Florida Trend articles from July 2008

Florida Trend archives from July 2008

A promising future.(Corner Office)
July 1, 2008... In January we kicked off FLORIDA TREND'S 50th anniversary year with a special anniversary page in each issue (page 48 in this issue) and an online gallery of magazine covers and past articles that have been a big hit with readers. In...

Peter Rummell.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I read with interest your article "Transformer" [May, FloridaTrend.com] on the tenure of Peter Rummell at St. Joe Co. Perhaps a better title for the article would have been "Spendthrift." As the real estate markets from the commencement of...

Florida on TV.(Readers)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I read your article regarding the small screen ["Florida on TV," March, FloridaTrend.com]. But you forgot us! I would have loved to have seen mention of the "Church Street Station" television series that Walter Bowen and I produced with The...

Correction.(Readers)(Correction notice)
July 1, 2008... PSS World Medical's web address is pssd.com. The company is No. 31 on our Top 150 Public Companies list.

New designs.(Executive Lifestyles: Cruising & Luxury Yachts)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Award-winning Fort Lauderdale boat designer Patrick Knowles limits his workload to 12 projects a year--maximum. Right now, he's working on 10. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Knowles creates luxurious interiors and...

Marina relief--at a price.(Executive Lifestyles: Cruising & Luxury Yachts)
July 1, 2008... Dwindling revenue, real estate development and escalating insurance rates have taken their toll on independent marinas in Florida. Meanwhile, an increasing number of boats has goosed demand for boat slips and boat storage. Seeing opportunity,...

Big business.(Executive Lifestyles: Cruising & Luxury Yachts)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties consistently account for nearly half of Florida's gross marine sales. The tri-county area continues to be a global leader in mega-yacht industry growth, including construction, maintenance and repair,...

Room with a yacht.(Executive Lifestyles: Cruising & Luxury Yachts)
July 1, 2008... Buy a unit at the Residences at Island Gardens on Watson Island in Miami, and get fractional ownership in a yacht. The marina at the Flagstone Property Group development--condo units are built atop the Shangri-La Hotel--can accommodate...

Disappearing ink: improving laser technology and new, easier-to-erase inks make tattoo removal less time-consuming.(Executive Lifestyles: Health: Tattoo Removal)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a human resources professional in Orange County, Heather felt hypocritical discouraging employees from getting tattoos. She herself had one on the top of her foot--a daisy that cost $35 when she was 22. Tired...

Florida favorites.(Executive Lifestyles: Getaways: Weekend Boating)
July 1, 2008... "There is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." --Rat, in the children's book "The Wind in the Willows" Too bad Ratty didn't live in Florida. He'd have done much more traveling than...

Odd couples.(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirits)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matching food and wine is an old game with new riddles such as coffee-crusted filet mignon or Southern fried pickles. Fear not. A new crop of modern wine bars and grape-clever restaurateurs is pouring fresh answers...

La Serre Nuova, Tenuta Dell' Ornellaia.(Wine & Spirits)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... RED La Serre Nuova, Tenuta Dell' Ornellaia Italy $55 A classic Bordeaux blend grown in Tuscany, it's softened with more merlot than the famous top-of-the-line Ornellaia. The aroma is friendly, and the taste, easy: Bananas,...

Pinot blanc Robert Sinskey.(Wine & Spirits)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... WHITE Pinot blanc Robert Sinskey Napa Valley $20 [half bottle] Blanc is a bigger white than skinny cousins gris and grigio, and Sinskey makes it right (and organic). The 2005 has sweet delicate flowers in the nose and a...

American Honey Wild Turkey.(Wine & Spirits)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2008... WHISKEY American Honey Wild Turkey Kentucky $30. Officially a 70-proof liqueur, this is either whiskey sweeter for the sippin' or honey with a heart of fire. For summer fun, muddle with mint and lime into a country mojito or...

Wine Stores 101.(Executive Lifestyles: Dining and Spirits)
July 1, 2008... For centuries, wine was sold under thousands of names of grapes and enough places to strain an atlas. And not sold to many who couldn't pronounce cabernet or find Barolo on a map. Then makeover artists pruned the wine shop severely. They...

