(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI, FLA. – August 10, 2021 – Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, high-speed rail in America, announced today its plans to resume service in South Florida later this year. During a virtual media update, Brightline President Patrick Goddard detailed the company’s reopening schedule set to start the first half of November for service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Goddard also outlined Brightline’s multiple service enhancements and investments, including new construction, investments in corridor infrastructure and safety, COVID protocols, community engagement, and, as the company looks to resume, the implementation of a recruitment plan that will add 200 jobs in South Florida. Brightline’s specific date of service resumption will be announced in the weeks ahead. Before selecting a final date, Brightline and the Florida East Coast Railway are working in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to commission the positive train control system and achieve system certification. Once the certification is granted by the FRA, Brightline will initiate revenue service. “We are thrilled to be gearing up to welcome guests back aboard Brightline,” said Goddard. “Over the last few months, we’ve made upgrades to our guest experience and made significant strides in construction. Our goal remains the same, to take cars off the road while offering the most convenient way to travel in South Florida and a guest-first experience.” Among the many service enhancements Goddard outlined is the introduction of Brightline’s new mobility as a service platform that will address guests’ first and last mile connections. Delivered in partnership with software company Iomob, the new service is intended to provide guests with full door-to-door travel service, eliminating the gaps created by the first and last miles and reducing environmental impact. It will be powered by a brand new, state-of-the-art, digital platform that will make its app experience and website completely frictionless. The new mobility service is designed to provide door-to-door travel through improved access to stations, offering a selection of private luxury cars, shared shuttle services, golf carts and micro-mobility options. As always, Brightline’s priority remains the safety of its guests and teammates. During its hiatus, the company enlisted a Chief Health Officer (CHO), Dr. Timothy McCormick, a licensed physician with more than 25 years of experience in public health and occupational medicine. Dr. McCormick provides medical expertise and guidance for the implementation of operations, corporate and construction practices. Among its new safety measures, Brightline will require all teammates to be fully vaccinated prior to the reintroduction of service. The company has identified and will implement a series of COVID protocols, including an almost touchless transportation system. Safety measures include increased cleaning, pre-packaged foods, touchless bathrooms, cashless payment and electronic tickets. Per the existing federal mandate, teammates and guests will be required to wear masks in stations and on board all trains. Brightline features reserved seating, and the private four-person table configurations within each coach have plexiglass dividers, providing increased privacy and distancing. Twenty five percent of the air in Brightline’s coaches comes from fresh air intake ducts and gets filtered before being mixed with recirculated air, unlike airplanes where air is entirely recirculated. Brightline will also utilize a Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) system developed by Siemens, the manufacturer of the trainsets. Ozone-Free NPBI artificially creates millions of positive and negative ions and releases them into the forced-air circulation of an HVAC system. The ions, or charged particles, neutralize pathogens, viruses and bacteria. In the leadup to relaunch, Brightline is working with multiple community partners to recruit for nearly 200 jobs, offering starting wages at $18 per hour. This is paired with a comprehensive total rewards package that goes beyond the standard benefits by providing its teammates with access to resources that support their professional and personal growth. Over the coming months, Brightline will be hosting career fairs throughout South Florida. Available positions can be found at www.gobrightline.com. “Brightline is building a modern, career friendly work environment and we are dedicated to developing a team that is diverse, inclusive and representative of the communities we serve,” said Goddard. “Our service-oriented culture is designed to give guests the most pleasurable experience in travel, and we are excited to deliver on that promise again.” The company is continuing its engagement with local community partners along the rail corridor and educating the communities on rail safety, mental health and sustainability. Over the next year, Brightline will invest more than $6.5 million in safety enhancements. Brightline’s expansion stations in Aventura and Boca Raton continue to progress. The Aventura station is currently under construction, while the Boca Raton station is expected to break ground in the coming months. Construction to Orlando has surpassed the halfway point and is on target to be complete by the end of 2022. Moreover, discussions remain underway with local stakeholders regarding expansion to Disney and Tampa.
