1000 OCEAN HAS FIRST CLOSING

It's official. After years of often contentious battles with neighbors and under different ownership, One Thousand Ocean, the ultra-luxurious condominium project in Boca Raton, is done.

The city issued the developer LXR Luxury Resort & Hotels, owner of the Boca Raton Resort & Club, a certificate of occupancy last week. The condo sits on the resort's property adjacent to its Boca Beach Club.

The first closing at LXR's One Thousand Ocean, which is owned by New York-based Blackstone Group, took place yesterday, officials said. The units run from $3 million to $15 million.

UPCOMING LOCAL TOURS

Downtown West Palm Beach Historic Trolley Tours: 3, 4 p.m. Fridays; 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, leaves from Richard & Pat Johnson Palm Beach County Museum, North Dixie Highway & Third Street. $5; ages 10 and younger free. RSVP 561-833-8873.

Boca Raton Historical Society Hotel Tour: 2 p.m. Tuesdays at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real. $15; $9 valet fee. RSVP 561-395-6766 ext. 100 or bocahistory.org.

Boca Raton Historical Society Trolley Tour: 10 a.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month leaving from Boca Raton Historical Society, Town Hall, 71 N. Federal Highway. $20; members $15. RSVP 561-395-6766 ext. 100 or bocahistory.org.

Narrated Bus Tours of Historic Delray Beach: Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History. Registration 10 a.m., departure 11 a.m. Feb. 27 from Delray Beach Library, 100 W. Atlantic Ave. Adults/seniors $15; under 18 free. delraybeachbustours.org, 561-243-2662.

West Palm Beach Antiques Show: Early buyers 9 a.m.-noon March 5 ($25); regular hours: noon-5 p.m. March 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7 at South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard. Adults $7, seniors $6, under 16 free. 561-793-0333, wpbaf.com.

Lake Worth Parrot Cove Home and Garden Tour: Includes nine homes/gardens, two bed & breakfasts and St. Andrews Episcopal Church 2-6 p.m. March 7. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of event. 561-586-8612, parrotcove.org.

Arts & Crafts Trunk Show: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 13, 12-5 p.m. March 14 at Art-Sea Living Gallery, 1628 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. 561-737-2600, art-sealiving.com.

Spady Museum Ride & Remember Trolley Tour: Leaves 10 a.m. March 13 from Delray Beach Parking Garage, NE First Street & NE First Avenue. Cost $15; $10 children; $12 members. 561-279-8883, spadymuseum.org.

American Orchid Society: 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach. "Orchid Design Clinic" 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Members $5, non-members $10. 561-404-2031. Orchid Judging 2 p.m. Feb. 27. Orchid Doctor 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays; 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. 561-404-2000.

Gardening Classes: "Landscape Design Techniques Used by Professionals" 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays, through March 1; "When Your Garden Misbehaves" 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays, March 15-29 at Community Center, Boca Raton. Residents $38, non-residents $48. 561-338-5436.

Boca Raton Garden Club: Clubhouse, 4281 NW Third Ave. "History of Boca Raton" 1 p.m. March 2 Free. Rummage Treasures ‘N Plants Sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 13. Free. 561-395-9376.

Mounts Botanical Garden: 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach. "Designing, Creating & Maintaining Your Home Landscape" workshop series 6-9 pm. March 3-27 (Wednesdays). $50 members, $60 non-members. Bonsai Society 7 p.m. March 2. J.harman2006@yahoo.com. PBC Beekeepers Association 7 p.m. March 5. 561-686-6557. Begonia Society 7 p.m. March 8. 561-434-3745. Herb Society of PBC 9:30 a.m. March 9. 561-640-7943. Orchid Society of Palm Beaches 7:30 p.m. March 11. pottedorchid@aol.com. Rare Fruit Coucil 7:30 p.m. March 12. 561-495-4694. Enchanted Garden Spring Benefit/Auction 4:30-7 p.m. March 14. Tickets $75. General info: 561-233-1757, mounts.org.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens: Art of Bonsai classes begin March 7 (9 a.m.-noon Sundays through April 11) at 4000 Morikami Park Road, west of Delray Beach. Members $81, non-members $91; additonal material fee of $35. 561-495-0233 ext. 210, morikami.org.

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens: 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach. Marino Marini Sculptures, Etchings and Lithographs on view through March 8. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Sun. 561-832-5328, ansg.org.

SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE AT POLO CLUB

Sunday, February 28th at 7:00 pm 

in the Laurels

 "State of the Union" 

starring 

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

SEA TURTLE DAY AT GUMBO LIMBO

On March 13^th, Gumbo Limbo will celebrate their 5^th Annual Sea Turtle Day from 10 a m to 4 pm.  Included in the celebration will be marine life, our oceans, terrestrial species and habitats along with a fun-filled day of environmental education.  Learn about conservation to help make our world a better, cleaner place, and how all species and habitats are interconnected.  This year’s focus will be on responsible fishing.  Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

CBS Channel 12 will feature on their morning show on February 21^st a live broadcast from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, from 6-9 am.  CBS recently showed surgical treatments for 35 green sea turtles affected by fibropapilloma, a virus which manifests in fleshy tumors on the turtles skin.  It is contagious among turtles, but does not affect humans.  Currently, only surgery can remove the tumors.  After surgery and a short recovery period, the turtles will be released to the ocean.  There were 5000 “cold-stunned” turtles rescued during 2 weeks of abnormally cold temperatures in Florida. 

Come to Gumbo Limbo and stroll around the butterfly garden, climb the observation tower on the boardwalk through coastal hammock, sit in a hut, see saltwater tanks brimming with marine life and take photos of the 7 giant turtles in the sea turtle garden. 

Wiggy, the Kemp’s Ridley turtle pictured about was captured as an adult in 1971 and is presumed to be born about 1960. 

The turtle pictured here, FeeBee, a Loggerhead, survived pneumonia and was hatched in July 2002 in Spanish River Park in Boca Raton.

Above is Milton, another Loggerhead, hatched in July 2002 south of the South Beach Pavilion in Boca Raton.  97 out of 102 of Milton’s eggs hatched.

You can adopt a sea turtle, including FeeBee or Milton, to help support their care and feeding

Sunday, February 21st 

7:00 pm in the Laurels

 "A Serious Man" 

 

directed by the Coen brothers

Nominated for 2 ACADEMY AWARDS

Best Picture, Best Writing/Screenplay

also GOLDEN GLOBES
Best actor in musical or comedy:

Michael Stuhlbarg

and many more awards

for this "black comedy"

DELRAY BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES FIRST REGISTERED ARCHITECT

Delray Beach is known for it’s historical homes built from the 1920’s on, and some built earlier, many of which have original details carefully preserved.  Samuel Ogren Sr. and Jr. worked together on many Delray Beach structures, and developed a style known as “historic village-by-the-sea” architecture. They were the most influential architects with their achievements.

Samuel Ogren Sr. is being honored by the Delray Beach Historical Society as the city’s first registered architect, and is known as the “Father of Delray Beach Architecture.”  There will be 6 panel discussions on Ogren for his work on Sandoway House, Delray Beach Club, the Arcade, the Gymnasium and 1926 High School at Old School Square, starting March 2^nd running until May 20.  For more information call 561-274-9578.  Selected architectural drawings of both Ogren’s works will be on display, donated by the Ogren family to the  Historical Society’s archives. 

Wanting to create a portable exhibit of the drawing reproductions, The Historical Society is applying for a Florida Humanities Council Grant, to educate the community on the importance of understanding and preserving the essential elements of historic local architecture. 

GOING THROUGH END-OF-LIFE ISSUES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS?

Head over to the CARING INFO website.  Find out there about caring for someone, planning ahead, living with an illness.  You can download an advance directive form, fill it out and add it to your google health profile so it will always be easy for a family member to find.  There is hospice info there and a legal guide for the seriously ill.  There is also information on grieving a loss and using community outreach resources.

BOCA WHISPER WALK COMMUNITY GUN CLUB VERY ACTIVE

In order to get a Florida state gun permit, according to the Treasurer of the Whisper Walk Gun club in West Boca Raton, you need 6 hours of intense coaching and a final period of shooting the gun at a range. The club is 14 years old and has 50 members including retired professionals, a few ex-law enfocement officers, neighbors and people from other communities. They meet monthly in the community clubhouse. 

