Florida Trend articles from January 2006

Florida Trend archives from January 2006

Our new look.(Corner Office)
January 1, 2006... This month's issue, as you have already noticed, presents a new design and appearance for Florida Trend. It's a look built on success. Circulation is up. So is ad revenue. And the magazine continues to win more than its share of awards for our...

Celebration?(Readers)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... I am so concerned about the article "A Decade of Celebration" [November, Florida Trend.com] that I am moved to state the following: As I have property in a neighboring town, I often drive by Celebration. One thing that struck me from day one...

Tough choices.(Readers)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... Mark Howard's November article "Getting By" [FloridaTrend.com] may have given readers the mistaken impression that a new study by the LeRoy Collins Institute, "Tough Choices: Shaping Florida's Future," offered Floridians only two choices: Fewer...

What's new.(Executive Lifestyle: City Living)
January 1, 2006... Granite Flooring--Alfred Karram Jr., of the family-run Alfred Karram II design firm credited with changing the face of Boca Raton with its European modern style, says he's done the lobbies of many condos on the beach and recently completed at...

Mr. Downtown.(Executive Lifestyle: City Living)
January 1, 2006... Phil McCabe is often referred to as Mr. Downtown Naples. He was instrumental in revitalizing Old Naples 10 years ago when now-trendy 5th Avenue was failing. He bought buildings, transformed an old bank into The Inn on Fifth, a popular boutique...

Thinking outside the big box.(Executive Lifestyle: City Living)
January 1, 2006... The quintessential big box store, Home Depot, is thinking outside the box for its Coconut Grove store in response to residents' concerns. The quirky urban enclave bordering Coral Gables in south Miami has always boasted a distinctive character....

Days of old.(Executive Lifestyle: City Living)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Post offices used to be a vibrant center of a town's activity. And in cities like Winter Park, designers are again eyeing them as community focal points. Plans are in the works to redo the city's old post office into a pedestrian-friendly...

Little Havana.(Executive Lifestyle: City Living)
January 1, 2006... Several gears ago, developer Miguel Angel Barbagallo saw potential in Little Havana and started buying property there. Today, construction is under way on Altos de Miami and Altos Plaza, two midrise condominiums--900-sq.-ft. units go for...

Weighing in: 'The Gold Coast Cure' steers dieters to nutrient-rich foods.(Executive Lifestyles: Health: Weight Management)
January 1, 2006... The biggest challenge people face this time of year when they resolve (again) to manage their weight may well be confusion. People are unsure what's healthy and what's not because there's so much conflicting information, says Ivy Ingrain...

Little palm, lot of dough.(Executive Lifestyles: Travel: (Business Retreats))
January 1, 2006... At the five-acre Little Palm Island Resort off the coast of the lower Keys, a cool million gets you, for a weekend, exclusive use of all 30 guest suites; limousine service from Key West International Airport; champagne and unlimited cocktails;...

Travel gadget.(Executive Lifestyles: Travel: (Business Retreats))
January 1, 2006... First-Class Upgrade Set Price: $99 Website: Noisebuster.net Designed for the frequent traveler, the set includes a folding travel tote that contains NoiseBuster noise-canceling headphones; a silk eye mask; a hygiene kit with...

Online Bookings.(INTERNET)
January 1, 2006... Online Bookings--The number of Americans booking their travel online increased substantially last year, according to a study by the Travel Industry Association of America and USDM.net. About 79 million U.S, travelers, or 78%, researched their...

Rating Service.(INTERNET)
January 1, 2006... Rating Service--During an event in Orlando in November, San Francisco-based TravelPost.com launched its new website, which features user reviews of destinations. Readers can see reviews from people like themselves; each posting contains the...

Marineland.(THEME PARKS)
January 1, 2006... Marineland--After being closed for more than a year following the 2004 hurricanes, Marineland near St. Augustine has reopened with a new focus on interactive programs that let visitors swim with dolphins. The park is open only on weekends, and...

Sea World.(THEME PARKS)
January 1, 2006... Sea World--This spring, Anheuser-Busch is launching a new branding campaign for its three SeaWorld parks. Changes will include an updated show for Shamu, along with new merchandise and a Shamu-themed roller coaster.

