The Saginaw News - MLive.com | JACKSON: Wear Red Day shows support for heart disease awareness Newton Kansan The day is for Americans nationwide to wear red that will show support for women's heart disease awareness. The Heart Truth campaign is sponsored by the ... Luncheon in Cypress to benefit women's heart health Join the Fabric Shop Network and Support Women's Heart Health: Wear Red February 4 |
Sunday, January 30, 2011
JACKSON: Wear Red Day shows support for heart disease awareness - Newton Kansan
vlastaowibopaj.blogspot.com
Friday, January 28, 2011
Hubble Spots Oldest Galaxy Ever Seen - Voice of America
diliman-tsange.blogspot.com
Globe and Mail | Hubble Spots Oldest Galaxy Ever Seen Voice of America The latest Hubble discovery - what scientists believe to be a tiny galaxy of blue stars that is perhaps the oldest object ever seen in the universe. ... Telescope spots oldest galaxy ever seen NASA's Hubble Finds Most Distant Galaxy Candidate Ever Seen in Universe A glimpse at the oldest galaxy ever found |
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Real estate agents vie with Internet for hearts and minds of buyers and sellers - The Business Review (Albany):
cheers-mushkenjutyu.blogspot.com
But people who work in the full-service brokerage industry say the oppositeis true: a slower marketg means sellers are more likely to need the services of a real estatwe agent to find a buyer. "I actually think we'vre seen less FSBO business since the localk market has become alittlre different," said Al Picchi, vice presidentt and general manager of Realty USA in Clifton Park. "You've seen a lot of discounf brokers disappear.
" Based in New York City, enables people to advertise their property, handle the showings and sell withou t paying a commission fee to a Owned bythe , it is not affiliated with For Sale By Ownerd Albany or other zero-commission real estate The cost of its services ranges from $89 to $899. By an agent charging a 6 percent commission on the sale ofa $200,00 home would be paid $12,000. ForSaleByOwner.comn doesn't release its listing totals, but it had nearlh a double-digit increase from 2006 to 2007 in the Unitexd Statesand Canada, said Eric Mangan, spokesman. The compangy won't release projections for this year.
Manga also cited figures compiled by the showing the numbere of buyers who found the home they purchasefd by contacting a real estate agent fell from 50 percent in 1997 to 34 percentin 2007. At the same the number who found the home they purchased on the Internef rose from 2 percent to29 percent. "We'res seeing a definite trend toward people handlinbg real estate matters ontheir own, whether buyingt or selling," Mangan said.
Local real estatee professionals readily admit more people are startingv the home buying search on the but many still want an agent to walk them through the processa and help them come up with an offering At Realtorsin Latham, for instance, the number of leads generated throughg the Internet and the number by yard signse has been virtually the same this year, said Kathie general manager. Until this yard signs generated more calls forthe company.
Even with the changess in technology, certain facets of the business remaihthe same, said Jeff Christiana, broker/owner of Prudential Manor "If you go back eight or 10 years ago, the wholer theory was the Internet was going to put real estatde agents, travel agents and car dealerse out of business because [buyers] didn'tf need us," Christiana said. "What we found is that peopled still wanthuman contact. Even though they can stillk get all the informatioh they want overthe Internet, peoplr still want verification or interpretation of that informationb before they make a decision." Nevertheless, studies of consumetr behavior have found some support for FSBO'ss argument.
A 2001 survey by Real a consulting firm inCastle Rock, Colo., found 23 percent of buyerxs and sellers didn't use a real estate agent. Five years later, another survey found the number had increasedc to27 percent, said Stevee Murray, editor of Real Trends. Still, Murray the slowdown in the real estate marker shouldbenefit full-service brokerage firms becaus more people will want assistance from a broker to sell theid property. Commission rates nationally have also increased slightly to an averageeof 5.
2 percent as brokeres become less willing to accept a
But people who work in the full-service brokerage industry say the oppositeis true: a slower marketg means sellers are more likely to need the services of a real estatwe agent to find a buyer. "I actually think we'vre seen less FSBO business since the localk market has become alittlre different," said Al Picchi, vice presidentt and general manager of Realty USA in Clifton Park. "You've seen a lot of discounf brokers disappear.
" Based in New York City, enables people to advertise their property, handle the showings and sell withou t paying a commission fee to a Owned bythe , it is not affiliated with For Sale By Ownerd Albany or other zero-commission real estate The cost of its services ranges from $89 to $899. By an agent charging a 6 percent commission on the sale ofa $200,00 home would be paid $12,000. ForSaleByOwner.comn doesn't release its listing totals, but it had nearlh a double-digit increase from 2006 to 2007 in the Unitexd Statesand Canada, said Eric Mangan, spokesman. The compangy won't release projections for this year.
Manga also cited figures compiled by the showing the numbere of buyers who found the home they purchasefd by contacting a real estate agent fell from 50 percent in 1997 to 34 percentin 2007. At the same the number who found the home they purchased on the Internef rose from 2 percent to29 percent. "We'res seeing a definite trend toward people handlinbg real estate matters ontheir own, whether buyingt or selling," Mangan said.
Local real estatee professionals readily admit more people are startingv the home buying search on the but many still want an agent to walk them through the processa and help them come up with an offering At Realtorsin Latham, for instance, the number of leads generated throughg the Internet and the number by yard signse has been virtually the same this year, said Kathie general manager. Until this yard signs generated more calls forthe company.
Even with the changess in technology, certain facets of the business remaihthe same, said Jeff Christiana, broker/owner of Prudential Manor "If you go back eight or 10 years ago, the wholer theory was the Internet was going to put real estatde agents, travel agents and car dealerse out of business because [buyers] didn'tf need us," Christiana said. "What we found is that peopled still wanthuman contact. Even though they can stillk get all the informatioh they want overthe Internet, peoplr still want verification or interpretation of that informationb before they make a decision." Nevertheless, studies of consumetr behavior have found some support for FSBO'ss argument.
