The annual Delray Affair always draws excitement and crowds as one of South Florida’s oldest and largest outdoor arts, crafts and entertainment festival venues. The Delray Affair stretches along Atlantic Avenue and side streets encompassing 10 city blocks, in scenic downtown Delray Beach, Florida.

Over 600 artists and exhibitors show off the talent and skill and that doesn’t even include the food! Come and taste the FAMOUS CONCH FRITTERS!! Come for the gorgeous flowers and plants!! The kids will have a blast with the rides, games and face painting!! Enjoy the live music which changes from block to block! All of the beautiful shops and boutiques that line the Ave will be open for you too! One of the newcomers to the Ave is Tamarind Tree Gallery! Right next door to Peg Delp’s office, Gringle, Doherty & Wheat, Inc. Realtors in the 700 block of the Ave. ( 7th & Atlantic Ave.) They offer the freshest flowers, beautiful floral arrangements art, antiques, cool cookie jars and much more!

10am to 7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 6pm on Sunday.

April 2, 2010: The 48th Annual Delray Affair will be held on Friday, April 9th & Saturday, April 10th from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and Sunday, April 11th from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. This popular arts and crafts street festival stretches along Atlantic Avenue over ten (10) City blocks and side streets. Information on road closures, parking facilities and Downtown Roundabout Shuttle service is as follows:

ROAD CLOSURES
Road closures will be in effect on April 9th beginning at 4:00 am and will continue until 8:00 pm on April 11th. Vehicular traffic will be blocked along Atlantic Avenue from NW/SW 1st Avenues (west of Swinton Avenue) to the west side of Palm Square. Delray Affair activities will extend north to NE 1st Street and south to SE 1st Street from Atlantic Avenue. Traffic going north and south will use U.S. 1 (Federal Highway, 5th and 6th Avenues) that will be police controlled. Traffic going east and west will be detoured onto SE 1st Street (eastbound) and NE 1st Street (westbound).

Vehicles parked within Delray Affair designated boundaries after 4:00 am on Friday, April 9th, will be towed to the Greater Delray Chamber of Commerce parking lot, 64A SE 5th Avenue.

PARKING FACILITIES
During the Delray Affair, a flat fee of $5 per vehicle will be charged. For directions to parking facilities, follow the paid parking directional signs.

Old School Square Parking Garage, 95 NE 1st Avenue:
Friday, April 9th and Saturday, April 10th, from 9:00 am until closing
Sunday, April 11th, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm

City Hall Front Parking Area, 100 NW 1st Avenue:
Saturday, April 10th, from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
Sunday, April 11th, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm

South County Courthouse Parking Garage, 65 SW 2nd Avenue:
Saturday, April 10th, from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm
Sunday, April 11th, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm

Robert Federspiel Parking Garage, 22 SE 1st Avenue:
Friday, April 9th and Saturday, April 10th, from 10:00 am until closing
Sunday, April 11th, from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm

DOWNTOWN ROUNDABOUT SHUTTLE BUS ROUTES AND SCHEDULES:
During the event, buses will use the downtown by-passes (NE & SE 1st Streets) while providing roundtrip service from the Tri Rail station and the Delray Beach Public Library to the beach.

For more information, please call (561) 243-7190.

Antique fire engines as well as modern day fire engines and apparatus. Fire department honor guard teams will march carrying flags and ornate fire axes. Fire department bagpipe band members from different fire department pipe and drum bands will march and play together.

Uniformed marching firefighters, Dalmation dog owners, and professional fire clowns have been invited to delight the spectators.

Join in the fun while promoting your business, group, or just having a great time being a part of this historic parade in Delray.

February 17, 2010: The section of Atlantic Avenue between NE/SE 1st and 2nd Avenues will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, February 19, 2010, from 5:30 pm until 8:00 pm, for “Tennis on the Ave”, a special event that literally brings tennis to the streets of Downtown Delray Beach. In addition, parking spaces in this area will be blocked off beginning at 2:30 pm.

