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

THE WHITE HOUSE LOST MARKET VALUE TOO…

The Palm Beach Post Real Estate News page reports that,  “you and your neighbors are not alone.  The place the president and his family call home was worth 5.1% less last year, one analyst says.”

Zillow “zestimates” 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC (The White House) at $288,494,000.  The residence has 16 bedrooms, 35 baths and is 55,000 sq ft.  They further estimate a monthly mortgage payment would be $1,216,562.

Sunday, January 31st at 7:00 pm, Laurels 

THE HURT LOCKER

This film, a war movie, 

has won 52 awards and 

47 nominations, including 

Best Director, Catherine Begelow

START COLLECTING YOUR WARES FOR SALE NOW AND GET A BOOTH ($25) AT DELRAY BEACH’S TRASH & TREASURE YARD SALE FEBRUARY 6TH

Turn your wares into cash by renting a 10x10 area at the TRASH AND TREASURE YARD SALE.  $25 fee must be paid by February 6^th at Administrative Office, Crest Theatre Building, open  Mon/Fri 9 am to 5 pm.  Load in between 6 and 8 am Friday, Feb 6th – yard s le is under BIG tent Entertainment Pavilion from 8 am to 1 pm.  NO Dealers and NO flea market items. Sale is for the general public.  A Goodwill truck will be on site after the sale to take any remaining items for donation.  Old School Square is at 51 North Swinton Avenue (off Atlantic Avenue) in Delray Beach.  For more information call 561-243-7922.

AZURA BOUGHT OUT OF FORECLOSURE BY TOLL BROS.

Located on the east side of Jog Road, just south of Polo Club, an affiliate of homebuilding giant Toll Bros. has taken title to the unfinished Azura estate home project in Boca Raton.  It was planned for 92 homes ranging in price from $1.6MM - $3MM.  Most lots are vacant, only 7 were sold for a total of $19MM.

Initial sale and assumption agreement were signed in October.  Regions Bank won a $43.1MM foreclosure judgment against developers Polo Field Estates and Gordon Homes in early December and the bank sold the mortgage to Toll FL X.L.P. on December 23^rd.

At the foreclosure sale on January 11^th, Toll FL X won title to Azura after submitting a $5.1MM bid, based on the $43.1MM foreclosure judgment it acquired when it bought the mortgage.

SUN-SENTINEL INTERVIEWS POLO MEMBERS RE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Nate Miller, chairman of the Polo Club's 15-member Community Relations Committee, decided to organize a volunteer fair as part of the club's 25th anniversary year. "We want to encourage people to give back," said vice chair Roni Brockman. "People here have all different kinds of skills from their previous lives."

The committee reached out to "a mix of nonprofits," Miller said. Among them were the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, the Caregiving Youth Project and the Area Agency on Aging. Brockman touted the event in her newsletter column, and they used the in-house TV channel, posters and an e-mail blast to spread the word.
"We made announcements in the men's and ladies' card rooms in the last couple of weeks," Miller said.  They even sweetened the pot with raffle prizes.

There was a steady stream of men and women members when the ballroom doors opened at 3 p.m. "We expect a bigger crowd later, after mah-jongg," Brockman said.  All told, about 125 people came through the fair that day, Miller reported afterward.

One of them was Linda Yablon, who moved into Polo Club four months ago.  She was looking into medical volunteer work because she worked in that field and volunteered for Ronald McDonald House.  “I have a Florence Nightingale complex," she said as she filled out a form at the hospital table.

Dr. William Shaw doesn't practice urology anymore, but he still has an active license and wants to use his medical skills and great bedside manner as a volunteer.  So instead of shopping around for the right place to offer his services, he simply filled out a form for Boca Raton Community Hospital on Jan. 12 at the Volunteer Fair in The Polo Club where he has lived for two years.  "I'm looking for things to do, and I don't want to be paid," said Shaw, 69, who thought he might help "allay the fears" of patients who have medical conditions in his specialty.
 