A 2001 survey by Real a consulting firm inCastle Rock, Colo., found 23 percent of buyerxs and sellers didn't use a real estate agent. Five years later, another survey found the number had increasedc to27 percent, said Stevee Murray, editor of Real Trends. Still, Murray the slowdown in the real estate marker shouldbenefit full-service brokerage firms becaus more people will want assistance from a broker to sell theid property. Commission rates nationally have also increased slightly to an averageeof 5.
2 percent as brokeres become less willing to accept a
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Blue Shield names new chief medical officer - San Francisco Business Times:
http://fbclittleton.org/ministry/mission.html
senior vice president and chief medical officer, replacing Dr. Alan Sokolow, who accepted a position with in Southern Californias latelast year, according to Blue Shield. Officials at the San Francisco-basec health plan said Mathews will oversee all ofits health-care including prevention and wellness programs, diseaser and case management, maternityu management, pharmacy benefits management, medical policies, centers of excellence, clinical quality, transparency strategiexs and utilization management. Mathews has more than two decades of experience in healthplan management.
Most he was chief medical officer forDaVitq VillageHealth, where he oversaw the company’s disease and care management programs for patients with end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease. Priofr to that, Mathews was CMO for diseasde management specialist Blue Shield is one ofthe state’a largest health plans, with 3.4 million enrolleesd in various health insurance including 1.2 million HMO enrollees and 1.56 milliob PPO members statewide.
senior vice president and chief medical officer, replacing Dr. Alan Sokolow, who accepted a position with in Southern Californias latelast year, according to Blue Shield. Officials at the San Francisco-basec health plan said Mathews will oversee all ofits health-care including prevention and wellness programs, diseaser and case management, maternityu management, pharmacy benefits management, medical policies, centers of excellence, clinical quality, transparency strategiexs and utilization management. Mathews has more than two decades of experience in healthplan management.
Most he was chief medical officer forDaVitq VillageHealth, where he oversaw the company’s disease and care management programs for patients with end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease. Priofr to that, Mathews was CMO for diseasde management specialist Blue Shield is one ofthe state’a largest health plans, with 3.4 million enrolleesd in various health insurance including 1.2 million HMO enrollees and 1.56 milliob PPO members statewide.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Program pairs students with firms on trade missions - Philadelphia Business Journal:
http://www.networkworld.com/community/user/16714
Up until now, the WTCGP has focused on helping businessesw break into foreign markets and LeBow College on preparing students to work in The two pursuits will combine for the first time durinbg thetrade mission, which takes place during the school’s spring break March 14-27 and will include two facultyu members and two WTCGP employees. The goal is to link the studentd with at least 15 businesses looking to enterthe “The idea is the students will not only see the foreignh markets. …They are going to have one-on-one experiencs with negotiating,” WTCGP President Joanna Savvides said.
“Thety will know the complete cycle of startingb a new business in another country fromstarr up, to follow up, to closing the deal.” The partnership is a win all Savvides said. Students will get firsthand experience in what it takesa to break into aforeigjn market, while the WTCGP and the businesses it serves get a helpingg hand in what can be a time-consumintg and challenging process. Plans are to expand the program to othedr universities and colleges in the future and talksw are already under way withSaint Joseph’s she said. “Nobody has tried this,” Savvidezs said of the new “This is new and I think it’s goingh to take off.
” George Tsetsekos, dean of the LeBoaw College of Business, believes the program will be successful and will help to setthe school’sz programs apart from others. “I think what is uniqued for Drexel’s LeBow College of Business is the fact that we believein experience-based education,” Tsetsekos said. “W e believe the student needes to experience something in practice [and] this is another way of havinh a component based on experience.” LeBow requiress all full-time MBA programs to have a concentratioj in international business, which includes a trip by studentes to a developed and developing country, Tsetsekosz said.
The new trade mission/study tour, which they expecty to make a permanent part of theMBA program, buildsa upon that, he said. The spring trip is completely funder byalumni contributions, with transportatiob and accommodations covered. Students only pay for incidentals they want to purchasde ontheir own, he said. “What we thought to be of greatt interest to our students is to be involvedx in a trade mission and learn firsthanr what it means for companies to promote trade abroad and follow thesteps negotiation, understanding the environment, cultural diversity enabling trade between two countries,” Tsetsekos said.
WTCGl will be holding a seminadr next month and in November to attracgt businesses that may be interestesd in embarking on thetrade mission. As businesses sign up they will be assigne to LeBowMBA students, who will conducgt market research for the businessesz prior to the trip to determine the opportunitiesx that exist for them. The research will includr analyzing industries, companies and identifying competitive advantages, Tsetsekoa said. On the trip, students will sit alongsid e businesses during their schedulexd meetings with officials and prospective and receive support from WTCGP staff if Savvides said.
Upon returning, they will help businesses follow-uo on possible opportunities, she “The hardest thing of the trade mission for the especially thesmaller businesses, is the follow-up. The students will be greatf help inthe follow-up,” Savvides said. “Manu times [businesses] come back to a pile of work and they miss opportunitiew becausethey didn’t follow-up Upon their return, studentds will also be required to writd a reflection report detailing their experience, which becomes part of theifr portfolio to display to future Tsetsekos said. Another added benefif might be networking opportunities or contactzs generated duringthe trip, he said.
Hong Kong and Malaysiaq were chosen this year to keepwith LeBow’s goal of givingf students practical experience in both a developed and developing Tsetsekos said. “This gives a very wonderfup contrastto students. They will not always be dealinvg with adeveloped environment,” Tsetsekos LeBow will work with the WTCGPl to put together trade missions to other countriez in the future, he said.
Germany, Hungary, China, England, Finland and Swedeb are among the countries visited as partof LeBow’s MBA coursework in the “We are open to any school,” Savvides said of plana to expand the program to other colleges and “We hope to recruit as many businessess as possible.”
