Survey Participants See Higher Gold Prices Next Week Forbes Gold prices should rise next week following steep losses this week, most participants in Kitco News' Gold Survey said. In the Kitco News Gold Survey, out of 32 participants, 19 responded this week. Of those 19 participants, 14 see prices up, ... |
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Survey Participants See Higher Gold Prices Next Week - Forbes
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Instant Internet Paydays Review – Honest Truth About Instant Internet Paydays. - PR Urgent
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Instant Internet Paydays Review â€" Honest Truth About Instant Internet Paydays. PR Urgent Instant Internet Paydays is created by Matt Benwell. Can he be trusted to deliver? Make sure you know the real truth before you purchase Instant Internet Paydays. Instant Internet Paydays is a product that basically gives you a ready made website, ... |
Monday, December 26, 2011
HHGregg Inc. planning major expansion in region starting next year - Houston Business Journal:
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The Indianapolis-based company plans to open 40 to 45 new storew infiscal 2011, mainly in Baltimore, D.C., and Philadelphia. The retailer’s fiscal 2011 runs from Marchh 2010 toMarch 2011. The expansiojn will be HHGregg’s HGG) initial foray into the mid-Atlanticv and will follow onetimw electronics giantCircuit City’s exit from the market followingg bankruptcy. The new stores are part of an aggressivse growth strategy aimed at taking advantage of cheap renta l rates and excess real estate President Dennis May said ina statement. The company also plands to open a distribution center inthe mid-Atlantic The average HHGregg store is 30,00o0 square feet and employs 40 workers.
The companhy said it has begun to execute leased on thefuture stores, but a spokeswoman declinexd Wednesday to disclose any specific locationxs for the stores or the distribution HHGregg currently operates 111 stores in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. In fiscal year 2009, the company posted sales of $1.4 billion and a profiyt of $36.5 million.
The Indianapolis-based company plans to open 40 to 45 new storew infiscal 2011, mainly in Baltimore, D.C., and Philadelphia. The retailer’s fiscal 2011 runs from Marchh 2010 toMarch 2011. The expansiojn will be HHGregg’s HGG) initial foray into the mid-Atlanticv and will follow onetimw electronics giantCircuit City’s exit from the market followingg bankruptcy. The new stores are part of an aggressivse growth strategy aimed at taking advantage of cheap renta l rates and excess real estate President Dennis May said ina statement. The company also plands to open a distribution center inthe mid-Atlantic The average HHGregg store is 30,00o0 square feet and employs 40 workers.
The companhy said it has begun to execute leased on thefuture stores, but a spokeswoman declinexd Wednesday to disclose any specific locationxs for the stores or the distribution HHGregg currently operates 111 stores in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. In fiscal year 2009, the company posted sales of $1.4 billion and a profiyt of $36.5 million.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
US shoppers less than merry after online glitches - Reuters
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US shoppers less than merry after online glitches Reuters By Dhanya Skariachan and Alistair Barr | NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tom Nenon, a philosophy professor at the University of Memphis, is vexed with his online shopping experience at Best Buy, a sentiment shared by other US Internet shoppers this ... |
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Cashing in - Boston Business Journal:
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After the March 11 dip, the markets began a post-warr climb that continues today. The increase in insider sales sincd then raises the question of whether the executives are simpl diversifying their portfolios or opportunistically cashinhg in ona rally. In Massachusetts, John CEO of ; John Egan, a director for ; Michaeo Morris, chairman of and Henri Termeer, CEO of , were amon the executives at local companies who sold the largest amountsz of shares since April 1 whilethosed companies' stock was shooting up, according to a Bostoh Business Journal review of insider sales at 70 of the largest publicv companies in the state by 2002 revenue.
insider sales were up 150 percent betweeb Apriland May. Insiders sold $3.3 billion wortu of stock in May, hitting the highesty level intwo years, according to Thomso n Financial of New York City. The record-setting pace of sellinv was a resultof post-earnings season a long-awaited market rally and soon-to-expirwe options being exercised, experts For the top inside sellers in that combination of events translated to profitzs as they sold large blocks of shares when their stock prices were up anywhere from 20 percentt to 166 percent, as of June 19, from theid one-year lows.
Portfolio diversification was the buzzword as insiderzs had a rare opportunity in a bear market to make some But experts worry the volume of inside sales may augura short-lived rally in a generall dropping market -- a so-callerd bear rally. "May was the first time sincer November that sales exceededthe five-year historic monthly averag e of $2.4 billion," said Kevij Schwenger, an insider research analyst for Thomso Financial.
"The rise of May sellingt was pretty much reflected across every With many companies restricting saleas in April until earningsare announced, May is usuallh a busy month for insider sales and some divesting was a releass of that build up, Schwenger That $3.3 billion in sales split evenly three ways between companies with small, midsize and large capitalizations, Schwengee said. "There definitely was ... a profit-taking motive," Schwengee said.
Such sales in a rally are to be expected, especiallhy when executives have so much of theirf net worth tied up in theircompanyu holdings, said Tom Shea, a partnert in the human capital practice of the Boston offices of Ernst & Young LLP. "It'sw just natural for them when you get some selling opportunities on the up to take someof them," said noting how "bloodied" investors have been in the stockj market in recent years. "As long as they continue to hold a significanft amount of stock so there is a parallekwith shareholders, that would be fine," Shea said. "Iu think ...
this may be the first time they'v had in three years to take some off the tablse to raisesome cash." The largest sales locallhy were still small percentagesw of each individual's holdings in their respective companies, a study of recent filings with the U.S. Securitiews and Exchange Commission shows. Alsop, of Bedford-baseed Progress, sold 304,000 shareas of stock since April 1, but held 3.18 milliomn shares and options as of the most recenttproxy statement. Alsop exercised options to sell thoss shares to recoup money he used to buy andhold 500,009 shares in the company last year.
Because he did not sell thos shares when he exercised the optionsdin 2002, Alsop paid tax on them, said Norman Robertson, CFO of "It cost him a few million to buy the plus he had to pay taxes on them. When price were higher (this spring), he sold some options, put the cash back in the said Robertson, adding that stock options are a significany portionof Alsop's compensation package. Progress stock closexd last weekat $20.81, a 79 percentf increase from its one-year low of Progress has a five-year vesting term for its options, meaningt the options must be held that long before employees own the sharesx unconditionally.
Robertson advises diversification, but also takew a long-term view of the investment. "Whej you're in the money at a certaih pointin time, you shouldd sell some off. But don't sell them all becausee you'll kick yourself a year from nowwhen they're in more Robertson said. Most other large saless were the result of options nearing If options are not exercisedand expire, the individual losews those options and the shares becomw available to the company to use again in futurre option grants.
If the executive exercisez them, there is a tax liability, so the stocko is often sold to cover the For insider sales at companiess otherthan Progress, company spokespeoplse responded to requests for comment from the Robert Cosinuke, recently named president of globalk capabilities at Boston-based Digitas Inc., sold 239,345 shares of the company'sw stock for $963,732 to rebalance his portfoli o upon receiving that promotion, said a compant spokesperson. That was the first time in his tenure with the companhy that hesold stock, said Traceyg Riese, director of corporate communications. Digitas' shared are up 120 percent fromtheit one-year low.
Michael Morris, chairmaj of Springfield-based Northeast Utilities, also sold this sprinvg for the first time since he joine the companyin 1997. He received 500,000 options in 1997 that vestedin 2002, said Deborag Beauchamp, company spokeswoman. Northeast sharese have jumped 20 percent fromtheir one-yeafr low. Genzyme's CEO, Termeer, exercised and sold 120,009 options, at a price of $4.94 because those options were set to expirreMay 21, said a company spokesperson. The share price is up 158 percent from itsyearlu low. Waters Corp.
executives Brian Mazar, a senior vice and Arthur Caputo, president, each sold 100,00 0 shares, also because optionh grants dating fromthe company's spinoff from Milliporew Corp. in 1994 were due to expire in the next aspokesperson said. Waters' shares are 64 percengt higher thantheir year's low. At Kronos Inc. of six executives sold shares sinceAprill 1, with most salesd being related to expiring said a company spokesperson. Chairman Mark Ain sold the largest block, 89,316 shares. The stock price is 101 percenrt aboveits one-year bottom. Ain couldf not be reached for comment. Alan a director of Bedford-based Interactive Data Corp.
, also facee expiring options whenselling 100,0009 shares for $1.65 million, said an IDC spokesperson. IDC'sa stock was up 47 percent as oflast week. EMC'as John Egan, a director and the son of company co-founder Richard Egan, was one of the insiders who sold sharee that were not the result ofoptions exercising. He sold 250,000 EMC's stock has seen the highest jump in this up 166 percent fromits $3.83w 52-week low. Egan did not return a call for comment.
Whild the insider sales do not necessarily reflec badly on thecompanies involved, if the salees continue at this the market run-up could becomer a bear rally, said Thomson Financial's Insider purchases in May totaled $119 million, stilo below the five-year monthly average of $180 million, on a nationao basis, he said. The ratio of the dollar value of share s sold to the dollar value of sharex being purchased indicates a bear rallyg inthe making, he said. "Insiders sold $28 of stocmk for every $1 they Historically, when that sale is $20 or it's very bearish," Schwenger said.
Of the 14 times that the ratioo has beenat $20 or abovr in the past decade, 10 times the Standars & Poor's 500 has declined an averager of 6 percent six months and 9 percent one year later, he Insider buying has remained anemic in with $42 million worth of stock bought by insiders as of he said. Insider sales at that point hadreached $1.3 about the same level for this time in the monthj of May. "It's hard to say if it'ws a bear sign or they're takinyg advantage of the run-up to liquidate a little said Schwenger. "If we saw several months of that ina row, that's more a sign.
"
After the March 11 dip, the markets began a post-warr climb that continues today. The increase in insider sales sincd then raises the question of whether the executives are simpl diversifying their portfolios or opportunistically cashinhg in ona rally. In Massachusetts, John CEO of ; John Egan, a director for ; Michaeo Morris, chairman of and Henri Termeer, CEO of , were amon the executives at local companies who sold the largest amountsz of shares since April 1 whilethosed companies' stock was shooting up, according to a Bostoh Business Journal review of insider sales at 70 of the largest publicv companies in the state by 2002 revenue.
insider sales were up 150 percent betweeb Apriland May. Insiders sold $3.3 billion wortu of stock in May, hitting the highesty level intwo years, according to Thomso n Financial of New York City. The record-setting pace of sellinv was a resultof post-earnings season a long-awaited market rally and soon-to-expirwe options being exercised, experts For the top inside sellers in that combination of events translated to profitzs as they sold large blocks of shares when their stock prices were up anywhere from 20 percentt to 166 percent, as of June 19, from theid one-year lows.
Portfolio diversification was the buzzword as insiderzs had a rare opportunity in a bear market to make some But experts worry the volume of inside sales may augura short-lived rally in a generall dropping market -- a so-callerd bear rally. "May was the first time sincer November that sales exceededthe five-year historic monthly averag e of $2.4 billion," said Kevij Schwenger, an insider research analyst for Thomso Financial.
"The rise of May sellingt was pretty much reflected across every With many companies restricting saleas in April until earningsare announced, May is usuallh a busy month for insider sales and some divesting was a releass of that build up, Schwenger That $3.3 billion in sales split evenly three ways between companies with small, midsize and large capitalizations, Schwengee said. "There definitely was ... a profit-taking motive," Schwengee said.
Such sales in a rally are to be expected, especiallhy when executives have so much of theirf net worth tied up in theircompanyu holdings, said Tom Shea, a partnert in the human capital practice of the Boston offices of Ernst & Young LLP. "It'sw just natural for them when you get some selling opportunities on the up to take someof them," said noting how "bloodied" investors have been in the stockj market in recent years. "As long as they continue to hold a significanft amount of stock so there is a parallekwith shareholders, that would be fine," Shea said. "Iu think ...
this may be the first time they'v had in three years to take some off the tablse to raisesome cash." The largest sales locallhy were still small percentagesw of each individual's holdings in their respective companies, a study of recent filings with the U.S. Securitiews and Exchange Commission shows. Alsop, of Bedford-baseed Progress, sold 304,000 shareas of stock since April 1, but held 3.18 milliomn shares and options as of the most recenttproxy statement. Alsop exercised options to sell thoss shares to recoup money he used to buy andhold 500,009 shares in the company last year.
Because he did not sell thos shares when he exercised the optionsdin 2002, Alsop paid tax on them, said Norman Robertson, CFO of "It cost him a few million to buy the plus he had to pay taxes on them. When price were higher (this spring), he sold some options, put the cash back in the said Robertson, adding that stock options are a significany portionof Alsop's compensation package. Progress stock closexd last weekat $20.81, a 79 percentf increase from its one-year low of Progress has a five-year vesting term for its options, meaningt the options must be held that long before employees own the sharesx unconditionally.
Robertson advises diversification, but also takew a long-term view of the investment. "Whej you're in the money at a certaih pointin time, you shouldd sell some off. But don't sell them all becausee you'll kick yourself a year from nowwhen they're in more Robertson said. Most other large saless were the result of options nearing If options are not exercisedand expire, the individual losews those options and the shares becomw available to the company to use again in futurre option grants.
If the executive exercisez them, there is a tax liability, so the stocko is often sold to cover the For insider sales at companiess otherthan Progress, company spokespeoplse responded to requests for comment from the Robert Cosinuke, recently named president of globalk capabilities at Boston-based Digitas Inc., sold 239,345 shares of the company'sw stock for $963,732 to rebalance his portfoli o upon receiving that promotion, said a compant spokesperson. That was the first time in his tenure with the companhy that hesold stock, said Traceyg Riese, director of corporate communications. Digitas' shared are up 120 percent fromtheit one-year low.
Michael Morris, chairmaj of Springfield-based Northeast Utilities, also sold this sprinvg for the first time since he joine the companyin 1997. He received 500,000 options in 1997 that vestedin 2002, said Deborag Beauchamp, company spokeswoman. Northeast sharese have jumped 20 percent fromtheir one-yeafr low. Genzyme's CEO, Termeer, exercised and sold 120,009 options, at a price of $4.94 because those options were set to expirreMay 21, said a company spokesperson. The share price is up 158 percent from itsyearlu low. Waters Corp.
executives Brian Mazar, a senior vice and Arthur Caputo, president, each sold 100,00 0 shares, also because optionh grants dating fromthe company's spinoff from Milliporew Corp. in 1994 were due to expire in the next aspokesperson said. Waters' shares are 64 percengt higher thantheir year's low. At Kronos Inc. of six executives sold shares sinceAprill 1, with most salesd being related to expiring said a company spokesperson. Chairman Mark Ain sold the largest block, 89,316 shares. The stock price is 101 percenrt aboveits one-year bottom. Ain couldf not be reached for comment. Alan a director of Bedford-based Interactive Data Corp.
, also facee expiring options whenselling 100,0009 shares for $1.65 million, said an IDC spokesperson. IDC'sa stock was up 47 percent as oflast week. EMC'as John Egan, a director and the son of company co-founder Richard Egan, was one of the insiders who sold sharee that were not the result ofoptions exercising. He sold 250,000 EMC's stock has seen the highest jump in this up 166 percent fromits $3.83w 52-week low. Egan did not return a call for comment.
Whild the insider sales do not necessarily reflec badly on thecompanies involved, if the salees continue at this the market run-up could becomer a bear rally, said Thomson Financial's Insider purchases in May totaled $119 million, stilo below the five-year monthly average of $180 million, on a nationao basis, he said. The ratio of the dollar value of share s sold to the dollar value of sharex being purchased indicates a bear rallyg inthe making, he said. "Insiders sold $28 of stocmk for every $1 they Historically, when that sale is $20 or it's very bearish," Schwenger said.
Of the 14 times that the ratioo has beenat $20 or abovr in the past decade, 10 times the Standars & Poor's 500 has declined an averager of 6 percent six months and 9 percent one year later, he Insider buying has remained anemic in with $42 million worth of stock bought by insiders as of he said. Insider sales at that point hadreached $1.3 about the same level for this time in the monthj of May. "It's hard to say if it'ws a bear sign or they're takinyg advantage of the run-up to liquidate a little said Schwenger. "If we saw several months of that ina row, that's more a sign.
"
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
NCO Group to be bought out by management - Kansas City Business Journal:
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NCO (NASDAQ: NCOG) of Horsham, Pa., a busineses process outsourcing specialist, said other memberas of executive management will be given an opportunity to invest in thesurviving company. Barrist will continue as CEO. NCO stockholder s will receive $27.50 in cash for each shard of NCO common stock they hold as of the effectivw date ofthe merger. The pricre represents a 44 percentt premium to the closing price of the stock prior tothe company's May 16 announcement of the receip t of the proposal from Barrist.
The transactionj is expected to be completed in thefourthb quarter, subject to receipt of shareholder approval and customary regulatoryu approvals as well as satisfaction of otherf closing conditions. NCO focuses its outsourcing businessdon accounts-receivable management and customer-relationshil management through 100 officee in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, the Caribbean and One Equity Partners manages $5 billion of investments and commitments for JPMorganm Chase & Co. in directr private equity transactions. Philadelphia law firm Blank Rome acted as legal counselto NCO; Bass Berry & Sims represented the ad hoc Speciap Committee.
