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Photo courtesy of Lori Griffith/special to the Courier Weekly.

A swim coach for people with special needs named Megan Varner, was searching for a paddleboard company to sponsor her team.  She currently has a program for swimmers with Down’s Syndrome, Autism, and other disabilities. Her students have competed at the State level, National level, and in the World Special Olympics!

Varner met with Blueline Paddle Surf located in Jupiter’s “Funky Fishing Village”.   Alex Cotleur and Kim Depasquale, of Blueline, had done “a little bit of work with Surfers for Autism and it was such an incredible experience that we wanted to emulate that in the paddle community.”  It was a match made in heaven. Together they devised a paddle board program.

Depasquale and Cotleur…

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The secret is out on area beaches.  USA Today released a list of the “Ten Least Known Florida Beaches” and Blowing Rocks Preserve, in Hobe Sound, was on the national publications list.  The list identifies these well-kept secret sanctuaries.  Very few people have the luxury of having the beauty of unspoiled nature so close.  

Living near a coastal preserve is perfect for nature lovers. Blowing Rocks Preserve is an environmental preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound. The Nature Conservancy owns Blowing Rocks.  It contains the largest Anastasia limestone outcropping on the U.S. Atlantic coast.  During extreme high tides and after winter storms, seas break against the rocks and force plumes of saltwater up through erosion holes up to 50 feet skyward. Thusly…

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This year’s Labor Day weekend is predicted to see more Americans hit the road than in the past five years.  IHS Global Insight and AAA Travel cite the country’s improved employment situation and recovering home values for the upswing in the economy and the spike in travel plans.  Their reports predict that 34.1 million people will travel 50 miles or more within the country this Labor Day weekend. Beaches and barbeques are the conjecture for most.

“AAA is forecasting a lift in Labor Day travel this year due to the increasingly positive economic outlook and optimism in the housing market,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet.  He is also quoted as saying, “For many Americans, their home is their biggest asset, as home prices improve in many parts…

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Image courtesy of Jupiter Jazz Society.


Over a year ago, the Jupiter Jazz Society was a community of jazz musicians and fans who gathered to enjoy and make connections; it has grown to a 400 member Society.  It is now a 501© (3) nonprofit of individuals also intent on preserving “live improvised music in Jupiter, to generate more interest in jazz, and to perform in future community events.”


Longtime Jupiter residents, Cherie and Rick Moore, are co-founders of the Jupiter Jazz Society.   Rick has played jazz piano professionally for more than 40 years.  The Moore’s founded the jazz society in hopes of making Jupiter a cultural capital for jazz. They feel jazz has a very bright future in our community.  It is easy to find different types of “rock,…

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A recently released study entitled “How Money Walks” by Travis H. Brown, investigates how people are relocating from high-tax states with heavy regulation to lower-tax states with less regulation.  Discovering in fact, more wealth migrated to the Sunshine State in the last two decades than any other state in the nation.  According to the research done by Mr. Brown, the statistics amount to a staggering $95.6 billion dollars; considerably more than the No. 2 state of Arizona, at $28 billion dollars, amounting to three times as much.

As one might expect, our area would, with its beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Coast, abundant sparkling waterways, and year-round sunshine be appealing to new residents. Mr. Brown reminds readers that in California, “you’ll…

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A marketing survey released last year showed 45 percent of respondents would use PBIA most of the time if it had more direct flights, specifically to California and New York. The survey of the airports coverage area was done to identify “ways to stem the tide of passengers shifting to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando International airports.”  

The victory for PBIA, according to airport officials, was when American Airlines announced last Friday that it would add a nonstop flight to LAX. 

For the first three months, rates will be offered most non-holiday weeks at $294 round trip! If you are looking to get out of Jupiter...or come in from L.A., you can't beat the price of the ticket. Please visit American Airlines Flight Reservations.

American Airlines is receiving…

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A June report by the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches is reporting the inventory of homes for sale in Palm Beach County has dropped again!  This low inventory of homes is pushing levels below a five months’ supply leaving very few properties to show to eager buyers. The report indicates findings of only 5,766 single family homes on the market last month; this is a 48 percent drop from this time last year!

The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index is reporting, “home prices continue to rise in South Florida” from a year ago.  It’s the 16th consecutive increase”  and that the “home price index for Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade counties rose 13 percent in April from a year ago.  It’s the 16th consecutive jump.”

The Case-Shiller index covering 20…

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Back in the early 1960’s, cattlemen would drive herds down Indiantown Road from Pratt & Whitney towards the Burt Reynolds Ranch in Jupiter Farms.  Florida had an outbreak of “fever ticks” that was deadly to cattle.  Florida’s cattlemen began to lose cattle and their means to make a living.

The southern fever tick epidemic was introduced to Florida from Texas cattle and nearly cost the cattle industry $10,000,000. The USDA implemented a mandatory cattle-dipping program.  This was a period of “open range”, meaning no fence laws and the cattle roamed freely.

The Florida Cattleman’s Association also  supported “cattle dipping program”.  The dipping program required every cow in South Florida to be rounded up and drove to the nearest pen with a dipping solution…

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Tickets for the second Annual BOCA BURGER BATTLE are on sale now!  The affair has drawn grilling sensations from all over Palm Beach County and South Florida’s top chefs.  People, as far north as Stuart and Jupiter, make the drive to Boca Raton for this culinary feast of burgers, veggie burgers, and little burger bites.   The event takes place at Sanborn Square Park, Downtown Boca Raton, 100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton from 6pm – 10pm.
 
This community event features a “backyard b.b.q.” theme that not only highlights some of the best beef, fish, turkey and vegetarian burgers around; it also has an array of summer food tastings and gourmet samplings. French fires, onion rings, tropical salads, chicken wings, plenty of adult beverages and beer will…

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Photo courtesy of Splash News.

Just south of Jupiter, in the ultrachic enclave of Palm Beach, self-proclaimed “King of All Media” Howard Stern may have picked up a lavish beach house. The radio broadcaster and America’s Got Talent judge has been reportedly searching for a home in the area.  
 
According to Palm Beach County records, the property has been purchased through a trust.  The deed does not indicate the identity of the new owner (speculated to be Stern), who paid $52 million on May 15, 2013.   There is no mortgage recorded for the purchase.

The 19,000 square foot beachfront mansion boasts 5 bedrooms, 12.5 baths, and an outdoor swimming pool just steps from the ocean.  Aerial shots of the property reveal manicured grounds, secure wall and gated entry.…

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