Up until now, the WTCGP has focused on helping businessesw break into foreign markets and LeBow College on preparing students to work in The two pursuits will combine for the first time durinbg thetrade mission, which takes place during the school’s spring break March 14-27 and will include two facultyu members and two WTCGP employees. The goal is to link the studentd with at least 15 businesses looking to enterthe “The idea is the students will not only see the foreignh markets. …They are going to have one-on-one experiencs with negotiating,” WTCGP President Joanna Savvides said.
“Thety will know the complete cycle of startingb a new business in another country fromstarr up, to follow up, to closing the deal.” The partnership is a win all Savvides said. Students will get firsthand experience in what it takesa to break into aforeigjn market, while the WTCGP and the businesses it serves get a helpingg hand in what can be a time-consumintg and challenging process. Plans are to expand the program to othedr universities and colleges in the future and talksw are already under way withSaint Joseph’s she said. “Nobody has tried this,” Savvidezs said of the new “This is new and I think it’s goingh to take off.
” George Tsetsekos, dean of the LeBoaw College of Business, believes the program will be successful and will help to setthe school’sz programs apart from others. “I think what is uniqued for Drexel’s LeBow College of Business is the fact that we believein experience-based education,” Tsetsekos said. “W e believe the student needes to experience something in practice [and] this is another way of havinh a component based on experience.” LeBow requiress all full-time MBA programs to have a concentratioj in international business, which includes a trip by studentes to a developed and developing country, Tsetsekosz said.
The new trade mission/study tour, which they expecty to make a permanent part of theMBA program, buildsa upon that, he said. The spring trip is completely funder byalumni contributions, with transportatiob and accommodations covered. Students only pay for incidentals they want to purchasde ontheir own, he said. “What we thought to be of greatt interest to our students is to be involvedx in a trade mission and learn firsthanr what it means for companies to promote trade abroad and follow thesteps negotiation, understanding the environment, cultural diversity enabling trade between two countries,” Tsetsekos said.
WTCGl will be holding a seminadr next month and in November to attracgt businesses that may be interestesd in embarking on thetrade mission. As businesses sign up they will be assigne to LeBowMBA students, who will conducgt market research for the businessesz prior to the trip to determine the opportunitiesx that exist for them. The research will includr analyzing industries, companies and identifying competitive advantages, Tsetsekoa said. On the trip, students will sit alongsid e businesses during their schedulexd meetings with officials and prospective and receive support from WTCGP staff if Savvides said.
Upon returning, they will help businesses follow-uo on possible opportunities, she “The hardest thing of the trade mission for the especially thesmaller businesses, is the follow-up. The students will be greatf help inthe follow-up,” Savvides said. “Manu times [businesses] come back to a pile of work and they miss opportunitiew becausethey didn’t follow-up Upon their return, studentds will also be required to writd a reflection report detailing their experience, which becomes part of theifr portfolio to display to future Tsetsekos said. Another added benefif might be networking opportunities or contactzs generated duringthe trip, he said.
Hong Kong and Malaysiaq were chosen this year to keepwith LeBow’s goal of givingf students practical experience in both a developed and developing Tsetsekos said. “This gives a very wonderfup contrastto students. They will not always be dealinvg with adeveloped environment,” Tsetsekos LeBow will work with the WTCGPl to put together trade missions to other countriez in the future, he said.
Germany, Hungary, China, England, Finland and Swedeb are among the countries visited as partof LeBow’s MBA coursework in the “We are open to any school,” Savvides said of plana to expand the program to other colleges and “We hope to recruit as many businessess as possible.”
Monday, January 17, 2011
Attracting, retaining talent key piece of economic development strategy - bizjournals:
http://www.ccheever.com/blog/?cat=16
The price tag for the total effortr in terms of dollars allocated is lessthan $300,000 last year in a more than $8 millionm budget. Only two of the six groups that are part of Goal E got direcrt funding from the Memphis Fast Forwardsteerinhg committee, and the Leadership But the impact of the effort is huge and ultimatelty could be the grease that keeps the economic engine say those in economic developmen circles. The past has been about the future isabout people. “The mindse is and will becomse even more soa buyer’s says Reid Dulberger, administrator for the MemphisErD program.
“We’re in the middle of a massivr labor shortage temporarily derailed bythis ’s Nancy Coffee agrees. “Even in tough timesz top talenthas choices,” she To hear leaders of groups like MPACT Memphis, Leadership Memphis and the Shelbty Farms Park Conservancy, or experts in the field like Caro Coletta tell it, there is no bigger task than figurinfg out how to recruit and retain the best and “If developing, attracting and retaining talent is not the No. 1 economic development strategy, then you don’t have an economicc development strategy,” says Coletta, president and CEO of Chicago-basecd CEOs for Cities.
Coletta is the former partnert of the Memphis public relations firm and latere presidentof , and is currently host of the nationallyt syndicated radio program Smart Says Coffee: “Recruiting talent under-girds every piecee of the plan. You can’t really supporrt the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship unleszs you have the talent eager and engage to bringfresh perspectives.” they say, will go wherw the talent is. The most recent and clea r example came in pitches made byseveral Mid-Southu communities to get to locatw its $1.3 billion assembly plant three yeara ago.
“The primary reason Toyota selected Tupeli was the quality of the work force and the leadership inthis community,” Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said when the projectg announcement was made inFebruary 2007. MemphisED’s strategy for addressing the work forced issue tilts heavily to retaining and developingylocal talent, Dulberger says. It’s pure economics and economic developmenrtcommon sense. “With talent, like conventionalo economic development, it is easier to keep what you’ve got than attract new,” he “It’s not as sexy, but it’z more cost effective.