Universal Studios.(THEME PARKS)
January 1, 2006... Universal Studios--After a phenomenal year at its Orlando parks in 2004 when it opened its Revenge of the Mummy ride, Universal saw a 16% decline in ticket sales last year. Owners cite several reasons, including hurricanes, high gas prices and...

Cypress Gardens.(THEME PARKS)
January 1, 2006... Cypress Gardens--Owner Kent Buescher is planning to add a wooden roller coaster and bring back the park's famous water-ski shows.

Signs of inflation.(Travel)
January 1, 2006... Look for business travel costs to increase this year, industry watchers say. Among the causes: Higher gas prices, higher taxes and increased demand. Domestically, airline tickets are expected to go up 6%, hotel rates 9% and rental car fees...

Big spenders.(TOURISM)
January 1, 2006... International travelers spend more money in Florida than in any other state, according to recently released 2003 figures from the Travel Industry Association of America and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. International Travelers State...

Vaulting into the hall.(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirits)
January 1, 2006... * Bob Heilman's Beachcomber 447 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach 727/442-4144; heilmansbeachcomber.com * Bobby's Bistro & Wine Bar 454 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach 727/446-WINE (9463) The happenings that are Heilman's...

Wayne Huizenga: entrepreneur, 68.(Icon)
January 1, 2006... I think personality plays a huge role in a CEO or president of a company and other positions. If you ranked people by intelligence, personality and smart, and if I could only take two of the three, I would take personality and smart. There are...

A strong showing.(Trendsetters: Real Estate)(Cara Mantovani)(Mantovani Realty)
January 1, 2006... Cara Mantovani Mantovani Realty Owner Miami Education: Bachelor's, University of Miami. She studied creative writing and broadcast journalism, which she decided against because of the Iong hours. "Isn't it ironic that I...

This year, VISIT FLORIDA, the successful private/public partnership charged with marketing the state's tourism industry, celebrates its 10th anniversary.(Special Advertising Report)
January 1, 2006... This year, VISIT FLORIDA, the successful private/public partnership charged with marketing the state's tourism industry, celebrates its 10th anniversary. Our anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to introduce you to some of the exciting and...

The renovation shuffle.(Trendsetters)(Ed Dion)(Dion Builders)
January 1, 2006... Ed Dion Dion Builders Owner Tallahassee For fun: A 1984 Corvette and golf. He also writes poetry and family stories. Workday: Estimating and invoicing. "If someone told me I was going to spend most of my time as a...

Todd Gates.(Trendsetters)
January 1, 2006... Todd Gates Gates McVey President, CEO Naples PROFESSIONALLY: 10-year-old Gates McVey, with $85 million in 2005 revenue, expects to grow to $500 million in five years. Revenue derives equally from office, retail, multifamily and public...

Ugo Colombo.(Trendsetters)(Glasswall )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Ugo Colombo Glasswall Developer, business owner Miami Miami condo developer Ugo Colombo, 43, has brought in his brother Claudio to run Glasswall, a Miami company Colombo took over a couple of years ago to ensure a supply of...

Against the wind.(HURRICANES AND IN-MIGRATION)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... After the devastating 2004 hurricane season, newscasts were filled with anecdotes of storm-weary residents packing up and leaving Florida. But while the storms had significant impacts in the counties where they hit, overall they had little or...

Simone Marstiller, head of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation since August, has replaced all three of her top deputies, the top attorney and the chief agency lobbyist.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Simone Marstiller, head of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation since August, has replaced all three of her top deputies, the top attorney and the chief agency lobbyist. Marstiller says the moves were not an indication that...

Andy Edwards.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Andy Edwards has become deputy secretary for business regulation. Edwards was deputy secretary for professional regulation. He replaces Susan Cutchins and makes $97,384 a year.

Dennis Yecke.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Dennis Yecke has become deputy secretary of professional regulation. He was deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. He makes $102,000. (Yecke's wife, Cheri Yecke, was recently appointed K-12...

Julie Madden.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Julie Madden is now deputy secretary of operations making $102,000 a year. The former deputy secretary at the Department of Management Services replaces Michael Murphy.

Josefina Tamayo.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Josefina Tamayo has been appointed general counsel. The former general counsel for the Department of Children and Families replaces Leon Bieglaski and makes $109,500.

John McBride.(Players)
January 1, 2006... John McBride has become director of legislative affairs after serving as a legislative specialist. He replaces Candace Jones and makes $80,000.

