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The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is a private, non-profit corporation “that provides a diverse array of arts and culture related programs”.  The council was founded over 35 years ago through the vision and leadership of Alexander Dreyfoos.  Dreyfoos, a successful businessman, inventor, and arts activist believed in the value of arts and culture.

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is Palm Beach County’s officially designated agency for cultural development.  The Council is instrumental in supporting and celebrating the artistic and cultural community in one of Florida’s largest and most diverse counties. 

Take the opportunity to explore local culture. Jupiter, ranked as one of Coastal Magazines “Happiest Seaside Towns” is rich with…

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Housing Market Predictions for 2015

The New Year is here and so are the predictions for the new housing market. After a strong end to 2014’s housing market, experts are predicting another robust year for the 2015. The infographic shown above is based on a National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s expectations for the 2015 housing market. 

A quick summation of Yun’s findings includes his prediction of an even better year for the housing market. He attributes the rising market to the bolstering United States economy, “solid” job gains and a healthy increase in home prices. Currently the United States gross domestic product (GDP) is over 4 percent. When GDP is this high economists label the nation’s economic state as “fantastic.” Historically, GDP growth…

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Can you guess which Floridian city is home to the most searched zip code of 2014? Orlando’s 32801 zip code topped the charts according to Realtor.com’s annual list. What is interesting about Orlando topping the chart is that it didn’t reach number one for its most recognizable feature, Disney World, but for its downtown scene. 

Realtor.com’s report showed that the downtown Orlando area is a “magnet for young people and empty nesters alike.” Only 28 percent of residents in this area are homeowners. It has been considered a “more educated population with its median age range at 37 years old instead of the state average of 40 years old. The stats for Orlando’s population show at least 42% of downtown Orlando’s people have attended college compared to…

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Predictions for the housing market in Palm Beach County for 2015 resemble the trends we saw in 2014. In 2014’s market the year began with double-digit price surges and a lack of inventory but it quickly steadied and leveled out. The local housing market is kicking off the New Year with substantial price increases, scarce inventory levels and bidding battles between buyers much like last year’s trend. However, experts and analysts are expecting this boom to stabilize at some point mid-year. These experts are calling this year’s market trends “the first full year of normal following a decade of extremes.” 

Don’t be confused by these “normal” predictions. Normal is a very positive description for this market. Bill Hardin, the director of the Hollo…

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Summer in Florida
To most people, Florida means seaside relaxation, beautifully landscaped golf courses, awesome fishing and waterfront properties with a semi tropical climate! In the weather world, Florida plays by a different set of guidelines than the rest of the country. “Predictably, residents shivering in northern towns began to turn their eyes toward the red on the map, and as the 80-degree highs were forced further south, Florida stood strong in frustrating the rest of the country to no end.”

Florida, known for the beautiful warm weather, the sand between your toes, and the total leisure bundle, The Sunshine State, is just lounging in the temperateness, dodging from cold fronts and snow storms, while the rest of the country freezes it’s... Oranges... off!  

The…

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Daylight Savings Time (DST) is this weekend, which means we get an extra hour of sleep this Sunday morning.  Plan on turning your clocks back an hour at 2:00am, Sunday, November 2, 2014.  Most smartphones, computers and cable television box connections will do this automatically.

This will mark the beginning of Standard Time.  Standard time means we will have one less hour of daylight in the evening for the next four months through March 8. The days will lengthen and transition back to Daylight Savings Time in the spring. 

If you get confused, remember the phrase “spring forward, fall back”.

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Cato’s Beach Bridge, as the locals know it, is a sandy white shoreline, near the Jupiter Lighthouse, and just north of the bridge, is quite possibly one of the most outstanding natural areas in the state.  Located along the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway and south of the Jupiter Inlet Bridge, this “swimming hole” stays crystal clear all day! 

Cato’s beach is not a beach in the true sense of the word but a sandy shoreline that is bio-diverse.  It is full of warmhearted memories of residents of Jupiter, Tequesta, and Hobe Sound.  Many countless lazy days and warm summer nights have been enjoyed.  The barbeques on the beach, jumping off the nearby rope swings or  just watching the boats go by the turquoise blue waters of the Intracoastal…

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Research indicates that the human brain is most productive two and a half to four hours after waking.  Some simple habits can align someone for success.  Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”  A habit is a regular tendency or practice.

Robert Iger, CEO of Disney, claims to rise every day at 4:30am. Anna Wintour, Editor-in-chief of Vogue, commits to playing tennis daily.  India’s fourth richest billionaire is a marathon runner.  An active body equals and active mind.  Successful people do not stay in bed until noon on weekends.  They get up and get a head start on the day every day, including weekends. 

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, said, “Its fine to celebrate success but it is more…

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A Harvard University study found that optimists are not only happier but 50% less likely to have heart disease, a heart attack or a stroke.    Decades of data indicate that people who are happy live longer and healthier lives.  Achieving contentment is something many people strive to achieve based on the $550 million Americans spend on self-help books and $1 billion on motivational speakers.

One explanation is behavioral.   Possibly, because optimists enjoy better health and live longer lives because they live healthier lifestyles.  These lifestyles lead to biological benefits such as lower stress hormones and less inflammation.  Now you have a reason to go outside and play a round of golf on some of the great golf courses in our area like Admirals…

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Step out and support a wonderful cause this week.  Food lovers are invited to a food and cocktail tasting from over 20 CityPlace restaurants during the “Taste of City Place” flavorful event supporting the Susan G. Komen South Florida Foundation. The event will take place at CityPlace, 700 Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, on Thursday, October 23 5:30pm - 9:00pm   Participants are encouraged to show support for breast cancer awareness by wearing pink to the event.

Foodies will not be disappointed.  Last year was a huge success!  City Place’s top restaurants and food focused shops samples included the finest Clams Casino from Deck’s Fish Market; mini chicken burritos from Moe’s Southwest Grill; sweetened custards from BurgerFi; pasta a la vodka from…

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