tree,” Immelman said. “People share their memories with us all the time and we see a marriage proposal in the tree nearly every year.”
Visitors can walk inside it through Jan. 1 for a dollar donation, and Santa will be at the tree until Dec. 23. He will also make an appearance at the annual Cookie Cruises throughout the month on board the Lady Atlantic.
The Seas & Greetings holiday parade will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 8 along Atlantic Avenue, and other holiday happenings include the Holiday Boat Parade on Dec. 14, a Kwanzaa celebration at the Spady Museum on Dec. 30, and the Delray Beach Historical Society Holiday Craft Workshop at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11.
A family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration in Old School Square Park is scheduled for 5 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. For details, visit www.100FtChristmasTree.com.
The Palm Beach Poetry Festival launched its Ekphrastic Poetry Contest, which uses as its inspiration the “Tech Effect” exhibit at Old School Square’s Cornell Museum of Art. The deadline for entries is Feb. 17. To enter, writers should submit up to 30 lines of original poetry inspired by one of eight designated images featured in the exhibition.
The images are: Back Up, by Ellen de Meijer, Emotion #2, by Walter Brown, Fractal, by William Montgomery, Galloping Towards the Dream, by Camomile Hixon, Graine, by Alain Le Boucher, No More Dialectics #4, by Daniel Fiorda, Mona Lisa, by Antoine Geiger, and Skull, by Brian Dettmer.
The winning poet will receive a $100 prize, and $25 will be given to each of the four runners-up. For information on how to submit and to view the tech effect images, visit www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org/news/tech-effect-poetry-contest/.
Offering awards totaling $15,000 in prizes, the Palm Beach Student Showcase of Films competition is open to student filmmakers, writers, graphic designers and digital media artists enrolled in Florida high schools and colleges. To enter, visit www.pbfilm.com/ssof. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 25.
This student showcase is funded by the Palm Beach County Commission through the Department of Housing and Economic Sustainability. Major sponsors include Lynn University and the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission. Category sponsors include Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, Inc., Film Florida, Michael Chasin, and the Information Television Network.
On Nov. 14, in celebration of Veterans Day, the cadets from Boynton Beach High School joined the residents of Barrington Terrace, a senior living community, for a day of remembrance and learning. After the cadets marched through the community, presented the colors and shared lunch, they heard an educational presentation offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and participated in a pinning ceremony as their expression of gratitude to the veterans. Barrington Terrace is at 1425 S. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach.
Since this summer, Copperpoint Brewing Co., headquartered in Boynton Beach, has won a variety of medals from top beer competitions by distributing its beers in can form. They include a gold medal in the chocolate beer category at the Great American Beer Festival; two grand champion awards at the 24th annual United States Beer Tasting Championship; and three international awards as well as a silver and two bronze medal national awards at the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Competition.
Board members of the Delray Beach Housing Authority were appointed in October. They include Krystina Buckley, James Hiler, Marcus Metcalf and Jesse D. Saginor, who will serve as chairman.
Jet Coast Homes of One Sotheby’s International Realty has partnered with Inspiration Charity to raise money in the fight against breast cancer. The launch party event, which was held at Tim Finnegan’s Irish Pub in Delray Beach, raised more than $15,000. The Jet Coast team members will donate a portion of each sale in the names of the buyers and sellers. Jessica Rosato, co-founder of Jet Coast Homes along with Eva Blow and Theresa Melocco, said “being able to make a difference in someone’s life is priceless, and it’s something that we are so excited to do in the name of our buyers and sellers.”
“Instead of a traditional closing gift, we give an impactful gift that can help someone fighting the battle against breast cancer. We’ve all been touched by cancer in some way, and giving back through Inspiration Charity is one of the ways we’ve decided to make our contribution.”
One Sotheby’s International Realty announced in October the acquisition of affiliate brokerage Nestler Poletto Sotheby’s International Realty, a nearly 80-agent firm with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
“We’re honored and privileged to join forces with another real estate powerhouse in the Sotheby’s brand, especially one that is growing with tremendous strength like One S.I.R.,” said Mark Nestler.
