JR Dunn at Dunn’s Run (Photo by David Volz)

The Observer is sorry to report the passing of local business man and philanthropist Jim (better known as JR) Dunn. Dunn was instrumental in the community. His Dunn’s Run, a 5 K walk/run, 5 mile run, brought out huge crowds to the beach yearly to participate and watch, all benefitting the local Boys & Girls Club. He also founded JR Dunn Jewelers. He was a staple in the community who always loved giving back. He will be missed.

Obituary

James R. Dunn, Co-Founder of J.R. Dunn Jewelers and philanthropist in the South Florida community passed away on May 21, 2021 at the age of 78.

Jim Dunn, Massachusetts native, founded J.R. Dunn Jewelers in 1969 with his loving wife, Ann Marie Dunn—and continued the family business together alongside their son, Sean Dunn, growing it into one of the most successful omni-channel family-owned jewelers in the county.

Those who knew Jim knew him as one of the kindest most genuine souls, most dedicated workers, and most of all someone who would do anything for anyone. “My Dad was the type of guy whose life experience helped so many people, no matter what they needed. Whether they had a little car trouble in the parking lot, needed help paying their rent, or just a shoulder to lean on he was there. You could always count on Jim Dunn”, said Sean Dunn. 

Jim could also make you laugh like no other, always sharing a great joke to make sure you enjoy the deepest laugh. His passion for life, family, and his business were infectious and always inspired one to do better. He was an invaluable leader to anyone who had the opportunity to work with him, with wisdom that only his years and life experience could bring. Many will say because of Jim, they are a better person, and it is true.

Jim came from the humblest of beginnings, which had a lasting influence on the way he later lived his life and cared for his community. He lost his Dad when he was just seven years old, leaving him and his brothers in the care of his hard-working mother. She often had to work double shifts as a visiting nurse just to put food on the table and care for their family. This is where Jim’s incredible work ethic originated from, as well as his desire to give back to those who need it most.

His entrepreneurial beginning started when he was young running a paper route, where he learned to deliver the product to customers for the first time. After graduating from the University of Bridgeport in 1966, he began working for IBM as a salesman where he found much success and soon met his wife and future business partner, Ann Marie Dunn.

What the couple once began as the House of Gems in a quaint older home in Hanover, Massachusetts, J.R. Dunn Jewelers has now become an over 8,000 square foot luxury jewelry and timepiece destination in Lighthouse Point, Florida with a team of over 40 dedicated people and successful e-commerce business on jrdunn.com. 

“Jim was so incredibly proud of the business he and I built together. It showed in his passion for moving the business forward each and every day from the most important strategic initiatives right down to the simplest of tasks, like stocking the water bottles or making the shipping boxes. No job was too big or too small for Jim Dunn and I look forward to continuing on his legacy”, said Ann Marie Dunn. 

During his career, Jim had achieved many accolades including the Sun Sentinel’s Excalibur Award in 2002 for Small Business Leader as well as being inducted into the NSU Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The company was also honored with Luxury Jeweler of the Year in 2015, celebrating its milestones and forward-thinking endeavors.

Giving back to the community was something incredibly near and dear to Jim’s heart, with his and Ann Marie’s many initiatives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, the Humane Society of Broward County, and many other different philanthropic causes supporting our military, veterans, and first responders.

In 1996, Jim founded the iconic Dunn’s Run, a 5k walk/run and 5-mile run benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, which has raised over $3 million dollars in its duration. This year marks the 25th Annual Dunn’s Run, a momentous milestone that he was so proud of, and will be dedicated to celebrating his honor. Jim’s favorite moment of Dunn’s Run was always seeing a huge American flag raised above Deerfield Beach from the fire truck. He loved that it was an event built around family for people of all ages, from the young future of our community to its experienced elders.

Jim (on right) with wife Marie and son Sean. (Submitted photo)

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Ann Marie Dunn; son and daughter in-law, Sean and Viviana Dunn; beloved grandchildren, Nico and Briana Dunn; and many other family members who will carry on the legacy Jim built.

A celebration of life will be held in his honor at a date to be announced.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity near and dear to your heart or one close to his; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. 

To see more photos & video, visit the Observer Facebook page by clicking here.

For more info., visit https://jrdunn.com.