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(PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – August 9, 2021) The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County (LWVPBC) today invited concerned adults to three timely, informative and FREE Zoom events in August and September: Wednesday, August 18 at Noon Hot Topic Discussion: HOME RULE Guest Speaker: Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay Topic: The concept of Home Rule and its importance in the governance of Palm Beach County and its local municipalities. Bio: First elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2014, Melissa McKinlay served as County Mayor 2017-2018, and was re-elected unopposed in 2018. She is immediate Past President of the Florida Association of Counties, Vice Chair of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Agriculture & Rural Affairs Policy Steering Committee, and a member of the NACo Board of Directors. How to Connect: To register for this Zoom Discussion, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-RCN1qWHQ2qtT1AHcA4v_w Wednesday, September 1 at 6 pm Conversations with the League: ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT CAN SUCCEED Guest Speakers: + Keith Oswald, Chief of Equity and Wellness for the School District of Palm Beach County, working to ensure excellence and equity in education for all children. + Mary Claire Mucenic, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral and Mental Health for the Palm Beach County School District, and a nationally certified and licensed school psychologist whose professional focus is mental health and wellness, positive psychology and mindfulness. Topic: The variety of mental health related resources offered in Palm Beach County schools. Also, an overview of efforts undertaken during September as part of National Suicide Prevention Month. How to Connect: To register for this Zoom Discussion, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85845235206?pwd=VDhac2V3b0lETGVjVk5pdDhqZ3p0QT09 Wednesday, September 15 at Noon Hot Topic Discussion: SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE Guest Speaker: Michael Burke, Interim Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Palm Beach County Topic: The School District’s next five-year Strategic Plan, and how it used community input and lessons learned to inform where resources should be focused in the years ahead. Also, how revenue generated by the 2018 Referendum continues to be used in schools to benefit students, families, and the community. Bio: Michael Burke, who was named Interim Superintendent last month, was formerly the School District’s Chief Financial Officer overseeing its $3.8 billion annual budget. As the longest-serving member of the Executive Leadership Team, he led the District’s financial and information technology divisions and worked closely with academic leadership. Burke is well regarded on the national level through his involvement with the Council of Great City Schools. How to Connect: To register for this Zoom Discussion, please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VgNLzelxTDKNTEsaf9-aOw (PRESS RELEASE)_Yo-Ho-Yum! Uncork your inner Jack Sparrow, rev up the Black Pearl, and set sail for National Rum Day on Monday, August 16. Here are four proverbial ports of call to enjoy swashbuckling sips around Palm Beach County. Barrio in West Palm Beach will toast the rummy day with a crew-pleasing Rum Punch ($13). Sporting spiced rum, fresh juices, and a dark rum topper, it's a tropical vacation in a glass. Partake in Happy Hour daily from 4-7 p.m., and take $2 off all drinks. Barrio is located at 700 S. Rosemary Ave., Second Floor, West Palm Beach. For more information, visit barriowpb.com or call (561) 366-0071. Barrio's sister restaurant, City Cellar will serve up the Hemingway Old Fashioned ($14.50), a sophisticated scoundrel laden with Papa's Pilar Sherry Barrel Aged Rum, orange bitters, filthy cherry, and an orange peel. Ahoy! Enjoy Happy Hour daily at City Cellar's inside bar from 4-7 p.m., featuring $2 off drinks as well as half-priced appetizers and hearth-baked pizza. City Cellar is located at 700 S. Rosemary Avenue, Second Floor, West Palm Beach. For more information, visit citycellarwpb.com or call (561) 366-0071. Meet your mates over at City Oyster in Delray Beach and savor the Melon Cooler ($12.50), a popular bar favorite tweaked with Bacardi Rum, fresh watermelon, a splash of soda, and house lemon lime. Indulge your brew cravings during Happy Hour daily from 4-7 p.m. with 2-for-1 cocktails, beer, select wines, and $1 off oysters. City Oyster is located at 213 E. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach. For more information, visit cityoysterdelray.com or call (561) 272-0220. In a sweet mood? Josie's Mango Mojito ($8.50) pops with fresh mint, mango, and lots of rum. If you prefer a sour sidekick, try the classic Italian Surfer ($8.50), tricked up with coconut rum, amaretto, pineapple and cranberry juices. Happy Hour daily, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, at the bar and patio only. Josie’s Ristorante is located at 1602 S. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. For more information, visit josiesristorante.com or call (561) 364-9601. (PRESS RELEASE)_08/05/2021 – TRAVERSE CITY, MI - Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern, a beloved and award-winning restaurant with locations in West Hartford and Southport, CT, will officially open this month in Traverse City, just in time for the late summer harvest. ARTISAN will offer a one-of-a-kind experience celebrating craftsmanship and sustainability and featuring Great Lakes-inspired cuisine, artfully prepared by Executive Chef Frederic Kieffer. Artisan is a collaboration between Charles Mallory, Founder of the Greenwich Hospitality Group, Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King, restaurateurs, and Chef Frederic Kieffer, who have combined their expertise to create this unique and innovative casual fine dining restaurant. “The opening of Artisan in Traverse City is very exciting,” says Mallory. “It is the culmination of a shared vision of a remarkably talented team and will hopefully build upon the critical success of our other restaurants in Connecticut. We are graced with a truly beautiful location on West Bay with magnificent views and outdoor dining that is unparalleled. The seamless synergy between ARTISAN and our hotel, DELAMAR Traverse City, makes staying at the hotel, dining at Artisan, or hosting a private event, whether large or small, a remarkable experience for residents and visitors alike.” Everything about ARTISAN will speak to the thoughtful decisions that have been made to enhance the dining experience and create a comfortable gathering spot for all occasions. With an architectural layout that creatively organizes over 300 seats into intimate and extraordinary spaces, ARTISAN invites guests to choose among casual and elegant settings both indoors and outdoors – all with spectacular views of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. The Artisan Menu Artisan’s Great Lakes-inspired menu will reflect the rhythm of the seasons with local seafood, farm fresh fare from an onsite garden and local farms, and homemade pastries. Some signature dishes will include a sumptuous Great Lakes Chowder ladled over a mound of smoked whitefish and served with fennel crackers; a Michigan Lobster Roll, adroitly replacing lobster with whitefish, made with apples, corn, fennel, dill, served on grilled brioche and topped with crispy shallots; and Artisan Cioppino, a mélange of calamari, shrimp and mussels with seasonal Walleye or Lake Trout. “It’s exciting to add a Midwest perspective to Artisan’s New England favorites and create new recipes that use ingredients and flavors indigenous to the region,” says Chef Frederick Kieffer. According to Chef Frederick, menu items will feature Otto’s organic chicken, locally grown dried cherries, and desserts made with Traverse City’s Moomer’s farm fresh ice cream. Goat Bolognese, wild mushrooms and pasture-raised pork will be among Artisan’s fall menu highlights. Art & Architecture Guests will enter Artisan through the Tavern, seating approximately 50 people at tables, banquets and at a stately bar with a Parisian pewter top. A magnificent mural representing the tree of life, hand-painted by Stockholm ArtistJonas Wickman, graces the walls, and comfy sofas and chairs surrounding a hand-crafted Swedish farmhouse fireplace invite cozy evenings by the lake. The main dining room boasts a large fireplace, wide-plank hardwoodfloors and a second mural by Wickman depicting birch trees reaching toward the sky visible through glass walls encasing the “Birch Room,” an elegant private dining room for 12. Heading outdoors, guests will enjoy fine dining under the lakeside pergola, gather in the lounge by the fireplace, or meet friends at the bar for small bites, cocktails, and even a game of bocce ball. Located at 615 E Front St, Traverse City, MI, Artisan Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern will open starting with dinner. Soon, lunch will be served daily and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, please visit artisantc.com. (PRESS RELEASE)_(West Palm Beach, FL – August 5, 2021) Intermission is Over. Live is Back!