Marion P. Hammer.(Icon)(Interview)
July 1, 2008... (Past president of National Rifle Association, 1995 to 1998; member of NRA board and NRA executive council; executive director of Unified Sportsman of Florida; certified firearms instructor, 69) * There are so many factors that go into...

The Mitre touch.(Trendsetters: Aerospace and Technology)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Combine the opaque nature of Jimmie L. Davis Jr.'s highly technical field with his need to be circumspect about Defense Department work and this is about the easiest thing you can say about what he does: He leads an...

Patty Wagstaff.(Oh, Pioneers!)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... * The first woman to win the U.S. National Aerobatic Champion title, three-time winner Patty Wagstaff of St. Augustine will be flying in air shows across the nation this year, pursuing the creation of Patty Wagstaff Aviation (a fixed base...

Betty Skelton Frankman Erde.(Oh, Pioneers!)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Native Floridian and aerobatics and automotive legend Betty Skelton Frankman Erde, 82, of The Villages is being inducted in August into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for a career of records, including being the first woman to drive a...

Robin Murphy.(Oh, Pioneers!)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... After her work at ground zero after the Sept. 11 attacks, USF computer science and engineering professor Robin Murphy, 50, became known internationally for her search-and-rescue robots. Murphy, director of the Institute for Safety Security...

The prognosis.(FLORIDA ECONOMY)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The good news, according to the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness: The U.S. will begin recovering from its "mild" recession right about now. The bad news, the institute predicts...

7-Eleven Inc.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... 7-Eleven Inc. plans to sell all 475 of its company-owned stores in Florida to franchisees. 7-Elevens in most other states have already been converted to franchise-only. Store managers have first rights to buy their store.

$1.8 billion on tech-related consulting, purchases and economic development.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... Florida plans to spend $1.8 billion on tech-related consulting, purchases and economic development for the fiscal year beginning this month, according to Paul J. Mathison, president of pjmathison, a company that analyzes government budgets....

Changing course.(MIAMI RIVER)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On the surface, the two changes seem innocuous: One, a vote by the Miami City Commission to change the official name of the Miami River from "Port of Miami River" to "Miami River"; two, led by Commissioner Angel...

Octavio Hernandez.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Octavio Hernandez, president and CEO of U.S. Century Bank, is also now vice chairman of the bank's board of directors.

NexxNow.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Daniel T. Robbie, former owner of the Miami Dolphins and president of Joe Robbie Stadium, has been appointed chairman at NexxNow, a sports media and marketing company.

Latin dance fever.(ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is hosting "Miami Libre: A Cuban Dance Odyssey," a Latin dance festival, from July 25 through Aug. 17. The concert...

Everglades National Park.(HOMESTEAD)
July 1, 2008... Toyota has donated more than $1 million and five vehicles to Everglades National Park to benefit environmental education programs, including the K-12 Miccosukee Indian School program and various school groups in south Florida. The automaker has...

Foreclosed homes.(MIAMI)
July 1, 2008... Real estate auction marketing firm Rick Levin & Associates auctioned off a wide range of foreclosed homes in the greater Miami area in May. The auction included single-family homes and condominiums in Aventura, Hialeah, Homestead, Miami, Miami...

Generation-n.(MIAMI)
July 1, 2008... Generation-n, an internet-based video program network aimed at bilingual Latinos, has been launched in Miami at generation-n.com. The broadband network targets bicultural Hispanics who seek music and video programs in English with a Latin...

OPKO Health.(MIAMI)
July 1, 2008... OPKO Health (AMEX-OPK), a Miami-based healthcare and pharmaceutical company, acquired Vidus Ocular, a privately held company, in an all-stock deal. Vidus is developing a product to treat glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness.

Sentinel.(MIAMI)
July 1, 2008... Miami-based Sentinel and 41st Parameter of Arizona have formed a partnership in the internet safety and security market, an area in which both companies have a large market share. The joint venture will focus on providing an internet-based...

