Page 10 - Boca Exposure - February '21

Page 10, Boca Exposure
Choosing The Right Wine

For Your Perfect Or Imperfect Valentine!

By Laura Berrio, If you want to plan a sunset picnic on the beach, you need a demi-sec so the sweetness complements the chocolate.
Freelance Writer/Blogger wine that travels well or opt for a bottle of champagne! If you If this is not your first Valentine’s Day and you need to step
There is so much pressure are planning on cooking, then the wine choice needs to pair with it up a notch … pick a vintage from a special year (first date,
on couples to pick the perfect the featured entrée. If you are channeling your inner Julia Childs wedding anniversary, birthday, etc.).
gift for that special someone and preparing Beef Bourguignon, a full bodied, deep red wine A couple of mid-priced favorites of mine would be a 2016
on Valentine’s Day. Planning would be my first choice. Valentines come in many shades of Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon or a Taittinger Champagne.
a special evening and picking crimson … uncork the perfect red to complement your special Although a little pricey, if you want that very special bottle, 2007
that perfect bottle of wine cupid celebration. Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne and the 2002
can seem daunting on this If all of this seems overwhelming, try starting simple. Plan Michael Magnien will not disappoint!
holiday of “love.” a dessert date! A beautiful bottle of rosé (hot category in wine Just remember to stay true to your tastes
Let’s make picking a currently) or champagne pair nicely with chocolates. The lighter and stick with what you know. Follow
perfect wine an easy part of the chocolate, the lighter the wine and the darker the chocolate, your heart and sip with the one you love!
the planning. Once you decide on what you are going to do the darker, more full bodied the wine. If your love’s favorite is ~ Cheers
and where you are going to do it, the wine choice is narrowed in the middle with buttery, Belgian milk chocolates or white ~ Keep the conversation going and the
down. A picnic outside vs. a formal dinner call for a very chocolate, a sweet wine such as a muscat pairs nicely. If you wine flowing!
different wine. decide to forego the wine and have champagne, select a sec or Follow the Vine at: www.VineVibeUncorked.com
Mayor’s Update: City Election Update – March 9

Scott Singer is the 35th will be up for the residents’ approval, after the City than all of other cities in South Florida that require
Mayor of Boca Raton. A Council unanimously proposed them. The first would signatures. For many years, some candidates have filed
South Florida native, increase the residency requirement from 30 days before with mere minutes to go before the deadline, and these
attorney, mediator and small the qualifying period to one year, and also disqualify candidates have typically received the fewest votes
business owner, Scott and his candidates who have a homestead exemption outside of and, in my opinion, often been the least informed or
wife, Bella, live in Broken the city limits. I supported these changes as we have had involved. Without a signature requirement, anyone can
Sound with their two young multiple elections in which a candidate who received tax call themselves a candidate by merely paying a modest
children. benefits from living outside of the city still was able to fee and signing a few forms. In my view, anyone truly
The November 2020 run for election within the city. This change would close wishing to serve a city with 100,000 residents should be
presidential election had the loophole that lets someone claim to be a resident able to speak to 200 people to get on the ballot and get
the highest turnout in outside of the city to reduce their taxes, but claim to be their signatures with great ease. Filing a form without
generations, and I hope a resident to serve us. In addition, it would set a modest taking any steps to at least talk to groups of residents – as
that bodes well for the upcoming municipal election on requirement to live here for one year – a period far shorter a number of candidates have – is a far cry from I think
March 9. By the time you receive this, many of you will than the residency requirements for many other elected we would want. I see this change as a minimal step to
have received ballots by mail for this election. I’m not on offices. ensure good governance.
the ballot, but I wanted to highlight the races and ballot The second ballot question would require a candidate You can find out more about the election at myboca.
questions that will be. to obtain the signatures of 200 electors (voting residents) us and find your polling place or request a mail-in ballot
First, two of the five seats on the City Council will before qualifying on the ballot. Many other cities, at pbcelections.org. Please feel free to reach out to me at
be up for election for the upcoming terms of three years. including Delray Beach, Miami Shores, and other cities ssinger@myboca.us and stay in touch with me on social
Council member Yvette Drucker is seeking a full term as throughout South Florida and the nation require a modest media at @ScottSingerUSA. Please vote! No level of
the council member for Seat C, after she was appointed number of signatures from residents before someone government impacts you as closely as the local level, and
in October to fill the temporarily unoccupied position can file to run. Our requirement would be a fraction I hope that the increased turnout we’ve seen will extend
created by Jeremy Rodgers’ military service. Council of one percent of the voters and is proportionally less here. It matters for our city and for all of us!
member Monica Mayotte is running for re-election for
66 percent of the vote. It’s been an honor to serve with Council Corner: Good News
Seat D, having first been elected in 2018 with more than
each of these colleagues and to see their work for the
mid-January, there is not a complete list of endorsements For Parents Of School-Age Children,
residents of Boca Raton. As of the time of this writing in