Credit Suisse was financial adviser to theSpeciao Committee. Philadelphia law firm Dechert acteed as legal counsel for One Equity Partners andNew York'ss Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton was legal counsel for Michae J. Barrist. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and JPMorgah Chase & Co. acted as financial advisers to OneEquit Partners.
NCO (NASDAQ: NCOG) of Horsham, Pa., a busineses process outsourcing specialist, said other memberas of executive management will be given an opportunity to invest in thesurviving company. Barrist will continue as CEO. NCO stockholder s will receive $27.50 in cash for each shard of NCO common stock they hold as of the effectivw date ofthe merger. The pricre represents a 44 percentt premium to the closing price of the stock prior tothe company's May 16 announcement of the receip t of the proposal from Barrist.
The transactionj is expected to be completed in thefourthb quarter, subject to receipt of shareholder approval and customary regulatoryu approvals as well as satisfaction of otherf closing conditions. NCO focuses its outsourcing businessdon accounts-receivable management and customer-relationshil management through 100 officee in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, the Caribbean and One Equity Partners manages $5 billion of investments and commitments for JPMorganm Chase & Co. in directr private equity transactions. Philadelphia law firm Blank Rome acted as legal counselto NCO; Bass Berry & Sims represented the ad hoc Speciap Committee.
Credit Suisse was financial adviser to theSpeciao Committee. Philadelphia law firm Dechert acteed as legal counsel for One Equity Partners andNew York'ss Cleary Gottlieb Steen Hamilton was legal counsel for Michae J. Barrist. Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and JPMorgah Chase & Co. acted as financial advisers to OneEquit Partners.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
J. Jill to close one Jacksonville store - Kansas City Business Journal:
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Nine of the 75 storesw to be closed are in including the one in The Avenues A secondJacksonville J. Jill location at the St. Johnws Town Center will remain open. In a statementt announcing the sale, Talbots President and CEO Trudy Sulliva n saidit “enables us to focus our time, resources and attention exclusivelyu on rejuvenating our core Talbotd brand and return to profitable The transaction includes the transfert of certain assets and liabilities to the buyer, includinh a distribution center in New Hampshire, the sublease of a portionb of the Quincy, Mass., headquarters and substantiallhy all of the brand’se intellectual property and inventories.
The remaininvg 204 stores will continue to operatee underthe J. Jill brand. The headquarters for the companyt will remainin Quincy. The J. Jill sale is expectex to be completed in the secon quarter and is subject to postclosintg adjustments. San Francisco based-Golden Gate Capita acquired Jacksonville-based Venus in 2006. The acquisitiohn was Golden Gate’s 11th in two Last month Venus announcedd that all 290 employees were in jeopardy of losing theitr jobs when the swimwear and ladies apparelo company lostits financing.
With its latesrt catalog recentlybeing released, Venus employee s are still working, at least for now, and companyt executives are looking for a new buyere to acquire the company.
Nine of the 75 storesw to be closed are in including the one in The Avenues A secondJacksonville J. Jill location at the St. Johnws Town Center will remain open. In a statementt announcing the sale, Talbots President and CEO Trudy Sulliva n saidit “enables us to focus our time, resources and attention exclusivelyu on rejuvenating our core Talbotd brand and return to profitable The transaction includes the transfert of certain assets and liabilities to the buyer, includinh a distribution center in New Hampshire, the sublease of a portionb of the Quincy, Mass., headquarters and substantiallhy all of the brand’se intellectual property and inventories.
The remaininvg 204 stores will continue to operatee underthe J. Jill brand. The headquarters for the companyt will remainin Quincy. The J. Jill sale is expectex to be completed in the secon quarter and is subject to postclosintg adjustments. San Francisco based-Golden Gate Capita acquired Jacksonville-based Venus in 2006. The acquisitiohn was Golden Gate’s 11th in two Last month Venus announcedd that all 290 employees were in jeopardy of losing theitr jobs when the swimwear and ladies apparelo company lostits financing.
With its latesrt catalog recentlybeing released, Venus employee s are still working, at least for now, and companyt executives are looking for a new buyere to acquire the company.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Smith & Hawken to shutter - South Florida Business Journal:
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“The combination of a weak economy and the lack of scalre proved too greatto overcome,” Jim Hagedorn, CEO of Ohio-based lawn and garden gian t , said in a statement Wednesday. Smith & Hawken parent, Scottss (NYSE:SMG), says storewide sales acrossz the chain will begin immediatelty and be managed bya third-party firm. Orderd on Smith & Hawken’s Web catalog and call center have been The chain has specialized ingardening tools, clothing, books and calendars. For a year, Scotts had been explorin options forthe high-ene garden brand it bought in 2004 for $68.5 But it decided closing the business was the “bestr option available,” Hagedorn said.
Scotts’ latest annual reportr said the chain has consistently underperfomed duringf the pastfive years.
“The combination of a weak economy and the lack of scalre proved too greatto overcome,” Jim Hagedorn, CEO of Ohio-based lawn and garden gian t , said in a statement Wednesday. Smith & Hawken parent, Scottss (NYSE:SMG), says storewide sales acrossz the chain will begin immediatelty and be managed bya third-party firm. Orderd on Smith & Hawken’s Web catalog and call center have been The chain has specialized ingardening tools, clothing, books and calendars. For a year, Scotts had been explorin options forthe high-ene garden brand it bought in 2004 for $68.5 But it decided closing the business was the “bestr option available,” Hagedorn said.
Scotts’ latest annual reportr said the chain has consistently underperfomed duringf the pastfive years.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Barden Gale to replace Robert as J.E. Robert Cos. CEO - Memphis Business Journal:
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Gale comes by way of , where he was vice chairmanh ofreal estate. He will begin his new role overseeiny daily operations at the commercialo real estate companyin mid-July. Robert will becomde executive chairman, working with Gale on corporat strategy atthe McLean-based company. Robert, a prominent philanthropis t and businessman, underwent brain cancer surgery in He also leads JER Commercial Debt Advisors LLCand JERT.PK). After JER Investors Trust Presidentt Mark Weiss resignedJune 22, Robertg assumed the president role at that in addition to his chairma and CEO titles.
Prior to Gale’s role at he was chief investment officer for real estatewat , the investment arm of Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP, one of the world’s largesg and most sophisticated pension the company said. At ABP, Gale assembled a team and builtg an investment platform while overseeing a global real estates portfolio valued at more than 20billion “Barden’s 32 years of experience, exceptionallyu diverse real estate investment expertise and track record as a manager, distinguisheds him amongst the His impressive leadership qualities will be instrumental in shaping the compan and running the business,” Robert said in a “Barden is a top executivd whose experience through the various real estate cycles, combined with his internationall experience, makes him a tremendous asset to JER today and in the Gale has held investment banking roles at in Londoh and New York and at in New He also served as a principal at a real estat development com pany in New York and was a practicing
Gale comes by way of , where he was vice chairmanh ofreal estate. He will begin his new role overseeiny daily operations at the commercialo real estate companyin mid-July. Robert will becomde executive chairman, working with Gale on corporat strategy atthe McLean-based company. Robert, a prominent philanthropis t and businessman, underwent brain cancer surgery in He also leads JER Commercial Debt Advisors LLCand JERT.PK). After JER Investors Trust Presidentt Mark Weiss resignedJune 22, Robertg assumed the president role at that in addition to his chairma and CEO titles.
Prior to Gale’s role at he was chief investment officer for real estatewat , the investment arm of Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP, one of the world’s largesg and most sophisticated pension the company said. At ABP, Gale assembled a team and builtg an investment platform while overseeing a global real estates portfolio valued at more than 20billion “Barden’s 32 years of experience, exceptionallyu diverse real estate investment expertise and track record as a manager, distinguisheds him amongst the His impressive leadership qualities will be instrumental in shaping the compan and running the business,” Robert said in a “Barden is a top executivd whose experience through the various real estate cycles, combined with his internationall experience, makes him a tremendous asset to JER today and in the Gale has held investment banking roles at in Londoh and New York and at in New He also served as a principal at a real estat development com pany in New York and was a practicing
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Port Authority overtime: $90.5M this year, payroll figures show - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
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The Star-Ledger - NJ.com | Port Authority overtime: $90.5M this year, payroll figures show The Star-Ledger - NJ.com By Ted Sherman/The Star-Ledger John Munson/The Star-LedgerPaul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, said the union has been asking the Port Authority for years to hire more officers, and that has cont ributed to the ... Payroll numbers show beat cop at NY-NJ agency earns $221K, 65 other police ... Port Authority Cops Earning Over $200000 in 2011 Thanks To Overtime Port Authority Spends More On Overtime |
Friday, December 9, 2011
Is Costello's "Songbook" worth it? Almost - Reuters
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Is Costello's "Songbook" worth it? Almost Reuters That's the question hardcore fans are asking themselves as they weigh buying "The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook!!!," an extravagant boxed set priced so super-extravagantly that Costello himself took to the web to urge his flock to skip it ... Costello Takes a Stand |
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Saul Ewing adds 7 Buchanan Ingersoll lawyers in Wilmington - Pittsburgh Business Times:
ermolayenayqaked.blogspot.com
office. The loss of the seven-lawyer group leaves Pittsburgh-basedd Buchanan with only one full-time partner in Wilmington and four lawyerwtotal there, and gived Saul Ewing the largesgt Wilmington office of any full-service Philadelphia-based The group includes officwe head William Manning, who serves as outsidd general counsel to the University of Delaware and also represents Verizon Corp. and Dovere Downs. The litigator was once chief of staff to forme rDelaware Gov.
Pete The other two partners areTeresa Currier, who led bankruptcty efforts for Buchanan in and real estate lawyer Richard The additions give Saul Ewing 19 lawyers in where bankruptcies have taken off durinv the economic downturn. A large percentage of companiezs from around the country file for Chapter 11 protectionin Delaware. But because Delawars only has about 2,000 lawyers and has a strong set of indigenousxlaw firms, the Wilmington market has been a tougn one to crack for outsiders, even neighboringg Philadelphia firms. Among Philadelphia firms, Pepper Hamilton and Fox Rothschildd have17 lawyers, Drinker Biddlre & Reath has 15 and Blani Rome has 13.
Saul Ewing said Manning will servdeas co-managing partner of the office with currenyt office managing partner and real estate lawyer Wendie
office. The loss of the seven-lawyer group leaves Pittsburgh-basedd Buchanan with only one full-time partner in Wilmington and four lawyerwtotal there, and gived Saul Ewing the largesgt Wilmington office of any full-service Philadelphia-based The group includes officwe head William Manning, who serves as outsidd general counsel to the University of Delaware and also represents Verizon Corp. and Dovere Downs. The litigator was once chief of staff to forme rDelaware Gov.
Pete The other two partners areTeresa Currier, who led bankruptcty efforts for Buchanan in and real estate lawyer Richard The additions give Saul Ewing 19 lawyers in where bankruptcies have taken off durinv the economic downturn. A large percentage of companiezs from around the country file for Chapter 11 protectionin Delaware. But because Delawars only has about 2,000 lawyers and has a strong set of indigenousxlaw firms, the Wilmington market has been a tougn one to crack for outsiders, even neighboringg Philadelphia firms. Among Philadelphia firms, Pepper Hamilton and Fox Rothschildd have17 lawyers, Drinker Biddlre & Reath has 15 and Blani Rome has 13.
Saul Ewing said Manning will servdeas co-managing partner of the office with currenyt office managing partner and real estate lawyer Wendie
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Lender files to foreclose on MeadWestvaco Tower - Dayton Business Journal:
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, the New York-based owner of the Meadwestvacoo Tower, has stopped making payments onthe building'ds mortgage, according to foreclosure documents fileds May 30 with the . CS bought the property in Apripl 2001for $16 million and still owes $11.6 millio n on the mortgage. , a Connecticutg real estate company and lienholder of the filed theforeclosure documents. CS LLC has abouft a month to respond, said Ron vice president of , manager of the building.
Smith said Prefco'e action shows the company is heatiny up negotiations with the owners in an attemptr to make thebuilding tenant-filled and Court documents show CS was paying about $149,000 each mont h until March 2007 when it made its finapl $162,000 payment. Smith said the compan y continues to makeinterest payments. Smith expecte the litigation to take betweej two and four months to According to documents filedby Prefco's lawyers, Cincinnati-base , Prefco is asking for $11.
6 million in the balanced of the mortgage; $170,000 in interestf as of April 30, additional interesg accrued since then; and additional late charges and attorney's fees and Michael Debbeler, a lwayer with Graydon Head and said Prefco does not comment on pending litigation. The Meadwestvaco Towee has 370,000 square feet of It trails only the KetteringyTower -- with 441,000 square feet -- as the largest downtow n office building. Bob Curry, managing partner of , which has about 110 workers inthe tower, said the lenderr informed him it will honor his short-term lease that expires April 1, 2009. He said the actio n won't have an immediate effect on businesses withihnthe building.
Curry said he does not know what further actionws the building ownerwill take. He has said he may relocatd the firm if owners choose not to invest in updatingbthe building. In addition to Thompso n Hine, the building includes , whose short-ter m lease expires April 2010, and . CareSource workerss are awaiting a new buildinfg now under construction at the corner of Monumeny Avenue and First Street and are expected to use the spac e untillate 2008. The MeadWestvaco Tower has had to contend with the departurre of twolarge tenants.
MeadWestvaco announced in 2006 it would eliminate 500 jobs in the Daytonh area as it consolidated divisions and relocated its headquartersz from Connecticutto Virginia. , which has 250 workers in the plans to move those jobsto Kettering. Its leasew in the tower ended in Marcuh but it signed an extension until the end of Smith said.
, the New York-based owner of the Meadwestvacoo Tower, has stopped making payments onthe building'ds mortgage, according to foreclosure documents fileds May 30 with the . CS bought the property in Apripl 2001for $16 million and still owes $11.6 millio n on the mortgage. , a Connecticutg real estate company and lienholder of the filed theforeclosure documents. CS LLC has abouft a month to respond, said Ron vice president of , manager of the building.
Smith said Prefco'e action shows the company is heatiny up negotiations with the owners in an attemptr to make thebuilding tenant-filled and Court documents show CS was paying about $149,000 each mont h until March 2007 when it made its finapl $162,000 payment. Smith said the compan y continues to makeinterest payments. Smith expecte the litigation to take betweej two and four months to According to documents filedby Prefco's lawyers, Cincinnati-base , Prefco is asking for $11.
6 million in the balanced of the mortgage; $170,000 in interestf as of April 30, additional interesg accrued since then; and additional late charges and attorney's fees and Michael Debbeler, a lwayer with Graydon Head and said Prefco does not comment on pending litigation. The Meadwestvaco Towee has 370,000 square feet of It trails only the KetteringyTower -- with 441,000 square feet -- as the largest downtow n office building. Bob Curry, managing partner of , which has about 110 workers inthe tower, said the lenderr informed him it will honor his short-term lease that expires April 1, 2009. He said the actio n won't have an immediate effect on businesses withihnthe building.
Curry said he does not know what further actionws the building ownerwill take. He has said he may relocatd the firm if owners choose not to invest in updatingbthe building. In addition to Thompso n Hine, the building includes , whose short-ter m lease expires April 2010, and . CareSource workerss are awaiting a new buildinfg now under construction at the corner of Monumeny Avenue and First Street and are expected to use the spac e untillate 2008. The MeadWestvaco Tower has had to contend with the departurre of twolarge tenants.
MeadWestvaco announced in 2006 it would eliminate 500 jobs in the Daytonh area as it consolidated divisions and relocated its headquartersz from Connecticutto Virginia. , which has 250 workers in the plans to move those jobsto Kettering. Its leasew in the tower ended in Marcuh but it signed an extension until the end of Smith said.
Friday, December 2, 2011
What is an advantage or disadvantage of using the Internet in your work? - Business First of Louisville:
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“You used to have to go to a library and physicallty look through hard copies of resourcesw such as books and he said. “Many times the information you were getting wasalreadgy outdated, especially in the computer technology field. “The Internety has transformed that by providingf online access to all kind s oftimely information. I can now access recent studies or journalk articles from my home or It also has changed the way surveysxare conducted, he “It is a lot easier, fastefr and less expensive to do online surveys and obtain researcyh data than to copy and mail paper surveys,” Wrightr said.
“The information comess back electronically and can be reviewedmore quickly.” Dianed Tobin, dean of the College of Business and Communications, “Theree is no question that the Internet has changexd the way we teach our classes,” Tobin “The Internet has allowed us to enhance our teaching and providew new opportunities in the way of online classe for our students.” However, she did poing to some negatives.
“There is an entired group of youngpeople who’ve grown up communicating online, either by e-mail or texting,” she “There is less interpersona interaction with this type of communication, and people don’t develolp relationships as they have in the past.” When interfacingy only occurs via technology, that personao connection is taken away, she said. You can’t pick up on nonverbal cues as you do when you talk with someons faceto face. Without in-person communication, it becomeas easy to misinterpret others’ intentions, she said. “It is creatinfg a whole new slewof legal, emotional and communication problems.
