Thursday's Afternoon Update

Posted 10/30/2014

Updated 9 yearss ago

Harold Gary Morse, developer of The Villages, dies

Harold Gary Morse, the developer of one of the world's largest retirement communities and one of the biggest Republican donors in Florida, died Wednesday. He was 77. Morse turned small mobile home park in central Florida into the fastest-growing metro area in the U.S with a population just shy of 100,000 residents. Morse was also a prominent GOP donor who made his private jet available to the Republican Party of Florida. More from the AP and the Orlando Sentinel

Urban Renewal
Jacksonville revives Hemming Plaza

Jacksonville is hiring an advocacy group to revive the city’s oldest park, hoping it can deal with homeless squatters, panhandlers, contentious all-day card games and the perception by many that the park is just unsafe.

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Why Florida should embrace medical tourism

Already a capital of global tourism, Florida has an opportunity to bring even more tourists and more revenue to the state by investing in medical tourism, according to an independent analysis by Florida TaxWatch. Read more here and see the full report.

Is Publix joining trend of smaller stores?

More indications are surfacing that Publix plans to develop a smaller-store prototype. A number of grocers have turned to smaller-store footprints as a way to offer convenient shopping trips in crowded, urban markets. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

All Aboard Florida begins construction in Fort Lauderdale

All Aboard Florida is one step closer to connecting Orlando and Miami, officially beginning construction Oct. 29 on the Fort Lauderdale station. Service for the $2.3 billion All Aboard Florida passenger rail is slated to begin in South Florida by the end of 2016. More at the Orlando Business Journal.

Calligraphers find write stuff to succeed in Central Florida

More than 50 lettering pens surround Vivian Mungall's work space. Elaborate, colorful certificates adorn the wall space behind her. Calligraphy, most commonly associated with the fancy scribe work on wedding invitations and envelopes, is a thriving business and hobby in Central Florida. More at the Orlando Sentinel.

Business Profile
The accidental taxidermist

King Sailfish Mounts does such a brilliant job with its fiberglass recreations of memorable fish catches that it's hard to believe founder and president Raymond Douglas got into the taxidermy business out of desperation.