for the various candidates, but you can find out more from
Second, two ballot questions to change the city charter Lovers Of Parks ... And More
local media or from the candidates’ websites.

By Boca Raton City Council We all can look forward to a new and improved Boca
member and CRA Chair Raton Regional Hospital. Their campus redevelopment
Monica Mayotte, a 21-year plan includes the new Gloria Drummond Patient Tower,
resident of Boca Raton an expansion of the Marcus Neuroscience Institute; all
who has been active in the existing hospital rooms will be converted to private
It’s Time To Travel Again! community, both in our rooms, and much more.
local schools and as a city
I have exciting new for those of you with school-

Now is the time to start planning your next luxury vacation advisory board member. aged children. The city council has formally donated
for late 2021 and into 2022. Whether you prefer cruising or This is my firs t land adjacent to Don Estridge High Tech Middle School
taking a land vacation, we will curate an itinerary that will opportunity to say Happy to the School District of Palm Beach County for a new
deliver unforgettable memories. New Year to everyone. public elementary school. This is the same location
I hope you are looking where a temporary school is located that housed the
Your AWAY Travel Professionals forward to 2021 being an improvement over 2020. I know Verde Elementary School students while their school
I am. was rebuilt, and is currently housing the Addison Mizner
The most promising improvement in 2021 is the Elementary School students while their campus is under
rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. I know the rollout construction. Construction on the new school will begin
has been slow, problematic, and information changes on once the Addison Mizner students move into their new
a daily basis. To stay informed on the most up-to-date campus. The new school will alleviate overcrowding in
information about the vaccine, go to the Palm Beach several local Boca Raton elementary schools.
County Health Department website, http://palmbeach. One last item of interest: If you haven’t been to Mizner
floridahealth.gov, or contact your personal physician. Park recently, you should check out all the new additions.
Jessica Flores Dale Brown Alan Serinsky Your patience during this process is greatly appreciated. Most interesting is the new mural on the Mizner Park
I’m very excited to announce that construction on our Amphitheater stage doors. The city council reviewed
• 25 Years of World Travel Experience soon-to-be newest waterfront park, Wildflower Park, has over 20 submissions and I love the one we chose. There
• Top Luxury Cruise & Land Partners begun. This park will be located at the Intracoastal Bridge will be many more additions to enjoy coming soon,
• Personal Concierge Service on Palmetto Park Road. The park is currently closed. including restaurants, a bowling alley and retail. Most
• Signature Travel Expert Awards The first order of business is to reconstruct the park’s will be opening in 2021.
There are always a lot of new and exciting things

sea wall. It must be raised and upgraded to meet new
code requirements for rising sea levels and safety. Once going on around town. Please remember, if you have any
Specializing Only In Luxury Travel that step is complete, the redevelopment of the park can questions or concerns that you would like to bring to my
Call Today…877-493-2929 begin. The designs for the new park can be seen on the attention, please email me at mmayotte@myboca.us.
city’s website. Just search for “wildflower.”
Boca Raton - Delray Beach - West Palm Beach

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