“Tennis on the Ave” features champions John McEnroe and Ronald Agenor who will participate in a tennis exhibition on the street’s makeshift court. Festivities begin at 6:00 pm followed by great tennis action at 6:15 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
CITY OF DELRAY BEACH MEDIA RELEASE

Houses purchased for $800,000 or less are eligible for repeat buyers. Single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples up to $225,000 may receive the maximum tax credit for both repeat and first-time purchases. The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Buyers earning more than the maximum are not eligible for the credit. If a binding written contract to purchase is in effect April 30, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

The 2009 credit for first-timers helped jump-start the sagging home market in the summer and fall, data show. Walt Molony, a National Association of Realtors (NAR) spokesman, said two million existing-home sales in 2009 could be attributed to the $8,000 first-time buyer credit. Although it is too early to measure the credit’s effect on sales so far this year, Molony said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun believes it will add 1.5 million sales to the tally.

The repeat-buyer credit was added to appease builders, who said the original did not offer enough time to purchasers of new houses, which take at least six months to build, to close on them. New homes accounted for only 7% of the tax-credit-based sales, Molony said.

The National Association of Homebuilders’ Donna Reichle said, “We hear builders saying they are getting inquiries, but that’s all so far. According to our economists, it’s way too early,” Reichle said. “If you look back at the passage of the original $8,000 credit and impact on housing starts, it took a couple of months, and that was in the spring as well.”

Moody’s Economy.com chief economist Mark Zandi says the credit will boost sales “modestly,” however, by 300,000, with one-third trade-up buyers. “I don’t expect the credit to be extended again,” Zandi said. “Each time it is extended, it becomes less effective and thus more costly.”

David Krieger, senior vice president and general manager of Coldwell Banker Preferred in Philadelphia, says he believes that “a very large increase in our listing inventory in January is a result of the $6,500 credit.” Still, the $8,000 first-time credit remains the chief reason his company’s home sales were 33% higher last month than in January 2009, he said.

Typically, repeat buyers are better off financially than first-timers, so a lot of repeat buyers realize from the start they don’t qualify for the credit, Weichert Realtors agent Alec Schwartz said. “What they do realize, and what is getting more sellers to list, is that they understand that there are plenty of first-time buyers who qualify for the $8,000 credit out there, and they have a much better chance of selling their house and buying a new one than before,” said Schwartz, Liv Mansfield’s agent.

This is also true in the region’s new-home market, said Wayne Norris, regional sales manager for Hanley Wood Market Intelligence. “Builders have experienced increased activity in recent months” attributable to the $6,500 credit and “the fact that many potential buyers were able to sell their houses” to those taking advantage of the first-time buyer credit,” he said. The sense of urgency to make the tax-credit deadline and fears of rising interest rates will push new-home sales higher in the spring, Norris said.

(c) 2010, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

The Seagate Spa is tantalizing guests with a number of new package offerings, including a blissful Spa Room Package with accommodations in your own private Spa Room as well as a couples massage, bathing rituals, a special spa gift and Champagne and strawberries for two ($790/night/double), as well as a Valentine’s Day Package with accommodations, a couples massage at the Spa and Champagne and “tuxedo” strawberries delivered to your room upon arrival ($725/night, available February 11-21).

Also, throughout February, the Seagate Spa will top off any couples service with a complimentary glass of wine or Champagne and strawberries, as well as offer the specially-priced Chocolate/Rose Body Polish ($110) and the Chocolate/Rose Petal Manicure & Pedicure Package ($104).

The Spa also features a full wet room with the only Vichy shower on the Delray Beach spa scene, a pair of large steam rooms, a Bikram yoga studio, and a mani/pedi suite. For the full Seagate Spa experience, check into one of the hotel’s three Spa Rooms, each thoughtfully arranged for private in-room treatments with king-sized comfort, infinity bubble-jet tub, glass-enclosed Kohler Waterhaven shower and marble and river rock bath.

To purchase gift cards for more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Seagate Spa at 561.665.4950 or visit theseagatespa.com.

