Page 7 - Boca Exposure - September '22

Boca Exposure, Page 7
Mayor’s Update:

Boca Raton–Home Of Real Solutions, Real Results

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor & Racquet Club, building on our upgrades since we received One of our strategies is to refresh our plans for an update
of Boca Raton. A South Florida the donation of this 167-acre championship course, court of our downtown government master campus: city hall,
native, attorney, mediator, and facilities, and clubhouse. community center, other city offices and police station.
small business owner, Scott and More Strategic Goals: In my July column, I discussed Speaking again of Brightline, we have an opportunity to
his wife Bella live in Broken Sound our primary goal of making Boca Raton the best place to do expand the vision for this site by integrating these plans
with their two young children. business, and highlighted several initiatives in that goal. We with refreshed retail and office near to the Brightline station.
In my recent updates, you all set a goal of making our city more sustainable by working Currently, we have some industrial uses across from the
read about some of the key on policies to ease the housing crunch. With land values high station site that might be more fitting in other locations. We
business initiatives that we are in Boca Raton, and little available land, we recognize that a recognize that, as a new gateway to our city for professionals
pursuing to continue to ensure solution to the continued demand for homes for professionals and visitors, this area has a lot of potential.
a healthy economy, as well as and employees is a regional effort. I’ve had discussions with More Openings: Several exciting attractions are
ongoing enhancements to our mayors of nearby cities on what we can do collaboratively to coming to Boca Raton. I mentioned the completion of the
infrastructure. This month’s update has more about our city address this need, which employers have cited as a key issue. long-awaited Wildflower Park in our downtown – our 48th
budget and low taxes, our strategic planning, and news on We will work on this regional problem with regional solutions. park. The privately operated Boca Raton Ice and Fine Arts
exciting openings. Increased availability of attainable housing in nearby Center is due to open at the beginning of October, offering
Budget And Low Taxes: September is the month when cities that can be built there more quickly and cost effectively a wide range of recreational and cultural programming.
the city adopts its budget. Unlike Washington, our budgets are can provide employment opportunities for workers in Boca We also have a bevy of restaurant openings planned,
always balanced, and we are maintaining healthy reserves. Raton with a variety of commuting options. For years, the with major investment by key brand. These include
We can be pleased about the ninth straight year with no Boca Raton Tri Rail station was the most popular on the route, Red Pine, a Chinese concept, and Meat Market, a Palm
property tax rate increase. In my eight years as mayor and in large part because our city operates a shuttle to key centers Beach steakhouse, both opening this fall. Looking ahead,
city council member, I am pleased to report that rate has only of employment for professional, tech and other employees. Restaurant Row on Butts Road is due to arrive in early
decreased during my tenure. Brightline: In August, we reached two more milestones 2023, with Pubbelly Sushi, Fiolina, and El Camino. New
With assessed property values rising an average of toward the opening of the Brightline station in Downtown York’s iconic steakhouse Gallagher’s, is also working on
more than 12 percent, it means that residents who have Boca, as we marked the topping off of construction of the their Glades Road location for early next year.
the homestead exemption (most of us) will be taxed at an station and the parking garage that will serve Brightline We will continue to work to keep taxes low, services at
increasingly lower rate compared to the rise in our property riders, downtown visitors and library patrons. Brightline has an outstanding level, and bring new attractions for residents
values. We work to preserve more of your hard-earned moved very quickly on construction since the groundbreaking and businesses. I’m running in the upcoming March 2023
dollars while providing outstanding services with one of in January, and we remain on track for an opening in late fall. mayoral election to help see more of these goals to completion
the lowest tax rates of any full-service city in Florida. This So many residents and businesses see Brightline as a and keep working to raise and exceed expectations for what
year’s budget includes some additional programming for the game-changer and recognize how vital it is for us to be our great city can be. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what
new Wildflower and Silver Palm Parks, due to open fully in connected to a major transportation network that will link we can do together to reach our goals. Please share your
the coming month, as well as planning to continue efforts us to Miami and Orlando, and hopefully beyond. Check out comments, by email at ssinger@myboca.us, or on the web
to streamline our outdated land development code. We will my Facebook.com page @ScottSingerUSA for a lot more at singerforboca.com, and stay connected for more news @
continue to invest in improvements in the Boca Raton Golf footage of the progress to date. ScottSingerUSA on all social media platforms.
An American Wrote