“This is the absolute best decision for our exceptional sales associates and staff in keeping us on the forefront of luxury real estate sales in South Florida,” said John Poletto.
Motivational speaker and author Grant Cardone sold a 102-unit apartment complex at 1202 and 1300 SW First Ave. and 1150 SW Second Ave. in Boca Raton for $16.8 million. Records from Nov. 5 show Boca Islands East secured a $10.1 million loan from Hunt Real Estate Capital to purchase the property, which includes apartments and office space. Cardone’s company, Realm 102, paid $12.5 million for the 1.2-acre site in 2015.
Cardone has acquired multifamily properties across the country, including in South Florida, and in September, Cardone Capital paid about $90 million for the 346-unit Atlantic Delray Apartments in Delray Beach at 14050 Pacific Point Place. Previously, the property was owned by a joint venture between Atlantic | Pacific Companies and the Rockpoint Group.
The 30,683-square-foot Winfield Plaza in Boca Raton sold for $13.1 million to 20th Street Investments LLC, with James Batmasian listed as title manager. The sale was recorded Nov. 1. The seller is Taormina Investments S.A., led by Giovanni Cannavo, Juan Alvarez and the Panamanian law firm Galindo, Arias & López. Holliday Fenoglio Fowler’s Eric Williams, Manny de Zárraga, Danny Finkle and Luis Castillo represented the seller.
The retail strip center is on 2.82 acres at 471-515 NE 20th St. and 2001, 2151 and 2181-2201 N. Federal Highway. It’s 93 percent occupied, with tenants including Osha Thai Restaurant, Sweet Deals Chocolates, Subway and Señor Burrito.
Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation sold its Nissan dealership at 2200 S. Federal Highway in Delray Beach to HGreg for $11 million in November. The dealership comprises 47,694 square feet on a 3.76-acre site. The last sale price for the dealership was $5.2 million in June 2005. Canada-based HGreg got a $10.5 million mortgage loan from Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. in connection with its acquisition of the Delray Beach dealership.
For sale: McKinney estate, tree house too. Photo provided
Home builder and designer Frank McKinney’s restored 1930s John Volk oceanfront compound, Ocean Apple, was recently listed for sale for $5.49 million with Steven Presson, an agent with the Corcoran Group. Located at 610 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, McKinney’s six-bedroom, six-bathroom home features 100 feet of Atlantic Ocean frontage, cypress walls and ceilings, Dade County pine flooring, a newly renovated kitchen, and let’s not forget his tree house, which has ocean views, a bathroom, a bamboo desk, hardwood flooring, cedar walls, and a king-sized bed loft area with a TV.
“Frank definitely wants to stay in the area, but he is looking to downsize now that his daughter is in college,” Presson said. “Even though Frank has a long career of building and designing modern beachfront masterpieces, he always preferred to live in more historical, older homes with character. But now Frank finally wants to move into something more modern like homes he’s famous for designing.”
Cathy Balestriere was voted Chamber Business Person of the Year at the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s annual fundraiser in October. Balestriere, who is the general manager of Crane’s Beach House Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas, was recognized for her dedication and expertise in her business operation and her continued support of the Chamber and the community.
The Delray Beach Elks Lodge was voted the Chamber’s Business of the Year for its continued service to the community. A long-standing member of the Chamber, the Elks are committed to supporting programs that help young people in the community. Former Mayor David Schmidt was awarded the Crystal Palm Award for exceptional and continued service and dedication to the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Delray Beach community.
My Palm Beach Box, a new subscription-based service headquartered in Boca Raton, offers gift boxes that include gift cards, event tickets, and beauty products from South Florida businesses such as Ouzo Bay, Jupiter Candles, Lost Harbour Distillery and The Original Popcorn House.
Individual boxes cost $39.95; four boxes per year cost $160; birthday boxes and foodie boxes cost $49.95.
“You can find at least $300 worth of products from local businesses in each one,” said Delray Beach resident Sarah Schuh, who co-founded the business with Palm Beacher Krisann Simon.
For more info, visit www.mypalmbeachbox.com.
Send business news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.
Janis Fontaine contributed to this report.
Comments