Seagate Spa at The Seagate Hotel
1000 E. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach

The 27-year-old Tursunov will be making his Delray Beach debut. He played on Russia’s 2006 Davis Cup title team, reached his career-high ranking of No. 20 in the world that year, and has gained notoriety off the court as the ATP’s top tournament blogger. Malisse won ITC titles in 2005 and 2007 and was the runner-up three times since reaching his first career ATP final in this tournament in 1999 as a 17-year-old. The 6 foot, 10 inch Karlovic has led the ATP in aces the last three years and is ranked No. 37 in the world.

Still to be slotted in the draw will be four players from the qualifying tournament (played Feb. 20-21) as well as a pair of wild cards. “From top to bottom, the players in this draw will provide entertaining sessions for our fans,” said tournament director Mark Baron. “While we have young players who are beginning to make a name for themselves, there is plenty of star power as well.”

The ATP World Tour matches will commence on Monday, Feb. 22 with both the singles and doubles final scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28. McEnroe will join seven other tennis legends in the 4-day round robin ATP Champions Tour event starting Feb. 20, with that final scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Tickets are available on the official tournament website at www.YellowTennisBall.com or by calling 561.330.6000. Single-session tickets go on sale Monday, October 19 at 10 am. They range in price from $15 – $30 for Grandstand seats, $35 – $55 for Reserved seats, and Box seats are $65 – $85. Ticket packages range in price from $230 to $518. Fans can order all 17 sessions (Diamond), sessions 1 – 10 (Ruby), sessions 9-17 (Sapphire) or a package for the ATP World Tour quarterfinals through the finals (Weekender). Sessions 5 – 8 (Monday and Tuesday) include a chance for fans to enjoy both ATP Champions Tour and ATP World Tour matches. Box series packages are also available.

2010 DELRAY BEACH ITC SUMMARY

ATP Champions Tour Event

February 20-23, 2010
Draw: 8 players, round robin format, each player plays a minimum of 3 times
Confirmed Players: John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Pat Cash, Aaron Krickstein

ATP World Tour Event

Qualifying Tournament: February 20-21, 2010
Main Draw: February 22-28, 2010; Singles 32 players; Doubles 16 players
Confirmed Players: Mardy Fish, James Blake, Tommy Haas, Bryan Brothers

About the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships: The Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ITC) is the only ATP tournament in the world featuring an ATP Champions Tour event and an ATP World Tour event in the same week. Scheduled for February 20-28, 2010 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Florida, the ITC annually attracts the best tennis players in the world and thousands of visitors to Delray Beach and Palm Beach County. The $500,000 ATP World Tour event is entering its 18th year (12th in Delray Beach) while 2010 will be the inaugural year for the ATP Champions Tour event. Celebrated in 2003 with the ATP Award of Excellence, the privately-owned tournament features one of 11 ATP World Tour Events in the United States and the first-ever ATP Champions Tour event played on US soil. Total player compensation is $1.3 million for both events. For more information, please visit YellowTennisBall.com.

About ATP: ATP is the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuits – the ATP World Tour, the ATP Champions Tour and the ATP Champions Tour). With 63 tournaments in 31 countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia to Europe and the Americas to Asia, the stars of the ATP World Tour battle for South African Airways ATP Ranking Points at Grand Slams (non ATP members), ATP World Tour Masters 1000, ATP World Tour 500 and ATP World Tour 250 events. At the end of the season the world’s top 8 ranked men’s singles players and top 8 doubles teams, based on their performance throughout the year, will qualify to compete in the season’s climax – the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to be held at London’s O2 arena, the event will officially crown the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion and determine the final South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings. For more information, please visit www.ATPWorldTour.com.

Streamlined loan modification rules meet with skepticism

TAMPA, Fla. – Feb. 8, 2010 – Amid criticism that loan modification programs aren’t working, the federal government is pushing lenders to streamline efforts to lower mortgage payments for troubled borrowers.

Frustrated homeowners, however, fear new documentation requirements won’t address their concerns and may add to the headaches of trying to obtain a modified loan.

“We need help,” said Steve White, a Tampa homeowner who has been trying to get his loan modified since May. “I can’t get anyone on the phone, and when I do, 10 different people tell me 10 different things.”