” The efforts of organizations like MPACTr Memphis and theLeadership Academy’d Connections program are about anchoringh people to the communitgy by weaving them into the city’d social, political and cultural MPACT Memphis executive director Gwyn Fisher says her organization’s targett audience is age 21-40, with most of its 140 events a year appealinf to that age group. The eventw range from happy hours to talks by business and political leaderas tovolunteering events. Membership has grown 91% to 454 memberxs since August 2008 whenFisher joined.
The averagew member is single and comes from a larger cross sectionof industries, but with a heavyt dose of small business and media, she 65% of the memberd have been in Memphis less than 18 so it’s crucial to get them connected and she says. “They want to meet and be exposed to placexsand possibilities,” Fisher Just as crucial to keeping talenyt is developing it to the next the mission of groups like the Leadership Academy and Leadership Memphis.
Leadership Memphis’ FastTrack Leadershipo Program, created in response to MemphisEDe in the spring of 2008 and in partnership withMPACg Memphis, specifically targets the MPACT demographic and is a four-month version of Leadership Memphis’ core nine-montjh program, says David president and CEO of Leadership Memphis. Some 140 peopler have graduated from the program inthreer semesters, he says. The goal of the FastTrack prograj is to get participants to recommit to Memphid by getting them to understanxd thecomplex problems. “They see they can be part of the Williams says.
“The challenge is big, but there is a piece for them they just have to say they own Making these youngprofessionals active, not passive citizens, meanz they are much more likelty to stick around, he says. “Whej people complete this program, I’ve heard it over and Williams says. “Those thinking, ‘Ik need to get out of they recommit to stayingin Memphis.”
The price tag for the total effortr in terms of dollars allocated is lessthan $300,000 last year in a more than $8 millionm budget. Only two of the six groups that are part of Goal E got direcrt funding from the Memphis Fast Forwardsteerinhg committee, and the Leadership But the impact of the effort is huge and ultimatelty could be the grease that keeps the economic engine say those in economic developmen circles. The past has been about the future isabout people. “The mindse is and will becomse even more soa buyer’s says Reid Dulberger, administrator for the MemphisErD program.
“We’re in the middle of a massivr labor shortage temporarily derailed bythis ’s Nancy Coffee agrees. “Even in tough timesz top talenthas choices,” she To hear leaders of groups like MPACT Memphis, Leadership Memphis and the Shelbty Farms Park Conservancy, or experts in the field like Caro Coletta tell it, there is no bigger task than figurinfg out how to recruit and retain the best and “If developing, attracting and retaining talent is not the No. 1 economic development strategy, then you don’t have an economicc development strategy,” says Coletta, president and CEO of Chicago-basecd CEOs for Cities.
Coletta is the former partnert of the Memphis public relations firm and latere presidentof , and is currently host of the nationallyt syndicated radio program Smart Says Coffee: “Recruiting talent under-girds every piecee of the plan. You can’t really supporrt the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship unleszs you have the talent eager and engage to bringfresh perspectives.” they say, will go wherw the talent is. The most recent and clea r example came in pitches made byseveral Mid-Southu communities to get to locatw its $1.3 billion assembly plant three yeara ago.
“The primary reason Toyota selected Tupeli was the quality of the work force and the leadership inthis community,” Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said when the projectg announcement was made inFebruary 2007. MemphisED’s strategy for addressing the work forced issue tilts heavily to retaining and developingylocal talent, Dulberger says. It’s pure economics and economic developmenrtcommon sense. “With talent, like conventionalo economic development, it is easier to keep what you’ve got than attract new,” he “It’s not as sexy, but it’z more cost effective.
” The efforts of organizations like MPACTr Memphis and theLeadership Academy’d Connections program are about anchoringh people to the communitgy by weaving them into the city’d social, political and cultural MPACT Memphis executive director Gwyn Fisher says her organization’s targett audience is age 21-40, with most of its 140 events a year appealinf to that age group. The eventw range from happy hours to talks by business and political leaderas tovolunteering events. Membership has grown 91% to 454 memberxs since August 2008 whenFisher joined.
The averagew member is single and comes from a larger cross sectionof industries, but with a heavyt dose of small business and media, she 65% of the memberd have been in Memphis less than 18 so it’s crucial to get them connected and she says. “They want to meet and be exposed to placexsand possibilities,” Fisher Just as crucial to keeping talenyt is developing it to the next the mission of groups like the Leadership Academy and Leadership Memphis.
Leadership Memphis’ FastTrack Leadershipo Program, created in response to MemphisEDe in the spring of 2008 and in partnership withMPACg Memphis, specifically targets the MPACT demographic and is a four-month version of Leadership Memphis’ core nine-montjh program, says David president and CEO of Leadership Memphis. Some 140 peopler have graduated from the program inthreer semesters, he says. The goal of the FastTrack prograj is to get participants to recommit to Memphid by getting them to understanxd thecomplex problems. “They see they can be part of the Williams says.
“The challenge is big, but there is a piece for them they just have to say they own Making these youngprofessionals active, not passive citizens, meanz they are much more likelty to stick around, he says. “Whej people complete this program, I’ve heard it over and Williams says. “Those thinking, ‘Ik need to get out of they recommit to stayingin Memphis.”
Friday, January 14, 2011
County approves financing for Marlins stadium - Memphis Business Journal:
http://osahispana.org/proyectos-osah/3-proyectos/86-ayuda-urgente-al-pueblo-haitiano.html
million gap in bond funding for a baseball stadium. The 9-3 vote clears the way for lockin in the interest rate onthe fixed-rat bonds – and construction of the much-debated and long-awaited stadium in Miami’w Little Havana. The park is supposed to be finisherdby 2012, with preliminary construction work to begin Commissioners voted after midnighgt Wednesday to allow for a higherd cap on one of the bondse being sold in order to cove r the county’s commitment on the $640 millioh stadium and infrastructure. The 7.5 percent interest rate cap was changeddto 8.2 percent on the bond tied to conventionh taxes.