You can donate to his favorite cause, the Boys & Girls Club, using this special site they have set up:  https://www.bgcbc.org/jim-dunn

Jim Dunn at MS Gala. (Photo by Rachel Galvin)

Charles J. Zeller D.O. Broward Health

A good night’s sleep doesn’t come easy to the more than 22 million Americans who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when soft tissues in the airway collapse during sleep and block the flow of oxygen to the brain. The brain senses a lack of oxygen and wakes up the body just long enough to take a breath, causing a cycle of poor, disruptive sleep.

“A lack of sleep can be detrimental to our body, but sleep apnea can lead to other health issues, including moodiness, memory loss and even stroke, heart attack and death,” said Charles Zeller IV, D.O., an otolaryngologist with the Broward Health Physician Group. “That’s why it’s so important to be treated for sleep apnea.”

Dr. Zeller is the first physician in the Broward Health system to utilize Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS), the only FDA-approved implantable device to combat obstructive sleep apnea. Inspire UAS is a less intrusive, more comfortable solution to obstructive sleep apnea. Implanted in the body as an outpatient procedure, the small device is activated following a 30-day healing period. Working inside the body with a patient’s natural breathing process, Inspire can combat certain types of obstructive sleep apnea, particularly in cases where a loss of muscle tone causes the tongue to fall back in the mouth.

Based on a patient’s unique breathing patterns, Inspire delivers a mild stimulation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls tongue movement and prevents the tongue from blocking the airway. By stimulating these muscles, the airway remains open during sleep.

Inspire is controlled by the patient using a small, handheld Inspire sleep remote that is turned on before bedtime and turned off in the morning. Additionally, the patient can pause therapy during the night, if needed, and increase or decrease therapy settings.

“There is tremendous demand for the Inspire stimulator,” said Dr. Zeller. “Unlike other common treatments, with Inspire there is no mask, no hose and no noise.”

Most patients can resume non-strenuous activities within a few days after the short procedure and may experience an improved quality of life and daytime functioning.

Patients must meet certain criteria to quality for the procedure to determine if Inspire is a suitable alternative.

For more information, visit browardhealth.org/services/sleep-disorders or call Dr. Zeller’s office at 954-888-3800.

HURRICANE TAX HOLIDAY

Hurricane Season officially starts June 1, but there already are two storms brewing… one in the Atlantic and one on the gulf, neither of which seem to be heading toward Florida, However, this should be a reminder that the season is upon use. Now is the time to get prepared as they are expecting an above average season.

NEW TAX HOLIDAY

There is another sales tax holiday this year to help with your prep. It runs from May 28 to June 6. Some examples of tax-free items include: flashlights and lanterns costing $40 or less; radios costing $50 or less; tarps costing $100 or less, coolers costing $60 or less, batteries costing $50 or less; and, generators costing $1,000 or less.

In addition, the Florida legislation established a Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday from July 1-7, in which purchases of admissions to music events, sporting events, cultural events, specified performances, movies, museums, state park annual passes, and fitness facilities for events held from July 1 – December 31, 2021, will be tax free. Additionally, purchases of season tickets are also exempted.

The Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday also applies to sales of boating and water activity supplies, camping supplies, fishing supplies, general outdoor supplies, and sports equipment.

Boating and Water Supplies: The tax holiday applies to the first $75 of the sales price of life jackets and coolers; the first $50 of the sales price of safety flares; the first $150 of the sales price of water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, and recreational inflatable water tubes or floats capable of being towed; the first $300 of the sales price of paddleboards and surfboards; the first $500 of the sales price of canoes and kayaks; the first $75 of the sales price of paddles and oars; and the first $25 of the sales price of snorkels, goggles, and swimming masks.

Camping Supplies: The tax holiday applies to the first $200 of the sales price of tents; the first $50 of the sales price of sleeping bags, portable hammocks, camping stoves, and collapsible camping chairs; and the first $30 of the sales price of camping lanterns and flashlights.

Fishing Supplies: The tax holiday applies to the first $75 of the sales price of rods and reels, if sold individually, or the first $150 of the sales price if sold as a set; the first $30 of the sales price of tackle boxes or bags; and the first $5 of the sale price of bait or fishing tackle, if sold individually, or the first $10 of the sales price if multiple items are sold together.

General Outdoor Supplies: The tax holiday applies to the first $15 of the sales price of sunscreen or insect repellant; the first $100 of the sales price of sunglasses; the first $200 of the sales price of binoculars; the first $30 of the sales price of water bottles; the first $50 of the sales price of hydration packs; the first $250 of the sales price of outdoor gas or charcoal grills; the first $50 of the sales price of bicycle helmets; and the first $250 of the sales price of bicycles.