KUDOS to our members who volunteer to enrich the lives of others.

 

 INGLORIOUS BASTARDS

Starring BRAD PITT

7 pm, Sunday January 24

LAURELS

Come join us for this

exciting drama...

 

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS- Brad Pitt- LAURELS

 

PALM BEACH POETRY FESTIVAL BEING HELD IN DELRAY BEACH

The Old School Square Cultural Arts Center is the location for the 6^th Annual six days of readings, lectures and poetry workshops. from Monday, January 18^th through Saturday, January 23^rd.  Twelve award-winning international poets will be featured as fans from 25 different states listen to participating poets in readings, talks and panel discussions.  Nine of the events are ticket and there are two free poetry readings. 

The faculty includes critically acclaimed poets who teach in graduate and college level writing programs and include the New York Poet Laureate, winner of the National Book Awared and many other  staff have received outstanding awards and fellowships.

Tickets are available through the festival website and at the Crest Theatre Box Office at Old School Square, or by phone at 561-243-7922. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students. Special student group rates are available.

Visit http://www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org/ for more information and a complete list of events.

THE POLO CLUB IS RECIPIENT OF 2010 PRIVATE FACILITY OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Polo Club of Boca Raton was judged by the Professional Tennis Registry as extraordinary in tennis operations, tennis programming, club amenities, charitable endeavors and support of the PTR and the tennis industry.   

Polo Club is the 17^th recipient of this prestigious award, cementing this world-class facility as one of the country’s most premiere private country clubs.  Tennis stars Stephanie Graff and Chris Evert have resided at The Polo Club.  Charity Tennis Events held at The Polo Club include the Andy Roddick Charity Event, Virginia Slims, Pro Celebrity and the ITF.  The Club has also been host to the USTA National Girls’ 12 Championsip for the past 21 years. Jean Mills, pictured above, is Tennis Director. 

DEEP DRAMA WITH JOHNNIE DEPP, Sunday, 1-17 at 7 pm in BAMBOO ROOM

GUESTS WELCOME!

KEY WEST TRUMAN LITTLE WHITE HOUSE-A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT!

From 1946 to 1952, The Harry S. Truman Little White House was the winter White House of America, and subsequently used by later Presidents.  Fourteen American Presidents have vacationed in the Florida Keys and Key West.  This was a relaxing and restoring environment when dealing with the threats of the Cold War. Opened in 1991 as the only Florida Presidential Museum, almost 90% of the furnishings are original to the site, giving an intimate view of Truman’s personal life.  Restoration is ongoing to bring the property even closer to its 1949 appearance.  Public donations are accepted by the Harry S.Truman foundation.

Tour Guides offer glimpses into the Cold War politics, personal views of Truman, and the Naval History of Key West.  The tours are occasional closed for government functions.  The home can be used for Private Events as well.  Your can host your own private state dinner for two or for one hundred and have an extraordinary dinner party.  Weddings are held here too.  From February 1 to April 1, 2010, “With Love, Harry” will celebrate Bess Truman’s 125^th birthday.  Included will be a display of the thousands of letters sent between Harry and Bess over 50 years. Botanical Gardens tours reveal an acre of tropical foliage and trees surrounded by the original 1890 wrought iron fence.

Christmas is a special time here, with “Harry’s Girls” decorating the house.  There is a Museum Gift Shop featuring White House Ornaments dating back to 1999.  Recently Truman’s 125^th birthday was celebrated at the Little White House representing three of his most important decisions: recognition of the state of Israel, the berlin Airlift and desegregation of the military.  The birthday cake was served by  “Harry’s Girls.”

Thirty-five percent of Americans polled by Washington Whispers picked the Key West Little White House as the place they most would like to visit, topping all other seasonal White House locations.  Click here for TOUR INFORMATION.  You can call 305-294-9501 for information.