” Kyle assistant professor, Department of Communications, Barnetft said the Internet has been a greayt advantage to him as a professor of televisioj and film studies, a researche and as the facultuy adviser for students at the campus radiop station, which broadcasts solely on the Internet. “Asz a non-traditional radio station, we encourage our students to use Web radio to spreadthe word,” Barnett said. “Internet radiio has a much greater reacb since anyone can accessit online, and (it) appealw to both local listeners and those far Radio works best as a local medium so the feel and sounrd of our station is local.
” Barnett said the stationn is popular among Bellarmine alumni across the country who enjoy the opportunit to keep in touch with the campus communit y and who contribute their own college storiexs to the broadcast. David Clifton, associate professor of accountinfgand business, Dr. David Clifton said the Internetr has changed his role as an educatorr with the introduction ofonlinr courses. “With online coursesa you become more of a tour he said.
“Students are not constrained by the walls or time of traditiona l classes and can do the work at theirown However, it is more difficult to measure progressw and keep students on traclk in an online environment unless you provide lots of Both students and teacherse must be very disciplined to make this work.” Clifton said he gives more tests and problem-solving and writinh assignments to his online studentes so he can gauge theire progress.
He also said more students are requestinb these classes as they try to further theifr education while working andraising
“You used to have to go to a library and physicallty look through hard copies of resourcesw such as books and he said. “Many times the information you were getting wasalreadgy outdated, especially in the computer technology field. “The Internety has transformed that by providingf online access to all kind s oftimely information. I can now access recent studies or journalk articles from my home or It also has changed the way surveysxare conducted, he “It is a lot easier, fastefr and less expensive to do online surveys and obtain researcyh data than to copy and mail paper surveys,” Wrightr said.
“The information comess back electronically and can be reviewedmore quickly.” Dianed Tobin, dean of the College of Business and Communications, “Theree is no question that the Internet has changexd the way we teach our classes,” Tobin “The Internet has allowed us to enhance our teaching and providew new opportunities in the way of online classe for our students.” However, she did poing to some negatives.
“There is an entired group of youngpeople who’ve grown up communicating online, either by e-mail or texting,” she “There is less interpersona interaction with this type of communication, and people don’t develolp relationships as they have in the past.” When interfacingy only occurs via technology, that personao connection is taken away, she said. You can’t pick up on nonverbal cues as you do when you talk with someons faceto face. Without in-person communication, it becomeas easy to misinterpret others’ intentions, she said. “It is creatinfg a whole new slewof legal, emotional and communication problems.
” Kyle assistant professor, Department of Communications, Barnetft said the Internet has been a greayt advantage to him as a professor of televisioj and film studies, a researche and as the facultuy adviser for students at the campus radiop station, which broadcasts solely on the Internet. “Asz a non-traditional radio station, we encourage our students to use Web radio to spreadthe word,” Barnett said. “Internet radiio has a much greater reacb since anyone can accessit online, and (it) appealw to both local listeners and those far Radio works best as a local medium so the feel and sounrd of our station is local.
” Barnett said the stationn is popular among Bellarmine alumni across the country who enjoy the opportunit to keep in touch with the campus communit y and who contribute their own college storiexs to the broadcast. David Clifton, associate professor of accountinfgand business, Dr. David Clifton said the Internetr has changed his role as an educatorr with the introduction ofonlinr courses. “With online coursesa you become more of a tour he said.
“Students are not constrained by the walls or time of traditiona l classes and can do the work at theirown However, it is more difficult to measure progressw and keep students on traclk in an online environment unless you provide lots of Both students and teacherse must be very disciplined to make this work.” Clifton said he gives more tests and problem-solving and writinh assignments to his online studentes so he can gauge theire progress.
He also said more students are requestinb these classes as they try to further theifr education while working andraising
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
US Politicians Increasingly Voicing Concerns About China - Voice of America
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Moneycontrol.com | US Politicians Increasingly Voicing Concerns About China Voice of America November 23, 2011 US Politicians Increasingly Voicing Concerns About China William Ide As the United States struggles to revive its lagging economy and looks at security ch » |
Monday, November 28, 2011
Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse stops work on Baltimore projects - Baltimore Business Journal:
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It’s part of the prolific and nationallyknownj builder’s decision to ride out the recessiojn as a for-fee consultant and contractor and extends to most of its projects from New Englandd to North Carolina, company CEO C. William Struever said. Struever, who pioneered the idea of Baltimore’ s waterfront as a “Digital Harbor” and home for high-techn businesses, said he was forced into the positiobn by mounting debts and the inabilitt to borrow money tofinance projects. Those conditions, he developed more quickly than he expected due to the economicx downturn and nationwidecreditt crunch. Baltimore-based Struever Bros.
has significantl y reduced its work forcre in response tothe shift, and now employs fewer than 100 people. “I’m a joyful, optimistic guy; that’s why I’m in trouble,” Strueve said. “I never would have guessecd how hard it was goinfg to be to get financingy forthose projects.” The company has amassede more than $10 million in debts and loan according to court records, and like competitor s in the downturn, it is havingg trouble raising money to fuel its developments. Across developers have put the brakew on projects for a lack of financing andmarkett demand, including two planned skyscrapers along the Inner Harbor and several residentiao towers.
For Struever Bros., those problemx date back to its inability to raise fundsd for a condominium projecty called the Olmstedin Baltimore’s Charlesw Village neighborhood. From there, the company developedc a plan to raise money by bringing on equity partnera and sellingoff assets. But as the economhy worsened, Struever Bros. found it was unabl to attract new partners. And as the credir markets seized up, it found it couldn’t find buyer s for its properties or lenders to borrow money or refinanc eits debts. Those factorw contributed to Struever Bros.’ decision last month to step down as an equithy partner in State the $1.
4 billion planned redevelopment of a midtown Baltimore statr office complex. It also has reduced its stake ina $1.5 billio Southwest Washington, D.C., waterfront redevelopment and is renegotiating with H&S Propertiees Development Corp. its role in Harborf Point. Harbor Point is a former chromse plant on which Struever workedwith H&S Propertiew for nearly a decade to remake into a 1.8 million-square-footy mixed-use development. The two firms spent more than $3 millio n preparing the site for development and anestimate $22.8 million to build the first structure, a 240,000-square-foort office building to be partially occupied by financialo firm Morgan Stanley.
That buildin is slated for completion in the firsfquarter 2010. Christopher H. Janian, H& S Properties’ assistant development manager, confirmed Struever is seeking a changd from its role as equity partner in the He referred questions about thosed talksto H&S Properties Presidenr Michael S. Beatty, who could not be reached for comment. Janian said H&aS Properties still plans to develop other partx ofHarbor Point, but the project’s next two structures, a 350-uniyt apartment building and a four-star Westin hotel, are on hold for at leastr two more years until the economy improves. Many of Struever Bros.
’ projects involved bringing new businessex and jobs into the communities where they were Those include keeping Legg Mason in Baltimore in a new headquarterx atHarbor East, creating more office spacer at Harbor Point for Morgaj Stanley, and luring Humanimk from Howard County to the Americaj Brewery building in East Baltimore. “They’ve done some wonderful projectsw thatI don’t know anybody else woulc have done; certainly Clipper Mill comes to mind,” said Baltimorre Development Corp. President M.J.
“Jay” Brodie, who has knownm Struever since the 1970s when Struever was a budding contracting firm and Brodiewas Baltimore’s housing “I know they’ve been struggling. I don’ft know what the end result will be. It’s my hope that they survive this very difficult economic situation because I thinkl they can still do some good The move from developmentto fee-based work hasn’yt been without its heartbreak for Struever, regardedr by former employees, colleagues and city officials as a visionarg and leader of urban redevelopment He relished his role taking on thesed projects such as State Center, whichu featured many of the common elements at otheer Struever projects like green building, transit-oriented development, urbahn redevelopment and job retention.
Struever said he expects to complete work on all itsexistinb projects, including the conversion of a forme Overflo storage warehouse in Locust Poinr into new office, retail and showroom space for its marquer Tide Point tenant, Under Armour Inc. But it does not expect to take on anynew projects, as eithed an equity partner or lead and Struever is instead focusing on working with its creditors and payinh down its debts. “I’m getting projects finished andpeoplse paid. Night and day, that’es my No. 1 priority,” Struever said. “I feel in my heargt the obligation to getpeople paid.” It’s not the firstf recession Struever said he has been through.
But he said it is the deepes he’s seen, and he’s hoping his firm can once agaim survive the recession by stepping out of the development businese and focusingon fee-basede work consulting and contracting for developers in better financia standing. In that role, Struever will serve as a consultant to the new Stat Centerdevelopment team. It is also servingb as a contractor to the National Aquarium in Baltimord for its Middle Branchexpansion project. Struevedr said he hopes to avoid bankruptcy by running aleanerr company. “It’s tough times, and there’ds no guarantees,” he said. Through layoffsw or resignations, the ranks of Strueve r Bros.
employees has dwindled from more than 350 employees fewerdthan 100. It’s lost several key members of itsdevelopment team, including Fran Weld, who oversae the company’s sustainability and preservation initiatives, and Tim a development director overseeing Struever now-tabled plans to expand Tide Dominic Wiker left Struever Bros. in Novemberf 2007, after five years handling developmeng projects including Charles Center andthe ill-fated formet Olmsted condominium project in Charlesd Village. Struever Bros. halted the Olmsted projecty whenthe city’s condominium market and the company sold the property to Johns Hopkins University for $12.5 million May 7.
Wiker now works for Pikesville developer Mark Sapperstein on the redevelopmentf of McHenry Row in Locust He has kept an eye on the compangy sincehe left, and said he hopexs Struever Bros. is able to recove r from its financial challenges. “Ity was a tremendously exciting experience; it’x just a great learning Wiker said. “Bill undertook some very challenging projects. They were challenging even in the bestof
It’s part of the prolific and nationallyknownj builder’s decision to ride out the recessiojn as a for-fee consultant and contractor and extends to most of its projects from New Englandd to North Carolina, company CEO C. William Struever said. Struever, who pioneered the idea of Baltimore’ s waterfront as a “Digital Harbor” and home for high-techn businesses, said he was forced into the positiobn by mounting debts and the inabilitt to borrow money tofinance projects. Those conditions, he developed more quickly than he expected due to the economicx downturn and nationwidecreditt crunch. Baltimore-based Struever Bros.
has significantl y reduced its work forcre in response tothe shift, and now employs fewer than 100 people. “I’m a joyful, optimistic guy; that’s why I’m in trouble,” Strueve said. “I never would have guessecd how hard it was goinfg to be to get financingy forthose projects.” The company has amassede more than $10 million in debts and loan according to court records, and like competitor s in the downturn, it is havingg trouble raising money to fuel its developments. Across developers have put the brakew on projects for a lack of financing andmarkett demand, including two planned skyscrapers along the Inner Harbor and several residentiao towers.
For Struever Bros., those problemx date back to its inability to raise fundsd for a condominium projecty called the Olmstedin Baltimore’s Charlesw Village neighborhood. From there, the company developedc a plan to raise money by bringing on equity partnera and sellingoff assets. But as the economhy worsened, Struever Bros. found it was unabl to attract new partners. And as the credir markets seized up, it found it couldn’t find buyer s for its properties or lenders to borrow money or refinanc eits debts. Those factorw contributed to Struever Bros.’ decision last month to step down as an equithy partner in State the $1.
4 billion planned redevelopment of a midtown Baltimore statr office complex. It also has reduced its stake ina $1.5 billio Southwest Washington, D.C., waterfront redevelopment and is renegotiating with H&S Propertiees Development Corp. its role in Harborf Point. Harbor Point is a former chromse plant on which Struever workedwith H&S Propertiew for nearly a decade to remake into a 1.8 million-square-footy mixed-use development. The two firms spent more than $3 millio n preparing the site for development and anestimate $22.8 million to build the first structure, a 240,000-square-foort office building to be partially occupied by financialo firm Morgan Stanley.
That buildin is slated for completion in the firsfquarter 2010. Christopher H. Janian, H& S Properties’ assistant development manager, confirmed Struever is seeking a changd from its role as equity partner in the He referred questions about thosed talksto H&S Properties Presidenr Michael S. Beatty, who could not be reached for comment. Janian said H&aS Properties still plans to develop other partx ofHarbor Point, but the project’s next two structures, a 350-uniyt apartment building and a four-star Westin hotel, are on hold for at leastr two more years until the economy improves. Many of Struever Bros.
’ projects involved bringing new businessex and jobs into the communities where they were Those include keeping Legg Mason in Baltimore in a new headquarterx atHarbor East, creating more office spacer at Harbor Point for Morgaj Stanley, and luring Humanimk from Howard County to the Americaj Brewery building in East Baltimore. “They’ve done some wonderful projectsw thatI don’t know anybody else woulc have done; certainly Clipper Mill comes to mind,” said Baltimorre Development Corp. President M.J.
“Jay” Brodie, who has knownm Struever since the 1970s when Struever was a budding contracting firm and Brodiewas Baltimore’s housing “I know they’ve been struggling. I don’ft know what the end result will be. It’s my hope that they survive this very difficult economic situation because I thinkl they can still do some good The move from developmentto fee-based work hasn’yt been without its heartbreak for Struever, regardedr by former employees, colleagues and city officials as a visionarg and leader of urban redevelopment He relished his role taking on thesed projects such as State Center, whichu featured many of the common elements at otheer Struever projects like green building, transit-oriented development, urbahn redevelopment and job retention.
Struever said he expects to complete work on all itsexistinb projects, including the conversion of a forme Overflo storage warehouse in Locust Poinr into new office, retail and showroom space for its marquer Tide Point tenant, Under Armour Inc. But it does not expect to take on anynew projects, as eithed an equity partner or lead and Struever is instead focusing on working with its creditors and payinh down its debts. “I’m getting projects finished andpeoplse paid. Night and day, that’es my No. 1 priority,” Struever said. “I feel in my heargt the obligation to getpeople paid.” It’s not the firstf recession Struever said he has been through.
But he said it is the deepes he’s seen, and he’s hoping his firm can once agaim survive the recession by stepping out of the development businese and focusingon fee-basede work consulting and contracting for developers in better financia standing. In that role, Struever will serve as a consultant to the new Stat Centerdevelopment team. It is also servingb as a contractor to the National Aquarium in Baltimord for its Middle Branchexpansion project. Struevedr said he hopes to avoid bankruptcy by running aleanerr company. “It’s tough times, and there’ds no guarantees,” he said. Through layoffsw or resignations, the ranks of Strueve r Bros.
employees has dwindled from more than 350 employees fewerdthan 100. It’s lost several key members of itsdevelopment team, including Fran Weld, who oversae the company’s sustainability and preservation initiatives, and Tim a development director overseeing Struever now-tabled plans to expand Tide Dominic Wiker left Struever Bros. in Novemberf 2007, after five years handling developmeng projects including Charles Center andthe ill-fated formet Olmsted condominium project in Charlesd Village. Struever Bros. halted the Olmsted projecty whenthe city’s condominium market and the company sold the property to Johns Hopkins University for $12.5 million May 7.
Wiker now works for Pikesville developer Mark Sapperstein on the redevelopmentf of McHenry Row in Locust He has kept an eye on the compangy sincehe left, and said he hopexs Struever Bros. is able to recove r from its financial challenges. “Ity was a tremendously exciting experience; it’x just a great learning Wiker said. “Bill undertook some very challenging projects. They were challenging even in the bestof
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Colorado's economy grew faster in 2008, despite recession - Charlotte Business Journal:
ogarawo.wordpress.com
reported Tuesday, suggesting that the recession' s impact hit Colorado later than most other partss ofthe country. Grossa domestic product in Colorado grewby 2.9 percent in up from 2.0 percent in 2007 and 2.7 percent in 2006, the Commercs Department's Bureau of Economic Analysise (BEA) reported in its annual state-by-statwe breakdown of GDP. Colorado's 2.9 percent GDP growt rate was fourth-highest among the 50 states, exceededr only by North Dakota (7.3 percent Wyoming (4.4 percent) and South Dakotq (3.5 percent). The last year Colorado's economy grew fastee than 2008 was in witha 4.3 percent GDP increase that BEA said.
Colorado was one of only 12 statesz in 2008 where the rate of growthy of GDP increased from theprevious year. In 12 states experienced GDP declines in led by Alaska witha 2.0 percent Average growth in GDP amonyg the 50 states slowed from 2.0 percenr in 2007 to 0.7 percenrt in 2008. (The GDP-by-state figures differd from national GDP becausedifferent state-by-statde methodology is used.) The nationwide recession officially began at the start of 2008. The repory said the biggest contributors to the growthof Colorado'sw GDP in 2008 were professionak and technical services, followed by information and government.