Sports Equipment: The tax holiday applies any item used in individual or team sports, not including clothing or footwear, selling for $40 or less.

On Monday, May 10, 2021, City Council and representatives from Brightline and the Junior League of Boca Raton, broke ground on the new community garden located at Meadows Park (1300 NW 8th St, Boca Raton, FL 33486). As part of the agreement to build the Brightline station on a 1.8-acre site near the City’s Downtown Library, Brightline made a major contribution to help fund the construction of the garden.

“Boca Raton can look forward to our new, expanded community garden in a more central location adjacent to Meadows Park and Boca Raton Community Middle School,” said Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer.

“We are grateful to the Junior League and the dedicated gardeners and volunteers who will make this new location another Boca treasure, and to Brightline for their substantial support for this project.”

The garden is approximately 1.4 acres and will contain about 100 plots. Leasing of plots will open in July. Those who are interested in leasing a plot once garden construction is finalized can email garden@jlbr.org.

Additional features of the community garden include a pergola, an enlarged composting area, and special fencing around the garden and trees to keep iguanas from climbing or digging in to the area.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the City and Brightline on this new location for the community garden. We believe it will be a real asset to the community,” said Cristy Stewart-Harfmann, president of the Junior League of Boca Raton.

In addition to the community garden, construction of the temporary parking lot has also begun. Located directly south of the Downtown Library, the lot will serve patrons and staff of the library while construction of the station and parking garage is underway. Construction of the lot and community garden is expected to be completed in August 2021.

“The community garden is an important investment to creating more sustainable and resilient communities. This is the first phase of construction activity as we work to bring Brightline to Boca Raton,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “We are excited to kick off the construction of the community garden with the Mayor, Council and Junior League representatives.”

Pompano Citi Centre has announced it is adding new tenants where Sears and Sears Auto Center once stood. The new additions include Burlington, TJ Maxx and Five Below. Other signed leases include Crafty Crab, Aspen Dental, Venetian Nails Spa, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Wingstop and The Joint Chiropractic. They anticipate the construction to be complete by the fall.

They already had some changes last year, including finally adding Saito’s Japanese Steakhouse in the centre and the McDougle Technical Institute.

History Fort Lauderdale, proud steward of our community’s past by making our heritage accessible and engaging to residents and visitors, will feature writer Arthur Jay Marcus on the next May 13 noon segment of its “Meet the Author” interactive Zoom series. The new free series takes place on the second Thursday of each month. Viewers may register at http://bit.ly/HFLMeetTheAuthorMarcus.

Arthur Jay Marcus, an architect, photographer and historic preservation consultant, is the author of The Architecture of Whimsy: Mid-20^th-Century Architecture in South Florida, a lexicon examining the quixotic architectural expressions fund on select Mid-20^th-Century Modern commercial buildings in South Florida. Showcasing the work of 13 noted architects from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, it highlights the decorative details and gestures – swooping overhangs, brise soleil, cheese holes and arches and screening – that expressed the era’s shiny optimism and the region’s carefree resort culture. With brief biographies of architects and street maps pinpointing the location of each building, this book offers tourists, architects, history buffs and preservationist a new context and appreciation for these works of art, many of which are endangered. The book is available on Amazon.

Architecture and photography have been Marcus’ life-long passions from an early age. While  maintaining an architectural studio in South Beach for 24 years prior to moving to Fort Lauderdale about six years ago, Marcus continued to take photographs of the south Florida architectural environment. His practice currently specializes in historic preservation consulting.  A native of Philadelphia, Marcus graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University and a Master of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Marcus joins historian John Bailey, plus authors Kingsley Guy and Donn R. Colee, Jr., as part of History Fort Lauderdale’s prestigious “Meet the Author” series, a chance to converse with South Florida-based writers, launched in February. Upcoming novelists will be announced.

History Fort Lauderdale is currently open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with docent guided tours, daily, at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Group walking tours are available upon special request. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and $7 for students (through age 22 with a valid student ID). Admission is free for members, military and children ages six and under. Tickets are available online at HistoryFortLauderdaleTickets.