Holding on to workers.(EMPLOYEE TURNOVER)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The average merit raise last year among Florida companies was 3.8%, according to a survey by Effective Resources and the HR Florida State Council. As it becomes prohibitively expensive to increase benefits, small companies are offering bigger...

Price Gains.(HOME SALES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Price Gains--Through the first three quarters of 2005, 197,523 homes were sold in Florida, up 5% from 187,774 during the same period of 2004. The statewide median price rose 30% to $231,900 from $178,900. In Naples, the median price rose 40% to...

Insurance Costs.(HURRICANES)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Insurance Costs--Citizens Property Insurance estimates it will take a $1.2-billion hit from Hurricane Wilma, creating a deficit that all Florida homeowners will nave to pay for. The state's insurer of last resort says the surcharge for...

Florida's Future.(REAL ESTATE)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Florida's Future-- With 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, the legislatively appointed Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida has been charged with coming up with ideas to tackle growth management challenges. The group, chaired by...

Fast growers.(FLORIDA FACTS)
January 1, 2006... Florida ranks third in the nation for fastest-growing companies, according to Inc. magazine. Among the top 25: Weston-based Bankers Healthcare Group, which provides capital to medical professionals; and Garden of Life, a Palm Beach manufacturer...

No vote.(FLORIDA FACTS)
January 1, 2006... The Supreme Court decided not to review Florida's ban on voting rights for felons, Only Maine and Vermont allow felons to vote.

The slammer.(FLORIDA FACTS)
January 1, 2006... Florida operates the country's fourthlargest prison system, with 85,533 inmates, trailing only the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Texas and California.

High-wire act.(ARTS)(Cirque du Soleil)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Cirque du Soleil, the Montreal-based circus, wants to bring its act to Miami Beach. Permanently. Under a proposed $150-million deal, Miami Beach would become the third city, after Las Vegas and Orlando, to host a resident troupe year round. The...

Coral Gables--Caballero Television has agreed to sell its youth-oriented music network--Mas Musica--along with 10 of the company's TV stations in Texas and California to media conglomerate Viacom for an undisclosed amount.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... CORAL GABLES -- Caballero Television has agreed to sell its youth-oriented music network--Mas Musica--along with 10 of the company's TV stations in Texas and California to media conglomerate Viacom for an undisclosed amount. * The University of...

Holiday Isle.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... ISLAMORADA -- West Palm Beach developers CeebraidSignal have purchased Holiday Isle, home of the legendary Tiki Bar and one of the Florida Keys' most popular tourist destinations, for an undisclosed price. The buyers plan to convert the...

Miami--Ivax (AMEX-IVX) shareholders approved the sale of the Miami-based pharmaceutical maker to Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Ivax founder Philip Frost will stay on as vice chairman. The merger should be completed early this year.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... MIAMI -- Ivax (AMEX-IVX) shareholders approved the sale of the Miami-based pharmaceutical maker to Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Ivax founder Philip Frost will stay on as vice chairman. The merger should be completed early this year....

Below average.(EDUCATION)
January 1, 2006... Among residents 25 years and older, Miami-Dade lags the sate average in high school and college grads. Education Level Hialeah Miami Miami-Dade Florida High school graduates 49.8% 52.7% 67.9% 79.9%...

Holly Wiedman.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Beacon Council Executive Vice President Holly Wiedman has received the Florida Economic Development Council's Eunice Sullivan Economic Development Professional of the Year award.

Manny Diaz.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Miami Mayor Manny Diaz crushed four challengers at the polls, winning his second term in office.

Isilio Arriaga.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Miami management consultant Isilio Arriaga has been appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the Florida Public Service Commission.

Roscoe Warren.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Homestead Mayor Roscoe Warren has been re-elected to his third term in office.

Maria Sastre.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Maria Sastre, Royal Caribbean International's vice president of sales and marketing for Latin America and Asia, has been named chairperson of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Ronald Berkman.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Ronald Berkman, Florida International University's executive dean of the College of Health and Urban Affairs, has been named the school's provost, taking over for Mark Rosenberg, who was recently appointed chancellor of Florida's State...

Succeeding Raul Martinez.(POLITICS)(Julio Robaina elected mayor of Hialeah)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... In a landslide vote, Julio Robaina has been elected mayor of Hialeah, succeeding Raul Martinez, who stepped down after nearly 25 years as chief executive of this Cuban-American stronghold. Hialeah is Florida's fifth-largest city, with a...

