Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, intercity rail in America, unveiled its new fully integrated, door-to-door booking service Brightline+ which will include a Brightline-branded mobility fleet. The fully electric mobility fleet is Brightline’s investment to provide travelers in South Florida a door-to-door solution to travel by train, powered by Brightline’s new app and supported by the fleet. The service will enable customers to book seamless transportation across multiple modes of private and public transportation for the first and last miles of their journeys — which will make Brightline the most integrated multimodal planning and ticketing app in North America.

During the Brightline+ unveiling event that took place on Oct. 26, Brightline President Patrick Goddard was joined by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Miami-Dade County’s Assistant Director for the Department of Transportation and Public Works Carlos Cruz-Casas to provide media with a preview of this innovative new service.

As the most significant enhancement made to Brightline since its inception, the service enables passengers to leverage an upgraded Brightline mobile app to plan, book and pay for their entire journey across a variety of eco-friendly transport modes, leading to a lower environmental impact. These vehicles currently include Brightline+’s fleet of Tesla cars, shared electric vans, and Circuit neighborhood electric vehicles (fully electric shared shuttles) which will complete trips within a five mile radius of the Brightline stations. All Brightline+ vehicles will be operated by private chauffeurs vetted and trained by Brightline and its mobility partner, Via, the global leader in TransitTech. Customers who choose to use their own vehicle to arrive at the station can pre-book and pay for their parking through the app, and will use the QR code on their boarding pass to enter and exit the parking garage.

“As an innovator at the intersection of transportation and technology, Brightline is leading the future of high-speed rail in America and  transforming the end-to-end mobility experience for riders with a service that will be unlike anything offered in North America,” said Patrick Goddard, President of Brightline. “Through Brightline+, we are solving the long-standing gaps of the first and last mile and, in the process, proudly supporting Miami’s growing tech sector.”

Riders can book Brightline+ fleet transportation at least two hours in advance of a scheduled departure through the website and mobile Brightline app, with a real-time arrival estimate provided at time of purchase and journey tracking throughout. The app will also allow riders to order food prior to their journey, at the station, or onboard during the ride.

Brightline+ will be rolled out in phases: During the month of November, riders can book transportation from the end of their train journey to their final destination; and beginning December 1, 2021, riders can get the full experience for both first and last miles, providing a full door-to-door service from their point of origin to their final destination. For the duration of 2021, shared vehicles will be complimentary while private rides will have a flat fee of $10 for each segment used. Passengers can now purchase tickets and book Brightline+ transportation through Brightline’s new website and mobile app, available for download in Google Play and the Apple Store.

“The return of Brightline’s service and the debut of Brightline+ is a key component to transforming Miami into a major technology hub in the U.S.,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “With this new innovation in transportation, we are connecting Miami like never before, providing endless business opportunities for the entire region of South Florida.”

Brightline is working with Miami-Dade Transit, Broward County Transit, and Palm Tran to produce the first multimodal transit payments integration with high-speed rail in the nation. Over the coming months Brightline will integrate CitiBikes, scooters and other modes of travel into the Brightline+ service. To make each of our stations a first-class mobility hub, Brightline is also improving rider transportation information by providing real-time updates via TransitScreen. The Brightline+ fleet will also be fully electric by 2022.

“Miami is a young city that had been overshadowed by cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, said Carlos Cruz-Casas, assistant director at the Department of Transportation and Public Works. “Over the last 10 years we have made significant strides in thoughtfully building our city, and over the last 5 years we have created the first high-speed train of its kind in the country with an integration that will surpass all others in North America.”

Brightline is partnering with multiple vendors to power the Brightline+ service, including:

Iomob

The future of rail meets the internet of mobility with Brightline and Iomob’s partnership, providing the platform to power Brightline’s new mobility-on-demand service offered on its app. In collaboration with Iomob, Brightline will power one of the world’s best digital mobility infrastructures.

Via

Brightline is partnering with Via to introduce pre-booked rides for trips to-and-from Brightline rail stations. The goal of this partnership is to minimize the use of single-occupancy vehicles, and in turn reduce traffic congestion, carbon emissions, and gas consumption in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

Circuit

Circuit, the national leader in last-mile EV services, will be working with Brightline to provide all-electric,  first/last-mile shuttle services around the BL stations and nearby downtown areas in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The 6 seater GEM electric shuttles will be available from 6AM-11AM and will be offering rides in geo-fenced areas between 0-3 miles of the station. 

Kaptyn

Kaptyn is an electric vehicle platform that is changing mobility for good. The company operates one of the largest all-electric ride-share services in the U.S. As a fully-integrated Brightline partner, Kaptyn is serving Brightline+ customers as a premium first-and-last-mile mobility option.