The demand for modified mortgages is great in Florida and the Tampa Bay area, which are among the nation’s highest areas with foreclosures. Homeowner frustration is backed up by the low number of modifications – less than 10 percent of proposed trial adjustments in Tampa have been made permanent.

The recent rules are supposed to change that.

The Obama administration said that starting June 1 borrowers will have to prove they qualify for the modification up front.

Currently, borrowers are prequalified on the phone and placed into a three-month trial period. During that period, the lender collects paperwork and financial information from the borrower. Under the new requirements, two pay stubs and other paperwork must be submitted before payments can be lowered.

The change follows a recent Treasury Department report showing nearly 300,000 homeowners could lose their modified mortgage agreement because paperwork wasn’t turned in or showed they no longer qualified.

The report also showed that just 4 percent of the nation’s applicants under the government’s foreclosure-prevention program have received permanent help.

The government’s program aims to keep more homeowners in their homes, but borrowers and housing counselors say the modification process is as cumbersome as ever. It can take months to get a response from the lender, they say, and lenders routinely misplace paperwork, don’t return calls and don’t explain rejections.

“No one really knows why this happens at banks, whether it’s a book keeping error or it’s intentional to shake down borrowers,” said Shari Olefson, a real estate lawyer with Fowler, White and Boggs, noting that she consistently hears that lenders lose paperwork.

One thing is for sure, though, she said: “These new numbers show that the government’s program isn’t a solution that’s working.”

Some borrowers have even received modifications only to have the offer rescinded later.

Jeffery Feig, of Sarasota, sought a modification for five months and was approved last March. His payment was cut in half, but Bank of America called two months later to say it changed its mind. The only explanation was that he hadn’t sent necessary financial paperwork, something he disputes.

“They wouldn’t have approved me in the first place if they had not received all the paperwork,” Feig said. “Since then, I’ve sent the paperwork again, and my attorney has sent the paperwork. They always say they didn’t receive it.”

Feig’s story was recently published in The Tampa Tribune, and his attorney, Ryan Snyder of Sarasota, said he has since received nearly 50 phone calls from homeowners in similar situations.

In Tampa, Jeff Kops said his lender, also Bank of America, sent him a loan modification packet offering a lower payment. He agreed, sent the paperwork back and started paying the lower amount. But a few months later, the bank said it could no longer honor the modification because of a problem with the notary on the paperwork.

Kops said the lender looked at the paperwork again and offered him a monthly payment that was $500 higher than the previous offer.

At least 12,044 active trial adjustments have been granted in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area. But only 1,159 homeowners have received a permanent modification.

Anthony DiMarco, an executive vice president at the Florida Bankers Association, said lenders want to help borrowers avoid foreclosure but that they are overwhelmed and are “learning as they go along.”

Sylvia Alayon, a vice president with Ft. Lauderdale-based Consumer Mortgage Audit Center, said the government’s changes are a move in the right direction and could help more people in trial modification receive permanent help.

“This is good because it won’t give as many people false hope,” she said. “In the past, lenders placed people in the three-month trial period and then told them later they don’t qualify.”

Homeowner Rachelle Roach, of Carrollwood, isn’t as optimistic. She said she’s thankful that the government is taking a closer look at the modification program’s failures but doesn’t think the new changes will help borrowers like her.

Roach tried to modify her loan with Wells Fargo last year and said it was a “paperwork nightmare.” She said the bank always ended up misplacing paperwork, requesting more and then denying her requests.

Roach lost her job as a nutritionist and now makes less than half her former salary. Her home is now worth less than half what she paid in 2006. She said she’s depleted her savings and sold some of her belongings to pay mortgage payments.

“I was rejected twice, and I think it’s because I’m not behind on my mortgage,” she said. “I’m being penalized for trying to do the right thing. This is why so many people just walk away.”

Copyright © 2010 Tampa Tribune, Fla., Shannon Behnken. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

TO ATTEND SAVOR THE AVENUE’S GRAND TABLE | CHOOSE A RESTAURANT & MAKE A RESERVATION
Prices range from $49.00 per person to $85.00 per person.