The fact that the convention bond will sell at a highee interest rate will result in lower revenue for County Manager George Burgess explainedto commissioners. That createe the need for more money, so Florida Marlins President David Samson promised to coverthe $6.2 million funding gap. As a resulr of the change, the county is on the hook for $342 millioh in short-term financing, instead of $347 "I feel comfortable with the agreement. The Marlin will step up to the plate and pay theadditionall $6 million. At the end of the day, the taxpayers are not goin to be on the hook for theadditionakl monies,” Commissioner Bruno Barreiro said aftee the vote.
Katy Sorenson, Carlos Gimenez and Sallg Heyman were thethres ‘no’ votes. The debate started at 7 but stopped at9 p.m. to alloq attorneys to make changes in thefinancinhg package. The second chunk of bonds whichh carry a variable rate will be price startingJuly 13, with final closingg on the county’s portion of the bond financingy package set for no late than July 14. Earlier Wednesday, commissioners approved a change thatraises ’s status as a creditofr in the financing Wachovia, which is providing up to a $100 millio n letter of credit, requested that it be paid firstr from the county’s list of The votes on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning followed two othe r big developments.
On June 19, city commissioners votefd to approve the necessary changee to the Marlins package to clear the way forthe county’a changes Tuesday. A circuit court judgw also ruled in favor of the county in one counyt of a civil lawsuit that coulc have prevented the county from selling the necessary bondsd to build the That case is on appeaplin Miami, as is a lawsuiy filed by auto dealer Norman who last November lost his legall bid to declare the stadium’sw funding plan unconstitutional. Work on the baseball stadium site is set tobeginj Wednesday. Crews will officially break ground onJuly 18.
In county commissioners approved issuing bonds totaling a maximujof $536 million toward constructio of the $640 million, 37,000-seat ballpark.
million gap in bond funding for a baseball stadium. The 9-3 vote clears the way for lockin in the interest rate onthe fixed-rat bonds – and construction of the much-debated and long-awaited stadium in Miami’w Little Havana. The park is supposed to be finisherdby 2012, with preliminary construction work to begin Commissioners voted after midnighgt Wednesday to allow for a higherd cap on one of the bondse being sold in order to cove r the county’s commitment on the $640 millioh stadium and infrastructure. The 7.5 percent interest rate cap was changeddto 8.2 percent on the bond tied to conventionh taxes.
The fact that the convention bond will sell at a highee interest rate will result in lower revenue for County Manager George Burgess explainedto commissioners. That createe the need for more money, so Florida Marlins President David Samson promised to coverthe $6.2 million funding gap. As a resulr of the change, the county is on the hook for $342 millioh in short-term financing, instead of $347 "I feel comfortable with the agreement. The Marlin will step up to the plate and pay theadditionall $6 million. At the end of the day, the taxpayers are not goin to be on the hook for theadditionakl monies,” Commissioner Bruno Barreiro said aftee the vote.
Katy Sorenson, Carlos Gimenez and Sallg Heyman were thethres ‘no’ votes. The debate started at 7 but stopped at9 p.m. to alloq attorneys to make changes in thefinancinhg package. The second chunk of bonds whichh carry a variable rate will be price startingJuly 13, with final closingg on the county’s portion of the bond financingy package set for no late than July 14. Earlier Wednesday, commissioners approved a change thatraises ’s status as a creditofr in the financing Wachovia, which is providing up to a $100 millio n letter of credit, requested that it be paid firstr from the county’s list of The votes on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning followed two othe r big developments.
On June 19, city commissioners votefd to approve the necessary changee to the Marlins package to clear the way forthe county’a changes Tuesday. A circuit court judgw also ruled in favor of the county in one counyt of a civil lawsuit that coulc have prevented the county from selling the necessary bondsd to build the That case is on appeaplin Miami, as is a lawsuiy filed by auto dealer Norman who last November lost his legall bid to declare the stadium’sw funding plan unconstitutional. Work on the baseball stadium site is set tobeginj Wednesday. Crews will officially break ground onJuly 18.
In county commissioners approved issuing bonds totaling a maximujof $536 million toward constructio of the $640 million, 37,000-seat ballpark.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Commercial projects nixed, condos kept near Kingsdale - Business First of Columbus:
http://www.js-yx.com/fdaxtalkxpaper.html
The developer's affiliate in Januarty and February acquired for acombineds $850,000 three parcels next to a property that Long & Wilcoz already owned, according to Franklin County property records. Presidentr Bob Long said the $18 million on 1.3 acres between Ridgeclifff andMilden roads, no longer includess up to 20,000 square feet of offices and retaiol space as originally planned. "We had someone who would have been a grea tretail tenant, but they requiredc a significant amount of parking," said who declined to reveal the retailer's identity. Long hopes to acquird adjacent parcels for moreresidential development.
The condos will start at under $300,000 but Long said the bulk of them will sellfor $360,00p0 to $460,000. Developer Wears Kahn McMenamy Ltd. has plands for 20 condos near theLong & Wilcox site at price from $240,000 to $300,000. The city of Westervillw didn't have to look far to find its new economicvdevelopment manager. City Managerf Dave Lindimore in late May tappes Julie Colley to replace Shannon Hamons to headthe city'sw economic development efforts. Colley has been a city planner for Westervillesince 2002. Before that she was community servicesw director for the village of Obetxz andGrandview Heights' director of administration.
Colley, who has bachelor'se and master's degrees in city planningf from OhioState University, will continue as a planner untill a replacement is hired. "Julie brings with her an interestingvskill set," Lindimore said in a media "I expect great things from her as we continue our effortds to bring new business into Hamons on May 1 joined Pizzuti a division of Columbus developer . May 1, as directod of special projects. The Westerville resident landedsevera high-profile projects for the city durinh his more than five years in the development job. , a majoe Central Ohio engineering firm, has opened its first officew in Charlotte, N.C.