For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com 

By Rachel Galvin

Photos courtesy of Terry Scott

On Halloween, the local Delta Lodge #519 was involved in a Halloween Treats Sidewalk Party, at 180 SW 3 Ave. in Deerfield Beach. It was put on by York Rite PHA Masonic Bodies and others. Over 100 kids and some adults showed up to get treats. They gave out over 200 pounds of candy!

The Delta Lodge’s Terry Scott thanked a few people who supported the event, saying, “I want to say thank Hram Pompano Beach No.164 – Calvin D. Lane RoseBud Court No.248 – Samantha Jones Shorty Pink JAM Tasha Harper and Lula McKay, Palm City Council #14 – Thrice Master Kendall Covin, Elisha Court #6 – Roberta Early and RM Evelyn Price, Knight Templar – Keenan Z Johnson, Willis Gil Commanderous – PC LiNett Miller Tika BahamianEmpress Russell Deputy Grand Stacy Chestnut and also to the Community table Chyna Black Vera Clemoms, Velinda Burney Tigner and my Uncle Steve Strowbridge, who has decorated the yard for 19 years.

He added, “Next year, it will be bigger and better, so let’s get ready.”

The Pompano Beach CRA is proud to announce the McNab House Restoration and Botanical Gardens is the 2021 winner of the “Out of the Box” category in the annual Florida Redevelopment Association Awards.

“We are honored to have received this prestigious recognition,” said Nguyen Tran, Pompano Beach CRA director. “The McNab House and Botanical Gardens is an innovative mix of historic preservation and future visioning. The entire team is delighted that our project was selected by this esteemed redevelopment organization.”

The McNab House, built in 1926, was moved from its original location on Atlantic Boulevard when the owners sold the land for development. With the support of the Pompano Beach Historical Society, the Pompano Beach CRA saved the historic home, moving it several blocks to McNab Park, with the vision of transforming the home into a restaurant and the surrounding land into a botanical garden. The goal of the McNab House and Botanical Gardens project is to continue economic growth with the East CRA and Atlantic Boulevard corridor. Activation of the park will encourage more pedestrian activity and create a unique attraction with park elements for residents and visitors to enjoy. 

The moving of the McNab House was a TV news sensation, and since then there has been continuous progress on the project, much of which has occurred behind the fence, which obstructs the public view. Recent key milestones include waterproofing of the home’s foundation and then lowering the structure onto the foundation, which will include a basement/wine cellar. To make way for the botanical gardens, the former Chamber of Commerce building was acquired by the CRA and then demolished. In addition, there have been community stakeholder meetings helmed by the award-winning design firm, Bermillo Ajamal & Partners, to receive input about the botanical garden design and to showcase concepts.

“We are thrilled by the progress we have made during these past months,” continued Tran. “There were many structural elements that required completion before moving to the next phase. In the coming months, we look forward to announcing the restaurateur who will be operating the venue and to finalizing the configuration of the botanical gardens.”

About the FRA:

FRA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting Florida professionals and volunteers in community revitalization efforts. With its mission of “transforming spaces, revitalizing places,” FRA is committed to providing a forum for its more than 300 members to share knowledge and common experiences regarding revitalization opportunities and issues throughout Florida.

Each year, FRA accepts entries for the annual awards from its members in a variety of categories, ranging from annual reports to cultural enhancement. The entries are examined for effectiveness and completeness – including the narrative, supplemental material and compliance with the submittal instructions. A cross section of Florida redevelopment professionals, individuals and business organizations judge and rank all of the entries and select the winners

About the Pompano Beach CRA:

The City of Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) was created in 1989. It has two independent districts: Northwest CRA and East CRA established by City government for the purpose of carrying out redevelopment activities that include reducing or eliminating blight, improving the economic health of an area, and encouraging public and private investments in a CRA district.

 The Pompano Beach CRA is funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). The funds are collected as property values increase and a portion of that increase is captured by the Agency. TIF raises revenue for redevelopment efforts without raising taxes. For more information www.pompanobeachfl.gov/pages/cra

Vince Wooten, Lorena Ledesma and Nguyen Tran at the FRA awards.

On October 16, Pioneer Park was filled with people for this year’s Fall Festival. Not only was there live entertainment, but also a bouncy maze for kids, cotton candy and other snacks, a pumpkin patch, a storyteller, games, arts and crafts, and more. 

(See more photos on Observer Facebook page).

The Kiwanis Club of Deerfield Beach held their annual golf tournament on Saturday, October 16 at Galuppi’s in Pompano. They had 112 golfers. Golfer

s also enjoyed lunch and could bid on the silent auction, and participate in the raffle or the 50/50. There also were prizes for Closest to the Pin, Hole in One and Longest Drive. The funds went toward their dictionary and thesarus project (they give them to students), high school scholarships and more.

