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In addition to Florida’s gorgeous beaches, beautiful weather, excellent theatres and art, the Sunshine State offers even more … local breweries and pubs offering craft beer.

What is better than near perfect weather and bluest, blue water and white sand beaches? Actually, not much, but Florida’s craft beer industry consists some of the best brewers.  This is not just about beer, its craft beer!  There are close to 100 breweries and brewpubs around the state.  Florida is a craft beer drinker’s paradise.

Florida pours have been getting quite a bit of national attention.  Tequesta Brewing Company, located at 287 U.S. Highway One, Tequesta is South Florida’s first microbrewery.  The Village of Tequesta is proud of its stunning residential communities…

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourage people to remove lionfish from Florida waters to help limit negative impacts to native marine life and ecosystems.  Lionfish can be speared, caught in handheld nets or caught on hook and line.  There is no recreational or commercial bag limit.  They are extremely tasty, too!

Register now for the Reef Builders Lionfish Round-up, Saturday, July 12, 2014 diving starts at 7:00am.

REGISTRATION FEE:  $50/per diver or $150/team of 4 divers. Proceeds benefit the Martin County Artificial Reef Program.

CASH AWARDS: Cash Prizes for Smallest $250, Largest $250, Most Caught by Individual $500, and Most Caught by Team $500.

There will be two convenient weigh in locations from 12 noon to 4:00…

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Fourth of July Things to Do

JUPITER’S OLD-FASHION 4TH OF JULY IN ABACOA

This year at the Abacoa Town Center the all American holiday of 4th of July will be celebrated for two days! Kicking off on July 3rd is the classic car show, Main Street Cruise. This event features some of the sweetest rides in the area including, classic cars, muscle cars, custom rods and sports cars. There will be a Palm Beach Cardinals vs. the Jupiter Hammerheads game followed by fireworks and live music. 

The 4th of July is sure to be a smash hit and is perfect for people of all ages. To start the holiday of right, a parade through the streets will get the party started. The parade will begin at 4 pm. From 4pm-9pm there will be several live performances from local DJs and bands offering a variety of…

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Friday is Independence Day. Here is how the holiday will affect area services.

PALM BEACH COUNTY:

GOVERNMENT OFFICES:  Federal, state, county, and municipal offices, courts, banks and post offices will be CLOSED on FRIDAY, JULY 4.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATIONNO Palm Tran bus service FRIDAY, JULY 4.  Tri Rail train service WILL operate on a weekend schedule.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES: All public libraries in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties are CLOSED on FRIDAY, JULY 4.

GARBAGE COLLECTION: Most garbage pickups are on a regular pickup schedule in Palm Beach County. Exceptions include North Palm Beach where Friday pickup will be on Thursday.  In Boca Raton, Thursday pick up will be will be on Wednesday and Friday pickup will be on Thursday.

MARTIN…

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Have you ever wished to fly like Tony Sparks?  Flyboarding is close.

Flyboarding…how do you do that? A flyboard is a board connected to by a water hose to a Jet Ski or a Wave Runner. The Jet Ski engines force water into the hose at high pressure and out through nozzles on the board, and rider as high as 45 feet, 12-15 feet for beginners.

West Palm Beach officials redesigned the downtown waterfront and in addition to strolling and boating, one can try the extreme fun of flyboarding.  Get set for takeoff from the center pier on the east end of Clematis Street in front of E.R. Bradley’s Saloon. SoFlo Flyboarding was licensed by the city commission to offer a flyboarding instruction program from a floating dock from the aforementioned center pier.

The owners…

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Six weeks after opening in Wellington, Trader Joe’s announced the grand opening dates of three additional stores in our area.  A store in Delray Beach is scheduled to open Friday, September 5, at 1851 South Federal Highway.  A Palm Beach Gardens store located at 2560 PGA Boulevard will open September 19 and finally another market will open September 26 in Boca Raton at 855 South Federal Highway.

Trader Joe’s is an American held privately held chain of funky specialty stores headquartered in California. It started in the 50’s as a small chain of convenience stores.  They made the stores bigger “decked the walls with cedar planks and donned the crew in cool Hawaiian shirts.”

Trader Joe’s is known for its eclectic collection of branded products that range…

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LeBron James has decided to exercise his option for early termination of his contract with the Miami Heat.  James will become a free agent on July 1. James’ agent confirmed the decision.  He has all the leverage and it is logical that he use it.

Miami Heat President, Pat Riley stated this past Tuesday “I was informed this morning of his intentions.  We fully expect LeBron to opt-out and exercise his free agent rights, so this does not come as a surprise.  As I said at the press conference last week, players have a right to free agency and when they have these opportunities, the right to explore their options.”

Opting out does not mean James will necessarily leave the Heat, but it does allow him to explore opportunities.  James was set to earn…

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According to the KIPLINGER REPORT, home prices will rise in 2014 but a slow steadier pace compared with historical trends.  The housing recovery has pushed up homes prices nearly everywhere. 

Over the past year, home price rose in 225 of the 276 cities tracked by Clear Capital, a provider of real estate data and analysis.  Good news for people who have waited to sell their houses.  Prices nationwide rose by 10.9%, up by $30,000 to $215,000!

In 2013, a sense of urgency drove buyers to take advantage of affordable home prices and low mortgage prices.  However, buyers were forced into bidding wars.  Sellers reaped the rewards of quick sales and often receiving above asking price.   

Kiplinger market observers agree that home prices will rise  4%…

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FAMILY FUN at PALM BEACH ZOO:  Safari Nights:  Fairy Tale Nights runs from 4:15 to 9pm today June 20, 2014, Palm Beach Zoo, 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach.  Guests can meet fairy tale princesses, enjoy music by kid friendly DJ in Fountain Plaza.  There will be animal encounters and more.  Admission prices vary.  Please call the Zoo at 561-533-0887 or visit www.palmbeachzoo.org for more details.

“RING OF FIRE:  The Johnny Cash Musical” opens tonight and continues through July 13 at the Theater Arts Garage, 180 N.E. First Street, Delray Beach. The performance focuses on the music of Johnny Cash and celebrates the songs that reflect his life.  It is described as a “Jukebox musical”, features over 30 hits, and tells the story of Johnny Cash. …

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Summer Gardening
Gardening in South Florida can be a challenge whether you are a long time resident or new resident.  The soil is more sand than nutritious soil.  The subtropical climate may mean some plants may grow nearly year round.  Select plants carefully.

To live in harmony with our South Florida environment it is best to be aware of how plants, animals, insects exist and how we intersect with them and affect them.  Florida has more than eighty distinct ecosystems, which are home to many different plant and animal species.  Please DO NOT introduce invasive species into your home garden.  Invasive species cause harm to the environment, the economy and/or human health.  

Start preparing your garden site in the spring when it is still nice and cool outside.  Build…

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