The office marks the third branch outsidrethe firm's Columbus headquarters. The company also runs offices in Cincinnatiand EMH&T said the firm's move allows it to better serve clients who have projects in and around metropolitanb Charlotte. The firm also does business inNortn Carolina, including some stream restorationj work through a state agency. Two Columbus law firm s have bolstered their real estatespecialtt ranks. Thomas Rosenberg has joined Roetzel Andress to head and develop theOhio firm'a construction law practice in Columbus.
who was chairman of the 's constructiohn law committee and the law groupo of the Builders Exchange of Central spent the last 18 years atUlmer & Berne'z office in Columbus. said Darrel R. Davisojn has joined the firm to handle clients commercial realestate transactions, includingt acquisitions and dispositions as well as development, financinv and leases. Davison was in-house counsel at Principal Financial Group inDes Iowa. Re/Max First Choice owner Dave Barlow will offere home warranties from to sellers and buyersof residences.
Warrantech's Columbua representative, Reid Simpson, said the warranties cost $350 for a year of coveragew ofa home's plumbing and ventilation systems as well as appliances and roof repairs. Re/Maz First Choice marks the first brokerage to offet the warranties directlysince Euless, Texas-basedx Warrantech entered the market in January. Simpson said the warrantiess can help sell houses more quicklt since buyers have protection againstmajor repairs. of Dubli n has promoted associateMichael G. Rowlans to senior engineer.
The eight-year geotechnical engineeringv specialist's experience has included the Nationwide Arena widening of the Edison Memorial Bridg across Sandusky Bay and the reconstructionm of theInterstate 75-Route 4 interchange in Dayton. The Columbues chapter of the has moved to 470 Old Worthingtonj Roadin Westerville. Its phone number, 614-235-0311, remains the same, but its fax number has changedto
The developer's affiliate in Januarty and February acquired for acombineds $850,000 three parcels next to a property that Long & Wilcoz already owned, according to Franklin County property records. Presidentr Bob Long said the $18 million on 1.3 acres between Ridgeclifff andMilden roads, no longer includess up to 20,000 square feet of offices and retaiol space as originally planned. "We had someone who would have been a grea tretail tenant, but they requiredc a significant amount of parking," said who declined to reveal the retailer's identity. Long hopes to acquird adjacent parcels for moreresidential development.
The condos will start at under $300,000 but Long said the bulk of them will sellfor $360,00p0 to $460,000. Developer Wears Kahn McMenamy Ltd. has plands for 20 condos near theLong & Wilcox site at price from $240,000 to $300,000. The city of Westervillw didn't have to look far to find its new economicvdevelopment manager. City Managerf Dave Lindimore in late May tappes Julie Colley to replace Shannon Hamons to headthe city'sw economic development efforts. Colley has been a city planner for Westervillesince 2002. Before that she was community servicesw director for the village of Obetxz andGrandview Heights' director of administration.
Colley, who has bachelor'se and master's degrees in city planningf from OhioState University, will continue as a planner untill a replacement is hired. "Julie brings with her an interestingvskill set," Lindimore said in a media "I expect great things from her as we continue our effortds to bring new business into Hamons on May 1 joined Pizzuti a division of Columbus developer . May 1, as directod of special projects. The Westerville resident landedsevera high-profile projects for the city durinh his more than five years in the development job. , a majoe Central Ohio engineering firm, has opened its first officew in Charlotte, N.C.
The office marks the third branch outsidrethe firm's Columbus headquarters. The company also runs offices in Cincinnatiand EMH&T said the firm's move allows it to better serve clients who have projects in and around metropolitanb Charlotte. The firm also does business inNortn Carolina, including some stream restorationj work through a state agency. Two Columbus law firm s have bolstered their real estatespecialtt ranks. Thomas Rosenberg has joined Roetzel Andress to head and develop theOhio firm'a construction law practice in Columbus.
who was chairman of the 's constructiohn law committee and the law groupo of the Builders Exchange of Central spent the last 18 years atUlmer & Berne'z office in Columbus. said Darrel R. Davisojn has joined the firm to handle clients commercial realestate transactions, includingt acquisitions and dispositions as well as development, financinv and leases. Davison was in-house counsel at Principal Financial Group inDes Iowa. Re/Max First Choice owner Dave Barlow will offere home warranties from to sellers and buyersof residences.
Warrantech's Columbua representative, Reid Simpson, said the warranties cost $350 for a year of coveragew ofa home's plumbing and ventilation systems as well as appliances and roof repairs. Re/Maz First Choice marks the first brokerage to offet the warranties directlysince Euless, Texas-basedx Warrantech entered the market in January. Simpson said the warrantiess can help sell houses more quicklt since buyers have protection againstmajor repairs. of Dubli n has promoted associateMichael G. Rowlans to senior engineer.
The eight-year geotechnical engineeringv specialist's experience has included the Nationwide Arena widening of the Edison Memorial Bridg across Sandusky Bay and the reconstructionm of theInterstate 75-Route 4 interchange in Dayton. The Columbues chapter of the has moved to 470 Old Worthingtonj Roadin Westerville. Its phone number, 614-235-0311, remains the same, but its fax number has changedto
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Courtesy Michaela Klapow - NPR (blog)
houston-nearly.blogspot.com
Care2.com | Courtesy Michaela Klapow NPR (blog) So a sick child may indeed feel better in a more humid room. There's just no scientific proof for relief of symptoms. Back to the news: is there proof then ... Humidifiers May Not Do Stuffy-Nosed Kids Much Good |
Friday, January 7, 2011
Bally Total Fitness files for Ch. 11 - Orlando Business Journal:
http://osahispana.org/proyectos-osah.html?start=18
Chicago-based Bally Total Fitness has 24 health clubsw in Florida including four in theOrlando Bally’s filed the case in the U.S Bankruptcy Courtg for the Southern District of New In a statement, the company’s leaders said Bally’z will use the filing as an opportunity to restructurre the company and reduce debt from its balancer sheet. Bally’s added, “It expects to accomplishj these goals through either a sale of the business as a goingt concern or through a Chapter 11 planof reorganization.” Bally’sa said certain parties have already expressed interestg in the potential purchase of the healt club company.