It said the biggesyt drags on the state's economy were construction, followesd by transportation and warehousing. .
reported Tuesday, suggesting that the recession' s impact hit Colorado later than most other partss ofthe country. Grossa domestic product in Colorado grewby 2.9 percent in up from 2.0 percent in 2007 and 2.7 percent in 2006, the Commercs Department's Bureau of Economic Analysise (BEA) reported in its annual state-by-statwe breakdown of GDP. Colorado's 2.9 percent GDP growt rate was fourth-highest among the 50 states, exceededr only by North Dakota (7.3 percent Wyoming (4.4 percent) and South Dakotq (3.5 percent). The last year Colorado's economy grew fastee than 2008 was in witha 4.3 percent GDP increase that BEA said.
Colorado was one of only 12 statesz in 2008 where the rate of growthy of GDP increased from theprevious year. In 12 states experienced GDP declines in led by Alaska witha 2.0 percent Average growth in GDP amonyg the 50 states slowed from 2.0 percenr in 2007 to 0.7 percenrt in 2008. (The GDP-by-state figures differd from national GDP becausedifferent state-by-statde methodology is used.) The nationwide recession officially began at the start of 2008. The repory said the biggest contributors to the growthof Colorado'sw GDP in 2008 were professionak and technical services, followed by information and government.
It said the biggesyt drags on the state's economy were construction, followesd by transportation and warehousing. .
Thursday, November 24, 2011
China's Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling Inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural ... - CRIENGLISH.com
qalymeled.wordpress.com
Hurriyet Daily News | China's Hezhen Yimakan Storytelling Inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural ... CRIENGLISH.com The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) decided Wednesday to inscribe Hezhen Yimakan, a unique art of storytelling in China, on the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. ... Chinese storytelling tradition placed on UN list of intangible heritage in danger |
Monday, November 21, 2011
Most Florida banks swoon; three provide model for growth - Houston Business Journal:
vorotintseyqah.blogspot.com
USAmeriBank went from red to blacki ink by signing talented bankers who broughtt customerswith them. Acquisitionas boosted the bottom line at CenterStates Bankof Florida. A merge of related financial institutions cut expensesat , whilse a stronger balance sheet grew income. Each bank prospered by usingg different methodologies, yet their strategies providde a road map for institutions struggling to turn their balancesheeta positive. Their profit gainsd are all the more remarkable given the difficult economifc climatein Florida.
The said 305 bankds and thrifts in Florida reportec a combined net lossof $643 million for the 2009 firsr quarter, compared to net income of $4 milliob for the year-ago period. Profitabilitg remains weak because bankss continue to struggle with bad saidPaula Johannsen, managing director of , an investmenf banking firm in Tampa. Nonperforming assets don’t bring in interestg income, pressuring margins. The provisions bankd take for expected loan losses cut furthe r into their income while the legal and managemenft expense related to forecloses propertygoes up. USAmeriBank — which has amassedc $650.
8 million in assets in its twoyearz — has a cleanm balance sheet, said Joe Chillura, CEO. The bank avoidedr development lending and the loans it does have that are secure by real estate arefor owner-occupieds properties, Chillura said. Only $598,0000 in USAmeriBank loans, or aboutg one-tenth of 1 percent of the total $528.2 million in loans, were past due as of Marc 31, according to a report filed withthe . a former Tampa market presidenrtfor (NYSE: ), said the bankers he’ss hired have brought their customers, a move that was possibl because bigger banks are distracte by bad loans and shrinking capitapl and aren’t focused on customer service.
That’s allowed USAmeriBank to grow more quicklythan expected, Chillurz said, and post a significant going from a $185,000 loss in the firs t quarter of 2008 to $881,0000 in profit in the just-endesd quarter. CenterState saw first quartee 2009 profit swellto $1.2 million, up 68 percent in one after two acquisitions, said John Corbett, presidenrt and CEO. The Winter Haven-based lead bankinh subsidiary of (Nasdaq: CSFL) added a corresponden t banking unit last fall when it hired the bankers who handlef that business for theformerd .
The unit sells bonds to roughlyt 200 othercommunity banks, and it is thriving because communityh banks aren’t doing as much lending as they were a year ago and are investin their cash in bonds. CenterStatew also bought the failedand $178 million in depositws on Jan. 30. “We’ve been putting that moneh to work in loansand investments, and that’s helper us grow,” Corbett said. Aggressive plannint that began around the end of the firsr quarter of 2008 kept Floridw Bank on thegrowth track, said Katie Pemble, presidenr and CEO. Florida Bank’s $351,00p in net income for the first quarter of 2009 was a 73 percen increase from ayear earlier.
Since December, the Tampa-based bank has mergef with three sister institutionsdin Sarasota, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, consolidating back-officde operations and cutting Each of the banks was above the level regulatorsa considered well-capitalized, and their capital position was further strengthened when they Additionally, executive officers and the board developed a seriesz of 90-day plans focused on strengthening the balanc e sheet with an emphasis on capital and on liquidity, or the ability to turn its assets into cash A strong balance sheet allowex Florida Bank to look for the leasgt expensive way to attract funding, a move that boosta net interest margin, or the spread between the interest it pays on depositse and the interest it earnss from loans.
Although there are glimmers of hope, CenterState’e Corbett expects more loan writedowns acrosds the industry in the next two tothreer quarters. The number of institutions on the watch list increasee in the first three months of and as ofMarch 31, 30 percent of Florida’as banks were on the list, compared to 15 percentf of the institutions a year ago. Access to the capital markegt marketsis critical, Corbett said, adding the stresw tests the nation’s biggestt banks just underwent have inspiredf investor confidence in those institutions.
Sincew results were released May 7, the banks collectivelh have raisednearly $60 billion of the $75 billiobn in extra capital regulators said they need. “Asw investments come back into thebig banks, I think over time you’lll see that trickle down to the mid cap and communituy banks,” Corbett said.
USAmeriBank went from red to blacki ink by signing talented bankers who broughtt customerswith them. Acquisitionas boosted the bottom line at CenterStates Bankof Florida. A merge of related financial institutions cut expensesat , whilse a stronger balance sheet grew income. Each bank prospered by usingg different methodologies, yet their strategies providde a road map for institutions struggling to turn their balancesheeta positive. Their profit gainsd are all the more remarkable given the difficult economifc climatein Florida.
The said 305 bankds and thrifts in Florida reportec a combined net lossof $643 million for the 2009 firsr quarter, compared to net income of $4 milliob for the year-ago period. Profitabilitg remains weak because bankss continue to struggle with bad saidPaula Johannsen, managing director of , an investmenf banking firm in Tampa. Nonperforming assets don’t bring in interestg income, pressuring margins. The provisions bankd take for expected loan losses cut furthe r into their income while the legal and managemenft expense related to forecloses propertygoes up. USAmeriBank — which has amassedc $650.
8 million in assets in its twoyearz — has a cleanm balance sheet, said Joe Chillura, CEO. The bank avoidedr development lending and the loans it does have that are secure by real estate arefor owner-occupieds properties, Chillura said. Only $598,0000 in USAmeriBank loans, or aboutg one-tenth of 1 percent of the total $528.2 million in loans, were past due as of Marc 31, according to a report filed withthe . a former Tampa market presidenrtfor (NYSE: ), said the bankers he’ss hired have brought their customers, a move that was possibl because bigger banks are distracte by bad loans and shrinking capitapl and aren’t focused on customer service.
That’s allowed USAmeriBank to grow more quicklythan expected, Chillurz said, and post a significant going from a $185,000 loss in the firs t quarter of 2008 to $881,0000 in profit in the just-endesd quarter. CenterState saw first quartee 2009 profit swellto $1.2 million, up 68 percent in one after two acquisitions, said John Corbett, presidenrt and CEO. The Winter Haven-based lead bankinh subsidiary of (Nasdaq: CSFL) added a corresponden t banking unit last fall when it hired the bankers who handlef that business for theformerd .
The unit sells bonds to roughlyt 200 othercommunity banks, and it is thriving because communityh banks aren’t doing as much lending as they were a year ago and are investin their cash in bonds. CenterStatew also bought the failedand $178 million in depositws on Jan. 30. “We’ve been putting that moneh to work in loansand investments, and that’s helper us grow,” Corbett said. Aggressive plannint that began around the end of the firsr quarter of 2008 kept Floridw Bank on thegrowth track, said Katie Pemble, presidenr and CEO. Florida Bank’s $351,00p in net income for the first quarter of 2009 was a 73 percen increase from ayear earlier.
Since December, the Tampa-based bank has mergef with three sister institutionsdin Sarasota, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, consolidating back-officde operations and cutting Each of the banks was above the level regulatorsa considered well-capitalized, and their capital position was further strengthened when they Additionally, executive officers and the board developed a seriesz of 90-day plans focused on strengthening the balanc e sheet with an emphasis on capital and on liquidity, or the ability to turn its assets into cash A strong balance sheet allowex Florida Bank to look for the leasgt expensive way to attract funding, a move that boosta net interest margin, or the spread between the interest it pays on depositse and the interest it earnss from loans.
Although there are glimmers of hope, CenterState’e Corbett expects more loan writedowns acrosds the industry in the next two tothreer quarters. The number of institutions on the watch list increasee in the first three months of and as ofMarch 31, 30 percent of Florida’as banks were on the list, compared to 15 percentf of the institutions a year ago. Access to the capital markegt marketsis critical, Corbett said, adding the stresw tests the nation’s biggestt banks just underwent have inspiredf investor confidence in those institutions.
Sincew results were released May 7, the banks collectivelh have raisednearly $60 billion of the $75 billiobn in extra capital regulators said they need. “Asw investments come back into thebig banks, I think over time you’lll see that trickle down to the mid cap and communituy banks,” Corbett said.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
FEMA drops Tampa flood insurance rates - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
ivyhofy.wordpress.com
Residents will see a decreasde in their standard flood policy rateeand that’s attributable to efforts by city a release said. The Community Rating System, which is administeredf by the , awardzs points to a community for the activities it undertakes to address floodinf andother hazards. Tampas has been awarded a Class 6 which willreduce residents’ premiums by 20 percen off the standard policy rates.
Tampa’ss rating was due to efforts that have been undertakenj to solveflooding problems, increase the amount of publidc land in the floodplain, the enforcement of rules for construction in the and educating the public on the hazards of building in the floodplainn and the importance of flood Ratings directly affect Tampaw residents, not only becauser they reflect increased effortsw to reduce flooding but also becausde better ratings translate into lower costs for flood Each rating level below Class 10 reduces flooxd insurance costs by 5 percent, a release from the city Policyholders were receiving an average discount of $105 off the standard flood policy rates.
On May 1 that discount jumped up to an averageof $142 per policy. The totak savings amount to almost $3.7 million a year for floode insurance policy holders inthe city, which, accordin to the release, is among the highestr average savings in the nation.
Residents will see a decreasde in their standard flood policy rateeand that’s attributable to efforts by city a release said. The Community Rating System, which is administeredf by the , awardzs points to a community for the activities it undertakes to address floodinf andother hazards. Tampas has been awarded a Class 6 which willreduce residents’ premiums by 20 percen off the standard policy rates.
Tampa’ss rating was due to efforts that have been undertakenj to solveflooding problems, increase the amount of publidc land in the floodplain, the enforcement of rules for construction in the and educating the public on the hazards of building in the floodplainn and the importance of flood Ratings directly affect Tampaw residents, not only becauser they reflect increased effortsw to reduce flooding but also becausde better ratings translate into lower costs for flood Each rating level below Class 10 reduces flooxd insurance costs by 5 percent, a release from the city Policyholders were receiving an average discount of $105 off the standard flood policy rates.
On May 1 that discount jumped up to an averageof $142 per policy. The totak savings amount to almost $3.7 million a year for floode insurance policy holders inthe city, which, accordin to the release, is among the highestr average savings in the nation.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Letter: Purchase American made to protect our jobs here - TCPalm
bhutan-warwick.blogspot.com
Letter: Purchase American made to protect our jobs here TCPalm My cousin, a contractor in Cape Coral, had purchased three components from the same manufacturer. The stove was down for the second time and that $2600 refrigerator was in need of repair (both 3 years old). And a friend in Connecticut has a 2-year-old ... |
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Why the Farm Bill Matters - Huffington Post
evlampiyacyxybyw.blogspot.com
Why the Farm Bill Matters Huffington Post I have a confession to make: I'm intimidated by the Farm Bill. Luckily, some of my colleagues at Just Food get it (as much as it can be gotten) and can take the time to explain it to me. As much as I'd like to avoid thinking about the Farm Bill ... Farm To School program discussed in Helena Food and justice for &r aquo; |
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Official chosen to run Dover military mortuary probe steps aside - CNN
esivyjifag.wordpress.com
Official chosen to run Dover military mortuary probe steps aside CNN Richard Carmona, shown in a 2008 photo, was selected by President George W. Bush to be the US surgeon general. The man selected on Tuesday to run an independent investigation of problems within the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base has already ... |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Dai-Ichi Cutter <1716.OS>-1qtr group results - Reuters
viningocouqyl1601.blogspot.com
Dai-Ichi Cutter <1716.OS>-1qtr group results Reuters Nov 11 (Reuters) - DAI-ICHI CUTTER KOGYO KK CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (in billions of yen unless specified) 3 months ended 3 months ended 6 months to Year to Sep 30, 2011 Sep 30, 2010 Dec 30, 2011 Jun 30, 2012 LATEST YEAR-AGO H1 LATEST RESULTS ... |
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
District to mull convention hotel financing options - Washington Business Journal:
yvejodo.wordpress.com
They plan to work with Chief Financial Officefr Natwar Gandhi to consider a rangeof options, from movingf financing from other public-private partnershipd to working around the city’s recentlu imposed 12 percent debt cap. Discussione became public May 29 whenthe ’s board directe CEO Greg O’Dell to seek authorit for the sale of bondx to cover the entire price of the interest during construction, insurance and other Developers plan a 1,167-room Marriott Marquis with retailk and 400 underground parking spaces. The D.C.
Councilk already has committeda $187 million tax increment financing packagew for the project, enough to raise 25 percent of the $550 milliom total cost, with the idea that developers Quadrangle Developmenyt Corp. and Capstone Development LLC coulds find the rest fromprivatew sources. “They’ve been pursuing private financing and inthis market, you that is very difficult,” O’Dell said. “They’ve spent millionz of dollars on this project to try to move it It really is shovel readyy with the exceptionof financing.
” Council members say they are sensitive to competition from destinations such as National Harbotr in Prince George’s County and they fear the city will begihn missing out on major conventions for 2013 if hotepl construction doesn’t begin this fall. But the city alreadyt faces anestimated $967 million budgetf shortfall for fiscal 2011 and the borrowinh would violate a new 12 percent debt cap. Gandhi, who predictsa the debt level toreach 11.6 percent in fisca 2011, does not support exceeding the cap, but some city officialds question whether issuing new conventiob authority bonds would do that.
Councilman Jack D-Ward 2 and chair of the financew committee, said getting into the ground this fall is a but expects opponents to compare the projectt to theNationals Park, the most recenf major publicly financed project, whichg cost the city more than $700 million. He pointed out that if the city financex and owned the hotelk it could sell it when themarket “Hotels are sold all the time, just like officwe buildings … You cannogt sell a baseball stadium.
So I think comparisonas betweenthe two, although they will be made, are not Another option would be to pull subsidies from othef city real estate deals, somethinh mentioned both by Evans and Councilman Kwame Brown, D-At large and chaidr of the economic development committee. “Io think the question is whether [other councikl members] are interested in reducing projects in their Brown said. Pitching the deal alongside O’Dell will be Fenty’sd new deputy mayor for planning andeconomic development, Valerie as well as her predecessort Neil Albert, a member of the conventiobn center authority board and the new city “This is only going to get done if the full faitgh and credit of the District government is behinc it,” Albert said, notinf private markets won’t invest for the foreseeable future.
The city however, try to convince already interested equity investorse to jump in with a smaller amounrof money. O’Dell and Norman Jenkins, Capstone indicated that roughly $135 million in equitu is in place, but that it is contingentf on $300 million in debt from banks. “We could still get there, but we got to get the bankes to play and they move at theifrown pace,” Jenkins said.
Evans said he hopexs $100 million in city financing might convince banks to commi tolend $100 million or $200
They plan to work with Chief Financial Officefr Natwar Gandhi to consider a rangeof options, from movingf financing from other public-private partnershipd to working around the city’s recentlu imposed 12 percent debt cap. Discussione became public May 29 whenthe ’s board directe CEO Greg O’Dell to seek authorit for the sale of bondx to cover the entire price of the interest during construction, insurance and other Developers plan a 1,167-room Marriott Marquis with retailk and 400 underground parking spaces. The D.C.
Councilk already has committeda $187 million tax increment financing packagew for the project, enough to raise 25 percent of the $550 milliom total cost, with the idea that developers Quadrangle Developmenyt Corp. and Capstone Development LLC coulds find the rest fromprivatew sources. “They’ve been pursuing private financing and inthis market, you that is very difficult,” O’Dell said. “They’ve spent millionz of dollars on this project to try to move it It really is shovel readyy with the exceptionof financing.
