FRIDAY, DEC. 5, 2008
DEERFIELD BEACH:
Retiree Havens Turn Younger to Combat the Housing Bust
Some residents are now considering the once unthinkable: letting younger people in -- a proposition that has pitted neighbor against neighbor. "We don't want someone to come in and suddenly have a flock of kids," says Sheldon Behr, 65 years old, who opposes the move. "That'll destroy our village forever." At "active adult" developments across the U.S., residents are debating whether to scrap the age restrictions that have helped define their way of life for almost five decades. Proponents of "age desegregation," as it's known in the industry, say opening the doors to people under 55 is the only way their once-idyllic enclaves can stay afloat amid a worsening economic climate. [Source: Wall Street Journal]
ST. PETERSBURG:
New Dali Museum to Rise Despite Economy
Florida ICON |
Regardless of how low the economy goes in the next two years, the new $35-million Salvador Dali Museum will be built and open in early 2011, museum director Hank Hine said Thursday. Groundbreaking is set for Dec. 12. All but $9-million has been raised through federal, state and private funding. Museum leaders hope most of the balance will come from the general public in donations large and small. Read on ... [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
BROWARD:
Mistrial Called in Landmark Tobacco Lawsuit
A Broward Circuit Court judge declared a mistrial Thursday in a landmark tobacco case of a Cooper City widow suing cigarette maker Philip Morris on a wrongful-death claim. An expert witness, on the second day of trial, used a racist term — the N-word — while explaining his research into a project about racism in the tobacco industry, said Gary Paige, an attorney for Elaine Hess, the widow of Stuart Hess. Stuart Hess died of lung cancer caused by four decades of smoking. He was 55 when he died in 1997. The Hess case before Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld was the first to go to trial out of thousands filed in Florida. [Source: Sun-Sentinel]
CLEWISTON:
Grower to Plant Altered Citrus
Disease-resistant trees that could save the Florida citrus industry from its two biggest threats - greening and canker - are scheduled to be planted in Southern Gardens Citrus groves starting in early 2009. Genetically altered red grapefruit trees already have been shown to resist the two bacterial diseases in lab tests by researchers at Texas A&M University's AgriLife complex. Southern Gardens, a subsidiary of U.S. Sugar, owns 16,500 acres of active groves and produces and packages orange juice. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Carnival to Suspend Fuel Charge
Miami-based Carnival will suspend its fuel surcharge for six North American lines on trips that depart on or after Dec. 17.
The charge is being suspended because oil prices have dropped to $46 a barrel.
› Miami-Dade Makes Lenders Maintain Vacant Foreclosures
Miami-Dade passed new local laws this week to rein in rot on abandoned homes and protect buyers. Also: Push is on to clear backlog of foreclosure cases in Lee
› Beating Dyslexia in Duval
A third of Duval County 10th-graders cannot read at grade level, according to the latest FCAT scores. But there's work being done to help change that.
› Rep. Buchanan Walking Fine Line on Auto Bailout
Vern Buchanan, who owns five car dealerships, said at a town hall meeting Thursday that he opposes a plan to give the nation’s three biggest car companies as much as $34 billion in taxpayer-funded financial aid.
Also: Carmakers' bailout pleas hit Senate skepticism
› Planning Law Hasn't Prevented Fla. Growing Pains
The concept known as "transportation concurrency" is part of Florida's landmark growth management act passed in 1985 and then modified over the past 23 years.
But it didn't work ...
› Crist, Lawyers Argue Over Diversity of 6 Judicial Nominees
Gov. Charlie Crist rejected six nominees submitted to him for an open seat on the 5th District Court of Appeal, saying the list wasn't sufficiently diverse because it contained no black nominees. But Melbourne lawyer James Fallace, chairman of the commission, wrote to Crist, "It is the firm opinion and belief of our Commission that the above-named list of nominees certified to you . . . consists of the most qualified applications for nomination and your consideration for the current vacancy.
› Crist Thanks Embraer for Melbourne Move
Gov. Charlie Crist and other officials Thursday dutifully thanked Brazilian jet manufacturer Embraer for locating its $50 million aircraft-assembly facility at the Melbourne International Airport.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› NAACP Threatening Lawsuit Over Biomass Proposal
An attorney for the NAACP and some residents involved in the biomass Renewable Energy Center controversy have threatened the state with a federal race-discrimination complaint if the project gets a permit.
› Sen. Martinez Book Sheds Light on Why He Won't Run
There are no details about the inner workings of the Cabinet, thoughts on the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case or reflections on serving as general chairman of the Republican National Committee. Instead, he focused on his faith, family and loyalty to friends in telling how he escaped Cuba and found success in the United States.
› Ailing Boca Community Paying Big Money to Consultants
Boca Raton Community Hospital, which lost $120 million last year, expects to pay the consulting firm running the facility about $5.4 million in fiscal 2009.
› Port of Tampa Sees Bright Spots Amid Down Year
Ships carried 42.6-million tons of cargo that moved through Tampa Port Authority and private terminals for the public agency's fiscal year ending Sept. 30, a decline of 6% from a year earlier. Construction materials fell most sharply, with steel down 67% and cement off 60%.
› FSU Finds Builder for Research Center
Harmony Development Co., an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group Global, will work with Florida State University to build Florida State's Energy and Sustainability Center.
› Starwood Land Ventures Names Florida Manager
Starwood Land Ventures, the Lakewood Ranch-based company angling for bargain real estate deals in the struggling national market, named Jon Rapaport as Southeast Florida division manager.
› Lawmaker and Partner in Financial Hot Water
State Sen. Mike Bennett and his longtime investment partner, Marvin Kaplan, have defaulted on a $1.6 million loan and are being sued by a Manatee County landowner for allegedly failing to pay a $35,000 deposit after backing out of a real estate deal.
› Speaker Ray Sansom Should Quit College Job
Position: He says it is a citizen Legislature and every lawmaker has another job. But most of their jobs were not gift-wrapped by public colleges grateful for the public money showered upon them.
› Broker, Say Red Sox Stadium Deal Is Costly Financial Error
Sam Cook: Forget location, location, location. For Lee County and the Boston Red Sox to build a Fenway Park-replica in south Lee, they will need financing, financing, financing.