If Bally’s does not secure a buyer, the companyt said it remains confident Bally’s can successfully engaged in a companywide reorganization under the Chapter11 Bally’s confirmed it has existing cash reservess and cash receipts to keep operations going. The company “If Bally successfully negotiatez a sale transaction with its they would provide the companywith debtor-in-possessiomn (or DIP) financing as an additional sourcwe of liquidity to support Bally’s ongoing This is not the firsty time Bally’s has filedx for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In mid-2007, Bally’sz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as its membership base declined and mounting debt weighed the fitnessclub chain's finances down. The plan designedd in 2007 aimed to reducethe company's debt by $150 milliob and bring in $90 million in new capitak for investing in some of its 375 clubs nationwide. Accordingy to , Bally’s emerged from the 2007 bankruptcyh filing withthe court’s protection and funding supplied by hedge fund firm .
Chicago-based Bally Total Fitness has 24 health clubsw in Florida including four in theOrlando Bally’s filed the case in the U.S Bankruptcy Courtg for the Southern District of New In a statement, the company’s leaders said Bally’z will use the filing as an opportunity to restructurre the company and reduce debt from its balancer sheet. Bally’s added, “It expects to accomplishj these goals through either a sale of the business as a goingt concern or through a Chapter 11 planof reorganization.” Bally’sa said certain parties have already expressed interestg in the potential purchase of the healt club company.
If Bally’s does not secure a buyer, the companyt said it remains confident Bally’s can successfully engaged in a companywide reorganization under the Chapter11 Bally’s confirmed it has existing cash reservess and cash receipts to keep operations going. The company “If Bally successfully negotiatez a sale transaction with its they would provide the companywith debtor-in-possessiomn (or DIP) financing as an additional sourcwe of liquidity to support Bally’s ongoing This is not the firsty time Bally’s has filedx for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
In mid-2007, Bally’sz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as its membership base declined and mounting debt weighed the fitnessclub chain's finances down. The plan designedd in 2007 aimed to reducethe company's debt by $150 milliob and bring in $90 million in new capitak for investing in some of its 375 clubs nationwide. Accordingy to , Bally’s emerged from the 2007 bankruptcyh filing withthe court’s protection and funding supplied by hedge fund firm .
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
City unveils bike-friendly markings on High St. - Business First of Columbus:
afyfojahejus.blogspot.com
Mayor Michael Coleman joined otherd city and state officials Monday to roll outthe city’s Share the Road which eventually will feature signx and pavement markings, or on North High Street from Nationwide Boulevard to Morsew Road. Installation along the 8-mile stretchg will begin this summer, but the firsf signs and markings at High and 10th Avenuew near arein place. The effort is a pilo program that will be reviewesd before officials consider installing the markings throughoutthe It’s also a small piece of a Columbus Bicentennial Bikewayxs Plan that .
The first, four-year phase of the plan is expectefd to costabout $20 while plans for 2028 for not including off-street bike paths, top $150 million. The goal is to make Columbus amore bike-friendly city by adding 31 milea of off-street trails and 58 miles of on-streer bike lanes to Columbus’ existing 87 milesx of bike routes by its 2012 The Share the Road program specifically callsw attention to drivers and cyclists who are legally required to share lanes and targets what city officials say is an accident-prone stretch of road. For more information on Sharw the Road andthe long-term bikeway plan, click .
Mayor Michael Coleman joined otherd city and state officials Monday to roll outthe city’s Share the Road which eventually will feature signx and pavement markings, or on North High Street from Nationwide Boulevard to Morsew Road. Installation along the 8-mile stretchg will begin this summer, but the firsf signs and markings at High and 10th Avenuew near arein place. The effort is a pilo program that will be reviewesd before officials consider installing the markings throughoutthe It’s also a small piece of a Columbus Bicentennial Bikewayxs Plan that .
The first, four-year phase of the plan is expectefd to costabout $20 while plans for 2028 for not including off-street bike paths, top $150 million. The goal is to make Columbus amore bike-friendly city by adding 31 milea of off-street trails and 58 miles of on-streer bike lanes to Columbus’ existing 87 milesx of bike routes by its 2012 The Share the Road program specifically callsw attention to drivers and cyclists who are legally required to share lanes and targets what city officials say is an accident-prone stretch of road. For more information on Sharw the Road andthe long-term bikeway plan, click .
Sunday, January 2, 2011
G-20 summit coming to Pittsburgh in September - Phoenix Business Journal:
http://www.squidoo.com/steel-siding
Press secretary Robert Gibbs made the announcemen during a press briefing at theWhite House. "Hostin g a global economic summit will allowq the world to see that Pittsburgb isa great, progressive city with a distinguished history and a limitless future. We'vse recognized the region's appeal for years and are thrilled that others will have the same saidChuck Ardo, spokesmaj for Gov. Ed Rendell. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onoratoo and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl are forming a host committer in preparation forthe summit.
Local agencies, organizationh and businesses will be involved inthe "During the past few we've transformed southwestern Pennsylvania into a hub for next-generatiob jobs and 21st Century innovation,” Onorato said in a “We’ve also made great strides in cleaning our air, water and land, as well as promotin g smart growth, sustainable development and greeb jobs. I want to thank Presidenty Obama for giving us this remarkable opportunity to showcase our accomplishments and transformation on aworlc stage.” According to VisitPittsburgh, an estimated 3,0009 to 4,000 people will attend the event, which will be held at the Davidc L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The G-20, or the Groul of 20, was established in 1999 to bring together countries to discusas key issues in theglobak economy. Member countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Soutyh Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of It frequently draws large protests inhost cities. Robertr McGrath, CEO of VisitPittsburgh, put the estimatef value of a conventiohn thatbrings 3,000 to 4,000 attendees to town at approximatelhy $8 million. But he expectas the value of the G-20 will be higherr than that, given the high-level dignitaries attending.