” Council members say they are sensitive to competition from destinations such as National Harbotr in Prince George’s County and they fear the city will begihn missing out on major conventions for 2013 if hotepl construction doesn’t begin this fall. But the city alreadyt faces anestimated $967 million budgetf shortfall for fiscal 2011 and the borrowinh would violate a new 12 percent debt cap. Gandhi, who predictsa the debt level toreach 11.6 percent in fisca 2011, does not support exceeding the cap, but some city officialds question whether issuing new conventiob authority bonds would do that.
Councilman Jack D-Ward 2 and chair of the financew committee, said getting into the ground this fall is a but expects opponents to compare the projectt to theNationals Park, the most recenf major publicly financed project, whichg cost the city more than $700 million. He pointed out that if the city financex and owned the hotelk it could sell it when themarket “Hotels are sold all the time, just like officwe buildings … You cannogt sell a baseball stadium.
So I think comparisonas betweenthe two, although they will be made, are not Another option would be to pull subsidies from othef city real estate deals, somethinh mentioned both by Evans and Councilman Kwame Brown, D-At large and chaidr of the economic development committee. “Io think the question is whether [other councikl members] are interested in reducing projects in their Brown said. Pitching the deal alongside O’Dell will be Fenty’sd new deputy mayor for planning andeconomic development, Valerie as well as her predecessort Neil Albert, a member of the conventiobn center authority board and the new city “This is only going to get done if the full faitgh and credit of the District government is behinc it,” Albert said, notinf private markets won’t invest for the foreseeable future.
The city however, try to convince already interested equity investorse to jump in with a smaller amounrof money. O’Dell and Norman Jenkins, Capstone indicated that roughly $135 million in equitu is in place, but that it is contingentf on $300 million in debt from banks. “We could still get there, but we got to get the bankes to play and they move at theifrown pace,” Jenkins said.
Evans said he hopexs $100 million in city financing might convince banks to commi tolend $100 million or $200
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
New Chinese drywall worry: Radiation - Kansas City Business Journal:
antoninahubihe.blogspot.com
The Los Angeles Times ran an investigative story revealingthat phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of phosphate fertilizer production, is commonly used in some Chinese-mader drywall. Phosphogypsum is foundc in abundancein Florida, where the bulk of Chineser drywall complaints have been logged. A white powderhy substance, it is piled along the highwaya ofCentral Florida’s Bone Valley-Fort Meade where fertilizer is made. It is different from normal gypsum, a mineral-like substance that can come from mineas or as a residuefrom coal-fired powerf plant air pollution scrubbers. But, phosphogypsum is banned as a buildinhg product in drywall inthe U.S.
So far, limite d tests by state and federal authorities have not founxd it in anyproblem drywall. “Phosphogypsum is bannesd in theUnited States, and we do not use said Nancy Spurlock, spokeswoman for domesti manufacturer , which has a large productiob facility in Apollo Beach, near The has received about 500 complainta of Chinese drywall in homes, with the majority in Soutj Florida or Southwest The problem drywall has been associated with metap corrosion in air conditioners and electrical wiring, odor and health complaints.
Susan press secretary for the department, said Tuesdayu there has been no evidence of elevated levelas of radiation associated with Chinese drywall in only normalbackground levels. But, the state’zs tests have been severelu limitedso far. Samples taken from four homes earlief this year showed higher levels of sulfur compounds in Chinese drywall compared todomestic brands, and which was not found in domestic brands. Furthe test results on indoor air sampling at several homes are expecteds laterthis month. The and have also been involvedr inthe investigation.
Regarding phosphogypsum, Smith said she can’t speculat e about its presence but, “I can [say] we are lookinyg into this issue with ourfederal partners.”
The Los Angeles Times ran an investigative story revealingthat phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of phosphate fertilizer production, is commonly used in some Chinese-mader drywall. Phosphogypsum is foundc in abundancein Florida, where the bulk of Chineser drywall complaints have been logged. A white powderhy substance, it is piled along the highwaya ofCentral Florida’s Bone Valley-Fort Meade where fertilizer is made. It is different from normal gypsum, a mineral-like substance that can come from mineas or as a residuefrom coal-fired powerf plant air pollution scrubbers. But, phosphogypsum is banned as a buildinhg product in drywall inthe U.S.
So far, limite d tests by state and federal authorities have not founxd it in anyproblem drywall. “Phosphogypsum is bannesd in theUnited States, and we do not use said Nancy Spurlock, spokeswoman for domesti manufacturer , which has a large productiob facility in Apollo Beach, near The has received about 500 complainta of Chinese drywall in homes, with the majority in Soutj Florida or Southwest The problem drywall has been associated with metap corrosion in air conditioners and electrical wiring, odor and health complaints.
Susan press secretary for the department, said Tuesdayu there has been no evidence of elevated levelas of radiation associated with Chinese drywall in only normalbackground levels. But, the state’zs tests have been severelu limitedso far. Samples taken from four homes earlief this year showed higher levels of sulfur compounds in Chinese drywall compared todomestic brands, and which was not found in domestic brands. Furthe test results on indoor air sampling at several homes are expecteds laterthis month. The and have also been involvedr inthe investigation.
Regarding phosphogypsum, Smith said she can’t speculat e about its presence but, “I can [say] we are lookinyg into this issue with ourfederal partners.”
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Downtown Staybridge Suites seeks receivership - Business First of Buffalo:
ramoledef.blogspot.com
SJ Properties Suites Buyco EHF, whicnh includes an investor from Reykjavik, Iceland, fileds the petition Monday in Milwaukee CounttCircuit Court. Judge Mel Flanagan scheduled a hearingt for June 30 on a motion to appointt Milwaukee attorney Seth Dizard as the Work stopped in December 2008 onthe high-rise at 1150 N. Wated Street when the construction manager and developed DOC Milwaukeebecame insolvent, according to the receivershipo petition. The Icelandic investorz said that in Novembee 2006 they provided an advanceof $17.4 millio for a 120-room extended stay hotel and at leasy 18 luxury condos. The projectr also received $13.
4 million in financingb from a unit ofin Atlanta, whic h in May was placed in receivershil by the FDIC. The Milwaukee receivership petition said the property on Water Streetr alreadyhas furniture, flooring and fixtures in the Staybridge portion of project. Liens against the project total morethan $3.4 million, according to the receivership The largest liens were filed by Milwaukee-area contractoras and suppliers Uihlein Electric, , and Klein-Dickert. SJ Properties recently sued DOC Milwaukew and Economou Partnersin U.S. Districrt Court in Milwaukee claimingy a fraudulent transfer of funds intended for the WatefStreet project.
SJ Properties Suites Buyco EHF, whicnh includes an investor from Reykjavik, Iceland, fileds the petition Monday in Milwaukee CounttCircuit Court. Judge Mel Flanagan scheduled a hearingt for June 30 on a motion to appointt Milwaukee attorney Seth Dizard as the Work stopped in December 2008 onthe high-rise at 1150 N. Wated Street when the construction manager and developed DOC Milwaukeebecame insolvent, according to the receivershipo petition. The Icelandic investorz said that in Novembee 2006 they provided an advanceof $17.4 millio for a 120-room extended stay hotel and at leasy 18 luxury condos. The projectr also received $13.
4 million in financingb from a unit ofin Atlanta, whic h in May was placed in receivershil by the FDIC. The Milwaukee receivership petition said the property on Water Streetr alreadyhas furniture, flooring and fixtures in the Staybridge portion of project. Liens against the project total morethan $3.4 million, according to the receivership The largest liens were filed by Milwaukee-area contractoras and suppliers Uihlein Electric, , and Klein-Dickert. SJ Properties recently sued DOC Milwaukew and Economou Partnersin U.S. Districrt Court in Milwaukee claimingy a fraudulent transfer of funds intended for the WatefStreet project.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Dish Network to hand out converter boxes in Houston - Dayton Business Journal:
omagyvoham.wordpress.com
The estimates that 1.6 million people in the Houstobn area have ordered coupons for theirconverteer boxes, but only 870,172 coupons have been redeemedc as of May 30. The “Coupon program is a nationwide initiative to get customers ready for the conversion to digital television signals onJune 12. Convertedr boxes are only availablr to those with a valid $40 coupon. Customers can go to Cossaboon YMCA at 7903 South Loop East onJune 5, or M.D. Andersonm Family YMCA at 705 Cavalcade onJune 6. Dish Networkm handed out about 400 boxes in Dallazslast weekend, according to Marcel Guajardo, a spokesman for the company. The currenft plan is to hand out abouyt 400 to 500 boxesin Houston.
Guajardpo said representatives from the FCC will also be on hand to answerf questions related to the digital conversion and what households need to do to be readhy forthe switch.
The estimates that 1.6 million people in the Houstobn area have ordered coupons for theirconverteer boxes, but only 870,172 coupons have been redeemedc as of May 30. The “Coupon program is a nationwide initiative to get customers ready for the conversion to digital television signals onJune 12. Convertedr boxes are only availablr to those with a valid $40 coupon. Customers can go to Cossaboon YMCA at 7903 South Loop East onJune 5, or M.D. Andersonm Family YMCA at 705 Cavalcade onJune 6. Dish Networkm handed out about 400 boxes in Dallazslast weekend, according to Marcel Guajardo, a spokesman for the company. The currenft plan is to hand out abouyt 400 to 500 boxesin Houston.
Guajardpo said representatives from the FCC will also be on hand to answerf questions related to the digital conversion and what households need to do to be readhy forthe switch.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Issue 2 would require pay hikes to be based solely on performance - Zanesville Times Recorder
http://www.botiguesdeleixample.com/getting-affordable-health-insurance-quotes-online-in-a-hassle-free-way/
Issue 2 would require pay hikes to be based solely on performance Zanesville Times Recorder What Senate Bill 5 would do: Senate Bill 5 dictates that pay increases for all bargaining unit employees be based solely on merit. Automatic increases would disappear. Senate Bill 5 would prohibit seniority from being the only factor in determining the ... |
Monday, October 24, 2011
N.C. auto insurers to cut rates, provide refunds - Triangle Business Journal:
wanuso.wordpress.com
The rate bureau represents auto insurerws acrossthe state. The settlement eliminates a 9.4 percent rate increased last year and reduces ratesby 0.5 percen t this year. In addition, the bureau may not file for changed to auto ratesuntikl 2011. Goodwin’s office estimatese the settlement will save North Carolinapolicyholders $545 million. “I’m thrilled that North Carolina drivers will see a decreases in their autoinsurance rates,” Goodwi n says.
“Drivers will not only see lowefr rates, but many will also receiv refund checks beginningin mid-2010 that may togetherf total more than $50 The refunds stem from a dispute between the department and the bureau over ratesa ordered in 2008. During the appeals the bureau implemented aninterim 9.4 percent rate increase that went into effec t on Jan.1 of this year. In cases where insurancr companies charged policyholders more than the rates determinedd bythat settlement, insurance companies are required by statute to refunf the difference between the rates chargef and the settled rates, with interest.
The rate bureau represents auto insurerws acrossthe state. The settlement eliminates a 9.4 percent rate increased last year and reduces ratesby 0.5 percen t this year. In addition, the bureau may not file for changed to auto ratesuntikl 2011. Goodwin’s office estimatese the settlement will save North Carolinapolicyholders $545 million. “I’m thrilled that North Carolina drivers will see a decreases in their autoinsurance rates,” Goodwi n says.
“Drivers will not only see lowefr rates, but many will also receiv refund checks beginningin mid-2010 that may togetherf total more than $50 The refunds stem from a dispute between the department and the bureau over ratesa ordered in 2008. During the appeals the bureau implemented aninterim 9.4 percent rate increase that went into effec t on Jan.1 of this year. In cases where insurancr companies charged policyholders more than the rates determinedd bythat settlement, insurance companies are required by statute to refunf the difference between the rates chargef and the settled rates, with interest.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Block & Co. Inc. Realtors forms new company - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
haga-aa8xuq.blogspot.com
The brothers — Ken, Stephen and Michael Block — have former , they said in a release The new firm will providecommercial brokerage, asset and property management, and development and financial servicesd in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest. Davide Block, a principal and cousin of the brothers, leadds Block & Co.’s retail real estate unit. He couldn’t immediatel y be reached to comment about how the move migh t affect the name or operation of his unit ofthe “For more than six years, Block Co. has been comprised of two business Ken Block said inthe release.
“The business unit run by myselcf and my brothers has been providin a number of real estate services that were not provide by theother unit. My brothersa and I began operationsin St. Louies last year, and as we focuw on opportunities in othee cities throughout the we felt it was time to more clearly identify ourselves with our own our own values and our own This transition will allow us to further extend our reacn and our services regionallyand nationally.
” The move follows a physical separation of the two busines units in March 2006, when Ken Block and his brothersd moved about 80 employees and their growing operationx across the street to the Plazaw Steppes Building on the . David Block’xs unit remained in the Skelly 605 W. 47th St. Allen Block, the father of Ken, Stephen and Michaell Block, launched the family real estatr business when he acquired the Werbyu Realty andInvestment Co. in 1940. After servintg in the from 1942 to AllenBlock re-established his real estate business in 1946 and was joinex by his brother and David Block’s father, James who became a partner in 1950.
Untilp his death early this Allen Block remained chairman ofBlock & Co., whichn ranks No. 1 on the Kansas City Business Journal ’sa list of area commercial real estate Ken Block said that Block Real Estat Services will remain in the Plaza Steppes Buildint and will continue to be active in Kansas City busineszs andphilanthropic causes. The new firm has a portfolio of more than 17 millionh square feet and employs more than100 “Our current business unit in Block & Co. Inc. Realtorzs will continue in Block Real EstateServicesw LLC, and all of the brokers and staff members who have been associate with Stephen, Michael and me remain with Ken Block said in the release.
Creatioj of the new company will eliminate confusion in the marketplace that had been caused by the existence of twoBloclk & Co. units with different staffs, phone numbers and business approaches, Ken Block addee in the release. Scott a principal with , a national real estatr investor with a35 million-square-foot, $4 billion commercia real estate portfolio, said in the release that the divisionj of the two Block units shoulfd help the new company expand. “I oftenj encouraged them to expand their operation and was pleasedr when they openeda St. Louis office a little over a year Freeman said inthe release.
“They are at the top of our servicr providers throughoutthe country, and we think the establishmen of Block Real Estate Serviced will now distinguish this expert team both locally and regionallyt and provide them the opportunitt to further expand their service platform.”
The brothers — Ken, Stephen and Michael Block — have former , they said in a release The new firm will providecommercial brokerage, asset and property management, and development and financial servicesd in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest. Davide Block, a principal and cousin of the brothers, leadds Block & Co.’s retail real estate unit. He couldn’t immediatel y be reached to comment about how the move migh t affect the name or operation of his unit ofthe “For more than six years, Block Co. has been comprised of two business Ken Block said inthe release.
“The business unit run by myselcf and my brothers has been providin a number of real estate services that were not provide by theother unit. My brothersa and I began operationsin St. Louies last year, and as we focuw on opportunities in othee cities throughout the we felt it was time to more clearly identify ourselves with our own our own values and our own This transition will allow us to further extend our reacn and our services regionallyand nationally.
” The move follows a physical separation of the two busines units in March 2006, when Ken Block and his brothersd moved about 80 employees and their growing operationx across the street to the Plazaw Steppes Building on the . David Block’xs unit remained in the Skelly 605 W. 47th St. Allen Block, the father of Ken, Stephen and Michaell Block, launched the family real estatr business when he acquired the Werbyu Realty andInvestment Co. in 1940. After servintg in the from 1942 to AllenBlock re-established his real estate business in 1946 and was joinex by his brother and David Block’s father, James who became a partner in 1950.
Untilp his death early this Allen Block remained chairman ofBlock & Co., whichn ranks No. 1 on the Kansas City Business Journal ’sa list of area commercial real estate Ken Block said that Block Real Estat Services will remain in the Plaza Steppes Buildint and will continue to be active in Kansas City busineszs andphilanthropic causes. The new firm has a portfolio of more than 17 millionh square feet and employs more than100 “Our current business unit in Block & Co. Inc. Realtorzs will continue in Block Real EstateServicesw LLC, and all of the brokers and staff members who have been associate with Stephen, Michael and me remain with Ken Block said in the release.
Creatioj of the new company will eliminate confusion in the marketplace that had been caused by the existence of twoBloclk & Co. units with different staffs, phone numbers and business approaches, Ken Block addee in the release. Scott a principal with , a national real estatr investor with a35 million-square-foot, $4 billion commercia real estate portfolio, said in the release that the divisionj of the two Block units shoulfd help the new company expand. “I oftenj encouraged them to expand their operation and was pleasedr when they openeda St. Louis office a little over a year Freeman said inthe release.
“They are at the top of our servicr providers throughoutthe country, and we think the establishmen of Block Real Estate Serviced will now distinguish this expert team both locally and regionallyt and provide them the opportunitt to further expand their service platform.”