During class you

·        see a 10-minute NRA video about the safe and responsible use of firearms

·        go through the NRA training manual, “The Basics of Pistol Shooting

o      pistol parts

o      operation

o      ammunition

o      using a pistol safey

o      operating a pistol

o      shooting basics

Three fundamental gun safety rules are mentioned:

·        always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

·        keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

·        always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

The group learns how to shoot and care for their weapon.  They go to a Pembroke Pines shooting range a few times a month.  

For more information call 561-483-5636.  Cost of course is $40.

 

MORE NEWS ABOUT HOME SALES...

The median single-family home in Palm Beach County sold for $238,000 in January – 9 percent higher than in 2009, according to the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches. Inventory in January was down to eight months, less than half of what it was in January 2009.  Are we experiencing the start of a seller's market?

Realtors say part of the problem is that people hear the hype about the down market and expect to find a steal in a great neighborhood.  Last year, more than 500,000 Florida homes received some type of foreclosure notice, according to RealtyTrac who charts foreclosures.  But while foreclosures are usually priced low, they’re not always good deals. They could be tagged with liens, have missing appliances or be in general disrepair.

Buyers have said banks will sometimes set a low asking price on a short sale to attract buyers, but with no plans to actually settle for that price. While short sales have traditionally taken months to settle, new federal guidelines that go into effect in April require banks to respond to short sale offers within 30 days.

LATEST FLORIDA HOME SALES NEWS

WHY IS RIGHT NOW THE BEST TIME EVER TO BUY A PROPERTY IN FLORIDA? Florida single family home sales in Florida were up 33% for the month of JANUARY 2010  compared with the prior year, and condo sales gained 91%.  REALTY TIMES reports that Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors which conducts the pending sales survey said the swings from month to month are "masking the underlying trend (in housing) which is a broad improvement over year-ago levels."   Yun also predicts that that the two home purchase tax credits -- the extended $8,000 credit and the new $6,500 credit -- will have a significant impact on closed sales in the coming several months.  He forecasts that the two credits combined will stimulate 2.4 million sales in 2010, and most of that activity will be compressed into the first six months of the year. December's pending sales contracts were 11 percent higher than December 2008's.

MOVIE NIGHT

Movie Night - Sunday, February 14th 

in the Bamboo Room at 7:00 pm. 

The movie will be 

"The Music Man" 

starring Robert Preston

19th ANNUAL BIG WINTER SPECTACULAR WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUES FESTIVAL.

Florida’s largest antique show with more than 1000 dealers hosts the Big Winter Spectacular on February 5-7, 2010.  An Early Buyer pass can be purchased to enter from 9-12 Friday mornings for $25 and is good all weekend.  Daily admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors.  Children under 16 are free.  Discount coupons for admissions are available in the newspapers and at http://www.wpbaf.com.

You will find everything from period furniture from the 1700’s to 1960’s modernism for sale.  Glass and jewelry repair will be onsite, while you wait and shop around your items can be fixed.  Browse and shop inside huge new air conditioned buildings, and outside more than 100 dealers set up in covered areas or tents.  Unlimited free parking, and food and drink concessions are available.

Hours are:
Friday, 2/5: noon to 5 pm

Saturday, 2/6 9 am to 5 pm

Sunday 2/7: 10 am to 4:30 pm

The Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fair is located at 9067 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach.  From the Florida turnpike go west on Southern Boulevard for 1 ½ miles.  From I-95 go west on Southern Boulevard for 7 miles. 

For more information email info@wpbaf.com or call 941-697-7475.

Florida single family home sales in Florida
were up 33% for the month of JANUARY 2010
compared with the prior year, and
condo sales gained 91%.

IN USTA Florida February 2010 Tennis Notes

BOCA RATON -- The Polo Club is this year's recipient of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) 2010 Private Facility of the Year Award. The awards committee judged the club as extraordinary in tennis operations, tennis programming, club amenities, charitable endeavors and support of PTR and the tennis industry. The club has been the past residence of tennis greats Steffi Graf and Chris Evert, and has been host to tennis events such as the Andy Roddick Charity Event, Virginia Slims tour events, pro-celebrity events and ITF-level pro tournaments. Led by Tennis Director Jean Mills, The Polo Club has also been host to the USTA National Girls' 12 Championship for the past 21 years. The national award will be presented at the PTR Awards Banquet on Feb. 14, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza on Hilton Head Island.

http://www.usatennisflorida.usta.com/sitecore/content/Florida/Global/News/News/2010_01/Notes.aspx