The Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival is in its 28th year history this weekend, November 13 -15, 2015.  The festival is one of the remaining few true street festivals in South Florida and one of the largest!  The weekend of festivities acknowledges the “community’s rich pineapple heritage.”

John Lawrence Jensen, of Denmark, arrived to the area in 1881.  He set up his plantation and began cultivating and farming pineapples. This area became known as the Town of Jensen. By 1894, Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway, reached the Town of Jensen.  Fresh pineapple shipments were loaded directly onto the freight cars and sent north.   The 19th century Town of Jensen revolved around pineapple farming and was known as the “Pineapple Capital of the…

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Rendering photo courtsey of Rachel Thomson.

The premier art show, presenting 20th and 21st century art, returns to South Florida’s ultra-chic, Miami Beach, for the 14th edition of significant works.   Art Basal ranks as the leading North American exhibition of masters of Modern and contemporary art.  Over 267 leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa participate with works including paintings, installations, sculptures, photographs and films of the utmost quality will be in the main exhibition hall.  Vast scale artworks, live performances become part of Miami’s outdoor backdrop at nearby Collins Park, near South Beach Historic District and the 2.5-acre audio-visual, one of a kind, SoundScape Park.

Art…

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Diner en Blanc is a global mass “chic picnic” event, in a public space, spanning five continents.  It is an elegant “flash mob" gathering of diner guests, dressed formally in all white, participating in the refined elegance of Parisian days by gone. The guest list is limited, refined diners are invited or must have previously signed up; location is top secret and not divulged until the day of the Diner en Blanc (generally, one hour prior to the dining hour).

The concept began in Paris, France in 1988 and the inaugural dinner will be taking place this evening locally. The same Diner en Blanc concept will take place November 10, 2015, in West Palm Beach in Miami for the second time this evening as well.

Frenchman, Francois Pasquier invited a…

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Jupiter Easter Egg Hunt, .  Bring your own basket.  Prize baskets are being donated by Kilwin’s Chocolates. Bounce houses, face painting and an appearance by the Mr. Long Ears himself from 10am to 11:30am.  Saturday, April 4th @ 9:30am to 12:00pm, Jupiter Community Center, 200 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458

Easter Egg Hunt, Trinity United Methodist Church, 2221 N.E. Savannah Road, Jensen Beach,  Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 10:30 am.  Free for children ages 2-12.  Bring your own basket.

Palm Beach Gardens Egg Extravaganza,  The City of Palm Beach Gardens invites you to their annual Egg Extravaganza in Gardens Park., Friday, March 27, 2015 @ 6:00pm.  The Easter bunny may hop on by after the egg hunt has ended. 

Easter Egg Hunt,  GFWC…

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The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) announced its highly anticipated film line-up for the 20th year, March 26 – April 2, 2015, featuring 12 World Premieres and 15 American premieres. The film festival will present features, documentaries and short films from the U.S. and around the world, including Bulgaria, Venezuela, France, England, Israel, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Spain, Russia, Slovakia, Australia, Canada, Cuba, The Netherlands and Germany.  The PBIFF will host filmmakers, producers and actors to chat about their films.

Randi Emerman, President of PBIFF states, “This year’s Palm Beach International Film Festival has a sparkling array of fantastic movies and a list of visiting filmmakers and talent that will bring the best of…

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Congratulations to local North Palm Beach resident, professional golfer and respected philanthropist, Jack Nicklaus!  He has been presented with the Congressional Gold Medal. Both houses of Congress honored Nicklaus with the medal March 25, 2015

The Congressional Gold Medal is presented “to persons who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.”   It one of the two highest awards granted to citizens of the United States.   Nicklaus received the other, Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2005by President George W. Bush.

He joins the ranks of Roberto Clemente, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Byron…

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The State of Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee is in support of reducing commercial real estate lease tax.  The bill (SB 140) recommends reducing the current 6% tax on commercial real estate leases to 5%.  This reduction makes Florida even more attractive, in addition to the perfect weather and beautiful beaches, for homeowners and business owners.

Under the bill, the cut would take effect January 1, 2016.  Reduction in the state tax commercial real estate lease percentage will allow Florida to compete for businesses to move to the state.

Governor Scott said, “This part of our Tax Cut Agenda is a $100 million reduction in the sales tax on commercial rent, which costs businesses about $1.4 billion per year. This reduction will make it more…

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Are you inundated with calls from telemarketers and solicitors on your cell phone number?   If you are like many new homeowners, a landline is a thing of the past. Studies indicate new homeowners, in Palm Beach County and South Florida, are not requesting landlines for their new residences.

It is estimated that 100 billion “robo-calls” (those calls without a human on the other end), political candidate calls and other solicitations are made annually in the U.S.   You might be surprised how they get your mobile number.

According to Privacy Star, automatic dialing devices can figure out and call all possible telephone number combinations.  These numbers can be listed, unlisted and mobile numbers.  A number of telemarketing companies ignore “do not…

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The Loxahatchee River Railroad Bridge in Jupiter will close intermittently next week.  The bridge, which is owned and operated by Florida East Coast Railway, will be closed to boating traffic during the scheduled maintenance.   Last week a malfunction with the bridge left the Town of Jupiter and the Village of Tequesta with a traffic quandary. 

According to Florida East Coast Railway representative, Senior Vice President Robert Ledoux, “an electrical problem caused the bridge to remain in the upright position shortly before noon on March 7, 2015.”  The malfunction stopped a southbound freight train, no pun intended, "in its tracks".  Resulting in three vital crossings to be blocked, dividing the town in half.  Fire rescue noted aside from being an…

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Photo courtesy Eduardo Buchin, Jupiter.

One thing many people will agree with is that this year has been an exceptionally brutal winter.  Spring break will come as a well-deserved break from the harsh, freezing temperatures up north.  Seasonal depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the winter months can really get you down.

Some scientists think seasonal depression is caused by certain hormones in the brain that trigger “attitude related” changes at certain times of the year.  One theory regarding the hormone changes is that sunlight during fall and winter leads to the brain producing less serotonin.  Serotonin is a chemical produced by the brain which regulates mood.  When this isn’t functioning normally, results can be feelings of…

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