More than 100 volunteers are needed for the 31st annual Jupiter Medical Center Loggerhead Triathlon, taking place on Saturday, August 6 in Jupiter. "There are a variety of roles and shift times available including the swim/bike/run course, transition area, athlete registration, awards ceremony, body marking, finish line, and more! Credit for volunteer hours is available upon request. "

Volunteer Registration Deadline: Wednesday, August 3rd at 11:59 p.m.

Go here for more information.

The North Palm Beach Police Department would like to alert area motorists to expect traffic congestion and delays in the US Highway 1 area between Lighthouse Drive and PGA Blvd on Wednesday, July 27th and Thursday, July 28th from 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. The delays are due to a Florida Power and Light construction project. Parallel side streets will also be affected due to drivers seeking alternate
routes.

​Drivers who can do so are encouraged to consider alternate times and routes to avoid delays. Thank you for your patience during this project. All streets will be reopened for traffic immediately following.

Brightline's new Florida rail service continues on track for launch next summer. Here is their press release on their rail station in Miami:

"​The first of 247 massive precast concrete beams (also known as Florida I Beams or FIBs) was lifted into place at MiamiCentral Monday afternoon, as the 11-acre transportation hub continues to take shape in Downtown Miami. The beams average 73 feet in length and the largest spans are in excess of 120 feet. Approximately four FIBs will be installed each day over the next eight to ten weeks.

"The FIBs, produced in Tampa and trucked to Miami, sit on spring vibration isolators at the top of the rail column capitals which are approximately 50 feet high. The isolators prevent vibration throughout the structure of the building. The Brightline train tracks will be installed on top of a concrete slab which will sit on the FIBs.

"The work is being managed by Suffolk Construction, who is overseeing the overall construction of MiamiCentral.

"MiamiCentral encompasses nearly three million square feet and includes two sites: a nine-acre transportation hub in downtown Miami just east of the Miami-Dade County Hall, and a two-acre site in Historic Overtown. MiamiCentral will include mixed-use development with residential, office, commercial and a retail concourse, while serving as a connector between Brightline’s passengers and Miami’s existing public transport systems.

"MiamiCentral will also include Central Fare, featuring six restaurants and more than 20 food and retail purveyors.
​
"Construction on Brightline’s stations and trains is progressing for a scheduled service launch next summer. At the Siemens facility in Sacramento, the first Brightline locomotive will be tested soon and the first full trainset is scheduled to arrive in West Palm Beach this fall.  Vertical construction is well underway on Brightline’s train stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach."

We love new places to eat, so we were happy to see a new restaurant coming to The Gardens Mall in 2017 -- Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant. Set to be located on the second level, near Sears, the first Cooper's Hawk opened in Chicago in 2005, and they already have several locations in Florida, including Tampa, Orlando, Naples and Jacksonville. The chain also boasts its own private winery. I tried to capture a sample, but it didn't work ...

Friday the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort and Spa is hosting a live auction in conjunction with  “Lady Luck,” a 324-foot tanker ship from New York City formerly known as “The Newtown Creek.” It will soon become part of South Florida's artificial reef system, one of the most easily accessible major dive sites in the nation.

In partnership with The Shipwreck Park Inc., a private not-for-profit corporation, the resort will also host a Ship Sinking BBQ Fundraiser on July 23 to raise money to ensure the success of Lady Luck, the world’s only underwater faux diving casino, complete with interactive art exhibits.
 
Here are more details from the press release:

"In anticipation of the sinking just 1.5- miles off Pompano Beach’s shore, Marriott Pompano Beach will host a Live Auction on July 8. The mayor of Pompano Beach, Lamar Fisher, will serve as the auctioneer for the event where unique memorabilia from the ship will be up for auction, including Lady Luck’s engine order telegraph, passageway lights, portholes and even the ship’s horn. Also up for grabs will be original works of art by speed painter Dale Henry, also known as Paintman, who will put on a show and create Lady Luck-inspired paintings in minutes. Attendees will also have the chance to bid on the trip of a lifetime, worth $25,000. It includes a complimentary three-night stay for two at Marriott Pompano Beach, July 22-25, 2016, overnight valet parking, daily buffet breakfast at McCoy’s Oceanfront and dinner at Farradday’s Steakhouse. The lucky bidder will also be filmed for Scuba Nation, which airs on Fox Sun Sports Channel, as they become the first group to dive Lady Luck with the inspection team. The package does not include airfare and bidders must hold an advanced diver certification or equivalent experience.
 
"On July 23, local residents, resort guests and area officials will gather at Marriott Pompano Beach’s Ocean Terrace from 1 to 4 p.m. to witness the sinking of Lady Luck in 120 feet of water. The tanker, which is longer than a football field, will sink one mile from the resort. It will be the centerpiece of Shipwreck Park, a unique underwater cultural arts park surrounded by 16 other existing wrecks with underwater art exhibits created by Pompano Beach artist Dennis MacDonald. Art displays will include a swim-through cascade of gigantic dice, a card-slinging Octopus and hustling table sharks as part of the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park sponsorship. Priced at $75 per person, the Ship Sinking BBQ Fundraiser will include valet parking, passed hors d’oeuvres, a BBQ-themed lunch menu prepared by Executive Chef Eric Kaszubinski, and an open bar serving a variety of spirits, including Pompano Beach’s own Bangin’ Banjo Brewing Company’s Lady Luck Beer. Attendees will also be privy to live streaming video of the ship sinking via large- screen TVs. Guests are encouraged to bring binoculars for a closer view of the ship as it sinks. Tickets can be purchased at shipwreckparkpompano.org.

 As one of the largest wrecks in all of the Southeastern United States, Lady Luck will quickly become a top diving attraction with something to offer all diving skill levels. Its sheer size plus all of the added interactive features will give divers reason to return. It will take more than one dive to explore the underwater structure and museum, enjoying all of its beauty and unique artwork.
 
“The addition of Lady Luck decked out with creative artwork will promote growth for more natural marine life to our artificial reef system,” said Greg Harrison, Chair of The Shipwreck Park Inc.
 
Shipwreck Park, Inc. has received sponsorship from the City of Pompano Beach and the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park for the purchase, towing, cleanup, installation of artworks, and sinking of the ship. The ship was towed from New York to a facility on the Miami River for cleanup and installation of artwork before the sinking.
 
For more information on Lady Luck and Shipwreck Park, Inc., visit www.sinktheladyluck.com. For information or to make reservations at Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa, please visit www.pompanomarriott.com  or call 855-954-4683.

Drinks in hand and chairs arranged, we joined our neighbors to watch the annual North Palm Beach fireworks show, staged at the North Palm Country Club. There were plenty of "oohs" and "aahs" as the night sky was ablaze with red, white and blue. Happy Birthday, America!