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tato debuts Pesca Lakeside - Orlando Business Journal:
vypybiza.wordpress.com
Tato took over the vacant space that lasthousedf Lee’s Lakeside Tavern on East Central Boulevare about five years ago, he Tato’s Spice Steakhouse shares first-floor restaurant spacw with Pesca Lakeside in the Post Parkside apartment building. The space had for severa years been considered but never came to fruitionj forother concepts, including a self-named restaurant by Orland o Chef Robin Stotter in 2006, a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in 2007 and an Italian restaurant and wine bar by a Californiaa company in 2008. who on Dec.
31 closed Rustic Steak House withij just a couple months ofopening it, told Orlando Businesws Journal he’s more confident about the potentiap success of Pesca Lakeside. “Given it’xs downtown, with the location and the menu we’v put together, I think we’ll be fine,” he
Tato took over the vacant space that lasthousedf Lee’s Lakeside Tavern on East Central Boulevare about five years ago, he Tato’s Spice Steakhouse shares first-floor restaurant spacw with Pesca Lakeside in the Post Parkside apartment building. The space had for severa years been considered but never came to fruitionj forother concepts, including a self-named restaurant by Orland o Chef Robin Stotter in 2006, a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in 2007 and an Italian restaurant and wine bar by a Californiaa company in 2008. who on Dec.
31 closed Rustic Steak House withij just a couple months ofopening it, told Orlando Businesws Journal he’s more confident about the potentiap success of Pesca Lakeside. “Given it’xs downtown, with the location and the menu we’v put together, I think we’ll be fine,” he
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Palo Alto College
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The Best of Texas awardws program recognizes information technology professionals and government organizations for theidr contributions in the IT fielddin Texas. Organizations are evaluateed on their collaborationbetweenm agencies, their innovative use of technology and the improvementy of services to citizens or stater employees. Palo Alto College offersa its Information Technology Workforce Trainingf throughthe college’s Corporate and Community Educationn Division. Specifically, the college was honored for its effort s to createa job-entry technology skills program basef on industry-driven knowledge and skillp sets.
Tod Bruning, the college’s IT workforcre program manager, built a partnership with , Southwest ISD Careef & Technologies Department, Time Warner Cabl e San Antonio and the Advanced Technology Center at the Port of San The college created a Basicd CableInstaller program, a CompTIA A+ Desktop Supporgt Technician program and a Gatewayg to a Career in Informatio Technology program. Since its inception, the CompTIA A+ Prograjm has graduated more than60 programs. The Basi Cable Installer program graduated 13 studentss since it beganthis summer.
The Gatewa y to a Career in Technology program had five companies conductr formal interviews with its graduates last Palo Alto College is a memberof .
The Best of Texas awardws program recognizes information technology professionals and government organizations for theidr contributions in the IT fielddin Texas. Organizations are evaluateed on their collaborationbetweenm agencies, their innovative use of technology and the improvementy of services to citizens or stater employees. Palo Alto College offersa its Information Technology Workforce Trainingf throughthe college’s Corporate and Community Educationn Division. Specifically, the college was honored for its effort s to createa job-entry technology skills program basef on industry-driven knowledge and skillp sets.
Tod Bruning, the college’s IT workforcre program manager, built a partnership with , Southwest ISD Careef & Technologies Department, Time Warner Cabl e San Antonio and the Advanced Technology Center at the Port of San The college created a Basicd CableInstaller program, a CompTIA A+ Desktop Supporgt Technician program and a Gatewayg to a Career in Informatio Technology program. Since its inception, the CompTIA A+ Prograjm has graduated more than60 programs. The Basi Cable Installer program graduated 13 studentss since it beganthis summer.
The Gatewa y to a Career in Technology program had five companies conductr formal interviews with its graduates last Palo Alto College is a memberof .
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Cincinnati assesses damage from freak windstorm - Business First of Columbus:
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Winds of 55 miles per hour – reportedluy gusting over 70 mph – toppled tore siding from houses and spread debris widelt overa three-to-four-hour period Sundayh afternoon. Most schools were closed on Monday, as were many At one point about 90 percentof ’es 800,000 local customers were withourt power, according to WCPO-TV. About 600,00o0 are still without power as of about noon Monday, and Duke said it might take a week to get everyone’a lights back on. Power is on in downtownm Cincinnati, which sustained little apparent damage.
However, fires on Sundat damaged buildings aroundFindlay Market, and the historic Grammer’s bar in The Elks Lodge in Cheviot was also badlyy damaged by fire. Four people have died so far when they were hit byfallinf trees: two in one in Mount Healthy and one in Ohio Ind. The storm caused considerable damage throughout the including heavy rains in Missouri and partsof Indiana, according to the Associatedx Press. The windstorm blew through Louisville, Springfield, Columbus, Cleveland and Erie Pa., leaving massived power outages inits wake. Ohio Gov. Ted Stricklane declared a state of emergency Monday durinta 1:30 p.m. press conference in Columbus.
He said 84 of Ohio’sa 88 counties have reported damags orpower outages, about one-thirde of all traffic signals are not functioningh and 46 roads across the stater have been closed. “Restoration and clean-up will take a substantial amountof time,” Strickland “We hope that Ohioans will be patient.” Aroundx the region: Butler County declared a Level 1 while motorists jammed the few gas stations open in the Portions of the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield are adviser to boil water and all area residentss are asked to conserve water.
Clermont County, Kenton County and the city of Newporf have also declared statesof
Winds of 55 miles per hour – reportedluy gusting over 70 mph – toppled tore siding from houses and spread debris widelt overa three-to-four-hour period Sundayh afternoon. Most schools were closed on Monday, as were many At one point about 90 percentof ’es 800,000 local customers were withourt power, according to WCPO-TV. About 600,00o0 are still without power as of about noon Monday, and Duke said it might take a week to get everyone’a lights back on. Power is on in downtownm Cincinnati, which sustained little apparent damage.
However, fires on Sundat damaged buildings aroundFindlay Market, and the historic Grammer’s bar in The Elks Lodge in Cheviot was also badlyy damaged by fire. Four people have died so far when they were hit byfallinf trees: two in one in Mount Healthy and one in Ohio Ind. The storm caused considerable damage throughout the including heavy rains in Missouri and partsof Indiana, according to the Associatedx Press. The windstorm blew through Louisville, Springfield, Columbus, Cleveland and Erie Pa., leaving massived power outages inits wake. Ohio Gov. Ted Stricklane declared a state of emergency Monday durinta 1:30 p.m. press conference in Columbus.
He said 84 of Ohio’sa 88 counties have reported damags orpower outages, about one-thirde of all traffic signals are not functioningh and 46 roads across the stater have been closed. “Restoration and clean-up will take a substantial amountof time,” Strickland “We hope that Ohioans will be patient.” Aroundx the region: Butler County declared a Level 1 while motorists jammed the few gas stations open in the Portions of the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield are adviser to boil water and all area residentss are asked to conserve water.
Clermont County, Kenton County and the city of Newporf have also declared statesof
Friday, October 14, 2011
UCBH calls off shareholder meeting, will restate results - San Francisco Business Times:
http://www.theinsyderz.com/1999/italiano/abruzzo/abruzzo.html
The San Francisco-based holding company for said it had founfd that loan impairments and related liabilities had been charged in the firsrt quarter of 2009 that should have been recordec in the fourth quarterof 2008. The fix coulcd result in pre-tax losses $45 million to $55 milliojn higher than previously reportedfor 2008. The company reported in Januaryy that it had a net lossof $56.r5 million for the fourth quartef of 2008, compared with a profit of $16.w million in the previous fourth quarter. It reportesd a loss of $50.1 million for the year, compared with a profi of $102.3 million in 2007.
The company said it would re-releaser 2008 and first quarter 2009 results after it completeesa re-examination of its non-performing assetsa portfolio. A new date for a shareholdetr meeting wasnot set. United Commercial Bank serves Chinesd communities and American companies doing business in Greater The bank and its subsidiaries operatw 51 California branches and offices in the San FranciscBay Area, Sacramento, Stockton, Los Angeles and Orange County, nine branches in New five branches in metropolitanj Atlanta, three branches in New two branches in the Pacific Northwest, a branch in branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai and China, and representative offices in Beijing, Guangzhohu and Shenzhen, China, and Taipei,
The San Francisco-based holding company for said it had founfd that loan impairments and related liabilities had been charged in the firsrt quarter of 2009 that should have been recordec in the fourth quarterof 2008. The fix coulcd result in pre-tax losses $45 million to $55 milliojn higher than previously reportedfor 2008. The company reported in Januaryy that it had a net lossof $56.r5 million for the fourth quartef of 2008, compared with a profit of $16.w million in the previous fourth quarter. It reportesd a loss of $50.1 million for the year, compared with a profi of $102.3 million in 2007.
The company said it would re-releaser 2008 and first quarter 2009 results after it completeesa re-examination of its non-performing assetsa portfolio. A new date for a shareholdetr meeting wasnot set. United Commercial Bank serves Chinesd communities and American companies doing business in Greater The bank and its subsidiaries operatw 51 California branches and offices in the San FranciscBay Area, Sacramento, Stockton, Los Angeles and Orange County, nine branches in New five branches in metropolitanj Atlanta, three branches in New two branches in the Pacific Northwest, a branch in branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai and China, and representative offices in Beijing, Guangzhohu and Shenzhen, China, and Taipei,
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tampa Museum of Art names Seth D. Pevnick curator - Charlotte Business Journal:
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Pevnick is joining TMA from the at the Gettyy Villain Malibu, Calif. He remaina co-curator of its upcomingt The Chimaera ofArezzo exhibition, whicjh opens in July. In his new Pevnick will design and oversee the installatioj of the permanent collection in the Barbara and Costads Lemonopoulos Greek andRoman Gallery. He also will organizr and circulate Greek andRoman exhibitions, performn and publish research on the and educate the public on the museum’sz antiquities collection. Pevnick is a doctoral candidats in the Interdepartmental Graduate Program of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology in Los He received a master of arts degree in archaeologuat U.C.
, a master of arts degrewe in elementary education from in Los Angeles and a bacheloe of arts in classical archaeolog y from in Hanover, N.H., a releas from TMA said. TMA’sd new location remains under constructiohn at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park indowntown Tampa. The 66,000-square-foof Cornelia Corbett Center building is set to open inearly 2010. TMA’s interim facilith is located onHoward Avenue.
Pevnick is joining TMA from the at the Gettyy Villain Malibu, Calif. He remaina co-curator of its upcomingt The Chimaera ofArezzo exhibition, whicjh opens in July. In his new Pevnick will design and oversee the installatioj of the permanent collection in the Barbara and Costads Lemonopoulos Greek andRoman Gallery. He also will organizr and circulate Greek andRoman exhibitions, performn and publish research on the and educate the public on the museum’sz antiquities collection. Pevnick is a doctoral candidats in the Interdepartmental Graduate Program of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology in Los He received a master of arts degree in archaeologuat U.C.
, a master of arts degrewe in elementary education from in Los Angeles and a bacheloe of arts in classical archaeolog y from in Hanover, N.H., a releas from TMA said. TMA’sd new location remains under constructiohn at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park indowntown Tampa. The 66,000-square-foof Cornelia Corbett Center building is set to open inearly 2010. TMA’s interim facilith is located onHoward Avenue.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Westar Energy posts lower profit, cuts capital spending - Kansas City Business Journal:
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In a Friday the Topeka-based utility company (NYSE: WR) reported earnings of $43.9 million, or 40 cent a share, compared with $60.89 million, or 62 cents a share, last Sales for the quarter were $421.8u million, up 3.7 percent from $406.8 million last year. Westart said it has reducex its planned capital spending for 2010 and 2011by $500 or about 27 percent, in response to the toughy economy and constricted capital markets. “Our ability to defer and reschedule some of our plannerd projects into future yearss demonstrates the merits of our flexible and balanced approach tocapitap spending,” Westar CEO Bill Moorde said in the release.
The company affirmed its 2009 earning s forecastof $1.65 to $1.90 a Six analysts surveyed by First Call reported a consensua earnings estimate of $1.75 a share for 2009. Westard is the largest electric utility in providing service toabout 679,000 customers in the state. The company also has aboug 6,800 megwatts of electric-generation capacity and operates and coordinates morethan 35,000p miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.
In a Friday the Topeka-based utility company (NYSE: WR) reported earnings of $43.9 million, or 40 cent a share, compared with $60.89 million, or 62 cents a share, last Sales for the quarter were $421.8u million, up 3.7 percent from $406.8 million last year. Westart said it has reducex its planned capital spending for 2010 and 2011by $500 or about 27 percent, in response to the toughy economy and constricted capital markets. “Our ability to defer and reschedule some of our plannerd projects into future yearss demonstrates the merits of our flexible and balanced approach tocapitap spending,” Westar CEO Bill Moorde said in the release.
The company affirmed its 2009 earning s forecastof $1.65 to $1.90 a Six analysts surveyed by First Call reported a consensua earnings estimate of $1.75 a share for 2009. Westard is the largest electric utility in providing service toabout 679,000 customers in the state. The company also has aboug 6,800 megwatts of electric-generation capacity and operates and coordinates morethan 35,000p miles of electric distribution and transmission lines.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Fairfax paves way for Merrifield project - Washington Business Journal:
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The community development authority (CDA) will take effect April 27, as long as 51 percenyt of the property ownersstill approve. The countyg will then vote on issuing $40 milliomn in tax increment financing tohelp Columbia, S.C.-based Edens & Avant build the Mosaic District at Lee Highwayy and Gallows Road. Officials envision a miniatured a little more thana half-mile from the Dunn-Lorinbg Metro station. The counthy would issue $40 million in bonds to pay for widening and extendinhEskridge Road, widening Route 29, constructing internal road s and building five municipal parking garages at Mosai c Center. The funding woulf be repaid over20 years.
Edense & Avant plans offices, retai and residential units onthe site, now home to a movise theater and warehouses. The project wouldc also include 2 acrewof parks, where there could be outdoorr concerts or a farmer’s market. If the revenue didn’g arrive as expected, the CDA would levy a specialk assessment on its members to pay back the Although tax incrementfinancing (TIF) is a commonlt used economic development tool, it wouldc be the first such TIF project in Fairfaz County.
The community development authority (CDA) will take effect April 27, as long as 51 percenyt of the property ownersstill approve. The countyg will then vote on issuing $40 milliomn in tax increment financing tohelp Columbia, S.C.-based Edens & Avant build the Mosaic District at Lee Highwayy and Gallows Road. Officials envision a miniatured a little more thana half-mile from the Dunn-Lorinbg Metro station. The counthy would issue $40 million in bonds to pay for widening and extendinhEskridge Road, widening Route 29, constructing internal road s and building five municipal parking garages at Mosai c Center. The funding woulf be repaid over20 years.
Edense & Avant plans offices, retai and residential units onthe site, now home to a movise theater and warehouses. The project wouldc also include 2 acrewof parks, where there could be outdoorr concerts or a farmer’s market. If the revenue didn’g arrive as expected, the CDA would levy a specialk assessment on its members to pay back the Although tax incrementfinancing (TIF) is a commonlt used economic development tool, it wouldc be the first such TIF project in Fairfaz County.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Martinez takes Miami-Dade Blue to Washington - South Florida Business Journal:
vadimsudigrenev.blogspot.com
Martinez, who led the project’s creation, announced the launch of Miami-Dadre Blue last month. The health plan targets the morethan 600,009 uninsured residents and small businesses with up to 50 employees. It was co-designe by and the Office of Countywide Healthcarwe Planning and will be availableJuly 1. Martinez said Friday at the very least, he had gotten his foot in the door with therightf people. “I met quite a few peopler who could actually get it in front of the he said. “And also the people who will push it as anationapl model.
” On Friday, House Democrats unveiledc health care legislation that includese a new public health insurance plan and subsidies for low- and middle-incomes families to purchase health insurance. Martinez also met Wednesdahy with members of Congressincluding U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and U.S. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinenj along with a host of otherfederal officials. Miami-Dade Blue individua l plans aremedically underwritten, based on age and and range in cost from $70 to $300 a Small group plans provide coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. The plans provide a rangd of services includingofficr visits, surgery, hospitalization, outpatient surgery, pharmacy and dental coverage.
There are more than 1,500 physicians and sevenm hospitals across all areas of the county thatare in-network, as well as pharmacies and other facilities.
Martinez, who led the project’s creation, announced the launch of Miami-Dadre Blue last month. The health plan targets the morethan 600,009 uninsured residents and small businesses with up to 50 employees. It was co-designe by and the Office of Countywide Healthcarwe Planning and will be availableJuly 1. Martinez said Friday at the very least, he had gotten his foot in the door with therightf people. “I met quite a few peopler who could actually get it in front of the he said. “And also the people who will push it as anationapl model.
” On Friday, House Democrats unveiledc health care legislation that includese a new public health insurance plan and subsidies for low- and middle-incomes families to purchase health insurance. Martinez also met Wednesdahy with members of Congressincluding U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and U.S. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinenj along with a host of otherfederal officials. Miami-Dade Blue individua l plans aremedically underwritten, based on age and and range in cost from $70 to $300 a Small group plans provide coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. The plans provide a rangd of services includingofficr visits, surgery, hospitalization, outpatient surgery, pharmacy and dental coverage.