(See photos on the Observer Facebook page)

Artist Hubert Phipps at the unveiling of his “Rocket” sculpture at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) on September 20.

By Rachel Galvin

A seeming conduit to the divine, a 30-foot stainless steel towering form juts toward the heavens, with its feet firmly planted on terra firma, among the green grass at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC). What began as abstract art took form as a rocket and that is its name – “Rocket.” It is the creation of artist Hubert Phipps, who arrived for its “unveiling” on September 20.

The project began four years ago and only as a sketch, said Philpps, whose process is not one of building something in the normal way, nor eliminating everything that is not what he is trying to create, but of sensory deprivation. He is known to put himself into darkness, limiting outside sound and sight and letting his hand as he sketches reveal what lies beneath. His 2-D work is revelatory. His paint pigment on paper shows movement, life, light among the darkness. His sculptures are just as organic, as he creates natural forms that look like they will animate and slink away any moment. His “Rocket” has the same dynamism. Although it looks firmly planted, it appears as if it could blast off at any time, careening into the atmosphere to explore regions beyond, to see what cannot be seen.

Exploration is really all about curiosity and wondering, “What if?” Speculation such as this has led to some of the greatest breakthroughs in our history, including the computer. It is apropos that a sculpture that symbolizes, in part, that quest for knowledge be planted at BriC, where the IBM personal computer was first invented.

What is perhaps more interesting is that when the art was first created, first by a sketch back in 2018 and then in 3D as smaller sculptures, Phipps had no idea that one day a larger version would be placed here. Its placement came about after he met Irvin Lippman, the executive director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art, who saw Phipps’ show including maquettes of the “Rocket” at the Coral Springs Museum of Art. At that time, he told Phipps about a new Art in Public Places initiative, part of a cultural partnership between the Boca Raton Museum of Art and CP group, who owns BRiC and is a premier developer and operator of commercial real estate. This was the beginning of Rocket coming to this space. What is amazing is that the statue’s form almost perfectly mimics the building behind it, which was created by architect Marcel Breuer in the 1960s. They both employ the Brutalist style. Lippman said, “The museum is happy to be a matchmaker here,” as he explained how he first met Phipps and told him about the program. “It is a match made in heaven.”

Creating the 9.8-ton sculpture composed of 2,200 square feet of stainless steel was not so simple. It was made in three pieces over in China and then shipped to the U.S. What baffles Phipps is that it was not sent directly to Florida, but actually went to multiple locations on ship and then by truck before finally arriving here. Then, he said, engineering came into play to put it all together.

Phipps did not begin his journey into art in the abstract realm. His father was a publisher and Phipps fell in love with illustrating political cartoons, the exquisite detail of it. So he has seen what it is to create more realistic forms and what it is to delve into abstract art, and he can say that both are equally challenging. With realism, he said, there is an endpoint, a goal, you know what it will become. With abstract, in contrast, the artwork leads you and knowing when to stop is not always so easy.

Sometimes, he says he often does not see a piece of artwork’s importance until later. “I don’t give it any credence or appreciation until later,” he said. “I don’t have a pre-conceived notion [of art I create.] I didn’t sit down to create a rocket.”

At the event celebrating Rocket, he thanked those who helped make it possible, saying, he was honored his sculpture was part of the Art in Public Places initiative,” adding, “Art has been hugely important in my life. I applaud everybody who worked together to bring this to Boca Raton.”

He also talked about his love for aerospace and remembered an experience when he was only 10 years old living with his uncle near Indiantown here in Florida. One night, he heard a rumbling sound outside, a roar, and asked his uncle the next day what it was. His uncle joked that maybe it was cattle stampeding (as the area was filled with mostly cattle and orange groves back then, said Phipps). But, it turned out it was nearby Pratt & Whitney testing rocket engines. He also recalled seeing Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. That was 1969, the same year the building behind where Rocket now is placed was built.

“I love the forms of rockets, things to do with aerospace,” he said, “I have a lifelong passion with aviation. I’m a pilot. I’m fortunate enough to have been flying for almost 50 years. I still fly.” His family was comprised of early Palm Beach pioneers with a history in aviation. One of his ancestors, Amy Phipps Guest, was one of the first women aviators. She had hopes of being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, but her family was too protective and asked that Amelia Earhart be chosen instead, and Earhart did make that first flight in 1928. Guest continued to be a champion for Earhart and aviation. Her love of flight seems to have been passed on to Phipps.