Fontainebleau Miami Beach.(MIAMI BEACH)
July 1, 2008... The Fontainebleau Miami Beach will reopen this fall after a $1-billion makeover. The upgraded hotel now includes more than 1,504 rooms, a 40,000-sq.-ft. spa and 11 restaurants and lounges. Originally opened in 1954, the resort was designed by...

Becton, Dickinson and Co.(MIAMI-DADE COUNTY)
July 1, 2008... New Jersey-based Becton, Dickinson and Co., a medical technology company, plans to open a biosciences manufacturing facility in Miami-Dade County. The company plans to spend more than $20 million renovating a former Ivax Pharmaceuticals...

Making a splash.(GOVERNANCE)(Coral Springs, Florida )
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the recession of the early 1990s ended, Coral Springs was poised for explosive residential growth. The city, however, lacked proper infrastructure, and city leaders clashed on visions for the future. Some...

Tousa.(Players)
July 1, 2008... John R. Boken will replace Antonio B. Mon as president and CEO of Tousa, the Hollywood builder now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

21st Century Holdings.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Edward "Ted" Lawson is retiring as chairman and CEO of 21st Century Holdings. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

Nova extends arts reach.(ARTS)(Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale and Nova Southeastern University)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale will become part of Nova Southeastern University. The museum has an art collection valued between $50 million and $75 million. NSU's new degree programs in arts administration and...

DayJet.(BOCA RATON)
July 1, 2008... DayJet scaled back its expansion plans and laid off 100 of its 260 employees. The on-demand personal jet operator cited problems getting financing for its planned rapid expansion. Separately, Day Jet designated Sarasota and Jacksonville as...

Omni Home Care.(CORAL SPRINGS)
July 1, 2008... MBF Healthcare Partners and the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group have bought Omni Home Care, a provider of nursing and other home-health services. Omni has more than 30 locations in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. ...

Office Depot.(DELRAY BEACH)
July 1, 2008... Office Depot's first-quarter earnings fell 55% to $68.8 million. Separately, the company's new prototype store received volume precertification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) portfolio program, which allows...

Clertech.com.(DELRAY BEACH)
July 1, 2008... Clertech.com, a Lauderdale Lakes-based telecommunications firm, has leased about 22,000 square feet at Delray Arbors office park and expects to create 450 jobs. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

Light rail loop.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
July 1, 2008... The city agreed to fund 25% of a proposed $150-million light rail loop for the urban core.

RobotVault.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
July 1, 2008... RobotVault, a fully automated storage facility with retinal scanning, heartbeat detection and biometric recognition capabilities, is under construction near the airport.

Levitt Corp.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
July 1, 2008... Levitt Corp. changed its name to Woodbridge Holdings. The company's home-building subsidiary went bankrupt last year. Its new ticker symbol will be WDG.

BankAtlantic Bancorp.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
July 1, 2008... BankAtlantic Bancorp recorded a net loss of $23.4 million for the first quarter, compared with a profit of $5.7 million for last year's first quarter.

Broward Bank of Commerce.(FORT LAUDERDALE)
July 1, 2008... The Broward Bank of Commerce has received preliminary state approval from the FDIC. The bank is in the process of raising $12.5 million. It will focus on small and midsized businesses. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

FPL.(JUNO BEACH)
July 1, 2008... FPL said it will spend roughly $2 billion to convert its Riviera Beach and Cape Canaveral power plants from oil to natural gas over the next five years. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation seepage cutoff wall.(MARTIN COUNTY)
July 1, 2008... The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $28.9 million to Bauer Foundation Corp. of Clearwater to build a Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation seepage cutoff wall in Martin and Palm Beach counties. You can reach Ellen Forman at...

Spirit Airlines.(MIRAMAR)
July 1, 2008... Privately held Spirit Airlines lost about $4 million in 2007, according to U.S. government figures, compared with a $79 million loss in 2006. The airline began direct flights between Fort Lauderdale and Columbia, S.C.