Paper pressure.(MEDIA)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Knight Ridder's largest investor, Private Capital Management, has demanded that the San Jose, Calif.-based media company put itself up for sale. Most analysts attribute the company's woes to an ongoing nationwide decline in newspaper...

Med school aspirations.(EDUCATION)
January 1, 2006... Despite concerns from state lawmakers and education officials, Florida Internacontinued its push for a medical school at a meeting of the Board Critics point out that many Florida-trained physicians leave the state to practice. Others question...

Miami-Dade--voters approved a charter allowing the community of Cutler Ridge in south Miami-Dade to become the county's 35th municipality. Its new name: Cutler Bay.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... MIAMI-DADE -- Voters approved a charter allowing the community of Cutler Ridge in south Miami-Dade to become the county's 35th municipality. Its new name: Cutler Bay. * Ritz-Carlton, teaming with developers Fortune International and Lionstone...

DirecTV Group.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... MIAMI LAKES -- Satellite broadcast provider DirecTV Group will shut down its Miami Lakes facility by the middle of this year, eliminating about 100 jobs. The move follows a decision to consolidate its Latin American operations at its El...

Back-up generators.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... NORTH BAY VILLAGE -- This affluent municipality north of Miami Beach is believed to be the state's first to require gas stations to have back-up generators allowing pumps to operate during a power outage. Miami-Dade commissioners are...

Did anyone notice?(HURRICANE WILMA)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... With all eyes focused on New Orleans and other Gulf communities, many business owners in Broward, Palm Beach and other parts of southeast Florida devastated by Hurricane Wilma in October are wondering if the world has forgotten them. Two weeks...

High cost of housing.(HOUSING)
January 1, 2006... Housings costs are rising far faster than income, creating an alarming affordability crisis in America, reports the Center for Housing Policy in its study "Paycheck to Pagcheck: Wages and the Cost of Housing in America." Housing costs in...

Neiman Marcus.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... BOCA RATON -- Neiman Marcus has opened a 140,000-sq.-ft. store at the Town Center mall on Glades Road in Boca Raton. It is the Dallas-based retailer's seventh location in south Florida.

"rackominium".(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... DANIA BEACH -- South Florida's first "rackominium"--a dry dock storage facility for recreational boats where each slip is privately owned--has opened here. Slips at the Dania Beach Boat Club range from about $75,000 to $300,000.

Deerfield Beach--Devcon International Corp. (Nasdaq-DEVC) has emerged as a major player in Florida's electronic security industry with its acquisition of Boca Raton-based Coastal Security Co. and Hollywood-based Guardian International.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... DEERFIELO BEACH -- Devcon International Corp. (Nasdaq-DEVC) has emerged as a major player in Florida's electronic security industry with its acquisition of Boca Raton-based Coastal Security Co. and Hollywood-based Guardian International. The...

Delray Beach International Film Festival.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... DELRAY BEACH -- The first Delray Beach International Film Festival will take place March 8-12 in downtown Delray Beach. The event will include more than 100 feature films, shorts, documentaries and student productions.

Seastrike Boats.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... FORT LAUBERDALE -- Recreational boat maker SeaStrike Boats will move its manufacturing operation to Perry in north Florida, where it will hire an estimated 150 people. Privately owned SeaStrike, which will remain headquartered in Fort...

Memorial Regional Hospital.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... HOLLYWOOD -- For the second year in a row, Memorial Regional Hospital has received the 2005/2006 Consumer Choice Award for Most Preferred Hospital/Overall Quality & Image from the National Research Corp. in its annual Healthcare Market Guide...

Paxson Communication Corp.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Paxson Communications Corp. (AMEX-PAX) founder Lowell "Bud" Paxson will step down as chairman of the West Palm Beach-based television company.

Donald Steigman.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Donald Steigman, senior vice president of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, has been reassigned after 10 years as chief of the company's 16-hospital south Florida and Alabama region.

"Top 100 Attorney".(Players)
January 1, 2006... Boca Raton's Jerome Wolf and Donald Tescher were named to Worth magazine's list of "Top 100 Attorneys" in America.