The Libretto To Don Giovanni – No Kidding

By Rex Hearn A womanizer, he was chased out of parish after parish by Finally at 75, thinking he may retire, he bundles up his
Mozart and Lorenzo Da irate husbands in Northern Italy. He gives up the priesthood books, sells them to a Broadway bookseller and meets
Ponte, a librettist, first met in becoming a poet and scholar and at 34 is chosen to become Clement Clark Moore in the store, 30 years his junior,
Vienna in 1783. They shied librettist to the newly formed Italian Opera at the Burg author of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. Now Bishop
away from the staid Greco- Theatre in Vienna, writing for Lully, Martin y Soler and Moore, Clement’s father, was president of Columbia
Roman mythologies, used Salieri. Many of the leading ladies became amours and one University. The Moores acted swiftly. Da Ponte became
frequently in opera until became his mistress. His last collaboration with Mozart was the first professor of Italian literature at Columbia in 1825.
then, choosing to collaborate Cosi Fan Tutti (Women are Fickle) of 1790. Within a year Retirement could wait.
on human interest stories. Mozart was dead. Vienna’s Italian opera disbanded. Da Ponte was held in high regard during his 22-year
Musicologists rightly praise Leaving for Trieste in 1791 at 43 he was asked to check tenure. It’s estimated he taught over 2,500 students. He
Mozart’s ability to “draw” out Nancy Grahl, fiancée of an arranged marriage to a opened a bookstore, again, selling over 25,000 volumes.
character in very few bars. rich friend. Instead, Da Ponte marries the lovely Nancy This time it was very successful. For the 1825 season he
In 1786, The Marriage of and they eloped to London in 1792 where he became brought over an Italian opera company from Naples with
Figaro was their first collaboration. poet to the Italian opera at the King’s Theatre. He opens financial help of a grateful wine merchant, Dominick
It was a huge success in Vienna. Don Giovanni of 1787 a bookstore, getting Italian books from his bookselling Lynch. Naturally they performed The Marriage of
was next. It premiered in Prague. Based on reprobate and brother, Paolo. Nancy bears him three children: Louisa, Figaro and Don Giovanni. In 1828 at 79 he became
seducer, Don Juan, of Seville, Spain; a story Da Ponte worked 1794; Fanny, 1799 and Lorenzo, 1804. In the interim an American citizen and wrote a memoir; banned in
on with Composer Bertati in 1782, the manager of Prague her family had emigrated to Sunbury, Pa. She takes the Vienna, Venice, Naples and Trieste! He then brought
Opera wrote, “A most brilliant audience for Don Giovanni! children to America for a year’s visit but decides to stay. over Giacomo Montresor’s Opera in 1832. They gave 35
Long live Da Ponte. Long live Mozart: while they live no Da Ponte sells his bookstore, pays off his debts and with performances in the Hill Street Theatre, renaming it the
manager shall know distress.” Another great opera was born. his last 100 guineas buys passage to New York, arriving Italian Opera House. And most remarkable of all, he alone
As a librettist da Ponte is often overlooked, maybe in June of 1805. A happy reunion ensues. A son Carlo was raised $30,000 and built a Manhattan theatre in one year
because he had a life similar to Don Juan, it will amuse born in 1806. Da Ponte was 57! dedicating it to opera. It opened on Nov. 18, 1835. He was
you to know. Born a Jew, Emanuel Conegliano, his father He opens a grocery store in NYC with borrowed now 86! Boxes were selling for $6,000 a season. It was
remarried a Christian lady. They had three sons and six money: a disaster. A wash house in Pennsylvania: a failure. so popular that lots had to be drawn to make purchasing
daughters in Cenada, Italy. The local bishop educated A bookstore in New Jersey: nothing worked. As a patron he fair. After two years Da Ponte was given the receipts of a
the boys. One became a gardener, one a bookseller and invites an Italian opera company to New York: an artistic performance and retired to his Broome Street home at 88
Emanuel took the bishop’s name becoming a priest at 24. success but a financial disaster. He gives Italian lessons. where he served refreshments to all who stopped by. As
Friday Night Live At Mizner Park Features a librettist he wrote 55 operas. In America he wrote 35
plays. He died at 91. An inspiration and indomitable spirit
in what one person could achieve with drive, enthusiasm,
Live Musicals Now Through October intellect, love and a little luck. He was an American! Tell
your friends. …

Live music is filling the air at Mizner Park every Friday Oct. 14 Jahzel Dotel (duo)
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