Elizabeth Arden.(MIRAMAR)
July 1, 2008... Elizabeth Arden agreed to a long-term licensing agreement to make and distribute Liz Claiborne fragrance brands. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

Thies Distributing.(PALM BEACH GARDENS)
July 1, 2008... Thies Distributing will lay off 308 workers, including 147 in Palm Beach Gardens, 99 in Lake Worth and 62 in Stuart. The company is being sold. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

Delivery giant DHL restructured its U.S. operations, contracting with competitor UPS for North American air transport.(PLANTATION)
July 1, 2008... Delivery giant DHL restructured its U.S. operations, contracting with competitor UPS for North American air transport. The move will lead to job cuts of as many as 1,800 nationwide. DHL is projecting a loss of at least $1.3 billion this year....

Ocean Mall.(SINGER ISLAND)
July 1, 2008... Ocean Mall on Singer Island is being demolished, clearing way for a $50-million redevelopment as part of the effort to revamp the Riviera Beach coastline. You can reach Ellen Forman at formanfltrend@gmail.com

Palm Beach International Airport.(WEST PALM BEACH)
July 1, 2008... Palm Beach International Airport passenger traffic in April fell 9.8% from the same month last year, largely because of Delta Air Lines' 17% cut in flight capacity and a 25% reduction from US Airways. You can reach Ellen Forman at...

Leading FGCU.(EDUCATION)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wilson G. Bradshaw became Florida Gulf Coast University's third president in November amid rapid growth both in enrollment and facilities. Bradshaw, 57, grew up Florida and came to FGCU from Minnesota, where he was...

Beall.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Lana Cain Krauter has been named president of Bradenton-based Beall's Department Stores' retail division. Krauter had been an executive vice president at JCPenney. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

First Bank.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Carey Soud has been named president of First Bank of Clewiston. Soud had been a commercial lender at the bank. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Child Care.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Child Care of Southwest Florida, which operates 13 child development centers, named Beth Lobdell president and CEO. Lobdell was previously COO. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Artist's legacy.(ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Until his death in May at age 82, artist and Captiva resident Robert Rauschenberg was an enthusiastic supporter of ACT Inc., a Southwest Florida non-profit that aids victims of domestic violence and sexual assault....

Solar-panel field at Florida Gulf Coast University.(FORT MYERS)
July 1, 2008... Legislators approved $8.5 million for a 16-acre solar-panel field at Florida Gulf Coast University. Construction could start next year. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Alico (Nasdaq-ALCO) will shut down Plant World.(LA BELLE)
July 1, 2008... Alico (Nasdaq-ALCO) will shut down Plant World, a vegetable plant supplier, eliminating 30 jobs. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Publix Super Markets.(LAKELAND)
July 1, 2008... Publix Super Markets is buying 49 of Albertsons' 93 supermarkets in the state.

Construction is scheduled to start this summer on a $1.5-million technology building at Florida Southern College.(LAKELAND)
July 1, 2008... Construction is scheduled to start this summer on a $1.5-million technology building at Florida Southern College. The college's 60-year-old Columbia Hall will be demolished to make way for the new facility, to be called the Marshall and Vera...

Sun Hydraulics.(MANATEE/SARASOTA COUNTIES)
July 1, 2008... Sun Hydraulics, which has facilities in Manatee and Sarasota counties, will receive $102,000 in tax incentives from each county. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Naples--WCI Communities (NYSE-WCI) has sold Tuscany Reserve.(NAPLES)
July 1, 2008... WCI Communities (NYSE-WCI) has sold Tuscany Reserve, a 470-acre golf course community in North Naples, to AB Naples, an investment group, for $65 million.

Noise ordinance.(SARASOTA)
July 1, 2008... City commissioners gave police authority to impound vehicles whose drivers violate the city's noise ordinance. In addition to a $125 towing fee, first-time violators will also face a $74 fine.

Healthcare costs.(SARASOTA)
July 1, 2008... Hoping to cut employee healthcare costs, Sarasota County government officials announced they will no longer hire smokers. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Tampa Bay Rays.(ST. PETERSBURG)(fund raising)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Tampa Bay Rays officials have outlined how the city can raise the estimated $450 million to build the Rays a waterfront stadium: $150 million from the team, $100 million from Pinellas County's 1-cent bed tax, $75 million from state tax revenue,...

