Palm Beach County ballots cast pass 191,000 with Election Day still ahead
Early ballot counts at Boca's five sites, a $55,000 art commission and a free movie on a library patio.
At the Glades Road Branch Library, Democrats led in early ballots as of Sunday, the only one of Boca's five early voting sites where that was true. Across all five, Republicans held the overall edge in an unofficial count that keeps changing as ballots come in.
As of noon Sunday, Oct. 25, Republicans had cast 6,206 early ballots at Boca's five early voting sites to 5,553 for Democrats. Those sites are the West Boca Branch, Spanish River, Downtown and Glades Road libraries, plus Sugar Sand Park Community Center. Glades Road was the one site where Democrats led. Countywide, more than 191,000 ballots were in by noon Sunday, Oct. 25, mail and in-person combined, out of 889,577 active eligible voters, a 21.48 percent turnout. These numbers are unofficial, and the Supervisor of Elections updates them as ballots arrive. That matters for anyone tempted to read too much into the split: early ballots are a running tally, not a result. If you still need to vote early, the Supervisor of Elections website posts each location and its hours. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Public Art Boca wants an artist for the Downtown Library's atrium windows
Living Anthologies, where residents 55 and older write memoirs, will be the starting point for the artwork. The program runs with the Boca Raton Museum of Art and writing mentors from the Creative Writing MFA Program at FAU. That means words from older residents could shape what library visitors see on the atrium glass. The commission pays $55,000, all-inclusive. Up to three finalists get $2,500 each, and applying costs nothing. Professional artists and artist-led teams from anywhere in the country can submit qualifications. The piece is temporary and will go on the inside atrium windows at the Downtown Library. Applications close Dec. 8 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with installation planned for August 2027.
Three Boca high schools hold Florida top-100 spots as 1 Mill for Schools goes to voters
Spanish River Community High sits at No. 50 on U.S. News' list of Florida high schools, with Boca Raton Community at No. 73 and West Boca Raton Community at No. 100. Those spots were announced in August. Newer is the 2027 K-8 ranking, where 12 district schools, six elementary and six middle, made Florida's top 100 public schools. The district's rankings announcement also pointed to the 1 Mill for Schools, which voters approved in 2018 and renewed in 2022. By the district's account, it pays for an average $8,000 a year in added teacher pay, 900 teacher positions and student safety and security. A question on continuing it is on the 2026 general election ballot, and the official wording is posted at StrongSchoolsPBC.org.
Boo-ca Boo Days packs tennis, a patio movie and a night hike into Oct. 30
- When
- Friday, Oct. 30
Kids 7 to 12 can play Spooky Tennis, a costumed round robin, at the Racquet Center at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30. It costs $30 for residents and $37.50 for non-residents. At 6:30 p.m., Hocus Pocus (1993) screens outdoors on the patio at the Spanish River library until 8:30 p.m., and it is free. The movie is the only one of the three with no fee. Over at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, a guided hike from 7 to 8:30 p.m. goes looking for nocturnal creatures, for ages 7 and up. Residents pay $12 and non-residents $15. Ages, costs and registration links for every event are at myboca.us/2813/Boca-Boo-Days-Events.
Bassist Marcus Miller takes the Crazy Uncle Mike's stage Nov. 4
- When
- Wednesday, Nov. 4 · 6 p.m.
- Where
- Crazy Uncle Mike's
The Grammy winner and UNESCO Artist for Peace has a credit list of well over 500 recordings, from Beyonce to Miles Davis. His bass is on Just The Two Of Us, the Bill Withers hit, and on Never Too Much by Luther Vandross. He also spent more than 15 years as Vandross's main partner in songwriting and production. The show starts at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. If you can't make it in person, the club streams all of its shows on YouTube and Facebook.