—that’s the theme of the 2021-2022 season of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Always responsive to audience requests for “more Broadway, more comedy, more music superstars from Bach to rock,” Palm Beach County’s largest and most popular entertainment venue promises a dynamic line-up of award-winning shows, world-class talents and powerful performances that will generate enthusiastic standing ovations from discerning audience members of every age and demographic. In addition to performances in the 2,195-seat Alexander W. Dreyfoos Concert Hall, the Kravis Center will present a diverse array of drama, music and dance in the intimate 285-seat Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse, and the flexible 300-seat Helen K. Persson Hall. See the Complete Season Schedule Below: (PRESS RELEASE)_Monday, August 16 is National Rum Day. Celebrate with the Strawberry Mojito at Elisabetta's and Louie Bossi's. It's made with Oak and Cane local rum, fresh muddled strawberries, mint, limes, simple syrup and lemon and lime juice. Here's the recipe: 2 ounces of big cypress Rum 1 ounce of lemon/lime juice 1 ounce of simple syrup 3 lime wedges squeeze in One bunch of mint Topped with sprite Elisabetta's is located at 32 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach and 185 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach. Louie Bossi's is located at 1032 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale and 100 East Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Visit Louiebossi.com and Elisabettas.com for more information. (PRESS RELEASE)_Delray Beach, Fla. - Kolter Urban, a Palm Beach, Florida-based real estate development and investment firm, announces the launch of Selene Oceanfront Residences, a luxury condominium development located directly across from the award-winning Las Olas Beach at 151 N. Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The 26-story, slender two tower, beachfront property will offer 196 luxurious residences with several unique floor plans, including penthouses. Selene will feature over 5,300 square feet of restaurant space at the base of the building, providing an unrivaled oceanfront dining experience. Douglas Elliman will lead sales efforts for the development with residences priced from $900,000. Construction will commence in November 2021 with expected completion by early 2024. “The inspiration behind Selene was to create thoughtfully designed ‘homes in the sky’ on Fort Lauderdale’s iconic beach,” said Bob Vail, President of Kolter Urban. “Residences at Selene perfectly couple the space and comfort of living in a traditional home with the luxury and sophistication of high rise oceanfront living.” Selene’s exceptionally spacious two- and three-bedroom residences will range from 1,400 to 3,200 square feet with a limited collection of penthouses. Residences have been designed to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. The open, contemporary floor plans with floor-to-ceiling glass showcase exceptional direct views of the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, or dynamic city skyline from most residences. Seven of the nine available floorplans are positioned on glass corners offering breathtaking views. Residences are delivered ready for buyer customization upon ownership or with luxurious designer finish packages which include large-format porcelain flooring in main living areas, European cabinetry, and chef-inspired stainless appliances. Designed by Kobi Karp Architects with interiors by ID & Design International, Selene brings contemporary architecture together with a host of indoor and outdoor resort-style amenities, including two elevated pool terraces with a resort-style pool, a lap fitness pool and a spa, contemporary poolside cabanas and day beds, open gathering spaces and intimate conversation areas, an outdoor kitchen, multiple fire pit lounge areas and a pavilion-shaded pool bar. Concierge services are available and range from everyday needs such as dry cleaning to pre-arrival residence preparation. For elevated peace of mind, Selene provides 24/7 security and access-controlled entry points to all elevators, both lobbies, the parking garage, and all amenity spaces. Selene’s two slender towers rise 300 feet, making the project the tallest luxury condominium on Fort Lauderdale Beach offering expansive homes in the sky. At street level, lushly landscaped grounds and elegant plazas at each corner create a seamless transition to the surrounding neighborhood and provide direct access to the beachfront. Selene places residents near the very best of Fort Lauderdale’s shopping, dining, entertainment, and water-sporting destinations, including Las Olas Boulevard with a vibrant array of cafes, restaurants, shops, and historic sights. The Selene Preview Gallery is located within the Douglas Elliman Office at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale at 1 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. For more information, please visit http://seleneftl.com. Appointments are required. |
ABOUTExploring what to see and do in North Palm Beach and the South Florida area. Your hosts are Pam and Gerry Barker. GERRY PRONOUNCED GARYArchives
April 2024
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