In compliance with local and state health guidelines, visitors to History Fort Lauderdale will be required to wear a mask, have a digital temperature reading and practice safe social distancing of six feet apart. Hand sanitizer will be available at the front desk admission point and all surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned multiple times a day, per CDC guidelines. Additionally, guests will be asked to sign-in, daily, for contact tracing.

For more information, please call 954-463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. 

Funding Arts Broward (FAB) will present A Night at the NSU Art Museum, a virtual program, on Monday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. This free offering will feature a tour of the museum’s newest exhibit, “The World of Anna Sui” and an introduction to the other exhibits on display. A Q & A session will follow the tour and presentation.

Funding Arts Broward (FAB), leading arts ambassadors in Broward County, will present A Night at the NSU Art Museum, a virtual program, on Monday, April 19, at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Bonnie Clearwater, FAB member and director and chief curator of NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, this free “friend”raiser program will feature a tour of the museum’s newest exhibit, “The World of Anna Sui.” The presentation will also introduce “Eric N. Mack: Lemme Walk Across the Room” and “Iké Udé: Select Portraits,” two other exhibits on display. A Q & A session will follow the tour and presentation.

Dedicated to supporting, sustaining and enriching the arts in our community, FAB creates captivating programming, entertainment and events for its members and the public that spotlights our region’s unique cultural offerings. This is the eighth installment of the FAB Presents virtual pop-up series. Previous programs are available on FAB’s YouTube channel.

“FAB is thrilled to be able to offer this engaging, exclusive and fashionable behind-the-scenes virtual foray into the art of fashion for its current and prospective members,” said Ed Hashek, president of FAB. “The public is invited to join us as we explore the glamorous and eclectic world of Anna Sui, one of New York’s most beloved and accomplished designers, and step inside her imagination.” 

Thematically arranged, the exhibition explores Sui’s lifelong engagement with an array of ‘archetypes’ including the rock star, the schoolgirl, the punk, nomads, and surfers — motifs that are featured throughout her work. Hallmark outfits include Sui’s “Silver Peruvian Ensemble” and iconic sequined silk organza  “Babydoll Dress” from Spring 1994. Items on view also include fashions worn by Sui’s personal style icons who include Anita Pallenberg and Jane Holzer.

The range of different styles on display emphasize Anna Sui’s consistent design approach as she incorporates her current passions into every garment. As it celebrates American fashion, the exhibition also provides a fascinating guide to the history of American pop culture, and an inside look into the creative process and unique world view of this iconic designer whose daring and experimental approach to design has become a mainstay of the international fashion scene.

“The World of Anna Sui” is organized by the Fashion and Textile Museum, London and is curated by Dennis Nothdruft.

To RSVP for FAB’s virtual A Night at the NSU Art Museum, please visit http://bit.ly/FABNightAtNSUArt2021 by April 16. To learn more about FAB including how to become a member or support the arts, visit www.fundingartsbroward.org or email fundingartsbroward@gmail.com.

About Funding Arts Broward (FAB)

Funding Arts Broward, (FAB) is a non-profit volunteer-based arts organization committed to preserving and cultivating the arts in Broward County, Florida. As leading arts ambassadors, FAB’s mission is to support, sustain and enrich the arts in our community.  Since its inception in 2003, the organization has granted more than $3.6 million to local visual and performing arts programming. More information about FAB can be found at www.fundingartsbroward.org.

Follow the Clues! The City of Pompano Beach Parks & Recreation Dept. presents its first ever Scavenger Egg Hunt! They invite everyone to participate in this “on your own” community -wide scavenger egg hunt spring event. Starting March 25  through April 4, you will be able to follow clues to find the five giant , brightly -painted eggs located in five different parks throughout the city . Clues can be found on the Parks & Recreation website at https://parks.pompanobeachfl.gov and on the city’s Facebook Page .
Solve the riddle, find all five eggs, take pictures with each egg, and post the gallery on the Parks & Recreation Facebook Page with your email. Three lucky participants will be selected at random to win a gift basket.
This event is FREE and registration is not required. For more information, please call 954- 786- 4111 or visit the Parks & Recreation website at
https://parks.pompanobeachfl.gov. 

Bernie Parness

In the March 9 Municipal Election, District 3 Commissioner Bernie Parness retained his position over Richard Rosenzweig, who originally held the position before Parness took office. The count was 1063 (with 67.8% of the vote) for Parness and 504 (32.2%) for Rosenzweig.