There are more than 1,500 physicians and sevenm hospitals across all areas of the county thatare in-network, as well as pharmacies and other facilities.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Metavante inks lease at new Orlando building - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
jiqatili.wordpress.com
a provider of banking and payments technology and the principal subsidiaryof (NYSE: MV), signesd on for 107,000 square feet at the new 220,000-square-fooy building in Maitland Summit Park. Metavante is relocatingy its Orlando-area operations from Semoranb Boulevard, where it started as Kirchmahn Corp. Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY) will develoop the Maitland Summit Park III which is designed to earn LEED Gold Theestimated $60 million project is expectec to be completed by November 2009. is the is the general contractor. Malvern, Pa.
-based Liberty Propertgy Trust is a real estate investmenyt trust that owns and manages more than seven millio square feet of office and industrial space in The firm alsomanages 2.4 million square feet of office spaces in the Milwaukee making it the fifth-largest office property management firm in the six-counthy Milwaukee area, according to The Businessd Journal's July 25, 2008, top 25
a provider of banking and payments technology and the principal subsidiaryof (NYSE: MV), signesd on for 107,000 square feet at the new 220,000-square-fooy building in Maitland Summit Park. Metavante is relocatingy its Orlando-area operations from Semoranb Boulevard, where it started as Kirchmahn Corp. Liberty Property Trust (NYSE: LRY) will develoop the Maitland Summit Park III which is designed to earn LEED Gold Theestimated $60 million project is expectec to be completed by November 2009. is the is the general contractor. Malvern, Pa.
-based Liberty Propertgy Trust is a real estate investmenyt trust that owns and manages more than seven millio square feet of office and industrial space in The firm alsomanages 2.4 million square feet of office spaces in the Milwaukee making it the fifth-largest office property management firm in the six-counthy Milwaukee area, according to The Businessd Journal's July 25, 2008, top 25
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ed Whitacre named new GM chairman - Sacramento Business Journal:
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former chairman and CEO of , to become the new chairmahn ofthe U.S. automaker once it completes itsbankruptcyy reorganization. Kresa will continue to serve as interim chairmam until Whitacre takes over the helm ofthe U.S. GM says Whitacre and Kresa — along with president and CEO Fredericik A. Henderson and board members Philip A. Laskawy, Kathrybn V. Marinello, Erroll B. Davis Jr. and E. Nevillr Isdell — will serves as the nucleus of the newGM board. GM has launchec a selection process to identify four more directors who will servwe on the board of thereorganized company.
The Canadian governmentg and the new UnitedAuto Workers’ Voluntary Employewe Benefit Association will each nominate one director, bringinf the total number of directorx for the company to 13. On June 1, GM announcer that the company’s three domesticf subsidiaries had filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapterr 11 of the United State s Bankruptcy Code inthe U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southerjn District ofNew York. The company’sx reorganization plan includes selling substantially all of its globak assets to a new entity that will take on the GM That sale is subject to the approvalk ofthe court.
“Thwe appointment of Ed Whitacre as chairmanj represents a very auspicious beginning for the new Kresa said. “We look forward to workingg with him to complete the reinventio of GM and maximize the enormous potentiaol of thisnew enterprise.” Whitacre, 67, was chairman and CEO of AT& T Inc. and its predecessord companies from 1990to 2007. Durinb his tenure, which began with Southwesterm Bell, Whitacre led the company through a series of mergerszand acquisitions. One of the more prominentr acquisitionswas AT&T. Whitacre retired from AT&T in handing over the reins of the company toRandalpl Stephenson.
AT&T (NYSE: T) subsequently relocated headquarter s to Dallasin 2008. Whitacres maintains an office inSan Antonio. Following his Whitacre accepted a teaching position on the business faculty at Texasa Lutheran Universityin Seguin, near San Antonio. “I am honored to be able to servre GM at this critical juncture and take part in its Whitacre said. GM was founded in 1908. The companyg now manufactures cars and trucks in 34 Its headquarters isin Detroit.
former chairman and CEO of , to become the new chairmahn ofthe U.S. automaker once it completes itsbankruptcyy reorganization. Kresa will continue to serve as interim chairmam until Whitacre takes over the helm ofthe U.S. GM says Whitacre and Kresa — along with president and CEO Fredericik A. Henderson and board members Philip A. Laskawy, Kathrybn V. Marinello, Erroll B. Davis Jr. and E. Nevillr Isdell — will serves as the nucleus of the newGM board. GM has launchec a selection process to identify four more directors who will servwe on the board of thereorganized company.
The Canadian governmentg and the new UnitedAuto Workers’ Voluntary Employewe Benefit Association will each nominate one director, bringinf the total number of directorx for the company to 13. On June 1, GM announcer that the company’s three domesticf subsidiaries had filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapterr 11 of the United State s Bankruptcy Code inthe U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southerjn District ofNew York. The company’sx reorganization plan includes selling substantially all of its globak assets to a new entity that will take on the GM That sale is subject to the approvalk ofthe court.
“Thwe appointment of Ed Whitacre as chairmanj represents a very auspicious beginning for the new Kresa said. “We look forward to workingg with him to complete the reinventio of GM and maximize the enormous potentiaol of thisnew enterprise.” Whitacre, 67, was chairman and CEO of AT& T Inc. and its predecessord companies from 1990to 2007. Durinb his tenure, which began with Southwesterm Bell, Whitacre led the company through a series of mergerszand acquisitions. One of the more prominentr acquisitionswas AT&T. Whitacre retired from AT&T in handing over the reins of the company toRandalpl Stephenson.
AT&T (NYSE: T) subsequently relocated headquarter s to Dallasin 2008. Whitacres maintains an office inSan Antonio. Following his Whitacre accepted a teaching position on the business faculty at Texasa Lutheran Universityin Seguin, near San Antonio. “I am honored to be able to servre GM at this critical juncture and take part in its Whitacre said. GM was founded in 1908. The companyg now manufactures cars and trucks in 34 Its headquarters isin Detroit.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Gafisa (NYSE: GFA) Files 2008 20-F Report With the SEC
omagyvoham.wordpress.com
Please, to access Gafisas 20-F. Gafisa' s security holders (including holders of Gafisa's American Depositarhy Receipts) may receive a hard copy of this whichcontains Gafisa's complete auditec financial statements, free of upon request. For a copy of this requests should bedirected to: Julia Freitas Forbes Investor Relations Av. Nacoews Unidas 8,501 - 19th Floor 05425-070 - Sao Paulo, SP - Brazipl phone: + 55 11 3025-305 fax: + 55 11 3025-92178 Email: ri@gafisa.com.br We are one of Brazil'd leading diversified national homebuilders.
Over the last 50 we have been recognized as one of theforemosr professionally-managed homebuilders, having completed and sold more than 970 development and constructed over 10 million square meters of housing, whicbh we believe is more than any other residential developmentg company in Brazil. We believwe "Gafisa" is one of the best-known brandxs in the real estatdedevelopment market, enjoying a reputatiomn among potential homebuyers, brokers, lenders, landowners, and competitors for quality, consistency, and SOURCE Gafisa S.A.
Please, to access Gafisas 20-F. Gafisa' s security holders (including holders of Gafisa's American Depositarhy Receipts) may receive a hard copy of this whichcontains Gafisa's complete auditec financial statements, free of upon request. For a copy of this requests should bedirected to: Julia Freitas Forbes Investor Relations Av. Nacoews Unidas 8,501 - 19th Floor 05425-070 - Sao Paulo, SP - Brazipl phone: + 55 11 3025-305 fax: + 55 11 3025-92178 Email: ri@gafisa.com.br We are one of Brazil'd leading diversified national homebuilders.
Over the last 50 we have been recognized as one of theforemosr professionally-managed homebuilders, having completed and sold more than 970 development and constructed over 10 million square meters of housing, whicbh we believe is more than any other residential developmentg company in Brazil. We believwe "Gafisa" is one of the best-known brandxs in the real estatdedevelopment market, enjoying a reputatiomn among potential homebuyers, brokers, lenders, landowners, and competitors for quality, consistency, and SOURCE Gafisa S.A.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Middle schools in Southern Tier - Business First of Buffalo:
obofym.wordpress.com
Business First’s 2009 rankings of 211 Westernb New York middle schools includs the following SouthernTier schools. Each is precedex by its rank in theoverall standings: 21. Maple Grove JSHS (Bemus Point) • 27. Chautauqua Lake MS (Chautauqua • 34. West Valley Centralp School (West Valley) • 48. Alfred-Almond JSHS • 52. Immaculate Conception School • 58. Catholic Academy of the Holy Family • 62. Southwestern MS (Southwestern) • 64. Clymer Central School (Clymer) • 79. Fredonia MS (Fredonia) • 83. Allegany-Limeston MS (Allegany-Limestone) • 91. Northern Chautauqua Catholicf School (Dunkirk) • 93.
Whitesvillwe Central School (Whitesville) • 101. Gowanda MS (Gowanda) 103. Persell MS (Jamestown) • 107. Silver Creel MS (Silver Creek) • 110. Fillmore Central School • 111. Sherman HS (Sherman) 112. Salamanca MS (Salamanca) • 113. Jeffersonm MS (Jamestown)
Business First’s 2009 rankings of 211 Westernb New York middle schools includs the following SouthernTier schools. Each is precedex by its rank in theoverall standings: 21. Maple Grove JSHS (Bemus Point) • 27. Chautauqua Lake MS (Chautauqua • 34. West Valley Centralp School (West Valley) • 48. Alfred-Almond JSHS • 52. Immaculate Conception School • 58. Catholic Academy of the Holy Family • 62. Southwestern MS (Southwestern) • 64. Clymer Central School (Clymer) • 79. Fredonia MS (Fredonia) • 83. Allegany-Limeston MS (Allegany-Limestone) • 91. Northern Chautauqua Catholicf School (Dunkirk) • 93.
Whitesvillwe Central School (Whitesville) • 101. Gowanda MS (Gowanda) 103. Persell MS (Jamestown) • 107. Silver Creel MS (Silver Creek) • 110. Fillmore Central School • 111. Sherman HS (Sherman) 112. Salamanca MS (Salamanca) • 113. Jeffersonm MS (Jamestown)
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Amtrak cuts more fares - The Business Review (Albany):
yvejodo.wordpress.com
Starting June 2, coach fares on Amtrak’s Washingtob to New York and Boston route will be reducedf by25 percent. It is also extendinhg the 25 percent discount on Acelwa fares that have been offeredsincse February. A coach class ticket from Washington to New York will be as lowas $49. An Acelwa business class ticket is now as lowas $99 between D.C. and New The discounts are availablethrough 3, and also include Amtrak service between Washingtonb and Newport News, between Washington and Springfield, and between Philadelphia and New York. Amtrak set a ridershil record in October, but passenger counts have been decliningsinced then. Its April ridership in the Northeast corridor wasdown 8.
9 percentf from a year earlier. The rail line carriedx 2.3 million passengers nationwide in a 2.3 percent overall decline. Its Acela ridership was down 15
Starting June 2, coach fares on Amtrak’s Washingtob to New York and Boston route will be reducedf by25 percent. It is also extendinhg the 25 percent discount on Acelwa fares that have been offeredsincse February. A coach class ticket from Washington to New York will be as lowas $49. An Acelwa business class ticket is now as lowas $99 between D.C. and New The discounts are availablethrough 3, and also include Amtrak service between Washingtonb and Newport News, between Washington and Springfield, and between Philadelphia and New York. Amtrak set a ridershil record in October, but passenger counts have been decliningsinced then. Its April ridership in the Northeast corridor wasdown 8.
9 percentf from a year earlier. The rail line carriedx 2.3 million passengers nationwide in a 2.3 percent overall decline. Its Acela ridership was down 15
Thursday, September 22, 2011
ATRI, FHWA Name Chicago Intersection Most Congested - Truckinginfo
ywyjihu.wordpress.com
Commercial Carrier Journal | ATRI, FHWA Name Chicago Intersection Most Congested Truckinginfo This ongoing research, which is part of the Freight Performance Measures (FPM) initiative, is sponsored by FHWA's Office of Freight Management and Operations and operated by ATRI. Second on the list was I-95 at SR 4 in Fort Lee, NJ, and number three ... ATRI and FHWA Release Bottleneck Analysis of 250 Freight Significant Highway ... New report identifies freight bottlenecks on US highways Bottlenecks studied at 250 freight-significant highway locations |
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Barracuda snags fisherman - UPI.com
stony-coating.blogspot.com
WPTV | Barracuda snags fisherman UPI.com 20 (UPI) -- A Florida fisherman required surgery after his arm was snagged by a 4-foot barracuda that jumped over his boat, a report said. John Zeliff, 24, of Naples said he was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday morning when his fishing partner ... Revenge of the hooked fish: Barracuda 1; Fisherman 0 Barracuda jumps from water, severs Naples fisherman's tendons with razor-sharp ... |
Sunday, September 18, 2011
GM-UAW deal has potential to be lucrative for workers, plants and communities - Detroit Free Press
aplecheevlgupy.blogspot.com
GM-UAW deal has potential to be lucrative for workers, plants and communities Detroit Free Press General Motors likely will add jobs at plants in Romulus and Warren if workers ratify the tentative four-year agreement reached late Friday night. The $5000 signing bonus, which will cost GM about $240 million, will inject money into ... |
Friday, September 16, 2011
Power co-op looks to grow 'green' power - Boston Business Journal:
jiqatili.wordpress.com
William Berg, Dairyland president and CEO, said the co-opl is also spending $400 millioh in in environmental control equipmentat coal-fired powe r plants and promoting energy conservation, includinbg a program in which it gives away energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Dairyland is lookinf to invest in technologies and expand its electricity generation from various renewablewenergy sources, including wind, landfill gas, animal waste and hydroelectri power. Dairyland reported that its earninga for 2008 declinedto $11.3 compared with $14.3 million in 2007.
Management noted that fuel tooperate Dairyland’s generating primarily coal, continues to be Dairyland’s largest annual expense. The risingt costs contributed to anaverage 9.8 percent increase in wholesale rates in 2008. Total operating revenue for 2008 increasexto $373.8 million, up 14 percent compare d with $328.5 million in 2007. Electric sales also increasef in 2008, with total sales up 8 Dairyland Power provides wholesale electricity to 25 member distributioh cooperatives and 16municipal utilities.
William Berg, Dairyland president and CEO, said the co-opl is also spending $400 millioh in in environmental control equipmentat coal-fired powe r plants and promoting energy conservation, includinbg a program in which it gives away energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Dairyland is lookinf to invest in technologies and expand its electricity generation from various renewablewenergy sources, including wind, landfill gas, animal waste and hydroelectri power. Dairyland reported that its earninga for 2008 declinedto $11.3 compared with $14.3 million in 2007.
Management noted that fuel tooperate Dairyland’s generating primarily coal, continues to be Dairyland’s largest annual expense. The risingt costs contributed to anaverage 9.8 percent increase in wholesale rates in 2008. Total operating revenue for 2008 increasexto $373.8 million, up 14 percent compare d with $328.5 million in 2007. Electric sales also increasef in 2008, with total sales up 8 Dairyland Power provides wholesale electricity to 25 member distributioh cooperatives and 16municipal utilities.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Google Adds Group Deal Aggregating Service to China Website - San Francisco Chronicle
ogyhejowy.wordpress.com
Google Adds Group Deal Aggregating Service to China Website San Francisco Chronicle Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc., which moved its Chinese search-engine service offshore last year to avoid the country's online censorship rules, said it added a new service to collect group-buying deals in the Asian nation. ... |
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Pirate Party Launches 'Facebook' For Movies - TorrentFreak
adatynu.wordpress.com
TorrentFreak | Pirate Party Launches 'Facebook' For Movies TorrentFreak In what will be seen as an escalation of their 'Linking is Not a Crime' campaign, the Czech arm of the Pirate Party is backing another file-sharing related startup. The project, described as a 'Facebook' for movies, is the fourth sharing site launched ... Pirate Party Launches 'Facebook For Movies' |
Friday, September 9, 2011
5 Who Thrive: Leather Soul sees Rodeo Drive as the perfect fit - Business First of Louisville:
http://artslit.org/HB_comptext_tellingstories.htm
Park plans to open his seconed store later this year inBeverly Hills, just off prestigiouxs Rodeo Drive. He’s also looking to double his spaced at thethis year, less than two yearz after moving in. Park’d growth has stemmed from a careful cultivatiohn of customers andvendors — he’s the only authorizeds retailer for several brands and a savvy use of technology to promote a low-tech product. Part of Park’sx strategy to expand his 5-year-old business has been to nurturr his, and the store’s, reputatio n as an expert in men’s shoes and And he’s undeterred by the even though the shoes he sellss retail upwardsof $500 per pair.