WHERE & WHEN
LOCATION: Downtown Delray Beach on Atlantic Ave from Swinton Ave to East 5th Ave
DATE: Thursday, March 18, 2010 RAIN DATE: Friday, March 19, 2010
CHARITY: The Office Depot Foundation which strives to make a positive impact on children, families and communities.
The restaurants will be donating $5 for
every reservation made for the event.

GREET, TOAST & DINE!
5:00 – 6:30 PM + 8:30 – 10:00 PM: Prices range from $49.00 per person to $85.00 per person.
The grand debut of Downtown Delray’s masterpiece, Worthing Place. Preview
the fabulous art to be auctioned during Savor the Avenue at the stunning new
luxurious community, Worthing Place— the height of carefree urban living in downtown Delray.
5:30 PM: Cocktails, sponsored by Russian
Standard Vodka at Worthing Park, corner of Atlantic Ave. & Second Ave. Live entertainment by Ron Bivona, a performer that just doesn’t imitate ol’ blue eyes, he sounds just like Frank Sinatra. 6:30 PM SHARP: Grand Toast at the Grand Table, sponsored by Palm Bay International and Marquis De la Tour.
7:00 – 8:30 PM: Dining
9:00 – 10:00 PM: Art Auction in
Worthing Park
9:00 PM – MIDNIGHT: After Party sponsored by il Bacio Lounge and Russian Standard Vodka

RESERVE YOUR SEAT
HOW TO MAKE RESERVATIONS: Look through the Prix Fixe Menus in this section, make your selection and then call to book your reservation at the restaurant of your choice. Make your reservation early as seating will be limited to a 5 block long Grand Table on Atlantic Ave. starting at Swinton Avenue and ending at East 5th Avenue. Last day to reserve seating Friday, March 12th.

HOW TO CHECK-IN
You must first Check-In with the Host/
Hostess of the Restaurant you made your
reservation with to receive your Entry
Bracelet. This will allow you to attend the cocktail party at 5:30 and to receive a ticket for one complimentary cocktail. Your Entry Bracelet will be checked prior
to seating at the Grand Table at the assigned
area for the restaurant that you choose to dine with at 6:30 SHARP for
the Grand Toast.

ART AUCTION
Distinguished Auctioneer, Janice Hamilton of Hamilton Fine Art & Auction, Inc. will bring together many fine pieces for auction from numerous galleries in Delray which include Forms Gallery, Ora Sorensen Gallery, Avalon Gallery, Dana Donaty Designs and many more.

AFTER PARTY & PARKING
Sponsored by IL BACIO LOUNGE located at 29 SE 2nd Avenue across from Worthing Park. Live Entertainment and 2 for 1 Drink Specials sponsored by Russian Standard Vodka, just show your Savor Wrist Band for entry and drink specials.
The city’s biggest parking garage is in Pineapple Grove at the corner of NE 2nd Avenue and NE 1st Street. Parking is $5.00. Directions: Head NORTH on Swinton from Atlantic Avenue. Make a right onto Northeast 1st Street. Turn right onto NE 1st Avenue. The entrance is directly on your left.

For more information regarding this very special event call 561/279-1380 x3, or visit BocaMag.com, FloridaTable.com or DowntownDelrayBeach.com

Changes include:

Raising the up-front mortgage insurance premium: The premium for Mortgage insurance premium (MIP) will be increased to build up capital reserves and bring back private lending, its currently at 1.75 percent and will rise to 2.25 percent. HUD is expected to release a Mortgagee Letter on Jan. 21 making the premium increase effective in the spring. The first step will be to request legislative authority to increase the maximum anual MIP that FHA can charge.
Update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers: New borrowers will be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for the FHA’s 3.5 percent down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down at least 10 percent. FHA expects this to take effect in early summer after it goes through the normal regulatory process.
Reduce allowable seller concessions from 6% to 3%: The agency is lowering the maximum permissible level to 3 percent from its current 6 percent limit. FHA expects this to take effect in early summer after it goes through the normal regulatory process.
Increase enforcement on FHA lenders: Publicly report lender performance rankings to complement currently available Neighborhood Watch data. This will be available on the HUD website on February 1. of this year. This change will make information more user-friendly and hold lenders more accountable.