Tropicana Field will be the site this winter of a new college football bowl game, tentatively named the St. Petersburg Bowl.(ST. PETERSBURG)
July 1, 2008... Tropicana Field will be the site this winter of a new college football bowl game, tentatively named the St. Petersburg Bowl. The game will be played Dec. 20 and will feature teams from the Conference USA and Big East conferences.

St. Petersburg Times.(ST. PETERSBURG)(offers retirement packages)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The St. Petersburg Times is offering retirement packages to up to 520 of its employees who are at least 50 years old and has imposed a one-year wage freeze. Over the past two years the paper's full-time staff has dropped from more than 1,500 to...

Sweetbay Supermarkets is shopping for a new CEO following Shelley Broader's announcement that she's leaving to become COO of the 980-unit Michaels chain of craft stores based in Texas.(TAMPA)
July 1, 2008... Sweetbay Supermarkets is shopping for a new CEO following Shelley Broader's announcement that she's leaving to become COO of the 980-unit Michaels chain of craft stores based in Texas. After taking over as Sweetbay CEO in 2004, Broader, 43,...

University of South Florida.(TAMPA)
July 1, 2008... The University of South Florida is eliminating 450 jobs, including 380 not currently filled, to cut nearly $36 million from its budget.

IKEA.(TAMPA)
July 1, 2008... Construction is under way on an IKEA store near Ybor City.

In a report on airport consumer satisfaction, Tampa International Airport tied for third among 21 medium-sized North American airports, up from 14th last year.(TAMPA)
July 1, 2008... In a report on airport consumer satisfaction, Tampa International Airport tied for third among 21 medium-sized North American airports, up from 14th last year. Fort Myers' Southwest Florida International Airport ranks 16th among 20 small...

Accent Marketing.(WINTER HAVEN)
July 1, 2008... Accent Marketing will lay off 180 at its call center. You can reach Art Levy at alevy@floridatrend.com

Waste not.(POWER GENERATION)(MaxWest Environmental Energy converting biosolids into clean energy)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A small wastewater treatment plant in Sanford will become the first in North America to use a new "gasifier" to convert biosolids into clean energy that will help power the facility. Houston-based MaxWest...

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.(Players)
July 1, 2008... Jeff Fuqua will serve at least another two years as chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates Orlando International Airport, fellow board members decided. He has been chairman since 2001, when he replaced U.S. Sen. Mel...

Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau.(Players)
July 1, 2008... After a yearlong search, the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau has named attorney Tom Lang its new leader. Lang formerly served as chairman of the Orlando/Orange County Civic Facilities Authority. You can reach Diane Sears at...

Super simulation.(RESEARCH)
July 1, 2008... With a new IBM supercomputer hundreds of times more powerful than a PC, the Institute of Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida is helping the Army simulate large-scale, real-time operations that can involve soldiers...

Canaveral Port Authority.(BREVARD)
July 1, 2008... The Canaveral Port Authority is seeking a $32-million bank loan for construction upgrades to accommodate Disney Cruise Line, taking the unusual measure because of high rates in the bond market. You can reach Diane Sears at...

The Villages.(LAKE COUNTY)
July 1, 2008... The Villages retirement community now ranks as the fastest-growing micropolitan area in the nation, according to a new U.S. Census report. You can reach Diane Sears at dianetrend@aol.com

Blue Orb.(MAITLAND)
July 1, 2008... Technology company Blue Orb has released a downloadable product, SwitchBlade, that turns a Sony PlayStation or Microsoft Xbox 360 into a PC game equivalent of a keyboard and mouse. The company reported more than 8.5 million minutes of use and...

Embraer.(MELBOURNE)
July 1, 2008... Brazil's Embraer, the world's fourth-largest airplane manufacturer, plans to build a $51-million assembly plant at Melbourne International Airport, creating 200 jobs by 2011. Local officials are offering incentives, hoping the plant will pick...