Davie Town Administrator Chris Kovanes.(Players)
January 1, 2006... The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued an arrest warrant for suspended Davie Town Administrator Chris Kovanes, who is accused of fraud, money laundering and theft stemming from the disappearance of $360,000 in town money.

Dr. Robert Kay.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Dr. Robert Kay, chief of staff and vice chairman of the board of governors for the Cleveland Clinic, has been named CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida, overseeing the company's medical centers in Weston and Naples.

Fred Friedman.(Players)
January 1, 2006... Fred Friedman, who helped build the 22-store Carls Furniture chain into a fixture on the south Florida retailing landscape, died from cancer at age 62.

Facing a fine.(POLITICS)(Miriam Oliphant )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Former Broward County elections supervisor Miriam Oliphant has been fined $10,000 by the Florida Elections Commission for neglecting her duties during the 2002 elections. The principal charge: Opening polls late and closing them early....

Strong showing.(EMPLOYMENT)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Florida led the nation in job creation through the third quarter of 2005, with south Florida fueling much of that growth thanks to a booming commercial and residential construction industry. Broward Miami-Dade ...

Pharmaceutical letdown.(RESEARCH)
January 1, 2006... Researchers at Boca Raton-based Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq-NABI) believed they hit a home run: A drug that could prevent the 90,000 deaths attributed to hospital-related staph infections each year. But StaDhVAX struck out in the critical...

Palm Beach County--Seattle, Wash.-based NeoRx Corp., a cancer therapeutics development company, has become the first biotechnology company to enter into a research alliance with Scripps Florida.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... PALM BEACH COUNTY -- Seattle, Wash.-based NeoRx Corp., a cancer therapeutics development company, has become the first biotechnology company to enter into a research alliance with Scripps Florida. NeoRx will provide $2.5 million over 26 months...

Downtown at the Gardens.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... PALM BEACH GARDENS -- Downtown at the Gardens, the long-awaited entertainment and retail development on 60 acres in northern Palm Beach County, has officially opened. With restaurants, movie theaters and a variety of retailers, local officials...

Mayors Jewelers.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... SUNRISE -- Shareholders of Sunrise-based Mayors Jewelers have approved a merger with Montreal's Henry Birks & Sons. Mayors operates 28 stores in Florida and Georgia. The combined companies will be known as Birks & Mayors.

SWP Palm Beach.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... WEST PALM BEACH -- Hallandale Beach-based developer SWP Palm Beach has announced plans for a 677-unit affordable housing complex off Congress Avenue northwest of downtown West Palm Beach. Prices at The Lakes at Palm Beach will start at just...

The past resurfaces.(ENVIRONMENT)
January 1, 2006... From 1961 through 1996, Loral American Beryllium Co. manufactured ultraprecise machine parts at its Tallevast Road plant in Manatee County. The company was also discharging toxic chemical waste. Lockheed Martin bought out Loral and shut the...

Overseas interest.(REAL ESTATE)
January 1, 2006... Foreign home buyers account for 15% of total home sales in Florida. While most foreign buyers head for Miami or Orlando, southwest Florida also draws a sizable share, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors. Of the 1,844...

Clearwater--Triangle Development kicked off its $225-million Island View/ Harrison Village luxury condo project in November.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... CLEARWATER -- Triangle Development kicked off its $225-million Island View/ Harrison Village luxury condo project in November. * Taylor Woodrow's Tower Division is building a beachfront facility, to be called Indigo Beach Residences, on the...

Urban Land Istitute Southwest Florida District Council.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... COLLIER/LEE COUNTY -- The Urban Land Institute Southwest Florida District Council has launched a new group to provide networking opportunities for young real estate professionals in Collier and Lee counties. The Young Leaders Group is being...

Cooper Realty purchased 38.1 acres at the northwest corner of Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway for $11.25 million.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... FORT MYERS -- Cooper Realty purchased 38.1 acres at the northwest corner of Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway for $11.25 million. Cooper Hotels plans to build two hotels on the site--a 165-room Hilton Garden Inn and a 135-room Homewood...

Manatee--the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued U.S. EnviroFuels an air quality permit that allows the company to build a 40-million-gallon per year ethanol distillery at Port Manatee.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
January 1, 2006... MANATEE -- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued U.S. EnviroFuels an air quality permit that allows the company to build a 40-million-gallon per year ethanol distillery at Port Manatee. * Community Bank of Manatee, the...