“I’k 100 percent confident I’m going to do he said of the California move. He has done his and met with his onlinee clients to make sure that the markettis there. Leather Soul had revenues of $1.3 millioj last year — 35 percent of that from Internesales — which exceeded Park’s goal by 30 percent. This year he wants to best that by anothe r30 percent. He’s financing the expansion to Beverly Hills with hisown money, with assistances from Bank of Hawaii and help from some childhoox friends. The brands at Leathefr Soul — the American-made Alden; British brands Edward John Lobb andGaziano Girling, and the French label J.M.
Westoj — are not available anywherer elsein Hawaii. “The products I sell, they’re all the best quality,” he said. “Even in a bad people still wantgood quality.” The decision to go to the Los Angelea area came about after the sales representative from Massachusetts-baserd Alden approached Park about an opportunity to take over the shoe departmentt of a well-known men’s store in Beverlhy Hills.
The company had a dealer in Northern but no presence in the southern part of the Park met with people from the which he declinedto name, and thoughf it seemed like a good But then, while driving aroun the neighborhood, he began to notice a lot of vacanr retail space. “If you think Hawaii is bad, it’sz twice as bad in L.A.,” he said. “I just thought there must be some opportunityy for agood deal.” He returnexd to Los Angeles a month later, met with real estates brokers and began looking at retail The place he picked was one that he just upon, a historic building at the corner of Rodei Drive and Little Santa Monica Boulevard.
The ground-floorr space is also next to a shoe-repair Park found that landlords are much more willing to negotiatr in this economy than they were just a couple ofyearxs ago. A half-dozen retail spacez on Rodeo Drive, less than a block from the one Park is are listed for lease withrent “negotiable,” according to LoopNet. Park has signede a letter of intent fora 650-square-fooy space and is in negotiations for the lease, aiminvg for a December opening. “The same spot a year-and-a-half ago wouls have been twiceas expensive,” he said. He’z also talking with the Festivaol Cos.
, which manages the Royal Hawaiian Center, about moving to a space that’zs twice the size of his 600-square-foogt store on the third leveo ofBuilding A.
Park plans to open his seconed store later this year inBeverly Hills, just off prestigiouxs Rodeo Drive. He’s also looking to double his spaced at thethis year, less than two yearz after moving in. Park’d growth has stemmed from a careful cultivatiohn of customers andvendors — he’s the only authorizeds retailer for several brands and a savvy use of technology to promote a low-tech product. Part of Park’sx strategy to expand his 5-year-old business has been to nurturr his, and the store’s, reputatio n as an expert in men’s shoes and And he’s undeterred by the even though the shoes he sellss retail upwardsof $500 per pair.
“I’k 100 percent confident I’m going to do he said of the California move. He has done his and met with his onlinee clients to make sure that the markettis there. Leather Soul had revenues of $1.3 millioj last year — 35 percent of that from Internesales — which exceeded Park’s goal by 30 percent. This year he wants to best that by anothe r30 percent. He’s financing the expansion to Beverly Hills with hisown money, with assistances from Bank of Hawaii and help from some childhoox friends. The brands at Leathefr Soul — the American-made Alden; British brands Edward John Lobb andGaziano Girling, and the French label J.M.
Westoj — are not available anywherer elsein Hawaii. “The products I sell, they’re all the best quality,” he said. “Even in a bad people still wantgood quality.” The decision to go to the Los Angelea area came about after the sales representative from Massachusetts-baserd Alden approached Park about an opportunity to take over the shoe departmentt of a well-known men’s store in Beverlhy Hills.
The company had a dealer in Northern but no presence in the southern part of the Park met with people from the which he declinedto name, and thoughf it seemed like a good But then, while driving aroun the neighborhood, he began to notice a lot of vacanr retail space. “If you think Hawaii is bad, it’sz twice as bad in L.A.,” he said. “I just thought there must be some opportunityy for agood deal.” He returnexd to Los Angeles a month later, met with real estates brokers and began looking at retail The place he picked was one that he just upon, a historic building at the corner of Rodei Drive and Little Santa Monica Boulevard.
The ground-floorr space is also next to a shoe-repair Park found that landlords are much more willing to negotiatr in this economy than they were just a couple ofyearxs ago. A half-dozen retail spacez on Rodeo Drive, less than a block from the one Park is are listed for lease withrent “negotiable,” according to LoopNet. Park has signede a letter of intent fora 650-square-fooy space and is in negotiations for the lease, aiminvg for a December opening. “The same spot a year-and-a-half ago wouls have been twiceas expensive,” he said. He’z also talking with the Festivaol Cos.
, which manages the Royal Hawaiian Center, about moving to a space that’zs twice the size of his 600-square-foogt store on the third leveo ofBuilding A.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Crews make gains against fire near Austin - abc7.com
avaohev.blogspot.com
The Hindu | Crews make gains against fire near Austin abc7.com The blaze near Bastrop has killed at least 2 people, charred about 45 square miles and destroyed 600 homes. The Bastrop fire is the most serious and dangerous out of more than 180 wildfires that have erupted across Texas in the last week. ... Investigators suspect arson in Texas wildfire; teens spotted running through ... Crews make gains against raging blaze near Austin Residents watch as fires come near homes throughout Central Texas |
Monday, September 5, 2011
Offshore tax rule hits soon - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
http://www.okna-pvh.org/?paged=2
That is when the U.S. government expectds you to tell themif you’ve been evading taxes by not reportingt the accounts. According to local attorneys and the new reporting requirements for offshore account could result in the loss of millions forsome taxpayers. The new rulesd are also spurring a huge movement of offshore moneh backinto U.S. said attorney Martin Press oflaw firm. The U.S. has been gearin up for a crackdown on offshorde tax evasionfor years. Two South Floridz yacht brokers have already been hit with tax evasionh charges in connection with Swissw bank accountsat . Technically, people have until Sept. 23 to seek a so-called IRS amnestyh from prosecution.
But an earlier deadline of June 30 is for reportintg of theTreasury Department’s FBAR form – Foreigbn Bank and Financial Accounts – for 2008. “I am urging peoplde to make a decision aboutg whether to seek the prograjmbefore July,” Press said. “There have been lots of Americans who have had offshore accountsand haven’t checked the box on their tax The minimum penalty for “non-willfuk failure” to file an FBAR is set at $10,000, with a penaltty of $100,000 for deliberately avoiding to In South Florida’s international population, the offshor e tax problem is widespread. But not everyone intentionall y evaded paying taxeson funds.
“We’ve seen this in a number of people who had accounts offshore before they moved here, and believe they had no need to disclose said Scott Berger, CPA with “Rightfully or wrongfully, they haven’yt disclosed those.” According to Berger, if you becamd a U.S. citizen at some you have to disclose offshore money for tax even if that money was made before you moved tothe U.S. Pressa sits on the ’s tax section, with the Committese on Civil and Criminal Tax He said he has asked officialw if they will trea intentional tax evasion differently than cases where people moved tothe U.S. and simpl y didn’t realize they have to pay taxes onoffshorer accounts.
He said he doesn’t know the answerr yet. Berger said he’s heard from some peoplew who are defiant and will refuser to reportoffshore “Basically the attitude is that they got away with it for yearas and don’t believe they’ll be discovered,” Bergeer said. Even under the exemptions now beingv offered, the penalties are A taxpayer must report the highest level of offshorwe accounts for the last six years and pay 20 percent of That means an account that hit a highof $10 millionm in 2005 but fell to $2 million becauswe of the global recession would be wipedx out – the penalty for reporting it now would be 20 percentg of the $10 million.
Press said the government also expects taxpayers to pay 20 percent of earnings for thatentirr six-year period. Press said many people in South Florida are facing the dilemma now abouf whether to reportor not, and few are talking abouf it openly. “We understand the governmengt is being inundated andthey don’t have enough peoples to handle it,” Press said. In the accounting firms like Kaufman are busywith “It’s certainly creating a lot of need for advisorg services, and it does generate fees and revenuer for us and for the law firms,” Berger said.
That is when the U.S. government expectds you to tell themif you’ve been evading taxes by not reportingt the accounts. According to local attorneys and the new reporting requirements for offshore account could result in the loss of millions forsome taxpayers. The new rulesd are also spurring a huge movement of offshore moneh backinto U.S. said attorney Martin Press oflaw firm. The U.S. has been gearin up for a crackdown on offshorde tax evasionfor years. Two South Floridz yacht brokers have already been hit with tax evasionh charges in connection with Swissw bank accountsat . Technically, people have until Sept. 23 to seek a so-called IRS amnestyh from prosecution.
But an earlier deadline of June 30 is for reportintg of theTreasury Department’s FBAR form – Foreigbn Bank and Financial Accounts – for 2008. “I am urging peoplde to make a decision aboutg whether to seek the prograjmbefore July,” Press said. “There have been lots of Americans who have had offshore accountsand haven’t checked the box on their tax The minimum penalty for “non-willfuk failure” to file an FBAR is set at $10,000, with a penaltty of $100,000 for deliberately avoiding to In South Florida’s international population, the offshor e tax problem is widespread. But not everyone intentionall y evaded paying taxeson funds.
“We’ve seen this in a number of people who had accounts offshore before they moved here, and believe they had no need to disclose said Scott Berger, CPA with “Rightfully or wrongfully, they haven’yt disclosed those.” According to Berger, if you becamd a U.S. citizen at some you have to disclose offshore money for tax even if that money was made before you moved tothe U.S. Pressa sits on the ’s tax section, with the Committese on Civil and Criminal Tax He said he has asked officialw if they will trea intentional tax evasion differently than cases where people moved tothe U.S. and simpl y didn’t realize they have to pay taxes onoffshorer accounts.
He said he doesn’t know the answerr yet. Berger said he’s heard from some peoplew who are defiant and will refuser to reportoffshore “Basically the attitude is that they got away with it for yearas and don’t believe they’ll be discovered,” Bergeer said. Even under the exemptions now beingv offered, the penalties are A taxpayer must report the highest level of offshorwe accounts for the last six years and pay 20 percent of That means an account that hit a highof $10 millionm in 2005 but fell to $2 million becauswe of the global recession would be wipedx out – the penalty for reporting it now would be 20 percentg of the $10 million.
Press said the government also expects taxpayers to pay 20 percent of earnings for thatentirr six-year period. Press said many people in South Florida are facing the dilemma now abouf whether to reportor not, and few are talking abouf it openly. “We understand the governmengt is being inundated andthey don’t have enough peoples to handle it,” Press said. In the accounting firms like Kaufman are busywith “It’s certainly creating a lot of need for advisorg services, and it does generate fees and revenuer for us and for the law firms,” Berger said.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
NCDOT awards $103M in federal stimulus work - Boston Business Journal:
ibitasony.wordpress.com
million to be spent in the Gov. Bev Perdue’s office announced Friday. The 17 which total $102.8 million, stretch across 21 counties around the Two otherresurfacing projects, one on I-440 in Wake Countyy and one on U.S. 64 in Nash and Edgecombre counties, will be awarded if the low bidder demonstratews that it hasmet “good faith requirements in attempting to reach the disadvantagecd business enterprise goals set forth in the The slow economy translated into quite a discount for The bids received on all 19 economif recovery projects came in nearly 25 percent -- or about $36.7 milliohn -- below NCDOT estimates. Work on all contract s will start in late June orearly July.
Resurfacing and shoulder reconstructionon 3.8 miles of I-54o0 between I-40 and U.S. 70 in Wake and Durham counties. The $2.2 million contract was awarded to of The project is scheduled to start as earl y as July 7 and is slated for completion byMay 27, 2010. Resurfacing 11 miles of I-40 from west of Morga n Road in Johnston County to the SampsonCountyu line. The $2.2 million contract was awardedr toof Wilson. The project is scheduled to begin as earlg as July 13 and should be completedby Nov. 15. • Resurfacintg 23.2 miles of U.S. 64 between the Franklin-Nas h County line and Winstead Avenue inNash County. The $3.3 millioj contract was awardedto S.T. Wootenb Corp.
The project is scheduled to starrt as early as July 13 and will be completedeby Nov. 15. The Federal Highway Administratioh estimates thatevery $1 million spentf on transportation creates 30 jobs. The departmeng also awarded contractsworth $63 million for seven non-stimuluxs projects, but none of those are in the NCDOT will receive a total of $838 milliomn in stimulus money, including $735 milliohn for highway and bridge projects.
million to be spent in the Gov. Bev Perdue’s office announced Friday. The 17 which total $102.8 million, stretch across 21 counties around the Two otherresurfacing projects, one on I-440 in Wake Countyy and one on U.S. 64 in Nash and Edgecombre counties, will be awarded if the low bidder demonstratews that it hasmet “good faith requirements in attempting to reach the disadvantagecd business enterprise goals set forth in the The slow economy translated into quite a discount for The bids received on all 19 economif recovery projects came in nearly 25 percent -- or about $36.7 milliohn -- below NCDOT estimates. Work on all contract s will start in late June orearly July.
Resurfacing and shoulder reconstructionon 3.8 miles of I-54o0 between I-40 and U.S. 70 in Wake and Durham counties. The $2.2 million contract was awarded to of The project is scheduled to start as earl y as July 7 and is slated for completion byMay 27, 2010. Resurfacing 11 miles of I-40 from west of Morga n Road in Johnston County to the SampsonCountyu line. The $2.2 million contract was awardedr toof Wilson. The project is scheduled to begin as earlg as July 13 and should be completedby Nov. 15. • Resurfacintg 23.2 miles of U.S. 64 between the Franklin-Nas h County line and Winstead Avenue inNash County. The $3.3 millioj contract was awardedto S.T. Wootenb Corp.
The project is scheduled to starrt as early as July 13 and will be completedeby Nov. 15. The Federal Highway Administratioh estimates thatevery $1 million spentf on transportation creates 30 jobs. The departmeng also awarded contractsworth $63 million for seven non-stimuluxs projects, but none of those are in the NCDOT will receive a total of $838 milliomn in stimulus money, including $735 milliohn for highway and bridge projects.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Man of Steel - A discussion with myself - Comic Book Movie
ra-iwinyro.blogspot.com
Comic Book Movie | Man of Steel - A discussion with myself Comic Book Movie If you care about this film, I'm sure you have one of those all the time too. A new Superman movie's a-brewing. How awesome is that? A Superman fan knows frustration like few others. It took twenty years to get another film off the ground after the ... |
Monday, August 29, 2011
AMP-Ohio
hydiuco.blogspot.com
AMP-Ohio was cleared to receive a $30 millionh bridge loan to help fund construction ofa $3 billionb generating station in Meigs County. Construction on the coal-firedf plant, which has clinched an OK from the and key approvals from thestated , is set for later this year. The compan y said in a statement that it considers the state stimulus loan a major factor in breakint groundon schedule. AMP-Ohio said the projec will employabout 1,600 during a more than four-year construction process and about 160 when operational.
Strickland in a statementg on Tuesday saidthe AMP-Ohio project and a facilitt in Perrysburg in line for a $10 million loan are “greart examples of how investing in advanced energy technologiesz is stimulating Ohio’s economy.” Just how advanced the energ y at the AMP-Ohio project will be has been a poin t of contention between the nonprofit wholesale power supplier and opponents. The project has drawn fire amid worries that it woulds release air pollutantsand won’t employ the latestr clean-coal technology.
But company executivesa have argued that the plant will use emissionj controls that will make it amongb the cleanest facilities of its The PowerSiting Board, which reviewzs requests for large electric and natural gas facilitieds in the state, struck an agreement late last year with AMP-Ohio and the statw attorney general’s office over environmental and economicf concerns about the project. The loans to AMP-Ohio and Willard & Kelsey are part of $150 million headed to companiee around the state throughthe job-creatiobn stimulus package signed last Of that, $84 million is headed to non-coal technology projects while $66 million is earmarked for so-called clean-coaol projects.
AMP-Ohio was cleared to receive a $30 millionh bridge loan to help fund construction ofa $3 billionb generating station in Meigs County. Construction on the coal-firedf plant, which has clinched an OK from the and key approvals from thestated , is set for later this year. The compan y said in a statement that it considers the state stimulus loan a major factor in breakint groundon schedule. AMP-Ohio said the projec will employabout 1,600 during a more than four-year construction process and about 160 when operational.
Strickland in a statementg on Tuesday saidthe AMP-Ohio project and a facilitt in Perrysburg in line for a $10 million loan are “greart examples of how investing in advanced energy technologiesz is stimulating Ohio’s economy.” Just how advanced the energ y at the AMP-Ohio project will be has been a poin t of contention between the nonprofit wholesale power supplier and opponents. The project has drawn fire amid worries that it woulds release air pollutantsand won’t employ the latestr clean-coal technology.
But company executivesa have argued that the plant will use emissionj controls that will make it amongb the cleanest facilities of its The PowerSiting Board, which reviewzs requests for large electric and natural gas facilitieds in the state, struck an agreement late last year with AMP-Ohio and the statw attorney general’s office over environmental and economicf concerns about the project. The loans to AMP-Ohio and Willard & Kelsey are part of $150 million headed to companiee around the state throughthe job-creatiobn stimulus package signed last Of that, $84 million is headed to non-coal technology projects while $66 million is earmarked for so-called clean-coaol projects.
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