Alan Jackson performs during the filming of a new video at Jupiter's Square Grouper restaurant. (Libby Volgyes / Palm Beach Post)

Singing “I got a woman I’m tryin’ to drink away, and I got a long, long way to go,” country performer Alan Jackson and about 120 extras and crew members filmed a video Wednesday at the Square Grouper.

“This place is a little slice of Hollywood,” said director Steven Goldmann, standing on the sand and nodding across Jupiter Inlet toward the Jupiter Lighthouse. The video’s budget is about $100,000, he said.

Jackson, who has a home in Jupiter Island and is often seen in his boat or red Jeep around north county, was filming “A Long, Long Way to Go”. The song is the story of Jackson and his film crew coming to South Florida to make a video in the sunshine.

“But it rains. Everything goes wrong. So we play poker, make some music and dance. The whole crew gets to be in the video,” said Goldmann, a Montreal native filming his seventh video with Jackson. Goldmann also directed “This Kiss” with Faith Hill and has directed videos with Shania Twain and Brooks & Dunn.
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Naples resident John Debin jammed his yellow cloth in his back pocket to explain why he and 110 other owners of the iconic cars were under the Indiantown Road bridge.

"I get on the open road and blast my Rick Springfield music," smiled the 52-year-old bearded retired New York corrections officer. "I’m in heaven."

About 500 fans of the muscle cars made famous in the 1977 Burt Reynolds movie "Smokey and the Bandit" paid $15 each Wednesday night to view the cars. A few blushed at the memories.

"When he picked me up for our first date in 1994, he was driving a black Trans Am," said Saundra Peck, nodding to her husband Keith. "I’ve loved these cars since I first saw the movie," said the retired Volusia County Sheriff’s deputy.

The event annually is organized by Dave Hall, who employs 15 people at his Lincoln, Neb., business Restore a Muscle Car. The owners start in Brazelton, Ga., and make several stops in Florida. This was the first time the event stopped in Jupiter, Reynolds’ hometown. The Bandit Bash leaves today for Orlando.

"When we drive together down the road, we get thumbs up from people. They smile, they wave. Trans Am owners love it. It’s in their blood," said Hall, 39, who brought his wife Michelle and two daughters for the trip.

As music from a live Rock ‘N’ Roll band bounced off the bridge rafters, Danny Manning, who works on mine machinery in Benton, Ill., bragged that his black T-topped WS6 with gray interior is one of only 244 made.

"You can be a country boy or a city boy. But we’re all the same when we drive these babies," said Manning, who is on his fourth Bandit Bash.

Reynolds, who is filming episodes of the USA drama Burn Notice, did not attend the event adjacent to the Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum on U.S. 1.

The Trans Am was the last of the great muscle cars, said Keith Peck, a Volusia County sheriff’s deputy who keeps three in his home.

"Muscle cars started going south in the 1980s. Since then, they have no style, no horsepower," said Peck, who is married to Saundra. "I’ll always own one."

RIVIERA BEACH — After a slump last year, toy collection organizers at this year’s Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade are aiming for a comeback.
“We dropped to 10,000 toys last year. We want to get right back up to 15,000 toys this year,” said parade organizer Amy Tolderlund, president of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County Inc., which puts on the event.
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While the new $1.2 million amphitheater was built, last summer’s festival was held at the South County Regional Park west of Boca Raton. Attendance for The Comedy of Errors was about half of the 10,000 who usually attend the eight outdoor shows, Christman said.
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Smaller fireworks displays are on tap this year in many local communities. (Post file photo)

Find a fireworks show near you

Despite a slumping economy and less corporate support, local governments pledge fantastic fireworks on the Fourth.

“We are getting less support from local governments. Big sponsors are tougher to find. But we’re determined to keep the same quality show,” said Joe Pinto, general manager at Roger Dean Stadium.

Jupiter officials slashed the town’s contributions to the annual fireworks display from $15,000 two years ago to $7,500 this year. Sponsors that used to pay $15,000 are now paying $3,000, Pinto said.
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