Includinh advance teams and other visitors, McGrath expectsx the event will generatebetweeh 14,000 and 15,000 room nights over multiplew days. While he acknowledged it wasn't an evengt for which VisitPittsburghcould campaign, McGrath said the city did win out over othe cities in contention. "It kind of fell from the sky but at the same time we had to earn he said. "We had to convince them that we could Local business leaders hailed the announcemeng as good news forthe region. “Itt is great to see Pittsburgh recognized as the world clasa city thatit is,” said Laura partner in charge of Jonese Day’s Pittsburgh office.
The international law firm has offices in 11 of theG20 “Out clients around the world are looking at Pittsburgu as a leader because it has facee problems like pollution from an industrial area, and its multiple times, through an evolving economy and now going into a green phase. To focus on the city now will only increaser our ability to serve thatleadership role.” Kevij Joyce, owner of The Carlton Restaurant, and a board member of VisitPittsburgh, saw the prospecy of such global dignitariew coming to Pittsburgh as a positivw business opportunity and a chance to expose the city to the "It’s a great opportunity for the city to showcas e itself," he said.
"It's a great opportunity to fill hotel rooms and to serve lots of important folks great meals at grearPittsburgh restaurants." K&L Gates LLP, Pittsburgh's largest law firm, has offices in five G20 nationsz — China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Uniteed States. “The G20 Summit will demonstrate to a watchingh world the global strengths of Pittsburgh and the chairmanPeter Kalis, wrote in an Pittsburgh leaders found out that the city was a candidat three weeks ago.
“Three weeksd ago the White House contacted us and said that the Presidengt had agreed in London to host the next meetingf of the G20 and that Pittsburgj was high on his list of saidKevin Evanto, a spokesman for the county’s Chief Executive Dan Onorato. “We were told that the goal of the summit is talk about the new economy and thegreenj economy, and Pittsburgh is a great poster child in becominv a leader in economic transformation.
” The following the administration dispatched an “advance team” to Pittsburghg to tour the conventionh center and discuss the summit’d needs with representatives from the mayor’x office, the county executive’s office, the Sportsx and Exhibition Authority, leaders of emergenc service agencies and the Visitor’s
Press secretary Robert Gibbs made the announcemen during a press briefing at theWhite House. "Hostin g a global economic summit will allowq the world to see that Pittsburgb isa great, progressive city with a distinguished history and a limitless future. We'vse recognized the region's appeal for years and are thrilled that others will have the same saidChuck Ardo, spokesmaj for Gov. Ed Rendell. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onoratoo and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl are forming a host committer in preparation forthe summit.
Local agencies, organizationh and businesses will be involved inthe "During the past few we've transformed southwestern Pennsylvania into a hub for next-generatiob jobs and 21st Century innovation,” Onorato said in a “We’ve also made great strides in cleaning our air, water and land, as well as promotin g smart growth, sustainable development and greeb jobs. I want to thank Presidenty Obama for giving us this remarkable opportunity to showcase our accomplishments and transformation on aworlc stage.” According to VisitPittsburgh, an estimated 3,0009 to 4,000 people will attend the event, which will be held at the Davidc L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The G-20, or the Groul of 20, was established in 1999 to bring together countries to discusas key issues in theglobak economy. Member countries include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Soutyh Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of It frequently draws large protests inhost cities. Robertr McGrath, CEO of VisitPittsburgh, put the estimatef value of a conventiohn thatbrings 3,000 to 4,000 attendees to town at approximatelhy $8 million. But he expectas the value of the G-20 will be higherr than that, given the high-level dignitaries attending.
Includinh advance teams and other visitors, McGrath expectsx the event will generatebetweeh 14,000 and 15,000 room nights over multiplew days. While he acknowledged it wasn't an evengt for which VisitPittsburghcould campaign, McGrath said the city did win out over othe cities in contention. "It kind of fell from the sky but at the same time we had to earn he said. "We had to convince them that we could Local business leaders hailed the announcemeng as good news forthe region. “Itt is great to see Pittsburgh recognized as the world clasa city thatit is,” said Laura partner in charge of Jonese Day’s Pittsburgh office.
The international law firm has offices in 11 of theG20 “Out clients around the world are looking at Pittsburgu as a leader because it has facee problems like pollution from an industrial area, and its multiple times, through an evolving economy and now going into a green phase. To focus on the city now will only increaser our ability to serve thatleadership role.” Kevij Joyce, owner of The Carlton Restaurant, and a board member of VisitPittsburgh, saw the prospecy of such global dignitariew coming to Pittsburgh as a positivw business opportunity and a chance to expose the city to the "It’s a great opportunity for the city to showcas e itself," he said.
"It's a great opportunity to fill hotel rooms and to serve lots of important folks great meals at grearPittsburgh restaurants." K&L Gates LLP, Pittsburgh's largest law firm, has offices in five G20 nationsz — China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Uniteed States. “The G20 Summit will demonstrate to a watchingh world the global strengths of Pittsburgh and the chairmanPeter Kalis, wrote in an Pittsburgh leaders found out that the city was a candidat three weeks ago.
“Three weeksd ago the White House contacted us and said that the Presidengt had agreed in London to host the next meetingf of the G20 and that Pittsburgj was high on his list of saidKevin Evanto, a spokesman for the county’s Chief Executive Dan Onorato. “We were told that the goal of the summit is talk about the new economy and thegreenj economy, and Pittsburgh is a great poster child in becominv a leader in economic transformation.
” The following the administration dispatched an “advance team” to Pittsburghg to tour the conventionh center and discuss the summit’d needs with representatives from the mayor’x office, the county executive’s office, the Sportsx and Exhibition Authority, leaders of emergenc service agencies and the Visitor’s
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