He added, in reference to his Rocket, “I created this … The inspiration comes from all the amazing things we do as a human race as far as pushing the envelope, as far as reaching the stars, if you will. How timely now with all this going on in the aerospace world today, so this could not have worked out better. Of course, all the synergies that have been mentioned about this form and how it works with the architecture…”

Ribbon Cutting on “Rocket:” Councilman & CRA Vice Chair Andy Thomson, Vice Mayor Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Boca Raton Museum of Art Board Chair Jody Harrison Grass, Boca Raton Museum of Art Executive Director Irvin Lippman, artist Hubert Phipps, President & CEO of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce Troy M. McLellan, Marketing Director for CP Group Giana Pacinelli, councilwomen Monica Mayotte & Yvette Drucker.

Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Andrea Levine O’Rourke, who was in attendance with other councilmembers, said, “This could not be a better representation of art in public places. You can see yourself in it … It can reflect the past or be a symbol of where we came from and where we are going”

Phipps, who currently lives in Virginia, is planning on being in Palm Beach for a solo exhibition at the TW Fine Art Gallery. The show, which will feature maquettes of his Rocket, opens November 27 and runs for six weeks.

Besides creating art and flying, he also was a professional race car driver, so he has had varied experience, and some of it in what some might consider high-risk situations. But he does not see it that way. He is not a daredevil. To him, being able to make those turns at high speed, fly up in the sky and give birth to a beautiful piece of art that will inspire others is more calculating. It appears to require intense focus, dedication and passion. With everything he does, it seems he really is reaching for the stars … to infinity and beyond.

To find out more about Hubert Phipps, visit www.hubertphipps.com. “Rocket” is located at BRiC, at 5000 T-Rex Ave, Boca Raton.

Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, high-speed rail in America, is celebrating World Car-Free Day by joining forces with one of the nation’s most recognizable non-profits, Habitat for Humanity. For the first time, Brightline and Habitat for Humanity affiliates in South Florida are inviting drivers to donate their vehicles to become eligible for a year of free rail travel on Brightline. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Broward, Greater Miami, Palm Beach County, and South Palm Beach County, Brightline will offer a free 2022 annual pass to any individual who donates a vehicle to Habitat’s Cars for Homes program between September 22 and December 31, 2021. Those who want to participate in the Brightline-Habitat World Car Free Day free travel pass promotion can learn more here. 

Every year on September 22nd, cities across the globe celebrate World Car-Free Day, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day. The event highlights the numerous benefits of going car-free to citizens—including reduced air pollution and the health benefits of walking and cycling in a safer environment. Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes program takes this even further. All year long, Habitat accepts donations of vehicles from across the U.S. and dedicates the proceeds from their sale to help Habitat homeowners build strength, stability and self-reliance for their families.

“At its core, Brightline is about building a sustainable community,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “We want to lead the change in modern rail travel while advocating for strong and self-reliant communities. Our partnership with the affiliates of Habitat for Humanity in South Florida to promote car donations symbolizes this endeavour and we are excited to be working together to achieve the greater purpose of helping those in need. We can’t wait to welcome riders back this November, including some who will be riding for free with this offer.”

Through Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes program, individuals can donate a car, truck or other motor vehicle and proceeds from its sale will be distributed to one of the four participating local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, benefitting the donor’s community.  For donors, gifting a vehicle to Cars for Homes is fast, easy and free of charge. For local Habitat affiliates, the monthly receipt of funding can be used to help build new construction or to fund critical repairs, including after natural disasters.

“Cars for Homes provides a great opportunity to turn unwanted vehicles into affordable housing for our community,” said Nancy Robin, CEO and executive director of Habitat Broward. “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Brightline, which is investing in our community in both a socially and environmentally responsible way.”

“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Brightline through this wonderful program,” said Mario Artecona, chief executive officer at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami. “A thriving community relies on affordable homeownership and strong transportation options. This relationship highlights both. We are most grateful to Brightline for focusing on Habitat’s mission of providing affordable home-ownership opportunities to South Florida’s working families.” 

On August 10, Brightline announced plans to resume service in the first half of November between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Brightline also announced multiple service enhancements and investments, including the introduction of its new mobility as a service platform that will address guests’ first and last-mile connections.

 For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com.

By Rachel Galvin

It was a beautiful day in Deerfield Beach for Jr. Angler’s Day on Saturday, Sept. 18. Kids and their parents lined the International Fishing Pier in hopes to catch the big one… and then throw it back; and, boy, were the fish being caught everywhere you looked! This event is always a treasured moment as kids reel in their line and pull their catch out of the water with big smiles on their faces. It makes a perfect photo opp (See photos on The Observer Facebook). Kids could get bait a fishing pole and more swag. There were also other booths, including arts & crafts and ice cream. There also was a coastal cleanup.